January 2006

People watching education of our youth across the nation are becoming more and more concerned about the failure of students to be able to write a coherent composition or read an article in a publication and understand what was read.

For at least the past decade, Washington community college leaders say their first job with a student coming from high schools is to get their English and math performance levels up to something near what a college freshman needs to have to successfully do higher education work.

In Seattle, schools struggle with continually falling test score

'Tis The Season To Express Gratitude

As long-time readers of the West Seattle Herald - from cover to cover, I might add - we want to express our gratitude for all the great local coverage.

The other day when we were shopping at Morgan Street Thriftway, one of the checkers told us a troubling story. It seems the family that lives behind the store is forced to bring their disabled son there to use the bathroom, since the one in their house is completely inaccessible to a wheelchair.

This hits close to home for me because I, too, use a wheelchair fulltime for mobility. I can't imagine not having a bathroom in my house that I could use.

Surely there is some charitable organization out there that would be able to remodel this boy's bathroom.

Over the Christmas weekend, a beautiful wind sculpture was stolen from my yard at the West Beach Condominiums. (See photo at right)

It was about three feet in diameter with multiple arms in reds and lavenders and when the wind blows it creates a kaleidoscope effect. It was purchased from an artist in another part of the country.

If this has appeared in someone's yard near you after the holidays and they cannot explain where it was obtained or the artist's name it is probably mine.

"How much is too much?" More specifically, what is "Excess Surplus?"

That's the question state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is wrestling with, and it may work its way into legislation when lawmakers descend upon Olympia.

Proponents of a cap say non-profit health insurance carriers like Premera Blue Cross, Regence BlueShield and Group Health Cooperative are making too much money, posting record surpluses while health care premiums continue to rise.

Waiting for a "gold plated" tunnel option to replace the endangered Alaskan Way Viaduct would be "irresponsible," says City Councilman David Della.

After a resolution was adopted in support of Mayor Greg Nickels' preferred tunnel option to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct, some Seattle City Council members are now leaning towards the option the simply rebuild the troubled structure.

"In talking with my colleagues, I can tell you that we are all over the map," said Della.

Last year the council gave its support to the mayor's estimated $4 billion tunnel opti

The Chief Sealth High School class of 2009 will be able to start their college careers as sophomores at universities across the country and internationally if they successfully complete the two year International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, scheduled to start in 2007.

The International Baccalaureate Program is integrated high school college preparatory curriculum created 37 years ago as a common university entrance credential with concentration on diversity and culture, according to the organization.

Heavy rain, a faulty valve and a malfunctioning sluice gate apparently caused a wastewater pump station in Westwood to overflow, which sent storm water and sewage into nearby homes early Christmas Eve morning.

Rain filled to overflowing a 1.2-million-gallon detention tank at the pump station near 22nd Avenue Southwest and Southwest Henderson Street.

ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery announced the appointment of Alan Harrison as its new executive director, effective yesterday.

Harrison has served as a leader in the nonprofit arts and entertainment field locally and nationally for more than 18 years. His local experience includes a lengthy engagement at the Seattle Repertory Theatre as director of communications and marketing. More recently he served as managing director of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, one of the largest Shakespeare festivals in the world.

A young driver lost control of the car he was driving Dec. 27, hit a parked car, which then caromed down Othello Street and into the front wall of the Cat's Eye Cafe. The cafe had to close until the damaged building can be repaired.

Seattle Police cited a 16-year-old male driver for second-degree negligent driving. The Hazel Valley boy, who drove a 1994 Acura Legend, also was cited for having passengers in his car younger than 20. He holds an intermediate driver's license, which disallows drivers from having young passengers.