January 2007

After news broke that former salesmen at Huling Bros. Auto Center had been charged with breaking into a customer's home and stealing about $70,000 in cash, former co-owner Steve Huling asked himself a deep question:

"How did I find myself in this situation after 60 years of doing business?"

Steve Huling said he prayed before deciding to reimburse the customer with a check for $70,000, the amount the former Huling Bros. employees are accused of stealing from the man.

The public was disgusted to learn of the allegations and charges.

The next Seattle Schools' superintendent must work to rebuild trust within the community as well as prepare a plan to increase academic achievement equitably, parents told the national search firm hired to look for a new district chief.

About 15 people came to Madison Middle School last Wednesday evening to tell representatives from the Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based company, Ray and Associates, what characteristics they'd like to have in a new district leader.

An underground sewage pump station at Alki is scheduled to be expanded and will include two new ventilation stacks that nearby residents worry will spoil their view of Puget Sound.

The King County Wastewater Treatment Division plans to install the new subterranean facility at Alki Avenue and 53rd Avenue Southwest. The underground vault must be enlarged to house a standby generator to keep sewage flowing during power outages. The generator will run on diesel fuel so there also must be space for an underground fuel tank.

Legislation aimed at according Washington's same-sex couples legal rights and protections enjoyed by married couples was introduced in the state Senate and House of Representatives.

"If it's in the interest of the state of Washington to protect heterosexual unions - and it is - then it's in the interest of the state to protect same-sex unions, and for all the same reasons," said Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle.

Murray, one of five openly gay state legislators, is joined by Rep. Joe McDermott, D-West Seattle, Rep. Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver, Rep.

The Seattle School District will use days intended for staff professional development and summer break to make up four of the five school days missed due to snow and a windstorm in December.

While the last day for students will be Friday, June 22, staff will work on Monday, June 25 and Tuesday, June 26 to make up the missed professional development days.

The following days will be scheduled as student days:

- Friday, Feb.

The new executive director of the local non-profit WestSide Baby, Nancy Woodland, has found her calling.

Once a lawyer for the state attorney general, then a stay-at-home mother to her young son and daughter, the self-proclaimed "busy-body" has jumped into her next big project - running the growing, thriving baby gear supply organization.

WestSide Baby is a non-profit organization that collects new and used clothing, toys, books and baby gear and distributes them free of charge to needy South Seattle/King County families.

The dining area of a Westwood fast food restaurant was closed, but a would-be patron simply walked around to the drive-through window, began pounding on it and demanding a bottle opener to open a beer. A driver waiting in line honked his car horn, and the suspect began yelling. He then walked to a nearby van, pulled out a handgun, waved it around, and pointed it at the drive-through clerk. The suspect then left eastbound on Barton Street in the van. Witnesses called in the license plate, and officers stopped the suspect in the 8400 block of 20th SW.

What a coup it was when "Ugly Betty" came to TV to save us from the reality shows that have filled our TV screens of late. Could there be any better story than the so-called ugly female played by America Ferrera amongst a gaggle of "bitchy stepsisters," the bitchiest of all played by Vanessa Williams? Rounding out the great cast is the producer/actor Salma Hayek who, as many of you may remember, played the lead in the movie Frida. Frida was the wife of the philandering Diego Riviera, Mexico's mural painting genius.

After the QFC at Northwest 58th and 24th Avenue Northwest is rebuilt it will be double its current size and have six stories of residential units above it.

Ground is expected to break before the end of March and the grocery store will be closed for more than a year, said Jeanne Muir, a publicist representing the project developers, Security Properties.

The entire project is expected to last about 18 months after groundbreaking, but it is possible QFC could move back in before the residential units are completed, said Muir.

Muir hopes to ease any community conce

One book at a time, 55 students at Loyal Heights Elementary School are now competing in the Global Reading Challenge with the hope of making the city championships.

Two other Ballard schools, Adams and Whittier Elementary are also taking part in the challenge. Forty Seattle Public Schools are competing in the program and most are fourth and fifth graders.