June 2007

Thanks to four city council members, Burien won't get screwed.

Lucy Krakowiak, Jack Block Jr., Rose Clark and Sue Blazak voted last week to reject the 40-foot-high, $80,000 tilted screw-like sculpture the arts commission proposed as the Town Square's centerpiece.

The concept behind the statue began as a salute to Gunther's Tower, a spiral staircase around a tree built by a Burien land speculator to show off potential home sites.

But from there the idea got seriously derailed. A dangerous-looking winding saw blade replaced the staircase.

Meet Nick the Barber

His real name is Gary Nikell and he cuts hair in Burien. He used to cut hair in White Center. His grandfather was a barber and his Dad was a barber. No matter how you cut it there must be something hereditary here.

I asked him if he ever tried anything else and he said, "I grew up in a small town in Montana and my dad owned a barber shop, restaurant, tavern, bowling alley and gas station all in one. He had the only game in town. When he died I took the whole thing over. I was only 18 and got tired of it. Too much work. I wanted to have some fun.

Frustrated commuters are fed up with worsening pavement conditions on Southwest Morgan Street, and Sylvan Way Southwest, but the city says it will not be repaved for at least five more years.

Instead, a rescue mission of "spot repairs" is promised this fall once the road reopens, to be done by the Seattle Department of Transportation's pothole and street maintenance crews.

The June 18th, three-month road closure for underground utility installation at High Point development has drawn public attention to the general malaise of Morgan Street and Sylvan Way, between 35th Ave

West Seattle bar owners encouraged city leaders to nix the idea of a nightlife license and instead hire more police and enforce existing noise, litter and public intoxication laws.

Dozens spoke out at a pubic hearing last week against a proposal being considered by Mayor Greg Nickels and the Seattle City Council that would require certain venues to obtain special licenses and comply with operating standards to control noise, litter and crime.

Representatives of the nightlife industry say the legislation puts too much financial and policing pressure on owners and employees

South Seattle Community College graduates the class of 2007 tomorrow, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Jerry Brockey Student Center.

For those who know about community colleges - institutions that are truly open to all - graduation takes on a deeper meaning, say college officials, because community institutions are more than colleges. They are places where community members can find a new start.

"One of our inspirational stories is computing student Teklezgy Sequar," a school official said. "He has shown that with perseverance you can accomplish anything.

Some parents of Evergreen High School students wonder why vice principal Jackie Lewis was not hired to be a small learning community principal at the school.

Lewis applied to be principal of the Technology, Engineering and Communications Academy set to open in September.

Eric Hong, who as a young immigrant attended English as Second Language classes in the Highline district, was hired for the position.

Current principal Gail Barnum will continue as coordinating principal, but each of the three small schools on the Evergreen campus will have its own principal in

King County is to purchase of up to 500 new buses that will help deliver one of the biggest bus service expansions in Metro history.

Most of the buses will be articulated hybrids manufactured under a contract believed to be the largest of its kind in North America.

Metro selected New Flyer Industries, General Motors Corp. and Cummins Engine Co. as the major commercial partners in delivering the next generation of buses.

All the buses will meet or exceed the latest federal environmental standards.

The human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine and a vaccine that protects young children against rotavirus are now available at no cost to children in Washington.

The two new vaccines give parents the ability to protect their children against two potentially serious diseases.

"We must do what we can to keep our children safe and healthy," said Governor Chris Gregoire.

With candidate filing for the August primary election over as of last Friday, West Seattle King County Councilmember Dow Constantine has a Democrat primary challenger and a Republican to face in November.

The Democrat is Michael Goodspaceguy Nelson of Boulevard Park. The Republican is John Potter of Southern Heights.

Five people are seeking to replace Irene Stewart, West Seattle's representative or "director" on the Seattle School Board. Stewart is not seeking a second term. The candidates are Zeinab M. Ahmed, Edwin B. Fruit, Danaher M.

Wild things are afoot on Alki Beach this summer. Sure, once the sun pops out for the first truly hot day, you always start to see some pretty crazy things down on the beach. In fact, people watching could almost keep you entertained all day. But wait till you see Alki's newest inhabitant - a 6-foot, kite-flying gorilla on roller blades!

That's right, this hairy beach bum will make you say, "Now, I've seen everything." But he's more than just a fuzzy friend; he's also the spokesman, or "guerilla marketer" for Alki Rental Shack, a part of Alki Kayak Tours.