September 2007

Concerns that skateboarders will vandalize and trash our community are unwarranted and immature.

We've seen how a skate park can compliment a neighborhood, such as the one in Ballard, and even build a sense of community among those of all ages and interests. Isn't it discrimination to outcast a group merely because they enjoy a certain activity?

It's disappointing to see comments like the following that was posted on the Herald's Web site under last week's story on the effort to get skate parks built here under the citywide skate park plan.

A citizen wrote...

By mid-October the coho salmon should be swimming upstream again in Fauntleroy Creek.

The salmon have avoided taking the journey from the Sound up the creek, located south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock, because the creek's headwaters, just a few blocks up the other side of Fauntleroy Way Souhwest, flow directly and rapidly into the Sound, creating an inhospitable habitat.

Sen. Erik Poulsen, who's represented West Seattle, White Center, Burien and Vashon Island in the Washington Legislature for 13 years, is quitting to become a lobbyist for public utility districts.

Public utility districts provide electricity and water to Washington's rural communities. Poulsen, who lives in West Seattle, will leave the state Senate at the end of September to become government relations director for the Washington Public Utilities Districts Association.

Rep. Joe McDermott appears to be the favorite to replace Poulsen in the Senate.

Dozens of people wore surgical masks to a Port of Seattle meeting to protest diesel tractor trailers being parked in residential sections of Georgetown, South Park and White Center.

The protest was staged by the Washington Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now at a Sept. 6 public meeting sponsored by the Port at South Seattle Community College's Duwamish campus in Georgetown. The meeting was intended for the public to comment on a proposal crafted among the ports of Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver, B.C.

Six acres of ridge-top property in the West Duwamish greenbelt - once slated for surplus sale by the city for private condo development - are on their way to preservation as public open space.

The Seattle City Council's committee on parks, education, libraries and labor is scheduled to take up the matter Sept. 19.

Neighbors in the Riverview neighborhood objected four years ago to the city's proposed sale of the top of a 30-acre slice of the greenbelt, Seattle's largest forest. They wanted the ridge to be part of the greenbelt, not the residential area.

For 25 years, West Seattle native Daniel Lilleness navigated thousands of 16-year-olds through his commercial driving school in Federal Way.

KENT - Thomas Jefferson's experience and depth shot the homestanding Raiders to a 68-51 South Puget Sound League Central division girls golf team victory against crosstown rival Decatur at Riverbend Golf Course in the season opening outing for both squads on Thursday.

"I really like the nucleus of our team," related Jefferson coach Jim von Doehren. "We have players that have been with the program for three or four years and our team has grown from six players last year to nine players now. I really like our team and the potential it has.

It was a day of new beginnings at Federal Way Memorial Field.

It was the first ever football game played by Evergreen Lutheran High School of Des Moines, and the first game played in Federal Way by a Christian Faith School team that was set to move from SeaTac to Federal Way for services the next day.

The end result of a 32-10 win for Christian Faith after only leading 12-3 at halftime and 18-10 in the third quarter was acceptable for both teams.

"I wish we'd have been that good our first year," said CFS head coach Sauni Savini after the action under mostly sun

Football

Federal Way 22, Rogers 21

A Kellen Rowe kick for an extra point proved to be the difference as the Eagles opened with a one-point victory over Rogers on the road Friday, Aug.

Wednesday, Sept. 12

Cross country: Decatur, Federal Way at Curtis; Rogers, Todd Beamer at Enumclaw; TJ, White River at Tahoma, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 13

Girls soccer: Federal Way at TJ; Decatur at Kentlake, 3:30 p.m.

Girls swimming: Decatur at TJ, Federal Way at Kentridge, Todd Beamer at Emerald Ridge, 3:30 p.m.

Boys golf: Federal Way at Todd Beamer, Decatur at Curtis, Kentlake at TJ, 3:15 p.m.