September 2007

When Elsbeth and I visited the newly purchased George Gee auto dealership recently, I got a chance to talk with the new owners of the former Huling Brothers company.

I met George Sr., his son Ryan and their wives and found them all warm, neighborly and anxious to talk to me about their long-term experience in serving the driving needs of thousands of friends in Spokane where the name (it once was McGee generations ago in Ireland) is a household word.

I love their philosophy - no visitor ever leaves our showroom without a smile on their face - but I was stunned when they t

In light of the recent death of a young cyclist by being run over, please everyone, watch out for bicyclists.

Not only is it the kind thing to do, it is the law.

It is illegal to pass a bicyclist if there is approaching traffic (car, bike or truck) - road dieted streets seem to be a grey area, pass with care.

It is legal for bicyclists to ride two abreast.

It is illegal for a car to honk at a bicyclist unless it is an emergency.

Attending the third White Center Community Development Association fund-raising auction was a wonderful, lively, entertaining experience held last night (9/15/2007) and was highly attended by the community.

The auction was staged to perfection by White Center Community Development Association Executive Director Aileen Balahadia and her staff.

It proves that when our citizens of our community have an organization doing a wonderful job, not only do they the citizens come forth but bring their hard-earned dollars to support these efforts.

Bob Watt was the emcee fo

Hats off to the efforts to bring salmon back to Fauntleroy Creek, particularly to the homeowners opening their backyards to important stream work.

As a "native plant steward" who works alongside dedicated volunteers upstream in Fauntleroy Park, I want to urge broader support from surrounding neighbors to retain the health of this valuable watershed.

Thanks to Don Brunell for his enthusiastic op-ed piece on rain barrels. Seattle Public Utilities has been working with the Seattle Conservation Corps since 2003 to discount rain barrels to residents of Seattle. The program has provided Seattleites with a convenient source of rain barrels at a modestly reduced price. Since 2003, we've sold over 9,000 discounted barrels.

However, we must call your readers attention to an inaccuracy in the article. There is no monthly rate break triggered by purchasing a rain barrel. We offer a flat, one-time-only discount of $5 per barrel.

After two years of review and public involvement, Seattle School's Chief Academic Officer, Carla Santorno, has decided West Seattle High will revert back to a six-period schedule, but parents and students plan to ask the School Board and new superintendent to reverse the decision.

For more than two hours, Santorno and other district officials listened as people expressed frustration and resentment about the decision at a community forum last week at West Seattle High.

Santorno explained to a crowd of more than 100 that the current four-period schedule limits continuity in

The Seattle City Council last week said they would wait one year before considering forcing nightlife establishments to obtain controversial licenses and aide by certain operating rules.

Mayor Greg Nickels had proposed last year that clubs and bars should apply for licenses and adhere to rules preventing litter, violence and excessive noise. It also required businesses to police around their property.

The new city park being developed a few blocks west of the Alaska Junction needs an official name so Seattle Parks and Recreation is asking the public for ideas.

The city purchased property owned by Jim Ercolini at 48th Avenue S.W. and S.W. Alaska Street in 2005 with money from the Pro Parks Levy. The working title for this new park has been Ercolini Park, in honor of the family, which once lived on the property.

Several public meetings were held to solicit ideas for the park.

The chief executive officer of the Port of Seattle is Tay Yoshitani. His name was misspelled in the Sept. 19 edition.

Week number two of the Metro League cross country season brought runners from both Duwamish Peninsula high schools face-to-face at Upper Woodland on Friday.

In their first competitive encounter, West Seattle's Kyle MacDonald led all the way to win in 17:50, as Chief Sealth's fast-improving Bryce Rainwater finished second in 18:35 on a hilly 3-mile course. West Seattle runners took four of the top 10 places, with Jacob Nauss finishing third, Eli Swedlow ninth, and Lars Stromberg tenth.