October 2007

The M/V Tillikum heads toward Vashon Island in the early evening sunset as seen from Lincoln Park.

Photo by Patrick Robinson

On behalf of all the members of West Side Presbyterian Church, I would like to thank you for your excellent coverage of our renovation and Open House on Sunday, Oct. 7. Thanks in part to your article, the community felt welcome and the open house was a huge success. Several hundred people enjoyed refreshments, tours, and a Ministry Fair featuring dozens of programs and ministries which we offer to individuals and families here in the heart of West Seattle.

I did want to add a special thank you to Tryg Winquist Construction Co.

As I was reading the Explorer, I noticed on page 25 (Neighborhood Parks) an omission. Constellation Park and Marine Reserve should state Lezlie Jane designed the park and created the sculptures. I, Iris Nichols, did the illustrations for the two large murals.

I mention this only because Lezlie has not acknowledged me in the past for my illustrations on this project.

Iris Nichols

West Seattle

I think Richard McIver should step down from his seat on the City Council.He has said he was drunk and if you know anything about abuse behind closed doors, it is not seen and it only gets worse.

Had he been stopped on the way home, he would have had a D.W.I. because the lady that supposed to have interviewed him said he had driven her home to Capitol Hill. I think its time all city people be checked out before entering jobs looking out for us.

Last week's West Seattle Herald article "Port Cool on condos near Terminal 5" (Oct. 10) may have left the wrong impression with West Seattleites about the proposal by Sound Legacy Partners to develop the former CEM site on Harbor Avenue in Alki.

This project is about much, much more than condos; it's about creating a valuable asset that fosters public access, local business development and job creation, and environmental best practices.

The Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association dreams of building a commercial center - a downtown for Delridge - on the Louisa Boren Junior High School site.

First the Delridge Association must persuade the Seattle School District to sell it the property.

The group has hired Ron Sher and his real estate development company, Metrovation, to create a conceptual plan for residential and retail to replace Boren.

Escalating construction costs in the region have pressed Seattle Public Schools to accelerate by one year its plans to build a shared Denny Middle School and Sealth High School campus.

The $125 million project is part of the district's Building Excellence III program, which was included in a $490 million capital bond initiative approved in February by voters.

By Steve Shay

Gee Automotive closed all of its facilities last week and a court battle is developing between the Gee family of the Spokane area and the Hulings who sold the dealerships but retain ownership of the land along Fauntleroy Way. Photo by Patrick Robinson.

West Seattle School Board candidates Maria Ramirez and Steve Sundquist offered their differing, but sometimes shared, opinions on public education policy in Seattle schools at an all-city candidate forum last Thursday evening.

Seven of the eight candidates running for board positions were in attendance at Seattle School District headquarters in SoDo. C.R. Douglas, a reporter from the Seattle Channel, moderated the event.

Sundquist used his opening statement to call out his opponent for not voting in the February bond and levy election.