October 2007

I don't know if it slipped through the cracks of the editors of the West Seattle Harold or if they just didn't think it through, but the Sherman Supply ad in the Harold's Explorer magazine was certainly over the top as far as physical exposure.

Showing the naked butts of men and women to promote their product shows a lack of respect to the community in which we live in and they serve, and I certainly would not want my children to see that ad or others like it.

Though the human body is beautiful, I believe that certain parts of the human body are best kept unexposed and bu

I am a current West Seattle High School parent. I applaud the Seattle School District for moving forward and making a change to the schedule at West Seattle High School.

The six period schedule will better serve many students.

So of these I have listed in the letter below. Please help improve our local high school for all students. Schedule considerations for students taking special education classes.

It sure is nice that Jerry gets to talk with the upper management of the Gee dealership, ("New dealer gets bum rap," Sept. 26). As one who bought his 2005 Chevy from the old owners, and has brought it back for service every 3000 miles, I can assure you not all is rosy and not all is the fault of the previous owners. It's been a long time since I left with a smile on my face.

I bought my 2005 new Chevy where I did because I wanted a local dealer. Someone that would provide me with the

Thanks to Don Brunell for his enthusiastic op-ed piece on rain barrels (Aug. 20). 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.

My cat went AWOL on the evening of Sept. 11. On the morning of Sept. 22, I was informed that the cat was in the custody of Seattle Animal Control. It cost me $81 to bail out my cat including the license fee. On the 25th, I received via the mail a demand that I pay the city $125 for having an unlicensed cat. To add insult to injury, the cat again went AWOL on the afternoon of the 22nd shortly after I got him home.

I must make a few suggestions to West Seattle residents:

- If you find a stray animal do not call Seattle Animal Control.

Referendum 67, which will appear on the November ballot, purportedly targets insurance companies, but make no mistake, it's all about money - your money.

It will mean more money out of your pocket for higher insurance premiums and more money in the pockets of the attorneys who are pressing the lawsuits.

Let's be clear. People should be fairly compensated for legitimate losses as quickly as possible and, in the vast majority of cases, they are. When there's a problem, policyholders already have access to an array of consumer protections.

Bad blood spilled between the past and present owners of the Fauntleroy Way car dealerships.

Steve Huling, former co-owner with brother Tom Huling of nearly all the car dealerships on Fauntleroy Way, struck back at new owner Gee Automotive after its chief executive officer blamed Huling Bros. for Gee's poor sales.

Car sales at Gee's West Seattle dealerships are down more than 50 percent since last year, stated Ryan Gee, chief executive officer, in a press release.

The completion of several projects listed in West Seattle's neighborhood plans resulted in major improvements to neighborhoods, but with a loss of city support the plans have faltered, an independent city audit has found.

Nearly 900 residents were surveyed for the audit ordered by Seattle City Councilwoman Sally Clark to review the mid-life progress of the 20-year plans. It included people who helped craft the plans in the late 1990s and some who did not, said assistant city auditor Mary Denzel.

The review, released Sept.

The Rev. Paul Smith wants his newly remodeled West Side Presbyterian Church on California Avenue to be a house open to the entire community.

"Our theme will be 'Connections.' This is critically important. With the general fragmentation of our culture, the church nurtures us, both physically and spiritually."

He blames the iPod for what he sees as society's tendency to disconnect, referring to kids tuning out with those ubiquitous electronic devices, he said in a recent sermon.

"There is perhaps no more powerful symbol of our time.

Bus riders who traditionally wait on First Avenue downtown to catch a ride home to West Seattle are now waiting for their buses on Third Avenue.

The change affects Routes 54 and 55, which run through the Alaska Junction, Morgan Junction, Fauntleroy, Westwood Village and White Center.

Westbound riders of the 54 bus will be able to use a new bus stop on Columbia Street, east of Second Avenue.

The change also affects Route 56 express, but only for northbound trips during the morning commute.