October 2007

Little League - A little reality check

By Mickey Niland

There has been a great deal of griping, on all sides, about the field use at Loyal Heights Playfield. I think it's important for everyone to understand what youth sports are about. It's not about the would-be professional athletes. It's about the other 99 percent of the kids. The following is a story that illustrates why so many of us give up such a big part of our lives to put kids on a field like Loyal Heights.

Billy's tale

This last weekend I signed up to umpire three ball games on Saturday.

Mayor Greg Nickels has announced the appointment of Christopher Williams, current Seattle Parks and Recreation acting deputy superintendent, as the interim superintendent.

Williams will serve as interim superintendent until the mayor's nominee, Timothy Gallagher, is confirmed by the city council.

Betty Jean "B.J." Brooks, who has been acting superintendent since February, announced her resignation.

Williams is a 14-year veteran of Seattle Parks and Recreation. He became interim-deputy superintendent in February after the retirement of Ken Bounds.

More than 350 volunteers are needed to prepare tax returns throughout King County for United Way of King County's Free Tax Preparation Campaign.

United Way of King County will operate the Free Tax Prep Campaign at 16 sites throughout King County from Jan. 15 to April 15, 2008.

'Season of our lives right now'

By Dean Wong

The two undefeated teams in KingCo squared off in girls swimming recently and the eastside schools were noticeably absent.

Seattle school's Ballard and Garfield have overtaken the traditionally more talented programs east of Lake Washington. Both turned in perfect seasons leading into the meet with the unofficial KingCo championship on the line.

Comfort food and recycling, too

Wild Mountain Cafe

1408 NW 85th St

297-9453

8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., closed Tuesday

By Patricia Devine and Jim Anderson

At Large in Ballard by Peggy Sturdivant

He was waiting for me at the back table of Java Bean; a pleasant-looking man with a cup and saucer of plain coffee beside him. Nebil Dikmen owns the long vacant, graffiti-covered properties at the corner of Northwest 24th and 58th Street. He had offered to show me the development plans for the corner, describing them in advance as "very high quality." I sloughed off rainwater like a drenched dog.

Gayle Cloud at Ballard Jam House

Egan's Ballard Jam House

Thursday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m.

1707 N.W. Market St.

$15 cover

By Jack Mayne

A western lowland baby gorilla female was born recently at the zoo to mother Amanda, 37, and father Vip, 28. According to gorilla keeper staff, Amanda is showing excellent maternal care. "She's holding the infant close and keeping her warm, fed and clean, all expected behaviors of a healthy mother gorilla," said General Curator Dr. Nancy Hawkes. "And the infant is gripping her mother firmly, nursing and vocalizing, all signs of being healthy.

Despite the chill in the air, Whittier School principal, Cothron McMillian, falls into the outdoor dunk tank many times to the delight of her students at the Whittier Fall Carnival.

Election day is next Tuesday - at last. Now it's only a year from at least a brief respite from presidential campaigning, even if we have to endure a long, miserable summer after the early winter decisions on who the candidates will be.

This year we are not endorsing local candidates, mainly because of some internal difficulties that made it impossible to meet and talk with each of them. We consider personal meetings with candidates the only way to really know them.