November 2007

Burien council members are expected to adopt the city's 2008 budget at their Nov. 19 meeting.

The projected spending plan calls for an operating fund of $24.7 million.

Later in the evening, they dealt with "school bored" business such as debt service funds and bond sales.

But for two hours before their Nov.

SeaTac could face a million-dollar deficit if it annexes the Boulevard Park neighborhood, according to a consultant's preliminary report.

The revenue vs. and cost figures from the Berke and Associates study were presented at the Nov.

Burien City Councilman Gordon Shaw decisively defeated former councilman Stephen Lamphear in the Nov. 6 election battle for Shaw's seat.

The Lora Lake Apartments in Burien, long threatened by the wrecking ball, will open again as an affordable-housing complex.

Burien City Council members approved by a 4-2 vote on Nov. 5 a memorandum of understanding to preserve the 162 vacant units at Lora Lake.

Mayor Joan McGilton and council members Sue Blazak, Jack Block Jr.

National Family Week is Nov. 18-24 to acknowledge the importance of "family" to celebrate special connections that support and strengthen families. One of these special "connections" exists right here in our community.

It is the Family Resource Center in SeaTac, a program of Lutheran Community Services Northwest.

Kudos and thanks to Fred Novota, Burien, for his "'Shameful Act' at HSD" letter of Oct. 10.

I could hardly believe my eyes when I read the article regarding the DREAM program in your newspaper. Mr. Novota expressed my sentiments exactly and eloquently.

Are we already paying for the K-12 education of illegal immigrants to begin with? If so, these students need to go back to their country of origin and get their education there.

Recently, the Highline School Board passed a resolution in support of the DREAM Act. We would like to explain why the school board supports this bill.

The DREAM Act is a proposed federal law that would grant temporary legal status to undocumented students after they graduate from high school if they are of good moral character and have no criminal record and if they attend college or join the U.S. military. After finishing college or military service, the student may apply for legal citizenship. The DREAM Act would apply only to children who were brought to the U.S.

Meet Cyndi Upthegrove

Cyndi Upthegrove was at the mike Nov. 3rd during a launching party for scores of dignitaries, donors and Burien officialdom at a long awaited mortgage burning signifying the drive to raise funds for a handsome new building to house the collections of the Highline Historical Society.

Cyndi has been the driving force in pursuing a dream once sought by Dottie Harper, now a resident of Spokane.

Rosie's legacy

By Georgie Bright Kunkel

Ken Burns' documentary "The War" has sparked renewed interest in the so-called Good War, World War II. It brought me back to those years when The Saturday Evening Post covers were created by Norman Rockwell, the people's artist. One cover, reminding us of the women who replaced the men who were drafted, was that of Rosie the Riveter. Rockwell showed her in caricature mode with her short sleeves displaying brawny muscles and her rivet gun across her lap. During the 1940s, Rosies were not to be taken as serious replacements for males who had dominated so-called "men's work" over the years.

My Rosie experience was working at a small plant in Chehalis, Washington where I drilled holes in wing panels for the B-17 bomber. These holes had to be drilled with no guide. We just eye-balled it and hoped that they were perfect.

Toward the end of one evening shift in August of 1945 the loud speaker came on and a voice announced, "The war is over. You can all go home." And we threw down our tools and left, never to come back.