Reading this week's issue of the White Center News I sense a snootiness in the commentary re: "School critic remains focused on his task."
Do all the parents going to a School Board meeting show up in business suits? Are the only parents that go to these meetings business suit types? Is a business suit standard dress code for board meetings?
'all way walk'
I think it is time to reconsider the "All Way Walk" at the West Seattle Alaska Junction. It was fine for a while, but with the increasing traffic in the area, I believe that it should be returned to a "normal" traffic light, which would include free right turns, and a walk button for pedestrians wishing to cross the street.
their own way
I sent the following letter to each member of the King County Council regarding the taxes that will be levied to support the creation of the new ferry district and surprisingly, received only one reply - from Regan Dunn, the only member who voted against the entire proposal.
Isn't is nice that our council representatives are so responsive to our concerns?
Dear Council Member,
I have a number of questions and concerns regarding the formation of this district and wonder if you asked the following questions before instituting this unnecess
West Seattle property owners Mike Gain and Roger Cayce have asked the city of Seattle to rezone a block of California Avenue Southwest in the Admiral neighborhood that will increase building height by 10 feet, but the proposal has been met with fierce opposition from nearby residents.
If approved, zoning on the 3200 block of California Avenue Southwest between Southwest Hinds Street and Southwest Hanford Street would change from Neighborhood Commercial 1 with a 30-foot height limit (three stories) to Neighborhood Commercial 2 and allow 40 foot high buildings (four stories).
The Seattle School District has withdrawn its support for a city grant sought by the Westwood Neighborhood Council that would have facilitated a community input process to shape a vision for several public spaces in the neighborhood.
The council had hoped to use a $15,000 Seattle Department of Neighborhoods matching fund grant to hire a facilitator to examine a collection of district and city-owned facilities that lack connection with the surrounding community.
The scope includes sites that will undergo major changes during the next few years: a new joint Denny Middle Sch
Every day Seattleites hop in their cars ready to start another day. For a lucky few, the commute is easy.
Madison Middle School sixth grade student Alia Paddock recently won the Macy's "Follow a Leader" essay contest.
The competition involved writing a letter to one of 26 Seattle business leaders. Alia chose to write to Brenda F. Barnette CEO at the Seattle Humane Society for Seattle King County. There were 600 entries submitted by students in grades four through 12. Alia was one of the 26 entry winners.
She received a $1,000 U.S. savings bond and attended a luncheon at the Seattle Times with the business leaders and the contest winners.
by Steve Shay
With Christmas approaching, thoughts turn to giving, lights, and joy.
Gerry Kingen, owner of Salty's on Alki, has gone a bit overboard this year by celebrating all three, peppering his restaurants with 18 larger-than-life, one-of-a-kind nutcrackers, plus lavishly decorated upside down Christmas trees. Upside down fir trees became a tradition a millennium ago in Europe, the base pointing upward to symbolize the Holy Trinity.
The six-to-seven foot tall nutcrackers marched into Kingen's life when alerted by his daughter, Katie, that they were for sale on e-Bay. Sixty handmade nutcrackers appeared as public art this year, their sale to benefit disabled clients at the Northwest Center.
Coined "The Nutcracker March," the public art display was sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Kingen is in the process of purchasing more nutcrackers and "forms" to create new ones to decorate his two Seattle area restaurants and Portland restaurant for many Christmas seasons to come.
For more information: www.nutcrackermarch.com
The nutcracker that looks like Northwest totem pole holding fish and it is called "Dodem Nutcracker" by artist Laura Grames. Photo by Steve Shay
The nutcracker that looks like modern art, "cracked head" black dots along eyes and arms : It is called "Dialogue" by artists, Alan Altman and Beth Annelye. It is called "Dialogue" because every 15-minutes it "speaks" a remark to stop walkers-by. Photo by Steve Shay
