March 2008

Long-time Highline community activist Rita Creighton died suddenly and unexpectedly March 16 at her Normandy Park home.

Mrs. Creighton was appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire to the Highline Community College Board of Trustees on March 9, 2005, and served as board vice chairwoman in 2006-07.

Gov. Gary Locke had earlier named her to the A+ Commission-Successful Schools education and reform subcommittee

She helped form Aviation High School and served on the SeaTac Occupational Skills Center Advisory Board.

Active in PTA, Mrs.

Long-time Burien community activist Jeanne Pfeifer died at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Seattle following an illness on March 17.

Mrs. Pfeifer, who moved to Burien in 1991, was a local political activist, a member of the Vestry at St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church on several occasions, and was a founder of the Burien Heritage Society - now the Highline Historical Society.

She was also a member of the Burien Economic Development Partnership and helped start the Burien Community Computer Center.

Mrs.

Passports are now available Monday through Friday at the two Neighborhood Service Centers in West Seattle.

The Delridge Neighborhood Center at 5405 Delridge Way S.W. is open for passport servicing from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The West Seattle Service Center at 4205 S.W. Alaska St. and is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Passports usually take 10 to12 weeks and are mailed directly to you. Expedited service is available - if you have at least 14 days prior to travel - for an additional $60.

Ethel Leonard is 107 and a group of friends, relatives, including her daughter Shirley Johnson gathered at the Park West Care Center on March 24th to help her celebrate. Born on March 24th, 1901 in Cumberland, MD, Ethel has had an interesting life. Her parents were mute and she had to learn sign language, which she still remembers today. She's apparently made of sturdy stock, she has a sister who is 101.

Ethel was married, and raised four children. She worked as a nurse's aide for many years and moved to West Seattle in the late 1950's.

Scottish Terriers are dogs who know their place and it's everywhere. That is, they are territorial and not afraid of anything. At the off leash park Romeo, now 2 years old, picks out an area and defends it. His owner Emily Kennedy says, "He's the Alpha dog at his daycare," and "He helps dig weeds when I'm gardening." She found Romeo through www.puppyfind.com and purchased him from a breeder in Idaho. Despite his willingness to take on any canine challenge, Emily describes him as "A lover of people."

Disappointment

By Georgie Bright Kunkel

Since not one of us in the human category can rule the world single-handedly, we have to learn to give and take. We can't have it all. Certainly we can't have whatever we want whenever we want it. Thinking otherwise is a road map to big time disappointment.

When I was a lot younger I could list all my disappointing moments on one page of my diary. Once I was told by my older sister that she and her friend would take me swimming at Deep Lake if I would cut my long scraggly hair. Not!

Turning 60! What does that mean?

By Sharon Best

I was at the Admiral theatre recently, watching Michael Clayton. I thought it was a pretty good movie - but I couldn't really hear it very well. I thought I might complain, but then I realized no one else was having a problem! Every once in a while, when I thought the dialogue might be fairly important, I innocuously cupped my hand behind my ear so I could understand the words.

The speaker drones on for a few minutes, telling us in governmentalese with lots of acronyms and bureaucratic double speak, straining the minds of his audience as well as their tolerance for a packed, hot, stuffy room and the desire to drift off into a refreshing nap.

Then she says she does not want to hear what we have to say.

I have a question. What is going to happen with the Charlestown Cafe restaurant on California Avenue towards West Seattle High school? I am disappointed that they are closed permanently. My family and myself go there every Sunday for early dinner. Now we lost are favorite restaurant and can't find another one like it.

Traci Phillips

West Seattle

I was shocked to see the Herald's headline about Tim St. Clair's death.

The only time I met Tim was when I was working at the polls one election day. I commented that I had known some St. Clair's but Tim said they weren't related. After he left I realized he hadn't signed the registry to validate his vote.

Some time later a young lady came in and she said, I see Tim has already voted. I explained that he hadn't signed so she said she lived next door to him and she would tell him.