June 2008

What might have been

By Georgie Bright Kunkel

At a time of being despondent there are always thoughts of the one that got away or what could have happened if something hadn't gone wrong. My husband can always remember the marlin that he played for hours leaving him with aching arms for days after one fishing trip. I get seasick so didn't accompany my husband on the fishing boat off the shores of Kauai. I waited in the motel for him to return and when several hours had passed I called the tour office.

Summer reading listed for teens

By Wally Bubelis

Summer is almost here, and with this year's recession, that may mean that the annual family road trip will be shortened or put on hold entirely. We can expect a lot more inexpensive activities for everyone, and teens will likely find themselves either working for some spending money or having a lot of time on their hands.

One cost-effective activity that delivers a huge bang for the buck is, of course, reading.

I don't understand why the administration at West Seattle High School decided to change from 55- and 85-minute classes to 50- and 80-minute classes. There was a schedule posted on the school Web site that showed six 55-minute classes on Monday and Friday, and four 85-minute classes on Tuesday - Thursday. Suddenly this has changed to shorter classes all of the days. Why?

First the teachers were upset that they were losing the long periods, and now they want even shorter ones?

In a current information blurb with my water, garbage bill this was said:

"By January 1, 2009 not to use the containers restaurants put your take home food you can't use or to eat."

Great, but the mayor should say to make smaller portions and charge less. Most of the time the take home food does not re-heat well and a person throws it out. So wasted container and wasted food.

Charge less and serve smaller portions.

Eda Kieth

West Seattle

Ho Hum our season's over

Yes the club is in relapse

So put to bed your bobble head

Reverse your rally caps

For once again our baseball team

Can neither hit nor throw

And like Big Brown, is running last

Though why, none seem to know

It's very clear, their play this year

Is hardly up to snuff

The class of 1958 of West Seattle High School celebrated its 50th Reunion June 6-8, 2008. The first activity was a golf tournament in the rain on Friday morning at Foster Golf Course followed in the evening by the All School Reunion held in the commons of the school. Over 175 alumni and guests enjoyed visiting, eating and having their group pictures taken thanks to Jay and Joanne of Murray Photography Studio.

Public safety cuts are necessary

By Dow Constantine

How would cutting 100 Sheriff's deputies affect police response times? How would a reduction of 30 deputy prosecutors impact our ability to put criminal suspects on trial?

These are examples of the grim decisions facing King County citizens and lawmakers as we confront a $68 million budget deficit for 2009 and a possible $80 million deficit in 2010.

How did this problem come to be?

The West Seattle Montessori has found a new location in White Center, leaving many parents upset and considering pulling their children out to go to other schools.

Last February, Harbor Properties bought the property on 38th Avenue Southwest between Fauntleroy and Alaska Street, where the Montessori school has been for 28 years.

On Saturday morning, a citizen called 911 to report a reckless driver on 35th SW. But a Metro driver found him before officers did, when the northbound driver crashed into the front of the southbound coach at about 5 miles per hour. When officers arrived, the suspect was seated on the curb, walked unsteadily when brought to his feet and was unable to complete many of the alcohol sobriety tests. A sergeant ran different tests and determined that the suspect was under the influence of a narcotic.

Schools in Ballard are doing a good job educating our children, but unless they are scoring 100 percent across the board there's always room for improvement, Seattle Schools superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson told a Ballard Rotary Club meeting.

Goodloe-Johnson said she does not discuss specific details about individual schools, but that the current district-wide academic statistics are not acceptable.