June 2008

I tell stories to important people

By Lauri Hennessey

The other day my seven year-old son asked me what I did for a living. When you are seven there are livings that are easy to understand, of course. Teacher? Easy. Firefighter? Cool. Dentist, doctor, store owner. All graspable.

Try explaining to a 1st grader that you do public relations.

This challenge has been bouncing around my mind as I read the flap over Scott McClellan's book. The former White House spin doctor now admits he lied on the job. Most of America isn't surprised.

'Leatherheads' downright fun

Directed by George Clooney

Rated PG-13

(Three Stars)

By Bruce Bulloch

The opening scenes of "O Brother, Where Art thou?" were a revelation.

West Seattle lost another old friend this week. Not flesh and blood, but still with great heart and soul.

The Corner Inn on California and Fauntleroy locked its doors for good (see story, Page One). While others have had a much longer history with "the Corner," none will miss it more than I.

On the south side, it was an old style, hard to find anymore "greasy spoon" cafe - complete with coffee counter and booths. It had struggled of late with frequent management turnovers.

Honoring Tim St. Clair

By Rinda T. Hayes

Three months it's been, since the ravages of pancreatic cancer took my friend, Tim St. Clair. I had watched as it had turned him into a belly-bulging bag of bones. I hate that he's gone.

His was an insatiable curiosity. He still had so many stories to write, people to interview, places to explore. How he loved poking his nose in to every nook and cranny of West Seattle, the place he'd called home for 20 years. On weekends he'd often putt down I-5 to visit us in Portland. He was family to us.

Tell Coast Guard to keep bridge open

By Tom Rasmussen

West Seattle residents and businesses will see major road projects in the West Seattle bridge corridor begin in the next several years. Construction to widen and improve the Spokane Street viaduct and the inevitable Alaskan Way viaduct project may cause tremendous traffic delays.

Jackton and Amy Downard found their dog Max at the

Animal Shelter on 15th N.W. in 2000 but they aren't quite sure what breed he is because he is so tall. He weighs 113 pounds. "He's a lab-stallion mix," offered Amy. Max is a wonderful swimmer but he does have an issue with that. If he isn't swimming out to fetch a stick or a ball, he swims in circles. "Amy has had to swim out twice and bring him back," said Jackton. For a large dog with possible horse genes he seems unaware of his own size. "He likes to be a lap dog," said Amy, "and he was until we got the new couch."

I tell stories to important people

By Lauri Hennessey

The other day my seven year-old son asked me what I did for a living. When you are seven there are livings that are easy to understand, of course. Teacher? Easy. Firefighter? Cool. Dentist, doctor, store owner. All graspable.

Try explaining to a 1st grader that you do public relations.

This challenge has been bouncing around my mind as I read the flap over Scott McClellan's book. The former White House spin doctor now admits he lied on the job. Most of America isn't surprised.

'Leatherheads' downright fun

Directed by George Clooney

Rated PG-13

(Three Stars)

By Bruce Bulloch

The opening scenes of "O Brother, Where Art thou?" were a revelation.

Unless you are a total Bushie or have spent the past couple of years selling oil in Saudi Arabia, you understand that the world is using up our natural resources at a breakneck pace and turning our once pristine earth into a giant toxic waste dump.

We have to change and we should be thinking like we need to change.

We cannot keep shipping our garbage to eastern Washington or Oregon - even the Hawaiians on Oahu are getting ready to ship their garbage in ships bound for the Columbia River and thence to eastern Oregon.

Oil is spiraling toward $150 a barrel and OPE

The Parks Department proposal to close the beach fires under the Seattle Climate Action Now recommendation is an attempt to make an end run around the community's wishes and should be strongly opposed.

It is the Parks Department's responsibility to provide recreational facilities to the citizens of Seattle for their myriad uses. It is not the Parks Department's right to dictate local climate policy. That duty belongs to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.