July 2008

Elizabeth gazed across the harbor to the war ships as they sailed into Elliot Bay. She held her mother's hand.

Teddy Roosevelt's Great White Fleet, on a world tour, arrived in Seattle. It was May 23, 1908. More than 400,000 citizens attended the gala and if not for a doctor's order, Elizabeth might not have seen it at all.

Elizabeth DeGroote, nee Gambee, was born October 8, 1901 in Chicago. She moved with her family to Seattle's Capitol Hill area in 1902.

By 1904 a younger sister developed breathing problems.

For over 60 children and adults, a dip into the Sound was a warm, spiritual experience, even though some got cold feet. During a recent Thursday sunset at Golden Gardens Park, a baptism celebration was attended by Mars Hill Church members. The baptisms were preceded by a barbeque dinner, live music, and testimonies on stage.

Several stood before a crowd of hundreds to say they were newly converted to Christianity as a result of diversity in their personal lives. Some sited drug addiction, others pointed to troubled childhoods in the face of divorce and hostility in their homes.

The District 7 Majors representative -- Pac West -- did a good job representing the area in fastpitch, having fun winning two games before losing two in the All Stars Little League State Tournament held at the Walla Walla Pacific Complex starting Friday, July 11 and going a full week for those that played in the championship.

It was expected for them to maybe win one game of that kind while there in sweet onion country in the southeast corner of Washington State. But to win two games was more than the goal for manager Tom Kelly.

Meet Suzie Burke

The Iron Lady from White Center, schooled at Holy Family Elementary and Holy Names, and now Queen of Fremont.

Eldest daughter of Joe and Florence Burke, she is poured from the same mold.

Charming, affable, a mind honed on a razor strap, Suzie was born to play keeper of the Burke legend.

I met Joe, now deceased, way back in 1950 when he was living at the mouth of Salmon Creek, where it flows into the Sound in the Shorewood community of Burien.

He owned the water system for the whole area.

Under a sunny sky on Saturday, June 28, Burien residents happily strolled the Strawberry and Arts Festival--the city's traditional signal that summer is finally here.

Along with the strawberry shortcake stand, craft booths and entertainment stages, the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department demonstrated fire safety to youngsters.

I was pleased to find all the articles related to the Burien fire in your last issue. They really helped the reader get up close to the situation and clue us in on how we can support our neighbors during their time of crisis.

It also made me think about a fire escape plan for my own family.

For those who haven't heard through the grapevine, Aviation High School (AHS) juniors are eligible to participate in the Running Start program.

Previously, AHS limited participation in the Running Start program to seniors.

In response to the article "Death Initiative Petitions Filed" published in the July 3rd edition of the Seattle Times, I am appalled by the use of pejorative language such as "Supporters of a so-called 'Death with Dignity' initiative..." So-called?

Then, throughout the article, the word "suicide" is repeated. The bias is pretty clear.

In your reporting, as an alternative to the Seattle Times, I ask you to reconsider any use of the word "suicide."

The Death With Dignity Act is not about "suicide".

Well, I just got another set of phone books on my porch to add to my already swelling number of practically identical ones from previous years.

Here's a thought, why doesn't the phone company give homes the option to have a phone book on DVD for their computer.

Since there is a large majority that has computers and probably use them already to find numbers and addresses this would be a natural progression.

Not to mention the attractiveness of pleasing the ''greenies" out there, it would undoubtedly save trees and lessen amounts in landfills.

I realiz

The Fourth of July celebration of the United States Independence Day is past and I give a sigh of relief.

There is a change of the meaning of this day or the attitude we question.