August 2008

The city plans to begin implementing Surveyor, a power management software, for about 10,000 of its laptop and desktop computers.

Once installed the software will monitor personal computer use patterns and turn off machines when they are not needed. By creating efficiencies without impacting productivity the city estimates it could save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to more than 200 passenger vehicles or 100 homes a year.

"Computer technology helps government operate more efficiently and better serve the people of Seattle.

Seattle is making it easier for people to garden the natural way by offering discounts on compost bins.

Residents can save more than $100 on high-quality compost bins while building healthy soils and helping their plants to thrive.

Carl Woestwin, landscape conservation manager at Seattle Public Utilities, said that by composting at home consumers could have beautiful gardens without resorting to chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

"Composting at home is easy to do and you get a great natural soil builder to use in your garden," said Woestwin.

Retiring after 38 years, Bob Wenman sat in a chair next to his name, painted on the basketball court at the Ballard Boys and Girls Club recently.

The staff wanted to preserve the moment, setting up a video camera to record his interview with the News-Tribune. Wenman's last day as athletic director was August 1.

He attended Central Washington University to study to be a teacher.

With the election less than two weeks away, King County Elections is still looking for people to fill nearly 4,000 poll worker positions.

"King County hasn't yet made the transition to all-mail voting and poll workers are still needed to help ensure that poll voters can cast their vote on Election Day," said Sherril Huff, King County elections director.

Dangerous plastic bottles

By Barbara Sims

You need to get rid of the plastic bottles. Health Canada is about to declare the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), found in hard plastics like baby bottles, water coolers, plastic toys, water bottles, pacifiers, plastic containers, tin cans and bottled water containers a danger to human health and the environment.

This will be the first regulatory body in the world to do so, even though a 2006 report by U.S.

Landlords and property owners will now play a greater role in combating crime on properties in North Highline and other unincorporated areas in King County under legislation adopted last week by the King County Council.

The "Safer Neighborhoods Ordinance" brings landlords and tenants together with the King County Sheriff's Office for the first time to combat drugs and violent crimes in the unincorporated areas.

Often when a discussion of educational problems begins, the excuse offered for shortcomings becomes "it's a cultural change."

True enough, there have been many cultural changes over the past 50 years and behaviors that were totally unacceptable 50 years ago are now either considered "tolerable" or acceptable.

Sadly many of these changes have not been positive for education.

Recently I received an e-mail from a correspondent demeaning the effects of the media on any serious discussion of education.

There are certainly evidences that would support his

If you did not know it, I do carpentry when I'm not typing up stuff for this newspaper.

For the largest part of my life, I've felt more comfortable with things that I can see and feel, modify with my own hands.

Though I can visualize and conceptualize enough to get by in business settings, especially with construction stuff, things that are made with computer chips, batteries and flash memory I tend to avoid.

But little by little, the luddite in me has been won over.

It started with the computer itself.

To the Editor:

Where have the flags at the Aquatic Center gone? First thought is, how much did these flag poles cost, including installation, plus electricity? Approx 36 of them, where did they go? Where are they you ask?

This is on 336th, passing the Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

For fans of music in our city, the Federal Way Symphony routinely brings to the stage some of the most talented performers from Puget Sound and around the world.

This summer is no exception, as the Symphony has invited Susan Egan to join their talented lineup for an evening of music during the Summer Pops 2008.

The Federal Way Symphony wants you to join them August 16 under the Big Tent at the Dumas Bay Centre for a wonderful summer evening of pops, with Susan Egan, an acclaimed Broadway, film and television actress, and talented singer.

Egan has traversed all