September 2008

No matter what the city does, the homeless just will not simply go away.

This was evident when police shoved campers off city land near West Seattle - urged on by a mayor who says homeless should have permanent homes while doing little to make that happen.

Last week so-called Nickelsville was shoved out of its existence on city land on West Marginal Way but quickly found a temporary "home" in a Washington State Department of Transportation parking lot at 7115 W.

We were raised at Alki Beach

By one whose passion was to teach

To seventh graders, prose and verse

Though many thought no job was worse

With humor and a stubborn will

She filled their heads with books until

They knew that reading's where you find

The pathway to an open mind

And I, with sister, side by side

Would listen to her read, wide eyed

I would like to inform all of the neighborhoods that (are) thinking about turning lots into city parks.

This is what's happening at the Ercolini Playfield (not a park). The sign states that the playfield is open from 4 a.m. and closes at 11:30 p.m.

With this in mind, I would like to remind everyone that construction workers have from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturdays to get their work done.

So at 4 a.m. the city comes to the playfield with a "Honey bucket" pumper and sucks out the contents of this toilet.

"Viaduct session draws crowd" (Sept. 24) says Julie Enevoldsen's "husband, Stan, works as a chemist in Ballard." This revealing piece of investigative journalism led to a spirited discussion between me and my wife, Julie.

Keith Enevoldsen

Arbor Heights

Great article, funny thing is that Tripp even uses the word "hit" in the last sentence in his teachings. Hmm, you think that spanking and hitting are the same?

My hope is that this rally will help save one child, perhaps educate even one family, on the dangers of people misunderstanding, misinterpretting God's word. Remember, Matthew in the New Testament is very clear what Jesus speaks about when it comes to His children.

Greg Larson

Seattle

A note of appreciation to the West Seattle Herald for publishing Matthew Miller and Rose Egge's recent article covering issues affecting the Cottage Grove and wider North Delridge neighborhood as it relates to Sealth High's recent relocation into the Boren Interim School site.

Matthew has also attended past neighborhood events such as our Octoberpress Apple Cider event.

Thank you for your article (on spanking, Sept. 24).

I do have to have to point out that there was no yelling at the church though. I asked people if they would like more Christian child rearing information and one of the other protesters said that Jesus wouldn't hit, but we didn't yell nor did the church parishioners.

I do admit there were some pretty rude comments and at one time there was a brief verbal exchange, but most of the yelling came from passersby who honked and yelled their support.

Joanne Brayden

West Seattle

Mark Wainwright of the Admiral Neighborhood Asscociation should have his facts right before writing his letter to the editor ("Headline a Disservice," Thursday Sept. 25).

The facts are:

- Department of Neighborhoods Application Review comments conclude, "There is a chance that the Parks Department does not support the project at this time due to the size and location of the park. The park (at) California Avenue and Southwest Hill Street is between a green area and a parking lot that belongs to a church and right next to a busy arterial.

When Jill Wakefield was diagnosed with breast cancer last year she found herself reevaluating her life.

As she battled the life-threatening illness she contemplated what mattered most to her. What she discovered was a renewed determination to invest time in a job she's passionate about.

"My job is really great because everyday I know I make a difference in the life of a student," said Wakefield, president of South Seattle Community College since 2003.

While some of Seattle's public elementary schools are over capacity, other student populations are dropping. Looking at current enrollment, as well as 10-year projections, the Seattle School Board is planning to reallocate resources so that schools might address these demographic changes.

The goal is to minimize both student wait lists and the costs created by schools over capacity.