September 2008

The days of sock hops, soda fountains and roller rinks are only a distant memory of what kids and teens look forward to when the weekend hits.

As iPod, Internet and video games take center stage it's a wonder what will become of the few roller rinks left like the Southgate Skate Center in White Center.

When Pop Brown converted the original boxing ring to White Center's Southgate Skate Center at 9646 17th Ave. S.W.

The Burien Planning Commission meeting room was packed Sept. 23 as residents of Lake Burien came to protest the proposed rezoning of two portions of the Ruth Dykeman Children's Center property.

The children's center, which is currently designated as one of five special planning areas, petitioned the city to rezone approximately two acres of its property for potential residential development.

Nearly an acre of land bordering 10th Avenue South and Saint Elizabeth's Episcopal Church, if approved, would be designated high density.

National Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 5-11. The theme of this year's campaign, "Prevent Home Fires," focuses on preventing the leading causes of home fires - cooking, heating and electrical equipment, and smoking materials.

While most people feel safe in their homes, the reality is that home fires are much more common than people might think.

There were nearly 400,000 home fires reported in 2006 in the United States, resulting in more than 2,500 civilian deaths and 12,500 civilian injuries.

The clock struck one and the 22 "Nickelsville" tent city residents who still remained at 7115 West Marginal Way SW packed up their possessions and vacated, some with the persuasion of the police. The officers did a sweep while residents and volunteers frantically packed up the city like a western movie set relocating. Those who did not cooperate were arrested and held temporarily at the Southwest Precinct. Over 130 homeless lived there since it opened Monday.

If you can run or walk and want to help women dealing with breast cancer, your opportunity comes on Sunday, September 28th in the form of the 5th Annual Alki Beach Walk/Run.

All proceeds go to benefit the West Seattle based Northwest Hope and Healing Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping women battling breast cancer. The 5K route will begin at the Statue of Liberty at Alki Beach Park, and continue along the West Seattle waterfront to Anchor Park.

Each participant is encouraged to gather pledges of $100 or more.

(Note: This letter was addressed to Mr. Tim Gallagher, Parks Superintendent Seattle Parks and Recreation. A copy was sent to the West Seattle Herald/White Center News.)

Dear Mr. Gallagher,

As you may be aware, Tim St. Clair, a former reporter for the West Seattle Herald, passed away earlier this year. Mr. St. Clair was a resident of the Morgan Junction neighborhood, and a highly respected member of the West Seattle community as a whole. He was a professional journalist who was dedicated to the residents of West Seattle.

Please keep those poems from Carol Smith coming! As a subscriber I look forward to her work as one of the highlights of my week. Her "Poe service" this week was particularly fun.

T. Warren

Seattle

Three open houses scheduled on options for replacement. Two meetings have already been held however they have not been reported by the major news media. It must be evident the meetings and public input wasn't important enough for media coverage. Most people feel that the downtown section of the viaduct is already a done deal and any comment is a waste of time and effort. Our research over the past year of meetings has proved to us that the City Surface Street option plan has been adopted and all we're getting now is lip service.

The Puget Sound lowland forests were once dominated by dense coniferous forests made up of western red cedar, western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). These forests represented both a valuable resource and an obstacle to agriculture.

I don't ever remember hearing or reading that "single use" bags were going to "solve" our environmental woes! But, come on! Give it a rest! It will "help" the environment.

How many plastic bags do you need in your life? If you don't want to re-use bags, then pay the "bag tax." Simple solution.

Yes, I think 20 cents is a bit much but even people who can't afford to pay the "bag tax" can save their previous bags, or, most stores have a big bin by the doors where people deposit the bags they don't want, take some from there.

I've used my own bags for years.