October 2008

Thank you for your coverage of the 36th District race for the open House of Representatives seat. I look forward to your interview with John Burbank in this week's issue (story published Oct. 15).

A major distinction between the two candidates needs to be emphasized - bringing to life the importance of "following the money." While John Burbank has refused all corporate contributions, more than four out of every $10 raised by Mr. Carlyle has come from corporations, business associations and corporate executives.

Mary Hawkinson is such a remarkable woman. More than that she is my angel. Her love and compassion spread throughout the Loyal Heights community, making our school a special place for children, families, and staff. I consider it an honor to call her my friend. Thank you for paying tribute to her years of service to all of us,

Clover Codd

Seattle

What about the impact this (former Sunset Bowl) property is currently having on the neighborhood?

I live on 14th Avenue Northwest and ride the bus, so I pass the abandoned Sunset Bowl and its deteriorating parking lot everyday. Not only is it an eye sore, it has already become an area you do not want to walk by in the evening.

I used to be able to walk to Safeway and/or Ballard Market in the evening and feel relatively safe.

Like many of you, I received my ballot in the mail recently and want to urge you to go all the way to the bottom and vote Yes on Seattle Proposition 2 to continue investing in parks and open space as our city continues to grow and become more dense.

We also recently received our Voters' Pamphlet, and I thought a response to the wildly misleading opposition statement was in order.

As a forward-thinking voter, I'll vote Yes because I know from experience how hard it is to acquire open space in a fast growing, underserved neighborhood like Ballard during a boom cycle, and th

The city-appointed board that reviews major mixed-use projects in the area was happier with the massing of a six-story 234-unit apartment building set to replace the Sunset Bowl at the second meeting to review the project, but they had some suggestions for improvements.

At the first design review in late July AvalonBay Communities Inc. presented its preferred design option to the Northwest Design Review Board. Board members said the massing and scale of the proposed building at 1400 N.W.

Seattle Police are going to start enforcing the use of the so-called Business Access and Transit lanes on Elliott Way and on 15th Avenue.

The curb lanes in both directions of this corridor have been converted to access and transit lanes as part of the paving project.

King County's AAA bond rating was recently renewed despite the world financial crisis.

"These ratings validate the quality of my balanced 2009 budget proposal and the six-month lifeboat we created using reserves to continue critical services while seeking state help," said King County Executive Ron Sims.

With two weeks left in the fall sports season, the Ballard High School girls soccer team is the only Beaver team with a winning record, and junior Sara Ives is one of the main reasons.

Ives' 11 goals this season - almost half the team's total - place her second in scoring in KingCo 4A behind Eastlake High School's Emily Hurd, who has 12.

This 2008 season isn't an isolated event for Ives, who has found success in soccer since she started playing in kindergarten.

Ives said her success is due to hard work and her natural speed.

"Just like anything, it t

I am a member of the North Highline Council and am opposed to annexation to Seattle for the following reasons.

We have lived in the area since 1953. Our children attended grade and high school in the area. We have everything we need in Burien from grocery stores to parks, libraries, etc.

And, in addition, our police and fireman that are there for us. We do not realize what they do for us until we need them, and believe me they do an excellent job.

In addition to the above, we have wonderful doctors, dentists and orthopedics, and an excellent hospital.

Kudos on the editorial from Lee Hamilton on "The 10 Commandments of Citizenship explained. "The timely article is a welcome reminder that our 'republic' form of government vs. 'representative democracy' as stated in the article is at all times in peril of becoming extinct.

No greater example of the travesty to our constitutional liberties is the bailout of our mortgage and banking institutions as referenced by Sen. Karen Keiser's accompanying article.