November 2008

The following information has been compiled from the Seattle Department of Planning and Development, which develops, administers, and enforces standards for land use, design, construction, and housing within the city. The department is also responsible for long-range planning in Seattle. It also works in conjunction with appointed volunteer design boards across the city that reviews private development projects. Only commercial and multi-family developments that exceed a certain size threshold in certain land use zones are reviewed.

9076 Holman Rd.

Several Ballard businesses stayed open late on Saturday Nov. 8, to showcase local artists and participate in the monthly Ballard Art Walk.

At the boutique Ella Mon, Natasha Lady Krishna, showcased her collection "Bhakti Baby," where many of her paintings portrayed boats and ships.

"I started doing ships about 10 years ago, when I moved from New York to here and I was living in my parents attic," said Krishna.

Many parents at last week's North Seattle School Fair said they were concerned about the quality of education and environment that their kids will be graduating into.

Parents from all over North Seattle researched schools for their kids at the fair on Nov. 6. Both public and private schools (kindergarten through middle school) were equipped with information booths and representatives at St. Alphonsus Family Center in Ballard.

"We're trying to get a feel for what to do," said Stuart Isett, a Ballard parent.

In case you haven't heard, the Sound Transit 2 ballot initiative passed on Nov.4. After reading the Sound Transit 2 ballot initiative proposal in my Voter's Guide, I couldn't help but notice that Ballard, Fremont, Magnolia and West Seattle are pretty much being left out of the plan for now but we are being expected to pay for it.

Don't get me wrong, I think it is a good idea to expand mass transit service to the rest of the Puget Sound region.

For the next three months, Seattle Public Schools will hold a series of public meetings to discuss a new district-wide Student Assignment Plan.

Friday, Nov. 14, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Northgate Community Center, 10510 5th Ave. N.E.

Saturday, Nov. 15, 10:00 to noon

Delridge Community Center; 4501 Delridge Way S.W.

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Mark Benedum's kids used to introduce him like this:

"This is my dad. He runs a hospital, but he's not a real doctor."

While he may not be a "real" doctor, Benedum is still an important asset to Highline Medical Center in Burien.

"As a CEO, I keep the Board [of Trustees] informed and make sure people have what they need to get the job done. A lot of what I do is meetings, coordination and strategic planning," he said.

While Benedum has only been CEO for two years, he has been with Highline for 24, starting out as associate administrator.

On his first return visit to district headquarters since he retired in June 2005, former Highline School District superintendent Joe McGeehan received a lifetime achievement award.

McGeehan is the second person to earn the award from the Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence. Former superintendent Carl Jensen was the first.

A recent Wall Street Journal article listed Seattle as the number one market in the nation to begin bouncing back from the economic slump. That news brings a smile to the faces of Phyllis and David Danforth, who have some news of their own. They have just completed the purchase of Coldwell Banker Del Bianco Realty in Burien.

The Danforths have been a Coldwell Banker affiliate since 1993, with principal offices in Federal Way and boast 250 agents on their roster.

The King County Sheriff's office budget will be cut by over 11 percent next year and that could mean 79 employees will have to leave the department said Sheriff Sue Rahr, who is urging people to complain to county government right now.

Rahr spoke to alarmed North Highline residents recently at a town hall meeting called "Public Safety in Peril" at the Steve Cox Memorial Park log cabin in White Center.

Burien and SeaTac contract with the Sheriff's office for police services, but according to Sheriff's office spokesman John Urquhart, the cuts won't impact the two cities.

Seamount’s No. 1 seed, Kennedy, took on the South Puget Sound League 3A No.1 seed Sumner in the battle of who would get the No.