November 2008

The Council has passed legislation that will allow for a rezone of the area due west of 15th Avenue East and adjacent to West Dravus Street for residential units up to 85 feet and businesses at street level.

The upzone of the Interbay commercial district includes a provision that requires developers to provide a portion of the rental housing to people earning at 80 percent of the area median income or below, or pay into a fund to create such affordable housing.

"Our city needs more middle-income housing; this rezone helps meet that need through collaboration between the

See local music for the price of a can of soup and help out the Greenwood Food Bank at a benefit concert later this month.

Owner of the Ballard Sip and Ship, Diana Naramore, will host a concert at the Greenwood location Nov. 21, featuring Seattle indie band Ivan and Alyosha and special guests.

Naramore opened the Ballard store in October 2002 and in March she expanded to Greenwood.

This is not the first time Naramore has sponsored aid for people in need.

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

Thursday, Nov. 6, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence, 3rd Floor Commons

2445 3rd Ave. S.

Friday, Nov. 7, 10:00 to noon

John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence, Room 2750

Grover Partee has worked polling locations for three years. Nov. 4 he was working the Sunset Hill Community Club for the sixth time.

Partee said the club opened at 7 a.m. with a two-block long line.

"We couldn't even get them all in," he said while taking a break to puff on a cigar.

By noon, approximately 400 people had already voted and Partee said it was shaping up to be the largest turnout ever.

Ann Sutphen brought her daughter Kara Rhodes to vote with her at the Sunset Hill Community Club Nov.

A recent letter from Emelie McNett proposed a public park on Lake Burien, citing Arbor Lake as an example of a lake with public access.

I recently visited Arbor Lake, for the first time, and found what I expected to find at a public park in King County: graffiti, vandalism, trash, and evidence of illegal alcohol consumption.

I don't know how the residents of the shoreline of Lake Burien are taking care of the lake, but it has to be better than that.

A recent letter to the editor criticized me for supporting a bill to strengthen freedom of the press for student newspapers. Virtually every statement in the letter was factually incorrect.

First, the author claimed there have been no problems with censorship of student newspapers in Washington.

I am pleased to again share information encouraging students to apply to be a Washington Aerospace Scholar, a successful program which encourages high school juniors from across Washington State, especially those with an aptitude for math or science, to explore the challenges and opportunities awaiting them in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM.)

The program not only helps students explore career options but also addresses the national shortage in these fields.

Washington Aerospace Scholars provides students opportunities to study a NASA-designe

As I wake up late this Saturday morning, 10/25/08, thinking about what a long shift at work I will cover today, I look out over the sound at the ferries and hope the day will be sunny.

I wish I wasn't so tired but today marks another morning where my family and I are up late and dragging because the Burien Police had another round of helicopter training over my Shorewood on the Sound neighborhood from 2 a.m. until after 3 a.m.

We, and likely the entire community, were treated to loud, low-flying noise pollution by the Burien Police helicopter, once again.

SeaTac lawmakers said no to pawn shops and yes to a business park in a residential neighborhood during a lengthy Oct. 28 meeting.

Following comments by several SeaTac residents opposing pawn shops, council members unanimously declined to set regulations that would allowed a pawn shop at South 192nd Street and International Boulevard. The shop would have been in the old Dave's Diner site next to the? Casino.

Lawmakers also heard from residents against the business park at the former Boulevard Park school South 128th Street and 20th Avenue South.

The Bean Barry Delights are bringing their hand jiving, good time 1950s Rock and Roll dance party to the Burien Elks Lodge, Sunday Nov. 16.

The event will be a release party for their new CD entitled, "That Is Rock and Roll!"

It will also be a "Homecoming Dance" down memory lane for anyone who attended one of the high schools in the Highline School District (including Kennedy) from the 50s up to today.

Dancegoers are encouraged to dress to the theme of a '50s sock hop!

Admission to the show is $15 per person.