September 2009

I am writing to strongly request that you, please, publicize the recommendation by King County Executive Kurt Triplett and his county council members to shut down the King County Animal Care and Control Center (KCACC.)

If KCACC is shut down, who will tend to the 12,000 plus homeless animals that will be roaming the neighborhoods, suffering, dying needless deaths, causing untold car accidents and injury to citizens?

The KCACC provides a huge public service to we citizens. Also, King County is responsible for providing animal control and shelter services.
Will you, please, be a voice for those who cannot speak?

Sue Larson
Des Moines

Who ever thought a Staples commercial could be so controversial?

You know the commercial I mean.

With Andy Williams crooning that old holiday chestnut in the background ("It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year") the parents are looking forward with great delight to kids going back to school.

Meanwhile, the kids are sad. I have discovered something about that commercial.

No one feels lukewarm about it.

You have the parents who hate the message it sends - you know, that message that we all feel a bit uncomfortable about. Summer is hard. Kids are around and it is hard for many to keep their professional lives going, let alone find daycare and hold it all together.

I have heard plenty of parents comment - rather passionately, I might add - how much they disagree with the Staples commercial.

They mourn the end of summer, and hate the loss of the relaxed, lazy summer routine. They don't like the message of "Thank God the kids are going back to school." They couldn't disagree more.

Then there is the second crowd. The commercial cracks them up because it so aptly describes their feelings. They are ready for a break, ready for routine.

Have you visited the City of Des Moines lately and wondered what the heck happened here, other than an incredibly active wrecking ball?

If there isn't yellow plastic "keep out' banners at favorite stopping places, surely those dreadful orange traffic cones/barrels are nearby.
Construction and man-made facilities today are not conducive to inspiring local folks or visitors. Still, Des Moines has a treasured heritage of natural beauty, and we must believe the intent of this seemingly construction war-zone justifies the means.

Nature's beauty is magnificent in many directions; the rolling jagged peaks of the Olympic Mountains, stately beauty of Mount Rainier, Puget Sound as ships pass by, and blazing sunsets of orange and black glistening off silver white-cap waves make breathtaking views.
While Nature is still in business, mankind's contributions materialize as "gone bonkers."

Des Moines Marina is torn up with construction.

Federally-recognized historical Beach Park is in disarray with existing public buildings unusable to citizens, except for the Founders Lodge Camp KHAOS summer kids program and occasional rental.

Burien's free community Wellness Fair is just what the doctor ordered for anyone seeking the latest and best in today's healthcare.

Whatever your health concern may be, and whatever your age, don't miss the opportunity to talk to health care professionals at the Wellness Fair in Burien Town Square on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Discover the plentiful quality healthcare resources available right here.

Burien's sizable and well-respected medical community will showcase what it has to offer and share its skills with the public at no charge.

The fair will focus as much on preventing health problems as on curing them, and will feature lots of interactive exhibits such as free health screenings, healthy cooking and exercise demonstrations, wellness information, samples, fire safety, block watch program, and much more. There will also be entertainment.

Among the healthcare specialties represented are dentistry and orthodontics, audiology and optometry, physical rehabilitation and therapy services, massage therapy, psychiatric counseling, prosthetics, and drug and alcohol addiction treatment.

Puget Sound Skills Center (PSSC) in Burien will host a community open house on Sept. 23 from 5- 7 p.m. for parents and students interested in learning more about the opportunities available at the school.

In addition to tours of the school, an endless pasta bar will be served in the student-run Class Act restaurant on site.

Director Sue Shields commented, "Our students have an amazing opportunity to gain hands-on experience, at no cost to the student or family, in very marketable employment sectors. Our programs feed directly into college course study as well as apprenticeship and technical programs."

PSSC launched a strategic planning process on Sept. 4 that, once completed, will serve as a road map for the school in establishing goals - and strategies to get there, designing programs, and identifying key performance indicators.

This work will be done in support of Highline Public Schools district-wide mission of preparing all students for college, career, and citizenship and with an eye toward the changing landscape of 21st century employment.

Marvista Elementary in Normandy Park welcomed students in a brand new building when bells rang on the first day of the school year, Wednesday, Sept. 9.

The main components of the building -- classrooms, lunchroom, and common areas -- were completed on time and on budget. Finishing touches, such as landscaping and playfields, will be completed in the next few weeks.

The community is invited to a Grand Opening Celebration scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 24 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. There will be a short program beginning at 5:45 p.m. with tours and dinner following.

Principal Rebekah Kim commented, "There has been so much collaboration and hard work that has gone into the design and completion of our building. We are so thankful and blessed to have this beautiful new home. We can't wait to open our building for the community to see later this month."

PTSA President Ashley Fosberg said, "Its even more spectacular than we could have imagined. We're thrilled to have a beautiful and functional place for our children to learn and grow. Now we can be just as proud of our building as we are of all of the activities and learning it supports."

This coming weekend, the Highline Performing Arts Center will be filled with flappers, tap dancers, platinum blondes and a rich widow named "Muzzy."

If this all sounds like a rollicking good time at the theater, you are right.

The Hi-Liners will open their fall production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" at the Highline Performing Arts Center, 401 S. 152nd St., this Saturday, Sept. 19.

Fresh from presenting two preview performances last weekend at Renton's Carco Theater, the energetic and talented youth with the Hi-Liners are ready and raring to go.

Based on the Julie Andrews movie musical of the same name, "Millie" is the story of young Millie Dillmount (Alexzandra Gorski) who comes to town to be a modern woman in 1922 New York, start a career as a stenographer and marry her boss.

Along the way, she befriends Miss Dorothy Brown (Jordan Kimmel), an aspiring actress from California. The two ambitious ladies move into a hotel run by the mysterious Mrs. Meers (Kate Moyer) who, upon hearing that Miss Dorothy is an orphan, dramatically laments that it is so "sad to be alone in the world."

Restrictive building codes make it hard for businesses to thrive in the Pacific Ridge area, Des Moines lawmakers were told at their Sept. 10 meeting.

Concerns about auto repair zoning are once again resurfacing and the council is still divided on what direction to take.

The issue at hand is whether or not one or more general automotive business can open within a multi-tenant building.
The zoning code for the Pacific Ridge area allows for a maximum of three auto repair shops. It does not stipulate if two businesses in the same building count as one or as two.

Concerns about the restrictive coding were brought to the city by Roy Dunn, an auto repair shop owner, last winter when, due to the wording of city code, he was unable to lease out parts his building to other auto repair businesses.

When Dunn built his auto repair shop, a mechanic who worked there leased out part of the building. When the mechanic moved on, Dunn was unable to lease out that part to anyone, although he had plenty of applicants.

On Sept. 19, King County Metro Transit will begin changes that increase bus rider connections to light rail service at Sound Transit's Link station in Tukwila.

More than 20 Metro bus routes are being revised to reduce duplication of transit services and better connect with light rail service.
Some routes will have more frequent service in the morning and evening, and some routes will see service revised, reduced or discontinued.

More bus changes are scheduled for next February in southwest King County, following the opening of the SeaTac/Airport Link station.

This fall, changes for southeast Seattle, Tukwila, Des Moines, Burien, and Federal Way include:

• New Route 124 will replace Route 174 service between the Tukwila International Boulevard Link Station and downtown Seattle;

• New Route 129 will operate peak-period trips between the Tukwila International Boulevard Link Station and neighborhoods to the north and west, replacing some of Route 170;

• Route 154 will no longer operate between Tukwila and Auburn, but the number of trips between the Tukwila Sounder Station and Federal Center South will double;

On a rainy Sunday, Sept. 6th the Des Moines Marina was the site of the 17th annual Italian Concours d'Elegance, which featured nearly 100 Italian sports cars and motorcycles of different makes and models.

The number of cars and attendees was down dramatically from last year, due to the weather, but a hardcore group came out and endured the rain with good spirits.

Ninety cars, representing Italian auto makers Ferrari, Maserati, FIAT, and Alfa Romeo, among others, filled the north marina parking lot.

Last year, there were over 140 cars and bikes lining the marina parking spaces, Italian Concours d'Elegance director Mike Wilson said. On Friday before the event, 118 vehicles were preregistered. Wilson said they were expecting a better turnout than last year, until the rain started on Saturday night.

Still, Wilson said the people there all seemed to be having a lot of fun.

The Concours partnered with the Make a Wish Foundation four years ago, selling raffle tickets to win various donated items.
For the last two years the biggest item has been a scooter, worth over $2,000, given by an anonymous donor. The raffle raised $3,700 last year for the foundation.