December 2009

Tired of trying to cram Styrofoam packing blocks into your garbage can after Christmas? They’re now recyclable!

Just toss them in the car and bring them to Federal Way City Hall, 33325 8th Ave. S., between Dec. 28, 2009, and Jan.15, 2010.

A collection bin will be set up in the lobby on the first floor which is open 7:15 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays.

“Even though you can’t yet recycle the Styrofoam blocks curbside, it’s great that we can offer this extra service to residents,” said Jeanette Brizendine, the City’s Recycling Manager.

In fact, the City would like to develop a permanent Styrofoam collection site in South King County. The temporary station at City Hall will help to gauge the size of the permanent location.

Due to quality requirements, only clean Styrofoam blocks can be accepted; this means no peanuts, cups, food trays, foam sheeting, plastic wrap, or other plastics. Packing peanuts may be dropped off for re-use at most local shipping outlets.

It was a furtherance of four minutes that proved fruitful in a fulfillment of victory on Monday night at the Gator Dome.

Relying on defense at critical times, Class 4A South Puget Sound League Decatur broke into the win column for the first time after six losses in a 45-41 non league overtime win against Class 3A Seamount League Highline.

“This group of players plays outstanding defense,” testified Decatur head coach Kevin Rawie. “After a summer without playing together, these girls continue to learn to play together. We’re capable and have a lot of heart. The girls just dig down deep.”

In overtime, Takiya Flowers fed Alexis Cole for a layin to give the Gators a 38-36 lead. Amber Coughran countered with a Pirate free throw before Flowers stole the ball at midcourt and drove to the basket for a 40-37 Decatur margin. Samantha Erben got free on the back side for a lay up as Highline drew within 40-39. Flowers then faced up from the top of the key beyond the three-point arc and bombed home the goal for a 43-39 Gator advantage with 1:17 remaining in the overtime.

Being quick on the draw served the Seattle Christian boys basketball team well in a Tuesday night 61-28 non-league defeat of outmanned Class 2B Tacoma Baptist in the night cap of a girls’ and boys’ double-header at the Seattle Christian Events Center.

“We came out with great intensity to start the game,” exclaimed Warrior head coach Shaun DeYager. “We’ve been working hard on that. I’m happy with our defensive effort. We really knocked them back. MacKinnon Simpson stepped up with big shots.”

Seattle Christian got the drop early. Simpson’s opening lay in followed by Micheal Watts’ three-point goal triggered an 11-0 Warrior scoring surge to open the game. The run featured steals, quick breaks and rebounding strength.

Tacoma Baptist fought back as SCS injected reserve players into the system and drew within 11-4 before Shawn Doi pilfered the ball and fed Kyle Mindemann a lay in to give the Warriors a 13-4 lead going into the second quarter.

Leading only 15-9 midway through the second quarter, Seattle Christian went on a 15-point rampage that was started by two quick Simpson field goals and culminated by a Simpson three-point missile.

Defending Class 1A girls state basketball champion Seattle Christian exhibited its excellent elements for 2009-2010 super success while running its overall season record to 6-1 in a 66-27 non league home demolition of Class 2B SeaTac League Tacoma Baptist on Tuesday night. SCS has only lost to Class 4A Kentlake.

“We have a little different look this year,” stated Warrior head coach Bob Kickner. “We graduated five seniors and our younger players are just now starting to blend. We’ll be faster this year and not depend so much on the big girls inside. On defense, we’ll attack with pressure and on offense we’ll take the ball down court faster. Team captains Kara Kogle, Katie Collier and Lexi Petersen will be our main core. Katie will be a strong rebounder and Lexi is quick on the court.”

Friends Adell and Madeline enjoy their new Christmas scooters on a warm and sunny Dec. 26 at jack Block Park on Alki.

"We're just like sisters," said Madeline as they strolled in unison.

I’ve seen the signs, but I never thought they applied to me. Ballard Little League. Sign up now.

My daughter is in college now and ,after just one semester, drinking coffee for the first time in her obviously misspent Seattle youth.

It was just the two of us from the time that she was less than 3 years old.

Before he died, her father taught her how to pitch a tent and together they assembled her first tricycle.

He gave instructions on future house maintenance, but he didn’t leave me directions on how to provide a sports education for Emily. Did I fail?

Little did I know she could have been playing hard ball in Ballard starting at the age of 8.

Ballet with Miss Louise, Little Feet soccer with Wallingford Boys & Girls Club, modern dance and one season of basketball, but she could have played either hard ball or soft ball all the way through the majors, juniors and seniors.

Still, she had a grandfather who loved sports. As a child he played sandlot ball in Fort Wayne, Ind., was ground crew for the Women’s League Team Fort Wayne Daisies and was even a sportswriter.

On Dec. 22, West Seattle resident Elaine Cornell, backed by her employer Umpqua Bank, made a generous $500 donation to Northwest Kidney Centers as part of the "Associate Giving Campaign". Cornell's name was chosen from bank employees in Washington state to receive the $500 donation to give to a charity of her choice. This is one way the bank celebrates the holidays. Cornell chose Northwest Kidney Centers because in 1988 she was a dialysis patient there for about six months, until she received a kidney transplant from her sister RoseAnne Tobelaine of Snohomish.
Cornell has written an essay about the gift she received, her family and her thoughts about her treatment.

The Gift I Received and why I want to give to the Northwest Kidney Centers

By Elaine Cornell

Winning the first prize in the Associate Giving Campaign has given me a great opportunity to, in part, give back to an organization and foundation that was there for me during my greatest time of need and express to my gratitude for the “Gift of Life” I received from my sister.

11th District state Representative Zach Hudgins is the right choice to fill the County Council District 8 vacancy.

More than half of District 8 lies outside West Seattle: Vashon/Maury, North Highline, Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila, Normandy Park. District 8 has been represented by a Seattle resident since nigh on to forever.

As a consequence, unincorporated area and suburban city issues have not received the attention they deserve. Seattle has plenty of representatives on the council; we need someone to represent ALL of us.

Zach is an able and respected legislator in one of the most diverse districts in the county. Once you get out of West Seattle, diversity zooms and community issues become complicated by the mix of jurisdictions.

Zach understands that complexity and how to get to mutual solutions. His viewpoint will be more representative of the mix of District 8 residents.

Moderate and progressive, Zach works well with those around him and establishes effective partnerships. Zach will represent the diversity of social, economic and political interests of a dynamic council district. The county council members should choose Zach to represent us.

It's a New Year and what a turbulent 2009 it replaces. War, rumors of war, economic tragedies, greed, unstable people killing police officers and children abused by their own families.

Somewhere good news thrives, yet seldom found in Web sites or newspaper headlines.

A brisk north wind took a bite from the comfort of my walk, as I pulled my coat closer and wondered what this new year of 2010 holds in store.

Sure wish I'd listened and wore that soft wool hat to pull over my now cold ears. Hindsight is 20-20. Maybe that's part of this world's problem, we're not really listening to each other.

Nary a soul was in sight in Beach Park. With construction disruption going on both here and at the marina, it is no surprise folks go elsewhere.

When disorder and upheaval environment interrupts constructive thinking, subconsciously, that creates agitation.

Author, Lillian Too, describes it in her "Little Book of Feng Shui," a respected and ancient practice devoted to restoring peace and harmony.

The street scene you see was the way things looked in 1924. And 26 years later when we bought the White Center News from then publisher Dean Phares, the historic intersection was not too different.

Roxbury Street, the city limits for Seattle, served as the dividing line for the blue laws, which forbid drinking on Sundays.

Omar Schau bought the bakery where it stands in the picture and eventually retired and turned it over to son John who learned the bakery business and did the driving of a delivery truck to Burien and West Seattle stores. He is now residing at the Providence St Vincent home in West Seattle.

His sister Helen was once owner of the Hideaway Restaurant on the same block shown.

The main street was and still is16th Southwest, but the trolley tracks which led to Burien were torn out and there was only a strip of concrete down the middle with huge puddles on both sides til 1952 when Omar Schau arranged a local improvement district and the county paved the road on both sides south to 108th Southwest.