March 2010

I live in the 16200 block of 15th Avenue Southwest in Gregory Heights. Recently with the construction of the third runway I have noticed a substantial increase in the ambient noise from Sea-Tac airport.

It seems to be especially loud in the evenings. I sometimes think that I can even feel the vibrations caused by revving of the jet engines before they take off.

I know that there is not much one can do, but as to the lessening the impact of the airport noise I believe that there some possible remedies.

First and foremost, I think trees could be planted as a buffer. This would benefit on many levels. It would be pleasing aesthetically as well as a natural way to prevent erosion of the runway.

There also could be an acoustical wall or barricade installed, although this option would probably be more expensive.

Lessening the noise would have a positive impact in many ways. It would be good PR for the Port of Seattle and help keep property value high, especially important in these trying economic times.

Mark Pitzner
Burien

I was disrespectful of Governor Gregoire when she signed Senate Bill 6130,
gutting voter-approved I-960. I attended the public bill signing wearing a
suit-and-tie and standing beside her, I held my nose with one hand and went
thumbs down with the other for the official photo. Some found it offensive,
others funny, some heroic. To me, it was just my way of peacefully
protesting an enormous injustice.

The voters have three times approved initiatives requiring either two-thirds
legislative approval or majority voter approval for tax increases. I-601 in
1993, R-49 in 1998, and I-960 in 2007. The people are being forced to pass
it again and again because politicians keep refusing to abide by this
voter-approved law.

I-960 was the only initiative in 2007 to clear the highest of hurdles,
qualifying with 314,000 signatures. Opponents immediately sued to block the
people from voting, but a unanimous supreme court upheld the people's right
to vote. Gregoire repeatedly spoke out against I-960, saying it was
unnecessary because she promised, if reelected, not to raise taxes. Special
interest groups spent $1.3 million in advertising against it, our side spent

This is just a notice that some of my own photographs, primarily from West Seattle are now on display at the Hotwire Coffeehouse at 4410 California Avenue Southwest next to the West Seattle Post Office.

The photos are hanging for the West Seattle Artwalk on March 11th and I will be there for what they call an "Artists Reception" that evening with cupcakes, mini chocolate chip cookies and wine for those who stop by. Thanks to Lora Lewis of Hotwire for the invitation.

With an nod to the theme for this year’s celebration, the Metropolitan King County Council today declared the month of March Women’s History Month in King County and encouraged county residents to participate in events and learn more about the significant role women have played throughout our history.

The theme for the 2010 celebration, “Writing Women Back into History,” recognizes the depth and breadth of women’s achievements, from ecology to art, from sports to politics.

“The contributions of women have shaped our society and our lives in very positive ways,” said Council Vice Chair Jane Hague. “It is imperative that we constantly remember their great works and how they have shaped the lives of future generations.”

“The history of women often goes unnoticed and rarely makes the spotlight in our daily conscience,” said Councilmember Julia Patterson. “This proclamation ensures our continued recognition of these women, many of whom we live and work alongside today, who have demonstrated the courage to pave new paths and create a vision of what is possible for all of us to achieve.”

Though I spent most of my boyhood Great Depression years walking through summer barefooted except at Sunday school, I enjoyed some store bought shoes sometimes.

We lived on a macadam street and it had lots of cracks that somebody filled with tar, which got a little soft and runny on hot summer days and I could make neat impressions of my toes and heels.

And lots of times my brother and I took a stick and gouged out chunks of warm tar and chewed it. It was not as good as chewing gum but it was free.

And though my little sister ratted on us and Mom made a disgusted yucky face and talked about the horses that pulled wagons and didn't care where they dropped banure, which was her word for road apples, we never caught any terrible molly grumps.

We did have to wear shoes in school and in the fall we got in the streetcar with Mom and went to Gallenkamps shoe store with some vouchers she got from somewhere. My brother and I each got some black moccasin-toed pebbly surfaced oxfords-- I loved them. And polished them every morning walking to school till the soles wore out.

Photographer Kurt Howard captured these images from the Tyee vs. Union girls' basketball playoff game on February 27. CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO PLAY SLIDESHOW.

For the third time in three tries, the Evergreen Lutheran girls basketball team fell just short of toppling Tacoma Baptist in an exciting Tuesday, February 23, 41-37 semi-final loss at the Tri-District 2B basketball tournament being held at the Four Seasons Center on the campus of the Chief Leschi Schools.

With 29.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, the never-say-die Eagles had an opportunity to catch the Crusaders after Markelle Lance drained a three-pointer to close the Evergreen deficit to 40-37.

Forced to foul, the EL team regained possession when Erika Herman rebounded Kelsey Lyons' miss on the front end of a one-and-one free throw chance. Tacoma Baptist ended this posession with the theft of an errant Eagle pass. Alyssa Wolf converted the second of two charity tosses, making it a two possession game for the Eagles with 10.2 seconds remaining.

A trio of Evergreen Lutheran missed shots were launched before the final buzzer sounded to end the electrifying event.

"It was an exciting game, but it was hard to watch from the bench when I wasn't in the game," observed Lance, who scored 11 Eagle points.

Mount Rainier carved out its own place on the awards stand at the state Class 3A boys swimming and diving championships, even if it wasn't the one the Rams are used to.

They took fourth place in this year's state finals held February 18-20 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way after making the top spot on the stand in recent years.

Mercer Island emerged as this year's winner with 396.0 points compared to the Rams' 170.0.

While they were not the top team in the state they were first out of the Highline School District area. Kennedy Catholic, a private school, tied for 14th place with 52 points and the Highline Pirates tied for 23rd with 22.

The evening's events started with the Rams finishing fourth, appropriately enough, with their time of 1 minute, 31.11 seconds in the 200 individual medley posted by the foursome of Jason Lemley, Joel Hughes, Dillon Webster and Matt Jude.

Kennedy came in 13th after placing fifth in the consolation finals in a time of 1:46.40 on the efforts of Karl Fenster, Trent Wood, Thane Maudslien and Sean Piper.

In three years of writing this column, I’ve often said I can’t leave my house without bumping into a story idea. This last weekend, I had to leave the house because there was too much story.

The cause wasn’t plumbing or electrical; it was actual drama because a theater group was using our home to film not one but two movies. The house “got the part,” but we weren’t even needed as extras.

It all started with the piano.

When my daughter was 6 or 7, she wanted piano lessons. I put an ad in this paper, “Seeking free piano.” A woman in Burien called to say her children were grown, and the piano was ours for the moving.

I took lessons longer than my daughter but never progressed beyond “Love Me Tender.” Plus, the piano never physically fit into the old house.

When we moved last year, the piano almost didn’t make the move during the snowstorm, which is another drama in itself.

The 1905 upright piano now looks at home in a 1920 Craftsman, or as one visitor said, “It looks like this house was made for that piano.” Too bad nobody plays it.

Drugs surrendered

A police officer pulled over a vehicle for a routine traffic stop. The driver was driving on a suspended license and was very forthcoming with information. He had a baggie of marijuana on his person that he immediately handed over to the officer for disposal. The driver was arrested and booked into King County Jail for DWLS 3rd degree and possible possession charges.

Masked man attempts abduction

Police are investigating an alleged abduction attempt near the 400 block of S.W. 132nd St. A child alleges that a masked man grabbed their arm and pulled them down the street. The suspect then ran away from the child. This happened in daylight hours on a city street in front of a public school. Police do not have any information on a possible suspect.

Reverend removed from ministry by Vatican