October 2010

Many of us have seen the TV ads where kindly old Bill Gates, Sr. extols the benefits of Initiative 1098, the proposed 5 percent to 9 percent state income tax while getting dumped in the dunk tank. He does not need to go to that extreme to show us that he's all wet on this issue, plus being just downright deceptive.

He states that passing I-1098 will reduce our state property tax by 20 percent, and this sounds impressive at first glance. However in my case the state portion of my total real estate property tax is 18.8 percent, and 20 percent of that results in only a 3.76 percent reduction in my total tax bill.

Bill Gates, Sr. also tells us that only 1.2 percent of the taxpayers in this state will be subject to this income tax. However, he neglects to tell us that in just two years the Legislature can, with only a simple majority vote, change both the income tax rates as well as the threshold income to which it will apply.

Does anybody seriously think that our wonderful legislators will long resist the temptation to start raising the tax rate and lowering the threshold?

People buying homes have a hard time paying their property taxes during these tough economic times. B&O taxes are really difficult for small businesses trying to make a payroll.

Many middle-class people have seen their incomes go down, while lots of high-income people are doing great. Worst of all in terms of fairness, in this state families who are struggling pay a bigger percentage of their income in taxes than do those who are making more than they know how to spend.

A measure on the upcoming ballot will help all of this--I-1098. Adopting it will cut property taxes by 20 percent and eliminate B&O taxes for small businesses. The lost revenue will be replaced by a new state tax on the incomes of the wealthiest 1.2 percent of our population. This cannot be changed in the future to include lower incomes without a vote of the people.

The call came in April. The Martha Arney Library for the Blind in Minneapolis was closing down. Could we take their 5,000 books on tape?

This would take much more storage for Tape Ministries in SeaTac, as we had room only for 1,300 books on tape.

Earlier, we had heard from a volunteer group at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church. They would like to help remodel our building to make us more efficient.

They proposed adding a new building with enough shelf space to store 7,000 books on tape. Their time and talents would be donated!

God had planned this from the beginning. The new building would have enough room for TMNW's tapes and those of Martha Arney's.

We praise God for His timing. It's good not to get ahead of God.

Bill Wippel
Executive Director
Northwest Tape Ministries

Des Moines City Council members began their budget discussions facing a $1.4 million deficit. The city's total revenue in 2011 is projected to be nine percent less than this year.

Property tax and utility taxes, the city's two largest sources of revenue, are both estimated to decline next year.

Property tax and utility taxes account for 19 percent and 20 percent, respectively. Utility taxes are traditionally a stable revenue source.

Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Kaplan said this is the first time in a long time he has seen utility tax revenues decrease.

Taxes make up 62 percent of Des Moines's total revenue.

Finance Director Paula Henderson said the economy has been going up and down, making it difficult to create a financial forecast.

"I have never been in an environment like this," Henderson noted.
However the budget may not be as dire as it sounds. Henderson purposefully budgeted for the worst-case scenario. With several initiatives that could positively and negatively impact the city up for a vote in November, Henderson budgeted for any expenses that could be incurred and left out any possible revenues.

Around the world, people marveled at the miraculous teamwork rescue of Chile's 33-miners, an eye-opener lesson of success by working together.

Visioning such disaster and hero sacrifice that saved lives is both humbling and brings reality home.

Rather separated by land or personal belief, life really is about "The Whole World and Us."

As English Poet, John Donne wrote long ago:" No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

Recently, I was reminded the hard way that there are no promised tomorrows. It was a time I also reconsidered what priority I have given to what is most truly important to life. Appreciating and valuing each other is always a good start - and finish.

Not guilty plea in tow truck driver death

A woman accused of running down a tow truck driver has pleaded not guilty in Seattle to vehicular homicide and hit-and-run charges. Shavelle M. Lewis, 20, is being held on $150,000 bail. Investigators say her car veered across all southbound lanes of I-5 on Sept. 24 and killed William A. Padilla of Burien.

Padilla was kneeling down at the front of a disabled car when he was hit. He died at the scene. Lewis left the scene but was found minutes later at the bottom of the Michigan Street off-ramp standing outside of the vehicle. She appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Prosecutors say Lewis has a lengthy criminal record that includes misdemeanor convictions for prostitution, marijuana possession and a gross-misdemeanor conviction for fourth-degree assault. She has had 14 warrants out for her arrest since 2003.

Cars plastered with porn

The first meeting of the Normandy Park Lions Club will be held Thursday, Nov 4th, 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Fernwood at the Park Retirement Community, 17326 1st Ave S., Normandy Park.

Refreshments will be served and officers elected. All interested are invited to attend.

Anyone interested in learning more about Lions, or becoming a member of the new Normandy Park Lions Club, is welcome to call Bill Wippel at 206-248-1306.

Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service organization with over 1.3 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in 206 countries.

Lions clubs are made up of men and women who identify needs within their community, and work together to fulfill those needs.

"We anticipate that many more service-minded people, in this area, will choose to join this exciting new Normandy Park Club soon. More hands mean more community service, and we are still accepting charter applications until we have the official chartering ceremony," said Wippel, past president of the Burien Lions Club.

New members joining now will have the distinction of being designated 'Charter Members.'

On Sept. 23rd, 2010 the 28 students of St. Francis of Assisi 6b and their teacher Mr. Stein-Ross harvested fruits and vegetables. They walked 1.5 miles from their school to the Burien Community Garden, which is located by the skate park and the old library.

From the 75 square-foot plot the class harvested potatoes, green tomatoes, cherry tomatoes (some red but mostly green). They also harvested lettuce and a few cucumbers.

One-third of the food is going to a local food bank. With the rest, the class chose to make cold gazpacho and mouthwatering potato salad, which they shared with the third graders.

Along with the food, they shared an instructional video that they made while at the garden. Everyone enjoyed the meal (at least the potato salad) and the video.

The class went back Sept. 30th to plant their winter crops. They planted hardy greens like kale, mustard, snow peas, broccoli, sorrel, and Chinese cabbage.

More classes should have gardens, not just at St. Francis, but at other schools, too. If all schools had a garden, and donated some of their harvest to their local food banks, the amount would really add up.

The Endolyne Children’s Choir is looking for a Choir Director for the Debut (K-2) and Encore (3-5) groups.

The Endolyne Children’s Choir is a nonprofit, independent 501 (c) (3) organization and was foundedin September 2003 as a non-audition community choir serving the greater West Seattle area. Weekly rehearsals are held at St John's Episcopal Church. The 50-
member choir is divided into three groups according to age level and ability for students K-8. Choristers learn the basic fundamentals of musictheory, vocal training and performance skills.

To read the job description and for more information, go to www.endolynechoir.org

Meeting Zachariah Robinson, (who plays Quentin P., in the gripping one man show "Zombie") out of character, as simply himself, I could not have imagined the amazing transformation he'd undergo as the unrepentant serial killer character he plays.

In fact, watching Mr. Robinson get his teeth into a role that is arguably one of the hardest to watch and yet one of the most brilliant I've ever seen, is the stuff of pure genius.

Robinson gets into form right from the first moment we see him, when the lights go up and Quentin P. is sitting at a table, where a game of chess is stalled, talking to us, the audience.

He is spitting out his story of having been caught "before he got to have his zombie" (how he describes the teen boys he mutilates, in pursuit of a twisted dream of perfect love), barely able to contain his frustration and raw anger. He makes it very clear that even as he is caught, because his last victim "runs screaming into the street, " he feels it was his right to make this youngster into his plaything.