October 2010

The large lock at the Ballard Locks is closed to vessel traffic due to an electrical outage from a lightning strike Oct. 11, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the locks.

The maintenance crew is working to restore service, but the large lock is not expected to return to service until the end of the week at the earliest, according to a Army Corps of Engineers press release.

As more information on the large lock status becomes available, updates will be posted on the Corps of Engineers information line at 1.866.596.2635 and the Locks’ website.

Turning back Todd Beamer High's advances time and again, Federal Way dug deep and a held on for a nail-biting 40-35 win Friday in South Puget Sound League South Division action at Federal Way Memorial Stadium.

Quarterback Nick Tanielu fired touchdown passes of 47 and 53 yards to fleet-footed wide-receiver MichaelTate and DJ May added a 28-yard TD run to enable the Eagles to erase a 10-point, third-quarter deficit and seal the victory.

Tanielu completed 16-of-22 passes for 306 yards.

"I'm proud of the way our guys came back from adversity," said FW coach John Meagher.

He said the win was all that more satisfying because the Eagles (2-4, 2-4) have been less resilient in earlier games.

The Eagles' comeback muted a sensational 377-yard rushing effort by Beamer quarterback TJ Esekielu, who carried the ball 39 times and scored on 62- and 22-yard runs.

"He's a helluva player," Meagher said. "We tried everything to stop him."

Tate, a sophomore, had a fine effort himself, hauling in seven catches for 246 yards and two touchdowns.

"It was a breakout game for him," Meagher said.

Mark the date. Saturday night, October 23. Projecto Honduras will hold its second annual benefit to raise money for the entity of the same name.Music, buffet dinner and dancing will be highlighted by local singing sensation Kyle Clay performing songs from the 50's and 60's. Dile Martinez and El Calendario will provide dance music.

Many auction items and artwork will reflect the Jewel of Copan, the theme for this year's event to be staged at the Intellipass building located at 1925 S 341st Pl in Federal Way. Tickets for Projecto Honduras are $25 per person. The event runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with dancing to follow from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Projecto Honduras provides a no cost medical clinic and malaria control center with free medicine to more than 40 communities in Honduras. It also provides education support, humanitarian aid such as food, clothing, shoes, household items, and community programs with a park and a soccer field. Our 5 areas of service include: Health Care, Education, Relief Aid, Living Environment and Social Development .

Increased revenues from the Burien annexation turned into increased money for human services in Burien.

In the preliminary Burien budget, $200,000 is set aside for 21 human service organizations. This is $30,000 more than last year.

Analyst Lori Fleming said she received 50 applications, asking for a combined total of $480,000.

In the proposed human services budget Burien would give money to every organization they funded last year, who applied this year, plus an additional four programs.

HealthPoint, one of the new organizations on Burien’s budget, has just partnered with Swedish Medical Center, Washington Global Health Alliance, Public Health - Seattle & King County to provide health care and help to people in SeaTac and Tukwila.

Global to Local, the program being developed in SeaTac and Tukwila is funded by $1 million from Swedish Medical Center. Any money Burien gives to human service programs must be used to help Burien residents.

The other new programs being proposed for funding include Tukwila Food Pantry, the Navos employment program and St. Vincent De Paul.

A couple of programs saw increased funding being proposed.

The newest restaurant in West Seattle, the Wingdome in the Junction opened for a trial day on Monday Oct. 11 (the official open is Tuesday, Oct 12) in an invitation only event in which the food was free for all those who showed up.

CLICK THE IMAGE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS

The casual restaurant is part of the Consolidated Restaurants company, one of the oldest Seattle restaurant companies, being founded in 1951. There are now four Wingdomes in the area and the company also operates Metropolitan Grill, Elliott's Oyster House, Steamers Seafood Cafe, and Quincy's Charbroiled Burgers.

The West Seattle Herald spoke to the President of the company, Jim Rowe who said, "We are a local greater Seattle area company, and that's really where our focus is. We think the Wingdome concept, which is really our growth concept is the market to approach now in the Seattle market."

(Editor's Note: Jerry Robinson continues with the diary entries of 100-year-old Gertrude Finney as she recalls growing up in White Center.)

Diary 3

Between 98th & 100th was swampland. Also between 16th & 17th was swampland.

On 98th between 16th & 17th there was an elevated walk bridging the deepest part of the swamp. There was a cluster of three houses on 17th, one of which faced 98th just where the bridge began.

Hurrying to Shrigley's Theater one evening with a girlfriend, our dime admission fell through a crack into the swamp. We gathered our courage & asked at this house for matches with which to search. After explanations, the old folks living there gave us a dime. With many thanks we hurried off to the show. Next day when I tried to repay, they refused so I got to go to the show again!

(Editor's Note: The following letter was sent to Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin, concerning his signing the Alaskan Way deep-bore tunnel project's supplemental environmental impact statement, with a copy to the Times/News.)

Your signing of the Tunnel Document may be grounds for recall if you did not have an open meeting majority of the City Council approving your signature.

As an example, Port Commissioner Pat Davis, a close friend of Commissioner Paige Miller, signed off a pay raise for Port Manager Mic Dinsmore as a parting gift without the written approval of the majority of the Port Commission. The State Auditor nailed her on that; a recall action started and the Court ruled that if recalled, she would loose her office.

A suspension bridge similar to the one in Tacoma, next to the Tacoma Dome could be an eye-pleasing alternative. The first time the suspension bridge was considered it was turned down by the state due to patent difficulties. The Highline Times reported that those difficulties had been cleared up.

Dan Caldwell
Des Moines

The 40-ft cylinder in the picture is used to cut a hole beneath the bridge at South 250th Street and 16th Avenue South in Des Moines to place rebar for a cement footing to support the bridge. The project is slated to continue through the end of the year and into next year. Additional information can be obtained online at http://www.desmoineswa.gov/dept/pub_works/pdf/NT_Bridge_Photos.pdf

We are sorry Rev. Redmond did not find "Reefer Madness the Musical" appropriate for community theater. BLT has been moving away from community theater type productions for the last 5 years. Choosing instead to do the best live theater possible.

It is not BLT's intention to upset its audience. This show is a musical satire of the 1938 cult classic Reefer Madness. A copy of the 1938 original may be seen on BLT's website. www.burienlittletheatre.org.

"Reefer Madness the Musical" opened in Los Angeles in 1998. A film version was made for TV in 2005. The show has been produced by local theater groups in several cities, including Toronto, Seattle, Philadelphia, Charleston, Sacramento, London and Burien. The 2008 production at Washington DC's Studio Theater won 2 Helen Hayes Awards (directing and outstanding Resident Production). It is a show that has been performed in many cites to substantial critical acclaim.

It was an exciting time for students at Hazel Valley Elementary in Burien last week.

On Tuesday, they got to dance with the Mariner Moose and on Thursday, they got to touch a giant green recycling truck.

Students cheered and waved as a police helicopter performed a fly-over above the school parking lot on Oct. 5. The fly-over kicked off a parade of law enforcement vehicles and officers commemorating Red Ribbon Day.

On Red Ribbon Day, children across the nation are encouraged to pledge not to take drugs.

The entire student body lined the parking lot as vehicles from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), King County Sheriff's Department, Burien Police, and Normandy Park Fire Department rolled by. McGruff, the crime prevention dog, and the Mariner Moose danced through the crowd.

At an assembly after the parade, DEA Special Agent Doug James led students in a drug-free pledge, and King County Sheriff Sue Rahr and others encouraged students to work hard, do the right thing, and follow their dreams.

David Rose, host of the TV program "Washington's Most Wanted," told the children, "If you study hard and stay out of trouble, you can become anything you want to be."