October 2010

Terry Finck has owned Daschunds for twenty years and his latest is Rudi, a 10 pound, four year old miniature version of the breed. He likes them because they are a "Small dog, not a lot of hair."

Daschunds are already low to the ground and Rudi is even lower which makes easily seeing the gender just a little bit harder.

When you add the somewhat androgenous name Rudi, Finck finds that he must say, "like Rudi Huxtable on the Cosby show," which clarifies her as a female. It's just a "dog thing," Finck explained," Everyone thinks cats are female and dogs are male. "It took us awhile to come up with a name."

Rudi has not had pups, and she is spayed. "We're good responsible owners," he said.

Finck found Rudi at breeder in Belfair, near Gig Harbor.

When you are a tiny dog, low to the ground, it helps to have a loving disposition. "She loves everybody," said Finck, "Our neighbor has a one year old and she loves him. She's just a people and dog person." Finck explained that Rudi has a very outgoing personality. "She wants to meet everything and everyone," he said.

Burien will spend $186,000 on various human service programs next year, after the City Council agreed to put the expenditures on the 2011 budget. This is $30,000 more than last year.

The amount to be spent on human services is less than half of the amount requested from 50 different organizations. The total number requested for human service programs in 2011 was $482,000.

Out of the 50 organizations that applied for funds 24 will receive money in 2011. If an organization serves communities outside of Burien, they must use the money granted to them from Burien on city residents.

New Futures will receive the highest amount of money of any organization. The city will grant them $32,000 next year. That is $9,000 more than the city funded last year.

New Futures operates community learning centers in four apartments in south King County, which their website says positively impacts 4,000 people who live in those communities a year.

Councilmember Jack Block Jr. tried to move funding around to provide more money for organizations helping Burien residents. He had trouble finding council support for his cuts, none of which were approved.

Today, flying on an airplane isn't typically a luxurious journey. Two hour check-in, long lines at security, and cramped seating are the norm.
That wasn't the case in the 1950s.

The Highline Historical Society, a group that collects and preserves pieces of history of the Highline region, held a panel discussion recently where former airline workers from Sea-Tac Airport shared their memories of what traveling was like in the 1950s, '60s, and '70s- a period they considered the "Golden Age of Air Travel."
One of the major differences was how passengers dressed when they flew.

"Ladies wore gloves and hats and men wore suits, ties, and sport coats," said Montie Leffel, a former flight attendant with Northwest Airlines who boasted a collection of autographs from various celebrities he obtained throughout his career, including Elvis Presley.

At one point, even the flight attendants had to dress as if they were
putting on a show.

Former Alaska Airlines ticketing agent Danna Siverts said that flight attendants had to wear red velvet dresses with long slits on the skirt, fishnet stockings, and a hat with an ostrich further protruding from it.

The Evergreen High Campus Library in White Center has launched an online fundraiser to purchase books to provide students and teachers with resources for reading, research and curriculum supplements. The fundraising goal is $2,000.

"There simply is no money in the budget to fill our library with the books our students and teachers need," said Joanne Glasgow, the school's librarian. "The library plays a critical role in increasing literacy and test scores among students, as well as contributing to the lifelong joy of reading."

The library is now looking to parents, community members and businesses for help in raising the needed funds. They are participating in a new online fundraising program called Funds4Books, sponsored by Mackin Educational Resources, a school library and classroom vendor with 26 years of experience.

For every $10.00 donated, the library can purchase a new book that is ready to be shelved and checked out. Most important, 100 percent of every donation goes to the library.

Autumn means the return of the salmon, fallen leaves and Halloween. Jerry Robinson looked for them around Three Tree Point last week.

SLIDESHOW: CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO PLAY SLIDESHOW.

Government is absolutely out of control! Government at all levels has systemic issues; it is inherently rotten to its core!

The electeds give everything (they sold their souls to the company store) to the government unions to get reelected! The goose has no more golden eggs. Time to pay the piper or get off the toilet!

This mid-term election very well could be the preverbal point of no return. Bankruptcy is not out of the question! Governments at many levels can't pay their bills

People like Patty Murray must be banished from Washington D.C. She is a very big part of the socialist government that Obama is pursuing. She has played all of Obama's tunes: Bailouts for all the auto unions, Auto Company Bailouts, Bank Bailouts, Obama care, Cap and Trade taxes, Trying to buy votes with all the entitlement programs.

She helped put to ultra liberal judges on the Supreme Court (both of the new judges do not support the 2nd amendment to the Constitution).

Witnesses sought to fatal accident
Investigators are seeking witnesses to an accident in which Adam Knapp, 30, of Federal Way died Oct. 18 after being struck by four vehicles, including an ambulance.
State Route 509 was closed for a time in both directions at South 128th Street about 11 p.m. on Oct. 18.
According to police reports, a Subaru was going the wrong way on SR 509 when it hit a black Ford Explorer head-on and also struck an Acura.
The Subaru driver fled on foot from the scene and was hit by four cars and the ambulance. The man died at the scene.
The Washington State Patrol said the medics in the TriMed ambulance had seen the driver of the Subaru turn around a drive south in the northbound lanes. Shortly after the ambulance struck the man when he fled the scene.
Five other people in struck vehicles were taken to Harborview Medical Center with injuries ranging from not serious to critical.
Anyone with information should contact Detective Stacy Moate of the State Patrol at 425-401-7746.

Hate crime charged

Scare up some frightful fun for the whole family, even the family pooch, at the free Boo in Burien Saturday, Oct. 30. From noon to 5 p.m., check out uncanny happenings in downtown Burien ranging from pumpkin bowling and trick-or-treating to Wiener Dog Races.

Little ghosts and goblins can try out their best scare tactics while trick-or-treating at businesses marked with a "Trick or Treaters welcomed" sign. Trick or treating starts at noon and ends when the candy runs out-so start early! Shops will also offer otherworldly store specials.

Pumpkins will transform into bowling balls or works of art at two different locations. Get creative by painting pumpkins to take home. Painting will continue at Grocery Outlet, 236 S.W. 152nd St., from noon until the gourds run out. Test athletic prowess by bowling with a pumpkin at Elliott Bay Brewhouse & Pub, 255 S.W. 152nd St., from 1 to 3 p.m.
Pumpkin bowling is cohosted by Elliott Bay Brewhouse & Pub and Hi-Line Lanes

South King Fire & Rescue firefighters have added a new color to their uniform this week, all in an attempt to raise awareness and support a worthy cause. It's voluntary, but the majority of the department's personnel are wearing pink shirts instead of their usual navy ones beginning today through October 31.
South King serves Des Moines and Federal Way.

The t-shirts were purchased by the South King Firefighters Foundation; however, some members have chosen to pay out of pocket for their own t-shirt.

"The campaign has really taken on a life of its own," said Foundation Chair Kevin Crossen, "We purchased enough shirts for the entire department and now we will probably doing a second order for additional shirts for family members and others who want to join the cause."

The South King Firefighters Foundation partnered with the Renton Fire Benevolent Association, who designed the shirts. Some of the proceeds from the shirt sales went directly to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

SDOT Press Release:

Due to damage caused by a vehicular collision on northbound SR99 in the vicinity of S Massachusetts St, southbound traffic on the Alaskan Way Viaduct is blocked and northbound traffic is restricted. Seattle Department of Transportation crews are en route to the scene to undertake repairs, which are estimated to take four or more hours at this point. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes north and south.

The vehicular collision created an oil spill and also caused a guardrail from a northbound lane of the viaduct to hang over the lower, southbound lanes. This hazard has forced the closure of southbound lanes until the hanging rail can be removed and the missing segment of rail can be replaced.

UPDATE: Traffic has now been restored to normal as of 11:00 p.m.