June 2011

The King County Library System (KCLS) is considering consolidating the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries in a location yet to be decided.

Although the White Center Library is already within the new boundaries of Burien, uncertainty over future annexation of the rest of White Center plays into the consolidation issue. The area around the Boulevard Park Library was annexed into Burien in April 2010.

This consolidation would be in a new building that would be a 10,000-15,000 square-foot facility, significantly larger than the current 6,000 square-foot White Center Library and the still smaller Boulevard Park building.

It would be located between the two libraries, most likely in Burien.

KCLS management has stated that the traffic and circulation is over 30 percent higher in these larger facilities as opposed to those with a 5,000-6,000 square-footage. This is the model, KCLS management claims, that maximizes the efficiency of patron usage.

It is not traffic, though, that Rachael Levine, president of the White Center Library Guild, is worried about -- it's access.

NY Rep. Anthony Weiner's fall from grace due to scandal was predictable. "A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble." Proverbs 17:20. There but for the grace of God go any one of us.

Bill Wippel
Normandy Park

I find it alarming that the roadside drainage ditches (filled in or not) have not been cleared of debris and weeds. Often, the openings have also been allowed to accumulate so much mud and debris that the drains themselves are stopped up.

For instance, on the short block from SW 160th to SW 159th on 19th Ave. SW, the drain itself is below the ditch. The water remains in the drain and allows for insects (yes, I'm referring to mosquitoes) to maintain their happy homes away from the public eye and only after a very heavy rainstorm does it clear out somewhat -- never completely.

These drains are all on a slope, so they should drain -- but they cannot. There is nowhere for the water to go. I understand that Public Works is very busy and probably has had a cutback on both personnel and budget, but I believe the health of the community needs to be considered.

Basically, all that is needed is some time and a heavy duty "snake" to get the mud and debris out. On the drain I referenced above, the actual ditch needs to be redone, since the ditch is above the current opening.

Elizabeth M. Williams
Seahurst

Burien Little Theatre completed its 30th season. That was no small thing. However, it would have been completely impossible without the outpouring of support from the friends and fans of BLT. Thank you one and all. Thanks to those who donated time or money. Thanks too to those who came to see a show.

BLT is preparing its 31st season. The 31st season is not without its difficulties. BLT's curtains are too old to be re-fireproofed, so they must be replaced. That is a huge cost for a small theater like BLT. BLT was able to locate some recently used black curtains that, if they pass final fire proof testing, may help defer the cost of replacing the black curtains behind the proscenium arch. However, BLT will have to pay to have the new curtains cut and sewn to fit its stage. In addition, the colored main curtain looks like it will have to be replaced by an entirely new curtain made from scratch. The curtain replacement could cost as much as $6,000.00.

For at least three issues of the Highline Times, Vera Wunderlicht has ranted on about how democracy is not working correctly in Burien. Vera has raised false assumptions and written a number of derogatory comments about Marco Spani.

It is clear from the content of Vera's letters that Vera has never read the 1997 Burien Comprehensive Plan, the 1997 Burien Environmental Impact Statement or the state Shoreline Master Plan guidelines.

Additionally, Vera has not done any historical research on Burien or Washington state.

There are hundreds of privately owned lakes in Washington state. These lakes and the submerged shorelines were fairly sold by the state to private owners. The private owners have cared for and maintained these lands-not the general public or general tax dollars. Most of these private lakes are so small and limited in function that they cannot and should not be open to physical public access by thousands or hundreds of people annually. It would degrade and destroy their ecological functions.

While the water in these bodies belongs to the state, the state does not advocate (as the first priority for their use) opening them to the general public.

Her great grandfather, George Canning, was Prime Minster of England, so you might expect Normandy Park resident Dora Bell Canning to be quite highbrow and run with the elite.

Ah, but the other side of the family comes from Cades Cove, a colony of primitives in the hills of Tennessee, of which you'll find a huge spread in the July 1962 issue of National Geographic.

"Dodie." as she was nicknamed, is a delightful combination of both her ancestors. She has the brilliant, creative mind and artistic flair of a royal artist, yet there's nothing pretentious about this little gal - especially when she shares her childhood adventures with that delightful Oklahoma twang.

"Both sides of my family did the Oklahoma Land Rush. My grandfather borrowed a horse and practiced going across the river to find the best crossing points. The government had it set up that after you staked your land claim, you'd start up a fire to signify that the land was no longer available.

"My grandfather sat up all night with his gun, so that no one could take it from him." Dodie had heard those stories directly from her grandfather. She was born, in 1924, on that land.

(After a record number of days without sun, local golfers are eagerly heading to the local links to swat at little white balls. The Robinson Family history with golf is a long one. For them, golf is more than a good walk spoiled and includes some comical mishaps. Here are a few we thought you might enjoy.)

By Jerry Robinson
My brother Albert used to caddy at Columbia Edgewater next to the Columbia River in Portland when he was 13 and often brought home golf balls way back in 1930. One time he gave a scarred up one and I foolishly cut it open to see what was inside. Using Dad's hacksaw.

I found another ball about a half inch around inside. I then cut open the inner ball which full of gooey pure white liquid and got it all over my hands and scared me because I could not find anything to get the icky stuff off my hands.

I was in panic when I heard my mother yell that dinner was on the table.
"Come and get it or I will feed it to the hogs."

Of course, we did not have any hogs except my four brothers, but the threat was scary.
That inner ball was wrapped with a continuous rubber band. The white outside hard rubber cover was really tough.

King County Executive Dow Constantine is looking to the King County Council to approve a two-year, $20 congestion reduction charge to help maintain Metro service near current levels, or begin the process of reducing the transit system by 17 percent.

The recession has impacted Metro, causing a drop infunding from sales tax. Since 2007 Metro has cut costs, raised fares four times, tapped reserves, found new operating efficiencies, canceled the purchase of replacement buses, and negotiated cost-saving contracts with its employee unions.

Their efforts have realized nearly $400 million, acting to narrow Metro’s budget gap for 2008-2011 and about $143 million annually for the years ahead—but Metro still faces an ongoing shortfall of $60 million per year.

The two-year congestion reduction charge would be $20 a year on vehicles licensed in King County. The proceeds would be used to preserve transit service while King County works with regional leaders, legislators and the Governor on a long-term funding solution for transportation needs.

The West Seattle Junction Neighborhood Service Center located near 42nd and Alaska Street, which survived previous budget cuts as recently as last fall, is now set to close June 30, as a result of a nearly $9 million budget cut announced by Mayor Mike McGinn. Part of those cuts include reductions totaling more than $206,000 in cuts for the Department of Neighborhoods.

Acting Director of the Department of Neighborhoods Bernie Matsuno detailed the changes and cuts in a memo to staff today:

"The department was given a budget reduction target of 3% or $305,010 from the General Fund; we hoped that the actual reduction would be less, and it is – the reduction is 1.2% or $118,000. From the NMF Fund, we took a 3% reduction or $88,000. So DON’s total budget reduction is $206,000. 
 

On 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, 911 received several reports of gun shots fired in the 300 Block of NW 41st Street.

It was reported that a man came out of his house and fired several shots from a gun into the ground and air. The man then went back into his house.

There are no reported injuries or property damage but officers did respond to the location and attempted to make contact with the individual. SWAT officers and negotiators responded to the scene to resolve the situation.