October 2011

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West Seattle High School's Link Crew program held a pumpkin carving get-together today after school in the "Commons" aka lunchrooom. Some of the finished pumpkins are now up in display cases in school hallways.

"The Admiral Safeway gave us five pumpkins, the QFC in the Alaska Junction gave us 10, and Morgan (Junction) Thriftway gave us five, which was very nice," said Laura McCarthy, Link Crew Coordinator, and high school Spanish teacher.

In our recent article about the Link Crew program here, we wrote that incoming freshmen to West Seattle High School are offered help in making the transition to high school as result of a national program this year called Link Crew.

Deadline for receiving items for Community Calendar is 5 p.m. Wednesday for the following week’s Times/News. Events are published based on timeliness and space availability. Email submissions to: hteditor@robinsonnews.com Items can be accepted from nonprofit groups and government agencies only. Others may call Dona Ozier at 206-708-1378 for inclusion in our “Out & About” advertising section.

Auditions
Burien Little Theatre-- Seeking an actor in his teens or 20s to play 12-year-old Luther Beatty in the hilarious holiday comedy “Inspecting Carol.” $100 stipend provided. Contact to make an audition appointment at maggie@burienlittletheatre.org or 206-242-5180.

Classes
The Hi-Liners--Registration is now open for The Hi-Liners DownStage Center Fall Theatre Classes held at the Burien Annex. Check out the exciting new ways to have fun this year! Open to youth ages 5 and older. For complete descriptions, schedules, and registration please visit www.hi-liners.org.

Events

A lot of years back when White Center had the IGA Food Basket grocery we asked owner Ed Minnis, If he wanted to go pheasant hunting with us near White Swan about 15 minutes southwest of Yakima.

"You bet," he said.

We also took King County Commissioner Ed Munro and two dogs. Our circulation manager, Bruce McKnight, drove us over to a motel that night. We got to bed early. After a quick breakfast we got our gear ready and headed out.

The fields were close by. We went exploring for likely pheasant hunting areas. The first place we found was a marshy field loaded with cattails. Lots of likely spots for birds to hide.

Cattails like their feet wet but not me. I had standard issue, ankle-high hiking boots. They’re made for dry land. I was nearly up to my knees on the first step as I slogged through the marsh.

Both the Eds were smarter than us. They offered to stay at the far end of the huge cattail patch while Bruce and I were expected to make noise and thrash through the cattails.

Our job was to drive the birds out while our buddies lay in wait with their shot guns loaded. They planned to pick them off as they flew by.

Easy pickins... Right?

After interviewing the local seniors for the past two years, I’ve made several discoveries –- for one thing, it’s not always easy to find those special people and its tough coming up with a believable approach.

After all, I’m a total stranger and with all of the scam artists lurking in the bushes, I can’t blame the seniors for squinting at me with a jaded eye.

I can imagine that they might have been thinking, “Yes, and after the interview you’re going to sell me some Amway” or “Sure, and during the interview you’re going to case the joint and send in your thugs later to clean me out.”

It probably takes me longer earning the trust of my interviewees and their families than actually performing the interview and writing it up!

The second thing is that a lot of seniors are too modest about what they’ve accomplished or the uniqueness of their lives. They’d feel funny about contacting me. After all, what would they say “Hi, I’m a very interesting person and I think you should feature me in your article?”

That’s just not going to happen, so I have to count on neighbors, friends and family to lead me to these pearls in our community.

We, the citizens of SeaTac are placing our trust in the democratic process by the direct election of each city council member. We have confidence that each member has a vested interest in the families, businesses and homeowners of SeaTac.

The council members vet and hire a city manager and if he does not perform to their satisfaction, they hire someone else. The perspective of a non-resident city manager is a good balance for our democratic system.

We do not believe another layer of government in the form of a mayor and his hired assistant is in the best interest of SeaTac citizens.

Vote "NO" on Proposition #1.

Virginia Olsen
SeaTac

The residents of Burien cannot fault the city council for being indecisive.

The council long ago decided that the residents of Burien did not deserve an advisory ballot on annexation of North Highline.

The council long ago decided to ignore any citizen input on annexation - after all they were elected to make the hard decisions.

The council long ago decided to annex North Highline, ignoring any financial input that might distract them.

The council long ago decided that a piecemeal annexation would meet the least resistance from the residents.

The council long ago decided that some entity other than the city of Burien would pay for any cost overruns for the annexation.

The council long ago decided that North Highline looks just like the current city so just do it.

The council long ago decided that Seattle is the evil neighbor that must be kept at bay.

James Sharkey
Burien

To Burien City Manager Mike Martin and to the Burien City Council members that voted to proceed with the annexation of White Center, note the headlines of the Saturday edition of NorthWest News in the Seattle Times: “Feds arrest 50 in White Center”.

Once you get your way, the headlines will read: “Feds arrest 50 in Burien.” Nice, thanks.

David Parker
Three Tree Point - Burien

The Nov. 8 City Council election could serve as Burien voters’ referendum on annexation of White Center and the remaining unincorporated North Highline area.

Only voters living within the proposed annexation area are eligible to actually vote for or against annexation. That vote may come next August or November but would exclude residents already within Burien city limits.

But Burien voters will get to choose between candidates who strongly differ on annexation.

Councilmen Jerry Robison and Gordon Shaw voted for the resolution to declare the city’s intent to annex North Highline. Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak voted against.

Robison’s opponent, Debi Wagner, and Shaw’s challenger, Bob Edgar, strongly oppose annexation. On the other hand, north Burien resident Greg Duff, who is running against Krakowiak, favors annexation.

There are other controversial issues in the council races but annexation looms large.

In the general election, ballots must be postmarked to King County Elections by Tuesday, Nov. 8.

We asked the candidates the following two questions:

This could be the most game-changing election in SeaTac since the residents voted to incorporate more than 20 years ago.

A proposition that would change SeaTac’s form of government is on the ballot for a fourth time. It lost by only 9 votes two years ago.

Several contentious council decisions have been made on 4-3 votes. Council members who have often been found themselves on the losing side are hoping for a different majority to emerge from the election.

Mayor Terry Anderson, Deputy Mayor Gene Fisher and Councilwoman Mia Gregerson are the incumbents. Councilman Ralph Shape chose not to run for re-election.

Ballots must be sent to King County Elections by Tuesday, Nov. 8.

We asked the candidates the following two questions:

1. What are your qualifications for the position and why should voters select you over your opponent?

2. Do you support the Elected Mayor proposition, and why or why not?

SeaTac City Council Position 1

Gene Fisher

Proponents of SeaTac Proposition 1are hoping that the fourth time is the charm as residents vote again on changing the city’s form of government.

The measure has been before voters three times previously. It failed by just 9 votes in 2009. Supporters said they delivered about 25 ballots in time to King County Elections that had been challenged but were valid. The votes were not counted, according to the supporters.

Proposition 1 calls for a citywide vote for an elected mayor who would be the chief executive of the city government. The elected mayor could hire a city administrator to supervise city staff.

Currently, the seven City Council members select one of their colleagues to serve as mayor. The mayor presides over council meetings and represents the city at ceremonial functions.
Here’s what both sides are saying about the proposition:

Vote Yes on Proposition 1
Earl Gipson, SeaTac Citizens For Elected Mayor.
Proposition #1 is about restoring the balance of the Executive/Legislative branches of SeaTac government by Democratically Electing our Mayor and Chief Executive, which we cannot do under the Council-Manager form of government.