November 2011

In the third of four Road Safety Summit Meetings conducted around the City of Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and Dr. David Fleming Seattle and King County Director of Public Health attempted to get the public involved and gain insights into the issues surrounding road safety. The meeting was held at the SW Community Center, Monday, Nov. 21.

The process involves asking three primary questions:

1. What do you think are the highest priority safety problems to solve on Seattle roads?
2. What do you think are the most important things to do to make Seattle roads safer?
3. We often talk about what government can do to promote safety. What are the ways that non-governmental groups and individuals can promote safety?

The West Seattle meeting was well attended with more than 40 people present.

Mars Hill Church | West Seattle is throwing a big party. The event is a Christmas Tree Lighting and Toy Drive on Wednesday, December 7th at 6:30pm.

The church is located at 7551 35th Ave. s.w.

There will be carolers, crafts for the kids, sweet treats, and the toy drive will support the Union Gospel Mission of Seattle and FREE photos with Santa!

Learn more on their Facebook page here, https://www.facebook.com/events/222199464520459/

UPDATE: Tuesday, 6:45 p.m.

Gov. Chris Gregoire visited the campus of South Seattle Community College on Tuesday, Nov. 22nd, to speak directly to students, drawn from four classes, about her proposed cuts to education, and what her revenue package would restore. Her plan is to raise state sales tax by one-half penny.

She told the class:

"I have been traveling the state visiting students from middle schools, high schools, and community colleges but haven't visited a school in Seattle (until now). Come Monday we start the special session. I hope they get done in December. I can't tell you how many countless hours I have put in over the last couple of months let alone the last three years in digesting a state budget as complex as ours under the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression(...)

"There are only four places in state government where money can be cut."

She asked the audience of students what they are, and the students quickly responded correctly.

The White Center Food Bank is just about to run out of turkeys for Thanksgiving distribution to needy families.

Here is a note we received from Ann Kendall with the food bank:

It looks like we are about to run out of turkeys on day 1 of holiday distribution. We gathered quite a few over the weekend, and in years past not everyone wanted a turkey but this year demand is high and supply is low. So we need some immediate help from the community if folks are able to donate. We will be there until 6pm tonight, 9-6 on Tuesday and 9-7 on Wednesday.

The White Center Food Bank is located at 10829 8th Ave S.W., Seattle, WA 98146. They can be reached by telephone at 206.762.2848.

Website
http://www.whitecenterfoodbank.org

Gov. Gregoire proposed Monday, Nov. 21, that the state sales tax credit for cities who have annexed unincorproated areas be reduced by 10 percent.

The proposed reduction is part of the governor’s proposed budget to address a $2 billion state budget shortfall. The state Legislature will convene on Friday, Nov. 25 for a special session to deal with the shortfall.

Burien City Manager Mike Martin said Burien would lose $50,000 a year in revenue under Gregoire’s proposal. Currently, Burien is scheduled to receive the tax credit for eight more years after annexing Boulevard Park and the south portion of North Highline in 2009.

Burien is already facing a $467,000 drop in property tax revenue next year because of declining property values.

The governor released her budget plan on Monday morning, and as of Monday afternoon, Martin said it is unclear what the effect would be on future annexation credits.

Burien was planning on receiving $5 million per year for 10 years in sales tax credit if it annexes White Center and the remaining North Highline unincorporated area.

Dear Mom and Dad:

One of my richest memories is of our Thanksgiving Day celebrations. I can’t recall one that didn’t include a turkey and all the trimmings. How you managed it in the Depression years with nine mouths to feed is something I’ll probably never know.

I do recall plenty of days when there was little to eat, but not on Thanksgiving Day. I remember how we always felt just a little more important than the neighbor kids because our bird was necessarily bigger. Something like having a bigger television screen nowadays.

Getting the big bird ready the night before was always fun, for us kids at least. While Mom made the pies (at least six,) we pulled the pinfeathers and singed the turkey over the gas burner.

Now they’ve taken the work, and the fun, out of preparing the turkey-- there’s hardly a pinfeather in them anymore.

Remember how we’d all sit around the big kitchen table, each doing something to help get ready for the big day? You’d finally shoo us off to bed about 10:30 and then Mom, after cleaning up the kitchen, would slip upstairs to her little den off our bedroom and listen to the radio programs on her crystal set.

Gov. Gregoire proposed Monday, Nov. 21, that the state sales tax credit for cities who have annexed unincorproated areas be reduced by 10 percent.

The proposed reduction is part of the governor’s proposed budget to address a $2 billion state budget shortfall. The state Legislature will convene on Friday, Nov. 25 for a special session to deal with the shortfall.

Burien City Manager Mike Martin said Burien would lose $50,000 a year in revenue under Gregoire’s proposal. Currently, Burien is scheduled to receive the tax credit for eight more years after annexing Boulevard Park and the south portion of North Highline in 2009.

Burien is already facing a $467,000 drop in property tax revenue next year because of declining property values.

The governor released her budget plan on Monday morning, and as of Monday afternoon, Martin said it is unclear what the effect would be on future annexation credits.

Burien was planning on receiving $5 million per year for 10 years in sales tax credit if it annexes White Center and the remaining North Highline unincorporated area.

Fall leaves glisten in the sun at Lake Burien School Park with the school’s old arch in the background.

Press release
Burien Little Theatre is presenting the holiday comedy “Inspecting Carol,” written by Daniel J. Sullivan and the Seattle Repertory Theatre, opening Friday, Nov. 25.

Almost broke, the pathetic Soapbox Theatre Company is having a dickens of a time mounting their annual cash cow, the holiday classic “A Christmas Carol.” Tiny Tim is a bit too old and big, the Ghost of Jacob Marley keeps getting his chains tangled in the scenery, and there's an inspector from the National Endowment for the Arts expected any minute.

When an inept new actor is mistaken for the inspector, cast and crew cater to his every whim to try to win government funding. The result? The most hilarious and disastrous production of “A Christmas Carol” ever.

Part “Noises Off,” part “Waiting for Guffman,” this show has been a holiday hit ever since it premiered at the Seattle Rep.

“Inspecting Carol” will be performed from Nov. 25 through Dec. 18. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Press release
The King County Districting Committee split Burien into two council districts Nov. 15 as it unanimously approved new King County Council district boundaries. The district plan has been filed with the Clerk of the Council and is effective immediately. Plan materials are online at www.kingcounty.gov/districting.

District 8 represented by Joe McDermott will take in the north part of Burien. Some 78 percent of Burien residents (37,336) are in District 8. About 10,680 are in District 5.

District 5, represented by Julia Patterson, expanded to take in south Burien and Normandy Park.

Patterson’s district also includes Des Moines, SeaTac and Tukwila.

District 5 is 49 percent minority while District 8 is 42 percent minority.

Former Burien Mayor Sally Nelson was one of five members of the committee charged with redistricting the council districts.