January 2012

(Editor’s Note: Charlie Ganong offers a poignant story about a special tree in Highline, followed by Jerry Robinson’s memory of a chance meeting years ago in Boston.)

Jerry,
Thanks for sending us the picture of my mom and the "historic tree." It brought back a lot of memories, and prompted me to write the following:
That is a historic tree behind my mom. She no longer lives in Fentonwood. But that grand tree in the background will thrive there another four or five hundred years, when all of us will have long since gone to that big tree house in the sky.

Press release
WS Blockwatch Captains Meeting Tuesday 1/24 6:30-8PM SW Precinct

Do you know how to give a good description of a suspicious person? What should you observe and take note of? Would police be able to identify the correct vehicle, person, or group of people based on your description? This month’s presentation: skills training from SPD to help us provide better descriptions!

Meeting details & agenda
Tuesday, January 24, 2011, 6:30-8 PM
SW Police Precinct, 2300 SW Webster Street (at Delridge, next to Home Depot)

6:00-6:30 Arrive early for light snacks, socializing and networking with other Captains while we get the room set up!
6:30-7:00 Introductions, updates, announcements, neighborhood concerns, issues.
7:00-8:00 Presentation: Skills training, information and tips to provide a more accurate, relevant description of people or objects to police.
8:00-8:30 Feel free to stay after the meeting to continue your discussions.

Everyone is welcome (even if you aren’t a Blockwatch Captain)! RSVP is appreciated, but not necessary to attend.

KENT - Holding the ball and cutting off the corner proved difficult for the Mount Rainier boys' basketball team in a 65-56 loss to Benson Tech of Oregon in an encounter at the Valley Medical Showcase presented by UW Medicine and the Vally Medical Center Sports Medicine Clinic.

Benson (10-2) improved to 1-1 against Washington state schools after losing last month to Mercer Island. The loss was the fourth in a row for the Rams (9-6).

"We had a hard time early and turned the ball over," said Ram head coach Brian Johnson. "Eleven turnovers in the game gave them 15 points."

The Techmen from Portland erased Mount Rainier's final lead of the game at 11-10 in the first quarter with three consecutive points to lead 14-11 after one quarter at the Showare Center. It was an equal opportunity situation that Benson Tech cashed in with better execution.

After Malik Rodgers horsed home a rebound basket to draw the Rams within 14-13 to open the second quarter, the Techmen began to steal the ball and capitalize on poor Mount Rainier shooting to outscore the Rams 8-2 for a 22-15 lead.

Menchies Frozen Yogurt, which opened Nov. 21 at 2620 California Ave. s.w. in the Admiral Disrict will hold its official Grand Opening celebration Jan. 28 and 29, owner Leslie Castanha announced this week.

"It's an all day event," said Castanha, " on Saturday from 11 am to 1pm we'll have free yogurt, and special entertainment surprises." Part of the fun will include face painting, a balloon artist, free T-shirts, and raffles to win prizes. Menchie, the costumed character for the company will be there too.

A locally owned and operated franchise of a national company Menchie's offers indoor and outdoor seating plus a "party room" and a "mix it up" yourself experience.

Poetrybridge returns to C&P Coffee this Wednesday, Jan. 25, 7pm-9pm.

Featured readers include Janée J. Baugher and Danielle Jacobowitz who read for the first hour. Then open mic begins at 8:00 p.m. Open mic sign-up start at 6:45 p.m. The public is welcome to share poems and stories.

Watch readings live on Livestream.com:

http://www.livestream.com/poetrybridge

KENT - Jenny Johnson and Maddison Rankin combined for 27 points on Monday, January 16, to lead the Kentwood Conquerors to a 57-42 defeat of state 10th-ranked Federal Way in a girls' basketball pairing at the Valley Medical Showcase held at the ShoWare Center.

"We needed better teamwork on offense and defense," stressed Eagle head coach Danny Graham. "We gave up too many easy baskets to make it easier for them. They took advantage of this. Our team has not played good defense for awhile. The team is getting better,but we would like to be further along at this stage."

Senior Darah Huertas-Vining, coming off the bench in her first appearance since spraining her ankle on January 3, provided a spark for the Eagles (10-3) with seven first quarter points as Federal Way claimed a 15-10 advantage after the first quarter.

With the Eagles trailing 19-17 in the second quarter, Huertas-Vining nailed a three-pointer sandwiched between her two free throws and a breakaway layin to help Federal Way to a 25-19 halftime lead.

Up to this time, the game featured an exchange of quick scoring streaks.

That is a historic tree behind my mom. She no longer lives in Fentonwood. But that grand tree in the background will thrive there another four or five hundred years, when all of us will have long since gone to that big treehouse in the sky.

Trees--and that grove in particular--hold a special meaning for me. My first job out of college was as a freshly scrubbed, wet-behind-the-ears PR flak for Weyerhaeuser, the "Tree Growing Company," a dream job for me. As a kid, I loved playing in the woods--buildling fir-bough camps, flying down trails, scrambling over mossy logs or scooting up tall trees. Later, I grew to love the Northwest's sheltering, fragrant forests even more as a hiker and camper. The dark, cool woods always called to me, soothing my restless spirit and offering sweet solace in a world bereft of fresh air, peace and quiet.

While I feel an urge to pay homage to Chicken Little and run screaming “The sky is falling!” many a news crew has already done that. I don't think it remains any mystery that Seattle's recent white weather has been beautifully disastrous for many businesses, power grids and commuters. Anyone disagree? Didn't think so. I'd rather delve into a smaller headline, the Internet's two new four-letter words. I am, of course, referring to SOPA and PIPA.

SOPA stands for the House's Stop Online Piracy Act, and PIPA stands for the Senate's Protect Intellectual Property Act. Both of these aim to, you guessed it, protect intellectual property from online piracy, something that initially sounds like a very good idea. So what's with all the fuss? Why are so many people actively petitioning and protesting against these acts?

Discovery Shop
4535 California Ave. S.W.
206 937 7169
All items with blue tags are $1.00 through January 31st and all men's wear is 50% off on Sunday, January 27th. All pictures and frames are 50% off January 29th through February 4th. And don't forget our early bird reward - double stamps every Monday from 10 a.m. to noon. If you want to help us in our quest to find a cure for cancer, please volunteer with us. The American Cancer Society shop is open Sundays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and every other day 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Transcendental Meditation Introductory Session
America West Bank
4022 SW Alaska St.

To the editor:

Please allow to respond to the letter from Pastor Leskovar in last week’s Herald. He makes several points about gay marriage most people will not agree with.

1. Those who stand for marriage as God designed it to be, he says, should follow their dictates and marry accordingly. And those who do not believe that marriage was designed by God? They should follow your beliefs? No, they too, must be allowed to marry as they choose.

2. He asserts that God’s design for marriage is “what is proven best for people and society.” According to whom? How many tens of thousands of gays and lesbians have been denied rights the rest of us take for granted? And aren’t they “people” and “part of society”?