September 2012

I was sitting on my enclosed patio last week, the warm sun teasing my aging body when it occurred to me that I’ve been very lucky. Lucky to be alive at 92 with no pain.

I use a walker to negotiate my way to the dinner table and a bathroom break or two but otherwise I have little to trouble me.

Except my hands...
I sometimes wonder if Harry “Kid” Matthews snuck into my room while I was asleep and laced up some 16 oz. gloves on me. My fingers feel like cold potato steak fries when I sit down to the computer. I try to type aNd iT cmes out lke ths. Sie wht Imean?

It’s not easy being 92 and trying to run the newspapers.
Don’t feel sorry for me. I have help but it does remind me of what I can’t do. I can’t drive any longer so I write my column from home most weeks. I can’t sell ads on the street due to my wobbly legs. I can’t run the presses because the foreman does not talk loud enough for me to hear the instructions. I stopped delivering the paper when someone stole my bike seat.

If I sound negative, I am. I resent not being able to do all the things I used to do.

Though this summer's burn ban was supposed to officially end on August 30, the King County Fire Marshal is extending it until further notice, thanks to a near record-breaking period of dry weather in the area.

See the full release below for more information and details

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This Phase 1 burn ban applies to all outdoor burning except for small recreational fires in established fire pits at approved camp grounds or private property with the owner’s permission. These fires must:

• Be built in a metal or concrete fire pit, such as those typically found in designated campgrounds; and not be used as debris disposal;
• Grow no larger than three feet in diameter;
• Be located in a clear spot free from any vegetation for at least 10 feet in a horizontal direction, including at least 25 feet away from any structure and allow 20-foot vertical clearance from overhanging branches; and
• Be attended at all times by an alert individual and equipment capable of extinguishing the fire shall be in constant attendance at the site while burning.

Man shot dead in Burien
A man was shot to death in the 14000 block of 8th Avenue South in Burien on Aug. 28. A 911 call came in from a female saying someone had been shot. Deputies arrived on the scene and attempted CPR and aid but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect is the father of two children and the ex-husband of the woman who lived at the house where the shooting took place. Shortly after the shooting, another 911 call came in from the suspect indicating he was at the Burien precinct and he was turning himself in. The 46-year-old suspect is being held on $3 million bail.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and thefts
14800 blk 32nd Pl. S., 12800 blk 23rd Ave. S., 12200 blk 28th Ave. S.W., 11400 blk Military Rd., 11600 blk 4th Ave. S., 200 blk S.W. 138th St., 12000 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr., 11800 blk 3rd Ave. S., 200 blk S.W. 136th St., 1000 blk S.W. 132nd Ln., 400 blk S. 156th, 13000 blk 1st Ave. S., 400 blk S. 156th St., 1000 blk S. 130th Pl., 16400 blk Sylvester Rd., 10800 blk 26th Ave. S., 11600 blk 14th Ave. S.W., 15600 blk 11th Ave. S.W., 1000 blk S.W. 152nd St., 14400 blk 8th Ave. S.W.,

Seen those sandwich boards all up and down 152nd Street? Aren’t those supposed to be against Burien city law?

Almost broke my neck on the one on 152nd by Ambaum that advertises lottery tickets. But then there are ones advertising booze and real estate, too. So, what is going on?

Just last year, Scott Greenberg and Jim Bibby, both Burien city staff, came after businesses that had these signs out. By their standards, you were the devil’s spawn if your business had one.

The merchants on 153rd Street and Ambaum were told in no uncertain terms that they were not allowed to have them. Some merchants had their signs taken away by city staff.

If Burien wonders why business does not come to town, stay in town or leaves town, it is because it is next to impossible to figure out how the staff are going to deal with you.

You never seem to get the same story twice from staff members. Staff enforces ordinances with a vengeance for some citizens and overlooks the rules for other citizens/businesses.

Scissors don’t crack safes
A private security guard left town for a weeklong vacation earlier in August. He returned to find his Fauntleroy Way S.W. home ransacked. His 32 inch TV, surround sound speakers and two large canisters of pepper spray and a baton from his work belt were missing. The victim kept his guns and ammunition in a large double-door gun safe in the kitchen and police said it appeared the unknown suspect(s) tried to use a pair of kitchen shears to cut or pry the doors open. While the scissors likely excel in cutting open packages of bacon, they were no match for the industrial safe and were left jammed between the two doors.

Failsafe, Part 2
Someone broke into a Junction area hardware store around 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 18 and, using tools found inside the store, tried to crack two different safes. While the suspect cut wires to cameras and placed paper over others to obscure evidentiary video, he unknowingly triggered a silent alarm upon entry. When a security guard showed up the unknown suspect fled southbound, failing in his attempt.

Newest burglary scouting ruse

The Burien Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department would like to thank all the amazing businesses and volunteers who helped make the 2012 mural project a success. The mural, titled “Sacred Circles” by artist Augustina Droze was completed on August 15, 2012 on the Dollar Tree wall on 4th and 151st.

The mural took five weeks and over 550 volunteer hours were devoted to the project.

We would like to thank:

The county-wide burn ban that was declared July 15th – August 30th by the King County Fire Marshal has been extended until further notice due to continued dry weather. We are into day 43 of no measurable precipitation. The record is 51 days.

The Phase 1 burn ban applies to all outdoor burning except for small recreational fires in established fire pits at approved camp grounds or private property with the owner’s permission.

The Fire Marshal states these fires must:

· Be built in a metal or concrete fire pit, such as those typically found in designated campgrounds; and not be used as debris disposal;
· Grow no larger than three feet in diameter;
· Be located in a clear spot free from any vegetation for at least 10 feet in a horizontal direction, including at least 25 feet away from any structure and allow 20-foot vertical clearance from overhanging branches; and
· Be attended at all times by an alert individual and equipment capable of extinguishing the fire shall be in constant attendance at the site while burning.

In the edition of the Highline Times dated July 23, 2012, Rachael Levine posted a letter asking that everyone involved in the decision about annexation follow this rule—“Whether one agrees with the information wants more than was presented or does not like the presenter’s style, it is unacceptable to demean or harass whoever is carrying pout the directions of the Burien City Council or intimidate those who came for the information. Can’t we express differences with civility and respect in our community?”

However, at the Aug. 6, City Council meeting, her husband, Phillip Levine attempted to demean and harass another citizen with an inappropriate side comment.

This was a citizen who had just finished speaking to the City Council on the topic of annexation. It erruptede into a minor altercation between the two men. What happened was unacceptable and was started by Mr. Levine in his effort to intimidate this citizen.

At the last Burien City Council meeting, two women—Joan McGilton and Rachael Levine tried to use the term “voter suppression” to falsely describe whether or not Burien had the right to remove annexation from the ballot.

Of course, Burien had the right to remove annexation from the ballot by state law and it would have in no way fit the definition of voter suppression. These two gals need to learn to consult the dictionary before slinging around loaded, inflammatory terms that do not really explain what is going on.

By definition, voter suppression attempts to reduce the number of voters who might vote against the candidate or proposition advocated by the suppressors.

The methods of voter suppression include impediments to voter registration, photo ID laws, purging voter rolls, Jim Crow laws, ex-felon disenfranchisement, disinformation about voting procedures, partisan election, administrative inequality in Election Day resources and caging lists. My source is Wikipedia.

These things were not suggested at the City Council meeting. This was, in no way, an attempted voter suppression nor did it match the definition.

Enjoy an evening of great wine, chocolate and an auction of wonderful items to support the West Seattle Rotary club’s community projects Sept. 7 as they host their 2nd Annual Wine & Chocolate Gala at Salty's on Alki. The event starts at 6pm.

In addition to the auctions, there will be ample appetizers, food trays, wine tasting from boutique local wineries (10) and chocolatiers. Select from multiple food platters (cheeses, salads, meats, seafood) and listen to wine experts discuss appropriate wine pairings. Enjoy a variety of chocolate items from chocolatiers and the dessert platters

Auction items include trips to Sonoma, the Caribbean, Kenya, and Orlando, and local items like “Bin 41 and Husky’s pair up appetizers and wine for 10”. Open to the public tickets are available through the Rotary Club of West Seattle website at www.westseattlerotary.org

The funds raised will support local student scholarships, the annual children’s shopping spree, the West Seattle Food Bank, community awards and other community and international humanitarian efforts.