December 2015

by Tim Robinson

By 1943, the War was on. Boys were fighting on two fronts in Europe and the Pacific. Ted Gary was making good money at the millwork plant in Hoquiam, Washington. $1.25 an hour. He was rich. 

     At 18 Ted got a letter. It was from Franklin Roosevelt, asking him to serve his country. He reported for induction but was turned away. “You don’t belong here”, the board told him. Go home, we’ll send you another letter. A month passed. The letter arrived. Ted was on his way to Montana, to spend the next six months in pilot training for the Army/Air Corp.

Boys were training to fly combat missions. America was losing planes nearly as fast as Boeing could build them. At the end of training the commander stood up in front of the senior class of trainees. “Yer turned way, you are all washed out,” the commander lamented. 
“The army has enough pilots,” was the explanation. 

DES MOINES, Wash. — Improving access to healthy food for south King County residents is one goal of Highline College’s new Urban Agriculture/Food Security project. The project was recently awarded a two-year, $80,000 grant from the King Conservation District (KCD) Regional Food System program.
 
Some grant funds will be used for scholarships for low-income prospective students. The scholarships will allow students to begin classes right away, instead of waiting for financial aid awards, which can take up to three months.
 
“Some areas of south King County offer little access to wholesome food or qualify as food deserts,” said Raegan Copeland, a Highline faculty member who led the effort in Highline’s new project. “Through our program, students will learn how to grow organic food even in tight spaces. The food can supplement their own diets and give them a way to earn money through their own food-related businesses.”
 
Food deserts exist where residents do not have convenient access to healthy food—especially fruits and vegetables—in their communities.
 

If you would like to obtain some well considered financial advice, contact Sarah Cecil 206-938-6017

Brought to you by Sarah Cecil Financial Advisor with Edwards Jones Investments.

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By Tim Clinton
Sports Editor

High schools
Boys basketball
Highline hosts Ferndale for a 6 p.m. non-league game this Wednesday and Chief Sealth is on the road at North Kitsap for 7 p.m. action.
Seattle Lutheran's next action is at 6 p.m. Saturday at Shoreline Christian and at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Chief Sealth is at Garfield, West Seattle at O'Dea and Mount Rainier at Kentridge.

Girls basketball
Seattle Christian gets a 4 p.m. visit from Evergreen this coming Saturday and Seattle Lutheran is at Shoreline Christian for 4:30 p.m. action that day.
Mount Rainier entertains Kentridge and Highline hosts Bellevue Christian in 7 p.m. Tuesday games.

Wrestling
Kennedy hosts O'Dea and Cascade Christian for 10 a.m. action Wednesday before going to the Everett Classic at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Evergreen/Tyee goes to a tournament at Bremerton and Mount Rainier to a tournament at Franklin Pierce on Saturday as well.
Chief Sealth gets a 6 p.m. visit from Eastside Catholic on Tuesday.

Gymnastics

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Saturday, Dec. 26
Boys basketball
Kennedy 76, Cascade Christian 60
Kennedy Catholic opened its own Christmas Classic tournament by posting a victory over Cascade Christian on Saturday.

Wednesday, Dec. 23
Boys basketball
West Seattle 69, TJ 35
The Wildcats were winners at home against Thomas Jefferson on Wednesday.

Girls basketball
Auburn 36, Mt. Rainier 28
The Rams came up short in a low-scoring non-league game Wednesday.

Tuesday, Dec. 22
Boys basketball
Sammamish 61, Foster 53
Sammamish scored a win in the Foster gymnasium last Tuesday.
Todd Beamer 86, Mt. Rainier 80
Todd Beamer outgunned the Rams in a high-scoring South Puget Sound League Northwest Division showdown Tuesday.

Girls basketball
Todd Beamer 59, Mt. Rainier 10
Mount Rainier was topped by highly-ranked Todd Beamer last Tuesday.

Monday, Dec. 21
Boys basketball
Decatur 88, Highline 57
The Gators got the best of the Pirates in last Monday's non-league game.

By Bob Jepperson

Twelve year old Ruth Andersen skimmed across the frosty surface at the Ballard Ice Arena wearing the hockey skates that her mother bought for her at the Goodwill store. Ruth loved figure skating with her girlfriends, and she learned to skate quite well. In fact, she harbored secret dreams of competing someday in couples competitions.

One evening while Ruth sat on a rink-side bench lacing up her skates, a boy named Larry Desrosier skated over to her. He was fifteen years old at the time. The two chatted briefly. Imagine Ruth’s surprise a few days later when Larry showed up at her front door even though Ruth had not told Larry where she lived. He had ridden his Schwinn bicycle three miles from his house on NW 97th to her house on NW 57th. Eventually they became good friends. The year was 1948. Sixty-seven years later Larry and Ruth are still friends, and more. Today they are parents, grandparents, and great grandparents.

By Pat Cashman

I was watching an old movie on TV a couple of nights ago. A gangster was being pursued by the cops---aren’t they always? So he went to a plastic surgeon and got his face changed. They do it all the time in the movies.

And it wasn’t a mere face-lift. After all, one false surgical move---or twelve--- and the gangster could have gone from looking like a burly guy to Melanie Griffith.

So the doctor did a complete face alteration on the thug. When finished, the gangster didn’t just have a different face---but a different posture, gait, voice and religious affiliation. He was also about six inches taller. I guess the movie director hoped the audience wouldn’t notice---or would assume the guy had just been slouching previously.

Up until recent years, that face-changing stuff has been just movie fantasy. In fact, one of the dumbest films in the last several years was called Face/Off.” In that one, federal agent John Travolta lets his bosses’ graft a criminal’s face onto his own, so that he can trick the bad guy’s brother into giving him key information. Logical, right?

By Amanda Knox

I realize that in many of my most recent columns—engaging with subjects like grief, political frustration, introspection, stillness—I may be coming across as a bit of a Debbie Downer. No, I don’t suffer from SAD (seasonal affect disorder). I’m not overwhelmed or irritated by the holidays. Quite the contrary, I luxuriate in any excuse to gather together with my big, loud family and celebrate the idea of life and light emerging from death and darkness. It’s just, even by the weekend before Christmas, the festivity of the season hadn’t yet caught up with me. Or, despite my best efforts in having done (most of) my Christmas shopping and painting my nails Santa Claus red, I hadn’t caught up with it. I’ve been distracted.

Enter the Democratic debates of Saturday, December 19th. I hastily wolfed down some salad greens in front of my computer screen for the opening thirty minutes, almost regretting that I had a fun evening planned. I was missing it! Oh, well. There’s always Youtube.

Discovery Shop
4535 California Ave. S.W.
206.937.7169
Have a happy and prosperous New Year and thank you for your continued support in helping us raise money to fund a cure for cancer and services to those fighting cancer. The first week of 2016, all blue tagged items are half price. Always check the white board behind the counter for unadvertised specials. The all volunteer run nonprofit American Cancer Society Shop hours are: Sun., 11–3 p.m.; Mon. - Sat., 10–4:30 p.m.

Daystar Toastmasters Welcomes Guests
Daystar Retirement Village
2615 S.W. Barton St.
http://daystarclub.toastmastersclubs.org
Sat., Jan. 2, 10–11 a.m. Arrive 10 minutes early for orientation. Come experience the safe, supportive atmosphere in which you can grow your communication and leadership skills. Improve your ability to think-on-your-feet and become more comfortable speaking to groups. Meetings: 1st & 3rd Saturday morning each month. Info: Bill 206.932.6706

Free Irish Set Dance Party
Kenyon Hall
7904 35th Ave. S.W.

By Sarah Cecil
Edward Jones Investments

The countdown to 2016 has just about begun. If you’re like many people, you might be mulling over some New Year’s resolutions, such as hitting the gym more, learning a new language or taking a cooking class. All are worthy goals, but why not add some financial resolutions as well?

For example …
… Pay yourself first. Even if you aren’t living “paycheck to paycheck,” you probably don’t have much trouble spending your money – because there’s always something that you or a family member needs, always a repair required for your home or your car, always one more bill to pay. But if you are going to achieve your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement, you need to invest consistently. So before you pay everyone else, pay yourself first by having some money automatically moved from your checking or savings account each month into an investment.