October 2016

By Gary Wasdin, King County Library System Director

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. To Kill a Mockingbird. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone…
Three very different books that share a common thread. Each year, individuals across the country take it upon themselves to decide what books you should and should not read. These are three that apparently you should not.

Yes, censorship and attempts at censorship are alive and well in 2016. In most instances, the censor is someone who is sincerely concerned about a societal issue and feels strongly that censoring a book, magazine, film, or artwork will improve society, protect children, and restore their idea of moral values. However, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution gives each of us the right to read, view and listen to things that others might find offensive. No one, no matter how well-intentioned, can take away that right.

By Amanda Knox
 
It was partly travel fatigue, but mostly the placement of the the TV screens. Splitting huevos rancheros for breakfast at the airport, Chris and I kept catching ourselves trailing off in conversation and looking over each other’s shoulders. A game show called “Let’s Make a Deal” was on. A pretty woman wearing a midnight blue gown, a pageant sash, and a tiara was debating whether to risk her winnings in order to go for the dining room set. In the background, the rest of the audience was in costume too—there were cowboys, clowns, robots and Peter Pans. I gave myself over to it.
 
“It’s remarkable how much people in costume look like people in costume,” I said.
 
“You mean, instead of looking like thing they’re dressed up as?” Chris said.
 
“Yeah. Like that Roman gladiator in the back row with the plastic shield and helmet all askew.”
 
“Is this a Halloween edition? They probably just gave all the audience members cheap costumes as they walk in the door.”
 
“Yeah. Like, that guy does not look pleased to be wearing those pink bunny ears.”
 
“What’s this guy supposed to be? Hip-Hop?”
 

By Katy G. Wilkens

I love these last few days of summer when the garden is almost, but not quite, out of control. The fig trees are holding out branches laden with fruit, the apples are getting bigger day by day, tomatoes have to be picked for dinner every night. And anything too abundant to eat fresh gets pickled!

Pickling is a great way to save all that wonderful harvest for the dark days of winter. Most people think cucumbers when they think of pickles, but you can pickle almost any vegetable, including onions, cauliflower, green beans and radishes. And most people think pickles have to be heavily salted, but you can make refrigerator pickles (also called fresh pack pickles) with no salt at all.

It’s great that we can enjoy pickles’ sour-sweet crunch without relying on salt, because salt causes blood pressure to rise and is hard on both your heart and kidneys.

ROBERT L. THOMPSON, JR. Robert L. Thompson, Jr. passed away on September 8, 2016 from complications of pneumonia, after surviving bone cancer in 2014. Robert (Bob) was born on July 20, 1953 to Robert & Clara Mae Thompson in Renton, WA. Bob graduated from Highline High School in 1972. He enlisted in the Army and spent 3 years in Germany. He met his wife Patricia on a blind date in 1976 and they later married on January 8, 1977. He is survived by his wife Patricia of almost 40 years, three children: Bobby (Kira), Steven (Jennie) and Kathrine Watkins (Rob) and 7 grandchildren. He is also survived by his father Robert, sister Beverly and brothers David and Ron. Bob's life will be celebrated with a Catholic Mass on October 15, 2016 at Our Lady Queen of Heaven in Spanaway, starting with a Rosary at 10:30 a.m. There will be a reception followingin the Church hall. Bob will be laid to rest at a later date at Tahoma Military Cemetery.

Published in the Highline Times section of the Westside Weekly, October 14, 201

Dr. Walter R. Patterson, a Burien dentist for over 50 years, passed away in the early morning hours of August 25, 2016 at age 87. Dad was preceded in death by the love of his life, our mom Mary. He graduated from the University of Washington’s School of Dentistry. He was our hero and we miss him deeply. He is survived by his daughter Elizabeth; sons Tyler (Stacy) and Walt, Jr. (Susan); and grandchildren Katie (Justin), Ken, Aidan, and Samantha. For those who would like to write recollections of Walt please visit his online obituary at www.bonneywatson.com.

Published in the Highline Times section of the Westside Weekly, October 14, 2016.

Phyllis Hjalmer went to be with her Savior October 14, 2016. She was the beloved wife of Wes Hjalmer, loving mother of Terri (Gary) Frashefski and Lynn (Jerry) Strom, devoted sister of Lois Simundson and loving grandmother of Tonja (Jef) Reischl, Bryan (Paige) Reischl, Jonathan (Katherine) Reischl, Jeralyn (Jeremy) Twombly, and Kyle (Shannon) Strom. She is also survived by 10 amazing great grandchildren. Phyllis will always be remembered for her love of family, friends and church. A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 14, 2016 at 1:30 pm at Grace Lutheran Church in Des Moines, WA. Published in the Highline Times and West Seattle Herald sections of the Westside Weekly, October 14, 2016

By Tim Robinson

Sometimes I think back to the old TV cowboy heroes and wonder what how they survived financially.

"Hi-Yo Silver..away!” called the Lone Ranger as Silver reared up on their way out of town. We know he and Tonto, a faithful Indian companion,thwarted bad guys across the American West. We suspect they camped out each night. We never saw them get a hotel room.
                 
Wikipedia claims the Lone Ranger (John Reid) was one of six Texas Rangers attacked in an ambush with John Reid, the only survivor. Tonto, a childhood friend of Reid, finds him near death and nurses him back to health. 
              
     
Together they ride from town to town doling out justice as necessary. The trademark silver bullets are all the town folk learn about the masked man and his trusted partner. 
               
We never saw them eat dinner, take a nap or even sip a glass of whiskey. The creed of the Lone Ranger was a moral code for youngsters. Never use poor language, never drink, never smoke, always have a clean, pressed outfit and leave behind a silver bullet as a symbol of your code. 
             

By Lindsay Peyton

The proposed operating budget for Burien for 2017-2018 would allow the city to increase staff – adding positions previously eliminated during the last economic downturn.

The new positions were among a number of recommendations to improve city services made when finance director Kim Krause presented the budget plan during the city council’s regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 3.

She explained that the process of creating the budget began on Aug. 1, with a public hearing and general budget discussion, as well as a presentation of the financial policy, which was updated earlier in the summer.

Estimated revenues for the 2017-2018 general fund total $51.6 million. Sales tax accounts for 35 percent or $18 million of the revenues.

Krause said sales tax revenues represent a 12 percent increase over the 2016 budget and explained that automobile sales mainly account for this growth.

Property tax accounts for 27 percent, or $13.75 million, of the revenues.

The budget includes a 1 percent property tax increase, proposed during the financial policy update.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

High schools

Football
Mount Rainier will pay a 7 p.m. visit to Kentridge at French Field this Thursday.
Friday at the same time is the annual Huling Bowl game between West Seattle and Chief Sealth at the Southwest Athletic Complex, while Evergreen will be playing a home game against Fife at Highline Memorial.
Also at 7 p.m. Friday, Foster will be playing at home against Franklin Pierce as Kennedy Catholic travels to Tahoma and Highline to Steilacoom.
Seattle Lutheran hosts Tacoma Baptist at 1 p.m. Saturday at West Seattle Stadium in a showdown for the SeaTac B League lead.

Volleyball
Mount Rainier hosts Kennedy Catholic for a 7:15 p.m. match this Wednesday, then the Lancers come home to face Kentridge at the same time Tuesday as the Rams travel to Kentwood.
West Seattle is at home playing Ingraham in a 7 p.m. match Thursday as Chief Sealth goes to Franklin, and at the same time Tuesday West Seattle is home against Nathan Hale as Chief Sealth travels to Roosevelt.

information from SDOT

Westbound SW Spokane St at E Marginal Way and the off- ramps to Harbor Island from westbound West Seattle Freeway and from southbound SR99 will be closed this coming weekend beginning Friday evening, October 14, at 7 p.m. The roadway and off- ramps will be reopened Monday morning, October 17, by 5 a.m. The closures are needed in order to remove an abandoned RR track crossing and to perform full depth pavement repairs on SW Spokane St.

• Motorists who are not in large trucks/commercial vehicles can detour by taking the high level West Seattle Bridge, using the Delridge Way exit, then taking the right onto Chelan Ave SW, another right onto SW Spokane St, and eastbound across the Duwamish West Waterway and back onto Harbor Island.

• Large trucks and commercial vehicles can take the “official signed” detour route because it is