December 2019

Robert Henson Merryman

Robert Henson Merryman died on November 12, 2019 at the age of 96.  At the time of his death, he was living in the Wyatt House, an assisted living facility on Bainbridge Island.  

 

Bob was born in Bremerton, WA on May 9, 1923, the son of Robert Merryman, Sr. and Frances C. Merryman. He graduated from Renton High School in 1941 and enrolled at the University of Washington.  During WWII, Bob was called to active duty in 1944 as an ensign in the U.S. Navy.  He served in the Pacific theater, becoming commanding officer of his amphibious landing ship by the end of the war.

Hendrie, Bertena H.

Tena Hendrie of the Fauntleroy area of West Seattle passed away peacefully on November 9, 2019, just days after celebrating her 92nd birthday with her family.  She was born Bertena Hendren in 1927, on her family farm near Dyersburg, Tennessee.  In 1950 she began a teaching career in the public schools of Dyer County, having graduated from Murray State College, but soon set her sights on broader achievements.  In 1954 she went to Japan, serving as a civilian with the U.S.

Mayor Durkan announces $110 million to create 1,944 affordable homes; Lam Bow in Delridge is one of the acquisitions
City will leverage $600 million in additional investments through public and private sources

information from the City of Seattle

Over the last 3 years City has directly invested $250 million for a total of nearly $1.5 billion to create 4,000 affordable homes.

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Burien Annex closes due to structural deficiencies

information from the City of Burien

The City of Burien is closing the Burien Community Center Annex because initial inspections have found significant concerns with the structural integrity of the building. The building’s current tenants include: Burien Actor’s Theatre, Hi-Liners Musical Theatre, Para los Niños, Burien Cooperative Preschool, Transform Burien, Meals on Wheels, and Journey Arts and Crafts.

The City will not be renewing the facility lease agreements, which end on December 31, 2019, with these organizations. The organizations must be out of the building by January 31, 2020.

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Port of Seattle Commission approves Miller Creek restoration and portable noise monitors

 

Cities of Burien and SeaTac join funding for restoring salmon The Port of Seattle Commission approved a motion this week to restore a segment of Miller Creek in Burien and SeaTac as well as for the purchase of five portable noise monitors to be deployed in King County communities, including one on Vashon Island. The motion to negotiate an inter-local agreement to contribute $800,000 to a $3.5 million joint project with Burien and SeaTac will help replace a failing culvert and create 450 feet of new salmon habitat on Port property along Des Moines Memorial Drive.

“These projects demonstrate how community input gets results,” says Port of Seattle Commission President Stephanie Bowman. “As we build our future project priorities we will intensify our community engagement to identify where significant Port action can improve conditions in communities and provide the greatest benefit."

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Jerry's View: We never died a winter yet

By Jerry Robinson

(an excerpt from LISTEN TO YOUR FATHER) a book by Jerry Robinson on sale through this newspaper. Apply for details)
 

NO wonder Dad was a certified alcoholic. Looking back, I can't blame him too much. He just got hooked on the stuff trying like hell to feed nine kids.

What a gang. George was the eldest; then Evelyn, Marion, Albert, Doris, Bernice, Russell, me, and lastly Norma. Well, not quite last. I had a little brother for a while. Six months, in fact. His name was Lowell. He was injured at birth by a careless doctor. Brain damage made his left arm useless. But Mom believed that if you moved his tiny arm up over his head and back down often enough, eventually he could do it himself. That was a job for older brother Russell and me.

We worked his arm back and forth hundreds of times each day. I was only six,

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Seven Pieces of Priceless Advice

By Jean Godden

If there's one thing that retired city councilmembers are good for it's free advice. When candidates line up to run, they often ask former CMs for guidance. (They'd also like an endorsement and contribution thank you).

But once elected, new officeholders seldom seek advice, free or otherwise. More's the pity. There are lessons that can be shared: what I wish I'd done and what I wish someone had told me. Here then are random bits of wisdom for the three new councilmembers who will join the council in January. (District 4's Alex Pedersen has already taken his seat since he's replacing an elected councilman who quit last April.) Some priceless advice:

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