May 2006

Manuel "Manny" Ventoza is a self-deprecating guy, a Shriner who likes cowboy boots and parks a camper in the driveway. He smiles often and effortlessly. Most of his Burien neighbors probably have no idea he's a war hero.

Memorial Day means something more to Manny Ventoza than a barbecue.

He was a U.S. Army paratrooper during World War II and was often in the first wave of assault, dropping behind enemy lines in France and Italy to deactivate land mines, German tanks and other enemy equipment.

An Alki woman was so distraught over the cutting of a western red cedar in her neighborhood that she called the city arborist, had the cutting stopped, and then climbed up into the tree with food and water for a daylong sit-in protest May 16.

"I've loved this tree since the first time I saw it," said Yvonne Ogden, 69, as she perched herself in the crotch of the butchered tree on a makeshift seat about 8 feet off the ground.

The tree is in the parking strip in front of the house at 3009 61st Ave. S.W.

Beginning August 1, the Washington State Patrol will start enforcing new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules for securing loads.

The rules provide performance criteria for cargo securement to prevent articles of cargo from shifting upon or falling from commercial vehicles during acceleration and deceleration.

The regulations provide procedures for determining the appropriate number and type of tie-downs for securing cargo. Some commodity specific requirements were provided, however there were no commodity specific requirements for fruit bins.

Adding sunshine and blue skies to the three-day Memorial Day weekend can equate ferry use to traffic backups on Friday afternoon and evening heading to your destination and again on Monday, as travelers head home. It's usually a good idea to pack some patience as travelers head out.

But rest assured Washington State Ferries will get you where you're going.

Washington State Ferries will be supplementing service this Memorial Day weekend to help meet traffic demands but travelers should expect some delay. Travelers are encouraged to travel during non-commute times - 9 a.m.

Four students from West Seattle high schools have been named Seattle Schools Scholarship recipients and will receive a $1,500 scholarship to pursue post-secondary educational opportunities.

These scholarships are made possible through the Seattle Schools Scholarship Trust Fund and were awarded in a ceremony and reception on May 16.

Among the scholarship winners were Jenny Nguyen and Daniel Alcala from Chief Sealth High School and Kiana Aukai and Alexander Nichols from West Seattle High School.

The Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund was established in 1974.

Neighbors came to the rescue of a 3-year-old whose mother, they told 911 operators, was intoxicated and unable to care for her. Concerned when the stumbling mom_s yelling suddenly stopped, they went to check on the child. Mom was passed out on the sofa, so they left a note, took the child, and called authorities. Mom woke up when officers arrived and told them her child was in the bedroom. The child, of course, was not there, but officers found an open balcony door and cigarette butts scattered on the floor (along with burn marks in the carpet).

Burglaries, auto thefts down

By Steve Cox

Last month I mentioned we were having a rash of break ins to cash machines in the White Center area. I am proud to say that four people have been arrested for at least some of those break ins. We believe those four are responsible for all of the break ins.

The Castillo Bakery, 10434 16th S.W., was robbed at gunpoint on April 22.

On April 27 a male was jumped at Roxbury and Fourth. The victim's backpack and coat were taken.

When I saw a catalog with a device that keeps your lawn free of animals that leave their calling cards I had to send away for it.

This week I got it. With trembling hands I tore the box open. There it was. A solution to a problem that does not harm the animal. Just drives them away to your neighbors yard.

It is called Animal Away and it is a battery operated, motion detector device that emits a high pitched noise that only animals can hear. Imagine how high 25,000 Hz is? That is noisier than the music in most restaurants.

A beautiful contribution

By Kyra-lin Hom

9 a.m. wake up; 9:30 skip breakfast; 10:30 hair; 3 p.m. nails; 4 p.m. make up; 6 p.m. dress and jewelry; 7 p.m. showtime - or is it supposed to be nails, hair, dress, then make up? - or maybe make up comes before hair? Ooohhh, I just can never get it right! Is this sounding familiar to anyone?

Most schools have already had their prom - the date coming earlier and earlier than tradition dictates. And though I have yet to go this year, I have heard the gossip, stared bug-eyed at the agendas and seen the pictures.

A president once told the American nation on the edge of war that the only thing we had to fear is fear itself.

We can apply that to those parents and offspring who are facing the possibility that their school will be closed and the students will be dispersed helter-skelter around West Seattle. There are fears that cherished programs will be lost, that children will be separated from their friends or siblings, that valued teachers will be gone.

In short, they fear change.

But these are only preliminary proposals, not final plans.