July 2006

When Kemper Freeman, Jr., talks about investment opportunities, people listen.

And when the real estate giant, whose retail developments have virtually established downtown Bellevue, tells an assembled group of Federal Way's most powerful businessmen and women that outside investors view their city as one of the "best undiscovered opportunities in the region," his words give legitimacy to the city council's city center redevelopment campaign.

A man with that many zeros in his paycheck (and the deeds to more square feet of retail space than anyone could shop in a day) must

Teen columnist Kyra-lin Hom reveals what she and her friends do during down time, especially in he summer. They hang out in dark basements and eschew many activities because of their poverty stricken lifestyles.

But she - and her mom - come via different ways to the same conclusion: "get off your lazy bum and do something!" See he column on Page Three.

In most issues, physical trainer Annette Herrick makes similar suggestions. They both note the growing number of people of all ages who bulge rather disgustingly through life.

Members of the Steel Lake Little League All-Star team embrace in jubilation after slugger Jared Prather (second from left in front) sent a fastball deep over the left field wall during the team's tournament game against Federal Way.

With three fireworks displays, a fly-by and a fly-in, a parade, bike races, and family festivals, there's no reason to leave the Highline area to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Especially with Independence Day falling on a Tuesday this year, the safe and sane choice is to stick close to home.

Burien

Jack Jaunal, retired Sergeant Major of the Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, which is the highest enlisted rank in the Marine Corps, will preside as grand marshal (see separate story) over the Burien Fourth of July Parade at 3 p.m.

Serious bicycle riders will

Meet Leroy Peterson.

I met him at the Burien Strawberry Festival when he asked me to sign petition I-97, which requires Washington state energy providers to use at least 15 percent solar or windmill power within 20 years.

Once an avowed Republican when he was executive vice president of Alaska Airlines, he now is a certified environmentalist and votes a straight Democrat ticket.

A long-time resident of Normandy Park, this 87 year old is an avid gardener and tends a 500-foot plot in the Normandy Park Pea Patch near Mar Vista School.

There are ab

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction ...

It's beginning to look a lot like Waterland - only with a spanking new facelift!

The spectacular Fourth of July Fireworks Over Des Moines set the stage for a full month of community celebrations.

This annual July festival continues Saturday, July 8, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, July 9, from 10 a.m.

It is with regret that my husband, Robert Hugh Ross, retired architect, and I find ourselves so disturbed by the design of the new Burien city hall, library and building to be on the Gottschalk property.

They each have a harsh look of say - a building in an industrial city like Detroit. We have in our present library a truly Northwest look - so well designed and comfortable looking.

The Times/News of June 21 contains a statement by Burien Mayor McGilton regarding a "contentious city council and city manager that rammed through an annexation process and built a lot of distrust of that council" - to paraphrase the quote.

Maybe it's time for the members of this council to acknowledge that nothing was "rammed through" and our duly elected council representing all of us worked hard to deal with a thorny problem that was really hard for the community at large to grasp.

Please Madam Mayor, let the past go and use your talents to keep working the problem wit

I decided to visit the Burien Strawberry and Art Festival on June 17. But to my surprise the Art Galley was not put into the fair's advertising. In fact, walking around the fair, in my viewing there was a feeling of separateness.

This fair is a family fair, children with their parents, the fair closing about 6 p.m. My question is why is the city of Burien selling cocktails in the middle of the day? Time, it's really spinning a different story (being a day fair).

Americans are crying out for culture.