August 2006

SeaTac lawmakers cleared the way on Aug 2 for a new bridge over South 170th Street west of International Boulevard to carry light-rail trains to Sea-Tac International Airport.

Council members approved an easement to the Port of Seattle for the bridge.

The construction is part of the Port's realignment of northbound Airport Drive for light rail, which is scheduled to reach the airport in December 2009.

The Port operates the airport and will maintain the bridge over the city right-of-way.

The existing northbound bridge will be demolished.

In

Wrapped, prepackaged food that goes unsold at several Sea-Tac International Airport concessions will no longer go to waste.

The Port of Seattle, which operates the airport, last week announced agreement with five airport concessions to make unsold food available to food banks in South King County.

"These are wholesome and tasty products that our vendors replace each day," said Port of Seattle Commission President Patricia Davis.

Representatives of King County and the cities of Seattle and Burien hope to agree by the end of August on a detailed proposal for annexing White Center and Boulevard Park.

This would give county and city officials time to place the question of annexation before North Highline voters in autumn 2007.

The three entities have signed a "memorandum of understanding" that spells out how they will cooperate to solve the annexation of North Highline.

If the process stays on schedule, the city councils of Burien and Seattle could delineate this fall the specific parts of

Burien lawmakers were presented with information July 31 that highlights the worst-case scenario if the city annexes none of the North Highline Unincorporated Area.

The "'No Annexation' Impact Summary" was submitted by city staff in the wake of recent public opposition to any annexation of North Highline.

Earlier that day, Burien officials met with representatives from King County and Seattle to discuss possible solutions to the annexation issue.

No specific decisions were made in this meeting, but possible boundaries for annexation and their proposed locations

I attended the meeting of the Seattle City Council Special Committee on Annexation on July 5. Here are a few points/observations I took away from that meeting relevant to Burien's annexation considerations:

Seattle faces $4.6 million to $5.8 million in deficits from the proposed annexation. Their conversations reflect concerns about the cost.

Having made our home at our present address for 42 years, we have given much through to the matter of annexation choices being considered for the North Highline area.

We have seen many changes in our immediate neighborhood over the years, as well as the changes that have occurred in the larger community.

In our opinion it is the building and maintaining of community that we believe is of primary importance to the well being of current and future residents.

It is clear from the painful evidence being played out around the world that the infrastructure of communi

High summer heat can easily push a garden past its prime as temperatures encourage plants to set seed and go dormant as a survival strategy.

Keeping gardens going under those conditions requires copious amounts of water - something we are short of and that has gotten expensive.

Looking to drought-tolerant native and exotic plants will give you a break from high maintenance and dramatic water bills.

When using exotics, be sure to inquire about their invasiveness. Not all exotics are bad guys.

"Do you have a meeting to cover tonight?" Marge asked on the phone.

"Yeah, afraid so," I replied. "And it will run really late. Better not wait up for me, dear.

(Editor's Note: Publisher Jerry Robinson is out again talking to people and snapping pictures. The Burien Classy Chassis Car show was among his stops last month.)

Meet Pat Sweeney

Pat Sweeney is a printer and married to Jeanne Sweeney, former editor of the West Seattle Herald and Highline Times. He found a pond east of Renton and couldn't resist swinging on a rope because the weather was so hot.

Meet Michael Bull

When I saw him walking out of the dentist's office, I was so puzzled by his attire I asked him if he was making a fashion statement.

Greater Richland American harbored healthy hitting on Thursday, July 27, to send the Pac West All-Stars sailing out of Oak Harbor after an extended stay in the 2006 Washington State Majors (ages 11-12) Little League Baseball Tournament hosted by District 11/North Whidbey.

Pac West trailed all the way at Windjammer Park until the bottom of the sixth inning when the District 7 representative rallied to tie the score.