October 2006

The Third Runway at Sea-Tac Airport is obsolete!

Managerial ego trips and bad political decisions have screwed up the third runway design from the very beginnings. Billions of precious taxpayer dollars have been squandered due to those blunders!

At Sea-Tac the first runway is used for aircraft takeoffs and the second runway is used for aircraft landings. During peak periods, either runway can be placed in service for either takeoffs or landings.

I put off responding to the accusations made by Jeff Upthegrove in the Times/News' Sept. 20 Letters column. Like most of the people of Burien, I prefer to stay in the background on City government debates, let the community activists on either side of the issue be loud and outspoken, take the heat for their arguments, and ask the tough questions.

The debate over whether or not Burien should annex North Highline is one such issue.

At Burien's recent Von Boorian Days, we visited the Town Square Booth and looked at the pictures of the condominiums, and the large pictures of the new City Hall/King County Library building.

We were shocked and dismayed to see that the Library/City Hall stood out like a sore thumb. It does not blend with anything that is in Burien.

Regarding the article "Property owners appeal to high court" in the Oct.

Cooling temperatures say it's fall even through the rains have yet to materialize. Plant growth is coming to a halt to prepare for winter, so it's time to begin renovations.

Fall is the right time to move spring blooming perennials. The soil needs to be moist before transplanting. Either water well for several days before the chore or wait until after at least a week of steady rain

Take advantage of end of season nursery sales to stock up on beefy plants they've been caring for all summer.

The balance of power in a society accompanies the balance of property in land.

John Adams

Things are different this campaign season, yet they remain the same.

Again there are too few contested legislative races in Highline districts. Only four incumbents face challenges this fall.

And no Tim Eyman-sponsored initiative appears on the Nov. 7 ballot.

(Editor's Note: Jerry Robinson found a couple of adventurous guys to write about this week.)

Meet Brian Thurston

This Burien man flew to Argentina with five friends where he went dove hunting.

Your recent editorial (Oct. 4) describing Pathfinder K-8 School as needing to set aside "huge egos" in order to make a school with Cooper School was unreflective and inaccurate.

Pathfinder K-8 parents and staff are working untold hours to preserve alternative education, not out of arrogance but out of a passion for retaining the single alternative school as an option for families in West Seattle.

In late September, Pathfinder K-8 School was informed by Seattle Schools Superintendent Manhas that our program would move to Cooper School.

The United Cooper Advocacy Group does not support the latest Seattle School District proposal of moving the Pathfinder K-8 program into the Cooper building.

(Editor's Note: This letter was addressed to the Alki News Beacon, a publication of the Alki Community Association, with a copy sent to the West Seattle Herald.)

There were some statements made in the September/October issue of the "Alki News Beacon" that I find insulting as well as incorrect.

It was stated that the taxpayers were paying to support the private views of the condo owners adjacent to the restricted paring zone. The fact is, waterside parking has little or no affect on the condo views. Why?