May 2008

While Mayor Nickels and the City Council continue their Faustian bargain with local developers to continue erecting their unending string of cookie cutter condos under the Orwellian guise of "urban villages." an even more noxious threat to our city's greenbelts exist in the form of invasive species.

Along the greenbelt where I live on Fauntleroy Way amidst the native fir, alder, and maple - English ivy is creeping up the trees and literally choking them to death. This is one example of what is happening throughout the city.

So, the "Water Taxi" is running again?

That sounds great, because I really enjoy the convenience it provides, but unfortunately, I can't get to it most of the time.

The "Water Taxi" is a great way to get to town, and it helps cut down on car usage, but because of where I live, I have to drive to Seacrest Marina most of the time. I'm not the only one. I ride the Metro Bus route 37/53. You know, that's the route that goes along Beach Drive and Harbor Avenue, from "the Junction to downtown?" And reverse, some of the time.

Guess what?

I was at last night's meeting about Myrtle Reservoir park, but was only able to stay for about 30 minutes. I read more about the meeting and found no explanation about the dismissal of the skate park idea - instead, it appears people asked for one, but were given none.

I would like that explanation. Once again, overwhelming public support is being ignored in favor of - what? Something happening behind closed doors? I am appalled.

Sue Scharff

Seaview

There will be no skateboarding facility at the future Myrtle Reservoir Park.

That announcement came from Parks and Recreation project manager Virginia Hassinger and planning manager Kevin Snoops during the third of four public meetings held at the High Point Community Center last week.

The news delighted some of the 60 in the audience, but angered others.

The teacher wanted her students to sweat, so she installed three heaters in the classroom and posted signs reading, "Work or no pay," and "No eating."

No, she was not an abusive teacher, this was done to simulate the sweatshops of China and Latin America so student could learn of the unjust treatment of employees, especially children.

It was in Heather Tullius' freshman language arts class at West Seattle High School.

Students alternated duties cutting patterns, sewing seams, and dying jeans blue.

Car thefts in the region have been declining so much that the Seattle area is no longer on the top-ten list nationwide for highest number of car thefts.

The Seattle metro area was ranked sixth in the nation per capita for car thefts, but a 2007 study shows that the region has dropped to 16th.

Prosecutors credit the decline to the work of local law enforcement and the King County Prosecutor's Car Theft Unit, which was formed in 2005 in an effort to crack down on the skyrocketing number of car thefts in King County.

King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said the

"I used to lie about my age but now I can't since I'm on the committee," said Garry Treadwell, 68, who is helping with his West Seattle High School class of 1958's 50th reunion coming on June 6-8.

Treadwell shares the task with Audrey Tharp, Sandy Aldworth, Jim Allgire, and others. He acknowledged he is neither famous nor wealthy, attributes that he said lures certain people to reunions for bragging rights.

Solar energy proved its power Sunday as it helped energize a large crowd at the First Annual Sustainable West Seattle Festival.

The festival boasted 18 booths of nearly 50 organizations and businesses promoting environmental sensitivity as well as a stage featuring speakers. Speakers included Sustainable Ballard's Vic Opperman, and neighborhood consultant, Jim Diers, who authored "Neighbor Power: Building Seattle the Community Way."

All were squeezed into the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Concerned family members called 911 after not hearing from a female relative for about a week. Officers went to her Highland Park home and found the body of a man who had committed suicide. In short order they found the missing woman's body inside a van on the property. The medical examiner estimates that she had been possibly been dead for two weeks. The couple had a long history of domestic violence.

Sunday afternoon, a homeowner was napping in the 5100 block of Admiral Way when he awoke to find two burglars in the house.

Rita and Molly are just two of 10 women who few weeks ago set out to explore the Olympic Peninsula using only public transportation.