November 2008

When all kids could explore the area

By Paul Davison

My parents purchased their second home in West Seattle in 1952 when the plots of land were still called little city farms. That's what they were back then, too. Most of the homes on our block were built around the same time, and all of the families that moved in had children. My older brother was four years old and he would start kindergarten the next fall. I came along five years later in 1957. Our parents told us they chose that neighborhood because it was close to the schools: E.C.

Residents of West Seattle would be best advised to support local businesses and forget about going downtown on any but the most important trips because it soon may become too expensive and take far too long to go there.

As we all know, the Sword of Damocles hangs over our heads because the governor said she will order her Washington State Department of Transportation to rip down the Alaskan Way Viaduct in 2012, less than four years from today.

The squabbling and studies and lobbying continue unabated.

I read with interest your article about the lawsuit between two retaurants over their purported similar trade dress, or appearance.

The U. S. Supreme Court in Two Pesos v. Taco Cabana ruled that the look of a restaurant can be protected if it has inherent distinctiveness. As the expert witness for Taco Cabana, I would caution restaurant owners about offering interior designs that may be seen as basically similar to another food establishment.

Gabriel Gelb

Wow - the rebuttals! I was looking forward to the responses and I surely got them. Thank you.

I still believe our America is the best nation in the world. I do care...about the sensitive concerns of some of my critics; the thoughtful evaluations, the innocent optimism, the unfulfilled dreams and the total lost logic of others.

What a great country where we still have the freedom to voice our heartfelt beliefs not whispered behind closed doors but publicly.

Yes, America is the best nation in the world.

Mary E. Kanyer

Alki

The "No Change to Park" campaign was present and large at the 'public workshop' for California Place Park. Steve Shay numbered the attendance at 80 when, in fact, it was closer to 100. The proponents who spoke for No Change outnumbered the playground supporters 3 to 1. Again, Shay states the $15,000 will install a "Playscape" on the site. This is not the case, as the $15,000 is for promotion and design only.

Ann Limbaugh states the playground supporters have a mailing list of 200.

Yes, it is the responsibility of the parents to raise their own kids but what happens to the kids who have irresponsible parents who just don't care about their own offspring (Letter, Nov. 5).

Perhaps if the youth who need help can be reached in this current "youth outreach program" we can make progress toward a more responsible future generation. I think $9 million is a small price to pay when you consider the money saved by a responsible future generation.

In the Review and Outlook section of Friday's (Nov. 14) Wall Street Journal was an editorial which speaks to McDermott's plans to make serious changes to the 401(k). The editorial alludes to McDermott and company moving towards the nationalization or otherwise contradicting what McDermott said in his letter to the West Seattle Herald.

It's very interesting that these two articles appeared a day apart. I wonder what is the truth.

Is it any wonder why the people have such a low opinion of the media and the Congress.

Robert Callard

West Seattle

In the West Seattle Herald this week (Nov.

My hope is that through the design meetings the community is able to come together and see that our needs and desires are not diametrically opposed; in fact I believe we share significant common ground.

What I heard at the Nov. 6 meeting is that everyone wants a park that is beautiful, natural and green. There was a strong desire to ensure the park allowed for quiet reflection. As well, most everyone felt that safety was extremely important, specifically with regard to busy California Ave Southwest, and dissuading undesirable use.

"Pray for those who don't like change." That is what she said. One black woman sitting among our white congregation.

Each Sunday we have a time for the congregation to mention those in need of prayer, mostly due to illness, always to our armed forces.