November 2008

Many parents at last week's North Seattle School Fair said they were concerned about the quality of education and environment that their kids will be graduating into.

Parents from all over North Seattle researched schools for their kids at the fair on Nov. 6. Both public and private schools (kindergarten through middle school) were equipped with information booths and representatives at St. Alphonsus Family Center in Ballard.

"We're trying to get a feel for what to do," said Stuart Isett, a Ballard parent.

In case you haven't heard, the Sound Transit 2 ballot initiative passed on Nov.4. After reading the Sound Transit 2 ballot initiative proposal in my Voter's Guide, I couldn't help but notice that Ballard, Fremont, Magnolia and West Seattle are pretty much being left out of the plan for now but we are being expected to pay for it.

Don't get me wrong, I think it is a good idea to expand mass transit service to the rest of the Puget Sound region.

For the next three months, Seattle Public Schools will hold a series of public meetings to discuss a new district-wide Student Assignment Plan.

Friday, Nov. 14, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Northgate Community Center, 10510 5th Ave. N.E.

Saturday, Nov. 15, 10:00 to noon

Delridge Community Center; 4501 Delridge Way S.W.

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Mark Benedum's kids used to introduce him like this:

"This is my dad. He runs a hospital, but he's not a real doctor."

While he may not be a "real" doctor, Benedum is still an important asset to Highline Medical Center in Burien.

"As a CEO, I keep the Board [of Trustees] informed and make sure people have what they need to get the job done. A lot of what I do is meetings, coordination and strategic planning," he said.

While Benedum has only been CEO for two years, he has been with Highline for 24, starting out as associate administrator.

On his first return visit to district headquarters since he retired in June 2005, former Highline School District superintendent Joe McGeehan received a lifetime achievement award.

McGeehan is the second person to earn the award from the Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence. Former superintendent Carl Jensen was the first.

A recent Wall Street Journal article listed Seattle as the number one market in the nation to begin bouncing back from the economic slump. That news brings a smile to the faces of Phyllis and David Danforth, who have some news of their own. They have just completed the purchase of Coldwell Banker Del Bianco Realty in Burien.

The Danforths have been a Coldwell Banker affiliate since 1993, with principal offices in Federal Way and boast 250 agents on their roster.

The King County Sheriff's office budget will be cut by over 11 percent next year and that could mean 79 employees will have to leave the department said Sheriff Sue Rahr, who is urging people to complain to county government right now.

Rahr spoke to alarmed North Highline residents recently at a town hall meeting called "Public Safety in Peril" at the Steve Cox Memorial Park log cabin in White Center.

Burien and SeaTac contract with the Sheriff's office for police services, but according to Sheriff's office spokesman John Urquhart, the cuts won't impact the two cities.

Seamount’s No. 1 seed, Kennedy, took on the South Puget Sound League 3A No.1 seed Sumner in the battle of who would get the No.

No one did that hard thing called “running” better than Mount Rainier’s Michael Miller, the No. 1 finisher for 3A boys and coming off injury.

Seattle Christian’s Michael Cross, excelled too, qualifying for state in the 1A boys race, taking 11th overall. Both runners helped their teams qualify for state as well in West Central District cross country meet action at the American Lake Golf Course Saturday, Nov.

PUYALLUP - Strong opening statements against a formidable foe evaporated into weak closing arguments for the Evergreen Lutheran volleyball team in a losing verdict on Saturday, November 1, at the Four Seasons Center at Chief Leschi High School.

Overcoming sizeable deficits in each game, the Rainier Christian Mustangs galloped away from the Eagles in three games to annex their third consecutive SeaTac 2B league championship.

“Our plan was to put pressure on them,” explained Eagle head coach Chris Poetter. “We were unable to do it consistently.