November 2008

(Editor's Note: T.M. Sell, founder of Breeders Theatre, writes satirical plays for the group. Below, he focuses his wit on Des Moines civic affairs.)

The Des Moines City Council committed this week to preserving parking in downtown.

Des Moines councilmember Gus Deadlock pointed to the availability of parking as one of the city's attractions to people.

"That's why we can't allow any business development downtown," Deadlock said following a hearing.

For a long time now, people have been warning me this would happen.

This whole, "Oh my gosh, can't I stop the clock" feeling has taken me over. It's like the first 13 years of parenthood were filled with moments of "Well, at least she is almost potty-trained" and "Gee, I can't wait until he is sleeping through the night."

Now, all I feel is, "Jiminy Christmas, my kid is going to high school next year?"

This has really been hitting me lately, and hitting me hard.

A recent letter from Emelie McNett proposed a public park on Lake Burien, citing Arbor Lake as an example of a lake with public access.

I recently visited Arbor Lake, for the first time, and found what I expected to find at a public park in King County: graffiti, vandalism, trash, and evidence of illegal alcohol consumption.

I don't know how the residents of the shoreline of Lake Burien are taking care of the lake, but it has to be better than that.

A recent letter to the editor criticized me for supporting a bill to strengthen freedom of the press for student newspapers. Virtually every statement in the letter was factually incorrect.

First, the author claimed there have been no problems with censorship of student newspapers in Washington.

I am pleased to again share information encouraging students to apply to be a Washington Aerospace Scholar, a successful program which encourages high school juniors from across Washington State, especially those with an aptitude for math or science, to explore the challenges and opportunities awaiting them in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM.)

The program not only helps students explore career options but also addresses the national shortage in these fields.

Washington Aerospace Scholars provides students opportunities to study a NASA-designe

As I wake up late this Saturday morning, 10/25/08, thinking about what a long shift at work I will cover today, I look out over the sound at the ferries and hope the day will be sunny.

I wish I wasn't so tired but today marks another morning where my family and I are up late and dragging because the Burien Police had another round of helicopter training over my Shorewood on the Sound neighborhood from 2 a.m. until after 3 a.m.

We, and likely the entire community, were treated to loud, low-flying noise pollution by the Burien Police helicopter, once again.

A belated but nonetheless sincere word of thanks to the crew who responded from the Burien Fire Department's Station 29, on the evening of Friday, October 10 on the occasion of our step-mother's - Margaret L. Gudmestad - death.

Those firefighters carried out their duties in a quiet, compassionate and professional manner and our family is grateful for their assistance.

These are the individuals who respond to our aid, day and night, no matter what the incident. A simple word of thanks or plate of cookies is inadequate.

Tom Gudmestad

Normandy Park

The nation's economic crisis has hit the development of condominiums in Burien's Town Square.

Town Square is a revitalization effort by the city of Burien, in partnership with Los Angeles-based developer Urban Partners and the King County Library District. It will include retail, restaurants, parks, a new city hall, a new library and housing.

Housing has been issue in the face of the nation's financial problems.

SeaTac lawmakers said no to pawn shops and yes to a business park in a residential neighborhood during a lengthy Oct. 28 meeting.

Following comments by several SeaTac residents opposing pawn shops, council members unanimously declined to set regulations that would allowed a pawn shop at South 192nd Street and International Boulevard. The shop would have been in the old Dave's Diner site next to the? Casino.

Lawmakers also heard from residents against the business park at the former Boulevard Park school South 128th Street and 20th Avenue South.

New Highline schools, whose construction funding has already been approved by voters, will be built as planned.

A front-page Oct. 29 Times/News article gave the mistaken impression that no more schools will be built in the near future because district officials have decided not to place a new bond measure on the March ballot.

A new Marvista Elementary in Normandy Park is scheduled to open in September. Students, teachers and staff are scheduled to move into a new Parkside Elementary in Des Moines in the winter of 2009/2010.