November 2008

Carol McNeilly joined Federal Way on Sept. 9 as City Clerk.

The City of Federal Way received a clean bill of health from the State Auditor's office, making it the 14th consecutive City audit without any findings.

Finance Director Tho Kraus believes the clean audit is due to all City staff following the appropriate accounting policies and procedures. "This year's 14th consecutive unqualified audit opinion reflects our continuous commitment.

On Monday, October 20, Metropolitan King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer led the Council in a formal recognition ceremony for Federal Way United Soccer Association Teams Reign '94 and '93 who captured their first and second national soccer titles this past July.

"The success of these young women reflects what hard work, cooperation, and determination will produce," said von Reichbauer.

"These are the first national championships for Federal Way United teams and both teams came out victorious," he said.

In addition to its regularly-scheduled season at the Knutzen Family Theatre, the Federal Way Company will be taking its productions to two other major theatres in the region.

In December, after running its Holiday Show Aladdin for 13 performances at the Knutzen Family Theatre (Nov 29-Dec 14), the show will be moved to the Theatre On The Square in Tacoma for four additional performances.

And then in February 2009, Centerstage will move this season's smash hit, Always...Patsy Cline to ACT Theatre, one of Seattle's premier theatres, for a four-week run.

Centerstag

Tie game! Loss! Tie game!

Poor Beamer. Undefeated until “that” happened.

For a nationally ranked team by ESPN (No. 14) this 2008 season, it’s been a tough 2 1/2 weeks for the Todd Beamer Titans, who not only lost their national ranking but probably the state-best ranking, too, with this latest setback to, of all teams, their rival, Decatur, tying them, 1-1, at Federal Way Stadium Thursday.

Beamer’s a marked team for sure. Everyone wants to beat a winner and the Titans were 9-0, and ESPN-good before a tie to Emerald Ridge, 2-2, on Oct.

Thomas Jefferson scheduled Senior Night and Homecoming night on the same night, but it didn’t work.

The Raiders still lost to playoff-bound Federal Way, 48-0, Friday in the South Puget Sound League North Division finale for both teams.

Federal Way goes on to the postseason, visiting the Gig Harbor Tides Friday or Saturday thanks to Kentwood’s 24-13 win over Kentlake Friday that kept the Eagles from winning the division title and drawing a home game.

Federal Way had a past experience with the Tides in the playoffs that wasn’t pleasant.

Cross country

SPSL meet

South Puget Sound League championship action was held Wednesday, Oct. 22 at Fort Steilacoom Park, with local teams scoring high finishes.

Thomas Jefferson took third place on the girls side with Todd Beamer fifth, while the Titans were third on the boys side with TJ ninth.

The Raider girls scored 98 points for their high finish and Beamer scored 119. The Federal Way girls were 13th with 365 points and Decatur 17th with 465.

As for the Beamer boys, they scored 152 points while TJ scored.

M’s open on road

The Seattle Mariners open their season on the road next year, with their home opener scheduled for Tuesday, April 14 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Pacific Waves

Pacific Waves Synchronized Swim Club is currently offering one FREE synchro lesson to deep water swimmers of all ages interested in trying the Sport that Sparkles. Lesson will be at the Federal Way Community Center Pool on Saturday mornings from 9 - 10 a.m.

Looming layoffs. Declining home values and residential construction. Mega-banks and Wall Street firms on the ropes.

The skittish national economy is beginning to give the Puget Sound jitters. And for business owners in Ballard, transportation issues add another layer of challenges and uncertainties.

The question is: What can you do about it?

The answer is: Plenty.

According to developers and landowners in Ballard the neighborhood's building boom is still going, though now with the economy slumping it's more of a firecracker than a stick of dynamite.

A number of developments in Ballard have been cancelled or put on hold due to the economy and other factors, leaving vacant lots or doomed buildings littering Ballard's landscape.

Anthony's Restaurant had been in negotiations to build a new, more casual restaurant at Shilshole Bay Marina to complement the current Anthony's already there.

Sharon Briggs at the Port of Seattle s