January 2009

The city of Des Moines has received grants of $420,000 from the State of Washington's Heritage Capital Fund and $100,000 from Boeing Mariners Care as primary sources of funding for restoration of the grandstand and ball field at Field House Park.

City Parks and Recreation Director Patrice Thorell said additional funding for the project, timed for the city's 50th anniversary, includes $75,000 from a state Recreation and Conservation Funding Board Youth Athletic Facilities Grant, $75,000 from a King County Youth Sports Facilities Grant, $10,000 from the Des M

Burien Councilwoman Sally Nelson has been appointed to chair the 2009 Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Advocacy Committee of the National League of Cities (NLC).

NLC President Kathleen M. Novak, mayor of Northglenn, Colo, announced Nelson's appointment.

The committee is one of NLC's seven standing committees that develop policy positions and advocate on behalf of municipal governments.

"The year ahead will be critical for the future of this country - and for our cities and towns," said Novak.

Alula Asfaw, a 2003 Highline High School graduate, will be the featured speaker at Harborview Medical Center's Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance on Jan. 9.

The celebration is from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the medical center's cafeteria, 325 Ninth Ave. in Seattle.

Asfaw was named recipient of the 2007 Harry S. Truman Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded for exceptional demonstration of leadership in public service.

He was recognized for his involvement in the development of the University of Washington's Dream Project.

The 2009 Des Moines budget, which included major cuts and increased taxes to fill a $2.7 million shortfall, was barely passed by the Des Moines City Council on Dec. 22.

After a lengthy discussion, Mayor Pro-tem Dan Sherman as well councilmen Dave Kaplan and Scott Thomasson voted against the budget.

The Seattle Christian boys basketball team played from behind much of the game against Auburn Adventist, but got good things going just in time to beat the Falcons, 45-41, in the Warriors’ opening game of their two-day Christmas Tournament inside their nice double gymnasium Dec. 29.

“It was a good game,” said head coach Shaun DeYager, in his first year. “The guys did a good job coming back.”

SCS trailed by a 36-34 score with 3:15 left in the fourth quarter of this game.

A team of reckoning.

A strong 7-0 start for the 1A Seattle Christian School girls basketball team wreaked havoc on a few teams in much higher classifications than themselves.

For instance, 3A Sumner on Dec. 29, with it 21-0 before Sumner scored, then 30-2 at halftime and, not much better in the end at 71-47.

Remember, that’s 3A vs. 1A. And, also drubbed by SCS were the Kentlake Falcons, a 4A classification team that’s going to likely have a pretty good season. The Falcons are 4-1 in the tough South Puget Sound League North now.

Like all of our readers we were inundated by the Christmas snow. It was at once beautiful but challenging because it radically changes your lifestyle and you do have to get out to buy fresh food.

So I tried to get out. By shoveling.

Dumb move.

After five minutes of hard labor I threw the snow shovel back in the barrel and vowed never to do that again.

I no longer have any desire to build a snowman either.

More dirty tricks. Not only have Friends and Neighbors of North Admiral wanted to construct a natural playscape in California Place Park when it is proven that kids do not like these types of play areas. The natural playscape put in Holly Park during it's redevelopment was replaced with a full-scale playground within 2 years. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008309107_playground25m.html Within Seattle Parks & Recreation Dept.

When I was first asked to participate on the Alaskan Way Viaduct Stakeholders Advisory Committee, my first reaction was: "Why would I ever want to be involved with such a hopeless, controversial project?" Thirteen months later, after countless meetings, I feel that we are on the verge of a major breakthrough, one that veteran reporter David Brewster has called a peace treaty for the viaduct wars.

The warmth of autumn's golden grace

Had not been chilled by winter's face

When suddenly, our town arose

To frozen pipes and frosty toes

For all around, both up and down

The byways of our Emerald town

Fell not the rain, we used to know

But downy fluffs of drifting snow

At first we welcomed cozy chores

Like baking bread, then out of doors