October 2009

They aren't dead yet.

Federal Way needed a win against Kentwood Thursday to stay alive in the South Puget Sound League North Division, and the Eagles got it in a harrowing 24-21 win over the Conquerors.

Now coach John Meagher and his Federal Way contingent has its eye on finishing in the SPSL North No. 2 position. They need some help to do that, as Kentridge needs to be knocked out of second place in the standings.

"We've now become big fans of whoever Kentridge is playing," said Eagles assistant coach Sam Beesley. "If we win out we win by tiebreaker vs. Kentwood."

The Eagles ran their SPSL North record to 4-2 to tie Kentwood in the standings and improved to 5-3 overall. Kentwood fell to 4-2, 5-2.

Senior running back Trenton Pinson and junior quarterback Nick Tanielu powered the offense for the Eagles in Thursday's game.

"Trenton really has grown as a tailback," said Federal Way head coach John Meagher. "It's great to have both of them. Trenton and Nick can beat you in a couple of ways. We can throw the football and run it."

The Seattle City Council voted unanimously Oct. 19 to approve an agreement between the Washington Department of Transportation and the city, authorizing both parties to move forward with the Alaskan Way Viaduct deep bored tunnel and Seawall Replacement.


This agreement marks the fourth in a series of contracts for the project. In September, the council approved three contracts with the state that authorized more than $480 million in state funds to be used for reconfiguring the south portion of the viaduct.
 
“We’ve reached agreement with the state and we will continue moving forward,” said council member Jan Drago, chair of the transportation committee. “The citizens of Seattle deserve more than process, they deserve progress that brings them a vibrant waterfront and a safe, reliable transportation system.”

Mayor Greg Nickels also released a statement about the unanimous council vote.  

Four-year-old Chief is a Golden Retriever and "He's completely addicted to the water," said his owner Tad Grinke.

The Grinke's got the dog in September of 2005 from the mall.

"My wife picked him up, somebody in a mini-van had a litter of golden retrievers and he was the fattest, fluffiest one so that's what she chose," said Tad Grinke.

Tad's wife, Bianca Grinke, named the dog after a character in the movie "Frequency."

About Chief's love of the water Tad said, "Anytime we get within a mile of the water he starts going crazy and as soon as he is able to will just leap out on all fours into the water. He's definitely a water dog."

Bianca agreed. "You can't walk him by the water, he will pull you right in," she said.

Chief is also extremely true to the breed's name.

"He will just non-stop until he falls over dead continue to retrieve," said Tad. Chief loves people though he seems to prefer adults.

The Grinke's son Damian said, "He's starting to like me."

Bianca, Tad and Damian all agree that Chief has taught them patience and the unconditional love that pets just give you.

"He's a real good boy," added Tad.

The Washington State Department of Transportation has scheduled the next viaduct inspection closure for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24 and 25, which unlike past inspections, will be closed to the public.

A public tour will not be possible during the October inspection, due to limited daylight hours to complete the necessary maintenance and the decision to reopen the viaduct earlier than normal to accommodate traffic for the Oct. 24 Sounders game, according to the state transportation department.

According to a release from the state, it will continue to "keep a close eye" on the viaduct's condition to ensure it remains safe for drivers.

Both decks of the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed between Spokane Street in the south through the Battery Street Tunnel in the north. The closure is scheduled from: 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24 and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25

Dear Editor,

I am writing to urge you to vote yes on Ref. 71. This is not a vote of whether to give gays and senior citizens "special" rights; this is about preserving EQUAL rights that have already been granted.

We all want to take care of our family and have the option for unpaid leave to take care of a critically ill partner. It is really important that we approve Ref. 71, so that senior citizen couples and gay couples can have this security to take their partner just like other Washington couples can.

All Washington families should be treated equally under the law and we shouldn't take away protections for a committed couple who want to take care of each other.

John Megowan
White Center

Dear Editor,

If Ref. 71 fails, families all over Washington state will loose essential rights and protections.

All Washington families should be treated equally under the law. Please join me in approving Ref. 71.

Emily Birch
West Seattle

Twelfth Night Productions (TNP) is proud to open its fall production, "The Diviners," by Jim Leonard, Jr. on Friday, Nov. 6 at the Youngstown Cultural Center in West Seattle.

Set in the fictional town of Zion, Indiana during the Great Depression, "The Diviners" is an earthy, funny, poignant and profoundly tragic play that speaks to a sense of community during a very dark time in our nation's history. 



"The Diviners" is the story of a disturbed young man named Buddy who holds the ability to divine water in a town where water and faith are in short supply. When a charismatic preacher who has lost his faith comes to town, the two outcasts find a common bond and help each other divine for truth, faith and hope.

The townspeoples’ demands for the preacher to return to a way of life he no longer believes in drives both men to a crisis of trust.

Show times: Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21 at 7:30 p.m., with matinees at 3 p.m. on Sundays, Nov. 8 and 15.

To buy tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com and at the Youngstown Theater on performance days (4408 Delridge Way S.W.).

When a Metropolitan Market employee confronted a shoplifter who had been brought to the office, the suspect managed to throw “extremely hot” water in the employee's face before trying to escape. In a struggle, the suspect injured his knee and was taken to the ground. Medics provided the employee with ice packs for his face; the suspect explained he was wanted on a warrant and didn't want to go back to jail. A records check showed that he had been convicted of second-degree assault and was wanted on an assault with sexual motivation warrant. He was booked into King County Jail.

Just before 4 a.m. on Oct. 12, a man noticed two fellows trying to remove the tires of a car parked in the 3200 block of 48th Avenue Southwest. He called 911 and then confronted the two, who sped off in what turned out to be a stolen car. Officers quickly caught up with the pair in the 4200 block of Southwest Dawson. One suspect fled; the other said he would “take the fall” for everything and wouldn't “rat” on his friend. The 48-year-old was booked into King County Jail for investigation of auto theft and theft of auto accessories.

Some people find comfort blending into the crowd. Others like to stand out. Then there is the Bubbleman, a.k.a. Gary Golightly, and he loves to stand out -- outside and make bubbles.

This one-of-a-kind Ballard resident has the challenging chore of putting smiles on kids’ faces while launching soap into the air. He is the Santa Claus of summer, but his beard is purple. His sleigh, a purple Toyota van with xylophone and drumsticks attached, and license plate DOTCALM.

In his sack are oversized plastic tennis racquets, hoops and other props to dunk into his bucket of soapy water. His tools of the trade yield bubbles tiny and huge.

“When I was growing up I said I wanted to do what nobody else is doing for a living,” recalled Golightly, 56, who renamed himself after Audrey Hepburn’s character from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” when she died.

He was raised in Boston with five younger sisters by his mother. He never knew who his father was. His mother is gone, but was proud he became a bubble-maker, not a troublemaker.

The roles seem reversed. The reporters used to work in an office above Market Street, leaving to cover meetings and conduct interviews while I fancied myself the one who was “at large in Ballard.”

Lately, I seem homebound with a project while the Ballard News-Tribune reporters and sales staff are the ones truly “at large” in the community.

As a cost-cutting measure Robinson Newspapers has closed the Ballard and West Seattle offices and switched to delivery by mail service. The commitment to the community is still there, and one could argue that reporters without an office can be even closer to the heartbeat of a neighborhood.

The question is, how to find the staff: The answer for now is the Ballard Neighborhood Service Center meeting room every Tuesday from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

People have come to expect news and information 24-hours a day, not once a week, which is why the publishers have put a great deal of effort into creating an online Ballard News-Tribune that has new content throughout the day, all the days.

In addition, online media allows for entire photo galleries of events, whereas the print edition has room for one at best.