October 2009

An annual "Hour of Remembrance" will take place on Oct. 16th, from noon-1 p.m. at the Tukwila Community Center, 12424 42nd Ave S..

The Hour is an event that seeks to honor the six South King County victims of domestic violence between 2007 and 2008, as well as the 430 people killed due to domestic violence in Washington State between Jan. 1997 and June 2008.

This is the second time the Domestic Abuse Women's Network (DAWN) is holding the event.

"Please join us in commemorating victims of domestic violence and stand with us to declare that they will not be forgotten.," said DAWN's Director, Lee Drechsel. "Because survivors often turn to friends and neighbors for assistance, this year we will also be focusing on ways to strengthen our response to domestic violence.

"Specifically, we will highlight the action steps we can all take to make a difference."

In King County's 2008 Fatality Review, 55 percent of the domestic violence victims in the county had told a neighbor about the abuse they were experiencing.

This finding is higher than the number of victims who sought Protection Orders or who called police to report the violence.

John Robert Jones, Washington ACORN president, surrounded by ACORN members at state headquarters in Burien responded to recent national negative publicity about the organization in a press conference last week.

He said the scandals in other areas are "isloated incidents" and the record of the state group is "flawless."

ACORN has helped local income residents with housing, taxes and human services issues, he added.

Work is scheduled to begin this week to place sandbags along the banks of the Green River in Tukwila to help prevent flooding in the Green River Valley.

The Green River Trail in Tukwila runs north-south along the banks of the Green River through most of the city.

Sandbags approximately 3 feet wide and 3 feet high will be placed on top of the trail. Installation of the sandbags is expected to be complete by Nov. 7.

Closure of the trail will extend from the southern Tukwila city limits to the area just north of I-405. Future closures of portions of the trail north of I-405 are anticipated.

Trail closure signs will be placed at major access points during installation of the sandbags, and will remain in place for as long as flood protection measures are necessary.

Trail closures may be needed for as long as five years according to current estimates on the length of time required for repairs to the Howard Hanson Dam.

Green River Trail users should be prepared to use alternate routes, including the Interurban Trail, which runs through Tukwila from South 180th Street to approximately Fort Dent Way.

Decatur was never really there, despite a large throng of students on this homecoming game night.

There was another team there, the Rogers Rams, who came out on fire, definitely more hungry, and pursuant to blow the Gators out of the water, 37-6, on the Federal Way Memorial turf Friday night.

"We never got going in this game," said Decatur head coach Leon Hatch.

The Rams did, butting to a 7-0 lead before the game was two minutes old. A six-play, 68-yard drive took all of 1:16 to go down, giving the Del Taco scoreboard a number for the visitor at the 10:44 mark as Graham Madelyn hit Donovan Goode going up the middle, unmarked, past the secondary's last man back-safety.
 
Alex Bykovskiy, the Gators’ quarterback, threw for zero yards in the first quarter on 0-for-1 passing, the running game went six yards in five tries, negative yards carrying the ball on a couple of those. Just plain not there.

"I don't know what happened," said Bykovskiy. "We didn't come ready to play from the beginning."

The Rams scored again, following Bykovskiy throwing an interception, in still the first quarter, with a 3-yard run that made it 14-0, with 3:45 left.

Tough Loss.

But a good loss, as this regular season game against the first place team should keep this Todd Beamer Titans girls soccer team thinking it's well on its way to getting to its best by postseason end while Emerald Ridge, who beat them 2-0, Friday at Federal Way Memorial, has to be thinking the Titans would be a tough play a third time this season.

"We are not there yet, we are still peaking," said Beamer Joel Lindberg, head coach, looking frustrated but still smiling after the loss.

It was back-and-forth, but, by most people’s measurements, the second place Titans outplayed the Jaguars, who kept to first in the South Puget Sound League South with an undefeated record. Barring an upset from the lower place teams, like Decatur in third place, one spot back of Beamer in second, and, another tie/loss by the Jaguars, the ending is no longer in question of league champs.

But what about the state champ question?

That is likely where the Titans will see the Jaguars next, if both get deep into the postseason and were slated to play each other another time.

Here’s what Lindberg said directly to the girls after the game.

Centerstage’s busy 2009-2010 Season continues with two very different, but very exciting events:

5th Annual Live Theatre Week

Centerstage is participating in this Nationwide Theatre Festival, and will present readings of two very different plays at the Knutzen Family Theatre:

On Wednesday October 14th at 8:00pm, we present A PIECE OF MY HEART, a story about 7 nurses returning from the Vietnam War. Directed by Kate Myre, who teaches at CornishCollegeof the Arts, this thrilling evening in the theatre will feature some of Seattle’s finest actors.

On Thursday October 15th, also at 8:00pm, we present JUST THE TICKET, a delightful Comedy about an older lady, who in her 60’s, decides to emigrate to Australia. Starring Centerstage favorite, Rosalie Hilburn, the show is directed by Cynthia White.

Both presentations are free of charge. No reservation is required.

MY TERRIBLE AUNT –MURDER MYSTERY FUNDRAISER
On Friday October 23rd, we present our 7th annual Murder Mystery Event. One of the most popular shows in our year, the Murder Mystery is a cornerstone of Centerstage’s fundraising efforts.

Burien community development director Scott Greenberg updated the city council Oct. 5 on the Northeast Redevelopment Area (NERA), which is bordered by 8th Avenue South on the west, Des Moines Memorial Drive on the east and South 138th Street on the north.

As the city's Web site notes, the intent of NERA is to transform the land from "a mixture of vacant, residential, public and small commercial land uses to uses [that are] compatible with Sea-Tac International Airport operations and existing and planned surrounding land uses."

To that end, for the last year and a half, consultants have conducted a variety of tests to assess the viability of NERA and environmental considerations, such as the location of Miller Creek.

Test results were distributed to the council members and released to the public the same day as Greenberg's presentation.

According to Greenberg, the work has lead to three potential land use plans, all which will require the council to amend the existing comprehensive plan and zoning requirements by the end of the year.

All three plans share the same goal of developing business parks that are compatible with the airport.

At last week's Des Moines City Council meeting nearly 70 people attended to show their support for the city's parks and recreation programs.

It was standing room only, with people lined up outside the council doors.

This was after a story on a local blog caused many citizens to believe the city might completely cut their parks and recreation programs to balance next year's budget.

A city staffer leaked this information after a meeting where City Manager Tony Piasecki discussed a list of possible cuts he would be presenting to the council.

Among the proposals was the suggestion to cut all parks and recreation. This would mean the closing of all Des Moines parks and the elimination of programs, such as Camp Kaos.

While the council could pass the proposed cuts in their entirety, Piasecki will not present it to the council as a final resolution, simply as a place to begin discussion.

Councilman Dave Kaplan said, "I don't think there is anyone up here that supports eliminating parks and recreation programs in whole, that's crazy.

Carol Ann Isaac may be a new gardener, but look at her go!

A member of the Urban Crop Circle, a Sustainable Ballard project, she participated in a group seed purchase that included tromboncino squash (they generally grow rather straight with a bulbous end, hence the trombone).

If you’ve never tried this type of squash, it’s a nice surprise. Ever get tired of mushy zucchini in a stir-fry? This guy holds his own and remains firm.

Flavor? Yummy. Plus, the seeds are located in a small pocket in the round end, leaving the rest for good eating.

Now, Carol’s squash is a little orange, and at first we suspected cross-pollination. But a little research has shown that they are a relative of the butternut and tend to the orangy color as they get larger.

She recently took a specimen to Nicklesville, the traveling camp for homeless folks, with a smaller version that was only about three feet long. Residents took turns posing for phone-camera shots with that one.

I’d say Carol’s neighbors better look out over the next couple of weeks; she plans to harvest this big boy very soon.

Dear Editor,

President Barack Obama symbolizes our potential for peace. His greatness is bearing the weight of the expectation of millions, his strength is bringing hope to billions who had no hope.

He continues to inspire and hold himself with grace in the face of a world filled with fear and despair and media who choose to see it in those negative terms. President Barack Obama allows himself and all the people of the world to whom his ideas speak, to be reminded that we still have a world where compassion and beauty are actually the dominant forces, even when war, hunger, and pain are ever present.

President Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize not for what he will do, but the message he has already given. Imagine the ripples of change if we the people used as much energy acting on his message of hope and inspiration as we do in finding his faults and inconsistencies.