November 2010

After three single-win seasons as head coach of the Ballard High School football team, John Bowers resigned his position, effective Nov. 1.

"It's been a tremendous learning experience," Bowers said in his resignation email to Ballard High School Principal Keven Wynkoop and Athletic Director Carrie Burr. "I leave here a much better coach and judge of character."

Bowers' tenure at Ballard was marked by losses and frustration. In the 2010 season, for the third year in a row, the Beavers won only a single game. At one point, the team was shutout in five straight competitions, being outscored 183-0.

"The program needs numbers," Bowers said in an email to parents and players announcing his resignation. "A new coach can up these numbers."

Some players blamed the lack of success on their coach and accused him of playing favorites, but Bowers never had a lot to work with during his time at Ballard.

He had a hard time recruiting enough players for the team and was forced to bring on juniors and seniors who had never played football before.

Bowers' teams were also young. This past season, only nine of Ballard's 40 players were seniors.

(Editor's Note: This letter was sent to Port of Seattle commissioners with a copy to the Times/News.)

Honorable Port Commission:

I attended your staff presentation Tuesday, October 27, at Sea-Tac Airport regarding airport noise problems. I also attended your staff presentations to the public.

You could drive a 747 through the gap between the information you are given and the information given to the public in your name.

Skimming some of the discrepancies: The Hush House is an old issue. Would the Department of Labor and Industries even allow someone to work inside a hush house?

The local public has requested that few remaining night flights be discontinued as they are stressful to sleep and costly losers for the Port and the airlines. The FAA response is waffled.

I don't know if there is a way to go back to the simpler life; a time removed from anger and strife of today's world, a day of just being thankful to be together with caring folks, family and friends.

If there is a way to start - it's Thanksgiving Day.

Through my little girl eyes, Thanksgiving was Dad carving the biggest, turkey-bird ever seen.

"Drumsticks belong to the twins," Dad announced. My twin brother, Earl whispered, "We get the best part."
Boy, did we ever feel special!

In a family of five kids and a Great Depression there was no such thing as "dibs" for special foods except Thanksgiving. In childlike focus "I got it" -- Thanksgiving Day is being thankful for a turkey leg, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. Of course!

Aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and dear Grandma, arrived all promising to get together more often next year - and seldom did. Our house was crowded and noisy, yet full of warmth that felt like one giant hug.

During the World War II years, families invited servicemen and women on holidays. Mother always found another plate and food.

The cafeteria of Mount Rainier High School was packed recently for the third in a series of public workshops regarding airport noise.

The Port of Seattle and consulting firm Landrum and Brown have been conducting a Part 150 study for the Federal Aviation Administration. A Part 150 study is submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration in order to secure funding for noise control.

Officials divided the crowd into three groups in order to inform them of the progress made so far.
Rob Adams, the project manager of the Part 150 study from Landrum and Brown, said that a possible solution being posed was the building of a hush house for airplane run-ups.

A hush house is a three-sided wall that encloses around an airplane as it does its engine run-ups on the runway.

"It would decrease noise by 15 to 20 decibels," Adams told the audience.

He said the Port was looking potential sites, with one location already in mind.

Audience members were also invited to ask questions and express concerns. Some used it as an outlet to vent their frustration.

"You've been talking about a hush house since 1989 and it still hasn't happened," one woman said.

The City of Des Moines has announced a dramatic drop in crime for the year 2009.

Staffers say the decrease is the reflection of an intensive strategic effort to counter criminal activity that began with levy lid lift funding in May 2006. The reduction stands in direct contrast to a rise in the Part 1 Crime Rate totals for all of King County.

"The citizens of Des Moines are getting their money's worth," commented Mayor Bob Sheckler. "They gave the city a mission, and our officers have steadily accomplished it."

Officers reported the success came as the result of commitment to a nine-part strategic plan for 2009, that included new equipment and technology, officers assigned to specific geographic areas (systemic problem locations), an officer assigned to crime analysis, strengthened interlocal partnerships, and ongoing training.

Best-selling author and award-winning international keynote speaker Debrena Jackson Gandy, of Des Moines, has been appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire to serve on the Highline Community College Board of Trustees.

Gandy replaces Dr. Elizabeth Chen who left Highline in March for an appointment with the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

Gandy joins current board chair Dan Altmayer and trustees Dr. Edward Davila, Michael Regeimbal and Barbara Reid.

The Board of Trustees governs Highline and guides the direction of the college. They set college policies, hire the president and approve budgets. Trustees must reside in the college district's boundaries.

Gandy is a two-time national best-selling author of "Sacred Pampering Principles" and "All the Joy You Can Stand," business consultant, trainer, national seminar leader, performance coach, strategic marketing consultant and personal development expert.

Highline High School hosted crosstown rival Evergreen Friday night and held a 20-12 lead over the Wolverines with 1:03 to play when the officials called the game.

Yellow penalty flags were flying at an increasing rate, and as soon as the officials cleared the field they came over to the Highline sidelines and announced their decision to stop the game.

More yelling and pushing ensued after that, including among the fans as they worked their way out of Highline Memorial Field to their cars.
Guards and school personnel stood near the gates, and police cars zoomed in and officers bailed out to try to control the situation.

The game wound up as a win for Highline and a loss for Evergreen because of the 20-12 score at the time. Evergreen was within a touchdown and a two-point conversion of catching the Pirates, but the the Wolverines had just turned the ball over on an interception.

The Highline side, including a guard, were happy with the win on Highline's homecoming night.

"Hey, we won," he said.

It has been a long season for both teams.

The following list of recommendations represents our choices for candidates and various ballot measures in the Nov. 2 general election. Remember to please vote in this all-mail election.

36th Legislative District

Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Mary Lou Dickerson and Reuven Carlyle all deserves another term in office. They are among the best and the brightest in the legislature and very good representatives for the district.

Patty Murray for U.S. Senate

Patty Murray is honest, hardworking and a champion of this state who has done great work on our behalf. Her opponent, a perpetual candidate for a public office, has a furtive quality about him that we do not trust. His past associations and murky public pronouncements and trail of contributors make him suspect as a true representative of the people. While Sen. Murray went to Washington to stand up for her district, Rossi behaves like a man who just wants a powerful federal job so he can aggrandize his wealthy supporters.

No on Initiative 1100/1105

A hole opens up wider than the path of a Winnebago.

Thomas Jefferson High quarterback K.W. Williams doesn't see it at first.

He is on the run, too busy sidestepping Federal Way's swarming pass rush after getting flushed from the pocket.

It is fourth-and-goal at the 9-yard line with less than two minutes to go and the game on the line.

He retreats 10, then 15 yards backward from the line of scrimmage, farther and farther away from the goal line.

He reverses field and spots a gaping hole on the left side.

By this time Raiders fans at Federal Way Memorial Stadium are roaring with anticipation; the crescendo is rising: They see the hole too.

Like a bloodhound getting ahold of that first scent, Williams darts through the hole in the line and runs past the left pilon for the score.

It is the game-winner, the coup de grace, for Thomas Jefferson, capping a 31-28 crosstown shocker over Federal Way Friday evening.

"Kyle's (K.M.'s) run was amazing," Raiders coach Dean Peck said. "That ... was the game. That was huge."

A win has become a rarity for the Raiders in their cross-town rivalry with the Eagles in recent years.

Swedish Medical Center/Ballard’s new Emergency Department and medical office building, located at 5350 Tallman Ave. N.W., will be open for public tours and a slew of other fun and beneficial community health activities on from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 6.

Here is what’s planned:

Tour the Emergency Department and Medical Office Building (11 a.m.-3 p.m.)

The best time to see an ER is when you’re not a patient – and also when there’s someone there to point out all the cool stuff to see.

Ask the Doctor (11 a.m.-3 p.m.)

Have a medical question you’ve always waned to ask? The doctors from Swedish Medical Group’s Ballard Primary Care clinic will be on hand so you can do your asking for free.

Take a Baby Bite of Ballard (11 a.m.-3 p.m.)

Some of Ballard’s favorite restaurants will be on hand, serving bite-sized samples of their most popular menu items. Restaurants include Ballard Brothers Seafood and Burgers, Great Harvest Bread, India Bistro, Plaka Estiatorio, Ray’s Boathouse, Scandinavian Specialties, The Hi-Life, The Counter and Thai Siam.

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