January 2012

How were the builders of the (Lora Lake) apartments able to get a building permit to build living spaces in the first place IF the ground is so contaminated?

Did it not come up in the "conditional use permit" process? Seems there was a cover-up somewhere along the way.

Why is the Port of Seattle being held responsible for the "clean-up" just because they drew the short straw and bought the property---federal funds only go so far.

IF the apartments hadn't been built there maybe Burien would be doing the "clean-up" for their own projects. And then again maybe it would have slid on for years.

Virginia Dana
SeaTac

Mr. McCumber composed a very thoughtful letter published in the Jan. 20th issue of the Highline Times.

He wants facts. Then he goes on to say no one he heard has put forth facts at any of the meetings. That may be true because ever since the annexation process started no one has presented any composite picture of facts. Many facts have been bandied around on both sides of the issue.

The sad part of the fact issue is the city council approach. They have the power and their mind has been made up from the start to annex. The council has cherry picked the facts to support their side.

The council believes that the residents of Burien are in favor of annexation. The council has repeatedly rejected the idea of an advisory ballot on annexation. (There is a precedent for an advisory ballot - one was requested on the fireworks issue some years ago.)

The city council rejected a petition presented a few years ago that was signed by over 2,000 residents as meaningless. From the start the council has operated on what seems akin to a bumper sticker philosophy.

(Editor's note: This letter is in response to an earlier letter from M. Kent titled, "Quit whining about libraries," posted on Jan. 16)

Calling citizens whiners who are asking that a 2004 library building bond passed unanimously with their help become a reality is disrespectful of their rights in a democracy.

In this bond the White Center Library is to be expanded and the Boulevard Park Library improved. The King County Library System (KCLS) is using a fine print clause to escape out of this commitment. The survey they conducted to make this decision was biased and unfair. Our 2000+ petition revealed that many citizens in these two neighborhoods were completely unaware that their libraries would be closing and strongly oppose it.

Press release
State Regulators Approve Waiver to Allow Automatic Bill Credit

Thousands of Puget Sound Energy customers without power for five or more days from last week’s snow, ice and wind storms will receive a $50 credit from the utility on their electric bills.

State regulators on Thursday granted the utility’s request to waive certain conditions of a PSE service guarantee that extends a $50 bill credit to any customer who loses electric service for 120 consecutive hours or more. Yesterday’s waiver means PSE customers won’t have to “opt in” to get the credit. And potentially, more customers now could receive it.

The credit is expected to start appearing on customers’ bills on Feb. 15. The credit will be paid by PSE owners; the financial burden will not fall on PSE customers.

When Alki Homestead owner Tom Lin and partner Isaiah Dummer purchased the Des Moines Theater in December they knew it had been used as a storage place for the previous owners many acquisitions. But the full scope of what Richard Pappas had amassed was not clear until it had to be gone through for disposition. Some was retrieved by the Pappas estate but a huge amount was still there.

On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 4-5, Vintage Events near the University Village will stage an auction of stockpile of stuff that for some will likely be treasured for years to come.

Among the things to be auctioned are large film projectors, small 8mm film projectors, lights, film equipment, stands, posters, film reels, fog machines, jukeboxes, canisters, screens and more numbering in the thousands.
The auction times are from 10am to 5pm Saturday, Feb. 4 and from 11am to 4pm Sunday, Feb. 5 at Vintage Events 4535 Union Bay Place NE – Seattle, WA. 98105

You can call Vintage Events at 206-467-4473 for more information or sign up for alerts on their mailing list.

After successful pilot programs in two elementaries, Highline Public Schools officials are considering expanding the district’s dual language program.

In the program, students are taught in both English and Spanish.
In April, administrators hope to identify more schools that could begin the program in Fall 2013.

Language and Cultural Arts coordinator Bernard Koontz briefed the school board Jan. 25 on the program.
Highline’s first dual language program is operating at Hilltop Elementary in Burien with eight teachers and about 200 kindergarten through third-grade students. The other program at North Highline’s Mount View Elementary has six teachers and approximately 150 kindergarten through second-graders.

Half the students began kindergarten as Spanish speakers with the other half as English speakers. They all become “bi-literate,” Koontz said.
Bi-lingual students can listen and speak on a social or conversational basis in two languages, according to Koontz. Bi-literate students can read and write academically in two languages.

Communities across the state can apply for a new round of project and program funds that increase safety for students walking and biking to school.

WSDOT’s Safe Routes to School Program was created to provide children a safe, healthy alternative to being driven to school. The program supports projects that increase the number of children walking and biking to school where it is safe and works to improve safety along school routes.

The program also supports safety projects such as walking school buses, sidewalk and bike lane construction, pedestrian safety education, bicycle safety skills classes, crossing guards, and installation of speed feedback signs and traffic safety cameras.

The Washington State Department of Transportation is accepting project proposals for the Safe Routes to School Program through May 4. Eligible projects are those within two miles of primary and middle schools, kindergarten through eighth grade.

Review criteria for the applications are based on proposed engineering solutions, education and enforcement efforts, project readiness and need or potential benefit.

When Tom Lin purchased the Des Moines Theater in December he knew it had been used as a storage place for the previous owners many acquisitions. But the full scope of what Richard Pappas had amassed was not clear until it had to be gone through for disposition. Some was retrieved by the Pappas estate but a huge amount was still there.

On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 4-5, Vintage Events near the University Village will stage an auction of stockpile of stuff that for some will likely be treasured for years to come.

Among the things to be auctioned are large film projectors, small 8mm film projectors, lights, film equipment, stands, posters, film reels, fog machines, jukeboxes, canisters, screens and more numbering in the thousands.

The auction times are from 10am to 5pm Saturday, Feb. 4 and from 11am to 4pm Sunday, Feb. 5 at Vintage Events 4535 Union Bay Place NE – Seattle, WA. 98105

Ballardite Thomas Whipple informs us that he has recently become the victim of some vandalism as someone has been tampering with his car tires.

Whipple stated that the incidents occured at McGinnis Marina along 28th ave NW, and a police report has been filed.

Whipple said four tires were flattened in one week and last week he found that two of his tires had been slashed with a knife.

Meanwhile police reports show that bikes aren't save either as multiple bike thefts occured in the Ballard area this past week.

Thefts have been reported on the 28th block of NW 56th St, 57th block of 14th Avene NW, 58th block of 3rd Avenue NW, and 67th block of Mary Avenue NW.

Please reports any thefts, suspicious behavior, or vandalism to the police.

Fourth quarter falloffs frustrated the Evergreen Lutheran boys' attempts to clinch a SeaTac 2B League playoff spot in a 57-51 loss to Tacoma Baptist as part of the annual Winter Fest activities at the Des Moines campus on Saturday, Jan. 28.

The Eagles are now tied with the Crusaders in fourth place with records of 3-5. Evergreen Lutheran could have clinched a playoff spot with a win, but still has a point differential advantage against the Crusaders in their split games if both teams remain tied at the end of the season. EL needs to take care of its own business, including a Jan. 30 make up game against visiting Cross Point (Bremerton).

"Tacoma Baptist just had too many free throws (17-of-27 to Evergreen Lutheran's 10-of-19)," observed Eagle head coach Jeff Kurbis. "When we took too many outside shots, we were not getting the ball to the high post. That's not our game. We need to get to the hoop and keep away from unfortunate turnovers. Even our shooting (31.7 per cent) was down."

It came down to a critical fourth quarter play that embodied the unfortunate turnovers that plagued Evergreen Lutheran throughout.