March 2012

By Scott Anthony

Out on a Saturday walk at the Milton Trail with Mrs. A and the dogs, the sky is bruised and roiling with rain-pregnant clouds. On the ground the leaves weave a beautiful carpet of gold, ocher, and jade. Wet trees hang heavily and create a tunnel above, and we are walking into a cornucopia of color. A few yards below us, a stream filled from previous cloud bursts, gushes around logs pushing leaf boats down dizzying eddies. We slog up the path as the squall lets go the first volley of several gully washers. The rain is thick and hard but the sound is muffled by the leaf-covered turf.
 

I will be so happy when the presidential election day finally arrives.
The campaigning should be wrapped up in three or four months instead of dragging out over a year.

Then the candidates could share wealth with the desperately poor, homeless and unemployed.

I really don’t think we need the endless political debates, caucuses, etc.
Next time, hopefully, we can streamline the whole process.

Darlene Curley
Normandy Park

I just felt I had to respond to a Highline Times web posting I read recently.

The article was about the theater and it's new owners.

I am very glad somebody is going to pick up the ball and re-establish a theater there (the Des Moines theater). I am glad to hear that the city of Des Moines and the historical society are helping the new owners.

I wanted to point out the great efforts of a good friend of mine (Joel Thompson) who was one of the previous owners of the theater. He turned the theater from a porno or adult entertainment theater, as some would call it into a family theater. I very much liked it when he would introduce the movie and various details and upcoming movies at front stage.

I felt he did a lot for the area and theater patrons and to my knowledge without the help of the city of Des Moines or the historical society.

Oscar Dominguez
SeaTac

The Environmental Science Center at Seahurst Park and Sustainable Burien are putting on a free workshop on sustainable yards on Sunday, March 18 at the Burien Library Multipurpose Room, 400 S.W. 152nd St. The workshop will run 2-4 p.m.

Participants will learn about creating sustainable and rain-friendly landscaping features. The free workshop will focus on environmentally conscious yard care and rain garden design including construction techniques, plant selection, soil texture, cost considerations and maintenance.

Guest speakers will include a Stewardship Partners member, Lori Beehner from Environmental Construction Inc., Franziska McKay from People for Puget Sound and Michael Stein- Ross and students from St. Francis of Assisi in Burien.

All participants will receive a free native plant.

Visit the Matt Griffin YMCA in SeaTac on a Tuesday morning and you will find the classroom packed with exercisers. Everything is as expected -- weights and rubber balls are scattered about and it’s a blur of brightly colored t-shirts and sneakers as participants work up a sweat to the music.

However, rather than pulsating pop music, the soundtrack includes Sinatra and Bing Crosby classics.

It’s perfect for SilverSneakers. Founded in 1994, SilverSneakers is a national program designed to help older adults improve strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. At the Matt Griffin YMCA in SeaTac, two classes are offered -- one for cardio and the other for strength and movement. The age range has varied from people in their 40s with mobility issues to a 94-year-old. Most are between 60-80 years old.

“It’s a great class because people can participate at whatever level they’re at,” says Debby Karlin, SilverSneakers instructor.

Common issues that class members face are arthritis, joint pain and recovery from replacements, cardiovascular health and generally wanting to improve their quality of life.

Huntington Park residents are still uncertain if the city of Des Moines will proved street sweeping and catch basin cleaning services on their private streets.

The Des Moines City Hall was nearly standing room only at the March 8 City Council meeting. Residents from Huntington Park filled the room to support their cause.

Huntington Park is a private, age-restricted, community located just east of Marine View Dr. near S. 248th St.

“Most or our residents are retired and living on fixed incomes,” Ben Gill, the community’s finance and insurance committee chairman, said.
The agenda item to discuss the future of Huntington Park’s Surface Water Management (SWM) fees and services was sparked by a letter sent by Gill to the City Council in February. However this is not the first time this issue has come before the council. Huntington Park made the same request in 2009, but was denied.

“We’ve probably spent more than $5,400 talking about this,” said Councilman Matt Pina. Councilman Dan Caldwell agreed.

Governor Chris Gregoire is anticipating a vacation as her second term in office is coming to an end. Over the years I have had the opportunity to visit her mansion home, standing majestically on a low rise behind the state capitol building. My friend and I attended her first inaugural ball which was a glorious affair with more than one band playing and even a chocolate fountain flowing.

A group called the Center for Women and Democracy has been holding a celebration at the governor’s mansion every year. Their mission statement says that they promote women’s full participation in leadership while respecting cultures worldwide. This includes a dinner lecture series, international leadership delegations, leadership skill building and this yearly gathering of powerful women in the governor’s mansion.

Hungarian Gala
Westside Unitarian Universalist
7141 California Ave. SW
Saturday, March 17, 6 p.m. A four-course Hungarian dinner, and entertainment from the Kisbetyárok Family Dancers. Tickets are $20 for adults and free for children 12 and younger. Proceeds benefit the groups’ partner villages in Romania and India. Reservations requested. Call 206-330-7358.

Discovery Shop
4535 California Ave. S.W.
206 937 7169

The Community Orchard of West Seattle Vegetable Seed Sale is this Saturday March 17th, from 11am to 3pm at South Seattle Community College, in the LHO (landscape and horticulture) building, room 2 at the north end of the campus. The college is located at 6000 16th Ave. s.w.

Organic vegetable seed packets of a large variety and generous weight for $1 a packet have been chosen with the urban gardener in mind.All seeds are organic or sustainably grown. Also on hand will be ever bearing strawberry plants. $1.00 ea in pots.

All proceeds go toward the operations of the Community Orchard.

Experienced gardeners will be in attendance to answer gardening questions.

Free Seed Exchange!! Bring your out- of- date seeds to share with others and take home some free seeds!

To learn more visit the Community Orchard of West Seattle website www.fruitinwestseattle.org .

The Rotary Club of West Seattle has shared this obituary for Alan Schmitz

Alan Schmitz was the grandson of West Seattle pioneers Ferdinand and Emma Schmitz, and the son of Dietrich and Peggy Schmitz. Alan was born on 11-25-1934 at Swedish Hospital, and he died in West Seattle on March 9, 2012, of a bone marrow disorder. Alan was a life long West Seattle resident.

Alan attended Alki Elementary, Madison Junior High, and West Seattle High School class of 1953. Alan graduated from the Univ. of Washington in 1957 and belonged to Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. Alan achieved the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America, Alki Troop 283; he later became a Scoutmaster with Troop 281. Alan skippered his family's sailboat, the schooner SUVA, for many years.

Alan's career began in banking, investments and small businesses; in his later years, he became an aerobics and fitness instructor for senior citizens at community centers. Alan was very involved with the West Seattle Rotary for over 30 years, and had been a member of the Seattle Yacht Club and the Rainier Club.