October 2012

By Joshua McNichols

I came to Northern Iraq to write about my Kurdish friend Peshtiwan, his flight to Europe and his eventual reconnection with his homeland after the fall of Saddam. One thing I did not expect from this war-torn country was a thriving local food movement.

That’s because when a people have experienced attempted genocide, you’d think they’d have bigger things on their minds. But in Kurdistan, the immediate danger has passed, and in this province, at least, there is peace. That’s allowed the Kurds to resume their favorite positions -- sitting on the floor in a circle with family around a beautiful meal made of local food.

They eat this way several times a day. At one recent meal I attended, we had beans in a tomato sauce spooned over moist Kurdish rice, cauliflower soaked several days in homemade vinegar, chicken from down the street (the hens roost on empty crates in the driveway), and a salad made from fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, cabbage and pomegranate juice. The only foreign ingredients were the beans, which came from neighboring Iran.

A violent two car accident on wet roads near the intersection of 19th SW and Kent Des Moines Road resulted in two people being taken to Harborview hospital where at last report they were in serious condition.

According to King County Sheriff's the suspect and victim were both injured when their vehicles collided.

Drugs are suspected on part of the suspect.

This story will be updated.

The Corner Bar: A Neighborhood pop-up bar serving your favorite local beer on tap, wine by the glass is back as a one night event Friday, November 2nd - 6-10pm at the Highland Park Improvement Club and the theme is Day of the Dead! They will be serving Day of the Dead Special Margueritas – for $3 each.

The Corner Bar will be at 12th SW and SW Holden.

Non-alcoholic drinks $1 each. Peanuts and pretzels for all. Come meet your friends and neighbors and make some new connections. All ages are welcome. DJ Dave will be spinning vinyl

Following a 14-0 first place regular Seamount League championship regular season Kennedy Catholic served and stroked well to the Class 3A Seamount League Boys Tennis Tournament championship.

On Wednesday, Oct. 17 at Tyee High School, results reflected the level of excellence with all Lancer participants in singles qualifying for the semifinals.

Jamie Thorp cruised by Jordan Phu (Hazen) 6-0, 6-0, with his dominating all-around game. Using good, strategic tactics, Brandon Lowry defeated Justin Kemp (Highline), 6-1, 6-1.

Tough competition faced Lancer Sam Harrison, who battled by Kean Legate (Highline),6-4, 6-2.

Even more imposing for Kennedy competition was Nathaniel Tolton's extended match against Aaron Lyons (Highline). Lyons pushed Tolton strongly before the KC athlete emerged with a 7-5 first set decision. In the second set, Lyons took a firmer grip on his racket for a 6-3 win. Tolton then served past Jason Lui (Hazen) to gain his semifinal berth.

In doubles semifinal qualifying action, Vincent Viloria and Tass Sribhidhadh defeated Nguyen and Noinala (Hazen), 6-0, 6-0.

PARKLAND - Jamie Thorp of Kennedy Catholic set the pulsating pace for Highline-area West Central/Southwest 3A boys bi-district entrants by storming to a boys singles title in tennis play covering Oct. 25-26 at the Sprinker Recreation Center.

Seamount singles champion Thorp followed his first round bye with a dominating 6-0, 6-0, conquest of Joey Yanello (Lincoln of Tacoma) on Thursday, Oct. 25. This win qualified Thorp to state. Thorp continued his dominating play with a 6-0, 6-0, semifinal win against Peter Koessler (Wilson).

Completing a terrific tournament without the loss of a game, the titanic Thorp won the championship with a 6-0, 6-0, whitewash of Janrick Peros (Mt. Tahoma) to return to state as the No. 1 Class 3A WCD/SW No. 1 singles seed after two previous, consecutive state doubles championships with now-graduated brother Mitch.

FEDERAL WAY--The next step won't be easy, but the first one was a cinch.
Mount Rainier flattened Emerald Ridge, 4-1, in a game for the ninth and final South Puget Sound League girls soccer berth into the West Central District playoffs Tuesday, and now the Rams must face the Narrows League champion in a 2 p.m. Saturday game at the Stadium Bowl in Tacoma.

Mount Rainier head coach Zach Taylor was more than happy with how the playoff opener went down against Emerald Ridge, however.

"We had a good plan coming in," said Taylor of the rain-soaked match at Federal Way Memorial. "We wanted to play our style."

The Rams fought off the Jaguars for a 1-0 lead going into the half, then exploded for three goals in the second half before Emerald Ridge got on the scoreboard with its lone goal.

It took a save by Mount Rainier defender Jessica Thornton standing alone in the goal box with the goalie out to keep the Jaguars from scoring first with 21:30 to play in the first half.

Your recent special letter from Normandy Park council member Stacia Jenkins shows that she does not understand that the $1.2 million figure is the amount of new revenue that would be necessary to become a well-funded city with a moderate level of services, such as Burien.

It is a long-term goal and has nothing to do with budgeting. Because of our residential structure, we may never get to a moderate level of funding but the levy lid lift is a positive step and gets us part way to a goal, while keeping the doors open for future discussion. It brings us to the property tax level that all the cities around us have been collecting for years.

New taxes are never popular and the easy fixes have long been taken by past councils. Since I became mayor in January, I determined to do what I can to stop spending from reserves and to have second meetings each month devoted to finances. It has been difficult but absolutely necessary.

Message from Barbara Dobkin, president of North Highline Unincorporated Area Council:

Many of the Pro Annexation signs that were posted on wire stands throughout North Highline have gone missing. Now signs are showing up with industrial staples attached to stop signs and utility poles.

The Pro Annexation campaign has not placed any of these signs, and we are pulling them down when they are found.

If you happen to come across any of these illegally placed signs please email us with the location at vote4burien@gmail.com and we will have the signs removed immediately.

Also, if you witness anyone placing signs on utility poles or stop signs, please report it to Burien City Manager Mike Martin.

In this month's Seattle Police Newsletter, Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon shares some tips on keeping your home and car safe as the temperatures and hours of daylight drop. Here is the letter:

Dear Community Friends,

Crime Deterrence During The Cool Weather Months
As the weather cools and our hours of daylight get shorter, we wanted to give you just a few reminders about what you can do to help deter burglary and car prowls in your neighborhoods.

Home Security
Lock your doors and windows any time you are away from your home. You’d be surprised how many burglars come through an open or unlocked door or window, even in the cool weather months.

A private meeting in August on the potential fate of the historic Alki Homestead led to an onsite visit in September from most of those who were present and some important decisions.

As the West Seattle Herald reported on Aug. 28, the meeting included Nicholas Vann (Historic Architect) Allyson Brooks Phd. (State Historic Preservation Officer) both with the Washington State Dept. of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Karen Gordon (Historic Preservation Officer, City of Seattle Dept. of Neighborhoods), Kathleen Brooker (Director, Historic Seattle), and Jennifer Meisner (Director, Washington Trust for Historic Preservation) and previously unannounced Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and his assistant Ed Murray. Reid Severson, a financial intern accompanied Lin to the meeting.