November 2016

Residents of the Highline School District are being asked to vote in favor of a $299 million bond issue Tuesday.

We're hearing some grumbling from the community on this issue -- and a few of our readers have raised some challenges to the administration's claims.

These challenges warrant examination.

Let's start with the basics. The bond totaling nearly $300 million is for Phase 1 of three major sets of improvements in the district. If the bond passes, the district would build a new Glacier High School, a new Des Moines Elementary School and a new Highline High School. Some of the funds ($23 million) would be reserved for building design for Evergreen, Tyee and Pacific schools. The balance would be used for "critical needs fund," interim student housing and security and communication improvements for all schools in the district.

Also in the administration's plan book are Phases 2 and 3. Opponents claim that combined, local taxpayers would be paying nearly one billion dollars over the next eight years to put these plans in place.

Residents of the Highline School District are being asked to vote in favor of a $299 million bond issue Tuesday.

We're hearing some grumbling from the community on this issue -- and a few of our readers have raised some challenges to the administration's claims.

These challenges warrant examination.

Let's start with the basics. The bond totaling nearly $300 million is for Phase 1 of three major sets of improvements in the district. If the bond passes, the district would build a new Glacier High School, a new Des Moines Elementary School and a new Highline High School. Some of the funds  ($23 million) would be reserved for building design for Evergreen, Tyee and Pacific schools. The balance would be used for "critical needs fund,"  interim student housing and security and communication improvements for all schools in the district.

Also in the administration's plan book are Phases 2 and 3. Opponents claim that combined, local taxpayers would be paying nearly one billion dollars over the next eight years to put these plans in place.

By Amanda Knox
 
I accelerated into the mostly empty parking lot and veered a wide arch into a spot. I pulled up the parking break at the same time that I unclipped my seat belt. Chris already had the passenger side door open. We were on a last-minute mission to buy temporary black hair dye for my Jessica Jones costume, before heading to a haunted house with my family, and we were running a little late. We bounded toward the entrance to Walgreens when, suddenly, I jerked to a halt. Chris swept by me, but paused after a few steps, looking back. “What’s up?” he asked.
 
I stared through the passenger side window into the other lone vehicle in the parking lot. Inside, a man—tall, lean, white, 30s, with short, dark hair, wearing jeans and a plain, long-sleeve T-shirt—was slumped in the reclined driver’s seat, apparently passed out. His right arm lay stretched out in his lap, and his left hand curled limply around a needle sticking into the cubital fossa of his outstretched right arm. I stared. “Look!” I said to Chris. “He’s…Should we do something?”
 

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

High schools
Girls swimming
State meets
The King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way is hosting the state girls swimming and diving meets for Class 4A, 3A and 2A this Friday and Saturday.
Class 4A preliminaries start off the day at 9:45 a.m. Friday, followed by the 2A preliminaries at 2 p.m. and the 3A preliminaries at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday's finals get underway with the 4A at 9:30 a.m., followed by the 2A at 2:15 p.m. and the 3A at 7 p.m.

Pros
Seahawks
Seattle hosts the New England Patriots in a rematch of the Super Bowl two seasons ago at 5:30 p.m. Sunday on Channel 5 television.

Sounders
Seattle won its Western Conference semifinal series against Dallas and will advance to play the Colorado Rapids in the conference finals series. The Sounders will be at home Tuesday, Nov. 22.

Thunderbirds
Seattle hosts Calgary for 7:35 p.m. Canadian Hockey League action at the Showare Center in Kent on Friday before visiting Vancouver at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Shed robbed on 38th Avenue S.W.

Police were dispatched at 3 p.m. on Sun., Oct. 30 to investigate a burglary on the 5900 block of 38th Avenue S.W. The victim said that on Thur., Oct. 27, he put away lawn tools used for his business into a shed around 10 p.m. When he opened the shed the following day, he noticed that the door had been pried open and property was missing. Officers were not able to locate any evidence of the suspect.

Barroom brawl at Corner Pocket

By Pat Cashman

“Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” Rick Blaine in Casablanca

“Sincerity---if you can fake that, you’ve got it made.” George Burns

As the election season has finally stumbled---breathless and cramping---across the finish line, it is time for a reset. Let us put the acrimony and fist waving aside; let us restore fellowship and plain civility; let us be friends.

A few months ago, I found a new friend---or rather, he found me.

His name is Cody. I don’t know his last name, but he knows mine. In fact, I got a lovely letter from him. Well, not a letter---it was lovely email. Cody works for an online company I recently ordered a product from---and he has been staying in touch ever since. Like several times a day since.

Here’s the latest email I received from Cody---verbatim---I’m not making it up:
“Hey Patrick! Cody from [name of the here again! How have you been?”
(Such a nice, personal opening. He asks about ME. That feels pretty darn good.)

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Federal Way High School graduate and former Robinson Newspapers freelance sports reporter Gordon Wittenmyer became a part of history when the Chicago Cubs won their first World Series title in 108 years Wednesday night with a wild 8-7 win in 10 innings in Cleveland.

Wittenmyer was in the press box as he has been the entire postseason as the Cubs' regular beat reporter for the Chicago Sun Times.

"I can't remember the last time I had a day off, but I wouldn't have missed it," Wittenmyer said. "It was a crazy ride."

Wittenmyer previously covered the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels and Minnesota Twins for various newspapers before moving to Chicago to cover the Cubs team he grew up as a fan of.

"You know I've covered four different teams over the years. Who would have believed I'd have to go to the Cubs to cover one in the World Series," said Wittenmyer, who started off as a freelance reporter for Robinson Newspapers in the early 1980s.

In her newsletter to constituents District 1 Seattle City Council member Lisa Herbold announced meetings regarding potential rezoning for urban village expansion and zoning changes for the Morgan Junction area.

"On Thursday, Nov. 9th, from 6pm-9pm, the Department of Neighborhoods, the Office of Community Planning and Development and Councilmember Johnson’s office will host the Westwood Highland Park Urban Village Community Design Workshop at Chief Sealth High School Library, 2600 SW Thistle St. Seattle, WA 98126.

There are many people for whom the music of Led Zeppelin was the pinnacle of rock and roll, never to be equaled or surpassed.You could count among them the band members of Urban Achievers who will play a full tribute concert of Led Zep music at West Seattle Brewing Company on Nov. 4

Igor Abuladze, Ryan Burns, and Drew Locke (Locke is the owner of West Seattle Brewing) create a sound that is as close to the live concert by the real band as possible. No frills, light shows or flames, just straight ahead super faithful rock.

Locke, whose background as a drummer includes tours around the nation and who continues to teach drumming delivers a foundational power to the percussion that would make John Bonham, the original Led Zeppelin drummer proud.

Ryan Burns bass playing is sinuous and rich making a tuneful muscular musical bed for the Jimmy Page like lead guitar of Igor Abuladze who is also the lead singer, delivering faithful and clear vocals for some of the most difficult to sing melody lines in rock.
The show gets underway at 7:30pm Friday, Nov. 4. No cover.