December 2016

by Clara McMichael

Citing a need for a study regarding air quality and related health concerns in the communities surrounding the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac), Rep. Tina Orwall called a meeting that brought together representatives from federal, state, and local government as well as the Port of Seattle and community members.

“I think because it is such a fast-growing airport and we’re seeing more impact, it’s just a critical time to look at these things,” Orwall said.

Earlier in the 2016, Orwall was contacted by two concerned citizens, Rose Clark and Stewart Jenner, asking about asthma and other health issues that could be related to the proximity of SeaTac Airport.

From there, the project linked up with University of Washington professors Tim Larson, Tim Gould and Edmund Seto who had been studying the air quality at the Los Angeles International Airport. These scientists have been conducting research on ultra-fine particles and how they are associated with aircraft.

“It was so nice to learn we had such great expertise within our own state,” Orwall said.

By Amanda Knox

Oh, but it is funny!
—this end-of-the-year newsletter,
Dad jokes, winks and wordplay
littered about, “Here’s the year
in a nut shell” looney-tuney.
And don’t forget it’s true!
 
Tim cracked his ribs twice,
golfing, hanging Xmas lights.
Kyle bought a jousting horse,
to everyone’s surprise.
Tim thought, Were we ever thirty?
Eileen went to Sheboygan
for her mother’s 94th.
 
How do we fill a year of boxes?
Golf balls putter into holes,
beer caps crack, lips pucker.
July shows Kyle’s sword impact
on Jordin’s axe, Leila’s armor.
Cackling, Chris and Gavin
write their zany worlds.
 
Some footnotes provide
hints of incredulity—
that parental color. For miles,
Kyle and Jordin drove
Seattle to Massachusetts
(to pick up Leila). Chris and Kyle
got inked with “brother” tattoos.
 
Why are there times of life?
Why do some things turn out?
Why, oh why, do others not?
(The Newsletter, with breezy script,
with welcome winks, accepts,
and proudly accumulates the days.)
 
They celebrated my birthday.
They chronicled my travels,
the Robinsons. They
rearranged their holidays
around words like:
“feuerzangenbowle”

‘Twas the day after Christmas, and there’s no doubt of it;
Using words like ‘twas, makes me sound like a ‘twit.
But that’s not the point, so let me get back to my tale
While I knock back a few pints of breakfast blend ale.
The children had been nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of UFO 3000 Toy Quadcopters with ultra-bright L.E.D. lights that fly in the dark, do 3-D flips and stunts, and include a bonus battery---danced in their heads.
But that morning no toys were seen under the tree;
The tree itself was buried under loads of debris.
Things might have been fine if I had just stayed in bed;
And not answered a midnight noise at the door instead.
See, the wife and I had just nodded off in peaceful slumber;
She was snoring quietly, and I was sawing the lumber.
When down on the porch there came such a knocking,
I threw my pants on backwards and started moon-walking.
Away to the front door I went nearly fit to be tied,
I reached for the knob and threw the door open wide.
On the porch stood an old coot in a suit and a beard,
He was huffin’ and puffin’ and seemed somewhat weird.
But his face was kindly and he looked quite sensitive,

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

High schools
Boys basketball
West Seattle is playing at a tournament in Mountlake Terrace this Wednesday and Thursday, while Chief Sealth is in San Diego, Calif. for the Surf 'N Slam Tournament.
West Seattle then visits Franklin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday as Chief Sealth goes to Eastside Catholic.
Kennedy Catholic, meanwhile, has the last day of its Sterling Shootout Tournament that also involves Seattle Christian on Wednesday.
Mount Rainier visits Lynnwood at 7:15 p.m. Thursday and hosts Auburn Mountainview at the same time Friday.
The Rams host Tahoma at the same time Tuesday as Kennedy visits Kentlake.
Foster visits Thomas Jefferson at 7:15 p.m. Thursday and Tyee at 5 p.m. Friday. Tyee goes to TJ at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday and Highline to Seattle Christian at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday as Seattle Lutheran visits Mount Rainier Lutheran.

Girls basketball
Mount Rainier visits Lynnwood at 5:40 p.m. Thursday before dropping in on Auburn Mountainview at 7:15 p.m. Friday and visiting Tahoma at the same time Tuesday, when Kennedy hosts Kentlake.

Land Use Application has been filed with Seattle's DPD to allow construction of one, 2-unit townhouse and four single family residences with attached garages (six units total) at 7716 Delridge Way SW.

Existing structures would be demolished. An Environmental Review includes future unit lot subdivision.

It is project number 3026393.

The following approvals are required:

SEPA Environmental Determination (This project is subject to the Optional DNS Process (WAC 197-11-355) and Early DNS Process (SMC 25.05.355). This comment period may be the only opportunity to comment on the environmental impacts of this proposal.

Other permits that may be needed which are not included in this application:

• Building Permit
• Demolition Permit

You can comment on the application until January 9, 2017.

It might take only 30 seconds (or for those with hardier constitutions or zero feelings a bit longer) but the hundreds of crazy people who line up for the annual polar bear plunge on New Year's Day on Alki beach will be back again for the first day of 2017. Duke's Chowder House will be serving hot (and FREE) cups of their award winning clam chowder for all participants.

The official announcement from lead polar bear Mark Ufkes reads:

"January 1, 2017, at 9:50 am, polar-bear swimmers will line up along the beach across from Duke’s.

With a countdown, at 10 am sharp we will hold hands with our friends and run into Puget Sound.

Bring water shoes, a towel, a change of clothes and your hopes and dreams for 2017 with you. Also bring the lessons you learned in 2016. Running into the water with friends and family will help you leave behind the complexities of 2016 and start the new year clean and burden-free.

We hit the water at 10 sharp."

Here's the Herald coverage from the first day of 2016.. including video.

If you would like to obtain some well considered financial advice, contact Sarah Cecil 206-938-6017.

Brought to you by Sarah Cecil Financial Advisor with Edwards Jones Investments.

Sponsored post.

by Georgie Bright Kunkel
 
        The Hebrew  Bible states that the land from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates River was promised by God to Abraham and his descendants. My interest in all this came about after I recently viewed an old film about this time in history. I got to thinking about the Puget Sound region with its beauty and temperate climate. How fortunate am I to have been born into this wonderful part of the world.

Television brings views of war torn countries with famine and pestilence plaguing the population. But here I am in the best place in the world I could have chosen to live my life.

        West Seattle is still neighborhood friendly so I still know most of my close neighbors. In fact we will soon gather for a neighborhood meeting.

Robbery on Roxbury

Around 2:40 p.m. on Sun., Dec. 18, a man went to a stand alone ATM located on the 1500 block of S.W. Roxbury to deposit $1,600. He was talking on the phone to his girlfriend. He noticed that the machine was off its hinges and a man was loitering nearby. When the man pulled out his money to make the deposit, the person who was loitering pulled out a gun and demanded that he hand over the cash. The victim gave his money and cell phone. The suspect fled north on 16th Ave. S.W. The victim flagged down a person in the parking lot, and they called 911. Police were able to activate a tracking program on the phone, and it led them to the 9200 block of 18th Ave. S.W. The phone was on the ground, behind a dumpster. Officers were unable to find the suspect.

Coming home to a burglary in progress

By Pat Cashman

‘Twas the day after Christmas, and there’s no doubt of it;
Using words like ‘twas, makes me sound like a ‘twit.
But that’s not the point, so let me get back to my tale
While I knock back a few pints of breakfast blend ale.
The children had been nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of UFO 3000 Toy Quadcopters with ultra-bright L.E.D. lights that fly in the dark, do 3-D flips and stunts, and include a bonus battery---danced in their heads.
But that morning no toys were seen under the tree;
The tree itself was buried under loads of debris.
Things might have been fine if I had just stayed in bed;
And not answered a midnight noise at the door instead.
See, the wife and I had just nodded off in peaceful slumber;
She was snoring quietly, and I was sawing the lumber.
When down on the porch there came such a knocking,
I threw my pants on backwards and started moon-walking.
Away to the front door I went nearly fit to be tied,
I reached for the knob and threw the door open wide.
On the porch stood an old coot in a suit and a beard,
He was huffin’ and puffin’ and seemed somewhat weird.