December 2018

By Katy G. Wilkens, MS, RD

Eating a healthy diet around the holidays can be challenging. Many of our favorite foods are served together in large portions, and family and friends go out of their way to make the foods we like. Not to mention, more shopping and errands to run can result in eating too much fast food.

Over November and December each year, the average American gains five pounds: the “festive five,” they are called. It often takes months to lose the extra weight; some people never do, and year after year those pounds add up. With a little planning, you can get through the holidays feeling your best without gaining weight. Moderation is the key.

By Tim Robinson

Associate Publisher

Watching football on TV shot me back to 6th grade at Hazel Valley Elementary.  

At recess, we always had flag football games in the fall. Teams like Lions or Bears, or Cougars or Giants; even made up team names like the Rogues or Racers. I was very excited every recess to get to the field.

The games lasted about 35 minutes as that was the lunch period. We basically played until the school warning bell said we had two minutes to get back into class. 

By Ken Robinson

Managing Editor

Mel and Leena, who are loyal readers, wrote to ask where the police reports are “that used to inform what was going on in westside communities”.

A couple of months ago, our access to police blotters in both King County and Seattle were limited by those police departments.

Burien got a new chief so we emailed him to ask why the redacted reports had stopped coming. (A volunteer, a lady who was not a cop, was sending the reports with permission from the chief.) The new chief suggested we contact an information officer downtown. We did and got a single report the next week. Since then, nothing.

Same with Seattle. They have their own abbreviated reporting system that reveals details of a few police incidents.

The fact is, there are far more crimes of all categories that take place daily than any newspaper cold find room to print.

By Jerry Robinson

(January 7, 1960)

All right, you guys, line up on the davenport and listen to me for a minute.  Inasmuch as you have not seen fit on your own to change any of your ways since January 1st, I’m making up a list of resolutions for each of you.

Now take this, study it and act accordingly:

MIKE— (17)

(Get away from the refrigerator and sit down.)

I resolve to leave my father’s socks, tee shirts, dress shirts and ties completely alone.

I resolve to not dig out while driving in low gear.

I resolve not to drive seven blocks out of my way to work just to drive past my girlfriend’s house.

I resolve to not leave apple cores and orange peelings in my bookcase headboard.

I resolve to let Dad win at cribbage at least once every three games.

KEN— (15)

District 1 Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold shared a post regarding the upcoming closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct:

On January 11, WSDOT will permanently close the Alaskan Way Viaduct. This will lead to significant changes in how we get to and from Downtown.  A recent presentation at a Council Briefing meeting has a good summary of what this will entail.

Two changes were announced last week that are designed to help.

From the Seattle Police Blotter

Officers from the Southwest Anti-Crime Team (ACT) were in the Highland Park neighborhood of West Seattle yesterday afternoon responding to community complaints of auto thefts and abandoned stolen cars in the area.  It was not long before they located a stolen truck and made the arrests.

Around 4:30 Wednesday, ACT members were in the 8800 block of 9th Avenue SW when they spotted a reported stolen truck parked in a business lot.  Officers watched the female driver walk away from the truck while another woman remained in the passenger seat.  Plain clothes officers followed the suspect until uniformed officers arrived and took her into custody.  The passenger was also detained and it was determined she had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant.