Recently, an ominous package covered with "URGENT!" labels arrived in the mail from Michigan. Before I had even opened it, I knew that the package could only mean one thing: my somewhat drifty sister-in-law had yet another of her "Christmas projects" underway. What will it be this year, I wondered?
Dec. 21 is the winter solstice and is usually the longest and the darkest day of the year. From that day on, our days get longer as we gradually move toward spring. This is why homo sapiens has celebrated this period of the year almost from the dawn of time.
A couple of weeks ago I stumbled on Rick Steves' European Christmas Special on KCTS9. Steves and his family travel around Europe, experiencing Christmas traditions and celebrations with our neighbors across the Atlantic. I had seen it before, but as with previous viewings, I was drawn in by the rich, picturesque Alpine settings, torch-lit forays into the woods to find the perfect tree, carolers and Santa Claus wandering snow-covered streets with lights glowing from the homes they passed, all accompanied by a magnificent Christmas music soundtrack. Even the simplest homes are decorated in ways that make Martha Stewart look like an amateur.
The annual Santa Party held last Saturday at the Queen Anne Lutheran Church brought Christmas a little early to local children in need, thanks to residents and the Queen Anne Helpline.
Say Hello To My Little FriendPolice responded to the 1900 block of First Avenue West in Queen Anne at 1:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 8 after receiving reports of a man displaying a handgun. Police spoke with the victim who was highly intoxicated. He said he had been down at the intersection of First Avenue and Stewart Street giving some blankets to a homeless man when he was approached by an unknown man who began to argue with him. The two exchanged words for a couple of minutes.
While the holiday season does bring out a sense of good will among most, it is not unusual to see slight increases in property crimes during the holidays, according to the Seattle Police Department.
Seattle City Light has agreed to contracts with two companies that will assist with inspections and tests of the utility's metal streetlight poles and groundcover plates.
For 19 years 98.9 KWJZ has been presenting a mix of Smooth Jazz music for its audience, but today, program director Carol Handley said the station is signing off for good.
Well, it's over. Another Christmas. Another holiday season.
In the midst of this season of good will and New Year's resolutions, some sobering facts confront us concerning what scripture would call the least of those among us.
State Auditor Brian Sonntag dropped a lump of coal into Gov. Gregoire's Christmas stocking with the announcement that the state faces more than $24 billion in unfunded liabilities.
The good news is that I oppose the present tunnel proposal as do you ["Tunnel still miles away" Dec. 22] but for a different reason.
Starting this week, the Molly Moon truck will be at 2231 Queen Anne Ave. N. Wednesdays through Sundays the month of January. Free kids scoops 6-8 p.m. this Wednesday. The company is doing a month each in Madrona, Queen Anne and Ballard in order to determine where to put their next shop.
The following information was provided by the city's Department of Planning and Development. The project number is in parentheses. For more information, call 684-8467.
The upcoming generation of retirees will be the healthiest, longest-lived, best educated, and most affluent in history. As people age, issues arise - maybe it's health, mobility or mental acuity. And each of us knows someone who is aging, whether it's our parents, a friend or a spouse.