Writing a column for eight years at the same newspaper guarantees some face recognition in the neighborhood. This is neither good nor bad; how those of you who choose to recognize this scribe behave while acknowledging said hack makes all the difference.
Compared to some walled-off regimes, the City of Seattle, Seattle Public Schools and Seattle Parks and Recreation, of late, are showing the kind of transparency that is good for this community.
Ever since the 1973 film “The Exorcist,” Hollywood has been crazed with exorcisms. Following “The Exorcist” there were two sequels, two prequels, and a few more unrelated films like the “The Last Exorcism,” which came out last year. But since “The Exorcist” the movies haven’t been all that clever or creative, in that they all follow the same structure. Someone gets possessed and a priest has to exorcise the demon. After a couple times this premise gets old.
Jacquie Powers has become well-versed in sustainable building practices during her 20 years of owning a general contracting and design firm. In fact, you might even say she's become a bit of an evangelist in the cause of sustainability and harnessing the power of the sun.
The rumor mill and now media outlets have confirmed that Seattle City Council has adopted the parks use fee increases proposed for 2012 a year early. That did not sit well with Magnolia Little LeaguePresident Keith Peterson. Peterson had budgeted to pay the 20 percent increase Parks had proposed back in October of 2010. But nothing had prepared him for the 120 percent increase he received last week. The bill of $24,000, was more than double last year’s $9,800. He sent an email to families and news outlets expressing his shock.
Come September, when its first ever students arrive, Queen Anne Elementary School might have an edible garden. Volunteers and teacher Joe Bailey this winter have been promoting the idea of establishing a vegetable garden on 5,000 square-feet of space along the eastern side of school grounds at 411 Boston St. atop Queen Anne hill. Students are currently meeting at the former Lincoln High School in Wallingford, which has played host to several schools during their renovations.
Some Seattle students will find their neighborhood bus stop eliminated next year under a new transportation plan proposed for the Seattle School District. In a bid to save money and reduce transportation times, school officials are working on a plan that would cut bus service to elementary schools and some K-8 schools. The district is also planning to stagger the starting times at many schools to make the busing system more efficient.
Everyone needs a primary-care doctor — the one who conducts your physicals, the one you call when you twist your ankle, get stung by a bee or eat something funny. Some doctors treat entire families; others see only children or only adults. Which type of doctor best suits you and your family?
A just released study on diet sodas suggests that the no-cal or low-cal versions may be kinder to your waistline but bad for your heart and even your head. These are the conclusions of a 9-year long survey involving over 2,500 participants from the New York City area who consumed diet sodas every day during that time period. The participants showed a 61 percent higher risk of vascular events, like heart attack and stroke, compared to people who never drank diet sodas.
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn will hold a town hall meeting in Magnolia on March 1.
Phil Irwin thought he had a great idea to help the local community: he would spearhead a campaign aimed at raising enough money to pay for expanding the hours of operation at the Queen Anne Community Center. But now the city is saying that it cost so much to increase the hours that Irwin has been forced to abandon his plan before it even got started.
The year I turned 40 was the year I stopped mourning birthdays. That year was spent partially in denial. I had been dreading this birthday because 40 just sounded so old. I resisted it and avoided thinking about it because I couldn’t imagine answering the question, “How old are you?” with the number, “F-f-f-forty.”
Officer Ian Burk got away with manslaughter, if not murder. And so we have sent a horrible message that has very little to offer anyone but the lockstep authoritarians in our midst.