The stream of announcements describing ever-evolving proposals from the financially shaky Seattle School District can be described, albeit charitably, as utter retrenchment.The district line goes like this: While the discussion on school consolidation and student assignment began as a response to a projected $20 million budget gap in 2006-2007, it has transformed into a deep examination of how the Seattle Public School District can best serve its students and families so that every student succeeds." Now that is some major spin. But to his credit, Superintendent Raj Manhas admits that the issues are "controversial, complex, challenging and emotional." What it gets down to is this: the vast majority of Magnolia and Queen Anne parents are getting their wish for neighborhood schools. See that school closest to where you live? That's your school. You go there. Just like in the old days.
Each spring, usually during the windy month of March, I would purchase a kite from Chet's Hardware, which sold the inexpensive, common variety paper-and-balsa-wood kite.Assembly was very straightforward. A pair of 18-inch thin balsa strips; the other, at 24 inch ply, were firmly tied forming the shape of a cross. A three-inch piece of string or cord bound the two ribs tightly, so the kite would not slip out of shape.The paper was laid flat over the frame, allowing the string to slot into the wood slits. A 30-inch piece of string was required to tie the ends of the cross rib, bending it into a taut bow shape.From past flying experiences I had learned that the tail was the critical factor in kite aerodynamics. Correct length was crucial. Composition was also extremely important - linen was the best material.
Things are quiet on most of Washington state's political fronts. That is not necessarily good. Politicians are lying low. In that respect they are like bears: they hibernate for a time - bears, when food is scarce; politicians, when votes are scarce... or right after legislative sessions. The backwash from revenue-raising ventures in Olympia will start to be felt by residents this summer, when gas prices climb and "sin" taxes escalate. It's going to cost more to drive, smoke and drink. In recent days politicians have attempted to focus the major news stories on the positive issues related to raising taxes: The rebuilding of the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle and major road construction projects from Cheney to Ferndale and from Omak to Prosser.
It's a good thing the rain stayed away from Magnolia Tuesday, May 17, because the rumble between United Warehouses and Fischer Plumbing wasn't decided until the final swing.
Betty Tisdale won't divulge her age.She will in Vietnam, where they revere their elders, but not here. Be assured, however, that this article belongs on this page.Betty Moul was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., the eldest of five children - all girls except the youngest, a boy who died in infancy. Their father was a dairy manager who arranged the routes of milkmen.Back then, milk was delivered by horse-drawn wagons, and people had iceboxes outside their windows. "In winter," recalls Betty, "the extreme cold caused the cream to rise above the milk."The girls' mother had tuberculosis and lived in a sanitarium. Their father died when Betty was 9, and they were dispersed among relatives and neighbors. Betty was raised by an aunt and uncle.
It's obvious in principle, but not always in practice, that there's more to nursing than medical knowledge.Crossing language and other cultural barriers, nine Seattle Pacific University (SPU) students got to put the idea into practice recently in another country. The nine, among them lifelong Queen Anne resident Teresa Chally, participated in a six-week nursing mission to Nicaragua from Feb. 5 to March 21. The trip was co-sponsored by SPU's School of Health Sciences and Seattle Pacific Reachout INTernational (SPRINT) Program.
"I hope that I can be like Ruth when I grow up. Ruth is so inspirational. She is relentless and absolutely dependable. If Ruth says 'I'll do it,' it will get done - in no time flat. She is just so dynamic."The speaker is John de Graaf, acclaimed documentary filmmaker and producer of the "Affluenza" series on PBS, and he's talking about the woman who stands at the center of his latest production, "Back to Life: The Iron Goat Trail."The half-hour program, which premières today, May 25, at the Mountaineers Club in Lower Queen Anne, chronicles three years of work constructing the 9-mile Iron Goat Trail along the west side of Stevens Pass.In capturing the history of the trail and the volunteer effort that helped make it happen, the film inevitably highlights the vision of Queen Anne resident Ruth Ittner.
A graffiti crew has been specializing in alleys on upper Queen Anne Hill, according to a homeowner who says he caught one of the taggers near midnight on a recent Saturday. The graffiti vandal didn't stay caught, though.The homeowner doesn't want to be identified because he fears retaliation, but the man said that for the past year the same three of four tags have been repeatedly spray-painted on walls and buildings facing alleys at the top of the Hill. That's not all. He's convinced the same graffiti crew has a sideline: egging homes and vehicles, including his. The egg connection is significant for a couple of reasons.
"Fishermen's Terminal," a documentary about the home of the North Pacific Fishing Fleet, is part of this year's Seattle International Film Festival. Directed by prolific film-maker and Ph.D. author B.J. Bullert, the one-hour film marks the end of a four-year project that started when the Port of Seattle decided to allow pleasure boats to moor for the first time at the working-man marina.Depending on who's talking in the documentary, the decision in 2001 was an example of class warfare and the gradual gentrification of Seattle, or it was a move to bring in extra money to a Port property that's seen better days since it was built at the northeastern edge of Magnolia nearly a century ago.
Foods of the Moslem world are as broad in variety and complexity as are the communities they come from. People of the Islamic faith live not only in Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan but in Malaysia, the Philippines, South America and the United States among many others. Their cookery reflects the societies in which they live while adhering to the dietary tenets of Islam. Somalis living in Seattle are just one group who can offer us the tastes of an ancient cuisine formed by the crossroads of many peoples.
If you have ever wondered whether the "american dream" of starting from nothing and making it good is still alive and well, then meet Helen Hoang of "North Bend Nails." Her daughter Khaly is in obvious awe of her own mother, who has had the courage to start and restart life several times. Everything about Hoang's background - growing up during the Vietnam War, marrying her high school sweet heart only to see him permanently disabled from war wounds, and raising five children to provide for - would normally be a sure recipe for despair and dependency. But with gumption, $200 stuffed in her pocket, and hope in her heart, Hoang picked up her family and emigrated to America.
Avid golfers Bob and Lucy Sato were enjoying their retirement years in the ideal home: a spacious townhouse on the eighth fairway of the Mill Creek Country Club. Golf was literally steps away. But then Bob had a stroke, and the large, two-story townhouse they owned for 17 years became less practical and manageable for the Satos.In March, the Satos decided to move into the Midori condominiums at 1515 E. Yesler Way.The Midori was another ideal location for the Satos-friends lived in the building, it was close to their church on Beacon Hill and they grew up in the neighborhood. But as their moving date approached, they realized they had a problem: they were moving from a 2,300-square-foot townhouse to a 1,062-square-foot condo.
When I climbed into realtor Cherie Hasson's vehicle for a glimpse of the South End's highest and lowest priced homes, the contrast hit me like an early spring hop into Lake Washington when she handed me the Mapquest directions. Only 2.66 miles of Rainier Valley asphalt and an estimated eight minutes of prudent driving separated the area's top rung seller at $3.5 million from its bottom-of-the-ladder deal at $200,000.With the local real estate market continuing to be more competitive than a high school track meet, I knew this tour would merely be a snapshot in time. However, looking at the type of homes people of wealthy to modest means are forced to choose from with an experienced realtor is an insightful exercise when trying to get a bead on what's driving the red-hot South End housing market.
Northwest Folklife recently announced that Carl Norlen, 17, a junior at Garfield High School, is the winner of a statewide design competition for the Northwest Folklife Festival's 2005 limited edition T-shirt. Art and graphic design students from high schools throughout Washington participated in the competition. Finalists, as well as the overall winner, were selected by a panel of judges appointed by the Festival.
The Rainier Beach High School family of students, staff, parents, and supporters came out in force for their 18th annual multicultural dinner. This year's celebration ran under the title "We Are Family."