I wanted to rave about the generosity of a Kirkland business to a student in my first-grade class.
Imagine a different kind of commute — sipping coffee on a boat as you glide over Lake Washington and watch the day break over Mount Rainier; stepping off a dock and onto a bus that sweeps you off to your final destination in a matter of minutes. Now, contrast that to your current battle through bumper-to-bumper traffic as you inch your way along miles of pavement. It is time to make water-taxi service across Lake Washington a viable way to travel.
The cartoon to the right may look inviting for the first three frames, but then the pain kicks in come the fourth drawing. All of a sudden, the blue skies, green grass and yellow flowers seem to fade away and bring a stream of emotions to the forefront.
As if public schools in our area were not feeling enough of a budget crunch for the foreseeable future, the subject is on the table in the Lake Washington School District to shift from three-year to four-year high schools in that district.
Since I first met Marcia at a company event (our husbands work together), I keep bumping into her around town — at the Northshore YMCA where she exercises and at Steve’s Restaurant on Main Street where she meets for breakfast with the Bothell Chamber of Commerce crew.
I can honestly tell you that my future is in full swing. I can’t remember the last day my mom hadn’t asked me about college, when teachers forgot to assign homework to “make us better” or when the word career was just a six-letter word. That’s hardly true anymore. My mom is constantly badgering me about colleges I should attend and majors I should consider. As for teachers, they are assigning as much grueling homework as ever. And, in my vocabulary, the word career is a life-altering six-letter word.
In November 2008, we submitted an article to the Kenmore Reporter titled “Delving into the excessive costs of a new Kenmore city hall.” The article examined the building process and its funding. Since then, circumstances have changed in the building industry with an impact on the Kenmore city-hall project. The ensuing delay allowed the City Council to place the project into an open bidding process, even though it is in conflict with the existing contract. The escalating economic crisis provided a highly competitive environment resulting in about $5 million cost reduction. This came about due to a deteriorating economy and not by any individual or group decision. The result is a positive benefit for the citizens of Kenmore.
They’ve taken the handoff, and the Pop Keeney Stadium scoreboard committee is heading toward the end zone.
Recently, I’ve become more involved in the “Save Darfur” campaign through Inglemoor High, giving me a broader view of the situation in Sudan.
As I rounded second base heading toward third, all I could see in front of me were the arms of my baseball coach hurriedly waving me toward him. Spotting the center fielder out of the corner of my eye toss the ball like a catapult to the third baseman, I felt there was no way I could ever beat the throw. Why was my coach sending me when I would for sure be thrown out? I felt like I was running in water. Nevertheless, I gave it all I had, and with an extra heave, stuck my foot out to hit the base, just in time. “He’s safe!” the umpire yelled to my relief.
We are living in unprecedented times where financial crisis is felt all around us. There are very few families who are not feeling the pain of economic change or the fear of pending devastation. Perhaps the only calm we know for certain is found in knowing we are journeying together in uncertainty — and the knowledge that this season shall pass and lead us into another era.
I’m always reading. Novels, magazines, newspapers, band lyric sheets — whatever I can get my hands on.
Dick Truly, Lowell Haynes and Jack Crawford exemplify a legacy of true character and greatness in their service to our Northshore community and touched forever those who personally knew them.
As they ponder committing Bothell residents and businesses to a $21 million purchase of school-district property in downtown Bothell for commercial development, our city mothers and fathers might consider the value of preserving an important greenbelt on the western slopes of the North Creek Valley, west of Interstate 405.
Despite how much it pains me to admit this, I have a confession to make: I have let myself become victimized by a chronic illness. You guessed it; senioritis is in the air, and has struck me with a particularly bad case that shows no signs of leaving.
Recently I indulged in a fabulous play about a love affair with chocolate. A friend and I returned to Bothell High’s campus, our former stomping ground, to see “Chocolate Confessions” at the Northshore Performing Arts Center. In this charming and whimsical one-woman show, Joan Freed sings the plight of characterized women seeking to satisfy their insatiable desire for chocolate.
For those legislators, city and state officials who think closing one pool doesn’t have much impact on families, consider what effect it’s having on one local swim organization.
When asked about her favorite activity at the Northshore Adult Day Center, Marianne Jones replies, “The people and the food!”
Each morning when I head out to the driveway to pick up the morning newspapers, I can’t help but wonder how much longer they will continue to arrive. The P-I is up for sale with no buyer in sight. The Times continues to lay off employees and may be terminal, as well.
And the local news keeps coming at you. Let’s put an emphasis on local while we’re at it.
