August 1, 2020, I sent what I consider a heartfelt email to Lakewood’s Deputy Mayor Jason Whalen with a copy to my wife.
My wife responded with, “Good note.” A bit later in the morning, the idea for incorporating my note in a Westside Story came to me. Sharing my thinking and experience related to Jason Whalen may just help my readers with their voting process.
That is how I ended up writing what I am referring to as an “Accidental Article”. My actual note to our Deputy Mayor and future County Council District 6 Councilman is included below.
Copy of my original note edited for grammar:
“Deputy Mayor Whalen,
While you and I have disagreed on an issue or two, please know this. My wife and I respect you, the way you serve the public, and admire your industrious work spirit and high standard for ethical behavior.
This means you will be the recipient of two votes for Pierce County Council District No. 6 from the Boyle household. When you win the election, we will miss having you on our Lakewood City Council. Thank you for your past service to Lakewood, and good luck to you in the future.
Joseph Boyle – Pierce County Resident 61 years.”
Jason Whalen has an abundant amount of experience and a positive track record as a community leader to help us work towards a better Pierce County.
Remember to vote.
Joe, I enjoy your stories but I wonder what the “Westside” of Westside Stories refers to? I grew up in Tacoma but lived in Bellevue (the “Eastside” to Seattle’s “Westside” of Lake Washington) for 25 years. So when I read Westside I think Seattle but I know that’s not the area to which you refer.
Don Gaines,
You pose an interesting question and as you might conclude, I have the answer.
Before revealing my answer, I compliment you for being able to pick up on that detail and after running the question through your human-computer (brain) you asked the question. You are the first person in almost ten years to use his intellect in this manner.
When I started writing articles in November of 2010 for Ben Sclair, Publisher of The Suburban Times, I decided to make “Westside Story” a part of my byline including my name as the writer.
Where did it come from? In those early days the newspaper and I, for that matter, focused on articles and stories related to the west side of Pierce County that included the following areas or zones.
#1: Starting near the Narrows Bridge, the West Slope in Tacoma was my first area of interest. The West Slope starts at Bridgeport Way W and drops down the slope towards the Narrows Bridge and Puget Sound.
#2 University Place which is on the west side.
#3 Lakewood, which is on the west side.
#4.The Town of Steilacoom, which, you guessed it, is on the west side.
#5. Dupont, another town on the west side.
Most of my writing is tied to Lakewood because I live in Lakewood and naturally am more easily exposed to writing topics in my own city as opposed to other areas of the west side, say The West Slope for example.
The second thing that comes into play with Westside Story, is the play on words related to New York City’s Broadway musical titled West Side Story. West Side Story, the play makes Westside Story, the column a more memorable name.
Sorry. Westside Story has nothing to do with Seattle or Bellevue, but it is okay if when you read my byline, you think fondly of your old stomping grounds. I lived in Seattle myself until 1959.
Thanks for asking Mr. Gaines.
Joseph Boyle – Westside Story