It is dark outside and tired inside, but I have a desire to do a little writing before I go lights out. What should I write about tonight? I know, I will use my recent visit to the Lakewood Hysterical Mole Museum as a springboard into my next story. Let’s talk moles. There are two […]
Letter: A ‘foot-in-the-door’ is, literally, Lakewood’s Rental Inspection Program (RIP)
Under the guise of yet another – five currently – program to address so-called “rental housing problems within the city,” Lakewood’s sixth – in the form of a proposed ordinance that is distinguished from the other five in that it would for the first time require access by city-approved inspectors to the interior of private […]
Letter: Character is forged in the crucible of failure
There’s a rooster that lives across the street. I think its internal clock is set for 3 A.M., then the snooze button resets for 4:30 A.M. It’s a good thing I’m hard-of-hearing, as it may wake me up, or it may not, as I don’t know if it actually crows. At least if it disappears […]
Letter: Why Lakewood’s Rental Inspection Program should R.I.P.
Now that the Lakewood City Council is on record as having expressed its “consensus to consider an ordinance to initiate a five year inspection cycle” of rental properties in the city (May 16, 2016 City Council Agenda), with a public hearing slated for June 20 and a vote by the council likely to take place […]
Letter: The only way we grow
“It is the storm that tries the strength of the vessel” W. Moodie, D.D. ‘No one takes any significant step of growth, or achieves a measurable change in personality except for the sharp stab of a crisis or the dull throb of frustration” Cecil Osborne.
Westside Story – Police Officer’s Routine Day
What is it like to be a police officer? Citizens can find out a lot by doing a one shift ride-a-long, but it actually takes a trained professional law enforcement officer 3 – 5 years before the officer has seen and experienced almost everything and finally can answer the question, “What is it like to […]
Westside Story – Welfare Check
On May 10, 2016, two City of Lakewood police officers responded to a 911 call near the 8800 block of Bridgeport Way SW for a welfare check. When the officers arrived, they observed a 91 year old woman inside. She could not get our of her chair.
Westside Story – Spectacular Rhododendrons
If you comply with that old saying, “Stop and smell the flowers,” you stand a good chance of discovering that our rhododendrons are beautiful, not only in my yard but all over town. They are unusually beautiful. I have never seen them this lovely.
Westside Story – Boyle won’t run for governor
According to an Associated Press news release, “Washington’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn said Thursday he will not run for governor.” It occurred to me after Randy Dorn’s announcement that if I am to be responsible and courteous to my constituency, I should share my current thinking, so here goes.