Fircrest
Fircrest gives children a life and a safe haven
Ideally, home is the best place for every child. But what if the home situation isn’t ideal enough?
I remember the fear my parents felt when my baby sister was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, epilepsy and mental retardation. I remember how they met their fear with dedication to the development of whatever capacity she could achieve. I remember their determination to keep her at home and to assure her place in society. To that end, Mother organized other parents of children with similar disabilities. To that end, I became my sister’s caregiver at a very early age, because my mother not only cared for her when I was in school, but also worked to help support the family and did her organizing at night when my father was home. All of our family life was about my little sister. The time came, however, when crisis ruled our family and she could no longer stay at home; and then the day came when there was no longer any safe place for her in the general community; and her needs were growing larger all the time. Then she came to Fircrest. At first, it was hard on all of us, but at Fircrest, she has the support she needs, 24/7. And she is still reaching for her potential. And she has a LIFE!
So many families live similar stories; thank heaven that Fircrest is finally being allowed to offer safe haven and a LIFE to such children.
Saskia Davis
Shoreline
Shoreline council
City irresponsible in hiring new employee
Spending into bankruptcy at taxpayers expense. In December Finance Director Debbie Tarry of the city of Shoreline indicated that the contract for police with King County and health benefits rates for city employees are the inflationary forces that drive the budget out of balance. Our revenues for the city don’t meet these costs.
So, it was with great interest that I observed the April 16 council meeting suggesting the addition of a new police officer. Spending money that we don’t have.
Oh, they are going to select an alternative jail booking site to save dollars. However, what wasn’t mentioned in the meeting is that our jail costs have increased astronomically. In 2002 the budget was $652,000 for jail costs. In 2007 the budget for jail costs is $1.2 million. This is double in just five years.
Citizens face an increase in cable fees and utility tax to balance the 2008 budget. Projections are that the city will face a revenue shortfall in the next three years. What convoluted logic suggests the addition of new employees given these projections is beyond me. It appears fiscally irresponsible.
This is the sort of action that gives government a bad name and leaves a bad taste in the mouth of taxpayers who will foot the bill.
La Nita Jordan Wacker
Shoreline
National politics
Bush has some competition
It must be great to know that you are always right. Jack Leicester of Shoreline, in his letter of April 13, claims CO2 does not cause global warming. His proof is his recently published letter in “The Times” stating that fact. George W. Bush has serious competition right here in Shoreline.
Rose M. Laffoon
Shoreline
McCain’s singing out of tune with reality
Republican presidential hopeful John McCain’s recent musical ditty about the joys of bombing Iran was met with laughter in Murrells Inlet, S.C. McCain’s amusing melody about bombing Iran is based on the Beach Boy’s classic “Barbara Ann.”
That a man aspiring to be president or the United States could joke about murdering tens of thousands of innocent Iranians is both disturbing and inexplicable. Of greater concern is that McCain’s impromptu campaign ditty about a murderous bombing raid on Iran wasn’t met with universal U.S. condemnation.
How would we feel if Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khameni broke into tuneful merriment and altered the Rolling Stones classic “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and injected the word “but if you try sometime you just might find — that you can take out New York.”
John McCain’s obscene attempt at humor demonstrated that the demonization of Iran is now almost complete. I have yet to read of one White House aspirant ever referring to “Operation Ajax” — the August 1953 CIA coup that overthrew Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Massadeq. This carnage was courtesy of the Shah — our hand picked puppet dictator. Perhaps John McCain can surprise us and adopt another rock and roll classic to outline our role in the August 1953 Iranian tragedy? I can’t imagine which tune the ever-creative McCain would choose to alter, but it’s a safe bet that “Stairway to Heaven” won’t be one of them.
Jim Sawyer
Edmonds
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