Nancy Hilliard
Around the Island

On the ninth day of the month of March

The athletes arrived, full of starch

They moved out on thousands of feet

In order to make their day complete

And veterans who know the score

Say they’ll be back next year for more.

The skies really cooperated this year for the Rotary Run last Sunday. It was sunny and warm. There were runners both serious and those a bit more lighthearted.

There was the bare-footed runner, the hula-hula skirted runner, the guy in the eagle hat. Impressive were the 150 who formed “Team Steve” to honor Steve Bennett from Redmond by each taking a strand of yarn along their runs and making fringe for a prayer shawl for him at the finish — he has colon cancer and will use the shawl during treatment. There was the “Courageous, Unstoppable, Resolute and Enlightened” team from IMS, those regaled in sartorial elegance with the finest of sporting wear; Patti Darling and her stand-up routine on the bullhorn, the trail of apparel along the roadside as runners stripped. Thousands of shirts sported “messages by tees” — schools, clubs, other races, “Help Wanted.” The city pathways were groomed for the race. Tiny kids ran the 5k, putting us geezers to shame as we clipped along with our trekking poles! Petitioners gathered signatures to allow us to vote without declaring a party. Six junior bagpipers hailed runners at Lid Park; Attorney General Rob McKenna fired the starting pistol for the 10k and gave out awards. Rotarians pigtailing, pacing, marshalling, encouraging, feeding and watering, getting us registered and checking items … and helping clean up from the big party.

Oranges never tasted so gooooooooood.

Schools A “business breakfast” will raise funds for MI Schools Foundation at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, March 25, at the high school, adding to the Foundation’s $850,000 coffers to supplement state support. Yesterday’s school levy vote most likely will approve taxes for school maintenance and learning technologies.

Plans are on course for the French American School of Puget Sound’s second story addition, adding 13,886 square feet atop the long and narrow modular school next to the Stroum Jewish Community Center. The Design Commission gave final approval on Feb. 27 and it should be built within months.

At the same design hearing, preliminary approval was given for a 41,000-square-foot office complex and 42,000 square feet of parking near City Hall. Architects of the four-story office complex (previously owned by Honeywell Corp.) at 9555 S.E. 36th St. were asked to give it a less commercial feel in its three-plus acre residential neighborhood. It is scheduled for occupancy by spring 2009.

Teens Support was voiced on March 5 at the hearing for the proposed teen center and field house. Even opponents of the Boys and Girls Club PEAK project said they aren’t against a “new and positive place for kids.” They ask for relief from its scale, shoehorned into the already busy North Mercer campus, incompatible with their residential neighborhood. One sized it up as “a Big Box Store” taking up half a football field that could interject 1,000 more trips into most days and evenings.

International service trips for teens launch this time of year, for which all have been fundraising. One high school group just returned from Vietnam and another will go during spring break. MI Youth and Family Services and Crooked Trails will send a group of students to Peru, April 1-12, to help build a soccer field. Through MI Presbyterian Church, as many as 70 kids will go to Tijuana, Mexico. March 29-April 5 to help build homes. Fifty-some MIHS band members will go to China over spring break for a cultural exchange.

Managing teen addiction was the point on March 6 when dozens of MI parents and grandparents joined 500 others at the “Knowledge is Power” fundraiser for the Science and Management of Addiction Foundation. Researcher Nora Volkow told how drug and alcohol addiction is a disease of the human brain affecting approximately 8 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds and 22 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds. Islanders rally around SAMA’s ultimate goal for a premier treatment center in our region for addicted young people.

Volkow, in a “Newsweek” article, “What Addicts Need” (www.newsweek.com/id/114716), says young drug users often make poor decisions and take greater risks because of their impaired brain development. SAMA founder Robert Day said “many face addiction alone, afraid to confront the stigma and discrimination that shrouds the disease. We owe it to our children to fund research and treatment for addiction on par with other diseases, such as cancer or diabetes.” Call 206 322-SAMA.

New and improved recreation spaces are also on the drawing board. On March 17, the City Council will consider a multi-million dollar parks levy proposal, targeted for public vote May 20. Included in the comprehensive package are youth-directed improvements on ball fields and trails and a small non-motorized boat program at Luther Burbank.

By the way — Join volunteers at Secret Park on Saturday, March 29, to help disassemble the igloo feature, which has become more of a nuisance than intended, according to supervisors.

Senior citizens — On the other end of the Island’s age spectrum, MI’s senior commission asks local senior citizens what they want and need. Ideas thrown into the hopper to date include a new independent senior center … golf playground … lunches returned to CCMV, rather than at Covenant Shores … more programs … a designated senior area for free coffee/tea and socializing … more communication channels and publicity … expanded transportation … tax relief … more outreach to engage seniors. Its final report to City Council is expected in July. Send ideas to commission chair David Jobe, jobe@clearwire.net or 232-8331. Other commissioners are Maria Ackley, Alanna Burdell, Harriet Weiss, Thomas Kenworthy, Beth Cordova and Susan Guralnick with advice from Geriatric Specialist Betsy Zuber, Recreation Specialist Jeannette Eggebrecht and Administrative Supervisor Kim Richards. Mike Cero is the City Council liaison.

Community pride

“Run, run, run the race, gently ’round the Isle; merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, do it with a smile,” sang Rotarians as they stuffed 4,000 goody bags and readied for last weekend’s half marathon and other four run/walks. Police Chief Ed Holmes and officers focused on safe runs last weekend along with scores of volunteer marshals. Run King Sam Sullivan said he expects proceeds for charity to exceed $150,000 expectations and gave special thanks to Mark Wischman for choreographing volunteers at Race Village; Dave Helsby for organizing marshals and Terry Lee, parking assistant. Read about awards in the sports section and the thank-you ad from MI Rotary for everyone’s forbearance.

To contact Nancy Hilliard, e-mail her at nancybobhilliard@msn.com.