by Dave Markwell

This week my eleven year old son, Aden, and I embark on our annual boy’s road trip around the Northwest. This event is not to be confused with “boy’s weekend”. Certainly, there will be much beer consumed, but most of it will be “root”. For the past several years, my son and I have taken a summer road trip exploring the little nooks and crannies around the area. We have both been introduced to some new places and some new faces. Our trip was originally designed by me as an effort to spend a little time with my son doing something we both enjoy. These occasions seem increasingly rare around home as the distractions of life and other unnamed members of the family demand other things from us. Traveling with just the two of us eliminates a lot of debates about how and what we should be doing. We can just “do”, as guys will.

Being on the road is unlike other traveling. It allows for a slower pace and some genuinely peaceful enjoyment of the scenery. The inherent stress-factor of other forms of travel is not there. No airports or customs or even traffic, if we plan it right…and we do! We drive the back roads and sleepy hamlets littering the wonderful three states in the great Northwest corner. We do it with the windows down and shirts off, eating chips and drinking soda. We are unwashed, decadent hobos and enjoy it all.

I have been a road-tripper since way back. I have seen most of the continent through windshields. I’ve met countless fascinating people in my travels; People one does not meet at Senor Frogs in Cancun. People that have changed the way I think and the way I am. These adventures have shaped me in ways that are difficult to explain or quantify. Little ideas or insights here and there flow freely on a road trip. My mind and spirit are alive and the soil is fertile for my best thoughts. Unburdened by other obligations, road trips allow for true free-thinking. These thoughts are the cornerstones of any good ideas I have ever had. They are my most important thoughts. Having the opportunity to explore the dusty two-laners of my soul with my son riding shotgun is priceless and it is wonderful to know that years from now we will share these as some of the best moments of our lives. We share an armrest as our lives unfold through the bug splattered windshield. We live it together. I recognize this as precious. That’s why I started it. My son does not. He recognizes this as fun. One day he will understand and be grateful. This was not and is not my goal, but I will be happy when the light bulb clicks on and he understands how significant our fleeting time was.

So as I load the rig and stock the cooler, I look forward the adventure and the freedom that awaits us. We will stop and swim when we get hot. We will eat when we are hungry. We will see sights previously unseen. And we will talk. We will talk about important things. We will share pieces of ourselves. We will get to know each other better. We will be what a dad and son should be, but often aren’t. We will be pals with a flexible plan and the authority to change it whenever we want. We will be the co-owners of an experience that counts and I cannot think of a better way to spend a week of my life.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here.]

by Ralph Nichols

An international spotlight will focus on Des Moines during the 1st World Emerging Industries Summit 2010 in China, which Mayor Bob Sheckler will attend Aug. 31-Sept. 3.

“I just got confirmation that I will be allowed, as requested, to make a speech on behalf of the city promoting local development,” Sheckler told The Waterland Blog in an Aug. 19 interview.

“This excites me and challenges me. Opportunities like this come once in a lifetime, if ever. These are people who represent Fortune 500 companies,” Sheckler said.

“Des Moines, with a population of 30,000, has the opportunity to be promoted before all these international investors and developers in China.”

He added that “a lot of my ability to even go there is due to the city council’s support and help in paying for my trip.” The Des Moines Rotary Club also donated $500 to help with his airfare.

Referring to his successful China trip last November – which he paid for himself and which landed a multi-million-dollar hotel for Des Moines on Pacific Highway S. – Sheckler noted, “If it wasn’t for that trip I wouldn’t have been invited [to this summit].

“This trip is based on relationships I built with government officials and investors I made then. Otherwise this invitation wouldn’t have come my way.”

That invitation came from Wang Rulin, governor, Jilin Province of China, Dominique de Villepin, global chairman of the Asia-Pacific CEO Association Worldwide, and Zheng Xiongwei, global executive chairman of the association.

Sponsored by the Chinese government, the summit – “New Industrial Revolution & Green Economy” – will feature business talks on investment, cooperation and technology exchanges, and promotion of international economic cooperation in emerging industries.

International political leaders, ministers and elected representatives of federal, state, provincial and local governments, CEOs, representatives of industry and related international organizations, and top economists will attend.

“There won’t be a lot of time for one-on-one discussions, which makes my talk all the more significant,” Sheckler said.

Topping his list as he promotes the city will be the planned 89-acre Des Moines Creek Business Park just west of Pacific Highway north of S. 216th St. Des Moines will regulate land use planning and zoning since the business park is within its city limits.

The property is owned by the Port of Seattle, which supports Sheckler’s upcoming efforts in China to attract businesses to this planned development.

He will also highlight opportunities for commercial and residential development in the downtown Marina District, especially along Marine View Drive and 7th Ave. S.

“And there remain a lot of places for development along Pacific Highway in addition to the planned Waterview Crossing project and the 300-room hotel with a four- or five-star true Chinese restaurant.”

Sheckler recalled that the hotel originally was going to be built in Tacoma until he developed an international business relationship with its Chinese investor.

Earlier, he said the city’s efforts to attract international developers and investors have “to be a two-way street. We can’t just take and not give. They are looking for good opportunities for investments in Des Moines that will give them a good return for their dollar. Their interest is in profitable investments.

Chinese investors like the Des Moines area because they can’t get its views of Puget Sound anywhere else “without paying premium dollars for them,” Sheckler added. “And the marina is a huge attraction to them.”

by Dave Markwell

In the past few months, several of my buddies have become Dads. They have either joined or re-upped their memberships into the brotherhood of fathers. Though, I have, in each case, been very happy for their inclusion into this non-exclusive club, I have also been very happy that it was them and not ME!! Babies are hard work with little return. They are cute and smell pretty good, except when they don’t and it is neat to see them make their little progressions into actual human beings. But, they are also very inconvenient. They operate on THEIR time, not ours. When they are hungry or tired or bothered by some other unknown problem, we must jump. We jump to stop that sound. That shrill, spine piercing sound that they emit. If this sound could be bottled and marketed it would be a “million dollar idea”. It would make even the laziest man quite productive. Efforts to stop this sound are delivered with an urgency and efficiency rarely seen or affected by regular folks. This sound, either the prevention of or elimination of is a true motivator. We will stop whatever we are doing and ACT!! Few things on this earth can inspire motion like this sound. Just the thought of it makes me want to stop it NOW and I can’t even hear it!!

However, as our babies grow, new issues arise. The mouth that delivers “the sound” begins to learn words. These words grow into complaints, demands and whiny pleas for unnecessary and impossible desires. There is probably no sanctuary for a Dad to hide from his children’s voices, except perhaps the grave. I say “perhaps”, because I am not sure that my kids’ persistent questioning and “suggestions” on how best to do things won’t follow me there, too. I am anticipating an eternity spent hearing my son’s “recommendations” and very helpful insights into what I am doing wrong. I signed up for it and I will accept it as gracefully as I can, which is sometimes pretty ungraceful and it is only by the slimmest of margins that my school-age kids avoid “shaken-baby” syndrome.

As a Dad, I struggle to maintain even the illusion of a low form of intelligence. My kids often think I am an idiot. Sometimes I am, sometimes not. They don’t know the difference and this creates awkward moments. When I try to explain, as a dutiful Dad, the pitfalls of a plan they have devised which I can tell will result in breakage of either bones or something I own, they look at me with concern and pity. They don’t understand that I tried that plan and broke something. I have a perspective that they do not and though I have never been a quick study, some things make an impression that even a moron can’t ignore. But, we all have to learn in our own way. I have never listened to anyone else in my life and suffered the consequences. My wife and mom will happily verify this. It seems that the fruits don’t fall far from the tree. So, I do what I can do and sleep well after the emergency room visit.

I have, in speaking to my prospective “Dad” buddies, described my kids as the best pains in the butt I will ever have. Parenthood is always frustrating and painful. It is also, always, great. Caring for something more than ourselves, is liberating in ways unknown to non-parents. We will move burning buildings and the earth itself to protect our kids. We will compromise things previously thought uncompromisable and sacrifice the most sacred of our parts of our souls to make our kids happy or at least good people. This is not easy, but it is worth it. The results being the subtle, yet rare, looks of reverence and awe; the understanding that Dad does know something and is more. These are not our goals, merely byproducts of our very aware efforts that what we do as parents matters. It is a challenge to consistently maintain good parenting, but we do the best we can, because it is right and important and maybe… just maybe… it will STOP THAT FRIGGIN’ SOUND!!!

Welcome or welcome back to the club!! Buzz, SnolohaRod, NeighborNick and DTKII!!

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here.]

by Ralph Nichols

Other Highline-area cities – Burien, SeaTac and Tukwila – have economic development directors or managers. So do other neighboring cities including Federal Way and Kent.

But until now, Des Moines has gone without one – despite a sagging local economy and a need for the city to position itself to attract new retail and other businesses when recovery begins.

That changed when the Des Moines City Council, on a 4-2 vote, created the position of “temporary full-time economic development manager.”

City Manager Tony Piasecki advised the council that, if they approved the proposal, he would appoint Marion Yoshino as the city’s first economic development manager. Yoshina had worked as a volunteer in that capacity since early this year.

She will be paid $70,512 – at $40 an hour – through next April 30, the equivalent of an annual salary near the lower end of the range for similar positions in some other suburban cities in the Puget Sound area.

“Some businesses have survived the recession well,” Piasecki told council members. “They’re the ones we want to bring here. We need to have our act together … to welcome them to our city … to go out and find them.”

Since coming to the city as a volunteer, Yoshino “has shown a tremendous amount of growth,” he continued. “She relates well to those businesses we want to attract.”

Mayor Bob Sheckler and council members Matt Pina, Dan Sherman and Carmen Scott voted to create the position. After voicing concern about city priorities after sharp budget cuts were made in the 2010 budget, Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Kaplan and Councilwoman Melissa Musser voted no.

“I agree there’s a need, but reluctantly I can’t support it,” said Kaplan, noting that utility tax revenue has dropped for the first time this year.
He questioned the city’s ability to pay for the new position for a third of next year and, noting there are other areas in which the city could apply $70,000, said “I just can’t, in good conscience, commit additional resources.”

Musser called the position “a luxury I wish we could have. But it doesn’t feel right. I can’t put it up there on my list of priorities.”

Pina, also wrestling with committing the funds for a new position, observed “that what makes this different is that it can be a revenue-generating opportunity … if we lose momentum here, it will be pretty hard to get it back. It will cost us more in the long run not to do this than to do it.”

Although absent, at a previous meeting Thomasson had stated his opposition to the move, calling it the “camel’s nose under the tent” and urging that the funds – from business and occupancy (B&O) tax revenues that are higher than anticipated – be used to help rehire a police officer.

Sheckler said, however, that “neighboring cities are getting ahead of us … we’re giving them an advantage. When the recession ends, I want us to get off to a running start.”

Acknowledging the difficult decisions Kaplan and Musser had to make, he added that what they said about the economy and city priorities are “very important … things we should keep in mind, too.

by Dave Markwell

Well, it’s family reunionish time. This weekend I have some cousins coming to town from California that I haven’t seen in a while and we are collecting some of the various local relatives that I also haven’t seen in a while. It seems like distance is not the only barrier preventing us coming together more often. I suppose LIFE is the most significant obstacle. We have different lives and stuff happening that gets in the way. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to seeing everyone.

Throughout the weekend, we will tell stories and though, we all shared our history growing up, we all have different versions, seen from different perspectives. This creates interesting conversations. Stories of my life that begin with, “Remember that time Ty kicked Corky’s ass…” are never my favorites as, I’m “Corky”. My first thought is always, “Which one?” I was beaten pretty consistently by my older cousin. We fought regularly. By fighting, I mean, he would provoke me into an opportunity for him to pummel me. I would usually swing first and he would swing last, usually as I was running as fast as I could which, as it turned out, was never quite fast enough. We both incurred our Grandma’s wrath when she had to break us up. The smacks those thin, bony hands delivered to us still resonate today. I will, very reluctantly, smile at these old tales, but there is little reluctance in Ty’s smile. We shared an experience, but experienced it differently. This is true for most of our stories.

I reserve my greatest laughs for stories of THEIR jack-ass moves. There are PLENTY of those. From hypothermia to bike wrecks to tree-tipping to more of Grandma’s slaps, my cousins have provided lots of stories. I will enjoy reliving them and sharing the knowing smiles of “grown-ups” who KNOW how it was. Cousins enjoy a unique relationship. Being outside of the immediate family, but still close enough to know what goes on in it provides insights into “how it really was.” This creates a bond that is unmatchable. We know when each other’s parents were horrible and their best. We know the flaws, struggles and fears. We can truly empathize and sympathize. We lived it, too. We were THERE. We shared holidays and spankings. We shared tears of joy and tears of pain; all the beauty and ugly of our lives. Our lives are intertwined like grapevines. Their memories are mine. We will now share survivor’s tales and it will be great and important. Knowing that other people understand and love regardless is pretty wonderful.

So, this weekend we will tell the stories of our lives and when the humiliating tale regarding some unintentional nudity comes up, I will laugh, whether it was my nudity or not. My cousins are not unlike my old friends in that they tend to remember and seem to very much enjoy reliving the events that I try to forget. From buck teeth to the various red-faced and sometimes red-butted shenanigans I found myself in as a kid, they seem to remember it all…unfortunately for me…but, also for them. I remember things, too. Oh, yes, I remember, alright. The old noodle has been dusted off and long dormant stories of their boners will be hauled out of the basement. I remember lots.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here.]

by Dave Markwell

Last weekend, I helped “celebrate” my buddy Dan’s 40th birthday by participating in a “boy’s weekend” event in Eastern Washington. I had been looking forward to this long weekend since last year’s party. I very much enjoy the excessive eating, drinking and swearing. In a life consisting of rather spotty occasions for all three, a little gluttony now and then is welcome. Not everyday, but once in a great while a solid bender is necessary for me. I believe that most, if not all, males need, on some level, a boy’s weekend now and then. We carry with us, deep in our filthy gene pool, desires for too much beer and too much bacon. Unburdened by the potential stink-eyes of our wives or the pleas of our kids to “play” something, we will indulge like starving men at the Royal Fork. Indulge we did.

We arrived Thursday night with a giddy, yet manly, enthusiasm. We played cards and drank beer. At some point during the various smack-talking between the fellas, a bet was made.

We were golfing on Friday. I am an average to way-below average golfer. My buddy, Shane, is a very good golfer. Besides being a good golfer, Shane is also an extremely gifted smack-talker. During our beer-fueled exchange, he conceded 18 strokes to me. The bet was for bad mustaches; full, cookie dusting, seventies porn ‘staches to be held for two weeks. He already boasted a full goatee and I can grow a beard in two days, so the bet seemed fair. As it turned out, maybe it wasn’t. I beat him heads up, by one stroke. These words will no doubt burn his eyes, but they are true. Following our match, we headed home and he shaved. It may go down as one of the finest victories of my life and I could not help but smile every single time I looked at him throughout the weekend.

On Saturday, the gang played more cards and some horseshoes, ate nearly ten pounds of bacon, sat on the boat in the sun and consumed countless beers. In the evening, we had a poker tournament. Again, I am an average to way-below average poker player. I don’t really enjoy the game that much, but I’ll play if everyone else is. So I did. Amongst a litter of big talking, self-proclaimed poker “pros”, I won the tournament. There was much chagrin and a feeling that something was wrong with the world and a collective sense of “I got screwed” felt by everyone, except me, for a pleasant change.

Sunday, we woke to bloodshot eyes, more bacon and few beers as most of the boys were heading home. I reveled in my unprecedented good fortune and took a well-earned nap on the lawn in the shade. I was staying a couple more days. My kids were coming with Dan’s wife. They arrived in the evening and I hugged them a little more deeply. I took them swimming and made them food they actually wanted to eat. I had missed them. While I enjoyed the boy’s weekend decadence, it was an event, not a lifestyle for me. I have the lifestyle I want. I like taking my kids to soccer practice. I like waking them up and tucking them in. I like creating the experiences that are shaping them into what they will be and recognizing that they will be what they will independent of my efforts.

A self-indulgent, gluttonous weekend provided some contrast to my existing life and shone a light on the shaded areas that are sometimes overlooked as the grass over the fence starts to look pretty green. I am happy to say that I live in green pasture already and don’t need to do too much fence hopping, though I must also say that I do look forward to seeing Shane’s bad ‘stache in two weeks. It was a win for the ages.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here.]

by Dave Markwell

To have old friends, one must BE old. Well, I am and so are they. It is with no small sense of perverse pleasure that I endure the passing of time in my life with the compromised collection of individuals whom qualify as my old friends. Though my wife may, on occasion, raise an eyebrow about how, exactly, I could “qualify” some of these clowns, they are my friends and my qualifying standards are complex and intricate, but also as simple as the tick of a clock. We just ARE. With smiles and tears, we have shared each other’s milestones and missteps. We have held witness to birth and death and joy and ache. It is only through our oldest friends that we can truly hold the mirror up to our own lives and understand that little was in vain. We have tried and failed and sometimes succeeded. Life has changed us in many ways, but not all ways. With our oldest friends, we are our youngest selves. We return to glory years and the un-glorious, adventuresome roads that youth and bad ideas, and usually beer, have driven us. These are my favorite roads to travel.

This week an old buddy, JK, is visiting with his family. They live in New York and return home rarely. I haven’t seen him in a couple of years, but it could have been yesterday. Time has no impact on old friendships. You can pick up where you left off. The stories don’t change. A couple of pounds or some gray hairs, here and there, are the only tells that a day has passed since the last visit. This state of stasis provides a safe harbor for our good thoughts. This is the comfort zone where life is its best.

Another buddy, DK, is turning 40 next week. Our history is littered with bad ideas and more silent, gasping, head-shaking belly laughs than is probably healthy. We know all the best and worst of each other. Tales exist that, out of mutual self-preservation, shall never be spoken of. We have lived our time on earth together. We now have wives and kids and obligations, but by some peculiar celestial intervention we always know when we “need to grab a beer”. Life in these moments becomes uncomplicated. It is stripped down to what matters. There is no pretense or posturing or agendas. There is only honesty and understanding and a sense that we are in this thing together. We are bound by a collective appreciation of our shared lives.

Someone once said that, “A good friend will bail you out of jail. Your best friend is sitting in the cell next to you saying, “Maaannn, that was awesome!!” I am very fortunate to have lots of best friends and feel eternally grateful to have shared experiences with all of them. From the back roads to the beaches to the rivers and mountains, the richness and beauty of life’s circus is richer and more beautiful because of my old friends and as the pages turn and years pass, I relive in story our countless adventures and explorations. This vast catalog of bad decisions and “WTF” moments will make me smile until I die. These are the stories of my life. It said that these memories are what will sustain us on our death beds. If this is so, then I am in pretty good shape, because, boy, I’ve got some doosies!!!

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here.]

by Dave Markwell

While in El Paso earlier this year, I was working with my buddy, Brad, who, on one of many fairly mundane days, found something to get excited about. He was inspecting a roof and discovered a rubber snake. Brad is a pretty easy-going fifty-something kid and as he climbed into our truck I could sense his excitement. “Check it out”, he said, with a slightly devilish smile on his face, as he produced the nice-sized green and black rubber snake. I was interested by his find, but not overwhelmed, until he told me his plan.

“I’m gonna hide it under a towel on Larry’s bathroom floor.” He smiled and might have giggled a little bit. I laughed at the thought of our pal, Larry, moving his towel and shaking in start at the snake. I still smile when thinking about it. Brad’s stock is always pretty high in my book, but it experienced a little jump that day as we laughed like a couple of twelve year olds at the beautiful potential of this shabby little rubber snake.

A couple of nights ago, my daughter was getting ready for bed with all the usually hubbub: pajamas on, teeth brushing, me yelling, potty, hugs and goodnight wishes. I noticed a strange nuance to her behavior. She was a little too happy. She usually mopes and complains and stalls, but this night she was more or less on task and had a peculiar way about her. I sensed something different, but couldn’t identify what it was. After she was in bed with a smile on her face, I retired to the living room to do whatever I do before I go to bed. A couple of hours later, I go through my routine, and get ready to hop in bed. While climbing into my bed, I notice, perched as a trophy right next to my pillow was a marvelous chunk of fake dog poop, very realistic. My sweet, clean, pure little six year old daughter had placed this fake turd and had snickered herself to sleep thinking about how funny it was to “get” dear old dad. I felt at the moment a profound joy. I know how good it feels to “surprise” someone and I was relieved to realize that this simple little joy would not be lost on her. Her vehicle may not have been my first choice, however I’ve learned to take what I can get. Her brother, on the other hand, I would expect no less from him. Understanding how to have fun and how to make fun is a valuable lesson and I am glad that she is developing a sense of “humor”, such as it is.

A sense of humor is a marvelous thing. It certainly takes many shapes, but is important to any joy I have encountered in this life. Laughter truly is the best medicine. It keeps life in its proper place. It reminds us that though struggles exist and daily battles are waged, a smiling peace rests nearby in the unfortunate minds of fifty year old adolescents and sweet six year old little girls. It is everywhere and makes life the grand adventure it is. Having quality people providing life’s comic relief is necessary and wonderful. We all know them and they are the best things I can think of to have.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here.]

Tuesday, Aug. 3rd will be “National Night Out” in Des Moines, an event dedicated to encouraging neighbors, police and others to improve the quality of life in our community.

“National Night Out” is an opportunity for all parts of the Des Moines Community to come together and focus on build strong and healthy communities.

Key messages of “National Night Out” include:

• Cohesive, healthy neighborhoods are key to preventing crime and violence.
• Active block watch groups build community, increase hope and create harmony.
• Positive activities displace negative activity.
• Combating crime is a partnership of citizens and police.

If your neighborhood would be interested in participating in this year’s event, please contact CSO Tonya Seaberry at (206)870-7619 or tseaberry@desmoineswa.gov.

by Dave Markwell

Today was a good day. I knew it would be. Some days you just know. Some days you know are going to suck. Some days could go either way. And some days are just good ones. This morning the sun was out and the breeze was cool, but warming. My dog wore a smile and my kids weren’t fighting. My spirit was high and my soul was aligned with its proper place. This was a day of much to do, but also much possibility. Work would handle itself, but the variable of how to best spend the free moments was a deep consideration.

Much of my joy these days involves a peripheral sliver of my kid’s fun. Their joy is mine, some of it, sometimes. I made omelets with my six-year old daughter. She likes omelets. Eggs, cheese and sausage are her favorites. I kick in a little tomato and avocado for myself. My crazy-haired son ate cereal on the couch in his underwear, shrouded in his favorite blanket while watching his favorite cartoon, some weird Asian space show that I don’t get. Nonetheless, the morning was virtually conflict-free, a true oddity in my home.

Next, we went to my wife’s office where I have a little landscaping project shaping up. I am removing and resetting the paver entry path. It is the perfect sized project for me. I tend to suffer from some type of adult ADHD when it comes to projects. I tire of them quickly and they become onerous and un-fun for me. This was a two-dayer, perfect. I had my son removing stones and my daughter cleaning them with the garden hose. In another unheard-of development, my daughter did not “accidentally” spray my son with the hose. Here, we avoided an epic screaming match and potentially some serious pick-axe threats on my daughter’s life by my son. It was smooth and everyone seemed to enjoy their contributions. This, too, is exceptionally rare. My kids were content and peaceful in their efforts.

Later, we had lunch, which included ice cream cones. Nobody, in their over-eagerness, licked too hard and had the scoop drop on the floor. This is, again, pretty uncommon. My kids like ice cream and dive into a waffle cone without regard. They understand the consequences of this, but they don’t care. They don’t care if the ice cream falls on the floor. They will pick it up or, more likely, my wife or myself, will pick it up, shave the dirt off with a napkin and set it back on the cone, always within the “five-second rule” window, of course.

In the evening, I invited a couple of buddies and their families over to barbeque. I love barbeques. I love standing at the grill with a beer in my hand and smoke in my eyes hiding my tears of joy at how good my chicken and sausages smell. In the background, through the delicious meat sizzle, I hear my kids playing with my best friend’s kids. They are going to be life-long best friends, too. My wife makes a salad with friends, smiling the entire time. I hear a couple of other old buddies smack-talking during a cribbage game. This false conflict is a ritual that I have both witnessed and participated in for nearly thirty years and a cribbage game between old friends would be less without it. My buddy, Dan, takes alternating turns spraying the hose at the swing set slide creating a redneck waterslide for the kids and spraying, my dog, Diego, in the face. This is Diego’s favorite thing in the world. It is a bizarre fetish, but it is his. The kids cannot get back in line quick enough for another run down the slide.

As I look around and see all that I love standing in my yard or sitting at my picnic table, I am, very simply, happy. The sense of peace and joy and my contented arrival at the place that matters defies words or I am incapable of expressing them clearly enough to define all of the nuance and implication that this moment deserves. The depth of sentiment is deeper than my mind can dig for explanation. This being the case, I will simply call it, the truth. It was a good day, indeed.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here.]

Story and Photos by Janet Grella

An enthusiastic crowd of about 30 citizens, merchants, a city councilmember, realtors and community activists met Tuesday night (July 13) at the Des Moines Police Station to elect a new board for Destination Des Moines.

Joe Jewell, city and marina events guy, introduced the meeting by saying that this gathering was to “kick new life into Des Moines by breathing new life into Destination Des Moines.”

“The Board” of Destination Des Moines (as they are called) are:

• Bradley Hawthorne, Sales Manager Prudential Northwest Realty and Des Moines resident
• Brenda Anders, Senior Services & Marketing Professional
• Susan Goegebuer, Seaport Petroleum
• Tony Hettler, Broker/Owner John L. Scott in Des Moines
• Michelle Fawcett, owner Salon Michelle
• Gene Achziger, Des Moines Pool Commissioner
• Amber Scott, Mt. Rainier High School student & Des Moines Farmers Market

Many of these new board members have been long-time community activists and welcome the opportunity to serve.

It is the purpose of Destination Des Moines to create an event planning and marketing organization, totally independent of the city, that will bring people into Des Moines as well as streamline the communication process within the business and civic communities. It will serve as a clearing house for all events in Des Moines.

Joe Jewell ended the proceedings by saying that the Waterland Parade, the marina car shows, the 4th of July Fireworks and Concerts on the Pier were all something we could look forward to next year. Hear! Hear!

The meeting was adjourned with audience members invited to watch the proceedings as the new board went to work on electing the executive committee, who are:

• President: Bradley Hawthorne
• Vice President: Brenda Anders
• Treasurer: Susan Goegebuer
• Secretary: Tony Hettler
• Membership Chair: Michelle Fawcett

The board went right to work and hammered out a few housekeeping decisions including splitting the combined secretary/treasurer position, as well as settin a new annual membership fee structure:

• Resident/Individual: $15
• Nonprofit: $25
• Business 1-10 employees: $30
• Business 11-25 employees: $50
• Business 26+ employees: $75

They plan to meet bi-monthly for a couple of months to organize operating procedures and will hold a public meeting soon. Look for meeting announcements here on The Waterland Blog.

Vice President Brenda Anders commented that “This group is all about open communication. If you have questions, comments or ideas you would like to share, please contact us, we want to hear from you!” she later added, “We will announce our contact information, phone number, email & web address and Facebook page information in a few weeks.”

The fire stations of South King Fire & Rescue have new signage on the front of each staffed station, which designate each as a “Safe Place for Newborns.”

Under the Safety of Newborn Children’s Law, a parent can leave a baby up to 72-hours old with a qualified person at a hospital emergency room or a fire station, including South King Fire & Rescue. It offers parents a safe place to leave a newborn infant, confidentially and without fear of punishment. The parent can remain anonymous and will not be prosecuted. The baby goes into foster care, with adoption as a goal. The mother and child will receive medical care if needed, provided with a list of resources, information on legal rights, a medical history form and a page for the parent to write a message to the baby.

In 2009 an amendment to the law was passed that helps to identify all facilities that are authorized to accept a relinquished baby. This legislation expanded locations to include rural health care facilities as legal drop off points and specified signage to be placed on all facilities accepting relinquished babies. In view of the fact that there were no funds for fire departments to pay for all the signage, the Washington State Fire Chiefs and Safe Place for Newborns were able to provide the funds to purchase the signs through a grant from the Muckleshoot Charitable Fund.

As of July 13th all South King Fire & Rescue fire stations which are staffed 24hrs a day 7-days a week with qualified personnel, have a “Safe Place for Newborns” sign posted in a visible area on the outside of the fire station.

“Our department is privileged to be able to provide caring and compassionate help to a mother and child should they feel the need to drop their baby off at one of our stations,” declared Deputy Chief Mike Knorr.

South King Fire & Rescue wants anyone who might even consider abandoning an infant, to know that their local Fire Department has a ‘Safe Place’ to ensure the infants’ health and safety.

By Ralph Nichols

Mayor Bob Sheckler will return to China late this summer – invitation in hand – for the 1st World Emerging Industries Summit 2010.

Sheckler, who said his invitation is “quite an honor,” hopes to interest investors there “in any type of development that would complement the city, either on the highway or downtown.

“This has to be a two-way street. We can’t just take and not give,” he added. “They are looking for good opportunities for investments in Des Moines that will give them a good return for their dollar. Their interest is in profitable investments.

“I look forward to the exchanges I will have with my hosts, and to reporting back to our city when I return.”

Sheckler said Chinese investors like the Des Moines area because they can’t get its views of Puget Sound anywhere else “without paying premium dollars for them. And the marina is a huge attraction to them.

“We’re squared away to bring in investments on Pacific Highway and to downtown now that the water issue is taken care of – and to Des Moines Creek Business Park,” he continued.

Sheckler was invited as the result of personal contacts he made with government leaders and business investors during his China trip last year.

He went there in November to build foundations for a sister-city relationship with Changle and an exchange program between Chinese community college students and Highline Community College.

But Sheckler came home with a lot more – an agreement for a multi-million-dollar hotel in Des Moines in addition to those relationships.

In addition to the hotel, with more than 300 rooms, this development – at the old state vehicle emissions testing site along Pacific Highway S. north of Kent-Des Moines Road – will feature a four- or five-star Chinese restaurant and, possibly, retail space.

“It will be a true Chinese restaurant,” Sheckler noted. “Not a Chinese-American restaurant.”

The project is currently in the planning and design stage. Groundbreaking for construction is expected sometime next spring, perhaps sooner.

Matt Chan of Normandy Park, who is planning the multi-phase Waterview Crossing development on Pacific Ridge, accompanied Sheckler on his China trip last year and introduced him to business investors there.

Sponsored by the Chinese government, the Aug. 31-Sept. 3 summit – “New Industrial Revolution & Green Economy” – will include business talks on investment and cooperation, information and technology exchanges, and promotion of international economic cooperation in emerging industries.

International political leaders, ministers and elected representatives of federal, state and provincial, and local governments, leaders of Fortune 500 companies and other industry-leading companies, representatives from industry and related international organizations, and top economists have been invited.

The invitation came from Wang Rulin, governor, Jilin Province of China, Dominique de Villepin, global chairman of the Asia-Pacific CEO Association Worldwide, and Zheng Xiongwei, global executive chairman of the association.

“As Des Moines continues to reach across the Pacific to Chinese investors who are interested in the potential for them in Des Moines,” Sheckler declared, “I feel confident that the majority of city council members will embrace these opportunities for future economic development.”

by Dave Markwell

Well, summer has finally arrived and as I formulate the various ways to create a fun vacation time for my kids, I wonder to myself, “Why?” Those ungrateful dipsticks deserve nothing. I would think, apparently errantly, that with so much at stake my kids would be a little more diligent in their efforts to impress. Much like around Christmastime when their rooms remain relatively clean and their shoes don’t sit in the middle of the living room floor for days. But such is not the case. My kids will shamelessly ignore, dismiss, and/or flat-out betray my pleas for help.

Help me clean the house. Help me pick up their stuff. Help me feed the dog. Help me mow the lawn. Anything at all…just help. I don’t require much, but these lazy stiffs are wily and quite creative when it comes to avoiding work. They work harder at avoiding work than the actual work would require. They make excuses and busy themselves, dutifully, doing anything but what I request of them. They are geniuses of distraction and disguise. They mask their blatant disregard of my requests with false concern and falser promises. “I will…right after…fill in the blank” is my favorite. I bite like a hungry carp every time. I trust them. This is my fault. They are liars and I should know this by now. They play me like a dime store kazoo.

I probably shouldn’t blame them as I am the parent and, supposedly, should know better. So their behavior is not entirely on them and perhaps would not bother me so much if they didn’t want so much. They are completely without compunction when asking me for stuff, even after I have begged them to do something that they, once again, did not do. I am a great believer in the barter system. Some reciprocal back-scratching is nice once in a while. Again, such is not the case, my kids only want their backs scratched, often, and with the correct touch too, not too hard, not too soft. They are takers. They take and don’t give. Something is very wrong with this system. It is broken and I don’t know how to fix it. I yell and threaten and take stuff away. They are immovable. They are stronger than I am. This is just the way it is.

So, today, I will take them on the boat. I will run through the sprinkler. I will make what they want for dinner. I will play games with them that I don’t like to play. I will let them watch their shows on TV. And I will enjoy it, because it is summer time and even a couple of ungrateful twerps cannot put me in a bad mood. They are made their way and I am made mine. Summer is my season. A little sunshine and heat heals all that is broken in me. I am tan and tolerant. I will give what I have to allow my perfectly flawed kids a glimpse into life’s summertime potluck of fun and I will not hold any grudges…lucky for those eggheads.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here.]

by Dave Markwell

I love the 4th of July. I have loved it forever. I love the explosions and the colorful flashes and the smell. It, like many holidays, has the ability to create new memories and re-create the feelings of times past. The 4th of July’s of my youth were filled with sparklers, firecrackers, ground flowers, lady-fingers, M-80s, pop-its, bottle rockets and stinky growing snakes that disintegrated when the wind blew. The missile battery always sealed the deal and left us breathless and worn out. The street in front of my house as a kid was littered with the neighborhood display leftovers. It was great. The smell of smoke and burned paper lingered for days.

These days the rules have changed and personal use fireworks have diminished to a level un-fun to anyone familiar with the “good old days”. I suppose this is probably ok as a few roofs will, undoubtedly, be saved, not to mention, a few fingers. Though, there seems to me to be something uniquely American about a half-pickled Dad standing in the street holding a Roman Candle while his kids watch in awe and his wife watches with mild to intense trepidation. It is OUR holiday and being able to personally invest in recognizing this has some value to me.

But…so it goes and this year I will stand with my kids at the Marina and watch our local show booming over the water. I will think this is great, too. My kids will tip their heads and stare, unblinking, to the sky and marvel at the spidering webs of smoke trails. They will flinch when the bombs fire and they will have goosebumps during the grand finale. I will, too. I love the grand finale.

Like many things in life, the experience will change for me as it will become more about my kids than me. But, buried not so deep will be the remembrance of warm summer nights coaxing my Dad to “light the big one!!” while sitting on my mom’s lap in our driveway eating popcorn and drinking grape soda, watching the show with the sleepy amazement that only belongs to children. I hope to recognize this in my kids and know that memories are being made for them that will last. These memories detail a life of quality and creating them is my most important job as a Dad.

As life unfolds in its circular fashion, while my kids are watching fireworks on the 4th of July this year, my son will be drinking a grape soda and my daughter will be eating popcorn on her mom’s lap. They will be happy and so will I. Life will be as good as it gets. They will remember it fondly and, in the future, as I look back on this current time, I will be satisfied that I did ok. I cannot and will not ask for anything more than this.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here.]

Toastmaster and Burien resident Steve Kennedy attended the District 2 Changeover Meeting last Saturday, where he was officially granted the status of Area 41 Governor as the Toastmaster fiscal year begins July 1, 2010. Our own Waterland Blog Sales Whiz, Theresa Frasch is his trusty assistant in charge of Marketing and Public Relations.

Toastmasters International (as the name implies) is an international organization with more than 12,500 clubs in 106 countries. In order to help keep things moving along the clubs are divided into Regions, Districts, Divisions and Areas. Steve and Theresa’s Area 41 has five clubs in Burien and Des Moines.

Area 41 consists of community clubs with members from a variety of different backgrounds and ages. Since many of the members are using Toastmasters as a tool to improve work performance (i. e. teaching, coaching, leading meetings, giving presentations, effective communicating, public speaking, and leadership skills, etc.), a common understanding helps them help each other improve these sought after work and life attributes.

Toastmasters Clubs offer a safe, secure environment to build confidence in the following areas: alleviate fear of public speaking, practice presentation skills, learn to better persuade and convince others. It also helps its members to think more quickly on their feet and it’s a good place to network with others with similar interests.

Most meetings are an hour to an hour and a half long. Some clubs meet every week. Some meet twice a month. Some meet in the morning, some at noon, some in the evening. A typical meeting consists of two to three speeches (5-7 minutes each) and the evaluations of the speeches (2-3 minutes each), as well as Table topics which is an impromptu speaking topic that provides members a chance to speak at random for 1-2 minutes each.

If you’d like to learn more about Area 41 Toastmasters and what it has to offer contact Theresa at 206-588-5088 or burienbreakfast@gmail.com. You can learn more about each club by visiting Area 41′s club websites:

• Burien Breakfast
• Jetsetters
• Leading Knights
• Soundwaves
• Sunuppers Advanced

You can stop by and talk to us at our booth at the Olde Burien Block Party on July 17 from 10am – 8pm.

Area 41′s motto is “41 Has More Fun!”

To the Editor:

I would like to know if you could shed some light on how the two publicly-owned street trees at the corner of Marine View Drive and South 223rd Street managed to be topped. I cannot imagine that this action was performed with the approval of the City and am certain that it was not approved by any licensed arborist.

The residents of Des Moines funded the planting of these trees years ago during the renovation of Marine View Drive. I have watched as these trees have matured and have greatly improved the downtown streetscape. The fact that someone took it upon themselves to effectively kill these trees is nothing less than theft from the residents.

Thank you for any information you can provide on how this might have happened and what actions, if any, are being taken to hold accountable those who did this.

- Mark Proulx
Des Moines, WA

We forwarded this email and photos to Des Moines City Manager Tony Piasecki on Tuesday (June 29), and here’s his response:

Scott,

Late last summer/early fall, the property owner asked for permission to prune these two trees when he was constructing the All-Star Sports Bar building (he owns that building as well as the barbers shop/Lighthouse Lounge building).  We approved his request but his landscaper went way beyond what we thought we had approved, particularly on the tree in front of the All-Star.  The property owner agreed to replace this tree and was going to do it himself.  He hasn’t yet done so, (obviously) so we followed up with him today.  He said he’s now ok with the City replacing the tree and billing him for the materials and labor.  In regards to the tree in front of the barber shop, we had originally said he didn’t have to replace that one because it had not been pruned as extensively as the other tree, thinking that it would look ok once it leafed out.  Now that the leaves are here, it doesn’t look as good as we wanted it to so we will be asking him to pay for replacement of that tree as well.  Hope this answers your questions.

Tony

It just wouldn’t be the Fourth without fireworks! Due to a very generous donation from WLB Advertiser Powell Homes, you and your friends and family will enjoy a spectacular 20-minute firework display over the historic Des Moines waterfront set to begin at 10:15pm on – you guessed it – the 4th of July.

Western Display Fireworks Company will provide a first-class show launching hundreds of mortars from the Marina Pier. The 2009 event drew well over 5,000 to the marina parking lot, with many more spectators watching form the Beach and Overlook parks, residences or other vantage points around town.

And it’s not too late to show your community spirit by donating to the fireworks fund. Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Des Moines will be on hand to collect your donations. A $1 per person donation is requested at marina entry points and throughout the park to help support the event. Gates will open at 7:30pm.

Bring your family, picnic dinner, lawn chairs or blankets and sit back and enjoy the fireworks show. Please do not bring personal fireworks, alcohol, portable BBQs, pets or vehicles inside gated areas at Des Moines Marina north parking lot or Beach Park.

At 5pm sharp, the Beach Park and Marina’s north parking will be open to pedestrians only. Cliff Avenue South between 5th Ave. S. and the waterfront will be closed to all vehicles. After that time, all vehicles will be required to access the marina using S. 227th Street. For information regarding handicapped parking, please call Des Moines Marina at (206) 824-5700.

Please play it safe, expect traffic delays, obey traffic laws and watch for pedestrians when exiting the event.

Due to the tough economic times, the 2010 event will not include entertainment, vendors or other family activities.

Powell Homes is the oldest home-builder in the Seattle area. Started by Cecil Powell 101 years ago, the family building tradition has continued through five generations. The Powells have a long tradition of giving back to their communities. Much of their support goes unmentioned and unnoticed by design. But as other sponsors pulled out of the 2010 Fireworks over Des Moines show, Brooks Powell stepped up to fund this event for the citizens of Des Moines. Powell would also like to thank the Des Moines Marina Association for their generous gift of $1,000.

Going forward, the success of this and future Fireworks Over Des Moines events will depend on community and business donations as well as volunteer support. Soliciting corporate sponsors will start for 2011’s Fireworks over Des Moines immediately after this year’s show. It is Powell’s hope to have 15-20 corporate sponsors in place for next year.

And it’s not to late to show your community support. Please make a tax-deductible donation in any amount to:

Des Moines Legacy Foundation-Fireworks Over Des Moines Fund
c/o 1000 S. 220th Street
Des Moines, WA 98198

Or call (206) 870-6547 for more information. If you’d like to volunteer call Sam at Powell Homes at (206) 824-8001.

WHAT: Powell Homes Fireworks Over Des Moines!

WHEN: Sunday, July 4th, 10:15 p.m.

WHERE: Des Moines Marina.

INFO: Presented by Powell Homes and Rotary Club of Des Moines.

VIDEO: Here are a couple of videos from previous years’ displays:

by Dave Markwell

I got flipped off by an old man the other day. I was driving down 7th Avenue and stopped at a crosswalk to allow a woman to cross the street. The lady was standing at the crosswalk and was looking around a little confused, but to me, still seemed to be intending to cross the street. Apparently, she was just confused and stepped back and did not cross. The old man behind me in a small silver car honked at me as I was waiting for the woman to see me stopped and cross the street. I stuck my arm out the window and pointed to the lady, with my left index finger, indicating to the old man why I was stopped in the middle of the road. At this point, his raised a meaty middle finger and shot me the bird through his windshield. I, instinctively, returned fire and had a brief flash of road rage that included an image of grabbing this geezer by the neck, forcibly removing his false teeth from his mouth and chucking them into the fresh beauty bark neatly spread in the planters on the side of the road. This image passed very quickly and I then just smiled and drove on.

I am never the sharpest guy in any room. I am, however, considerate. I was right to stop for the cross-walker and the grouch was wrong to honk while I waited. This was fact and served to release me from any onus of responsibility for receiving the bird. I was good, baby!

I have been flipped off plenty of times over the years. It is always a little troubling, sometimes warranted, sometimes not, but rarely any big deal. It was not a big deal this day and more than anything highlighted for me a sense of evolution that I may have attained. I had a good day following a middle finger by a grumpy old man. In the past, I may have lingered over the gesture. Having someone deliberately and quite personally attack one with a finger does not feel too nice. It has the power to create some negativity that can dwell for some time. It seems that, at least on this day, that power no longer had impact on me. I was unaffected, with the exception of the aforementioned, very brief, denture throwing fantasy.

I soon had to make a left turn and as the angry man passed on my right, I waved (with all fingers) and grinned at him, while shaking my head. He stared straight ahead and did not acknowledge my gesture. My day moved on without incident.

I rode bikes with my son to the marina. We bought ice cream drumsticks at ABC Grocery, chatted up, Yoon, the owner, and rented a movie. I played “Sorry” with my daughter who, once again, delivered a handy beat-down (or two). I barbequed hamburgers while standing bare-footed in my lawn. I had a cold beer with my neighbor at the fence which separates our yards. I went to bed early with a good book and a contented mind. I opened my bedroom window and enjoyed the cool sea breeze blowing through. It was a day of days, a dream day. It could not have been a better day. A better day has not been invented and even a fat, hairless old finger shining in my rear view mirror could not disturb it.

Any evolution I have achieved through the years has been slow and painful, though at age 41, it feels pretty good to understand that good days are available everyday and that the power to manifest them is mine alone and even a crusty, quick-fingered old fart cannot shake my tree. This is a good thing to know and I will continue to stop at crosswalks, every time.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here.]

by Ralph Nichols

(NOTE: When I sat down with Des Moines Police Chief Roger Baker for an interview shortly before his retirement, my intent was to present an overview of his accomplishments in law enforcement, from Anaheim to Des Moines. But as he talked, it became obvious that his career is a living example of Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken.” Baker’s well-documented record of success in Des Moines will establish the foundation for the city’s evaluation of its police needs and search for a new chief. This account, then, tells in brief the fascinating story of how he got to Des Moines in the first place.)

“Life is like a box of chocolates,” Forrest Gump observed in the popular movie by that name. “You never know what you’re gonna get.”

That line came to mind over the weekend as Roger Baker prepared not so much to retire as to take the next steps in a journey that will lead him down a new – yet familiar – path.

The sign on his door and his business card, had he taken a road that once beckoned him, could have said this:

Roger Baker, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist

Instead of this:

Roger Baker
Chief of Police
City of Des Moines

Or, for that matter, he could have been a top manager at Disneyland, where he was moving up – until becoming a cop “for just a couple of years” before returning to graduate school full time.

Now, after 36 years as a police officer, Baker, who has served as chief of the Des Moines Police Department since January 2004, turned in his badge on June 15.

Although Baker tells colleagues and friends he is “retiring, again,” in reality he is simply “trading his badge for a briefcase.”

And he isn’t leaving law enforcement behind, only changing his relationship with the men and women in blue whose motto is “to protect and to serve” the rest of us.

Together with his wife, Shirley, Baker will follow a dream of many years as becomes principal consultant in their new business – assisting police departments with “strategic leadership and planning in the 21st century.”

Their consulting firm, which is ready to launch, is The Business of Policing.

The Bakers will continue to live in Des Moines, where they found their retirement home shortly before he was hired as chief here – only days after his first “retirement” as chief of the Anaheim (Calif.) Police Department after five years as that destination city’s top cop.

But that comes later in this story.

Crime Rate Reversed
Most Des Moines residents are familiar with what Baker accomplished as chief, and how the police department under his guidance improved the quality of life in this waterfront community.

When he came to Des Moines, Baker’s immediate goal was “to stop double digit increases in the crime rate.” By any account, he succeeded, turning the crime rate in the city “into double digit decreases.”

During his tenure here, Baker led successful efforts to:

• Develop and implement a Police Department Strategic Plan.
• Restore the police department.
• Implement the property tax levy lid lift to restore police staffing to its 1999 level.
• Open a substation to increase police presence in the Redondo area.
• Adopt a city crime-free rental housing program.
• Enact a city anti-graffiti ordinance.
• And restore peace to the community.

“We met maybe 90 percent of the goals of our strategic plan, which we adopted after I got here,” he noted.

“I have had the good fortune to work with the outstanding staff of the Des Moines Police Department for over six years,” Baker told department personnel in announcing his retirement.

“It has been my pleasure to lead you in the daunting task of restoring police services in our city. I could not have had a better team to work with to successfully accomplish that task.”

“You’ve left us a better place than you found us,” City Manager Tony Piasecki told Baker at the June 10 Des Moines City Council meeting.

Piasecki also announced that Commander John O’Leary will become interim police chief when Baker steps down on Tuesday.

“We hope to have the [police chief] position filled by second quarter next year,” following a national search, he added.

What most people don’t know, however, is the rest of the Roger Baker story – and why his résumé would be written much differently had his professional life unfolded as he envisioned it.

All the years he spent in law enforcement, Baker remarked in an interview with the Waterland Blog last week, “I could have been a clinical psychologist sitting in an office somewhere.”

Disneyland
Even clinical psychology as a career goal wasn’t on his radar when he enlisted in the Air Force Reserve in 1965, while attending Rancho Santiago College in Orange County, Calif.

Baker’s parents owned a plumbing contracting business, where he worked while taking general studies with a business emphasis before his enlistment.

“I spent six happy years in the Air Force Reserve as administrative assistant to the group commander at wing headquarters,” at March Air Force Base in Riverside, Calif., while earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Chapman University.

In 1966, Baker went to work at Disneyland – the first fork in his road – where he “was fortunate enough to get hired into their security department.” While there he began the master’s degree program in counseling psychology at Chapman University.

As time went by, Disney moved Baker from security to wherever they needed him. He eventually managed four restaurants along with retail sales stores and other attractions at Disneyland, with 550 employees under him and a $20 million budget in 1974.

“This was the best business education on the planet, and they paid me,” he recalled. “One of the 10 best managed companies in the world paid me to learn business leadership and management skills.”

But Baker was rapidly approaching his 30th birthday. He wanted to finish his master’s degree and pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology.

He left Disney to join the Anaheim Police Department “for two years to get the experience of working with police officers and the public in a new environment.

As things turned out, this was “the beginning of the end in my career, of getting a doctorate and becoming a clinical psychologist.”

Anaheim Police Department
Baker attended the police academy, where he became president of his class.. He was sworn in, put on his badge, and assigned to patrol as an Anaheim police officer.

“This was the best time in my life,” he recalled. “I had no employees to worry about and no budget to worry about. All I had to be immediately concerned about was my police car and me. This was heaven!

“Plus I had the opportunity to work with an incredibly skilled and dedicated group of public servants working in a sometimes very dangerous environment,” Baker continued.

“I really enjoyed helping the public. “Police work is 90 percent helping people in crisis. Only 10 percent is actual criminal work.”

As time went by, the day when he would embark on a doctoral program in clinical psychology was growing closer. Or so he thought.

About 18 months after joining the Anaheim Police Department, “I got a call to report to the patrol division commander. I was off probation by then, but that’s still not necessarily a good thing when you’re a “newbie” and called to see the boss.”

His summons was not because of something he had, or had not, done. It was about a special project the department needed him to tackle – one that would become the next diversion away from his plan.

The police department had been given a directive by Anaheim’s new city manager to develop a performance-based, zero-based budget for the agency. Aware of his management experience with Disney, department brass asked if he could develop that budget.

This, in retrospect, was the next chapter in the “beginning of the end” for Baker.

Transferred to a desk in the patrol division commander’s office – the only space they could find – it took him about 90 days for study and analysis, and to weave the results into the department and get the budget done.

When Baker completed the police budget, he was named training officer for the then-400-person department, which “solidified the end of my career in clinical psychology” – although he would make a final move toward that goal.

After four years as training officer, he had been in uniform for six years. “I had to get out and get my doctorate,” he said. And he came close. He was offered acceptance into both the UCLA and USC clinical psychology doctoral programs.

As a practical matter, however, “I still needed to work to eat.” So Baker asked both schools if he could go part-time and continue in law enforcement.

Neither of them approved, however, believing that police work was incompatible with clinical psychology. Instead, both offered him financial assistance and undergraduate teaching assignments to help pay his way.

Nor did the Anaheim Police Department want him to pursue his doctorate in this field, assuming it would make him too liberal to be a good cop.

Onward and Upward
Instead, the police department promoted Baker to sergeant, and he returned to patrol for a year. “I came out number one on every assessment I ever took,” he said. “Every time I tried to leave, they promoted me.”

In addition, he was teaching at three Southern California police academies, writing curriculum, and teaching courses in behavioral management techniques for the California State Department of Justice.

“I’m teaching, I’m getting to be a cop, I’m having more fun than a human should have,” Baker said. “It never stopped.” Life was becoming “a Walter Mitty thing” for him.

Then, in the early 1980s, the Anaheim Police Department was involved in a major deadly shooting incident.

This incident showed deficiencies with the agency’s tactical response and SWAT team operations. By then, Baker had “a strong relationship with the command staff,” and “the chief says ‘fix it. Find a better way.’”

He looked at what other California police departments were doing, and then put his two psychology degrees to use. Baker rebuilt Anaheim’s SWAT team and developed a new crisis management and hostage negotiation team. .

Then he was offered the opportunity to teach basic and advanced hostage negotiation and crisis management techniques to law enforcement officers from throughout the western U.S.

“I found myself teaching and mentoring in areas of study that I never dreamed possible as a law enforcement officer. “I was doing stuff that I would never have been able to do in the education field and probably not even as a clinical psychologist.”

Baker was then promoted to lieutenant and assigned to prepare the department’s security and tactical response plans for the upcoming 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Anaheim would host the wrestling competition and this was just 12 years after the terrorist attack during the Olympics in Munich, Germany. There were no incidents.

“For the next 20 years, it was the same rocket ride,” Baker continued. As a captain, he later commanded each of the four divisions of the police department – patrol, special operations, investigations and administration – for at least two years.

And he graduated from the FBI National Academy, and from the U.S. Department of Justice Southwest Command College.

But there was also tragedy, with the deaths of two Anaheim chiefs of police, both good friends of his – Joe Molloy and then Randy Gaston. Their deaths still touch him deeply. Both men died suddenly from heart attacks at the office – each at age 54 after five years as chief.

“It was really horrific,” Baker said.

Anaheim Police Chief
Immediately after Gaston’s death, the Anaheim city manager appointed Baker interim police chief while the agency undertook yet another search.

That happened even as he was trying, once again, to leave the police department – this time to retire and take his family to Mendocino, Calif., and teach at a local community college and at Humboldt State University.

Baker was not sure that he wanted to stay on as chief, but he was strongly encouraged to remain there by his fellow staff members.

More importantly, Shirley finally told him if he wanted to stay, then stay, “but only for five years.” He lived through his 54th birthday, broke the jinx, and stayed on.

“I had a five-year opportunity to completely modernize the organization,” he said. “The Anaheim Police Department was very good, but it could be better.”

Baker introduced into the department a graduate degree program in organizational leadership, which Chapman University set up for Anaheim, and brought in millions of dollars in grants for new equipment and “massive new technology.”

During those five years, “we dropped the crime rate by 40 percent. We took Anaheim to a whole new level and made it the safest of the 10 biggest resort cities – with 40 million tourists a year – in the U.S. We set huge goals for ourselves and met them, like we did here [Des Moines].”

Anaheim became the second safest of the big 10 cities in California – behind only San Jose, which had 30 percent more police officers yet only a slightly better part one crime rate.

As the time for his first retirement as a police chief drew near, “they wanted me to stay,” Baker added. “I kept my promise to Shirley and we were gone in six weeks.”

Line of Fire
Baker is adamant that a police officer is a “peace officer,” not a combat soldier. His or her job, if at all possible, is to restore order without the loss of life and without injury.

He has been shot at four times during his career in law enforcement that almost never happened, but never has fired a shot beyond the firing range, where his skill as a marksman still impresses younger officers.

“I’ve pulled the hammer back three times, but every time I was fortunate enough to avoid firing,” Baker said. “But one time I should have shot I did not have enough probable cause to shoot, and the suspect got away.”

The suspect was a serial rapist. Baker had developed an analysis of the crimes before this was a common practice and predicted where the suspect would hit next.

Baker placed the location under surveillance, and then spotted the suspect at 3:00 a.m. as he appeared to be getting away from a crime scene. Baker gave chase on foot and thought he had the suspect where no innocent persons could be hit if he fired a shot to stop the suspect.

“Your police training tells you that you’d better be sure when you fire a shot, but I was not sure that I could hit him.” And Baker had no confirmation at the time that a crime had been committed.

The suspect was arrested six months later in Los Angeles, and one of the many crimes of rape that he was charged with was the rape that, it turned out, he had committed in that location that night.

Moving North
After they were married, Roger and Shirley had honeymooned in the Northwest. Then, after he was appointed Anaheim police chief, Shirley had booked them on an up-and-back round trip from Anaheim to Seattle on Amtrak’s Coastal Starlight Express.

During that trip, Baker wrote the business plan he needed to redesign the organizational structure and redefine the mission of the Anaheim Police Department.

Now they decided to return to this region and find their retirement home.

“When I announced my retirement, I talked to Craig Steckler” – a friend who is still the Fremont, Calif., police chief. Upon learning their retirement plans, Steckler told Baker that Des Moines, Wash., was searching for a new police chief.

He applied, and was invited to come for an interview.

This time the Bakers flew to Seattle just long enough for the interview process. Baker went for ride-alongs with Des Moines patrol officers – the only candidate for chief to do this – and Shirley went house hunting.

She found the home, and they tried to talk the sellers out of tearing the house down to make way for condos. With a scheduled early-afternoon return flight to Anaheim on a Sunday in late December, the Bakers met them one more time on their way to the airport.

“They agreed. I handed them the earnest-money check Shirley had put in my pocket. And we had just enough time to get on our plane.”

Within a week, Piasecki called Baker. He had learned from barbershop chatter that a police chief from southern California had just bought a house in Des Moines.

“You need to let me know when you do something like that,” Baker said Piasecki told him.

“But that assumes that we have a professional relationship,” Baker demurred.

“We do now,” Piasecki replied. The city council had endorsed the city manager’s recommendation and Baker was the new Des Moines police chief.

“So all the dreams but one – clinical psychologist – came true,” Baker said. “We come up here, and that starts another whole new chapter.”

by Dave Markwell

The other night I took the garbage out. This was not as remarkable as my wife may find it. I take the garbage out as often as necessary. Sometimes volume and sometimes smell will inspire my trip outside to the can. This night it was a combination of both. The nine o’clock sun was setting and the sky was cloudy, blue and red. It was nice. Somehow weaving its way through the stench of my trash was the smell of the sea. It must have been low tide, as I could smell the briny water and heated sand and mud and the creatures that dwell in both.

This is my favorite smell. It is the smell of my life. It is the smell of my youth and my life today. It reminds me of standing in line for the Scrambler at the Waterland Festival as a kid. It reminds me of early morning and late evening water-ski trips in high school to the sand pits hoping for some flat water. It reminds me of fishing and crabbing and sitting in guest moorage drinking beer in the sun. It reminds me of dog walks and family walks and squiding off the pier. It reminds me crisp autumn mornings mowing Beach Park and warm summer afternoons looking for spider crabs and perch along the pilings when they both excited me more than they do now.

This smell and this sea is my home. It is where my Dad’s ashes lie and where mine will go when the time comes. Today, my sea serves to make taking the trash out something more. Like nothing else, it has the power to give my life perspective. As I get bogged down by life’s have-to-do’s and running-lates, the late spring smell of my sea in the evening brings my life back in order. It is easy to get mired in unimportant things. As human animals, we struggle and chase and want. We spend an unseemly amount of time running, with tunnel vision, towards a future of more running. Sitting still, smelling, listening and feeling that life is pretty good, right here, right now, is necessary for both the peace and state of mind that make life truly wonderful.

It’s a little odd to me that a fairly routine trip to the garbage can inspire thoughts like these, but maybe the thoughts needed to be found and perhaps any vehicle would do. Either way, I’ll take them when they come and I appreciate them as old friends. I have a lot of great, old friends, but these thoughts and the smell of my sea are some of the best. As my wife will testify, I am not exceptionally fussy about my choice in friends. But as I have come to learn, a man can never have too many friends and I’ll take all that I can get.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here.]

by Dave Markwell

At four o’clock this morning, I rose and did not shine and drove my wife and our two kids to the airport. They are traveling to upstate New York to visit her folks and family. I returned to my home and slumber. I woke up a couple of hours later to an empty house. Actually, the dogs were here, but since I am a marginally neglectful dog owner, they don’t imposition me too much.

My kids are a different story. They are, definitively, impositions, cute, fun ones that I love more than any words could express, but impositions nonetheless. It was very strange this morning, not having to fix breakfasts, bedsides my own, (leftover Mexican food and some jerky). I did not have to make any lunches or find socks for my daughter or tell my son to get out of the shower. I did not have to watch cartoons or make sure homework was complete and packed in the appropriate bag. I did not have to race to any schools to keep my kids from yet another tardy.

My schedule is my own and that is, sometimes, dangerous. Left entirely to my own devices, I am a wildcard. The angel and devil on opposing shoulders wage a noisy battle for my attention. I have much that needs to be done. I have responsibilities and duties and obligations. I also have an incredible capacity for procrastination and since “free” days are so rare for me, it would seem a shame not to let the devil drive a little bit. Finding some balance will be my goal and perhaps a daunting challenge.

Fortunately, some of my schedule is already booked. I have a meeting and I promised to help out a neighbor with some yard work. These should help tip the scales and keep me out of trouble for a while. If I play my cards right and diligently perform my tasks with clean intentions and a clear mind, I could actually stockpile a few good credits to be used later as an offset for any of my bad ideas. I think this is a good plan. I think can do just enough work to keep me guilt free. We’ll see how it goes.

The quietness of the house is already getting to me. These things I complain about and some days pray to escape from, I miss. I liken it to a newly released prisoner missing the guards that kept him locked up or perhaps the “Stockholm” syndrome in which a captive develops strong feelings for his/her captors. While am excited, on many levels, about my liberation, I am also going to miss my captors.

I will schedule a tee time for a rare non-wife-negotiated golf game with buddies. That might help with my pain. I will call some buddies and plan on meeting to watch some World Cup games this weekend. This might be another step towards feeling better. Maybe, I’ll see who’s free Saturday night for some shuffleboard and a few beers. I think it’s working. I am starting to get relief. Perhaps, I’ll plan on a Sunday morning breakfast with lots of bacon and zero extra napkins dedicated to wiping up “somebody’s” spilled orange juice. Now, we’re talking!!

My family only just left and won’t be gone long, but I miss them already. They are what I care about most and I will be very happy when they get home and life returns to normal. In the meantime, I’d better call about that tee time to help me cope with their absence.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here.]

Des Moines’ North Hill Community Club is having its second annual Open house this Sunday (June 13th) from Noon-4pm.

There will be refreshments, kids crafts and more, and will be a great way for the residents of North Hill to meet and interact with their neighbors.

The address is 20827 3rd Ave South in Des Moines.

by Ralph Nichols

A long-simmering disagreement between the city and Water District 54 over upgrades to the water system in downtown Des Moines was expected to boil over at the June 3 council meeting.

There was even a possibility that the city would begin the process of assumption – the takeover of the water district – if council members didn’t get the answers they wanted.

Instead, the meeting began with Water District 54 Commissioner John Rayback informing them that “the commissioners think the district can now put a line down Marine View Drive.”

Following their May 20 council meeting, several lawmakers expressed frustration over what they considered to be a pull-back by the commission from what they thought had been a preliminary agreement reached at a joint meeting in April for installation of a new 12-inch water main along Marine View Drive.

To do this, Rayback said, the water district “will need the city’s assistance and will need concessions from the city.”

City assistance would include a $486,000 federal earmark secured by Rep. Adam Smith, D-Tacoma, which is dedicated to water system improvements in Des Moines, Rayback told council members.

“And the city needs to waive all permit fees” associated with the project “if you’re really serious,” he said.

This project “will still be very expensive … we need to keep costs down.” But, Rayback added, “We think it can be done.”

The water district will draw from its capital reserves to provide additional funding for the job.

“From the district’s point of view, putting pipe in the ground is money well spent,” Rayback said.

“I couldn’t agree more,” remarked City Manager Tony Piasecki.

The district “very probably will have to go into debt a little bit,” Rayback noted. “We’re willing to look at it.”

When asked for details about their plan, water district engineer Warren Perkins told the council, “We will come back to the city with a proposal.”

“What I’m hearing from the district is actually encouraging,” replied Mayor Bob Sheckler, who then pressed Perkins for a date certain.

“This has been a controversial subject for many years,” Sheckler said. “And a lot of criticism of the district is that it says it will do something and then nothing is done.”

Perkins offered “six weeks, maybe sooner.”

“Let’s say four weeks,” Sheckler countered.

Perkins agreed, and Water District 54 officials are now scheduled to submit their project proposal to council members on July 1.

If the plan for installing the new water main along Marine View Drive receives council approval at that time, “we can … get it designed and out to bid, and start work in the early spring [2011],” Sheckler said.

“Hopefully we can wrap this up on July 1. I’m very encouraged.”

City Manager Tony Piasecki added, “I’m very, very encouraged.”

The 12-inch water main on Marine View Drive, which may be installed beneath a sidewalk because of obstacles beneath the street, will include 12-inch cross connections to east-west lines at S. 220th, S. 222nd, S. 225th and S. 227th streets.

Those lines could be capped and connected later to the main along Marine View Drive, depending on the cost of the primary project.

Water District 54 Commission President Alli Larkin said following the meeting that what changed in the district’s approach to upgrading downtown water service was a decision to put “on hold all our cross connections and putting our money into the Marine View Drive Line.”

She said the district “then can go in later and do the cross connections,” which would include connecting with loops the end of water lines that now dead end along 7th and 8th avenues.

Perkins said some looping might be able to be done as part of this project.

South King Fire & Rescue has, in the past, said the downtown water system falls short of providing a required sustained flow of 3,500 gallons per minute for three hours for fire suppression, while still providing water service to the rest of the area at reduced pressure.

Water District 54 has disagreed with that analysis.

Loren Reinhold, the city’s assistant director of utilities and environmental engineering, told council members the project now proposed “will provide the necessary water supply downtown.”