April 2006

Though risks associated with swimming in polluted water are ambiguous among some environmental and health experts, there are signs along Alki Beach that warn against swimming and fishing during and following heavy rains due to risk of sewage overflows, especially likely from May through November.

"You can't absorb (pollution) through your skin," said Stephanie Raymond, education coordinator for the People for Puget Sound. "Maybe if someone swam across the Sound everyday they might pick up something, but you definitely don't want to swallow that water.

Voters might have to steer their way through three transportation-spending proposals next fall and all have implications for West Seattle.

The latest transportation package is presented by King County last week when county officials announced the biggest expansion in Metro Transit bus service in two decades, to be paid for by a one-tenth of 1 percent increase in the sales tax.

The dizzying updraft in the cost of petroleum could affect the long-term plans for the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal as well as the entire state ferry system, says a member of the Washington State Transportation Commission.

"This is uncharted territory," said Commissioner Bob Distler. According to Bloomberg.com, the price of a barrel of crude oil last Saturday was over $75. Not long ago it was $58 a barrel, Distler said.

While fuel prices soar, Washington State Ferries has been operating with additional cost increases and lower budgets for the past several years.

A West Seattle High School student was suspended for the rest of the academic year after writing graffiti threats on school walls.

In an e-mail sent to parents, Principal Susan Ders/ wrote of finding, "graffiti of a threatening nature written on several walls, apparently targeting security and administration, but also including a threat to general safety."

As a precaution, school officials notified Seattle Police in addition to Seattle Public Schools security.

People cut new trails through the issue of North Highline annexation during a public forum discussion over whether the unincorporated community should join Burien or Seattle.

Could Burien afford to devote money to improvements in the White Center business district in addition to its current investment in Burien Town Square?

Continuing a mission to bring dance to the public, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater made a stop in Seattle this year, and for the first time ever brought their week-long residency program with them.

Sixth graders at Denny Middle School were given the opportunity to experience this program.

"The residency is a curriculum-based program using Revelations (Alvin Ailey's signature show) as a jumping off point to tie in with language arts, history and dance," said Nasha Thomas-Smith, the director of arts and education for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

"Fo

South Seattle Community College received approval to offer a bachelor of applied science degree in hospitality management.

South is one of four community colleges selected to offer a four-year degree in a pilot program authorized by the Legislature.

A play in the making

By Sascha Zimmar and Abbie Lorenson

Acting is a great way to learn important life skills, but staging a play like Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night's Dream takes a lot of work. It requires just a few simple components: actors, time and a well-written script. It also requires compromise.

Staying in the director's good graces is the first step on the long and sometimes painful road to an amazing drama production. Finding agreement is not always easy, but remaining flexible is needed to achieve the common goal of a great production.

Westside School is moving toward its goal of adding another class per grade and starting in the fall it will have two kindergarten classes.

After examining the large number of applications and the limited number of available spaces, the board of directors and the head of school decided that the demand for kindergarten was strong enough to add a second class.

Westside kindergarten teaches children to love learning by exposing them to new ideas and curriculum in a variety of innovative ways.

You have know idea how much damage one moth can do.

Last night when we retired and were each reading in bed Elsbeth announced that there was a good-sized moth fluttering around her reading light.

I was dismayed because I thought there was no possible way for a moth to get in the house. He can't get through the tiny holes in the window screen.