April 2007

As wireless communication companies seek permission to erect more and more cellphone towers on West Seattle apartment buildings, it's difficult to figure out how many antennas there are because the city doesn't keep a running total and companies won't reveal how many they have.

The Seattle Department of Planning and Development approves individual applications to install so-called "minor communication utilities" with transmitting and receiving towers for cellphone users.

Members of a steering committee charged with proposing modifications to West Seattle High's four-period day aren't making as much progress as they had hoped.

The group, comprised of West Seattle High staff and parents, has been meeting twice a month since mid-February to address ongoing concerns about the school's 13-year-old block scheduling system.

Based on a program evaluation last year, Seattle Public School's Chief Academic Officer Carla Santorno has asked the committee to come up a modified version of the block system that could include some shorter periods or retai

The work on California Avenue between Genesee Street and Spokane Street is progressing at a rapid pace, says the Seattle Department of Transportation.

Crews are repairing the underlying base of the street and are improving curb ramps to meet current standards.

The collapse of public support for the monorail in November 2005 created a mass transit void in West Seattle and Ballard that is likely to continue for years.

Sound Transit is currently building a 19-mile-long light rail system from the University District south to Sea-Tac Airport. The three-county agency already built a light rail line connecting the Tacoma Dome to downtown Tacoma.

Next fall, Sound Transit will put before voters a 40-mile light rail expansion proposal that would take about 20 years to complete.

Last week, West Seattle School Director Irene Stewart said she would not seek a second term on the Seattle School Board.

Within moments, West Seattle businessman Steve Sundquist said he will run for Stewart's district 6 position.

Both said the decisions were made individually, but Sundquist and Stewart did communicate before each made their announcement.

Running your own espresso stand, even here in America's coffee capital, sometimes means finding sour lumps in the bottom of the cup - for the barista as well as the landlord.

Take the case of Christie Reynolds. She owns the Red Hot Espresso stand on Southwest Roxbury Street. It's in a parking lot owned by Roxbury Complete Auto Parts store next door.

HB 1214

Regarding the use of electronic wireless communications devices for text messaging while operating a moving motor vehicle.

By a vote of 90 to 8 on April 17, the House concurred with the Senate amendments and approved HB 1214, which would prohibit the use of a wireless device for sending a text message while driving. Exceptions are provided for emergency responders, or individuals reporting illegal activity, reporting an emergency, or trying to prevent injury to other people or property. A violation of this act would be considered a traffic infraction.

The demise of a bill that would protect the Maury Island Aquatic Reserve from an industrial barge-loading operation got the state's much-promoted Puget Sound cleanup effort off to a dismal start, says King County Councilmember Dow Constantine.

"The state will ask taxpayers to spend more than $9 billion over the next 13 years to fund Puget Sound's recovery," said Constantine, who serves as co-chair of the Green/Duwamish River basin salmon recovery board.

South Seattle Community College is pleased to announce that two of its faculty members have been awarded tenure.

Tenure is a form of academic job assurance in recognition of the quality of an instructor's teaching, commitment to students and subject area, curriculum development, and service to the community.

Thanks to the hard work of the auction committee, the generosity of donors and the generosity of attendees, the West Seattle Parent, Teacher, Student Association announced net auction earnings of $32,000, a 30 percent increase in earnings over last year.

Over $5,000 was raised for the West Seattle High School Fund-and-Item category.

With the gift of $1,500 from the West Seattle High School Foundation, the Parent Teacher Student Association will be able to buy a high-speed, networked printer for the school library.