December 2007

The Seattle School Board has heard from several Denny Middle School and Sealth High parents, teachers and students who oppose the district's plan to build a joint campus for the two schools, but it's uncertain whether the board is empowered to overturn the multi-million dollar decision that voters approved in February.

The safety and appropriateness of having younger and older students on the same campus has continually been questioned. Though the principals of the two schools have done their best to assure parents that age groups will, for the most part, be kept separate, many are still skeptical.

Steve Sundquist, sworn in recently as West Seattle's new School Board member replacing retiring Irene Stewart, said the board is not yet sure of its ability to overturn a voter-approved project.

Community organization Megawatt announced it's closure on Tuesday citing financial reasons. Well known in West Seattle for it's annual "Garage Sale Day" event the organization also served as a way for people in the community to connect with one another in volunteer efforts.

The following is the text of the letter sent to Megawatt members.

"After four wonderful, energizing years serving the West Seattle community, the Board Members of Megawatt are saddened to announce the closure of the organization at the conclusion of 2007.

Shots fired at 47th and Waite late Friday, with a young man hanging out a back window of a small silver car (possibly a Lexus), shooting over the top of the car toward a male running down the street. The shooter wore a black beanie. Later, two people were seen carrying a third to a car parked on Waite Street. (It's unclear whether this is related to the shooting incident.) Officers recovered eight .40-caliber shell casings in the 4700 block of SW Waite.

Spotting fresh graffiti on a South Park apartment wall, an officer stopped to speak with a suspicious-looking juvenile nearby.

Highline Community College's Library Art Gallery show features the work of entrants in the school's MaST contest for art students throughout December.

Works on display are in a variety of media, focusing on marine life and landscapes.

The contest celebrates the ongoing renovation of Highline's Marine and Science Technology (MaST) center in the Redondo neighborhood of Des Moines.

A marine laboratory for the college, the center is located four miles south of campus at Redondo Beach.

The MaST Center is dedicated to expanding knowledge about the Puget So

If one's good is two better? Maybe, if you're playing poker-or building the second Anthony's restaurant located in the Des Moines Marina, a proposal now in preliminary negotiations.

Yes, that's two Anthony's in one not-so-big marina. The nearby public boat launch is planned for shut down.

Major paving on the third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport is done, Port of Seattle officials have announced.

The paving was poured 17 inches thick on the 150-foot-wide runway that is 8,500 feet long.

Workers will hand pave the aprons and connections to the adjoining taxiways. Construction of asphalt shoulders and painting also need to be finished, according to port officials.

Highline Community College writing professor Sharon Hashimoto has been given an Exemplary Status award by the Washington Community and Technical College Humanities Association.

The award is for outstanding practitioners in the humanities.

Hashimoto was recognized for her work as an author, teacher and adviser to the college's award-winning literary magazine, the Arcturus.

While teaching creative writing and basic composition courses, Hashimoto also has advised the magazine and organized the annual Flight Path Writers Conference.

She served as a judge

Thomas Jefferson came ready and left happy from Federal Way High School after the Raiders' wrestling team ate up rival Federal Way, 57-23, in action Thursday.

Speaking for the Raiders' win was head coach Jess Workman, who quickly put things in perspective.

"We're young, and still trying to improve," said Workman.

The Raiders benefitted in this one from pins for five wins and also three forfeits didn't hurt as assistant Eagles coach Casey Stieger said.

"Giving up 18 points (forfeit losses are six points each), it's tough to come back from that, said S

Just a sloppy, turnover-laden high school girls basketball game between Federal Way and Thomas Jefferson that the Eagles won by a beak, nosing out the Raiders, 70-69, on some last-minute Brittany Barrington heroics Friday.

Or was it really that sloppy? Was this instead a preview of two talented young groups of ladies in the area that caused each other to make mistakes because they are so evenly matched? A preview of two teams headed to districts?

Tuesday, Dec. 4

Boys basketball

Kentwood 69, Federal Way 60

Aaron Broussard tallied 25 to lead the Eagles in their South Puget Sound League North Division opening loss. Andre Barrington and Jeff Forbes hit 10 apiece.

TJ 67, K-M 42

Spenser Sydney scored a team-high 18 points for the Raiders in last Tuesday's win and Michael Hunter backed him up with 17. Zavyr Moss scored eight.