December 2008

Highline Community College's Workforce Development Services is offering a new program that helps students in financial need go to college.

The Basic Food Employment & Training (BFET) program helps needy students with a variety of college-related expenses, including tuition and fees. The program does not train workers for the food industry.

"For many students, just getting their college career started can be an incredible challenge," said Erik Tingelstad, director of Highline's Workforce Development Services.

The Port of Seattle is now offering prime location parking spaces with plug-ins for electric vehicles at the main garage of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

The pilot program includes six spaces located on the fifth floor of the garage that will provide free electric charging.

"As part of our continued push for energy efficiencies at Sea-Tac, we will be one of the very few airports in the country to offer electric charging at our parking garage," said Mark Reis, airport managing director.

Number 1 state ranked Federal Way used a 19-5 third quarter run to do away with Auburn-Riverside in a South Puget Sound League North opening season basketball game for a 75-60 home victory Friday.

Federal Way, No. 1 in the Seattle Times’ preseason boys basketball poll, improved to 1-0, fresh off a second place state finish last February. The Eagles lost to Ferris of Spokane in the WIAA championship game.

A-R dropped to 0-1.

The Eagles got that third quarter run going that did in A-R, only after key Eagle players sitting on the bench got back in the game.

For everything there is a season, and Thursday night at Thomas Jefferson High School the season of gymnastics kicked into gear.

Often shrouded in mystery, but also dressed in eager anticipation, the first meet indicates the first baseline upon which athletes build upon as they continue translating practice skills into tangible scoring results.

On this cold night in December, the South Puget Sound exploits turned up the heat inside the Raider gym.

Kentlake’s Kayla Shira set up a torrid baseline to lead her Falcons to 161.3 points and the team title.

The Federal Way Eagles boys swim team started off the season with all the right strokes, beating Auburn in a dual meet in South Puget Sound League North opening swimming action at the Federal Way Community Center Thursday.

“We are going to do well,” said Carla Boone, Eagles coach, whose team is now 1-0. “We are going to hold our own.”

Holding their own best in this dual was, individually, Jason Wert, who is a senior and a captain on the team.

Boys basketball

Decatur 59, Stadium 48

Jerron Smith swished in 16 points, Jordan McCloud 13 and Terrell Williams 11 as the Gators opened with a non-league win over Stadium of Tacoma.

TJ 68, Beamer 35

Crosstown rivals met in a non-league crossover game Monday, Dec. 1 with Thomas Jefferson prevailing over Todd Beamer. Spencer Sydney led the Raiders to victory with 13 points as Xavyr Moss and Eric Radford tallied 12 apiece. Cramer Doughty added nine and Ishmail Yusuf eight.

CFC 51, LaConner 43

Boating

Coast Guard Auxiliary

Ongoing

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Des Moines Flotilla No. 32 regularly offers Boating Safety and Seamanship courses in the Federal Way and Des Moines areas.

They cover the full range of boating safety subjects, including federal requirements, basic piloting, marlin spike, seamanship and boat handling.

The instruction is free, although there is a nominal fee for the student text and work books.

This past week we learned that 26 Decatur High School students have earned "Advanced Placement Scholar" awards for taking at least four Advanced Placement examinations and passing them with the passing grade of "3" that is required by many colleges for recognition.

Competitive Colleges usually require a grade of at least a "4" for recognition.

We also learned that the magazine "Business Week" placed Federal Way as 2nd runner up in Washington on their survey of "Best Places to Raise Your Kids."

This all sounds like good news for the school district, right?

It was a clear, cool evening driving home from Thanksgiving dinner. We turned off of 320th onto Military Road, and as we rounded a bend near the church, a car coming from the opposite direction looked like it was going to hit us.

Mrs. A shouted and I winced. The car whoosed by, not necessarily in our lane, but with headlights so bright we were sure it was coming right at us.