April 2009

Senior softball captain Millie Osborne has a long history and future with the sport.

The Osborne family decided to help Millie start playing softball when she was six-years-old. Her dad was a softball fanatic, and helped her, so she got a lot of quality time with her dad.

“After about a year, I really started liking it,” said Osborne.

Since then, she’s been playing on the field. Osborne has played for various softball teams during her lifetime – including a recreational softball team, select softball team, and – of course –the West Seattle softball team. Naturally, she has gained a lot of experience in the game.

“[The best and most important parts about softball are] making die-hard plays that make the difference in the game," said Osborne. "Also bonding and forming friendships with your teammates; bonding is really important when on a team."

Senior captain Kristin Jackson is one of West Seattle’s softball all-stars. Jackson fell in love with softball back in her tee-ball era. Jackson has played on a select team since she was ten. She knows how to be competitive and show intensity. Her parents got her started in the game, and they continue to support Jackson.

“[My dad] has inspired and motivated me, he never let me give up,” said Jackson.

Jackson’s love of softball is evident in the way she talks about it. She has a lot of enthusiasm and heart for the game. As the captain of the school’s softball team, Jackson is the starting catcher, and plays first base when needed.

Jackson has also developed a reputation as a wicked batter. You don’t want to be on the opposite team when she’s up to bat.

Jackson’s favorite part about softball is the team bonding and coming together. She also enjoys the competitiveness of the game, when everyone is intense and totally in the game mode.

“This year’s expectations are really high," said Jackson. "We have a great competitive team that is willing to work and put in a lot of effort into succeeding and making it to state."

Starting tennis at the early age of 10, Jean Farrell has always dominated the tennis courts. He joined West Seattle’s tennis team in his freshmen year, and made varsity in his sophomore year. Interestingly, Farrell is also left-handed.

Generally, left-handed tennis players have a slight advantage over right-handers due to the fact that lefties usually hit the ball a bit different than right-handers.

Farrell plays doubles for the Wildcat team, and is currently ranked sixth in the ladder. The ladder is what ranks players on the team so they can compete against other schools’ players with the same rank. This way, the top tennis player at Westside plays against the top player at another school during competitions.

One of Farrell’s favorite hits to use is to hit the ball down the line with his backhand, to trick his opponents and pick on their backhand. Farrell only practices during the season, and during summer whenever he has spare time.

Chris Morson arrived in Seattle from Chicago in the seventh grade and the rest is history.

"Merrily We Roll Along" will be Morson’s last performance as a Westsider. Morson has acted in various plays inside and outside the walls of West Seattle High School. Acting isn’t just a side hobby for Morson, it’s a lifestyle.

“When I was a wee child I did musicals like, 'The Velveteen Rabbit' [as the fire truck] and 'Stuart Little' [as Stuart]," said Morson. "I have also been a part of 'John Robert Powers' for the past four years. It is basically a training school for TV acting, print modeling, modeling, etc."

Morson’s dedication to acting is clear through his great talent on the stage, and he plans to continue acting after he graduates.

“I have received acceptance from Columbia College in Chicago and as of now, that’s where I am going,” said Morson. “But I am still waiting to hear back from many others. My top choice I am waiting to hear back from is North Carolina School of the Arts, and it kills me everyday when I go home and there isn’t anything in the mailbox.”

While many adolescents stumble through an awkward journey in mind and body, West Seattle’s Madeleine Meyers takes growing up in stride.

“Maddie,” as she is known, is Washington State’s fastest 14 year-old girl in two track events, the mile and two-mile runs. Those races are sometimes called the 1600 and 3200 meter races as one mile equals 1608 meters. The 9th grader, who attends Northwest School, ran the 1600 in 5:06 and 3200 in 11:02 at a recent meet and has been shaving seconds off with each race.

Track and field statistics for students across the nation are posted on www.athletic.net where it is easy to monitor a rival in another state running ahead of, or behind a speed demon like Meyers.

Her biggest problem may be finding someone to race who can keep up with her.

“If I see someone in front of me who I am lapping I pretend I am racing someone who is ahead of me and tell myself I want to catch her,” said Meyers, with a modest grin that revealed her braces after a recent practice at the West Seattle Stadium.

Seattle Department of Transportation paving crews plan to work at two locations on Northwest Market Street on Saturday, May 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting.

One location will be 1545 N.W. Market St. where they will provide one lane of traffic in each direction.

The second location will be 3030 N.W. Market St. where the roadway will be closed to through traffic between 30th Avenue Northwest and 32nd Avenue Northwest and a detour provided by way of Northwest 54th Street.

Parking will be restricted at these locations, but sidewalks will remain open and access to businesses will be maintained.

The crews will restore pavement that was previously excavated for work on underground utilities.

For more information, please call (206) 684-4661.

Six candidates have been chosen for this summer's Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu Scholarship Program. Their bios were supplied by Hi-Yu organizers. Please click through the slideshow above to see photos of the girls.

Veronica Pupava is a senior at Mount Rainier High School where she is a full International Baccalaureate Diploma candidate. Her favorite classes are art and the "theory of knowledge." Next year she plans to attend the University of Idaho to major in both dance and interior design and hopes to pursue a career in these subjects. Veronica has danced at the Seattle Civic Dance Theater for 15 years. Veronica also enjoys skiing which she learned at the age of two.

Kelly Nealson is a lifelong West Seattle resident. She previously attended Lafayette Elementary and West Seattle Christian School and currently attends Holy Names Academy where she is a junior. Kelly enjoys traveling, singing, acting, and writing in her spare time. She hasn't selected a college yet, but plans to study psychology, education, or international business.

Armed with whistles, snare drums and bullhorns, more than 40 protesters made some noise Tuesday, April 28, as they marched under the scaffolding of Capco Plaza just east of the Junction.

The protesters represent the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters. They are protesting QFC's parent company, Kroger, of Cincinnati, for accepting a low-bid contract from Oregon-based K2MG, a metal stud and drywall company.

According to council spokesman, Eric Franklin, and representative at the protest, Miguel Perry, this out-of-state contractor has an unfair advantage because responsible local contractors have higher quality and workers' benefits standards which shouldn't hamper their ability to bid and perform the work.

"K2MG has lower safety standards, pays no benefits to its workers, and offers no apprentice program," said Franklin. "Without an apprenticeship program for workers, there is less oversight on quality work and safety. QFC says it prides itself on quality."

QFC contacted the West Seattle Herald with a statement.

For its 10th anniversary celebration, the West Seattle Farmers Market is gearing up for an abundant spring harvest with a variety of fresh lettuces and hearty greens, asparagus, carrots, rhubarb and other local farm fresh delights. Farmers will also come with all kinds of plant starts so city dwellers can prepare for their own garden harvests.

Upcoming events at West Seattle Farmer's market:

May 3
A performance by the West Seattle Symphonette.

May 10, 11 a.m.
Cooking Demo with Foraged and Found Edibles
Jeremy Faber of Foraged and Found Edibles will show market shoppers how to make delicious dishes with wild Washington greens and mushrooms. Jeremy is an accomplished chef and loves to introduce others to the wonderful and unique flavors of Washington's wild bounty.

May 24, 11 a.m.
Free mule wagon rides for kids of all ages, live music from Clallam County, and free sweet pea starts from Langley Gardens.

June 28

Plans to install a perimeter trail around the Interbay Golf Center was included in an option recommended by the Board of Park Commissioners at a meeting last week to update the Seattle Parks and Recreation Golf Master Plan.

“What we started doing in October was work with the golf steering committee and looking at the 1991 Master Plan and updating that with the 2005 Golf Financial Analysis Plan,” said Susanne Friedman, a project manger for the parks department. “This plan brings it into this decade and this plan is really focused on the capital improvements over course layout.”

The improvements to the Interbay course are part of a $19.9 million plan that would benefit the city's other golf courses, as well.

The parks department also operates the Jackson Park, Jefferson and West Seattle Golf Courses.

Friedman said that planning, design and construction would take place between now and 2016 once they get approval from the parks superintendent. Staff is now looking at how it can finance these improvements through existing golf revenue.