January 2010

The Seattle City Council welcomed Mayor Mike McGinn and City Attorney Pete Holmes, and new Councilmembers Sally Bagshaw and Mike O’Brien at today’s swearing in ceremony. Newly-elected and returning Councilmembers Richard Conlin and Nick Licata were also sworn in today as part of this traditional Oath of Office ceremony.

Family, friends and colleagues filled the Seattle City Council chambers to celebrate new local government leadership. Each elected official was sworn in by someone of their choice and gave brief remarks.

In her remarks, new Councilmember Sally Bagshaw said, “I make this pledge today to my colleagues and to my community: I will listen, I will build coalitions, I will seek to solve problems. I will value your opinions and your time, and we will work together to get things done.”

Newly-elected Councilmember Mike O’Brien stated, “I’m thrilled to be working with an outstanding group of fellow councilmembers, city attorney and mayor and I look forward to learning from and collaborating with them as we work to make Seattle the best city it can be.”

The Metropolitan King County Council today gave its unanimous approval to the appointment of former Seattle City Council President Jan Drago to fill the vacancy created in County Council District 8 when Dow Constantine was sworn in as County Executive.

“I am honored to be selected to serve the people of District 8,” said Drago shortly after her swearing-in by Superior Court Presiding Judge Bruce Hilyer. “I look forward to working with the Council and the communities and neighborhoods that make up the district on the challenges that we face this year.”

Drago will act as a caretaker in District 8, serving until the certification of the Nov 2010 general election when the new Councilmember for the district will be sworn in.

“Jan Drago is an experienced public official and policy-maker, and I look forward to working with her,” said Council Chair Bob Ferguson.

“Jan will make a wonderful addition to the King County Council,” said council Vice Chair Jane Hague. “She knows the issues facing District 8 and will hit the ground running to serve her constituents well.”

Seattle Public Schools will adopt instructional reading materials for core Language Arts courses in grades 9-11. If you are a parent of community member who would like to provide feedback on the lists, Seattle Public Schools would like to hear from you. In addition to getting more teacher responses via Survey Monkey, the Curriculum Adoption Committee also has a community and student survey available. Here is the link: http://www.seattleschools.org/area/literacy/laadoption_index.html

9-12 Book Lists
The high school Language Arts Adoption Committee has worked in collaboration with building teachers to develop a list of titles to be considered for adoption. Book lists for each grade level will provide flexibility to teachers, but still makes it possible for the District to offer curricular support in teaching to the college and career ready standards, using the texts as a tool to meet the standards. The texts on the managed choice lists will be carefully selected to meet the Language Arts Adoption Criteria set forth by the adoption committee.

Who can resist summing up at the end of the calendar year? I remove completed items from my “to do” list. I sit down with every issue of the Ballard News-Tribune from 2009 and put them in chronological order.

I realize “time didn’t fly,” it’s just my memory that cannot retain the mundane riches of everyday life.

As of Dec. 24, I have lived in my new home on my new block for an entire year. Needless to say, I’ve made new friends (and kept the old by visiting my old street almost daily).

If I’ve become any wiser, it hasn’t made itself apparent. My most profound thought so far of 2010 is that it was much, much easier to sort the Ballard News-Tribune when there was home delivery – the mailing label now completely obscures the date on the front page.

Although I was born in the Year of the Rat according to the Chinese calendar, I have decided that, for me, 2009 was the Year of the Dog.

In the absence of familiar faces from the old block, I became expert at placing dogs with their family members, learning a new way of telling time by the parade of old Labradors and stocky Bernese.

Fiona Carlile got her "iMod" this Christmas from her dad and Ava Stewart got her bike two years ago for Christmas. The bff's were just scooting around the neighborhood enjoying the ride. Fiona said " They are really fun to ride and it is really easy to, like, use them."

On December 21, 2009, the Federal Way Police Department received information regarding a missing person, identified as Scott McMorran, who was last seen at his home at approximately 12:00 p.m, on December 19, 2009.

Scott has been classified as a Missing and Endangered Person due to a recent history of depression and suicidal thoughts.

Scott McMorran, a 50-year-old white male, was reported missing by his family who lives with him.

Scott was last seen at his home, which is located near 3001 S 288th St, when he spoke to his brother. Scott’s vehicle, a burgundy 1995 4-door Dodge Stratus, Washington License plate 170 VEH, is also missing from his home and it is unknown if he is in possession of it at this time.

As of the time of this release there has been no activity on his bank accounts, his cell phone appears to be shut off, and he has not reported for work in over two weeks. Police have no further investigative leads.

Scott D. McMorran
Age: 50 Years Old
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Red with receding hairline
Height: 5’ 08”
Weight: 190 lbs

You have heard a lot about my latest challenge, going on the comedy stage.
People often ask me how I can get up there and do that. As I remarked on the Evening Magazine program recently, it was the most difficult thing that I have ever done in my entire life.

At age 89 just to stand up for twenty minutes is more than most people my age can manage. I say when going on stage, “I am the oldest standup comic in Seattle who can still stand up.” That is a feat in itself.

Recently I received my first pay for being a comic. The MC that night also took the money at the door. He said that he had enough to pay me in cash. Then he asked me if I wanted my last five dollars in ones so I could save the first dollar I ever made doing standup. I said I would frame it along with the government check I got in 1949 for one cent which, I kid you not, was our tax return for that year. And guess when it was dated---April Fools Day.

The Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center celebrates its first year anniversary Saturday, Jan. 30, 11am-5pm with a public open house and activities still to be determined. Cindy Williams, pictured, is secretary-treasurer of the Duwamish Tribal Council, and daughter of Cecile Hansen, Duwamish Tribal Chairwoman.
The Longhouse is located at 4705 W Marginal Way Southwest Seattle, WA 98106. Call (206) 431-1582 for more information.

The Ballard High School gymnastics team will host the Washington Open Winter Invitational Jan. 9.

Thirteen teams from across the state will be participating in the all-day meet at Ballard High School, and coach Stephanie Gundle said she would like to encourage Ballard residents to come out and show their support.

The first session, featuring Ballard, Central Valley, Kentwood, Mead, Shorewood and Nathan Hale, starts at noon.

The second session, featuring Capital, Columbia River, Southridge, Olympia, Bellingham/Sehome/Squalicum and Port Angeles, starts at 5 p.m.

The Ballard gymnastics team is 2-1 this season and has a home meet against Roosevelt at 7 p.m. on Jan. 7.

January ArtWalk

Artists and Locations


The West Seattle art walk is a monthly art event that is held the second Thursday of each month 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. year-round.


West Seattle Artwalk Blog


2010 1st Quarter Art Walk 
January 14th


Josh Boender

Allstate Insurance


Wallflower Custom Framing


Ginomai


Bakery Nouveau 


Skylark Cafe


Carmilias


Hotwire Online Coffeehouse


Windermere Realty Hosted by Kim Tingley and Barb Ogden


Keller Williams Realty


Artswest


Shoofly Pie


Senior Center


Cupcake Royale


Wild Rose’s


Twilight Artist Collective


The Kenney


Gail Ann Photography


West Seattle Wine Cellars


The Body Bar Day Spa


Funky Janes


Revolution Coffee & Art


Shadowland


Bird on a Wire


Edie’s Shoes


Beauty Bar Spa & Boutique


Feedback Lounge


Seattle Wellness Programs


Sterling Images Gallery


8 Limbs Yoga


Activspace


Click! Design that Fits


Coffee to a Tea with Sugar