January 2010

Seattle Public Schools has released a schedule of daytime school visits that will be available at every school over the next few weeks, aimed at helping parents and guardians learn more about the instructional environment during the school day.

The new student assignment plan and new attendance area boundaries were approved by the School Board in 2009 and the transition plan rules for 2010-11 were approved this month. The new plan will be implemented in phases beginning with the 2010-11 school year. Students currently enrolled may remain at their current school through the highest grade as long as the services the student needs are available at the school.

All current students in grades K-12 and those who will be new to the district in fall 2010 and who enrolled during early registration will receive their assignment letter in late February. The plan will be phased in, and students entering grades K, 6 and 9 will be assigned to their attendance area schools. If families wish to apply to attend another school, they may do so during Open Enrollment, (March 1-31, 2010).

Most of the neighbors at the third and final design meeting for the new Ninth Avenue Park were happy with the proposal. But, debate still arose over who the space should be geared toward, especially conflict regarding play equipment versus a P-Patch.

The Seattle Parks Department and Site Workshop presented their final concept, Magic and Mystery, for the park on Ninth Avenue Northwest between Northwest 70th Street and Northwest 73rd Street Jan. 28. It was culled from a mass of neighborhood input during two previous meetings.

The design features a 20-plot P-Patch in the northeast corner.

Directly to the west of that is what Site Workshops' Clayton Beaudoin called a secret garden, which is envisioned as a quiet, contemplative space centered around foundation walls remaining on the property.

The center of the park is dedicated to an open lawn that measures approximately 55 feet by 80 feet.

Next to the open space is a community plaza. Poles in the plaza area could be used to hang material for shelter or a movie screen.

The open space and community plaza is separated from the sidewalk by curved walls that can used by children with skateboards or scooters.

The CEO of Ballard's A Helping Hand, which provides personalized care management for seniors, has been donating his time and expertise pro bono to cases that would otherwise be neglected.

Several weeks ago, Steven Jungk gave 40 to 50 hours of his time, normally charged at a rate of $100 an hour, to a case which involved an elderly woman living alone with multiple sclerosis and a 2007 hip replacement.

The woman, who Jungk said is fiercely independent and initially resisted hospitalization, was wheelchair bound and had exhausted her family support system.

A Helping Hand was notified of the woman’s case and stepped in to offer support free of charge.

She was eventually admitted to Swedish Hospital then discharged to a skilled nursing facility.

A Helping Hand is continuing to assist her with developing a power of attorney, a living will and an application for Medicaid.

Jungk said the advantage of working with A Helping Hand was the woman’s ability to truly collaborate in choosing her course of care, rather than being involuntarily admitted to a hospital, a course of action he said would have gone poorly.

They do things a little differently at Red Star Pizza, and it appears to be working.
Michael Supino and his wife Shannon Cross own Red Star Pizza, which occupies the old Pizza Time building on 35th Ave. just S. of Webster Street in West Seattle.

CLICK THE IMAGE TO SEE A SLIDESHOW

Supino has worked in pizza restaurants for 15 years, at one point or another spending time in all of the major chains. He said during that time he got to see what they did wrong and what he could improve on.
He also worked two years at Boeing as an aviation technician. Just after he got his degree in aviation was when he decided to pursue his passion and start a pizza restaurant. He said his work at Boeing was just a job and he did not get to see his family enough. Now he works doing something he loves that his family is involved in.

This week is the fourth anniversary of the death of Nicole Pietz. She was last seen at her Lynnwood home by her husband on Jan. 27, 2006.

Nicole's body was found in a wooded area in Burien near South 144th Street and Des Moines memorial Drive South on Feb 6, 2006. Her car, a 2003 Jetta was found in the University District about two weeks later.

The case has not been solved.

The reward for information on the case that leads to an arrest or conviction is at $36,000. In addition, Nicole's mother has said the family will pay the legal costs for anyone who comes forward with information germane to the case, but wishes to use the services of an attorney.

The case is active and still under investigation by the King County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 206- 296-3311 (24 hrs.)

A contractor working for the Seattle Department of Transportation will paint the railing on a raised portion of Holman Road Northwest at Eighth Avenue Northwest from Feb. 1 to Feb. 12.

The sidewalk will be closed 24 hours a day.

During the first week, crews will close the northern sidewalk. Starting Feb. 8, the crews will close the southern side.

Pedestrians will cross Holman Road at Seventh Avenue Northwest and at 13th Avenue Northwest.

By Sarah Boon, Ballard High School Associated Student Body Vice-President

Jacob Kutrakun is the sports connoisseur at Ballard High School. He is a member of Ballard ASB as the sports information director and a member of Pep Club.

Kutrakun plays sports as well. He has played varsity soccer at Ballard for two years as well as playing select soccer for the Ballard Legends and Emerald City Soccer Club.

Kutrakun has interests outside of sports as well. He is heavily involved in the Ballard video production program and even won a Youth Emmy for his public service announcement. J

He has also been involved with the Student Equity Team, and he is a Link Crew leader.

Kutrakun is the recipient of the Harold Hires Award and a Junior Ballard Rotary Scholarship.

He stays involved in the community through sports by working the scoreboard at Ballard High School basketball games and as a soccer camp counselor.

He also volunteers as an English tutor and has participated in Relay for Life.

Kutrakun’s future goals include attending a film school, being happy and successful and continuing to give back to his community.

White Center residents may vote this fall on annexing to Seattle.
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn pledged during his recent election campaign to allow voters in the northern portion of North Highline to vote on whether they want to join his city.

The voters in the southern part of unincorporated North Highline decided in August to join Burien. The area will formally beome part of Burien on April 1.
Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin is quoted as saying lawmakwers most likely will agree to putting the annexation measure on the fall ballot. In earlier attempts, the Seattle council has rejected annexation because of worries over paying for services in the low-income area.
The state Legislature has approved funds that would provide a part of the state sales tax collected in the area to an annexing city to help pay for services.

Any attempt by Seattle to annex the unincorporated area is likely to meet strong opposition from those in Burien and North Highline that favor the northern portion joining the southern portion in the future as part of Burien. Several Burien City Council members have voiced their desire to annex the rest of North Highline at some point.

Quickness and power on defense fired up the Federal Way girls basketball team to a 70-29 demonstrative demolition of a good Thomas Jefferson team on Thursday.

No. 2 state ranked Federal Way (14-3) improved to a 10-3 second place in the SPSL North Division standings behind unbeaten and state top-ranked Auburn Riverside. Jefferson (6-8, 9-9) fell two games off the fifth and final North Division playoff spot with two games remaining.

For the Eagles it was an impressive demonstration of the adjustments they have made since losing the services of two key players.

"Ever since the two Auburn Riverside games, we knew what we had to practice for," explained a pleased Federal Way head coach Danny Graham. "Defense controlled this game. Even though we're short handed, all the players are stepping up in understanding and executing the defensive philosophy."

Jefferson held its own with Federal Way early in the first quarter, beating the pressure defense to score goals. Unique Taufau'sau and Jada Piper countered the Eagle speed to forge a trio of ties, the last being at 7-7.

White Center residents may vote this fall on annexing to Seattle.

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn pledged during his recent election campaign to allow voters in the northern portion of North Highline to vote on whether they want to join his city.

The voters in the southern part of unincorporated North Highline decided in August to join Burien. The area will formally beome part of Burien on April 1.

Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin is quoted as saying lawmakwers most likely will agree to putting the annexation measure on the fall ballot. In earlier attempts, the Seattle council has rejected annexation because of worries over paying for services in the low-income area.

The state Legislature has approved funds that would provide a part of the state sales tax collected in the area to an annexing city to help pay for services.

Any attempt by Seattle to annex the unincorporated area is likely to meet strong opposition from those in Burien and North Highline that favor the northern portion joining the southern portion in the future as part of Burien. Several Burien City Council members have voiced their desire to annex the rest of North Highline at some point.