February 2010

This Sunday, February 14th, from 3:00 – 4:00 PM at the West Seattle CrossFit located at 4200 Admiral Way Southwest there will be a fundraiser for the Behind the Badge Foundation. There will be a Memorial Workout honoring Officer Brenton. Don’t want to work out? Just stop by and say hello! This event is open to the public. A $20 donation will get you in the door and a Memorial t-shirt. For additional information, contact Greg Tomlinson at (206) 409-3166.

Nearly 70 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students from Lafayette Elementary School are presenting “The Trial of Goldilocks", Friday, February 12, 2010 at the West Seattle High School theatre, 3000 California Ave. S.W.

In rhyme, mime and mirth, this exciting comedy examines the familiar fairy tale from three points of view: the traditional, the Bears', then Goldilocks'.

From the opening moment, when three vendors attempt to hawk souvenirs among the audience, to the surprising verdict from the jury and a "happily-ever-after" conclusion this play, performed completely in verse, is unique, enchanting and entertaining for the entire family. The show begins at 7:00pm running less than an hour.

Donations requested at the door, as the school district does not provide funds for such productions. There will also be a bake sale.

Forget diamonds, Alki Bricks are the new way to say I love you! The Alki Brick project offers a great gift idea for that special loved one.
Say “I love you” forever with a brick that will be placed at the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. There are plenty of bricks and 6 Tribute Plaques available for purchase to support the Liberty Plaza Project.

Each brick is $100 for an individual/family brick and $250 for a business/organization brick. Symbols are $10/use and commemoratives $25 if picked up or $35 if shipped. Each tribute plaque is $2000.

This is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to preserving our beautiful waterfront park and ensuring ongoing support for our local community organization. Through your donation, you are providing funds to offset costs associated with the ongoing maintenance and care of the Plaza by the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation. The ACC also benefits by receiving a 7% fiscal sponsor fee from the sale of each brick or plaque purchased.

To learn more about this program, visit www.sealady.org or visit www.alkinews.com.

Some Ballard residents are concerned that Compass Center Ballard, a housing development for formerly homeless individuals, is being snuck through the planning stages and will seriously damage the neighborhood.

Dave Jarrell owns an apartment building across the street from the Compass Center Ballard location at 1753 N.W. 56th St. He said few people in the neighborhood are aware of what the project is.

Mike Yamaguchi, owner of the Landmark Apartments to the east of the site, said Compass Housing Alliance is trying to sneak the housing development into Ballard.

He said the community needs to have a chance to voice their opinion on the project – an 80-unit residential building for homeless men and women that includes services for residents who have substance dependencies or other disabilities.

Rick Friedhoff, executive director of Compass Housing Alliance, said they sent out notices to nearby property owners when the property was acquired in February 2008.

The project was announced at more than one Ballard District Council meeting and covered numerous times by both the Ballard News-Tribune and MyBallard.com, he said.

The East Ballard Community Association and 14th Avenue Visioning Project are awaiting potential funding from a number of sources to complete a two-block demonstration park boulevard on 14th Avenue Northwest.

Volunteers submitted an application for money from the city's Opportunity Fund in early February and a second application for money from the Parks and Green Spaces Levy is due in April.

"We told Parks we don't care where the money comes from, we just want it," said Dawn Hemminger of the East Ballard Community Association.

At the Feb. 10 Ballard District Council meeting, Peter Locke, an east Ballard resident and the vision behind the 14th Avenue park boulevard, said the purpose of the project is to create open space in an area that is lacking it while improving safety for pedestrians and vehicles.

The plan for 14th Avenue from Market Street to Northwest 65th Street, which was conceived five years ago, is to move traffic on the 100-foot wide street to one side, get rid of the parking median, and create a park on the east side of the street.

A symposium called “Who Does What in the Duwamish” was held Feb. 9 at the South Seattle Community College, Georgetown Campus. Moderator, Port of Seattle Commissioner Gael Tarleton introduced 10 speakers including Seattle Department of Transportation’s new director, Peter Hahn, Sound Transit Chief Executive Officer Joni Earl, King County Metro General manger, Kevin Desmond, and Federal Aviation Administration Northwest Deputy Regional Administrator, David Suomi.

Earl said that Sound Transit’s light rail now gets16,000 riders a day.

“We will be receiving about 27 more light rail vehicles later this year,” she said. “We have about 35 now, and need the additional vehicles for our Capital Hill, and University of Washington three-mile extension. Earl commented on some criticism by commuters who exit the light rail at the Sea-Tac stop with their baggage and have to walk just over a thousand feet to their terminal.

“We get a little bit of pushback on that,” she said. and asked who in the room has commuted by light rail to Sea-Tac. About 15 hands went up.

In the authentic clothing of a suffragette, Actress Tames Alan talks about the struggle of American women to gain the right to vote on Feb. 21 at SeaTac City Hall, 4800 S. 188th St.
Her talk is entitled "Soldiers in Petticoats: The Struggle of the Suffragettes."

The Highline Historical Society with the support of Humanities WA will bring the free presentation at 2 p.m. to the community. Immediately following will be a reception for women elected to public office in the Highline area.
In 1867, the passing of the 14th Amendment defined "citizen" as "male," thus denying women the right to vote.

On this 100th Anniversary of women's right to vote in Washington State, learn how American women adopted the militant tactics of English suffragettes to earn the right to vote and regain citizenship in their own country.

Discover how the suffragettes influenced child labor laws, the use and dispersal of birth control, the Temperance movement, and the right of women to earn a college degree.

The Ballard Boys & Girls Club completed its application to the Department of Planning and Development for a 5,400 square foot, two-story addition to the community center Feb. 9.

The renovation plans also include parking for 52 vehicles, new street trees along Northwest 64th Street, the relocation of the playground, and a reconfiguration of the play field.

In September, Executive Branch Director Mark Hendricks told the Ballard News-Tribune the renovation would double the number of youths the club could serve as well as give each class its own room.

"Our main focus is probably to add about 75 to 100 kids on a daily basis," Hendricks said in September.

There will be a neighborhood meeting to discuss the renovations at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 15 at the Ballard Boys & Girls Club, located at 1767 N.W. 64th St.

Public comments are due to the Seattle Department of Planning and Development by Feb. 24.

A route to South Seattle Community College from Delridge Way SW will be closed from February 22 to April 5. The closure is required to allow a private contractor to install underground utilities to serve new homes. The closure will start on SW Oregon off of Delridge Way SW, continue on 23rd SW which turns into 22nd SW, and will end at 21st SW.

The closure is required due to the size of the hole needed and the narrow width of the street, and will be in place 24-hours a day and seven days a week.

General traffic will be detoured to SW Andover on the north and SW Orchard/Dumas on the south. Detours will also be provided for Metro Transit Route 125, U.S. mail and garbage trucks, and emergency vehicles. On-street parking will be restricted on many streets in the area to accommodate Metro Transit buses.

The contractor for this work is Jon Riser, (206) 310-4113.

For information or questions about transit service, as the date approaches please call Metro Transit customer service at 206-553-3000, or visit Metro Transit online at: http://www.Kingcounty.gov/metro

Despite pleas from teachers and students that Cascade and Chinook middle schools are not failed schools, the Highline School Board unanimously decided Feb. 11 to voluntarily apply for a grant that would mandate significant changes.

Principals at both schools would have to be replaced if the district receives the grant that could bring up to $2 million to each school.
Administrators said there are indications that state legislators would require the changes in 2011 so it would be better to voluntarily apply for the grant.

Cascade teachers defended their efforts at the North Highline school and praised principal Colin Ryan and assistant principal Jacob Ellis.
Cascade teacher Julie Kastien pointed out that 80 percent of Cascade students live in poverty and said Cascade has made more progress in the past two years than any other Highline middle school.
In a rousing speech that brought a standing ovation, Cascade eighth-grader Jan Patrick Campanano declared, "Cascade is not a failed school-I am living, breathing proof of that."

Chinook teachers and students also defended Chinook principal Evie Livingston, who is her third year at the school.