February 2010

It was standing room only at the Burien shoreline advisory meeting on Feb. 9 when nearly 200 angry shoreline residents protested some of the policies in the city's proposed shoreline master program.

The Shoreline Advisory Committee and the city were criticized for how they handled the meetings as well as the regulations proposed in the new Shoreline Master Program.

"I came to say to the committee of Burien, what you are doing, what you are proposing, is wrong. It's sneaky, it's mean-spirited and it reminds me of a group of children who have gotten into an unwatched bowl of candy," said Margie Berrinson. "The committee, all of you know in your heart that it is wrong to go to someone else's property and take what does not belong to you.
"This is theft. You can call it city work, you can call it anything you want but when it's my property and your goal is to end up with me not owning it, that's wrong. You should be ashamed."

The shoreline program has been worked on since 2008, but many people at the meeting said this was the first they had heard of it.

At only 23-years-old, while many recent college graduates are taking jobs they hate or struggling to find work, Danielle Harvey opened her own businesses because, really, how hard could it be?

Harvey, an action sports enthusiast who grew up in Spokane, graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Comparitive History of Ideas (“How much more humanities can you get?”) and was having little luck finding work.

“I couldn’t even get a job I didn’t want,” she said.

In 2009, before a brief stint in California to pursue her love of surfing, Harvey became a certified yoga instructor – something that had always been on her list of things to do.

Back from California, she started teaching at the SeaTac YMCA and subbing at the Ballard Health Club.

A profession in yoga is meant to be a long, slow-growing process, and Harvey was just starting it. Less than a year later, Harvey is the owner Backside Bow on Ballard Avenue.

While teaching at the YMCA and Ballard Health Club, Harvey said her students would often ask her where else she taught and if she had a business card. “How hard could it be to make a business card,” she thought.

The Ballard High School girls basketball team may have hit its lowest point of the season in a Feb. 10 loss to Bothell – the only KingCo team Ballard had beaten this season.

Bothell buried the Beavers early, jumping out to a 14-5 first-quarter lead and taking a 28-13 lead into halftime. Bothell would eventually win it 52-36, extending Ballard's losing streak to nine games.

Senior Kayla Wenger and junior Taylor Hall led the Beavers with 10 points each. Junior Theresa Moriarty added nine.

2010 has not treated the girls basketball team well so far. The Beavers have gone 1-10 in the new year with one game remaining.

At 1-14 in the conference and 3-16 overall, Ballard has to win its remaining game against Roosevelt to show any improvement over last years record (1-15 conference, 3-17 overall).

The Beavers close out the season against the Roughriders at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 12 at Ballard High School. Roosevelt beat Ballard 48-36 in their meeting earlier this season.

First-term Seattle City Council member Sally Bagshaw touched on topics from transportation to parks to the council's rocky relationship with the new mayor when she opened herself up for questions and comments from the neighborhood at the Feb. 10 Ballard District Council meeting.

Stephen Lundgren got the transportation ball rolling when he told Bagshaw that Ballard has gotten density, a civic center and parks, but no public transportation infrastructure.

Bagshaw said the city needs to connect the densifying urban hubs, but King County is in the middle of a budget crisis.

"What's tragic to me is how Metro right now is just struggling," she said. "When we need transit most is right now."

The question is what residents are willing to give up so more money can be spent on transit or are they willing to submit to more taxes, Bagshaw said.

"We're spending a pot-load of money on light rail," she said. "I would like to see much more on RapidTransit (Metro bus service)."

Decatur proved itself to be the master of the 16 minute "mini-games" on Tuesday, February 9, to end the previous chaos of seeding places and claim the SPSL Class 4A South second seed.

Entering the evening, the Gators were knotted with Todd Beamer and Puyallup at 12-4 at the end of the regular season of boys basketball. Each squad had split the head-to-head encounters, thus necessitating the turbulent action at Auburn High School.

After Decatur had edged out Beamer in two eight minute quarters and an additional four minute overtime, it then broke away early and never looked back in a comfortable 38-20 dissection of Puyallup to earn a coveted No. 2 seed.

The Gators face Kentwood Thursday at 5 p.m. in opening SPSL 4A tournament action at the Showare Center in Kent with no less than a fifth seed guaranteed to the district tournament. Two consecutive wins at the league tournament would produce a No. 2 SPSL seed to the district tournament.

Although all 10 SPSL playoff teams are promised slots in the West Central District tournament, second place in the South brings an additional benefit.

The Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence honored five couples at its first Gifts of the Heart Luncheon on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

They are Eric and Suzanne Aasness, Sandra and Denny Eliason, Tom and Leann Russell, Nanci Tangeman and Chris Blumenthat and Sharon and David Wilson.

David Wilson established a scholarship program in his late wife Sharon's name to help teachers who want to train to become principals.

David Wilson died three weeks ago.

The foundation is a private group that financially supports Highline School District students and staff.

Foundation President Maya Mendoza-Exstrom noted that the changing demographics of the school district prsents unique challenges.

"The need is still great," Mendoza-Exstrom said. ""We are still climbing that mountain."

She added that one of the foundation's goals is to be self-sustaining within ten years.

Highline Superintendent John Welch thanked the group for "modeling what it looks like to be generous."

He added, "We wouldn't be where we are without you.

In challenging financial times, he said the district would not be able to offer arts and athletic programs without the foundation's support.

Four Burien residents will be honored in March as outstanding leaders in the city.

The four will be recognized at an annual awards dinner and silent auction sponsored by Discover Burien on March 5.

Jerry Robinson, publisher of the Highline Times/Des Moines News/SeaTac News, has been named Business Leader of the Year. Robinson also publishes the West Seattle Herald/White Center News, Ballard News Tribune and Federal Ways News.net.

John Nelson has received the Citizen Community Leader award. Nelson has organized two fundraising races-the Cove to Clover and the Brat Trot runs.

Luke Cruise is the Educator Leader of the Year. He has volunteered as an advisor for Flag Team, Pacific Islanders' Club and Dance Team. He is a paraeducator at Highline High School.

Jean Spohn has been recognized as Environmental Leader of the Year. The Shorewood resident is a beach naturalist who has organized work projects to rid parks of invasive species.

The dinner and auction will be held at Karuna Yoga Studio, 819 S.W. 152nd St. Dinner starts at 7 p.m., preceded by a social hour at 6 p.m.

"Fireproof"
Calvary Chapel
4217 S.W. Oregon St.
206-935-4487
Sunday, Feb. 14,
4p.m.
Free movie showing of "Fireproof" about fire captain Caleb Holt played by Kirk Cameron whose marriage is on fire and ready to collapse. Caleb is challenged by his father to take a 40 days challenge to rescue his marriage. The movie has great insight to some of the difficulties married couples face and the importance of not giving up. Since it's free, bring the family and your neighbors!

February 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.

Aplus Hearing Aid Center
4519 California Av SW
Carol Griffin figurative art on canvas
Bank America
4323 SW Admiral Way
Sarah Froyland, etchings and prints
Charlestown Cafe
3800 California AV SW
Judy Olson, Contemporary acrylics
Illusions Hair Salon
5619 California Ave. S.W.
Dori Westphal, etchings and oils.
Lee's Asian Restaurant
4510 California Av S.W.

February 14th will be “Valentines Daystar!” at Daystar Retirement Village. Three married couples residing there will renew their wedding vows. The Reverend Tom Scott will officiate, and a large wedding cake will be served.

The three couples are Elmer and Elma Johnson, Ramey and Barbara Duchscherer, and Peggy (Margaret) and (Harry) Russ Casson. The couples shared some colorful memories with the West Seattle Herald of their early years together.

Elmer and Elma Johnson

“I moved here in 1940 at age 20,” said Elma. “My idea was that we were going to be married on the 160-acre farm in Markham, Minnesota, north of Duluth, where I’m from. So we had to drive there. We were married June 15, 1941. My maid of honor was our chaperone, so no hanky panky.”

“She came back with us, too,” said Elmer, 90, with a trace of disbelief in his tone.

“It shocked us,” Elma said. “On the way back we stayed at a Yellowstone Park cabin. We had curtains to separate us from her. We were just getting into bed, and the bed fell down onto the floor and that was really funny. She could hear us laughing.”

By Tim Burgess, Seattle City Council

Ed. Note: This piece originally appeared in Tim Burgess' "City View" newsletter.

Education has been in the news a lot lately.

Yesterday, Seattle voters once again granted supplemental funding for our public schools by overwhelmingly approving two Seattle School District levies. The continued generosity of this city amazes me.

You might have also read about a court case regarding state funding for education.

A King County Superior Court ruling last week eloquently articulated the importance of a good educational system: educated citizens are crucial to a healthy democracy, a robust economy, a fair justice system and a strong pluralistic and equitable society.

In essence, everything we strive for here in City Hall starts with education.

"Paramount Duty"

The legal judgment of the Superior Court ruling is interesting.

Article 9 of the Washington Constitution states, “It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders, without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste or sex.”