March 2010

Karin Stevens curves her arms into a crescent moon shape.

“One, two,” she counts, and 12 limbs mirror hers. “Three, four.”

The dancers snake around each other, spinning as the piano recording soars to a crescendo. Each then separates from the pack, gliding off the floor with pointed toes and arched backs, legs in orbit around their bodies.

They are rehearsing for their second concert as part of Karin Stevens Dance, the resident company of the Fremont Abbey Arts Center.

Choreographer Stevens’ love of motion is clear even at eight-months pregnant. She flits through the studio, reviewing steps and switching songs on and off.

“I’m one of those typical female dancers that started at three years old,” said Stevens, 35. “The passion just never went away.”

Stevens, a Ballard native, earned her bachelor degree in dance from the University of Washington then completed graduate work at Mills College in California.

But, she knew throughout most of her 20s she wanted to create her own dance company. She returned to Seattle in 2007, and the company was born the following year.

I beg your forgiveness for having slipped off the page for a while.

What brings me back to the fold isn’t that I lost interest in bicycling for a while and just now found a new spark. No, bicycling still holds the same grip on the central core of my being, and I suspect it will until I’m carted off in a pedal-driven hearse. It’s just that writing about one interest can be challenging. Angles from which to view the subject get all used up until something fresh comes along.

This time the new angle is in the form of an annual ride that the Cascade Bicycle Club sponsors every year at about this time. It’s called “Chilly Hilly.” Some of you may have heard of it, and some may have even ridden it. “Chilly Hilly” marks the start of the biking season in the Seattle area. For those of us who don’t recognize a start of the season since the season is year round, it’s a good training ride that is also beautiful.

Adult businesses are not allowed in any part of the Burien annexed portion of North Highline.

A Feb. 12 Times/News article incorrectly indicated that that adult businesses would be allowed between Southwest 112th Street and Southwest 116th Street along either side of Ambaum Boulevard Southwest.

Ten-year-old Collin Cramer, a student at Small Faces Child Development Center, gave it his best shot. Then, he gave it another. And, a couple more.

Cramer, wearing a hardhat and goggles, was given a sledgehammer and the honor of taking the first whack at the old playground during the March 3 groundbreaking of the new Crown Hill Center playground.

Small Faces, owner of the Crown Hill Center at 9250 14th Ave. N.W., received a grant from the city March 1 to replace the current playground, which staff say is falling apart.

Plans for the new playground include a new play structure, a tire swing, a water feature, a beach area and gardens.

Small Faces Executive Director John Otto said they plan to have the first stage of the playground, including the new play structure and tire swing, completed by June.

The rest of the playground will be an ongoing project, he said.

The Crown Hill Center playground is adjacent to the site of the Crown Hill Park, work on which is back underway for the first time since 2006.

The City of Seattle is looking for your feedback to help shape the Youth and Families Initiative. The Herald previously brought you this story here. A local meeting is being held at Denny Middle School on March 15th at 7:30pm. The Youth and Families Initiative is a major initiative announced by Mayor Mike McGinn during his inaugural address. The Initiative will help shape the Mayor’s agenda on issues affecting youth and families from a child’s birth to their successful career track. The city is committed to eliminating racial disparities in education, child care, children’s health and the criminal justice system. This is not a problem solely within communities of color; it is our problem, and the responsibility for ending this systemic inequity rests with all of us.

The co-chairs of the new Initiative are former Mayor Norm Rice, former deputy mayor Bob Watt and Estela Ortega, Executive Director at El Centro de la Raza.

To learn more about the initiative visit http://youthandfamilies.seattle.gov/

While many Ballardites have been using the unseasonably warm winter to relax in the sun or stare wistfully at blue skies outside office windows, Ballard High School athletes have been preparing for the 2010 spring sports season.

Last year, the Ballard High School baseball team took a nosedive after a tough loss to Woodinville, going on a 10-game losing streak.

The team finished the season with a 6-12 record, and coach John Lamm promised changes in his second year as head coach.

Lamm said he has implemented a tougher code of conduct for players in terms of attending classes and keeping grades up in order fill the team with athletes who know how to work and overcome when things get hard.

He said he doesn't want players who will let a tough loss spiral out of control.

"We have to change the program," Lamm said. "We have to change the mentality at Ballard."

The loss of 13 seniors could hurt the team defensively, he said.

"In my opinion, we had the best defensive infield in KingCo," he said. "That's what kept us in a lot of games."

The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle presented the Everyday Hero Award to Captain Joe Kessler on behalf of all the officers who serve the West Seattle Community, Wednesday, March 3rd at 11:00am at the Southwest Precinct, located at 2300 SW Webster St.

The Kiwanis Everyday Hero Award honors folks who may go unnoticed or unappreciated for their work or commitment to the community. Kiwanis Club president West Niver says “We've seen a marked improvement in safety for the Delridge community since this precinct was established and appreciate all that they do for us."

At the event, Niver said, "I cannot think of anything more appropriate than to recognize the Southwest Precinct for all the wonderful work you have done here. Crime has gone down. Safety has risen. You guys have done a wonderful job of making this place safer."

"The officers do a great job," Captain Kessler told the West Seattle Herald. "We appreciate what the community does and the fact that they understand what the officers do for them. I think Seattle’s one of the safest big cities in the country, a great place to live. That’s why I live here.

Though the Woodland Park Zoo's energy-inefficient Night Exhibit closed March 1 as a cost-savings measure, the has committed to continue caring for seven of the exhibit’s 15 species. Now, BNSF Foundation has stepped forward with a $20,000 challenge grant to help toward the long-term care of these animals.

“BNSF is issuing a challenge to the community to match our gift and help the zoo raise $50,000 for the nocturnal animal fund by May 1,” Gus Melonas, regional director of public affairs with BNSF Railway, said in a press release.

The fund will help make modifications to existing areas at the zoo for the Night Exhibit animals that will remain, support their long-term care, and help toward an assessment process to determine the future of the Night Exhibit building.

Since the Night Exhibit closure date was announced in January, the community has already contributed $5,500 to the nocturnal animal fund, according to the press release.

Sign up for free Basic Self-Defense and Awareness training. Attend any one or all classes.

The classes will be held Tuesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., from March 16 to April 13.

Covers realistic self-defense against anyone and everyday safety strategies.

The classes will be held at Des Moines United Methodist Church, 22225 9th Ave. S., 98198 (9th Ave S & 223rd). 206-878-8301 www.desmoinesumc.org

Following a nationwide search, Randy Krause, of Duvall, WA, was hired as Fire Chief at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Krause has 25 years experience in the field. His fire fighting career began in 1985 in the U.S. Air Force, where he was an Aircraft Rescue Firefighter. In 1990, Krause joined The Boeing Company and, in 1999, was named deputy fire chief. Krause has experience as an Operations Chief and Regional Fire Department Training & Safety Manager. He has developed strategy and safety program training for as many as 300 uniformed fire department personnel across the country.

Krause is a member of the Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Association, and he is active on the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Rescue Fire Fighting Working Group. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Gonzaga University. During his career, he has traveled worldwide conducting seminars on various aspects of aircraft rescue and fire prevention.