September 2010

An agreement has been reached between the Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Education Association. The agreement is still tentative until ratified by members. The three year labor contract is for certificated staff and covers school years 2010-2011 up to 2012-2013.

The announcement was made by Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D.

From the Seattle Public Schools press release:

“I am so pleased that our collaboration with teachers has us so close to reaching agreement on a new contract,” said Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D., Superintendent. “This agreement strengthens the excellent collaborative work of teachers and administrators to create a teacher support system that will benefit all of our children.”

SEA membership is scheduled to vote on the tentative agreement on September 2. If the agreement is ratified by SEA members, the Seattle School Board then will vote on the final agreement.

Thomas 'OMallley (named after one of the Aristocats of cartoon fame) is a Himalayan and Ragdoll cat with an insatiable curiosity.
He loves to walk into everyone's house around the neighborhood.

Carl and Debbie Sweetland got Thomas about four years ago from Debbie's mom who originally got him from a breeder but then moved into a condominium and could not keep him. "We used to 'cat-sit' when she was out of town and he just loved it here," she said.

Thomas also enjoys tempting fate by laying directly in the middle of the street where he literally takes a catnap. "No fear," Debbie said.

He also, even though he was declawed previously, will attack dogs with the exception of the Sweetland's miniature Labradoodle, Ginger.

Despite this one aggressive tendency he's actually a gentle soul. "He cuddles and he purrs and he sleeps spread eagle on top of the chairs, and my daughter has a bunk bed with one for her dolls and he sleeps on those."

The park being built now on top of the Myrtle Street Reservoir on 35th Avenue S.W. and Myrtle Street will be complete by Sept.16th according to Lee Falk, Superintendent of Construction for Ohno Construction. Play equipment was installed Aug. 26 and 27 and concrete steps are in place now leading to a 'lookout' point in the middle of the property.

CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE MORE IMAGES

How far along is the project at this point? "Probably about 85%," said Falk, "We have two catch basins to put in, some grading, we've got one more pour (concrete) tomorrow which will get the area by the seat walls completed, and get the top completed, then we have stairs going down for our entryway. The lookout has seat walls with letters in them that point to other areas like Queen Anne Hill and Capitol Hill."

The play areas currently have gravel around them for drainage but will be topped with "Fibar" which Falk described as "A specially ground wood product that absorbs impact."

2:52 a.m. Aug. 29, 1100 Block of N. 90th St.

A Seattle Police officer arrived at Northwest Hospital at 5:12 a.m. to find "Owen" in the emergency room with several abrasions to his forehead, bruising on his left cheek and a sore head.

Owen told the officer he had been at a house party in Greenwood earlier that morning. During the party, approximately 10 men were asked to leave but were unwilling to do so.

After the 10 or so men left the house, Owen heard guns shots outside. He attempted to get the guests inside the house to avoid stray bullets.

While Owen was standing in the yard, one of the men, known to Owen by a "street name," approached him, starting a verbal altercation that ended with Owen being punched in the face.

The man continued to punch Owen in the body. After being hit in the head with a beer bottle, Owen fell to the ground where he was kicked and punched by several of the men.

Mayor and Greenwood resident Mike McGinn is working to combat hunger in King County through the Sept. 25 End Hunger Food Drive, during which volunteers across the county will collect food at participating grocery stores for those in need.

Donations made between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the North Seattle area will go to the Greenwood Food Bank.

Each month, the Greenwood Food Bank serves more than 3,000 individuals. Families, children, seniors and individuals with disabilities receive a three-day, nine-meal emergency supply of food. The Greenwood Food Bank also provides homebound seniors with monthly deliveries of food.

The participating North Seattle grocery stores are Greenwood Market (8500 Third Ave. N.W.), Shoreline Central Market (15505 Westminster Way N.), Greenwood Safeway (8704 Greenwood Ave. N.) and Greenwood PCC (7504 Aurora Ave. N.).

By Bob Sims
TACOMA -- Muhammad Ali used to like to say "Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee" to describe his boxing style.

A young Federal Way fighter took that adage to heart and used its message to beat Vili "The Tongan" Bloomfield Saturday night in a five-round pro heavweight fight at the Emerald Queen I-5 Casino.

CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS

Thompson is now undefeated in his first five pro fights.

"There's no one who can stop my speed," Thompson said, while his father, and trainer, Calvin, unwrapped his taped hands after the fight. "Speed kills. You can have all the power you want but I've got the grace of Ali."

Thompson, a southpaw, controlled the fight with his quick right jab, doubling up occasionally and developing his combination punches from it. He won the Battle of the Boat 78 undercard match unanimously, 50-45 from all three judges.

"I'm so determined, I'm so ready, man," Thompson said. "I don't care who they've got out there in the Pacific Northwest, I'm going to make them look stupid."

Three Federal Way Public Academy students volunteerd a total of 28 hours at the Historical Society of Federal Way. Under the direction of Maureen Hathaway, George Koshi, Blaise Pascual and Andrew Pascual helped Lynda Jenkins with organizing the files at our office. For more information about how you can help, please call 253.945.7842. Our office is open every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 am until 3 pm.