September 2010

With a dedication ceremony Sept. 25, Crown Hill officially got its new Fire Station 35, replacing the outdated 80-year-old former station.

Fire stations, which must serve as places where firefighters both live and work, are challenging to build, and the opening of Fire Station 35, located at 8720 15th Ave. N.W., is the culmination of two years of work, said Fred Podesta, Seattle's Finance and Administrative Services director.

The old station had sloping floors, was not up to seismic codes and lacked room to properly decontaminate equipment.

The new $7.2 million Fire Station 35 features added space, including room for decontamination, gear storage and another firefighting vehicle, and has been seismically upgraded.

Seattle Fire Chief Gregory Dean thanked Seattle voters for passing the $167 million Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Levy in 2003 to allow the rebuilding or upgrading of 32 neighborhood fire stations.

Podesta singled out Crown Hill residents to thank in particular.

Swedish Automotive completed the process of moving (though some unpacking remains) and celebrated the move to their new building at 35th s.w. and Kenyon with an open house on Sept. 25. Owner Dave Winters was not in his usual Swedish blue garb, "I had to give it a rest. I've been working so many hours lately that 8 to 8 was a short day," he quipped.

Touring the new facility were Todd Ainsworth, whose own shop West Seattle Autoworks will open October 1 and Tom Smith of Tom's Automotive with a 30 year employee John Bradley. The trio shared car repair stories and Smith pointed out that "This is a good business and Dave will do just fine here. He's been here for over twenty years. I think it's an investement in the West Seattle economy."

Ainsworth added that, "You can't really work on cars in the back yard with a crescent wrench anymore. There's just too much technology on cars these days. The more modern the shop and the more modern the equipment the more efficiently and accurately you can get your car repaired."

Chief Sealth International High School held their Community Celebration Sat. Sept. 25 and provided tours to the public that showed up by the hundreds to see what $50 million can mean when put into buildings, technology and innovative practice.

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The marching band took the steps in front of the school just after 9:45 a.m. to welcome guests and entertain.
Nels Enquist, a 1970 graduate and who worked at Sealth for 30 years and has served as Athletic Director, Assistant Principal and more was on hand to conduct multiple tours of the facility. Principal John Boyd said, "Nobody know the building better than Nels."

Reactions were all positive to the work done.

Claudia Brim Lyle and James Lyle , Sealth graduates in 1967 and 1965 respectively were touring the campus. Claudia said, "I think it's wonderful, so far I've only seen this hall!" James said, "I think it's great I really do, wow."

It won’t be the celebration they had back in 1935, when Seattle’s 6,000-seat Civic Auditorium was the setting for an early Oct. 9 Leif Erikson Day celebrations. But, Leif Erikson Day 2010 will contain many of the same elements.

In fact, the Seattle Civic Auditorium has changed more than the local celebration has. This landmark built in 1928 became the Seattle Opera House in the early 1960s and was then gutted and reconstructed as McCall Hall in 2003.

Leif Erikson Day, on the other hand, still includes a gathering, a dinner, a speaker, Scandinavian music, the governor’s proclamation, and all the Nordic pride the participants can muster.

Washington’s Gov. Clarence Martin issued the state’s first proclamation of Leif Erikson Day and Gov. Chris Gregoire followed 75 years later with a very similar proclamation. Both mentioned Leif Erikson as the first of many Scandinavians who journeyed to America.

Martin’s message reported that local Scandinavians were making plans for a suitable memorial to Leif Erikson, and Gregoire’s brags that the Ballard statue of Leif Erikson has been replicated and given to Norway and Greenland.

Fremont's Pacific Crest School is marking its 25th anniversary from noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at its campus at 600 N.W. Bright St.

Former and current students, parents and staff will enjoy a festive block party featuring outdoor music, food booths, a children’s stage and student art exhibit. The event will also involve many of the neighbors, businesses and friends who have been supportive of Pacific Crest School during the past 25 years, according to a Pacific Crest press release.

Pacific Crest is a private Montessori school serving more than 200 students from the Ballard, Fremont, Queen Anne, Magnolia, Phinney and Sand Point neighborhoods.

Founded in 1985 by director Jacquie Maughan, it began in the basement of a church as one classroom with 22 students. Expanding over the years, Pacific Crest is now one of the few schools in Seattle offering instruction from preschool though middle school.

In addition to its site in Fremont, Pacific Crest also owns a 15-acre working farm on Vashon Island where students grow food and conduct onsite science and nature studies.

Ballard's Annemarie Thayer took first in four events and a handful of other Beaver swimmers won three, but the Ballard High School girls swim team couldn't keep up with Newport High School, losing 102-84 Sept. 24.

The Beaver foursome of Thayer, Luisa Chan, Janine Warren and Gailyn Portelance won the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:56.49.

A second combo of Ballard swimmers - Thayer, Chan, Kylie Brown and Dylan Miller - took first in the 200-yard free relay in a time of 1:47.98.

To go with her relay wins, Thayer placed first in the 50-yard freestyle (25.11) and the 100-yard breaststroke (1:11.33). Her time in the 50-yard freestyle surpassed the state qualifying mark.

Miller capped off her three-win day with victories in the 200-yard freestyle (2:05.70) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:34.86).

Chan hit the three-win mark with a solo victory in the 100-yard freestyle (57.96).

Portelance gave the Beavers a final win in the 100-yard fly with a time of 1:03.51.

Ballard (3-2) is getting stronger and faster in the pool each week, coach Leo Jaeger said.

A week after being on the wrong end of a 53-0 steamrolling from Issaquah High School, the Ballard High School football team was flattened again, this time 42-0 by Inglemoor High School Sept. 24.

The Beavers, with 1-3 record overall, have now been outscored 95-0 in KingCo competition.

Next up for Ballard is Woodinville High School (2-2) at 5 p.m. Oct. 1 at Memorial Stadium.

Woodinville defeated the Beavers 29-22 in their matchup last season.

Judge Michael Heavey has responded to the decision by the Commission on Judicial Conduct to admonish him for his comments regarding the Amanda Knox case. Heavey is currently out of the country but shared his statement with the West Seattle Herald. His attorney has filed an Answer to statement of charges which can be downloaded at the link above. This is Heavey's personal statement, and does not reflect the opinion of the court in any capacity.

Personal Statement of Michael Heavey*

It has been the distinct honor of my professional career to be a member of the judiciary. With the entry of this stipulation, I am pleased that the Commission on Judicial Conduct and I have been able to settle this matter which I am now happy to put behind me. I am very thankful for the support of my family, friends, and colleagues during this trying time.

Dear Editor,
Thanks for the article on the driving range at the west seattle golf course. While I knew it was being considered your article was nicely clarifiying. The driving range will be a great addition. And the trade-offs are ok. But that is easy to say because I am a poor golfer so quite flexible to changes in the course layout.

Tom Friberg

The Chief Sealth Seahawks were shutout by the Rainier Beach Vikings Friday night.

The Seahawks fell to the Vikings 48 to 0.

It was a physical game and the Seahawks fought hard. The Seahawks were dogged with mistakes and an opposing team who took advantage and ran the ball far when they had it.

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