October 2010

Photographer Kurt Howard captured these images of Thomas Jefferson's 52-14 victory over Mt. Rainier on October 23. SLIDESHOW: CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO PLAY SLIDESHOW.

By Jacqueline Benster

Political activism came to downtown Burien Tuesday, Oct. 26 as a spirited group of about 20 protestors left their warm and cozy homes to face a miserable, stormy, gray morning.

The group, sponsored by Washington Community Action Network (WACAN), assembled to protest questionable foreclosure practices that have recently come to light throughout the country. South King County has been particularly hard hit by the housing crisis, with 1 in 4 homeowners underwater, meaning they owe more on their homes than their homes are worth, according to experts.

When asked why she turned out in such nasty weather, participant Jeanette Wenzel said, "People are being abused. The banks are showing no concern, and we need to stand up until things are made right."

Chanting, "Banks got bailed out, we got sold out" and "Show us the note," the protestors first visited Chase Bank at 222 S.W. 150th St. and then moved on to Bank of America at 230 S.W.152nd St.

It was a day of double delight in a deluge at Federal Way Memorial Field on Tuesday, Oct. 26.

Todd Beamer blasted Spanaway Lake, 10-0, to open the proceedings and wrap up the Class 4A South Puget Sound League South Division title before Decatur took to the soggy field and beat Lakes, 5-1, in a 3A SPSL game.

Beamer ran its final division record to 10-0-6 ahead of the 10-2-3 mark of Curtis and the Gators improved to 5-3-1 to remain mired in second place in the 3A standings behind the 8-0-1 mark of Bonney Lake.

Off and on downpours plagued the players in both games and continued as Thomas Jefferson capped off the day on the down side with a 2-1 SPSL North 4A loss to Tahoma. The Raiders fell to 6-6-3 for fifth place in the standings and Federal Way fell to the same mark for sixth place in the SPSL South 4A race with a 3-0 loss to Rogers at Puyallup's Sparks Stadium.

Beamer remained undefeated but frequently tied with its win over Spanaway Lake that featured five goals per half plus a running clock and only eight Titans on the field in the second half.

It did not take long for Beamer to gain control.

On the top of every parents’ mind was just how bad drug use and violent fights are at WSHS and according to Southwest Precinct Officers Bob Besaw and Tom Burns, the answer is good news; Not bad at all, and due in large part to the change in school administration.

“Would I be concerned about the drug problem? No, I mean drugs are always a concern. Is it an epidemic? Is it out of control? I would say no it’s not,” Officer Burns said.

“If Bob (Besaw) and I aren’t getting along and we are hell bound to fight, we’re going to fight. But is there a problem? Absolutely not,” he added, speaking to the inevitability of the occasional fight and admitting that he got into a few back in high school.

The officers, who patrol the school during lunch and after classes end, answered parents’ questions during a WSHS Parent Teacher Student Association meeting on Oct. 27.

The officers credit much of the school’s reduced drug and violence issues to the change in administration that occurred this year that put Principal Ruth Medsker in charge. Principal Medsker was unavailable for comment by print time.

Press Release
Flanked by staff and students from Concord Elementary School, health educators, and former NBA all-stars James Donaldson and Shawn Kemp, today Mayor Mike McGinn kicked off local efforts to fight childhood obesity. Seattle’s efforts are part of the national “Let’s Move!” campaign introduced in February 2010 by First Lady Michelle Obama to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity. The goal is to raise a healthier generation of kids and reverse the trend in childhood obesity within one generation.

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE SLIDESHOW

“In Seattle and across the United States, there has been a major shift in the way we eat and how active we are over the last two or three decades. The impact on our childrens’ health is alarming, including unacceptable disparities based on income and race,” McGinn said. “Nearly one quarter of Seattle youth in grades eight, 10 and 12 are overweight, with higher rates for Hispanic and African American youth. We must do better.”

McGinn said Seattle is working to:

A 50-year-old Burien man will fulfill his dream of reuniting Highline High School's finest musicians over four decades.
Since August over 50 musical alumni have committed to playing one more gig--the Highline High School Homecoming game at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29. The game is being played at Highline Memorial Stadium, behind Highline High.
This will be the first engagement in 30 years for the majority of the band's membership. The band's conductor, Ken Copeland, taught the bulk of these musicians at Sylvester Junior High in the 1970s. Having completed three rehearsals in October, the band is ready to entertain once more.
This Friday evening's performance is anticipated to be an endearing "Welcome Back, Kotter!" meets "Mr. Holland's Opus" experience.
Former trumpet player Jeff Anderson organized the event.
Scott Babcock, current Highline High School band director, helped secure rehearsal facilities and loaner instruments.
The Alumni Band is the result of Anderson's 20-year hope that former HHS band students could reunite to remember their past while performing music in the present.

After a long and tumultuous development period, Ballard's first major hotel appears to be back on track and ready for a December ground-breaking at the former site of the Yankee Diner on Shilshole Avenue Northwest.

Earlier this month, Diamond Parking and Pacific Fisheries Shipyard were asked to remove their vehicles from the parking lot in front of the shuttered diner at 5425 Shilshole Ave N.W. by Nov. 15, according to a number of sources, including Pacific Fisheries General Manager Doug Dixon. The groundbreaking date has been given variously as Dec. 1 and Dec. 15.

According to a construction permit issued Sept. 20 by the Seattle Department of Planning and Development to Ballard Hotel LLC, the project will be a six-story, 170-room hotel with parking for 211 vehicles both above and below grade. The construction permit was originally applied for in July 2008 and expires in March 2012.

The pre-construction history of the hotel has been full of changes in both name and ownership structure.

Originally, the hotel was going to be under the banner of Silver Cloud Inns and was to begin construction prior to 2008.

The Port of Seattle announced Thursday, Oct. 28 that Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has been granted a large environmental grant.

The Port's press release:
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will receive the largest grant of its kind, $18.3 million, from the Federal Aviation Administration for a project expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save millions of dollars in fuel costs for airlines.

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt came to Sea-Tac to award the Voluntary Airport Low Emissions (VALE) Grant to fund construction of a pre-conditioned air project that will make Sea-Tac one of the nation's few airports with a centralized system that covers the entire airport.

Once installed, the project is expected to reduce emissions by more than 50,000 metric tons of CO2, save airlines up to five million gallons of fuel and $10 million in fuel costs per year. The CO2 savings are the equivalent of taking 8,700 cars off the road. The project is expected to create 120 jobs.

"This program is helping airports around the country make needed technological investments so they can be more environmentally friendly," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Seattle Public Schools Press Release:

Patricia A. Bliquez, a teacher/librarian at Roxhill Elementary School, was named a winner of the 19th Annual Golden Apple Award for excellence in education. KCTS 9, a sponsor of the program, recognized Bliquez and seven other teachers and principals across the state for making a positive difference in Washington state education for Pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 students.



Blinquez was honored for making the library the “beating heart” of Roxhill Elementary and collaborating with fellow teachers to integrate resources with the subjects and concepts in their lesson plans. “Her enthusiasm for turning students into readers and global citizens truly circulates throughout the entire school,” according to an excerpt in her profile.

Two organizations with programs active in Seattle Public Schools were also winners of Golden Apple Awards:



■ The Henry Art Gallery Student Guide Program was honored for its partnership with Roosevelt High School students who are trained as museum docents. The students create and lead interactive tours for the community and their peers.



The following are applications or decisions made by the Seattle Department of Planning and Development that can be appealed or commented on by the public.

6559 15th Ave. N.W.

Land Use Application to allow a four-story building containing five live/work units with 101 residential units above. Parking for 67 vehicles to be provided within the structure. Existing structures to be demolished.

Comments on this project may be submitted to the Seattle Department of Planning and Development through Nov. 17.

Contact: Brenda Barnes, 206.782.8208
Planner: Scott Kemp, 206.233.3866

5903 24th Ave. N.W.

An application for a Sidewalk Café Permit accessory to the Stepping Stone has been approved by the Seattle Department of Transportation.

The approved dimensions of the patio seating are 5 feet by 13 feet for a total of 65 feet.