December 2010

Around 6 p.m on Nov. 28. 5700 block of 22 AV NW

Three 13-year-old boys were hassled by a group of suspects who demanded their valuables. One victim gave them his cell phone which seemed to momentarily satisfy the suspects who walked away but returned short thereafter demanding more items. One victim was put in a headlock while his cell phone was taken. Another victim handed over $3. Even the kids’ hats were taken by the suspects. None of the boys were injured or complained of any pain and stated that the suspects were regulars of the skate bowl area and might be transient or street kids.

01:30 a.m. Nov. 28. 8200 14th AV NW

It seemed that the group of suspects mentioned earlier moved on from mugging three boys to attacking an adult that same night. A man was walking home Sunday night when he was approached by a group. The suspects told the victim to empty his pockets but the victim refused and suspect #1 attacked the victim. The victim successfully fought off suspect #1 but then the other suspects joined the attack. The victim said he fought off the suspects who fled the scene. Suspect #1 may have suffered a broken nose. The suspects are still at large.

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A Ballard High School student experiment was selected to be part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) and will fly for 14 days aboard Shuttle Endeavour on one of its final two flights.

Designed by students in BHS biotechnology and astronomy programs, the experiment pertains to the growth of E.Coli cells in space.

Once in orbit, a population of dormant non-pathenogenic E. Coli will be inserted into a liquid growth medium. The cells will reproduce at a different rate than on earth.

“So we keep these E.Coli cells and the growth solution separate. We won’t touch them and once they’re in space and astronaut will pull a lever which will unite them and allow them to grow,” said student Katie Kemp.

After the flight students will recover and freeze a population of these well-traveled cells grown in microgravity and compare them to the same strain of stay-at-home E. Coli for changes like mutations, plasmid uptake ability, and growth rate.

"West Seattle High School is trying to reach out to our community so we are putting together an effort to help not only the homeless students and families in our community, but also to make sure that everyone is warm and has food during this holiday season," said Christina Ruzzine, ninth grade science teacher and cheerleader coach. "We are inviting the entire community to clean out your closets and cupboards and give to a good cause."

She asks that people donate by coming by the high school office where boxes are placed.

Said Ruzzine, "We're breaking the stereotype of cheerleaders, and my team does wonderful things for the community and school and everybody knows the West Side is the 'Best Side.'"

"We cheerleaders have come together to do this, to make our community happy and to show that we actually care," said Castillo. Referring to the stereotype she added, "People think cheerleaders are really rude but we're not."

"I wanted to help people during the holiday so that they are happy. I always feel sympathetic to those who are needy," said Savidge.

A town hall community forum featuring Mayor Mike McGinn was held Thursday night, Dec. 2, at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW. Booths representing City departments and neighborhood organizations lined the main hallway leading into the theater space where the mayor spoke to a crowd in the stands. The Mayor was preceded by a rock band performance by Castbound, four young teens who met at the School of Rock and are enrolled in Band at Youngstown. They include Cameron Sonju, lead singer and guitar, Jonathan Mantello, guitar and backup vocals, Nicholas Barker, bass, and Jackson Wilder, drums.

A Q&A followed the Mayor's remarks, and several teens who participate in Youngstown programs lined up to ask hardball questions, including inadequate bus routes and underfunded public schools in diverse neighborhoods.

The Q&A was co-hosted by community activists Chas Redmond and Pete Spalding. Redmond is Southwest District Council co-chair. Spalding is president of the Pigeon Point Community Council.

In the Mayor's opening remarks, he discussed the Youth & Families Initiative, Walk Bike Ride, and Engage Seattle.

Ola Salon at 2942 Avalon Way s.w. will be offering complimentary services, drinks & food during their Holiday Style NIght Friday, Dec. 10 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.. Also on the agenda are raffels with prizes donated by Ola and other local businesses, such as Jak’s, Great Harvest Bakery, etc., plus other one night only deals.

Ola will be offering a selection of styles to choose from including blowouts and updos along with brow waxes, with a suggested minimum donation of $20 at the door.

A donation of $40 or more will include an additional in-salon conditioning treatment ($25 value) & two raffle tickets ($10 value). Although reservations are not required, they recommend you RSVP to guarantee an appointment for a luxurious service.

All proceeds from the evening will be donated to the local nonprofit organization, Westside Baby. WestSide Baby, in partnership with the community, provides essential items free of charge to families in need in Seattle, West Seattle, White Center, and communities south to Federal Way.

A savant is defined as a person of great knowledge, but the knowledge Japhy Witte has is focused on what he thinks is the "dying craft' of sign painting.

Known in the area as the "Sign Savant" Witte embodies the spirit of an artist. His clothing is almost an impressionist painting itself in every imaginable color of drips and dabs from many of the signs he's created.

Witte's sign and window painting is so familiar in the West Seattle Junction that he could be said to be responsible for much of the character of the business district.

He is the artist behind the signage at Blue Willow Catering, Shadowland, Red Cup Espresso, the Senior Center, West Seattle Coins, Talarico's, Knows Perfume and this month the windows at Elliot Bay Brew Pub and Puerto Vallarta Restaurant. One of his clients, Eduardo Morales owner of Puerto Vallarta said, "He's an amazing man and the price that he charges is awesome. He does his work and he doesn't ask for money up front."

At 2 p.m. today, Chai, the Asian elephant at the Woodland Park Zoo predicted that the University of Washington Huskies will win the Apple Cup.

Given the choice between a box of apples gift-wrapped in crimson and gray or purple and gold, Chai without hesitation headed straight for the purple box featuring the big W.

Once she finished her box of UW apples, Chai continued to eat all the apples in the WSU box. She then proceeded to trample both boxes and played with the hay.

What that in indicates is unsure though UW fans are surely hoping for a crushing victory.

The pachyderm prediction is a part of the zoo’s special Apple Cup admission discount. Now through Dec. 5, Huskies and Cougar fans get half off zoo admission if they're sporting any gear from the University of Washington or Washington State University, such as a jersey, sweatshirt, hat or gloves, or by showing a valid student ID from either university.

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With all this early snow, Highline parents and teachers may want to hold off on those late June vacation plans.
Highline School District administrators are advising parents and staff to plan their summer activities for after June 30. Under the district's agreement with its teacher's union, June 27-30 are designated as snow make-up days at the end of the regular school calendar.
Administrators are now saying that judging from long-term weather forecasts (re: La Nina) it may be necessary to use some or all of the make-up days at the end of June.
Monday, June 27 has already been designated as a make-up day for one of the two days already missed because of the Thanksgiving week snow. The other make-up day is Friday, May 27.
Even though Tuesday, Nov.23, and Wednesday, Nov. 24 may have not been regular school days for students, the district must make up the days in order to meet the state-mandated minimum of 180 school days.
The district has also announced new dates for parent/teacher conferences that were originally set for the two snow days.

Youngsters with Gildenfire Dance performed Nov. 27 for attendees and vendors at the Highland Park Improvement Club Holiday Bazaar. On hand was their instructor, Jenna Lutton, who teaches at the club.

For more information on Gildenfire Dance, go to: http://gildenfiredance.com/home.html

Popular Arbor Heights Principal Dr. Carol Coram was invited to be a guest reader at the Neighborhood House in High Point Nov. 30th. She read books to Ms. Clark's Head Start students in room 2.