January 2011

There are two girls with the last name Soukup on the girls varsity basketball team as well as two girls by the name of Bailess. For the first time in the school’s basketball history there are two sets of sisters playing on the varsity team.

Riley and Maddie Soukup have a sisterly resemblance both in their favorite sport as well as their dark hair and other physical features.

Shelby and Morgan Bailess on the other hand have very little physical resemblance. Shelby, a freshman, towers over her older sister, a senior.

“People always think I’m the older one,” Shelby said.

“It’s annoying,” Morgan added.

But when it comes to basketball the sisters said they play well together.

Maddie and Riley played together in Middle School. And the Bailess sisters have played together on Fall and Summer teams.

“It’s more competitive when it’s your sister, said Maddie, a senior. “Like you can’t let her beat you in sprints.”

“Wait, you never told me that,” responded her sophomore sister Riley. “I don’t think we’re that competitive.”

Yet when it was time to take a picture the sisters could stop shoving each other or messing up the other’s hair.

Since opening up in May of 2008, Zippy’s Giant Burgers in Highland Park (7573 s.w. Holden) has been raking in the awards for best burger in Seattle, securing its legend as a hell of a good burger at a darn good price.

Zippy’s has been in the news quite a bit recently, but not for the latest accolade. Instead, owner Blaine “Zippy” Cook and his wife Rahel are embroiled in battle with a bank over the future of their restaurant nestled in the corner of a foreclosed building on the corner of Holden and 16th. Once the dust clears and final decisions are made, we may ultimately see Zippy’s relocating to a new home in West Seattle.

“We are currently scouting for new locations here in West Seattle,” Cook said.

The Seattle Weekly’s Voracious column ran a story that suggested a matchmaking possibility between Zippy’s need and the vacant Chuck and Sally’s Tavern on the corner of California s.w. and s.w. Graham. Cook said the tavern is on their radar.

Press release:

The new season of the West Seattle Community Orchestras is shaping up to be great (once we get the snow out of our system!)

We keep getting bigger and better, but would like to fill in some of our smaller sections. We especially need cellos, string basses, trumpets, and percussion—and oboe and bassoon, of course!

If you are a beginner or haven’t played for a while, don’t be shy! We have three orchestras spanning beginning to advanced levels.

If you have already signed up, please pass this message on to your friends and family.

First rehearsal of the new season is Tuesday, Jan. 18. You can preregister on our website, wscorchestras.org, or if you have more questions you can contact me at:

Toni Reineke
Artistic Director
West Seattle Community Orchestras
tonireineke@comcast.net
Home: 206-243-6955

A pair of Steller’s sea eagles make their public debut this week at Woodland Park Zoo and they will join the honorary ranks of the Seattle Seahawks’ 12th Man, the Zoo announced today in a press release.

The eagles will make their debut tomorrow, Jan 13, at 2:30 p.m.

In a salute to the Seahawks facing the Chicago Bears in Sunday’s divisional playoff, a #12 flag will be draped at the exhibit. Visitors and Seahawks fans can enjoy the new residents in the zoo’s award-winning Northern Trail exhibit.

On Sat.-Sun., Jan. 15-16, visitors will get a Seahawks #12 button (while supplies last) at both zoo entrances.

The sea eagles, a male and female, arrived last month from Los Angeles Zoo and had been in a 30-day standard quarantine. Along with the harpy and Philippine eagles, Steller’s sea eagles have the distinction of being the largest and heaviest eagles, ranging from 11 to 20 pounds with a wingspan of up to 8 feet.

Business owners and citizens from the Junction Neighborhood Council met with Seattle Department of Transportation officials on Jan. 11 to hear the latest in the evolving plans for RapidRide C Line and provide feedback.

RapidRide C Line, planned for completion in 2012, “will replace Metro’s Route 54 along Fauntleroy Way s.w. and California Avenue s.w. between Westwood and downtown Seattle via the Alaska Junction,” according to SDOT’s website.

It is SDOT’s solution to “keep people moving throughout the day in this heavily used transit corridor” with planned stops every ten minutes.

The catch is that SDOT needs to provide as much unimpeded travel time for the buses to keep to the ten minute pickups and quick transit times. This means alteration of the route from Westwood to the West Seattle bridge, often times taking out parking, bike or current traffic lanes and converting them to BAT (business access and transit) lanes, which will be dedicated bus lanes.

As a precaution for the safety of students and staff, Seattle Public Schools will be running two hours late on regular bus routes.

Also note that five schools that had previously scheduled early release days, Whitman, McClure, Hamilton and Eckstein middle schools and Roosevelt High School will release students at the normal dismissal time today.

Allied Waste Services announced that they will start later than usual as well.

Some buses are running on snow routes this morning and Metro encourages commuters to check the website before you go.

While most of the snow will likely be gone from roads by midday today, the remaining slush could cause problems so the Seattle Public Schools will all start 2 hours late today. While this is not strictly West Seattle SPS also shares that "In addition to our two-hours-late start today, please note one more change: Five schools that had previously scheduled early release days (Whitman, McClure, Hamilton and Eckstein middle schools and Roosevelt High School) will release students at the normal dismissal time."

Metro buses which began this morning on snow routes are now back to normal.

Photographer Kurt Howard captured these images of the Tyee - Evergreen swim meet on January 6.

SLIDESHOW: CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO PLAY SLIDESHOW.

CLICK ON PHOTO FOR SLIDESHOW

Many went out to celebrate the snow tonight, Tuesday, while others were getting stuck and spinning out driving south, up hill on 35th Ave. near Alaska. At least one bus was stuck.

Press Release:
With snow now accumulating on city streets, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is transitioning to plowing roadways while continuing to spread salt. The department is ready to work through the night to keep major roads open, buses moving and critical emergency services accessible.

Motorists are advised to use caution when driving in snow and ice, especially on Seattle’s many hills and bridges. For up-to-date information on the City’s response and roadway conditions, please visit: http://Seattle.gov/transportation/. Motorists can also check on current traffic conditions and roadway images on SDOT’s Traveler’s Map at: http://web5.seattle.gov/travelers/.