February 2011

Press Release:
The Seattle School Board Wednesday night approved changes to the Seattle Public Schools Transportation Plan that will create new neighborhood-based Transportation Zones aimed at streamlining bus routes for attendance area elementary and K-8 schools starting with the 2011-12 school year.

It’s estimated that the approved Transportation Plan will save the school district up to $4 million (the equivalent of 45 teaching positions) by creating new Transportation Zones that will decrease the bus ride time for attendance area schools to 25 minutes or less. As a result, buses are less likely to encounter the traffic delays that occur on longer routes, so families will find departure and arrival times to be more reliable. The plan also benefits the environment by taking about 80 buses off the roads and reducing the district’s carbon footprint.

Correction added: Date for filing charges against the suspect is Tuesday, Feb. 22.

Bail in the amount of $500,000 was set for the 19-year-old murder suspect in the stabbing death of Hokum W. Jeebs (aka Robert Stabile) by King County Judge Vicki Seitz on Thursday, Feb. 17.

The suspect did not appear in court for the bail setting.

Prosecutors requested a $1 million bail stating the man is a clear danger to society. Prosecutors also said the suspect moved to Seattle from New York four weeks ago, has prior convictions in New York for assault and may have mental health issues.

The suspect's name will not be released until he is formally charged by King County Prosecutors. The deadline for filing charges is Tuesday, Feb. 22.

To read more on this story, please check out the Herald's developing coverage, Update 3: Fatal stabbing victim in West Seattle identified; Suspect arrested.

The Olympic Athletic Club has filed a Land Use Application requesting a change of use for the 6,300 square foot garage beside the gym facility from residential to lodging.

OAC wants to change the one-story garage into a four-story, 29 unit lodging space with 12,800 square feet of fitness space, and 2,650 square feet of retail space. Parking for 63 vehicles will be located at and below grade.

The plan is to expand OAC on the second and third floors of the proposed building, retail on the bottom and a hotel on the top floor.

OAC intends to build a second pool, new locker rooms, a sauna and hot tubs.

This is not the first time the OAC has expressed interest in building a hotel. A $14 million redevelopment plan filed in 2006 by owner Jim Riggle, was put on hold while owners looked for funding.

SeaTac City Councilwoman Pam Fernald sent this letter to her email list with a copy to the Times/News concerning the proposed closure of the Riverton Heights Post Office at 6 p.m. instaed of midnight.
She urges everyone concerned about this proposal to email community leaders before the Feb. 28 deadline for making the proposed change.
Fernald is also co-chair of Neighbors Without Borders Action Committee.

Dear Neighbors:
As of February 28, 2011, the Riverton Heights Branch post office is planning to change their hours of operation during the week to close at 6 p.m. during the week rather than close at midnight as it currently does.
If you feel that 6 p.m. is too early to close, please contact the people below with your reasons. Share this email with others.
The most common reason I have heard is that because of work, people cannot get to a post office before it closes. This is the only post office, which is open after 6 p.m. and people come from all around to use it to mail packages, etc.
No matter the time of day, this post office most always has a line. If they shorten the hours, it will be worse.

A 17-year-old teenager from Renton was arrested early this morning in connection with last week's Crown Hill robbery.

Seattle Police reports that the teen was arrested after gathering information from witnesses at two separate robberies in the Crown Hill and Lake City areas.

The suspect was arrested in Renton in the early morning hours and booked into the Youth Services Center for Investigation of Robbery. 

The suspect is accused of two robberies and threatening employees with shears.
The first robbery occurred in on Feb 11 in Crown Hill where the suspect attempted to cut the cable securing a mobile phone to the display.  When employees confronted him, the suspect threatened them with large shears and fled with a the stolen cell phone.

The second incident occurred the following day in Lake City where the suspect looked at various cell phones, then suddenly grabbed several and started to leave the store.  When he was confronted by an employee, he pushed and elbowed the employee out of the way and fled the area in a green sedan. 

Press Release:

MOVIE NIGHT!! The

Highland Park Improvement Club's movie series begins this Friday, February 18! Doors open at 6:30pm, movie at 7pm. Free admission. Continuing every third Friday of each month- this series is family friendly and admission is free. They will be selling snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, and adults can bring their beverages of choice. There will be folding chairs for seating, or feel free to bring blankets and pillows or non- floor-scratching chairs. The movie copyright license does not allow them to advertise the movie title so here’s a hint: Classic 1982 kid and adult friendly sci-fi blockbuster starring Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore. www.hpic1919.org

From the SPD Police Blotter:

Aggressive driving emphasis in West Seattle

On February 16th at 9 a.m., seven officers from the Aggressive Driver Response Team (ADRT) conducted a speed emphasis in the 3300 block of SW Admiral Way (southbound). The speed limit on that portion of Admiral Way is 30 mph.

The officers stopped 51 drivers for speeding which resulted in 61 citations.

Some notable citations:

5 at 48 mph
2 at 49 mph
1 at 50 mph
1 at 51 mph
1 at 52 mph
1 at 54 mph
1 at 59 mph
5 no proof of insurance
1 No Valid Operator’s License
1 cell phone violation

Aggressive drivers beware! These types of operations occur frequently!

Press Release:
Tough economic times and a dwindling job market means many teenagers who usually work over the summer could be out of a job. But Seattle-based nonprofit Teens In Public Service, (TIPS) is working to help some of these teens not only find work, but also give back to their community. Many teenagers can not find those summer jobs of making lattes or flipping burger but TIPS is helping teens secure employment at various non-profit organizations throughout the Greater Puget Sound Area.

You will find TIPS interns organizing a talent show for children with special needs, comforting a 75 year-old woman as she struggles with Alzheimer’s and providing a meal and a smile to a homeless man in downtown Seattle.

TIPS is now seeking applicants for its 2011 class. We invite teens ages 15 to 19 who are leaders in their high schools and are committed to becoming a part of their community through service and volunteerism to apply.

Federal Way Mayor Skip Priest will recognize volunteers cleaning up Mark Twain Elementary School, as part of the city’s first One Day Federal Way, a large-scale volunteer effort to beautify and maintain Federal Way schools. Mayor Priest, along with Debra Entenman from Congressman Adam Smith’s office and representatives from Federal Way Schools will speak briefly to the assembled volunteers and thank them for their service.

When: Tuesday, February 22, 2011. 11:30 AM to noon. In the event of rain, the event will be held in the school’s covered play shelter.

Where: Mark Twain Elementary, 2450 South Star Lake Road, Federal Way, WA 98032

Who: Advancing Leadership Youth Class of 2011, Mayor Skip Priest, Debra Entenman, Rep. Adam Smith’s office, Federal Way Schools representatives and an estimated 300 volunteers of all ages.

The Federal Way Community Center can get loud on Tuesday evenings as The Rhythmic Arts Project (TRAP) unleashes the healing and learning power of percussion and rhythm. Residents with disabilities use drums and percussion blocks in a guided learning program that is internationally recognized for its rehabilitative power.

“Our class uses percussion and rhythm as creative learning tools for people with various disabilities,” said Kevin Hutchinson, the city’s Pathways/Inclusion Coordinator. “Drumming is a tool to teach basic life skills and enhance the mind, body and spirit for disabled individuals.”

The Rhythmic Arts Project is the first of its kind in Washington State. The class is the brainchild of volunteer Rob Sanders, who is also the chef for the city’s Dumas Bay Centre. Chef Rob has been volunteering for the past nine years, teaching a cooking class for disabled residents. A drummer himself, he learned about TRAP in a drum magazine and donated the money and time to start Federal Way’s class last September.