A baby seal, under the watchful eye of the Seal Sitters was sunning itself on the beach right next to the Duwamish Head on Wednesday. The Seal Sitters (who chose not to be identified) said it was six months old.
To keep people from approaching the animal, the area was cordoned off by yellow tape.
The Highline Historical Society has mounted a new exhibit of vintage photos at the Burien Community Center. "Burien Families at Work and Play" showcases both business and leisure activities of Burien residents over the past century. Photos depict everything from early storefronts and unusual real estate enterprises, to marching bands, team sports, and Independence Day celebrations.
The exhibit, which runs through the end of April, is open to the public and available for viewing any time the Community Center is open. The Burien Community Center is located at 14700 6th Avenue SW, and is open Monday - Thursday, 8:30 AM - 8 PM, and Friday, 8:30 AM - 5 PM.
Visit www.highlinehistory.org for more information about the Highline Historical Society.
Bucking an anti-tax trend, Highline voters passed a four-year $188 million education programs levy last week.
In updated results from Feb. 10, King County Elections reported 11, 918 yes votes (61.67 percent) and 7.407 no votes (38.33 percent.) The levy needed a 50 percent majority to be approved.
The Elections department will release updated totals on its website at 4:30 p.m. daily. The vote was a mail only election.
“We are grateful to Highline voters for this show of support,” Superintendent John Welch said in a press release. “This shows how much our community values the education of our children.
“Even in these tough times, people are willing to invest in education and support our local schools.”
At the Feb. 9 board meeting, board member Michael Spear noted, “it really feels good that 60 percent of those returning ballots supported our schools.”
Board member Bernie Dorsey termed the levy victory “a vote of confidence that shows we are heading in the right direction.”
Despite the economic downturn, Highline area voters have shown a willingness to tax themselves for government services.
A container truck driver's brakes went out about 11:00 am while climbing Genesee St. just north of the golf course. According to police on the scene, the driver used his clutch to control the vehicle from slipping.
Ken's Towing showed up with a heavy-duty tow truck, to assist the disabled vehicle which appears to belong to Zip Truck Lines out of Moses Lake.
Long cables were attached from the tow truck and it was slowly winched up the hill.
Duane E. Starkenburg, 46, plead not guilty to two counts of Indecent Liberties and one count of Attempted Indecent Liberties at the King County Courthouse on Feb. 9, stemming from three different incidents in West Seattle's Lincoln Park.
Starkenburg allegedly pretended to trip into women while running in the park with the intent of planting his face into their buttocks during his fall, according to charging documents (read the full Herald story on his charges here).
He was arrested on Jan. 25 for the latest attack (more from the Herald here)which resulted in the Attempted Indecent Liberties charge.
Starkenburg posted his $175,000 bail and was ordered by the court, "to stay out of all parks in King County and away from all marked jogging paths or trails," according to King County Prosecutor's Daily Docket.
On March 12, Underwater Sports and Northwest Diving Institute will host a Project AWARE Underwater Cleanup at Golden Garden Park and Shilshole Marina.
Project AWARE is a combined effort of scuba divers and water enthusiasts to conserve aquatic resources in more than 180 countries and territories of the world.
Certified divers and non-divers are encouraged to volunteer for the event as divers, surface support and waste handlers are needed to clean up Ballard's surrounding waters.
Those interested in participating will meet at Underwater Sports (10545 Aurora Ave. N.) on Friday, March 11, for a PADI Ocean Acidification Distinctive Specialty class and cleanup briefing from 6:30–9:30 p.m.
Divers who bring their own tanks will receive complementary air fills.
The next morning participants will meet at Golden Gardens Park and go over a final briefing before breaking into dive teams (each led by a divemaster or higher) and perform the cleanup.
After the cleanup, Underwater Sports and the Northwest Diving Institute will host a BBQ.
Registration is free but advance registration is required. To register, please visit www.nwscuba.org/cleanup.php.
From the Seattle Police Department Blotter:
Over the past month, members of the Seattle Police Department Gang Unit and Southwest Precinct Anti-Crime Team, along with the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, have been conducting undercover narcotics purchases from a suspect.
On February 8th, shortly after 10:00 PM, these officers, along with Seattle Police SWAT officers, conducted another purchase of narcotics from the suspect and then moved in for the arrest at 41 Avenue SW and SW Edmunds Street.
The main suspect, a 40 year old male, was arrested while in his car. He was armed with a stolen handgun. A 48 year old female was seated in the front seat of the car at the time, and she was also taken into custody. The female was inteviewed and released from the Southwest Precinct.
The prime suspect was later booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of VUCSA (narcotics) and Investigation of Violation of Uniform Firearms Act (VUFA) (for being a felon in possession of a handgun). The suspect’s car was impounded to the processing room pending a search warrant.
Detectives will continue to follow up on this investigation.
There are two Ballard community meeting today.
At 1 p.m. we invite you to stop by the library's meeting room for Ballard News-Tribune's Meet the Press.
The public is welcome to meet the staff, ask questions, discuss Ballard news coverage and share your ideas and comments.
The meeting takes place from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. in the meeting room of the Ballard Public Library. 5614 22nd Avenue N.W.
And in that same room, the Ballard District Council meets at 7 p.m. The meeting will highlight the following topics:
- Ballard DC periodically spot lights one of our 28 member community organizations here in the Ballard district and tonight Ballard’s Senior Center is in the spotlight, presented by Director Carlye Teel.
- Legislative Redistricting: Following each federal census, boundaries for congressional and state legislative districts are reexamined in consideration of changing demographics.
- Strategies & Resources - Economic Recovery & Business Development in our Neighborhood,
Director Steve Johnson from the City of Seattle Office of Economic Development will speak.
Former Ballard High School parent Cyle Eldred is Show Designer for the Northwest Flower & Garden Show. He has worked the show for 22 years but has this to say about last year’s BHS participants, “Not only did they do a good job but they were a class act; perhaps the classiest I’ve seen, including from adults , in all my years with the show.” He can’t wait to see what the Botany class creates for this year’s mini-garden.
When Eldred talks to high school students invited he encourages them to give their creativity free rein, “You’re more out there than adults.” In fact he’s created an award category in addition to such traditional ones as Best Design or Plant Use; it’s called the Most Funky/Cool/Unusual/Creative category. This designation definitely applied to Ballard’s garden last year: Apocalypse. The highlight for one student was sanctioned use of spray paints to create garden graffiti.
Last night, the Beavers faced the Eastlake Wolves for Ballard's first-ever boys basketball KingCo playoff game in front of a home crowd.
The Beavers had a rocky first quarter, losing it 14 to 16 to the Wolves. Ballard also lost starter Sophomore Seth Berger to a twisted ankle and Sophomore Johnny Verduin picked up three fouls.
The second quarter was much better for the Beavers, who put on some tight defense and closed the gap to one point by halftime.
The Beavers came out strong the second half, gaining a four point lead over Eastlake in the third quarter. Going into the last quarter with a score of 49 to 45, the energy in the gym was high. The Beavers put on some nice shooting and tight defense. Eastlake was unable to catch up and Ballard finished the game strong for its first playoff game victory with a final score of 71 to 57.
