March 2011

More than 200 educators and policy makers from 20 states and the District of Columbia are in SeaTac to attend the Northwest's first ever Community Schools Learning Lab.
This interactive conference is being held at Cedarbrook Lodge, 18525 36th Ave. S., on Wednesday, March 30, through Friday, April 1. At the event, representatives from cities, schools and community organizations are sharing ideas about how to create and strengthen community schools.

The Learning Lab will include visits to ten Seattle and South King County schools that work in partnership with community organizations to make schools places where all students can succeed.

A highlight of the event is the Leaders' Symposium on Thursday afternoon, which will include representatives from the Highline School District, Seattle Public Schools, and Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgess.

The Community Schools Learning Lab is hosted by the SeaTac-based nonprofit, Community Schools Collaboration, in partnership with the national Coalition for Community Schools. The event is sponsored by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Stuart Foundation and The Seattle Foundation.

The Port of Seattle will hold a candlelight service to remember the victims of the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan.

The Port of Seattle wants to show support of the Japanese people, especially those in Miyagi Prefecture, home of the fishing ports of Shiogama, Ishinomaki and Kesennuma where the Port has long-time friends through a port relationship established in 1990.

Members from the local fishing, Japanese and Port community will speak during the service.

The event will take place on Thursday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m. Candles will be distributed at the service. Free parking is available at Fishermen's Terminal, follow the event parking signs.

Fishermen's Terminal is located at 3919 19th Avenue West.

A viaduct over the railroad tracks near our ancient rental house in north Portland was only three blocks away and adjoined a dense forested acreage just a block away. It was a great place for exploring, just like Africa.

We had ample choices for adventure for a couple of boys. The woods offered trees to climb, hazelnuts to crack and eat and plenty of mystery-- like trampled places for sleeping by many hoboes passing through on railroad trains traveling under the viaduct.

Like other boys, we built and bartered parts with other boys and then raced our homemade speeders. We could race them at breakneck speed down the steep hill over the railroad tracks for about a quarter mile at speeds of at least a hunnert miles an hour.

The viaduct raceway exists to this day but kids prolly don't use it. They all have bikes. Nobody on our street had a bike except a boy named Melvin Amsterdam and it was ancient. It had a huge front wheel and a tiny rear wheel and clincher tires about an inch wide. I could never climb on to it.

Two injured in Tukwila shooting
Tukwila police are looking for a suspect in a shooting that left two men injured in a parking lot. Officers were called to the Deja Vu Showgirls in the 15000 block of Tukwila International Boulevard on a report of a shooting. They arrived to find two men with gunshot wounds lying in the parking lot behind the building. Sgt. Rick Mitchell of the TPD says that the suspect in the shooting fled on foot. A search of the area with K9 units and with King County's sheriff helicopter failed to find the suspect. The two men were taken to local hospitals for treatment, Mitchell said, but their conditions are not known. No description of the suspect has been released.

Decomposed body found in front yard

After 20 shows at E.B. Foote Winery in Burien, Breeders Theater's players took their final bow Saturday night.

Breeders' last show at the winery, "West," chronicled the journey westward of theater founder T.M. Sell's family.

Playwright Sell said he and his wife, music director Nancy Warren, will take a break but could be back at another venue.

Winery owner Sherrill Miller is holding a retirement sale at the winery. After the death of her husband, winery co-owner Rich Higginbotham, in 2008, Miller found being the sole owner to be more than she cares to handle.

If a buyer cannot be found, the Burien winery will close.

Saturday night, Miller said she plans a long vacation and then will take some time for herself. It's been years since she took a vacation, Miller noted.

Overnight closures on the approach to and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport are scheduled for three days beginning Tuesday, April 5th to facilitate the installation of girders on the International Boulevard (State Route 99) bridge over State Route 518. The road improvements will add a new lane to the bridge to facilitate the entrance to the new Rental Car Facility, south of Highway 518, scheduled to open in spring 2012.

The closures are scheduled to occur during the overnight hours between 11 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. to lessen the impact to commuters. Three closures will allow four separate girder sections to be placed on the evenings of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, April 5 - 7.

Vehicles will be detoured during each evening construction period. Detour routes will be marked and motorists are encouraged to use caution while traveling in the area.

For a link to information, go to http://www.portseattle.org/seatac/traveler/roads.shtml

Highline Medical Center Foundation will host its 3rd annual Hats On for Highline, a Kentucky Derby Day fundraiser at Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn

This year's presenting sponsor for the event will be Merchant Credit Association (MCA). Hats on for Highline was launched in 2009 to raise awareness of Highline's Cancer Center. Attendees come to enjoy live horse racing, a silent auction, and buffet. Many are adorned in beautiful hats ready to participate a competitive hat contest. All of this takes place trackside in the VIP tent.

"We are honored to play such a vital role in supporting Highline's healthcare in the community," says MCA's President Dave Quigley.

Tickets are $60 per person and advance reservations are required. Reservation deadline is April 25th. For more information and tickets, contact the Foundation at 206-901-8500 or visit www.highlinemedicalcenter.org/support-highline. Since Highline Medical Center does not receive any tax dollars, event proceeds will benefit Highline's Cancer Center and other patient care programs.

Local nonprofit, New Futures, that serves low-income children, youth, and families in Burien and SeaTac, will celebrate the academic achievements of four students at a May 4th benefit breakfast honoring the 2011 New Futures Scholars.

The Sixth Annual Get Inspired! Breakfast, held at the Washington State Convention Center and emceed by KIRO's Angela Russell, features four Highline School District students who will each receive a $1,500 scholarship for higher education. Says New Futures Executive Director Mario Paredes, "It's a fabulous opportunity we offer to these students, to recognize their work and inspire their higher education endeavors. Not only do we hold the opportunity to inspire these four scholars, but also their families and friends, and the other youth throughout New Futures programs who aspire to reach for higher accomplishments."

Boys LAX too strong for Nathan Hale

Ballard's Ray McCormick and John Degarmo scored four goals each to lead Ballard to a 15 - 6 victory over Nathan Hale yesterday at Queen Anne Bowl.

The Beavers got ahead 7 - 2 in the first quarter and extended that lead to 10 – 3 at half time. In the third quarter, the Beavers added another three goals and added a final two goals in the last quarter.

The Beavers aggressive pursuit of ground balls and patient passing game kept the ball in Ballard’s possession for much of the game.

Eight different Ballard players scored for secure the win and goalie Nick Onstad-Hawes had six saves.

Nathan Hale attackman David Shiplett and midfielder Jack MacIntire both had strong performances combining for three goals and four assists. Nathan Hale's goalie Aiden Iodice had 14 saves.

Ballard now has a record of two wins and two loses and will face Selah High School on Friday, April 1.

Soccer:

Beavers tie with Newport

The Beavers soccer team played against Newport yesterday which resulted in an unfortunate tie for Newport.

By David Rosen and Ty Swenson

A standoff with a man, barricaded in a room at the Seattle West Inn & Suites at 3512 Alaska Street s.w. is over.

Police responded to a report of a disturbance at around 5:00 a.m. and encountered a man outside the motel who appeared to have a knife. They told him to drop it; he ran into a room at the motel, and barricaded himself.

“There was a man outside the hotel, basically yelling and screaming so patrol officers responded. They arrived at the motel and they encountered a man that wasn’t wearing a shirt outside, very agitated and screaming” Det. Mark Jamieson with the Seattle Police Department said.

“(When) officers attempted to contact him he immediately ran into the motel room so officers continued to try to talk to him through the window and through the door but to no avail, so about an hour into it they decided to call negotiators and our SWAT team,” Det. Jamieson said.

Just before 7 am, SPD decided to tape off the area.

Det. Jamieson said negotiators attempted to establish a dialogue with the man for several hours with no progress.