April 2011

Seniors and young people in Burien have a new fancy chariot to take them on community center outings.
The city of Burien has just purchased a new 14-passenger shuttle bus for its senior and youth programs.
A small ribbon cutting ceremony was held Thursday, April 14 in the community cenmter's parking lot before the seniors first ride in the bus.

Some seniors joked that they wanted to launch the bus Navy-style with a champagne bottle smashed across its bow.

But cooler heads prevailed and newly-appointed Burien Councilman Gerald Robison made his ceremonial ribbon-cutting debut with a red sash across the shuttle's front hood. Parks & Rec. director Michael Lafreniere assisted.

The seniors first outing in the new bus? Lunch at Salish Lodge in Snoqulamie and shopping at the outlet mall in North Bend.

The budget director for Highline Public Schools has issued a "call to arms" to community members asking them to contact state legislators protesting proposed steep cuts in school funding.

"Legislators don't want to hear from administrators or teachers," business services executive director Susan Smith Leland declared at the April 13 school board meeting. "They want to hear from families and community members. They want to hear from the grassroots.

"We need your help."

She promised, "We will let the community know how they can communicate with the Legislature."

Leland was reacting to separate education budget proposals from Gov. Chris Gregoire, House members and Senate members.

She was particularly upset by the state Senate budget unveiled April 12 that included a 3 percent cut in teacher pay and a plan to take funding from school districts when students skip school.

Leland noted the 3 percent reduction proposal "blew us out of the water." The proposal is unprecedented in her 26 years working in school districts, according to Leland.

Tyrone and Michele Curry presented a $40,000 check to the Highline School District April 13 for a new track at the Evergreen High campus in White Center.

The personal check from the Currys will be matched with a $75,000 youth sports grant to help build the new track. Ray Prentice, who was also instrumental in obtaining a new track for Mt. Rainier High School, teamed with Tyrone Curry to apply for the Evergreen track, according to Superintendent John Welch.

Welch praised the Currys' personal donation as a "model of great generosity." He also cited the combination of the sports grant and Curry donation as an excellent example of a private-public partnership.
Tyrone Curry wears many hats. He is Evergreen's track coach and head custodian. He also coaches boys and girls basketball at Evergreen.

In addition, Curry is a seating host at Safeco Field and lead usher at the Seattle Center.
And, importantly in regards to the track donation, Curry won $3.4 million off a $2 ticket in Washington state's Quinto lottery in June 2006.

The next White Center Business District Mixer will take place Tueday, Apr. 19 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the 3.14 Bakery 9602 16th Ave. s.w. Light dinner and translation will be provided.

Topics on the agenda for the meeting include:

• White Center Spring Clean
• Social Media Marketing assistance
• Business Resource Guide
• Shopper Incentive Card
• Fa~ade Improvement Program
• Street Banners & Art Posters
• Community Announcements
• Discussion on medical marijuana issue

Contact Nhan Nguyen at 206-694-1082 with any questions.

Von Piglet Productions will shoot scenes for their film Ira Finkelstein's Christmas in West Seattle later this month. According to the Beach Drive Blog, neighbors have been notified of the upcoming shoot.

The film stars Elliott Gould, Cynthia Geary and Tony Doupe and is directed by Sue Corcoran.

Susan LaSalle, Head of Production and Producer on the film shared this synopsis of the plot:

Today, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill that will legalize beer and wine tastings at farmers markets in many parts of the state.

House Bill 1172 came from a measure by state Rep. Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney (D-Seattle) and allows up to 10 farmers markets across Washington to have at least six days of tastings, with each day being limited to products from a single winery or microbrewery.

from the press release:

“Many Washingtonians don’t realize that our wines and beers are an important part of our economy and rank with the best in the world in terms of quality,” said Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Seattle), who sponsored a companion bill, Senate Bill 5029, in the Senate. “Once people get a taste of Washington’s wines and craft brews, the products practically sell themselves.”

Dear Ms. Rook,

I wish to share great news with you. Today King County and the City of Seattle announced a long-term agreement for use of the King County Jail as the primary provider of bed space for the City's misdemeanor inmates over the next two decades. This agreement ends—with certainty—proposals to build a new jail in Interbay.

I have been pleased to partner with many community organizations in Interbay, Magnolia, Queen Anne, and Ballard since 2008 in opposing any new jail in Interbay. Because some time has passed, I wish to provide some background on this issue.

At the Ballard District Council meeting on Wednesday evening, Officer Scott McGlashan was introduced as the new Community Police Team Officer in Ballard. He joins a team of five other full-time officers in the North Precinct.

McGlashan has been in Ballard for only two months and is in the process of getting to know the area from the elementary school daisy scouts to the people in the drug house.

"I'm still figuring out what exactly I'm suppose to be doing," he joked.

McGlashan covers the area from North 110th Street to the Ship Canal, and from Third Avenue Northwest to Golden Gardens and his main focus is ongoing issues. He said he'll deal with "nuisances" such as graffiti and parking complaints and the homeless around the Ballard Library.

McGlashan said he cut his teeth patrolling in the University District and came to Ballard after a stint as a diver on the boats.

"So far I'm having a good time at it. It's my first day job so my wife is loving it," he said.

McGlashan said the neighborhood blockwatch is currently up in the air but the SPD is looking into more bike patrol for this area.

Safe Routes to School was the focus of a meeting at White Center Heights Elementary on April, 14 that was in part a response to the Walking Audit that was done at the school in December. Cascade Bicycle Club, Feet First, King County Food and Fitness Initiative and the White Center Community Development Association all took part in reviewing safety issues centered on children's travel to and from school. How they get there, where they go, and issues around traffic, parking and more were all discussed.

A major problem with getting kids to ride bikes to school is theft. The fear is so common that in the audit only 1 person rode a bike to school. To address this the school is planning on providing an enclosed space or an outdoor locker where up to 20 bikes can be safely locked until the end of the day.

Press release:

Des Moines residents who want to participate in National Drug Take Back Day can drop off unwanted or expired medicines, including pain relievers and other controlled substances, on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. by the Des Moines Police Department at the Bartell Drugs at two locations on Pacific Highway South. The stroes are located at 22001 and 21615 Pacific Hwy. S.
Additional information on facilities accepting unused or old prescription and over-the-counter medicines can be found at www.takebackyourmeds.org/dea-events.
National Drug Take Back Day highlights the critical need for ongoing and sustainable safe drug disposal programs to reduce the rising rates of prescription drug abuse, overdoses, and accidental poisonings. Sponsored by the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with local law enforcement agencies, the one-day event provides communities with free, anonymous medicine returns for unused medications, including dangerous controlled substances. Take-back programs also help protect the environment, while they safeguard public health.