April 2011

Nurturing Expressions has opened a boutique location at 4746 44th Ave. SW, Suite 201, in West Seattle. The business was founded in 2004 by Tracy Corey, a registered nurse and board certified lactation consultant and sits on the Western Washington Steering Committee of the Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington. She is a member of the International Lactation Consultants Association and La Leche League.

The company started as a mobile service delivering breastpumps and lactation services directly to moms in their homes or hospital rooms.The shop offers a private breastfeeding room where consultants can personally support mothers and their babies and they offer free baby weight checks. They also provide classes and support groups and specialize in selling breastfeeding supplies, breastpumps, and nursing bras. She Her team of five certified lactation consultants offer in-home or clinic breastfeeding support. They also provide online support through Twitter, where moms can ask their questions to “The Boobie Coach”.

The West Seattle Herald has scheduled a feature on Tracy Corey coming soon.

BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUPS

Press Release:
Seattle Playwrights Studio (SPS), under the aegis of ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery, proudly presents its 9th Annual Showcase of New Plays on Saturday, May 27th and Sunday, May 29th. Each evening of the showcase will feature a different sampling of staged readings written by SPS members and performed by local actors in ArtsWest’s theater. ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery is located in West Seattle at 4711 California Avenue S.W.

Seattle Playwrights Studio provides playwrights the opportunity to hear plays-in-progress read aloud and to receive moderated feedback from fellow writers in a supportive environment. Over the last eleven years, plays developed within SPS have been professionally produced locally, and across the country.

Ticket Information: Tickets are $8; admission includes a wine and food reception after the show and a meet and greet with the playwrights, directors and actors. Performances begin at 7 p.m.; purchase tickets at the door or call the ArtsWest box office at (206) 938-0339. For directions, box office hours, and more information visit www.artswest.org.

Box Office hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 12-7 PM

The state Department of Ecology has approved Burien’s Shoreline Management Plan with some changes required.
The changes include requiring a maximum 50-foot buffer with a 15-foot setback for new development on marine shorelines. A smaller buffer is approved if neighboring houses are closer than the requirement.
Other changes are removing a ban on Lake Burien boats if public access is approved, clarifying commercial development requirements in shoreline areas and keeping a single-family home in conforming status if a variance is needed for expansion.
The city may accept the changes or request alternative changes. The state DOE must approve any changes for the required shoreline master plan to go into effect.
Burien’s controversial shoreline management plan was hotly debated during city planning commission and city council meetings.
Burien residents also are split on whether public access should be expanded in Burien’s waterfront areas.
In an instant poll held at Burien’s first visioning meeting, 39 percent agreed strongly that public access should be limited to existing parks while 37 percent strongly believed access to the city’s shorelines should be open to all residents.

Shavelle M. Lewis, 21, pleaded guilty to charges of vehicular manslaughter and felony hit-and-run on April 28 in the Sept. 24, 2010 crash on I-5 that killed GT Towing employee William Padilla, according to King County Prosecutors.

According to prosecutors, Lewis will be sentenced on May 20 at the King County Courthouse with a sentencing range of 41 to 54 months (just under 3 ½ years to 4 ½ years).

According to charging documents, Padilla was hooking a disabled vehicle to his tow truck on the southbound I-5 near the Spokane St. exit when Lewis, driving a white 2000 Ford Explorer, came around the corner, lost control of her vehicle and careened across five lanes before striking Padilla. He was killed instantly.

To read the full story of charges brought against Lewis and see a copy of the charging documents, please check out the Herald story, Charges filed in GT Towing driver’s death.

The Seattle Police Department Aggressive Driving Response Team is doing exactly what they said they would do; ticket aggressive drivers. If you look at the average tickets being issued the Response Team is actually allowing people to speed up to 9 miles per hour over the limit.

From the SPD Blotter:

On April 28th officers from the Aggressive Driver Response Team conducted an early morning Speed Emphasis. They issued the following citations:

SW Admiral Way – 30 mph zone

1 at 58 mph

1 at 57 mph

1 at 52 mph

1 at 51 mph

4 at 50 mph

1 at 49 mph

8 at 48 mph

3 at 47 mph

1 at 46 mph

2 at 45 mph

1 Stop Sign violation

2 Cell Phone violations

3 No Proof of Insurance

West Seattle Bridge – 45 mph zone

1 at 66 mph

2 at 65 mph

5 Bus Lane violations

35th Ave SW – 35 mph zone

1 at 54 mph

1 at 48 mph

1 at 47 mph

2 at 46 mph

1 Stop Sign violation

3 No Proof of Insurance

1st Ave South Bridge – 45 mph zone

1 at 68 mph

1 at 66 mph

1 HOV Lane violation

1 No Proof of Insurance

HWY 99 – 50 mph zone

Ratification of a collective bargaining agreement between SeaTac firefighters and the city will be delayed at least two weeks. The firefighters have been working without a contract since the end of 2009.

Councilwoman Pam Fernald asked April 26 that council action on the agreement be put off until the May 10 meeting. She asked that the council convene a private meeting so she could ask questions concerning the contract. Personnel issues are handled in executive sessions with the public barred.

The council split 5-2 on a motion to call an executive session. Councilmen Ralph Shape and Tony Anderson voted against the motion.

Shape said the agreement had already been ratified by firefighters so it would not be possible to amend it. Council members could only vote for or against it.
Fernald replied she had only received the 48-page contract on April 22 and needed more information before voting.

Tony Anderson said it would be difficult to agree on a meeting time within the two-week period when all members could attend. City Attorney Mary Mirante Bartolo said Fernald could set up a meeting attended by any council members who could be there.

Opening in June, Pizzeria 22 at 4217 s.w. College Street, will offer thin crust wood fired pizzas, a first for West Seattle.

The new restaurant, owned by Cary Kemp, will have a full service bar with european wine and beer plus spirits and will offer a range of Italian food including pizzas, calzones and salads.

The name comes from their "sister restaurant in Naples, Italy called Ventidue (Twenty two).

Kemp who as a boy was a carrier for the Ballard News-Tribune began making pizza in 1990 at Paisan on 1st in Belltown. From there he worked at Park Place Cafe, Trattoria Mitchelli's, Pogacha, The Bean Factory, Cafe Flora, and The Laughing Dog Cafe.

The Ballard High School football program has been struggling in the last few years but the newly hired head coach, Joey Thomas, hopes to turn it around.

"We're putting the boom back in Ballard football," Thomas said. "We're going to fight to put a product out there the community can be proud of."

Thomas fears that the community has lost faith in the football team and is taking several steps to get the community excited about football again.

"This isn't Coach Thomas' team, this is the community's team," he said.

Thomas has made appearances at the Ballard Chamber of Commerce, wants the team to take part in this summer's parade, and he's organizing a charity student versus staff game.

As an assistant coach at Kennedy High School for the past three years, Thomas got an idea what a successful program looks like and is prepared to bring it to Ballard.

"It's certainly a challenge and it's not gonna be easy," Thomas recognized. "We're in the toughest conference of the state but there are many small victories to be made along the way."

Thomas retired from NFL this season due to injury and decided to give his full attention to coaching.

Highline Public Schools Support Services, including Nutrition, Facilities, Maintenance, Transportation, and Technology will merge with Business Services under the leadership of Susan Smith Leland, currently chief financial officer for the district. Smith Leland will become assistant superintendent of finance and operations effective July 1.

This move follows the retirement announcement of long-time Assistant Superintendent Geri Fain.

"I have determined the most effective way to move the organization forward is to bring all of the support functions together," said Superintendent John Welch. "To ensure a smooth transition, I have asked Susan and Geri to begin their work together by mid-May. We want to benefit as much as we can from Geri's expertise before she leaves."

"This merger reflects Highline's efforts to operate as efficiently as possible in this time of reduced resources," said Smith Leland. "I look forward to serving our students and their families, our schools, and community and to supporting Dr. Spicciati as he performs the duties of interim superintendent and our board as they take on the task of selecting a new superintendent."

Earlier this month, the city approved a land use application filed by the owners of the Olympic Athletic Club requesting to expand their facilities to include commercial lodging.

Today, the Department of Planning and Development announced that the granted Administrative Conditional Use to allow lodging in a neighborhood Commercial 2 zone has been appealed.

Filed by Michael Kahrs, the appeal expresses concerns about parking and traffic issues the new development might create.

Mr. Kahrs did not want to comment on his appeal.

The OAC intends to change its one-story garage into a four-story building with 29 unit lodging space, 12,800 square feet of fitness space, 2,650 square feet of retail space and below grade parking.

The review board approved the demolition permit and commercial lodging but in response to the appeal, an Appeal Hearing will be held on June 2, 2011 at 09:00 a.m. 

Please visit our past coverage for more information.