May 2011

Press Release:
In observance of Memorial Day, King County Metro Transit will operate a Sunday schedule on Monday, May 30. Metro offices - including the Customer Information, pass sales and lost and found offices - will be closed on Monday. If your bus does not normally operate on Sunday, it will not operate on Monday.

The West Seattle Water Taxi will operate a Sunday schedule on Memorial Day, as will DART Shuttle routes 773 and 775; the Vashon Water Taxi will not operate on Monday. Both the South Lake Union Streetcar and Sound Transit's Link light rail will operate a Sunday schedule. Sounder trains will not operate on Monday.

In addition to the holiday, there are lots of events over this long weekend. While all traffic could experience delays in event areas, such as Seattle Center and SODO, transit is an excellent option for getting to and from weekend activities. Transit service is often able to take advantage of lanes or travel corridors that are restricted to general purpose traffic. There is lots of transit service to and from this weekend's major event areas.

Mariners & Soccer

West Seattle's Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon released his May 27 newsletter with several handy tips on deterring burglars from identifying your home as an easy target.

The newsletter is attached as a PDF (top of story) and covers crime prevention tips on shrubbery, lighting, tool and ladders, fencing, signage, spare keys, house numbers and steps to take before leaving your home for extended periods.

Known as CPTED (crime prevention through environmental design), Southwest Precinct Community Police Team Officer Jon Kiehn has also covered the topic in detail for West Seattle. You can read more from Officer Kiehn in the following Herald stories:

SLIDESHOW: West Seattle Blockwatch Captains get a field trip on property crime prevention through landscaping

West Seattle Blockwatch Captains learn how to use landscaping to deter crime; meet interim crime prevention coordinator

Des Moines Councilman Dan Sherman announced today (May 27) that he will not be seeking re-election to Position 2 on the Des Moines City Council. Councilmember Sherman started his public service as a community organizer followed by 4 years on the Des Moines Planning Commission and then went on to serve for 16 years on the City Council. He has focused on transportation, public health, human services and municipal facility development.
Dr. Sherman reports that he will be refocusing more time and attention on his psychiatric medical practice as the nation moves into a new era of healthcare. He is also looking forward to spending more time with family, friends, and his well known interests in snow sports and multi-century bicycle rides.
Councilman Sherman said: "I want to thank the many good people of Des Moines who support my focus on open/ethical government, preservation of single family neighborhoods, and financial responsibility. These issues require constant vigilance and I hope a new generation of Des Moines citizens will continue these goals through public service. It has been a privilege and honor to serve for the benefit of our community."

Students from the Ballard High School Biotech Academy joined hundreds of high school students from around the state at Washington State University's Pullman campus last week to compete in the “Imagine Tomorrow” competition.

The annual problem-solving competition surrounding the theme of "Energize the Planet” challenged students to seek new ways to support alternative energy. 

Under guidance from lead teacher, Dr. Dewey Moody, Ballard students won thousands of dollars in prize money for themselves and for the school.
 
Teams were given the option of approaching the challenge of alternative energy from four different angles: behavioral, technological, design, or a multi-disciplinary collaboration. In each category, both students and their schools received monetary awards and certificates.

First place winners in each category split $5,000 among themselves and took home an additional $5,000 for their school. The Second place teams received $3,000 for themselves and $3,000 for their school. The prize money was $1,500 for third place and $1,000 for fourth place.

What’s your question for Seattle City Councilmembers? What will the Council do if voters reject Referendum Number One that relates to the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a deep-bore tunnel? Are Councilmembers in favor of a new law requiring paid sick leave for workers at private companies? What do the Councilmembers think of the Seattle Police Chief’s recent 30-day suspension of a police officer for racially inflammatory language?

The upcoming episode of City Inside/Out: Council Edition features Council President Richard Conlin and Councilmembers Tim Burgess and Sally Bagshaw answering your questions. And host C.R. Douglas will undoubtedly ask a question or two of his own.

Whatever your question is, if you want it answered on TV, reply to this email or write contact@seattlechannel.org. Then tune in Wednesday, June 8, at 7:00 p.m. to The Seattle Channel on Cable 21, to get answers.

West Seattle's martial arts school and training center, Alki Taekwondo, founded in 1982 by Master Steve Coates, tested 10 of its students for their first black belt May 25. The school has 50 to 60 students and is located in the basement of Alki Congregational Church, across the hall from Alki Kid's Place summer and after school care, 6115 Southwest Hinds St.

We covered an Alki Taekwando demonstration last year when Master Chin Ho Lee came to visit, here:

The first three years the students learn about courage, respect and honor," said Coates, whose daughter Amber, 14, and son, Tim, have earned black belts. Amber is going for her 4th degree black belt and part of her training to get it is to run some of the black belt training.

To celebrate Skylark West Seattle's fifth anniversary popular Seattle musician Zach Davidson of Vendetta and Sirens Sister will perform Friday, June 3, 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. $5 cover.

"We opened June 2, 2006," said club owner Jessie Russo, an Alaska Junction resident who is at the club "pretty much every day". Those who attended the recent Taste of West Seattle may have spotted Skylark bartender Roger Kelley mixing Bloody Mary's. He's been with the Skylark from the beginning.

"We're pretty serious about live music," Russo said. "It's not just thrown together. We offer live music six nights a week, sometimes three bands a night. We started charging a cover in January this year. It had always been free, and was kind of our experiment to get people in the door, while trying to be the pioneer live music venue in West Seattle. People did come to West Seattle and didn't have a problem with the location, so we started charging a cover and getting the bands more money, and generally get better shows now, too. Typically admission is $5. Our burlesque shows are $7.

King County Councilmember and West Seattle resident Joe McDermott held his reelection campaign kick-off Thursday night, May 26, at Roxbury Lanes in White Center. He won the District 8 seat for one year when Dow Constantine vacated and became King County Executive. Now he will run for a four-year term. McDermott was introduced by Burien Mayor Joan McGilton. His parents and domestic partner, Michael Culpepper mingled in the crowd.

Said McDermott to a huddled loyal pack of about 50, with more entering the lanes, "We have not only completed the funding package and secured the funding agreements but actually have broken ground on the South Park Bridge (…) Transit, the legislature has given us the opportunity to enact a $20 (annual license) fee that would give us the opportunity to fund about 200,000 hours of bus service across King County that would otherwise have to be eliminated. There will still be cuts to service, but we can make sure people can get to work, to the doctor, to wherever they are going to other regions."

The Pongo Publishing Teen Writing Project is a volunteer, nonprofit effort with Seattle teens who are in jail, on the streets, or leading difficult lives in other ways. Young people are given the outlet of writing poetry to express their trauma. Teens often respond by writing about losses that occurred when they were young children such as the death of a parent, abandonment, neglect, abuse, and a family member's addiction. These leave teens feeling depressed, confused, angry, and prone to substance abuse and destructive acting-out.

North Admiral resident Richard Gold founded Pongo in 1992. He is retired from Microsoft where he authored computer books, and volunteers with 10 other adults in Pongo. Some are teachers, writers, and counselors. Gold was named a Microsoft Integral Fellow by the Microsoft Alumni Association for his work with Pongo. At a banquet last November he was presented a medal by Bill and Melinda Gates, and received $25,000 from the Foundation for Pongo.

Pho My Loi, a Vietnamese pho and noodle restaurant in White Center has a brand new look. Owner Chuong Tran has invested in some new animated LED signage and flags for the three year old business.

It is located at 10439 16th Ave s.w. #A at the corner of 106th and 16th s.w.

Made by his nephew, Lee Anh Duc who operates LNS Neon Sign LLC in Burien the new signage depicts a hot bowl of Pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup with chopsticks, steam rising from the bowl. Red LED lights are animated borders for his front windows. He also added three flags atop the building proclaiming the freshness and healthy nature of his food.

The restaurant is highly rated on Urbanspoon.com and other sites and serves food ranging from Pho, to Bun (a combination bowl with meat, vegetables, vermicelli noodles and broth), as well as Teryaki, and they even offer items like egg rolls in bulk for parties and events.