June 2011

Starting June 13, Seattle Public Schools will begin conducting its annual school climate survey of all students, school staff and families Districtwide.

The goal is to gather information about learning environments at all District elementary, middle and high schools, including student engagement, academic rigor, discipline and safety, and family involvement. The survey results will assist SPS in determining how to best support the academic needs of all students.

The family survey will be administered via the district's automated SchoolMessenger system, which will allow families to provide feedback using a touch-tone phone response or taking an online survey by email.

The SchoolMessenger Family Survey schedule is as follows:
June 13-20 Families with children in grades K-5
June 14-21 Families with children in grades 6-8
June 15-22 Families with children in grades 9-12

By Christy Wolyniak, Intern

Runners both young and old clung onto their Viking helmets as they raced around Golden Gardens on Sunday in support of Ballard Rotary’s first annual 5k.

“We thought a 5k would be a nice, complimentary event [to the auctions we do every year]. This is our kick off – our opportunity to get [a 5k] off the ground and support the Ballard community,” said event coordinator, Terry Collings.

Proceeds from the event supported the Boys’ and Girls’ Club and the Northwest Senior Center.

“We support the Boys’ and Girls’ Club annually, so we [hoped this event] would appeal to a different demographic,” said Collings.

Around 145 participants arrived at the park bright and early, 25 children among them.

Four friends showed up thanks to their friend Ali Small, as they fought off their grogginess, ready to race in spite of the early start.

“I found out about the event on active.com. I liked this race because it was close and at a good location,” said Ali Small. She said she plans to participate in the Gay Pride Parade and Festival held on June 25-26 as well.

The Alki Point Lighthouse, 3201 Alki Ave SW, one of eight on the Puget Sound is open to the public for the next three months on Saturday and Sunday afternoons until 4:00 p.m. Built in 1913 and still maintained by the Coast Guard, the lighthouse has been fully automated since 1984. Inside the house, you can see old instruments, photographs, and charts of Puget Sound.

By Nancy Woodland, Executive Director of Westside Baby

How well could you parent without diapers? Imagine caring for your precious grandchild with an empty diaper bag. Families in this community ration diapers, rinse out and reuse soiled disposable diapers and stretch one diaper over days. They choose between paying rent, gassing the car or buying diapers. Working parents have to stay home and teen moms must miss school because their day care programs require a full day’s supply of disposable diapers dropped off with the baby in the morning. This is true even in subsidized day care programs. Infants are abused because they scream from the pain of diaper rash. Even if a family in poverty wants to use cloth diapers, detergents and the few Laundromats that will allow dirty diapers in the machines are very expensive.

Pastor for Hope Lutheran Church in West Seattle Keith Eilers is retiring from active ministry and a celebration of his ten years of service to the church and congregation was held Sun, June 12 at the Church and at Seattle Lutheran High School. More than 350 gathered to have lunch and pay tribute to a man that in his decade in the role oversaw many changes for the institution.

Pastor Eilers said that after his last sermon, he was emotionally drained. He spoke about "That the church is really the people. Like at the end of the letter to the Romans, Paul lists a whole bunch of people (…) and I chose that as my text because it's really about the people. It's applying a message to individual lives. That's what the last chapter of my ministry here at Hope is all about. I wanted to focus upon people. I called it Snapshots of Hope. I reminisced about a number of different things, when we remodled and some of the people that were here. I told them there's a story behind each name."

Sunday, June 19th a Father’s Day celebration is planned featuring grilled local meats, fruits and veggies, a free berry ice cream give-away, a drawing for a free Weber Grill, kid’s fruit skewers, free recipes and music by KTandHoops at the West Seattle Farmers Market.

The Market takes place every Sunday in downtown West Seattle (The Junction) on the corner of California and Alaska outdoors in the parking lot behind Key Bank. Hours are 10 am – 2 pm.

Cherries and the season’s first Strawberries are in - plus Lettuce, Greens, Broccoli, Sugar Snaps, Eggs, Pasture-raised Meats and Poultry, Wild Mushrooms, Cider, Honey, Nursery Starts and farm fresh Bouquets.

For more information contact the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance at 206 632-5234 or nfma@seattlefarmersmarkets.org or visit our website at:
www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org

June 12 - 19, 2011

Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance Markets:
University District (UD) – Saturdays, 9 am – 2 pm, YEAR ROUND –
West Seattle (WS) – Sundays, 10 am – 2 pm, YEAR ROUND
Columbia City (CC) – Wednesdays, 3 pm – 7 pm, April 27 – October 19
Broadway Farmers Market – (BW) – Sundays, 11 am – 3:00 pm, May 8 – December 18
Lake City Farmers Market – (LC) – Thursdays, 3 pm – 7 pm – June 2 – October 6
Phinney Farmers Market – (PH) – Fridays, 3 pm – 7 pm – June 3 – October 7
Magnolia Farmers Market (MAG) – Saturdays, 10 am – 2 pm – June 18 – October 8

Locations, Hours, Vendor and Event Info: www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org

New this Week:

*****NEW ITEMS IN ITALICS*****

Strawberries – first of season – Organic - from Homestead Organic Produce in Quincy, WA. and Tiny’s Organic (East Wenatchee). At all markets.
Cherries –Chelans and Tietons (Lyall Farms – Mattawa) at all markets.
Broccoli – first of season – limited supplies – Willie Green’s Organic Farm – at all markets
Herbs: Fresh Sage and Thyme
Cucumbers –Japanese – limited quantities – U-District Market
Sugar Snap Peas
Pea Vines
Wines

It all started in Toronto

Last January 24, Constable Michael Sanguinetti on the Toronto Police Force spoke at a university safety forum and said, "Women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized". He later apologized, but the bitterness remains.

This caused an outrage among many in Canada and America. According to the website SlutWalk Toronto, "As the city’s major protective service, the Toronto Police have perpetuated the myth and stereotype of ‘the slut’, and in doing so have failed us. With sexual assault already a significantly under-reported crime, survivors have now been given even less of a reason to go to the Police, for fear that they could be blamed. Being assaulted isn’t about what you wear; it’s not even about sex; but using a pejorative term to rationalize inexcusable behavior creates an environment in which it’s okay to blame the victim.

UPDATE: The campaign we identified as "Move Seattle Smarter" predated the current campaign, "Protect Seattle Now". We regret the error.

Also, we want to clarify that the $700 million is the total projected from toll fees of $400 million and the Port's promised contribution of $300 million.

Chaos and confusion confront commuters caught in construction between West Seattle and downtown during rush hour these days. So too is the quagmire of questions confronting these same commuters seeking clarity on the removal of the current, aging viaduct while understanding the citizens referendum, initiative, costs, tolling, and taxes on the deep bore tunnel plan. The hole in the ground may be just a hole, but with it come more movable parts than a Rube Goldberg machine.

Two current campaigns are forcing the issue, and pushing the public to quickly choose up sides. Alex Fryer, a West Seattle resident and former spokesman for Mayor Greg Nickels, also of West Seattle, consults for the pro-tunnel campaign "Let's Move Forward". That website declares, "Vote “YES” on Ref. 1!"

The well known Garfield High School Drumline made a very special appearance at The Bridge on 35th s.w. Saturday, June 11 virtually taking over the entire restaurant with powerful drumming from a group of 17 percussionists.

TO SEE A LARGER VERSION OF THE GARFIELD DRUMLINE AT THE BRIDGE CLICK THE LINK ABOVE

Led by West Seattle's Tony Sodano, Garfield's Band and Drumline Director the group first warmed up in the parking lot, to the delight of those outside on the Bridge's patio area who hung on the fence and hooted and cheered with each piece played. Some came out to the parking lot to get a better look at the group which has won numerous competitions and makes 2 appearances a month.

Normally, the group charges between $500 and $2000 for each appearance. If that fee seems high it's important to note that the group has to buy their own drums and other equipment, recently spending more than $17,000.