August 2011

The King County Sheriff’s Office is taking a careful approach to medical marijuana collective garden enforcement and drafting a letter to the County about their concerns over the reopening of Club Evo, (with a new name “Reventon”), the White Center night club with a spotted past, according to KCSO West Precinct Commander Major James Graddon, addressing the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council on August 4.

“It is really unclear to us,” Maj. Graddon said about the Sheriff’s Office approach to medical marijuana collective gardens and businesses making cannabis available to patients. He mentioned Seattle’s recent ordinance that aims to legitimize those businesses, stating, “King County is still struggling with that.”

Maj. Graddon said KCSO will take a careful approach to enforcement, waiting for clearer direction from prosecutors and legislators. He said KCSO will not take the City of Kent approach where the city council put a moratorium on dispensaries, then sent their police force out that same day to raid all operations and seize their property.

press release:
A county-wide fire safety burn ban is declared by the King County Fire Marshal in coordination with the King County Fire Chiefs’ Association. This ban is prompted by ground conditions and forecasts calling for continued dry weather.

This Phase 1 burn ban applies to all outdoor burning except for small recreational fires in established fire pits at approved camp grounds or private property with the owner’s permission. These fires must:

· Be built in a metal or concrete fire pit, such as those typically found in designated campgrounds;
· Grow no larger than three feet across;
· Be located in a clear spot free from any vegetation for at least 10 feet in a horizontal direction, including a 20-foot vertical clearance from overhanging branches; and
· Be attended at all times by an alert individual with immediate access to a shovel and either five gallons of water or a connected and charged water hose.
The use of gas and propane self-contained stoves and barbeques will continue to be allowed under the ban.

The animated comedy Despicable Me starring the voice of Steve Carrell is the West Seattle Outdoor Movie for Aug 6. Featured voices in the film are, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, and Miranda Cosgrove. Made in 2010 by Universal Despicable Me did very well with "Top Critics," made up of critics from the top newspapers and other publications, the film holds an approval rating of 88% based on 32 reviews.

The pre-show entertainment this week is provided by guitarist Bob Rice and his group Mozo playing a mix of classic songs and originals.

West Seattle Outdoor Movies are shown in the courtyard at 4410 California Ave SW between Hotwire Coffee and Dr. Wolff. Bring blankets, chairs family & friends for the 7th year of the West Seattle Outdoor Movies.

All movies start at dusk and are FREE. Gates open at 6:30pm Concessions and raffles too, all proceeds go to charity.

www.wsmovies.org

follow them on twitter.com/westseattlemovies

While you are there, pop into Hotwire Coffee and check out the photographs on display by the West Seattle Herald's own Patrick Robinson.

press release:
SDOT’s contractor working on the Spokane Street Viaduct will close First Avenue South and close two lanes on Fourth Avenue South at Spokane Street during August starting August 8.

The contractor will close First Avenue South at South Spokane Street for five nights, from Monday, August 8 to Friday, August 12. These total closures will begin at 11 p.m. each day, with the roadway back open by 5 a.m. the next morning.

Meanwhile, Fourth Avenue South on either side of the South Spokane Street intersection will be reduced to one lane in each direction nightly from Sunday, August 7 until Wednesday, August 31 beginning at 9 p.m. (11 p.m. on event nights) each day and wrap up by 5 a.m., except for the nights of August 19 to 21, when the lanes will remain open.

The overnight work was rescheduled from last week and is necessary to paint new steel girders.

See www.seattle.gov/spokane for more details on this project.

press release:
Wednesday, August 10th at 12 noon the Kiwanis of West Seattle will hear from special guest, Seattle City Council member Jean Godden. Jean is running for re-election to Seattle City Council Position Number 1.

Join us for our lunch meeting and hear about what Jean stands for as well learning about her accomplishments on the city Council. Lunch is $8. Please RSVP to Warren Lawless ewl@westseattle.com or 206-938-8032.

Kiwanis Club of West Seattle

We are a group of folks from West Seattle who are dedicated to community service.

Please join us!
Meeting times and contact info:
Our club meets at Be’s Café at 4509 California Ave SW in the Alaska Junction – south of Radio Shack on California Ave – on the 1st, 3rd and 4th Wednesdays of the month for Breakfast at 7am; and Lunch on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 12 noon.
Phone: 206-938-8032
e-mail: WestSeattleKiwanis@live.com
Web site: www.kiwaniswestseattle.org
www.facebook.com/WestSeattleKiwanis

Note from Aurora Lora, Executive Director, PK-12 Schools:

Regarding the Chief Sealth interim principal announcement:

"I want to thank all of the staff, students, parents, community partners, and community members who provided input for the Chief Sealth principal search. We had approximately 65 people attend the community meeting, 110 people fill out the online survey, and 25 people attend office hours on Tuesday. I have also received numerous e-mails over the past two weeks from additional people wanting to provide input.

After meeting with the superintendent this week to go over the input gathered from the Chief Sealth community, the superintendent has asked me to let everyone know that she will make the interim principal announcement on Monday, August 8th.

Thank you. Have a great weekend.

Aurora Lora
Executive Director, PK-12 Schools
Seattle Public Schools

Marine Hills of Federal Way won the day at this year's Seattle Summer Swimming League All-City championships at the Klahaya Pool in Edmonds, scoring 316.5 points ahead of the 274 of the Aquaclub.
But Highline School District and White Center area teams were not to be denied.

Normandy Park slipped in a sixth place finish with 121 points and Arbor Heights of White Center took 10th with a score of 103. Olympic View, also of Normandy Park, placed 12th with 77 points and Gregory Seahurst of Burien scored a 15th place finish with 53 points.

Area first place finishes at the Tuesday, Aug. 2 meet started off with Megan Kawaguchi, Anna Burdine, Natalie Mutter and Sophia Cassam of Normandy Park taking the girls age 13-14 200-yard medley relay in a time of 1 minute, 57.13 seconds.

Kawaguchi then won the 100 individual medley in a time of 1:00.43 and Emily Zacharias of Gregory Seahurst captured first in the girls age 9-10 50 free in 27.62. Ty Lindblom of the Arbor Heights Club won the boys age 9-10 50 backstroke in 36.36 and Kawaguchi won the girls age 13-14 race in 27.78.

SLIDESHOW & SECOND UPDATE: 7:30 p.m.

Click on photo for SLIDESHOW

Our thanks to Kara & Greg Whittaker, owners, Alki Kayak Tours, for their help.

The Duwamish Waterway Park was a family affair Saturday afternoon with cultural dance and music featured on two stages, a dunk tank, boat rides, and tacos and hot dogs served.

According to event emcee Paulina Lopez, a South Park resident, 600 hot dogs and 500 tamales were eaten.

"This is the most awesome fest in the city," said B.J. Cummings, an advisor with the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition on policy issues, and a fundraiser. "There is no place in the world I'd rather be than on the banks of the Duwamish River.

She added with tongue in cheek, "My heart is in the river. Well, my heart is in the river, but kind of in the mud at the bottom. And until that mud is cleaned up my heart is going to be trapped down there."

Seattle Parks and Recreation took down the construction fencing at the new beach adventure play area at Golden Gardens Park today, and it’s now open for play.

The new play area features a large pirate ship climbing structure, swings, and climbing nets strung from a high dome called the “Explorer Dome.” The surrounding landscape features dune grass, large rocks and new pathways that blend with the beach atmosphere.

This project relocated the play area to a location between the bathhouse and the parking lot. It provides improved access and allows for a larger play area that does not conflict with traffic. Parks is planning an opening celebration with pirates and family fun on Monday, August 29, 2011 at 5 p.m.

Funded by the 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy, this project is one of 12 play area renovations that Parks has completed since the Levy passed. The Levy funds a total of 23 play area renovations. ParentMap highlights the Seward Park Play area, here, and provides a link to five other Levy-renovated playgrounds.

UPDATE 8:40 p.m.

Click on photo for SLIDESHOW

A sea of black t-shirts and bicycle tires hugged the Admiral Way sidewalk in both directions from the Shipwreck Tavern as the Annual Dead Baby Downhill took off tonight at 7:00 p.m. Bikers also lined up across the street near Jack-In-The-Box. It appeared to be an engineless Sturgis, as bicycle riders took over the sidewalks and a lane or two of street pavement too. Excitement, and the scent of weed, was in the air.

Around the first turn, near the Admiral overlook a guy slipped and took a serious spill on his bike. His head was a bloody mess. Firetrucks and medics soon came to the rescue. Lesser mishaps like flat tires and the loss of assorted bike parts flung on to the road stopping some participants in their tracks as they sadly watched their comrades zip by onward toward Georgetown. A huge street party awaited them there.