September 2011

Tyler Simpson and Vince Paddon, both 13 and Madison Middle School 7th graders, and former Madison student, Brandon Keller, 14, now a Sealth High School freshman, are friends, colleagues and entrepreneurs. You might say the youngsters are starting up before they start up a company. Together they attended the prestigious annual DEMO Conference at the Hyatt in Santa Clara, CA, Sept. 12-14.

Over 1,000 attend the event where startup companies pitch their ideas to large tech companies including Microsoft, Apple, and "angels"- millionaire and billionaire investors, all searching for the next Groupon or Facebook. The press was there, too, and that's where these three West Seattle teens come in. They obtained press passes and interviewed 20 of the 80 business reps there for their tech reviews on their YouTube series thatapplegeek and their website. www.theintek.com.

"We film our reviews in my house down in this studio where we built this really nice set," said Simpson, who lives near the South Seattle Community College. "We all work together writing reviews and blog posts on our sites. We're very young and our reviews are professionally done."

By David Rosen

CLICK THE ABOVE PHOTO TO SEE MORE.

Seal Sitters are keeping a close eye on a baby seal pup that has perched itself on the beach North of Seacrest Park in West Seattle on September 16.

The area around the seal pup is taped off by the Seal Sitters so that no one can disturb or scare it.

The seal pup has moved around quite a bit in the past few days. Just the other day the seal pup was around the Don Armeni boat launch along Harbor Avenue but apparently decided it was too noisy so it left and ended up on the beach South of Seacrest Park.

The main reason why the seal pups rest on the beach is so that they can get their much-needed rest and also to get warm from the rocks that the sun heats up. They are often left alone for long periods of time until their mother returns for them.

The Missionary Position, a West Seattle band, perform tonight, 9:00pm - midnight at the Feedback Lounge
6451 California Ave. SW, in the Morgan Junction.

The band is inviting the public to Join them for a live filming of songs from Diamonds in a Dead Sky "and our forthcoming sophomore album, Consequences."

21+, No Cover.

"We're here at the Feedback Lounge featuring the Missionary Position, producing a live DVD," said West Seattle videographer Jamie Chamberlin. "Everything's going to be shot here. Today we're shooting inserts and close shots we'll cut to with tonight's live material."

The West Seattle Herald has featured Chamberlin in articles about his filming projects with ZZ Top, Duff McKagan, and West Seattle's Villains of Yesterday.

"I play guitar and sing in the Missionary Position, I like to say," said Jeff Angell. "I live in South Park. Ben Anderson, our keyboard player, lives in Fauntleroy. Ben and I helped Jeff put this place together," he said of the Feedback Lounge and co-owner Jeff Gilbert. "We did carpentry, plumbing, concrete, spiritual advisory, relationship counseling. We kicked in on the vibe," he grinned.

The Highline Music4Life program (www.HighlineMusic4Life.org) instrument drive is on Sept. 17 and if you have an unused musical instrument you are urged to donate it the program to provide public school students with the instruments and supplies they need to participate in music programs.

You can bring your instrument (flutes, clarinets and other woodwind instruments are in high demand) to the Music4Life booth at their booth at the Des Moines Farmers Market on Saturday Sept. 17 from 10 am to 2 pm.

Other collection locations (during normal business hours) are
Des Moines Key Bank at 22033 Marine View Drive South
Burien Windermere Real Estate office at 401 s.w. 152nd
Kennelly Keys in Tukwila at 200 Andover Park East

For more information contact David Endicott at David@davidendicott.us

In February, Denny International Middle School Principal Jeff Clark announced that one of his two Assistant Principals, Chanda Oatis had received the Principals Association of Seattle Schools Middle School/K-8 Assistant Principal of the Year award.

Now she's won another one.

He shared the news via email:

It is a great pleasure to share with you that Chanda E. Oatis, Denny International Middle School Assistant Principal, has been selected by the Association of Washington Middle Level Principals as the Washington State Assistant Principal of the Year! Congratulations, Ms. Oatis! We are extremely proud of you and appreciate the phenomenal leadership you provide for our scholars, staff, and community every day!

Sincerely,

Jeff Clark, Principal
Denny International Middle School

Press release:

Help the nonprofit CARES OF BURIEN rescue 60-plus cats that were living with one person in Burien. Adopt one of these cats in need of a family and the usual adoption fee will be waived--or become a "foster human."

CARES, which provides animal control services for the City of Burien, initiated the rescue because the overwhelming number of cats has become an issue.

With the owner's agreement, CARES will remove the cats eight at a time and take them to the nonprofit Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project for spaying, neutering, checkup and rabies vaccination. The first appointments have been set for Oct. 3 and Oct. 6, and the cats will need homes immediately afterward.

CARES volunteers say the cats they have come into contact with so far have been very friendly and loving despite their circumstances. The cats spend time outside as well as indoors.

Due to the critical nature of finding homes for so many cats, including several kittens, CARES is waiving the normal $60 adoption fee. Since adoption fees help fund CARES' work, anyone who wishes to donate the fee to CARES is greatly appreciated.

The West Seattle Community Orchestra has issued an update to their fall schedule, necessitated by minor construction changes at Chief Sealth International High School. They expect the changes to be short term.

Schedule for the next two weeks is as follows:

The Debut Orchestra will rehearse as originally planned September 20, 5:30PM to 6:45PM in the Chief Sealth High School Choir room, (#206), no changes for this group. The Intermediate Orchestra (Symphonette) on September 20th and 27th will rehearse 7PM to 8:15PM in the Chief Sealth High School Choir room, (#206). The Symphony Orchestra is cancelled for September 20th; will rehearse on September 27th, 7PM-8:45 PM with location to be determined. However, Symphony members may come in to Chief Sealth to register on September 20, though music may not be available until September 27.

Schedules will revert to regularly planned times by October rehearsals.

If you are interested in joining the orchestra or haven’t completed your online registration go to www.wscorchestras.org. Registration is also available on-site, though online registration is preferred.

Jack Miller, owner of Husky Deli was presented with the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle Everyday Hero Award at their weekly meeting on Wednesday September 14.

Miller's donations on a regular basis have supported Kiwanis service projects, and Miller will again be slicing the ham for the Annual Kiwanis Community Pancake Breakfast, taking place Saturday December 3, 2011.

Husky Deli has been family owned and operated since 1932, and is well known for its ice cream and deli
sandwiches. Husky Deli, a community icon is one of West Seattle's oldest establishments and the Miller family
members continue to be active in the community.

The Kiwanis Everyday Hero Award honors people whose value to the community has gone unnoticed or
unappreciated. Kiwanis Club president West Niver said, “We are thrilled to recognize Jack and his
family for their commitment to West Seattle”.

By Cassandra Baker, Intern

11:40 a.m. on September 14th. 56th block of NW 24th St

A Ballard bank reported that it had been robbed on the morning of September 14th. Officers arrived at the scene and found that the two suspects had fled. Police interviewed numerous witnesses, and one said that he saw the suspects change clothes. Another reported seeing the suspects get into a cab. Officers contacted the cab company and learned that the suspects had been dropped off at a motel on the 24th block of Aurora Ave N. Several units, including SWAT, K-9, and Robbery Detectives, went to the motel and caught both suspects after they tried to sneak out of the motel. The suspects are set to be booked into King County Jail on robbery charges.

3:43 p.m. on September 9th. 83rd block of Dibble Ave NW

By Chris Foster, Intern

The Ballard men’s golf team fell to Issaquah on Wednesday at Snoqualmie Falls golf course by 17 strokes, at a score of 181 to 198.

Team captain Michael Day provided a silver lining however, finishing first at 2-under par with a score of 34.

Volleyball

The Beaver volleyball team took home a victory Wednesday night against Eastlake by a score of 3 to 2, thanks to some standout performances.

Annie Allen led the team with 17 kills, followed closely by Deanna Myers with 15. Liza Berg added 6 kills, along with 5 blocks, while Monique Marquez totaled 43 assists. The Beavers will look to duplicate their success when they face Eastlake again next Monday, September 20th, at home.

Tennis

The men’s tennis team, looking to build on Tuesday's win against Inglemoor, took on Eastlake on Thursday afternoon at the Eastlake tennis courts. The Beavers fell short unfortunately, losing 7 to 0.

Adlai Nissen and Ethan Lidell battled hard in the second set, losing 7 to 6, while Fallen Richard and Toby Dunkelburg also were defeated.

Today’s games: