January 2012

Delyn Kosbab Hoptuit got her dog Korbin as part of the reach that her love of animals includes. She runs Kitty Harbor a rescue, rehab, and adoption facility for cats and kittens on Harbor Avenue (open only during adoption season from June to December) but in 2005 she was working to help find homes for pets left behind by military personnel heading to Iraq.

"They were preparing to euthanize him and I and Diane VanDusen from PURRR Rescue took about 750 cats and dogs from Fort Lewis from 2002 through 2006, and we found homes for all of them. He was one of those dogs, and they said he was obnoxious." Korbin is an unusual breed, a Catahoula Leopard Dog. He's not a pure bred Catahoula according to Hoptuit, he's got some Australian Shepherd DNA too.

by Kyle Howard

Chief Sealth visited West Seattle for a Metro Sound Division boy’s basketball matchup Tuesday night Jan. 31. These two teams have had a long standing rivalry through the years. Last time these teams met Chief Sealth pulled off a 63-59 overtime victory over West Seattle early in the season. Seven players scored in double digits between the two teams that game.

West Seattle was missing their top scorer for this game; LaTrey Newsome who averages 15 points per game was sidelined due to an ankle injury he received Saturday against Rainier Beach. The game played out pretty cleanly, turnovers and fouls were limited on both sides, but Chief Sealth’s ability to get easy, high percentage shots was the key to their victory as they topped West Seattle 63-48.

Chief Sealth’s Pepe Hernandez went wild, living up to his reputation as being an exciting player to watch; Hernandez finished with 21 points and had four dunks for the game. Bronte’ Corbray finished with 15. On West Seattle’s side DeAndre Coulter led the game with 25 points while knocking down three, 3 pointers for the game; Troy Lingle finished with 13.

The 2nd Annual Major Taylor Spin-A-Thon fundraiser is coming back to West Seattle’ s Allstar Fitness on Thursday, Feb. 16 with the goal of raising $15,000 to bring the bicycle program to more high school students in 2012.

The fundraiser will support Cascade Bicycle Club’s Major Taylor Project which “reaches diverse students and provides them with unique opportunities for personal growth and empowerment through cycling,” according to Ed Ewing with Cascade. Last year the fundraiser brought the program to Chief Sealth and Denny students in West Seattle. This year’s proceeds are headed south to create one at Highline High School in Burien and elsewhere in South King County.

The program is named after Marshall “Major” Taylor, a turn-of-the-century African-American bicycle track champion.

Date: Thursday, Feb. 16
Time: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: Allstar Fitness – West Seattle, 2629 S.W. Andover St.

There are four ways to participate:
1) Reserve a bike (in the Allstar spin room) for one, two or all three hours with a minimum donation of $25/hour.
2) ‘Sponsor-a-Spinner’: Collect pledges and ride up to three hours!

The 2nd Annual Major Taylor Spin-A-Thon fundraiser is coming back to West Seattle’ s Allstar Fitness on Thursday, Feb. 16 with the goal of raising $15,000 to bring the bicycle program to more high school students in 2012.

The fundraiser will support Cascade Bicycle Club’s Major Taylor Project which “reaches diverse students and provides them with unique opportunities for personal growth and empowerment through cycling,” according to Ed Ewing with Cascade. Last year the fundraiser brought the program to Chief Sealth and Denny students in West Seattle. This year’s proceeds are headed south to create one at Highline High School in Burien and elsewhere in South King County.

The program is named after Marshall “Major” Taylor, a turn-of-the-century African-American bicycle track champion.

Date: Thursday, Feb. 16
Time: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: Allstar Fitness – West Seattle, 2629 S.W. Andover St.

There are four ways to participate:
1) Reserve a bike (in the Allstar spin room) for one, two or all three hours with a minimum donation of $25/hour.
2) ‘Sponsor-a-Spinner’: Collect pledges and ride up to three hours!

Lou Tice, Chairman and Co-Founder of West Seattle based The Pacific Institute was named one of the Fulcrum Foundation's "2012 Champions of Change" at the Foundation's 10th Annual "Celebration of Light" banquet Friday evening, January 27th, at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Seattle.

Honored for his contributions to Catholic education in Seattle, as well as his international reputation for being a catalyst for change around the world, Lou was joined by, Diane, his wife, their children and grandchildren, and introduced on video by Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll and Sabey Corporation CEO, David Sabey.

The West Seattle Hi-Yu board meeting Monday Jan. 30 focused primarily on the organization's plans for their major fundraising event of the year the Spring Tea and Silent Auction. It takes place Sunday, March, 18 from 2pm to 4:30 pm at the Hall at Fauntleroy.

So far six tables of the 14 available have been confirmed. Each table seats 10.

The board confirmed that they are slightly ahead of schedule with preparations for the event and have 25 items collected or promised so far for the silent auction. They are seeking help from local businesses and individuals for items or services that can be donated for the auction.

Hi-Yu is also actively seeking "Table Captains" who can assist by selling 10 tickets each for the Tea. If you'd like to be one, contact them please.

While any actionable item is appreciated they are hoping for items aimed at female 'Tweens".

If you have an item to donate or would like more information contact info@westseattlehiyu.com.

The menu this year:

Crostini with Brie, Walnut & Carmel
Endive Spears with Goat Cheese, Watercress and Sweet Grapefruit

By David Rosen

A two car accident happened at approximately 2:21 pm at 37th Ave SW and SW Hinds Street. It blocked traffic on 37th SW in both directions for a few minutes but was cleared quickly.

The cause of the accident was not immediately explained.

Emergency crews responded and took the driver of the white car to the hospital.

Phase 2 of the improvements scheduled for Colman Pool at Lincoln Park are now underway. Photographer David Rosen paid an exclusive visit to the work site on Monday February 6 to document the work being done on the 70 year old structure. Phase 1 involved the installation of a vault to take on the back wash water.

If you use the park for your walks you should know that Orca Pacific, the contractor for the work will be using the pathway along the shoreline of Lincoln Park to move all materials and equipment associated with the project. The path to the pool will be busy with construction related traffic each weekday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., with possible work on weekends, through June 30, 2012. The normal opening date for the pool has been delayed by 30 days in order to complete the work

Orca Pacific is in control of this traffic Seattle Parks said they will maintain a high degree of awareness and customer service at all times.

Phase 2 includes some large scale repairs, including replacement of part of the pool deck, pool gutters, and upper section of the pool shell. The contractor will also install a new plaster lining to increase the life expectancy of the pool.

Press release:

The Metropolitan King County Council on Jan. 30 unanimously selected Councilmember Joe McDermott to serve as Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee and to lead the Council’s 2013 budget deliberations.

“Tough choices and a true commitment to reforming county government have placed the County on sound financial footing,” McDermott said. “Sound fiscal management will continue to be my priority as budget chair.”

The Budget Committee maintains oversight of the current year's budget, and is the lead decision-making body during the adoption of the 2013 budget.

“Unfortunately, the County’s coffers will be facing many challenges this year as cuts from the state are absorbed. In all likelihood, we will be forced to make many more tough choices,” McDermott said.

Press release:
Bus riders in south King County can expect to see more transit service this summer, as a result of action taken Jan.30 by the Metropolitan King County Council. The Council adopted Metro Transit’s June 2012 transit service changes, bringing a heavily traveled transit corridor in south King County an infusion of bus service hours.

“Those of us who live in South King County have known for years how lacking we are in transit service,” said Councilmember Julia Patterson who represents South King County. “Under Metro’s new strategic plan, I was pleased to vote for a policy which finally begins to deliver the bus service we so desperately need.”

Metro Transit Route 180 connects Burien, SeaTac, Kent and Auburn. Currently, after the evening commute, the route travels only between Kent and Auburn. With the adopted service changes, Route 180 will received 11,000 additional service hours so the route can continue to serve the whole corridor throughout the night. Metro expects the extension of service between Kent and Burien at night to increase ridership to approximately 4,800 passengers a day.