January 2012

Press release
KeyBank, United Way of King County and Highline Community College are coming together to help tax payers breathe easier by hosting “Super Refund Saturday” on Feb. 4.

This one-day event will provide free income tax preparation to low- and moderate-income (LMI) wage earners, especially those who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Free tax return assistance will also be available for small businesses that report on a Schedule C.

EITC pays eligible low- and moderate-income taxpayers amounts ranging up to $5,751. However, 15 to 25 percent of eligible households miss out on EITC benefits they are entitled to receive, income tax experts report.

Key’s Community Development Banking is sponsoring simultaneous “Super Refund Saturdays” in 16 other cities across the U.S., in partnership with local nonprofits.

Each year, hundreds of KeyBank employees volunteer their time to help local taxpayers file their taxes and claim the EITC.

Last year, 280 KeyBank staff members across the country assisted 1,500 households in processing $3.6 million in tax refunds.

Press release
The Seattle Aquarium is looking for volunteer naturalists to educate visitors this summer at beaches in Burien, Des Moines and other areas.

Volunteers will attend an orientation session on March 13, and receive training from marine and interpretative experts on five weekday evenings (3/20, 4/4, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1) and three weekend days (3/25, 4/7, 5/6).

Once trained, volunteers spend three summer days educating visitors about beach ecology and beach etiquette at Carkeek Park, Constellation Park (Alki), Des Moines Beach Park, Golden Gardens, Lincoln Park, Olympic Sculpture Park Beach, Redondo Beach, Richmond Beach or Seahurst Park.

To sign up or get more information, email beachnaturalist@seattleaquarium.org or call 206-386-4365.

Press release
Highline Community College in Des Moines offers its first course in solar technology this month.

Solar 101, a class on solar hot water technology, gives students both the knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to start a career in the field of eco-friendly technology.

“There was a need for this training in the industry and we responded,” said Judy Perry, executive director of Community Education at Highline. “Employers have already expressed interest in hiring our students that are trained to use the equipment and technology, which allows our communities to help reduce the carbon footprint.”

Highline is the second community college in the state to offer this training, modeling it after a successful program offered at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Washington.

A record 32.8 million passengers passed through Seattle-Tacoma Airport in 2011, a four percent increase from 2010.

Included in that number were nearly 3 million international passengers, the most ever in the airport’s history.



“Sea-Tac is a vital gateway to the region for business travelers and tourists alike,” said Port of Seattle commission president Gael Tarleton. “We are committed to supporting its growth while balancing the needs of both the environment and the community.

“

The record number of passengers matters because it means more jobs,” said CEO Tay Yoshitani. “Nearly 90,000 people have jobs that are generated by airport activities. Steady growth, coupled with a commitment to environmental sustainability, is very good news for the region.



The total 2011 passenger figure of 32,819,796 beat the previous record set in 2008, and far exceeded the one percent increase the port had forecasted for the year. 


Deadline for receiving items for Community Calendar is 5 p.m. Wednesday for the following week’s Times/News. Events are published based on timeliness and space availability. Email submissions to: hteditor@robinsonnews.com Items can be accepted from nonprofit groups and government agencies only. Others may call Dona Ozier at 206-708-1378 for inclusion in our “Out & About” advertising section.

Valentine’s Events
Burien Daddy & Daughter Valentine’s Ball—Feb. 4. 5:30-7 p.m. or 7:30-9 p.m. Burien Community Center, 14700 6th Ave. S.W. Registration, $27 one father/one daughter. $5 each additional father or daughter. Pre-registration required. 206-988-3700 or BurienParks.net

Destination Des Moines Sweetheart Ball—Feb. 11 Landmark on the Sound, 23660 Marine View Dr. S. 6:30-11 p.m. Entertainment by Joey Jewell and his Orchestra with a tribute to Frank Sinatra and friends. Tickets, $55. destinationdesmoineswa.org

King County Council unanimously adopted Metro Transit’s transit service changes on Monday —the first service adjustments since the adoption of the County’s Transit Strategic Plan.

The changes reflect the goals of the Strategic Plan by allocating service hours to higher-performing bus routes to address overcrowding, on-time performance, and adding service to underserved corridors with the goal of making the overall bus system more productive.

Ten routes were eliminated and five routes will have reduced service but these 8,000 hours will be reallocated to address overcrowded routes, including route 44.

Route 44 connects Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford and the University District and has an estimated ridership of 6,287 people.

Anyone who has taken the 44 during rush hour on a weekday knows just how overcrowded these buses can be and that's why Metro will be adding 1,300 service hours to route 44 on weekdays.

Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Carkeek Watershed Community Action Project (CWCAC) need volunteer salmon feeders for the 2012 salmon supplementation project in Carkeek Park.

One of the things that make the park unique is that Piper’s Creek runs through the park and supports salmon runs each fall. These salmon begin life raised in a small pond in the park. There, tiny fry from the Suquamish Tribal fish hatchery learn the smell and taste of Carkeek’s creek water. Volunteers feed more than 50,000 Chum Salmon fry three times a day between February and May.

“Salmon duty” takes just 30 minutes at least once a week. Schedules are flexible and fish feeders attend a one hour training. The training for spring fish feeders will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 11.

Interested volunteers should call Nancy Malmgren with CWCAC at 206-363-4116. Every little bit helps, and volunteers can see the results of their work when the salmon return in November.

For more information on the salmon project, please see http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/salmon/chum/viewing/pipes_crk.html.

There are only three games left in the regular season for the Ballard basketball teams and tonight's games against Garfield will mark the last home game for senior players.

Seniors will be honored with a small ceremony between the JV and varsity games.

On the varsity boys team, coach William Rodgers and his team will be saying goodbye to 
Brad Baker, Domisi Thrash, Jr. , Hudson Sylte , Jake Devine and Luke Beutjer.



The girls team will be saying goodbye to Keina Ishiyama and Emma Suchland.

The girls varsity plays at 6:30 p.m. and the boys will follow at 8 p.m.

The last two regular season games will be on the road against Issaquah on Thursday, Feb 2, and Bothell on Saturday, Feb 4.

UPDATE 2:30-
The Rachel Marie, forced out of service for the morning runs across Elliott Bay has been repaired and resumes service beginning with the 3:45 pm run from Pier 50 to West Seatttle.

Press release:
Jan. 30, 9:05 p.m.- Service on the West Seattle-downtown Seattle route of the King County Water Taxi has been canceled for Tuesday morning, Jan. 31 while a mechanical problem on the Rachel Marie is being repaired. We will post an update on the Water Taxi website, www.kingcounty.gov/watertaxi, and send a service alert to subscribers when we know when service will resume.

For alternative transportation, a number of Metro bus routes operate between West Seattle and downtown Seattle, including the following:

Route 37 (Harbor Avenue, Alki, Beach Drive, W Seattle Junction) provides peak-period service on weekdays only, traveling toward downtown from approximately 5:20 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and returning to West Seattle from approximately 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Route 37 stops at Seacrest Park. In downtown Seattle, its closest stop to Pier 50 is on Second Avenue at Marion Street.

Supermarket killing sentence
The second defendant in a fatal shooting in the parking lot of a Yakima supermarket was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison for manslaughter. Ezra Williams Swann, 25, of Tukwila originally faced multiple charges of first-degree murder and assault in connection with the Feb. 27, 2010, slaying of James Kilby. Swann pleaded guilty last week to first-degree manslaughter. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors agreed to recommend the low end of the sentencing range of 78-102 months in prison. Earlier this month, fellow defendant Jordan Dior Daisy, 23, of Seattle was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his guilty plea to a charge of second-degree murder. Kilby, 27, of Union Gap was fatally shot while sitting in a parked car outside Wray's supermarket in Yakima. Daisy's plea came mid-trial, during which testimony suggested Kilby was shot after a friend tried to rip off Daisy and Swann during a drug deal.

4 men armed with a gun and bats rob White Center Pawn Shop