January 2012

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Teachers, parents, professionals, school nurses, psychologists, and office workers were released at 11:00 a.m. today for a statewide furlough. At about 1:15 a.m. some teachers gathered with signs in the West Seattle High School Commons. At 1:00 p.m. they joined others from area schools holding signs at the Fauntleroy/Alaska corner and waved as cars drove by, some honking with support. They demonstrated against budget cuts and for the legislature to fully fund education.

Protester and Schmitz Park third grade teacher, Sabrina Storlie, has a son attending her school and another at West Seattle High School.

"Some genius, I'd like to know who, decided we should have furlough days- today, and we also had one at the beginning of the year- because the state didn't have enough money to pay us, so we were forced to leave," said Storlie.

"The worst part about it is the days they chose," added Storlie, a Delridge resident. "We just came off of Christmas break. This is a critical time of year when things get going and the kids are really rolling. Plus, we just had a bunch of snow days. The teachers are trying to catch up.

Press release

Your next visit to Sea-Tac Airport will come with a free upgrade -- to include the sights and sounds of northwest music. The Sea-Tac Airport Music Initiative, Experience the City of Music -- a cooperative effort by the Port of Seattle, Seattle Music Commission and PlayNetwork -- will launch this week to showcase the northwest region’s music culture and enhance the experience of millions of passengers who pass through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport each year.


The Sea-Tac Airport Music Initiative, Experience the City of Music is a comprehensive program that enhances the traveler’s experience by utilizing speakers and screens airport-wide to feature a diverse variety of northwest music from the soulful sounds of Quincy Jones to the poignant lyrics of Eddie Vedder.

Travelers will also hear artist-read public announcements, enjoy curated videos on terminal and baggage claim monitors, and listen to a multi-channel web radio player available through the free airport Wi-Fi network.


Editor's note: Last week's nasty weather not only slowed down society at large, but the criminals as well. As a result, this week's police blotter is very thin. Not the best for reading, but good news for public safety!

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft
2000 blk S. 112th St., 1000 blk S.W. 139th St., 200 blk S. 156th St., 300 blk S.W. 160th, 400 blk S. 156th, 12600 blk 24th Ave. S., 14300 blk 1st Ave. S., 1000 blk S.W. 150th St., 14600 blk 1st Ave. S., 14400 blk 1st Ave. S., 15400 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr., 12400 blk 28th Ave. S., 16200 blk Sylvester Rd., 14400 blk 11th Ave. S.W., 600 blk S.
W. 145th St., 13700 blk Ambaum Blvd., 15400 blk 9th Ave. S.W., 15400 blk Des Moines Memorial Dr., 300 blk S. 128th St., 12000 blk 16th Ave. S., 800 blk S. 136th St., 1000 blk S.W. 139th St., 400 blk S. 160th St., 17600 blk 1st Ave. S., 200 blk S.W. 194th Pl.,800 blk S.W. 174th St.

Residential burglaries and break-ins
200 blk S.W. 129th St., 13400 blk Occidental Ave., 2000 blk S.W. 112th St., 11800 blk 26th Ave. S., 14600 blk 3rd Ave. S.W., 12800 blk 2nd Ave. S., 20600 blk 6th Ave. S.W.

On Wednesday, January 25, the second grade classrooms at Whittier Elementary unveiled a 20-foot-long dragon after working on the art piece since the start of the school year.

In time for the 2012 Chinese Lunar Year, the dragon is a permanent art installation made by the school’s second graders under guidance of artist in residence, Jan Harvey-smith.

Harvey-Smith said that the dragon is a made out of plywood and measures 20 feet in length and five feet high.

“It was cut by a carpenter but the students have spent countless hours painting and stenciling the piece,” Harvey-Smith said. “I’m so proud. The kids did a great job.”

Over 80 second graders worked on the project, each adding a little bit of their personality by making their own stencils.

"It really became a community project with the second grade teachers painting in the clouds and the custodian, Mr. Long, helping them out," said Harvey-Smith.

Harvey-Smith said it was the kids who chose the dragon, and that it represents a celebration of cultures.

The dragon is installed in the hallway between the first and second floors near the second-grade classrooms.

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.

Art
Vino Bello—Artist’s reception, Sheila Lengle. Jan. 20. 6-9 p.m. First 50 visitors receive “swag bag.” 636 S.W. 152nd St. Show runs through April. www.lengleart.com

Normandy Park City Hall--Normandy Park Arts Commission presents “Saints and Sinners,” works by Kelly Lyles. On display in City Council Chambers, 801 S.W. 174th St., during business hours (Monday-Thursday) through Jan. 31. Sponsorship by Arts Commissioner Robert Frey. artscomm@ci.normandy-park.wa.us

Call to artists

Last year Ballard couple Heather and Jefferson decided to eat at, and review, every restaurant and bar in Ballard.

A year and around $4000 later, they have reviewed 82 Ballard restaurants and published the reviews under Ballard Restaurant Project.

"In a way, we're kind of surprised how our project become relatively well known around Ballard. We started it just as a way to get out of our restaurant comfort zone and it turned out to be a good way to get to know Ballard better," said Heather. "Now we really appreciate what a great place Ballard is to live."

Heather said they were surprised by the sheer variety of restaurants Ballard has to offer.

"In Ballard, we have the choice of virtually any ethnic cuisine. Traditional American to Vietnamese to French to Mexican to Middle Eastern and onward. Once the Kangaroo & Kiwi moves into Carnegie’s old spot, Ballard will have every continent except for Antarctica covered food-wise," she said.

Despite the variety of food in Ballard, Heather said the neighborhood good still use a good, mid-range seafood restaurant.

On Wednesday, January 25, 7 p.m., Seattle Channel 21 is hosting "Ask the Mayor" a live Q and A event. You can participate by calling 206-684-8821 or emailaskthemayor@seattle.gov for Mayor Mike McGinn and host Brian Callanan.

They’ll be discussing current city issues and what the Mayor hopes to accomplish over the next 12 months.

• Call 206-684-8821 during the live show from 7-8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25.
• Email: askthemayor@seattle.gov
• Submit a question online: seattlechannel.org/AskTheMayor

• Twitter: @SeattleChannel
• Facebook: facebook.com/SeattleChannel

By Coach Rob Mathison

It has been a season of stiff challenges so far for the Seattle Swagger. The 13-year-old Loyal Heights boys basketball team has a roster of just seven players, and has been pitted against teams filled with double-digit rosters and veteran players. It has been a battle to keep the legs fresh and the games close.

But it has also been a season of opportunity for the Swagger, and despite their record, the team has shown tremendous heart and solid improvement.

“We’ve come a long way, but we have a long way to go,” said guard Michael Johnson.

After a season-low of only two points against a flashy Yesler team, the Swagger rebounded to score 21 points against Rainier the following week, including a season-high of 14 points by Antonio Diaz-Mitchell, a pair of long three-pointers by Josh Brown, the team’s first free-throw by Robert Mathison, and a series of weaving, crowd-pleasing drives to the hoop by both Diaz-Mitchell and Johnson.

Monday night fifteen Ballard writers gathered at the Copper Gate to socialize and discuss ways to collaborate in marketing efforts and exposure. The threat of snow loomed all day, all weekend in fact, causing me to furtively glance out the window every ten minutes.
“I hope it snows a ton,” an obviously childless man said.
“Ugh!” Alison, Jennifer, and I groaned in unison. “Then the kids will be home.”
“I thought you loved snow days,” Alison said to me. “I remember reading your piece last year about buying two pounds of bacon, watching a bunch of kids and giving in to the whole thing.”
“Oh yeah,” I smiled. “That was fun.”
Fond memories of the kids and I sledding, drinking cocoa, and making snowmen slipped me into a parental amnesiac state. You know the one where your nostalgia causes you to only remember the good things (such as the cooing baby) and forget all the horrors (such as birth, changing diapers, and two years of sleepless nights). I should know that whenever I recall an outing with my kids as being “Really fun,” I’m not remembering it in full detail.

Update for Jan. 24
In a followup interview with Sgt. Cindi West from the King County Sheriff's Office, a clearer picture from last night's standoff has emerged:

The Jan. 23 standoff in White Center ended peacefully after a King County deputy kept cell phone communication alive with a suicidal man who had a handgun pressed to his head for several hours, according to KCSO Sgt. Cindi West.

The deputy was able to develop a rapport with the distressed man and kept him from pulling the trigger.

The standoff ultimately ended in White Center around 10:30 p.m. when the man, located in his vehicle and demanding that officers stay away, tried to flee. A patrol officer rammed his vehicle into a fence at 15th Ave S.W. and S.W. 102nd S.W. and SWAT team members were able to safely apprehend and transport the man to Harborview Medical Center for evaluation, West said. (Edit: an ambulance, not King County deputies, took the man to Harborview)

Recounting the ordeal, West said earlier in the evening the man’s wife called 911 to report they had been arguing, possibly over divorce. He left the north Burien home and she feared he was suicidal.