January 2012

By Cassandra Baker, Intern

7:00 a.m. on January 9th. 83rd block of Greenwood Ave N

A man arrived at work on the morning of January 9th to find that his store had been burglarized overnight. The burglary occurred between 10:00 p.m. on the 8th and 7:00 a.m. on the 9th. The store owner arrived at work to find that the front door had been broken with a brick. The suspect then stole cash out of the cash register. The victim said that he had left the register key in the key slot of the register drawer. Everything else in the store appeared to be untouched, and no fingerprints were found at the scene.

10:47 p.m. on January 6th. 85th block of 11th Ave NW

A couple called police after finding a suspicious-looking bloodstain on a sliding door leading to their son’s room. The victims said that they found new nicks and scratches on the locking mechanism and stated that they believed that someone had attempted to force the lock open. The unknown suspect(s) did not gain entry into the home. The responding officer took blood samples at the scene for analysis.

3:15 a.m. on January 6th. 24th block of NW 80th St

UPDATE, JUNE 14:

Lifelong White Center resident Aileen Sison was confirmed as District 8 Civil Rights Commissioner June 12 by three King County Council members of the Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee for a three year term. They included West Seattle resident Joe McDermott, Larry Gossett, District 2, and Kathy Lambert, District 3.

Sison is a community organizer and John L. Scott real estate agent who specializes in West Seattle, White Center, and Burien properties.

"They asked me how to bridge the racial disparity due to the economic condition," she said. "Another gentleman was being confirmed with me."

She is referring to Justin Walsh, Esq. He will be representing Council District 4 and replacing Heather Villanueva.

This coming Monday is officially the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. Volunteer opportunities this entire weekend abound, including these

After a long struggle, legislation was signed in 1983 creating a federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The federal holiday was first observed in 1986, making 2011 the 25th anniversary of the King federal holiday.

Press release:

Global to Local (G2L), an unprecedented public-private partnership focused on addressing health disparities in the cities of SeaTac and Tukwila is hosting an open house event Wednesday, Jan. 18th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Family Resource Center, 4040 S. 188th St., Suite 100 in SeaTac.

Following its conceptualization in 2009, G2L has brought together public health experts, private health-care providers, and global health specialists to improve the health of underserved populations in King County.

These organizations came together to implement a multi-year commitment to provide resources such as staffing and funding to develop local programs that will help improve health among some of the most underserved populations in the County.

At the Jan. 18th open house, Global to Local staff and leadership will introduce G2L’s new space, highlight 2011 accomplishments, take a short tour of the HealthPoint Community Clinic upstairs and share information with community members and elected officials.

Press release:

Highline Public Schools refinanced another portion of its school construction bonds this week, saving local property owners $1.7 million in taxes. This is the second time this school year the district has refinanced bonds to take advantage of lower interest rates.

The first set of bonds refinanced in November saved taxpayers $3.7 million. This week’s transaction brings the total savings to $5.4 million. That means the district will not need to collect the entire amount approved by voters in 2002.

Refinancing bonds is similar to refinancing a home mortgage. Locking in a lower interest rate reduces the overall cost of paying back the bonds, and the savings stays in the pockets of property owners.

“We have been watching interest rates over the past several months, looking for opportunities to save the public some money,” says Highline Assistant Superintendent Susan Smith Leland.
“We were fortunate to seize two windows when interest rates were very favorable.”

“This is just good stewardship of taxpayer dollars,” says Interim Superintendent Alan Spicciati.

By John Jinneman, UW News Lab

A University of Washington landscape architecture class will be studying Ballard's much discussed 15th Avenue transit corridor as Metro looks to replace critical bus routes with RapidRide.

At this month's Ballard District Council meeting, Steve Cohn, who is on the project's advisory team, presented the project and explained that the students are looking at designing bus stops along the RapidRide D-line service, which would replace the No. 15 bus running between downtown and Crown Hill through Queen Anne, Interbay and Ballard.

"It's a group of students that actually go out and study neighborhoods and study real life issues and come up with some ideas on how to approach them," Cohn said.

On Friday, Jan. 13, Cohn and others will meet with the students to get a better idea of what the students have learned about the Ballard area and the bus stops they focus on.

The students will present their final projects to a council committee on March 14.

By Kyle Howard, Photos by Kurt Howard

An SPSL North Division match-up between the two first place teams took place Tuesday night, Jan. 10, when Kent-Meridian visited Mt. Rainier to break the tie. The Kent-Meridian Royals came in seeking revenge against the Rams for their opening game loss on their home court earlier this season. This time Kent Meridian was able to get it done with a 75-73 victory and now they stand alone in first place in the division.

The Royals came out shooting, going three for nine from three-point range, giving them a 21-11 lead at the end of the first quarter. Mt. Rainier quickly bounced back, fighting their way to close the gap with easy shots and three-point shooting. The Rams got five steals and made three of four three pointers, outscoring the Royals 22-15. Mt. Rainer guard Adrian Davis sunk back-to-back three’s at the end of the second quarter, getting the Rams within three at the half with the score of 36-33.

FEB. 23 UPDATE

Former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels announced his run for Secretary of State today. Also in the race are Democratic state legislators Zack Hudgins and James Kastama, and former Democratic lawmaker Kathleen Drew, also Republican, Thurston County Auditor Kim Wyman, campaigning to succeed Reed, who has held the office since 2000.

Nickels was urged to run by state Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz, and has hired Democratic consultant Christian Sinderman.

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Former Seattle mayor and North Admiral resident Greg Nickels may run for Secretary of State. He shared some of his thoughts on the matter with the West Seattle Herald.

Nickels, 56, a Democrat, was legislative assistant to Seattle City Council member and future mayor Norm Rice from 1979 to 1987. He was elected to the King County Council in 1987, defeating longtime incumbent Bob Grieve, and reelected in 1991, 1995 and 1999. In 2001, he was elected Mayor of Seattle and was re-elected in 2005. Nickels ran for a third term in 2009, but he failed to advance to the general election after coming in third place in the primary election held in August 2009.

Thirty-three Highline teachers who are newly national board certified were honored Jan. 11 at the Highline Public Schools board meeting.
With a total of 117, ten percent of Highline teachers are now nationally board certified. In 2010, 29 Highline teachers were added to the nationally certified ranks.
Board vice president Bernie Dorsey noted the total beat the goal set by the board.
Of the 33 new members, 14 are elementary teachers; 2, middle school; 16, high school and one works at district headquarters.
The certification process includes creating a professional portfolio and a vigorous peer-review assessment.
The teachers are expected to take leadership roles and attain advanced degrees.
Fifteen Highline teachers have completed national board certified facilitator training and six are currently helping candidates going through the process.

At noon today the 25th annual King County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration took place at Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall.

West Seattle residents attending included King County Executive Dow Constantine, who spoke, King County Council Member Joe McDermott, and King County District Court's Chief Presiding Judge Barbara Linde. Attending from White Center were soon-to-be King County District 8 Civil Rights Commissioner Aileen Sison with her mother, Erlinda Aparis Sison. (We will follow up shortly with a story about Aileen's new post.)

The theme for 2012: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"

2012 marks the 25th year that King County and its employees will honor the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and celebrate his vision of an America offering opportunity for all. The public was invited to join King County employees at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle for the county's Silver Anniversary celebration.