February 2012

Press release:

South King Firefighters agreed to wage concession giving back a 4.1% salary increase in an effort to help South King Fire & Rescue maintain fire and emergency medical services for the citizens of Federal Way and Des Moines.

The concessions by South King Firefighters Union, IAFF Local 2024 will save the fire department approximately $500,000. This money can be used to maintain current fire department response times, staffing and equipment.

The department budget has dropped 22% from 2009 due to the economic downturn in local property values requiring the department to reduce 23 operations and staff positions over the past 2 years including a full time aid car operating out of a central Federal Way Fire Station.

"We know the community is struggling to support public safety financially, this was our chance to give back in order to maintain service levels" said Ryan Herrera, President of South King Firefighters Union, Local 2024.

At the end of last year, Norwegian reality TV hosts, Thomas Gullestad and Esben Selvig, traveled across America in search of Norwegian heritage for their new show, Uncle America. Specifically, they were tracking down Americans who are related to Norwegian immigrants and modern Norwegian celebrities.

And of course it was during their stop in Seattle that they found what they were looking for.

In addition to finding a cult group that still worship the Norse god Odin, the TV show producers also found a Ballardite with lineage to a very powerful Norwegian.

After months of researching the Elster family heritage, Ballard High School graduate Christoff Elster received a phone call inviting him to participate in the reality TV show.

Elster, a former Ballard High and UW Cheer Captain, and current head coach of the Co-ed UW Cheer Squad, is not shy in front of a camera and agreed to go on the adventure.

The jetlag had barely faded when the BNT spoke with Elster about his whirlwind trip to Norway and meeting his famous distant relative.

Over the next two weekends, the intersection of 8th Ave NW and NW 85th St will be closed to traffic so the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) can rebuild the intersection. The intersection will be closed in all directions and detour routes will be clearly posted.

The work dates (weather dependent) are Friday, Feb 3, to Monday, Feb 6, and Friday, Feb 10, to Monday, Feb 13.

There will be 24-hour continuous work between 6 p.m. on Friday to 5 a.m. on Monday but the noisy work activities will be limited between the hours of 10 p.m. and 9 a.m.

Traffic:

- Follow signed detour routes; avoid cutting through neighborhood streets

- Eastbound detours will remain in place on NW 85th St between 15th Ave NW and 8th Ave NW

- Some Metro bus routes will be affected by this work—look for Rider Alert notices at the bus stops, see reroute information later this week on Metro Online www.kingcounty.gov/metro, or call (206) 553-3000.

Just about one year after the West Seattle Herald told Tyrone Curry's story, the national recognition continues to grow.

Press release from Highline Schools

Highline School Board Member Tyrone Curry has been named to a list of “100 History Makers in the Making” by theGrio.com. The list “honors Black History Month by highlighting the next generation of African-American history makers and industry leaders who have the potential to make a difference in the lives of all Americans,” according to a press release issued by theGrio.com.

TheGrio.com, a division of NBC News, is a daily online news and opinion platform devoted to delivering stories and perspectives that reflect and affect African-American audiences.

Federal USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon and USDA Regional Administrator Allen Ng will visit SeaTac’s Madrona Elementary on Monday to recognize four Highline elementary schools that received Silver honors in the Healthy US Schools Challenge.
Concannon and Ng will eat a school lunch with students in the cafeteria.
Four Highline elementary schools have received recognition in the Healthier US School Challenge (HUSSC). Beverly Park, Madrona, Southern Heights and White Center Heights Elementary schools are all being recognized for creating healthier school environments through promotion of good nutrition and physical activities.

To qualify for recognition, schools must meet stringent criteria for the school meal program, nutrition education, physical activity and school policies which support a wellness environment, with efforts to:
improve the nutritional quality of the foods served,
provide students with nutrition education, and
provide students with physical education and opportunities for physical activity.

Press release

Andrew Beal, a 9th grader from Aviation High School in Des Moines, took time away from his studies last week to participate in the Senate Page Program at the Washington State Legislature.

Beal was one of 17 students ages 14 to 16 that took part in the program during the third week of the 2012 legislative session.

Pages deliver mail, run errands, present the flag and learn parliamentary procedures first hand. Students also try their hand at drafting a bill and engage in a mock session. Beal wrote a bill that would take football out of high school. “One in 10 high school football players receives a concussion from playing football,” said Beal. “It is just too dangerous.”

Beal was sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser from the 33rd Legislative District. “The page program offers a rare, firsthand opportunity to learn about state government,” said Keiser. “I am glad Andy was able to take advantage of it.”

“I really enjoyed the page program,” said Beal. “My favorite part was being able to walk around the Capitol Campus and deliver mail to people. I also enjoyed looking at the buildings. There is some amazing architecture here.”

Just about one year after the Highline Times told Tyrone Curry's story, the national recognition continues to grow.

Press release

Highline School Board Member Tyrone Curry has been named to a list of “100 History Makers in the Making” by theGrio.com. The list “honors Black History Month by highlighting the next generation of African-American history makers and industry leaders who have the potential to make a difference in the lives of all Americans,” according to a press release issued by theGrio.com.

TheGrio.com, a division of NBC News, is a daily online news and opinion platform devoted to delivering stories and perspectives that reflect and affect African-American audiences.

Curry joins 99 other individuals from across 10 professional fields, including business, education, sports, science and the environment, media, service and activism, politics, health, pop culture and the arts. Individuals from “TheGrio’s 100” will be profiled on NBC News programs, including “NBC Nightly News,” “Today,” MSNBC, CNBC, and msnbc.com through the end of February.

Press release:

Burien Arts’ Fourth Annual Classic Jazz Festival on Saturday March 10th from 3pm-10pm will offer a Big Program at its' new location, The Landmark Event Center in Des Moines.

There will be more music with eleven bands participating in two music venues, and more styles of music including Straight Ahead Jazz classics, early and mid -20thcentury jazz styles, from Dixieland, Gypsy Jazz and Western Swing to Big Band Swing.

This great jazz experience includes: Concerts, Dancing, Food and Drink, and Jam Sessions! The bands include:

• Del Rey & Matt Weiner (www.hobemianrecoreds.com)\
• Echoes of Harlem Orchestra
• Gail Pettis (www.gailpettis.com)
• Glenn Crytzer & His Syncopators (www.syncopators.net)
• Holotradband (www.holotraband.com)
• The Jangles (www.janglesband.com)
• Jennifer Scott Trio (www.jeffiferscott.ca)
• Mount Rainier High School Jazz Band (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9GU9oAQ6dI)
• Pearl Django (www.pearldjango.com)
• Susan Pascal with Greta Matassa (www.susanpascal.com and www.gretamatassa.com)
• Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band. (www.uptownlowdownjazz.com)

Press release:

Glass Expressions are receiving Makeover Burien's first makeover on the weekend of February 25-27. It is sponsored by Discover Burien.

Makeover Burien volunteers have been working with owners Kathy Johnson and Lael Smidt Bennet on concept, design and strategies to make over their studio and retail space in three days!

Glass Expressions is more than a working studio where over 1500 students have studied glass making for over past 25 years, it houses a beautiful and somewhat unique gift shop. The challenge for the Makeover Burien group is to keep the look and feeling of a working studio, while re-organizing the retail store operation.

From the Seattle Police Blotter -Posted by Detective Renee Witt

The victim is a licensed medical marijuana grower and user. On February 1st at 9:45 p.m., he answered a knock at the door of his home in the 8600 block of 24 Av SW. Upon opening the door, he was suddenly “bum rushed” by four males who stormed inside. One of the suspects described as a white male was armed with a handgun and threw the victim down onto the ground.

The victim was ordered to place his arms behind his back and he was immediately handcuffed. The suspects demanded money and marijuana. The suspect placed a knee in the victim’s back holding him down onto the ground, while the others went through the house. The suspect repeatedly told him not to move or he would shoot him. The victim believes the suspects were inside his residence for approximately ten minutes and because he thought they all left the house, he got up and called 911.