February 2012

WNC & Associates, Inc. (WNC), a national investor in urban renewal and affordable housing projects, has provided $8 million in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) financing to Navos Mental Health Solutions for the completion of a 52,400-square-foot behavioral health care campus in Burien.

The two-building campus will facilitate the nonprofit health agency's relocation from its existing Burien facility near the flight path for the third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport.

"The completion of this new facility will enable Navos to sustain and expand its dedication to its clientele in King County," said David Shafer, executive vice president of WNC. "The new facility, with its increased capacity and leading edge clinical systems, enables Navos to offer an even higher level of care to its patients and keeps vital jobs in the city of Burien."

The LEED Gold Certified Navos campus will include two buildings located at 1210 S.W. 136th St. and 1115-1127 S.W. 134th St.

A team from Pacific Middle School in Des Moines took fourth place in the Washington State Future City Regional Competition. The team of Nathan Schulz, Charlie Brandt and Kyle Evanger competed against nineteen teams from across the region, including five other teams from Pacific.

Future City is a national competition in which teams of middle school students design and build models of cities set at least 150 years in the future. The competition is part of National Engineering Week held in February each year.

This is the fourth year Pacific has competed, but the first time a team made it to the finals.

“We are very proud of Nathan, Charlie and Kyle and their accomplishments. They did an excellent job in their presentation,” says Sandy Gady, who teaches Design and Engineering at Pacific.

The project introduces students to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) concepts, as well as Career and Technical Education skills such as working successfully in groups, time management, and clear communication.

Press release
Misael Salmeron from Highline High School in Burien and Miranda Winter from Mount Rainier High School in Des Moines have been selected to receive full tuition awards through the Act Six Leadership and Scholarship Initiative.

Misael and Miranda were chosen through a rigorous three-month competition from among nearly 1,000 applicants for their distinctive leadership, academic potential, and commitment to making a difference in their communities.

Miseal will attend Trinity Lutheran College in Everett. Miranda is headed to Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. The scholarship pays full tuition for four years at private Northwest colleges and universities.

Act Six seeks to develop urban and community leaders to be agents of transformation on campus and in their home communities. Two previously selected Act Six scholars have been elected as student-body presidents and scholars have been involved in numerous other leadership roles on campus and in the community.

Press release
Are you interested in learning more about your ancestors and where they came from? Do you need help in figuring out how and where to start?

The Highline Historical Society, in conjunction with the South King County Genealogical Society, is holding an introductory series of classes for people interested in researching their family tree.

The classes will take place at the Family History Center at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 14020 Ambaum Blvd. S.W. at 1:30 p.m. on three successive Saturdays. The dates are Feb. 25, March 3 and March 10.

Each session will last two hours and will be led by genealogy experts Winona Laird and David Liesse. Among the topics discussed will be record types, databases, software, and more.

For more information, visit the Highline Historical Society at http://www.highlinehistory.org or call 206-246-6354. Requested donation for the classes is $40, with checks to be made out to the Highline Historical Society.

To pre-register for the class, contact the society at 206-246-6354.

Ten neighbors on South 186th Street, private road in SeaTac, don't want Serena Homes and Serena Constructions to be taking over our private road street! This is all about money and it's going to hurt neighbors, their property values and property taxes will go up.

On Dec. 13, 2011 the 2 subdivided lots were sold to Serena Homes by Windermere.

Once Serena Homes builds two huge Indian culture houses, like "museums", they'll sell them for profit.

This street will never be the same! And it will never be peace and quiet!

People I talked to told me it's impossible for Serena Homes to build big houses on this street.

To imagine, this private road is 11-foot wide and not paved.

Wouldn't you think Serena Homes would be in touch with neighbors before they bought the subdivided lots? NO, Serena Homes has NOT communicated with 10 neighbors about their plans.

Two or 3 months from now, a treasured 25-foot tall garage on one of the short plats, is going to be demolished by Serena Homes to build a huge Indian-culture museum house on it.

Students from the Ballard area have been named to the Dean's List at the University of Washington for
the past Autumn Quarter.

To qualify for the Dean's List, a student must have completed at least 12 graded credits and have a grade
point average of at least 3.50 (out of 4). Students are notified that they have achieved this distinction
when they receive their grades for the quarter.

Congrats, students!

Rebecca Lynn Adamec, senior
Elizabeth Rose Allison, senior
Aleksander Fjaerestad, senior
Kelsey Ann Anderson, senior
Grace Kathryne Arends, freshman
Lilia Arturovna Asriyants, senior
Lilia Rose Bannister, freshman
Cameron R Basden, junior
Sylvana Juliette Bendana, senior
Mark Quevedo Bensadon, senior
Eric Ronald Bensley, senior
Christopher Allen Berg, senior
Allyssa Karrynne Berger,junior
Margaret Evelyn Elizabeth, senior
Enina K Bogdan, senior
Yekaterina Aleksandrovna, senior
Chanelle Sonje Braswell, freshman
Nathan William Bright, junior
Tyler Leigh Britton, senior
Delaney Curran Brummet, sophomore
Christine Jin Mi Byrne, senior
Kenji Stave Campbell, freshman
Holly Jeane Candage, senior
Megan Michelle Chaplin, sophomore

Seattle Police reports that there has been an increase in violent crime recently in many of the city's neighborhoods. The Seattle Police Department views this increase as a public safety emergency.

To date, the Seattle Police Department is investigating nine homicides, and many shootings that could have easily become homicides, including one in Ballard.

Seattle Police detectives are investigating each and every one of these incidents, but they cannot solve these crimes alone. Investigators need the public’s assistance with information and tips if they are to solve cases.

Anyone with information on any of these crimes is urged to call the Seattle Police via the Homicide/Assault Tip Line at (206) 233-5000. Callers may remain anonymous if they wish.

In an effort to curb this recent increase in violence, the SPD is implementing violence prevention emphasis patrols in every precinct of the city. The dedicated emphasis patrols will work collaboratively with the communities and other stake holders to ensure that residents and visitors can live without fear.

Wednesday, February 22, was Losar, the Tibetan New Year, and dozens of people gathered at the Sakya Monastery in Greenwood for a Free Tibet march and rally.

The march went from the monastery to Westlake Park via 15th Avenue and the Ballard Bridge. People carried "Free Tibet" and "China out of Tibet" signs and cheered when cars honked as they passed by.

Dozens more joined the marchers in Westlake Park where protest and prayer was held for several hours.

Update for March 22
Anthony Haroldlee Smith's sentencing for second degree murder in the shooting death of Sweetheart Failautusi, originally scheduled for March 23, has been delayed according to the King County Prosecutor's Office.

Sentencing will occur on April 13 at 2 p.m. before Judge Mary Yu, King County Courthouse, courtroom W-928.

Guilty plea in White Center murder of Sweetheart Failautusi (Feb. 22)
On Feb. 17, 25-year-old Anthony Haroldlee Smith pleaded guilty to second degree murder in the Aug. 16 shooting death of 23-year-old Sweetheart Failautusi, according to King County Prosecutors.

Smith faces 11 to 19.5 years in prison and prosecutors say both the county and defense council will recommend a sentence of just over 15 years when Smith is sentenced on March 23 at 1:45 p.m. before King County Judge Mary Yu.

Smith wrote the following confession to the court:

Seattle is off to a bad start when it comes to violent crime.

With nine homicides this year (including one in West Seattle: the shooting death of 36-year-old Micheal Travis Hood on Jan. 21) and 11 additional aggravated assaults that resulted in injury, SPD Detectives are asking for the public's help in solving the unresolved crimes.

A table of this years violent crimes is included as a link above.

Press release from Det. Jeff Kappel:
Recently there has been an increase in violent crime in many of our neighborhoods. The Seattle Police Department views this increase as a public safety emergency.

To date, the Seattle Police Department is investigating nine homicides, and many shootings that could have easily become homicides.

Seattle Police detectives are investigating each and every one of these incidents, but they cannot solve these crimes alone. Investigators need the public’s assistance with information and tips if they are to solve cases.