March 2012

The SeaTac Fire Department cannot merge with the Kent Regional Fire Authority but SeaTac lawmakers are looking at contracting with the agency to save costs.

Contracting would be similar to what SeaTac already does with its police department. SeaTac, as well as Burien contract for police services with the King County Sheriff’s Office.

SeaTac already shares a fire chief, fire marshal and firefighter training with Kent.

City officials looked at merging with Kent fire but discovered a legal glitch, according to fire chief Jim Schneider.

Under state law, the Port of Seattle, which operates Sea-Tac International Airport, cannot be levied a “fire benefit charge” on its property, Schneider said. The airport makes up a large portion of the city.

Fire departments assess homeowners and property owners the fire benefit charge to pay for services. Commercial properties are charged at a high rate than family residences.

The Port has its own fire department but in the case of a plane crash or other major incident, the city’s firefighters would also quickly respond, Schneider noted.

Walk-n-Talk organizer Maureen Hoffmann passes along this information about this Sunday’s Burien excursion.

"No fooling, we may have the next Walk-n-Talk in the midst of April Showers. What a great time to test out the reliability of rain slickers and galoshes. (Hmm?)

Sunday, April 1st, we’ll meet up on the grassy knoll at Burien Town Square for our 9th monthly Walk-n-Talk, (held the first Sunday of every month). We’ll gather at 2:00 and start walking at 2:15, rain or shine. Think of it as a chance to talk to people you wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to chat with… and get some exercise and fresh air while you’re talking.

This is a free event open to the entire community, including pets.

For this walk, we’ll have a bit of variation on the Seahurst/Eagle Landing walk we’ve traveled before. The route is 2.98 miles and fairly flat. (Just a bit of a slope at the west end by Eagle Landing Park.)

The walk is meant to go at an easy, comfortable pace for participants and usually goes for a little over an hour. Click on the map below for a larger view, then print it out and bring it along to guide you along the way.

By Eric Mathison
Burien faces two major roadblocks to achieving its goals, especially in the areas of economic development and capitalizing on its diverse population, City Manager Mike Martin noted to city lawmakers on March 26.

Crime is perceived as a big problem and the public school system is viewed as troubled, according to Martin.

To combat these problems, Martin unveiled at the March 26 council study session, a proposed “Kids and Cops Initiative.”

The 6-year initiative, using an increase in utility taxes, would need to be approved by Burien voters.

The first two years involve a “surge” of increased funding for Burien police. Martin proposes spending $1.8 million- $2.3 million to add an additional 8-10 Burien police officers. Another $500,000 would go for discretionary public safety funding.

Martin hopes the surge would change the public’s perception of high crime rates in Burien.

Following the two years of extra funding for police, the focus would shift for the next four years to Burien’s elementary schools where $300,000-$400,000 would be targeted to some of the schools.

press release:
The westbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct between I-5 and SR 99 will be closed three nights next week, Monday through Wednesday, April 2-4, from 10 p.m. each night until 5 a.m. the following morning. This will close direct access to West Seattle via the Spokane Street Viaduct from both northbound and southbound I-5. (Motorists traveling southbound on SR 99 will still be able to access the off-ramp to the West Seattle Bridge.)

Southbound traffic from I-5 wishing to travel to West Seattle should detour by exiting I-5 at S Forest Street, turning right (northbound) onto Sixth Avenue S, then turning left (westbound) at S Lander Street, turning left again (southbound) at First Avenue S, turning right (westbound) at S Hanford Street, turning left (southbound) onto East Marginal Way S, and finally turning right (westbound) onto the lower S Spokane Street roadway and across the swing bridge to West Seattle. Northbound traffic from I-5 wishing to travel to West Seattle should exit the freeway at Sixth Avenue S, and then follow the same detour route outlined above.

When it became clear last summer that she was not going be able make her mortgage payment, Vera Johnson came to a realization. She was going to have to fight it. Her payment on her 30 year mortgage and the valuation on her property was so high that she was facing foreclosure.

As the West Seattle Herald reported in August, Johnson, a single mother of two and owner of Village Green Nursery, had attempted to get Bank of America to adjust her loan, an interest only 7 year ARM. But that process went badly. Repeated attempts to send in the appropriate paperwork were seemingly stymied.

press release:
Seattle Parks and Recreation is pleased to announce the start of the 2012/2013 cycle of the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund. Under the 2008 Levy, this fund allocates $15 million for community initiated park development or property acquisition projects. In the first round, $7 million was allocated; $8 million is available this cycle.

With guidance from the City Council, the Levy Oversight Committee – an advisory board comprised of appointed volunteers – developed the 2012/2013 evaluation criteria, which they will use to assess, nominate, and recommend a package of projects to the Mayor and City Council.

Project proposal letters are due by 4 p.m. on Monday, June 11, 2012, and full project applications are due by 4 p.m. on Monday, September 17, 2012. Because of the tight timeline, Parks cannot accept late proposal letters and applications, and no applications will be accepted without an initial proposal letter.

Twelfth Night Productions is pleased to present its next offering, Love Letters. Love Letters is a funny and poignant play that chronicles a 50-year relationship and sometimes-romance between troubled rich girl Melissa Gardner and the ambitious Andrew Makepeace Ladd III. Their relationship unfolds through a lifetime of letters that span second grade through the trauma of adulthood, marriage, divorce, and middle age and death.

"Love Letters" opens Friday, April 13, and runs April 13, 14, and April 20, 21 at 7:30 PM and April 22nd at 3 PM. Performances will be held at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in West Seattle, 4408 Delridge Way SW. Seattle, 98106. Tickets are $12 for students and seniors and $15 for adults. Love Letters is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

Artistic Director, Mary Spring and her husband, Rick Springer, will take the title roles for the final performance of this run on April 22.

About Twelfth Night Productions

press release:
Construction has been completed at 12 C Line stops, though site amenities are still to be installed at seven of these. None of the RapidRide stations have been installed yet—riders won’t be seeing the larger station shelters until mid-April.

Work is now underway on the following stops:

• California Avenue SW and SW Findlay St – Northbound
• California Avenue SW just north of Fauntleroy Way SW – Northbound
• Fauntleroy Way SW just west of California Avenue SW – Westbound
• 35th Avenue SW and SW Avalon Way – Northbound
• SW Alaska Street and 44th Avenue SW (Alaska Junction Bay 4) – Westbound
• SW Wildwood Place and 45th Avenue SW – Westbound

Daniel Threadgill was sentenced March 28 to 40 years in prison for the brutal murder of Des Moines resident Jennifer Walstrand.

Threadgill, also called “Midas,” has continued to maintain his innocence.

He was convicted of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon. The jury also decided the murder was done with “deliberate cruelty.” The finding led King County Judge Cheryl Carey to give a sentence above the normal range of 20-27 years.

The jury heard testimony that Walstrand was stabbed more than 75 times and stomped so hard that her teeth were knocked out.

Prosecutors offered evidence that Threadgill, who didn’t know Walstrand, killed her because of a request by Araya McMillon, who lived next door to the victim. Prosecutors said McMillon, a prostitute, was upset at the amount of money Walstrand made as a high-end escort. McMillon also believed Walstrand had made remarks to her pimp that resulted in a beating and was instrumental in getting McMillon evicted from her Des Moines town house.

By Anne-Marije Rook

If you’re expecting or thinking about having a baby, finding the right doctor is a pretty good place to start your journey. On April 10th, Swedish Medical Center will be offering an OB Speed Dating event, allowing expecting parents to meet several doctors who deliver at Swedish and get to know them in a fun, low-key environment.

During the event, participants get five-minute one-on-one interviews with each obstetrician or family practice doctor with an OB specialty. If you hit it off with one, then you can make a follow-up appointment when you’re ready to start your care.

Before and after the speed dating interviews, participants can exchange notes with other parents, learn about prenatal care and Swedish classes for expectant and new parents.

The speed dating event will take place on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 from 6 p.m. until 8:15 p.m. at Swedish/Ballard cafeteria, 5300 Tallman Avenue N.W. on the first floor.

Participation is free but registration is requires as space is limited. To register, visit http://www.swedish.org/obspeeddating.