March 2012

Diane Amalea Laxton born May 18, 1957 in West Seattle, Washington, passed away peacefully March 23, 2012 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

Diane was born and raised in West Seattle, attending Gatewood Elementary, Madison Middle School and graduating from West Seattle High, class of 75. After graduation, Diane held numerous jobs, most notably at Pemco Insurance, where she spent thirty-two years. Recently, Diane was employed at Butter London. Diane’s most challenging, yet rewarding role, was caring for others. Over the years, Diane cared for her grandfather, spent twelve years caring for her two nephews and would be at a friend’s side in a moment’s notice. Compassionate, gracious, loving, warm hearted and generous are just a few adjectives that exemplified who Diane was.

press release:
SDOT crews will resurface California Avenue SW between SW Dawson Street and SW Hudson Street from April 3 to April 6, if weather permits. One lane of traffic for each direction of travel will be maintained and sidewalks will remain open.

For information about bus service, look for Rider Alert notices at bus stops, see Metro Online, www.kingcounty.gov/metro, or call (206) 553-3000.

This is a part of SDOT’s annual arterial street paving program funded by the Bridging the Gap transportation initiative.

Ballard:

The Ballard baseball team played against Roosevelt on Monday evening and Senior Caleb
Jaeger was once again dominant for the Beavers, striking out 11.

Jaeger allowed three hits and one run, but he didn't walk a single batter.

Junior Ben Welch paced the Ballard offense, going 4-for-4 with a double, while junior George Chrisafis added a double of his own.

Ballard won 3 to 1.

Soccer:

Ballard spring soccer team faced Woodinville on Tuesday night and tied 1 to 1.

Woodinville got a goal in first but then Hunter Phillip scored on an assist from Tony Ribeiro at the 75 minute mark for the tie.

LAX:

The Ballard girls lacrosse team beat North Kitsap 15 to 7.

Sophia Mora scored 3 goals, and Julia Hanson and Jessica Bryan scored 3 each as well. Goalie Hannah Bretton made 12 saves.

Boys:

The Ballard boys lacrosse team beat Shoreline 15 to 4.

Bowen, Marks, and Schwartzenberger led the scoring with three goals each. And goalie James made 5 saves

As a result of continued fiscal challenges and cuts to Library funding, the City Council is considering placing a Library levy on the Aug. 7, 2012 ballot to supplement city funding. Everyone is welcome to attend a public hearing and address the council on April 3.

The plan reflects the input and priorities of over 39,000 Seattle residents collected over the last two years.

The levy addresses four service areas:

• Increasing Library hours;
• Enhancing the collection of books and materials;
• Improving computer and online services; and
• Maintaining Library buildings.


In addition to restoring and improving services after years of cuts, the levy protects current core services from an estimated $5 million in further cuts in 2013.
 
"We listened carefully to the public at community meetings, focus groups, forums and comments gathered through several surveys," said City Librarian Marcellus Turner in a press release. "This proposed levy package reflects the priorities of our community."
 

We should not be complacent about the impending crisis posed by the increasing expansion of tar sands fuel extraction in Alberta. James Hansen, chief climatologist for NASA, recently stated that it will be “game over for the environment” if the Keystone XL pipeline is approved and these dirty fuels are released into our atmosphere. I say “dirty” not only because they produce 15 to 40 percent more greenhouse gases than conventional oil – but also because of the environmental pillage required to extract them. Tar sands extraction is extremely inefficient, requiring one barrel of energy to harvest every three.
National Geographic describes the process:

“To extract each barrel of oil from a surface mine, the industry must first cut down the forest, then remove an average of two tons of peat and dirt that lie above the oil sands layer, then two tons of the sand itself.”

Claire Anderson expresses herself through writing, public speaking, teaching and even sewing. However she derives her greatest satisfaction helping others express themselves, which is why she leaves Ballard in Friday traffic to travel to the maximum security section of the State prison in Monroe every month. Anderson and another Toastmaster member, Steve Lent, participate in the prison group’s philosophical round table. After the three hour discussion Anderson and Lent are free to leave, unlike inmates with years remaining in their prison sentence.

Accompanying Anderson and Lent on their monthly trip to Monroe Correctional Complex is Anderson’s yellow Labrador, DaVida. The dog is very popular with the prisoners. One man who asked to pet DaVida told Anderson, “I haven’t touched a dog in 20 years.” The dog isn’t along for the inmate’s benefit or as an ice-breaker. She is Anderson’s guide dog. Anderson has been legally blind since an optic stroke when she was 64 years old.

It's one of the best feel-good sports stories of the year -- nationally or locally.

Katie Collier, an 18-year-old prep basketball player, is fighting cancer and beating it, big time.

The 6-foot-3 post player and 2012 University of Washington recruit was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) last September. She played through her senior season despite it. A round of chemotherapy has been successful recently, say news reports.

The Seattle Christian High (Tukwila, Wa.) captain and leading scorer is playing in the McDonald's All-American game Wednesday at the United Center in Chicago, a hallowed place that echoes Michael Jordan, the famed Chicago Bulls' superstar who played there.

The game is being televised nationally on ESPNU (Channel 400 on Comcast).

The locals here, in the South Seattle area, are all atwitter. Owner and operator Bob Comiskey is hosting a viewing party at his local McDonald's restaurant in Tukwila (15210 Pacific Highway South) on Wednesday, starting at 3:30 p.m.

By Kyle Howard

The Kennedy Catholic Lancers made it look easy on Friday, March 23 at home when they hosted the Foster Bulldogs. The Lancers put together some great pitching and hitting to win this game. Matt Hiskan started off the scoring with a solo home run to center. Hiskan also later doubled and scored two runs for the game.

Pitching showed to be a big factor in the win as well. Conner Richardson and Max Larson combined for 10 strikeouts, allowed no runs, and gave up only two hits. The Lancers scored in the first three innings and put together a three run sixth inning to finish off Foster in a 7-0 shutout.

Lancer head coach Donnie Moore said that, “From where we stand in pitching we're ahead in that. We’ve only walked about six people in our first three games. We do need to pick up on hitting, though.”

He is also carrying 19 players on his roster, trying to get a good look at where to put players.

“I need to find one solid lineup and let them run with it,” he said.

All was not lost when the University of San Diego gutted out a 58-47 win over Washington in the quarterfinals of the women's National Invitation Tournament Sunday afternoon in front of 1,140 fans at Hec Edmundson Pavillion.

In winning three straight WNIT games impressively to get the Elite Eight, the Huskies have rediscovered the glory of seasons past. It portends of better things to come for the women's basketball program, which had been reeling after four losing seasons under former coach Talia Jackson.

"Our team has turned the Husky program around and hopefully we (the underclassmen) can keep it going," UW freshman forward Aminah Williams said graciously after her team's tough loss. "I wish all our seniors the best of luck in everything they do in the future. It was great playing with them in my first college (playing) experience. I will never forget them."

Monday, March 19
Baseball
Tyee 10, Evergreen 0
Chad Celestres struck out 12 in a one-hitter this past Monday and also hit 2-for-3 with one RBI.
Roosevelt 12, Foster 2
Foster fell in a non-league game last Monday.
Fastpitch
Tyee 19, Evergreen 9
Evergreen High School of White Center took a 10-run loss to the Totems of SeaTac in a high scoring game Monday.
Caitlin Copehaver, Jordan Kelley and Maddie Kelley all homered for Tyee.
Issaquah 7, Mt. Rainier 1
The Rams were held to one run in a non-league game last Monday.
Ballard 3, Highline 0
It took eight innings to settle last Monday's non-league clash.
Boys soccer
Highline 1, Aub.-Mountainview 1
The Pirates played Auburn-Mountainview to a tie this past Monday.
Eduardo Valdovinos kept goal for Highline.
SCS 3, Cascade Christian 0
Blake Smith recorded the shutout on goal for the Warriors Monday and Grant Fremmerlid scored one goal and two assists.

Tuesday, March 20
Boys soccer
Tyee 5, Evergreen 1
Evergreen absorbed a 5-1 loss to the Totems last Tuesday.
Baseball
Highline 19, Foster 2