April 2012

Sunny Moshier Park was the bright setting as the Highline Pirates baseball team calmly concentrated for a 13-0 Seamount League win against Renton on Friday, April 13.

Highline improved its overall record to 9-1 and second place league record to 7-1 with key match ups against league leading Lindbergh (7-0), fourth place Hazen and third place Kennedy Catholic looming on the horizon. Lindbergh defeated Highline 9-4 while HHS edged out Hazen 5-3 in previous encounters this season.

The reasons for the continued success of the Pirates are clear.

"We're always focusing on the details, even when we're in blowout games," said Highline head coach Dave Larson. "Our goal today was having a goose egg which gives us three (goose eggs) in a row. We substitute liberally and find a special competition within the game."

On Friday, the Pirates jumped all over the visitors in the first inning. Jonny Locher led off with a walk and then stole two bases. Combined with Mitch McCartney's base on balls and Jacob Wydick's walk, HHS loaded the bases.

Aviation High School senior Sean Crowley has been appointed to West Point Military Academy by Congressman Rick Larsen. He is the second AHS student to win an appointment to West Point this year, joining classmate Drew Hidalgo who was appointed last month.

Crowley has earned a 4.0 GPA. He was recognized as a National Merit Commended Scholar and earned an academic letter for each year in high school. He serves as secretary the debate team, which competed in national competition last year.

In addition to playing soccer for 12 years, he runs marathons and consistently places in the top 5 in his division. He works part-time and is actively involved in his church.

A Sultan resident, he commutes to school from where he lives during the week at the home of his grandparents, his father's parents, in Tukwila.

Last summer, Sean participated in leadership seminars at both West Point and the Naval Academy.

By Kyle Howard

The Mt. Rainer Rams had their hands full against their South Puget Sound League North DIvision rival Auburn Wednesday, April 12. This game would prove to be mostly defense from both teams.

Auburn picked up an early 1-0 lead with a goal at the 23 minute mark in the first half. Auburn would maintain that lead throughout most of the game.

Mt. Rainier was able to get more shots on goal than Auburn, 12- 9, but great defensive plays by Auburn's goalkeeper David Lopez kept the Rams shutout. Lopez made several outstanding, diving blocks to protect the goal.

With the clock winding down and just two minutes left Mt. Rainier desperately tried to avoid the loss and score before time ran out. At the 1:15 mark Rams Junior forward Isaac Gettis scored to tie the game when it mattered most. With the Ram's good defense and timely goal they pulled off the 1-1 tie.

King County Metro has begun putting signs up at various bus stops around West Seattle to inform bus riders about the coming RapidRide Line C, due to go into service at the end of September.

The signs say:

Service between West Seattle and Downtown Seattle will begin on September 29, 2012.

The C Line will feature all new buses, and new stations, shelters and amenities.

During the construction process, you may notice elements of the new RapidRide C Line appearing. These will include new shelters, real-time bus arrival signs, ORCA card readers and more.

At some bus stops, shelters may be removed or the bus stop moved temporarily as we improve the stop for RapidRide service. It is our intention to minimize the disruption to your bus stop as much as possible.

Fast, Frequent Service

• Service between West Seattle and Downtown Seattle via Fauntleroy Way SW, California Ave. SW, SW Alaska Street and SW Avalon Way
• Service frequency every 10-15 minutes most of the day, seven days a week
• Traffic-signal priority at many intersections keeps your trips quick and consistent

New Buses

Friends of Hicklin Lake (the heavily polluted body of water in White Center’s Lakewood Park) met on April 12 to discuss the idea of installing floating islands planted with native vegetation that could theoretically filter contaminants out of the water and make it safe for recreation once again.

Friends founder Dick Thurnau shared a report from the meeting that he described as a preliminary gathering to get all the facts straight before presenting the idea to King County policymakers and budget allotters.

From Thurnau (edited for brevity):

Friends of Hicklin Lake meeting drew six high profile King County employees showing a great interest in Floating Island technology that we wish to pursue. Also members of NHUAC, Deputy Director of Technology Access Foundation (TAF), store front Deputy and a local resident that stated his family has lived here since 1913 attended.

Update for May 3
Five days remain for West Seattle teenage entrepreneurs Brandon Keller and Tyler Simpson to raise $3000 to turn their SteadyOrbit camera accessory into a business by raising funds on Kickstarter.

If anyone wants to "give big" one more time and help these guys out, here is the link to their Kickstarter page, with information on their goals and how to donate.

Original story on April 16
West Seattle teenagers Brandon Keller (attending Chief Sealth High School) and Tyler Simpson (at Madison Middle School) have developed a dolly-like accessory called SteadyOrbit that helps filmmakers take panning and orbit shots with smaller video cameras, iPhones, Go-Pros and digital cameras.

Seattle rockstar photographer Lance Mercer's first-ever local photo exhibition will be on display Saturday April 21 at Easy Street Records in the West Seattle Junction.

Mercer was Pearl Jam's official photographer from 1991-95, establishing him as a sought after photographer for many other well-known bands including Alice In Chains, Beck, and The Presidents of the United States.

In 1997, he collaborated on a retrospective book of Pearl Jam photographs called "Place/Date," with Seattle photographer Charles Peterson. In 2007, "5X1 Pearl Jam Through the Eye of Lance Mercer" was published.

The event will feature live music from Young Evils at 7:30 and rising guitar legend Reignwolf at 9pm. The event is free and open to all ages.

Press release

What: Earth Day at the Duwamish Longhouse
When: April 21, 2012 at 11:00am-4pm
Where: Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center, 4705 W. Marginal Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106. 206.431.1582 www.duwamishtribe.org
Why: Earth Day at the Duwamish Longhouse. Chief Seattle speaks to our times, "Every part of this earth is sacred to these my people." 11-4pm. Free admission & parking.

11- 4pm--Art Gallery show "Peter Boome: Salish Connections" featuring paintings and prints by one of Washington's most talented Native American artists. Contemplate his explorations in NW Coast design and environmental themes. Take one home.

11 & Noon--Chief Seattle Speaks to Our Times, special showing of the 1992 video. Vi Hilbert translates Dr. Smith's English version of Chief Seattle's Speech into Lushootseed (with English subtitles) in an attempt to recreate as nearly as possible Seattle's original words.

1pm-- Earthquake & Volcano Walk with Brian Atwater, US Geological Survey. Meet at Duwamish Longhouse.

Information from Det. Mark Jamieson with the Seattle Police Department:

A woman was attacked as she walked home after getting off a bus in the evening of April 15th. At approximately 10:20 pm, the woman got off a bus on Delridge Way S.W. and was walking eastbound on S.W. Trenton Street while talking on her cellphone. She suddenly became aware of a suspect behind her, who attacked her and pulled her into an alley. The suspect was armed with a gun and the victim was assaulted. The suspect took the victim’s cell phone and left on foot.

Officers and a K-9 team responded quickly, set up containment, and conducted an extensive area search, but did not locate the suspect. The suspect is described as a black male , mid-late twenties, dark complexion, and medium height. He was described as wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black sweat pants, black basketball shoes, and an orange bandana covering his mouth. He was also described as possibly being high on drugs and having a “foul” body odor. The suspect was armed with a gun.

Sports Roundup
Monday, April 9
Baseball
Nathan Hale 2, Chief Sealth 1
Nathan Hale edged the Seahawks in a low-scoring game this past Monday.

Wednesday, April 11
Baseball
Tyee 7, Evergreen 4
Tyee's Totems took a three-run win over the Wolverines on Wednesday.
Fastpitch
Bainbridge 6, Chief Sealth 4
Bainbridge got the best of Chief Sealth in Wednesday action.
Girls Lacrosse
Evergreen 19, Graham-Kapowsin 9
Sarah Neve tallied four goals to lead the Wolverines to a win Wednesday.

Thursday, April 12
Boys soccer
Chief Sealth 2, Franklin 1
The Seahawks posted a close victory over the Quakers on Thursday to remain undefeated.

Friday, April 13
Kennedy 20, Evergreen 5
Evergreen fell to Kennedy by 15 runs in Friday's fray.