April 2012

The sunset on Thursday April 12 was rich and warm and was appreciated by people at Seahurst Park in Burien, one of whom Teddy Embaye was there with his 2 year old nephew and taking pictures with his iPhone.

We went down to the beach to catch the last rays of the sun as they were reflected off bands of texture in the water but Embaye had photos from earlier that were also worth seeing in the slideshow.

CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE MORE

David Kelly, Explorer West''s drama teacher, presented "Explorer West Middle School's One Act Festival" Thursday, April 12, in the school gym.

This year's program is different as it features original, one act plays written by the 7th grade students. In addition to writing and acting in the plays, the EW students are again responsible for the costumes, props, sets, assistant directing, and other crew responsibilities.

One highlight, Explorer West Middle School worked with ACT Theatre in their Young Playwrights Program (YPP) as part of their drama curriculum. Across Seattle, 400 students submitted plays hoping they'd be produced at ACT Theatre.

SLIDESHOW: Click on above photo to see more

Explorer West was one of two middle schools invited to participate in a mostly high school-based contest with 16 schools in Puget Sound, the Young Playwrights Festival. At the YPP Celebration Event on Monday (12/12/11), the top 47 plays were honored with an honorable mention and eight were selected for a full production at ACT Theatre.

The family of Benjamin "Ben" Ray Munoz, 32, are asking for the public's help in locating him, and the King County Sheriff Department urges anyone with information about Munoz to contact them at the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311 or 9-1-1 (24 hours)

Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS with information. Rewards are offered up to $1,000.

He has been missing for almost one year. You can visit a Facebook Page created for him here,

According to King County Sheriff's Detectives, Ben Munoz lived with his father, Sephy, in the 11000 block of 1st Ave SW, in the Top Hat neighborhood of unincorporated King County. On April 29, 2011, his father heard Ben come home about 2:00 AM and go to bed. He saw Ben briefly the next morning before leaving for the day. No one has seen or heard from Ben since.

Ben is 5’5” tall, 200 lbs with black hair. He has numerous tattoos on his arms and across his shoulders. He did not have a car.

The family of Benjamin "Ben" Ray Munoz, 32, are asking for the public's help in locating him, and the King County Sheriff Department urges anyone with information about Munoz to contact them at the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311 or 9-1-1 (24 hours)

Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS with information. Rewards are offered up to $1,000.

He has been missing for almost one year. You can visit a Facebook Page created for him here,

According to King County Sheriff's Detectives, Ben Munoz lived with his father, Sephy, in the 11000 block of 1st Ave SW, in the Top Hat neighborhood of unincorporated King County. On April 29, 2011, his father heard Ben come home about 2:00 AM and go to bed. He saw Ben briefly the next morning before leaving for the day. No one has seen or heard from Ben since.

Ben is 5’5” tall, 200 lbs with black hair. He has numerous tattoos on his arms and across his shoulders. He did not have a car.

Skeptics of SeaTac’s city government didn’t prevail in the November elections but they are still keeping a close eye on City Council actions.

An ordinance to allow City Manager Todd Cutts more latitude in approving city expenses narrowly passed April 10 by a 4-3 vote.

And for the second meeting in a row, approval of travel expenses and reimbursement expenses for city officials who attended a National League of Cities (NLC) convention in Washington D.C. was pulled off the consent agenda for a more thorough discussion.

Previously, Cutts could approve expenses that did not exceed $5,000. The council on its consent agenda approved expenses from $5,000 to $35,000. Expenses over $50,000 were dealt with on the regular agenda.
The proposed ordinance authorized the city manager to OK expenses up to $50,000 without council approval. The council still would approve expenses over that limit.

The expenses include supplies and equipment, public works contracts and annual leases or rental of city facilities.

Update for April 14
Delridge residents showed for the 2012 Spring Cleaning event on April 14 to pick up garbage along Delridge Way S.W. and plant flowers in select locations.

The event was organized by North Delridge Neighborhood Council member Lisa Taylor-Whitley.

"I think it's important to show that you care about your neighborhood," she said. "I know that studies have shown that neighborhoods that are well kept have less crime and I know that is an issue in this neighborhood - crime and tagging and dumping. I think the neighbors who care about the neighborhood want to come out and show people, 'Hey, you can't do that here.' We take pride in this neighborhood, we love this neighborhood and that is why we are coming out today."

Original post on April 12
Press release from North Delridge Neighborhood Council

Please mark your calendars for the yearly “Spring Cleaning” of Delridge on April 14th from 10am-noon. Volunteers will meet at the Delridge Community Center, 4501 Delridge Way SW, and break into groups from there.

Port of Seattle press release:

With the Seattle Mariners about to open their 2012 home season, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is reminding fans to save money, traffic frustration and emissions with its half-price parking offer for all weekend games.

The 50 percent discount offer also includes all Friday through Sunday Seahawk, Sounder, Husky, and Cougar game days for parking in Terminal Direct to connect with Link Light Rail to the stadium district. [Remember, UW football plays in CenturyLink Field this year during their stadium renovation and WSU hosts Oregon for their annual west-side game.]
 


Terminal Direct parking at Sea-Tac Airport offers the most convenient access to the airport terminal and quick connection to Link Light Rail. You’ll park on the fourth floor of the airport garage, an easy walk to the pedestrian bridge leading to the SeaTac/Airport Station.



Insurance agents usually show up after the damage is done, but Verne Valentine of the Verne J. Valentine Farmer's Insurance Agency helped save the day as fire broke out on an apartment balcony above his business on April 12.

A full fire response call went out to police and fire dispatch at 2:40 p.m. with early information that flames were shooting out of a third story apartment on the 2200 block of California Ave S.W.

Valentine was alerted to the blaze, grabbed his fire extinguisher, ran upstairs and put the fire out before it caused serious harm. Firefighters on the scene credited Valentine with saving the apartment.

The blaze was caused by garbage catching on fire.

"This is living proof that insurance works," Valentine said in the aftermath.

Sili Savusa took over the executive director position for the White Center Community Development Association in April after Aileen Balahadia resigned.

The West Seattle Herald/White Center News spoke with Savusa about her long history working as an advocate for White Center families, and her goals leading CDA into the future.

Savusa’s history
Sili Savusa was the first of her parent’s children born in Seattle. Her parents moved to the area from Samoa in the mid-1950s at the pleading of her father’s brother (who was in the Navy, stationed in Bremerton).
Once in Seattle, Savusa said her parents quickly became advocates for the Samoan community, instilling a public service ethic in her at an early age.

“My mom and dad were activists in the Samoan community,” she said. “I remember growing up, people were always in our house … as people transition to the Puget Sound they came through our home. As I grew up parents helped organize relief efforts for hurricanes back home in Samoa.”

Sili Savusa took over the executive director position for the White Center Community Development Association in April after Aileen Balahadia resigned.

The West Seattle Herald/White Center News spoke with Savusa about her long history working as an advocate for White Center families, and her goals leading CDA into the future.

Savusa’s history
Sili Savusa was the first of her parent’s children born in Seattle. Her parents moved to the area from Samoa in the mid-1950s at the pleading of her father’s brother (who was in the Navy, stationed in Bremerton).

Once in Seattle, Savusa said her parents quickly became advocates for the Samoan community, instilling a public service ethic in her at an early age.

“My mom and dad were activists in the Samoan community,” she said. “I remember growing up, people were always in our house … as people transition to the Puget Sound they came through our home. As I grew up parents helped organize relief efforts for hurricanes back home in Samoa.”