April 2012

“We must teach our students that they can be architects of the future, rather than its victims.” - Buckminster Fuller, architect and philosopher

That was the quote use by Explorer West Middle School teacher Ben Wheeler on April 26 to explain the driving force behind the sustainability curriculum he has taught EW students for the past six years, and the words he shared with 16 Japanese middle school teachers touring United States schools with sustainability curricula.

Called the Japan-U.S. Teacher Exchange Program for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), the exchange brought Japanese teachers to the States in April for a tour of schools “to learn about ESD efforts and strengthen ESD curricula in both countries.” In June up to 24 U.S. teachers will travel to Japan to tour their schools for the same purpose (although Wheeler said he will not make the trip).

Since the 1950’s the Highline area has been in a tug of war over its form of government and what we expect from government.

First to incorporate, in the area, was Normandy Park, 1953. Next, Des Moines incorporated in 1959. The people of both cities incorporated because they wanted to control their own futures.

Few people know this but long ago Seattle originally had eyes on the area all the way down to about 160th as evidenced by the current boundaries of Seattle City Light in Burien.

Annexation was brought up for Burien (and surrounding areas) in 1954, 1960, and 1984. Each time the vote was shot down because among other reasons the city would have started off as the 3rd largest (at the time). The earliest iterations of “Burien” would have included the areas now known as Burien, North Highline and large chunks of SeaTac. Interestingly enough, my area of Burien (Manhattan/Woodside) was expected to incorporate into Normandy Park. Instead we incorporated into Burien in 1999.

By Cassandra Baker

1:45 p.m. on April 22nd. NW 54th St and 9th Ave NW

Police responded to reports of a robbery at Gilman Playfield on the afternoon of April 22nd. The victim said that he and the suspect, a friend, had been having a dispute over the past few days. The victim said that he arrived at the playfield and the suspect was there. The suspect told the victim to stay four feet away from him, so the victim moved away. The victim said that he was reading the newspaper when the suspect came up and yelled at him, punched him in the forehead, and took his backpack. The backpack contained $90, a phone charger, and clothing. The suspect then left the scene in his vehicle. The victim told the responding officer that he was not injured. A witness at the playfield said that he saw the suspect take the backpack but did not see the suspect punch the victim.

2:31 a.m. on April 19th. 46th block of Shilshole Ave NW

Update for June 26
West Seattle resident Emily Neely is wrapping up her humanitarian stint in India, providing eye care to residents without prior access.

Here is Emily's report from June 19:

I am finishing up my final days here at the Kalinga Eye Hospital. The power goes in and out, so the internet is very touchy. It has been a very rewarding experience. In the morning a team will leave the hospital fairly early to do an eye camp. I have been to two eye camps- one in a very rural village of subsistence farmers and the other in an outlying village.

There is publicity ahead of time, so the local people know the screening will happen. Anyone that can benefit from cataract surgery is then brought to the hospital, has surgery after lunch and is transported back to their home the following day. Also local people can come to the clinic in the am to have a screening. Additionally, the clinic offers a variety of eye services.

Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) reports that the third and final weekend closure of the Ballard Bridge, scheduled for April 28-29, will no longer be necessary. Crews were able to take advantage of the good weather last weekend and completed the tasks ahead of schedule.

The SDOT bridge maintenance project is expected to be complete by the end of May 2012.

The contractor expects to have the west side of the bridge completed by April 27th, ending the southbound lane and west sidewalk closures. There will be additional northbound lane and east sidewalk closures, beginning April 30th, but they will open for the afternoon commute between 3:00 and 8:00 p.m..

Please note, the timing of sidewalk closures is not tied to lane closures and the contractor may close the sidewalks at any time except during the PM commute noted above. Sidewalks will be open throughout the weekend unless the contractor chooses to work over the weekend.

The Ballard Bascule Bridge Painting Project will preserve the useful life of the structure and is funded by the Bridging the Gap voter-approved transportation initiative.

SLIDESHOW, Click on photo for more

While the Feedback Lounge in the West Seattle Morgan Junction celebrated its third birthday Wednesday night, April 25, Shadowland, at the rival intersection just to the north, the Alaska Junction, was also hopping as West Seattle filmmaker Jamie Chamberlin was celebrating his birthday, too.

In addition to some of Chamberlin's friends, including Feedback Lounge co-workers Bradi Jones and Leslie Johnston, a collection of well-known and up-and-coming musicians gigged in his honor. They included Shadowland owner and musician Ben Jenkins joined by Jay Cates, both of Bend, Scotty Olson of Heart, Alice in Chains,Parker Lundgren of Queensryche, Andrew McKeag of The Presidents of the United States, James Germain, and newcomer Amanda Hardy.

press release:
The Seattle Department of Transportation will be inspecting the Fauntleroy Expressway bridge deck on April 30th between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The inspection team will establish short-term lane closures of the right hand lane using truck-mounted traffic warning devices.

The inspection will begin near West Seattle and move westbound. The inspection team will make short-term (15 minutes) stops at any given location along the bridge deck. After completing the westbound route the team will then inspect eastbound, toward Downtown Seattle, also along the right hand lane. The entire inspection will be completed by 3:00 p.m.

These closures are required as part of the seismic retrofit of the Fauntleroy Expressway, to make it more likely to withstand the force of a major earthquake. The work is funded by the “Bridging the Gap” transportation levy approved by Seattle voters in November 2006.

For more information and a map of the detour, visit SDOT’s project Web site, http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/bridge_rehab_fauntleroy.htm .

Update: The Highline School Board meeting tonight to discuss public comments made by board member Susan Goding disparaging academic rigor at North Highline’s Cascade Middle School has been canceled or postponed.

Interim Superintendent Alan Spicciati explained that an executive session had been publicized for tonight. However, since Goding requested a public meeting, the district needs to give 48 hours advance notice before holding such a meeting.

Here’s our previous coverage:

The board will hold a meeting concerning board member Susan Goding tonight at 5 p.m. at district headquarters, 15675 Ambaum Blvd. S.W. The meeting is set as an executive session but Goding said she has the right to change it to a public meeting.

In an email to the Times/News, Goding said other board members felt comments she had made at a previous board meeting about lack of academic rigor at Cascade Middle in North Highline “were an illegal attack or something.

“They say I should have quietly brought the problem to the Interim Superintendent (Alan Spicciati.)

“Also I posted the comments on my blog, which they also find illegal.”

Newest Update: The Highline School Board has scheduled a public meeting to talk about board member Susan Goding’s negative comments about academic rigor at Cascade Middle School in North Highline.

The meeting, set for Monday, May 7 from 6 to 7:15 p.m., is billed as a work/study session on “board internal communication and working relationships.” It will be held at district headqaurters, 15675 Ambaum Blvd. S.W. and is open to the public.

Here’s our previous coverage:

The board will hold a meeting concerning board member Susan Goding tonight at 5 p.m. at district headquarters, 15675 Ambaum Blvd. S.W. The meeting is set as an executive session but Goding said she has the right to change it to a public meeting.

In an email to the Times/News, Goding said other board members felt comments she had made at a previous board meeting about lack of academic rigor at Cascade Middle in North Highline “were an illegal attack or something.

“They say I should have quietly brought the problem to the Interim Superintendent (Alan Spicciati.)

“Also I posted the comments on my blog, which they also find illegal.”

Washington Federal Savings bank held a private party on Wednesday, April 25th, which was an opportunity for the employees - former and current - to celebrate the company's 95th birthday as well as say goodbye to the old Market Street building which has housed the flagship store for 67 years.

In 2009, the bank, located at 2020 N.W. Market St, announced it would be tearing down the old building and build a new, updated, and larger one.

Built in 1945, the old building had experienced many floods over the years and black mold had developed inside the walls, said a branch employee.

The new two-story building will have 9,000 square feet of space, a larger teller line, drive-up windows. and a traditional brick façade.

As the last day in the old building was coming near, old banking equipment, photos, and artifacts gathered over the years were on display, as were the designs for the new building.

Employees including the Market Street branch manager, Tracey Cruise, performed some jazzy tunes while other visited and enjoyed the hors d'oeuvres.

"Musicians make really, really good bankers," joked Cruise, who said she's "a musician first, banker second".