June 2012

Squatter trespassed
A homeowner discovered a subject living in his shed. Police contacted the subject and the subject said he had been living in the shed for the past six months. The subject removed his tent and all personal belongings and was trespassed from the property.

Drunk driver forgot he was in an accident
An officer contacted a subject passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle. There was extensive fresh damage to the vehicle and the driver admitted to drinking the previous evening but stated he didn't know how the damage occurred. The case is still under investigation.

Prison inmates threaten Burien woman accused of starving her 2-month-old son
Katherine A. Mattern, the 23-year-old Burien woman accused of starving her 2-month-old son, did not appear for arraignment Thursday, June 14, because of concerns about her safety. She has been held in protective custody at the King County Jail since shortly after her June 5 arrest because other female inmates have threatened her, said King County Jail Capt. Lisaye Manning.

King County press release
Plan to control stormwater sewer overflows underscores King County’s commitment to water quality

Executive also calls for a new science-based study to be carried out in parallel with top-priority CSO projects over the next three years

King County Executive Dow Constantine today proposed a long-term plan to control combined sewer overflows – one that reaffirms King County’s commitment to water quality while at the same time calling for a new science-based study to be carried out in parallel with top-priority combined sewer overflow projects over the next three years.
“As we meet our obligations to control combined sewer overflows, we should take this opportunity to coordinate these projects with other watershed investments to make sure we are delivering the best outcomes for improving water quality and protecting public health” said Executive Constantine.

Combined sewer overflows, or CSOs, discharge a combination of wastewater and stormwater into rivers, lakes, and Puget Sound during heavy rains when sewers are full.

Press release
Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Landscape Crews will need an additional day to complete work on the bike trail that loops under the West Seattle Bridge at Harbor Island. The work that was scheduled for today and tomorrow, June 18 and19, has been extended through Wednesday, June 20.

The work hours will remain the same: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bicyclists will slow down and follow a very brief signed detour at the lower West Seattle Swing Bridge on 11th Ave SW on Harbor Island. To accommodate the landscape workers, vehicle traffic will be reduced to one lane westbound on SW Spokane Street and one lane eastbound on Klickitat Avenue SW in the vicinity of 11th Avenue on Harbor Island.

Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire today gave Ballardite Noel Frame her sole endorsement in the seven-way primary race for the 36th district house seat vacated by State Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, D-Seattle.

“Washington State needs capable legislators who will prioritize and champion public education to prepare the next generation to drive our local economy forward,” said Governor Gregoire in a statement. “Noel Frame is one of these leaders.”

Governor Gregoire believed that Frame shares her view that young people in Washington State will not be properly prepared to compete in the 21st century without more funding for our colleges and universities, apprenticeship and job training programs, K-12 schools and early childhood education.

“Noel Frame has a proven track record of advocating for new state revenues to support public education. She is the candidate best qualified to work with all stakeholders -- parents, administrators, business, labor and political leaders – to strengthen our public schools in support of long-term economic strength,” said Gregoire.

Outsmarted by the register
An unknown suspect broke into a store on the 8900 block of 14th Ave S.W. around 4:30 a.m. on June 11. Surveillance footage reviewed by the business owner the next morning revealed the suspect breaking out a panel of glass on the door to gain access. Once inside he pulled his hood off to reveal his face and started fidgeting with the cash register, trying to get it opened. After repeated failed attempts, the suspect grabbed six packs of “Red Cap” tobacco, five disposable e-cigarettes, and fled. Police were working with the owner to obtain a copy of the surveillance footage for their followup investigation.

A robbery ... maybe

Guest Speaker: Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders
West Seattle Lion’s Club
Senior Center of West Seattle
4217 S.W. Oregon St.
Thursday, June 21, noon-1:30 p.m. Info: 206-762-1221.

Summer Tai Chi Classes
South Seattle Community College
6000 16th Ave. S.W. - North Entrance
206-934-5219
Fridays, June 22 - Sept. 21, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Learn and practice movements and techniques from Yang-style tai chi and Qijong breathing. Drop-in class. Adults/$6, Seniors & Students/$5, free to Seattle residents & SCG members. Cost includes admission to the Garden.

Volunteers Needed for Morgan Junction Community Festival
California Ave. S.W. & Fauntleroy Way
The Festival will be Saturday, June 23, 10-7 p.m. Volunteers are needed for 2 hour shifts to help with set-up, take-down, kids activities and traffic control. Ages 12+ and must be able to do moderate lifting. Contact Becky at beckbick@yahoo.com or 206-407-7618.

Continuing Education Classes
South Seattle Community College
6000 16th Ave. S.W.
Register now: 206-934-5339 or www.LearnAtSouth.org

by Carol Smith
 
Orange you glad in ‘62
The World’s Fair Fathers built for you
The Space Needle whose stunning view
Was meant for all, not just a few?
 
Orange you glad they had the grace
To keep her home an open space
Instead of just a breeding place
Where condos would obscure her face?
 
Orange you glad they’ve kept her charm
Protected her from weather’s harm
Or those who would her style disarm
By sounding age’s false alarm?
 
Orange you thinking she’s first rate
And isn’t her new-old color great
So why don’t we ask, before it’s too late
On changing her back, why can’t they wait?

By Kyra-lin Hom

A couple weeks ago, my uncle (with two daughters in high school right now) asked my boyfriend and I what we would have done differently in college. I think my aunt and uncle were hoping that, since we've both had a year to reflect upon our undergraduate decisions, their daughters would at least listen to us. The question led to a brief discussion and then we all moved on. But even weeks later, the question has stuck with me.

Late April of this year, the American Post announced that over 53% of recent college graduates were unemployed. Many of those that were employed were working jobs that didn't require a college education such as minimum wage waitressing or retail. Add on that in 2011 the average graduating college student owed over $23,000 in student loans (10% of students owed over $54,000 and 3% owed over $100,000) – a number that tuition inflation is only increasing – and it becomes apparent that this is an intimidating time to be young in the US.

press release
Graduation is a time to celebrate stories of success and the paths that students have taken to reach their goals. South Seattle Community College will celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2012 at the annual commencement ceremony taking place at Benaroya Hall, at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, June 19. This is the second consecutive year the college has held the ceremony at the world class downtown performance complex.

This year, 930 degrees and certificates are being awarded, including 376 in academic transfer, 387 in professional/technical studies and multi-occupational trades, and 32 students in the college’s four-year Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Hospitality Management degree program. The graduating class also includes 24 new Registered Nurses and 22 dual-graduate Running Start students, who are concurrently receiving a college AA degree and high school diploma.

In addition to honor cords, this year a number of new graduate recognitions have been added:

• Student veterans (41) – red, white, and blue cords symbolizing their military service.

by Cate White
Director Tox-Ick.org
Member of Sustainable West Seattle

West Seattle resident Laura James has been nominated as a Cox Conservation Hero. Votes for the finalist are being accepted at http://www.kirotv.com/s/heroes/ June 18 through July 16, 2012. If she wins, a $10,000 award will be given to her nonprofit of choice, Sustainable West Seattle.

The Cox Conservation Hero Award, organized by KIRO 7 Eyewitness News and The Trust for Public Land, has nominated Laura as a conservation hero for her efforts to restore Puget Sound.

This past year, Laura organized a diving team that removed over 1,000 lbs of discarded marine and automotive batteries from a West Seattle scuba diving site. It is for this effort that she was honored with the hero nomination.