August 2012

“This space is for the community – it is not just our space,” Technology Access Foundation’s Deputy Director Sherry Williams said. “It’s for our families, it’s for our kids, it’s for learning."

Combining modern architecture with recycled elements of the original Greenbridge housing development (Park Lake Homes) next door, the Technology Access Foundation’s Bethaday Community Learning Space in White Center is nearing completion within the next month.

Williams gave the White Center News a tour of the $16 million, 22,500 square foot, three-story building on Aug. 23.

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TAF’s mission statement is to improve “public education in underserved communities and in promoting awareness of and access to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education for students of color,” and the primary functions of the new community center located on the east end of Lakewood Park are threefold: provide a STEM learning center for White Center area school children, an office for TAF staff, and a community center available for anything from neighborhood meetings to wedding receptions.

By Marjorie Young

One of our most popular pastimes, it appears, involves wishing for others to change. This futile activity takes up much of our time. Over the course of countless psychic readings, I have encountered it again and again…relentless criticism of those we know for failing to meet our standards, or to appreciate and acknowledge our many ‘virtues’.

It’s fascinating that we expect ‘universal approval,’ while at the same time, reserving the right to disparage others. “My mother never agrees with me!” my client might moan. Or, “My husband doesn’t understand me!” another might complain. My response is usually something along the lines of - “Are you always supportive of them?” That frequently takes them aback. Of course, the answer to my query is obviously, ‘no!’

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Friday the fun begins for football fans in West Seattle and White Center.

Chief Sealth of West Seattle and Evergreen of White Center actually open with a non-league game against each other, with the Evergreen Wolverines taking the short jaunt up the road to the Southwest Athletic Complex (SWAC) to play the Seahawks of Chief Sealth.

Chief Sealth plays in the Metro League while Evergreen plays in the Seamount League. Both are Class 3A leagues.

Kickoff will be at 7 p.m.

West Seattle of the Metro League also opens with a 7 p.m. Friday non-league game, hosting Lindbergh of the Seamount League at West Seattle Stadium.

Class B-11Seattle Lutheran High School takes over West Seattle Stadium for Saturday, playing Curtis Graham in 1:30 p.m. action.
Volleyball and girls soccer games are scheduled to begin Tuesday in the Metro League and the Seamount League.

Chief Sealth's soccer team entertains Bainbridge in a 3:30 p.m. game at the SWAC field across the street from the school.

Volleyball has both West Seattle and Chief Sealth opening on the road Tuesday.

A man firing up his barbecue on an apartment balcony of the 2200 block of S.W. Barton Pl. (just east of Westwood Village) decided to call 911 on the evening of Aug. 27 out of fear the flames had gotten out of control.

By the time Seattle Fire arrived (shortly after 8:40 p.m.) the fire had died down on its own and all units were called off. No one was injured.

The Seattle Lutheran High School Saints football team is under new direction this year but their destiny, as described by new coach Jeffery Scott and players alike has always been shared.

At a media day, held on Saturday Aug. 25, at West Seattle Stadium, the team and cheerleading staff were put through their paces for photos and video. The West Seattle Herald spoke to coach Scott and got a sense of what he hopes to see this year. "I knew they had great sportsmanship, they had great fellowship. I think it's just a higher calling. I wanted to go somewhere, where I could develop a program that had these things so I think we're a good match."

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He thinks "We're going to take one game at a time but like any other team there are 300 hundred other football teams around the state so we're shooting for the Tacoma Dome, late November. Our team is fairly young. Over 90% of our players are freshmen and juniors so we're still developing and learning but I think we'll compete."

Yes, I've given in and am adding my name to the thousands of people sticking their noses into the (Kentucky) Savannah Dietrich sexual assault case. For those who don't know what's going on, here's my quick rundown, stripping away as much of the he-said-she-said as I can.

17 year-old Savannah Dietrich drank too much of her own volition and passed out while at a high school house party. She reported that her clothes were shifted funny when she woke up but that she had no memory of anything happening. Later a friend told her that two boys had undressed her and at least one of them had taken a photo. According to Dietrich, she has witnesses who say they then saw this photo/these photos on other people's phones as well, meaning that the boys disseminated the image.

By Georgie Bright Kunkel

The Drug Enforcement Adminstration (DEA) sent a letter out Thursday Aug. 23 to 23 medical-cannabis dispensaries in the region ordering their shut down within 30 days if they were within 1,000 feet of an "educational facility or other prohibited area."

That stipulation applies to only one outlet in West Seattle. Open since February of 2011, Pharmaseed on Alki must be shut down by Sept. 23.

The letter warned they could be charged criminally if they didn't comply. Their property, including profits and the buildings themselves, could also be seized under federal law, which prohibits the sale of marijuana.

The owners were not ready to comment when they were asked for a statement. The West Seattle Herald has a request in for a statement and will update this story when it is released. Their Facebook page and Twitter feed are silent on the matter thus far.

The letter states:

The fall high school sports season is set to begin this weekend for teams in this area as well as all across the state.
Football will kick off the season first with two Thursday games played locally.

Mount Rainier has taken in some players from Tyee, which will not field a team this year, and fans from both schools can see the squad open its season with a trip to Auburn-Riverside. The action will open South Puget Sound League Class 4A play.

Seattle Christian is also playing on a combined team and opens Thursday. The Warriors are members of the Life Christian team of Tacoma and will journey all the way to Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood for a home game against LaConnor. The Life Christian/SCS team plays in the Class 1A Nisqually League.

Both games will begin at 7 p.m.

A new phenomenon will take place Friday, with a football double-header at Highline Stadium.

Highline opens the twin bill by hosting Yelm for 5 p.m. action, followed by an 8 p.m. game featuring Kennedy at home against Mount Si.

If you have spent any time in West Seattle it is easy to take for granted how easy it is to park here, relatively speaking. This is especially true of the West Seattle Junction whose free parking lots are a boon to local business and make life easier for shoppers.

But if you go downtown or to Ballard, Capitol Hill, or elsewhere you quickly realize that parking is a serious issue. You can of course avoid the issue entirely by taking mass transit or biking when possible but that's not the solution for everyone.

Not only is parking in many areas limited, controlled, ticketed, towed and tiny, some parking lot owners actually make the situation even worse.

The Better Business Bureau in a press release today provided news of their "F" rating for Republic Parking Northwest noting that "the company failed to respond to 19 of 53 complaints within the past three years."

"Patrons of the paid parking lots allege that the company failed to provide functioning and conspicuous pay stations, charged late penalties of more than 60% of original parking fees, and continued to seek payments—up to two years later—after customers claimed to have already paid."