September 2012

This editorial is by Demian Godon, an opponent of I-1240 -- an initiative that would allow charter schools in Washington -- and a parent of two kids at Ballard High School.

It’s no secret that we need to improve education in this state. But a charter schools measure on this year’s ballot is the wrong move.

Initiative 1240 forces the state to spend millions on unproven ideas for a few, while neglecting to do anything that will really help all our kids. And I-1240 leaves little room for parents to be involved. That’s why the Washington State PTA has opposed I-1240.

Washington crams more kids into its classrooms than 46 of our 50 states. Our kids read outdated textbooks and prepare for the 21st century economy with outdated technology –- or no technology at all. We’ve cut music and the arts, PE, higher-level math, science and foreign languages. We’ve eliminated teachers so that too many students don’t receive the attention they need.

Why is this dismantling of our public schools taking place? It’s because our schools are chronically underfunded.

The Annual Summit for Pacific Islanders Resources and Education (ASPIRE) - a statewide education summit at South Seattle Community College is set to take place Saturday, September 29.

Pacific Islander students, parents, educators, and community leaders will all take part.

ASPIRE is part of the Washington State Asian American and Pacific Islander Voices in Education Initiative (Voices Initiative), which launched last year to prepare Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) families, community leaders, and organizations to help AAPI students achieve academic success.

Highlights of the summit include:

• Workshops for parents and students
• Keynote speaker, Professor Vicente M. Diaz
• A special performance by Elias Ka'uhane & Napun Tasi
• A raffle for a chance to win two roundtrip tickets on Alaska Airlines

The event will be held in the Jerry Brockey Center at SSCC located at 6000-16th Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98106
and will run from 9am - 4pm It is free and open to the public. Breakfast and lunch will be provided

ASPIRE Mission

The City of Seattle agreed on a $1.24 million settlement with Waste Management over missed recycling, yard waste and garbage pickups over eight days from July into August as the Teamsters Union drivers went on strike, according to Mayor Mike McGinn's Office on Sept. 25.

Residential accounts active during the strike will receive a $10 credit on their account for the Nov.-Dec. bill and businesses, condominiums and apartments will receive a $50 credit.

“This was the longest garbage strike in the city’s history, and thousands of residents and businesses were inconvenienced,” McGinn said of the strike that led to residential street cans and business dumpsters billowing over with trash, recyclables and compostables. “The good news is that our contract with Waste Management provided for substantial performance penalties for a strike lasting more than seven days — and we were able to use that provision to help bring an end to the strike."

Who is going to represent you in the 36th District next year?

That is the question which you can answer by showing up to an open forum with the 36th District candidates, Gael Tarleton and Noel Frame. The forum will take place in Greenwood at the Taproot Theater (204 N 85th St) and will start at 6:30 p.m.

More than just about the candidates, the forum will start off with some hot topic issues, and there are a lot this year -- equal marriage rights, marijuana legalization and charter school are all on the ballot.

The candidates will step up to the podium at 7:55 p.m. and will each make their statements. Audience members can then meet the candidates in a reception afterward.

by Paul Moseley

The West Seattle Wildcats varsity volleyball team travelled up the road to take on the Chief Sealth Seahawks in a matchup to determine first place in the Metro League Sound Division. The Wildcats came in with a 5-3 overall record, 5-0 in Metro Sound Division. Coming off a 3-0 loss to Holy Names in the Mountain Division, the Wildcats came ready to start a new winning streak. The Seahawks came in with an identical 5-3 overall record and were also spotless in the Sound Division, and were also coming off a loss to Lakeside and two players just back from injuries last week.

West Seattle struck first, with super aggressive play and domination at the net, Wildcats Senior Ellen Cleveland set the pace and consistently drove the ball into the opposing floor supported by Eastyn Baleto's finesse and quick digs. West Seattle dominated the first game, winning 25-13.

By Deanna Duff

If you are in need of a sonnet, couplet or limerick, Christine Deavel is Seattle’s poetry pro. She can pluck the perfect book from among the 10,000 titles at Open Books: A Poem Emporium, the poetry shop she owns with husband John Marshall. After publishing her first-ever poetry book, Woodnote, in 2011, she is now an award-winning poet herself. Announced September 7, Woodnote received a 2012 Washington State Book Award for poetry.

“I love books and many have spoken to me over the years. I always dreamt of having my own,” Deavel said. Woodnote was previously awarded the 2011 Dorothy Brunsman Poetry Prize from Bear Star Press who published the book.

Open Books, one of only three poetry-only bookstores in the nation, is located in Wallingford and is a particular favorite of readers from the Ballard neighborhood to University District area.

Deadline for receiving items for Community Calendar is 5 p.m. Wednesday for the following week’s Times/News. Events are published based on timeliness and space availability. Email submissions to: hteditor@robinsonnews.com Items can be accepted from nonprofit groups and government agencies only. Others may call Dona Ozier at 206-708-1378 for inclusion in our “Out & About” advertising section.

Art Exhibits

Burien Community Center-- Portland Artist John Sinclair is showing works at the Burien Community Center lobby, 147006 6th Ave. S.W. The beautifully crafted pencil drawings will be on display until Sept. 28th. Hours are Mon.-Thurs. 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Mark Restaurant-- Showcasing a selection of the Des Moines artist Daniel Wend’s landscapes and wildlife. Wend works in oil pastels and acrylics. For more information, contact: dan@wendart.com

Auditions

ChoralSounds Northwest-- -- Auditions for Fall 2012 Concert. Adults 17+. Auditions are by appointment through Sept. 30. Persons interested in auditioning may contact 206.246.6040 or e-mail info@nwassociatedarts.org.

The Town Square Apartment project will be very bad for Burien. It will turn prime property into a ghetto.

Already the adjoining properties have excessive vandalism and robberies because of the many apartments that are located a few blocks away.

Many young people cause disruptions at the Burien Library. They pee in the elevator and the police have to be called to break up gang fights and other altercations and disruptions.

There have been shootings near the transit center, and many other criminal activities occur near the Dollar Tree and Burger King.

When the artist came to paint the mural on the west wall of the Dollar Tree, she had her purse with all her ID and her computer stolen. Towards the end of her stay some bum accosted her.

I am happy the Burien Town Square Park is being used in the summer, but on some days it is already filled to capacity. When these huge apartments are built the park will be totally inadequate to accommodate everyone from the apartments. What was once a destination park for everyone will be a local playground for the apartments.

I want to say first and foremost that I am not a racist or a xenophobe. There, I said it and got that over with.

I am the son of immigrants who is very proud of his heritage, who made an effort to learn its language and culture, but I consider myself an American first.

My parents were the storybook typical immigrants who started with practically nothing and spoke limited English. They, in my obviously biased opinion, reached their version of American dream. They assimilated into their new country and eventually started a successful business.

This gets me to initial grievance and question, asking what has changed in recent years that requires the need for English as a second language classes in our public school system. Historically our school system has served our immigrant populace well in mainstreaming them in society as soon as possible.

We are now in the most contentious election season in U.S. history, caused primarily by Barack Hussein Obama, his personality and policies.

He has been endorsed by the Communist Party of the USA/aka socialism/aka progressivism/aka social justice, fairness and equality etc., etc.

Keep in mind that social justice includes the confiscation of private property (spreading the wealth etc.)

There has been no social justice for the 50-60 million unborn children killed by abortion. No social justice for the stockholders and retirees at G.M., which Obama bailed out and gave proceeds to his union buddies in the UAW and one could go on ad infinitem.

To quote, “Any 4th grade history student knows socialism has failed in every country at every time in history. President Obama and his fellow Democrats are either idiots or deliberately trying to destroy their own economy.”—Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.

Obama disses Israel in favor of his Muslim cohorts across the pond and the Muslim Brotherhood at home.