November 2012

By Cassandra Baker

8:39 p.m., November 26. 67th block of 22nd Ave NW

A woman called police after returning home to find that her home had been broken into and an expensive piece of jewelry had been stolen. The victim said that she left her home at around 8:00 a.m. that day and returned home at 5:30 p.m. She noticed that several items in her bedroom had been moved. The only item she knew to be missing was a 14-karat gold necklace with a cross pendant with 16 diamonds, valued at approximately $11,000. The victim said that her son had stolen the necklace in the past, and she believed that either he or one of his friends was behind the most recent burglary.

7:18 a.m., November 26. 15th block of NW Market St

By Marjorie Young

One of the most difficult moments we face is the death of a loved one. However, it may prove equally challenging when not we, but someone we know, suffers the loss.

Recently, my friend ‘Sharon’ sought my advice. She’d learned her cousin (with whom she’d lost contact in recent years) had lost his college student daughter to an accident. Sharon was anxious to phone with condolences, yet uncertain how to proceed. I assured her that there existed no special formula for such moments ... all one needed to convey was sorrow and sympathy.

It is surprising how many recoil from dealing with the subject, usually out of a sense of awkwardness or fear. Of course, we cannot hope to erase another’s loss, but we can, by word or deed, always demonstrate our empathy, solidarity, and support.

In another cross league match up Sealth handled 2A opponent Foster High School in a fashion that was expected on Thursday Nov. 29.

The Bulldogs weren’t able to run with the Seahawks fast break style of play and quickly found themselves playing from behind. As the first period came to a close Sealth was in command 24-6 mostly due to the Seahawks very aggressive style of defense and their lightning fast break offense.

When Foster was able to push the ball up court Sealth quickly closed any passing lanes and forced the Bulldogs to shoot from the corners, and it was clear that Foster was not comfortable doing that.

Sealth, on the other hand, was able to score from just about anywhere on the court. The Seahawks three point shooting continues to be their go to style when there is no lane to drive.

WABI Burien press release:

We will be walkin’ and talkin’ and singin’ in the rain? (Isn’t that what galoshes and bumbershoots are for?) Incredibly, every Walk-n-Talk for the last 16 months, we’ve had dry weather. (Except that on one walk day it started drizzly and ended sunny.) Maybe by scheduling our walk, we chase the rain away?

Let’s meet up at 2:00 on Sunday, December 2, on top of the grassy knoll at Burien Town Square for our monthly Walk-n-Talk. We will circle east along SW/S 152nd St., past and around Highline High School and Moshier Field, as far as southbound Des Moines Memorial Drive, then back west along S/SW 156th St., and north on 4th Ave. SW. (This month’s route was the one selected for our July Walk-n-Talk by Burien Frequent Walker, Rob Johnson.)

This 2.25 mile route has sidewalks the whole way (!) and is mostly flat, so this is an ideal route for folks with mobility issues or who are pushing baby strollers.

Date: Sunday, December 2, 2012
Time: 2:00 meet-up. Walking starts at 2:15

Hospitality House does what no other house, or homeless shelter, is doing in South King County. Nine women share a cozy room of bunk beds (and one single) and two adjoining bathrooms at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church, and train to be effective in job interviews and other skills to find work, and a home, by the time their 90-day stay concludes.

The 12 year-old program is affiliated with a dozen area churches that provide dinners and volunteers. Hospitality House is a 501c3 non-profit and receives funding from individuals, business, and civic groups, also, State and Federal programs, which are experiencing cutbacks. As a result it is in the hole $10,000 with a $200,000 annual budget and asks for the community's help. Staff stays overnight. Breakfast and lunch, and some bus tickets are provided, and the occasional fine and application fee is paid.

There is a large stable of volunteers, and four paid staff, including Executive Director, Natalie Reber, who manages grants and fundraising.

The Fred Meyer at 14300 1st Ave S. in Burien was granted a zoning permit to expand into the former One Stop Sub Shop located within its existing structure on the southwest corner. Other updates will be made, called a "refresh". Also, the store's fuel station expansion was just completed, on Nov. 16.

"We went from being able to pump 10 vehicles at once to 18 at once," said Burien Fred Meyer Store Director, Randy Welk. "We added four new pumps, double-sided, for eight more cars. We now have an Additech system for drivers to put in a fuel cleaning additive."

According to the Additech website, "Additech’s system blends specialty fuel additives into fuel as it is pumped. These specially blended fuel system products clean vital engine parts as consumers drive."

"Flow of traffic has been a lot better with the extra pumps, and we can't wait until the (road) project along 1st Avenue is done," Welk said.

Highline students, including football players, joined leaders from Highline Public Schools, the City of Burien and King County Parks and Recreation Division for the dedication of upgrades to Moshier Park Field Thursday, Dec. 6.

Highline School District and the City of Burien partnered to create a safer, more functional practice field at Moshier Park for use by school and community teams. Poor drainage kept the field covered with water and unusable for 
several months each year. A new drainage system was designed and installed, and
 the field was hydro-seeded.

Half of the cost of the $38,425 project was funded by
 Highline Public Schools and the City of Burien, and the King County Parks and
 Recreation Youth Sports Facilities Grant Program awarded a $20,000 matching grant.

The event was hosted by John Boyd, one of three Exec. Directors of Highline Schools K-12. He is also involved with their athletic program. He is the former Chief Sealth High School Principal for seven years.

Highline superintendent receives journalism award

Highline Public Schools press release:

In recognition of her “unwavering support of students’ rights and scholastic journalism,” the Journalism Education Association (JEA) has honored Dr. Susan Enfield with the 2012 Administrator of the Year award.

Kathy Schrier, executive director of the Washington Journalism Education Association, wrote, “Dr. Enfield is a school superintendent who understands the crucial role that a free student press plays in our schools. She has shown her commitment on the front lines in Seattle, and will continue to do so as the first superintendent of schools to serve on the Student Press Law Center Board of Directors.”

Dr. Enfield started her career in education as a high school teacher of English, ESL, and journalism. Over the years she has been a passionate advocate for the free press rights of students.

Four West Seattle students will perform in the Northwest Boychoir’s “A Festival of Lessons and Carols” this holiday season, including a local performance at Holy Rosary Church on Dec. 14.

West Seattleites Jackson Cecil and Cael Mulligan, both 11-year-old 6th graders at Explorer West Middle School, Janelle Maroney, 17, from Chief Sealth International Middle School, and Hayden Wainwright, 11, who attends Washington Middle School will perform, according to Jade Biggio with Northwest Boychoir and Vocalpoint! Seattle.

Here are the details from Biggio, including choir history and performance dates/locations:

Northwest Boychoir presents A Festival of Lessons & Carols 2012

Joseph Crnko, Music Director
Maria Johnson, Executive Director

The Northwest Boychoir celebrates its 34-year tradition with the presentation of its 2012 A Festival of Lessons & Carols concert series featuring nine regional performances in December. These holiday concerts showcase the 90-member combined chorus of the Northwest Boychoir and Vocalpoint! Seattle.

Book Trust, a non-profit that focuses on building literacy skills and donating books to low-income children, stopped by West Seattle Elementary School on Thursday, Nov. 29 to deliver books to students, according to Seattle Public Schools.

Book Trust has been working in partnership with SPS and West Seattle Elementary since 2007, allowing children to pick out for their very own books to take home – building a personal library and promoting literacy skills.

Book Trust cites research “that children living in middle-income communities, on average, own 13 books. Yet, more than half of the children living in low-income communities do not have any books in their homes. In fact, in areas of poverty, the ratio of books to children is one book per every 300 children. Without access to books, children will never develop the literacy skills necessary to be successful in school. In fact children who are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school.