December 2012

Re: Nickelsville

Encouraging as it is to see community involvement in Nickelsville—calls for donating supplies, food, water, clothing, and such but I also wonder what Seattle’s plan is to something in the short, mid, and long term to solve problems of homelessness? Does our Mayor and City Council have such a plan that can be shared with the community? If not, why not?

We spent an average of $1062 per household in 2002 to support the criminal justice system according to the Washington State Institute for Public Policy. While we certainly want an effective criminal justice system, I think we can and should be able to do more to address the homeless situation for a fraction of that cost. This is where a plan would help—our community could see the costs and benefits as well as the opportunities for the homeless. Then of course, we have to actually take action to make it work.

In the meantime, I encourage everyone to donate some useful stuff to a very good cause.

Happy Holidays and a brighter future for all!

Sincerely,

David Gould

The board of White Center's July Jubilee Days announced a partnership on Dec. 12 between the festival and the High Tekerz Robotics- FIRST Team 3574- to create a robotics competition as part of the 2013 community celebration.

The High Tekerz, from the Burien/Highline area, are a member of FIRST “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology”. FIRST was created by Segway inventor Dean Kaman in 1998, with the goal of promoting science and engineering in young Americans. The concept has grown into an international phenomenon with teams on every continent.

The mission of FIRST- “is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.”

Safeway Corporation has conducted Gingerbread House building competitions for kids in other areas and recently asked Jill Maas, the Admiral Safeway Deli Dept. Mgr. to find a school to participate in West Seattle. Naturally she chose Lafayette Elementary School across the street from the store. Various classrooms competed in their own customized construction of Gingerbread houses with the raw materials supplied by the store.

Maas presented the idea to the school but at first, because of the scheduled classwork, it was going to be up to the students to tackle the project before and after school and during their lunch hour. The students had two weeks to get it done and all entries had to be in by Dec. 7.

Of those submitted the winning entry was by Mr. Beal's second grade class and they received a $200 gift certificate from Safeway. Second place was Mr. Hodges fifth grade class. They got a $100 gift certificate. The 7 remaining all got $75 gift certificates.

One student, Ben, did the M&M's around the windows. "When we were done we got to eat the candy that hadn't been touched!"

SLIDESHOW: Click on photo for more, or click on photo from gallery below

Since 1994 Highline Christian Church, 14859 1st Ave S, Burien, has constructed the “Little Town of Bethlehem” in the church parking lot each December as part of our annual Outdoor Living Nativity presentation as their "Christmas gift to the community". The public is welcome, at no charge. Shows tonight (Saturday) are: 6:30pm, 7pm, 7:30pm, 8pm.

Each live 20-minute performance includes music, narrative, cast and a menagerie of live animals including real llamas, sheep and a donkey "set to transport you back 2000 years".  The church invites you to "Bring the family, have a cup of hot cocoa (supplied for free) and enjoy the show!"

Children can pet some of the animals while Mom and Dad snap photos between the performances.

The passage of Initiative 502 in Washington State, allowing adults 21 years and older to possess and use marijuana recreationally, sent a shockwave through school and counselor circles trying to reframe discussions with kids about pot.

Up until Dec. 6 (when the law took effect), marijuana was an illegal drug for anyone except patients who received an authorization from a doctor. Today, at least in the eye of state lawmakers and enforcers, marijuana joins alcohol and tobacco in the legal realm for anyone of age.

There is still the issue of where adults are supposed to get it up until the state starts regulating sales out of retail outlets in about a year, but counselors and educators are assuming use will rise – potentially ahead of that system - leading to a need for an updated approach.

From the parents’ perspective
Traditionally, there have been your standard “talks” parents expect to have with their children one day: The birds and the bees discussion, the alcohol and tobacco conversations, and the illegal drug talk.

See our current coverage and most recent photos HERE:
http://www.westseattleherald.com/2012/12/16/news/slideshow-storm-slams-…

UPDATE 8:15 AM Dec. 17
The storm surge has entirely flooded Alki Beach in conjunction with the 12.8 foot high tide this morning. We have reports coming in from commuters who took the Vashon to Fauntleroy ferry run and said it was rough. The ferry had trouble getting to the dock. Rhonda Porter of Beach Drive Blog reports flooding in her Beach Drive home and had pumps running now to remove the shin deep water. More photos and reports coming up.

UPDATE 6:25AM Dec. 17

Wind gusts up to 55 mph have been reported at Alki but no power outages in West Seattle/White Center at this hour. 11, 000 or more customers are without power in SeaTac and in the South Beacon Hill area with a some pocket outages in the Burien/Normandy Park area. The 12.8 high tide reaches its peak at 8:17am so you can expect storm surge in low lying areas. You can check on the City Light System status here: http://www.seattle.gov/light/sysstat/

UPDATE 5AM Dec. 17

On the strength of their scrambling defense and their ability to transition into the fast break offense the Seahawks pull away in the second half for a 68-56 win over Cleveland High School.

Guard Bronte’ Corbray finished with 23 points and Aaron Knox had 20 to lead Chief Sealth in scoring for the game.

Next week Sealth hosts West Seattle for the big west side matchup. 7:30 Tuesday December 18th at Chief Sealth High School.

FEDERAL WAY - Top three all-around performances led Mount Rainier to a Class 4A gymnastic meet victory against South Puget Sound League teams from Federal Way and Kent-Meridian plus non-league Olympia in competition held on Wednesday, Dec. 12, in the closely quartered Federal Way auxiliary gym due to scheduling conflicts surrounding the main gym.

The Rams outdistanced the host Eagles 152.45 - 140.5. Kent Meridian's Royals (140.15) and the Olympia Bears (137.8) pulled in the final spots.

Despite graduating many seniors -- including several level 10 stars -- from last season's Class 4A state third place squad, the Rams could still be in the hunt for SPSL honors.

When I was a boy in Portland, Oregon, sometimes we got to go
downtown at Christmas time where the Elks had rented the Hippodrome
building and put on a big show for poor kids.
When it was over we lined up and each got a net stocking full of
candy, a big orange and some kind of windup toy or a top you wound
with a string and then threw it and it would spin. Wow!, It is a
memory that has stayed with me and helped me understand the less
fortunate.

Fast forward: The halcyon days of the mid-fifties at holiday time was
very special. We had five little rascals and not much time or money.
But we were healthy and had more than others. Specifically more than
some of the less fortunate families living in the tossed-together King
County Housing project developed at the end of WWII near White Center.
The county needed room for the returning war vets and their growing
families.

White Center was a blue collar town. White Center Heights sprouted up
as affordable for those families. So did more housing along 4th SW and
106th. The county had to remove a golf course near Lake Hicks to put
the slap-dash wood buildings up in a hurry. We called it the

Just a notice that flags will be at half-staff in recognition for the victims of today's tragedy in Newtown, Conneticut.

King County Executive Dow Constantine directed this following proclamations from the President and the Governor.

Flags will remain at half-staff through sunset or the close of business on Tuesday, Dec. 18.