December 2012

The Curiosity Corner School, a Burien, well, cornerstone, since 1985 in its various incarnations, held a board meeting last week and after crunching the numbers acknowledged that unfortunately the numbers were crunching them. Disgruntled parents of disappointed kids ages one to five may have to make other arrangements.

"A Christmas miracle would have been a perfect scenario for us," said Director, Burien-raised Laurie Sanderson. "We just want to get the word out that closing is a real possibility and all the services we've provided for all these kiddos throughout the years may end. It is definitely heartbreaking to know that it might not go on.

“Rest assured, this news does not sway us from our mission.”

Those are the words of Promise Neighborhood Project Director Lauri Bohm after hearing the news that the U.S. Department of Education released their funding awards for Promise Neighborhood Grants in 2013, and after learning White Center did not make the list.

The Department of Education describes the Promise Neighborhoods program as “a bold new initiative to break the cycle of generational poverty by wrapping children in a pipeline of health, social, and educational supports from birth through college.”

Bohm, who works for the White Center Community Development Association and Southwest Youth and Family Services, has been the point person in developing such a program for White Center, and applying for grants from the federal government to help implement it.

North Highline did not annex into Burien. Normandy Park did not disband.

Seattle’s interim schools superintendent moved south to become Highline’s head honcho.

Controversies continued between citizens and city staffers…and between lawmakers and their colleagues.

Here’s a month-by-month look back at what made Highline news this year as ripped from the front pages of the Highline Times/Des Moines News/SeaTac News:

January
The Des Moines Marina lease went up by nearly $100,000 per year, starting Jan. 1.

Veteran council members were replaced as mayors in Burien, Des Moines and SeaTac as lawmakers selected Brian Bennett, Dave Kaplan and Tony Anderson.

The state Boundary Review Board heard more than six hours of testimony over two days on Burien’s proposal to annex North Highline. The board later approved Burien request, paving the way for North Highline voters to decide on the measure.

Snow, followed by an ice storm, locked down Highline glazing houses, trees, automobiles and roads.

Here’s some of our favorite photos from 2012.

They were all taken by ace Highline Times photographer Steve Shay.

Now, we all see our need to take more precautions in the things we do. This will help save lives while giving support to others.

Being the best we can be brings our hope to 2013. Our passion and prayers create a divine reality for our heartfelt aspirations.

Angle Lake Polar Plungers will be bringing food items or cash to benefit the Highline Food Bank during the annual event that begins at 11 a.m. on New Years Day at the Manor Club Beach.

Three Tree Point also holds a plunge on Tuesday morning.

If Seattle voters pass the BEX IV Levy in February funding will be available for a new West Seattle elementary school planned for the Genesee Hill site at 2012 S.W. Genesee St. in 2015.

The current Genesee Hill School will be demolished, according to Seattle Public Schools, and a multi-story facility with room for 500 to 650 students will replace it. Students and staff from Schmitz Park Elementary will move into the larger building, allowing them to expand and opening up the Schmitz Park building for additional elementary seats. The hope is to lessen overcrowding pressure in West Seattle schools.

While the levy vote determines the plans future, Seattle Public Schools has already chosen BLRB Architects out of Tacoma for the job, and the firm is busy working with the community to develop a plan for the new school. Part of that process includes working with a School Design Advisory Team made up of educators, parents and community members

From Jan. 1 until Dec. 5 of 2012, tobacco retailers in King County were caught selling to minors 92 times, according to a King County press release detailing those businesses busted in the act, including four in West Seattle.

“Underage access to tobacco fuels addiction and early death for King County’s children,” said Dr. David Fleming, director and health officer for King County/Seattle Public Health in a statement.

Public Health works with the Washington State Liquor Control Board and local law enforcement to set up stings where teenagers attempt to purchase tobacco from King County retailers, either selected at random or chosen based on prior violations.

According to Public Health, “In Washington state, selling tobacco to a minor is prohibited by law, with a $100 fine and tobacco education for the retailer and a $50 fine for the clerk making the sale. Repeat offenders within two years are fined up to $1500 and may have their tobacco sales license revoked.”

Rae McCullough got her dog Finnegan, a border collie mix, from a puppy rescue two years ago. It's called Lil' Waif and they bring puppies over from Yakima and other areas around eastern Washington.

She picked him out online. "It's my first big boy dog," she said.

McCullough said, "He has a lot of energy and he can be very, very sweet. He's kind of a leaner, where he leans into you. He's very affectionate."

Finnegan has a sensitive stomach so, "We keep him on a special diet from the vet. It's Science diet gastrointestinal Health.

Finnegan like anything from standard Milkbones to gourmet treats like dog cookies.

His name (full name Finnegan Joe McCullough) was determined by Rae and her father who had just lost a dog and wanted to be part of the naming process plus Rae had just lost a friend named Josephine. "My dad likes Irish names so it became Finnegan Joe."

The United Way of King County has offered a countywide free tax preparation campaign since 2003, including a station in White Center, to help anyone who makes under $51,000 get their taxes done right with the maximum return.

The campaign will run from Jan. 15 to April 15 at the Providence Joseph House in White Center at 11215 5th Ave S.W.

Countywide, United Way writes their free tax preparation volunteers helped 14,0000 people obtain $20.7 million in refunds in 2012. In White Center and North Highline there are an estimated 17,000 families eligible for free service. In 2012, 1,000 North Highliners took advantage.

Mary Weir with United Way said they are still looking for volunteers to help with White Center shifts. Here are details:

- Volunteers commit to one four-hour shift per week throughout the Jan. 15 to April 15 tax season.

- Volunteers are required to complete a two-day training on tax law and TaxWise software (training is done at the South Seattle Community College).