January 2013

The latest entry in the West Seattle development boom is a land use application filed by Polygon Northwest with the Seattle Department of Planning and Development to allow a 53 unit residential development to include 24 single-family residences, and 29 townhouse units in six, 3-story structures (three, 6-unit; one, 5-unit and two triplexes). It would be located at 6560 High Point Drive SW, adjacent to the Forest Lawn cemetery.

Two parking spaces for each unit will be provided one within the structure and one surface.

The project must still go through an Administrative Design Review and SEPA Environmental Determination (This project is subject to the Optional DNS Process (WAC 197-11-355) and Early DNS Process (SMC 25.05.355). This comment period may be the only opportunity to comment on the environmental impacts of this proposal.)

You can comment on the application here.

You can see more about Polygon Northwest's High Point homes here: http://www.polygonhomes.com/polygon/washington/22/property

After community members expressed their concerns, the Department of Planning and Development issued a decision which grants progress to the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI)'s low-income senior housing -- so long as several conditions are met.

The building in question is a six-story, 51-unit, 1,878 sq. ft. mixed use building that will house low-income senior housing, to be located at 2014 NW 57th St. In addition, though permitting has been postponed, LIHI plans to include on the bottom floor an Urban Rest Stop, which will provide hygiene services for people who need it.

For the conditions, DPD took into consideration community concerns, which were expressed at meetings and through letters to the editor here. Most were about the proposed Urban Rest Stop, as it is assumed permitting will go forward on it sometime this year.

By Christopher Duclos

Optimism abounds as head coach Robert Mirenzi enters his third season overseeing Ballard High’s track and field team. Along with coach Mirenzi, the track team is bringing back their strong coaching staff in hopes of building upon last year’s success.

A new addition to the coaching staff is Joey Thomas, better known as Ballard High’s football coach. Thomas’s addition to the track team will help turn out some of Ballard High’s football players. Helping them stay quick, agile and explosive during the football off-season.

“Our hope is to bring the football athletes on board," Coach Mirenzi offered on the addition of Coach Thomas. "The past seasons have had a dwindling football turnout; hopefully this will be the shot the boys’ team needs to get back to replicate previous successes (2nd at State 2004).”

By Elizabeth Wang

Avid volleyball player, creative businesswomen and, foremost, inspirational teacher, Sally Moneda brought her passion for teaching into every aspect of her life.

“She was very quiet and humble, but there was this incredible creative side. Everything was done so respectfully and so calmly. That was the thing about Sally,” said Mia Cisek, whose two children were students in Mrs. Moneda’s multi-grade class at Loyal Heights Elementary School.

Mrs. Moneda died of ovarian cancer on Jan. 3. She was 47.

Sally Moneda graduated from Western Washington University in 1987 with her degree in broadcast communications. Though she spent the next few years working at KIRO-TV as a news writer, she knew it wasn’t her true calling.

“She was wondering where her heart was,” said husband Willie Moneda. “She wanted to work with kids. She liked working with kids at the Boys and Girls Club, so she switched over.”

The West Seattle girls came into the Hawks Nest and never allowed the Ladyhawks an opportunity to get anything going.

After taking the opening tip off the Wildcats never looked back. With forwards lexi Zoang and Lydia Giomi blocking the center of the paint, the Lady Wildcats never allowed Sealth easy access to the basket. The few times the Seahawks found a seam it was quickly sealed off forcing Sealth to attempt off balance shots from beyond the arc.

By the end of the first half the Wildcats held a six point lead, not because of superior shooting, mostly because of the stubborn defense they put up. That’s not to say the Wildcats couldn’t shoot. West Seattle had three players in double figures lead by #23 Lexi Zoang’s team high 20 points. But it was the defensive effort by #24 Lydia Giomi and Zoang that created turnovers and forced off balance shots by Sealth.

Sealth was able to get points off of turnovers due to errant passing by West Seattle. Sealth’s Zoe Haywood took advantage of those turnovers on her way to a 12 point showing. However those opportunities proved to be few and far between and Sealth could never really mount any kind of a charge.

Southwest Youth and Family Services (SYFS) and Denny International Middle School were named by Mayor Mike McGinn as two among eight recipients of the 2013 Families and Education Levy Summer Learning grant recipients. The recipients will split $900,000 being awarded.

The Mayor, Seattle Public School officials, community leaders, and local students and parents, gathered at Northgate Elementary School made the announcement of the beginning of a city-wide investment plan to support summer learning programs – the first of its kind – included in the 2011 Families and Education Levy.

The Levy will invest in school and community-based programs serving students entering Seattle Public Schools’ elementary, middle and high schools in order to provide struggling students with additional learning time to avoid summer learning loss and catch up with their peers.

WEDNESDAY, JAN 23, 2013

Basketball: Girls JV Conf. Game, 5:45pm, Away vs. Inglemoor at Inglemoor High School

Basketball: Girls Varsity Game, 7:30pm, Away vs. Inglemoor at Inglemoor High School

FRIDAY, JAN 25, 2013

Basketball: Girls JV Conf. Game, 3:30pm, Away vs. Garfield at Garfield High School

Swim & Dive: Boys Varsity & JV Conf. Meet, 3:30pm, vs. Garfield at Ballard High School

Basketball: Boys C Team Conf. Game, 3:45pm, vs. Garfield at Ballard High School

Basketball: Boys JV Conf. Game, 5:00pm, Away vs. Garfield at Garfield High School

Basketball: Girls Varsity Game, 6:30pm, Away vs. Garfield at Garfield High School

Basketball: Boys Varsity Game, 8:00pm, Away vs. Garfield at Garfield High School

SATURDAY, JAN 26, 2013
Gymnastics: Girls Varsity Invitational, TBD, TBA (Postponed)

Swim & Dive: Boys Varsity & JV Invitational, 1:00pm, Away vs. TBA,Ballard, Bellevue, Bothell, Eastlake, Garfield, Inglemoor, Interlake, Issaquah, Juanita, Liberty, Lake Washington, Mercer Island, Mount Si, Newport, Redmond, Roosevelt, Sammamish, Skyline, Woodinville at University of Washington

It’s been almost seven months since Seattle imposed a plastic bag ban requiring retailers and grocers to stop offering single-use plastic bags at checkout, and feedback from a 2012 survey shows a majority of shoppers and retail employees approve the change.

In October, Environment Washington – an environmental advocacy group – surveyed 891 consumers at nine different supermarkets across the city, including the QFC at Capco Plaza on 42nd Ave S.W. in West Seattle.

Here are the highlights from that survey:

- 94 percent of consumers are aware of the ban.

- 64 percent of consumers agree with the ban. More women than men agreed with the ban, more white people than people of color agreed, and more people in the 21-40 age bracket like the ban compared to those from 41-60.

- 54 percent said the ban “has prompted them to bring their own bag more often.”

Be on the lookout for incoming ballots for the Feb. 12 special election, which will have two items on it: Proposition 1, an operations levy; and Proposition 2, a capital levy. Both levies are for the Seattle School District, which is the only jurisdiction participating in the special election.

Ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 12 or returned to one of seven ballot drop-off locations (the one in Ballard is in front of the Ballard Branch Library). You can find all sorts of info at http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections/currentelections/201302.aspx

For anyone who may have trouble completing their ballot, there are also two accessible voting centers (AVCs), one in Renton and one at Seattle Union Station. More info on those here.

Some info on the ballot measures, from King County Elections:

Proposition 1, Operations Levy

Seattle Public Schools is asking for voter approval of a $551.9 million levy of taxes over three years. Proposed levy would replace an expiring one.

The official celebration of life/ memorial service for West Seattle resident and former Seafair Pirate, Jerry Ceis is set for Saturday Feb 2, Alki Bathhouse with the actual Memorial taking place at 1:30 pm.

Ceis died on Wednesday, Jan. 9 at the age of 64 following an illness.

A gathering will follow at Christo's (at 2508 Alki Avenue SW) immediately after beginning roughly at 4pm according to the organizers.

A wake will be privately held on a boat later in the year.

Another event will celebrate him at the Chelan Cafe (3527 Chelan Ave SW) in the Ebb-Tide room this Sunday, Jan. 27 at 3pm.

You can find many tributes to Jerry Ceis on the Facebook page for his high school class, West Seattle High School Class of 1966.