February 2013

Friday, Feb. 15, was a dangerous night in West Seattle as three teens were robbed at knife-point on California Ave. S.W. and a man was robbed with a fake gun on Delridge Way S.W. Police were able to detain suspects in both cases and continue to investigate.

According to Det. Jeff Kappel with the Seattle Police Department, three juveniles were walking along the 2600 block of California Ave. S.W. just before 9 p.m. when four suspects with their faces covered by bandana approached, donned a gun (later determined to be an airsoft pistol) and knife, and stole a cell phone and camera from the victims before fleeing the scene.

Police responded with a canine unit and detained three suspects on the 2800 block of Walnut Avenue S.W. Found in the near vicinity were a SIG-Sauer-copy airsoft pistol, two masks and a knife, Kappel wrote.
The juveniles were identified and released to their parents/legal guardians “pending further investigation.” A fourth suspect was later contacted at his home and positively identified for further investigation.

Our very own Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles has just been recognized for her commitment to promoting "justice, equality and opportunity for all" through her voting record.

She received an "A" rating on the Racial Justice Report Card issued by the Washington Community Action Network.

Fellow 36D legislator Rep. Reuven Carlyle received a "B" rating. Since grading was based on the 2012 slate of legislators, Rep. Gael Tarleton was not graded. The Washington State Legislature overall did not receive a very satisfactory grade -- "D."

20 percent of the population in the 36th District consists of people of color, according to the report.

“This is no small matter. As legislators, we have a responsibility to our communities, and given that the Legislature received a ‘D’ overall, there is clearly more work we need to do in order to end institutional racism and promote social justice in Washington,” Kohl-Welles said in a statement. “This honor reaffirms my commitment to equality in the 36th District and across our state.”

Compiled by Shara Wallace

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—Paintings by Richard Jahn. 14700 6th Ave. S.W. Through March 31. Hours are Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Burien Community Center---“Extraordinary Women of Highline," an exhibit that showcases the accomplishments of pioneering women from the Highline area. 14700 6th Ave. S.W. Through Feb. 28. Hours are Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Ballard High School is highlighting two outstanding students for February's "Student of the Month." See what they have to say about Becca Ehlers and Evan Porcincula below.

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Becca Ehlers is a stellar Ballard student. She has a 3.97 GPA and graduated from Ballard’s Biotechnology Academy last spring. Becca is a four year lettermen in swim and was captain this year. She is the co-president of the Gay-Straight Alliance and has been in the National Honors Society for three years. Becca is a member of Ballard’s thespians troupe and Key Club. She is heavily involved in the drama department, focusing on set construction but also acting, ushering, and working on costumes. She has worked as a life guard, at a coffee shop, and in a daycare. Becca is a member of Diverse Harmony, the nation’s first LGBT youth chorus. She is applying to Northwestern, New York University, and Harvard, and plans on majoring in creative writing.

Angle Lake Park in SeaTac will close until summer.

According to SeaTac Parks director Kit Ledbetter the park could close for construction as early as Monday, Feb. 25. He said closure signs would be posted at the park, located at 19408 International Blvd. S.

When it reopens in time for SeaTac’s annual International Festival on June 29, the park will sport a new water spray play area.

The play area will also be open in time for the Fourth of July fireworks display on the lake. Lawmakers also have discussed holding an Independence Day carnival on the city-owned Hughes property south of the park.

Parks directors in neighboring cities tell Ledbetter that their water spray features are the most popular summer attractions in their parks.

Ledbetter said in his 35 years as a parks employee, the Angle Lake water spray is one of his top one or two projects.

He predicted that on a warm summer day, the water feature could attract up to 300 children. It will provide families with nonswimmers or young children an alternative to going into the lake at the popular city destination, Ledbetter noted.

The Tukwila School District has been hit with a lawsuit filed by nine African American educators. The complaint claims the district endorses a white agenda and represses equality in education and teaching in Tukwila schools.

The district’s student enrollment is one of the most racially diverse in the nation.

Some of the teachers claimed they have been retaliated against for going public in the past with complaints, including Sandra Goins, a teacher with the district since 2003.

The lawsuit states that no one of color sits on the school board or is a principal in the district.

It claims that issues persist due to "unlawful racism and pervasive discrimination" against the African American workforce at the district.

Dr. Mellody Matthes, Tukwila school district's interim superintendent, said she just received the lawsuit Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 12. She had no immediate official response.

The previous superintendent, Ethelda Burke, resigned June 26 after facing similar racial discrimination charges. Burke is African-American.

Rub elbows with Burien’s community and business leaders while supporting the nonprofit Discover Burien Association at its annual community leader awards dinner and silent auction Friday, March 1.

During the dinner from 6 to 10 p.m., Discover Burien will recognize dedicated community members who have made a real difference in Burien. The organization will present awards to Burien nonprofit, student and business leaders of the year.

Robinson Newspapers, which publishes the Highline Times/Des Moines News/SeaTac News, will present its own award honoring a community member who has contributed to Burien.

The dinner at the Burien Community Center is an opportunity to sample food from a variety of Burien restaurants. There will be a no-host bar.

Bid on silent auction items ranging from theater tickets to restaurant gift certificates. The event also includes a dessert auction and a wine wall.

Plus the business or group with the best-decorated table at the event will get the opportunity to take the stage to tell attendees about itself and what it has to offer.

Admission is $40 in advance, $50 at the door, or $280 for a table of eight in advance.

Cedarhurst Elementary School fourth-grade student Amber Williams won the Environmental Science Center (ESC) Earth Day Kids Art Contest, and Emily Jung, also in grade four at Cedarhurst, won one of the two runner-up awards. A student from Renton was the other runner-up. 


The artworks celebrate Earth Day and keeping the earth healthy through environmental stewardship. 
Williams and Jung are both students in Kevin Plough’s fourth-grade class.

The class had been studying the Puget Sound waterways and biodiversity. Plough asked his students to artistically express what it means to be an environmental steward of our earth and waterways. Students were then given the option to enter their assignment into the art contest. 


William’s artwork will be featured on posters and invites for the ESC’s Earth Day Dinner and Auction. Over $400 in prizes were awarded to the three winning students, including memberships or admission tickets to the Seattle Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo, and Pacific Science Center, and art supplies from Artist and Craftsman Supply and Daniel Smith Inc., plus nature and art books.

Steve Scranton of World Vision, left, and two Waggner Edstrom employees distribute backpacks to a Highline schools liaison to give to families affected by the recent Burien apartment fire.

King County residents received their annual valentine from the county assessor’s office as property tax bills for 2013 were sent out on Feb. 14.

Property taxes are mixed in King County for 2013, with property values and property taxes down for many, according to assessor Lloyd Hara. However, some property owners will see their property values decline while their property taxes increase, and other property owners will see both their property values increase and property taxes increase.

“We are beginning to see a recovery in the housing market in King County,” said Hara. “Though property values continue to decline in most areas, there are also a number of areas where property values are increasing, including in the city of Seattle and the Eastside.”

Overall, property taxes in King County are up 3.35 percent for 2013, due to a number of voter-approved measures that have recently passed. At the same time, the aggregate value of property in King County is down 1.48 percent for the 2013 tax year (2012 assessment year).