February 2013

Press release:

Paper valentines account for a big spike in annual waste production, with roughly 180 million Americans exchanging Valentine’s Day cards each year.

This year, Waste Management, Burien’s solid waste utility, recommends alternatives to conventional cards as a way to express the spirit of the holiday and also love the planet.

“Valentine’s Day doesn’t produce as much waste as Christmas or even Easter, but when you consider what goes into a 180 million cards, it’s easy to understand that a few small changes make a big difference for the environment,” said Robin Freedman of Waste Management of Washington. “This Valentine’s Day, we are urging Washingtonians to be good to their loved ones and to the environment. It just takes a little forethought and creativity.”

GREEN VALENTINE IDEAS
Cards - Save trees in the name of love by sending an e-card. If the paper card is a must, make sure it’s printed on recycled paper or make one from materials you have at home.

Flowers - Consider planting a tree for your loved one.

Apparently, even raccoons don't like all of the high-rises sprouting up like weeds around Ballard.

According to a great scoop by King 5, two raccoons had climbed 150 feet up a tower crane this morning, creating a home behind the crane's cab and effectively halting the giant apartment-making machine. The crane is being used to build a 304-unit apartment complex on NW Market St and 24th Ave NW.

Witnesses said the raccoons were big, like dogs, according to King 5.

While humane traps were set out to capture them, it appears the critters had their moment of fun and mischief and left of their own accord.

Read the whole story at http://www.king5.com/news/Raccoons-bring-Ballard-tower-crane-to-a-halt-…

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By Christopher Duclos

While high school football seniors all over the nation made their college decision Ballard high sent of its own share of football talent on National Signing day. BHS held a signing on Wednesday morning to honor the athletes that will take their skills to the next level.

Central Washington University was able to woo wide receiver Nate Rauda to Ellensburg on full scholarship, however two of his teammates will be going out of state to junior colleges for football. A common road for football talent, playing in the junior college ranks allows for players to take two years to play football and attend school before moving onto more prominent Universities.

Justin Simon was the first to sign his letter of intent. Simon will attend Pima Community College, an American two-year institution of higher education in Pima County, Ariz. serving the Tucson metropolitan area. Their mascot is the Aztec.

Or, at least they're open according to a sign we saw yesterday on the front door that said they were opening on Feb. 7. It's located across from Ballard High School where the RoRo's was (6416 15TH AVE NW).

El Camion has made a name for itself as a popular food truck around town, drawing an impressive list of positive reviews. Even tom Douglas praised the food truck.

Also, they applied for a liquor license for beer and wine (no spirits, though), so get ready to wash down those tacos with a cold one. So far, it looks like it still hasn't gone through.

It'll be interesting to see how the food truck philosophy adapts to the old restaurant location, which before RoRo's was housed by Zesto's for 64 years. We'll stop by sometime and see how the place stacks up.

In any case, Ballard High School students rejoice, for what will likely be a better lunch spot than what turned out to be a mediocre RoRo's. (But no booze.)

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When people started noticing surveillance cameras appearing on light poles from Lincoln Park to Harbor Island along the West Seattle shoreline, the questions inevitably arose: “Who are they watching?” and “Who are ‘they’ exactly?”

As the Herald reported last week, the cameras are paid for by a $5 million federal Homeland Security grant with the primary purpose of keeping a close eye on potential terrorist threats coming in to the Port of Seattle, and the “wireless mesh” system can be tapped into by several agencies, from the Coast Guard to Port of Seattle to King County and Seattle law enforcement agencies.

By Christopher Duclos

Hopeful and hungry to keep their season going, Ballard High boys varsity went on the road to take on Inglemoor in the first leg of the playoffs.

At tip off, ferocity abounded the court; Both teams defensively deciding the first period with a score of 9-9. Ballard turned on the Jets in the second period, scoring 18 points against a Vikings defense that seemed to be slowing down. It appeared Inglemoor would never come back with a first half score of 27-14.

However, the second half told a different story. After making adjustments and finding the motivation, Inglemoor grabbed the lead from the Beavers. It seemed as if the Vikings attack had figured out the defensive schemes that the Beavers used, sinking three pointers against double-man coverage.

Not to be outdone, Ballard kicked it into high gear in the 4th period, matching Inglemoor stride for stride. After long minutes of trading the lead the decision was made in the final seconds. Ballard would hold on to escape Inglemoor’s gym with a win, 55-52.

Dear Editor,

As a high school student in the Seattle Public School district, I was amazed at the gall of the author of the Op-Ed piece, “Vote ‘No’ on school levies.” The Operations Levy that is being voted on provides over a quarter of the operating budget of Seattle Public Schools, and the use of it as a political tool is unacceptable.

While there are merits to the argument brought up, mainly the low voter turnout expected in this election, it is a message that needs to be expressed in a different way, not through the defunding of public schools.

This levy funds sixth period in high schools all across Seattle. I don’t believe, and I am sure many agree with me, that we should cut our students’ education by a sixth just for a cheap political trick. There is a time and a place for the argument that these levies should be voted on in the general election, just as there is a time and a place for the argument that we should fund schools through the state budget, not levies.

How did the corruption in the Bell, California government happen? How did the North Highline Fire Station financial problems happen a few years ago?

Both of these were forms of governing that did not allow sufficient citizen involvement and didn’t have a system of checks and balances.

Control is taken from citizens by constantly rewriting ordinances until citizens virtually lose their voice over how things are handled.

Recently, the Burien city staff, at the direction of Mike Martin, has rewritten how often citizens could request a change to the Burien Comprehensive Plan.

In most Washington state cities, citizens can apply for a change once a year. However, the Burien Department of Growth and Development felt they were overworked so they changed the ordinance. Now citizens are allowed to put in for a change and be put on the docket once every four years.

Also, if Mike Martin feels that it would cost too much to consider a citizen request to be put on the docket, he can ask the council to turn down a citizen request indefinitely.

Press release:

Highline Community College was selected by the Community College Futures Assembly as a 2013 finalist for the 19th annual Bellwether Awards.

The competition was held Jan. 26-29 in Buena Vista, Florida. Established in 1995, the Bellwether honor is given to colleges that implement exceptional and innovative programs in their institutions.

Ten finalists were selected in three categories: Instructional Programs and Services; Planning, Governance and Finance; and Workforce Development.

Highline competed in the Planning, Governance and Finance division. Each year, between 100 and 500 applications are submitted from community colleges around the world for a chance to become a Bellwether finalist.

“It is a huge honor that Highline Community College was selected as one of 10 finalists for this Bellwether award and to receive this external validation for the college’s innovative initiative around alumni relations,” said Highline President, Dr. Jack Bermingham.

Press release:

Fourteen additional Highline elementary schools have earned certification as HealthierUS Schools (HUSSC) bringing to 18 the number of Highline schools certified.

The program, initiated in 2004, recognizes schools that have created healthier school environments through promotion of nutrition and physical activity.

Seven schools earned the Gold Award of Distinction, four earned the Silver Award, and three earned the Bronze Award.

“These awards reflect a true collaborative effort by nutrition services staff at our schools, school principals, and staff at central office,” said Chris Neal, director of Nutrition Services. “The level of achievement and number of schools recognized means that many people across the district are working on behalf of the welfare of Highline students. It is just awesome to be recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in this way, and I want to thank every person in Highline who contributed to this achievement.”