March 2013

Trish Millines Dziko, the co-founder and executive director of TAF (Technology Access Foundation) and driving force behind the new Bethaday Community Learning Space in White Center, was appointed to commission that will approve new charter schools and hold them accountable. Here are the details from TAF:

On March 6, the nine members of the Washington State Charter School Commission were announced.

Among them is Trish Millines Dziko, long-time advocate for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, with a focus on youth of color,and executive director of TAF, a Seattle-area nonprofit.
Washington State voters authorized the opening of up to 40 charter schools, over five years, last November. The Charter School Commission will be one of two routes schools can take to be approved, the other being through local school boards authorized by the State Board of Education.

Ms. Millines Dziko, appointed by Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, has been working in education in Washington State for over 16 years.

The surveillance camera controversy will get two public hearings (and more yet to be set) with the first coming up March 12 at the Alki Bathhouse 2701 Alki Avenue SW at 7pm.

The second one scheduled will be at the Belltown Community Center, 415 Bell Street, Tuesday, March 19th at 7 p.m.

This program which has been the subject of a lot of scrutiny and concern up to now was documented in a video being presented on the Seattle Channel at http://tinyurl.com/a6d7rmz and the city is asking that questions, concerns or complaints be directed via email to cameraquestions@seattle.gov

Jason Ayeres Gift Enevoldsen got a photo of Comet PanSTARRS (full name C/2011 L4 PanSTARRS) from West Seattle's Lincoln Park on Friday March 15.

Enevoldsen shoots with a telescope equipped Nikon D800.

He explains, "This image is from 8:32pm on March 15th, 2013 from the South end of the beach at Lincoln Park. We watched for an hour, scanning back and forth to find the comet. It peeked out between the clouds for only about 3 minutes, before disappearing for the night.

Update 8:15am March 9
Seattle Police have confirmed that last night's shooting was of an 18-year-old man and that it happened during an attempted robbery.

According to SPD "the victim stated that he was walking through the athletic field when three unknown males approached him, one armed with a gun. The victim told officers that the men attempted to take his backpack, but the victim held onto it. The suspects assaulted the victim and shot him in the right calf. After the shot was fired, the suspects fled without any of the victim’s belongings. The victim began yelling for assistance and neighbors called 911. Officers conducted an area check but did not locate the suspects. The victim received medical treatment for his injury. Gang Unit detectives responded and will conduct the follow-up investigation."

Original Post

Information from the Seattle Police Department on a North Seattle shooting that led to the temporary lockdown of community centers across the city. Their suspect, 47-year-old Carolyn Piksa, was arrested later in the afternoon in Burien:

Officers have arrested the North Seattle shooting suspect

At approximately 1:57 p.m. officers responded to a Seattle Parks and Recreation Department office in the 8000 block of Densmore Avenue North for a 911 report of a man needing medical assistance. Updated 911 calls reported that a man had been shot. Fire department medics responded to the scene and transported the 70-year-old male victim to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of a life-threatening gunshot wound to the chest.

After shooting the victim and prior to officers’ arrival on scene the suspect left the Seattle Parks and Recreation office and went to another city facility located at North 130th Street and Linden Avenue North. Once there the suspect brandished a handgun at an adult female and then left without further incident.

Seattle Police Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator sends out a monthly community newsletter with tips. This month: proper protocol when an unknown person comes to your door.

Dear Community Friends,

She’s Baaaaack!!!
Way back in 2005, we shared information about a woman using the names of “Kim” and “Pam” going to the homes of elderly women and using a ruse to gain entry into the home. She had used claims of being a block watch captain, a new neighbor, pregnant, or having car problem. She has used hardship stories to gain sympathy. She has asked to use the phone or bathroom to gain entry and then asked for or just outright demanded money before she would leave. At times, she has taken whatever was within reach when the homeowner stepped away to get her a glass of water or money, or was otherwise distracted. She was active in south Seattle from Columbia City to Rainier Beach. She was eventually arrested.

Press release
When: Wednesday, March 13, 2013. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: YWCA Greenbridge Learning Center
9720 8th Ave SW, Seattle WA 98106
(206) 336-7000

Employers include:
- Charlie's Produce
 Seattle Police
 McDonald
 Platt Electric Supply
 TDA Central Refrigerated Services
 Uwajimaya Inc.
 US Army
 Catholic Community Services
 A& B Homecare Staffing
 Port of Seattle Jobs
 Safeway
 Trident Seafood Company
 Primerica
 ABM Security Company
 Right At Home Healthcare
 Phoenix Protective Corp
 The Home Depot
 Wells Fargo Bank
 Northwest Center
 Lowes Stores
 DSHS
And more…………….

Bring your resume, dress professionally & be prepared to speak to company representatives.

Taco Time NW in cooperation with the White Center Homeless Summit (WCHS) and community groups fed more than 46 homeless people in White Center on Friday March, 8 in what will become a monthly event according to the organizers.

Volunteers from Union Gospel Mission, Evergreen High School, White Center Chamber of Commerce and Grace Church were on hand out in front of Steve Cox Memorial Park to serve up fresh tacos with salsa, sour cream, peppers, cheese, lettuce and hot sauce.

Alex Campbell, a senior at Evergreen was there as part of a class project. He's reached out to younger classmates to help address the problem of homelessness in the community. Alex helped with the homeless count this year, handed out over 200 flyers to local residents and businesses, and will be organizing and serving during the lunches this spring.

Mayor Mike McGinn had a lot to say about Ballard's Pacific Fishermen company when he recognized it as part of the Seattle Jobs Plan's "In Good Company" program. Read the whole press release below:

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Today Mayor Mike McGinn recognized Seattle-based Pacific Fishermen for its resiliency, design innovation, and environmental stewardship, all accomplished while simultaneously preserving Seattle's maritime legacy and representing Seattle's rich heritage.

"In order for Seattle's economy to continue to grow, we need to nurture different types of businesses across a diverse array of industry sectors. Pacific Fishermen is an example of a company that is dedicated to maintaining the heritage of its industry and its owners," said Mayor Mike McGinn. "Implementing innovative new designs to protect and enhance the environment not only creates a sustainable future for the industry, but also demonstrates a commitment to environmental stewardship."

Crews will be out on the I-5 / SR 516 interchange next week to install traffic loop sensors into the roadway as part of the ramp meter project.

The state Department of Transportation says crews will do what they can to keep the noise down. If residents have questions or concerns, they may call the project office at 425-768-5600 and ask for Dave Standahl.

When completed the ramp meters will improve traffic flow on the mainline of I-5.

Also transportation staffers report there might be a little bit of a delay for drivers Sunday, March 10 as crews close the right lane of northbound SR 599 from Interurban Avenue to Macadam Road in Tukwila from 6:30 a.m. to noon to repair a guardrail.