April 2013

Meeting notice from the West Seattle Block Watch Captains' Network:

Learn (more) about Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design!

Join us this coming Tuesday, the 23rd, for our April meeting!

Officer Jon Kiehn from the Community Police Team will give his very popular presentation on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED, pronounced "Sep-Ted").

Learn how to reduce the chances that your home will be the target for burglaries. It’s an interesting and enlightening presentation (think “target hardening” and “hostile vegetation”).

Even if you saw Officer Kiehn's presentation last year, you’ll come away with new ideas and insights about changes that you can make for little to no money to make your home and neighborhood a safer place to be. Feel free to send/bring photos if you have specific issues to ask him about!

This presentation was originally scheduled for last month's meeting; however, SW Precinct Commander, Capt. Kessler was able to stay longer than we had anticipated. If you missed that meeting, here's the recap.

Press release:

On April 29, the merger of New Futures with Southwest Youth & Family Services will be complete, creating one stronger, more versatile organization primed to reach more families in southwest Seattle and King County.

This integration reflects a shared belief in the power of self-determination for families. The merger will make it possible to apply greater resources and increase support to families as they determine for themselves the best ways to empower their children and build resilience.

"I first approached Southwest Youth & Family Services in 2012 about our interest in a merger because of their track record, integrity and cultural sensitivity," stated Jenn Ramirez Robson, Executive Director, New Futures.

Hers is one of the few roles that will change post-merger, as she becomes the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Southwest Youth & Family Services, with a focus on fundraising and community outreach.

A proposal was made by City Manager, Mike Martin at the April 15, 2013 Burien City Council meeting to extend the contract to CARES until 2016.

This extension would also give CARES and additional $50,000 per year and a 3% COLA to each of their three employees. Since CARES counts phone calls differently than RASKC, the number is highly inflated compared to other cities, something RASKC took into consideration when coming up with a cost for Burien to contract with them.

I believe that the City of Burien should renegotiate their contract for animal control services with RASKC (Regional Animal Services of King County).

The City of SeaTac with a 2011 population of 27, 430 (Wikipedia) recently got a contract for animal control services from RASKC for $107,000 per year. The cost of a contract with RASKC is based on several factors: the number of calls received, the number of animal intakes, minus license fees, a percentage discount and a reduction shared by cities in the group (the most compelling factor in the reduction of fees).

Press release:

Highline Medical Center in Burien is now part of the Franciscan Health System becoming the sixth hospital in the Franciscan organization.

Highline’s affiliation with Franciscan creates opportunities for collaboration that will benefit patients and the broader community.

The Highline –Franciscan affiliation was announced in June 2012 and became final April 1, 2013 after completion of reviews by state and federal regulatory agencies.

Highline Medical Center was established in 1958 and includes a 154-bed acute care hospital, a 115-bed specialty center, more than 20 clinics across from West Seattle to Vashon Island.

Its services include 24-hour emergency and trauma care, critical care, cardiac care, cancer care, inpatient medical and surgical care, imaging services, outpatient surgery, home health and hospice, addiction recovery, and physical rehabilitation. Highline has more than 1,500 employees. Its medical staff includes more than 250 physicians with active and courtesy medical privileges.

For residents living up and down the Delridge corridor, it has been no strange occurrence to hear likely gunshots ring out in the night, or wake up the next morning to find a nearby fence or wall splashed with gang graffiti.

According to specialists within the Seattle Police Department, gang activity has been on the rise in West Seattle over the past several months, and they are turning their attention to figuring out why.

Speaking to the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council on April 16, Lt. Daniel Whalen and Det. Clayton Agate from SPD’s Robbery, Gang and Fugitive Unit shared what information they could with the public.

“You have some very active juveniles who at least associate with gangs in West Seattle, and it’s getting more active,” Agate said. “I have noticed in the past few months a tremendous increase in gang graffiti just down the road here in Delridge.”

The Chief Sealth Seahawks scored early and often in their 12-3 win over Rainier Beach but a team doesn’t win like this without a strong pitching performance and that’s what the Seahawks got out of starter Isac Bauer who went six full innings allowing two runs in the fourth and one run in the sixth inning.

Being up by nine runs in the top of the seventh inning is by no measure a free pass, this writer has watched a team score eleven runs in one inning. That’s where the closer comes into play. For the Seahawks that closer was Mason Moe. He did what closers are expected to do. Take care of the batters in order that come to the plate. Even with a lead as big as this it can be a tense situation.

Update, April 24

According to the Associated Press, House Democrats have dropped the beer tax expansion.

AP reports, "Democratic Rep. Reuven Carlyle, one of the chamber’s budget writers, said the tax might have been subjected to a ballot challenge from large beer companies. He said it could have created problems for the larger goal of increasing education funding."

The tax extension would have raised a projected $60 million over two years.

Original, April 18

Several small breweries in Ballard are shifting their feet nervously as the Washington State Legislature considers a beer tax that could sky rocket the cost of running business for them.

"The increased excise taxes which are being proposed would mean an even greater challenge for us not just to grow, but just to keep the doors open," said Amy Besunder, co-owner of Populuxe Brewing.

The Restore the Duwamish Shoreline Challenge will be hosting a Saturday event as part of the Duwamish Alive! Coalition to mobilize volunteer effort along the Duwamish River. On April 20th, volunteers will be gathering at restoration events up and down the river to make a last impact on the ecosystem and habitat health of the Duwamish River.

Register for this event by clicking this link

Join community members and local businesses for an afternoon of volunteering to restore the Duwamish River shoreline. Volunteers will help dig out invasive blackberry, lay down mulch and plant native vegetation. This event will continue the Restore the Duwamish Shoreline Challenge initiated by BECU. Come learn more about the Challenge’s goal of uniting Tukwila’s business community for this local environmental cause and lend a hand restoring the Duwamish River’s ecosystem. For more information about the Restore the Duwamish Shoreline Challenge visit the challenge’s website.

Where to Meet: Green River Trail at the BECU Campus (12770 Gateway Dr. Tukwila,WA)

On March 1, Carlos Stanley, formerly of Ballard High School, and Kiel Rasp, formerly of Nathan Hale High School and the University of Washington, traveled to Hungary where they are now coaching and playing football for the Békéscsaba Raptors.

While, football is a relatively new sport in Hungary, having just started ten years ago, its popularity has risen rapidly in the country. As of 2013, nearly thirty teams participate in four divisions.

After graduating from Ballard High School in 2009, Carlos Stanley thought his football days were over. He enrolled at Shoreline Community College, but he never lost the desire to play football.

A few years later, Stanley received a call from his former coach, Tim Jolin, an assistant at Ballard from 2002-2008. Jolin had moved with his family to Hungary in 2012 and had started coaching football there.

“When Coach Jolin called me up and asked if I wanted to play in Europe, it was one of the best things to happen to me in a while. I was excited to have another shot at playing football and to develop players who could benefit from my knowledge of the game.”

The Department of Planning and Development will host a public early design guidance meeting on May 9th at the West Seattle Senior Center for a new apartment project planned for 4535 44th Ave. S.W., just west of Alaska Junction.

From DPD:

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The proposal is for a 4-story structure containing 35 residential units and 4 live-work units. Parking for 1 vehicle to be provided on site.

MEETING

Date: Thursday, May 9, 2013

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: West Seattle Senior Center
4217 SW Oregon St
Hatten Hall

All meeting facilities are ADA compliant. Translators or interpreters provided upon request. Please contact the planner listed above at least five business days prior to the meeting to request this service.

OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT