April 2013

King County Metro is asking the state legislature to provide stable funding for the public transit service before temporary funding runs out mid-2014, and says up to two-thirds of service could be cut, reduced or altered without it.

In an announcement released on April 1 (not an April Fool’s joke), Metro said the revenue shortfall “could force Metro to reduce service by about 17 percent beginning in fall 2014. About seven out of 10 riders would have to walk farther to catch a bus, transfer more, lose their service during some times of the day, or lose their service altogether.”

King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, representing and living in West Seattle, tweeted today: “In a briefing about Metro’s budget crisis: A 17% reduction of service may add 20-30k new cars to our roadways. Sustainable funding is needed!”

Metro claims an ongoing $60 million annual revenue shortfall will kick in without stable funding, with an additional $15 million shortfall to replace aging buses.

At risk in West Seattle

Information from Seattle Public Schools

Seattle Public Schools is updating its five-year strategic plan, Excellence for All. We’re asking families, students, staff, and community members to share feedback through a new survey, which closes on April 15. This survey asks respondents to assess the draft District vision, mission and core beliefs statements, as well as the draft goals and strategies.

The draft statements, goals and vision were created with a task force consisting of families, teachers, principals, staff, and community and business members. The task force assessed Excellence for All and offered recommended changes, and is now seeking community input. The School Board is expected to vote on a final updated plan in July 2013.

We are inviting the community to take 15-20 minutes to complete the survey. We will produce a summary of the results to share at a later date.

Highline High School opened its 2013 fast pitch softball season with a non league 13-2 win against the Roosevelt Roughriders on Monday, March 18, at Moshier Park after participating in a weekend jamboree at Mount Rainier High School.

It was a 10-run first inning that was sufficient enough to settle the issue against a hard trying but over matched Metro League opponent. Highline had 15 at bats in the inning that was interspersed with some good hitting and Roosevelt mistakes. In two at bats, Mikki Haury slammed a double plus a single for three runs batted in. Hope McElwain doubled for an RBI while Nicole Jacobson and Jenny Hovland also plated one runner each among the scoring highlights.

The Pirates spent the rest of the game working on some skills and techniques while the Roughriders kept at it until they were able to score a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Before that, the Pirates had amassed a 13-0 margin and the match up ended on the 10-run mercy rule.

If you have walked down Market St recently, you may have seen the papered off windows of Zak's, the burger joint that was most recently owned by the folks behind Yozen, the self-serve frozen yogurt place.

Well, don't fear, for where one burger joint falls, a new one from its ashes shall rise like a phoenix.

In another move that makes Ballard look increasingly like Capitol Hill, Li'l Woody's burgers and, yes, Molly Moon's icecream will be opening a new joint location at the Zak's pad. What hits the spot better during the summer than burgers and icecream? Uh, nothing.

Owners say they will be opening before the summer rolls in and, judging from their press release quotes, they sound excited:

“Ballard is just the perfect fit for a Li’l Woody’s,” says Marcus Lalario, owner of Li'l Woody's. “The unique combination of families and nightlife is the ideal spot for our delicious food-- we are super excited to be a part of this neighborhood.”

By Christy Wolyniak

The idea of “Do-It-Yourself” has exploded into every avenue of life, be it growing vegetables, crocheting clothes or brewing beer in the bathtub. But the latest trend has to do with one of the most important and miraculous moments in life: having a baby.

Lately more and more women have been opting for natural birth, rejecting doctors, meds and hospitals in favor of midwives, family and the comforts of home.

It’s a phenomenon that Ballardite Jane Drichta and life-time Seattleite Jodilyn "Jody" Owen explore in their new book, The Essential Homebirth Guide: For Families Planning or Considering at Home. In addition to penning the book, the two have also been using their skills to help mothers in other countries have a safe birthing process.

Although some women may get wide-eyed at the idea of natural birth, four percent of women in the Seattle area are embracing the idea. And it's not just hippies doing it.

By Ty Swenson and David Rosen

UPDATE for 3:30 p.m., April 6
Bertha is now docked at Pier 46 to start the unload process for the world's largest boring machine.

UPDATE for 2:45 p.m., April 2
Bertha has made it into Elliot Bay and West Seattle Herald photographer David Rosen hitched a boat ride with the fine folks at Mountain to Sound Outfitters for a good view.

His photos have been added as slideshow.

Original post
Today’s the day. Nicknamed Bertha after Seattle Mayor Bertha Knight Landes, the massive tunnel boring machine that will dig the SR99 tunnel along Seattle’s waterfront is coming to the end of her 5,000 mile from Japan.

The machine will arrive in pieces at Port of Seattle’s Terminal 46 and is expected to land around midday.

The Washington Dept. of Transportation has a map of viewing locations for those interested in seeing the spectacle first hand (link at the top of the story). From West Seattle, WSDOT recommends the Water Taxi, Jack Block Park and Seacrest Park.

Pirates to play at Safeco

The Highline High School baseball team has a special game ahead for Saturday, when the Pirates are scheduled to play Auburn Mountainview in a non-league game at Safeco Field.
Action is slated to begin at 12:30 p.m. with free admission and only $5 parking at the Safeco parking garage on the south side of the Seattle Mariners' home stadium.

T-Bird tickets are 2-for-1

It's no April Fools joke. Tickets to the Seattle Thunderbirds' Game 6 vs. the Kelowna Rockets on Tuesday, April 2, are 2-for-1! The T-Birds have a 3-2 series lead over the Rockets and are looking to win the series on Tuesday. Game 6 is also a Directors Mortgage 2-for-Tuesday game featuring $2 beers, $2 hot dogs, $2 popcorn and $2 soda.

First Round Schedule
Game 1 - Seattle 5, at Kelowna 4, OT
Game 2 - Seattle 2, at Kelowna 1, OT
Game 3 - At Seattle 3, Kelowna 2, OT
Game 4 - Kelowna 4, at Seattle 0
Game 5 - At Kelowna 4, Seattle 3
Game 6 - Tuesday, April 2 vs. Kelowna at ShoWare Center at 7:05 p.m. BUY TICKETS
Game 7 - Wednesday, April 3 at Kelowna at Prospera Place at 7:05 p.m.*
* If necessary

Conger stays with Angels

Mayor Mike McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine announced this week that in honor of our publisher Jerry Robinson's birthday April 6 that they have officially declared April 6 as Jerry Robinson and Robinson Newspapers Day in King County.

Robinson purchased the White Center News in 1952 and later came to acquire a chain of weekly newspapers from Ballard to Burien. He bought the Ballard News-Tribune in 1993. The newspapers have won numerous awards and have been the training ground for many journalists around the region.

Robinson, now 93 years old remains, a vital part of the company and regularly writes for the publications.

If you'd like to offer your congratulations or wish Jerry a Happy Birthday please do so in the comments or via email to our Managing Editor Ken Robinson at Kenr@robinsonnews.com

The text of the Mayor's proclamation reads:

WHEREAS, like many others during World War II, Jerry Robinson found himself contributing to the war effort by moving to Seattle and working for Boeing; and

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced this week that in honor of our publisher Jerry Robinson's birthday (April 6) that he has declared April 6 as Jerry Robinson and Robinson Newspapers Day in King County. Robinson purchased the White Center News in 1952 and later came to acquire a chain of weekly newspapers from Ballard to Burien. The newspapers have won numerous awards and have been the training ground for many journalists around the region.

Robinson, now 93 years old remains a vital part of the company and regularly writes for the publications.

The text of the proclamation reads:

King County
PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, Jerry Robinson will celebrate his 93rd birthday on April, 6, 2013; and
WHEREAS, Jerry has published an award-winning group of community newspapers, including
the Ballard News-Tribune, West Seattle Herald/White Center News, and Highline
Times/ SeaTac News/ Des Moines News for decades; and
WHEREAS, he remains a vital and a contributing community journalist; and
WHEREAS, Jerry has made countless contributions of time, money, and publicity to
community organizations and causes; and

By Patrick Robinson and David Rosen

An update to the Monday night shooting is available here.

Seattle Fire Department medics transported a 27 year old male from SW Charleston/SW Avalon Street to Harborview Medical Center shortly after 11:30 pm with multiple gunshot wounds. They reported that the patient was critical with ongoing CPR. A suspect was being sought. Charleston Street was blocked off as the scene was being investigated. Two male suspects were seen running westbound on SW Charleston Street and then northbound into an alley. They fled the scene in a light-colored vehicle and remain at large.

Later in the 5600 block of Delridge Way another shooting took place, and a second 19 year old was hit multiple times in the arm, leg and torso. He too was transported to Harborview.

Police at the scene speculated that the shootings were connected but this has not been confirmed.