April 2013

Here's the official announcement from Seattle Public Utilities:

"The new state-of-the-art South Transfer Station is now open to all customers and replaces the former South Recycling and Disposal Station located down the street. The hi-tech, ultra-environmental (LEED Gold) station will serve customers for at least the next 50 years. The total project cost will be $76 million. This includes costs of property acquisition, site cleanup, environmental studies and master plan, along with $55 million for the engineering design, permitting, equipment, material testing, construction, construction management and improvements to the land."

The West Seattle Herald toured the facility at the beginning of March, and you can revisit that story here for an in-depth preview before your first drop off!

For more information from SPU, their project website is found here.

Incoming police chief comes clean
With Seattle Police Chief John Diaz retiring at the end of May, his interim replacement Chief Jim Pugel will take the helm. In an unexpected move, Pugel voluntarily released an SPD training video he was part of created in 1986 that made fun of homeless people living under the Viaduct with a song called “Under the Viaduct” to the tune of “Under the Boardwalk.” The video is available for viewing at www.spdblotter.seattle.gov. In his apology, Pugel said, in part, “I regret my participation and have professionally apologized for my role in it. I do so now publicly, I am truly sorry.” The video was deemed offensive by SPD command at the time it was made and ordered destroyed, but a master copy was kept in their video unit. Pugel said he has volunteered for homeless causes many times since that video was made and, “As a police department, we have much work to do to strengthen our relationships in the community. Sometimes that means addressing an ugly piece of our history.”

Safe capers fall short

By Cassandra Baker

5:10 p.m., April 22. 11th block of NW Leary Way

A shoplifter made off with a pair of athletic shoes at a Ballard store on April 22. The victim, a store employee, called police to report the crime. She said that the suspect, a black male in his 20s about 5’8” tall and wearing a black jacket and white T-shirt, entered the store and began looking at the shoes. The victim said that she saw him put a pair of shoes in his jacket, but when she confronted him about it, he said he wasn’t taking anything. He then pushed past her and ran out of the store. The stolen shoes were Nikes valued at about $50. The suspect was not located in the area, but the victim said that the store did have video surveillance footage.

2:00 a.m., April 22. N 45th St and Wallingford Ave N

UPDATE: SLIDESHOW OF RACE

Also, after the race, KC Council's Joe McDermott took the stage and spoke of running's health benefits & led attendees with a moment of silence to remember runners lost and injured in the Boston Marathon tragedy. Sierra Hutton sang "Amazing Grace prior to the moment of silence.

Cove 2 Clover Organizer John Nelson recognized Kristen Kerns with the C2C Volunteer-of-the-Year award.

---------------------------
Every year, Highline’s Cove to Clover event gets larger.

This year’s extravaganza, with events spread from two pub crawls starting it all on Friday, April 26 to a snake pit dinner on Saturday to four different big races on Sunday, is no exception.

The cities of Des Moines and SeaTac are also joining Burien and Normandy Park in the fun.

Centerpieces of the activities are the fundraising runs on Sunday, April 28.

The 5K run starts at noon at the Normandy Park Swim Club (The Cove) at noon and finishes up at Burien Town Square. The 10K run also starts at noon and ends up at Town Square. The 10K takes off from the Normandy Park Towne Center at First Avenue South and South 200th Street.

Residents, staff and volunteers at Providence Mt. St. Vincent came together on a beautiful afternoon April 25 to show their support for the people and city of Boston following the traumatic series of events from the bombings to the pursuit and killing and capture of those responsible. The "Mount Marathon" brought everyone from the able bodied to those using walkers and wheelchairs to walk around the facility (a distance of .2 miles) to accumulate the total marathon distance of 26.2 miles. There's a larger goal too. They want to, over time, get a total of 3048 miles, the distance from Seattle to Boston.

The idea from Eileen McCloskey, Recreation Therapy Coordinator for the Mount will be shared with a nursing home in Boston. This is to honor and show support for the Boston community. We look at it as, for every one person with intent to harm there are so many more people with the intent kindness, healing and support."

Sister Lucy, who belongs to St. Joseph Residence, age 90 was there for the event wearing a blue and yellow ribbon. "I came to be in sympathy with the people of Boston and around the world that are suffering and I think this is a good way to do it," she said.

Press release:

Stock up on just-picked produce, locally crafted food items and one-of-kind handicrafts at the Burien Farmers Market, which opens Thursday, May 2.

Market hours are every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through October 31 in Burien Town Square in downtown Burien.

A major benefit of shopping at the market is better prices for fresher food, according to Debra George, event manager for the Discover Burien Association, which operates the market. The fresh-from-the-fields fruit and vegetables are from Washington State farmers, mostly local, who sell directly to market customers.

Don’t miss new market eatables that include locally concocted Full Tilt ice cream and chocolate biscotti. Among the many returning food vendors, expect to see organic berries and other organic produce, freshly baked goods, shaved ice and hand-made dried pasta.

New this year, handcrafted wood furniture will join the line-up of unique handicrafts. Greenery will feature freshly cut flowers of all sorts and such plantable vegetation as rhododendrons and rose bushes.

It went so well last year, Highline Public Schools and Highline Schools Foundation staffers are doing it again this year.

It is the Scholar-Athlete, Coach and Community Recognition Program.

Sixteen student-athletes, eight honored middle and high school coaches and community contributors will be honored at a recognition banquet, Tuesday, May 21 at Mt. Rainier High School in Des Moines.

The students will receive scholarship funds.

The total amount given away depends on the generosity of Highline alums, parents and community members.

In the inaugural event, $15,000 was raised for scholarship support.

Highline district athletic director Terri McMahan said donations reached $30,000 per year when she organized a similar program as Edmonds Public Schools athletic director. The Edmonds program is still going strong, she reports.

As for last year’s Highline event, McMahan said she has heard nothing but positive comments about it.

“We are committed to making this an annual event and to growing scholarship support,” McMahan declared.

Press release from the Mayor's Office

Mayor Mike McGinn is inviting applicants for an opening on the Ballard Avenue Landmark District Board. The opening is for either a Ballard historian or a person having a demonstrated interest in the Ballard community.

The seven-member Ballard Avenue Landmark District Board protects the historical and architectural values and significance of the District by regulating all proposed changes to the external appearance of buildings, structures, and public rights-of-way located within the district boundaries.

The Board includes two district property owners, two district property owners/business persons, one district tenant/resident, one architect and one Ballard historian or person with a demonstrated interest in the Ballard community. Five Board members are elected for a two-year term at annual elections in the District, and two are appointed by the Mayor and approved by Seattle City Council.

Update for June 25
An update from the filmmaker:

We are having red carpet premier event on June 29,8:00pm at the Admiral Theater in West Seattle. It was filmed here locally around the Seattle area by Jay Rowlands who is a local writer/director/actor from West Seattle.

The film is CLUTCH, a full feature-length dramatic action film that tells the story of a struggling small town racer who finds out there are no short cuts to victory lane. Race driver Travis Engels risks his life, friends and freedom when he takes a wrong turn in his attempts to support his racing.

CLUTCH is a full-throttle effort to tell a story about the truth and integrity of basic humanity while combining the elements of action, romance, comedy and human emotion.

Clutch has over 80 + muscle cars in the film including a 1969 Penske/Sonoco Camaro valued at over $750,000 and many other very expensive/rare cars. Clutch has been in them making for 12 years but with Jays patience, hard work and huge dedication it's ready for its red carpet premier June 29.

The movie trailer can be viewed at www.clutchthemovie.com.

Original story on April 25

The following letter was sent from from Seattle Public Schools Superintendent José Banda to high school principals to illustrate concern over seniors who are not meeting the State's graduation requirements for math. HIs letter follows:

Dear Seattle Public School students and families,

Ensuring our students are able to graduate from high school prepared for college, career and life is at the core of what we do at Seattle Public Schools. Graduation is so important, and we are concerned about the approximately 80 seniors that have completed all of the graduation requirements -- except for meeting standards on either the End of Course Algebra or Geometry Exam.

The graduating class of 2013 is the first in Washington State history to have this new mathematics test as part of the state graduation requirements. Since these students entered high school, the assessment has changed from a Mathematics High School Proficiency Exam to an End of Course Exam, and the standards addressed by the assessment have been adjusted.