November 2013

Update

And our saga has ended. The powder was determined not to be dangerous and it was turned over to the SPD arson squad. Like we said earlier, these events rarely turn out to be anything significant. (But it was fun to cover, wasn't it?)

Update

Our suspicious-package-powder warriors have reemerged from the bank. Shane says the HazMat team is going through the regular decontamination process (basically a nice rinse of water) so they don't accidentally bring anything dangerous with them.

Photo by Shane Harms

Update

More from Shane Harms: SFD Public Affairs Officer Kyle Moore said they are doing the spectrographic tests right now to determine whether the powder is dangerous. He said the process could take up to an hour.

"They are never quick. It's a process of elimination, testing for threats first," Moore said.

Westside School at 7740 34th AVE SW will be hosting an interactive Middle School Open House tonight, Nov. 14.

Students will participate in hands-on activities throughout the school and parents will have an opportunity to join an information session with school administrators.

The Middle School at Westside is now accepting applications for students entering grades 5-8.

In addition, there will be an All Grade (PK-8) Open House on Saturday, December 7th from 10: am-Noon.

Tuesday, Nov. 12, Swedish Medical Center held their ribbon cutting ceremony for their newly renovated and expanded medical oncology building in Ballard.

Over 100 patients, staff and citizens arrived to share their celebration and have a look at the new facility.

At 8,071 square-feet, the space is 33 percent larger than the older and smaller facility located upstairs. The facility will have 13 infusion bays, two private rooms furnished with hospital beds, and 5 oncologists on staff, including the new resident and medical oncologist, Dr. J. Samuel Tolman.

Aside from providing chemotherapy, the facility will also offer counseling and financial support under the same space. What’s more is that the radiation oncology center is just across the street, making less travel time for patients receiving different treatments. Being on the street-level, the space provides easy access for patients undergoing treatment.

“We needed to meet the demand of the growing of the Ballard community. This facility has been in the works for a long time and has finally come to fruition … patience is bitter, but the fruit is sweet, “ said Dr. Michael Milder, medical oncologist and hematologist.

Last night at the Ballard District Council Meeting, King County Metro Transportation Planner Paul Roybal talked about one of the subjects most likely to incite cynicism in Ballardites: RapidRide D.

RapidRide D, which was implemented in September of 2012, has become the new normal for Ballardites wishing to commute downtown. Whether they like it or not, that's a different story. (We've heard opinions on both sides.)

Roybal said that ridership on the D has increased by 19 percent since it's inception in September. This brings them right on target for their goal of having a 50 percent increase in ridership over five years, he said.

He also noted that they have been getting better at controlling "bus bunching," where because of congestion two buses will arrive at the same time.

“Those occur from time to time due to traffic conditions or events," Roybal said. “We’re doing a better job of controlling the spacing of the buses by better communication with the bus drivers."

Residents brought up that the route through lower Queen Anne -- and through the event-riddled Seattle Center -- could be a possible reason for congestion.

Northwest Art and Frame's annual Holiday Open House is Nov. 23 from 10am to 5:30pm featuring live artist's demos, open house specials, lots of free drawings throughout the day, product demonstrations, all the latest in holiday decorations, free samples and of course...free treats & goodies!

Products that are being demonstrated will be 25% during their demos.

The demos will change every 2.5 hours.

Northwest Art and Frame is located at 4733 California Ave S.W.

One of West Seattle's best home goods stores, JF Henry will host their weekend long holiday open house for the community to help shoppers prepare for the upcoming holiday season.

During the two day event, shoppers will be able to drop in for free cookies, shop and enjoy "mini-events" where they'll meet local cookbook authors, learn how to ferment vegetables, find out how to punch up their holiday cocktails, attend a “Coffee Smackdown” and more.

JF Henry Cooking & Dining is located at 4445 California Ave S.W.

The even is set for Saturday, November 23rd (10am – 6pm) and Sunday, November 24th (10am to 5pm).

Visit them on the web at http://www.jfhenry.com/Events-view/holiday-open-house-2013/

Bird on a Wire Espresso's Heidi Herr and Corina Luckenbach from Circa Alehouse are about to open a café in the front half of the Flower Lab called the Admiral Bird. They emphasized that The Flower Lab will continue to operate and offer flowers including two large flower coolers abundantly filled with loose flowers, and many pre-made, ready to go, hand tied arrangements.

The location is at the corner of Admiral Way and Calfornia Ave S.W. at 2600 California Ave. S.W.

Wendy Damoth and her staff will still focus on weddings, events, floral design and plant expertise. The biggest difference will be that you will now be able to enjoy a cup of coffee in the space that was previously devoted to retail gift items. Damoth took over the space and renamed the former Linda's Flowers in March of 2012.

Admiral Bird is offering RAVENS BREW COFFEE, LOCAL & SUSTAINABLE PASTRIES, 3 beers on tap, cider, growlers, specialty bottled beers and wine to go.

The Metropolitan King County Council approved the county’s 2014 budget on Nov. 12, and Councilmember Joe McDermott (representing White Center, West Seattle, Burien and more) had some specifics to share with the White Center community.

McDermott, who also acted as chair of Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee during the budget process, confirmed White Center’s Storefront Deputy position (currently held by Deputy BJ Myers) “was secured.”

“I know what an asset BJ is to the community, so I’m thrilled we were able to keep his position in the budget,” he said.

McDermott said the budget “also allocates funding to turn the fields at Steve Cox Memorial Park into AstroTurf, so that the fields can be more easily used year-round.”

Back to public safety, the Council also announced eight additional deputies will be hired in 2014, although McDermott said they will be stationed “throughout King County” with none specifically earmarked for the White Center/North Highline area at this time.

The passage of legalized recreational marijuana use for those 21-and-over in Washington State has put those working against youth drug and alcohol abuse on edge as they watch how statistics and real-life situations bore out the impact of I-502.

As Cascade Middle School Vice Principal Jacob Ellis put it, “As all of you know Washington State passed a marijuana law and no surprise to anyone, we saw an increase in marijuana use in kids that had never tried it before.”

Ellis made his comments at the onset of a meeting at Cascade, in White Center, that brought kids and adults together to talk about strategies to keep minors away from drugs and alcohol.

On one side of the room was the Coalition for Drug-Free Youth, a federally and county-funded group of adults working on a volunteer basis to set policy and goals in reducing use and abuse in the Highline School District, covering White Center and Burien.

By Gerardo Bolong

SHORELINE - It was a Herculean effort by Seattle Christian, but 1A Tri-District 1/2/3 girls soccer champion King's was just too strong as the host Knights defeated the Warriors 2-1 at King's on Tues., Nov. 12.
Going into this first round match of the 2013 Washington state tournament, Seattle Christian (15-2,17-3) had only lost to Nisqually 1A champion Eatonville.

At Tri-District, Seattle Academy defeated Eatonville 3-0 ahead of a King's 2-0 shut out against Seattle Academy in the title game, so the Warriors were clear underdogs against the vaunted Knights.

Seattle Christian was unable to finish what attacks they were able to muster while King's was held off the scoreboard by a stellar Warrior defense as the teams finished in a halftime nil to nil standoff.

King's (12-2,17-3) took advantage of a penalty kick by Beth Stella to grab a 1-0 lead in the second half. The Knights kept jousting against the fired-up Warriors until Aston Perry assisted on goal by Anna Parker in the 70th minute.