February 2014

By Tim Clifford

The key witness in the murder trial of Lovett James Chambers, Johnathon “Jamie” Vause, flew back to Seattle and testified in court this week.

“My first response was to get the hell away from there before this guy kills me,” said Vause after he watched as his friend Travis Hood was shot the night of Jan. 21, 2012.

In the last two years, many things in Vause’s life have changed: going through a divorce, changing careers, and moving from West Seattle to Clearlake, California. But throughout that time, Vause has been anxiously awaiting the day that he could tell his story of that fateful night in court, in front of a jury and, maybe most importantly for Vause, in front of Lovett James Chambers, the accused shooter.

Finally this week, Vause was flown here by the state to testify Wednesday and Thursday.

“It almost seemed like a hit, I mean as crazy as that might sound, it’s the only legitimate explanation I can come up with…why would somebody come up and shoot somebody without even looking at them unless they are being paid for it”," said Vause of one of the many possible motives he has played out in his head.

West Seattle's Lisa Coronado whose acting career includes the locally produced show The Divine Marigolds and who recently completed the film "Ghostlight" joins two other Seattle actresses and two young male actors in a new film called "Different Drummers" which will open in Seattle area AMC Theaters on March 14 (Southcenter) and 21 (Alderwood).

A family film, it tells a true story that takes place on the north side of Spokane in the 1960s, and focuses on the unlikely friendship of two fourth-graders, hyperactive Lyle and his best friend David, who is in a wheelchair with muscular dystrophy. When David accurately predicts the death of their 4th grade teacher, and says God told him, Lyle decides to test the existence of God by trying to get David to run again.

Coronado and Meg McLynn also of Seattle are the lead actresses as the mothers of the two boys, and Colleen Carey plays the grade school principal.

McLynn is acclaimed in the Seattle area for her work in musical theatre (The Who’s Tommy, Pinocchio, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), and she is also well-known in the area as a core faculty member at Freehold Theatre Lab. 

information from the Duwamish Tribe

The Duwamish Tribe would like its cultural artifacts back. Last July, the Burke Museum was paid by the Port of Seattle to confiscate $800 worth of Duwamish cultural artifacts on display at the Duwamish Longhouse & Center. The artifacts were from the Duwamish #1 Archeological Site, an old Duwamish camp and village site across the street from the Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center.

The tribe received a call from the Burke Museum on Feb. 27 that the artifacts will be given to the Muckleshoot Tribe in Auburn.

Unknown to the Duwamish Tribe, 2 years ago the Port of Seattle declared that it wanted to surplus its archeological artifacts including those from the Duwamish Archeological Site #1 bordered by the Duwamish River and W Marginal Way SW.

information from King County

Barton Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Project
Sunrise Heights and Westwood Neighborhoods
Public Meetings Summary - January 23 and 25, 2014

Overview

King County’s Barton Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Project team held two community meetings on Thursday, January 23 at Westside School from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, January 25, 2014 at the High Point Neighborhood House from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The meetings provided an opportunity for participants to:

 Meet the construction contractors.
 Learn more about construction schedule, activities and planned sequence.
 Hear how King County will work with neighbors during construction.
 See examples of what the future bioretention swales will look like.
 Ask questions about the project.
 Learn more about RainWise.

Approximately 18 people attended the meetings.
This report provides a brief summary of comments and questions submitted by participants at the two meetings.

Meeting Format
Thursday’s meeting began with a short presentation on upcoming construction

As the Herald reported on Feb. 20, a plan to divide a plot of land on 24th Ave S.W. has met with significant opposition. Comments on the plan center around the wetlands on the lot itself, and potential impacts to nearby Longfellow Creek.

The DPD lists at least 80 complaints and comments from neighbors and residents regarding the plans for 24th Avenue S.W. by land owner Nick Antonie.

Feb. 26 the Seattle Science Foundation partnered with the Swedish Hospital at Cherry Hill to host a seminar devoted to heart surgery where over 20 guests, students and past patients were invited to explore cardiology and surgical procedures.

Surgeon Glen Barnhart, M.D. , presented on the complications that can arise in the heart and how Swedish, a leader in cardiovascular surgery, provides the skilled surgeons and technological support needed in in these procedures. Moreover, Barnharts said that it’ not just the surgeons, but rather a team of 8 medical staff assisting in the operation, consisting of anesthesiologists, nurses, and cardiologists. He said that the old style of a surgeons running the show are over and that a team of specialist all work together to find the best possible solution for the patient.

“This is an important issue because heart health is not taken as seriously as it should,” said Barhart. He explained that heart disease is the leading cause of death for Americans with coronary heart disease as the most common.

According to the Center for Disease and Control the disease kills 600,000 people a year.

Seattle Bike Expo presented by Raleigh is rolling in this Saturday, March 1 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday, March 2: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Smith Cover Cruise Terminal, Pier 91.

Information provided by Cascade Bicycle Club

The Expo brings together top industry manufacturers, retailers, tour providers, advocates and media for two days of shopping, sampling, finding ways to get more involved and celebrating all of our community’s great cycling resources.

This year's Seattle Bicycle Expo will feature more than 175 vendors showing off the latest and greatest in bikes, accessories and more. Plus, Expo has three stages of how-to presentations, panels and expert demos.
Whether you're looking to learn how to go car-free, meet your favorite authors, watch graceful bicycle acrobats or even make some pedal-powered art, Expo has something for everyone. For more info, visit www.cascade.org/expo.

Highlights and photo opps:

World Champion Artistic Cyclists

So they’re predicting some snow for our first-Sunday-of-March Walk-n-Talk. That could be both amusing and beautiful. The walks are into their third year now, and we’ve surprisingly only had rain three or four times… but we’ve never had snow!

Come walk and talk with the possibility of white stuff falling. How about “Mathison Park in March”? It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?

Eric Mathison, local Burienite, has spoken on previous Walk-n-Talks and has given walkers historical background before leading the group over to Mathison Park. The property was donated by his family to the City of Burien.

WHAT/WHO: This is a FREE Walk-n-Talk open to walkers and talkers of all abilities, including families and dogs.
WHERE: Meet on the grassy knoll in the middle of Burien Town Square Park, at 5th Place SW and SW 152nd Street (between the Library and the Condos).
WALK TO: Mathison Park: 533 S 146th St., Burien WA. The total, round-trip distance is about 2.1 miles. There are sidewalks all the way TO the park, and then trails within the park itself.

Information provide by Metropolitan King County Council

Trying to maintain service while exploring option to help prevent low-income riders from being left behind

In the face of losing up to 17 percent of Metro Transit service, the Metropolitan King County Council today took a step toward bolstering Transit Division finances by approving an across-the-board increase in transit fares. In conjunction with the fare increase, the Council is also acting to try to ensure that communities who depend on public transit as their primary source of transportation are not left behind with the creation of a low-income fare program.

The process of rebuilding Arbor Heights Elementary School took another step this week as the Land Use Permit allowing demolition of the existing structure is now set for review by the Seattle Department of Planning and Development. Seattle Public Schools estimates a construction start date this July. It is expected to open in the Fall of 2016. Still pending are the Building Permit, Demolition Permit and Grading Permit.

Arbor Heights was built in 1949 with additions in 1950, 1953 and 1958. Since then it has fallen into a state of poor repair with many major systems and structural challenges. The capacity of the existing school is 353 students, and it will be replaced with a new 500-600 seat elementary on the same site under the BEX IV levy with a budget of $42.6 million. It is located at 3701 S.W. 104th