February 2014

Seattle Schools Superintendent Jose Banda sent a letter out to his principals on Tuesday that offers them some leeway when it comes to school attendance Wednesday, in light of a parade now expected to draw up to 500,000 people by some estimates.

Did he just give everyone a day off from school? You be the judge.

Dear Principals,

Thank you for your participation in the District Leadership Team meeting today, and for taking the time to talk collectively about student achievement.

I enjoyed our discussion around Wednesday’s Seahawks parade, and I applaud your efforts to build a sense of community and celebration at each of your schools tomorrow. I know how important it is for our students and staff to celebrate this historic Super Bowl win. As I mentioned, our schools are a place of home for many of our students, and I know our kids will be fired up to celebrate tomorrow. This Seahawks season has taught us about teamwork, practice and community pride. Watching part of the parade together during lunch is a great activity. I hope you will share photos and stories of your school celebrations.

The National Weather Service has issued Special Weather Statement that warns of very low temperatures and possible snow this weekend.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

...COLD TEMPERATURES CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY...
...LOWLAND SNOW POSSIBLE THIS WEEKEND...

A COLD AIR MASS OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST COMBINED WITH DRY LOW LEVEL OFFSHORE FLOW WILL CONTINUE TO BRING BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES TO WESTERN WASHINGTON. LOW TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE FROM THE TEENS TO 20S...WITH SINGLE DIGITS POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY NIGHT. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL ONLY REACH THE LOW TO MID 30S. THIS IS 10 TO 20 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL.

MOISTURE WILL SPREAD OVER WESTERN WASHINGTON ON SATURDAY AS A WARM FRONT MOVES INLAND. PRECIPITATION WILL LIKELY BEGIN AS SNOW SINCE THE LOW LEVEL AIR MASS WILL STILL REMAIN COLD. THERE WILL THEN BE A TRANSITION FROM SNOW TO RAIN SATURDAY NIGHT OR SUNDAY MORNING AS WARMER MARINE AIR SURGES INLAND.

SQCL Construction was busy building the forms for the concrete to support the soon to be installed Luna Girls Sculpture by artist Lezlie Jane. The art celebrates the history of Luna Park, a 12 acre amusement park built at Alki in 1907. At low tide pilings for the park are still visible. It closed in 1913 but its swimming pools remained open until 1931.

The sculpture built of heavy steel will outline the form of three women in 1920's beach wear. Jane designed the piece as a set of lines, so as not to obstruct the view, since the sculpture is being installed atop a small hill just adjacent to Salty's at Alki.

Once the form is set the sculpture will be brought to the site. Artist Jane said, "likely the beginning of next week. It is yet to be determined. So close!"

The work was funded by private donations.

You can learn more about it on the website for the project. http://www.lunagirlsonalki.com/Luna_Girls_on_Alki/Welcome.html

information from Seattle Parks

Seattle Parks and Recreation community centers are offering Parents’ Night Out events in February and March. Parents, it's your turn to take time for yourselves.

Alki Parents’ Night Out
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Dates: Friday, Feb. 28 and Friday, March 28
Cost: $25 per child

Parents should contact their community center at least a week prior to the event. Children must be fully toilet trained and all participants are required to turn in authorization forms.

For more information on specific activities or requirements, visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/centers.asp or call your community center at the number listed.

Parks works in partnership with the Associated Recreation Council (ARC) to bring high-quality, accessible and affordable recreation opportunities to the people of Seattle.

Information provided by the Harlem Globetrotters

In advance of the Harlem Globetrotters shows in the Seattle area, Firefly Fisher of Globetrotters will make a series of goodwill appearances Feb. 5 through Feb. 6.The first of these appearances will be at Loyal Heights Elementary School, Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 9:45 a.m.

Firefly plans to discuss the “ABCs of Bullying Prevention." The interactive program focuses on Action Bravery and Compassion, comprising the ABCs. The program was designed in coordination with the National Campaign to Stop Violence and covers three key ways kids can help reduce bullying in their communities.

Kids can expect the same Harlem Globetrotter signature ball handling skills and humor.

The Globetrotter will also stop by the Imagine Children’s Museum to bring smiles, pose for photos and sign autographs.

Firefly also plans to present at these other locations:

East Hills Elementary School

9825 S 240th Street

Kent, Wash. 98031

Wednesday, Feb. 5, 1:30 p.m.

Cedar Wood Elementary School

3414 168th St SE,

Bothell, Wash. 98012

Thursday, Feb. 6, at Noon

information from SDOT

As part of the Safe Routes to School Project for Roxhill Elementary School, the Seattle Department of Transportation will be installing a pedestrian improvement at the intersection of Southwest Roxbury Street and 30th Avenue Southwest. The construction will require restricting northbound turns from SW Roxbury to 30th Avenue SW beginning Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 7 a.m., weather permitting. This restriction will remain in effect 24 hours per day until 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. Southbound travel on 30th Avenue SW will not be affected.

This restriction will allow crews to build a curb bulb on the northeast corner of 30th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Roxbury Street. This curb bulb will shorten the pedestrian crossing distance and provide a calmer pedestrian environment.

Those wishing to travel north on 30th Avenue Southwest should continue west on Southwest Roxbury Street to 35th Avenue Southwest, north on 35th Avenue Southwest to Southwest Barton Street, and east Southwest Barton Street to 30th Avenue Southwest.

The Seattle Department of Transportation and King County were asked six months ago to address road safety issues along Roxbury Street S.W. by the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council, Highland Park Action Committee and the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council.

Now two public meetings are scheduled to listen to community concerns, share traffic data, and develop strategies to lower vehicle speeds and reduce collisions. These meetings are open to the general public and all are welcome.

Thursday, February 13, 6:30 to 8 PM, Jim Wiley Community Center, 9800 8th Avenue SW

Wednesday, February 26, 6 PM to 7:30 PM, Roxhill Elementary School, 9430 30th Avenue SW

The SDOT web page on the project states:

Information provided by SDOT

With unprecedented crowds expected to cheer for the victorious Seattle Seahawks, local transportation and transit agencies are advising the traveling public to expect significant delays in and around downtown Seattle on February 5. The Seattle Department of Transportation, King County Metro Transit, Sound Transit and Community Transit urge Seahawks fans to enjoy the event but to pack some patience and plan ahead for delays.

The parade, with an expected turnout of 200,00 to 500,000 spectators, will begin at 11 a.m. and conclude with a rally at CenturyLink Field at 1:30 p.m. Travelers should expect roadway and transit delays throughout the day due to crowds and road closures, with spectators likely arriving well in advance of the event. Given the celebration’s unprecedented size, drivers and transit riders should anticipate heavy traffic congestion in downtown, Lake Union, Queen Anne, the stadium area and nearby highways. Metro and Sound Transit plan to use every available resource to accommodate what will likely be the largest parade in the city’s history.

Friday, Jan. 31
Girls basketball
Kennedy 60, Evergreen 45
Myah Williams scored 23 points and Diondre Bourgette 17 as Kennedy Catholic posted a victory over the Wolverines on Friday.
Marleisha Cox led Evergreen with 15 points.
Cedar Park Chr. 49, SCS 35
Madelyn Weber was the leading scorer for the Warriors of Seattle Christian with 15 points in Friday's loss.
Mt. Rainier 69, Aub.-Riv. 43
Brittany McPhee tossed in 27 points as the Rams defeated Auburn-Riverside this past Friday.
Renton 58, Highline 23
Renton routed the Pirates in Friday's game.
Tyee 51, Lindbergh 49
The Totems won a close one over Lindbergh on Friday.
Keyara Brooks and Zakeya Flowers topped Tyee with 16 points apiece and Zareya Flowers threw in 13.
Boys basketball
Kennedy 64, Evergreen 28
AJ McGrew tallied 12 points to lead the Lancers past the Wolverines this past Friday.
Renton 55, Highline 37
Renton rallied for a victory over the Pirates on Friday.
Lindbergh 76, Tyee 41
Deion Williams hit 13 points for the Totems in Friday's defeat.

Saturday, Feb. 1
Girls basketball
Kennedy 60, Crosspoint 53

By Gerardo Bolong

Breathless in SeaTac was the situation on Fri., Jan. 31st.

Jeffrey Sutherland's tip-in at the buzzer sucked the air out of visiting Nisqually 1A League leader Cedar Park Christian (Bothell) in a 51-50 Seattle Christian boys basketball home victory.

Fans, players and coaches immediately rushed the court to congratulate the winning Warriors in celebration of the miracle moment
This tip-in came on the heels of a final charge by the Eagles who trailed most of the way, but stayed in striking range and even assumed small leads in the third quarter until a 9-0 scoring run from two seconds remaining in the third quarter until 5:35 showed in the fourth quarter gave CPC a 43-39 advantage.

"It's a game of runs," observed Miller who finished the game with 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists. "As a leader, I kept everyone pushing. We practiced attacking the rim in practice."