March 2014

Brick to window yields Mac Book Pro
On Mar. 1 at the 800 block of Northwest 49th Street a building owner notified police that a south side window had been broken. The building owner had responded to reports from tenants and called the police. The suspect had thrown a brick through a window and the hole was wide enough for the suspect to take a Mac Book Pro. The computer was on a desk abutting the window making easy access for the suspect. No fingerprints were recovered.

Escape route blocked by child proof door

In a packed Seattle City Council chamber on March 11, hundreds of onlookers listened to nearly three hours of the pros and cons of the Whittaker/Whole Foods project proposed for 4755 Fauntleroy Way S.W.

It was up to the Transportation Committee of the council to decide to approve a requested 'alley vacation' to permit the project to go ahead or not. In the end, the committee chose to defer the decision until April 8 when they meet again. But the hours that led up to the decision had their moments. The comments made revealed how politicized the process has become and those both for and against seemed to not be addressing the issues the others were bringing up.

You can watch the entire proceedings online here. Click on Transportation Committee.

Chairperson Tom Rasmussen, who lives in West Seattle played a robo call phone message recorded by Deb Barker he got the night before from the group, Getting it Right for West Seattle that, as part of its message urged him to "Call Tom Rasmussen," which drew laughs from the crowd.

“People, not profit,” along with other slogans of the oppressed were shouted by demonstrators in front of the offices of Goodman Real Estate at Pier 70 during the early afternoon hours on Mar. 11.

The Theodora Rescue Committee and the Lockhaven Tenants Union led the picket with large signs lashed with photographs of Goodman Real Estate Chairman, John Goodman, and President and CEO, George Petrie.

The two groups formed in reaction to Goodman Real Estate’s plans for the properties: Lockhaven in Ballard, and The Theodora in Ravenna.

At Lockhaven, the Union formed after Goodman Real Estate sent eviction letters to the tenants late last year and increased the rent across the board. Some rents doubled. Since then the Union has been asking for assistance with relocation costs.

By David Rosen

A brand new apartment complex in West Seattle, The Vue at 3261 SW Avalon Way, is pursuing LEED Gold Certification, meaning the project was built to the second highest of certified environmental standards. The Vue will be the first LEED for Homes apartment building in West Seattle and there are only 14 other LEED Gold or Platinum apartment buildings in the city of Seattle to date. By being the first LEED Gold building in West Seattle, The Vue hopes to set the LEED standard for future developments in the area.

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a voluntary rating system administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). USGBC is a non-profit organization that promotes the design and construction of high performance green buildings.

This project is using the LEED for Homes Mid-Rise 2010 Rating System. This rating system is a rigorous standard for building design and construction that creates greater comfort, lower utility bills, healthier indoor environments, all the while protecting the environment.

Kamuron D. Gurol, Director of Community Development for the City of Sammamish, has been selected as Burien’s next city manager. The City Council approved his contract at a special meeting Monday.

Gurol, 51, has been with Sammamish since 2005.
Sammamish is a city of about 50,000 population east of Bellevue. Prior to Sammamish, Gurol was Corridor Planning Manager with the Washington State Department of Transportation from 2004 – 2005. He was Director of Community Development for Kitsap County from 2003-2004, and Planning Division Manager for Snohomish County from 1999-2003. He also worked nine years as a senior policy analyst/senior planner for King County, from 1989 - 1998.

"I am truly excited to have the opportunity to serve as your next city manager," Gural said in a prepared statement read at the meeting. "In the coming years, we will have many problems to solve, relationships to strengthen, and infrastructure to build and maintain...I feel confident and energized to help Burien achieve the community's goals."

March 11 marks two years since the murder of Gregette Guy on Beach Drive in West Seattle. Guy's body was found floating in Puget Sound the next day, and police believe she was attacked by a stranger. Her case is still unsolved.

It led to changing lights near the scene, the removal of undergrowth in Me Kwa Mooks Park and a vigil with her family to honor her memory. But despite at $10,000 reward that still stands no further progress has been made on the case.

The West Seattle Herald's news partner Q13 Fox News through it's program, Washington's Most Wanted is urging anyone with any information whatsoever to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. You must call the hotline with your tip to be eligible to receive the cash reward. You can also text a tip to crime stoppers.

Information provided by SDOT

The Roadway Structures division of the Seattle Department of Transportation is performing maintenance work on the computer system of the University Bridge this week. During this operation, the bridge openings will be longer than usual. A typical opening lasting five minutes will take approximately ten minutes. Drivers may experience traffic backups.

Students have two weeks left to enter into Doodle 4 Google 2014. The winning artwork will be showcased on Google’s homepage logo for millions to see and the artist will receive a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology grant for their school.

The contest is open until March 20th. Washington state students from K-12 are invited to enter doodles inspired by the theme:

“If I could invent one thing to make the world a better place….”

In announcing the contest, Google’s blog noted:

So many of the world’s greatest inventions started out as simple doodles — just think of Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings of flying machines long before airplanes were made. We hope students will think big, and surprise us with their creative ideas, just like they’ve done in years past!

Information provided by World Heritage Student Exchange Program

World Heritage Student Exchange Program, a highly respected, non-profit, public-benefit organization, is seeking local host families for high school boys and girls from Scandinavia, France, Germany, Italy, Thailand, China, South Korea, and the former Soviet Republics. Students are already awaiting word on their host families for the 2014/2015 academic school year (or semester). Host families provide room, board, and guidance for a teenager living thousands of miles from home. Couples, single parents, and families with or without children in the home are all encouraged to apply.

The exchange students arrive from their home country shortly before the 2014/15 school year begins and each World Heritage student is fully insured, brings his/her own personal spending money and expects to bear his/her share of household responsibilities, as well as being included in normal family activities and lifestyles.

Check out all the Ballard High School events happening this week.

Monday, March 10
· Budget Meeting, Library, 2:45pm

Tuesday, March 11
· SAFE Impact Schools Conference, SU, 8:30-2:30pm

· Officer’s Council Meeting, Staff Lounge, 6th period

Wednesday, March 12
· Budget Meeting, Library, 2:45pm

· ASB election packets due, 3:00pm

· Spring Sports Parents Meeting, commons, 6:30pm

Thursday, March 13
· Spring Sports pictures – after school – check with your coaches

· BLT Meeting, Staff Lounge, 2:45pm

· PTSA Board Meeting, Library

· Musical: Urine Town, 7:30pm

Friday, March 14
· PI DAY

· Budget Meeting, Library, 2:45pm

· Musical: Urine Town, 7:30pm

Saturday, March 15
· Closing night: Urine Town, 7:30pm

BHS ATHLETICS (WIAA and Club)

Tuesday, March 11
· GLAX v Spanaway Lake, BHS Field, 5:30pm

Thursday, March 13
· GLAX v Mukilteo, BHS Field, 5:30pm

Saturday, March 15
· BSOC JV v Blanchet, BHS Field, 11am