March 2014

Information provided by College Spark Washington

New research shows great early results for Washington’s College Bound Scholarship program, in which low-income middle school students pledge to do well academically and stay out of trouble in return for college tuition at public institution rates and up to $500 a year for books. In a state that ranks 46th in the nation in terms of the likelihood that a student will enroll in college by age 19, the scholarship appears to have game-changing potential. The scholarship virtually closes academic gaps between low-income participants and more affluent students, according to a new report.

The report, College Bound Scholarship Program, conducted by The BERC Group for College Spark Washington and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, examines the impact of the College Bound Scholarship. Read a summary of key findings from the report here.

By Georgie Bright Kunkel

One is never too old to be wide eyed at the circus. I found that out when my fellow and I were invited to Teatro ZinZanni recently. Just the thought of going to the circus venue again brought back memories of my childhood when the circus would come to our little town of Chehalis. During the day I could look out the south window in the upstairs of my home and see animals grazing. At night I could see the southern stars. But in the summer there would be the excitement of watching the big circus tent rise, enticing us little town residents to venture out on Riverside Road to experience the wonderful circus acts inside the big top.

By Scott Anthony


My dad is what you’d call an optimist. He can usually find something good about nearly any situation. He talks of growing up during the depression with fondness, even though he and his family sometimes didn't have enough to eat. One of his favorite maxims is one that his own father used to shout across the room from time to time. ‘If the wolf comes to the door, invite him in, we’ll have him for supper!’

For me, this is an important thing to remember, because I cannot think of any days when I have truly gone hungry.

By Ann Kendall

As Mark Bullard sat in Mrs. McConnaughey’s English class during his junior year at Highline High School in the 1990s, he would never compare it to those idyllic writerly moments we imagine authors having where there is an epiphany of sorts that sends them on the path to write the great American novel; one of her favorite sayings was, “Red means I love you.” She taught Mark the red-lined rigor that serves as a pattern for all his endeavors including writing: write each day, review, edit, repeat. Mark was not a stand-out in English and admits he didn’t do that well on his SATs that year but he did gain acceptance at Cornell University in New York. Mrs. McConnaughey’s lessons were like gifts upon his arrival there – while other students struggled under the pressure of constant writing he had a plan, instilled by the drill-like precision of the toughest English teacher at Highline.

By Gerardo Bolong

TACOMA - The character and determination of the supreme athlete shows itself in times of great turmoil.

With her Mount Rainier girls team on the verge of being knocked out in the face of 51-41 deficit with 5:28 left in regulation, Stanford commit Brittany McPhee overcame three quarters of mighty struggling to answer the bell one more time, refusing to lose by taking responsibility on her shoulders one more time in what could possibly have been her most memorable performance with her final chance at a state championship on the line.

Capping a furious Ram rally against all odds, Stanford commit Brittany McPhee rose high inside the foul line to pop through an 8-foot jumper with 15.3 seconds remaining in regulation to give Mt. Rainier a 56-55 lead against Moses Lake. This eventually became the winning basket of the Class 4A girls basketball semifinal game at the 2014 Hardwood Classic state girls basketball tournament inside the Tacoma Dome on Fri., March 7.

Mar. 8 marked yet another Ballard Artwalk where a flurry of artistic expression by local artists was displayed at Ballard shops and cafes.

The March feature artist was Ingraham High School senior and Ballardite, Madeline Owen, and she displayed her work at Miro Tea (5404 Ballard Ave. N.W.).

Her exhibit, named “Curious Poses,” featured conté charcoal depictions of animals living in the Pacific Northwest.

Her artist statement put her charcoal sketches into words:

“Each animal moves in a unique way - the bears lumber, the elk walk gracefully and majestically, the wolves have a spring in their step. I want to explore this energy and movement in my art,” wrote Owen.

The collection is named after a Prince song lyric found in “When Doves Cry,” though Owen said the work in not specifically inspired by the song.

“I actually just came up with the title a couple of weeks before the showing. I’ve been drawing animals since August and have been exploring their movements, and so the lyric seemed to be a good fit.”

Owen said the pieces need to speak for themselves and that the title is not as important.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Area athletes and teams scored big in this year's winter all-Seamount League team selections.

Kennedy Catholic won both the boys basketball and girls basketball championships and had Don Hoffman win boys Coach of the Year honors.
Three Lancers were also named as Athlete of Year in their respective sports.

Myah Williams was chosen as the girls basketball Athlete of the Year, Danielle Carnahan as the gymnastics Athlete of the Year and Tommy Thach as the boys swimming and diving Athlete of the Year.

Amanda Segerman of Tyee was selected as the girls basketball Coach of the Year and Evergreen won the boys basketball Team Sportsmanship award.
Making the gymnastics first team along with Carnahan were Alexis Sata of Tyee and Nieves Alvarez of Highline.

Katie Satterberg of Kennedy earned gymnastics honorable mention.
Michael Sasonoff of Kennedy was named to the boys basketball first team at a guard position along with teammate AJ McGrew.

Ronnie Roberson of Foster also made the first team, earning a forward position.

Foster's Ben Mitchell was named as a second team wing.

By Georgie Bright Kunkel

One is never too old to be wide eyed at the circus. I found that out when my fellow and I were invited to Teatro ZinZanni recently. Just the thought of going to the circus venue again brought back memories of my childhood when the circus would come to our little town of Chehalis. During the day I could look out the south window in the upstairs of my home and see animals grazing. At night I could see the southern stars. But in the summer there would be the excitement of watching the big circus tent rise, enticing us little town residents to venture out on Riverside Road to experience the wonderful circus acts inside the big top.

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GriefShare Support Group
Grace Church
10323 28th Ave. S.W.
Saturdays, started Feb. 22 through May 17, 13 weeks, 10 a.m.—noon. This international grief recovery support group is open to anyone who has lost a loved one to death. You can start at anytime and it doesn’t matter how long ago the death occurred. There is a one time cost of $15 for a journal. Contact: Barb at 206-932-7459 or Grace Church 206-937-8400.

American Sewing Guild Monthly Meeting
The Kenney
7125 Fauntleroy Way S.W.
Sat., March 15, 10 a.m.—noon. Share your Sew Expo experience. What did you learn, who do you recommend, what treasures did you find? Bring it all to the meeting along with your favorite Sewing Book. Bring your Sew & Tell along with your questions. For more info: Claudia, 937-5774.

Discovery Shop
4535 California Ave. S.W.
206 937 7169

By Kyra-lin Hom

Being a writer used to be simple. There was the basic triumvirate of the writer, the word and the mind-altering substance. With enough popularity came the audience, which went hand-in-hand with the critic and the reactionary devil-may-care/secret crippling self-doubt combo. Very rarely, there was even money. But that was basically it. A writer was their work. The work was its writer.

Then there was the Internet and suddenly, even if a storyline only had 100 followers out of 7 billion people on this planet, those 100 fans could all find one another and forge a fandom. A fandom is exactly what it sounds like. It is an intangible kingdom consisting of everything related to a particular story – be it a book, TV show, game, whatever. The residents are the fans, constantly consuming and generating their own fandom content through chatrooms, role-play, cosplay, fanfiction, fanart, or even just talking obsessively about it with their friends.