April 2014

By Peggy Sturdivant

I volunteered to be a “runner” for the Ballard Senior Center Auction on March 30th because I thought it sounded cool. Big mistake, because I was too late to bid on silent auction items. Second mistake was being the one who “runs” the form to the winning bidder instead of a live auction bidder myself. At least at the end of the night I went home no poorer, just richer for having watched the community support Ballard Senior Center.

But let me tell you about the Aquavit.

Last December I wrote about the budget shortfall at Ballard Senior Center. In response the Niemeyers collected donations at their annual holiday party and presented them to the Senior Center just before Christmas. In January I heard from Lexi at Old Ballard Liquor Company; in turn she’d been inspired to supply the Senior Center with any hard liquor for their events because she could get it for them at cost. She also gave me a standing invitation to stop in and sample her products.

The annual Second Ascent Ballard Criterium is set for Saturday June 7. Commonly known as “The Ballard Crit”, the bicycle race is a Seattle classic and a favorite among both racers and spectators.

It’s the 21st year of the race, and like past years the racecourse is circular going west from Dock Street up Ballard Avenue. The track heads back down Vernon Street to Shilshole Avenue, then back west to Dock Street. Those streets will be closed from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“The Ballard race course location offers a very unique combination of “old school” road conditions with the brick streets and bars and restaurants right on the course for people to enjoy and view. That is why it has remained the same course for the last 20 years. As the event organizer, our main goal is to put on a fun, safe and successful bike race while also being considerate of the businesses we affect with the road closure,” said Nik Rebhuhn, one of the organizers for the Second Ascent Ballard Criterium Race.

But not every one in the community is ready to peddle.

By Gerardo Bolong

In sunny, 70 degree weather, the Highline Pirate softball team toiled to fine tune its skills in a three-inning, 15-run mercy rule 18-0 home win against inexperienced and outgunned Foster on Mon., April 8, at Moshier Park.

The Pirates sailed to a 5-1 league record and a 6-2 overall record with their only league loss being a 12-1 defeat by league leading Kennedy Catholic (6-0, 8-0) at Chelsea Park with a Tuesday home encounter with Lindbergh before Spring Break. Highline will then return to action on Wed., April 16, hosting the Lancers.

With little experience, particularly on the pitching mound, the visiting Bulldogs were victims of Nicole Jacobson's no-hot shutout featuring seven strikeouts. Foster placed two runners on base. One batter was hit by a pitch before reaching second base in the first inning while the Bulldogs' other runner walked on six pitches before stealing second base, only to be wiped out on a game ending catcher Brooke McElwain throw to third baseman Lauren Gower for the tag out on an attempted steal in the third inning.

The City of Des Moines will host an open house on Wednesday, April 23rd the community to offer input on the Comprehensive Plan Review and Update. The open house will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Des Moines Activity Center, 2045 S. 216th98198. Topics covered at this workshop will include: land use, environment, economic development, and housing.The City of Des Moines is updating its Comprehensive Plan in accordance with the Washington State

Growth Management Act (GMA) governed by RCW 36.70A. Most jurisdictions in the state are required to adopt a comprehensive plan consistent with the GMA and update their plan every eight years. Des Moines will take about one year to complete its review and update which is due to the state in June 2015. Public participation is a key component of the effort to update the Comprehensive Plan.

Update from the Seattle Animal Shelter, April 9th

We did receive several tips, but none of them led us to the previous whereabouts of Penny. Here are a couple updates on Penny, the American Bully.

· We received many tips about Penny and each of those tips was investigated fully.
· At this time, we still don’t know where Penny had been before she was found on the 8600 block of 8th Ave SW
· After a week with the vet, Penny recovered and was adopted! She now has a loving family with another dog to share her time with.
· The $5,000 reward is still available, so please call 206-386-4288 with any tips about Penny and her whereabouts before 2/20/14
Original story posted February 25th
information from the Seattle Animal Shelter

An all female team of aviation mechanics, trained at South Seattle College took first place on the Grey Owl sponsored Human Factors Event, part of the Aerospace Maintenance Competition in Las Vegas on March 25-26.

They had the top score on this event over all competitors, professional and student. Only about 7% of the program is comprised of women the team said. While schools can have more than one team, this was the only team from SSC to enter.
The Human Factors event was a written exam covering mainly the FAA’s Dirty Dozen (see link for a description) with detailed questions about each topic.

http://www.aerospacemaintenancecompetition.com/results/2014-results/

Sarah McKenna took the top score out of the entire competition and only missed one question in the shortest time to complete. She beat all members of 28 other teams. "I read the paper work hundreds of times," she said explaining her win. The team also gave credit to Robert Allen Long and Tim of the Alaska Airlines Maintenance team who took the SSC team under his wing to give them tips and pointers.

By Gwen Davis

“They want someone who, if needed to drive a snowplow, will drive a snowplow!” said Marci Carpenter, current interim board member of the West Seattle Transportation Coalition (WSTC) and fresh inductee to Mayor Ed Murray’s committee to find a director of transportation for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT).

Carpenter talked about her experiences on the new committee to fellow interim board members at the WSTC meeting on Tues. evening.

People on the mayor’s new committee want the director to have “leadership, experience managing a city entity, experience working with stakeholders, and will stand up to challenges and will respect employees,” Carpenter said.
However, the committee Carpenter is on will only nail down the criteria the new director must have. The final search committee will be formed subsequently.
The mayor’s office anticipates announcing the director by mid-June ‘14. The mayor’s nomination is subject to council approval.

The director of transportation reports to the mayor and has management oversight of more than 750 employees and an annual operating budget of more than $400 million.

By Tim Clifford

Today the jury in the Morgan Junction murder trial returned with a verdict finding Lovett “Cid” Chambers guilty of manslaughter. Because a gun was used in this incident and Chambers is a felon time will be added to whatever sentence is eventually decided. A date for sentencing was not announced.

An update and more complete story will be posted later.

The first "Hacker Cup" computer game development competition at Lafayette Elementary was held on Monday, April 7th 2014, and the students gained insight into real world computer programming.

Each of the students created his/her own computer game and then presented it to a panel of judges. Judging was based on several factors including creativity, design, programming logic, and, of course, fun. Trophies were awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers.

Kevin Brown of West Seattle and wines whose background is in computer programming came up with the concept. "In 2013, I started a non-profit computer programming/game development education organization focused on kids. We are called the Seattle App Academy. We’ve been piloting our programs via the Lafayette Elementary enrichment curriculum."

West Seattle High School is taking on the issue of homeless you and on April 26th, 2014 the first ever Rock for Orion Music Festival will take place in the WSHS courtyard and outdoor event venue from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the James W. Ray Orion Center in downtown Seattle which specializes in the housing and rehabilitation of homeless youth and adolescents.

This event is designed to gather the community together for a fun day and evening while benefitting a great cause. Tickets are a recommended donation of just $10.00. Merchandise such as event shirts and food will be for sale at the event, and those proceeds will also go to the Orion Center. Out of the concern for those less fortunate in our community, bands such as Tom Nook, Ephrata, Iji, Smashie Smashie, Follies and Vices, and SXSW alum Tangerine, are donating their time to perform at this event.