May 2014

White Center activist Dick Thurnau, who campaigned for the clean up of Hicklin Lake (long known as Hicks Lake) has passed away. The lake he loved is located just east of Cascade Middle School and north of the Evergreen Campus. He died Sunday morning, May 4. He was 89.

He campaigned to change the name of the lake and to get the water cleaned up.

A Memorial Service for Thurnau will be this Friday, May 9 at 2 PM at the Technology Access Foundation, 605 SW 108th Street, Seattle.

Details are still being developed, but there will be an open mic period to honor Dick.

information from South Seattle College

South Seattle College will host a kick-off party on May 12 to celebrate their newest Bachelor's Degree offering in Sustainable Building Science Technology. The festivities will be held from 4-6 P.M. at South's Georgetown Campus, 6737 Corson Ave., in the Gene J. Colin Education Building.

Seattle Colleges Trustee and Seattle City Light C.E.O and General Manager Jorge Carrasco will serve as emcee for the event. Additionally, Washington State Senator Bob Hasegawa is expected to attend.

South developed the Sustainable Building Science Technology Bachelor's Degree program in response to industry demand for the management of environmentally-friendly buildings. The program will be offered starting in the Fall Quarter of 2014. It prepares students who have completed an apprenticeship program, a two-year technical degree or approved associate degree and have 2-5 years of related work experience with commercial and residential high performance buildings.

information from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society

The colorful totem pole that welcomed residents and tourists alike at the city’s Belvedere View Point Park from 1966 to 2006 has been fully restored and soon will go on display at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s “Birthplace of Seattle” Log House Museum.

The public unveiling ceremony featuring public officials, the Duwamish tribe and the student bodies of both Alki and Schmitz Park elementary schools will take place at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 6, 2014, outside the museum at 3003 61st Ave. S.W.

A portion of 61st Avenue Southwest east of the museum will be closed during the event to make room for the crowd. Overhead group photos and video will be taken and made available soon afterward.
“Given that it’s such a beloved icon and that it hasn’t been seen standing and in good shape for many years, we are expecting a big turnout,” says Clay Eals, executive director of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, which operates the Log House Museum.

By Tim Clinton
Sports Editor

West Seattle High School completed a baseball season sweep of Chief Sealth with a 6-3 win over the Seahawks at Hiawatha this past Friday.

The Wildcats got the early jump on the Seahawks by tallying two runs in the top of the first, then kept adding runs almost every inning for insurance.

Jake Magera threw six innings for the Wildcats, settling down after giving up one run early to pick up the win.
West Seattle wraps up its Metro League season this Tuesday, playing a 3:30 p.m. game against Bishop Blanchet at the Lower Woodland fields in Seattle.

Chief Sealth was scheduled to finish up with a 4 p.m. Monday game at Bainbridge Island.

By Christy Wolyniak

In its early days, the Ballard Food Bank served 700 clients on a busy week – a mere handful compared to the 1200 to 1400 clients who now frequent the nonprofit every week.

One of 27 food banks or ‘food pantries’ as they are known across in Seattle, the Ballard Food Bank carries out its mission: neighbors helping neighbors by distributing resources to low-income families, the elderly and disabled, and those without homes residing in the 98107, 98117, 98119 and 98199 zip codes.

Deeply appreciated amongst the staff, clients, and volunteers, Executive Director Nancy McKinney is parting ways with the Ballard Food Bank after seven years of faithful service.

“She has had an amazing community presence in our service area of Ballard, Magnolia, and Queen Anne over the last seven years, and is highly regarded both in our local community as well as in the Seattle hunger-relief community,” said Ballard Food Bank Development Associate, Erin MacDonald.

Information provided by the City of Seattle's Office of the Mayor.

Alaska Airlines and Pronto! Emerald City Cycle Share unveiled the bicycle branding today at the South Lake Union Discovery Center in preparation for the September 2014 launch of Seattle’s first bike share program.

The announcement was made by Pronto! Emerald City Cycle Share executive director Holly Houser, Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray.

“For several years, dedicated bike share supporters have been pulling together the pieces of this program, including funding, local partnerships, hardware and the technology,” Houser said. “The presenting sponsorship by Alaska Airlines and passionate support from Mayor Murray put bike share across the finish line and guaranteed that we will put 500 bikes on the street in September 2014.”

Alaska Airlines contributed $2.5 million over five years to support the bike share program. As a presenting sponsor, Alaska Airlines’ logo will appear on the first 500 bicycles and on marketing materials sent to bike share users.

Ballard High School Principal Keven Wynkoop has made real strides at the school since he started subbing there in 1999, and students, teachers and administrators have taken notice.

Last year BHS had the highest graduation rate in King County with 93 percent of students brandishing a cap and gown for graduation. The high graduation rate is a result of Wynkoop’s dedication and progressive leadership style that has helped his staff make sure students succeed.

That’s why Wynkoop, a BHS graduate himself, was named this year’s Washington State High School Principal of the Year by a panel of principals representing the Washington Association of Secondary School Principals (WASSP), an entity of the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP).

45 leagues in the state nominate a principle and King County nominated Wynkoop for the High School level.

Wynkoop was awarded the Principal of the Year on April 23. While in a staff meeting AWSP Executive Director, Gary Kipp, and AWSP Director of High School Programs, Scott Seaman, surprised Wynkoop.

The 2nd Annual Bark n' Bowl fundraiser will be barking and bowling this Saturday, May 10th from 3-6pm at HiLine Lanes in Burien.

Find the event on Facebook here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/258669870962941/

What: BOWLING!!
When: Saturday, May 10th, 2014
Time: 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm, check-in starts at 2:30 pm
Where: HiLine Lanes, 15733 Ambaum Blvd SW, Burien, 98166

Join us for a fun and entertaining afternoon of bowling!! The cost is $20 and includes 3 games of bowling and shoe rental. Space is limited, so get your tickets today to guarantee your spot!

Tickets can be purchased at, https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9M….

By Kyra-lin Hom

E-Cigarettes are heralded as the new 'safer' way to smoke – oh, excuse me. The word is 'vape.' Despite the catchy product name, those in the industry are very careful to make this distinction. E-cigarettes rely on an internal heat source to vaporize a nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerol and flavor liquid mixture casually called 'e-juice.' You inhale, the heating device activates, the vaporized chemicals get sucked into your lungs, and you breathe out water vapor – no smoke involved.

The popularity of this product has skyrocketed since its introduction to the US from China in 2007. Many traditional smokers have made the switch, claiming this 'healthier' alternative helped or is helping them kick the habit for good. There is none of the tar, ammonia, arsenic or carbon dioxide (shall I go on?) that have made traditional cigarettes the infamous poison sticks that they are.

So why is everyone suddenly freaking out? Chicago, for example, just banned their use indoors. Los Angeles has banned their use in all public spaces, both indoor and outdoor. What's all the panic about?