November 2014

South Seattle College has had a wine education program for 10 years as part of its culinary arts schedule but two years ago the college built what can only be considered a unique local resource. The Northwest Wine Academy, is a full fledged wine making and education program for the purpose of developing Wine Professionals.

It is the only college program in Western Washington dedicated to training wine professionals, from production to marketing and sales to food and wine pairing. Students create each wine from vine to table. The Academy is supported by the wine community at large - Washington wineries, Washington vineyards, alumni, international partners and the local West Seattle area.

For three days the Academy held a special event, their 10th Anniversary Fall Release featuring wine tastings, food pairings and opportunities to meet with winemakers, both past and present. Many of the students who have completed the two year program at the college have gone on to start their own wineries, or gone into the industry in various capacities.

One man is dead and another injured and in the hospital following a serious high speed collision at 154th and Ambaum Boulevard in Burien shortly after 5 pm Nov. 21.

According to King County Sheriff's deputies, a late model Volkswagen had been involved in a clipping accident further north and was headed south bound at high speed. As a black honda driven by another man attempted to travel across Ambaum on 154th Street SW, he was hit almost broadside by the Volkswagen at high speed. The driver of the Volkswagen was killed, and the driver of the Honda was injured and taken by paramedics to Harbourview Medical Center. His condition was unknown.

The two vehicles were completely totaled and pushed to the corner by the collision as traffic was blocked in the area. Sheriff's deputies on the scene were conducting an investigation.

A two car accident on Marine View Drive resulted in a very close call for on driver. A small red car and a large white passenger truck collided around 3pm near 46th SW.. The red car travelled north and hit a fire hydrant but just barely missed heading what would have been an approximately 25 foot embankment to a driveway below. The adult female driver of the small car was not hiurt.

The impact did damage the hydrant and cause water to flow until Firefighters were able to shut it off.

Seattle Police were conducting an investigation.

information from King County

Beginning in early December the flow meter equipment which serves the Alki and 63rd Ave. pump stations will be upgraded. The work will take place at a manhole in Southwest Spokane Street, just west of 62nd Ave. Southwest (see map above). This equipment is part of the County’s regional wastewater system; it helps regulate flows going to the West Seattle tunnel and pump station. The repairs are important to help avoid wastewater overflows into Puget Sound during times of high flows in the system.

Details of the work
• Repairs include removing and then replacing flow meter equipment in a below-ground equipment vault.
• Support equipment on the street will include work vehicles and a generator for a ventilation system.
• Traffic control will be in place to direct vehicles around the work area.
• Day and night work is planned (to take place during times of low sewer flows).
• The work is weather dependent: work in the street could take up to two weeks to complete, but it may be done sooner.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

High schools
Winter sports
Practices for all Winter high school sports in the state of Washington opened Monday and will continue the next two weeks.
The first day of any competition will be Saturday, Nov. 29.

Pros and colleges

Seahawks
The defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks face this year's NFC West leaders Sunday when they host the Arizona Cardinals for a 1:05 p.m. game.
The action at CenturyLink Field will be shown on Channel 13 TV.

Sounders
Seattle opens the Western Conference finals Sunday when they visit Los Angeles for a 2 p.m. game.
ESPN cable will carry the action live.

Thunderbirds
Seattle hosts Spokane for 7:35 p.m. Western Hockey League action at Showare Center in Kent Friday before entertaining the Everett Silvertips at 7:05 p.m. Saturday.

Husky football
Washington hosts Oregon State for 7:30 p.m. action Saturday on the Pac-12 network.

Cougar football

By Tim Clifford
The SPD Blotter today released a report concerning an Everett firefighter who was arrested Wednesday afternoon in the West Seattle area during an online sting by undercover detectives.

The firefighter had arranged a date with what he believed to be a 15 year-old-female prostitute and was arrested promptly arrested upon arriving at the prearranged meeting place.

The firefighter has been booked into the King County Jail with a $50K bail and is facing charges of Commercial Exploitation of a Child and Communicating With a Minor For Immoral Purposes.

During the arrest police found condoms, sex toys and lubricant on his person and in his car. The arrest was executed by detectives with the Vice/ High Risk Victims Unit (HRVU) of the SPD.

Two major closures to be aware of for this weekend: One lane in both directions of Aurora Avenue North remains closed from Ward to Comstock streets, and both directions of 15th Avenue West will close Saturday night at 9 p.m. with northbound and southbound detours in place between West Emerson and West Dravus streets. There are also several events including the Magnolia Village Fall Fest Friday evening, UW Huskies play the OSU Beavers for the final home game at Husky Stadium Saturday at 7:30 p.m, and on Sunday the Seahawks take on NFC West rival and division leading Cardinals at Century Link at 1:05 p.m.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21:

Magnolia Village Fall Fest: the event will close West McGraw Street between 32nd Ave. West and 33rd Ave. West from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; event hours are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; estimated attendance is 850. http://magnoliachamber.org/event/village-open-house-and-wine-walk/

Aurora Ave North Lane Closures: One southbound and one northbound lane on Aurora Avenue from Ward to Comstock streets remains closed. Seattle Public Utilities work continues and updates will be made when available.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22:

A male pedestrian, said to be in his 40's died following an incident in which he was struck by a white passenger van around 4:20pm Thursday night, Nov. 20 at the corner of Delridge way SW and SW Brandon Street. He was alive at the scene when paramedics arrived and was rushed to Harborview Medical Center where he later died.

A white passenger van was being detained at the scene. The van had apparent front end damage and a badly cracked windshield.

Traffic was blocked both north and southbound on Delridge way from Brandon to Findlay Streets as Seattle Police Detectives and the Accident Investigation squad conducted an investigation.

More details when they become available.

On Nov. 19, Brian Reardon, Ballard High School AP Language and Arts teacher, had a pleasant surprise when Q13 Fox showed up to award him the Teacher Appreciation Award.

Reardon was under the impression we was being interviewed about his AP classes.

On their website, Q13 provides the chance for community members to nominate teachers that they think are making a difference with exemplary teaching methods and commitment to the community.

Reardon was an obvious choice for the nomination. He teaches AP Language Arts for students opting for college credit while still in high school and organizes the BHS LGBQT group. Students who nominated Reardon said, “He is amazing with his students and understands their struggles. ... He has a great sense of humor and is super fun. The students and teachers love him and he is an all around great guy who does great community work.”

Last month, a woman was grabbed from behind and assaulted while running along Green Lake. When I first read this article I was upset, then angry. It stuck with me. After rereading it a few times, I realized what most unsettled me was not just the attack, but the tone of fear, defeat, and panic that is the norm for news in our culture. Unchecked crime is bad enough without the additional stigma of sensationalized fear.

This is our city. Many of my female friends run along Green Lake. We will not accept that we must jog along our lakes, walk down our streets, or live our lives in fear. I asked the Volunteer Leadership Board within our dojo to help me brainstorm and organize an outreach event to address this issue.

Fighting Chance Seattle will offer a free one-hour version of our Self-Defense for Women class, on Green Lake, to help female residents feel empowered and aware when going for a run. The class will be specifically modified for runners.