December 2014

SEATTLE/SOUTH KING COUNTY – Leaders from early learning, K-12 and higher education as well as numerous youth and family services organizations have banded together to form a coalition supporting a cradle-through-college state investment strategy. A core principle of the strategy calls for the Legislature to invest in each stage of education and end the practice of pitting one part of education against the other, and of pitting education against health and human services.

“Cradle Through College is so important because K-12 systems can’t do it alone. Our students need strong early learning as well as an affordable higher-education system, with engaged community partners all along the way,” said Highline Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield.

Burien, WA– Pacific Middle School is the only school in Washington to receive a $10,000 grant from Code.org to buy technology to support computer science learning in the classroom.

On Tuesday, December 9, from 9:50-10:30 a.m., State Representative Tina Orwall, as well as representatives from Code.org and Microsoft, will present the $10,000 check to Pacific students during a schoolwide assembly.

After the assembly, Microsoft engineers will visit two science classrooms and teach students how to code.

“With this gift, we will be able to provide students with greater access to technology, ensuring that our students will be on the forefront, not just consuming technology of the future, but creating it,” said Principal Deborah Rumbaugh.

Computer science is among the fastest growing industries in our region. Coding is an essential aspect of computer science, as well as finance, accounting, marketing, social media, and many more professions.

All 675 students at Pacific will also participate in Code.org’s annual Hour of Code event, which is designed to show that anyone can learn the basics of code.

The old world rubs right up against contemporary views in Seattle Shakespeare Company’s Measure for Measure directed by Desdemona Chiang at the Center Theatre at Seattle Center.

Left to clean up a city rampant with corruption, Angelo lays down the law sentencing a young man, Claudio, to death for impregnating his own girlfriend, Juliet, before marriage. Angelo’s particular moral weaknesses surface when Claudio’s sister, Isabella, a novice nun, pleads for her brother’s life. For Angelo, Isabella’s beauty and piety hold an erotic charm and he presents her with a shocking proposition. How far will Isabella go to save her brother’s life?

The Department of Planning and Development announced three new land use applications in the North Seattle area. The applications include subdivisions and approval to improve a shoreline recreation site on the canal south of Fred Meyer.

2426 NW 64TH ST

Land Use Application to subdivide one development site into 3 unit lots. The construction of residential units is under Project #6407024. This subdivision of property is only for the purpose of allowing sale or lease of the unit lots. Development standards will be applied to the original parcel and not to each of the new unit lots.

3811 Fremont Ln N

According to a new study by SmartAsset, there is $470 million in unclaimed funds from King County residents waiting to be reclaimed. This large sum is partially due to the increasingly tech-based economy and the rise in average income in the area.

See the full list of U.S. counties with the most in unclaimed funds below, and check out the SmartAsset website for more on the study and information on how residents can reclaim funds.

Rank County Total Unclaimed Property
1 Los Angeles County, California $3,887,525,183
2 New York County, New York $1,370,391,279
3 Cook County, Illinois $1,142,601,209
4 Harris County, Texas $1,119,044,345
5 Maricopa County, Arizona $818,982,764
6 Middlesex County, Massachusetts $775,178,937
7 Clark County, Nevada $677,142,216
8 Kings County, New York $531,669,836
9 Orange County, California $519,982,055
10 San Diego County, California $512,774,817
11 Miami-Dade County, Florida $484,397,243
12 King County, Washington $470,193,493
13 Queens County, New York $462,145,682
14 Dallas County, Texas $447,423,572
15 Fairfax County, Virginia $379,196,685
If you would

Cologne fiend ransacks couple’s home, takes framed pictures of relatives

On Dec. 5, Seattle police responded to a burglary at a residence on the 900 block of Northwest 56th Street. The complainant told officers that when his wife arrived home she found the back door and a side window kicked through. Shards of glass were blasted all over the house. Drawers and closets were rummaged through and thrown on the floor. Two laptops were taken from the residence, along with a printer, a jar of quarters and a blue piggybank. The complainants later reported that framed pictures of relatives were taken, along with a box of cologne. Officers dusted for prints but recovered none.

Thief takes more than cookies

by Nek Nosnibor

I was staring into the fridge. Flame (because she has red hair and is hot) was in her big black recliner in front of the TV.

"I want to go on a cruise," she said.

I pushed aside the mayonnaise.

"What is the attraction of a cruise?"

"I was watching a show about cruises and it looks like fun."

Wavering between changing the subject and feigning agreeable interest, I asked her how life on a cruise ship would be much different from how she lives at home.

She snorted. Sorta. You know, a girl snort.

"For starters, fresh ocean air, fabulous food, entertainment, things to do on the deck… I can't believe you asked me that."

I ate a grape.

"We have fresh air here. I make wonderful meals for you. And there are lots of things to do that you could never do on board a ship."

Flame rolled her blue eyes.

"How about having someone wait on you hand and foot? Need a can of sparkling water? A cute young guy in tight pants will get it for you. Want a special meal at an off- time? A different cute guy named Rodrigo will get it for you. Hand and foot…?

Puget Sound Blood Center (PSBC) is issuing an urgent appeal for people to donate blood in the days leading up to the holidays. Although donations normally dip during holiday periods, this year PSBC is already experiencing critical shortages for some blood types.

“When schools are out and holiday activities are at their peak, the number of blood donors falls by at least 25 percent,” said David Leitch, director of donor and volunteer resources for PSBC. “With supplies already low for some blood types, the risk of a supply crisis looms over the holidays.”

In recent weeks there has been an acute shortage of platelets and O-negative red cells – the blood type that can be given to patients with any other blood type. Although supplies of these components are especially low, PSBC is welcoming donors of all blood types between now and January 5 to maintain a strong supply for patients in need throughout the holiday season. Another reason the need is especially high this year: both Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Thursdays, typically one of the highest collection days of the week.

ASSE International Student Exchange Programs (ASSE) is seeking local host families for international high school boys and girls. These students are 15 to 18 years of age, and are coming to this area for the upcoming high school year or semester. These personable and academically selected exchange students are conversant in English, bright, curious and anxious to learn about this country through living as part of a family, attending high school and sharing their own culture and language with their newly adopted host family.

The exchange students arrive from their home country shortly before school begins and return at the end of the school year or semester. Each ASSE student is fully insured, brings his or her own personal spending money and expects to contribute to his or her share of household responsibilities, as well as being included in normal family activities and lifestyles.

The students are well screened and qualified by ASSE. Families can choose their students from a wide variety of backgrounds, nationalities and personal interests.