February 2015

When the modern ecology movement began in the 1960's the idea of protecting the environment was largely a fringe idea, led by protestors carrying signs.

Decades later the ideas behind recycling, conservation, less pollution and caring for our world have finally come to the mainstream. Leading the way is a new store that just opened in Burien at 15858 1st Ave. South, The Recology Store.

It's only the second of it's kind in Washington State (the first is in Issaquah) and it's literally owned by Recology, the company with the local garbage hauling contract in the area. Both stores are managed by Brenda DeVore. Recology has the contract with 10 cities in Puget Sound.

Saturday, Jan. 31
Boys basketball
Shorewood Chr. 74, Rainier Chr. 61
Shorewood Christian of White Center outgunned Rainier Christian in a game played at Green River Community College on Saturday.

Girls basketball
Shorewood Chr. 41, Rainier Chr. 30
Shorewood Christian also won on the girls side in Saturday's double-header.

Friday, Jan. 30
Boys basketball
Seattle Luth. 57, Quilcene 20
Seattle Lutheran clobbered Quilcene in a road trip to the Olympic Peninsula on Friday.
Foster 43, Highline 40
Foster edged out the Pirates in Friday's game.
Evergreen 52, Renton 46
The Wolverines were winners in Friday's action against the Indians.
Kennedy 67, Hazen 55
The Lancers cemented the top 3A seed into the postseason over the Highlanders with Friday's victory.
Lindbergh 74, Tyee 58
Tyee was topped by the Eagles on Friday.

Girls basketball
Highline 40, Foster 35
The Pirates kept their playoff hopes alive with Friday's win over the Bulldogs.
Quilcene 59, Seattle Luth. 47
The girls half of Friday's twin bill in Quilcene went to the host team.

UPDATE 3:00 pm

The on again, off again restoration plan for the Alki Homestead on 61st Ave. SW could be back on again following a meeting between owner Tom Lin and developer Dennis Schilling on Feb 3. The plan was cancelled as of 1/30/15 when the feasibility period for the original work expired. But now, according to Lin, Schilling (who has remained in contact with The Southwest Seattle Historical Society SWSHS said he would be willing to go ahead if certain conditions are met.

The crux of the issue is the number of parking spaces that would be allotted SWSHS and the Log House Museum if Schilling goes ahead with both the restoration and the construction of an apartment building in parking lot space just south of the historic building. According to Lin, Schilling wants SWSHS to agree to a total of 14 spots. There are currently 23 in the lot, and they were previously accorded 20 in a memorandum of understanding between the society and previous owner Doris Nelson.

NOTE: The full proposal document by Schilling and his architect are available for download at the link. Schilling's top scenario is "E" on pages 7 and 8.

An appeal was held today at the Appeal Examiner regarding the Arbor Heights Elementary Schools site. Applicant Chris Jackins contended that construction should be stopped primarily due to the hinderance of two Douglas firs along with other concerns.

Background:
Nearly five months ago the demolition project at the Arbor Heights Elementary School site took off.
However, an appeal filed in Nov. by four residents, including Chris Jackins, requested that the project be stopped. The appeal mainly concerns the fate of two Douglas firs, located at the edge of the construction site, as well as four zoning exceptions that were previously granted.
Chris Jackins’ testimony:

Applicant Chris Jackins opened the meeting saying: “Two Douglas fir trees should not be relocated,” he said. “The Duwamish tribe” should be consulted.

However, the testifier on behalf the school district said: “Development has been approved by the city. Evidence held today will show that the decisions were not erroneous but were appropriate and the appeal should be denied,” he said.

information from the West Seattle Garden Tour

The West Seattle Garden Tour celebrates the Art of Gardening’s 21st Anniversary this year. The renowned garden tour, showcasing nine spectacular NW residential gardens in West Seattle, will take place on Sunday, July 19th 2015 from 9:00am to 5:00pm Ticket Booklets will be on sale in May, 2015 for $20.00

About the West Seattle Garden Tour:

The West Seattle Garden Tour (WSGT) is an annual fund raising event benefitting a variety of local non-profit organizations. As an annual tradition since 1995, WSGT is proud to donate net proceeds to Seattle-based community gardens and other non-profit organizations that promote horticulture, educational or artistic endeavors. WSGT is a registered non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization.

Past beneficiaries have included:

• Highline Botanical Garden
• Plant Amnesty
• Seattle Children’s Playground
• Artswest Theatre
• West Seattle Bee Garden
• West Seattle Tool Library
• Seattle Chinese Garden

The West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network (WSBWCN) is co-sponsoring Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole’s first formal appearance in West Seattle Tues. Feb. 3rd in what they are calling a Community Conversation.

The event will run from 6:30 to 8:30 pm and the public is urged to participate.

There will not be a formal program as this is an opportunity for the citizens of West Seattle to come out and meet Seattle’s new police chief.

For those of you who don’t regularly attend these meetings, the SW Precinct is located at 2300 SW Webster Street, at the corner of Delridge & Webster, adjacent to the Home Depot store.

Feb. 10 offers an election with some of the familiar and some new aspects. The perennial school bond measures which based on the structure of state law means districts must come back to the voters for funding based on property taxes. This time it's the Highline School District seeking $376 million.

What's new for Seattle voters is the District 1 position for the Seattle City Council with three candidates vying for the slot. Tom Rasmussen, the incumbent, has bowed out.

 Highline Schools Bond measure

Highline Public Schools says the repairs and a long list of others can no longer wait, and they're urging voters to approve a $376 million bond measure, which would raise homeowners' property taxes. The owners of a $200,000 home would pay an additional roughly $220 a year.

District 1 (West Seattle) council candidates

George Capestany
 
George for District 1
 
4742 42ND AVE SW #131
SEATTLE, WA 98116
Phone: 206-618-8420
Email: george4district1@outlook.com
 
Candidate For: City Council Position 1 - Southwest

Amanda Kay Helmick
 
Amanda for District 1