February 2015

by Ed Shepherd
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

The game was with no real anything at stake, as, both teams, Shorewood Christian and Neah Bay, already knew they were going to a regional game following this game, for a chance at a state berth, but, that lack of urgency incentive couldn't be known from the intensity of the game, in the latter stages of the first quarter, anyway, and, beyond that, some, too, but not enough good things early by the Lions translated into a loss, 72-59, in a 1B tri-district 1/2/3 boys basketball semifinal at Mount Vernon Christian Thursday.

There is one more seeding game Friday before a regional, loser-out, game affair, at a site and time to be determined for the Lions next weekend, Saturday. For it's seeding game, the Lions played Mount Rainier Lutheran at Evergreen Lutheran High School at 6:30 pm Friday, before, the regional game, next, that is loser-out, and, the winner of it goes to the state tournament in the Spokane Arena, starting March 5.

Of the game, versus the Red Devils, the Lions coach, Alfonso Gonzales said, "We won the 2nd half of the game, but, the first half, we didn't do so good."

by Paul Moseley

The West Seattle Wildcats got introduced to Tea Adams and the Juanita High School Rebels in the District 2 semi-finals tonight at Bellevue College. The Wildcats, coming of their 14th straight win over Metro rival Bishop Blanchet, were aiming for a District championship to follow up on their Metro League title. It is not to be this year, as Adams and the Rebels defeated the Wildcats 51-48 in a game that put West Seattle in catch-up mode all night.

The Wildcats opened the game with a three-pointer by All-Metro clutch player Emily Fiso, but the Rebels then made quick work of West Seattle. Juanita started with a three-pointer by Adams, then 13 more by Adams over the course of the first quarter. The Rebels applied strong pressure, keeping the Wildcats off balance and breaking away early. At the end of the first quarter, Juanita was up 23-12. Tea Adams had outscored the full Wildcat side by 4 points.

By Gwen Davis

A new nonprofit community radio station recently approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will serve the North Admiral neighborhood in West Seattle, along with parts of Alki, starting in Oct. 2015.

The station will be called “Seattle University Radio / KXSU / 102.1 FM”.

Aside from West Seattle, the station will also serve First Hill, Capitol Hill, Belltown, Queen Anne, Montlake, Madrona, Central District and Mt. Baker.

“Radio is doing incredibly well,” said Sabrina Roach, a philanthropy specialist for Brown Paper Tickets. “Some companies will cry that radio isn’t doing well. But radio listening is still far exceeding digital listening in the U.S.”

Roach said the success of radio is partly due to digital inequity. A large percentage of Seattleites don’t have access to the internet. But radio is cheap and plentiful.

Reducing inequity was one of the reasons why Brown Paper Tickets started the community radio initiative to begin with, Roach said.

Standing 7 feet 2 inches, NBA Legend and Author Kareem Abdul-Jabbar visited Sanislo Elementary on Feb. 19 and spoke to 3rd-5th graders promoting his new book "Stealing the Game". He chatted for about 10 minutes with the students then held a Q & A session for more than 30 minutes.

His book, “What Color is my World?”, a story about African American inventors, is being read as part of the Seattle Public Schools’ Third-Grade Global Reading Challenge.

West Seattle resident Tom Koch has joined eight others in announcing his candidacy for Seattle City Council District 1.

Already announced and campaigning are Chas Redmond, Amanda Kay Hemlock, George Capestany, Phillip Tavel, Shannon Braddock, Brianna Thomas Lisa Herbold and Dave Montoure.

Koch who said that his background includes expertise in land use and has experience as both a small business owner and pre-school teacher. Interestingly enough he put himself through college by being a successful game show contestant.

Koch also cited his time in service to the Democratic party in various capacities.

Here is Koch's prepared statement:

Land use expert, Tom Koch, filed for the seat vacated by retiring Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen in District 1. Koch is also a former pre-school teacher and current small business owner.

When asked about his campaign announcement today, Koch (pronounced ‘kawsh’) spoke about his vision for District 1, “I am excited to announce my run for the open seat. Having worked on land use issues for 29 years, I can tell you there is much more we can be doing in our city to protect our neighborhoods.”

By Gerardo Bolong
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

SUMNER - Temporary energy drains in the third quarter led to a Seattle Christian 43-33 loss to Nisqually 1A champion Cascade Christian in second round action at the West Central District III girls basketball tournament held at Sumner High School on Mon., Feb. 16.

SCS has to defeat Coupeville on Feb. 18 in Sumner at 6 p.m. Wednesday to stay in the tournament.

"We lost our energy (for awhile)," said Warrior head coach Dave Jansen. "We didn't run our offense well. By the time we got our energy back, it was too late."

Leading 20-17, Seattle Christian's defense gave up easy lay ups on pick and rolls to inside post player Savannah Hunter and outside shots to Trish Coltom as major parts of an 11-point opening Cougar surge.

Throughout most of the first half, the Warriors had limited the inside openings well.

"We knew what they were going to do," added Jansen. "They're just a good team. Savannah Hunter is probably the best post player in the league."

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

High schools

Girls basketball
Kennedy Catholic faces a 6 p.m. West Central District game at Washington High School in Parkland on Wednesday and Seattle Christian School battles Coupeville at the same time at Sumner High School.
West Seattle waits until Thursday to play Juanita in 6:30 p.m. Sea-King tournament action at Bellevue Community College.
A win would advance the Wildcats into an 8:15 p.m. Saturday game at BCC for the Sea-King title. A loss and they play for third and fourth at 2:15 p.m. at the same site.

Boys basketball
Shorewood Christian and Seattle Lutheran are playing playoff games at Mount Vernon Christian on Thursday as Kennedy Catholic battles Auburn-Mountainview at 6 p.m. at Clover Park High School in Lakewood.

Gymnastics
The state gymnastics meet takes place Friday and Saturday at the Tacoma Dome exhibition hall.
March in for the 4A team competition is at 9:40 a.m. Friday and for the 1A/2A/3A it is set for 6:20 p.m.
Individual finals start at 11:20 a.m. Saturday.

Wrestling

For the second year, in partnership with the Nordic Heritage Museum, the Seattle Choral Company is proud to present “Nordic Voices”---choral music from the Scandinavian countries.

On March 20 and 21, we will turn to traditional and contemporary choral treasures from Sweden. There is a growing interest in Swedish choral works on the international scene today. The music is challenging, with a rich variety of textures and sonorities. Furthermore, on a per capita basis, Sweden is one of the world's most successful exporters of popular music.

“Smorgasbord: The songs of Sweden” will be an attractive buffet sampling of Sweden’s finest choral music—both classical and popular.

Details:
Friday, March 20, at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 21, at 8:00 p.m.

Saint Mark’s Cathedral
1245 10th Ave East, Seattle, WA 98102

Seattle police are on the lookout for a man driving a gold colored van after the driver reportedly posed as a school transportation official and tried to convince a mother to let her child ride with him.

According to Seattle Police, dispatchers received a 911 call around 8:20 a.m. from a woman in Magnolia who said a man posed as a school transportation official in order to give her child a ride to school.

The woman told police that she was waiting with her elementary school-aged child near 34th Avenue West and Brygger Drive West, when the man stopped the van in front of them. He claimed to be there to pick up the child. The woman questioned the man and refused to let her child ride with him. She took photos of the man in the golden van as he drove off.

Police are investigating the incident and are working with Seattle Public School officials to gather more details.

According to the King County sex offender registry, there are 22 sex offenders residing within 2 miles of the incident.

If readers recognize the man or the vehicle, please call 911. For more information about sex offenders in Seattle visit http://www.icrimewatch.net/index.php?AgencyID=54473.

The labor dispute between the longshoreman’s union and the Pacific Maritime Association management has had far reaching effects in the 29 ports along the west coast with ships offshore unable to offload their cargo and shipments on shore held up and prevented from leaving.

The effect on the economy at large will have to wait to be determined once the dispute is finally settled but for one West Seattle business, it is having dramatic impact.

The 23 year old Emerald Maritime is a freight forwarder located near the West Seattle Junction, dealing primarily with fruit shipments from eastern Washington growers to nations in the far east and middle east. The labor dispute which began in November has reduced the business for Emerald by as much as 35% said company Co-Owner Tom Alderson.

“Two weeks ago was really the last time we could have shipped apples to Asia in time for Lunar New Year which is coming up next week. To make matters worse the growers had the largest crop in history and so it’s all being kept in refrigerated storage because it can’t be shipped.”