March 2015

information from King County

King County is about to deliver a new addition to Vashon Island. She’s sleek, sturdy and stretches more than 100 feet. She’s high-tech, highly efficient - yet lightweight. And even though she’s young, she’ll have no problem replacing the Melissa Ann when she brings state-of the-art passenger-only ferry service to the island.

King County and Vashon Island will officially welcome the M.V. Sally Fox to their water taxi family at 1 p.m. Saturday March 28. The celebration and vessel dedication, hosted by King County Executive Dow Constantine and other dignitaries, will be held at the Vashon Island Water Taxi Dock. The dedication will be followed by refreshments, music and free rides on the Sally Fox until 4 p.m.

The Sally Fox is expected to be placed into active service in early April after a thorough crew familiarization and training program has been completed. The vessel is expected to arrive in Seattle today with training in Elliott Bay beginning as early as Monday and continuing over the next several weeks.

On the evening of March 11, Woodland Park Zoo picked up a special delivery at SeaTac Airport: three Malayan tiger brothers named Liem, Eko and Olan. The 1½-year-old tigers traveled on FedEx cargo shipping from Little Rock Zoo, Ark. where they were born, accompanied by two of their caretakers from Little Rock.

Woodland Park Zoo staff brought the tigers to the zoo’s feline building where they were unloaded from their individual traveling crates into a behind-the-scenes area specialized for big cats. Here, the cats are undergoing a standard 30-day quarantine period, and the zookeepers can monitor their health and establish training and care routines with them, as part of the zoo’s exemplary animal care program. “This month-long period allows the tigers to acclimate to their new surroundings while off public view, to get to know their new keepers, to adjust to their new diet, and to settle in comfortably,” said Martin Ramirez, Woodland Park Zoo’s mammal curator.

Visit http://woodlandparkzblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/cats-on-plane.html for photos of the crates and tigers. The tigers currently range in weight from 200 to 220 pounds each.

Outside the King County Admission building this morning the once home of Edith Macefield was put up for auction but failed to entice a bidder.
The property came with a balance from the first mortgage, which brought the total price to over $500,000.

Bidders thought the price was too high considering the condition of the property and the controversy surrounding it.

Edith Macefield refused to sell to developers after they offered her $1 million for her modest 1,000-square-foot house. The Ballard Blocks were built around her home after she didn’t sell. She had lived in the dwelling since 1952.

Macefield later died June 15, 2008 of pancreatic cancer. She was 86. The house has become an iconic symbol for development and urban sprawl, and is reminiscent of the Disney film "Up."
The property was put up for auction because the previous owner, Reach Returns, could not pay off $185,956.04 toward the mortgage. Reach Returns had until today to pay off the sum.

The White Center 5k is coming up on Saturday March 28 and there's still time to register.

SUPERHEROES is the theme for the race, and organizers are urging participants to "come with your cape and everything superhero related as we celebrate heroes of White Center."

The 5K Walk and Run has four main objectives:
1) Promote the positive and diverse culture that thrives in White Center
2) Help to Promote local White Center businesses
3) Promote a healthy lifestyle
4) Unify the White Center Community

The event will raise money for three White Center community organizations:
White Center Community Development Association
YES Foundation of White Center
White Center Food Bank

Race Schedule:
8:00 Doors Open to the public
8:45 Warm-Up Activity
9:00 Racers Begin
9:10 Walkers Begin
10:00 Entertainment, Race Winners Announced

Registration includes a free T-SHIRT!

The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce is asking for nominations for the Westside Awards. But the deadline is almost here. You have until March 15 to submit your choices in a variety of categories.

Here's what the chamber is asking:

Please nominate the business, non-profit or community leader by March 15th in one of the categories below to be honored at 2015 Westside Awards on April 2nd.

Westside Business of the Year – This nominee has been in business at least 3 years and demonstrated business excellence and success.
Westside Emerging Business – This nominee has been in business for less than 3 years but is meeting the challenges of a growing business through leadership.
Westside Not-For-Profit of the Year – This nominee Not-for-Profit is making our community a better place to live while contributing to community benefit through their mission.
Westsider of the Year – This nominee is making a lasting impact on our community and the lives of or is an up-coming community role model.

How? When? Who?

information from King County

The King County Road Services Division is advising South Park Bridge users that the bridge, located on 14/16th Avenue South, will be closed to vehicle traffic from 12:01 a.m. – 5 a.m. daily from Tuesday, March 17 – Saturday, March 28. The closure will be confined to the overnight hours and will allow the contractor to complete bridge painting and finishing work in areas accessible only when the bridge is partially open.

While work is underway, the waterway will remain open to recreational vessels that don’t require full openings to clear the bridge. Because the work will be performed overnight, traffic impacts should be minimal.

by Georgie Bright Kunkel

Our profit making society has evidently run out of ways to make profits so more ways must be created. It used to be that businesses were created to meet a need but now business creates needs and society is enticed to turn to the corporation to meet this created need. An example of how corporations entice us, the buying public, into buying more is seen on every TV channel. You’ve probably seen the TV ad showing an artist with tool in hand trimming fat off the clay figure of a woman. People are of all sizes and shapes but the corporation is still trying to convince each woman that her particular body type is not acceptable.

The White Center Library groundbreaking ceremony is set for Thursday March 19 at 3pm.

The new 10,000 square foot library, was designed by NBBJ Architects after a series of public meetings collecting input were held.

The Evergreen High School Campus Band will open the event.

The new library will be larger and brighter, with more windows, more study tables, study rooms, dedicated spaces for kids and teens, more materials, more computers, better wireless, and a large flexible community meeting room that can be opened up for general use when not reserved for use by the community.

The address is 1409 SW 107th Street Seattle, WA 98146.

This event is open to the public.

information from King County

A total of 824 youth and young adults ages 12 to 25 were counted as homeless or unstably housed on January 21, 2015 according to results released today from the Committee to End Homelessness (CEH) and Count Us In – the county’s fifth annual count of homeless youth in King County. Improved count methodologies, expanded count locations, and an increase in youth shelter beds compared to one year ago account for much of the increase.

A consistent profile of young people experiencing homelessness or housing instability in King County is emerging as count results are compared from year to year. Twelve percent of young people counted are under the age of 18 and 22 percent are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Questioning (LGBTQ) youth – identical to the 2014 count. Consistent with previous years are the percentages of African American/Black young people, 34 percent, and Hispanic young people at 13 percent. The stability in Count Us In demographic results adds confidence to the regional understanding of the population of young people who are homeless and their needs.

Know any 6th-through-12th graders who loves to play basketball? West Seattle High School class of 2016 is hosting a 3 on 3 basketball tournament called the 206 Bangout on April 4th

The West Seattle High School Junior class is hosting a 3 x 3 Basketball tournament “206 BANG OUT” on Saturday, April 4th.

This event is for 6th – 12th grade kids, with open divisions for all skill levels, from 9-3 pm in the WSHS Gym. Cost is $20 dollars per team. A team of 4, with 1 sub and 3 players.

To sign up, please contact: 206bangoutrsvp@gmail.com or pick up a registration packet outside of the Activity Center inside of WSHS. Entry deadline is April 1st.

We are also looking for experienced people who would like to help with refereeing at this event.

Bring your friends, bring your family and take it to the hoops!"