March 2015

information from West Seattle Chamber of Commerce

Nucor Steel Seattle, Meeples Games, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and the founder, James (Jim) Jackson of Jackson, Morgan & Hunt are the winners of the 2015 Westside Awards, presented by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

The winners will be honored at the annual Westside Awards Breakfast on Thursday, April 2, at Salty’s on Alki, 1936 Harbor Ave. S.W. The awards recognize success and innovation that contribute to the thriving economy of the West Seattle peninsula.

Keynote Speaker, West Seattleite Mark Tabbutt, Chairman of Saltchuk, a Seattle-based diversified transportation company whose local companies include Foss Maritime, Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Carlile Transportation and Interstate Distributor. Mr. Tabbutt will speak about the region’s commercial and historical ties to Alaska, developments and opportunities in the maritime industry, and the exciting investments his companies are making in clean technologies.

The Ballard News-Tribune stopped by the Ballard Locks and discovered there is a repair project afoot.

Chambers of the locks have had the water fully pumped out so crews can make repairs to doors and other parts of the locks.

Ballard Locks staff told the BNT that when they drain the chambers, some fish are trapped, and so they have to collect them by hand and get them back into the water as soon as possible. Despite there efforts, there was a foul fish odor in the air.

Other parts of the facility are closed as well, including the salmon viewing room.

A new store has brought the Far East to Ballard.

Himalayan Treasures (1708 NW Market Street) opened its doors last week and owner, Sushil Mulepati, invited the Ballard News-Tribune to view the intricate and exotic items inside. The store celebrates the craftsmanship of Nepal, Tibet, Buddhism and Hinduism.

Mulepati is from Nepal and lived there most of his life until a five-year stint in Hawaii. He recently moved to Seattle to be with his family. Mulepati has been collecting the artifacts for most of his life and maintains close relationships with craftspeople in Nepal. He sources many of his items from non-profit organizations and artisans. Mulepati also owns a tour company that leads groups in Nepal and Tibet.

Sushil Mulepati, owner of Himalayan Treasures, is from Nepal.

By Ed Shepherd
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Energy!

It's important, in many ways, for many things, and, in sports, a team wants to play enthusiastically from the start. That trait breeds confidence and direction, like for Kennedy Catholic in its game against Highline in boys soccer -- a 3-1 win over the Pirates at Highline Memorial Tuesday.

The 3A Lancers improved to 2-0 in the Seamount League while the 2A Pirates dropped to 1-1, as these teams compete for the league title throughout the season but then play in separate 2A and 3A state tournaments.

Before the game's start versus the Pirates, it was the Lancers' players huddled together, kneeling. Maybe, just doing a prayer, but, together, at any rate, pumping each other up in the huddle. And, same thing at halftime, no kneeling then, but more cacophony of sounds being shouted.

"Energy, energy, energy," exclaimed one player at halftime, the Lancers up, 2-0, at the break after the first 40 minutes of play.

"Let's go, start the second half, strong," shouted another.

"No letdown,' said another, "One goal and they're back in it."

BY GERARDO BOLONG
Special to the Times-News

If freshman Jordan McPhee's performance for the Seattle Pacific University women's basketball team against Humboldt State is any indication, the 2014 Mount Rainier High School graduate is well on her way to athletic excellence in her new surroundings.

McPhee came through with a huge game against Humboldt State in the NCAA Division II Women's West Regional in a 77-62 defeat of Humboldt State on Fri., March 13, at the Alaska Airlines Center, Anchorage, Alaska.

She played 16 minutes while shooting 2 of 3 from standard field goal range and 1 of 2 from beyond the arc. McPhee also shot 6 of 8 from the free throw line and totaled seven rebounds with two blocks and two steals.

Seattle Pacific's stellar season ended at 22-7 the next night in a 90-76 semifinal loss to Cal Poly Pomona, but McPhee's career appears to be well on its way toward the athletic leadership and achievement accomplished in her four years at Mount Rainier High School.

WHEREAS, the City of Burien supports policies that focus on health and wellness,
continuing education, and healthier lifestyles in all communities; and

WHEREAS, the City of Burien, Highline Public Schools, and key community partners collaborated on the Healthy Eating, Active Living Cities Campaign and the Healthy Highline Cities Partnership in 2012-2013 and have adopted policies, programs, and ordinances that promote healthy lifestyles by making their communities walkable, promoting youth and senior activities, improving nutrition and meal programs, and providing exercise opportunities for residents and students; and

WHEREAS, city officials believe there are important, long-term community benefits to be gained by encouraging healthy lifestyles, including a decrease in the rate of childhood obesity and its negative health-related impacts; and

WHEREAS, the City of Burien and key community partners can work together to understand the relationship between obesity, land-use policies, redevelopment, and community planning; and

Burien has officially become a “Let’s Move City” by committing to the obesity prevention initiative launched by First Lady Michelle Obama. The City Council passed a resolution on March 16 to join the National League of Cities (NLC) and the Sound Cities Association in the national and regional effort known as “Let’s Move Cities, Towns and Counties” (LMCTC). This campaign focuses on key health and wellness goals to ensure that kids can grow up healthy. LMCTC works closely with local governments nationwide to adopt policies that improve access to healthy affordable food and opportunities for physical activity for their residents across five goal areas.

“We congratulate Burien for your dedication to building a healthier community for children and families,” said NLC President Ralph Becker, Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah. “Through the tireless leadership and action of local elected officials in cities, towns and counties across the country, we hope to see continued progress in reversing America’s epidemic of childhood obesity.”

Over 70 local residents attended the Seattle Green Spaces Coalition Keep This Land in Public Hands Informational Open House on March 22nd at Sunset Hill Community Association Clubhouse. Groundswell NW and TreePac.org hosted the event. The attendees wanted to learn more about means to keep public lands in public hands.

Although the event focused on possible disposition of surplus or excess Seattle City Light substations in the northwest quadrant, the attendees declared they wanted citywide solutions for balancing open space needs with those for affordable housing and overwhelmed infrastructure.

The citizens were eager to sign hard copy petitions regarding Seattle City Light land disposition and in fact demanded there be electronic versions so that they could easily share with the block-watch groups and neighbors. In addition the attendees, both homeowners and renters, suggested that SCL be required to post large public notice signs in advance of disposition. They had additional suggestions about even greater outreach through neighborhood councils, block party presentations and social media.

Mayor Ed Murray today directed the Housing Affordability and Livability Advisory Committee to meet his new goal for both income-restricted affordable and market-rate units to be created over the coming decade.

Mayor Murray asked the committee to develop specific proposals that will allow the building and preservation of 50,000 housing units over in the next 10 years within the city limits. 20,000 of these must be income-restricted affordable units for individuals and families making 80 percent of the area median income (AMI) and below. 30,000 units would be market rate.

“Seattle is facing a serious lack of affordable housing options that displace families and people in this city,” said Murray. “Next week, Seattle’s minimum wage workers are getting a raise as a part of our broader affordability agenda. We need to make sure that those who work in Seattle can afford to live here.”

The increase in income-restricted affordable units is nearly a tripling of the current rate of units being built for those at 80 percent of AMI or less. Currently, income-restricted affordable housing is being built at a rate of around 700 units per year.

The proposed 3-story, 20,000 square foot plus medical services office, Clearview Eye and laser Clinic for 7520 35th Ave. SW will undergo an early design review before the Southwest Design Review Board on Thursday April, 16. It is project number 3017306.

The proposed clinic would have 2,065 square feet of retail on the street with 29 parking spaces provided. The existing structures, a single family home and pizza restaurant would be demolished. The total square footage of the building would be 20,500 to 21,500 sq. feet. The Eye Clinic approximate total square footage would be 13,875 sq. feet.

Once open and operating the clinic would see:

• 130 patients per day plus a staff of 20
• 4 daily deliveries by truck
• King County Access bus twice a day several times a week

The facility will require easy access for patient transfer by Emergency vehicles. The developers have previously noted that the majority of patients would be over 65 and many would have vision issues.

MEETING
Date:                Thursday, April 16, 2015
Time:                06:30 p.m.