April 2015

information from South Seattle College

South Seattle College student David Yama was named as one of the top- scholars in the nation by earning a spot on the All-USA Academic team, as announced by the National Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa, on April 20. Yama is the first student in South’s history to earn this honor.

The All-USA academic team is widely recognized as the most prestigious academic honor for students attending community college. Nominees are hand-selected by college presidents or their designated nominator for demonstrating academic rigor, leadership and civic growth.

Yama attended the national celebration, on April 20, of the top-20 All-USA Scholars where he was further honored as the sole recipient of PTK’s Pierce Scholarship. Along with receiving financial support through the award, he was selected to speak on behalf of all 20 students during the celebration. That same day, Yama and his fellow 19 standouts were featured in the USA Today newspaper.

A Los Angeles based film production company was in West Seattle on April 20 filming a television commercial for the 2016 Nissan Maxima.

Japanese executives from Nissan were on hand for the shoot in a residential garage on 59th SW.

The work was being done by a company called Imperial Woodpecker a well known California production company.

They said the location was chosen since it could be anywhere in America.

Mountain to Sound Outfitters, Alki Kayak Tours & Washington Water Trails Association Presents Rapid Media's 10th annual Reel Paddling Film Festival April 24 at Pershing Hall. The Festival showcases the world's best paddling films to audiences in the United States, Canada and around the world. The festival inspires more people to explore rivers, lakes and oceans, push physical and emotional extremes, embrace the lifestyle and appreciate the heritage of the wild places we paddle.

Ticket Link: http://www.reelpaddlingfilmfestival.com/tour-schedule/2015-world-tour-s…

Reel Paddling Film Festival 2015
Friday April 24th, 2015 | 7pm-10pm
Pershing Hall - West Seattle
Tickets: $12 in advance / $15 at the door
$5 for kids 12 & under (in advance or at the door)

Three short films by students in the Ballard High School Digital Filmmaking Program have been named Official Selections of the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY).  This competitive festival showcases outstanding work by filmmakers age 24 and younger. NFFTY is a rare opportunity for high school students to share the spotlight with college students from our nation’s best undergraduate and graduate film schools. This year NFFTY will feature 248 films from 30 states and 25 countries.

Screeners made the selections from a pool of nearly 1,000 entries. NFFTY opens at the Seattle Cinerama Theater on Thursday, April 23 and continues through Sunday, April 26 at the Seattle Center. 

These short films by Ballard High School film students have been selected for screening.

"Air Pressure" by Coleman Andersen, Leo Pfeifer and Josh Vredevoogd
"Clipped Wings" by Coleman Andersen, Duncan Gowdy & Leo Pfeifer
"Stolen" by Coleman Andersen and Leo Pfeifer

Monica Liang-Aguirre has been named the Early Learning Director for the City of Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning. Liang-Aguirre will oversee the City’s investments in early childhood education, including the launch of the Seattle Preschool Program.

“As an experienced educator and leader, Monica is ready to spur our effort to close the opportunity gap that impacts too many of Seattle’s youngest students,” said Mayor Murray. “She joins the City at a pivotal time, as she will be instrumental in opening the doors to preschool for hundreds of children.”

Liang-Aguirre currently serves as Deputy Chief of the Early Childhood Education Division for the District of Columbia Public Schools, where she oversees 58 preschools located within Title I schools serving at-risk and low-income students. The district’s early learning program includes many elements similar to the newly formed Seattle Preschool Program, including rigorous teacher education requirements and mixed-income classrooms.

Couple loses watch and laptop

Officers responded to a burglary at the 5500 block of 32nd Avenue NW on April 11 after an engaged couple came home to their apartment rummaged through. They had gone out to diner and came back to find a back window opened. The window was unlocked. Drawers were out of place and closets had been gone through. The thief took a laptop computer and a watch. Officers dusted for fingerprints but none were recovered.

Two businesses on Ballard Avenue NW burglarized in same night

A business owner came to work and found her business door broken through and things missing on April 10. Officers went to the scene of the crime on the 5300 block of Ballard Avenue NW. The suspect broke through two doors to gain access to the business. A Canon 5D DSL camera with a 1000millimeter lens, light/flash sensor and 8GB SD card were stolen. Officers were unable to recover any fingerprints. The owner still needs to do an inventory of her stock to determine if anything else was taken. The camera equipment and damage to the building are estimated to be $4,500.

BECU ZooTunes presented by Carter Subaru returns with another exciting lineup. The popular concerts are held outdoors on the vast, picturesque North Meadow of Woodland Park Zoo. The new season kicks off June 19:

June 19 The Doobie Brothers with special guest Pat Simmons Jr.
June 28 The B-52s
July 12 Indigo Girls
July 21 Melissa Etheridge & Blondie
July 22 Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers
July 26 “Sweet Harmony Soul” featuring Mavis Staples, Patty Griffin & Amy Helm
July 29 Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
Aug. 9 Ziggy Marley
Aug. 16 Trampled By Turtles & The Devil Makes Three
Aug. 19 Kenny Loggins

BECU ZooTunes presented by Carter Subaru is a major source of revenue for the zoo’s mission. Proceeds from ZooTunes support the zoo’s exemplary animal care, engaging education programs and wildlife conservation projects in the Pacific Northwest and around the world.

Additional sponsorship support for BECU ZooTunes presented by Carter Subaru is provided by The Stranger.

Gates open at 5:00 p.m. Concerts begin at 6:00 p.m. rain or shine—no refunds or exchanges.

Nine streateries and three new parklets are coming soon to Seattle. In an exciting start for the new Streatery Pilot Program, nine local businesses will install a streatery near their establishments. They will be joined by three new parklets being sponsored by community and business groups.

Both the parklet and streatery programs let communities convert a small number of on-street parking spaces into usable public space. Streateries are like parklets except the sponsoring restaurant or bar can operate the space as a sidewalk café, providing space exclusively for their customers during their open hours of business. When the bar or restaurant is closed, the space will function as a parklet, open to everyone.

“The addition of these parklets and streateries will add to our city’s vibrant and active street scene,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “We look forward to seeing more of these community gathering spots that support neighborhood businesses throughout the city.”

West Seattle Helpline (www.wshelpline.org), a nonprofit social service agency offering emergency assistance for West Seattle residents, is pleased to welcome Chris Langeler as the new Executive Director.

Mr. Langeler comes to West Seattle Helpline with years of experience in fundraising, social services, community development, management, and working with underserved individuals and families from diverse backgrounds.

Most recently, he managed the political campaigns for Washington State House of Representatives Speaker Frank Chopp and State Representative Brady Walkinshaw of Seattle during the 2014 election cycle. He is on the Board of Directors for the Delridge Neighborhood Development Association and volunteers at Southwest Youth and Family Services and at High Point Community Center.

The Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF), a program of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, is hosting workshops for community groups interested in learning about the city’s popular Small and Simple Projects Fund. The Small and Simple Projects Fund provides matching awards of up to $25,000 to neighborhood groups for community-building projects.

Each workshop includes an overview of the Neighborhood Matching Fund, the qualities of a good project, and the application process and requirements. To RSVP call 206-733-9916 or go online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/NMFWorkshop.

The dates are:
· Wednesday, April 22; 6 – 8 p.m. at Garfield Community Center, 2323 E. Cherry St. – Multipurpose Room
· Tuesday, April 28; 6 – 8 p.m. at El Centro de la Raza, 2524 16th Ave S – Room 106
· Thursday, May 14; 6 – 8 p.m. at Northgate Community Center, 10510 5th Ave NE – Multipurpose Room

To learn about the Fund, visit seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/smallandsimple.htm. The deadline for applications is Monday, June 1 at 5:00 p.m., but be sure to register now to apply. There will be one more opportunity to apply to the Small and Simple Projects Fund in October.