January 2016

By Pat Cashman

Now that I am among those people who did not win the Power Ball lottery, I can finally
reveal that if I had won---I would have used the money to send all the kids of our area to Disneyland. Or---if they preferred---Toyota-thon.

But alas, not only did I not win---neither did you. And my ticket was not even close to the winning combination. In fact, it only contained three actual numerals. The rest were fractions and a semi-colon.
Salving our collective wounds are the many stories about lottery winners for whom things went terribly awry after collecting their prizes. It is a litany of drugs, gambling, crime, bankruptcy and human misery---everything that would make a terrific Netflix series.

One guy in West Virginia won big in 2002---followed by a chain of ugliness. His car was broken into on two occasions. The first time, $545,000 in cash was stolen. The next time, $200,000 was swiped. Note to all of you future lottery winners: Do not keep your winnings in your car. Cash should always be kept under a mattress.

By Amanda Knox

I don’t know how old I was exactly, but I was as old as you are when you stand eye-level with the kitchen counter. All the neighborhood kids were gathered in my backyard and we were playing pretend. In this game, I was a cat that bestowed wisdom and favor from my lazy yet daring perch atop the swingset. It must have been late afternoon, because I was hungry and assumed everyone else was hungry too. Without further ado, I found Mom in the kitchen and asked, “Mom, can I make everyone peanut butter sandwiches?”

She was standing at the kitchen sink, looking out at the backyard through the window, and there was a moment before she responded, as if she were entranced. From my kitchen-counter angle, all I could see of her view were the first orange hues in the sky. Finally she turned to me and said, “I’m glad you thought to do that. Of all the things I wish for you to become, I wish that you be kind.”

Dear West Seattle, South Park, White Center and Burien Residents,

The West Seattle Transportation Coalition (WSTC) is made up of your neighbors. We are community volunteers who have been tracking mobility issues for the Peninsula and White Center since September 2013. We have been successful in bringing attention to our transportation challenges by banding together and asking for solutions.

In the Sound Transit 2 package, money was set aside to study potential corridors for Sound Transit expansion (ST3). Sound Transit has been studying the Ballard transit expansion since 2012. The three years of comprehensive citizen outreach and planning sessions have culminated in multiple routing and delivery options for Ballard. However, West Seattle and points south have not had the benefits of the same planning sessions. On December 4, 2015, Sound Transit presented to the Sound Transit Board (STB) a proposal for expansion of Sound Transit light rail.

information from SDOT

The Seattle Department of Transportation advises travelers of construction activity occurring as part of the Delridge-Highland Park Greenway project at 21st Avenue Southwest and near 15th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Holden Street.

Traffic restrictions in place at 15th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Holden Street
As of Thursday, Jan. 14, the south side of the intersection at 15th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Holden Street is closed to all traffic as crews working for the Seattle Department of Transportation construct pedestrian safety improvements, including a new crosswalk, pedestrian crossing signal, and new and upgraded curb ramps. Local access will be maintained to 15th Avenue Southwest from the south via Southwest Kenyon Street.

This closure is in addition to the closure of the north side of the intersection of 15th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Holden Street. These traffic restrictions will continue for two to three weeks, weather permitting.

Travelers can expect the following construction impacts at 15th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Holden Street:

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Thursday, Jan. 14
Boys swimming
Mt. Rainier 94, Puyallup 84
Mount Rainier won a close South Puget Sound League crossover meet Thursday.
Lindbergh 135, Evergreen 12
Lindbergh 136, Tyee 0
The Eagles topped both Evergreen and Tyee Thursday.

Wrestling
Federal Way 53, Mt. Rainier 20
The Rams dropped an SPSL Northwest meet to Federal Way on Thursday.
Highline 48, Hazen 24
The Pirates doubled the Highlanders' total Thursday.
Lindbergh 50, Foster 18
Foster fell to the Eagles Thursday.

Wednesday, Jan. 13
Boys basketball
Tyee 54, Evergreen 49
The Totems fended off the Wolverines in Wednesday action.
Kennedy 58, Foster 35
The Lancers emerged victorious against the Bulldogs.
Renton 80, Highline 70
The Pirates came up short against the Indians in a Wednesday battle.

Girls basketball
Tyee 58, Evergreen 25
Tyee took a win over the Wolverines in Wednesday action.
Kennedy 61, Foster 43
Kennedy Catholic won against the Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday.
Renton 65, Highline 24

by Kyle Kelley

Police were dispatched to the 4500 block of 42nd Ave. S.W. in the early evening of Jan. 10 after a man threatened a grocery store night manager with a knife.  The manager said two men grabbed several bags of chips and salsa and started to exit the store without paying. When confronted, one of the suspects told the manager that if he got any closer he would pull out a knife and stab him. The suspect was described as of medium build and wearing a red sweatshirt with the letters OHS embroidered on it, wearing blue jeans and barefoot.

Following the threat, the suspects  exited the southwest doors of the store. On the way out, the barefoot suspect repeated his threat to stab anyone who got near him. Police later found bags of chips and salsa on the third level of the store's parking garage. Both suspects remain at large.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

High schools

Boys basketball
Tyee hosts Evergreen for a 7 p.m. game Wednesday as Kennedy entertains Foster and Highline travels to Renton.
At the same time Friday Kennedy is at Highline and Tyee at Foster with Evergreen hosting Hazen. Mount Rainier visits Kentwood at 7 p.m. as well and Seattle Lutheran hosts Mount Rainier Lutheran at 7:30 p.m.
Chief Sealth is at home against Nathan Hale at 8 p.m. Friday as West Seattle travels to Bainbridge and Shorewood Christian hosts Muckleshoot Tribal.
Highline pays a 4:30 p.m. visit to Seattle Christian on Saturday.
At 1 p.m. Monday West Seattle meets Eastside Catholic at Garfield and Tyee visits Seattle Prep at 7:30 p.m.
Then at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Thomas Jefferson is at Mount Rainier, Bainbridge at Chief Sealth and Rainier Beach at West Seattle.

Girls basketball
Tyee visits Evergreen for a 7 p.m. game Wednesday as Kennedy visits Foster and Highline hosts Renton.
At 7:30 p.m. Chief Sealth is at Franklin and West Seattle at Cleveland.

information from Seattle Parks

Seattle Parks and Recreation will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 27 at 5 p.m. at Southwest Pool to celebrate the grand opening of the new fitness room at the facility.

The fitness room provides increased access to health and fitness spaces to support overall fitness and reduced risk of chronic diseases caused by inactivity. Community members, partnership organizations, swimmers and Southwest Pool staff are invited to attend the event.

The Southwest Pool fitness room project began following a proposal from the Southwest Advisory Council in April 2006. The room was originally an unutilized space following the completion of the gym at the then Southwest Community Center. Construction and planning was led by Seattle Parks and Recreation in partnership with the Southwest Advisory Council and Ravenna-Eckstine Advisory Council and the Associated Recreation Council.

information from Seattle Parks

Seattle Parks and Recreation will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 27 at 5 p.m. at Southwest Pool to celebrate the grand opening of the new fitness room at the facility.

The fitness room provides increased access to health and fitness spaces to support overall fitness and reduced risk of chronic diseases caused by inactivity. Community members, partnership organizations, swimmers and Southwest Pool staff are invited to attend the event.

The Southwest Pool fitness room project began following a proposal from the Southwest Advisory Council in April 2006. The room was originally an unutilized space following the completion of the gym at the then Southwest Community Center. Construction and planning was led by Seattle Parks and Recreation in partnership with the Southwest Advisory Council and Ravenna-Eckstine Advisory Council and the Associated Recreation Council.

The Morgan Community Association meeting set for Jan. 20 will include a discussion on HALA (Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda) with Jessica Brand and Nick Welch from the city of Seattle providing an overview, next steps and will include information on Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (DADU's or backyard cottages) and Attached Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU's or Mother in law apartments).

The meeting will start at 6pm and will be held at The Kenney 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW

Also on the agenda are:

New business:

• New Legislation: proposed Marijuana Zoning Locations
• Sound Transit ST-3 and Morgan Junction
• Lowman Beach shoreline retaining wall

• Morgan Junction Sidewalk Improvement
• April 28 - Morgan Junction Business Mixer
• Expansion of Morgan Junction Park
• Contract rezones in Morgan Junction
• Nazarene Church Building Permits
• Murray CSO