February 2016

By Amanda Knox

My sister Deanna observes that Oma and I answer the phone with the same drawn-out and sing-song-y, “Hallooo!” We entertain ourselves in similar ways, dancing whether we have a partner or not, singing aloud whether we know the lyrics or not, sans embarrassment. We both read books voraciously, nurture children and animals compulsively, call people for no other reason than to say hello, or, in Oma’s words, “just checking to make sure that you’re still alive.” Both of us harbor deep, difficult-to-articulate hurt. Difficult to articulate because of how entrenched and visceral it feels, but also because the trauma is hard for many people to relate to. You know the uncomfortable pressure of witnessing or listening to another person’s suffering that leaves you feeling inadequate, hollow, defeated. It’s an isolating experience for everyone, teller and listener. All the more reason why it means so much to have someone you can call up who can comfortably listen. For me, that’s Oma.

“Hallooo!”

“Hallooo, Amanda! You won’t believe what Ole found for me.”

“One man scorned and covered with scars still strove with his last of courage to reach the unreachable stars; and the world will be better for this.”
---Miguel de Cervantes

Some years ago (my kids figure it was the 1930’s) I hosted a morning radio show. It required getting up very early, driving downtown in the darkest hours of the night---and then pretending to be wide awake and chipper. In truth, most mornings, I wanted to be thrown---wide-awake---into a chipper.

But my radio experience was a distinct privilege---especially in the world of talk radio---where guests and callers always enriched the conversation with amazing stories. Maybe not true stories, but good ones.
One morning, while other serious-minded radio talk hosts were discussing world affairs,
domestic policy and city politics, I brought up a different topic question: “Where’d you get that scar?”
The phones lit up like a crowd at Hempfest.

information from West Seattle Garden Tour

The West Seattle Garden Tour is proud to announce the 22nd annual garden tour on Sunday, July 17th 2016 from 9:00am to 5:00pm. The tour will showcase ten spectacular NW residential gardens in West Seattle.

Ticket reseller locations will be announced on our website at westseattlegardentour.org on June 1st, 2016.
Ticket booklets will be $20.00 which will include entrance to all ten gardens and the garden lecture.

2016 WSGT Guest Lecturer

The WSGT is pleased to present Steve Hootman, Executive Director & Curator of the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, home to one of the largest collections of species rhododendrons in the world. Steve will share his extensive knowledge about Rhododendrons with garden enthusiasts at the Kenney Retirement Center in West Seattle at 12:30pm, on July 17th.

About the West Seattle Garden Tour

By Peggy Sturdivant

I am one of the orange vest volunteers conducting a street survey of property parcels in Ballard. There are over 60 of us working house-to-house and block-to-block to review pre-1965 structures to see what’s still standing, and in what condition. Thanks to a Small & Simple grant from the Department of Neighborhoods the Ballard Historical Society has consultants who have created an app and trained us to be able to survey and enter architectural information.

Since we were going to be on the streets anyway Project Lead Davidya Kasperzyk asked the GIS consultant Matt Stevenson of CoreGis to add a data collection category for exceptional trees. For developed property the city defines exceptional trees as those of significant size or that have historical, ecological or aesthetic value. The significant size varies depending on the type. Since we’re observing from the sidewalk we make our best guess on significance based on size: documenting trees that are still standing as part of a survey of historic structures is a bonus for the city. Or should be.

A woman in the Gatewood neighborhood was awakened when an intruder touched her face as she was sleeping.
The incident took place in the 6500 block of 39th SW around 3:30am.

She thought it was her husband at first and asked what was going on. When she heard a reply that was not her husband she turned on a light and a male suspect fled her home, taking her cell phone with him.

She immediately called 911 from another phone and officers responded quickly finding the suspect in an alley nearby.

The victim confirmed his identity to police and he was arrested. Police determined the suspect entered the home through an unlocked back door before making his way to the bedroom.

The suspect was booked into King County Jail for investigation of burglary.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

It is the rebirth of one era and the end of another.

The North Puget Sound League is returning to the local high school scene for the first time since it folded following the 1998-99 school year, but now the Seamount League is set to disappear.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association has set the state's school classifications for four years starting this fall and that triggered the changes.

Kennedy Catholic and Mount Rainier are both among the 16 members of the new NPSL, with Kennedy moving up from the Seamount League along with Hazen and Mount Rainier moving over from the South Puget Sound League.

The NPSL will be a Class 4A league in King County, while the 4A SPSL teams are beyond the Pierce County line.

At the WIAA's announced net enrollment of 639.88, Kennedy is actually small enough to be a 2A school but instead "opted up" so it could join the 4A league. Kennedy was a 3A team along with Hazen in the mostly 2A Seamount League last year.

Mount Rainier is opting up from 3A with its net enrollment of 1,252.51 below the 1,343.29 line for 4A.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Wednesday, Feb. 3
Girls basketball
West Seattle 51, Seattle Prep 41
The Wildcats improved to 14-0 in Metro League play and ran their overall record to 19-0 with Wednesday's win.
Holy Names 60, Chief Sealth 42
Chief Sealth suffered a loss at the hands of Holy Names on Wednesday.
Kennedy 74, Evergreen 26
The Lancers rolled past the Wolverines in Wednesday action.
Renton 44, Foster 27
Foster fell to the Indians on Wednesday.
Hazen 48, Tyee 36
The Totems were tripped up by the Highlanders on Wednesday.
Lindbergh 45, Highline 32
The Pirates also took a loss Wednesday.

Boys basketball
Kennedy 62, Evergreen 34
Kennedy finished at 12-2 for first place in the Seamount League on Wednesday.
Tyee 67, Hazen 58
Tyee rose up to knock off the Highlanders in Wednesday action.
Renton 81, Foster 30
Renton routed the Bulldogs on Wednesday.
Lindbergh 70, Highline 58
Highline was hammered by the Eagles in Wednesday's game.

Tuesday, Feb. 2
Boys basketball
West Seattle 55, Seattle Prep 52

Seattle Police recovered 44 grams of crack cocaine following the arrest of a suspected drug dealer Thursday evening.

Police said they found the crack stashed away inside a Ford Bronco.

The police report said that members of the West Precinct Anti-Crime Team were able to call in an order to the 42-year-old dealer, who offered to meet at a convenience store in the 1600 block of SW Holden Street around 10 PM.

Police saw the suspect circle the block before pulling him over and taking him into custody.
Officers got a warrant for the car and found the drugs inside the vehicle’s console.

In total, police found 44 grams of crack and another 3 grams of powder cocaine during the search.

Police booked the man into the King County Jail for a narcotics violation.

information from WSDOT

There is good news for drivers and commuters who travel SR 99/Aurora Avenue North south of the Aurora Bridge: The median lanes in both directions will reopen by early this afternoon - more than a week ahead of schedule. The southbound bus-only lane will also reopen, except at Comstock Street.

“Drivers listened to the warnings about the potential for longer-than-normal delays, and we really appreciate all their efforts,” said David Sowers, deputy administrator of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program. “We’re not quite out of the woods yet, so southbound drivers should use caution starting with next Tuesday morning’s commute and watch for merging buses near the new work zone.”

Phase two of the work to build foundations for the signs that will direct drivers to the future SR 99 tunnel will start at 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8. This second phase will require a one-block closure of the southbound right lane near Comstock Street while crews construct the final sign foundation near Comstock Street. Buses will merge into the general purpose lane at this location. This should last two to three weeks.

By Greg Whittaker

The groundhog saw its shadow and snow lovers are stoked. I’m not talking about the groundhog in Punxsutawney, I’m talking about my father, Darrell, who resides in Juanita, WA. He was born on groundhogs day 1949 and I use him as my litmus test for our region. This vast U.S. does not have the same snow cycles in the east coast as the west coast, so we need to differentiate when we are looking at what length of winter we will have in the NW.

With a couple of warm fronts the last 2 weeks arriving midweek, we have been continuing to get significant accumulation on the weekends up in the Cascades and skiers and snowboarders can expect to see more. Reports from riders are that Thursday was awesome with 7-12 inches of accumulation depending on wind drift, and blue skies. As I write this on Friday, upper lifts are closed at Crystal Mountain as a warm front pushes its way in, bringing 50-70 mph wind gusts. The warm front is expected to be followed by cool arctic air which will bring 3-7 inches by Saturday morning with calming winds. The weekend cold cycle continues!