April 2016

David Victor Jepsen died April 16, 2016 after a short illness. A lifelong Ballardite, class of ’71, he was an avid sportsman with a passion for fishing with his best friends. He made many dear friendships as an active member of Salmon Bay Eagles Aerie #2141 and Ballard Elks Lodge #827. David is survived by his sister Nancy D. Stahl, nieces, nephew, cousins and many friends. Remembrances can be made to Virginia Mason Foundation, Cancer Research Program. Life Celebration to be held on April 29, 2016 at the Ballard Elks from 3-5pm.

Published in the Ballard News Tribune section of the Westside Weekly, April 29, 2016

Northwest Seattle voters will soon have an exciting opportunity to consider a ballot measure asking whether we will support a regional light rail system, including a light rail line connecting Downtown to Ballard, with stops at South Lake Union, Seattle Center, and Interbay. The most recent openings of the Capitol Hill and University District light rail stations have brought Seattle into the 21st century of transit, and the coming wave of transit investments contained in Sound Transit’s next package, known as ST3, will revolutionize how we live and get around our region. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity we must not take lightly.

by June McKivor

We’re moving again! The White Center Library is moving to its new building on 107th and 14th SW. As we celebrate the opening of our new library, we in the Library Guild have also been thinking about its past, about how it began in the basement of a private home and 70+ years later became a beautiful centerpiece of pride for the community. Unfortunately, we have found little in the way of well documented information or photographs or anecdotes to help us fill in the details in the history of the White Center Library.

To celebrate Earth Day, the Port of Seattle hosted residents from nearby communities to get a close up view of the many programs Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has in place to protect and improve the environment.
Sea-Tac airport neighbors first got a briefing from Sea-Tac sustainability and wildlife program leaders before taking a behind the scenes tour of the airport.
“We know that being a good neighbor means taking a leadership role in sustainable environmental actions,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman. “As a Port, we have a strategic goal to be the greenest and most energy efficient port in the nation. At Sea-Tac, we’re protecting our environment by providing charging stations for electric ground-support airport vehicles and a power system so planes on the ground can turn off their engines while at the gates.”

The Port of Seattle is throwing a party and neighbors are invited to celebrate Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s 40th anniversary of its Wildlife Management and Conservation program. The day-long event on Wednesday, May 4 will include demonstrations from Sea-Tac’s wildlife biologists and several interactive features.

In 1976, Sea-Tac Airport was the first airport in the world to begin a wildlife management and conservation program. The program is designed to manage and enhance wildlife populations while keep air travelers safe. Sea-Tac has two full-time wildlife biologists who are committed to the Port of Seattle’s goal of maximizing safety now while minimizing future risks.

In 2007, Sea-Tac Airport became the world’s first airport to use avian radar to do real-time monitoring of hazardous bird activity on and near the airfield. This system is yet another way Sea-Tac is keeping passengers and nearby residents safe.
Wednesday’s event is free and will include giveaways and prizes!

WHAT: Sea-Tac Airport’s 40th Anniversary Celebration of Wildlife Management & Conservation
WHEN: Wednesday, May 4
WHERE: Sea-Tac Airport Central Auditorium (mezzanine level)

By Lindsay Peyton

A two-year old case has been solved with the help of a DNA test performed earlier this month.

Oscar Luis Urbina, a resident of West Seattle, was arrested on March 7 for raping a 36-year old woman at his home on SW Avalon Way.

The victim was picked up walking on SW Delridge near White Center. According to court documents, she was a prostitute who had agreed reluctantly to go to Urbina’s apartment where he paid her for sex – but when she tried to leave, he stopped her, raped her, punched her in the face, choked her and threatened to kill her.

The victim finally was able to get away and ran to a nearby 7-11, where she called police.
She was taken to Harborview Medical Center, and a rape kit was administered.

That’s when the DNA from Urbina was entered into the FBI’s database, Combined DNA Index System or “CODIS” -- and it made a match with another rape kit in 2014 from a unsolved crime.

The crime occurred shortly after midnight on April 13, 2014.

By Amanda Knox

The pain started Sunday when I was on a plane for five hours. It was a dull ache across my lower back, like I had been punched in the kidneys the day before. A few days later, the dull ache was accompanied by stabbing pain in my abdomen, especially on my right side. It hurt to hinge at the waist, sit up or down, get into a car, carry a bag over my shoulder. It hurt to laugh.

The least uncomfortable position was to lay prone on my back, which I did. I lay in bed in the middle of the day, alert but weary, willing the pain to go away. Despite the fact that my partner was there to care for me, my anxiety spiked. The pain made me feel estranged from the functional world of people uninterrupted by pain.
I cried. It took a lot of talking to get me through what felt like a baby panic attack. The problem was, though the situation of being nursed by my partner for a kidney infection was as far away as you could get from the isolation of imprisonment, the feeling of physical pain triggered the memory of existential pain.

By Katy Wilkens

I walked through my garden this morning, picking new shoots of lettuce, spinach and radishes that have popped up in the last week. But the plant that really caught my attention, and my appetite, was the asparagus.

Just a few spring days ago the asparagus bed was empty. Now there are 20 spears sticking out of the ground, begging to be added to a salad, stirred into a quiche or served with tomatoes for a “thank goodness winter is over” addition to any meal.

The bed in my garden has been supplying me with this tasty gourmet delight for more than 20 years.

Buy a few asparagus roots and plant them in a nice sunny spot. They will reward you year after year with baskets full of green shoots. To keep the plants going, you have to let some stalks mature from each clump, and an asparagus plant will easily reach 6 feet tall, so keep that in mind as you select the spot for your bed. Once they are in the ground, the plants need minimal care for a great return.

By Peggy Sturdivant

The night after I spent time with Dionne Haroutunian in her artist studio on Market Street I dreamed that I was at a crossroads in my life and chose another path than the one I did in 1989. I cannot be the first person who has experienced this Haroutunian effect. Since she is about to embark on a six-month motorcycle trip through Eastern Europe and Turkey in the spirit of art, adventure and world peace entire nations may be left reeling.

Haroutunian grew up in Geneva, Switzerland. Her first language is French, which may be why some of her phrasings sound romantic rather than realistic. She speaks of dropping into Turkey, and then dropping into Iran, as though she can parachute with simply words. Then again it may not be the translation, it could just be her self-confidence and optimism.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Saturday, April 23

Baseball
Kennedy 4, Shelton 2
Kennedy Catholic met Shelton for a non-league game at Steve Cox Memorial Park on Saturday and prevailed, 4-2.

Friday, April 22

Baseball
Seattle Lutheran 6, Crosspoint 5
The Saints team from West Seattle edged out Crosspoint Friday.
Seattle Prep 6, Chief Sealth 2
Chief Sealth absorbed a loss at the hands of Seattle Prep.
Highline 5, Tyee 3
Highline pounded out a 5-3 win over the Pirates on Friday.
Kennedy 18, Renton 1
The Lancers routed Renton on Friday.
Hazen 15, Foster 0
Foster fell to the Highlanders in Friday action.

Fastpitch softball
West Seattle 19, Chief Sealth 9
The Wildcats were winners over the Seahawks in crosstown action at the Southwest Athletic Complex on Friday.
Kennedy 24, Foster 0
The Lancers buried the Bulldogs in Friday action.
Evergreen 15, Tyee 0
Evergreen toppled the Totems in this past Friday's game.
Highline 20, Renton 0
The Pirates plastered the Indians on Friday.