July 2016

information from King County Sheriff

A SeaTac Police officer patrolling near the 4000 block of S. 188th St found a stolen car parked in an apartment complex parking lot and then discovered a man dead inside the car. A King County Medical Examiner responded to the scene and said it appeared the man had been shot at least once.

King County Sheriff’s Detectives are investigating the death as suspicious and said the identity of the deceased man and cause and nature of death will be determined by the King County Medical Examiner.

The car had been reported stolen in Seattle late last week. It is not known at this time how long the man and the car had been in the parking lot.

(The SeaTac Police Department contracts with the King County Sheriff’s Office for police services)

If you ever attended Chief Sealth High School, literally any time, there's a party coming up with your name on it.
A multi-class reunion is planned for July 22 from 5 to 8pm at Lincoln Park.

This kickoff event is sponsored by David Katt &Tom Huling of the Class of 1972 with several other classes involved.

The "initial reaction has been 100% favorable and supportive," according to David Katt. "Many alums are wanting to 'catch up' with other classmates who are not in their immediate graduating class."

Some catering will be provided but Chief Sealth alums are encouraged to bring their own food and nonalcoholic beverages to this complimentary event.

Where: Lincoln Park Shelters #3 & #4 + 20 tables on Puget Sound (closest to the Fauntleroy ferry dock).

Goal Is To: Have an annual event in Lincoln Park utilizing all 5 shelters to facilitate a progressive, multi class reunion on an annual basis. Future events will depend on level of interest & support.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact David Katt at 206-650-0863 or email
at DJKatt@comcast.net.

information from Salvation Army

The Salvation Army Northwest Division announces the appointment of Captains Anthony and Lisa Barnes to its location at White Center in Seattle. They replace Major Raymond and Captain Jennifer Erickson-King, who were appointed to The Salvation Army Kroc Center in San Francisco.
For the past five and a half years, Captains Barnes have led The Salvation Army Youth Programs for the Southwest Division in Phoenix, AZ. In June 2008, they graduated from The Salvation Army Officer Training College in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, each with an Associate of Arts degree in Ministry. Prior to their appointment in Phoenix, they served as Corps Officers in San Francisco.

Mixed-media artist Kathy Constantine is featured in a Burien Arts Gallery exhibit opening this week. The show runs to July 30.

The Burien Arts Gallery normally schedules its Artist/Opening Reception on the first Friday of the month. But because of the busy Independence Day weekend, plan to meet Kathy on Friday, July 8, 5-8 p.m. at the Gallery, located at 826 S.W. 152nd in Olde Burien.

“My mixed-media pieces flow directly from my vivid and colorful imagination and seldom use any reference material. I often add a bit of whimsy to my pieces,” Kathy explains.

Kathy’s work has been shown extensively in Port Townsend and Port Ludlow. She received a Merit award at the Northwind Arts Center Collage Show and AAUW selected two of her mixed-media pieces for a national art competition.

In addition, Nancy Bogni and Nancy Fulton will be showing in the Artists United room at the Gallery in July. They are members of Washington Women Painters and signature members of Northwest Watercolor Association.

The Burien Arts Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. More information at www.burienarts.org or 206-244-7808.

Bob Shiffer passed away peacefully in his sleep June 3, 2016 after battling declining health issues for many months. He was 84. A force to be reckoned with, in business or personal, he was salt of the earth mid-western stock; shrewd and keen of mind, tough as nails, a self-made man, truly one of a kind. He was an overwhelming presence; unfortunate to be on his wrong side, he was kind and helpful to those he trusted and loved. From Iowa, to the US Coast Guard during the Korean War, to the UW, to a long engineering career at Boeing and a good retirement, he lived a long and purposeful life. He was a good man, a good father, friend and husband, and will be sorely missed. He is survived by his wife Lee Anne Shiffer, son Robert Kenneth Shiffer, daughter Lee Ann Allen, granddaughter Olivia Katarina Shiffer, and his very close friend Kevin Fitz.

Please feel free to attend a memorial at The Cove in Normandy Park July 9, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Published in the Highline Times section of the Westside Weekly on July 8, 2016.

DES MOINES, Wash. — Five faculty and staff members at Highline College have recently won awards recognizing their professional excellence and achievements. The award winners are Arline Garcia and Michael Girvin, both of Seattle; Jean Munro of Des Moines; Rashad Norris of Tacoma; and Allan Walton of Normandy Park.
 
Arline Garcia
Described as passionate about her students’ success, Arline Garcia received the Highline College Outstanding Faculty award for 2015–16, a peer-nominated award recognizing her professional excellence.
 
Originally from Panama and now a resident of Seattle, Garcia is a tenured faculty member who has taught Spanish at Highline since 1997. She is also coordinator of the World Languages department and chair of the Tenure Review Committee.
 
A $1,500 cash award provided by the Highline College Foundation accompanies the honor. The Outstanding Faculty award has been given annually to a full-time tenured faculty member since the 1987–88 academic year.
 
Michael Girvin

Joyce Cosby Edwards, 80, passed away June 25, 2016 in Des Moines, WA after a long and valiant battle with lung disease.

A Memorial Service and Reception will be held at 1:00 p.m. on July 13, 2016 in the Chapel at Judson Park, 23600 Marine View Drive S., Des Moines, WA 98198 to celebrate Joyce’s life and contributions to her community. Those who knew her are invited to visit her online Obituary at http://bonneywatson.com/obituaries/.

Joyce was born November 21, 1935 in Topeka, Kansas. She studied Piano Performance and Music Composition, and performed for many years as an active member of the Musicians’ Association of Seattle, Local 76-493. In addition to teaching and performing, Joyce spent the last half of her career life working in Seattle and Kent as a bookkeeper and office manager. Until recently, Joyce volunteered as an organist for chapel services at local retirement communities.

Mr. Sam Reed has been named Athletic Director at Kennedy Catholic High School. Reed joins the Kennedy Catholic administrative team having most recently served as the District Athletic Director and Assistant Director of Student Life for Tacoma Public Schools since 2013.  There he championed a number of initiatives including a continued expansion of middle school athletics, a District-wide relationship with Seattle Children’s Hospital to provide athletic training programs in each of the high schools, a new K-5 after school sports partnership with area providers, and much more.  In addition, he served on a number of local and state level committees including serving as the WIAA State Track & Field Meet Director, on the Special Olympics Unified Sports Advisory Committee, and as a new member of the West Central District III Eligibility Board.  Reed also serves on the Board of Directors for Sports In Schools, a non-profit organization that works with area schools and students to enhance the lives of students in need through participation in school-based activities.

Some local residents including Nate O'Leary have contact the Highline Times asking about a big construction project on 148th and !0th Avenue S. We called Katie Whitter, City of Burien spokesperson, to see what she could tell us about work going on there. Here is her reply:

We’re getting questions here at City Hall about the construction work on the NERA property. In case you’re also getting questions or wondering:
 
Anyone who is familiar with the Northeast Redevelopment Area in Burien – or NERA, as we call it – has probably noticed a flurry of activity in recent weeks. In May, the City sold the first parcel of the Redevelopment Area to a developer known as Bridge LLC. Bridge purchased the property from the City for $4.5 million and is now grading the site to construct what will ultimately be a 238,000 square foot cold storage warehouse, bringing an economic boost to an area heavily-impacted by airport operations.
 

By Gwen Davis

This past year, SeaTac's interim city manager, Donny Payne, wanted to map out where Muslim SeaTac residents lived. He was hired by the SeaTac city council in January. By April, the city had conducted an investigation on Payne, concerning this issue and other racial profiling attempts. Payne resigned.

Many SeaTac residents are outraged by the city’s decision to hire Payne. They say such Islamophobia cannot be tolerated, especially in a city like SeaTac, made up of mostly nonwhite, working class residents. Approximately 28,000 people live in SeaTac.

"Does the city want to create an environment that disenfranchises a significant part of the population, or that helps create an environment of fairness?” asked Luis Escamilla, SeaTac resident for 10 years, who teaches at Foster High School. “The mapping of our Muslim neighbors is downing.”

While some residents were fine with Payne’s plans, Escamilla speculated, others were not.

“For residents, there’s a degree of anger and fear,” he said. “‘Am I being watched? Am I being monitored?’”

Escamilla said this decision could tarnish SeaTac’s reputation.