March 2017

If you are reading this while driving at a high-speed down the freeway, you might not necessarily be breaking the law---although you ARE living dangerously. But if you are reading this while driving at a high-speed down the freeway---AND not wearing your seatbelt---you are definitely dead meat.

Specifically, you are 124 dollars worth of dead meat---the fine a policeman could slap on you for driving seat beltless. (If you are reading this while driving sleeveless, no problem. Your right to drive while wearing a short sleeve tee shirt is constitutionally protected under the 2nd Amendment: "...the right of the people to keep...bare arms, shall not be infringed---regardless of whether those short sleeves have fringes or not.")

The mandatory seat belt law is something like enacting a mandatory PANTS belt law. It’s a law to protect people from themselves. In the case of seat belts, from injury or worse in a car accident. In the case of pants belts, from embarrassment or worse in a dancing accident.

By Amanda Knox

We did it! This week, Chris and I finally finished all seven books of the Harry Potter series. For the last six months or so we’ve been immersed, listening to the audiobooks during car rides and at the breakfast table, and watching the films. Now that it’s over, I feel the same confluence of emotions that I felt after closing the cover of last book for the first time. On the one hand, deflation. What in the world do I read after Harry Potter? On the other hand, reverberation. A good story sticks with you, but a great story is a world you want to continue exploring—in all directions, at all depths—long after the last word was read. In other words, a great story inspires fandom, and in that regard, Harry Potter is one of the greatest.

More than 17 years in the making, "Legends of the Road" a film documentary by former Sealth teacher Gary Thomsen will make its debut April 7 at the Kansas City Film Festival. The time it has taken to be released is probably the least unusual fact about the film. Legends of the Road offers a comprehensive, inspiring look at bicycle road trip from Seattle to Kansas City, Mo, in 1999 by Thomsen and a select group of students and some players from Victoria BC. Their purpose? To honor the "Barnstorming" tours of athletes in the Negro Baseball League which existed in various forms from the 1870's to the 1950's. Featuring candid, provocative classroom footage and compelling video from the epic trip, the story is both inspiring and historically significant.

The outpouring of support for Shi Qiu Chen and her family, the owners of the New Leaf Bistro in the Admiral District, after the loss of her husband Geoffrey has now exceeded $18,000 in the GoFundMe campaign.

The West Seattle Herald published the story of the challenges they face last week.

But now the owners of Peel and Press in the Morgan Junction and The Westy Sports and Spirits on 35th SW are teaming up (and inviting others) to donate to the cause as well.

Mission Cantina will also be joining in and donating 10% of their sales from Wednesday night. They will be selling $25 gift cards with all the proceeds going towards the fundraiser. They will be available at Mission Cantina (2325 California Ave SW) or Peel & Press. Circa in the Admiral District is taking part as well.

"Mission received so much generous support for our own employee fundraiser a few months back that we would love to show our gratitude and support to Geoffrey’s family.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

High schools
Baseball
Chief Sealth hosts Foster for a 4 p.m. game Thursday before visiting Ferris at 1 p.m. Saturday and hosting Franklin at 4 p.m. Monday.
West Seattle, meanwhile, plays Auburn Mountainview at 4 p.m. Saturday at Safeco Field before visiting Nathan Hale at the same time Monday.
Kennedy Catholic is at home playing Kent-Meridian at 4 p.m. Wednesday as Mount Rainier travels to Kentridge, then Thursday Mount Rainier is home against Kentridge and Kennedy at Kent-Meridian.
JFK goes on the road to Davis of Yakima at the same time Friday and visits West Valley of Yakima at 1 p.m. Saturday before visiting Skyline at 4 p.m. Monday.
Mount Rainier is at Decatur at 4 p.m. Monday.
Foster entertains Mount Tahoma at 4 p.m. Friday and Seattle Christian hosts Lindbergh at 12 p.m. Saturday and visits Olympic at 4:15 p.m. Monday and Auburn-Riverside at 4 p.m. Friday.
Highline goes to Seattle Christian at 4 p.m. Wednesday and hosts Garfield at 1 p.m. Saturday and Eatonville at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. Tyee visits Orting at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

West Seattle High School Alumni Association along with the SW Seattle Historical Society will be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the opening of the school building at the 2017 All School Reunion on June 3rd, 2017.

This year’s West Seattle High School’s All School Reunion has a special community photo to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the landmark West Seattle High School building.

Schedule of Events:

4:00 - 4:30 pm Pick up programs, name tag and roam the halls

4:30 - 5:15 pm Individual Class Reunions in assigned rooms.

4:30 – 5:15 pm “92 Years of Westside Pride” video in the Theater

5:15 - 6:15 pm Presentations in the Theater: Hall of Fame induction, Scholar-ships Awarded, Recognition of the 50th Reunion of the Class of 1967

6:15 – 6:30 pm Assemble outside the North Entrance for the Group Hug Photo

6:30 pm Photo shoot please be prompt

ALL ARE INVITED TO JOIN US FOR THE GROUP HUG PHOTO EVENT:

The photo known as a Group Hug for West Seattle High School will be taken at the conclusion of the annual All School Reunion that afternoon.

By Peggy Sturdivant

Contrary to one attendees’ misinformation the press had not been excluded from the 36th District’s Town Hall at Sons of Norway on Saturday, March 11, 2017. So when I learned mid-meeting that News Reporter Shane Harms had not been able to get there I tried to switch on my citizen journalist ears.

When 300 people are showing up consistently at town halls (the average number used to be 30-40) that constitutes news. Those citizens need to know they are being seen, and those not able to attend should know that others are showing up.

Meggie Meter is a Special Education teacher attending her first town hall. She cried as she asked the three Democratic legislators about potential loss of federal funding to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The legislators in attendance assured her it’s a priority to maintain funding support in Washington.

A coalition of Ballard business owners, labor leaders and community activists are voicing opposition to Mayor Ed Murray’s recent announcement for a framework for completing the ‘missing link” -- the gap in the Burke Gilman Trail in Ballard.

The group favors a Ballard cycle track along LearyAvenue and Northwest Market Street, which was one of four alternative routes the city was considering up until a few weeks ago.

“Once again, the inequitable priorities of the Mayor are reflected in how he spends public money. … Everyone wants safe passage for pedestrians and bikers throughout the city. But this multi-million-dollar project north of the ship canal is another example of the city’s deliberate inattention to Seattle’s real world socioeconomic imbalances,” said Josh Brower of Veris Law Group and spokesperson for the coalition. “The Mayor and Councilmember O’Brien continue to be tone deaf to Seattle’s real issues and problems.”

Customers visiting (Lux) Pot Shop (4912 17th Ave NW), formerly known as Stash Pot Shop, will notice that their doors will be closed for 15 days starting March 13 after they failed a compliance check.

The pot shop announced last week that two former employees failed to follow the state I.D. checking standard and sold cannabis to an undercover Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) officer.

(Lux) reported that this is their second infraction, the first of which amounted to a large fine. According to the WSLCB, a third infraction within three years would result in a cancelation of a license.

Cannabis is still recognized on the Federal level as a schedule 1 narcotic and therefore compliance regulation remains stringent.

“It’s something we take extremely seriously and have placed compliance at the forefront of all of our company policies,” said Kc Franks, Owner of (Lux).