March 2017

By Gary S. Kaplan, MD, Chairman and CEO, Virginia Mason Health System

With a pending repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by President Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress, there has been a lot of discussion about the potential impact of a repeal on patients, health care providers and insurers.

Much of the discussion has focused on well-known provisions of the ACA, such as the roll-back of Medicaid, the requirement that all citizens and legal residents have health insurance and the guarantee that all people can buy coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions. But there are lesser-known provisions in the law that could end as well if the ACA is repealed. For example:

Coverage for preventive services

Congratulations to Ballard Music for their dominating performance in February at the Regional Solo and Ensemble Festival at Seattle Pacific University.

Ballard had 62 entries including solo vocal, solo instrumental, and ensembles in vocal and instrumental categories, all of which received a rating of either Superior or Excellent.

The judges choose one person (or group) in each category to advance to state. Numerous entries won their categories and are going to the state competition at Central Washington University in Ellensburg at the end of April.

Congratulations to the following state-bound ensembles and students:

Women's Chamber Choir
Men's Ensemble
Chamber Singers (Vocal Jazz)
Men's Quartet
Percussion Ensemble
Trevor Rivers - Timpani
Hannah Loucks - Snare Drum
Claire Burreson - Soprano
Meg Shepherd - Mezzo
Olivia Sutherland - Alto
Alex Putnam - Tenor
Diego Roberts Buceta - Baritone
Jonny Maier - Bass
Emmett Armstrong - String Bass

Additionally, Ballard had several 1st and 2nd alternates:

1st ALTERNATE:
Chamber Orchestra
Trombone Quartet
Amy Gore – Alto Sax
Leander Vandefen - Clarinet
Aidan Ward-Richter - Snare Drum

By Lori Ann Reinhall

On September 11, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower convened his White House Conference on citizen diplomacy with the dream of forging relationships in which “people of different cultures could celebrate and appreciate their differences and build partnerships that would lessen the chance of new conflicts.” This was the genesis of Sister Cities International, today a worldwide organization that spans six continents with 2,300 partnerships in 150 countries, encompassing tens of thousands of volunteers, all with one common goal: world peace.

The 89th annual Blessing of the Fleet has been scheduled for Sunday, March 12, 2017 at 2:00pm at the Fishermen’s Memorial site at Fishermen’s Terminal in Seattle, Washington.

Originated by the late Pastor O.L. Haavik of Ballard First Lutheran Church 88 years ago, the service will be conducted by Pastor Erik R. Wilson Weiberg and Pastor Elise Scott, both of Ballard First Lutheran Church. We will offer thanks to God for the fishing community, remembering the risks they take each day to provide seafood for our tables. We will also pray that their families will be healthy and protected during their time of separation.
We will remember those who went out to sea and never returned.

As in past years, various representatives from the government and the fishing industry have been invited to bring greetings.

The spring departure of the commercial fishing fleet for the sometimes dangerous Pacific and Alaska waters has been regularly observed since Pastor Haavik started the tradition.

Information provided by King County

At the March 6 meeting of the Metropolitan King County Council, the Council gave its unanimous approval to a motion opposing efforts to transfer or privatize Federal public lands in King County. The statement below was released by the Council after the vote:

“King County is home to over 366,000 acres of beautiful, sprawling and most importantly protected Federal public lands, and our intention is to keep it that way. We fear the significant consequences the County and State would face if Federal lands were relinquished.

“Individuals from every corner of the world visit our County to enjoy recreation, tourism, and the sheer splendor of the geography unique to our backyard. We are sending a strong and united message that these lands must continue to be owned and protected by the Federal Government for everyone’s enjoyment—now and into the future.”

information from Sustainable Seattle

Sustainable Seattle announced the winners of their Sustainability Leadership Awards – known as the "Sustainability Oscars" – at their annual dinner Friday night at the Swedish Cultural Center. The evening's top prize, the Sustainability Hero Award, went to Sophorn Sim, an environmental educator working with immigrant residents and fishermen in the Duwamish Valley.

Business, organization, and individual award winners in six categories were recognized at the event for their efforts to make the greater Seattle region a more sustainable, resilient and equitable place to live.

"It was such an inspiration to hear everyone's stories and see the amazing advances our region is making for our future," said Sustainable Seattle's Executive Director BJ Cummings. "It was also important to celebrate the people and organizations doing this work, especially now, when we need amplify the voices of our sustainability leaders."

March continues to.come in like a lion as high winds are predicted to hit this Friday. THe National Wesather Service has issued a Wind Advisory that starts Friday morning at 1 AM with gusts up to 50mph predicted overnight.

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 10 AM PST FRIDAY...

The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a Wind Advisory, which is in effect from 1 AM to 10 AM PST Friday.

* WIND...Southwest 20 to 35 mph with gusts 40 to 50 mph.

* SOME AFFECTED LOCATIONS...Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Olympia Bellingham, Forks and Aberdeen.

* TIMING...Winds will increase quickly this evening peaking in the 1 am to 10 am time frame.

* IMPACTS...Local power outages and downed tree limbs possible.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Advisory means that winds of 35 mph are expected. Winds this strong can make driving difficult...especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound will pay you $1000.00 cash for any information that leads to the arrest and charge of the suspect(s) responsible for the Hit & Run death of victim APRIL FAIT. Friends and Family of the victim are offering an additional $ 2,000.00 cash to help solve this case.

The victim April Fait, 73 years of age, was struck by a hit & run driver on Friday evening, February 24, 2017 at approximately 7 pm and died at the scene. The victim was crossing South 152nd to enter the Highline Performing Arts Center located at 401 S. 152nd St. in Burien, WA. She was walking over to see her grandchild perform in a musical production at the Performing Arts Center.

The victim, April Fait, works for the Highline School District and was looking forward to retirement. The suspect vehicle in this case is described as a newer silver or grey sedan with damage to the right front portion of the vehicle. At this time there is no physical description of the suspect(s) and the vehicle involved has not been recovered.

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION CALL THE CRIME STOPPER HOTLINE @1-800-222-TIPS

Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound will pay you $1000.00 cash for any information that leads to the arrest and charge of the suspect(s) responsible for the Hit & Run death of victim APRIL FAIT. Friends and Family of the victim are offering an additional $ 2,000.00 cash to help solve this case.

The victim April Fait, 73 years of age, was struck by a hit & run driver on Friday evening, February 24, 2017 at approximately 7 pm and died at the scene. The victim was crossing South 152nd to enter the Highline Performing Arts Center located at 401 S. 152nd St. in Burien, WA. She was walking over to see her grandchild perform in a musical production at the Performing Arts Center.

The victim, April Fait, works for the Highline School District and was looking forward to retirement. The suspect vehicle in this case is described as a newer silver or grey sedan with damage to the right front portion of the vehicle. At this time there is no physical description of the suspect(s) and the vehicle involved has not been recovered.

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION CALL THE CRIME STOPPER HOTLINE @1-800-222-TIPS

A fire at 9829 44th SW consumed a house and trapped a 51 year old disabled woman in an upstairs bathroom. Her boyfriend and son escaped and, according to them, they were downstairs in a garage working on furniture. The woman was in an upstairs bathroom and was unable to get out and they were unable to reach her.

They said they could hear her banging on the wall for help.

Seattle Fire Department confirmed she did not survive. They reported they broke through two walls in an effort to reach her but did not get there in time.

Multiple units responded and doused the flames but could not get in since the fire was too intense and pushed them back. Power lines were down and power to the neighborhood has been cut off by City Light but should be restored in the next few hours as investigators wrap up the scene.