January 2009

A flipping-good time was shared by all in a gymnastics dual meet between Kennedy and Mount Rainier, as the visiting Lancers came away with the all-around winner in freshman Charlotte Ditmar while the Rams earned the team win in blow-out fashion, 148-130.75, last Tuesday, Jan. 13.

A full crowd on hand watching from the bleacher seats of the gymnastics gymnasium at Mount Rainier’s beautiful, large, newly-built school watched the Rams’ depth go higher on the placement board.

The top five scores for each event are tallied for points.

Boys basketball

Foster 75, Hazen 44

JJ Smith led the Bulldogs to victory Monday, Jan. 12 with 17 points and Cameron Faison tallied 12. Darius Page added 11, Refugio Soto Lopez 10 and Travis Miller eight.

Renton 49, Highline 40

Eric Turner scored 16 points for the Pirates in the Monday, Jan. 12 loss.

Mt. Rainier 77, Evergreen 75

Like many of you, we often drive through Burien and marvel at the progress of the construction of the new town square, town plaza, city center or whatever comes to mind.

We go by it from all directions and usually stop long enough to take a historic picture for our newspaper files.

It is exciting to have a ringside seat at this changing scene and marvel at what has happened.

Several events are happening in West Seattle to celebrate the Inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States

West 5 is celebrating inauguration day with Happy Hour all day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and $4 Bloody Mary's and mimosas. Warning; there are no TV's at West 5.

The West Seattle Democratic Women will host breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the West Seattle Golf Course, 4470 35th Ave. S.W. 6 p.m.

There's also an Inaugural Dinner/Gala at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 9131 California Ave. S.W.

Community members working to create a natural playscape for children in the Admiral neighborhood have selected a landscape architect to help design the space at California Place Park.

The area being developed is a small triangle of land on California Avenue Southwest and Southwest Hill Street. Supporters of the project say that all elements used will be natural, such as logs or native plants, and that no trees would be removed.

A fire, originating upstairs, possibly by a furnace, broke out just after 5 a.m. Friday (Jan. 16), at the historic Alki Homestead Restaurant, 6717 61st Ave. S.W. No one was injured.

"I think the place is pretty dark," said co-owner of the building Tom Lin. "It's all covered with smoke."

At about 5 a.m. Friday morning, Lin heard sirens from his Alki home. Curious, he followed them down the street.

Dow Constantine, who represents West Seattle on the King County Council, has come out in support of the plan to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a deep bored tunnel because of the value to West Seattle commuters.

"Every other proposal held the possibility of significant disruption for West Seattle commuters," said Constantine. "This deep bore tunnel creates the possibility of uninterrupted traffic flow if we can figure out how to keep the viaduct safe for travelers until the tunnel is ready."

Since Gov.

Although the Seattle City Council has denied funding for the construction of a new skatepark in Delridge, project organizers continue to develop a design for the park.

The proposed park would be located in the northeast corner of the Delridge Playfied and measure 10,000 square feet.

A new skatepark for Delridge was identified as a high priority, according to Seattle Parks and Recreation's Citywide Skatepark Plan, approved by the council in 2007.

Next month, Ballard's Snoose Junction plans to open a second location in nearby Greenwood.

Co-owner Mark Ball said the decision to expand "just felt comfortable."

The new location, set for a grand-opening in about three weeks, will be twice as large as the Market Street pizzeria, with 45 seats in the dining area and another 45 in the bar.

"It's a monster," said Ball. "It's a kick-ass restaurant with great pizza."

The new place is at 10406 Holman Avenue, between Holman and Greenwood.

Ballard residents and business owners are speaking out against state, city and county officials' plan to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a deep-bored tunnel.

"I don't think it'ss the best decision for the public in the long term," said Warren Aakervik, owner of Ballard Oil and member of the North Seattle Industrial Association Board.