May 2009

The Seattle School District is facing a grim-looking budget for the 2009-2010 school year, and the massive cuts are going to be felt across the district, not excluding West Seattle High School.

This winter, West Seattle High's Building Leadership Team created a budget outline for the school based on the budget cuts, and it was voted for, and approved by 80 percent of teachers. There’s no way around it, the school will lose teachers, staff, and funding for programs.

West Seattle High has two sources of income. The first is money that comes directly from the district that has tags on exactly what it needs to be spent on. The second is school “baseline” money that funds teachers. Both are being cut.

Because of the huge cuts on the district side, the school has to use more of the “baseline” money for other purposes, meaning cuts for teachers. There will be three full-time positions lost due to the reduction in baseline money.

Dance For Joy, a community dance program in Highland Park, will offer swing and waltz classes and will be starting a new six-week class session on Tuesdays from May 12 to June 16.

Classes offered include:

6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Beginning East Coast Swing: A great place to begin. Fun and easy, and no experience or partner required! As with all our beginning classes, when you finish you will have moves and confidence to go out dancing.

7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Waltz 2--the Romantic Waltz: Taking beginning slow waltz and turning waltz and adding moves and confidence. Prerequisite: Waltz 1 or instructor permission.

8:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m. East Coast Swing 2--Footwork, Styling & Charleston: More cool moves and fancy footworkand even some Charleston. A rollicking good time! Prerequisite: Swing 1 or instructor permission.

For all the information--including information on class discounts for new students--call (206) 264-5646 or e-mail lilli@att.net.

ArtsWest Gallery is gearing up for its Annual Student Exhibition and Competition, May 10 through 16. An artists’ reception and awards presentation will be held during 2nd Thursday ArtWalk, May 14 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. 
 
All three West Seattle high schools - Chief Sealth, Seattle Lutheran and West Seattle High - are participating in this competition with a diverse range of two and three dimensional artworks completed in the 2008-2009 school year.  Roughly 25 students from each school compete for monetary awards of up to $350. The awards ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. May 14 in the front gallery.  
 
“This show is important to us as a way to encourage the continued creative thought and personal expression of the next generation of artists,” said ArtsWest Gallery Director Nichole DeMent. “Plus the students also gain valuable experience in the art world through showing at a professional gallery. I hope the community will join us for this fun event.”

ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery is located at 4711 California Ave. S.W.

West Seattle High School's drama club has been hard at work over the past few months putting together an adaption of "Merrily We Roll Along," which opens Thursday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m.

This musical features a variety of talented students singing, dancing, and performing at their best.

Sondheim's musical adaptation of the Kaufman and Hart play transforms the story of three successful people looking back on their lost friendship. Frank, Mary, and Charley grew up to realize their dreams and goals, but may have paid a greater price than they anticipated.

Frank's anguished question—"Why?"—begins the journey backwards in time, recalling rivalries, jealousies, triumphs, failures, and loves both unrequited and reciprocal, as the three seek to discover how they got from "there" to "here." "Merrily We Roll Along" tells a masterful tale of three remarkable people reflecting on years of aspiration and reality, and dreams both fulfilled and lost.

"Merrily We Roll Along" will be performed on May 7, 8, 9, 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. each night. There will also be a special benefit performance on May 14 at 8 p.m.

On Sunday, May 17, two local men will swim their last 3.5 miles across Puget Sound for the final year to help raise awareness and funds for the animals at the Progressive Animal Welfare Society, also known as PAWS.

Bob Donovan and Paul Zimmerman will start their journey at Vashon Island and land at Lincoln Park in West Seattle.

Donovan and Zimmerman have swum a combined total of more than 63 miles since 2000, and feel it’s time to hang up their flippers. Before doing so, they hope to raise another $10,000 for the animals at PAWS. 

“Both Paul and I want to thank all the hard working people at PAWS who have helped us make this a fun, safe and successful event every year,” said Donovan. “We plan to put our energy to use in other PAWS events as we are sad to see 2009 as the last event. But 10 years and that many miles of swimming—it’s time to get out of the water.” 

Since they began this event, Donovan and Zimmerman have raised more than $23,000 for the animals at PAWS. Donovan is a resident of Bothell and manages his family business Kenmore Camera. Zimmerman, a Microsoft employee, lives in Redmond.

As someone who uses the tools and techniques of Personal Safety Nets you no doubt see the value of friends, family and neighbors. A PSN is about putting life’s resources into place in preparation for the inevitable challenges that arise.

You know from experience that there is value in being prepared and could not put a price on the sense of security gained; nor would you want to.

This month’s column focuses on wealth and therefore poses the following question. What is true wealth and where does it come from?

Wealth is most commonly described as “abundance of valuable material possessions or resources” and generally related to money. However, most of us know that the real wealth in life is far beyond anything you can buy, sell or own.

The Beatles got it right with their hit song "Can’t Buy Me Love." As we search for meaning in our lives we know that true wealth comes not only from our material possessions and bank accounts but also (and more importantly) from our relationships, sense of well-being and health.

The Seattle Police Department is warning citizens that spring is the time when warmer weather brings burglars to your block and to take certain precautions to prevent incidences.

Suspects, posing as legitimate workers, approach homeowners (especially the elderly) at their residence with the intent of gaining entry under a seemingly legitimate role: local gas company, water department, cable company, tree trimmers, pavers, County inspectors, or government officials.

Police say one suspect will distract the homeowner while a second suspect will enter the home and search inside for valuables and cash.

Another type of ruse used to gain entry into the home is for a suspect to knock on the door and ask for a pen and piece of paper to leave the victim's neighbor a note. The suspect may appear to have difficulty writing the note, and will ask to come inside the house.

Once inside the victim's house, the suspect will ask the victim to help write the note. As the suspect keeps the victim occupied, others enter the residence to remove money and valuables.

A variety of vehicles have been associated with these subjects including pick-up trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles.

The Seattle Police Department is warning citizens that spring is the time when warmer weather brings burglars to your block and to take certain precautions to prevent incidences.

Suspects, posing as legitimate workers, approach homeowners (especially the elderly) at their residence with the intent of gaining entry under a seemingly legitimate role: local gas company, water department, cable company, tree trimmers, pavers, County inspectors, or government officials.

Police say one suspect will distract the homeowner while a second suspect will enter the home and search inside for valuables and cash.

Another type of ruse used to gain entry into the home is for a suspect to knock on the door and ask for a pen and piece of paper to leave the victim's neighbor a note. The suspect may appear to have difficulty writing the note, and will ask to come inside the house.

Once inside the victim's house, the suspect will ask the victim to help write the note. As the suspect keeps the victim occupied, others enter the residence to remove money and valuables.

By Steve Shay

Folk icon and peace and environmental activist Pete Seeger was honored, not in person, but in spirit on his 90th birthday May 3 to a sell-out croud at the Admiral Theater.

The event was called "For Pete's Sake: Sing!" Some audience members did so, others just clapped, and a few shy ones sat quietly. But all seemed moved by the tribute. It was hosted by West Seattle folk music expert and author, Clay Eals, and opened with a clip he had filmed of Seeger at Seattle's 1997 Northwest Folklife Festival. Sharing the stage was Tom Colwell and his nine-piece Southbound Odyssey band.

Seeger songs performed at the event included "Where Have All the Flowers Gone," "If I Had a Hammer," and "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy," the controversial song Seeger performed on the Smothers Brothers TV show during the Vietnam war era. It was censored, edited from the show. Seeger was invited back to perform it again due to the insistance of Tom and Dick Smothers.

Twenty-eight probable cases of swine influenza A (H1N1), also known as swine flu, have been identified in King County through the Washington State Public Health Laboratory.

"We know that the H1N1 virus is circulating widely and the disease has proven to be relatively mild, so we believe that many cases are not being formally diagnosed," said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health Seattle and King County. "We need to find new ways to reduce infections besides focusing on diagnosed, probable cases. We will no longer recommend school closure when we have just one or two probable cases in a school. Instead, we will recommend symptom checks at home and school."