December 2011

Seamount League Class 3A Kennedy Catholic continued its process of learning and development in a 53-33 basketball loss to SPSL Class 4A Kentwood in the first round of the girls' division of the Les Schwab Christmas Classic held on the Kennedy campus in Burien on Thursday, December 29.

"The girls played hard and we had a lot of shots," said a confident Lancer coach John Barbee. "We're young and our goal is to keep getting better. There were a lot of shot opportunities created. We can spend more time in practice on the shooting. We got to the free throw line and did well. Pressing sometimes just had us out of position to rebound. If we make a few jump shots, we'll do better. Holding a good 4A team like Kentwood to 53 points meant we did a good job. There is still one more non league game. It's a long way to go (in league), but we'll get there."

Although the Conquerors' seeds of success were sown in the first half, the final fate of the Lancers was determined by third quarter action.

Wednesday, Dec. 28
Girls basketball
Cashmere 71, West Seattle 30
West Seattle came away from its trip over the mountains to Eastern Washington with only a loss to show for it.

Sequim 53, Tyee 47
Tyee played host to Sequim from the Olympic Peninsula this past Wednesday and lost a close one to the Wolves, 53-47.

Enumclaw 50, SCS 22
The Class 1A Warriors of Seattle Christian fell to the Class 3A Hornets in King's Tournament action in North Seattle this past Wednesday.

Boys basketball
SCS 60, Bellingham 53
Seattle Christian of SeaTac opened Lynden Christian tournament action with a seven-point loss to Bellingham last Wednesday.

Tahoma 91, Tyee 42
The Totems were trounced by Tahoma in a non-league game Wednesday.

Redmond, Ore. 59, Foster 50
The Bulldogs of Tukwila lost to Redmond of Oregon in a Coeur' d'Alene Holiday Express Invitational Tournament game last Wednesday.

Lakeside 63, Evergreen 54
Evergreen came up short in non-league action Wednesday.

With a pardon to the Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare of Staten Island NY, displayed poetry in motion with his own style of play while 81,000 football fans and two young boys on a crystal radio witnessed the “greatest football game” of the century, November 2, 1935 between Notre Dame and the mighty Ohio State Buckeyes. 

It could be said that William Shakespeare had no idea he would become a hero in a football game but indeed he did. Not the English playwright but “the bard of Staten Island” William Valentine Shakespeare, who enrolled at Notre Dame University in 1932. He became somewhat of a star at halfback by his junior year. 

Colleagues, students, friends, and family of murder victim Prudence Hockley will come together at two separate memorial services to say goodbye to the beloved teacher.

Hockley passed away on Christmas Eve after being attacked by an ex-boyfriend.

The first memorial service will be held at Woodinville High School where she taught English.

Students, parents, colleagues, and alumni will come together in the school's gymnasium on January 12 at 7 p.m.

A community memorial service will follow on January 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Center For Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st St.

In lieu of flowers for the memorial, the family would greatly appreciate a donation to a memorial fund to assist the family with funeral costs and education expenses for Prudence Hockley's 13 year old daughter.

To make donations please send checks to:

The Prudence Hockley Benevolent Account
BECU PO Box 34044
Seattle, WA
98124-1044

Christmas Eve homicide victim was beloved teacher
Dec 29, 2011

press release:
As part of its commitment to preparing students for college, careers and life, Seattle Public Schools is hosting seven College Goal Sunday events in January to provide free assistance to high-school seniors who are applying for federal financial aid for higher education.

At each workshop, trained volunteers will help applicants complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, an essential first step in accessing college financial aid. Students and their families will also have opportunities to talk with expert financial-aid administrators and learn important information about federal financial aid assistance, including deadlines and other information about paying for college.

All high-school seniors are strongly encouraged to attend an event in January even if they are not sure if they will be pursuing higher education immediately after graduation. Completion of the FAFSA does not obligate a student to attend college.

College Bound Scholarship seniors must complete the FAFSA by Feb. 1, 2012 to meet the deadline for priority funding.

Seattle Police reports that on December 24th at approximately 10:56 p.m. a 55-year-old female was killed in front of her residence in the 300th block of NW 74th St.

The report states that the victim stepped outside her residence to talk to the 48-year-old male suspect, who she had been dating. Witnesses heard voices followed by a loud thump. The victim’s 13-year old daughter went outside and found her mother on the ground at the side of the house, unconscious.

The suspect was seen walking away from the victim. He got in his car and left the scene.

Officers and SFD medics responded to the 911 call and medics transported the victim to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of her life-threatening head injury.

On December 25th Homicide detectives were notified by medical staff that the victim had been pronounced dead.

Homicide detectives made an arrest of the suspect on December 28th. He is being interviewed by detectives, and will later be booked into the King County Jail. This remains an active and on-going homicide investigation.

You can see this story and an additional concert photo in the new issue of the West Seattle Herald newspaper.

West Seattle rocker Jeff Rouse performed during an historic and wild night of music at KeyArena Dec. 16. He is the bass player for the Seattle band, Loaded, led by Duff McKagan. They opened for Axl Rose and his current Guns N' Roses band. McKagan was the founding bassist for GNR. While this was not an official reunion, he did perform the song "You Could Be Mine" with Rose.

Rouse told the West Seattle Herald, "Over the last few years, Loaded has played huge festivals and shows all around the world. But it was such an honor to play at KeyArena. It is obviously a place I have seen so many concerts and my beloved "Sonics". (That is a whole other topic?!?!?!?!) It was a beautiful thing to have our hometown embrace us the way they did!"

Dear Editor,
My family has been eating fish and chips along the West Seattle waterfront since 1962.

About 2 years ago we discovered Alki Crab & Fish.

In my opinion this is the best Fish and Chips in West Seattle.

We eat there at least twice a month and invite friends from Bellevue, Kirkland and Canada to eat there.

They all agree that it is an excellent place to eat and make the trip over to show their appreciation of good fish and chips.

The breading on the fish and chips is excellent and we can set down in a room with a great view to enjoy our meal.

Alki Crab and Fish is an excellent West Seattle dining spot.

Why is it the City of Seattle has decided that a “rolling marinated fish (YUK!) wagon” is a better deal for West Seattle???

If this atrocity is allowed to be perpetrated against the residents of West Seattle we should succeed from the city!

Sincerely,
Clark Beck
A fish and chips lover!

All drivers in the Central Puget Sound Region should be prepared for tolling on the State Route 520 bridge to start at 5 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 29.

“This change will affect more than just bridge users,” said Washington State Department of Transportation Toll Division Director Craig Stone in a press release. “It will affect drivers on Interstate 90, SR 522 around the top of Lake Washington and local on- and off-ramps to I-5, I-90, I-405 and SR 520.”

While it’s impossible to predict exactly how many drivers will use alternate routes, extensive traffic analysis shows traffic reductions on SR 520; some commuters will adjust when they travel, switch routes, use transit, share a ride or skip the trip completely.

“Drivers from Issaquah to Seattle and Tukwila to Shoreline will see changes to their commute,” Stone said. “Drivers who use these routes should prepare for potential traffic delays and adjust their schedule accordingly. We expect traffic patterns will change daily, and it will take several months before traffic settles into a predictable new pattern.”

The Beavers boys basketball team lost another close game in San Diego on Wednesday, Dec 28. Playing at the Surf N’ Slam tournament, the Beavers faced Jackson High School from Mill Creek, Wash.

In an incredibly close match-up, the Beavers trailed only a couple of points behind Mill Creek throughout the game for a 54 to 60 loss for the Beavers.

Seth Berger led the team in scoring with 16 points and 16 rebounds, followed by Stuart MacGeorge with 15.

The boys play again on Friday before returning to Seattle.

Conference games will continue next week with an away game at Skyline on January 3rd at 7:30 p.m. And another away game at Garfield on Friday, January 6, at 8 p.m.

Girls Basketball

The Lady Beavers played their first game of the local Juanita Holiday Tournament last night against Bellevue.

The teams showed tough competition for the other and while Bellevue took the lead in the first quarter, the Lady Beavers were never far behind. By the start of the fourth quarter, the Bellevue lead was diminished to only two points.

But in the end Bellevue proved to be too strong for the Beavers. The Beavers lost with a final score of 53 to 56.