March 2012

Press release:

April 7th launches a program to help provide residents with some relief from the high cost of prescription medications. Through the program -- sponsored by the National League of Cities (NLC) -- the city is making free prescription discount cards available to city residents. The discount cards offer city residents an average of 23 percent savings off the retail price of prescription medications.

Burien has a similar program for its residents.

The NLC Prescription Discount Card can be used by all residents of Des Moines and has no restrictions based on a resident’s age, income level, or existing health coverage. The card can be used at approximately four pharmacies in the city, as well as at more than 60,000 participating retail pharmacies across the country.

Burien Police Chief Scott Kimerer appeared before the Burien City Council March 19 to urge residents to form block watches. While concerns were voiced about recent high-profile crimes in the area, he said block watches were a useful, ongoing tool to aid police.

Chief Kimerer, Sergeant Henry McLauchlan, and block watch captains and Burien residents Forest and Mary Jane Lane spoke to the Highline Times about the importance of block watches, and how they are formed. The City of Burien Police Community Crime Prevention Unit at (206) 296-3370 to schedule your Block Watch Meeting. The Crime Prevention Officer will come to your home.

Police Chief Kimerer

"It is a program that really keeps the eyes and ears of a neighborhood open, and there is nobody better in a neighborhood for seeing what might be amiss than your neighbors," said Chief Kimerer of block watches. "We may go through a neighborhood and may not see what they see. It's quite a successful program.

In an effort to increase community participation in serving others, the Western Washington councils of the Boy Scouts of America are teaming up with local residents in the fight against hunger.

On Saturday, March 24th, Cub Scouts from the Ballard Pack 100 will be collecting non-perishable food donations for the Ballard Food Bank at local Safeway supermarkets.

Residents can drop off donations at the two collections sites: NW 85th St & 15th Ave. NW and NW Market St & 15th Ave NW.

Scouts will be collecting food between 9 a.m and 4 p.m.

All food donations will be given to the Ballard Food Bank to support local needy residents.

Through partnerships with more than 50 local food banks, the Scouting for Food drive provides more than 500,000 cans of food annually to needy families. This community service project is designed to help fill the shelves of neighborhood food banks at a time of year when needs are high and supplies are low.

Following the departure of Dr. Susan Enfield as interim Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools the Seattle School Board began the process of filling that role. School Board President Michael DeBell has issued a letter detailing the progress made thus far.

Dear Seattle Public Schools families, staff and community,
As you know, the Seattle School Board is in the midst of searching for our next superintendent. We have contracted with an outside firm, Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA), to conduct a national search to find a leader who is a great fit for our schools and community. Last fall, Elway Research, Inc. conducted two surveys to gather input about desired characteristics in the next superintendent from a broad spectrum of the community, including three town hall meetings held in conjunction with Seattle Council PTSA.

Using the survey results and information gathered from interviews with the Board and community members, the search firm consultants drafted desired characteristics that outline what the community is looking for in a new superintendent, including:
• a visionary, inspirational leader

A Senate budget proposal to change the way school employees get health care has pitted Highline’s teacher’s union against a veteran Highline lawmaker who has been a strong supporter of education funding and is a former King County Labor Council official.

State Sen. Karen Keiser (D-33) is a cosponsor of Senate Bill 6442, which would set up a School Employee’ Benefits Board to develop new health care plans for all school employees.

Private insurance companies selected by the board would cover all of the state’s 109,000 school employees. Currently, each school district collectively bargains with its local unions for health care coverage.

About 200 teachers and other supporters attended a rally Wednesday, March 21, at Mt. Rainier High School in Des Moines to protest a state takeover of K-12 employee health care. They listened to speeches and watched film presentations about fights over government employee collective bargaining rights in other states. Highline state representatives Dave Upthegrove, Zack Hudgins and Bob Hasegawa also addressed the crowd.

Baseball:

Beavers baseball fall to Inglemoor

The Ballard baseball team played against Inglemoor on the road on Thursday and encountered tough competition.

A scoreless game for Ballard, Inglemoor scored their first run in the second inning followed by five runs in the fourth inning and an additional three runs in the fifth, getting nine hits off Ballard pitcher Joe Jacobson.

Ballard lost 9 to 0.

LAX:

The girls lacrosse team lost to Roosevelt on Thursday with a score of 19 to 13.

Sophie Mora had 9 goals, 3 ground balls, 4 draw controls,
Katie kennedy had 2 goals, 1 assists, 5 draw controls.
And goalie Hannah Breton made 14 saves.

Golf:

The Ballard girls golf team played against Bothell at Jackson Park on Thursday.

Ballard won with 277 strokes versus Bothell's 299 strokes.

Individual scores:
Ballard's Fah Anusuriya took first with 40 strokes, and Diana Shyue came in second with 43 strokes. Robin Upton with 54 strokes finished third.

Track and Field:

And one more candidate announced he'll be joining the already crowded field in the race for the open seat in the State House that is being vacated by the longtime Democratic incumbent Mary Lou Dickerson.

Brett Phillips, son of King County Councilman Larry Phillips, and sustainability manager at Seattle-based Unico Properties, announced his bid on Wednesday night.

“I’m the 4th generation of my family to call Seattle home and I know that the strength of our communities are rooted in the strength of our progressive values—from excellent schools to making sure we maintain a safety net for those most at risk. We need revenue solutions in Olympia so we can stop pitting education against human services during bad economic times,” said Phillips in his announcement. “We need outspoken leaders committed to the rights of women. We need strong Democrats willing to fight for our principles while never losing sight of the need to be effective problem solvers.”

Phillips, a green building and energy efficiency expert, has been promoting smart growth and reducing the carbon footprint of local commercial properties in his role as sustainability director for Unico Properties.

It was always Morgan Herzog's plan to have a beer sales/beer and wine pub on California Avenue, in the Junction. He even named his business Beer Junction but for the past two years the store has been operating at
4707 42nd Ave. s.w. It's been good, business has been steady and growing but was only a first step.

When the Liquor store and the West Seattle Train Shop closed and moved, he saw his opportunity. Next week it all comes to fruition when he opens the new Beer Junction in a rather remarkable space at 4511 California Ave. s.w.

CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE MORE

The Highline Schools Foundation held its Academy Awards Thursday night, March 22 and the winners are…..Darcy Smith, Alan Spicciati, Barb Rogers, Astha Tada and David Sabey.

The foundation presents its Gold Star awards annually. This year, foundation trustees decided to announce the winners at a fun Gold Star Bash held at Burien’s newest entertainment venue, the Production Shop.

The Gold Star winners will be formally recognized at the Gold Star Awards Breakfast held Friday, April 20 at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Conference Center, 7:30-9 a.m.

The breakfast is free to attend but a minimum donation of $125 is suggested at the event.

Register at www.highlineschoolsfoundation or call 206-248-5196 to receive an invitation.

Toddler Spring Eggstravaganza at High Point Community Center
join us for a morning of fun and activities, including a very special bunny visit especially for
toddlers. There will be games, crafts for the children and an egg hunt (at 11 a.m. sharp!) with age-appropriate prizes and snacks.
High Point Community Center, 6920 34th Ave. SW
Thursday, April 5, 10 a.m. – Noon
Cost: $5
Ages 2-5

West Seattle Community Centers Spring Egg Hunt has moved!!!!
There is so much more to explore!
Join us for an ALL ages egg hunt with games, face painting, jump toys, music by Caspar Babypants, concessions, and much more! Please call your local community center
for details or to purchase a wrist band.
Location: Southwest Athletics Complex, 2801 SW Thistle St. Participating community centers: High Point, Delridge, Hiawatha, South Park and Alki
Saturday, April 7, 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Cost: $3 per person ahead of time or $5 day of the event
All ages