October 2012

Press release:

When:
Wednesday, October 31, 2012 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Where:
Landmark On The Sound Event Center 23660 Marine View Drive South – Des Moines, WA 98198

www.landmarkeventcenter.com

Details: Admission is $5 per child and non-perishable food donations will be accepted for Des Moines Food Bank. Everyone in the family is invited to join in an evening of fun! Kids 12 and under will enjoy a variety of “frightfully fun” skill challenge games and activities. Adults with children are free.
100% of the net revenues generated by this event are used to fund the charitable activities of Masonic Outreach Services. www.masonicoutreachservices.org

Partners: Landmark On The Sound Event Center, Des Moines Park & Recreation, Masonic Outreach Services and Des Moines Food Bank.

Pres release:

It is almost that time of year again when we move from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time and adjust our clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. on November 4th.

The SeaTac Fire Department would like to remind you that when you change your clocks, you should also change the batteries in your smoke alarms.

Smoke alarms which run on 9-volt batteries or hardwired smoke alarms with battery backups need to be changed annually to ensure they work when you need them. Make sure that you dispose of the batteries properly by recycling them. Avoid throwing them in the garbage. A smoke alarm only alerts if it is working.

Another type of annual maintenance you can perform on your smoke alarms is to vacuum them out when you change the batteries. Dust can accumulate in the small grill near the sensor, blocking its ability to detect smoke and warn you with an alarm.

I don’t believe much in spooks or Halloween bad tricks that people say happen if we don’t pass out treats. Yet, for sometime now there’s strange stuff going on in my closets and file cabinets.

Yes sir-ree – every time I look the other way it seems more stuff takes up residence in my closet and dresser drawers. I object! Overnight they seem to get filled up and the clothes closet doesn’t have room for one more hanger. My 4-drawer file cabinet has put on weight fit to bust it open

This has to stop. But, how? “Write about something you know,” experts advise, and hanging on to possessions is right up my alley.

Is your “clutter” giving birth to more clutter too? When this happens my overwhelming urge is to hide out with lots of cookies and hot chocolate for comfort.

How does clutter start and grow and what is the effect on a family? Clue: If your kids get lost in the mess it’s time to get organized. If friends aren’t stopping by often maybe they can’t find a place to sit.

Some folks are just plain “Messy People.”

"Hot Spot" initiative nabs 33 for drugs, guns, & other crimes
The U.S. Attorney's Office, Western Washington District, released information on Oct. 23, that 33 people are now in jail and 28 firearms are off the street as the result of a three month U.S. Department of Justice “Hot Spot” initiative in South King County.
Operation Down in the Valley targeted gang violence and drug and gun sales in the Kent, Renton, and Tukwila areas. The initiative, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and ICEʼs Homeland Security Investigation also took nearly 14 pounds of methamphetamine off the street, as well as cocaine, heroin, and prescription narcotics. This three-month initiative is the second Hot Spot initiative in the
Seattle area. It follows the successful focus on White Center in 2011. Jorge Fernandez- Munoz is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was arrested October 17, 2012, outside the Tukwila Target store, where he had set up a two-pound methamphetamine deal with a person working with law enforcement.

Man rams patrol car in Burien

Press release:

The 2012 storm season is shaping up to have a weather pattern similar to 2006, which brought with it heavy rain, flooding, wind storms and snow – not to mention the infamous Hanukkah Eve Storm that left 1.5 million Western Washington residents and businesses without power for days on end.

Representatives from Puget Sound Energy, Seattle City Light and Snohomish County Public Utility District – local partners in the Take Winter By Storm campaign to help citizens get prepared before bad weather strikes – joined forces Monday, Oct. 29 to demonstrate the actions utilities take year-round to get prepared for wet, windy weather to minimize the risk of power outages for local residents and businesses.

At the demonstration, a Seattle City Light field operations manager showed the extensive damage local electric systems can sustain as a result of fallen trees or branches, a SnoPUD tree crew demonstrated tree-trimming techniques used to maintain the local electric system, and a PSE Certified Arborist shared how the public can help local utilities decrease the likelihood of tree-related power outages.

Got questions about coal trains? Want to do something about it?

Neighbors will be hosting a meeting about coal trains at Sunset Hill Community Club (3003 NW 66th Street) tonight, from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. It will go over information about the proposed coal export terminal at Cherry Point (just south of Bellingham), how coal train traffic will affect the Ballard area, and steps you can take to voice your opinion.

From the press release:

"We already have three or four coal trains coming through but that could grow to 18 additional coal trains per day – coming along our RR Tracks here in Ballard, along Golden Gardens. Many Ballard Businesses and home owners are against seeing dirty coal shipped through our area, but we need to be heard.

As with all issues, the more you know the better you are able to make informed decisions about what is right for you and your family. So please join us for this informative meeting."

For additional information, contact Liz Talley at ltalley@windermere.com or on cell at 206 235-6271.

Join the experts at South Seattle Community College’s Automotive Technology Program November 17 for a FREE Auto Leaks Class. The class is a $45 value. Your car will be put up on a lift to see if you have any leaks, and show you where they might happen. You’ll leave the workshop with an oil spill cleanup kit.

Watch the video and hear what past participants have to say:

Other classes are on the schedule too from 9 am to 1 pm on the following dates: December 15, January 19, February 16, March 16, and April 20.

Since space is limited, early registration is advised.

To register: e-mail idris.beauregard@seattle.gov or call 206-684-3056.

Thursday, Oct. 25
Cross country
Metro League meet
Chief Sealth took 12th place on the boys and the girls side of Thursday's meet, scoring 360 and 333 points, respectively.
Volleyball
Eastside Catholic 3, Chief Sealth 1
Eastside Catholic dealt the Seahawks a defeat in volleyball action last Thursday.

Friday, Oct. 26
Football
Evergreen 62, Highline 34
Evergreen and Highline scored a total of 96 points between each other Friday, with the Wolverines scoring 62 of them to the 34 of the Highline Pirates.
Girls soccer
Metro League tournament
Seattle Prep 4, Chief Sealth 0
The Seahawks absorbed a loss to Seattle Prep as Metro League tournament action opened Friday.
Volleyball
Seattle Lutheran 3, Chief Leschi 0
Seattle Lutheran of West Seattle scored a 3-0 win over Chief Leschi this past Friday.

Saturday, Oct. 27
Football
Vashon 34, Seattle Lutheran 6
Seattle Lutheran came up short against Vashon Island in Saturday action.
Volleyball
2A West Central District
Fife 3, Evergreen 0

We asked a handful of White Center residents who have been active lobbying for or against Burien's proposed annexation of North Highline (residents can vote on this until Nov. 6) to send in their opinions.

What follows are (in no particular order) a pro-annexation argument from Barbara Dobkin and Liz Giba with the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, and an anti-annexation argument from Mark Ufkes, representing the Independent White Center PAC. All three are North Highline residents.

CON: Protect Independence
By Mark Ufkes, Independent White Center PAC

Annexation should improve White Center and increase our property values. Burien annexation will do neither. The sky will not fall if we don’t annex to Burien. Fairwood did not annex to Renton two years ago, remains unincorporated today, and their roads are fine.

The NHUAC claimed that state law forces us to annex. King County then admitted that there is no state law that can force us to annex to any city.

SPD press release from Det. Renee Witt

Halloween Safety Tips
Written by Detective Renee Witt on October 29, 2012

The Seattle Police Department wishes Seattle residents a Happy Halloween and offers the following Halloween safety measures to parents whose little ghouls and goblins will be making the rounds on Wednesday, October 31st.

- Don’t allow children to go “Trick or Treating” alone. An adult should accompany young children and make sure that all children carry a glow stick or flashlight and wear reflective clothing.

- Accompany young children to the door of every house they approach. Stay within sight of the door when opened. Children should be cautioned to never enter a home without prior permission from their parents.

- Stay in familiar neighborhoods and only visit well-lit homes that have their outdoor lights on. Parents should be familiar with every house and with all people from which the children receive treats.

- Children should be cautioned never to approach any vehicle, occupied or not, unless they know the owner and are accompanied by a parent.