March 2014

For more than 31 million children in low income families in America, books, the foundation for learning and education, are a luxury. Book Trust, an organization dedicated to bringing more books to low income children paid a visit to West Seattle Elementary School on March, 27 to distribute books and get an update on how the school is doing.

Book Trust allocates $7 per student per month so they can choose, purchase and own books of interest from Scholastic Reading Club catalogs. Teachers help students select books and place their orders. Book Trust pays Scholastic for the selections made by the participants. The school has participated in the program since 2007.

Principal Vicki Sacco explained that the program works by being interest driven. "Kids pick books that they are interested in. Whatever genre they are attracted to and having the ownership also is important. When we did this a couple of years ago, one of the kids was saying, one of the good thing was that he could bring home books and his younger brother or sister would read it when he was done with it."

After a night in the cold Jeff Bouck, 48, was found dead under the Ballard Bridge during the early morning hours of Feb. 4.

Since his passing there has been new information that’s surfaced leading up to his death and the community programs that he attempted to use that ultimately failed in finding his exit from homelessness.

Barb Hunter has lived in Ballard for two years and has recently retired after being vice president of technology for Allrecipes.com. She plays bass in the band, Gibraltar. She was a friend of Bouck’s since last April. They met at the Ballard locks where she would go to watch the herons.

“We went out to lunch (he would always try to pay for my lunch, and occasionally I would let him). We'd go out and have a couple beers,” wrote Hunter in a Facebook post. “We talked about our families and our adventures. We talked about what we wanted in the future. We cracked each other up. Jeff called me on my birthday. Jeff bought me lunch on Christmas day when I was having a [hard] time. The only difference between Jeff and a ‘normal’ friend was that he slept outside.”

Pouring over 200 margaritas and cleaning up the bar at 2:30 a.m. is taxing on the body, and the people that make up the service industry can suffer from injury, soreness, sleeplessness and stress.

That’s why Ballardite and long time bartender and 20 year kick-boxer, Jordan Giarratano, is starting a martial arts course specifically tailored for cooks, bartenders and servers.

“There’s a huge population of people working in the service industry in Ballard, and it just seems like a really good way to give back to the industry that got me where I am today,” said Giarratano.

Giarratano started Fighting Chance Seattle Kickboxing and Martial Arts school (1446 N.W. 53rd St.) in 2011 after working seven years as a bartender at multiple bars in Seattle.

The course, Turn & Burn Kickboxing, is designed to strengthen the core and legs and other muscles through learning a blend of Karate and Muay Thai martial arts techniques and yoga stretches.

By Marjorie Young

There is a well-known saying that ‘the road to hell is paved with good intentions.’ And it is all too true that well-meaning words or deeds can result in decidedly negative consequences. Ever try to ‘smooth things over’ with a warring couple, only to find them both turning on you for ‘meddling’? Ever give counsel to someone at a difficult cross-roads, only to have them later ‘blame’ you for the choice that was ultimately theirs to make?

The second early design guidance meeting is set for a proposed 45 unit 6 story mixed use apartment building to be constructed at 4505 42nd Ave. S.W. on Oregon Street. The meeting is at the West Seattle Senior Center, April 17, at 8 p.m.

The proposal includes space for 16 cars below grade and would contain approximately 4,300 sq. ft. of retail space. The existing structure on the site would be demolished.

The Senior Center is located at 4217 S.W. Oregon Street, which happens to be just adjacent to the proposed building site.

The property is owned by Leon Capelouto.

OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT

The Director will accept written comments to assist in the preparation of the early design guidance through April 17, 2014. You are invited to offer comments regarding important site planning and design issues, which you believe, should be addressed in the design for this project.

Comments and requests to be made party of record should be submitted to PRC@seattle.gov or

City of Seattle – DPD – PRC
700 5th Avenue, Suite 2000
PO Box 34019
Seattle, WA 98124-4019

PROCESS

information from Residents of the Junction

Led by a group of neighbors, the newly formed group, Residents of the Junction will have a meeting to discuss apodments being built in our neighborhoods.

Neighbors in the Junction area of West Seattle are meeting Friday night, March 28, at 7:00 pm at Holy Rosary School’s meeting hall located at 4142 42nd Avenue SW to rally support in blocking the development of 4439 41st Avenue SW, currently a single family home, into an apodment complex with 40 – 300 square feet each- units and five parking spaces. (Building permit #3015444).

All in our community who are interested and/or affected by this, and other, development in our community are welcome to join us at the meeting.

The objectives of the community meeting are as follows:
·         summarize the shared concerns to create a group letter/petition to the city (planning, council, Mayor, etc.).
·         identify a critical path for the group to pursue, once the comment period is over.

According to Cindi West from the King County Sheriff's office a Burien Police deputy was traveling northbound on Ambaum on routine patrol on Thursday night March 27 around 6pm. A SUV was traveling southbound. The southbound car made a left turn in front of the patrol car causing the collision.

The deputy was taken to Highline and was released with minor injuries.

The female driver (only occupant) of the other car was taken to Harborview.

Non life threatening injuries, possible broken elbow.

The WSHS 3rd annual “Taste of the Arts” Event is set for Saturday, April 5. The annual event which supports arts education at West Seattle High School features work in a variety of arts areas.

Visual arts, including student photography, ceramics, painting, drawing, and woodshop.

Culinary Arts in which ProStart students create and serve appetizers.

Musical Arts presented by the Orchestra and Band who will perform throughout the evening and Performing Arts in a special presentation (including VIP seating) to the Westside Drama musical performance of “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown” at 8 pm in the school theater.

You can buy tickets online now at https://wshs.schoolauction.net/tota2014/register/ticket_sales

Westside Drama site http://www.westsidedrama.com/special-benefit-westside-taste-of-the-arts

information from The Kenney

A new investment lender relationship has been established for The Kenney. The Kenney has been seeking a new lender and/or sponsor to provide a stronger financial footing for The Kenney. Through that process, Seattle Healthcare Investors, a limited liability company, was formed which is now the lender for The Kenney. The new lender purchased the debt and outstanding note from the previous lender which is exiting this sector of financial investing. This was a mutually-agreed upon transaction between the new lender and The Kenney board of directors.

PRESERVING THE PAST. PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE.

REMINDER
Today March 30 is the day to get out and shop, dine, or otherwise participate in WS4OSO, a grass roots benefit effort, created by Tracy Dart, to provide relief for the families and others in the landslide disaster in Snohomish County.

We urge everyone here to do what they can to help our neighbors to the north.

UPDATE March 28
Here's an updated list of participants and events for WS4OSO, the benefit effort to provide relief for the OSO slide victims.

• Carmilia's
• West 5
• Beveridge Place Pub
• Shadowland
• Cherry Consignment
• Prost
• Meanders
• WS Runner
• Shockwave Tee's
• Lika Love Fashion
• Mind Unwind
• Tully's
• Capers
• Angelina's
• Christos on Alki
• Clementine
• The Bridge
• Firefly
• Hotwire Coffee
• Fashion Bar
• Hands to Paws Massage
• Pet Elements
• Click
• Corner Pocket
• Menashe & Sons Jewelers
• Forsythe Studio
• West Seattle Bowl
• Talaricos