January 2015

When Joey Sposari's in-laws began to suffer the effects of aging, he learned firsthand how important it is to have family close enough to help. But as with millions of families across the nation whose parents wish to age-in-place, in the comfort of their own homes, he soon found the burden of caregiving to be time consuming and financially draining on the adult children. He discovered that the family caregivers needed help. In-home caregivers hired from outside the home that are trusted to take care of his family’s parents were needed. But who to trust? There had to be a solution. After all, not everyone wants to go to a nursing home.

The annual one night count was conducted in the early morning hours on Jan. 23. King County officials and volunteers counted the individuals exposed to the elements and sleeping on the streets on a single night in King County.

The annual count is organized by the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness. The count is a figure to help determine the prevalence in King County.

That night the count revealed 3,772 people had no shelter in King County. Last year there were 3,123 people without shelter making this year a 21 percent gain. From those numbers, 2,813 individuals were unsheltered in Seattle.

State lawmakers will have a chance to address land use notification this legislative session, answering what many neighborhoods have been calling a major problem with development.

Citizens have all seen those big land use signs in front of construction sites; House Bill 1084 would require something like that for nearly all development projects. Rep. Gerry Pollet (D-Seattle) and other legislators are introducing the bill.

The Ballard News-Tribune has covered its share of stories surrounding development. A running vein in many of those stories has been the lack of notification to neighbors from the Department of Planning and Development before a project starts. In many stories neighbors report not even knowing about the project until a construction crew is well underway in making a structure that one day looms over neighboring homes – too late for anyone to have a say. In one case a family lost more than a view; they could reach out their kitchen window and touch the neighboring row house.

To all artists, designers and readers alike bring your ideas for a button design to be featured in the 2015 Hi-Yu Festival to the Hi-Yu meeting at the Admiral Congregational Church at 4320 S.W. Hill St. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. on Feb.2.
The theme this year is “Sound Respect”, with a focus on the history and individuality of the Puget Sound. A float designed around this theme for this year's festival features ferry boats, orca whales, salmon, streams, the Olympic Mountains, and numerous other iconography only found in this region.
The design should be drawn and colored within a button sized circle (2” across the center of a round button). A graphic designer will make the necessary adjustments to the selected design before printing.
The Hi-Yu festival is an annual event held in the West Seattle area throughout July. There are dozens of events kicking off with the Seattle Seafair Pirates landing on Alki Beach and culminating with the Seafair Torchlight Parade. In Chinook the term Hi-Yu means “much, plenty, abundance” and the festival has been a West Seattle staple since 1934.

The City of Seattle invites community organizations and nonprofits to apply for nearly $500,000 in funding to increase digital equity. The Technology Matching Fund awards are matched by the community's contribution of volunteer labor, materials, professional services or funding.

“As a city, Seattle is known for technology and innovation, yet too many residents do not have sufficient internet access or the skills necessary to participate fully in today’s economy,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “This funding leverages the resources of the community by matching time and funding.”

The Technology Matching Fund has been in existence since 1997 and this year the City has $470,000 available for matching awards of up to $30,000 each to community groups and nonprofits. The deadline to apply is March 19, 2015.

The funding will be awarded in July to organizations who will improve digital equity by connecting traditionally-underserved populations, empower residents with digital literacy skills, and encourage diverse communities to use technology for civic participation.

Application materials and more information are available at www.seattle.gov/tech/tmf/.

Thief makes off with electronics and jewelry

Jan. 16, Seattle police officers responded to a burglary at an apartment on the 6100 block of 8th Avenue Northwest. The complainant told officers that he returned from work to find his apartment in disarray. The back window on the ground floor was shattered and the front door was split open. Police believe the door was kicked in. The burglar took electronics including a Kindle Fire HD, Kindle, Microsoft Surface and a Samsung smart phone. The thief also took over $700 in jewelry and $100 in cash. Officers dusted for latent fingerprints but found none.

Victim becomes suspect in assault case

As part of his tour through the Pacific Northwest, Washington native Dr. George Baxter-Holder—author of Drugs, Food, Sex and God, will be hosting a morning of open discussion and book signings.  The event will take place at the Genesis Global Spiritual Center, 233 South 156th Street, Burien on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, from 10:00am to 12:30pm.

Drugs, Food, Sex and God is a personal memoir that reveals a man’s climb out of a life of freefall. Struggling for years with addictions to drugs, sex and overeating, Dr. George’s journey has become a memoir that endows readers with a sense that no matter how far you feel your life spiraling out of control—it can be reclaimed.  
 

BY GERARDO BOLONG
Contributing Writer

Three was the most comfortable number for Seattle Christian in its comeback Nisqually 1A boys basketball win against Bellevue Christian on Fri., Jan. 23.

The trio of Bryan Botka, Taggart Anderson and Tyler Fox combined for 46 points while Anderson and Fox stockpiled 3-point goals in a fourth quarter barrage that took the wind out of the Viking sails, 53-47.
Since victories have been tough to come by this season, Seattle Christian head coach Shaun DeYager was especially gratified by the effort and result.

"When went into the locker room at halftime, I told the team to just keep doing what they knew. We were getting the right shot, but they were flat and rimming off. In the second half, we just shot better with more arc. Taggart and Tyler were just amazing in the fourth quarter while Bryan played real big on a double-double. It was a career game for him. Also, in the fourth quarter, we had the intensity and fought harder off the boards. The defense did a better job of slowing down Lampkin inside."

Saturday, Jan. 24

Boys basketball
Federal Way 78, Mt. Rainier 56
Federal Way flew past the Rams in a South Puget Sound League Northwest Division game Saturday.

Girls basketball
Federal Way 40, Mt. Rainier 28
The Eagles also defeated the Lady Rams in an SPSL Northwest game this past Saturday.

Friday, Jan. 23

Gymnastics
Chief Sealth
The Seahawks were edged by the narrowest of margins on Friday, falling to Nathan Hale by a 124.7-124.1 score.

Abby Gluckman of Chief Sealth did win the individual all-around title, however, by posting a 31.5 score.
Gluckman won the bars with a 6.5, the beam with an 8.6 and the floor with an 8.5. She was second in the vault with a 7.9.

Boys basketball
Kennedy 76, Lindbergh 63
The Lancers remain unbeaten atop the Seamount League standings with Friday's victory.
Renton 59, Tyee 49
Tyee took a loss against the Indians on Friday.
Hazen 76, Highline 46
The Highlanders of Hazen hammered Highline on Friday.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

A throng of well wishers showed up in SeaTac bright and early at 9 a.m. Sunday morning to send the Seattle Seahawks on their way to the Super Bowl, lining up on So. 188th Street as far as the eye can see.

They waved banners and flags and flashed signs while yelling at the top of their lungs as the team busses rolled by.

Most were dressed in jerseys, T-shirts and hats and some even fixed up their faces for the event, including one fan who coated their face with skittles in honor of Seattle star running back Marshawn Lynch and his favortie snack.

The National Football Conference champion Seahawks will be playing the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots in the big game with a 3:30 p.m. kickoff this coming Sunday, Feb. 1 in Glendale, Ariz.

Seattle earned its way by virtue of its stunning 28-22 comeback win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Jan. 18.

The Seahawks and Patriots received a two-week break to prepare for the Super Bowl and to take part in festivities in the Phoenix area this week.