March 2015

The First Annual Global Issues Network Conference is set for March 6-7 at Chief Sealth International High School.

Bringing together students from grades 6 through 12 they will participate in workshops that focus on 20 global issues.

High Noon: Twenty Global Problems, Twenty Years to Solve Them is a book describing imminent issues such as water shortages, climate change, infectious diseases, poverty, and illiteracy, that can only be solved through global cooperation.

Sharing our Humanity

• Massive step-up in the fight against poverty
• Peacekeeping, conflict prevention, combating terrorism
• Education for all
• Global infectious diseases
• Digital divide
• Natural disaster prevention and mitigation

Sharing our Planet

• Global Warming
• Biodiversity and ecosystem losses
• Fisheries depletion
• Deforestation
• Water deficits
• Maritime safety and pollution


Sharing our Rule Book

Northwestern Mutual, through its foundation, is awarding the Swedish Medical Center Foundation a $15,000 grant. The contribution honors Mercer Smith, a recipient of the company’s Community Service Award. For the past 21 years, Northwestern Mutual has recognized financial professionals who have made significant volunteer contributions in their communities. Smith is an associate wealth management advisor at Northwestern Mutual-Puget Sound, Washington.

Smith will present the grant March 9 at the annual Seattle Brain Cancer Walk Kickoff at the Swedish Medical Cherry Hill Campus. Since 2010, Smith has been assisting with the walk and has managed all volunteers and participants. The grant will support research into the development of personalized medicine therapy for individuals with malignant brain tumors at the Ben and Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment.

Information from WestSide Baby

WestSide Baby welcomed a sold-out crowd of more than 600 supporters to its 14th-Annual Benefit Tea at the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center March 1, raising more than $315,000. The funds will play a crucial role in helping WestSide Baby provide essentials to more than 27,000 children in need across King County this year.

The 2015 Tea highlighted the need that is often hidden from sight in our community, as struggling families often try to conceal their challenges. The event was also a celebration of WestSide Baby’s merger with St. Joseph’s Baby Corner in 2014, which resulted in a drastic increase in service to children living in poverty in the central Seattle area. WestSide Baby continues the work of the Baby Corner – which had been based in Capitol Hill – at its Central Branch at 23rd and Jackson in the Central District.

By Georgie Bright Kunkel

What a world! A world of human beings alongside the other creatures in the animal kingdom. The so-called lower animals have become owned or managed by humans for the most part. City life has restricted the space allowed to pets that often have to reside in a small apartment or home when in years past they could roam the whole farmyard. And the role of dogs, for example, has changed from hunting or protecting one’s property to just being a precious pet.

By Peggy Sturdivant

Last weekend I attended six wakes and one requiem. The requiem, composed to put to rest the soul of an 18th century enslaved African, and performed by a 40 piece orchestra and 100 voice chorus, was the more uplifting. The six wakes, or “The Wake for Fremont’s Affordable Rental Houses,” organized by the Fremont Historical Society, did not carry a similar sense of redemption.

The 3600 block of Linden Avenue is just north of the Fremont Baptist Church, two blocks west of the troll and a few blocks north of a surviving Carnegie Library in Seattle. Six houses are slated for demolition on the block. All the houses were built before 1930, and most recently were rental homes. Barring a miracle they will soon join others recently demolished.

Come enjoy an evening of great music, dancing and a gourmet dinner at the West Seattle High School Big Band Dinner Dance, Friday Mar 13 from 6-9pm, held at West Seattle High School.

Fabulous big band music from the West Seattle High School Jazz Ensemble and the West Seattle Big Band. Dinner prepared by students in West Seattle High School’s amazing Culinary Arts Program!

Dinner served 6-7, Swing Dancing Music from 7-9. Swing dance instruction, door prizes, beverages, dinner & desserts all included!

Tickets purchased in advance are $15 each, or $17 at the door. Special deal for students only - $8 ticket purchased at the door for dancing only.

Tickets can be purchased online at http://wshsptsa.org/events/big-band-dance
This event is a fundraiser and West Seattle High School band, orchestra and jazz band students are raising money to pay for their performance and competition trips this spring.
For more info - please email WestSeattleHSMusic@gmail.com

By: Tim Clinton

BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- Forward Kiana Gandy (So., Des Moines/Mount Rainier) came off the bench to score a career-high 19 points, helping Western Washington University defeat Simon Fraser University, 72-65, on Saturday, Feb. 28, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women’s basketball contest at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the WWU campus.

The game was regionally televised on ROOT Sports.

Taylor Peacocke (So., Kenmore/Inglemoor) added 12 points for the Vikings, who completed their regular season 19-8 overall and third in the GNAC at 13-5. WWU was 11-3 at Carver Gym this season
Erin Chambers had 25 of her-game high 28 points in the second half for Simon Fraser, which fell to 14-12 overall and placed fourth in the GNAC at 10-8. It was the sixth loss in the last 10 games for the Clan.

WWU faces No.6 seed Central Washington in the opening round of the GNAC Tournament at Billings, Mont., on Wednesday. SFU meets No.5 Saint Martin’s in the other first-round matchup.
WWU has won the last two GNAC tournaments.

By Ed Shepherd
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

MOUNT VERNON--Who cares?

That's a theme that's gone on all season for the Kennedy Catholic boys basketball team when it comes to scoring points. It's been not about one, but, about all.

And that kind of shared success embodied the Lancers' rousing, fan-supported, come-from-behind, 68-47, win over the Stanwood Spartans in a Hardwood Classic Regional Round, loser-out, winner to state game, at Mount Vernon High School Saturday.

"It was a team effort," said Lancers coach, Don Hoffman, whose team moves into the state tournament quite strong, having won 15 of its last 16 games, with the only loss to Foss, by four points, 64-60, who, incidentally, just lost by four points to Seattle Times coaches poll No. 2 ranked Bellevue by five points, 67-62, in its regional game played over the weekend. The Lancers ended this season without rank in the Times poll, to note.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

State tournament draws including four area basketball teams were made at the office of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association office Sunday.

The West Seattle High School girls team drew a 2 p.m. date with Lynnwood for its Class 3A tournament opener Thursday.

The tournament runs through Saturday at the Tacoma Dome, as does the 3A boys tournament that includes Kennedy Catholic of Burien.

The Lancers drew perennial state power Garfield for a 5:30 p.m. opener Thursday.

One quarter of the boys Class 1B tournament field at the Spokane Arena is from the area as well.
Seattle Lutheran of West Seattle opens with a 3:45 p.m. game against Cusick and Shorewood Christian of White Center drew Curlew for a 9 p.m. game.

The eight-team 1B tournament also runs through Saturday.

All of the openers are state quarterfinals.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

High schools

Girls basketball
West Seattle opens state Class 3A tournament play in the Tacoma Dome at 2 p.m. Thursday against Lynnwood.
The eight-team tournament will run through Saturday.

Boys basketball
Kennedy Catholic of Burien is playing on the boys side at the Tacoma Dome starting Thursday, taking on Garfield in a 5:30 p.m. Class 3A game.
Two area teams are participating in the boys Class 1B tournament at the Spokane Arena.
Seattle Lutheran battles Cusick in 3:45 p.m. action Thursday and Shorewood Christian opens with Curlew at 9 p.m.
Seattle Lutheran is from West Seattle and Shorewood Christian from White Center.

Spring sports

Spring sports practices got underway Monday and action does not begin until 10 practices are reached at the end of next week.

Pro and college

Pac-12 women
Four area graduates are participating in the Pac-12 women's basketball tournament being held at Seattle's KeyArena Thursday through Sunday.