December 2016

information from SWSHS

Seattle Illuminated (Published by David Barnes, 2016) is the focus of January's "Words, Writers and West Seattle presentation Jan. 6. The book reflects the author's many years of living in Seattle and the huge number of things the city has to offer, photographed in a different way.

Over two hundred pictures feature the diversity of places to go, the beautiful views, the profusion of parks, the bridges, and waterways with boats and ships of all sorts and sizes, and the numerous neighborhoods. Several spectacular and quirky festivals are represented, plus much of the associated art.

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society sponsors this free book-talk series on the 'First Friday' of each month. Barnes' presentation will take place at 5 p.m., on Friday, January 6, 2017, at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village.

As shoppers scurried to handle last minute buying or preparations for Christmas activities the National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory which means snow for our area on Friday afternoon extending through the evening into early Saturday, Christmas Eve. They are urging people with early activities on Saturday to use extra care while driving.

Here's the NWS post:

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 3 AM PST SATURDAY...

* TIMING...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

* SNOW LEVEL...FALLING TO NEAR 500 FEET THIS AFTERNOON...THEN 200 FEET THIS EVENING. RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW ON HILLS AND OVER ELEVATED TERRAIN THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS THE SNOW LEVEL DROPS.

* MAIN IMPACT...UP TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED...ESPECIALLY ABOVE 200 FEET ELEVATION. LOCATIONS NEAR SEA LEVEL...SUCH AS NEAR THE SHORES OF PUGET SOUND...WILL GET LITTLE IF ANY ACCUMULATION.

* OTHER IMPACTS...TRAVEL ON SNOW COVERED ROADS WILL BE CHALLENGING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MELBA JEAN TAYLOR McCONNAUGHEY
1932 - 2016
 
From as early an age as she could remember, Melba Jean McConnaughey wanted to be a classroom teacher.  And although she retired after nearly 40 years as a high school teacher of English in Arkansas, Texas and Washington, she continued to be an educator, counselor and friend to everyone she met.  She has really touched the future.
 
She passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, December 15, 2016 at the side of her husband, lover, best friend and life partner - Don McConnaughey.
 
She was born in Mount Ida, Arkansas on September 12, 1932 to the Reverend E.W. Taylor and his wife - Dezzie Eurcel Montgomery.  She was the oldest child and began managing her family’s household with the help of her mom.  There was never any doubt she was in charge.  It was that spirit to be a dynamic influence in the lives of thousands of teenaged students that drove her to successfully mentor kids in how to read, speak, write and demonstrate critical thinking, civility and with fairness for all.  She was famous for challenging intellectual students to not go along with the crowd and by becoming a non-conformist.
 

A Land Use Application has been filed with the Seattle Department of Planning and Development to allow a six-story structure containing 71 residential units at 3039 Avalon Way SW. Parking for 20 vehicles would be provided below grade. The existing structure will be demolished. The owners are Ken Knight 4202 SW Holly ST LLC, 4170 Sunnybank Ct, Chelan, WA 98816 and Matt Orr, Union Street Investments 1326 Fifth Ave., Suite 438 SEATTLE, WA 98101.
It is DPD project number 3022717.

A meeting to review the project is set for Jan. 5, 8pm at the West Seattle Senior Center.

MEETING

Date: Thursday, January 5, 2017

Time: 8:00 p.m.

Location: West Seattle Senior Center
4217 SW Oregon Street
Room: Hatten Hall

All meeting facilities are ADA compliant. Translators or interpreters provided upon request. Please contact the Public Resource Center at prc@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8467 at least five business days prior to the meeting to request this service.

OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT

information from King County

King County’s contractor recently completed major roadway and sidewalk restoration on streets surrounding the project site. Before the end of the year, the contractor will paint new roadway lines and install roadway signs.

Landscaping on site continues as crews prepare to begin restoration in Lowman Beach Park. Before planting grass in the park, the contractor will prepare the soil by grading, turning over the subsoil, and adding new topsoil. A fence will remain in place around the park until the new grass is well established.

Schedule update
No work is scheduled for Dec. 24 – 26 or Dec. 31 – Jan. 2. While work will continue into 2017, you can expect to see smaller crews and fewer pieces of equipment on site.

What to expect in 2017:
• Work to occur on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and occasional Saturday work from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Smaller crews and fewer pieces of equipment on site and in Lowman Beach Park
• Streets near the site open and accessible
• Periodic sidewalk closures while landscaping work is underway

By Lindsay Peyton

A barge parked on the Lower Duwamish Waterway on Tuesday morning, Dec. 20, was on a special mission.

On board, an employee of environmental engineering firm Dalton, Olmsted & Fuglevand, scooped up buckets of sediment mixed with activated carbon and carefully deposited the mixture in strategically mapped spots on a chart of the waterway.

The effort marked the first step of an innovative pilot study – designed and funded by the Lower Duwamish Working Group, a collaborative effort between King County, the City of Seattle, the Port of Seattle and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Jennifer Kauffman, project manager for King County, explained that the activated carbon is meant to accelerate nature’s clean-up process.

The Lower Duwamish Working Group will run a side-by-side comparison of the effort with a control plot without activated carbon to test the material’s effectiveness.

“After three years of data collecting, we’ll be able to tell how good the technology is,” Kauffman said. “Activated carbon is used all over the U.S. and Europe, but the Duwamish is different. It’s a river, and it’s affected by tidal currents.”

Kris Kringle. Saint Nicholas. Sinterklaas. Grandfather Frost. Father Christmas. All the names for Santa Claus from around the world are synonymous with holiday cheer and good will. But without the help of Santa’s helpers how would this good will be shared? In Ballard, one of Santa’s helpers has been bringing smiles and wonder to the well-behaved children – and sometimes adults – for nearly a decade.

Jerry Nebel, or in most circles this time of year, Santa Claus, looks like the real deal with a full white beard, rosy cheeks, twinkling eyes and a jovial laugh. And to many children all over Seattle he is the real deal – even down to his white beard. And if you didn’t know he’s a longtime resident of Ballard, you would too.

Olympia – Washington State Patrol (WSP) Troopers and other law enforcement agencies will conduct extra DUI patrols across the state this holiday season, from December 15 to January 1. The extra patrols will target impaired drivers that are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Every December in our state, at least 40 people die in traffic crashes.

There is an increase in the number of fatal crashes involving drivers under the influence. The greatest increase involves drivers with a combination of alcohol and drugs or a combination of drugs. This number went from 78 fatalities in 2011 to 146 fatalities in 2015. That’s an increase of 68 fatalities in five years.

The Washington State Patrol continues to strive to reach our Target Zero goal of zero traffic fatalities or serious injury collisions by the year 2030. Help us reach our Target Zero goal and give the gift of life this holiday season. Buzzed, high, or drunk, if you’re impaired you’re under arrest. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission funds these patrols to increase everyone’s safety on our roads.

To schedule a ride along please contact your local PIO.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Saturday, Dec. 17

Boys basketball
Seattle Christian 75, Lynden Christian 66
The Warriors were winners in non-league action Saturday against Lynden Christian.
Seattle Lutheran 58, Neah Bay 52
Seattle Lutheran came away from Neah Bay with a victory Saturday.

Girls basketball
Seattle Christian 76, Lindbergh 40
Seattle Christian scored a decisive victory in Saturday's game.

Friday, Dec. 16

Boys basketball
West Seattle 65, Blanchet 33
West Seattle was a big winner in Friday Metro League action.
O'Dea 85, Chief Sealth 79
The Seahawks lost a close one to the Irish on Friday.
Foss 83, Foster 18
Foster was flattened by the Foss Falcons Friday.
Mt. Rainier 70, Hazen 39
The Rams rallied for a North Puget Sound League win Friday.
Lindbergh 83, Evergreen 77
Evergreen suffered a close South Puget Sound League loss in Friday action.
Highline 62, River Ridge 61
The Pirates slipped by River Ridge in SPSL action.
Steilacoom 68, Tyee 53

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

High schools

Boys basketball
West Seattle meets Kentwood for a 7 p.m. game at the Showare Center in Kent this Thursday before travelling to Mountlake Terrace for a tournament starting Tuesday.
Evergreen goes to Franklin for a tournament that also starts Tuesday and Chief Sealth takes part in the Bothell Holiday Tournament starting with a 10:30 a.m. game against Bella Vista, Calif. that day.
Mount Rainier pays a 5:15 p.m. visit to Highline on Thursday and drops in on Auburn at 7 p.m. Friday.
Kennedy Catholic then hosts its Sterling Shootout Tournament beginning with games Monday and Tuesday and also involving Seattle Christian.
Tyee, meanwhile, goes to Lindbergh for a 7 p.m. game Thursday and Foster visits Cedar Park Christian at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Bothell.

Girls basketball
Chief Sealth visits Interlake at 3 p.m. Wednesday and Kennedy Catholic plays host to Holy Names at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the girls portion of the Sterling Shootout Tournament after visiting Auburn Mountainview at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday.