West Seattle, Washington
16 Friday
(Photo courtesy DeAndre Coulter, at center, with Mayor Ed Murray at left, Chief Kathleen O’Toole at right)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“I can’t describe how excited I am!”
That’s what DeAndre Coulter, a University of Washington student who graduated from West Seattle High School in 2012, said today when we talked with him about his impending trip to The White House, where he’ll be during President Obama‘s final State of the Union address on Tuesday.
We found out about Coulter’s trip when Seattle Police announced this afternoon that Chief Kathleen O’Toole had been invited to D.C. to join First Lady Michelle Obama for the speech, and that Coulter would accompany the chief to the capital:
… At the invitation of Mayor Murray, DeAndre Coulter, a Mayor’s Youth Employment Initiative Intern who participated in the Summer of Safety, the city’s coordinated approach to public safety providing jobs for youth and young adults, will accompany Chief O’Toole to Washington, D.C.
Coulter told us he has had the internship since last summer, working primarily on communications initiatives via the city Office of Economic Development and Office of Film and Music. His career aspirations include public relations and marketing. He’s also been working on some of that already for a family business – we had heard from him recently when he sent information about his mom Tara Scott‘s new restaurant in White Center, Taradise Café.
His trip to D.C. will be brief – leaving Monday morning, returning Wednesday. A special reception is part of the schedule. Coulter is quoted in the Seattle Police announcement as saying he hopes that his achievements will inspire other young people, including his siblings. He told us that he has two younger brothers, 12 and 15 years old, one of whom is a student at Denny International Middle School.
For anyone else considering an internship, he enthuses, “I say, go for it! This has brought me so many great connections and so many work experiences – apply to as many (internships) as you can. (Last summer) when I got this, I had no idea what great experiences I would have … more than I could have imagined.”
And as for the trip to D.C., he adds, “I’m super-excited and super-honored that the mayor suggested me.”
The State of the Union speech will be at 6 pm our time Tuesday (January 12th).
Another election is now less than a month away: The February 9 vote for two Seattle Public Schools levies. Proposition 1, the Operations Levy, would bring in more than three-quarters of a billion dollars over three years; you can read the details here. Proposition 2 is the six-year Buildings, Technology and Academics Capital Levy (BTA), raising more than $475 million for projects in the district including these in West Seattle, as we reported in November:
*$6.7 million for EC Hughes upgrades to enable it to reopen as a 550-student elementary school (to which, the district has said, it will move the Roxhill Elementary program)
*5.4 million for Gatewood Elementary, most of that for HVAC, also some $ for cladding work
*1.8 million for athletic-field lights at Southwest Athletic Complex (ID’d in the documents as Chief Sealth IHS, which is across the street)
*$1.5 million for the roof at West Seattle HS
*94,000 for doors at Sanislo Elementary
Both are replacements for expiring levies, though at higher sums. If you’re not registered to vote, tomorrow’s the deadline to register online, with a later deadline for signing up in person – details on the King County Elections website. Ballots will go in the mail January 20th.
From Hilary:
Last night someone busted our car window in. It was parked in our driveway in the alley behind Graham St., nearest cross-street 30th Ave SW. The alarm never went off, strangely. We will look at camera footage tonight. Unclear if anything of value was stolen from it yet. High Point people, be vigilant!
P.S. We checked in recently with West Seattle Crime Prevention Council president Richard Miller, who confirmed the group WILL resume meetings this month – your chance to, among other things, hear from and ask questions of local police. 7 pm Tuesday, January 19th, at the precinct (Delridge/Webster).
Tuesday night, the Admiral Neighborhood Association meets for the first time this year – and it’s a big one, as ANA president David Whiting reminded the ANA mailing list in his announcement: “Your attendance would be really helpful as we need to accept nominations and elect new officers for ANA and a voting quorum is required. We certainly welcome anyone to step forward to be nominated as president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer.” The organization’s bylaws limit terms, and so Whiting and the others currently on ANA’s executive committee must step aside for new leadership. Here’s more information about what it entails; here’s more information about the group’s 2015 accomplishments; and here’s the full preview of Tuesday’s meeting (7 pm, The Sanctuary at Admiral, 42nd SW and SW Lander), also including an update on what’s next for the former site of interim Fire Station 29.
OUR CALENDAR SPONSOR IS MEEPLES GAMES:
Seahawks-watching is no doubt the top event of the day, and if you’re not watching at home, you’re no doubt ensconced in your favorite place by now. But it’s not the only thing on the agenda:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, see what’s fresh. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
‘GAINS FOR GOOD’ TO SUPPORT THE SMERSHES: 10 am-4:30 pm competition at CrossFit LOFT in The Junction, benefiting the fund for John and Frances Smersh dealing with her recent diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s. The Gains for Good website explains, and includes various ways to help. (4142 California SW)
‘CELEBRATION OF WOMEN COMPOSERS’: At 3 pm, that’s the theme for the Ladies Musical Club concert at the West Seattle (Admiral) Library. Instrumental and vocal performances of work by Viardot, Bonis, Chaminade, Kinkel, Lang, Tailleferre, Beach, Mari. Admission’s free but space is limited so, be early to be sure you get a seat! (2306 42nd SW)
ALLISON PREISINGER, LIVE: 3 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor):
Allison Preisinger; a local singer-songwriter that performs folk pop/rock. Northwest musicians and fans have described Seattle singer-songwriter Allison Preisinger’s music as raw and honest. Her writing and performances provide a combination of the sincerity of an unplugged Eric Clapton with the melodic poetry of a solo Joni Mitchell.
(5612 California SW)
TROY NELSON AT SHADOWLAND: DJ Troy Nelson is at Shadowland in The Junction 9-11:30 pm Sundays. (4458 California SW)
ROAD CLOSURE ON PIGEON POINT SUNDAY NIGHT: Reminder that work is scheduled ~6 pm tonight to ~5 am tomorrow along 22nd SW in Pigeon Point, repairing the sewer line north and south of Andover. Not only will 22nd SW be closed for the work, so will the 22nd/Andover intersection, says Seattle Public Utilities. If the work isn’t done by 5 am, a second closure will be necessary Monday night. Look for the detour signs along Delridge and Andover; people who live off Andover east of 22nd will need to access their homes via SW Oregon, per SPU.
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