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West Seattle High School Awards Night: And the winners are …
June 3, 2009 4:12 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Tuesday night was the time to shine for students in the West Seattle High School Class of 2009 – before their graduation a week from tomorrow.

Recognition and awards were given to dozens of students who excelled in academics, athletics, arts or have contributed in many ways to the high school community.

The ceremony was held in the WSHS Theater. Here are just some of the many highlights of the evening:

The big winners of the night were Sumeet Chadha and Maggie Oliver, each collecting multiple awards throughout the night. Sumeet was honored for his community service, school spirit and academics. He was one of the winners of the Gates Millennium full-ride college scholarships. Kaileah Baldwin was the other Gates scholarship winner. Maggie Oliver was honored as the World Languages student. She shared the prestigious Willard Shield – bestowed by the class in recognition of the highest standards of excellence – with Sumeet.

The “Service Above Self” award, which was given for the first time in 10 years, went to Jake Miller and Ross Monroe for numerous class contributions, including design and development of the new West Seattle High School website.

Brittney Dawson, Alex Ormsby and Sumeet Chadha were all recipients of the “Coke Roberts” award for leadership.

Teachers and advisors gave often effusive speeches recognizing outstanding students in their departments, including math-whiz Michelle Nguyen, Jordan Sewell for musical accomplishment, Liam Reed, Chris Morson and Karen Dean for drama, Marcus Hamlin for physical education — not only for his athletic accomplishment, but also for motivating others.

Technology kudos went to Trevor Lloyd, and to Victoria Kelly for family and consumer sciences.

Brittany Dawson was honored for achievement in business and marketing. Brittany took the lead in reopening the school store, which had been closed for several years.

Fashion designer Ellen Jensen and ceramic artist Jensen Perdue were honored for excelling in fine arts.

“Jensen has done things in ceramics that I have never seen before, large, elegant and complex,” said fine arts teacher Mike Gervais.

Brenden Peterson and Zak Hale were among the students recognized for academic achievement and other contributions. Brenden and Peterson have been friends since first grade and started their school careers at Schmitz Park Elementary.

Also: Here’s the list of students receiving scholarships; here’s the list of National Honor Society seniors.
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Editor’s note: Kathy Mulady is not only a veteran Seattle journalist, she also is proud mom to “Service Above Self” award winner Jake Miller.

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Seattle teacher layoffs: Protest preceding board meeting tomorrow
June 2, 2009 9:16 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

More than 170 teachers in West Seattle and the rest of the district have been told their jobs will be cut after this school year ends. Tomorrow night, community members concerned about the teacher layoffs plan to rally before the school board’s scheduled 6 pm meeting at district HQ in Sodo (agenda here). We received a West Seattle-specific note about it today – read on:Read More

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Cooper Elementary supporters not giving up without a fight
June 1, 2009 7:17 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Pigeon Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle school closure | West Seattle schools

Court fight, in this case. At Delridge Day this past Saturday, our spot in the Youngstown Arts Center parking lot was a few tables over from the booth you see in the photo above – with the “Save Cooper” theme. You might wonder, as we did, what’s the “Save Cooper” theme now, since the Seattle School Board vote to close the Cooper Elementary School “program” and move Pathfinder K-8 into the Cooper building in Pigeon Point happened four months ago, and a Cooper closure event is scheduled for this Sunday. Turns out, they were raising money for a legal challenge that continues, with a potentially pivotal hearing scheduled next week, headed by Cooper parent and PTA member Joy Anderson, aided by longtime school-closure opponent Chris Jackins. We spoke with both Anderson and Jackins at the event; read on to see what the Cooper challenge is about, and what happens next:Read More

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Holy Rosary makes history: First “Green School” in Seattle
June 1, 2009 1:14 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Just received word from parent volunteer chair Nancy Stillger that West Seattle’s Holy Rosary School has been certified as the first Washington State Green School in Seattle. “Our volunteer-led Green Team has implemented food composting, installed ‘No-Idle’ signs, participated in Bike-to-School Month, started seedlings for food banks through Lettuce Link, conducted an Earth Day poetry contest, and in general promoted awareness of taking care of our Earth,” she explains. The certification will be celebrated with a ceremony later this week.

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Denny Middle School musicians score big at festival
June 1, 2009 8:13 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

That video’s from the Denny Middle School Jazz Dinner fundraiser two months ago, as the school’s Jazz Ensemble performed. We’re rerunning it this morning because Denny principal Jeff Clark just forwarded an announcement by music director Marcus Pimpleton of the school’s success at the competition its musicians are just back from:

Congratulations to the Denny Music Department on a successful trip to the Music in the Parks Festival in Coeur D’Alene.

The Denny Middle School Jazz Ensemble and the Denny Middle School String Orchestra topped the middle school category earning Best Overall Jazz Ensemble and Best Overall Middle School Orchestra.

In the Single A Division, Denny Middle School also won:

1st Place Percussion Ensemble – The Denny Steel Drum Ensemble – Superior Rating
1st Place Jazz Ensemble – Superior Rating
1st Place String Orchestra – Superior Rating
1st Place Marching Band – Excellent Rating
3rd Place Concert Band – Excellent Rating

Congratulations to all the students that participated.

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Summer science score: UW robotics trailblazer, Gatewood girls
May 29, 2009 4:32 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Gatewood | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Editor’s note: Back in February, we took that photo when the Robotics Team from Gatewood Elementary visited Yoky Matsuoka, director of the Neurobotics program at the University of Washington. Now, two members of the team will get to work more closely with Matsuoka and her colleagues – here’s the story:

By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Chatting with Sophia Gut (left) and Emma Atkinson about bio-robotics and ultra-sonic sensors, it is easy to forget that the two Gatewood Elementary School students are just 10 years old.

The girls share a passion for building robots.

Both have been invited to spend a week this summer at the University of Washington laboratory of Yoky Matsuoka, an associate professor of neurobotics who is developing a lifelike robotic arm connected to the human brain.

Read More

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Happening today/tonight: They throw, you (get ready to) run
May 29, 2009 6:03 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

The lion’s share of tonight’s activities – plus Saturday and Sunday – will be in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup later this morning. But we wanted to mention a few things early on: First, two local high-school softball teams are in state tournament play starting today – Seattle Lutheran High School vs. La Salle in Yakima, West Seattle High School vs. Columbia River in Tacoma. (See coach Carrie Burr‘s extensive report in the WSB Forums.) Second, it’s the last day for online registration for Sunday’s West Seattle 5K (WSB sponsor), which kicks off “Celebrate Summer Streets” on Alki (aka “car-free day”) on Sunday – you can sign up online till 6 tonight, or register in person Saturday or Sunday – full details on both options here. 1:09 PM UPDATE: West Seattle lost to Columbia River this morning, 4-2, but is playing Sedro-Woolley right now (1 pm start). 7:07 PM UPDATE: As rockergirl points out in comments, SLHS won the first game, and is playing a second game right now. WSHS lost its second game.

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New look for West Seattle HS website – student-designed!
May 28, 2009 7:23 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online | West Seattle schools

Congratulations to Jacob Miller and Ross Monroe, from the West Seattle High School Class of ’09 and Damp Flame Design: Their redesign of the WSHS website has just gone live tonight — follow the link here to see it. Damp Flame has been in business since 2005, with other projects including redesigning the Husky Deli website. If you want to compare the new WSHS site with the old one, there’s a screengrab on the “About This Site” page on the new site, where you can read more about the project. Side note, Jacob is the son of veteran Seattle journalist Kathy Mulady, who has been reporting recently for WSB as well as for the Seattle PostGlobe.

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And another big wine tasting at SSCC, even sooner!
May 28, 2009 3:26 pm
|    Comments Off on And another big wine tasting at SSCC, even sooner!
 |   Puget Ridge | West Seattle schools | WS beverages

Thanks to Cathy for pointing out in comments on this story that South Seattle Community College has a wine-tasting event even sooner than the July event mentioned earlier – this one features the latest release of their own acclaimed wines – June 12-13. Here’s the full announcement:Read More

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Today/tonight: Politics, education, entertainment, crime-fighting
May 28, 2009 6:07 am
|    Comments Off on Today/tonight: Politics, education, entertainment, crime-fighting
 |   Crime | West Seattle politics | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

POLITICS: Before summer revs to fever pitch, time to keep examining your options in this year’s crowded elections. Next chance: 11:30 am today, West Seattle Democratic Women‘s monthly luncheon, West Seattle Golf Course, with a candidates’ forum on the program. RSVP for lunch by 10 am – contact info and more details here.

EDUCATION: College Night tonight at West Seattle’s higher-education institution, South Seattle Community College. Find out more about what SSCC has to offer, 5-7:30 pm in Brockey Center; more details here.

ENTERTAINMENT: Semi-finals of Alki Idol, Bamboo Bar and Grill, 9:30 pm.

CRIME-FIGHTING: South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition meets 6 pm, St. James Place, 9421 18th SW (map).

ONE MORE CRIME-FIGHTING NOTE: If you’re in the Alki area, Ken Allen has set up a Facebook group to convene those concerned about crime. Go here to join “Alki Neighborhood Watch.”

More of today and tonight’s events — and tomorrow, and the days, weeks and months into the future – on the WSB Events calendar.

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Safe Routes to School Month winds up with Sanislo kids’ cleanup
May 27, 2009 2:13 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks to Feet First for sharing photos from this morning’s trash pickup involving Sanislo Elementary School students who gathered at the Southwest Precinct for a special-mission walk to school – part of the Go! Project, a Safe Routes to School Program funded by the state Department of Transportation and facilitated by Feet First. We took you along earlier this month during another special Safe Routes to School event with Sanislo families (here’s our coverage) and they’ve been doing something special every week all month long.

Lisa Quinn from Feet First tells WSB they picked up 20 pounds of trash this morning!

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Seattle Lutheran HS closes for rest of the week; flu precaution
May 27, 2009 12:54 pm
|    Comments Off on Seattle Lutheran HS closes for rest of the week; flu precaution
 |   Swine flu | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks to Andrea and Tamara for the tip, which we subsequently found confirmed on the Seattle Lutheran High School website:

**We are sending the students home immediately. We had a student that roomed with someone that has a confirmed case of the swine flu. The school will be closed the remainder of the week, we will reopen on Monday.***

We are calling the school – if anyone’s in the offices – to find out more. 1:03 PM UPDATE: Just talked with Jenny in the SLHS office. The school was closed Friday anyway, because of the trip to the state softball tournament (as reported here), so in the “better safe than sorry mode,” they decided to just shut down now. Jenny says the “rooming” mentioned in the online announcement was during a trip that student took. And she says that school personnel who aren’t making phone calls right now are busy cleaning, just as a precaution.

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Seattle School Board: Cheryl Chow won’t run again
May 27, 2009 10:13 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

She doesn’t represent the “district” including West Seattle — Steve Sundquist does – but in the general election, all board seats are voted on citywide, so this is notable: Cheryl Chow just announced she’s not running for re-election to the Seattle School Board. (She’s also a former city councilmember.) One candidate who’s already announced for that seat is Charlie Mas, who we know has some West Seattle ties (former Lafayette Elementary parent, for one). He already has the stirrings of a campaign website here.

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West Seattle and Seattle Lutheran softball teams in state tourney
May 25, 2009 7:33 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle and Seattle Lutheran softball teams in state tourney
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

baseballclipart.jpgThanks to Benita for the tip that in turn led us to the news that West Seattle has two softball teams in state tournament play – West Seattle High School and Seattle Lutheran High School. WSHS is in the 3A tournament, starting play Friday vs. Columbia River at SERA Fields in Tacoma (brackets here); SLHS is in the 2B tournament, starting play at 9 am Friday vs. La Salle at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima. Both teams are mentioned in this story posted today on the West Seattle Thunder Fastpitch organization site, noting that 22 current and former WS Thunder players are in state play, representing schools including WSHS and SLHS. Good luck to all – we’ll post updates!

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One week from today: First-ever West Seattle 5K!
May 24, 2009 2:34 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Next Sunday, West Seattle’s major waterfront boulevard closes to traffic from Alki/63rd to Harbor/California Way, 9 am-5 pm for “Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets” — the sequel to last September’s Car-Free Day –and it will literally get off to a running start with the first-ever West Seattle 5K Run/Walk to raise money for local schools. West Seattle 5K is advertising on WSB for one last push to get the word out, and in case you missed the first round of announcements regarding this new event and what it’s about, here’s what it’s all about:

SHOW YOUR WESTSIDE PRIDE!

The West Seattle High School PTSA is proud to present the West Seattle 5K Run/Walk on May 31, 2009. This fun, family-friendly event will raise much needed funds to support the West Seattle High School PTSA and the PTSA’s at some of West Seattle’s other community schools. Help the PTSA at your school provide an important voice to students, parents, and staff, as well as fund important educational initiatives. We can’t do it without YOUR support!

REGISTER NOW!
Gather together your family or a group of friends for a 3.1-mile run or walk along West Seattle’s own Alki Beach. When you’re done, enjoy a car-free day on Alki courtesy of the City of Seattle and Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets.

Register online or by mail. For more information, visit westseattle5k.com/registration. Registration fees are $35 for Adults, $25 for Students, and 6 and under are free.

MAKE A DONATION!
You can make a tax-deductible cash donation online at westseattle5k.com/support. Designate West Seattle High School, Chief Sealth High School, Madison Middle School, or Roxhill Elementary. Any amount helps! If you don’t see your school on this list, we encourage you to make a cash donation directly to your school’s PTSA to help those organizations continue to advocate for the kids at your school.

If you want to register by mail, obviously you’re going to want to send it in fast. Online, the deadline is 6 pm Friday – after that, you can register in person on Saturday or Sunday. The registration page explains how, where and when – as well as, for those who’ve already registered, how to pick up your bib, shirt and timing pin on Saturday. See you at the West Seattle 5K!

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Followup: West Seattle High School marketing students’ projects
May 22, 2009 3:15 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Earlier in the week, we shared West Seattle High School‘s DECA marketing teacher Michelle Sloan‘s request for people to come judge a student competition today – the students, she explained, teamed up to create hotels and market them. One of the community members who answered the call was Highland Park’s Dina Johnson, who shared photos of three of the six displays the judges were asked to score (that’s student Sumeet Chadha in the third photo). Thanks to everyone who helped!

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Hearing, party of one, re: proposed Jefferson Square “air” sale
May 21, 2009 11:25 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

It might have been the beautiful evening weather, or maybe the convoluted topic, but only one person — perennial district-property-sale opponent Chris Jackins — showed up at tonight’s Seattle Public Schools public hearing at Gatewood Elementary School to take comments on the pending sale of air rights at Jefferson Square.

The school district will continue to own the land and the commercial buildings, but, because of a lawsuit (explained in this WSB report), is planning to sell the air rights — not any buildings or land. The school district receives $173,226 annually in rent for the commercial property, and that will continue.

The air rights will be sold for $500,000. The school board is expected to vote on the proposal July 1.

Ron English, deputy general counsel for the school district, said the district doesn’t own the apartment buildings, but it owns the air that they are built in. The building owner is leasing the air rights through 2083.

English said he sees it this way: if the district doesn’t sell the air space, they will own a building come 2083. If they do sell, they have $500,000.

The money from the sale could be used for capital improvements, but not for teacher salaries, said English.

Jefferson Square, which includes a Safeway and Bartell Drugs, is built on the spot where Jefferson School once stood. The brick schoolhouse was named after President Thomas Jefferson, according to school district history. It was enlarged with a new addition in 1928.

The school closed in 1979. The property was declared surplus and leased in 1982 for 99 years
to a developer who demolished the brick building in 1985 and built Jefferson Square shopping center and apartments on the site.

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Happening today/tonight: From flowers to “frenzy”
May 21, 2009 8:01 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle parks | West Seattle schools

Happening right now, the crew in the background of that photo is hard at work in The Junction — and has been since about 5:30 this morning! — hanging baskets of summer flowers (like the ones in the foreground). Here’s some of what else is happening today/tonight (in addition to the poetry slam and Pier 66 EPA hearing/rally we re-mentioned last night):

TODAY: Next step toward the Delridge Skatepark (most recent WSB coverage here)- its schematic design goes before the Seattle Design Commission at City Hall, 2 pm today.

TODAY: Great weather for a car wash, and SafeFutures Youth Center will clean yours in the U-Haul parking lot at the northwest corner of 35th/Morgan (map), 4-7 pm.

TONIGHT: At 5:30 pm, Seattle Public Schools is holding a public hearing at Gatewood Elementary about the proposed sale of part of the property it owns at Jefferson Square. The hearing has only been announced in a fine-print public notice, but we reported details of the proposed deal (which involved a legal fight) two weeks ago; if you have anything to say about it, be at tonight’s hearing.

TONIGHT: Also at 5:30, a potluck kicks off the rescheduled Pathfinder K-8 Multi-Cultural Night (full details here), with performances starting an hour later.

TONIGHT: 7 pm at Alki Community Center, the Alki Community Council meets with two big items on the agenda: Crime concerns in the wake of the May 1st shooting (and looking ahead to summer), and this Saturday’s Alki Community Wildlife Habitat celebration.

TONIGHT: Do a good deed while having a good time — at 7 pm, lend a hand (or two) for WestSide Baby‘s monthly “sorting frenzy”; details here (including how to RSVP).

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Tomorrow: Poetry slam during SSCC’s Rainbow Festival
May 20, 2009 7:32 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

From the Delridge District Council meeting under way now at Youngstown Arts Center, South Seattle Community College‘s Mike Munson reminded everyone that tomorrow is the third and final day of Rainbow Festival on campus (full schedule here). In the video above, you see West Seattle poet Karen Finneyfrock, who along with Tara Hardy will perform in a Girl Power Poetry Slam at 1 tomorrow afternoon — Seattle’s Poet Populist Mike Hickey, who also happens to be on the SSCC faculty, says it’s free and everyone is invited.

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Today/tonight: Early dismissal; “South Portal”; Delridge Council
May 20, 2009 6:21 am
|    Comments Off on Today/tonight: Early dismissal; “South Portal”; Delridge Council
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Delridge District Council | West Seattle schools

EARLY DISMISSAL: Seattle Public Schools students get out 2 hours early today.

SOUTH PORTAL WORKING GROUP: This is one of three advisory groups now working on logistics for the Viaduct/tunnel future of SR99. We reported here on its first meeting two weeks ago. Today, the group (with West Seattleites Jerome Cohen, Vlad Oustimovitch and Pete Spalding) is in the Sound Transit Board Room 4-6 pm, 401 S. Jackson (map).

DELRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL: City Council President Richard Conlin is among the guests at tonight’s meeting, which also will include updates on the city’s draft Pedestrian Master Plan and Neighborhood Matching Fund projects. 7 pm, Youngstown Arts Center.

More on the WSB Events calendar — and for more detailed coverage of what’s just been announced for the days, weeks, months to come, check in on our Announced page!

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West Seattle schools: Lafayette concert, West Seattle HS DECA
May 19, 2009 11:57 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle schools: Lafayette concert, West Seattle HS DECA
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

From West Seattle photojournalist Matt Durham of mattdurhamphotography.com:

1. Lafayette Elementary School performed their “Spring Concert of 2008” at West Seattle High Tuesday evening. 2. Anna Goldberg, Sage Kalil and music teacher Frank Seeberger play “Frere Jacques” to a crowd of approximately 300. 3. Charlie Schnell blows the trumpet during Tuesday’s concert.

Heading a bit south from Lafayette: Earlier today, we posted a request from West Seattle High School‘s DECA Marketing teacher Michelle Sloan, asking for judges for an event this Friday. She says she got a great response. We asked how her students did in their recent trip to Internationals in Southern California; she says they had a great time — the photo below shows Sumeet Chadha and Tyson Kimball, who competed in the Advertising Campaign event:

DECA is a professional organization whose high-school division is aimed at helping young people look ahead to and prepare for work in “marketing, management and entrepreneurship.”

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Hour to spare Friday morning? West Seattle High School needs you
May 19, 2009 1:58 pm
|    Comments Off on Hour to spare Friday morning? West Seattle High School needs you
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

We told you last month about the DECA Marketing students from West Seattle High School headed to Internationals competition. Now their teacher Michelle Sloan has a request for the community, to help with some more-local judging:

Every few months, students in the marketing class make projects and compete with other teams in the class.

This time our project consists of creating a hotel and marketing it. At this time we are looking for judges who would be available Friday May 22nd from 11:00-12:00.

The judges can be community members, business owners, people with backgrounds in advertising, graphic design, and marketing.

Thanks!

They can reach me at masloan@seattleschools.org

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Today/tonight: Rainbow Festival, Crime Council, TV transition help
May 19, 2009 6:21 am
|    Comments Off on Today/tonight: Rainbow Festival, Crime Council, TV transition help
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

RAINBOW FESTIVAL: The annual celebration at South Seattle Community College happens today through Thursday. It’s a campuswide event celebrating food, music, people, and more. Today’s events:

11 am-2:30 pm: Arts & Crafts Vendor Fair
· Native American flutist and performances
· Henna artist
· New Heights – alternative rock
· Choker making
· Lunch – Salmon Bake
· 1 pm: Screening and discussion of “We Shall Remain: America Through Native Eyes” (Olympic Hall 105)

For events Wednesday and Thursday, go here – one highlight, we’re told by Seattle’s Poet Populist (and SSCC’s own) Mike Hickey, will be the Girl Power Poetry Slam at 1 pm Thursday, with Karen Finneyfrock (who was also a Poet Populist contender) and Tara Hardy.

WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: We’ve had some high-profile cases, with the May 1st Alki shooting topping the list, since this group’s last meeting, and as we’ve noted many times in the ensuing weeks, this is your best chance to get the latest directly from local police leadership – and bring them your questions and concerns. City attorney Tom Carr also will be a guest at tonight’s meeting. 7 pm, Southwest Precinct.

TV TRANSITION HELP: This has been going on at Youngstown Arts Center for quite some time, but the delayed Digital TV transition is now less than three weeks away, and if you’re not ready for it, it might be time for extra help. Drop in at Youngstown 6-8 pm tonight or 4-6 pm Saturday for workshops in partnership with Reclaim the Media to help you figure out if you still need to take action to be sure your TV will work after June 12th. (For more info on the TV transition, check out this page from the city’s website.)

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