On Thursday (Mar. 4), Highline Community College’s Center of Excellence for International Trade, Transportation and Logistics (ITTL) announced that it had received $250,000 to provide additional job training opportunities for positions in the international trade sector.

“As our economy continues to change and adjust so too must our workforce,” said U.S. Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA). “This funding will help do just that by training Washington state workers for a career in a growing sector of our local economy – international trade.”

The project — part of the final version of the 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act signed by President Obama on Dec. 16, 2009 — will lead to a 20 percent increase in the number of trained ITTL workers in Washington state.

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Smith secured funding for the project that will also improve the image of international trade throughout Washington state and create awareness of career and training opportunities that lead to family wage jobs.

“In these tough economic times, it is more important than ever to ensure that our workers have the skills they need to compete in the 21st century economy,” Murray said.

Positions in the ITTL sector include managers, logisticians, cargo and freight agents, shipping and receiving clerks, locomotive engineers, drivers and warehouse workers. Washington state will need nearly 77,000 new employees in ITTL by 2018, according to estimates based on data from the state’s Employment Security Department.

For more information about the Center of Excellence for International Trade, Transportation and Logistics, visit www.ittlwa.com.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes. Alumni include:

• Former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice
• Entrepreneur Junki Yoshida
• Washington state poet laureate Sam Green
• And yes, even WLB Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We'd like to officially introduce a new regular column, "Feel Good Friday," written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!"]

by Dave Markwell

The other night my six year-old daughter and I attended a concert at Highline Community College. My ten year-old son was performing with the Parkside Elementary orchestra as they opened for a Des Moines Arts Commission Music Series show. He plays viola.

I have come to understand that the learning curve for instrument mastery is decidedly not steep. The slight twitch my dog, Diego, is now afflicted with, no doubt the result of the unnatural sounds piercing my son’s bedroom door, will testify to this. While the process is slow and sometimes painful, there is progress and as the group came together and played their pieces, it was actual music and it was great. Their focused and serious faces read their music as they played powerful works. Occasionally, a shrill missed note would find its way to my spinal cord, followed by an eye-raising wince from the assailant, but overall they sounded pretty good and I was proud.

As proud as I was of my son, my daughter, on the other hand, on several occasions, narrowly avoided a very public strangulation.

“Just sit still, PLEASE!” I loud-whispered and repeated as a mantra throughout the concert.

Now, I had no allusions that bringing a six year-old to a classical music show would be entirely trouble-free, but as the bouncing, talking, swinging, fiddling, fidgeting and kicking ramped up, I was considering very bad things.

Fortunately, as it sometimes will, fate intervened.

As my son’s performance wrapped up, the headline group, The Sirens, came out and began to play. They are a trio who play piano, flute and oboe. I don’t ever recall hearing an oboe before, certainly not like this. This woman played notes that I did not know existed. They touched me and gratefully must have touched my daughter as well. For three wonderful minutes, she sat on my lap and we listened to a song that we could feel. There is an emotion in the oboe that surprised me. The music swept over us and it was beautiful. I looked around the room and saw my son sitting next to his buddy several rows away from us, because if there is anything uncooler for a fifth-grader than a classical music concert, it is sitting with your dad and little sister at a classical music concert. I understood and was not hurt, too much. I enjoyed the true magic of the moment and was genuinely moved.

This was until my daughter woke up with a simultaneous flailing back head-butt to my face and swinging heel crotch-kick. The wonderful moment was over in an instant. It was just too good to last. As a stifled a yelp, I collected our things and knew it was time to go.

“Go get your brother.” I said as I made my way to the door and stepped out into the cool Des Moines rain.

I tipped my head to the sky and smiled and knew that the brief, pure moment was worth all of the hassle, struggle and even the crotch kick. The beauty of a single moment is worth all of it, every time.

Highline Community College’s Marine Science and Technology Center will be hosting former weatherman Andy Wappler this Saturday, Feb. 27th from Noon – 12:45pm at their Redondo Beach dock location.

Wappler now works for Puget Sound Energy, and he’ll be talking about how our region is meeting its energy challenges, examining how our energy choices affect the environment — including local waters.

Andy will talk about the newest developments in wind power and solar energy, as well as energy efficiency. He will also go over simple steps we can all take to use less energy, and protect local waters.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Puget Sound Energy’s Andy Wappler will speak about energy

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 27th from Noon – 12:45pm

WHERE: Highline Community College’s Marine Science & Technology 
(MaST) Center, which is located on Redondo Beach in Des Moines at 28203 Redondo Beach Drive S., Des Moines, WA 98198.

COST: Free

INFO: From a press release:

Please join….Andy Wappler Corporate Communications Manager, Puget Sound Energy

Puget Sound Energy’s Andy Wappler will look at how our region is meeting its energy challenges, examining how our energy choices affect the environment — including local waters.

Andy will talk about the newest developments in wind power and solar energy, as well as energy efficiency.

He will also go over simple steps we can all take to use less energy, and protect local waters.

Saturday February 27, 2010 from 
12:00 – 12:45
pm

Highline Community College
 MaST Center, located near the Redondo Beach Park.

For directions and more information on the MaST Center please visit http://mast.highline.edu/

Highline Community College Business instructor Jeff Ward has earned a statewide honor for his leadership and achievements in “eLearning,” also known as electronic learning.

No, it’s not for teaching people about electronics, it’s for helping teach classes online.

Ward, of Lake Forest Park, provides one-on-one support to faculty and encourages them to explore and expand their use of technology in the classroom as Highline’s Faculty in Residence for Technology and Distance Learning.

“With online learning we have erased geographical boundaries. I can have students in class from all over the world, and their different experiences and backgrounds enrich discussions and give topics a more global perspective,” Ward said. “Alternative delivery of classes such as online and hybrid courses are better able to meet the diverse needs of our students – working parents, returning students, full-time workers, etc.”

The Leadership & Innovation in eLearning Award from the eLearning Council of Washington’s community and technical college system recognizes up to two individuals annually for achievements in electronic learning.   The honor comes with a $200 cash award and a grant for all-expenses paid trip to participate in the spring Pacific Northwest Higher Education Assessment, Teaching & Learning conference from April 28-30 in Vancouver, WA.

For more information on the Washington State eLearning Council, visit www.sbctc.edu/college/e_elearning.aspx.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes. Alumni include former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida, Washington state poet laureate Sam Green and Scott Schaefer, Publisher/Editor of this here blog and three-time National Emmy winning Writer for “Bill Nye the Science Guy.”

The 2010 Des Moines Arts Commission’s Waterland Music Series continues with a performance by “Sirens Trio” of the Oregon Chamber Players at the Highline Community College Music Department at 7pm on Tuesday, Feb. 23rd.

The chamber music performance will be preceded by a very special performance by the Parkside Elementary School Orchestra.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Waterland Music Series featuring “Sirens Trio”

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 23rd at 7pm

WHERE: Highline Community College (2400 S. 240th Street, Des Moines, WA) in the Artist-Lecture Center (Building 7).

COST: The entire evening of music is only $15/adult or just $5/student. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department, 1000 220th St. and Des Moines Florist, 721 S. 219th in Des Moines.  Tickets will also be available at the door.  Call the Des Moines Parks & Recreation at (206) 870-6527 for ticketing or concert information.

INFO: The venue is an intimate setting with ample parking.

The evening will begin with a short 15-20 minute program provided by the Parkside Orchestra from the Parkside Elementary School in Des Moines.  This concert is hosted by the City of Des Moines Arts Commission and the Highline Community College Music Department.

Single tickets are available for $15/adult and $5/student (elementary-college).  Group discounts are available.  For $30 patrons may request any combination of three tickets for the remaining Waterland performances.  Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department, 1000 220th St. and Des Moines Florist, 721 S. 219th in Des Moines.  Tickets will also be available at the door.  Call the Des Moines Parks & Recreation at (206) 870-6527 for ticketing or concert information.

The Sirens Trio was formed in 2005 by three professional musicians who loved performing together and bringing enjoyable and exciting chamber music to audiences.  The evening will delight you with the sounds of Rebecca Olson, flute, Victoria Raez, oboe and Maria Manza , piano.

These musicians have continued that tradition of delightful music-making in such diverse venues as The Old Church in Portland, the Brookings Chamber Music Series, The Magenta Theater, and Oregon State University.

Erin Sneller from Oregon State University writes:   “Thank you for performing on our Music à la Carte concert series. Your chamber trio delighted our audience! The repertoire you performed was an enjoyable mix of traditional and contemporary, and your interesting comments about the compositions really enhanced the experience for our listeners. I sincerely hope that the Sirens are up for a return engagement in the near future!   BRAVO! ”

Jaynie Roberts, the Artistic Director of the Magenta Theater Company says, “…I just wanted to tell you how lovely the concert was tonight. Such beautiful music floating through the air – it was just delightful! I have never heard our piano sound so lovely before! ….The ambiance you created in the auditorium was exquisite. So very, very charming… Thank you for a delightful evening! The Sirens are amazing!!”

The final concert in this series will be Cul An Ti (Celtic Music) on Tuesday, April 20, 2010.

Series information is available at www.desmoineswa.gov/artscommission.

Become a fan of the Des Moines Arts Commission on Facebook for Des Moines Arts updates!

More information, including audio samples, available at the Sirens Trio website here.

Since it’s Valentine’s Day week, there’s no better time to learn about the “Science of Love,” and Des Moines’ own Highline Community College is here to help with a seminar this Friday, Feb. 12th from 2:20pm to 3:10pm.

Here are the lovely details:

WHAT: Science of Love

WHEN: Friday, Feb.  12th, from 2:20pm – 3:10pm.

WHERE: Highline Community College, Building 3, Room 102, located at 2400 S. 240th St., Des Moines

COST: FREE and open to the public.

INFO: Psychology professor Ruth Frickle presents this special Science Seminar that looks at what is love and the different kinds of love, attempting to answer such questions as:

• What is love?
• Does it really exist or is it a myth?
• Are there different kinds of love?
• Can love last?

For more info, visit http://flightline.highline.edu/scienceseminars.

Highline Community College is now accepting nominations for its “Distinguished Alumnus Award,” its most prestigious award for alumni.

This award is meant to honor a former Highline student who has made outstanding contributions through community service, noteworthy professional achievement and/or recognized leadership.

Nominations are due by April 16, 2010.

Previous winners have included:

• Former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, who attended Highline in 1968–69, was the first recipient of the award in 1990
• Other past honorees include Junki Yoshida, CEO of the Yoshida Group
• Washington state’s first poet laureate Sam Green

Last year’s recipient was Dr. Linda Petter, a family practitioner in Tacoma and author of “Common Medical Sense,” who was honored for her outstanding work in the health care field. She has a regular feature at 7:45 a.m. Sundays on KOMO-AM 1000.

Nominees will be asked to submit a résumé and personal profile that will be reviewed by a campus selection committee. The person selected will be invited to accept the award and participate in Highline’s commencement exercises on June 10, 2010.

Please send your nominations via e-mail to ayoung@highline.edu or hard copy to:

Melissa Sell
Resource Development Office
Highline Community College
PO Box 98000 MS 99-248
Des Moines, WA 98198-9800

For more information, call (206) 870-3774, e-mail rstephen@highline.edu or visit www.funds4highline.org.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes.

As many of our Readers also know, Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer also attended Highline College, where he worked on the student newspaper The Thunderword. Another alum is one of his then-classmates, prolific local Playwright and current HCC Journalism Professor TM Sell.

Highline Community College is holding a workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 9th for not-for-profit organizations on how to pursue grant money.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Highline Community College workshop on the entire grant-getting process.

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 9th from 9:00 a.m. – noon (module 1) and 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. (module 2)

WHERE: Highline Community College – Des Moines Campus

COST: $59 per module; $110 for both modules

INFO: Designed for not-for-profit organizations new to pursuing grants, this workshop provides an overview of the entire grant-getting process. In particular, it addresses: assessing the applicant organization’s readiness to apply for a grant, researching funding prospects, cultivating relationships with prospective/current funders, writing the grant application, and what to do after its submission. The focus of the workshop is on foundation grants.

REGISTER: Contact Highline Community College at 206.870.3785 or via http://flightline.highline.edu/cel

AGENDA:

• The Grant-Getting Process (or Don’t Wait ‘Til The Day Before It’s Due to Work On The Application)
• Grant-Getting Readiness: You Need More Than A Need For Money
• Funder Fundamentals: Researching & Cultivating Relationships With Funders
• Work Plans And Other Ways to Save Your Sanity
• Completing The Grant Application
• Make Your Application Stand Out
• Summary of Key Concepts

About the Instructor: Lisa Arnold is a consultant to not-for-profit organizations, has worked for over 20 years in the nonprofit arena, and has a Master’s Degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago. She has produced and/or taught numerous fundraising and other workshops for nonprofits throughout Puget Sound. These include a six-day training series in conjunction with the Gill Foundation (production); and workshops at the Evergreen State College, the University of Washington, Highline Community College, and South Seattle Community College.

Highline Community College’s StartZone is offering free tax preparation workshops and filing assistance to self-employed individuals in King County with total household income of less than $50,000.

Workshops being Feb. 10th, and eligible individuals will receive assistance from a trained and professionally supervised volunteer who will help complete and file 1040, Schedule C, applications for the Making Work Pay and Earned Income tax credits, and other forms.

For more information about eligibility requirements, individuals are encouraged to attend a tax preparation workshop. Workshops will be offered:

• Wednesday, Feb. 10th: 6-9pm
  
• Wednesday, March 10th: 6-9pm
  
• Saturday, March 13th: 9:30am – 12:30pm
• Saturday, March 27th: 9:30am – 12:30pm

To register, call (206) 878-3710, ext. 3388, or e-mail startzone@highline.edu.

StartZone’s Business Tax Center is funded by the CFED in partnership with the United Way of King County.

StartZone is a program that helps women, people of color, immigrants and persons with a disability start or grow small businesses in Southwest King County. For information, visit http://startzone.highline.edu.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes. Alumni include former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida, Washington state poet laureate Sam Green and WLB Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer.

The Highline Community College Foundation received a $60,000 donation from lifelong resident Justine Richards to help provide emergency assistance to Highline students who are struggling to pay for their college education.

Emergency assistance may include funds to pay for books, supplies, child care or transportation. Funds will be distributed through Highline’s Financial Aid office based on a student’s need.

The endowment is named in honor of donors Justine Richards, of Des Moines, and her deceased husband, Gene J. Newman.

Richards is a lifelong resident of the Des Moines area and taught business classes for the Highline School District for 40 years. She has been a longtime supporter of Highline Community College.

Newman graduated from Lynden High School in Lynden, Wash., and the University of Washington. He served in the 10th Mountain Division (86th Infantry Regiment) during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal at Monte della Torraccia Ridge in Italy on Feb. 27, 1945.

He spent 60 years as an electrical engineer building cranes, designing hydroelectric plants and other projects. His ashes are interred at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Wash.

For more information on the HCC Foundation and how to donate to help needy students, call (200) 870-3774 or visit www.funds4highline.org.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes.

Alumni include former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida, Washington state poet laureate Sam Green as well as Scott Schaefer, Publisher/Editor of this here blog.

Between Jan. 19th and 22nd, Highline Community College’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Week will feature nationally known authors and scholars discussing a variety of topics, including diversity, politics, education, sports and the legacy of Dr. King.

This year’s event includes an exhibit featuring local social activists and revolutionaries who played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement in Washington state. The exhibit is on display throughout the week in the Highline Student Union.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Highline Community College’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Week

WHEN: Jan. 19th through Jan. 22nd at various times

WHERE: Highline Community College’s main campus. Highline’s main campus is located midway between Seattle and Tacoma at South 240th Street and Pacific Highway South (Highway 99); address: 2400 S. 240th St., Des Moines, WA 98198.

COST: Free and open to the public

SCHEDULE:

TUESDAY, JAN. 19th:

Dream Fulfilled? The legacy of Dr. King in an Obama age
A lecture by Dedrick Muhammad
9:00 – 9:50am,  10:00 – 10:50am Building 7

Dedrick Muhammad is a Senior Organizer and Research Associate for the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute of Policy Studies. His presentation will examine the current socio-economic status of African Americans, the progress that has been made since the time of Dr. King, and the prospects of African Americans under the Obama presidency

Cradle to Prison Pipeline
Celestine Lanier-McClary, Black Child Development Institute
11:00-11:50am, Highline Student Union Building 8, Mt. Constance Room

Children of color are entering the Criminal Justice at an alarming rate! In 2001, it was said that 1 out of every 3 African American preschool child has a chance of going to prison in his lifetime (CDF 2006). This workshop will explore the link between education and the criminal justice system and also examine the risk factors as it relates to people of color in the criminal justice system. During this time participants will begin to better understand this pipeline and start to create strategies for dismantling the Cradle to Prison Pipeline.

MLK Exhibit
Highline Student Union Building 8, Mt Constance Stage
Open all day/evening, Jan 19-22 Come view a display of local social activists and revolutionaries who played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement in Washington State.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30th:

Why are Poor People Poor?
A workshop by Dustin Washington and John Page, American Friends Service Committee and People’s Institute Northwest
9:00 – 9:50am,  Highline Student Union Building 8 – Mt. Constance Room

Explore the roots of class inequality with two community organizers and leaders in the Seattle Area. Dustin Washington and John Page are from the Community Justice Program at American Friends Service Committee and do extensive work around anti-racism and social justice advocacy.

Workshop: Environmental Justice and You!
Presented by Community Coalition to Environmental Justice (CCEJ)
10:00 – 10:50am, Building 7

We hear about the environmental movement, but what we don’t hear about much is the Environmental Justice (EJ) movement. With the EJ movement, they take into consideration how certain populations are targeted and polluted on purpose, specifically people of color and/or low income communities. In addition, environmental injustice is impacting people not just locally, but globally as well. Come to this workshop to hear more about the EJ movement, discuss the root causes of environmental injustice such as racism and profits before people, and how you can get involved and make a difference.

Music and Liberation: A panel discussion
12:10-1:10pm, Highline Student Union Building 8 – Mt. Constance Room

Join us for a panel discussion with local activists and musicians. Explore how social change, activism and music intersect. The artists will represent different genres of music that include Hip Hop, R&B, Folk, Reggae and Latin.

Music and Liberation: A Caucus Discussion
1:30-2:30pm, Highline Student Union, Building 8 – Leadership Resource Room

Join a follow up discussion of how music was, can, and is used for activism.

THURSDAY, JAN. 21st:

Inter-Minority Racisms and Cross-Racial Identifications: The Role of Hip Hop in Shaping Contemporary Asian/Black Relations in the U.S.
Lecture by Nitasha Sharma followed by Q &A session
9:00-10:30am,  Building 7

In this talk, Professor Sharma will analyze the political potential of hip hop for framing Asian/Black relations in the U.S. Americans often view Asians and Blacks to be distinct minority groups with little in common; however, history and politics reveal otherwise. Drawing from her fieldwork on 24 South Asian American hip hop MCs, DJs, record label owners, and journalists, Dr. Sharma will discuss how some Asian American youth call upon hip hop to articulate their racial identities and politics. Within the context of Asian anti-Black racism and Black anti-immigrant sentiment, perhaps hip hop offers a space and form for some youth to create cross-racial connections across these divides.

Nitasha Sharma is a professor in African American Studies and Asian American Studies at Northwestern University. Her ethnographic research focuses on Asian/Black relations through hip hop culture and the multiracial experience. She is the author of “Hip Hop Desis: South Asian Americans, Blackness, and a Global Race Consciousness.” Her latest project analyzes the negotiations of mixed race Asian/Blacks in Hawaii.

Poetry Workshop
11:00-11:50am, Building 2

Engage in this workshop for new and existing poets and discover how poetry can be used as a platform for expression.

Open Mic Poetry
Laura “Piece” Kelly &  Freshest Roots
7:00-9:00 pm, Highline Student Union Building 8 – Mt. Constance Room
An evening of poetry open to anyone wishing to share their poetry in a like-minded environment.  Co-sponsored by Freshest Roots.

FRIDAY, JAN. 22nd:

Freedom When? Race and Labor, Then and Now
Lecture by David Roediger, followed by Q & A Session
10:00 – 11:30 am, Building 7

Dr. David Roediger has a doctorate in History from Northwestern University and teaches African American Studies at the University of Illinois. Dr. Roediger’s talk looks from periods of slavery and conquest to current workplace traditions, to suggest that keeping people apart has been a consistent key to overworking and underpaying them.

Movie Fridays: SLAM
Facilitated by Aaron Reader
12:30-2:00 pm, Building 7
Slam is a 1998 independent film starring Saul Williams and Sonja Sohn. It tells the story of a young man whose talent for poetry is hampered by his social background. It won the Grand Jury Prize for a Dramatic Film at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. Co-sponsored by Movie Fridays.

For more information contact Natasha Burrowes at 206-878-3710 x 3256 or via email.

SPONSORS: HCC’s Center for Leadership & Service, Multicultural Services and Learning & Teaching Center

MLK Week Committee Members:

• Natasha Burrowes, Chair
• Darryl Brice
• Naiomi Etienne
• Jodi Golden-White
• Yoshiko Harden
• Heather Johnston-Robinson
• Aaron Reader
• Gayatri Sirohi
• Barbara Talkington
• Gerie Ventura

If you need accommodations due to a disability, please contact Access Services at (206)878-3710, ext.3857(voice) or (206) 870-4853 (TTY) no later than January 5, 2010.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening, online and weekend classes.

With the most diverse population of any college in Washington state, Highline takes a multicultural approach to education for the success of all its students and the prosperity of its surrounding communities. Alumni include Scott Schaefer, Publisher/Editor of this website former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida and Washington state poet laureate Sam Green.

The Washington State Independent Living Council will sponsor a public forum to discuss amendments to the 2008-10 State Plan for Independent Living on Wednesday, Dec. 2nd at Highline Community College.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Washington State Independent Living Council’s public forum to discuss amendments to the 2008-10 State Plan for Independent Living

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 2nd from Noon to 2pm

WHERE: Highline Community College Outreach Center (Building 99, Room 132), located at 2400 South 240th Street, Des Moines, WA 98190. Enter parking lot off Pacific Highway/ Highway 99

INFO: Due to economic stimulus development funds, changes must be made to the independent living plan.

To promote accessibility, a live stream of the CART/captions will be available to participants in remote locations via the website: http://www.streamtext.net/text.aspx?event=SILC. The site will be available shortly before the beginning of the meeting.

You may also call in at 1-877-216-1555 and enter the pass code: 815648 # to participate in the forum

For parking information, please contact the college at: 206-878-3710, ext. 3218 (V).

The college is served by the following Metro Bus lines: 116, 174, 175, 121, 122, 131, and 132.

There will be CART and ASL interpreters on site.

Highline’s Marine Science & Technology 
(MaST) Center’s fall speaker series continues with the next session on Dec. 5th, from Noon to 1pm, featuring New Tools to Inform Nearshore Restoration with Doug Meyers.

Meyers, director of science for People for Puget Sound, will share the results of a comprehensive analysis for the restoration of Puget Sound’s nearshore ecosystem. This 10-year, multi-agency investigation combined cutting edge physical and social science to identify spatially explicit disruptions to natural ecological processes in the last 150 years.

Here are the details:

WHAT: MaST’s “Science on the Sound” speaker series

WHEN:  Saturday, Dec. 5th, from Noon to 1 p.m.

WHERE:  Highline Community College’s Marine Science & Technology 
(MaST) Center, which is located on Redondo Beach in Des Moines; address: 28203 Redondo Beach Drive S., Des Moines, WA 98198.

COST: Free

INFO: Science on the Sound is a semimonthly seminar that features experts discussing issues pertinent to the Puget Sound and the region.
Upcoming speakers for Science on the Sound include:

• Nov. 21st: Introduction to Footloose Disabled Sailing; Bob Ewing, one of the original founders of the Footloose Sailing Association, shares amazing success stories of people with disabilities who discover the wonders of sailing. Ewing encourages people to join the sport to help them move beyond disability and into empowerment.
• Dec. 5th: New Tools to Inform Nearshore Restoration; Doug Meyers, director of science for People for Puget Sound, shares the results of a comprehensive analysis for the restoration of Puget Sound’s nearshore ecosystem. This 10-year, multi-agency investigation combined cutting edge physical and social science to identify spatially explicit disruptions to natural ecological processes in the last 150 years.

For more information, visit the MaST website here.

Highline Community College’s Marine Science & Technology Center (MaST) is hosting their annual holiday open house on Tuesday, Dec. 8th from 7:30pm to 9:30pm.

More than 400 people attended last year’s event.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Holiday Open House at the MaST Center

WHEN: Tuesday, Dec 8th from 7:30-9:30 p.m.

WHERE:  Highline Community College’s Marine Science & Technology (MaST) Center, located at 28203 Redondo Beach Drive South in Des Moines

COST:  FREE!

INFO:  Visitors can check out the center’s aquarium and aquatic life while awaiting the arrival of the Argosy Christmas Ship Festival at Redondo Beach. The festival includes decorated ships and a performance by the Dickens Carolers. Hot drinks and snacks will be provided.

Also, the Argosy Christmas Ship will be at Redondo Beach between 8:50-9:10 p.m.

More info available at the MaST website: www.highline.edu/mast.

Area native and King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg announced Thursday (Nov. 12th) that Christopher John Monfort, 41, will face charges of aggravated first-degree murder charges for the killing of Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton, along with three counts of attempted first-degree murder for allegedly trying to kill his partner, aiming a gun at police, as well as first-degree arson charges for trying to kill officers by firebombing police vehicles at a city maintenance yard.

Along with that litany of charges, it’s also probable that Satterberg will pursue the death penalty for Monfort, as aggravated first-degree murder of a police officer is punishable by one of two sentences in Washington — life in prison without parole or the death penalty.

As we previously reported, Monfort was shot last Friday (Nov. 6th) outside his Tukwila apartment after being approached by police about his car, which matched a vehicle seen near the scene of Brenton’s death on Halloween night.

After aiming a malfunctioning handgun at police, Monfort was shot on the scene and is still in custody at Harborview Medical Center. It was also revealed by his family today that he is paralyzed from the waist down as a result of the shooting.

According to Seattle Police documents, Monfort’s apartment had a cache of weapons, including bomb-making materials. He is also believed to have “worked alone” in the fatal shooting of Officer Brenton, and has been called a “lone terrorist” in this case. Detectives have recovered DNA evidence from both the arson scene at the city maintenance facility and the scene of Officer Brenton’s murder directly tying him to both incidents.

Detectives also recovered a .223 caliber rifle from Monfort’s apartment, and a ballistics test identified it as the firearm used in Officer Brenton’s murder.

Also recovered from Monfort’s apartment was a considerable amount of bomb-making material and evidence that indicates that the type of explosive devices Monfort was in the process of making or had made were even more lethal than the ones used in the Oct. 22nd arson.

According to police, “he clearly was intending to inflict even more destruction in his next criminal attack.”

Further examination of the explosive devices used in the arson and of the devices found in his apartment indicate that Monfort was also intending to harm first responders to the scene, such as police and fire department personnel.

Monfort once attended Highline Community College in Des Moines, where he became involved in student government and was elected vice president of legislation.

The Oct. 23, 2003, edition of HCC’s student newspaper The Thunderword describes how Monfort ran for student senate and spoke at a candidates’ forum, where he was quoted as saying:

“Too often, too many of us walk around with our head in the clouds.”

According to the article, Monfort:

“…believes he is unique, because he is upset about our current state of government and actually wants to do something about it. … The student body has been cheated and lied to by the Bush Administration,” said Monfort. He plans on putting together a petition to bring our soldiers home.”

Monfort was also quoted as saying: “Our freedom is under attack.“

The first concert in the 2009-2010 Waterland Music Series will feature Seattle jazz musician Michael Powers, at 7:30pm on Tuesday, November 17th in an intimate performance at Highline Community College (2400 S. 240th St., Des Moines, WA) in the Artist-Lecture Center (Bldg. 7). The venue provides a cozy setting in which to enjoy music, with lively acoustics and ample free parking.

Single tickets are available for $15/adult and $5/student (elementary-college). Series and group discounts are available. For $30 patrons may request either one ticket per show or any combination of three tickets to Waterland Music Series performances.

Tickets may purchased in advance at Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department, located at 1000 220th Street, as wel as the Des Moines Florist at 721 S. 219th in Des Moines.

Tickets will also be available at the door.

Call Des Moines Parks & Recreation at (206) 870-6527 for ticketing or concert information.

Here’s some info on Michael Powers:

Michael Powers (www.michaelpowersmusic.com) was born in New York City in 1960, but grew up in the San Francisco Bay area. His musical career began as therapy, when at the age of 15 he took up strumming the guitar to strengthen his wrist after a skateboard accident. Following his graduation from Berkeley High School when he was 151⁄2, he moved to Seattle and frequented local jam sessions, keeping his fingers on the guitar strings and his mind on making his music reach a wider audience.

Michael says, “It’s hard to categorize my music, although it usually ends up in the Jazz record bins,” says Michael. “If I had to put a label on it, I would call it contemporary instrumental music. It’s a sound rooted in the Jazz tradition that keeps pace stylistically with Pop, R&B, and Blues; with Blues being at the core of my inspiration.”

“Michael Powers, the Seattle jazz guitarist, who gets better all the time.” – The Seattle Times

“There are TWO types of people. Those who love Michael Power’s music and those who have not yet heard it.” – The Review

Sponsored by the City of Des Moines Arts Commission and the Highline Community College Music Department, the series offers world-class entertainment at reasonable prices.

Other performances in the 2009-210 Waterland Music Series will include:

• Sirens Trio of the Oregon Chamber Players (Chamber Music) on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010
• Cul An Ti (Celtic Music) on Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Des Moines’ Highline Community College played host to a major Judo tournament on Saturday (Nov. 7th), when nearly 250 competitors from throughout the US and Canada vied for national points in a sport that features throwing, pins and submission techniques.

Several members of the US National Team took their divisions, including two players from the Puget Sound area – Bellevue resident Tracy Nagai, winner of the 2008 Olympic Trials, won at 52 kg and Marti Malloy, a woman from Whidbey Island who placed ninth at the 2009 World Championships, took the 57 kg division.

“Judo is very strong in the Pacific Northwest,” stated chief referee, Barb Shimizu. “The oldest judo school in the United States is located in Seattle. We have a well-established Japanese American community as well as a large military community throughout the Sound, both of whom have helped to bring the sport from Japan.”

Shimizu, who co-directs the Des Moines Area Food Bank, is a top-level international referee. “Being a judo referee is great,“ she exclaimed enthusiastically. “I have the best seat in the house to watch an exciting sport and have made friends all over the world. My goal is to referee in the Olympics or World Championships.”

Here are some great action photos from the event, courtesy John Beck:

More photos from the Crown can be seen here.

More info on Marti Malloy can be found here.

Photos courtesy John Beck, and a huge shout-out to Kris Van Gasken for the info!

UPDATE Sat. 11/7/09: The Seattle Police Department released more information Saturday about Christopher J. Monfort, the suspect shot Friday in Tukwila after being approached about his car, a Datsun B-210 that matched a vehicle seen near the scene of Officer Timothy Brenton’s death on Halloween.

He was shot on the scene and is currently in serious condition, in custody at Harborview Medical Center.

According to the latest reports, Monfort’s apartment had a cache of weapons, including bomb-making materials. He is now believed to have “worked alone” in the fatal shooting of Officer Brenton, and is also a suspect in the Oct. 22 firebombing of seven Seattle police vehicles.

Monfort once attended Highline Community College in Des Moines.

Here’s the release:

On the afternoon of November 6^th , 2009, Seattle Police Homicide detectives received a tip about a Datsun 210 matching the description of a possible suspect vehicle used in the slaying of Officer Tim Brenton. Detectives responded to a parking lot in the 13700 block of 56^th Avenue South in Tukwila. While detectives were investigating the scene further an adult male suspect emerged and pointed a gun at them. Detectives fired on the suspect in self defense, striking him at least once. The suspect was taken into custody and transported to Harborview Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. No detectives were injured.

The Tukwila Police Department is handling the crime scene investigation and the King County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit is conducting the officer-involved shooting investigation.

SPD detectives obtained search warrants to further examine the crime scene. Evidence located inside the suspect’s apartment included improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a rifle, and various other items of evidence. Detectives now believe that this individual is responsible for both the murder of Officer Brenton, the attempted murder of Officer Sweeney, and the arson attack on October 22^nd at the Charles Street facility. Detectives are asking the Prosecutor’s Office for formal charges. The Datsun that detectives were looking for is registered to the suspect. Our investigation into the murder of Officer Tim Brenton and attempted murder of Officer Britt Sweeney continues and we are still receiving and following up on tips. We have received numerous tips from the public and we encourage everyone to continue to call us with any information they may have regarding this investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call either 911 , or the tipline at (206) 233-5000. Those wishing to remain annonymous are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or send a text to CRIMES (274637). Your text message should include “TIP486″ to ensure proper routing. Calls are taken 24 hours a day.

PREVIOUSLY: Friday afternoon (Nov. 6th), shortly after Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton’s memorial concluded, a suspect named Christopher J. Monfort was shot outside his apartment building in Tukwila, prompting a massive outpouring of police to the area.

Police were apparently serving a search warrant on Monfort, 41, when he pulled out a weapon. He was shot on the scene and is currently under custody at Harborview Medical Center.

Monfort apparently attended Highline Community College in Des Moines, where he ran for student office in 2003.

According to HCC’s “Thunderword” student newspaper dated Nov. 20, 2003 (PDF link to issue), Monfort’s platform was:

“Christopher Monfort said he’s running to make the student body more aware of the civil liberties lost under the Patriot Act and the current political administration (Bush).

Monfort said students should vote for him because he actually cares about the world and wants to make a positive change.”

Monfort also studied law enforcement issues at the University of Washington.

Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton was shot and killed as he sat in his patrol car with an officer-trainee after a traffic stop on Capitol Hill on Oct. 31. Thousands of officers from around the country attended a memorial Friday afternoon for him at KeyArena in Seattle.

According to representatives from Highline Community College, scam artists are apparently posing around the area as Highline art students and soliciting donations.

The scam artists claim they are painting addresses on street curbs for donations that will benefit the college and HCC’s Art department.

Highline received information about the scam from residents in Seattle, Burien and Renton. None have been reported in Des Moines, but authorities think residents should be on the lookout.

“The college is unable to prevent people from misrepresenting themselves as college solicitors,” said Larry Yok, Vice President for Administration. “If people are suspicious, they should ask for the contact information of the person who sponsors the solicitation and obtain confirmation of the legitimacy of the request.”

He added, “If people want to donate to the college, they can safely do so through the HCC Foundation.”

Residents who want confirm the legitimacy of a fundraiser should call (206) 870-3705.

For more information about protection against scams, visit the Washington state Office of Attorney General’s Website at www.atg.wa.gov.

If you’d like to make a real donation through the HCC Foundation, call (206) 870-3774 or visit www.funds4highline.org.

Highline Community College’s student government will be hosting the next Des Moines City Council Candidates Forum on Monday, Oct. 19th from 2:30pm to 3:30pm in Building 7 on their main campus.

As election day (Tues., Nov. 3rd) draws nearer, things are heating up in the Waterland City, so this should be a lively forum.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Des Moines City Council Candidates Forum

WHEN: Monday, October 19th, from 2:30pm – 3:30pm

WHERE: Highline Community College’s main campus, Building 7. The campus is located midway between Seattle and Tacoma at South 240th Street and Pacific Highway South (Highway 99); address: 2400 S. 240th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198.

COST: FREE and open to the public

INFO: The forum will be a moderated question and answer session to introduce the Des Moines City Council candidates and their platforms followed by a town-hall style question and answer session with the audience.

SPONSORED BY: Associated Students of Highline Community College

Highline Community College’s Marine Science and Technology (MaST) Center is presenting a special seminar on “Jumbo” Squid  with David Eric Hamm, NOAA Fisheries Research Scientist/Contractor, this Saturday, Oct. 17th at their location near the Redondo Beach Pier.

Rumor has it that there may even be a dissection taking place.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Special seminar on “Jumbo” (aka Humboldt) Squid with David Eric Hamm, NOAA Fisheries Research Scientist/Contractor

WHEN: Saturday, October 17 12:00 – 12:45

WHERE: Highline Community College MaST Center, located near the Redondo Beach Park

INFO: From their website:

They’re Big, They’re Here and They’re Squid Jumbo Squid as Harbingers of Ecosystem Change! Dosidicus gigas, the Humboldt or Jumbo squid is a voracious predator with a unique ecology.

The ongoing range expansion of this creature, coincident with changes in the California Current suggest that something larger is afoot.

Are these changes indication of global change? What will the impact be to our fisheries and the ecosystem of the West Coast? Come to the MaST Center, and find out.

Please join us to hear David Eric Hamm, NOAA Fisheries Research Scientist/Contractor

More info here.

Highline Community College’s StartZone is marking its first-year anniversary with a celebration from 5pm – 7pm on Thursday, Oct. 8 in the Highline Student Union (Building 8).

Since opening in October 2008, StartZone has helped more than 120 women, people of color, immigrants and people with disabilities who want to start or expand their small businesses in Southwest King County.

In addition, StartZone members have started 15 new businesses, created dozens of new jobs and obtained nearly $90,000 in financing.

The celebration, which is free and open to the public, will feature speakers who have found success after receiving support from StartZone’s trained business specialists.

Featured speaker Adugna Wubbie, of SeaTac, originally came to StartZone with the hope of building a successful business and helping his family back in his home country of Ethiopia.

He started Rose Super Clean Services, a commercial janitorial service, and is now earning about $3,000 a month in revenue. By the end of his first year in operation, he hopes to generate at least $10,000 a month in revenue.

“Our StartZone business adviser gave us information on what we needed for success,” Wubbie said. “As part of the StartZone community, we have had an opportunity to meet other business owners, network and find support from our peers.”

Ruth Tial Par, of Kent, will also be sharing her success story during the event.

Tial Par, who is wheelchair-bound and came from Burma more than a year ago, wanted to convert her hobby of sewing clothes into a business opportunity.

StartZone helped Tial Par get new sewing machines and her business, Ruthy Tailoring, recently started accepting customers.

StartZone services are free to members and include assessments, referrals, business consulting and planning, loan packaging, workshops, mentoring and opportunities for networking and peer support.

StartZone offers orientations from 6-6:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month at the HCC Outreach Center (Building 99), room 132, 23835 Pacific Highway S. in Kent.

For more information about StartZone, call (206) 878-3710, ext. 3388, e-mail startzone@highline.edu or visit http://startzone.highline.edu.

StartZone is funded by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening, online and weekend classes.

With the most diverse population of any college in Washington state, Highline takes a multicultural approach to education for the success of all its students and the prosperity of its surrounding communities. Alumni include former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida, Washington state poet laureate Sam Green and yes, even Scott Schaefer, the Publisher/Editor of this here blog.

Attachment: Adugna Wubbie, of SeaTac
Ruth Tial Par, of Kent

Sometimes one can’t help but be self-indulgent, so please indulge us as we announce a new contest that may seem, well…very self-indulgent.

You see, recently Des Moines’ own Highline Community College contacted WLB Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer. No, he didn’t owe money on overdue library books (talk to his little sister about that one…), they found out that he once attended the college and wrote and took photos for The Thunderword, the student newspaper.

Well, HCC launched a new ad campaign on Metro buses this August, and now, apparently Scott’s face is plastered all over them with photos taken by our own Michael Brunk (we send out our sincerest apologies to all passengers – not for the excellent photo, but for the subject of said photo…).

The problem is, Scott hasn’t yet seen any buses with his, um, interesting face on them (not that he’s skeptical, but…), which looks like this:

Here are the details of the contest:

WHAT: Take photos of the HCC/BTB Ads on a Metro bus (please get a shot of both of them – one is on the exterior and the other inside)

WHERE: Metro bus(es) with the ads on them – this is where you have to do some work.

WHEN: Deadline for the contest is 5pm on Tuesday, Sept. 1st.

PRIZE: One $50 gift certificate to The Mark Restaurant & Bar, located at 918 SW 152nd Street in Olde Burien.

INFO: Please email a higher-res version of the photos to us at editor@waterlandblog.com by 5pm on 9/1/09! Winner will be selected by Scott, based on the quality of the photo(s) as well as creativity (meaning, perhaps you could submit a “mash-up” gag photo along with a decent one? Hmmm…we may regret that suggestion…)

Laid off?

Job hunting?

Tired of being “between gigs”?

Then pay attention – Highline Community College is offering a series of free job-hunting workshops, with the next two coming up on the next two Tuesdays:

WHAT: Two “Navigating the Future” job-hunting workshops on cover letters, resumes and interview tips.

WHEN:

Cover Letters and Résumés That Get Results
Tues., July 28th from 9:30am – 11:30am
Stand out in the candidate pool! Your cover letter and résumé provide the first impression you make to a potential employer. Learn tips and techniques to put together a cover letter and résumé that will get positive results.

Tips for a Successful Interview
Tues., Aug. 4th from 9:30am -11am
Get valuable tips about how to prepare for a successful interview and find out what to expect during the interview process. Human Resources staff members will provide an overview of various interview questions that will prepare you in making a lasting impression on your potential employer.

WHERE: Highline Community College’s main campus, Building 99, room 132. Highline’s main campus is located midway between Seattle and Tacoma at South 240th Street and Pacific Highway South (Highway 99); address: 2400 S. 240th St., Des Moines, WA 98198.

COST: Free and open to the public

INFO: www.highline.edu/admin/hr/

RSVP: To register, call (206) 878-3710, ext. 3812, or e-mail hrstaff@highline.edu.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 10,000 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes. Alumni include former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida and Washington state poet laureate Sam Green (and yes, even the Publisher/Editor of the BTB…).