CLINIC CHANGES Struggling practice will try a new approach. Page 4
SWINGIN’ SAX Noted jazz player to perform at Blue Heron. Page 10
2015
Who’s Wh o ON VASHO
BEACHCOMBER VASHON-MAURY ISLAND
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015
Vol. 59, No. 3
Inside this issue: Pages 14-22
www.vashonbeachcomber.com
A BOWL OF FUN
Volunteers plan to count homeless, survey youth By SARAH LOW Staff Writer
pay for upgrades to its athletic facilities in 2009, when a $75.5 million bond for a farreaching rebuild of the high school building and athletic facilities failed at the polls. In 2011, a $3.5 million measure that would have replaced just the track and field also failed, while voters narrowly passed an accompanying $47.7 million bond for the new high school building. The track and field portion garnered 56 percent of the vote, but fell short of the 60 percent supermajority required to pass. Soltman said that while the measure failed, school officials, students and even
This week Vashon will take part in two annual events to count its homeless, part of a broader effort to document the extent of homelessness in King County and obtain funding for resources. “Vashon has never been a part of this before,” said Chris Szala, executive director of Vashon Household. “It’s so important for advocacy efforts and obtaining grants so that we can do more for the people here who need housing.” On Thursday, the Vashon Library will be a survey point for Count Us In, King County’s annual count of homeless and unstably housed youth ages 12 to 25. And overnight from Thursday to Friday, a group of volunteers from the Vashon Social Services Network will work to make an accurate accounting of Vashon’s homeless as part of the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness’ (SKCCH) One Night Count. The SKCCH, a coming together of city staff, advocates, shelters and people who were once homeless, began the One Night Count in 1980 to gather data to inform and advocate for policies and programs to address the growing crisis of homelessness. Over the years, the count has expanded to include more than a dozen urban neighborhoods in the Seattle area from Woodinville to Federal Way, and it is the largest community-organized count of its kind in the U.S. To perform the count, homeless shelter and transitional housing providers will be surveyed, and over 1,000 volunteers will do a street count of people living outside or in vehicles. The street count is done overnight as people are less likely to be moving around and therefore less likely to be counted twice. Rebecca Roy, a spokeswoman for the
SEE SCHOOLS, 26
SEE SURVEY, 25
Photo and story by Susan Riemer
Schools to weigh options for 2016 bond measure By NATALIE MARTIN Staff Writer
Vashon’s school district will take a hard look at its aging athletic facilities this winter with an eye toward asking voters to fund upgrades in about a year. The Vashon Island School District recently began planning for a bond or levy package that will likely go on the ballot in February of 2016 and could include a combination of upgrades to Vashon High School’s track,
field and gym, a replacement of the roof on McMurray Middle School or other improvements to the district’s campus. Integrus Architecture, the company that designed the new high school building, has been hired by the district to carry out a detailed assessment of the remaining campus needs — which the district has dubbed Phase 2 — and create a master plan, estimating the costs of various capital projects. “Phase 2 planning is going to be a complete look at what remains to be done for the entire campus,” said Superintendent Michael Soltman, “and the board is going to have to select priority projects out of the plan.” The school district first asked voters to
75¢
Island to take part in wide survey of homeless
Strains of Willie Nelson’s “Blue Skies” filled the air last week as skaters spent the late afternoon hours at the new skate bowl at the Burton Adventure Recreation Center (BARC). Skaters began trying out the bowl last month, although the project — on time and on budget — is not expected to be fully complete until tomorrow. Grindline Skateparks of West Seattle built the bowl, which so far is getting rave reviews. Frankie Kennedy, 24, pictured at right in the bowl, impressed younger skaters last week with his speed and skill. He has come over from Tacoma a few times to skate there. “It’s a really nice bowl made by people who know how to skate,” he said. Jenni Wilke, a longtime member of the BARC Stewards, which supports the park and has worked toward this project for several years, said the bowl is a great addition. “The completion of this project has brought so much positive energy,” she said. “There are lots of new kids down there trying stuff out.” In addition to Kennedy, several other off-island skaters have come over, according to Elaine Ott, the director of the Vashon Park District, which oversaw the project. Wilke says they benefit the park — and the kids. “It brings another level of energy and exposure to skating styles and ups the skill level,” she said. Evan Kruse, 8, with his board in the upper right, also took several turns last week. “It’s fun,” he said. “And it’s a little scary.” A small celebration for the bowl will be held at 1 p.m. this Sunday with a full dedication to be held this summer.
New track, field and gym could be top priorities
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