May 2006

Eleven different personalities join the cast to sing and dance and entertain in ArtsWest's family musical Just So and they are captivating, rambunctious, and tremendously insightful in the re-telling of the charming, funny Kipling Just So Stories.

And they never really say a word.

The 11 synthetic actors take the form of intricate, stylish puppets, and, combined with six living actors, promise to entertain the whole family in Just So, a musical by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe (authors of HONK!

High School District Superintendent John Welch has proposed cuts on the next budget aimed at closing a $3.1 million gap.

So far, Welch has found $779,000 in new revenue and nearly $1.9 million in budget cuts.

New revenue could be gained by applying for Medicaid reimbursement from the state for services provided to students, he says, and added money could come from transferring interest earnings on non-bond capital funds and facility lease income to the general fund.

Seattle Lutheran High School students were honored after their participation in the West Seattle Art Show hosted by ArtsWest.

Holly Siburg and Kayla Goodwin received first prizes in the Drawing/Painting category, Caroline Cornutt tied for a second place prize in the Drawing/Painting category and Mami Kobori received the Gloria Runnings Gallery Award.

This artwork will be displayed at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse through the end of May.

In addition, junior Holly Siburg has artwork displayed at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse through mid-May and senior Ashley La Luthera

Stroll down Alki Avenue this spring and not only will you notice it's high time for roller blades, cruiser bikes and copious amounts of flip flops, but it's also time for a little salt, a squeeze of lime, and a side of Campechana (seafood cocktail) to go with your sunshiny day at the beach.

Coyotes On Alki, an "Authentic Mexican Grill and Cantina," opened its doors on Cinco de Mayo and the margaritas have been flowing ever since.

The Handsome Ones, a band that calls Ballard home (three of the four members live within blocks of one another off Market Street), is an uncommonly inventive outfit. Their sound is crazy yet cohesive. Ironically, that diversity has proven to be a bit of a problem. They're finding that since they don't claim allegiance to one particular style, its difficult securing live shows.

"The hardest part about [trying to get gigs]," singer/guitarist Tom Olejniczak explains, "is that people want you to pigeonhole yourself. 'Who do you sound like?

Dung beetles and scimitars; Wednesday night highlights from the Tractor.

By Daniel Catchpole

The evening's headliner, Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn has a remarkable voice capable of captivating an audience, but she has yet to really capitalize on it. Her recent performance showed promise, but never really got started until the impromptu encore. The slow melodic set was hesitating and short.

Last Saturday night, Conor Byrne Pub in Old Town Ballard hosted a record release party for Seattle bluegrass band Creeping Time. The album, Cheap American Lager, is chock full of fiery fiddle-driven bluegrass and country rockin' jams. I sat down with bassist Ken Nottingham, drummer Dave Forrester, guitarist Michael Spaly and fiddle player Kjell Anderson on the eve of the show and got a little better acquainted with this up and coming band.

JRO: You're having your record release party at the same place you recorded your live album in 2003, Conor Byrne.

There's a new habitat at Woodland Park Zoo that takes the zoo's emphasis on more natural exhibits to a whole new level. Ideal zoo habitats allow creatures to act as they would in the wild instead of inhibiting their instincts and abilities. This new exhibit incorporates the latest research on the instincts and abilities of its intended users. The 'habitat' is Zoomazium; its creatures are children aged 0-8.

Zoomazium is an 8500 square-foot indoor play space designed to encourage children to enjoy and learn about nature through exploration.

1. Police responded to a verbal domestic violence report on the 2200 block of South Star Lake Road. Upon arrival they heard a male and female arguing inside the apartment, and as they knocked on the door, they heard a commotion on the balcony. However, as they entered the apartment and did a security sweep, they found a woman alone who denied being in an argument, in danger or in need of police assistance. There was no evidence of a crime.

Loud music lands man in jail after officers field complaint

2.

"A life of hard work," is Dorothy Owen's explanation for her longevity.

Born May 25, 1906 in Boone, Iowa, Owen keeps busy these days tidying up her small garden surrounding her home in the Belmor complex in Federal Way and visiting with her son and grandsons.

On May 25, Owen plans to celebrate her century of life in the Northwest with a family dinner at Black Angus Restaurant.

A slight tremble in her hands and high blood pressure are her only health concerns - and she definitely needs to wear her hearing aid, she says.

She keeps illness at bay by sta