April 2011

West Seattle High School alumnus worked with Lone Ranger, Tonto, now portrays George Washington

Most West Seattle High School students spend their summers hanging around town. Some lucky teens go to Europe. Many go hiking or camping. Les White, however, went to Jackson Hole, Wyoming to act with the Lone Ranger and Tonto at age 15.

White, 71, who grew up at 55th and Charlestown, was a stuntman and extra on that TV classic, and hung out with Clayton Moore, the legendary man behind the black mask, and his partner, Jay Silverheels.

"Clay was afraid of the horse," recalled White, now an Enumclaw resident, referring to Mr. Moore. "In the very opening scene of the Lone Ranger show he was on (his horse) Silver on top of the hill. That was really his stunt double Wayne Burson and his stunt horse. Wayne did all the horse riding. I have some pictures of Clay on the horse where the horse is nervous with his head bobbing, and Clay looks scared to death."

Perhaps listening to the William Tell Overture play in the background gave Moore some true grit.

Burson was a stunt double for Henry Fond, Glenn Ford, and Ronald Reagan in "Cattle Queen of Montana".

Neighborhood
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Beavers Sports Roundup: March 31th

Track & Field:

Ballard Track had their third meet yesterday. While both boys and girls teams lost to Liberty High School in Renton, there were a few individual performances of note.

Junior Alex Bowns had wins in the 1600 meters and 3200 meters and senior Alex Weatbrook took first in the Discus.

For the girls, Junior Emma Suchland took first in the 100, Sophomore Catherine Banobi took first in the 400, Junior Madison Young took first in Javelin, and the girls 4x100 took first as well as.

The final scores however were Liberty's 114 to Ballard's 30 for the boys and 110 for Liberty to Ballard's 40 points for the girls
              
100 Meters:
3 Pjilemon Gituma with 12.1

200 Meters:
2. Philemon Gituma with 25.1

1600 Meters:
1. Alex Browns 4:32.8
4. Ryan Kelly 4:56.2

3200 Meters:
1. Alex Browns 9:58.0
3. Bryant Quandt 10:38.2
4. Victor Bailly 10:46.3
5. Michael Vitz-Wong 11:02.4

4x200 Relay:
2. Alex Browns, Bryant Quandt, Victor Bailly, Michael Vitz-Wong

Shot Put - 12 lb:
2. Robert Meyer 39'11.75
5. Alex Weatbrook 34'1

Discus - 1.6kg
1. Alex Weatbrook 133'6
3. Sean Timmons 97'8
4. Robert Meyer 92'8

Javelin 800g

Neighborhood
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Police Blotter: Man attacked and robbed by multiple assailants; man just released from jail finds home trashed

By Cassandra Baker, Intern

4:00 a.m. on March 28th. 90th block of Holman Rd. N.W.

A man was attacked and robbed on March 28th as he walked to his car after closing his business for the day. The victim was carrying the night’s proceeds when an unknown person struck him from behind, knocking him to the ground. Approximately 3-4 individuals then began kicking and punching him. The victim attempted to fight back, grabbing one assailant’s hair. The suspects stole the bank bag as well as the victim’s wedding ring and wallet and then fled the scene. The victim dragged himself to his car and lost consciousness for about an hour. He then drove himself home. The victim suffered a laceration above his left eye, as well as bruising and swelling to his left shoulder, right eye and cheek, and abrasions on both knees. He was unable to get a good look at the suspects.

1:34 a.m. on March 26th. 70th block of 21st Ave. N.W.

Neighborhood

Volunteer for parks on Earth Day in Federal Way

Federal Way’s Parks Department is reminding citizens of the Earth Day slogan to think globally and act locally. With the annual Earth Day in Federal Way event approaching Saturday, April 16th, Parks staff are signing up volunteers to help improve local parks and open spaces.

“Earth Day is by far the City’s biggest volunteer event, involving 476 volunteers last year at eight parks,” said Cary Roe, Federal Way’s Public Works and Parks Director. “Our Earth Day volunteers keep our parks clean, improve forest health, and help us maintain high quality parks for all Federal Way citizens.”

This year, the Parks Department is hoping to have more than 500 volunteers turn out. They are organizing efforts in eight city parks, including Celebration, West Hylebos Wetlands, and Saghalie Parks. Volunteer activities will begin at 9 AM and run until noon.

Volunteers are asked to bring shovels, gloves and clippers, if they have them and to put their name on any tools they bring. The Parks Department will have a limited number of tools and gloves available. Volunteers are also advised to dress appropriately for the day’s weather.

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Des Moines sea monster sightings-- Proof finally surfaces

By Marion Yoshino

A local woman walking near the Des Moines Marina pier Monday evening was the first to capture photo evidence of the recent string of sightings of "Desi," the Des Moines sea serpent of legendary fame.
Local fishermen have sought the elusive creature for decades.

"I was completely petrified. I couldn't move the first time this enormous thing rose out of the water," said Marion Yoshino, who is a resident of Normandy Park. "I was walking the dog along the pier, we both froze-- I think my dog was too frightened to even bark. It happened so fast that I didn't have a chance to think about taking a picture.

"But after I calmed down I pulled out my camera, hoping to get a glimpse of something in the water. Then it came back again! If I hadn't gotten this photo I don't think that I could tell the story, because, who would believe it?"

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Bin 41 celebrating their first anniversary

Junction wine shop has some surprises in store tonight

Bin 41, the West Seattle Junction wine shop has been open one year as of April 1 and is planning what else? A wine tasting event but with a few surprises. The West Seattle Herald told you about the opening last year.

Here's what Bin 41 themselves say about their celebration:

"Join us for a smashing evening full of surprises! We’ll be kicking off the night with our favorite West Seattleite winemaker, Darby English from Darby winery along with Chris Gorman of Gorman winery. We’ll have some fun, savory snacks to complement these rich, full bodied Washington red wines.

In addition, in the spirit of April Fool’s Day we’ll have a few other surprises to share with you throughout the evening. We hope you can join us Friday, April 1st from 5:30-7:30pm to celebrate our one-year anniversary!

We will be raising money during the tasting for the Japan earthquake and tsunami relief.

There will be a $5 fixed tasting fee with 100% donated to the West Seattle community relief fund effort."

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Groundswell picks Baker Park as their "Park of the Month", celebrates the effort of the Ballard Garden Club

In celebration of Ballard's green spaces, Groundswell NW features and celebrates a "Park of the Month" and the community around it. In April, the spotlight is on Crown Hill's Baker Park and the Ballard Garden Club that maintains it.

Acquired with Open Space Bond Program "opportunity fund" dollars, Baker Park was opened in 1997 after years of work by community members to transform the 0.4 acres of open space into a little gem of a park in an underserved part of the city.

Baker Park has a small play area with wood chips, a pedestrian path that meanders through it, and Totem Pole made from a monkey puzzle tree. It complements the curriculum of neighborhood daycare and after-school programs that surround the park.

Designated as a "Pesticide-Free Park", Baker Park is unofficially maintained by the Ballard Garden Club.

Over the years, the BGC has been meeting occasionally at Baker Park to fluff up leaves, trim branches and extract a few of the more pernicious weeds.

Neighborhood
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West Seattle Little League Jamboree cancelled until further notice

Field conditions due to weather cited

West Seattle Little League President Mark Terao has announced that the weather conditions (recent heavy rains) have made the Bar-S Field too soggy and subject to damage to stage the annual Jamboree. It had already been postponed once. But now the April 2 event has been cancelled until further notice.

Terao said, "Our main focus will be to get the fields ready for the first game of the regular season on Monday April 4th.

We will redesign the Jamboree and give all of the kids an opportunity to be announced and run out on the field during the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new concession and storage building. Once that day is determined we will make the announcement."

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Bushwick gives new meaning to book club

By Samantha Getz, Intern
 
Bushwick isn’t your average “read a novel and discuss over coffee” kind of book club. In fact, it’s more instruments and sheet music than it is reading glasses and Earl Grey tea.
Yes, participants of the The Bushwick Book Club Seattle Chapter all read the same book, but they don’t talk about it, they sing about it.

The Seattle Chapter of the  Bushwick Book Club has only been around for six months but this ‘book club meets singer-songwriter performance”is giving literary guilds a fresh outlook.

“Conversation comes when everybody writes their song inspired by the book and present it to everyone else,” said producer Geoff Larson.

The Bushwick Book Club was founded in Brooklyn, New York with group leader Susan Hwang. Once Larson was able to see a performance, he knew it was Seattle worthy.

“It was just so cool,” he said. “The performers were so excited and into it, and the audience was so excited and into it. It’s hard to find a musical performance like that these days."

Neighborhood
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Alki Homestead restoration plan is presented; Historic building would be 'deconstructed'

The third review of the plans for the restoration of the Alki Homestead by the Architectural Review Committee of the Landmarks Preservation Board took place on April 1 and the architects for the project, Alloy Design Group (ADG) brought a more comprehensive plan to the table.

Responding to the committee's requests from the previous review, architects Greg Squires and Mark Haizlip drew up a document (downloadable at the link) that outlines the challenges and details what is required to bring the historic structure back to life.

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