July 2011

U.S. Army Sgt. Brandon S. Hocking, 24, was killed in Iraq March 21, just 10 days before returning home after his second tour. He was the lead convoy gunner and his vehicle took a direct hit. He was the only one killed in that vehicle. He was a munitions specialist, working with a mobile repair unit.

On June 4 the West Seattle VFW Post 2713 at 3601 SW Alaska St. hosted "An Evening of Music to Honor U.S. Army Sgt. Brandon S. Hocking".

One month later, July 3, the Alki Arts Gallery, 2820 Alki Ave. SW, hosted an event to honor Sgt. Hocking, and the VFW Post event, with a display of photographs taken by professional photographer, Jayme Rose, 19, of the bands that performed there. The soldier's mother and her sister, his aunt, West Seattle-raised Christine Pitts Dansereau and Jodi Pitts Lascoumes, attended. Both are West Seattle High School grads, class of '81 & '80.

Christine's current husband, Calvin Dansereau, was also a WSHS class of '81 graduate. They live in Pomeroy, in southeastern Washington where he is a police officer.

The 29th Annual West Seattle Summerfest gets underway Friday July 8 and continues through Sunday July 10 offering a wide array of live music, food, crafts, vendors, rides, activities and events, all centered in the West Seattle Junction.

More than 30,000 people are expected to attend this year's event which will feature some new elements including a GreenLife Sustainabilty and Garden Expo featuring everything from solar displays to how to create a natural habitat on your balcony. You'll find it at the south end of the festival.

Art Dive!
One highlight of the event that appeals to everyone is Art Dive! an area on California Ave. north of Oregon Street where dozens of local artists showcase their work. It is coordinated by the Twilight Artist Collective.

Hack Cycle!
New this year is a metal working demonstration area called Hack-Cycle! presented by Hazardfactory.

"With minimal tooling, powered partly by bicycles, Hazardfactory will cut, weld,

Jody Hall, Cupcake Royale & Verite Coffee

From the day I started my business, taking care of my people has been my utmost priority. Within a year of opening, I offered heath insurance for employees who worked 30+ hours. As our business grew, I added paid vacation for our hourly baristas, bakers and drivers, in addition to paid time off for our management staff.

The paid sick days ordinance is sparking great debate among small businesses in Seattle. At first, I was reluctant to support the effort. I thought that the original proposal requiring 9 paid days a year (based on a voter-approved law in San Francisco) seemed steep for the majority of small businesses in Seattle.

But instead of deciding to be against it, I wanted to be a part of an effort to share concerns to shape something that works for small businesses and is unique for the city of Seattle.

After nearly 30 years on Ambaum Boulevard, owners Eileen Freed and Rebecca Grady as well as the their staff at Highline Audiology have packed up and moved to a bigger office in downtown Burien.
The business name has also changed to Highline Hearing Professionals with the move to 457 S.W. 148th St. The office is located between Ace Hardware and Burger King—across the parking lot from Bartell Drugs.
For more information, call 206-246-8677.

Vino Bello in Burien is hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, July 23 to benefit Guide Dogs for the Blind.

"With my guide dog, I can go anywhere," Marlaina Lieberg from the group declared. "Help support guide dogs to enable other blind people the opportunity to do the same."

Lieberg invites people to meet her and her guide dog, Aggie, at the fundraiser to see just how a guide dog can make a difference in a life.

The fundraiser, from 5- 9 p.m., will feature wine, food, music prizes and doggies, of course. A $25 donation includes two beverage tickets, food, and live music featuring "The Fabulous Po' Boys."

Guide Dogs for the Blind charges no tuition and receives no federal funding. It survives on donations.

Some of the prizes offered at the fundraiser include four Commissioner Box Mariners tickets, local bar and restaurant gift certificates, wine, salon services, artwork and jewelry.

Vino Bello is located at 636 S.W. 152nd St.

press release from WSDPC:
July is National Ice Cream Month. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan made the designation recognizing the popularity of ice cream in the United States (90% of the nation’s population consumes ice cream). He also appointed the third Sunday in July as National Ice Cream Day. This year it falls on July 17th.

With over two-hundred family owned dairies in the Puget Sound region it follows that the area has some excellent gourmet ice cream options including West Seattle’s Husky Deli (4721 California Ave. SE, Seattle), which began making ice cream in 1932 and has the distinction of being the area’s oldest creamery.

“The ice cream is handcrafted and we only use good stuff like locally grown fruit from the farmer’s market or from Skagit County,” says Husky Deli’s Jack Miller.

press release:
Paving crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation plan to perform spot paving repairs on Thursday, July 14 at several locations around the curve where 35th Avenue Southwest turns into Marine View Drive SW. The crews will work between 11039 Marine View Drive SW and the intersection of SW 111th Street and 35th Avenue SW, grinding off old pavement and laying new asphalt, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Traffic flaggers will assist drivers around the work areas.

Update for July 8
The second pit bull involved in biting two residents of Maplewild Ave S.W. in Burien is still on the run, according to Sgt. John Urquhart with the King County Sheriff's Office.

Urquhart added that deputies are no longer actively involved in the search - a responsibility that now rests with Burien's animal control, Burien CARES.

With regards to possible charges being filed against the dogs' owners, Urquhart said animal control will make that decision.

Washington State law RCW 16.08.040 states, "The owner of any dog which shall bite any person while such person is in or on a public place or lawfully in or on a private place including the property of the owner of such dog, shall be liable for such damages as may be suffered by the person bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of such dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness."

The Highline Times is waiting on a call back from Burien CARES to update the search and any possible charges that might be filed.

Update for 3:45PM

The final chapter of the Harry Potter films will premier at 12:01 a.m. on July 15 at Majestic Bay Theatre in downtown Ballard.

The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is the culmination of a decade-long movie franchise and Majestic Bay Theatre expects the midnight premiere to be 'crazy', according to ticket sales staff.

Tickets for the midnight premiere are now on sale for $10.50 at the ticket window or online. Movie-goers are advised to line up 30 minutes to 45 minutes before the start of the movie.

The final chapter of the Harry Potter series follows Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they continue their quest of finding and destroying the Dark Lord's remaining Horcruxes. Harry and Voldemort meet for the biggest battle in Wizarding history at Hogwarts and life as they know it will never be the same again.

"Neither can live while the other survives".

press release:
Paving crews of the Seattle Department of Transportation plan to work on Beach Drive SW between Southwest Snoqualmie Street and SW Jacobson Road on July 13 if weather is favorable.

Traffic flaggers will control traffic from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. while the crews grind off the old asphalt and lay new asphalt. This work is part of the department’s annual street paving program.