October 2011

For some people Halloween is their favorite occasion of the year. That's true for the Byron Anderson family at 3058 38th s.w. in the Admiral District.

Their house is a Halloween showpiece that Byron has been displaying for the past three years but this year it's much bigger. It features a large skull with glowing blue eyes, skull yard lights, a very large spider in its web with a skeleton stuck there as a former prey, ghosts in the trees and his newest creation, a skier's graveyard with ski ghosts.

Anderson said that he definitely gets a lot of kids who come by for trick or treating purposes on the big night, giving out a lot of candy.

Cari his wife has been very patient with Byron, most probably because their five year old daughter is "basically why I do it."

"It's fun to see all the kids come up and look at it," he said.

It took him about two weeks of effort to get it all assembled and in place.

"I'm going to try and keep it up past Halloween but my wife won't let me," he said laughing.

He has no plans for any other day on the calendar. "Halloween is the only thing I do."

It's time to check around your house for good quality used toys, sports clothes and products, and baby gear (no regular clothing or car seats for this event) with the goal to "Save Money, Learn ways to lower your holiday carbon footprint and Support Community!"

On Saturday, November 12th, from 9am to 2pm CoolMom and WestSide Baby are holding their 4th Annual Holiday Toy Swap 'n' Sale. The event will be in West Seattle at Fauntleroy Church, 9140 California Ave. SW (Barton & California) West Seattle.

At the event there will be information on how to make your holiday greener.

CoolMom wants to help families reduce spending and their carbon footprint this holiday season. From Thanksgiving to New Years Day, household waste in the United States increases by more than 25%. By buying locally used toys instead of newly packaged toys purchased at several stores throughout the state or country, families can reduce their travel fuel consumption and reduce their impact on our recycling and landfill centers. Buying quality used toys also saves families money, which helps in these tough economic times.

There are 2 ways to participate:

Editor's note: West Seattle Herald reporter Steve Shay has been following the Amanda Knox trial in Italy for years, culminating in big news for the West Seattle-based Knox family. Updates on her story and travel back to the United States can be found at www.westseattleherald.com.

Nearly 11 hours following Amanda Knox's impassioned plea for freedom, which she gave in front of the courtroom, the same courtroom that convicted her of murdering Meredith Kercher nearly two years ago, she was freed. She could now return to her Arbor Heights home, or anywhere else she night choose. Her then boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, an Italian, was also freed from prison.

During this appeal trial, the six jurors, the presiding judge and his assistant agreed with the "lone wolf theory", that career criminal and drifter, Rudy Guded, was the lone killer of Ms. Kercher.

Gov. Gregoire's vehicle sideswiped near Des Moines
During the afternoon of Sept. 26, the Governor's official vehicle was sideswiped by another vehicle while she was returning from a King County Suburban Cities meeting in Tukwila. The Governor was not injured nor was the other driver. The collision occurred on Interstate 5 near SR 516 in Des Moines, at approximately 2 p.m. As always, the Governor was accompanied by security detail from the State Patrol. Other troopers responded to the scene for the collision investigation and the Governor returned to Olympia. The Governor is transported in a variety of vehicles; she was traveling in a Chevrolet Suburban.

Collision reveals pot plants
An intoxicated man got behind the wheel of a vehicle. Driving in the 12400 block of 1st Ave. S. he lost control and collided with multiple parked vehicles. His vehicle also hit a home in the area. Police responded to the scene and were getting information for the parties when they found something suspicious. Marijuana plants were found inside the residence. The officers disposed of the plants. The driver was cited for DUI.

Press release from Patrick Baer, Delridge Community Forum Committee Chair (http://delridgeforum.blogspot.com)

October 11th - Delridge Community Forum will be hosting A Conversation with DESC at the Youngstown Cultural Center, Main Theater; 4408 Delridge Way SW Seattle, WA 98106 from 6:30 – 9pm.

This forum will provide community members an opportunity to voice opinions and raise questions about the proposed Downtown Emergency Service Center’s (DESC) project on the 5400 block of Delridge Way SW. The event serves as a response to residents seeking a follow-up meeting to the DESC-hosted meeting at the Delridge Library on June 27, 2011, where residents were turned away due to insufficient space.

A Conversation with DESC will be led by an experienced facilitator using the World Cafe model (www.theworldcafe.com) featuring small and large group conversations. Volunteers dispersed flyers to over 1200 homes in the North Delridge neighborhood, announcing this important neighborhood issue and inviting residents to participate in the upcoming event.

The Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Carkeek Watershed Community Action Project (CWCAP) will celebrate the Clean Water Act, signed into law on October 18, 1972 with a special event on October 15.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency administers the Clean Water Act and provides outreach and educational materials that emphasize and help build public awareness of the importance of clean water in our daily lives.

There will be activities for visitors of all ages:

· Join groups doing water monitoring at Piper’s Creek for World Water Monitoring Day: http://water.epa.gov/type/rsl/monitoring/monitoringmonth.cfm.

· Tour the Salmon to Sound Trail and the imprint pond.

· Learn about how to get involved in feeding the chum salmon at the park.

· Kids can take advantage of the kids’ table, which will feature lots of fun activities and materials to take home that explain “How to help make clean water happen!”

· End the event with cake and juice to celebrate the Clean Water Act’s birthday.

Seattle’s public school students now have some pretty strong incentive to show up for class thanks to the citywide Be Here Get There campaign officially launched on Oct. 3 at the new Denny International Middle School.

Mayor Mike McGinn described the program as “a research-driven, incentive-based campaign to raise awareness about the importance of kids getting to school, and improve academic achievement by improving attendance.”

Be Here Get There is a joint initiative of the City of Seattle, Seattle Public Schools, the Alliance for Education and Get Schooled. Non-profits City Year, a volunteer corps focused on education, and Youth Ambassadors, focused on helping students solve truancy problems, are also involved.

Nearly 11 hours following Amanda Knox's impassioned plea for freedom, which she gave in front of the courtroom, the same courtroom that convicted her of murdering Meredith Kercher nearly two years ago, she was freed. She could now return to her Arbor Heights home, or anywhere else she night choose. Her then boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, an Italian, was also freed from prison.

During this appeal trial, the six jurors, the presiding judge and his assistant agreed with the "lone wolf theory", that career criminal and drifter, Rudy Guded, was the lone killer of Ms. Kercher.

Our staff joined supporters and other media gathering at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel beginning11:00 p.m. Oct. 2 and remaining through the verdict, which arrived at 12:45 p.m. Seattle time. Supporters rented the Presidential Suite and watched the trial on TV, remaining cautiously optimistic that Knox and Sollecito would be freed.

There was much tension in the air at the suite as the TV images inside and outside the Perugia courtroom building looked very similar to those many witnessed Dec. 4, 2009, the evening Knox was convicted of murder and faced 26 years in prison.

Update 7:52 pm
Amanda Knox and family came back to West Seattle but in a move designed to protect her from the intense media scrutiny her case has generated, she was taken to an undisclosed location. Her father, Curt Knox came home and spoke to the press outside saying, "I can pretty much guarantee you're not going to find her" meaning they are shielding her from the press right now. He disclosed that she has a desire to return to the University of Washington to continue her education. Her Grandmother Elizabeth had prepared a chocolate Welcome Home cake and took it to the house, where a banner hangs. Curt said that there are no deals in place for any interviews, books, or other financial considerations at this time.

Update 5:45pm

press release:
Seattle Parks and Recreation’s High Point Community Center is hosting the Fabulous Family Fun Series the third Saturday of each month through the end of the year. The series features entertainers and music that is sure to amuse kids of all ages.

All events are held at High Point Community Center, 6920 34th Ave SW. Advance tickets are $3 per person and $5 at the door or $15 per family. For more information, contact High Point Community Center at 206-684-7422.

October 15: Louie Foxx, Magician 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Louie Foxx’s one-man show is filled with tons of magic, comedy, cowboy tricks, juggling and more audience interaction than you can shake a stick at. Louie was recently on America’s Got Talent, and is a Guinness World Record Holder.

November 19: Jamtown1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Experience the joy of hands-on music and art for children, families and music lovers of all ages. Become a part of the percussion instrument ensemble as we explore the music of Africa using hand-crafted indigenous musical instruments.

December 17: The Noise Guy1:00 pm to 3:00 pm