December 2011

Press release:

Through efforts from the Washington Export Initiative comes a new resource developed for business, designed to aid companies who are interested in entering or expanding their reach across the globe. The Washington Export Resource Center (WERC) web portal has been formed by a dynamic partnership between business and education and offers access to a diverse network of stakeholders; products and services all aimed at helping businesses expand their markets.

WERC has been designed with the user in mind and showcases key features that allow the user to enter the export arena on many different levels; whether you are a small business new to export or a small, mid or even large business with current export experience wanting to expand into new global markets.

SLIDESHOW, CLICK ON ABOVE PHOTO FOR MORE

Charles Simonyi was honored today at the Seattle Museum of Flight. The museum gallery's name was unveiled, the Charles Simonyi Space Gallery. Hungarian-born Simonyi was a key architect of Microsoft Word and Excel, and founder of Intentional Software who flew twice as a "space tourist" to the International Space Station on the Russian Soyuz. He spent a total of 30 days in space. He donated $3 million to the gallery.

The gallery will receive the Space Shuttle mockup simulator in late spring, early summer. We ran a recent article about the Space Shuttle simulator here. This event was timed to overlap with tomorrow's "Future Forum hosted by the museum and NASA.

The Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences is a $75 million foundation he established in 2003 and has benefitted the Seattle Symphony, Public Library, in addition to the Museum of Flight.

Museum Chairman of the Board Michael Hallman

Sustainable Seattle presented their 2011 Sustainability Awards last night and among the nominees was Sustainable Ballard's President Jenny Heins.

Heins has been a long time leader in the Seattle Sustainability Movement. She has put on all the Green Fests, been the cornerstone for Sustainable Ballard and a key player for SCALLOPS (Sustainable Communities ALL Over Puget Sound).

"Without Jenny, the sustainability movement in Seattle would not be nearly as far along as it is," according to Sustainable Seattle.

Among the evening's winners was Community Kitchens Northwest, a Seattle-based community supported organization which helps build community around food and to build skills. They work to create opportunities for people to cook together and build community strength through food and lasting skills for self empowerment. One of their kitchen is located in the Ballard Community Center at 6020 28th Ave NW.

Congratulations to all winners:

Social Environment:
Community Kitchens NW for leadership.
West Seattle Tool Library for innovation.

A Seattle Police patrolman was driving along the 700 block of S. Cloverdale St. when he saw an adult male tagging the brick wall of a bus stop with a black marker, according to the SPD.

The male was standing next to his bike and wearing a black bike helmet, black hoodie, black jean vest and black pants. When approached by the officer and asked why he was vandalizing the wall, the man told the officer he was bored, police said.

According to Sgt. Sean Whitcomb, "the officer asked if it was okay to break the law if he was bored and the suspect replied, 'No, it was a childish thing to do, I’m sorry.' In a search incident to arrest, the officer located a knife in the suspect’s back pocket and a large black permanent marker in the suspect’s right pocket."

The suspect's information was taken and he was released at the scene. Police requested a charge of property damage be filed by the City Attorney's Office.

Update for Dec. 10
The 29-year-old man arrested earlier this week for investigation of homicide and assault in the shooting death of Jayme Thomas appeared in court on Dec. 9 and was marked with a $1 million bail, according to King County Prosecutors.

Prosecutors have until Dec. 12 to file charges against him.

Probable cause documents released on Friday show the suspect lived in Des Moines, about 1.5 miles away from the Redondo Beach parking lot where he is suspected of opening fire on a group of people after a verbal confrontation on Nov. 5. Jayme, who was sitting in the backseat of a car, was shot several times and later died from her injuries at Harborview. A 24-year-old male was also shot in both arms, leading to the potential assault charge.

An argument escalates into tragedy
According to the probable cause documents, witnesses told police around 2:30 a.m. early that morning an argument started up between the group Jayme was with and a group of Asian and African American males standing about 500 feet away.

Over half of all apples eaten in America come from Washington. This is the time of year to take advantage of our state’s great local produce!

An apple a day really helps keep the doctor away. Apples are good sources of natural fibers that can lower cholesterol and keep you regular. They are also low in sodium and low in calories, which makes them great for the kidneys, heart and waistline.

There are over 200 common apple varieties – plenty to choose from! Some are great for eating fresh, while others are best for pies or baking. Others cook into the most wonderful applesauce. (If you want to test this theory, try baking a pie with Delicious varieties and you will have tasteless mush.)

For apples to eat fresh, try Fuji, Honey Crisp or Pink Lady. For pies, try Bramleys or Granny Smiths. The best baked apples are Rome Beauties. The shape is wonderful, and they are large enough to stuff. Galas are another good choice for baking. The best applesauce comes from the 300-year-old apple variety called Gravensteins. Akanes, Jonagolds, McIntosh and Honey Crisps are good as well.

Freezing temperatures didn't keep a group a bike-enthusiastic women from coming out on Monday evening for the monthly Menstrual Monday ride. The theme for the evening was Holiday Lights and together the group rode from neighborhood to neighborhood in search of Seattle's best decorated houses.

Stops included Queen Anne's Kerry Park, Fremont's decorated Lenin Statue, a Ballard residence on NW 52nd and 6th Ave NW, and Ballard's Olympic Manor.

The tour featured multiple stops in Ballard, prompting the question, 'who has the best decorated house in Ballard?'.

Let us know in the comment box below, on Facebook, or send us your pictures and comments via email to anner@robinsonnews.com.

Nick and Maria Fushazi still hadn’t put up their Christmas lights last week at their SeaTac home.

Their two children, --Katherina, 8, and Peter, 16 months—certainly would have enjoyed them.

But the Fushazi family didn’t even know if they would still be in their home by Christmas. They were facing imminent eviction.

An auction was held for their home on Nov. 28. There were no bidders so it reverted to the federal agency that holds the loan. The real estate agent has tried to change the locks on the doors, Maria Fushazi reported.

The holiday outlook might be brighter now following a rally Dec. 6 in front of their home by OUR Washington (Organization United for Reform Washington,) a grassroots group that advocates for middle and low-income people.

After the rally with about 30 OUR Washington members and media on the front lawn of the Fushazi’s home in the 14200 block of 31st Avenue South, members made about 20 phone calls to the Fushazi’s loan servicing company.

The Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors at tonight's meeting elected the following new officers for the 2012 calendar year:

Dir. Michael DeBell - President
Dir. Kay Smith-Blum - Vice President

Dir. Betty Patu - Member at Large

The votes were all unanimous, 7-0.
As Board President, DeBell will preside at all Board of Directors and Executive Committee meetings and sign all papers and documents as required by law or as authorized by the action of the Board. DeBell will also serve as the Board spokesperson.

Smith-Blum, the newly-elected Vice President, will serve on the Executive Committee and preside at Board meetings in DeBell's absence.

As Member-at-Large, Patu shall serve on the Executive Committee with the President and Vice President and shall preside at Board meetings in the absence of the President and Vice President.

The officers are elected for one-year terms and serve as the Executive Committee of the Board. The Executive Committee provides:

·         Leadership for the Board in the areas of government relations with national, state and local agencies

·         Coordination of the Superintendent evaluation

·         Board training

A new Christmas book, "Santa's First Magical Ride" was just released by West Seattle residents Paul and Libby Carr, their 12 chapters of rhyming couplets augmented by world-class illustrator Herb Leonhard of Prosser, WA. Paul was the author, while Libby is marketing the book. The story offers an explanation of where Santa was born, why the elves live in the North Pole, and other answers that parents might share with their youngsters.

Libby said the book's 7” x 7” hardback format makes it well-suited for Christmas gifts for companies and organizations to give employees and customers.

This is Leonhard's 26th book. He has illustrated books ranging from "Lyrics by Tori Amos" to "Lewis & Clark in the Pacific Northwest Coloring Book".

The Carr's of Alki are well-known, in part, for their work in establishing the new Statue of Liberty and Plaza there. Perhaps less known is that this creative duet adopted the Santa & Mrs. Claus persona for many a Christmas.