December 2011

Not guilty plea in attempted child rape case
Highline school district employee Daniel G. Lumlung pleaded not guilty to third degree attempted child rape in King County court on November 28th, according to court documents. Lumlung, 34 is accused of asking a 15-year-old girl to perform oral sex at a Kent park after meeting her in an online chat room. King County Judge Mary E. Roberts issued a pretrial restraining order requiring Lumlung to stay 500 feet away from the alleged victim until Nov. 16, 2013. Additionally. Lumlung was ordered to have "no contact, directly or indirectly in person, writing or by phone, personally or through another person with all minors except his own children," according to court documents. On Nov. 28, Lumlung's attorney David Marshall withdrew himself from the case. In Marshall's place, Ali Nakkour of the Freedom Law Firm took over as the defendant's attorney.

Vehicular Homicide

On Dec. 1 a small group of Delridge residents gathered for an “Early Design Guidance Meeting” led by Jerry Suder, a Seattle Department of Planning and Development supervising land use planner, and set up by the North Delridge Neighborhood Council.

The goal was to prepare people the Dec. 8 early design review meeting for the controversial DESC Supportive Housing project in Delridge. The early design review meeting is set for Dec. 8, 6:30 p.m. at the Youngstown Cultural Art Center Theater.

DESC is in the process of obtaining a Master Use Permit (MUP) from the city and the early design review meeting is a first step, although the Delridge community has already been very active in expressing concerns over the project, primarily focused on social issues.

DPD reviews signify a shift in topic. They are focused on the project’s design - including the building’s massing, materials, landscaping, etc.

Along the corridors of my college dormitory there were confidences exchanged and friendships formed that we thought would last forever. Some did; some didn’t. We hadn’t accepted that sometimes we are friends only by circumstance and geography. No longer two doors down, or a knock away, not all relationships grow roots.

I lived next door to Sherri for twenty-two years; yet we never once went out for coffee together or took a walk other than between houses. But we shared a 100 foot lot; except my house was on just one quarter. She shared her dress shoes with me and her baked apples. I shared the occasional extra stick of butter. We probably had more conversations while wearing our bathrobes than we ever did clothed. If I was home sick on her day off I’d watch for her so I could pop open the side window to ask her for Extra-Strength Tylenol, a heating pad.

AmericanWest banners drape the signs that formerly read Viking Bank, announcing to the public that the merger and acquisition of Viking Bank is now complete.

After three years of financial struggles, the merger of Viking Bank and AmericanWest Bank was first announced in September.

At that time Landon Brazier, Chairman of Viking Financial, assured us that the merger will be good for the Ballard Community.

"This organization will now be a stronger support to the community than we have been in recent years. With more financial resources and a larger capital base, we will be able to make larger loans than Viking Bank was ever able to make," he said. "The name's going to change but the level of service will be the same."

Brazier said they're working to ensure that Viking Bank employees will maintain their positions in the bank and customers will notice little change in the bank's service.

A new exhibition opened at the Nordic Heritage Museum on December 9. Titled "Cold Recall: Reflections of a Polar Explorer", the exhibition showcases Roald Amundsen and his expedition to the South Pole. Roald Amundsen and the crew of the Fram were the first explorers to reach the South Pole in 1911

A special program held tonight will commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Roald Amundsen’s expedition to the South Pole. The Museum will feature a special reception from 6 – 8 pm, with a lecture at 7 pm by Erik Sundholm: Amundsen's Quest for the South Pole (and how it brought him to Seattle).

I’m not sure how it happened, but my sister and I stopped talking to one another several years ago. I remember a nasty argument during one of the kid’s birthday celebration, but I also have vague recollections of talking to her after that. There were some references from friends that she was upset by her portrayal in my memoir, but I also remember my mom telling me my sister said, “Wow, I thought that would be way worse,” after finishing my book.

The 2012 Neighborhood Projects Fund (NPF) is now officially open to receive applications. Deadline for applications is February 1.

The NPF can be used for projects valued up to $90K to fund park or street improvements, such as playground improvements, pathway upgrades, tennis court repaving, accessibility improvements, traffic circles, traffic calming, and school zone speed limit signs, etc. This funding source is not recommended for sidewalks, as sidewalks are typically more expensive than this funding allows.

NPF consists of two City budget sources: the Cumulative Reserve Subfund (CRS) and the Neighborhood Street Fund (NSF). Through this program, approximately $1.2 million is set aside in 2012 for small scale improvements to neighborhood parks and streets, with project implementation in 2013. These funds are unique because NPF projects can be proposed by the community.

NPF projects are required to meet the following criteria:

By Friends of the Woodland Park Zoo Elephants

Woodland Park Zoo (WPZ) artificially inseminated Chai, a female Asian elephant, for the 59th time on December 5, 2011. The previous 58 artificial inseminations over 20 years have all failed to produce a live birth.

Starting this week, John’s Corner Deli 7500 35th Ave SW is making some exciting changes. For years, John’s (also known for the cow standing on top of the store) has carried traditional convenience store items such as soda, candy and alcohol. Now David Ji, the owner, is going back to John’s roots as a small grocer and will carry fresh produce and other staple items.

New signage for John's went up Nov. 29 both outside and inside, actually replacing beer posters, to make it clear that the products are available. The signage was designed by Kathi George of Noise without Sound design, a well known South Park and White Center community participant.

Inside the store merchandising carts are in place to display fruits and vegetables. These replace displays for chips and other unhealthy snacks.

“This is a great time for community members to support the healthy changes happening at the store. Stop by and buy some fruit or veggies and let David know what other healthy foods you would like to see there,” says Chuck Genuardi, a grocery consultant.

West Seattle-based Ola Salon at 2942 s.w. Avalon Way is doing a beautiful thing so you can too. They are offering blowouts and brow waxes for a suggested donation of $20, with all proceeds benefiting Transitional Resources, a neighborhood mental health center.

Ola’s medical esthetician and stylists will be available for consultations throughout the event, in addition to providing blowouts and brow waxes. Salon owner Rachel Karlin annually organizes salon events to benefit local non-profit organizations, and this month’s Blowouts + Brows event will feature very special complimentary hors d’oeuvres and mimosas from Avalon restaurant just next door. Other local businesses will provide an assortment of goodies to be raffled during the event. Proceeds from both the salon service donations and raffle ticket sales will benefit Transitional Resources.