December 2011

Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade with its enormous balloons tethered against the wind are now only in the memory of those who are children at heart. Stars of the entertainment industry after waving from open roadsters to cement their relationship with their fans are back to their hectic schedules. The masses that shoved their way to get a better view are now resuming their day to day routines.

Why does it make me uncomfortable every year to see this urban explosion of star power waving to the fans and wannabes on the sidelines? I guess it is because I am still a small town “girl” at heart. In the little town where I grew up everyone was involved in the parades. We either helped make the floats or we could march wearing a costume if we wanted to. I must admit I had my day in the sun a few years ago when I was invited to ride in a vintage car when my hometown area honored the Rosie the Riveters and others who worked in WWII industry. I had watched the armed services representatives marching in uniform on every 4th of July parade for many years but never expected to be the center of attention myself. What a thrill.

The 2nd Annual White Center tree lighting celebration is set for Sunday, Dec. 11 at 5pm.

To get things organized for the event a meeting is being held on Tuesday Dec. 6 from 6 pm to 7pm at Uncle Mikes BBQ at 9640A 16th Ave s.w.

The tree, located in Triangle Park adjacent to Mac's Triangle Pub at the intersection of Roxbury, Delridge and 16th Ave. s.w. streets will be lit in an atmosphere of music and celebration. Getting the tree ready means showing up to decorate it and that will happen Dec. 9 in the 10 am hour.

As the West Seattle Herald reported last year, it took five years to get the area electricity and to make the tree lighting event part of the community.

Preceding the tree lighting by one day is an "Ugly Sweater Party" at Company bar and restaurant Saturday Dec. 10 at 7pm. If you have the world's ugliest Christmas sweater, this is the time to get it out of storage and wear it to this party.

The organizers of the tree lighting event are seeking artists, a tree topper and art for tree decoration.

The girls’ basketball team played their home opener Friday night against Rogers, losing 43-46. The Beavers held the lead for the majority of the game, but the Rams came back with a late game rally including a 13-6 run in the third quarter.

Cailey Beckett led the Beavers in scoring with 19 points, while Nancy MacGeorge added 14 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. The girls’ next game will be Wednesday at 7:30 against Eastlake.

Wrestling

The Beavers took on O’Dea and Franklin Friday at Franklin. They defeated O’Dea in the first event 48-24, and tied against Franklin 22 all.

Boys’ Basketball

Ballard defeated Rogers Saturday at Auburn Riverside 50-47. Seth Berger scored 14 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to help the Beavers hold off the Rams late-game rally.

Stuart MacGeorge added 11 points and Brad Baker had 10, as the Beavers shot 42 percent from beyond the arc. The boys will take the court Tuesday at home at 7:30.

With the recent formation of a new Admiral District business association the merchants at the northern end of the West Seattle peninsula announced their intention to band together and promote their neighborhood.

As the West Seattle Herald reported last week, that effort isn't waiting, especially since the holiday season means shoppers. Getting people to shop local means reminding them of the importance of a healthy local business district and making sure storefronts, sidewalks and fixtures look their best.

The light poles that line California Ave. s.w. in the Admiral business area were given a bit of holiday happiness on Sunday Dec. 4 as more than 30 wreaths were in the process of being put up.

The wreaths, all acquired by Wendy at Linda's Flowers and Gifts, will hang throughout the season and hang from both sides of the pole. The poles will also be wrapped in ribbon.

The West Seattle Junction Hometown Holiday schedule officially got underway with the tree lighting on Dec. 3 but when Santa comes to town, everyone knows that's when you really get things started.

The headquarters in front of Key Bank had some face painting going on for some of the Pathfinder school and they were busy providing information on shopping, the Holiday Raffle (participating merchants are giving away $3500 in merchandise) and neighborhood events.

Professional photographer Donna Ryan was shooting photos of Santa with families who were lined up on the sidewalk to get their Christmas wishes heard. Both she and Santa will be back next Sunday, Dec. 11 from 11 am to 3pm.

Next week the Mule Drawn Carriage rides begin in junction too.

Learn more about Hometown Holidays by visiting www.wsjunction.org

Stay on top of the holiday happenings in West Seattle by checking the West Seattle Herald Holiday Events Calendar.

The 10th Annual White Center Community Summit - celebrating the White Center neighborhood and the many efforts of residents, organizations, and community partners was held Dec. 3 at White Center Heights Elementary school.

Its purpose was help area residents to connect to resources and one another. This year’s theme - “Building Neighborhood Equity” was a homegrown effort based on issues residents have raised about housing, healthcare, employment, and education.

Throughout the day workshops on those issues and more were held.

There was a wide array of food from some of the many cultures in the area. There were youth performances, interactive electronic polling, and neighborhood videos.

The polling revealed that 75% of residents of WhiteCenter say that the neighborhood has changed for the better the last ten years.

35% of WhiteCenter residents polled believe that affordability is the neighborhood's biggest housing problem.

60% of WhiteCenter residents polled agree that it is a place where families can be healthy

On Saturday, Dec 3, local families came to the Nordic Heritage Museum to attend the annual gingerbread house decorating event.

During the two-hour event, kids were invited to decorate pre-fabricated gingerbread houses with candy and other goodies before taking their finished product home.

In this picture, Genevieve Marzulli, 3, shows off her gingerbread house.

Hale's Palladium is hosting a performance of Peter Pan like you’ve never seen it before.

The Fremont Players will perform the classic tale of the boy who didn’t want to grow up as a unique British Pantomime.

“It’s a traditional British panto with men dressing like women and women dressing like men,” said Alison Snyder of The Fremont Players. “But we have reworked the traditional story with our own twist on the characters.”

The performance will feature large colorful characters, and original songs and music performed by the Fremont Philharmonic.

“I highly encourage children to come out. We have a magic carpet in front of the stage for kids to sit on,” Snyder said, adding that the audience is encouraged to boo at the villain, cheer for the hero, and applaud the tap-dancing crocodile.

While the panto is a family event, The Fremont Players promise that enough jokes and innuendos will be fired over the kids' heads to keep everyone entertained.

The Ballard Boy Scouts Troop & Crew 100 are once again selling Christmas trees on the corner of NW 57th and 15th Ave NW, as they have been doing for over six decades.

Started in the late 1940s, the Christmas tree sale is the Troop 100’s only fundraiser of the year. The scouts bring in around one thousand trees which are handpicked by a couple dads with forestry degrees.

“They really know their trees”, said Bill Dunnell, chair of the Parents of Troop 100 Committee, explaining that a good quality tree can be recognized by their shape.

Dunnell explained that because the trees were grown in the rain shadow of the Shelton/Bremerton area, the trees are slow-grown, have less mass at the trunk and straight stems.

During the week, when the scouts are in school, the Parents of Troop 100 Committee manages the sales.

Parent Tom Whyte said selling trees with the Troop 100 for the last ten years has given him a sense of community.

The scouts hand out $1000 worth of tree vouchers to low-income Ballardites, bringing the holiday cheer into the homes of those who can’t afford a tree.

UPDATE: GRAMMY NIGHT, FEB. 12:

In the best folk album category at the Grammy' Awards tonight, The Civil Wars album "Barton Hollow" won. That means they beat West Seattle icon Eddie Vedder with his "Ukulele Songs".

It was a bittersweet evening as many paid tribute to the late Whitney Houston. The winner of six Grammy Awards, Ms. Houston was honored by Jennifer Hudson who sang "I Will Always Love You" written in 1973 by Dolly Parton.

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Most everyone in the area knows Pearl Jam artist Eddie Vedder lives in West Seattle. Now everyone everywhere is beginning to learn that the grunge, rock icon is getting recognized as a folk artist for his ukulele LP,Ukulele Songs, placed in the "folk" category by those who nominated him for a Grammy. The 54th Grammy Awards air on CBS Feb. 12. Also intriguing, his album is up against another Seattle band's album, Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes.