August 2013

From 9 a.m. on July 31st to 1:45 a.m. on Aug. 5, six black males between the ages of 18 and 25 are believed responsible for a “spree” of 10 robberies across Seattle, in some cases using guns and knives to threaten their victims, according to police.

Two of those attacks hit home, according to a Seattle Police Department plea for more information.

In the first West Seattle incident, the suspects (who are described as possibly East African or Somali and potentially driving a green Toyota Camry) surrounded a man on the 5500 block of 16th Ave. S.W. (near South Seattle Community College) around 11:30 p.m. on Aug.1, shoved him to the ground and stole his iPhone and money at gunpoint, according to police. This was only a half hour after they allegedly stole four pizzas from a delivery driver in Holly Park at knifepoint.

On Aug. 4 around noon, the same group is believed responsible for snatching another iPhone from a 13-year-old girl’s hands near 60th Ave. S.W. and Alki Ave. S.W.

Anyone with information on the suspects and any other victims are encouraged to call SPD’s robbery unit at 206-684-5535.

A youth fashion event benefitting the Unified Outreach Non-Profit Arts Program
called the Mac Fashion Celebrity Fashion Expose’ on September 14th, 2013. 5-9pm- Join local celebrities as they support inner-city & at-risk youth.

For over a decade designer Carlisia Minnis and the artists at MAC Fashion House have established themselves as a company whose brand is as unique as Seattle itself.

Recognized as an industry leader in custom clothing, handbags, and infant accessories; Carlisia and MAC Fashion House now lend their talents to the Unified Outreach non-profit youth Arts program for the 2013 Celebrity Invite Youth Fashion Expose’.

On the stage will be 20 aspiring models from the Unified Outreach non-profits Arts program for at-risk & inner-city youth; behind the scenes will be youth from the City of Seattle work training in the Arts program.

Jack Block Park and the waters around it will be alive with kayaks on Saturday Aug. 17 as the Humpy Kayak Classic fishing tournament is set to take place. The event is a fundraiser for Heroes on the Water NW. Heroes on the Water is non-profit organization that serves wounded warriors by taking them kayak fishing in the outdoors as a way for them to relax, rehabilitate and reintegrate into society. This mission is carried out by volunteers who operate local HOW chapters across the United States.

You can connect with them on Facebook here:https://m.facebook.com/HeroesonthewaterNWest
The tournament event page is here: https://www.facebook.com/HumpyKayakClassic2013BenefitTournament?refid=17

Jack Block Park is located at 2130 Harbor Ave SW in West Seattle.

This is a Single Longest Fish tournament (ALL Fish being submitted MUST be whole (No Gutting/Clipping of a Gill Arch for Bleeding is OK). All entries must be measured in before 3PM at the check in station. Targeted Species is Pink "Humpy" Salmon. (If not a single Humpy is caught by anyone participating, then a legally caught coho by the participants will be allowed.)

Come fly a kite at the Garden’s ridge-top site! Bring your own or buy one at the festival for a fun afternoon with family or friends. Activities for all ages include kite flying demonstrations, competitions, and kite painting. Put your own creative stamp on one you paint yourself — materials provided.

The festival also includes music and dance performances and a demonstration of eagle painting by artist George Yiqiao of Luoyang, China. Everyone will find something to enjoy at the festival, including refreshments such as Chinese bakery treats and tea.

Location: 6000 16th Avenue SW, North Entrance at South Seattle Community College (plentiful parking)

Cosponsors: Seattle Chinese Garden, Boeing Asian-American Employees Association, and Microsoft Chinese Employees Association.

Seattle Chinese Kite Festival
Saturday, August 10 — 2–6 pm / FREE Admission

www.seattlechinesegarden.org / info@seattlechinesegarden.org / 206-934-5219

There could be at least three new Burien City Council members in January if Aug. 6 primary election results are a good indication.

In results as of Wednesday evening, Aug. 7, challenger Lauren Berkowitz was garnering a majority of the votes against Councilmember Jack Block Jr. and Kip Walton.

Former Burien mayor Joan McGilton was in a dead-heat with council critic Debi Wagner for McGilton’s council seat.

In the race for Mayor Brian Bennett’s council seat, newcomer Steve Armstrong had a healthy lead over planning commissioner Joey Martinez and Chuck Rangel. Rangel has also been very critical of the council majority. Bennett did not seek re-election.

In SeaTac, councilmember Rick Forschler had a small lead over challenger Kathryn Campbell. The third candidate, Othman Heibe was eliminated from the general election race.
Appointed councilmember Jeremy Nutting had a substantial lead over law-and-order candidate James Payne in Des Moines.

The top two vote getters in each race will continue on to the Nov. 5 general election.
For Block’s Burien council seat, Berkowitz received 51 percent, 2,541 votes; Block 42 percent, 2,101 votes; and Walton, 6 percent, 285 votes.

Information from SDOT

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will close a segment of SW Orchard and Dumar Way SW, which runs between Delridge Way SW and SW Austin Street, from 7:00 a.m. Monday, August 19, until 6:00 p.m. Friday, August 23, to conduct roadway restoration work and make utility upgrades. Local access will be maintained.

Traffic intending to travel west on Dumar Way SW from 16th Avenue SW will be directed to use the following detour (please see attached map):
· South on 16th Avenue SW

· West on SW Henderson

· North on Delridge Way SW

Traffic intending to travel east on SW Orchard to Dumar Way SW from Delridge Way SW will be directed to use the following detour:
· South on Delridge Way SW

· East on SW Henderson Street

· North on 16th Avenue SW

Lane restrictions currently in effect on Delridge Way SW as part of SDOT’s Delridge Way SW Paving Project (between SW Holden and SW Orchard streets) will remain in place until early October. Northbound and southbound traffic will be maintained.

Hercules, now five years old belongs to Gary Jensen and his wife Denise and came from a breeder in Elk Grove, California. He's a pure bred German Shepherd.

"He came up and he's a little guy," said Gary, "he had a little blue ribbon around him and he came right to me and said, 'I'm gonna be your dog.'"

Two weeks later they came to pick him up and he came to him again. "We were bonded pretty early, but my wife has done the primary training so she took him to a trainer that specialized in German Shepherds. One of the things the did with young dogs was they trained him with a ball, and they would speak German. So, my wife will put a ball on her shoulder and walk and he will be fixated on this ball. He will trot and prance and it's incredible to see. She will make a U-Turn and he will follow right around and then she'll stop and say "Zitz!" and he'll sit and she will throw the ball and say 'Luft!' and he just goes for it and brings it back to her."

Hercules was so well trained in this that the trainer got a lot of referrals because of it Gary explained.

Press release:

ART EXHIBIT – NORMANDY PARK CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

Nathan DiPietro - "Green on Grey Exhibit"

Open House Reception: Thursday, August 8th at 7:00pm

We are most fortunate to have Nathan DiPietro exhibiting at Normandy Park City Hall, as his unique egg tempera paintings exemplify aspects of
development which concern every community. This exhibition explores a newNorthwest where the lush overgrowth of the native landscape has been
replaced with neatly platted developments, leveled fields, and manmade greenbelts. In their regional focus and tight linear detail, DiPietro’s works are reminiscent of early 20th-century American painters such as Grant
Wood, but in contrast to those warmly nostalgic scenes from everyday life,
DiPietro’s images have the air of stage sets - uninhabited and artificial.

The exhibit will be on display in the Normandy Park City Council Chambers,801 SW 174th St, Normandy Park, through September 2013. The exhibit may also be viewed during city business hours, Monday-Thursday.

The City of Normandy Park Arts Commission invites you to join us at the

The White Center Community Development Association's Neighborhood Revitalization Program Assistant Sokha Danh announced his departure coming up on Aug. 8.

Here is his letter announcing the move:

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I am writing to you to announce my departure from the White Center CDA as of August 8th, 2013. It's been a blessing to have been given this opportunity to work in this neighborhood that I was raised in.

I cannot thank those enough involved in nurturing my professional as well as personal growth during my time as Neighborhood Revitalization Program Assistant. These past two-years have been an opportunity that few get to experience while as a college undergraduate and also as an aspiring young professional.

White Center will always remain home base for me because of the people and my community here. I will continue to be inspired to fight the good fight for the underserved.

Ganbei!

Sokha Danh

In their annual Best Of Seattle series, the Seattle Weekly has treated Ballard well.

For Best Food Neighborhood, where else is there to look than our once humble neighborhood? In their article, "It's a Lock," they stand in awe at the evolution of Ballard.

"For any longtime Seattleite, the evolution of Ballard into one of the city’s hippest neighborhoods sometimes elicits a shake of the head. For decades the domain of elderly Scandinavians, the butt of at least a third of the jokes on Almost Live, and largely a food wasteland outside of Ray’s Boathouse, Ballard’s status as the most vibrant part of Seattle’s food scene seems hard to believe. But here we are."

Shout outs galore: Bastille Cafe and Bar, Stoneburner, the Walrus and the Carpenter, Staple and Fancy, King's Hardware, BalMar, the Matador, La Carta de Oaxaca, Shiku, Ocho, Hazlewood, Hattie's Hat, Cafe Munir, Delancey, Fat Hen, Senor Moose and Ray's Boathouse.