August 2013

Want to make a difference in Ballard? Have an interesting project that you think the neighborhood can't do without?

Say hello to the Neighborhood Matching Fund's Small and Simple Projects Fund, which will provide up to $25,000 to support community efforts around the city.

In Ballard, we have seen a number of projects come to life thanks to the Small and Simple Grant's help, including the automated ringing of the original Ballard Town Hall bell in Marvin's Garden, cleaning up the Sunset Hill-Shilshole Gateway Project, information materials for five emergency preparedness hubs in Ballard and more.

Here's the official message from the Department of Neighborhoods:

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August 26, 2013 (Seattle, WA) – Seattle Department of Neighborhoods is accepting applications to the Neighborhood Matching Fund’s Small and Simple Projects Fund. The deadline for receipt of applications is 5 p.m. on Monday, October 7.

Prudential Real Estate, an HSF Affiliates LLC company, today released results of its second quarter Consumer Outlook Survey indicating that millennials are increasingly optimistic about residential real estate. A full 80% of respondents ages 25-34 said their perception of the housing market is “favorable” or “somewhat favorable,” representing a 9 percentage point increase from the Q1 study.

Among all respondents, the national survey also found that confidence in real estate and home values jumped sharply, reaching 83% vs. 77% in Q1 study and 73% at year-end. Confidence is highest in both South and West regions at 84%.

“Young Americans, like the majority of survey participants, are feeling much better about homeownership,” said Earl Lee, chief executive officer of HSF Affiliates LLC and president of Prudential Real Estate. “People are looking optimistically at housing for all right reasons – a place to feel secure, build a future and raise a family.”

Contact: Heather Weiner, heather@heatherweiner.com 206-218-7194

SeaTac – August 27, 2013: SeaTac voters and employees at Sea-Tac Airport say they are not surprised multinational airport corporations are back in court trying to block residents from casting their votes on SeaTac Proposition 1 this November. SeaTac Proposition 1 would inject millions of dollars into the local economy and create good middle class jobs at the airport and related industries.

Yes! For SeaTac supporters say they are planning to appeal a King County judge’s order overturning King County and the City of SeaTac’s certificates of sufficiency for the SeaTac Good Jobs Initiative, also known as SeaTac Proposition 1.

Earlier this summer, King County Elections, the SeaTac City Clerk and the SeaTac Petition Review Board all agreed that SeaTac voters had turned in more than enough valid signatures to put the initiative on the November ballot. Determined to stop SeaTac voters from casting their ballots, Alaska Airlines and the Washington Restaurant Association went back to court.

By Katy Wilkens, MS, RD

I recently took an 8-day, 65-mile kayak trip around Orcas Island. Our meals were wonderful, and the ocean was the closest my food got to salt.

It amazes me how high in salt most backpacking and “instant” meals are. Some of the “just-add-water” pouch meals have more salt in them than two hikers should have in one day, much less in one meal.

Cutting the salt out of your food when you are camping is easy, and it’s easy on your blood pressure, kidneys and heart too. Pack your own food for less salt, less money and more flavor than freeze-dried, canned or dehydrated foods.

People are always surprised at the food I take camping. Many foods keep better than you think. Cheddar cheese will keep a week on the trail, zucchini have stayed fine in my kayak for two weeks, and I am a fan of the new, little sweet peppers, which hardly weigh anything and will last a week.

Update for Aug. 27
Information from U.S. Attorney's Office:

FEDS SIEZE THREE LONG-TIME PROBLEM MOTELS IN TUKWILA AS PART OF YEAR-LONG INITIATIVE

Owners and Managers Allegedly Facilitated and Profited from Drug Distribution and Prostitution

King County Judge Katherine Shaffer ordered the man found guilty of murdering 24-year-old Jason Saechao in White Center to spend the next 50 years behind bars.

Cu Van Troung was 25 at the time he shot and killed Saechao at the Seattle Roll Bakery on Dec. 28, 2011. A King County jury found him guilty in June of first degree murder with a firearm enhancement and first degree unlawful possession of a a firearm (he was a convicted felon at the time of the shooting). His sentencing range was 40 to 50 years, and Shaffer went for the max.

In what detectives described as a revenge plot, Truong arrived at the Seattle Roll Bakery around midnight to confront Saechao about “bad mouthing” him and stealing a necklace from an acquaintance of Troung’s who was dating Saechao’s girlfriend while the shooting victim was in jail.

The sign with the black H/K against the yellow background marked a spot on Alaska Street for more than 5 decades. Now the Howden Kennedy funeral home sign is gone and the property at 3909 SW Alaska St becomes the property of the new developers as of Wednesday Aug. 28.

Mike Emmick, who has served as an apprentice and nearly has his mortuary degree, was asked to take down the famous sign atop the building on Monday Aug. 26. "I'm grieving for this building he said," with the knowledge that it will be removed to accommodate a new large development including Whole Foods and more apartment housing if the plans go ahead.

The Weeks family has already distributed some of the interior decor to the Columbia Funeral home and the Vashon Funeral home. Chapel chairs, pictures and much more has already been cleared out so the sign was the last to go.

With the help of his father Craig Emmick, a former funeral director himself, Mike dismantled with plastic sign fronts, handling them gingerly since they are now brittle with age.

The football schedule for Seattle Lutheran High School has been released. It starts here in West Seattle at th West Seattle Stadium on Sept. 7 when they face Evergreen Lutheran at 7pm.

The Saints are going through their football camp at Camp Berachah this week.

Seattle Lutheran football 2013 schedule

Saturday, Sept. 7
Evergreen Lutheran @ WS Stadium, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 14
Lake Roosevelt @ WS Stadium, 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 21
Oroville@ WS Stadium, 2 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 27
@ Concrete, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 5
Darrington @ WS Stadium, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 12
LaConner @ WS Stadium, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 19
at Orcas Island, 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 26
Chief Leschi @ WS Stadium, 1:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 1
Nisqually playoff @ TBD.
Friday, Nov. 8 or Saturday, Nov. 9
at Tacoma Baptist, 7 p.m.

Back to School BBQ August 28

Sports Briefs

Jones, Lange play for Huskies
Mount Rainier High School graduate Darwin Jones and Kennedy graduate Ian Lange have earned their way onto the roster for the University of Washington men's soccer team.
Jones is a junior forward for the Huskies who stands at 5-foot, 10-inches and lives in Des Moines, while Lange is a 6-1 sophomore defender who lives in Federal Way but graduated from JFK in Burien.
Both played in Saturday's exhibition game against Seattle Pacific University.

Besagno with Seattle University
Kennedy graduate Julia Besagno is playing for the Seattle University women's soccer team this fall.
Besagno is a senior midfielder for the Redhawks who is 5-6 and lives in Maple Valley.

St. Martin's lures locals
St. Martin's University of Lacey has a women's soccer roster laden with Highline Times/Des Moines News area talent.
Two players hail from Mount Rainier High School in Des Moines in 5-3 sophomore defender/midfielder Chelsie Still and 5-6 junior midfielder/defender Clarissa Strayer.

If you want a real Cuban sandwich, visit the new Geo’s Cuban and Creole restaurant.

That’s the line that co-owners Kim Gianotti and Geo Rodriguez offer.

“I’m originally from Cuba. I grew up having my parents cooking, all my family. Kids start learning how to cook since they’re tiny,” Geo said. “I’m trying to give a good experience to the people, (I want them) to know what Cuban is.”

In the past, Rodriguez has worked at different places around Seattle, including a food truck he helped open up on Aurora Ave and Serious Pie.

As for the Cuban and Creole pairing, Geo says it makes more sense than people think. There is a Creole presence and influence in Southeast Cuba that many are not aware of.

Besides, he said, he likes Southern food.

“I like the spice. The flavors. It’s incredible,” he said. “I love Southern foods.”

Kim said that Creole and Cuban foods have the same influences from France, Spain and Africa. Just the way the ingredients are used and combined are different. While Creole is spicier, Cuban is heartier. Both leave you wanting more.