June 2015

Featured artist Debbie Bianchi creates the whimsical scenes with acrylic paint, paper, charcoal and pastel.

Meet Debbie at the Gallery’s Artist’s Reception, Friday, July 10, 5-8 p.m. The Gallery is located at 826 S.W. 152nd St. in Olde Burien. The exhibit runs July 1-Aug. 2.

According to Debbie, “My art is my search for and longing for beauty in the ordinary and mundane. Almost anything can be inspiring, from the wind in the trees, to the birds hopping around gathering food, to the light reflecting off the water day or night.”

Debbie says her inspiration began by sewing clothes from vintage clothing and other textiles.

“There was such satisfaction of taking something obsolete and creating something new and fresh,” Debbie declares.

From working with vintage textiles, her technique has evolved into creating low-relief pieces that straddle trompe-l’oeil painting and assemblages.

By Tim Clifford

As reported by multiple local news outlets police in SeaTac made a shocking discovery in the home of 43-year-old Danny Zimmerman while they were arresting him for disseminating child porn on social media: a child sized rape doll.

Zimmerman has been sharing child pornography on his Twitter account for months and immediately caught the eye of local law enforcement. Police began monitoring his social media feed after he drew multiple complaints from a clearinghouse for distributing the child porn and moved in to arrest him on Wednesday, June 17. As they were searching through his home they were confident they would find a cache of child pornography. Finding the rape doll, which is purported to be the size of a small child, was an especially unsettling surprise.

Currently being held in the King County Jail on charges of distributing child porn Zimmerman has a history of sexual assault cases and child molestation. While the mechanics are unclear a line in the charging documents that states the doll was crafted and modified by Zimmerman himself.

The City of Burien, in partnership with Merrill Gardens, Pillar Properties and Legacy Partners, celebrated the groundbreaking of the remaining phases of Burien Town Square at a June 25 event. Construction began on May 29 on the Merrill Gardens senior living community and is expected to be complete by late in the summer of 2016. Construction is also getting underway at the market rate apartments on the site. Legacy Partners and Pillar Properties are partnering on the development of both properties and Pillar Properties will manage the apartments upon completion.

Once finished, the two developments will complete the Town Square vision which already includes City Hall, Burien Library, Burien Town Square Condos, and Town Square Park. The two properties will bring intergenerational living to the downtown area with Merrill Gardens 126 independent, assisted living and memory care apartments alongside the 228 market-rate studio, one and two bedroom apartments. Both developments will include limited retail on the ground level as well as underground parking.

The Seattle Seafair Pirates managed to overcome the tide and a pitched cannon battle on the water to land on Alki Beach and launch the annual Seattle maritime festival for 2015 on Saturday June 27.

Thousands of people lined the shores of Alki Beach as the Pirates approached aboard the Global Salvage boat but the Baltic Sea, owned by Husky Deli proprietor Jack Miler was ready for them
Armed with three cannons, the two boats exchanged loud blasts (all in fun) as the simulated battle took place amid a sea of other boats there for the occasion.

The West Seattle Herald was a guest on Miller's boat which offered us a unique point of view of the event.

Multiple bands entertained the crowd and vendors provided food, drink and souvenirs for the people.

In the end the Pirates fled the scene on their trusty land craft the Moby Duck and Seafair was off and running.

The event was produced by Oliver Little and his company Monumental Undertaking.

Editor's note- Pigeon Point resident Pete Spalding wrote to the Seattle Department of Transportation to express concern over a street issue in his neighborhood:

UPDATE: The issue has been addressed according to Pete Spalding:

I just want to take a moment to thank everyone that emailed me, called me or
spoke to me in person to help resolve this issue so quickly. After a number of emails and phone calls during the day on Friday an SDOT crew was assigned to do the work. They showed up on Saturday morning as promised, assessed the
situation and then proceeded to do their repairs. The crew was very nice and took the time to explain what steps they had taken, were going to take at that time and what we could expect as follow-up to make sure that further sinkage did not occur.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

District 7 all-star Little League baseball tournaments will get underway this weekend at the PacWest complex between Burien and SeaTac off Des Moines Way South.

West Seattle opens the eight-team Minors tournament by playing Renton at 6 p.m. Friday and PacWest plays South Highline National at 9 a.m. Saturday, with the winners meeting at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Southwest of White Center waits until 3 p.m. Saturday for its opener and Rainier District plays South Highline American at 6 p.m. Saturday, with the winners playing at 4 p.m. Sunday.

The winners bracket final is at 12 p.m. Saturday, July 4 and the loser's bracket final at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 5.

Championship action is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, July 6 with the if-necessary game at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 7.

The age 10/11 tournament starts with Seattle Central playing Renton at 6 p.m. Friday, with the winner meeting Rainier District at 12 p.m. Saturday.

West Seattle opens against PacWest at 9 a.m. Saturday and the winner plays South Highline National at 1 p.m. Sunday.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

District 7 all-star Little League baseball tournaments will get underway this weekend at the PacWest complex between Burien and SeaTac off Des Moines Way South.

West Seattle opens the eight-team Minors tournament by playing Renton at 6 p.m. Friday and PacWest plays South Highline National at 9 a.m. Saturday, with the winners meeting at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Southwest of White Center waits until 3 p.m. Saturday for its opener and Rainier District plays South Highline American at 6 p.m. Saturday, with the winners playing at 4 p.m. Sunday.

The winners bracket final is at 12 p.m. Saturday, July 4 and the loser's bracket final at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 5.
Championship action is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, July 6 with the if-necessary game at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 7.

The age 10/11 tournament starts with Seattle Central playing Renton at 6 p.m. Friday, with the winner meeting Rainier District at 12 p.m. Saturday.
West Seattle opens against PacWest at 9 a.m. Saturday and the winner plays South Highline National at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The feeling of an instrument in your hands, as experienced musicians will tell you is more than just holding that object. It's often about the instrument's history, its character, the feel of a musical tool that you can bring your own expression to, making it your own.

Thunder Road Guitars in business since 2012, is largely based on that feeling. On June 27 they will open a new chapter in their own history when they open in a new location in the heart of the West Seattle Junction at 4736 California Ave SW.

Owner Frank Gross is a self proclaimed "guitar nerd" and the store which specializes in vintage and used guitars has built a worldwide following, largely through online sales. He's sold sold guitars to rock stars including Pete Townshend of the Who. "We do about 60% of our business online and 40% in store," Gross said. He brings his own musical background to the store, despite only being 29, he has ten years of experience as a touring musician, having traveled in Europe and "most of the United States."

On Aug. 14, Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, will be awarded the 2015 Seattle Hempfest Excellence in Cannabis Activism Award at Seattle’s Hempfest festival.

Kohl-Welles is recognized as a tireless advocate for medical marijuana patients statewide. This legislative session she sponsored numerous bills relating to marijuana reform including the Comprehensive Marijuana Reform Act, legislation designed to streamline the newly enacted I-502 system, maintain and improve access to medical marijuana for patients, and improve public safety and law enforcement efficiency.

In addition, Kohl-Welles sponsored a bill that has been signed into law creating a marijuana research license for the production and possession of marijuana for research purposes. Another bill she sponsored would ease regulations surrounding cannabis health and beauty aids. It has been amended onto a bill sponsored by Rep. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, that has yet to be passed by the Legislature.