August 2015

By Tim Clifford

Sunday night, July 26, true crime author Ann Rule passed away in a Seattle area hospital. Following a fall in 2013 the author’s health had been steadily declining over the last few years and according to correspondence between the Seattle P.I. and daughter Leslie Rule she ultimately died of pneumonia and congestive heart failure.

On July 19 Rule was admitted to Highline Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit with pneumonia.
Rule began her writing career after working as a Seattle Police officer in the late 1960’s. For years she was regularly published in True Detective Magazine and was their Northwest correspondent. It was during these years that she wrote under the pseudonym “Andy Stack” to give the impression she was a male author. She covered over 800 cases between Seattle and northern California for the magazine throughout the 70’s.

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Learn About West Seattle Timebank & Meet Members
Younkin Residence in Arbor Heights
3523 SW 112th St.
Thurs., Aug. 20, 6:30-7 p.m. - Potluck, bring a dish to share; 7-8:30 p.m. - Meeting. Information: www.westseattletimebank.com

Free Summer Drop in Family Events
Neighborhood House High Point Family Center
6400 Sylvan Way S.W.
206.588.4900 / megand@nhwa.org
Thurs., Aug. 20, 11 a.m-Noon. Drop in Science Lab with Seattle Public Library: The Science of Sounds Concert! Ages toddler to 12. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Hop of the Steam train to explore the science of sound at a concert featuring Nancy Stewart.

Thurs., Aug. 27. 11 a.m-Noon. Drop in Science Lab with Seattle Public Library: Physiology - Sight! Ages toddler to 12. Children must be accompanied by an adult. A collection of short activities that teach how our eyes see and hour brain interprets visual information.

By Kyra-lin Hom

I had the joy of watching Pixar's new film Inside Out in theaters this week. It's an adorable, clever, moral-driven story about the complex emotional life of an eleven year old girl. The main characters are quite literally Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust. Captained by Joy, the five emotions run Riley's “headquarters,” dictating her behavior. And though the film is technically about Riley, the arc of the story follows Joy on her path to understanding that Riley doesn't always have to be happy.

The moral is remarkably adult for what is supposedly a children's cartoon. Then again, that should be no surprise to anyone familiar with the Pixar lineup. Most famously, let's all recall "Up" released in 2009. Anyone who didn't get at least a little misty-eyed during that opening sequence has no heart.

By Georgie Bright Kunkel

As one gets older with no regular career responsibilities people often remark, “Oh, it’s nice you keep busy.” That is after I mention my busy life. I reply that I am not just keeping busy. I am actively involved in life. Why is it that retired people are considered out of the loop? It is as if life stops after your formal work life is ended. It is time to find ways to integrate the age groups.

You have heard me complain about children cooped up in four walls all day and the problems involving big city segregation. The attempt at forming neighborhood communication is a step in the right direction. There are perks in knowing your neighbors. I try to know mine but neighborhood visiting evidently has gone out of style. Life is so busy these days that there doesn’t seem to be enough time for that. I am fortunate in having neighbors that I contact occasionally. I am not afraid to knock on doors and say hello.

By Michele Smith

A student at Westside School in West Seattle, 13 year old Justin Murphy is already a worldly traveler for his age. With 4 times to Thailand and once to Belize under his belt, he has seen his share of poverty.

Each trip Justin brings toys and gives them to the less fortunate kids he meets. Justin has a great love for sports but is passionate about baseball just as the Nicaraguan people are.

The first week of August, Justin and his mom Robin will board a red-eye flight from Seattle to the Little Corn Islands in the Caribbean just off the Nicaraguan coast where Justin will distribute baseball gear to players in need.

The gear was donated to his baseball gear drive and GoFund me fundraiser he held this past January. Justin may only be a teenager but Justin realizes that one person with a generous heart and an entrepreneurial spirit can make a big difference in the lives of others.

By Pat Cashman

We’d receive word from Curly at any time---and when delivered, it was immediately time to jump into action.
Curly was a neighbor kid that lived two doors down. He had hair like bedsprings, hence the name. I never knew any kids named ‘Straight’ or ‘Wavy.’

SIDEBAR: Those were less correct times when kids often had nicknames based on their personal characteristics: Tubby, Tiny, Skinny, Lumpy, Shorty, Maggot, etc. A classmate named Stinky grew up to become an excellent card-player. Solitaire mostly.

Whenever Curly showed up he had one message---always containing a tantalizing word: Free! It was because Curly was uncommonly tuned in to anybody and any place that was offering something for nothing.
“Free scoops of ice cream at Newberry’s,” he might say furtively, then dash off.
Or, “They’re giving out Frisbees at the Arco station.”

Perhaps even, “Free bookmarks at the library.” Not exactly pulse-quickening perhaps, but free. And that was the point.

By Tim Clifford

Salaam Alaikum
For one West Seattle man July 23 proved to be a rough day with a capital “R”. Police first learned of the man’s troubles when they received multiple calls from residents near 16th Ave. S.W. and S.W. Myrtle St. concerning a man screaming in the middle of the street.

When police arrived they spoke with the man and encountered a bit of a language barrier since he is originally from India and primarily speaks Arabic. Eventually he managed to explain to them that earlier that afternoon he and a friend had been walking in a nearby park when he heard a man yelling out “Salaam Alaikum” from a distant house window repeatedly. A short time afterward the victim and this friend parted ways and that was when he realized someone had begun following him.

According to the Seattle Police Blotter a 15-year-old female was walking along 14 Ave. SW approaching SW Cambridge St. at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday July 29 when a subject described as an Hispanic male in his mid 40s, grabbed her from behind, tried to cover her mouth, and began pulling her toward a parked SUV.

The girl screamed, alerting two witnesses who stopped to help. The suspect fled to a blue SUV, possibly a newer Jeep, with a plate beginning in “A”, and sped off leaving the girl behind.

Detectives are now requesting your assistance in finding the suspect. Witnesses said the suspect is heavyset, five foot eleven, and was wearing blue jeans and a blue shirt. If you have any information in this case please call (206)625-5011 and speak with officers.

If Delridge Way in White Center between a tavern and tool rental spot isn't the most unlikely place for a ladies dress shop it's not clear what might be. Kiki Corona, at 9448 Delridge Way SW has been successful there for the last nine years selling inexpensive club and special occasion dresses, shoes and jewelry and on Aug. 8 at 12 noon will open a second location in Westfield Mall at Southcenter. This is a grand opening event with food and refreshments.

Founded by Enrique "Kiki" Corona and now owned by he and his husband Luis Ortiz, the move was made possible through a combination of hard work, smart real estate investment, and help from family and friends.

The dresses which range in price from $24.95 to $49.95 are "90% made in America," said Corona. Some merchandise which requires more elaborate stichwork does come from China. Some dresses, but only a few, are more.

"A lot of the dresses are meant to be worn in a night club," Corona said, "It's high speed fashion, which means the styles change fast, so it's affordable."

information from Seal Sitters

Help protect wildlife! Volunteer with Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network (www.sealsitters.org). On Saturday morning, August 15th, we will be holding a special training for those wanting to protect marine mammals along the shoreline of West Seattle and the Duwamish River. Unlike most marine mammal stranding networks, we encourage children to participate in Seal Sitters - supervised at all times, of course, by a parent or guardian. We are so proud of our amazing and dedicated volunteers who are on duty rain or shine - we hope you will join us!

A multi-media presentation will illustrate Seal Sitters MMSN's educational work in the community and the unique challenges of protecting seals and other marine mammals in an urban environment. Included in the training is an overview of NOAA's Western Region Marine Mammal Stranding Network and biology and behavior of seals and other common pinnipeds.

FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT LOCATION AND TO RSVP, visit Seal Sitters' event page ( http://www.sealsitters.org/news/events_and_training.html).
*RSVP is required to assure seating.