December 2016

By Pat Cashman

‘Twas the day after Christmas, and there’s no doubt of it;
Using words like ‘twas, makes me sound like a ‘twit.
But that’s not the point, so let me get back to my tale
While I knock back a few pints of breakfast blend ale.
The children had been nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of UFO 3000 Toy Quadcopters with ultra-bright L.E.D. lights that fly in the dark, do 3-D flips and stunts, and include a bonus battery---danced in their heads.
But that morning no toys were seen under the tree;
The tree itself was buried under loads of debris.
Things might have been fine if I had just stayed in bed;
And not answered a midnight noise at the door instead.
See, the wife and I had just nodded off in peaceful slumber;
She was snoring quietly, and I was sawing the lumber.
When down on the porch there came such a knocking,
I threw my pants on backwards and started moon-walking.
Away to the front door I went nearly fit to be tied,
I reached for the knob and threw the door open wide.
On the porch stood an old coot in a suit and a beard,
He was huffin’ and puffin’ and seemed somewhat weird.

By Matt Bolesta

The most wonderful time of the year can often be the most hectic time. Between the parties, gift shopping, kids’ recitals, cooking, and visiting family, there is a lot to juggle during the holidays. And for those taking care of an elderly parent or relative, ‘tis the season for a lot more added pressure. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, family members who serve as caregivers for a loved one show higher levels of stress, frustration and even depression, all of which are magnified during the holiday season.

The holidays are also when most families make critical life decisions on how best to care for older loved ones. Many relatives visiting from out of town realize that Grandma and Grandpa could use a little more help when it comes to preparing meals, getting dressed or just getting a ride to a doctor’s appointment.

By Peggy Sturdivant

When I met Kathleen Gerrald she said, “I’m not sure how much information I can give you, but I can tell you my hopes and dreams.”

Her children are grown, her grandchildren are thriving and she’s reclaiming her time and interests since the long illness and death of her husband. Now she wants to go back in time and unravel a family mystery.

As the first granddaughter born in a long line of male children Gerrald acquired her grandmother’s most prized possession, a porcelain bowl. The bowl is puzzling, Japanese made, but in a Bavarian style, with gold inlay. Its provenance is the true mystery for Gerrald, and one that connects her grandfather with one of Canada’s worst maritime disasters.

The shipwreck and subsequent loss off life of the Canadian Pacific steamship Princess Sophia is one that is still researched and discussed as the 100th anniversary approaches. The tragedy arguably changed the course of history for the Yukon and Alaska. It’s Gerrald’s understanding that the delicate bowl came from the Princess Sophia. Finding out how, is her dream.

Celebrate New Year’s With A Walk!
St. John the Baptist
Episcopal Church
3050 California Ave. S.W.,
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day These free West Seattle walks have different 5 and 10K routes on the Eve and the Day. And there’ll be hot soup to chase away any chills. Walks start on New Year’s Eve anytime between 4 and 7 p.m., and on New Year’s Day between 9 a.m. and Noon, at in West Seattle. No fee for the walks, which are noncompetitive. Hosted by Emerald City Wanderers and St John the Baptist Episcopal Church, and sanctioned by American Volkssport Association. For more info visit walkingwithecw.org.

King County Parks
Kendo Class
White Center Park
1321 SW 102nd

Excerpted from J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax 2017, here are some 
simple steps you can take right now to decrease your 2016 tax bill. 
(Hurry: These must be done before the ball drops in Times Square.)

By Barbara Weltman
         
The holiday season is in full swing, and you're probably in a last-minute-gift-buying, party-planning frenzy right now. The last thing on your mind? Taxes. For most people, sparing a thought for the upcoming tax season is the ultimate "bah humbug." But this mindset could cost you big when April 15th rolls around.
         
There are some very simple steps you can take right now, before the end of the year, that can make a big dent in your tax burden. It's crazy that people miss so many opportunities to save money just because they're disorganized or have procrastination issues.
         

Learn First Aid at Sea – February 13 at Fishermen’s Terminal
Be safe this winter.

What: Washington Sea Grant and the Port of Seattle Fishermen’s Terminal are co-sponsoring a Coast Guard-approved First Aid at Sea Course on Friday, Monday, Feb. 13.
Topics covered include CPR, patient assessment, hypothermia, cold water, near-drowning, shock, trauma, burns, fractures, choking, immobilization, and key contents for a complete First Aid kits.
When: Monday, Feb. 13, 2017
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where Nordby Conference Room
Nordby Bldg.
Fishermen’s Terminal, Seattle
Fee: $100 ($50 for commercial fishermen)
To register or for more information, contact WSG Continuing Education Coordinator Sarah Fisken, 206-543-1225 or sfisken@uw.edu.

======================================================================================================

Introduction to Marine Refrigeration – February 11 at Pacific Fisherman’s Shipyard
Learn how to chill your catch!

Over $2,300 of jewelry taken

Seattle Police responded to a burglary that occurred at a home located on the 7700 block of 17th Ave. N.W. on Monday Dec. 12. The complainant told police that she came home and found her home burglarized. There were slight pry marks at the bottom of the kitchen window. The burglar took credit cards and jewelry. Police noticed that the fingerprints at the scene are consistent with someone who wore gloves. The value of the loss is $2,303.

Burglar’s plans foiled by lock

Seattle Police responded to an attempted burglary at a commercial space located at the 4700 block of Ballard Avenue N.W. on Thursday, Dec. 15. The business owner showed police a lock on the door that had been damaged. There were pry marks and marks that looked like it had been struck by a heavy object. The employee who opened the store that morning noticed the lock was difficult to open but attributed it to the cold. The store owner said nothing was missing from the store.

By Amanda Knox

Oh, but it is funny!
—this end-of-the-year newsletter,
Dad jokes, winks and wordplay
littered about, “Here’s the year
in a nut shell” looney-tuney.
And don’t forget it’s true!

Tim cracked his ribs twice,
golfing, hanging Xmas lights.
Kyle bought a jousting horse,
to everyone’s surprise.
Tim thought, Were we ever thirty?
Eileen went to Sheboygan
for her mother’s 94th.

How do we fill a year of boxes?
Golf balls putter into holes,
beer caps crack, lips pucker.
July shows Kyle’s sword impact
on Jordin’s axe, Leila’s armor.
Cackling, Chris and Gavin
write their zany worlds.

Some footnotes provide
hints of incredulity—
that parental color. For miles,
Kyle and Jordin drove
Seattle to Massachusetts
(to pick up Leila). Chris and Kyle
got inked with “brother” tattoos.

Why are there times of life?
Why do some things turn out?
Why, oh why, do others not?
(The Newsletter, with breezy script,
with welcome winks, accepts,
and proudly accumulates the days.)

They celebrated my birthday.
They chronicled my travels,
the Robinsons. They
rearranged their holidays
around words like:
“feuerzangenbowle”

By Amanda Knox

Oh, but it is funny!
—this end-of-the-year newsletter,
Dad jokes, winks and wordplay
littered about, “Here’s the year
in a nut shell” looney-tuney.
And don’t forget it’s true!
 
Tim cracked his ribs twice,
golfing, hanging Xmas lights.
Kyle bought a jousting horse,
to everyone’s surprise.
Tim thought, Were we ever thirty?
Eileen went to Sheboygan
for her mother’s 94th.
 
How do we fill a year of boxes?
Golf balls putter into holes,
beer caps crack, lips pucker.
July shows Kyle’s sword impact
on Jordin’s axe, Leila’s armor.
Cackling, Chris and Gavin
write their zany worlds.
 
Some footnotes provide
hints of incredulity—
that parental color. For miles,
Kyle and Jordin drove
Seattle to Massachusetts
(to pick up Leila). Chris and Kyle
got inked with “brother” tattoos.
 
Why are there times of life?
Why do some things turn out?
Why, oh why, do others not?
(The Newsletter, with breezy script,
with welcome winks, accepts,
and proudly accumulates the days.)
 
They celebrated my birthday.
They chronicled my travels,
the Robinsons. They
rearranged their holidays
around words like:
“feuerzangenbowle”

By Greg Whittaker
Mountain to Sound Outfitters

The winter solstice brought yet another round of storms to the Pacific Northwest with more layers of snow to play in for the tribe of snow people. Both storms came in warm with freezing rain at 3000 to 4000 feet, then quickly cooled, creating thin crust layers that were gradually lessened by the inches of cooler snow that fell on top of them.

Heavy wind loading also occurred, which is the result of heavy winds blowing drifting snow into the lee of ridges. If you take the time to think about the aspect (slope facing direction) and the wind direction, areas of deep snow can be found when only one or two inches of snow have fallen.

All in all, the ski industry is finally healthy in the NW. We are thankful that ocean temperatures have returned to normal in the North Pacific and the engine which provides our pacific maritime climate is again providing us with a more normal winter in Washington. With all this snow, and people stoked again, you will see a limited supply of ski and snowboard gear in the region.

For instance, we have very few and limited sizes in season rentals.