April 2017

By Pat Cashman

Sometimes when a famous person ‘shuffles off this mortal coil’ it can be of interest---and worth noting---but not personally upsetting to most of us. It was Shakespeare who coined the ‘mortal coil’ expression---and he was certainly admired---but his passing doesn’t hit most people that hard. It happened, after all, several years before most of us were born. My uncle, for example, didn’t shed a tear. On the other hand, he’s never gotten over the passing of Francis Bacon.

But a man I never knew personally (although I did once get to meet him) died the other day. It hit me like someone in my own family had checked out---especially odd since Don Rickles was like no one in my actual family. He didn’t remind me of my dad, a favorite cousin or a funny uncle (although he did look a lot like one of my aunts).

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Friday, April 7
Boys soccer
West Seattle 1, Eastside Catholic 0
The Westsiders shut out Eastside Catholic in a Metro League match Friday.
Roosevelt 5, Chief Sealth 1
Chief Sealth suffered a loss at the hands of the Roughriders on Friday.

Thursday, April 6
Girls tennis
Kennedy 4, Kentridge 1
The Lancers rode past the Chargers in a Thursday North Puget Sound League match.

Baseball
Ingraham 1, Foster 0
The Bulldogs were blanked in Thursday's South Puget Sound League action.

Wednesday, April 5
Fastpitch
West Seattle 16, Inglemoor 3
West Seattle waltzed past Inglemoor in Wednesday's action.
Tahoma 7, Mt. Rainier 0
The Rams were shut down by the Bears in an NPSL game.

Baseball
Chief Sealth 10, Nathan Hale 8
Chief Sealth outslugged Nathan Hale in a Wednesday battle.
West Seattle 2, Rainier Beach 1
West Seattle slipped past Rainier Beach on Wednesday.

Boys soccer
Mt. Rainier 2, Tahoma 1
The Rams rallied for a victory on Wednesday.
Hazen 2, Kennedy 1
The Lancers dropped a close one Wednesday.

The 5th Annual Peony and Bamboo Festival is set to take place at the Seattle Chinese Garden April 22-23 from 10am to 4pm. More than 400 plants and more than two dozen varieties will be on display.

The cold, rainy weather this winter (carrying over into spring) is delaying peony blooming because the plants need temperatures in the sixties to stimulate buds to open into big blossoms. For this reason the festival committee rescheduled all the core activities for the weekend. Warmer weather is not only stimulating to peonies, but much more pleasant for festival attendees too, and both plants and people are eager for more sunshine.

The April 22-23 festival will showcase specialty bamboo offered by growers from Washington and Oregon, craft vendors, displays, cultural entertainment for the whole family, peony and bamboo painting demonstrations and Chinese food booths. Plus, we have other special plans in the works for this year.

• The Lion Dance is set for Saturday at approximately 11:15am

The 2017 Nordic Culinary Conference, May 5-7, will bring internationally renowned chefs and culinary experts to Seattle to discuss and demonstrate Nordic cuisine and cooking philosophy for local audiences.

This conference, presented by Nordic Heritage Museum, offers an immersive program featuring live culinary demonstrations and tastings that explore both traditional and contemporary Nordic cuisine.

The annual gala and auction that helps support the educational and other efforts of ArtsWest, West Seattle's own premier theater company is set for June 17 at the Colman Estate.

Join the fun and raise a glass! Experience an imaginative outdoor staging of Gertrude Stein's Dr. Faustus Lights the Lights, curated by Mathew Wright and Justin Huertas.
Explore the gorgeous grounds of the Colman Estate.
Discover vacations, experiences and hidden treasures during the silent and live auctions.
Dine on delicious food, sip delightful drinks, and dash for your dessert!
Celebrate ArtsWest with music and dancing to finish your night!

You can buy your advance tickets here.

Sponsored by Sarah Cecil

High debt levels … lack of savings … the inability to budget – these problems all have several causes, but one of them is almost certainly financial illiteracy. Too many of us just never developed the money management skills necessary to cope with our complicated – and expensive – world. But if you have young children, you can teach them some money-smart lessons – and who knows? You could use the opportunity to give yourself a few valuable reminders, too. 



Here are some suggestions for a financial “curriculum”: 




District 1 Councilmember Lisa Herbold in her letter to constituents addresses the rapidly deteriorating condition of 35th SW and her efforts to get agencies to repair it. The Herald reported on a large pothole that formed in the 7300 block last week but it was only one of many that pockmark the road for several blocks.

Herbold's letter reads:

"I recently sent two letters regarding transportation priorities.

First of all, I sent a letter to SDOT Director Scott Kubly regarding the condition of 35th Avenue SW, which is one of only a few north/south arterials in West Seattle, and a key link to the West Seattle Bridge. I’ve received numerous complaints about the condition of the pavement since taking office at the start of 2016, and experienced the poor condition of the road in my travels. Complaints have increased recently.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Seattle Fire Department responded to a sinking tug this morning when it started taking on water while it was being towed into dock outside Shilshole Marina this morning.

“We had a Tug boat that was being towed into dock that started taking on water and crews felt that it would be safer to beach the boat and deal with the problem,” reported Lt. H. T. Webb Jr., Seattle Fire Department PIO.

The tug is currently 100 yards offshore and Seattle Fire is assisting the Coast Guard by providing pumps so they can get the water to a level where divers can safety assess the issue.

“The event is stable at this time with no fuel leaks.”

Webb reported that the Coast Guard has taken the lead on the operation.

Look to the Tribune as the story develops.

Spring may have sprung but bad weather can come anytime and high winds are now being predicted for Friday midday into the evening.

The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a High Wind Watch, which is in effect from late Friday morning through early Friday evening.

* WIND...Possible south wind 20 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.

* SOME AFFECTED LOCATIONS...Tacoma...Seattle...Everett...Port Townsend...Whidbey Island...The San Juan Islands...and Bellingham.

* TIMING...Strongest winds are most likely Friday afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Winds of this strength can break branches off of
trees...topple weakened trees and produce power outages.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A High Wind Watch means there is the potential for a hazardous high wind event. Sustained winds of at least 40 mph...or gusts of 58 mph or stronger may occur. Continue to monitor the latest forecasts.

Seattle City Light is preparing for power outages and encouraging customers to do the same.

information from Duwamish Alive!

A popular community effort, Duwamish Alive! habitat restoration event on Saturday, April 22nd, celebrates the connection of our urban parks and open spaces to our river and wildlife. Starting at 10:00 am volunteers at multiple Duwamish sites throughout the watershed will participate in a day of major cleanup and habitat restoration in the ongoing effort to keep our river alive and healthy for our communities, salmon and the Puget Sound.


Duwamish Alive! is a collaborative stewardship effort of conservation groups, businesses, and government entities, recognizing that our collective efforts are needed to make lasting, positive improvements in the health and vitality of the Green-Duwamish Watershed. Twice a year these events organize hundreds of volunteers to work at 15 sites in the river’s watershed, connecting the efforts of communities from Auburn to Seattle.