April 2017

Sponsored by Sarah Cecil

Tax Freedom Day generally falls around this time each year. This is the day when the nation as a whole has earned enough money to pay off its total tax bill for the year, according to the calculations made by the Tax Foundation. So you may want to use Tax Freedom Day to think about ways you can liberate yourself from some of the investment-related taxes you may incur. 
Of course, Tax Freedom Day is something of a fiction, in practical terms, because most people pay their taxes throughout the year via payroll deductions. Also, you may not mind paying your share of taxes, because your tax dollars are used in many ways – law enforcement, food safety, road maintenance, public education, and so on – that benefit society. Still, you may be able to reduce those taxes associated with your investments, leaving you more money available to help you work toward your important goals, such as a comfortable retirement. 
Here are some suggestions for making investing less “taxing”:  
 

By Lindsay Peyton

When West Seattle residents Laurel and Andrew Trujillo couldn’t find their ideal bar in their neck of the woods, they decided to just build one themselves.

“We’ve lived here for nine years, and we could see what was missing,” Laurel said. “Andrew and I would hop on our bikes on the weekends and want to have a beer in the sun, but there was nowhere to go.”

The couple opened their dream business around five months ago – Ounces, a taproom and beer garden serving exclusively Washington-sourced microbrews, ciders and wine.

Now that the dust is settling on their totally renovated space, the spot is becoming a neighborhood favorite.

Laurel Trujillo makes it a point to turn her customers into regulars.

“If you come here twice, I’m going to remember your face,” she said. “The third time, I’ll know your name. And either Andrew or I are always here. We’re that type of establishment.”

They both have a background in marketing – so creating their own business plan wasn’t exactly a stretch.

By Pat Cashman

I remember the last time I saw Manny.

He was standing just off the highway on a mountain pass---just where I had placed him. Driving away, it occurred to me that it was a shabby way to treat a long time companion.
It wasn't his idea. Manny didn't have ideas. It was entirely my idea to leave him behind. Let me explain.
My dad owned and operated a mens' clothing store. As a kid, I didn't find the clothing business particularly exciting or sexy. Why would I? There were no TV shows named Game of Men’s Pants---or Smackdown: The World Haberdashery Federation.

But I was intrigued by the mannequins in the store windows---each of them standing sharp and motionless, wearing the latest styles. It looked like an easy gig, and said so to my dad. "Oh yea?" he said, "Why don't you try it for an hour?" I did.

Standing in the window---wearing a slick outfit---I tried to remain motionless. But I starting itching in places mannequins don’t have.

Neighbors who aren’t neighborly

The victim and the suspect of an assault reported around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 13 both live in a building on the 5400 block of Delridge Way SW. The two men do not get along – and have had several confrontations in the past. For the past week, the suspect has been extremely intoxicated everyday and banging on his neighbors’ doors repeatedly. On Thursday evening, the victim was walking his dog, when the suspect threw an empty beer can at him from the third floor of the building and spit at him. The suspect also yelled at the victim and called him names. Police officers spoke to the victim. They tried to contact the suspect, but he did not answer his door. On duty staff at the building said he might be sleeping.

Burglary on 32 Ave SW

By Jean Godden

My phone began ringing overtime this week with calls from public opinion pollsters. I am an easy target, an almost perfect voter having missed only one election. (Blame a bad case of stomach flu in the days before mail-in voting.)

Whenever there is an election or local controversy I get dozens of calls. Pollsters want to know how I feel about certain candidates and how I plan to vote on ballot issues.

This week I got two calls from the same PR firm. The first I brushed off; the second I decided, out of curiosity, to answer. I knew it was a survey because the poor, probably underpaid worker couldn't pronounce my name. It is God-den; not Good-en. Is there some rule they can't say "god?"

The call I took was from the Burnett Group, a New York-based "boutique marketing and communication firm." The interviewer wanted to ask about local issues and said it would take "only a few minutes."

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Saturday, April 22
Baseball
Ballard 4, Highline 0
The Beavers shut down the Pirates' potent offense in a non-league makeup game Saturday and rallied for four runs of their own for the win.
Tyee 10, Clover Park 0
Tyee topped the Warriors in a South Puget Sound League makeup battle Saturday.
Crosspoint 5, Seattle Lutheran 3
The Saints suffered a SeaTac B League loss to Crosspoint on Saturday.

Friday, April 21
Baseball
Seattle Christian 4, Cascade Christian 1
Cascade Christian 4, Seattle Christian 3
The Warriors were victorious in one of two games against Cascade Christian on Friday.
Foss 8, Foster 5
The Bulldogs were outslugged by the Falcons Friday.
Steilacoom 16, Tyee 2
Steilacoom 19, Tyee 3
Steilacoom stole the show in a double-header against the Totems.
Lakeside 12, West Seattle 2
Lakeside got the best of the Wildcats in Friday Metro League action.
Highline 12, River Ridge 0
The Pirates routed River Ridge in SPSL action Friday.
O'Dea 6, Ballard 1
The Irish came away with the win against the Beavers.
Bainbridge 12, Chief Sealth 0

Lifelong AIDS Alliance's Dining Out For Life presented by BECU returns for its 24th year on April 27. Over 100 restaurants around Seattle are taking part.

In West Seattle three restaurants are participating:

• Locol Barley & Vine
• Budda Ruska
• El Chupacabra

and in White Center

• Noble Barton

In Burien:

• Archie's Mexican Restaurant
• Smarty Pants Garage

In Ballard:

• Pasta Bella
• Young American Ale House

On this day, over 100 restaurants in the Seattle area will donate 30-50% of their proceeds to Lifelong’s vital programs that support people facing serious illness and poverty in our community.

information from King County Metro

Starting Monday, April 24, Metro routes 50, 55 and 128 will share space at bus stop 31970, located on southbound California Av SW just south of SW Spokane St, with Microsoft employer shuttle vehicles.

The City of Seattle, King County Metro Transit, Seattle Children’s Hospital and Microsoft are collaboratively conducting an innovative pilot project aimed at increasing ridership and safety, and making better use of public curb space.

The six-month long pilot project will allow – by permit – employer-provided shuttles to temporarily serve 11 public King County Metro bus stops to test the ability and value of multiple transit/shuttle services sharing existing transit stops. The pilot will result in no additional shuttles on the road than existing levels of service.

A contractor for Seattle Public Utilities will be performing street improvement work in Ballard this week. The work will impact the intersections of 17th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 80th Street and 26th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 80th Street as follows:

· On Friday, April 21 from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. traffic will be reduced to one lane.
· On Friday, April 21 from 6 p.m. to Sunday, April 23 at 8 a.m. both intersections will be closed.

When the intersections are closed, traffic will be detoured around the project sites along 15th Avenue Northwest, 24th Avenue Northwest, 32nd Avenue Northwest and Northwest 85th Street. The approved traffic plan requires vehicles traveling on arterial streets to detour on arterials streets.

This work is weather dependent and schedule is subject to change.

The contractor will be replacing concrete street panels as one of the final closeout items for the Ballard Natural Drainage Systems project. Learn more about the project at www.seattle.gov/cso/ballard.

Twelfth Night Productions (TNP) is presenting FIRST DATE a hilarious musical comedy at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center starting April 28.

Play Synopsis
When blind date newbie Aaron is set up with serial-dater Casey, a casual drink at a busy New York restaurant turns into a hilarious high-stakes dinner. As the date unfolds in real time, the couple quickly finds that they are not alone on this unpredictable evening. In a delightful and unexpected twist, Casey and Aaron’s inner critics take on a life of their own when other restaurant patrons transform into supportive best friends, manipulative exes and protective parents. Can this couple turn what could be a dating disaster into something special before the check arrives?

Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for students and seniors.