November 2007

"Create a culture of service so that we can compassionately respond to human need inside and outside our church." So reads "Goal 4," listed on the web page for West Seattle's Fauntleroy Church. So why did they recently opt not to host Seattle's Tent City 3 (Tent City 3), a community benefiting homeless people?

At the beginning of October, a group from SHARE/WHEEL, two sister organizations working with and for homeless men and women in Seattle, approached the church with a proposal: host Tent City 3 during the months of December through February.

Ladies and gentlemen: Introducing... live entertainment at the Admiral Theater. Once part of the Oasis Entertainment cinema chain, the Admiral has broken that shackle to become a "stand-alone" theater. With renovation almost complete, and manager, Steve Garrett, back from a three-year stint setting up theaters in China, the planets have aligned, sending a series of live shows into orbit.

"There were some chaotic misunderstandings with management," said Garrett, who now lives in West Seattle.

Nothing says, "the show is over" like an auction in a cavernous garage.

Gee Automotive's auction began last week at their Chrysler Dealership, 4735 Fauntleroy Way S.W. It shifted to their Chevrolet used car lot next door. By the afternoon of day two, the auction concluded in its seventh building, the GMC-Pontiac-Buick Dealership and garage, 4545 Fauntleroy Way S.W.

Gee closed its doors Oct. 12, blaming poor sales on former owner, Huling, and its negative publicity that Gee claimed carried over into its operation.

Auction company James G. Murphy Inc.

Great Harvest Bread Co.'s third annual "Raising Dough for Children's Hospital" fundraiser grossed over $19,000 for Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center's Uncompensated Care program.

Seven Seattle-area Great Harvest stores, one in West Seattle, are known for freshly milled wholegrain breads and dedication to community involvement, donated 100 percent of net proceeds from specially baked "Bread-y Bears" sold during the month of September. In all, over 1,000 Bread-y Bears ($15) and nearly 3,500 paper Miracle Bears ($1) sold.

After months of negotiations, City Councilman Richard Conlin, says there is an agreement between the city and environmental groups over the restoration of wetlands and creeks around the city's new Joint Training Facility in White Center.

"I am pleased that all parties at the table have agreed on a solution.

A long time advocate for housing rights, John Fox might not be an obvious leader for social change and economic justice.

It was inspiration, not hardship, which led Fox to spend the last 30 years of his life challenging the structures of inequality in Seattle as the founder and coordinator of the Seattle Displacement Coalition.

The housing advocacy organization is an advocate for tenants' rights and helps residents fight unwanted development, while seeking to preserve and create more affordable homes in the city.

Fox, 57, grew up in the predominately white, mid

For the first time in the program's 28-year history, there are more than 1,000 vans in operation, supporting a record ridership of 1.9 million passenger trips during the first nine months of 2007.

Although the van programs have shown steady growth over the years, recently a couple of factors combined caused local commuters to seek more alternatives to driving alone.

"Rising gas prices are definitely driving an interest in commute options," said King County Director of Transportation Harold Taniguchi.

After flying up Admiral Way at 53 mph and nearly losing control at the viewpoint, a 20-year-old man spent nearly 20 minutes trying to elude officers early Tuesday morning. At one point, he drove 80 mph down California Avenue and onto Harbor Avenue, where "stop sticks" were set up in the street to puncture his tires. The effort was partly successful, but the driver kept going, even with a flat. The pursuit was terminated, but an officer did keep tailing the driver, who went back up onto Admiral Way, onto California and down to the Morgan Junction area.

At Large in Ballard by Peggy Studivant

Let me count the ways that I love the new Ballard branch of the Seattle Public Library. At least half of the year, when our days are short, nighttime events held in the community meeting room create an outside glow as though the top of the Space Needle had landed on Northwest 22nd.

Local director Karen Lund recently won the award for Best Director at the City of Angels Film Festival in Los Angeles on Oct.