July 2008

Perhaps it is in the consequence free approach to raising children?

Three recent news headlines suggest to me that it is this consequence free approach to raising children that has allowed a very significant number of children to make what most would call dumb decisions.

Locally we have a 10 year old who last year, when he was 9, stole a car, wrecked it, then went to the airport and evaded both security and ticket agents to flee to Texas, was caught at the airport again trying to make it to Texas.

According to court documents he has made no restitution for the

The American Legion Grand Parade was a big hit in West Seattle on Saturday July 19th as usual. Throngs of parade watchers lined California Avenue to see more than 70 entries pass by. 1st Place float went to Port Orchard who put over 3000 hours into it's construction. Marysville took second place.

The Fourteenth Annual West Seattle Garden Tour took place from 9am to 5pm on Sunday July 20th. It was a beautiful sunny day, yet not too warm to visit all nine gardens on the tour. Each garden was designed to spend time in, showing a a high level of creativity. From 12 noon to 1:00 Cass Turnball lectured at The Kenney in their large back yard. Her lecture was called "Guide to Pruning".

Some gardens were designed by professionals and some by the owners. The first garden on the tour, the Hadley-Jameson Garden was designed by Barbara Hadley and her grandson assistant, Dmitry Hadley. Barbara says "watching her garden unfold, that's the best part". The Yokoyama-Lajko garden had many points of interest, including a very attractive deck of a sustainable Brazilian wood called "Ipe".

The show is detailed on the web at the following link.

http://www.westseattlegardentour.com/

There are many places to get coffee in West Seattle and you might know Coffee to a Tea with sugar in the Junction. You may even know about their in house bakery, but we want you to meet a coffee artist. Barista August Kitts. He has been pursuing his career as a barista for over seven years and fell into it after helping a friend clean up a cafe and learning the basics.

Over time he has developed his skill to the point that he began training others, "I've trained the entire staff at Coffee to a Tea, " he said.

It takes about 2 minutes from start to finish to create an artistic cup including the grinding, and packing of the coffee to a 50 lbs per square inch pressure, followed by the drip of the coffee itself and the steaming of milk. The final touch is August's specialty and he works quickly but carefully to create a genuine work of art in a 12 ounce mug. Occasionally the art he had in mind at the beginning doesn't quite work out. "People don't seem to mind, as long as the coffee tastes good," he added.

A construction worker was trapped in a trench at a construction site on July 16th . The trench was approximately 15 feet deep. A vacuum truck from City Light helped remove the dirt as workers shored up the trench around him. The trapped man was given water and pain relievers and was finally freed just before 6 pm and was taken to Harborview Hospital. Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Helen Fitzpatrick said, "He's a male in his 30's and when we put him in the ambulance he was moving his arms and legs pretty well.

I hear Seattle is for sale

From street lights to the County Jail

As long as you can pay the price

You could end up with something nice

Here's what you do, first you must say

I'll buy it and then find a way

To keep it where it now resides

Plus all the jobs that it provides

Next step is when you figure out

Just where you really will, no doubt

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries have begun mailing dividend checks to 100,000 employers as the final step of a process to return excess funds from the state's workers' compensation system.

Another 28,000 employers will receive credit toward their next workers' compensation premiums.

Seattle School officials have appointed two new principals for West Seattle schools.

Carmela Dellino is the new principal of Roxhill Elementary School. Dellino has more than 20 years of experience as an educator and administrator. Prior to coming to Seattle Public Schools, she served as assistant principal at Shorewood High School in the Shoreline School District.

The Elliott Bay Water Taxi is continuing to have strong ridership as the major part of the summer season approaches, despite a drizzly, blustery May and a June that wasn't much better.

Rider counts for June were up 14 percent over last year's record pace. This June, 30,046 riders rode the Water Taxi, compared with 26,329 last June.

This follows a 17 percent increase for the month of May and the last week of April. The downtown-to-Seacrest Park run has served a total of 59,386 riders since opening its 2008 summer season on April 27.

Thousands of people crowded the streets of the West Seattle Junction over the weekend enjoying the annual Summer Fest. This years event had 150 booths of vendors offering everything from massage to home decor, to chances to support a number of charitable organizations.

Music played well into the night Saturday as the north stage was the scene for the Street Dance.

To see a gallery of Summer Fest images please visit this link: