July 2009

Dear Editor,

This past week I watched a grown woman waving and smiling while she ran her dog (unleashed no less) along the sand of Alki Beach, oblivious to the many “no dogs” signs and leash law reminders.

This scene has reoccurred innumerable times over the past year during my walks along Alki. While hosting a group on the beach the other day, I found glass beer bottles in the burn receptacles and a smashed glass beer bottle embedded in the beach close by. That’s what we really need isn’t it: dog feces and urine, and broken glass littering our beautiful beach?

I hate to be a scold, but come on folks! We West Seattleites are more considerate than this.

As a dog owner myself, it’s easy to obey the rules, i.e. keep your dogs on their leashes and off Alki Beach. Think to use plastic rather than glass bottles and pick up after yourself in any event. It’s just a matter of respect for each other. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Brian J. Waid
Admiral District

Mayor Greg Nickels has announced a partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau and the Seattle 2010 Complete Count Committee headed by former Mayor Norm Rice, former Seattle City Council member Martha Choe, and Rogelio Riojas, president of SeaMar Community Health Centers, to help ensure a full and accurate count in the 2010 Census.

“It’s extremely important that everyone in our city is counted,” said Mayor Nickels in a statement. “Seattle’s Complete Count Committee will work with our community to raise awareness and understanding of the census and to make sure traditionally undercounted populations are represented.”

Beginning early next year, the U.S. Census Bureau will conduct the 2010 Census, which is mandated by the U.S. Constitution and conducted every 10 years. The census count is used for a variety of reasons, including determining representation in Congress and how more than $300 billion in funding is allocated annually through more than 50 federal programs to state, local and tribal governments.

Dogged determination and discipline Saturday, July 12, at the PacWest Fields transformed into a delightful doubleheader for the comeback kids of West Seattle.
 

After an opening round 7-3 loss to South Highline National in the 2009 District 7 Little League Majors (ages 11-12) tournament, the West Seattle All-Stars regrouped to win six consecutive games including Saturday's 19-1 four-inning destruction of the Nationals and a provisional championship rematch that West Seattle won in a 5-0 whitewashing of South Highline National.

West Seattle's next appointment is at the state tournament on July 25 at 2:30 p.m. versus the District 3 champion. Play will be held at Art Mikelson Field in Port Orchard.

"We came out flat against good pitching from Highline in our first game," explained West Seattle manager John Mackenzie. "Then, we got on a roll. The players got more serious in practice. Basically, we just got back into our routine of batting practice before each game."

It has been two years since I wrote about having the nerve to go up on the comedy stage. I really needed to hear laughter at the time I was in full care of my husband and what better place to hear laughter than to appear on open mike night at the comedy club.

Well, it wasn’t always laughter in 2000 when I made my first appearance ever but I decided to persevere while honing my craft.

What did I learn in the past nine years? That you have to be honest and dig down into one’s inner self and share what you find with everyone in the audience. On open mike night you are in the same boat with all the other wannabe comics who have come to bare their souls as well. There isn’t much heckling when each comic knows that when they go up on stage they want to be supported and appreciated and not shot down.

Recently, after my husband died and after a long time without being on the comedy stage, I decided to prepare another routine. This time instead of billing myself as an oldie I could add that I was a widow. So, I literally jumped up on stage and began with, “Howdy, everybody. I am here as the oldest standup comic who can still stand up.”

Dear Editor,

How many times do the Pirates need to shoot that cannon?

I love community involvement and activities. I support events that encourage community members to come together for fun and to get to know each other. HiYu days include activities that enrich the community, except the Pirate Landing.

I am sitting on my deck enjoying the weather and our beautiful Puget Sound as I listen to the Pirates shooting off their cannon way too many times. My dogs are afraid and barking their heads off. I am getting increasingly irritated at the very loud cannon shots.

I would not have any problems with this event, if the cannon was shot two or three, maybe even six times. That would certainly create sufficient excitement and effects for the children to feel that the pirate landing was authentic. But when the cannon kept exploding past 30 shots, I lost my positive feelings about this activity.

Unnecessary noise is rude. (There it goes again- 31). These are adults who should be sensitive to the noise pollution the cannon produces, not to mention the unpleasant aroma.

Dear Editor:

I am dismayed at the preoccupation over the North Admiral patch of grass vs. plant/logs, and whether it’s private vs. “larger community” interest.

Parks and neighborhood interests are important, but there is such focus we are ignoring greater community concerns.

First, the slow spread of roofs, roads, driveways, and lawns creates polluted runoff, sometimes including raw sewage spilling into Puget Sound during storms. I’ve heard credible ecologists suggest we have a window of ten years to “save” Puget Sound and reverse its decline, and our choices to plant trees and shrubs instead of lawns will make a difference.

Second, North Admiral is ignoring its greenbelt, and the slow spread of ivy and wild clematis is strangling what trees remain after cutting for views’ sake. This increases the risk of landslides, threatening neighbors’ homes and property.

Experts also say an ivy monoculture is ecologically unstable. Monocultures are prone to insect and rodent infestations, and this is a “larger community” health concern (studies show disease is less likely to spread in healthy, diverse native ecosystems).

The White Center Community Development Association will be hosting a Luau in the Park on August 29 to benefit their organization.

Community members are invited to an evening of island style merriment with a real pig in the “imu” (pit). There will be cultural and island entertainment, as well as island cuisine.

The event will also be a dessert auction and live auction where the highest bidder could win a fee trip. Attendees can also create their own Tahitian skirt, learn how to make an Hawaiian flower lei or just come to taste and experience the islands the “White Center Way.”

Aloha attire is suggested.

The event will be held on August 29, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at White Center Heights Park, Southwest 102nd Street and 7th Avenue Southwest.

Tickets will cost $37 pre pay; $45 at the door. Attendees are asked to RSVP by August 7 online at www.wccda.org.

For more information, please contact Soona Vili by calling (206) 694-1082 or emailing soona@wccda.org.

Later this month, another espresso hut will open on the corner of 15th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 58th Street. The only difference is that Knotty Bodies Espresso is one of those espresso huts where the baristas are scantily clad.

While I normally don't have a problem with these types of establishments, I have one with this particular espresso hut's location: across from a church and a school.

What has not been said in all the discussion about the upcoming grand opening of Knotty Bodies Espresso is that it is diagonally across the street from St. Alphonsus Church and directly across from St. Alphonsus School. No matter how I look at this, I just find it wrong.

Where was the zoning board when the owners of this establishment decided to open this place? Did anyone in any position of power think that opening a sex-themed business directly across the street from a church and a school was a bad idea?

I like to think that I am a tolerant person. Usually, I believe if a person wants to do something they should have the right to engage in that activity as long as they are not hurting anyone else. At the same time, however, I also believe in being a good neighbor.

In response to their commitment to the Go Green Initiative launched in 2008, the Seattle Storm decided to work with the city’s citizens, governments and businesses in an effort to reduce their collective environmental footprint.

On Saturday, July 11, the Storm’s Lauren Jackson made an appearance at Ballard’s Carter Subaru to promote the team’s season and the partnership they have for the “3s for Trees” program. A tree will be planted in the Mountains to Sound Greenway for every three-point shot made by a Storm player this season.

According to a press release the Storm:

“As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability, the Storm has implemented several changes in its business operations: using recycled and Forestry Stewardship Council-certified paper in its business operations; providing retail bags for Storm merchandise purchases at KeyArena that are made of biodegradable material; and replacing the team’s printed media guide and press kit with electronic files that are distributed via flash drives. In addition, the team’s fan-favorite Thundersticks are made of biodegradable plastic.”

The face of summer is a Sunflower. Who can resist these beauties?