December 2009

Grace Crunican, director of the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), announced today that she will step down as the head of the department. After eight years of service with the city of Seattle, she will depart to start her own consulting company. In order to assist the incoming McGinn Administration with critical transportation issues, such as the Mercer Corridor project, Ms. Crunican will continuing serving until a new director has been identified and the transition is complete.

“After eight years as the director of transportation, it is time for me to pass the reins to a new leader,” said SDOT Director Crunican. “It’s been a great run for me and the entire SDOT team. I move on with a real sense of pride about our accomplishments on so many important transportation issues.”

Be on the lookout for a hefty Heifer: a 6-foot, 150-pound black and white plywood cow is missing from a yard on Beach Drive. The homeowner says that it's worth quite a bit of, uh, moolah--$2,000--and he'd love to see it returned.

A Grinch made a pinch on Christmas Day, breaking into a car parked on Avalon Way, and stealing a pistol that was tucked under the front seat.

When his runaway son showed up at the house, dad promptly called 911. Why? Because he knew the young man was wanted on a second-degree warrant for robbery. Officers booked the 17-year-old into the Youth Service Center.

Santa came early to one High Point-area home: A woman was taking out her trash when she discovered that a flat-screen TV had been placed in her storage unit (which is easily accessible from a nearby alley). Officers took the set to the SW Precinct evidence room.

Our court-ordered parenting plan states that my kids will be with their father on Christmas Eve and I will have them on Christmas Day.

When the week of Christmas rolled around, I called my ex and asked, “When are your hot dates this week, and when do you want to see the kids?”

So far, we have not followed any of the “plan” that took me three precious non-children hours to fill out but rather make arrangements according to whom the kids are needing to see the most, who has the hot date and how we can best accommodate all of our needs.

The kids spent Christmas Eve with their dad, and I spent the evening with a Jewish Santa Claus and a six-foot leprechaun.

Christmas morning the kids and my wasband arrived at my house dressed to the nines and carrying food and champagne for mimosas. I peered into the grocery bag and smiled at the sight of all of my favorite foods, which I too had purchased for Christmas.

I thanked him, he made fun of me for still being in my pajamas, we filled each other in on our lives, watched the kids open their gifts, ate, drank and laughed in the way only possible with someone who you are familiar with and love.

Washington Sea Grant and Fishermen’s Terminal are cosponsoring a Coast Guard-approved First Aid at Sea course for commercial fishermen and recreational boaters.

The course is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 22 in the Nordby Conference Room at Fishermen’s Terminal.

Topics include cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, patient assessment, shock, trauma, burns, fractures, hypothermia, cold-water near-drowning, immobilization, backboards, first-aid kits and more.

The fee for the workshop is $80. Space is limited, so pre-registration is advised.

Based at the University of Washington, Washington Sea Grant provides statewide marine research, outreach and education services.

To register or for more information, contact Sarah Fisken, Washington Sea Grant continuing education coordinator, at 206.543.1225 or sfisken@u.washington.edu.

January ArtWalk
Artists and Locations

The West Seattle art walk is a monthly art event that is held the second Thursday of each month 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. year-round.

West Seattle Artwalk Blog

2010 1st Quarter Art Walk 
January 14th

Josh Boender
Allstate Insurance

Wallflower Custom Framing

Ginomai

Bakery Nouveau 

Skylark Cafe

Carmilias

Hotwire Online Coffeehouse

Windermere Realty Hosted by Kim Tingley and Barb Ogden

Keller Williams Realty

Artswest

Shoofly Pie

Senior Center

Cupcake Royale

Wild Rose’s

Twilight Artist Collective

The Kenney

Gail Ann Photography

West Seattle Wine Cellars

The Body Bar Day Spa

Funky Janes

Revolution Coffee & Art

Shadowland

Bird on a Wire

Edie’s Shoes

Beauty Bar Spa & Boutique

Feedback Lounge

Seattle Wellness Programs

Sterling Images Gallery

8 Limbs Yoga

Activspace

Click! Design that Fits

Coffee to a Tea with Sugar

Sold Home Décor

Elliot Bay Brewery and Pub

Mural
 The Building

Imena Salon

Alki Bathhouse

Exciting Camp Long programs
Camp Long, located at 5200 35th Avenue SW, offers numerous opportunities to discover what you can do to help the planet. To register, call 206-684-7434.

January
Nature Programs - Animals
Explore the wonderful animal life all around us. Fascinating facts and features of animal life whether crawling, swimming, flying or walking.

Nighttime Low Tide at the Beach – New Year’s Eve!
Ages 6 and older
Help bring in the New Year with nudibranchs, seastars and sea squirts! Gather your friends and family and share in the fun of exploring the fascinating world of intertidal life! After exploring, we'll provide the toast for the New Year! Please wear very warm clothing and waterproof footwear. Also bring a flashlight if you have one or we will provide one for you. All ages welcome but must be able to walk on slippery seaweed! Please register one day before beach walk. Please register by calling 206-684-7434.
Location: Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook
Course #49139 December 31, 2009 Thu 9:30 - 11:30 p.m.
Adult Fee $8, Child Fee $6

Thinking of selling your house?
But your house has grown as outdated as mullet cuts and “Happy Days”? If you're planning on selling, it's become more important to make sure your house is appealing, especially with a deep supply of homes on the market and a slowdown in sales across the area.

It’s no secret, in this economy the housing market has been hit hard. The best thing that you can do to sell a house is by making it the best choice out there for buyers. Remodeling and updating your house is one way to do that.

The 2009–10 Cost vs. Value Reports extends a trend established in recent years toward higher cost-value ratios on smaller, lower-cost, maintenance-related projects. Siding and window and door replacement projects occupy seven of the top 10 rankings for cost recouped, in part because they are often necessary repairs and involve durable, low-maintenance materials that improve curb appeal.

At 11:33 a.m. on Dec. 27, a silver, 2004 SUV, driven by a 20-year-old male was traveling southbound on Fremont Avenue North. At the same time, a red, 1988 Chevy Nova, (which was an unreported stolen vehicle), driven by a male of unknown age, was traveling westbound on North 39th Street.

The two vehicles collided in the intersection. The Land Cruiser veered to the right and struck a steel light pole on the southwest corner. The Chevy Nova slid sideways and struck the curb coming to a stop near the Land Cruiser.

A 42-year-old female and a 44-year-old male pedestrian were walking on the sidewalk on the southwest corner. Both were struck with debris from the two vehicles colliding.

The female pedestrian was apparently struck in the back of the head by the spare tire, which was ejected from the trunk of the Chevy Nova during the collision.

The male driver of the Nova exited the vehicle bleeding profusely from the head and face and fled on foot immediately after the collision. He is still at large. The passenger of the Nova also had head and facial injuries remained at the scene.

Contributing photographers Steve Shay, Patrick Robinson and Kimberly Robinson have assembled photographs that provide a look at some of the events that helped shape and define West Seattle in 2009. From winter's grasp and the inauguration of a president through summer celebrations and the changes of fall, this past year proved to be meaningful for many.

Click the image to see the complete slide show.

The City of Federal Way is offering its free curbside tree-cycling service during the week of Jan. 4-8, 2010. This service is available for all residents, regardless of whether or not they subscribe to yard waste or garbage collection.

Tree-cycling applies only to residential holiday trees. Trees must meet the following criteria:
• Trees must be set at the curb by 7 a.m. on the neighborhood collection day
• All hooks, ornaments, tinsel and stands must be removed
• Trees over six feet must be cut into four-foot sections
• No artificial, flocked or fire-proofed trees (these will be collected and charged as garbage)

Free holiday tree removal is also available for multi-family complexes in Federal Way on two Mondays, Jan. 4 and 11, 2010. Property managers must contact Waste Management, 800.592.9995, to schedule this free service.

The City of Federal Way offers this annual program to help residents easily dispose of their holiday trees and turn what could be a waste into a resource. Trees that might otherwise be buried in a landfill are turned into compost locally at Cedar Grove Composting.