April 2010

Davy Liu wasn’t a straight-A student. He wasn’t even a straight-B student.

Growing up in Taiwan in a culture that puts a lot of pressure on getting good grades, he felt like he didn’t fit in until he excelled in his first art class after moving to the United States in eighth grade.

Interjecting Chinese phrases and Bible verses, Liu, a former Disney artist who now heads his own production company, entertained families during an April 3 presentation at Ballard’s Evangelical Chinese Church with stories of faith, art and the importance of following your passions, even if your report card isn't quite perfect.

“The message he gives the parents here is really important because parents push their children to do the best,” said Jaya Conser, a member of the congregation. “Each person has a unique gift to do the best.”

Liu’s resume includes animation work on "The Lion King," "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin" and "Mulan."

With a six-digit salary by the time he was 23, he said he felt too self-serving. So, he merged his two greatest joys, religion and art, and sought to develop more Christian-centric entertainment.

Twelfth Night Productions Open The Miss Firecracker Contest April 9, 2010

Twelfth Night Productions (TNP) is proud to open its spring production, The Miss Firecracker Contest, by Beth Henley on Friday April 9 at the Youngstown Cultural Center in West Seattle.

The Miss Firecracker Contest is set in the small town of Brookhaven, Mississippi and centers around its annual beauty pageant, the titular Miss Firecracker Contest. Young and attractive Carnelle is trying out for the pageant as a way to elevate her somewhat tarnished reputation. Together with her recently returning cousins, Elain and Delmount, she is determined to leave her small town life behind her in a blaze of glory. Meanwhile, Popeye, her seamstress, has fallen in love with the deeply intense Delmount, but hides her feelings behind stories of her eccentric life. Once they all make it to the contest, they meet up with Mac Sam and Tessy, two characters who have an intimate knowledge of two of our protagonists. It all comes to a head with the crowning of the one and only Miss Firecracker and the yearly fireworks display.

He has almost four decades of experience as a premier woodworker based in Ballard, a state-of-the art workshop in the shadow of the Ballard Bridge and a briefcase that holds the secrets of a famous musical interlude.

Sam Peterson started Associated Wood Products in 1972, but in the early 60s he toured the world with the violinist David Rubinoff as concert pianist and accompanist.

Peterson was studying at Everett Junior College when Rubinoff heard the 20-year-old Peterson play while passing through on a local tour. A notably impulsive man, Rubinoff invited Peterson to join his tour. He wasn’t exaggerating when he told Peterson that he would see the world.

Perhaps because Rubinoff played for live audiences more than he recorded, his name isn’t as well-known as those of his mentors and colleagues: John Phillips Souza, Will Rogers, George and Ira Gershwin.

He had his own radio and then television program as part of the "Chase and Sanborn Hour." In this day and age, who can recall "Chase and Sanborn?"

Rubinoff played for presidents and schoolchildren, Elks Clubs and troops in Vietnam. He played "Danse Russe" and selections from "The Sound of Music."

Charges filed in crash that left man paralyzed

Mugiraneza Vianne has been charged with vehicular assault after his vehicle left the roadway and struck Patrick Franklin, who was fueling a car on the shoulder of Interstate 5 just north of South 200th Street in SeaTac. Vianne struck Franklin, who was thrown to the front of his car, and then Vianne pulled over further down the shoulder. Franklin sustained serious injuries and his doctor said he is most likely paralyzed. Witnesses told Washington State Patrol that Vianne was on his cell phone at the time of the collision.

According to documents, when a trooper questioned Vianne at the scene he said he thought he struck the vehicle's mirror, but did not hit a person. He was asked if he was on his phone at the time of the collision, Vianne said no. The trooper looked at Vianne's phone and records showed there was a call at the time of the collision. The trooper also said Vianne was exhibiting signs of impairment, documents said.

For those of you who play golf or follow golf on television this is the week of the Masters tournament in Augusta and the world will be watching Tiger Woods and his search for redemption and forgiveness as he renews his miraculous artistry with a golf club. We wish him well on all accounts.
Local golf hero Fred Couples is a past winner at the Masters and has been playing lights out recently and is always a crowd favorite.

Rudy Bundas, now deceased, was a playing buddy of mine at Burien's Rainier Golf Club. He was noted not so much for his golf trophies but more for his addiction to his cribbage game.

He often wandered through the clubhouse clutching his cribbage board and deck of cards shouting his battle cry, "I have no fear of you.''

Rudy was nationally known for his skill as an artist with brush or pen and ink. An honors graduate of the Cleveland Art Institute, Rudy was portraitist for Sen. Henry Jackson, Gov. Al Rosellini, Sen.Warren Magnuson, Sen. Edmund Muskie and, yes, even famed hacker Jerry Robinson.

There's still time to sign up for the Port of Seattle Police Department's Citizen's Academy.

It is a unique opportunity to learn up close about the many challenges facing local law enforcement. Citizens Academy is a once-a-week, 10-week program that is open to the public. It will be held at Sea-Tac Airport on Mondays, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m., from April 12 through June 28.

Learn more and sign up on the Port of Seattle's Web site (www.portseattle.org/community/portpolice/citizensacademy.shtml)

Are you the NEXT Seattle's "Biggest Loser"?
Get Ready for the Summer! Join the Weight Loss Challenge!
Weekly prizes for all and big CASH for the top 3 losers! Last class won Jackpot of over $800
One time $35 membership includes:
Your own personal weight loss coach
FREE body & metabolism analysis
12 weekly classes, meet every Tuesday
Samples and LOT'S of FUN
Start: Tuesday, April 13th, 7:00PM
Pre-Register: $29 or $35 at the door
Location: West Seattle (Westwood Neighborhood)
To register, for location and more information call:
Jolene (206) 787-2847

Twelfth Night Productions Open The Miss Firecracker Contest April 9, 2010
Twelfth Night Productions (TNP) is proud to open its spring production, The Miss Firecracker Contest, by Beth Henley on Friday April 9 at the Youngstown Cultural Center in West Seattle.

For the fourth year in a row, local artist Nan Ziegler and Glendale Lutheran School students have created five uniquely decorated pigs that will first be displayed in Burien shops then auctioned off at the school's annual fundraiser.

This year the pigs celebrate the 2010 Winter Olympics. The community is invited to pick up a map, find the pigs and write down their names and turn in completed maps for a chance to win a raffle prize.

Look for them in shops along Southwest 152nd Street and adjoining streets in downtown Burien. Maps are available at participating business or at Glendale school, 13455 2nd Ave. S.W.

Completed maps become a raffle ticket when turned in at the free and open to the public GLS Silent Auction on April 16th at 5:30 p.m.

All the pigs will be on display at the silent auction and will be sold at the live auction on April 17th, 5:30 p.m. at the Cove in Normandy Park.

Tickets are on sale for $32. Proceeds from the pig sales benefit Glendale Lutheran School.

The pigs are named Pigureskating, Snow-boar-der, Olympig, Ice Hoggie and Snort Track.

Wild Waves Theme Park will host an on-site Job Fair this Saturday, April 10th, from Noon to 4:00 p.m. to interview applicants for nearly 500 available, seasonal positions.

Each summer, Wild Waves Theme Park employs Puget Sound in a variety of positions including Ride Operations, Food Service, Retail, Aquatics, Admissions, Park Services, Security, Games, Maintenance, Group Sales, Rentals, Parking and Human Resources.

All individuals over 16 years of age looking for an extremely fun summer job are encouraged to apply. Interested candidates should visit PARCJobs.com to learn more about the positions and to apply directly online. Online applications must be completed by Friday, April 9th, in order to pre-register for an interview at the Job Fair.

Wild Waves Theme Park offers over 60 rides, slides, and attractions and is scheduled to open the rides-portion of the park on weekends from May 15th – 23rd. The entire park, including the water park, opens on weekends from May 29th - June 13th and daily, beginning June 16th. Guests save up to $30 by purchasing a season pass prior to April 18th at WildWaves.com.

Income tax procrastinators will have a nearby helper as the clock ticks relentlessly toward midnight on April 15.

Postage can be purchased and tax forms deposited until midnight at the Riverton Station, 15250 32nd Ave. S. in SeaTac, on Thursday night.

The only other state post offices collecting mail until midnight on deadline day are in Tacoma, Everett and Wenatchee.

The U.S. Postal Service offers some tax mailing tips:

Make sure your tax return has sufficient postage. First-Class postage is 44 cents for the first ounce and 17 cents for each additional ounce.

If you are mailing a number of supplementary forms and schedules with your return, the envelope is likely to weigh more than one ounce.

The IRS will not pay postage due. Mail with insufficient postage is returned to sender. If you are in doubt about how much postage to apply, use a lobby scale, the scale on an APC (Automated Postal Center) or ask a postal clerk for assistance.

If possible, mail your return using the pre-addressed envelope provided by the IRS. If you must prepare another envelope, make sure the address is legible and include your return address.