May 2010

The Northwest's most acclaimed physical theater company, UMO Ensemble, brings their irreverent approach to ancient tales of wonder. Red nose monk clowns tackle Buddhist, Zen and Sufi stories through mask, puppets, music, laughter - and breathtaking physical skill.
This event is suitable for the whole family.

"UMO stumbles, as if by accident, on the part of us that's closest to heaven."
-Village Voice.

Tickets are $20, performance times are May 29 - 7:30pm & May 30 - 3:00 pm.
To order tickets visit ArtsWest ticket page for the event or call 206-938-0339.

Zen Tales, performed by UMO Ensemble, is a special event and is not part of the ArtsWest season.

The UMO Ensemble monk clowns each tackle a different life problem… dangling from a rope, juggling or balancing, singing and clowning.

Your unused bicycle can help South African children travel miles to school, healthcare workers reach distant villages or the employed get to work or start their own business. Bicycles for Humanity-Seattle plans to ship 1,000 bicycles to the KwaZulu-Natal region of South Africa where two wheels can transport villagers from poverty to a better life.

Seattleites are asked to donate bikes; sturdy mountain bikes are needed the most, but all used or new bikes are greatly appreciated, even those in need of minor repairs. Charitable donations are tax deductable. Volunteers are also welcome to help staff the bike drives, repair bikes or assist with administrative tasks.

Dates
Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 23, 2010

Locations/Hours

Sunday, May 23, 2010:
Holy Rosary Catholic Church
4139 42nd Ave. SW, Seattle
7:30 a.m. to Noon

Saturday, May 22:
Immaculate Conception Church
820 18TH Ave., Seattle
8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 23, 2010:
Immaculate Conception Church
820 18TH Ave., Seattle
8 a.m. to Noon

St. James Cathedral
804 9TH Ave., Seattle
7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church

Another sports season is racing to a close at Chief Sealth International High School, with District play still remaining for both our fastpitch and track teams. While our other teams may have had their respective seasons come to a close, it does not mean there is not much to celebrate.

Continuing a trend which began in the fall, all of our teams saw significant participation increases. Over 210 Seahawks were out for the first week of tryouts, and let me say, there's something pretty darn cool about making the rounds at SWAC on a sunny spring day, seeing all of our athletes well entrenched into a challenging practice. Thanks to our dedicated coaches, those practices will go a long way toward building competitive and winning programs for years to come.

The annual Taste of West Seattle takes place tonight, May 20 at the Hall at Fauntleroy, 9131 California Ave. S.W. from 6 to 8:30 PM.
This years event features 33 restaurants ranging from the celebrated Bakery Nouveau in the Junction to the still being built WingDome all offering small tastes and featured items all for the price of admission. Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door and are available at Metropolitan Market, Hotwire Coffee, Husky Deli and Capers. You can also call 206.932.2746.
On tap for entertainment are Troupe Hipnotica a belly dancing troupe, 3 bands, a raffle and a silent auction

You can visit the event site at www.tasteofwestseattle.org or see its Facebook Page.

Participating Restaurants:
Bakery Nouveau
Beveridge Place Pub
Bin 41
Blue Willow Catering & Luncheonette
The Bohemian
Cafè Revo
Charlestown Street Cafè & Chowder
Cupcake Royale
Duke's Chowder House
Eats Market Cafe
Elliott Bay Brewery
Endolyne Joe's
Freshy's
Full Tilt Ice Cream

The Port of Seattle is hoping to open a new 6,000-square-foot garden space at Shilshole Bay Marina to the public by Memorial Day weekend.

The garden, which features a grass lawn, small plantings, benches and gravel paths, was created in the fenced-off area of the marina that at one point was going to be a second Anthony's Restaurant using funds from Port of Seattle's capital budget.

The Port began work on the garden last summer when it became apparent that there would not be a fast recovery in the retail space market, Port spokesperson Peter McGraw said.

Instead of having a vacant lot, they created something for relatively little money that the public can use and enjoy until a tenant can be found for the space, McGraw said.

"We're hoping in the future that it will eventually become a restaurant or a retail space that will add value to the Shilshole Bay Marina property," he said. "It's there for folks to enjoy for the time being."

McGraw said the garden can easily be removed for a new tenant, and a future restaurant has been a popular idea with marina residents.

Subject: Burien loses revenue on light cameras, HT Edition, May 14, 2010
This is the third time I have read the story regarding traffic light cameras in Burien with City Manager Mike Martin's now familiar comment that...."the cameras were added mainly to increase safety"...with no explanation of how dangerous these two intersections have been in the past, or how much safer they are now that the cameras are installed.

Where are the statistics that substantiated the need to monitor traffic by this method, and how many people have been injured or cars wrecked at these intersections, before and after the cameras were installed?

And one wonders about the merits of these "Big Brother" devices when revenue gained is clearly stated in 'MILLIONS' of dollars, instead of stated lives saved.

Who is really benefiting-the people of Burien or the Redflex people who make the cameras and collect fees regardless of accident incidences?

Frederick G. Novota
Burien

I found the letter to the editor by Harold Herrera that appeared in the May 14 edition of your paper extremely offensive, especially the line "It's not about Arizona legalism, it's all about Arizona racism".

Please let us look at reality on this situation. The AMERICAN CITIZENS living in Arizona are living under a state of siege by an occupying army of an estimated 500,000 Mexican citizens living in the state illegally, and while most of the individuals in this army are not committing crimes (other then being in this country illegally), there is still a large criminal element coming in with this group of people.

The Burien council recently voted to make same sex couples MORE EQUAL than similarly situated unmarried opposite sex couples in the provisioning of taxpayer-funded employee benefits. As city employees, same sex couples no longer have to clear the reasonable hurdle of attesting that they are actually "involved" with one another, but similarly situated straight couples must still prove the bona fides of their relationships.

Burien's law now offers substantial taxpayer-funded goods to same sex couples based on payment of a mere $50 state registration fee. Even with the stigma and risk of violence for being "officially" gay/lesbian, $50 is a cheap sacrifice to get really good publicly funded health benefits. Unmarried straight couples, on the other hand, have to go an extra mile to prove they are together.

I read Jerry Robinson's column about giving tourists a reason to visit our community. At first I was hopeful I would find a progressive idea. As I read I became more disappointed.

I thought Jerry would come to the conclusion that Burien should become an arts Mecca- see the BIAS (Burien Interim Arts Space). Or possibly he would come to the forefront to build a usable 200- 250-seat performing arts center that would pull tourists from the airport to see Burien's performing arts. Or maybe Jerry would lead the charge to make Burien a showboat for intelligent sustainable architecture. Maybe Burien could throw off Californication and become the center for a truly Pacific Northwest look.

All of these are good ideas. All are progressive ideas. All would build on the strengths of Burien and its special location near the major intersection of I-5 and 405, with unique access to the seemingly unlimited supply of possible tourists passing through the airport.

Zayda Buddy's Pizza and Bar
5405 Leary Ave. N.W.
206.783.7777
Mon-Sun 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Developing fulfillment of a unique niche, Zayda Buddy's continues to mature in ways that we didn't expect after our first couple of visits.

Initially, we were struck by what we worried might be a somewhat thin and kitschy posturing, as they set themselves up as a purveyor of Midwest food that is more fun to think about than to eat. But, recent visits allowed us to understand the inaccuracy of this impression and to appreciate Zayda Buddy's as a true-blue contender.

Zayda Buddy's really compartmentalizes well, allowing at least three distinct groups to co-exist at the same time, each relatively un-impacted by the differing needs of the other.

For example, the room is open and light, but with the dark walls and brick skin, dudes can kick back in the bar, sprawled over bar stools like they own them, feet up on the next table's bar stools, and watch games on TVs big enough to see, but small enough to keep out the sport bar freaks.