December 2010

While reading an article about the importance of mom’s night out, I eagerly anticipated the “right on!” sisterly feeling that comes when I read material close to my heart. My hope vanished mid-article when the author stated organizing four of her friends for a night out was more difficult than UN meetings on nuclear disarmament. “You need new friends,” I muttered to myself. I thanked my good fortune and plethora of less picky friends and continued reading. It only got worse as the woman described the very expensive trendy place they chose with horrible service. By the time I read, “At nine thirty I was down ninety five dollars and craving my bed,” I was resolved to write my own version of what a mom’s night out should be.

When Chris Lona looks at a website he sees potential - potential for a better, more engaging and user-friendly website.

“Companies really do themselves a disservice by having a standard web presence,” Lona said.

Lona takes an innovative multi-media approach to website design and has been ahead of his time for years. His designs not only make websites more engaging, it also makes it easier to use for people with disabilities.

He uses voice narration, music, large type, and visual stimulation. He approaches a website like a presentation. A friendly voice presents the website to visitor guiding the visitor from page to page. Full-page images and limited text keeps the pages simple and visually stimulating.

“It’s an exercise on simplicity,” said Lona.

The narration can be turned off or the user can skip ahead or back at any giving moment. Lona said that visitors navigate through the pages without having to use the mouse which aids the visually impaired as well as quadriplegic people or people suffering from diseases like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Photographer Kurt Howard captured these images of Highline's 51-30 home loss to Decatur on December 3. SLIDESHOW: CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO PLAY SLIDESHOW.

Photographer Kurt Howard captured these images of the Todd Beamer gymnastics team in action December 1. SLIDESHOW: CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO PLAY SLIDESHOW.

From Argosy Cruises:
The Argosy Christmas Ship™ festival is a holiday celebration that has been a Northwest tradition for 61 years. Its main purpose is to bring communities together to celebrate the holiday season. From our flotilla of ships to the crowds of people who gather onshore, this celebration is one of the gems of the holiday season.

Each night, through December 23rd, 2010 the Argosy Christmas Ship™ sails to different Puget Sound waterfront communities, over 45 in total. Choirs onboard sing 20-minute performances to these communities, all broadcast via state-of-the-art speaker system. This year, we are beginning the program on Saturday night, November 27 to help commemorate the new South Lake Union Park.

Photographer Kurt Howard captured these images of the Mt. Rainier gymnastics meet on December 1. SLIDESHOW: CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO PLAY SLIDESHOW.

Blue Jays go undefeated

This 2010 season the Blue Jays won the league championships with an undefeated record. A total of 38 goals were scored by the team and the Jays didn't give up one goal to our opponents the entire season. The team practiced in the rain, mud, cold and dark and played every Saturday.

By complete luck of the draw our team was brought together by Dolan Holt with the Boys & Girls Club. The team is coached by Rosalyn Thomas and Jeremy Chevalier and from help of all the parents.

Players for the Blue Jays are Rena Ahn , Davion Asuncion, Michael Asuncion, Ariana Chevalier, Naomi Chevalier, Trevor Hendrickson, Madison Kincaid, McKenzie Kincaid, Kimberly Perez, Nicholas Perez, Sebastian Perez, Caleb Presley, Eric Romanoff, Lisa Safley, Matthew Safley

Fights scheduled Saturday

Four of the world's top bantamweights are competing in "The Bantamweight Tournament: Winner Takes All" event at the Emerald Queen I-5 Casino Saturday night.

Tuesday, Nov. 30
Boys basketball
Jackson 74, Decatur 63
Decatur took on one of the top-ranked teams in the state to open their season and came up short by just 11 points.

Wednesday, Dec. 1
Gymnastics
Beamer 161.85, Mt. Rainier 156.40
Todd Beamer landed a victory for its efforts in the Mount Rainier gymnasium in Des Moines last Wednesday.
Samantha West scored 35.7 total points to win the all-around competition for the Titans, ahead of the Rams' Kerrie Heckel with 35.50 points and Beamer's Kasey Johnson with 34.15.
Johnson won the balance beam with a 9.3 score and West won the vault with a 9.0. Heckel took the bars with a 9.05 and the floor exercise with a 9.15.
Boys basketball
TJ 83, Beamer 63
Thomas Jefferson posted a 20-point victory over crosstown rival Todd Beamer in the non-league opener for both teams last Wednesday.
Girls basketball
TJ 37, G-K 29
Thomas Jefferson won a low-scoring non-league game against Graham-Kapowsin last Wednesday.

Thursday, Dec. 2
Boys basketball
Darrington 52, CFC 47
Darrington delivered a narrow loss to Christian Faith Center of Federal Way last Thursday.

Tuesday, Nov. 30
Boys basketball
Kennedy 67, Mt. Si 56
The Lancers opened the local winter sports season by posting a win over Mount Si.

Wednesday, Dec. 1
Gymnastics
Beamer 161.85, Mt. Rainier 156.40
Mount Rainier was edged by Todd Beamer in South Puget Sound League action Wednesday.
Kerrie Heckel took second in the all-around to lead the Lady Rams, scoring 35.50 points. Heckel won the bars with a 9.05 score and she took the floor with a 9.15.
Girls basketball
Tyee 58, Franklin Pierce 27
The Totems opened their season on a decisive winning note Wednesday.

Thursday, Dec. 2
Girls basketball
Chief Sealth 58, Tyee 54
Tyee turned around to take a narrow loss to Chief Sealth Thursday.

Friday, Dec. 3
Girls basketball
Decatur 51, Highline 30
The Pirates of the Class 3A Seamount League took a loss to Decatur of the 4A South Puget Sound League Friday.
Mt. Rainier 73, K-M 42
The Rams routed the Royals in their first SPSL Class 4A game Friday.
SCS 59, Fife 18
Seattle Christian rolled to a lopsided win against Fife this past Friday.
Boys basketball
Mt. Rainier 81, K-M 70

Around 50 people, comprised of members of the White Center Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) and citizens from White Center, met at the Salvation Army Community Center on Dec. 7 to celebrate the good deeds of local heroes.

Brian Daigneault and Imelda Morgado were given awards for performing CPR and saving the life of a man having a heart attack on a street corner in White Center on Dec. 1. Mark Ufkes, president of WCCC, had first-hand knowledge of their actions because he was there that day, helping them perform CPR.

Morgado, a nurse and CPR trainer, was first on the scene of a well-dressed older man lying on the concrete that December morning.

“Imelda was truly the hero here,” Ufkes said. “She organized everything; asking who was trained (in CPR), telling us what to do … she was in charge of a crisis situation.”

Morgado said she was walking down the street when she saw the man.