January 2011

On Saturday, The Knights of Columbus are putting on a benefit dinner for the Luberts family to help them get back on their feet.

The Luberts family lost everything they owned when flames engulfed their home in the early hours of December 31st. Fire fighters rescued seven family members from the rooftop of the house where they were trapped. They were treated at Harborview Medical Center for smoke inhalation and heat burns.

All proceeds of the pasta with meatballs dinner will go to the account at Key Bank set up in the family’s name. Tim Simunds, a member of the Knights of Columbus, said some of the younger family members were uninsured and the money raised at the benefit dinner will help pay the medical bills.

“The family affected by this tragic fire has been a long-time member of this local community both in the St. Alphonsus Parish as well as Ballard,” Simunds said.

“Our hearts go out to them and we want to support them. The lost everything in the fire.”

Simunds said they’re preparing dinner for approximately 300 people. The dinner includes meatball pasta, rolls, coffee and punch.

By Kate Ganiron, Web Intern

Brian Waite is celebrating his new post at The Dusty Strings Music School with a free concert by The Brian Waite Band in Fremont this weekend.

“There’s going to be a lot of different styles of music, so it will be a pretty cool concert,” said
Clif Swigget, member of The Brian Waite Band.

“We’re going to a couple different places during the concert. It’s going to be a really fun event,”
said Brian Waite.

The concert will include giveaways of instruments, CDs, and free music classes.

The Brian Waite Band is an award-winning local band that takes both children and their parents on a “Rock ‘n' Roll adventure” through their performances. Originating on the West Coast about ten years ago, the band has produced five critically acclaimed albums and worldwide recognition.

“It’s all original music. Lots of different styles, from hard, direct Rock 'n' Roll to reggae to jazz to calypso Caribbean,” said Swigget. “Musically we try to get the kids into a lot of different grooves and styles. It’s fun for us, too, as musicians.”

The concert will include both music and storytelling for both children and their parents to enjoy.

Wednesday, Jan. 5
Boys basketball
Chief Sealth 62, Sultan 46
The Seahawks of Chief Sealth High School in West Seattle cruised to a victory over non-league opponent Sultan in last Wednesday's action.

Wrestling
West Seattle 37, Eastside Catholic 36
West Seattle squeezed out a victory against Eastside Catholic.
Nick Marek scored a 6-3 win at 103 pounds last week, then the 112-pound match went down as a double forfeit. Nigel Tambagan scored a pin in 21 seconds at 125 pounds and Louis Wright recorded a pin in 1:47 at 135 pounds.
Nikko Emm won by forfeit at 189 pounds and Zach Broten took the 215 by a 102 major decision. Nate Vee was a winner by forfeit at 285 pounds.

Friday, Jan. 7
Boys basketball
Chief Sealth 78, Cleveland 41
Chief Sealth's Seahawks soared to victory over Cleveland High School of Seattle Friday.
West Seattle 58, Blanchet 55
West Seattle won a close one against Blanchet Friday.

Saturday, Jan. 8
Chief Sealth 63, Blanchet 28
Chief Sealth scored a lopsided win over the Braves on Saturday.

Federal Way landed four players in double digits scoring after breaking away from Todd Beamer in the third quarter of an eventual 78-43 victory.

The No. 1-ranked Eagles soared out to a 7-0 South Puget Sound League South Division record and improved their overall mark to 9-1 -- with the only loss coming to defending Idaho state champion Coeur D' Alene at a Christmas tournament in Spokane. Todd Beamer fell to 3-4 in SPSL South Division play with Friday's loss in the Federal Way gymnasium and to 6-4 overall.

The Titans only trailed, 34-28, at halftime before Federal Way scored the first nine points of the third quarter and 19 of the first 21.

"The first half we stayed with them," said Todd Beamer head coach Heather Sugg. "Then we just mentally broke down and we can't do that. It happens, but it's got to stop happening."

Federal Way head coach Danny Graham saw his team get flustered in the first half.

"Todd Beamer is a very good team," Graham said. "They're well coached and play hard. We came out real flat and they didn't. We limited rebounds in the second half and that allowed us to score some extra points."

Wednesday, Jan. 5

Wrestling

Kentwood 58, TJ 16

Ty Zumwalt won, 9-5, for the Raiders at 145 pounds in a tournament at Mount Rainier last Wednesday, while teammate Chad George won, 6-4, in overtime at 160. KW Williams posted a pin in 1:58 at 189 pounds.

Kentwood 43, Mt. Rainier 24

Kentwood also defeated the Rams in the other half of Wednesday's three-way meet.

Chol Buoghkuoth was an 18-8 winner at 103 pounds and James Porter won by pin at 125 pounds. AJ Atoigue won, 7-3, at 140 and Alex Pierols pinned his 145-pound foe in 5:43. Steve Hanlon won, 7-5, at 165 pounds.

Boys basketball

Bethel 60, Federal Way 54

Jerry Duckworth scored 24 points to lead the Eagles in last Wednesday's loss.

Thursday, Jan. 6

Boys basketball

CFC 46, NW Yeshiva 28

Christian Faith Center of Federal Way knocked off Northwest Yeshiva convincingly Thursday.

Girls basketball

NW Yeshiva 62, CFC 35

The Christian Faith Center girls team was stopped by Northwest Yeshiva this past Thursday.

Friday, Jan. 7

Boys basketball

Federal Way 67, Beamer 34

Wednesday, Jan. 5

Wrestling

Kentwood 43, Mt. Rainier 24

Chol Buomkuoth was an 18-8 winner for the Rams at 103 pounds Wednesday and James Porter pinned his 135-pound foe in 2:50. AJ Atoigue won, 7-3, at 140 and Alex Pierols won by pin in 5:43 at 145. Steve Hanlan won, 7-5, at 160.

Boys basketball

Tyee 58, Highline 41

The Totems outgunned the Pirates in Seamount League action last Wednesday.

Hazen 66, Foster 63
The Foster boys team took a close loss last Wednesday, when Aglie Leigh and Adam Suta led with 12 points apiece.

Girls basketball

Tyee 60, Highline 46

Tyee also won on the girls side in last Wednesday's game.

Foster 51, Hazen 35

Foster emerged as a decisive winner over the Highlanders last Wednesday.

Friday, Jan. 7

Boys basketball

Kentridge 59, Mt. Rainier 55

Mount Rainier came up short against Kentridge in South Puget Sound League Class 4A action Friday.

Foster 71, Renton 60

The Bulldogs routed Renton in a Seamount League bout Friday.

Kennedy 62, Highline 44

The Lancers outgunned their close rivals Friday night, 62-44.

Life Christian 62, SCS 54

From the SPD Blotter:

On January 12th at approximately 1:17 p.m. officers responded to a 911 call of a domestic disturbance in the 3400 block of 44th Avenue SW. Upon arrival officers approached the front door of the residence and could hear hysterical screams from a female voice and growling dogs emanating from inside the home. Officers made entry into the home through the unlocked front door and saw two dogs on top of a woman (who turned out to be the suspect). The officers observed blood on the mouths of the two dogs and blood on the clothing and hands of the woman on the ground. The woman was able to stand up and break free of the dogs at which time the dogs began attacking each other. Shortly thereafter the dogs charged at the officers. One of the officers shot both dogs, killing one and injuring the other.

Highline fans of "old school" Italian-don't worry.

The Burien Vince's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria, on the northwest corner of Southwest 153rd Street and 4th Avenue Southwest, is not going anywhere.
Patrons of the classic Burien restaurant might have gotten a little nervous after the Seattle Times revealed Wednesday, Jan. 12 that the flagship Vince's in Rainier Beach is closing down after five decades.

Italian immigrants Vince Mottola Sr. and his wife, Ada, started the restaurant in 1957 at Martin Luther King Way and South Othello Street. They moved it south to 8824 Renton Ave. S. in 1963.

The Burien branch is not quite as venerable, having arrived in Burien in 1984.
In fact, it was the first new restaurant opened by Vince Mottola Jr. when he took over the family business from Vince Sr. in 1983.

"I have fond memories of it," Mottola Jr. said. "We have a lot of loyal guests there."

The Burien restaurant, like the others in Renton and Federal Way, are doing fine despite the economy, according to Mottola.
He said the original restaurant in Rainier Beach, which he plans to close, actually is profitable.

Milan Heger is a local artist from a far away place. Once suppressed under communist rule in Czechoslovakia, he has found the freedom to fulfill his passion. He shares his experience in a 90 percent autobiographical book titled, The Art of Freedom.

Locally, his book is on sale at independent bookstores such as Fremont Place Books and Greenwood’s Couth Buzzard Books, where he recently held a reading.

“It’s an inspirational book about overcoming obstacles,” Heger said.

“When you have a passion for something, you do it no matter what regime or what obstacle. Passion has to prevail.”

Heger’s personal obstacle was a communist regime. Born in 1958, Heger grew up in communist Czechoslovakia.

Ben is Schnauzer owned by Deb Diamond and he's eleven years old. "He was a shelter dog," said Diamond, "he was living with a family that had a couple of small kids who felt like they already had an older dog and it was just too much to have a young puppy."

He was adopted by Diamond and her partner Mary, "so he's been with us since he was about 8 months old."

Diamond said that Ben is "very neurotic and he's got a pretty quirky personality." Ben has a lot of anxiety and he gets nervous around other dogs even though he loves playing with them.

"When I first met him, I put my face up in his and gave him a little scratch on the ears and he growled and let me know that it was going to be on his terms and once I ignored him and he decided he wasn't being paid attention to he decided to be my friend."