March 2011

Pet Adoption Stroll in Morgan Junction
Pet Elements, 6701 California Ave. S.W.
206-932-0457
Stella Ruffington’s, 7003 California Ave. S.W.
206-932-RUFF
Saturday, April 2, Noon-4 p.m. Two local businesses are hosting three Animal Rescue Groups. Come meet the kittens, cats, puppies, dogs and small mammals waiting to be adopted. Info: furryfaces@hotmail.com.

Discovery Shop
4535 California Ave. S.W.
206-937-7169
50% OFF All Men’s Wear: thru Saturday, 4/2. April 7th (One Day Only): Pick an egg from the basket in the Shop and find a discount for one item. Pink-tagged items $1: Wednesday, 3/23, thru Thursday, 3/31. Blue-tagged items: 50% OFF, Friday April 1 and forward. The Shop is open on Sundays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All other days the Shop is open for our valued customers & donors purchasing and/or contributing goods; offering estates or financial support from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m

West Seattle Food Bank Collection Sites

Dear Editor,

Loved your story on the lost parakeet who found a home! It is so nice to have a positive, heart-warming story on the front page.

Also, enjoyed Steven Shay’s story on Janie Burleigh. He really captured her. I have known her for years and she is very vivacious and spunky – a life-long giver.

Thanks again for a great newspaper that has been consistently good through the years.

Carol Wakefield
Admin. Secretary
West Seattle High School

Editor’s Note: Copper theft is on the rise across the nation these days with high prices for the metal and a recycling industry that will normally pay people in cash for the copper scrap they bring in. West Seattle Recycling, for example, is currently paying between $3.10 and $3.65 per pound of copper.

A Seattle City Light worker alerted police to a burglary of City Light’s substation on s.w. Morgan St. last Monday. Unknown suspect(s) cut through the west side of the fence and stole around $5,000 worth of copper wiring from the substation. The worker told police the damage done by pilfering all that wire nearly shut the substation down and could have shut down power and light across “a major portion of West Seattle.” A cell phone was found on the ground inside the substation fencing and submitted to evidence by police.

By Christy Wolyniak, News Intern

Proud of their Nordic heritage, 150 Ballardites bonded together on a cool Saturday morning for the annual Leif-to-Leif 5k race. The course ran from the Leif Erikson Lodge to the majestic Leif Erikson statue at Shilshole Marina and back.

The Leif-to-Leif race was organized by Diane Adams to benefit the Northwest Senior Center. This is her second year running the event. “The turnout this year was beyond our expectations. Last year we had about 65 runners, and there’s more ever year,” she said. “[Whether they’re runners or walkers], everyone goes out to be with friends and to have something to do [together].”

Runners and walkers were greeted with coffee and heart-shaped Norwegian waffles before the race began. Enjoying a coffee was Laurie Nunnelee from Kenmore. “I’m happy to support the NW Senior Center. The serious folks who are running are going to be burning up the road – then there’s the people with their coffee,” she laughed.

Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society performers treated two sold-out audiences to 20 songs during their March 25th and 26th fundraising gala. "Gillbert & Sullivan Just for Laughs" was held at the Crown Hill Center gym where the organization now has a rehearsal and workshop space. The evenings were hosted by Dave Ross, radio host at KIRO-FM.

Working lights and sound was popular Seattle folk singer Tom Colwell of the band Tom Colwell & The Southbound Odyssey.

The Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society is promoting its performance of G&S's "Ruddigore" opening in mid-July at the Bagley Wright Theatre.

For tickets and general information visit: www.pattersong.org

(click on photo to start slideshow)

A preview of the Seattle Art Museum's "An Invasion of Nick Cave's Soundsuits" exhibit ventured out to Ballard on Saturday afternoon.

Charlestown Street Cafe, a West Seattle favorite will close its doors at 3 pm April 3.

A victim of the economy and a lease with no future owner Ron Hanlon told the West Seattle Herald that while they survived having the land almost taken from them, and a fire they finally reached the point where rising costs, the need to upgrade the building, and declining sales made it impossible to keep going.

32 years ago this month in 1979, Hanlon opened the White Spot Cafe, near The Kenney Home on Fauntleroy. He and his partner at the time were successful enough to open another location which they dubbed Websters, on California Avenue (in the current VCA Animal Hospital location) in 1982 which operated until 1991. They opened another location on First Hill in 1986 and one in Ballard. Then in 1992 the current location formally called Websters Charlestown Cafe opened.

Click on photo for SLIDESHOW

Poised, well-behaved and well-dressed young ladies ran the show filled with pomp and circumstance at the Alki Masonic Lodge Saturday afternoon as the Grand Officers were honored from District 6/7 Rainbow Girls, which includes West Seattle, Kent, Laurel, and Southgate. (West Seattle is Assembly #18.)

Called the "Afternoon of Magical Madness", the pageantry included marches, flower bouquets, candelabras, gift exchanges, song, teddy bears, well, they were actually plush penguins, and speeches. Oh, did I mention there were speeches?

Grand Officers honored included Nikky Noble for Grand Service, Rebecca Muchmore for Grand Rainbow Flag Bearer, and Claire Fernandez for Grand Choir Director.

Hosts included Kala Broxey, Worthy Advisor for Assembly #18 in West Seattle.

A reception in the dining room followed the two and a half hour presentation.

Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society performers treated two sell-out audiences to 20 songs, mostly G&S efforts. during each of the two- night, March 25 & 26, fundraising galas "Gillbert & Sullivan Just for Laughs" held at the Crown Hill Center gym where the organization now has a rehearsal and workshop space. Radio host Dave Ross, also a G&S performer hosted.

(Late correction: The Friday night fundraiser was held in the rehearsal space adjacent to the gym. The Saturday night fundraiser was held in the gym.)

Highland Park resident Scott Besscho has been a performer with the troupe for 10 years.

"This is my informal audition tonight," he told the West Seattle Herald during the March 26 gala. He lead the performance of "When the Night Wind Howls" from G&S's "Ruddigore".

He added, "I sang in the choir at Bellevue College, and was in musical theater at the Village Theater in Issaquah for years. I teach English at Bellevue College.

Set designer Nathan Rodda is from Normandy Park.

"We couldn't fit all the guests into our rehearsal space so we held the fundraiser both evenings here in the gym," Rodda said. The gym is adjacent to the rehearsal space.

Press Release:
A computer system outage that disrupted Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air flights yesterday has been resolved. The majority of Alaska and Horizon flights are operating on time although the airlines have delayed about a dozen flights due to crew scheduling issues. Customers traveling today are still advised to check the status of their flight at www.alaskaair.com or by calling 1-800-ALASKAAIR before leaving for the airport.

Throughout the day yesterday, Alaska and Horizon canceled 150 flights affecting some 12,150 passengers. Customers were being re-accommodated on the next available flight at no charge and in some cases on other airlines.

“With computer systems restored and our operation back on track today, we will continue to assist those customers whose flights were canceled yesterday,” Alaska Airlines President Brad Tilden said. “On behalf of the 13,000 Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air employees, I offer my profound apology to customers inconvenienced by this disruption.”