May 2011

Pet of the Week: Bella is a sweet bear

Bella (whose name is actually Belle but has since changed a bit) is a mixed retriever and Samoyed with a big fluffy coat and a squat, round body that has earned her yet another name, "Bella the Bear."

She belongs to Jennifer Deyoung and Bella is relatively new. "I got her at the end of October so I've only had her for about six months," said DeYoung, "and I got her from the animal shelter over by Interbay. She's about five years old."

Bella is extremely gentle, curious, friendly and very calm. "She's one of the sweetest, most good natured dogs I've ever met and I'm a big dog lover and have interacted with a lot of them. She's just very patient. She loves other people and other dogs."

When dogs and cats get together the results can sometimes be dramatic. Not with Bella. "The first time she met my friend's cat, we were very anxious about 'How is she going to interact with cats? Bella walked into the room where the cat was, looked around walked right up to the cat and just started licking the cat. And the cat just laid there and purred," Deyoung said laughing, "Now the two of them are friends for life."

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Sealth student's films featured in SIFF showing May 17

Stop motion animation efforts are part of the Adobe Youth Voices program

Two students from Chief Sealth High School will have their films projects screened May 17 at SIFF Cinema, 321 Mercer St. at 6 p.m. The animations were created over the course of the school year, with cutting edge multimedia tools as part of the Adobe Youth Voices program.

- Technicolor Love by Rachel Townsend – a stop motion animation about two people who fall in love in a dream and then embark on a quest to find each other in reality
- Love Stems by Brooke Sarver – a stop motion animation about love lost and found

Rachel Townsend’s film, Technicolor Love, was selected by Seattle International Film Festival to be screened with a feature film during the festival.

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Zoo looking for input in the naming of the new python

The Woodland Park Zoo has a new resident and they're looking for community input in what to call the newest inhabitant. The new member is an eight-year-old, 100-pound male python snake that was introduced last week. At its introduction, staff of the zoo called for name suggestions and nearly 400 name suggestions were submitted in less than 48 hours.

Staff of the zoo have picked their five favorites and it's up to the community to make the final decision by casting a vote. The zoo staff’s top five names are:
 
Java – in honor of its roots in Southeast Asia and Seattle
Rimbo – “jungle” in Indonesian
Kaa – from “Jungle Book”
Pogi – “good looking” in Tagalog (Filipino)
Sundara – “beautiful” in Hindi
 
People can cast their vote until 3:00 p.m. tomorrow on the Zoo's Facebook page.
 

Neighborhood
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HONK! Fest West rattles Seattle streets and parks

Christy Wolyniak, News Intern and , UW News Lab student

HONK! Fest West invaded Georgetown, Gas Works, and the Seattle Center this past weekend, carrying with them an energetic explosion of musical rhythms and entertainment.

Over 20 bands joined forces with acoustic energy on Friday May 13 through Sunday May 15. Musical sounds from brass, samba and drums to African and Moroccan beats interlaced, providing a pleasing, lively experience to the community.

HONK! first began in Boston a few years ago, and has now expanded into a total of three festival locations: Austin, Boston, and our very own Seattle. This marked Seattle’s fourth annual HONK! Fest West event.

“HONK! exists to break down barriers between the audience and the band, [encouraging] people to be a part of the entertainment, not just be entertained,” said HONK! organizer and Titanium Sporkestra member, David Stern.

What began as a drum corps similar to what one might see in the movie “Drumline” soon married its deep drumbeats with horns, developing into the solid rhythms perking up the ears of the west coast.

Neighborhood
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Parks & Rec won't cover costs for Alki Art Fair, sponsors, donors sought

Alki Advisory Council and the Alki Art Fair Organizing Committee press release:

The Alki Advisory Council and the Alki Art Fair Organizing Committee are proud to present the 14th annual Alki Art Fair on July 23 and 24, 2011.

In previous years, the City of Seattle Parks and Recreation (Parks and Rec) sponsored this event, thus covered the costs of the renting the beach and Bathhouse, staff time, and advertising. Parks and Rec funding for the 2011 Alki Art Fair was completely eliminated because of drastic budget cuts within Parks and Rec. The Alki Advisory Council and Alki Art Fair Committee must cover all the costs this year. We are therefore asking for sponsors and donations to help cover the operating costs to put on this wonderful summer event.

The unique venue at Alki Beach Park fair draws over 4,000 visitors each year to enjoy fine arts and crafts produced by over 60 local artists along with two days of live music performances and free children’s art activities. In addition, this year the fair will be celebrating the centennial of the Alki Bathhouse with exhibits and activities provided by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society/Log House Museum.

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SheROX Triathalon Series kicks off in Federal Way, July 10

Press release:
May 17, 2011

All-women’s SheROX Triathlon Series helps kick off summer race season July 10 in Federal Way, WA.

WHEN: Sunday, July 10, 7 a.m. start time (Free expo: July 9)
WHAT: SheROX Federal Way
WHERE: Federal Way, Washington - Steel Lake Park, 2410 S. 312th St.
DISTANCE: Sprint Course: .75k swim, 20k bike, 6.6k run
BENEFIT: Ovarian Cancer Research Fund
REGISTER AT: www.sheroxtri.com

Celebrate the summer race season in Puget Sound and join the many women who have already registered for the SheRox Triathlon Series, to be held July 10 in Federal Way, WA.

This is the sixth year that an all-women’s triathlon has been held in Federal Way, but the first year the race has been under the SheROX Triathlon Series umbrella. SheROX is the fastest-growing all-women’s sprint triathlon series in the country, with events this year in nine cities in the U.S. and Bermuda.

Race participants range in age from 18 to 67, and several are traveling from as far away as Virginia to compete in this year’s event - a combination of swimming, biking and running.

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Master's Track and Field Meet coming to West Seattle Stadium on June 4

Track meet is for participants 30 years and older

Press release from Seattle Parks and Recreation:

SEATTLE PARKS HOLDS MASTERS’ TRACK AND FIELD MEET
Event is especially for those 30 years and older.

Attention all adult track and field enthusiasts. Grab your track shoes and stretch out your hamstrings! The Masters’ Track and Field Meet will take place on Saturday, June 4, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at West Seattle Stadium, 4432 35th Ave. SW.

The meet is for adults who are 30 years of age and older. It will include, but is not limited to, the 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter, 4 x 400 meter relay, 5,000 meter, pole vault, long jump, shot put and much, much more! Last year’s event attracted more than 70 participants.

The cost is only $5 per event, and event participation is unlimited. Sign up for as many events as you like! Registration will take place at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the event. Pre-registration is not required.

Seattle Parks and Recreation is also seeking volunteers for this event.

For more information, please contact Antoinette Daniel, Adult Recreation Program Coordinator at antoinette.daniel@seattle.gov or call (206)684-7092.

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West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting tonight, May 17

Drug control policy expert to speak

From Richard Miller, president of the WSCPC:

The guest speaker at the meeting tonight will be Steve Freng the
Prevention/Treatment Manager for the NWHIDTA-Northwest High Intensity
Drug Trafficking Area. The HIDTA program coordinates drug control policy
among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

Mr. Freng will discuss recent drug trends in our area, including "bath
salts" and synthetic designer drugs. The meeting starts at 7:00pm.

Meetings are held every third Tuesday of the month at the Southwest Precinct community room at 2300 s.w. Webster St, starting at 7 p.m.

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First Annual Peony Festival to blossom at Seattle Chinese Garden May 21

The Seattle Chinese Garden, which just had its formal dedication of the first major structure to be completed on May 15 is inviting the public to floral appreciation event on Saturday May 21.

The First Annual Peony Festival from 12:00 pm to 5:30 pm is being celebrated at the site and will afford the public a chance to see the Knowing the Spring Courtyard and celebrate peonies. They are in bloom at the garden now and the organizers are encouraging people to bring their own cut flowers to the event. The event will also offer herbaceous peony plants for sale.

The Seattle Chinese Garden is adjacent to South Seattle Community College, 1600 16th Avenue SW. Park in lot at north entrance.

Admission is free to Seattle residents, SCG members, and children under 5. Others: adults $6, seniors 62* $5, students $5.

For more information: 206-764-5219 or www.seattlechinesegarden.org

Sponsored by the Horticulture Committee—Betsy Anderson, Judy Koenig, Maggie Payne, Riz Reyes, Doug Rice, and Phil Wood

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UPDATE: Seattle City Council meeting cancelled, Councilmember Rasmussen explains

At 8:55 am today, Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin entered the office of Councilmember Mike O'Brien to announce the special session meeting, scheduled for 9:00 am this morning to discuss the tunnel/viaduct referendum (vote) controversy, had been cancelled. No explanation was given. O'Brien speculated that this is part of a legal strategy but that the 29,000 signatures are evidence of the fact that a vote should go forward.

There was a cluster of people gathered outside the chambers and only O'Brien came forward to announce that the meeting had been cancelled. It is well known that he is the only councilmember to oppose the tunnel project, at least until a vote is taken, which is also Mayor McGinn's position.

UPDATE-2, 1:00 p.m. West Seattle Councilmember Tom Rasmussen Explains:

In a phone interview at 12:45 p.m. with the West Seattle Herald, West Seattle resident and Councilmember Tom Rasmussen explained why the meeting was cancelled.

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