May 2011

The Knowing the Spring Courtyard, the first major structure in the Seattle Chinese Garden is holding an open house for the public from 3:00 to 5:00 pm today May, 15.

Yueming Ling, vice mayor of Seattle’s sister city Chongqing, along with Seattle city officials, will attend the May 15 festivities. The event will feature martial arts and tai chi demonstrations, traditional dance and music performances, Chinese calligraphy and painting demonstrations. Groups include: Chinese Arts and Music Association, Melody Dance Group, Seattle Chinese Girls Drill Team, and 3 martial arts schools.

Knowing the Spring Courtyard was designed by architects in Chongqing, located in southwest China, and built in collaboration with Chinese artisans, local architects and contractors. The Seattle Chinese Garden, when complete, will be one of the largest Chinese gardens outside China, and the first in the United States to be designed in authentic Sichuan style.

The Seattle Chinese Garden is located at the north end of the South Seattle Community College campus at 6000 16th Avenue SW, in West Seattle. Admission to the Open House is free.

Coming up at the Seattle Chinese Garden:

Since the SBX Radar pulled into port late Tuesday night, it has become a head-turner for commuters crossing the West Seattle Bridge, and part of the Seattle skyline, too. It will remain through summer for repairs.

Photographer David Rosen took this photo from the West Seattle Bridge. It's really the only way to get this angle combining the SBX Radar dome and the Space Needle together.

UPDATE: More restaurants to participate

In addition to restaurants already listed in our story, these have also joined in:

Rairdon of Kirkland, Jak’s Grill – West Seattle, Lauelhurst & IIssaquah, Matador – West Seattle, Cactus Alki, on Madison, & Kirkland, Lunchbox Laboratory, Greenlake Bar and Grill, Eastlake Bar and Grill, Crossroads Bar and Grill, Lake Forest Bar and Grill, Bremerton Bar and Grill, Assagio, Emerald Cove Catering, Spice Room.

(Feedback Lounge is not on the list as previously reported)

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World MS Day was launched in 2009 with over 200 events in 67 countries to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic, often disabling disease. It is one of the most common disabling neurological conditions amongst young adults in the northern hemisphere. Over 2,000,000 people in the world have MS, 400,000 Americans. Northern latitudes like ours show high rates of the disease, especially in Eastern Washington.

Foster Bulldog Masse Gashay was the hero on the day after finding the net on a penalty kick in overtime after a 0-0 deadlock in the preceding 80 minutes.

If you closed your eyes his teammate’s and supporter’s cheers of “Masse, Masse!” could have been mistaken for “Messi, Messi!” (Argentine International considered by most to be the best player in the world).

First Half
Port Angeles came out strong in the first half, creating more offensive opportunities and reducing Foster to counterattack soccer with a long ball and a prayer. Bulldog forward Omar Abdullahi caused nightmares for Port Angeles’ backline when the ball found his feet, but he was unable to convert a goal.

Adbullahi was on the receiving end of many fouls throughout the game which cut his opportunities short, frustrating defenders with his ankle-buckling cutbacks and snap speed. That frustration would come back to haunt Port Angeles late in the game.

Port Angeles forward Anthony Brandon was Abdullahi’s counterpoint on the opposite end, threatening Foster’s goal several times but falling short of finding the net.

Second Half

A sea of more than 630 volunteers in bright green “I love White Center” t-shirts descended upon 21 different locations to pick up garbage, paint murals, plant trees, lay sod, weed invasive plants – you name it – all in the name of beautifying White Center on a beautiful sunny day on May 14.

The army of volunteers was amassed for the 2011 White Center Community Spring Clean put on by the White Center Community Development Association (CDA).

White Center Welcome Sign on Roxbury
Darrel and Terry Peart along with Victoria Herrera were in charge of cleaning up and planting flowers at the White Center Welcome Signs and started out with a fresh coat of red paint on the brick base of the sign on Roxbury, entering White Center from West Seattle.

The Pearts said they live in the area and showed up for registration this morning up for any task at hand. They would be moving on to the other signs to plant flowers after finishing there.

Hicks Lake Park/Dick Thurnau and Friends of Hicks Lake

By David Rosen

The Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR) kicked off on Alki today for the ALR’s 5th annual Walk with Us To Cure Lupus. In attendance was 35 + different groups and over 600 people total.

Local residents could walk individually or form a team with family, friends or co-workers. All of the donations made to the ALR and EVERY dollar raised through the ALR’s Walk with Us To Cure Lupus program go directly to support lupus research programs.

Jordan Babineaux of the Seattle Seahawks hosted the event for the second year in a row.

Sisters Against Lupus was the largest group that attended with nearly 200 people.

The Sweet Mahogany Drill Team attended as well for pre-race entertainment.

While there are so many questions about Lupus, there are some facts that cannot be disregarded. Anyone can get the disease. Nine out of 10 people who develop Lupus at some point in their lives are women. It strikes mostly women of childbearing age, ranging from 15 to 44 years old. It is a fact that men can develop it as well, thus it has the possibility of affecting us all.

Ballard had a good showing at the KingCo Championships this past Wednesday and Friday with 20 Ballard athletes competing. After sending only one athlete to Districts last year, 10 Ballard athletes are advancing to the KingCo-Wesco Bi-District Championships.

The championships will take place on May 18th and 20th at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.

Junior, Brad Baker, finished in the top spot in the 800 M race and is the KingCo Champion in this event. Baker will also be competing at Districts in the 400 M. Joining Baker at the Bi-District Championships will be:

Alex Bowns, 1600 M and 3200 M
Matt Kelly, Javelin
Alex Weatbrook, Discus
Emma Suchland, 100 M, 200 M, 4x100 Relay
Catherine Banobi, 400 M, 4x400 Relay
Emma Onstad-Hawes, 4x100 Relay, 4x400 Relay
Carolyn Birkenfeld, 4x100 Relay, 4x400 Relay
Cassie Winter, 4x100 Relay
Tikycia Young, 4x400 Relay

Competitors finishing in the top 5 in their events from the Bi-District Meet will advance to the 4A Washington State Championships on May 26th though May 28th.

See the full results, here.

LAX:

The 2nd Annual West Seattle Kiwanis Poker Run and Classic Car show is off to a running start today Saturday, May 14. The event is a benefit for Seattle Children's Hospital cancer research. It is being staged in a lot on Alaska Street in the 3900 block, next to Howden-Kennedy Funeral Home.

The poker run component means motorcyle riders get cards at each destination to comprise a poker hand. The Bike Show takes place at2:30pm where prizes for Best Hand, Worst Hand & Additional Categories will be awarded.

The classic car show takes place all day into the afternoon and a BBQ lunch offers brots and goodies."

Kiwanis President West Niver detailed the poker run, "First stop is Eagle Leather, 2nd stop is Downtown Harley in Renton, third stop is Eastside Harley. If you want to join in at any of those stops you can and come back here for a delicious BBQ lunch between 11am and 1pm."

West Seattle moved on in the 2011 Metro League baseball tournament, winning in seven innings with a 3-0 shutout over the Chief Sealth Seahawks on May 13.

The Wildcats win puts them in Game 11 of the tourney against Bishop Blanchet, the winner is Metro #3 to state and the loser takes the Metro #4 spot. The #4 will play King County’s #2 for a state birth on May 17.

West Seattle came into the game on the tail a 6-0 win over Franklin on May 12 after losing to Seattle Prep in the tournament opener on May 9. The Seahawks won their opener against Bishop Blanchet, but lost to O’Dea 11-2 on May 12, putting them into the match up with their cross-peninsula rivals.

West Seattle’s Devin Smith pitched a good game and kept the Seahawk bats cold throughout the game. Sealth had only a handful of hits as the Wildcat infield smothered anything hit low and turned the outs.

The Seahawks played disciplined defense throughout the game with a few missteps that cost them the runs. D’nique Harris-Welch pitched a solid game for Sealth after giving up a few runs early.

Sealth Sophomore Spencer Walker was awarded Best of Show honors at the Naramore Art Exhibit Friday, May 13 for his charcoal drawing, his Art Teacher Caroline Autenrieth titled "Fragmented." The exhibit, which is is on display at the Seattle Art Museum through June 4 features more than 200 works of art by Seattle Public School middle and high school students.

Autenrieth said, "He is one of the most prolific artists I know and last semester was taking my photography class and was just kind of doing OK. I saw him drawing. I started encouraging him and he started bringing in stuff that he was doing and I encouraged him to sign up for the International Baccalaureate program which he will do his Junior and Senior year. He carries his sketchbook around with him all the time, brings in stuff to me and will ask really intelligent questions about content and skills. I'm seeing between last semester and this semester a whole new level of focus for him.