May 2011

Explorer West Drama presents: A Collection of Cultural Myth and Circus

May 13th and May 14th at 7:00 pm.

All 90 students will entertain audiences with a side show circus act, and then perform three, one act plays that are cultural myths in the same evening.

They are: “The Coyote Collection”, a series of Native myths adapted for Explorer West by T. Kent; “The Adventures of Harlequin” a comedic play in the style of Commedia Dell’Arte, written by William Glennon; and "Bocón" a thriller about the mythical La Llorona and disenfranchised people loosing their voice, written by Lisa Loomer.

6th grade will be performing "The Coyote Collection". It is a series of mostly Pacific Northwest native myths about Coyote. They include: how people got fire, how Multinomah falls were made, and how rabbit tricked Coyote.

The annual White Center Spring Clean starts early on May 14, and goes into the afternoon, with more than 630 volunteers scouring, sweeping, painting, cleaning and otherwise improving 22 sites around the community.

The event begins at 6:30 am for the organizers as they prepare to set the various processes for the day in motion. An army runs on its stomach and the volunteers are no exception so the WCCDA, organizer and coordinator of the event, is providing fruit, bagels and beverages for all those participating.

The real work finally starts at 9:30 a.m. as project captains guide their volunteers to the sites. The work includes everything from installing a new White Center Welcome sign at 10th s.w. and s.w. Roxbury to clearing brush and planting a P-Patch at 15th s.w. and 107th Street s.w.

To see a full list and map of the projects Spring Clean is tackling download the attached file.

Following the clean up efforts, lunch and entertainment are scheduled at Greenbridge Plaza. Lunch is being provided by Chemo's Mexican Restaurant.

Press Release:
West Seattle Youth Arts Charity “Unified Outreach” is sponsoring the 2011 “Seattle City Breaker’s Reunion” and 30 year anniversary celebration featuring the return of the 1980’s premier break dancer “Ziggy Zig Zag”. Event to be hosted by Legendary Seattle DJ Nasty Nes Rodriguez, and Mayor’s Arts & Culture Award winner’s DJ Mr. Supreme, and DJ B-Mello.

The 501c3 non-profit group is bringing together 3 decades of break dancers to celebrate 30 years of hip hop in Seattle. Legendary Seattle DJ (1250 Kfox & KCMU Rap Attack) Nasty Nes Rodriguez is flying in from California to co-host the event; along with current KUBE DJ and Mayor’s Award winner B-Mello, and legendary recording artist and also Mayor’s Award winner DJ Mr. Supreme.

Guests of honor will include original Seattle Break Dance Crews (established 1981-1984) Seattle City Breakers, Seattle Circuit Breakers, Twilight Patrol, DeRoxy Crew, Breaking Mechanism, and more; many of which competed in the 1984 “Summer Break” television program hosted by Steve Pool.

Three time first-place winner Dan (Dano) Quinn won the Stories of the Sea contest yet again last night.

Held at Conor Byrne Pub on Ballard Avenue, the Stories of the Sea contest is part of the Seattle Maritime Festival and challenges story tellers, poets and musicians to tell the funniest, heart-warming, or harrowing tale about life at sea.

Each performer was given a 10 minutes to perform and their performance was based on creativity, presentation, imagery and poetic design. The six guest judges were representatives of the media and the maritime industry.
 
"It's my favorite event of all the Seattle Maritime Festival," said Ken Saunders, Festival coordinator.

The event drew out a decent crowd and musician and fisherman Knut Bell was emcee for the night.

Quinn's winning story was a funny rhyme about two schooner boys getting in all sorts of trouble in Hawaii. Quinn quickly won over the crowd and the judges -- representatives of the maritime industry and local media -- and set the bar high for the contestants to follow.

The all-league soccer teams were announced and Ballard's soccer team was named the team with the best sportsmanship.

Also, Ballard forward Brent Campbell was named to the All-League First Team.

Lacrosse:

Playoffs kick off for the Ballard girls lacrosse team today. Ballard, number four in the Northeast conference, faces Klahowya tonight at 6 p.m. at Central Kitsap Junior High in Silverdale.   Klahowya ended their regular season in the Southwest Conference undefeated.

If Ballard wins they will face either Bainbridge or Bellevue East on Wednesday, May 18 in the semifinal

See Bracket, here.

Golf:

From the Seattle Police Blotter:

On May 12th, officers from the Aggressive Driver Response Team conducted Speed Emphasis. They issued the following citations:

West Seattle Bridge – 45 mph zone

1 at 67 mph

1 at 65 mph

1 at 64 mph

1 No Proof of Insurance

10 Bus Lane Violations

SW Admiral Way – 30 mph zone

1 at 48 mph

1 at 46 mph

1 at 45 mph

8100 block 1st Ave South – 30 mph zone

2 at 48 mph

1 at 46 mph

1 Suspended Drivers License – 2nd Degree

2 No Proof of Insurance

2300 block Airport Way South – 30 mph zone

1 at 50 mph

School Zones – 20 mph zone

Roxhill – 1 at 33 mph

Holy Family – 1 at 40 mph

Arbor Heights – 1 at 34 mph, 1 at 33 mph, 1 at 32 mph

The Seattle Police Department encourages all motor vehicle operators to be familiar with and obey all local and state traffic laws and to always drive with due regard for all others on the roadway.

Blaine Cook, owner of Zippy's Giant Burgers, set to open soon in White Center shared his latest update with the West Seattle Herald Friday morning, May 13. The delays for those in the community seeking burger Nirvana continue for now but there is some positive news to report too.

"The Deputy Fire Marshall refused to do the pressure test. Which meant that R&T was unable to activate the system.Also the fire alarm for the complex is not activated and not monitored. This was cause for "alarm" to the fire marshal. He went and looked in the two other operating business. He is requesting that the landlord contact both him and the fire engineer for King County. We had previously contacted the landlord about the alarm.. We'll be in contact with the Fire Marshal today to see what we can do to light a "fire" under this and get things moving.

On a positive note we did pass our field inspection by the health department.

On Sunday, May 15, Nickelsville will move from the Old Lake City Fire House to a new, undisclosed location.
The move of the homeless encampment comes with a call for solidarity as well as celebration.

Last night Seattle blues and fols favorites Joe Martin and Jim Page kicked off the celebrations with a music night at the Old Lake City Fire House and today, the Seattle Displacement Coalition is holding a "Black Cat Caravan". At 2 p.m. convoys from the Old Firehouse will take Nickelsville residents, supporters and advocates to Seattle City Hall to see if Seattle City Council has picked up the pace since resolution #31292 was passed.

Although Charlie Conner’s seven-story mixed use complex at the Alaska Junction includes tearing down the building that has been home to RockSport Bar & Grill for 16 years, owners Darren Ahlf, Dan Beeman, and a silent, third partner extended their lease, and will stay at least until the year's end and then may rent month to month. Ahlf worked at Salty's "for years" he said, prior to RockSport. Beeman lives in West Seattle.

Ahlf told the West Seattle Herald he wants the public to know RockSport will remain open through 2011, and he and the other two owners are actively looking to buy property for a new location in or near the Alaska Junction. He said that a rumor has been spreading quickly that RockSport is closing soon, which is untrue, and wants to set the record straight.

"Believe me. I get asked every day from guests, ''Are you closing? Are you closing?' and It would be great to squash the rumor mill," said Ahlf with a bit of frustration in his voice.

Click on photo for slideshow

Northwest Hope & Healing Foundation, and the Swedish Cancer Institute presented the 9th Annual Fashion Show Benefit Thursday night, May 12, at the SHOWBOX SODO, 1700 1st Ave. S. All female models featured in the packed venue are breast cancer patients and survivors. During the live auction the emcee, Pat Murphy, asked for financial donations at different increments, and three separate audience members raised their numbered signs at the $5,000 level, several at the 2,500, and more at the $1,000 level.

It was announced, and printed in the organization's literature, that the money will pay for healing baskets, gas and taxi vouchers, groceries, after-school care and activities for kids, eviction prevention, and emergency rent and utility payments.

Many West Seattle residents participated, including Shari Sewell, Executive Director, Hope & Healing Foundation, Christine Smith, a breast cancer survivor who founded Hope & Healing 11 years ago, Nancy Woodland, Executive Director of Westside Baby.