June 2011

The well known Garfield High School Drumline made a very special appearance at The Bridge on 35th s.w. Saturday, June 11 virtually taking over the entire restaurant with powerful drumming from a group of 17 percussionists.

TO SEE A LARGER VERSION OF THE GARFIELD DRUMLINE AT THE BRIDGE CLICK THE LINK ABOVE

Led by West Seattle's Tony Sodano, Garfield's Band and Drumline Director the group first warmed up in the parking lot, to the delight of those outside on the Bridge's patio area who hung on the fence and hooted and cheered with each piece played. Some came out to the parking lot to get a better look at the group which has won numerous competitions and makes 2 appearances a month.

Normally, the group charges between $500 and $2000 for each appearance. If that fee seems high it's important to note that the group has to buy their own drums and other equipment, recently spending more than $17,000.

From the Seattle Police Blotter:

On June 9 and 10th the Aggressive Driver Response Team (ADRT) conducted a “Bus Only” lane emphasis patrol on the West Seattle Bridge at the request of West Seattle residents.

Many motorists honked and waved at the officers or gave the officers the “thumbs up” as they were conducting their enforcement operation.

The following tickets were issued during the emphasis on the West Seattle Bridge:

Bus Only Lane violations – 51

No Valid Driver’s License – 3

Suspended Driver’s License – 2 citations

No Proof of Insurance – 3 citations

Another ADRT officer conducted a speed emphasis on Highland Parkway SW, a 30 mph zone. The following tickets were issued:

1 at 55mph

2 at 51mph

15 others all between 45 and 49 mph.

11 No Proof of Insurance

3 miscellaneous violations

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.

Lindsay Thiele, who is an Assistant Teacher for the 2nd Grade at Westside School was busy Saturday Afternoon painting in the outlines for The Bridge logo on the outside south wall, originally designed by Joe Dick and Arthur Rodenhauser.

You can see the sign for yourself if you drop by at 4439 35th Ave. s.w.

Call them at (206) 402-4606 or visit them online at http://www.TheBridgeSeattle.com

You can hook up with The Bridge on Facebook here.

The Annual Georgetown Carnival runs until 8:00 p.m. tonight along Airport Way South, just north of Boeing Field. Now that the sun has come out, it's a circus over there, and many West Seattle and White Center residents cross the bridge to check out the edgy street-fair-on-steroids.

Two acrobats performed above a ring of spectators who live in West Seattle. Eloise O'Leary, a freshman at Chief Sealth, and Lyla Goldman who attends Washington Middle School study with SANCA, School of Acrobatics & New Circus Arts in Georgetown. Their instructor, Nickolai Pirak, He has studied German Wheel, juggling and object manipulation in Germany and here in Seattle. He works as an independent performer and is now the Director of the Youth Performance Co. at SANCA.

Click on photo for SLIDESHOW

West Seattle Engine 32 WINS!

From 9am to Noon today Seattle firefighters raced up and down tower, and through an obstacle course which replicates skills needed during emergencies at the City of Seattle Joint Training Facility, 9401 Myers Way South, West Seattle.

More than half a dozen Seattle firefighting teams compete head-to-head on an obstacle course designed to reinforce the skills needed for the physically demanding profession.

Seattle Fire Department Battalion Chief James Hilliard emceed as sons Jack and Max, 8 watched the competition from the stands. Max did the opening coin toss. Loud rock music including AC/DC screamed out of the speakers to get the competitors fired up.

Melissa Woolsey has been with fire department nine years. She is with Station 25 on Capitol Hill. Some of her male counterparts at the station told the Herald she could kick their butts.

West Seattle piano instructor Allyson Kramer and about 10 of her students brightened the dining hall at at Park West Skilled Nursing Facility, 1703 California Av. with music during the second of two recitals for the seniors there. The young maestros favored the residents with a variety of classical offerings.

"What is so wonderful and unique about having these students here is that our youngest student is five and our oldest resident is 105, so this event is an incredible combination of youth and elders coming together," enthused Annie Fairchild, activities director of Park West. "I hope the kids return soon."

Allyson Kramer is the founder of Vivace! Chamber Players. According to her bio on that website:

By David Rosen

*Update as of 3:56 pm*
Total money raised for Relay for Life is $46,246.55

David Cox's individual money raised for the event $7,755 and $12,650 for his team.

The 11th annual West Seattle Relay for Life took place at West Seattle Stadium June 10 and went through the evening until 6:00 am June 11. Over 26 different teams signed up to walk at the event and over 240 people came to support or walk for loved ones who are or have been affected by cancer.

Event Chair Jilyan Perry had a surprise prior to the event. "My mother Fritz Perry, showed up at my work on Wednesday, completely unannounced. I had no idea she was coming all the way from Boston, Massachusetts. She's a cancer survivor."

Perry was also pleased to share, "My brother is here and they have a camp site and a team, Team Spitfire."

Danielle Otey part of West Seattle Service Unit 550 for Girl Scouts was asked this year to come together with other troops and host an event at Camp Long June 10 called the Chinook Pot Luck and Bridging ceremony.

What that means is that members of different levels of girl scouts are recognized for their achievements and move on to the next level. Otey (and her husband Dan who believe it or not is a Girl Scout too) lead Troop 43034. "We have 16 girls in our Troop of Daisys who are bridging to Brownies this year. They are really great girls, all in first grade going into second. We have seven of about forty troops here tonight that are bridging."

The levels, as explained by Otey are, "They start at Daisies, Brownie, Junior, Cadet, Senior and Ambassador and they are all the way up to 11th and 12th graders. I myself was a girl scout for ten years. I went from Brownie all the way to Senior, and grew up right here in West Seattle so this is truly my home service unit."

By Cassandra Baker, Intern

10:46 p.m. on June 8th. Intersection of NW Market St and Leary Ave NW

Police arrived at the scene of a two-vehicle collision on Market and Leary late on the night of June 8th. A Toyota sedan headed north on Leary appeared to have run a red light and hit a Chrysler sedan. The driver of the Chrysler was treated at the scene and taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. An officer determined that the driver of the Toyota was intoxicated, and the driver was placed under arrest.

11:11 p.m. on June 2nd. 14th block of NW 64th St

A Ballard home was shot multiple times on the night of June 2nd. The shots hit the house in the area around the front door. The couple inside the house was not injured. A light green or blue SUV was seen speeding away from the scene. Police are still attempting to determine the identity and whereabouts of the suspect(s) and welcome any information about the incident.

7:28 a.m. on June 7th. 51st block of 15th Ave NW

The Alaskan Way Viaduct will close this weekend between the West Seattle Bridge and the Battery Street Tunnel. Drivers heading to Saturday’s Sounders FC match at Qwest Field should plan for delays and use alternate routes.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will close both directions of the viaduct at 5 a.m. on Saturday, June 11. During the closure, crews will remove and temporarily replace two of the structure’s support columns to make room for construction of the new State Route 99 southbound roadway through SODO. WSDOT also will test the automated viaduct closure system.

Skanska, WSDOT’s contractor, is on track to complete the southbound lanes of the new elevated SR 99 roadway and demolish the southern mile of the existing viaduct by October. This weekend’s closure gives crews space to finish building the bridge deck of the southbound elevated roadway.