June 2011

Press Release:

South Seattle Community College’s Basic and Traditional Studies division, in partnership with Washington Community Alliance for Self Help, is offering a free summer program for aspiring low-income entrepreneurs, 55 years and older, who have mid-level English language skills. “Start Your Own Green Business” focuses on helping participants learn how to start a “green” business and sell their products, while at the same time improve English and computer skills.

Participants will use recycled materials to create bird houses and Bio Charcoal, a soil amendment made out of blackberry bushes. All tools and materials will be supplied and the products will be produced in a lab on campus. Participants will learn what is involved in starting a green business and selling their finished products in different markets.

Per Washington Community Alliance for Self Help, participants must meet the requirements stated above.

June 27 – August 19, 2011
Monday – Thursday, 8-11:50 am
Friday (Lab), 8:30–1:30 pm
(206) 934 – 5363 to schedule an orientation appointment.

South Seattle Community College
6000 16th Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98106

Press Release:

Merrill Gardens at West Seattle on 35th and Merrill Gardens at Admiral Heights will celebrate Support Our Troops Week by hosting special dining events with all the fixings straight from the Mess Hall. The dining events will raise money to support the USO. Since 1941, the USO has been providing support to service members and their families.

These events are open to the general public for a minimum $10 donation. All money collected will be donated to the USO.

For the past 69 years, the USO (United Service Organizations) has been the bridge between the American public and the U.S. military. In times of peace and war, the USO delivers its special brand of comfort, morale and recreational services to the military. The USO is a congressionally chartered, private, nonprofit organization that relies on the generosity of individuals and corporations to support USO activities.

Residents and team members of 53 Merrill Gardens retirement communities in nine states will host this fundraiser that is open to family, friends and the general public. All food and beverages will be donated by Merrill Gardens.

On Feb. 1, 2011 at 9 a.m. a Chinook Junior High (Seatac) security guard and former cop allegedly put a 14-year-old male student in a headlock, turning his face blue and forcing uncontrollable drooling before letting go.

On May 26, King County Prosecutors charged Greg F. Seth, the 15-year security guard and 25-year Seattle Police Department veteran, with fourth degree assault in the alleged incident. Court documents state Seth could have been charged with second degree assault and tampering with a witness.

Alleged Assault
It all started when the 14-year-old was brought into an administrative office to discuss his possible involvement in a theft with Seth, 64, and a Chinook administrator. As King County Detective Gillette told the court, the student was asked to leave the office to write a statement in the attendance office. Attempting to leave the office, the student brushed up against Seth, prompting the security guard to place his hand on the student’s back. “Don’t touch me,” the student said, according to charging documents.

Chief Sealth International High School's first Athletics Golf Tournament kicked off Friday morning, June 3, with a solid turnout of competitors and ideal weather for a day on the links at Rainier Golf and Country Club.

Golfers paid $150 each to enter the tournament, with proceeds helping out Chief Sealth student athletes.

Sealth Athletic Director Sam Reed thanked the crowd for coming out as anticipation grew for the shotgun start. Reed said he hopes this year with be the first in what becomes an annual event.

Sealth Principal John Boyd, admitting it had been a while since he last swung a club, left the competitors with some sound advice before the tournament started:

“Make sure to call, ‘Four!’ and be sure to duck when you hear it,” Boyd joked.

Please click the photo above for a slideshow of the tournament's start.

For additional background on the tournament, please check out the preview.

Hi-Yu, the organization responsible for West Seattle Hi-Yu summer celebration in July and coordination of the election of local royalty is making a few changes this year in terms of timing for their Scholarship Program and how those nominated and elected will represent the organization during the year.

According to Hi-Yu spokesperson Deena Joanis-Mahn they are "moving our Scholarship Program and Coronation to later in the year. In the past our candidates have been selected in February and then represent our service clubs throughout the summer at the many West Seattle Events with the royalty being crowned in July.

The royalty that is crowned in July does not represent West Seattle Hi-Yu until the following summer with the Queen moving onto to Seafair the year after that, this is a huge time commitment for the girls and one that is getting more and more difficult year after year.

We decided to revamp our program to bring us in line with what the other programs in the region are doing. We will be sending out our applications in the fall/early winter this year and then crowning our royalty in the Spring 2012, these ladies will then represent us next summer!

Fourth and fifth graders from Ballard’s Salmon Bay School were seen trekking through Ballard, Fremont and the U-District on Friday, June 3.

The students, dressed in period clothing from the 1800s and pulling little wagons, were re-enacting the westward migration of pioneers on the Oregon Trail by walking from Salmon Bay School all the way to Magnuson park.

Editor's note: Carmen Parrinello is a Greenwood resident. She was recently assaulted by a man in France and the terrifying encounter gives her a unique insight in the French justice system and how it handles perpetrators like Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

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"I am a resident of Seattle and a native of France.

A couple months ago, as I was vacationing in France, I ended up being sequestrated and beaten up by a man in my family. The violence was unprovoked from my part, and voluntary from his. At some point I managed to grab the phone and, locking myself in the bathroom, called the cops; begging them to help me out of there.


They arrived and ordered the man to open the door. I came out of my shelter foolishly thinking my aggressor would open the door to them. But he refused to and his violence increased to the point where I envisioned for a split second that I’d be dead before the police officers would be able to stop him.
Eventually the officers managed to enter the premises and free me from the perpetrator.

Cited as one of today's top performing songwriters, Eric Taylor will be coming to Ballard for a special concert at Egan's Ballard Jam on Saturday, June 11, followed by a songwriting master class the next day.

Taylor has been making a name for himself since the early 1970s, when he was an integral part of the Houston songwriting scene that included Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, and Guy Clark.

He currently touring in promotion of his latest CD, Hollywood Pocketknife, which has garnered critical acclaim around the world and was nominated for FolkWax Album Of The Year.

Over the years, Taylor's reputation and song catalogue have grown and Taylor has had a profound effect on the evolution and development of well-known Texas artists like Nanci Griffith, Lyle Lovett, and Robert Earl Keen

"Eric Taylor was one of my heroes and teachers when I started playing around Houston in the early 1970s," says Keen, "He's the real deal."

Now, local songwriters and musicians will have the chance to find a teacher in Taylor as he will be sharing his songwriting process and tips at Egan's Ballard Jam House on Sunday, June 12, at 1 p.m.

Sat April 30th Eirik Rice, former bartender and owner of the Bohemian Cafe was on his way home from Alki riding his motorcycle South on Avalon Way s.w. when a motorist coming North, made a left turn in front of of him causing Rice to crash, severely injuring his leg. The motorist was cited with a traffic violation.

Eirik was rushed to the hospital and he has since undergone multiple surgeries to save his leg. He will be in rehabilitation for approximately the next year.

A group of his friends and supporters are gathering Sunday, June 5 at the Brickyard BBQ, 2308 California Avenue s.w. in a benefit event to aid his recovery.

Michelle Orourke of the Brickyard said, "Our community has responded with an outpouring of support for this upcoming event. Eirik is known by so many, especially in West Seattle. He is healing but will be in recovery and therapy for many months ahead. He is with us, thank goodness to those from the Luna Park Cafe who witnessed the incident and saved his life before medical help could arrive.

Eirik will be attending this benefit from 1:00pm to 5:00pm (5 local bands actually playing from 1:00 to 9:00pm that night), joined by family and friends.

On Wednesday, June 8, there will be two opportunities for people to learn more about the Mercer West Project and how it affects Ballard.

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is sending a representative to appear at the Ballard District Council meeting to present an informational update titled "Alternatives to Untie the West Mercer Place Knot & Why It Is So Important For Ballard."
The Ballard District Meeting is held at the Ballard Library and starts at 7 p.m.

Also on Wednesday, June 8, SDOT is hosting an open house at Seattle Center to talk about the preliminary designs for the Mercer West Project, including the underpass at Aurora Avenue and the two‐way conversion of Roy and Mercer streets between Fifth Avenue N and Queen Anne Avenue N.

In addition, SDOT will show recommendations for West Mercer Place and West Mercer Street, based on the evaluation of alternatives and input from stakeholders.

The project team will be available from 4:30 to 7 p.m. in the Rainier Room (within the Northwest Rooms Plaza) to solicit ideas from the public and answer questions about current preliminary design concepts.