June 2011

A couple burglars picked the wrong house on June 21. It was 2 p.m. on the 4700 block of 25th Ave S.W. when a homeowner caught two males walking out of his house with his stuff in their hands. The victim tackled Suspect #1 and yelled to a neighbor to call 911. Meanwhile, Suspect #2, while holding a machete but not using it began kicking and punching the victim in the ribs. Suspect #1 managed to wrestle free thanks to his unfair advantage and the men took off southbound down the alley. Police arrived on the scene and quickly located one of the suspects on the 4800 block of 25th Ave S.W. (ya, he didn’t even bother heading to a different street) and the second had seemingly gotten away. Several minutes later police received a call that the burglary victim and a crew of other neighbors were chasing the second victim down Delridge Way S.W. They had him securely detained when officers arrived to give the suspect a ride to the precinct. Both men were sent to King County Jail.

Crown Hill's ARC Dance Company returns to the Seattle Center for the 13th annual "Summer Dance at the Center" in July.

Opening on July 21, "Summer Dance at the Center" is a three-evening, mixed-rep program at Seattle Center’s Bagley Wright/Leo Kreielsheimer Theatre.

“The annual summer performances at Seattle Center are a wonderful opportunity for both locals and tourists alike to experience a part of Seattle's thriving, year-round dance scene.” said Artistic Director Marie Chong. “The Bagley Wright/Leo K. is a perfect fit for ARC Dance, and we are pleased to be performing there regularly. It's a beautiful, intimate theater that allows for a rich, personal experience,” added Chong.

This summer's program offers five separate works by various choreographers. Alex Ketley (The Foundry & San Francisco Ballet) returns to ARC with a world premier Wave Atlas. Also on the bill are Artistic Director Marie Chong's No Regrets, Betsy Cooper's (UW Dance Program Director) The Space Between, Kirk Midtskog's Between Earth & Sky, and Song of the Siren by Jason Ohlberg (Hubbard Street Dance Chicago).

A King County 4Culture grant helped ARC make this performance run possible.

On Saturday, Seattle residents joined U.S. Representative Jim McDermott and Walmart executive Jennifer Spall for a community celebration to mark the start of the Summer Food Service Program, which offers free meals and snacks for kids.

Thousands of Seattle children ages 1 through 18 can enjoy free breakfasts and lunches this summer through the Seattle Human Services Department’s Summer Food Service Program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded program, also known as “Summer Sack Lunch,” is open to children at qualifying sites.

“When it comes to our kids, we must do everything possible to provide them the nutrition needed to be healthy, active and ready for the future," said Dannette R. Smith, director of the Seattle Human Services Department. "Working together with Walmart, Seattle Public Schools, and other community partners, we can make sure children have access to nutritious food year round.”

Botanist and Ecological Consultant Stewart Wechsler can be seen on certain days in Lincoln Park, running very quickly with a net in pursuit of an elusive prey. During June he's been seeking the Western Tiger Swallowtail which at this time of year "is our most abundant species. They lay their eggs on broadleaf deciduous trees and generally are in sunny edges and openings of the woods."

While some butterflies can live up to a year, with the well known Monarch species as an example, the Swallowtails live only approximately 8 days.

When some West Seattle gay marriage advocates heard the news Friday night, June 24, that New York lawmakers led by Governor Andrew Cuomo voted to legalize same-sex marriage, their reaction was, “That’s great for them, but what about us?” Seattle’s 37th Annual Pride weekend followed, where the New York news was the buzz on Broadway at the Capitol Hill Pride Festival.

The Empire State becomes the sixth and largest state where same-sex couples can wed. Others include Iowa, and the New England states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and New Hampshire, plus the District of Columbia. Washingtonian same-sex couples who marry elsewhere may register their marriage as a domestic partnership. The 2009 reforms are called "all-but-marriage".

Last February President Obama and Attorney General Holder announced that DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act, is unconstitutional and indefensible. Obama instructed the Justice Department to no longer defend the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, the legal prohibition on federal recognition of same-sex marriages.

By Greg McCorkle

White Center Jubilee Days held their 29th annual golf Tournament at the prestigious Glen Acres Country Club in Southwest Seattle June 25.

The event was a Best Ball Scramble.

After each shot team members choose the best lie from within the team and continue play from that location.

Everyone came away a winner with prizes awarded to everyone who played.

The winning team shot three over par with their final shot an exciting 30 foot putt for birdie on 18. Although only a nine hole course, Glen Acres is considered by most golfers one of the best maintained and challenging courses in Washington.

For more information on White Center Jubilee Days go to http://www.jubileedays.org

2011 will mark the 23rd year that White Center has participated in a Seafair sanctioned community event. An event planned for the local businesses to participate and support the community and it’s resources and talent.

Next up on the Jubilee Days calendar is Sat July 9th, 2011

McLendon’s Jubilee Days Garden Tour
9:00am to 6:00pm

Flying through the air with only cement below you is a surprisingly attractive dream for millions of people who skateboard and a West Seattle company is responsible for making many of those dreams, their own included, come true in what is today an incredibly popular sport and a $5 billion dollar industry.

Grindline Skateparks, is currently building a 15,000 square foot facility at the park on Delridge Way but they have been doing this work for more than 20 years having now built more than 170 parks.

By Lauren Elizabeth DiRe, Intern

The Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band opened and closed the ceremony for the grand opening of King Street Station's Jackson Plaza on Friday, June 24.

“We were happy to take part,” said Paul Beck, a percussionist in the band.

The ceremony celebrated the end of phase two of the King Street Station Restoration Project. The work on Jackson Plaza equated to about $15 million and made it a greener, more welcoming public space, Mayor Mike McGinn said.

The ceremony began at 10:30 a.m. and was over within the hour. The Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band opened with three songs before the mayor and three other speakers talked about the project and its goals.

“We’re taking our old buildings and making them ready for the new economy,” McGinn said during his speech.

A ribbon cutting ceremony took place after the speakers and marked the official opening of the plaza. The Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band then played one more time before the crowd dispersed.

“I think we added to the festivity of the occasion,” said Eben Sprinsock, a clarinet player for the Ballard band.

By Patrick Robinson and David Rosen

The Northwest Paddling Festival (NWPF), the brainchild of Alki Kayak and Mountain to Sound Outfitters owner Greg Whittaker and Sea Kayaker magazine's Paul Reik is underway this weekend at Jack Block Park. The idea grew out of a discussion the two men had following the demise of a previous festival and the desire to promote paddling and kayaking.

The beach at Jack Block Park was opened for the public to use for the first time in over 100 years through the Superfund Cleanup process in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a special ceremony June 24..

Working with the Port of Seattle enables vendors to sell merchandise at the event without incurring the 10% parks surcharge on commerce, so there will be an open air market at the prime time of year for people getting geared up for the season.

The event is taking place at a time that works well with the Port of Seattle, celebrating their own Centennial.

By Patrick Robinson and David Rosen

A car driven by a 56 year old female driver ended up overturned in the 6400 block of 48th S.W. after impacting a sidewalk. The driver was alert and speaking after the incident but did not know how the accident happened.

Once the car was turned over it was obvious that it had sustained substantial damage, ripping off the front bumper and smashing the windshield as well and the roof of the car.

The car left the roadway, shearing off a street sign at the corner of 48th S.W. and S.W. Eddy street.

The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center by Medic 32 with non life-threatening injuries.