August 2011

Beginning September 1, the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) will implement a year-long spirits tasting pilot in 30 state, contract and tribal liquor stores statewide.

The WSLCB considered retail sales volume, locations, and appropriate in-store space for sampling as it selected the 30 pilot stores. Consideration was also given to traffic accident data and proximity to churches and schools.

The Ballard liquor store, located at 2840 NW Market St, has been selected as one of the thirty stores where customers can start sampling spirits.

The pilot was established by Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1202 during the 2011 legislative session and allows stores to offer one tasting event per week.

Tasting events will beheld either Fridays or Saturdays from 4:00- 6:00 p.m.

“We are excited to have this opportunity for our customers to taste new and interesting products in our stores,” said WSLCB Chair Sharon Foster. “With more than 1,100 spirits products available in state stores, customers can now enhance their product knowledge by trying something they may never have considered before and learn first-hand about the products from distillers’ representatives. ”

Fall season is just a month away and so is your chance to get your hands on the best compost in the Pacific Northwest.

The annual Zoo Doo event calls for you local gardeners to enter your bid to purchase the highly coveted Zoo Doo or Bedspread that Dr. Doo has been piling all summer.

Zoo Doo is the most exotic and highly prized compost in the Pacific Northwest. Composed of exotic species feces contributed by the zoo’s non-primate herbivores, Zoo Doo is perfect for vegetables and annuals.

Bedspread, the zoo’s premium composted mulch, is like Zoo Doo but with higher amounts of wood chips and sawdust. It’s the perfect mulch for perennial beds and woody landscapes such as native gardens, rose beds, shrubs, tree rings or pathways.

WHEN: For a chance to purchase Zoo Doo or Bedspread, send in a postcard from September 1 through September 23 only. You can enter both the Zoo Doo and Bedspread drawings, but separate postcards are required: for Zoo Doo, mark your postcard “Zoo Doo.” For Bedspread, mark your postcard “B.S.” Entry cards will be selected randomly for as many entrants possible. Dr. Doo will contact the lucky drawn entries only.

Restita DeJesus learned how to handle a bullwhip in the late 1990's at a Shaolin Martial Arts seminar. "I was really intrigued by the use of the bullwhip and kicking and running at the same time." A couple of years later she bought a bullwhip and taught herself other styles moves.

She teaches martial arts at the Seattle Wushu Center 5659 California Ave. s.w. Suite "A" (at the corner of California and Juneau).

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On Sunday, Aug. 21 she had 8 of her 15 students, at Lincoln Park all learning how to crack the whip, which is literally breaking the sound barrier as the tip exceeds 1400 feet per second or 768 mph (though it varies depending on conditions and altitude). That crack you hear is sort of a mini-sonic boom.

There's a lot to learn about how to use a whip. There are multiple styles of whip use, the use of multiple whips and many different moves. Whips of course are also about accuracy, aiming for and precisely hitting a target.

Press release:
The Washington State Liquor Control Board opens its first premier liquor store in West Seattle August 31.

The address is 4100 SW Alaska Street, Suite A.  

The premier store will feature:
- Upscale shopping environment;
- Expanded and unique spirits selection;
- Spirits tasting beginning September 2011.

West Seattle Store No. 43, located at 4513 California Avenue SW, will close permanently at 9:00 p.m., August 30. The premier store will be the new neighborhood liquor store. 

More information on the new premier store will be available soon. Please check back. 

The Hicks Lake BBQ at Lakewood Park in White Center had a good turnout of people interested in a free lunch and information on the lake's pollution.

The main goal of the event was to gather signatures for a petition asking King County to provide funding for cleanup.

“We’re trying to get as many signatures as we can to send in to our King County Councilmembers to see if they won’t do something,” Friends of Hicks Lake member Dick Thurnau said at the picnic. “This lake’s been polluted for 40 some years now and I think it’s about time something is done about it.”

Thurnau send a letter to King County’s elected officials stating “Hicks Lake within Lakewood Park has a long history (since the 1960’s) of polluted unhealthy water. Many local residents call the lake a sewer and there is much documentation to verify. This problem needs resolution and the King County Council must hear our voice to have this facility become once again a usable recreational area for our Children, Students and Families and the health related issues.”

What do an ex Seattle Sounder, model, Boeing accountant, professional break-dancer, University of Washington student, Seattle University student and University of California – San Diego graduate student all have in common? Apart from not swimming well or often, they all have a sense of adventure and are concerned about global poverty.

This Sunday at 10am, seven friends will swim across Lake Washington in order to raise funds for a local nonprofit organization, Angels For Angels.

UPDATE for Aug. 23
It has been one week since Sweetheart Failautusi was murdered in White Center and family and friends of the fallen 23-year-old woman are focusing on raising funds for her funeral.

Members of Failautusi's family have said the funeral will be private, but they may hold a public celebration of her life at some point in the future.

Her family has set up a tent at the corner of 15th Ave S.W. and S.W. Roxbury that is accepting food and donations to offset funeral expenses from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day.

So far they have not been asked to take down the growing assemblage of tributes and well wishes but they recognize that day is coming. Right now they are just focused on laying their family member to rest.

There is also a car wash to raise funds that will run from 10:30 a.m to 8:00 pm. on Friday, Aug. 26, located in the White Center Albertson's parking lot at 10616 16th Ave s.w. The car wash is free but donations of any amount are appreciated.

Original post on Aug. 21

A residential fire erupted around 1:20 p.m. on Saturday, August 20, just doors down from two gas station along either side of Fremont Avenue and 46th Street.

Traffic is jammed going North on Fremont Avenue and both West and East going traffic on 46th Avenue is moving slowly.

As of 1:40 p.m. the fire had not spread and the cause of the fire was still unknown.

We will update once more information is available.

Enough goodwill to stock a Costco could be found inside the far cozier quarters of Alki Arts on Aug. 19 as a good crowd gathered to raise funds for West Seattle Helpline, a non-profit organization that provides “information, referrals and limited financial assistance through programs geared toward supporting the working poor.”

Helpline’s Executive Director Tara Byrne said all proceeds from the event were headed to Pencil Me In For Kids (another West Seattle non-profit headed by the Rotary Club), ensuring students have the money for basic supplies for the upcoming school year. Byrne said students from 11 different West Seattle schools will benefit from the event.

Alki Arts at 2820 Alki Ave S.W. was temporarily transformed into museum mode as Helpline presented a “Gallery of West Seattle History,” including archival photos and information provided by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s Log House Museum.

A breakfast held at Holy Family School in White Center at 9615 20th Ave s.w. will raise funds for the purchase of a plaque at the base of the flag that flies in the middle of White Center in front of the Triangle Pub. That plaque will serve as a memorial for Veterans of Foreign Wars. A special event sponsored by the White Center Chamber of Commerce in September will present the plaque with veterans in full military uniform in attendance.

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The breakfast served was eggs, blueberry pancakes, sausages, coffee and orange juice.