August 2011

By Lauren DiRe, Intern

Food, music and games – including a cell-phone toss and a wife-carrying competition – highlight the Finland Summer Festival happening Saturday, Aug. 27 in Ballard.

The festival began in 2007 and happens every other summer in Seattle. This year it will take place once again in the old elementary school that is now the Crown Hill Activity Center, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Originally put on by one national organization, the festival is now run by 12 local Finnish groups, all of which exist to “promote and preserve Finnish culture,” said Ron Karjala, a board member of the Seattle chapter of Finlandia Foundation. “We all come together to put this festival on.”

The event will be filled with traditional Finnish activities, music and dancing.

“At least two folk dancing groups will be dancing the national folk dance,” said Rita Vermala-Koski, president of the local Finlandia Foundation chapter.

There will also be an opportunity for the audience to learn basic folk dance steps after the performances, Vermala-Koski added.

On Monday, August 15, the County Council adopted an amended package for a two-year, $20 Congestion Reduction Charge to save Metro bus service.

“I thank all seven Councilmembers who voted tonight to preserve 600,000 hours of bus service for their commitment to principle, and for their courageous leadership,” said Executive Constantine. “The package of amendments is the result of the persistence, leadership and trust exhibited by Councilmembers Jane Hague and Kathy Lambert. They worked hard to develop solutions, and through their efforts this is a different and improved proposal from the one I presented. This legislation provides certainty for commuters, mobility for economic growth, and reforms to protect taxpayers.

“This is a victory for our regional economy and a victory for those who turned out overwhelmingly to call upon us to save Metro Transit. The people of King County spoke, and we heard them loud and clear.”

Credit also wen to the Transit Rescue Coalition for their extraordinary work to focus public attention on the issue, and the unprecedented turnout of thousands of King County.

Update for 10:47 pm Aug. 17
The suspect was booked in the Seattle Correctional Facility at 9:41 pm with the charge of "Investigation of Homicide" We are withholding his name at this time.

For more information on the 25-year-old male suspect's arrest, please click here.

A post on the Facebook tribute page for the victim from someone claiming to have witnessed the arrest claims there was a raid on a home near Barton street east of Delridge Way in southwest Seattle this afternoon during which the suspect was arrested, but we have not yet been able to confirm this with authorities.

Update 7 for 7pm, Aug. 17
The Seattle Times reports a suspect was arrested on Aug. 17 in the shooting death of 23-year-old Sweetheart Failautusi in White Center on Aug. 16.

CLICK ON PHOTO FOR SLIDESHOW.

"I was born on March 19, 1989, and Luna Park Cafe opened one day earlier," said Victoria Roper. "It was in my contract when I was born that I was destined to work there. We work so well together. Look at this motley crew."

Part of the motley crew included cafe owner John Bennett's daughter, Conny. She grew up on Alki and worked the Cafe at age 17 and 18. Her father now lives in the Alaska Junction. She is a chef at Poco Wine Room on Capitol Hill.

"We played Hotwire three years ago and they won," recalled John. "This was supposed to be the 're-challenge'."

Alas, Luna Park Cafe had to split into two and play each other.

Added John, "Today's score was like 300 to 299. Or maybe it was a draw. I think Hotwire was afraid to show up today," he suggested.

The West Seattle Herald caught up with Hotwire Coffee owner Lora Swift after the game while she was closing her shop for the evening to see if she really chickened out, as John Bennett asserted.

The members of Sustainable West Seattle gathered at Lincoln Park near the beach on Monday, Aug. 15 to honor Michael Ryan, Dean of Hospitality and Service Occupations at South Seattle Community College, as their 2011 Sustainable Hero of the Year.

The potluck event also featured Alki Kayak Tours and Greg Whittaker who brought paddle boards and kayaks for test rides on the calm waters of Puget Sound.

CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE MORE

Patrick Dunn explained why they chose Ryan for the award. "Mike's been great on a number of different things and really put himself out there to make sure that projects go through and that people are pursuing them."

Ryan said, "This is a great group and I think to have these guys recognize what I've done, I'm just in awe of what they've done. I feel like I was a facilitator who helped them follow their passion and it just yielded amazing results. I was a small piece of that puzzle. They did all the work and it seems like I'm getting all the credit so it's been very humbling."

There are 280,000 King County residents living in unincorporated areas – those gaps in the map not belonging to a city – and the King County Executive’s Office is putting together a “work group” to figure out how to better communicate and interact with that population.

The initiative to overhaul public engagement comes with a blow to the six unincorporated area councils (UACs) in King County, who received word in early July that their contractual agreement with the county and $10,000 in annual funding (for each UAC) will end starting in 2012.

To read more on the counties decision to cut UACs from the budget, please check out the West Seattle Herald story, North Highline UAC facing full budget cut in 2012.

There are 280,000 King County residents living in unincorporated areas – those gaps in the map not belonging to a city – and the King County Executive’s Office is putting together a “work group” to figure out how to better communicate and interact with that population.

The initiative to overhaul public engagement comes with a blow to the six unincorporated area councils (UACs) in King County, who received word in early July that their contractual agreement with the county and $10,000 in annual funding (for each UAC) will end starting in 2012.

To read more on the counties decision to cut UACs from the budget, please check out the Herald story, North Highline UAC facing full budget cut in 2012.

On Saturday, August 13th I had my first look at amateur boxing. The event "Shakedown" was held at Evergreen High School in White Center at 2 in the afternoon.

I actually arrived late due to the fact I had a previous engagement, my other job. When I entered the gym the first thing I noticed was a great looking boxing ring right in the middle of the floor, just like I've seen a the Emerald Queen Casino when I was photographing a local boxer.

CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE MORE

I brought my floor chair just in case they did not have an elevated ring, I'm so glad I did not have to use it. Next were the spectators in the bleachers and sitting in chairs on the floors, you knew they were really into this.

I grabbed a chair and put it next next to the ring. Well maybe a little too close to the ring because later I was sprayed with one boxers blood as did the judge sitting next to me. Well I am an up close and in your face kind of photographer so it comes with the territory as they say.

press release:
As part of its commitment to making our schools and community safer, Seattle Public Schools is partnering a second time with the Nick of Time Foundation to host free youth heart screenings on Wednesday, August 24, from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Chief Sealth International High School. All students age 14-24 are eligible for a screening, regardless of enrollment status.

According to the American Heart Association, one in every 350 young people has an undetected heart condition. The best way to detect these conditions is through a heart screening using an ECG (electrical test) and Echocardiograms (ultrasound) of the heart. The test is painless and takes about 25 minutes. Athletes especially are encouraged to sign up for a cardiac screening.

Those interested can download forms at www.nickoftimefoundation.org.

To pre-register your child for a screening, email appt@nickoftimefoundation.org. Please include the following information:
· Child’s full name (first, last)
· Age/Date of Birth
· Parent’s name, email address and contact phone number
· Where the child attends school

There were only a few people on the overpass over the West Seattle Freeway Monday morning but they were a vocal group. They were there, as many have been in the past to draw the attention of drivers headed over the West Seattle Bridge and remind them of their view that a "no" vote on Referendum 1 is the best choice as the last day to get ballots mailed comes tomorrow.

Bud Shasteen, was there and said of his opposition,"The number one reason is the money. I don't see how they're going to finance it. They don't even have a final figure on it. They keep throwing around $3.5 billion or $6 billion and also I don't think they're going to be successful at building the thing. It would be the most difficult project they've ever tried to do. They couldn't even do the Brightwater and it was only 22 feet in diameter and this one they are proposing to build is 52 feet in diameter. The largest tunnel boring, ever in the world and I don't trust their engineers."