August 2011

By David Rosen

Heidi Lyman, a math & engineering professor from South Seattle Community College got to go on the ride of her life aboard the number 7 jet of the USN Blue Angels on August 1.

CLICK ON PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE MORE

Her day started out by getting a briefing by one of the flight mechanics overseeing on what to do when the jet does highly extreme maneuvers, especially when pulling positive G-force. Once the briefing was over she zipped up her jumpsuit and climbed aboard.

In the air, the pilot took her 75 miles to the West to an undisclosed military airspace where he performed some of the tricks that they do in the air show.

Deadline for receiving items for Community Calendar is 5 p.m. Wednesday for the following week's Times/News print edition. Events are published based on timeliness and space availability. Email submissions to: hteditor@robinsonnews.com
Items can be accepted from nonprofit groups and government agencies only. Others may call Dona Ozier or Sheila Lengle at 206-708-1378 for inclusion in our "Out & About" advertising section.

Call for Applications
City of Burien Arts & Culture 2012 grant funding-- Total funding available is estimated at $25,000. Arts & Culture grant funding is available to individuals, groups or organizations that provide arts and/or cultural enrichment to the Burien community. Applications for 2012 Arts & Culture funding are due by 4:30 pm, Friday, Aug. 19th to Burien Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, 14700 6th Ave. S.W. Applications are available on the City website at BurienParks.net and click on "I Want To" and "Apply for a Grant" or by contacting Gina Kallman, City of Burien Cultural Arts Supervisor at ginak@burienwa.gov or 206-391-6605.

Events

By Janelle Wetzstein, UW News Lab student

On Saturday, July 29, local Christians and Muslims worshipped together and celebrated diversity in remembrance of the Norway attacks.

Held at the Quaker University Friends Meeting in Seattle, the Meeting for Grief and Hope focused on community, multiculturalism and acceptance.

The event came about because of Susanne Kromberg, a hospital chaplain and native Norwegian, who said she felt moved to reach out to the local Muslim community after attending the Nordic Heritage Museum’s vigil for Norway in Ballard.

“What was important to us in doing this is recognizing that the young people in Norway who were targeted, were targeted because of their commitment to an open and inclusive society,” she said.

Kromberg initiated the Meeting for Grief and Hope with fellow Quaker Rick Ells and they invited Rahman, a Muslim imam from the Interfaith Community Church in Ballard, to speak at the event.

Thousands of people will get together tonight for the annual Night Out in Seattle event.

“Night Out” is a national Crime Prevention event, designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, increase neighborhood support in anti-crime efforts, and unite our communities.

"It is a great chance to learn about crime prevention, while also celebrating your community and spending time with your neighbors," the event's website states.

The event is an opportunity to bring neighbors together, welcome new neighbors, talk about crime prevention and Block Watch efforts, and mainly to have a good time with food, music, and games.

This year the theme is "Celebrating Crime Free Neighborhoods".

"If you have a neighborhood that has seen a decrease in crime, it is a time to celebrate your achievements. If you have ongoing crime problems you are working on, it is a chance to renew your focus, start a Block Watch if you haven't already, and take a public stand against crime in your neighborhood," the website states.

Paving crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation plan to start repairing the concrete roadway at several locations on NW 85th Street between 27th Avenue NW and 31st Avenue NW.

The crews expect to complete the work by Thursday, August 11 if weather allows.

Eastbound and westbound traffic will take turns sharing a single lane in this area from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the assistance of traffic flaggers.

No on-street parking will be allowed and the eastbound bike lane will be closed. The sidewalks will remain open. Drivers are advised to take an alternate route or allow extra time to move through the construction area.

After 32 years in their historic Ballard location, Sutter Home & Hearth announces expansion to larger facility at 920 NW Leary Way.

“We’ve had a great run at our location on Ballard Avenue,” said Michael Duval co-owner. “But the opportunity to expand to a larger showroom and warehouse was irresistible.”

Duval cited the opportunity to display a wider array of products as well as to provide storefront customer parking as factors leading to the move.

“We will miss the buzz that has developed on the avenue,” he said. “However our customers will benefit from the easier access as well as the convenience of an adjoining warehouse.”

The new location is slated to open on September 1, 2011.

“We have managed to grow at five to ten percent since the economic downturn and we are forecasting steady growth over the coming years,” Duval stated. “Our mix of energy-efficient fireplaces, barbecues, installation and service continue to sustain our operations.”

Sutter Home & Hearth originated as the Sutter Home Woodstove. Co. in 1979. The name was changed to Sutter Home & Hearth in 1986. It operates two locations; one in Seattle and one in Woodinville.

The annual Night Out parties that take place across the nation are here again Aug. 2 and the Seattle Police Department has a useful map for those who have registered their event.

The purpose of the event is to foster greater knowledge and awareness between neighbors to reduce crime, provide assistance and help in the event of an emergency.

So far those who have registered (by no means the complete list) include:

3000 48th SW Seattle Night Out block party
48th SW between Stevens and Hanover
Tuesday, August 2, 2011, 6pm

Benchview Neighborhood Night Out
between Orleans and Manning
on 55th Ave. SW
Tuesday, August 2, 2011, 5:30pm

N. North Admiral Neighbors
1300 block 44th Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98116
Tuesday, August 2, 2011, 6pm

Neighborhood Night Out
1600-1700 block of Harbor Ave SW
Tuesday, August 2, 2011, 6pm

City Night Out- Alki Neighborhood
62nd Ave and SW Hinds
Seattle, WA

Senior Services Transportation Program urgently needs to recruit more volunteers in West Seattle. The program currently must turn away half the seniors who call for rides in West Seattle because there just aren’t enough volunteer drivers to go around.

A longtime West Seattle resident, Coni Gulsvig has been taking seniors to their medial appointments for over a year now with Senior Services Transportation. Not only has she met many new people with interesting stories to tell, she also loves that she can read her favorite books while she waits for folks at the doctor.

Coni thinks the program’s flexibility is great – she chooses the days and times she drives each week.

Are you like Coni, imagining the next story you’ll hear? Become a volunteer driver today by contacting Melissa at melissat@seniorservices or (206) 748-7588.

Seattle Parks and Recreation is hosting a public meeting for the Roxhill Playground Renovation and Skatespot project on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the Southwest Branch Library, 9010 35th Ave SW.

Parks staff will outline the scope and schedule for the project and are seeking feedback from the community for transforming the play area and incorporating a new skatespot into the park.

Roxhill Playground is located at 2850 s.w. Roxbury St.

The playground renovation project will add new play equipment, a skatespot, and make site improvements to enhance safety and access. A so called 'skatespot' is smaller than a full skatepark, but large enough to incorporate multiple skateboarding features. The skatespot is expected to be 8,000 square feet.

For more information on Seattle Skatepark planning, please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/Skatepark.htm.

Burglars put in a lot of work, but came up empty-handed on July 20. Sometime during the night, unknown suspects killed the power to a business on the 9400 block of 17th Ave S.W. before attempting to break in through the back door (it was reinforced with 2x4 metal brackets). Unable to get in that way, they used a ladder to get onto the roof, tore a hole in the roof with an unknown tool, punched holes through the ceiling tile and lowered themselves down using a hose tied to a rafter beam. The suspects stole the cash register and exited the same way they came in. Police found the register in a lot near the building, pried open. When the business owner arrived he told police there was no money in the cash register and nothing else was missing.