September 2011

Burien's Arts-A-Glow and Lantern procession was held in Dottie Harper Park at 421 s.w. 146th s.w on Sept. 10, an evening marked by temperatures in the 70's and a sense of wonder. Hundreds of people crowded the park to make their own lanterns and many brought their own to the event.

Those attending enjoyed face painting, tea and treats and the harp music of Jini O'Flynn and Musical Strings.

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Glow sticks, LED's, and other light sources illuminated glass jars, pie tins, paper bags, plastic water bottles and a range of personal creations that joined with performers on stilts, and a large multi-person operated owl puppet in a procession from the park through the adjacent neighborhood.

Upon their return it was time for the "Lullaby to Dottie Harper Park" presented by Lucia Neare's Theatrical Wonders that featured more than 50 performers in elaborate costumes reminiscent of Lewis Carroll and Alice in Wonderland. Many were dressed as clocks or birds or pushed illuminated baby carriages as men in tuxedos joined them in a series of dances in the center of the park.

Many concert goers were treated to the edgy and heart-piercing vocals of West Seattle's Star Anna of the band Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs when she performed locally at Hiawatha Park Thursday, Sept. 1. The band then performed at a slightly larger venue the following Saturday and Sunday playing Alpine Valley, Wisconsin in the Pearl Jam PJ20 Concert line-up. They were joined by Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready who was struck by the power of her voice when they first met and has helped launch the band's career.

Star Anna spoke to the West Seattle Herald by phone just a couple of hours before heading off to Yakima, then San Francisco, Los Angeles, Tucson, Denver, and beyond, for a big American tour. Her set will include songs from her band's latest CD release, 'Alone In This Together'.

Bicycling advocate Ellie Weiss of Arbor Heights is spearheading a new group with the mission to promote cycling in White Center and South Park. That includes adding signs, bike racks, encouraging local residents to ride more, making cycling more affordable, and starting a conversation about opening a bicycle shop, or co-op, in White Center. There currently is no bike shop in White Center or South Park.

"We are starting to meet the second Sunday of every month at Full Tilt Ice Cream beginning Sept. 11 at 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., then Oct. 9," said Weiss, whose daughter Esther attends first grade at Concord School in South Park. "We are looking for volunteer mechanics."

She said that the West Seattle Tool Library, a project of Sustainable West Seattle, is well-equipped with bike tools and is getting involved with the group.

Full Tilt is at 9629 16th Ave SW. Co-owner Justin Cline is a also a bike advocate for White Center, Weiss said.

By Chris Foster, Intern

The Beavers are 2 and 0 for the first time since 2003 after a dominating 50 against 20 win over the Franklin Quakers on Friday night.

Quarterback Johnny Verduin threw four touchdowns and ran for two more, including a 7-yarder to put the Beavers up 7-6 at the end of the first quarter. Verduin then hit Dominic King for a score and, after the Quakers answered with a touchdown of their own, threw a 28-yard strike to Jesse Scott to give the Beavers a 21-13 lead at half time.

The game was still close in the third quarter when King broke off a 79 yard run to put the Beavers up 28-13. Scott put the game on ice in the fourth quarter when he took a pass from Verduin 99 yards to pay dirt, giving the Beavers a 23 point lead with just over six minutes left.

The Beavers were just as good on the other side of the ball, coming up with big plays at the right time. The special teams unit blocked a Quaker field goal attempt late in the 2nd quarter to build momentum going into the half.

The defense racked up a safety at the start of the fourth, after a goal line stand by the Quakers gave them the ball at their own 1-yard line.

Press Release:

BURIEN, WA – September 9, 2011 – Highline Medical Center has announced that it will bring urgent care services to the communities of West Seattle and Des Moines this fall, assuring convenient access to healthcare seven days a week.

Highline Medical Center Urgent Care will open in West Seattle on Monday, October 3 in the space adjacent to Highline Medical Group’s West Seattle Family Medicine in the Alaska Junction business district. It will offer comprehensive urgent care services, including x-ray, and will be open on weeknights until nine and weekends until five.

West Seattle residents are excited about the new service. “We are geographically separated from the rest of Seattle,” said West Seattle resident Aiko Stanley. “Being able to get care right here, without crossing the bridge, is huge – particularly on the weekends or during rush hour.”
Highline Medical Center Urgent Care will also open in Des Moines on Tuesday, November 1, adjacent to Des Moines Family Medicine on Marine View Drive. The urgent care center is open from 7 am to 9 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday and Sundays.

Now that the Space Shuttle program is retired, with the last flight, on the Atlantis, landing in Houston July 21, American astronauts depend on getting to and from the International Space Station by hitching a ride, at a mere $63 million per seat, on the Soviet Soyuz aircraft.

Problem is, mounting mishaps have recently plagued the Soyuz, placing the program on hold while testing is done. Meanwhile, two groups of three American astronauts remain in the station now, and, while they are safe, they do depend on food and other supplies delivered by future Soyuz flights for the long haul. And of course NASA may become trigger-shy to send up more Americans in the bug-ridden Soyuz.

Violence, gang activity, drug dealing and other crimes have been in especially high profile in White Center in the last few months, prompting the community (led by the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council) to campaign for the restoration of the storefront deputy program. That funding was recently restored, at least through 2012.

But the question is, who will fill that role?

When King County Deputy Steve Cox, who was White Center's storefront deputy was killed in 2006, it was a tremendous loss for the department and for the White Center community. By all accounts he was a remarkable man and someone who was passionate about helping people, preventing crime, and making the area a safe place to live and work. His death left a real gap in the ability of those in White Center to effectively communicate with law enforcement.

Making a motion picture is a lot like dozens of people making soup. Everyone adds their own element to make the recipe work. When you are shooting on location, in a place like White Center that includes the local people and law enforcement.

Eden, an independent feature film being directed by Megan Griffiths, a Seattle based director is in the process with scenes being shot in White Center. Much of the film was shot in Eastern Washington over the last few weeks.

The film stars Beau Bridges (Max Payne, The Fabulous Baker Boys), Matt O'Leary (Brick, Live Free or Die Hard), and Jamie Chung (Sucker Punch, Hangover part II, Grown Ups). It was not disclosed exactly who is here in White Center and it was requested that no photos be taken of the actors, or vehicles being used in the film.

In remembrance of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, there will be various events around Seattle.

King County Executive Dow Constantine and Mayor Mike McGinn will be attending the Remembrance Ceremony at the Seattle Center where community leaders, first responders and elected officials will attend national moment of silence.

Executive Constantine and Mayor McGinn will be joined by speakers to offer brief remarks of remembrance on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001.

The ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Mural Amphitheatre at Seattle Center and conclude in a procession to the International Fountain to join in the observance of the national moment of silence in remembrance of September 11, 2001 which will occur at 10:00 a.m.

The ceremony will include a musical performance by Angelo Pizarro and will be attended by the Consul General of Canada. Elected officials and representatives of public safety first responders from Seattle and throughout King County will join the ceremony.

WestSide Baby, the local agency best known for diaper drives and gently used children's clothing re-disribution gets less attention for it's work on car seats but they've been collecting them and and re distributing them now for some time. They are launching a new effort they are calling “Re-Ride” Car Seat Reuse and Recycling on Sept. 17 from 10 am to 2 pm that will include recycling of those seats.

The need for car seats, especially for lower income families is serious.

In Washington State, children are required to be in a car seat or booster seat up until at least age six. According to 2009 statistics provided by Safe Kids King County South, car crashes are the #1 killer of children in South King County.

Nationally, for every child lost, 18 more are hospitalized with injuries and 400 more receive medical attention. A local firefighter shared, “you only need to be the first responder to one car accident involving a child who was not in a car seat to believe in the importance of properly restraining children in cars.”

When funds are limited it becomes a real problem to spend between $80 and $500 on a car seat.