September 2011

With the exception of a teenage into early adulthood hiatus where Scott Law put his model trains into boxes for “cars and girls and college and stuff,” the man has been devoted to the craft throughout life.

Please click the photo above for a slideshow.

Thirteen years ago he opened the Electric Train Shop on California Ave. in West Seattle, well before the area became a hip section of the city with upscale dining and skyrocketing rental rates.

Law was sharing a space with West Seattle’s liquor store and, about a year ago, it became clear he needed to find a new home. The liquor store made plans to move to a new location and Law’s landlord decided to split the space right down the middle. Law could have stayed, but there was no way he could afford the $6,000 a month rent.

He started looking with three critical elements in mind: ample parking, good foot traffic and reasonable rent.

Downtown Burien won.

Law reopened on July 30th at 625 S.W. 152nd St. and he says it was a good call.

“In the mornings I take a stroll around the neighborhood and I’m discovering Burien,” he said. “I’m enjoying this area; I like it a lot.”

Following President Obama's jobs speech, King County Executive Dow Constantine urged support for President Obama’s job creation plan:

“My top priority has been to build prosperity and get people back to work, and President Obama tonight laid out a bold proposal to make that happen," he said in a statement.

“His plan would rebuild King County’s economy by putting more people back to work, including teachers who’ve been laid off due to state budget cuts; our military veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan; our first responders; the construction workers who are needed to rebuild our roads, bridges and schools; and the long-term unemployed who are struggling to keep their heads above water while looking for a job that can support a family.

“I urge our Congressional delegation, Democrats and Republicans alike, to get the American Jobs Act passed quickly, and get our people back to work”

AmericanWest Bank and Viking Bank today announced that Viking Bank will merge with and become a part of AmericanWest Bank creating a larger presence in the Puget Sound region of Washington.

Pursuant to the definitive agreement for the transaction, Viking Financial Services Corporation, the holding company of Viking Bank, will merge with an affiliate of AmericanWest Bank and Viking Bank will merge with AmericanWest Bank.

“The experienced team at Viking Bank has done an outstanding job serving their customers and communities and it’s our pleasure to assist them in continuing that tradition now as part of AmericanWest Bank,” said Scott A. Kisting, Chairman and CEO, AmericanWest Bank. “Our bank is in a strong capital position with money to lend so we are particularly enthusiatic about the positive impact we can make by meeting the lending and enhanced product needs of Viking customers.”

An independent feature film will be using White Center as a backdrop for scenes being shot in the White Center area on Friday, September 9th. The film, called "Eden" is being directed by Megan Griffiths, a Seattle based director.

Filming will occur in the vicinity of 16th Avenue SW and SW 98th Street in the afternoon and into the evening.

Sections of street parking on 16th Avenue SW and SW 98th Street will be reserved for production vehicles. With the assistance of the King County Sheriff’s Department, vehicle traffic on 16th Avenue SW between s.w. 98th Street and s.w. 100th Street will be rerouted between 7 pm September 9th and 5 am September 10th.

The production company is coordinating with King County and the White Center Community Development Association regarding these parking and traffic revisions.

Questions regarding the filming activity can be directed to Location Manager Dave Drummond at dave@drummondmedia.com.

press release:
AmericanWest Bank and Viking Bank today announced that Viking Bank will merge with and become a part of AmericanWest Bank creating a larger presence in the Puget Sound region of Washington. Pursuant to the definitive agreement for the transaction, Viking Financial Services Corporation, the holding company of Viking Bank, will merge with an affiliate of AmericanWest Bank and Viking Bank will merge with AmericanWest Bank.

“Our bank is in a strong capital position with money to lend so we are particularly enthusiastic about the positive impact we can make by meeting the lending and enhanced product needs of Viking customers.”
“The experienced team at Viking Bank has done an outstanding job serving their customers and communities and it’s our pleasure to assist them in continuing that tradition now as part of AmericanWest Bank,” said Scott A. Kisting, Chairman and CEO, AmericanWest Bank. “Our bank is in a strong capital position with money to lend so we are particularly enthusiastic about the positive impact we can make by meeting the lending and enhanced product needs of Viking customers.”

Jim Hughes, owner of a downtown Burien institution, Sal's Deli, always joked that he would die working in his restaurant.

"But after my last hospital stay, it didn't seem funny anymore," Hughes reports.

Hughes, 63, has had heart problems since his mid forties.

So with his lease up, Hughes has decided to put the deli at 15212 6th Ave. S.W. up for sale. If it is not sold soon, Hughes plans to close it down and retire by Dec. 1.

"I want to figure out who Jim is," Hughes reports.

"The last three years have really been tough," Hughes declared. "I have never worked so hard for so little."

He has no problem pinpointing the source of his personal economic downturn.

"The day ESD left, my business went down 25 percent,' Hughes said.

The Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) was located at the present site of the Burien Town Square, about a block from Sal's. When the building was slated for demolition, PSED moved to Renton.

Fleur de Lys Fencing Club has recently moved to the Loyal Heights Community Center, making Ballard home to one of only two fencing clubs in Seattle.

Started by Ukrainian fencing master Leonid Bencel in 1981, Fleur de Lys fencing club celebrated its 30th anniversary this year.

The not-for-profit fencing club is one of the longest continually operating clubs in the Seattle metropolitan area and offers instruction for beginning and intermediate fencers, as well as recreation and competition for advanced fencers.

Fencing instructor Bon Bernard explained that their previous home, the Magnolia Community Center, was in high demand by surrounding schools, forcing the club to find a new space to practice.

"Many of the club members are from Ballard anyway so this works out nicely for us," Bernard said.

At the Loyal Height Community Center's BBQ on September 1st, the club gave a brief demonstration to announce its presence.

"Fencing is a lot of fun and also very safe. It's a great sport for all ages," Bernard said. "We wear a lot of protective equipment and you don't have to worry about getting hurt anymore in fencing nowadays."

The contractor painting the Ballard Bridge for the Seattle Department of Transportation is closing the northbound lane of the Ballard Bridge every weekday through the week of December 12 from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. After that, the contractor will close this lane only occasionally until the end of January. Once the painting is done on the east side of the bridge, the contractor will switch to the west side.

The sidewalks on the eastern side of the bridge are also closed daily, and opened as much as possible for weekday evenings and weekend. There are times when this will not be possible.

When the sidewalk on the east side of the bridge is closed, pedestrians may use the sidewalk on the west side of the bridge. Northbound bicyclists are detoured to the Fremont Bridge or the Ballard Locks because the bridge sidewalks are not wide enough for two-way bicycle traffic. Southbound bicyclists may continue to use the sidewalk on the west side of the bridge.

The Hi-Liners have risen to the occasion once again -- this time with a busy production of the musical "Chicago." "Chicago" is the longest-running show on Broadway and the Hi-Liners' production highlights the reasons why.

"Chicago" is the loose retelling of two very public trials of Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner for a murder that occurred in Chicago in 1924. The story became a play in 1928 and much later the award winning musical whose book was written by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, lyrics by Fred Ebb and music by John Kander.

"Chicago" is a tale of murder, adultery and a perverted criminal justice system where the celebrity criminal is above the law. Hmmm, sound familiar?

The Hi-Liners do not hold back as they take on this somewhat adult-themed musical. This is not "Peter Pan." And the gritty side of Chicago in 1924 is not Never-never Land. Still this is a grand evening of musical theater.

press release:
South Seattle Community College’s WorkSource Center is partnering with King County Library to offer résumé and job search workshops at local libraries. The workshops are free but seating is limited. Registration is required for Effective Résumés for the New Job Search.

Branch locations and directions to branch can be found at http://www.kcis.org

Course 1: The New Job Search in the New Economy
Presented by Duncan G Burgess, director, WorkSource Affiliate South Seattle Community College.
Library-----Date-----Time

Renton Monday, September 12---7 - 8:30 pm
Valley View Tuesday, September 20---7 - 8:30 pm
Maple Valley Wednesday, September 21---7 - 8:30 pm
Kent Monday, October 10---7 - 8:30 pm
Sammamish Wednesday, October 26---7 - 8:30 pm

Course 2: Effective Résumés for the New Job Search
Pre-Registration is required