September 2011

The new West Seattle Premium Liquor store just east of the Alaska Junction in the QFC building offers regular tastings every Saturday, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. They have a stationary sampling bar, and are one of 30 stores to offer this for a year. That according to store manager, Molly Wheeler.

You can read about the store's Aug. 31 opening here:

Today was their first tasting, and they featured three offerings from Fremont Mischief Distillery, an eight year, and a three-year John Jacob, 100-percent rye whiskey, each aged in charred oak barrels,, three-year 100-percent rye, and a winter wheat full-bodied vodka. A line sometimes 15-people long awaited samples of each.

Mike and Patti Sherlock own Mischief, near Theo Chocolate in Fremont. They are proud of their 19th Century era distillery's machinery and ambiance at their 132 Canal St. location between the canal and Theo Chocolate.

John Gretz, is the master distiller for Fremont Mischief and designs the bottles, logos, and advertising.

A fire burning on the Olympic Peninsula is visible from the west side of West Seattle. KNDO/KNDU reports that a 3 acre fire is burning brush and that officials have closed a trail because the fire is expected to grow.

The fire has reportedly been burning since Thursday.

Here's the link to the KNDO/KNDU story.

KING 5 and the Seattle Times are reporting it is called The Big Hump Fire and that it is burning in an area of heavy forest.

They report that the Duckabush hiking trial was being closed as a precaution. At least 20 firefighters are battling the flames.

TO SEE A LARGER VERSION OF THE PHOTO ABOVE CLICK THE LINK.

The Samoan culture in West Seattle, White Center and the entire region suffered a loss with the death of Sweetheart Failatusi on Aug. 16 but as was seen in the family's response in their on street memorial, their fund raising efforts and her services, these are very resilient people with incredibly strong family bonds.

On Saturday Sept. 3 a large Samoan family Field Day called Agia Mua Mua (meaning Family First) was held,"for the first time in ten years" at Roxhill Park in West Seattle said spokesperson Hale Eneliko.

CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE MORE

The event assembled families from all around the region for dancing, games, music, and a barbecue. "We do this to keep our kids safe, we just lost someone last week. This is the way we gather them and do activities, do games and especially for family, we're one big family. We haven't seen some of them for five years or ten years."

He concluded with a laugh, "They have to make sure they aren't cousins in case they marry each other!"

The Beavers won their first game against Sammamish Friday night 34 to 27 in an exciting overtime game.

Sammamish High was first to score in the second quarter but missed their goal kick.

The beavers quickly put themselves on the scoreboard after Verduin threw a 32 yard touchdown pass to McLauchlan. Pearson scored the point after touchdown for a 7 to 6 lead over Sammamish at half time.

Ballard scored another 7 points in the third quarter but then Sammamish made a comeback with a touchdown and a two-point conversion.

The Beavers responded to that comeback with a 35 yard run by Scott and a point after touchdown for Verduin.
Sammamish then scored twice making the game go into overtime with a 27-27 game.

In overtime, Verduin threw passed an 11 yard pass to King for another Ballard touchdown. Verduin scored the PAT for a 34 to 27 Ballard victory.

Incoming freshmen to West Seattle High School are going to get a major helping hand in making the transition to high school as result of a national program being introduced at the school this year called Link Crew.

Link Crew is a leadership program created by the Boomerang Project (an organization that works on high school transition issues) that is offered to high schools in the United States and Canada. It allows the school to choose upper-classmen to be linked with freshmen throughout the year making them Link Leaders. Their mission is to help the freshman get involved in the school, to get engaged in school activities and become part of the social web.

The program involves two days of intense training in activities and exercises that are meant to guide freshmen but more than that to help break down barriers and give them critical thinking skills to see how they might improve their own high school experience.

Festivals and events color the character of Seattle’s neighborhoods. Community groups presenting a neighborhood arts or cultural event in 2012 can apply for funding through the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs’ Neighborhood & Community Arts program.

The funding program helps Seattle’s neighborhood art councils and community-based groups produce annual festivals and events that enhance the visibility of neighborhoods, promote cultural participation, celebrate diversity and build community through arts and culture.

Neighborhood arts councils and community-based groups may seek support for a recurring festival or event that has been in existence for at least one year, has a significant arts and cultural component, is open to the public and takes place in Seattle. Applicants are not required to have 501(c) (3) tax-exempt status.

Press release:
Next week crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation will repair pavement cracks in the bike lanes on 16th Avenue SW between SW Henderson to SW Holden streets.

They will work on Thursday and Friday, September 8 and 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. During this work, bicyclists will use the general traffic lane.

On-street parking will be restricted, but sidewalks and crosswalks will remain open.

Outspoken anti-annexation critic Bob Edgar has announced that he will campaign in the general election for the seat now occupied by Burien City Councilman Gordon Shaw and will serve if elected.

Edgar attempted unsuccessfully to withdraw from the primary election ballot and did not campaign. However, he outpolled Shaw in the primary with about 45 percent of the vote. Shaw received about 40 percent. Newcomer Joey Martinez trailed behind Edgar and Shaw and was eliminated from the November general election ballot.
Since the surprising primary results, the biggest question in Burien political circles was what would Edgar do. Until Friday morning, Sept. 2, Edgar had not commented publicly.

Here is Edgar's statement:

Thank you for your vote! The citizens of Burien have spoken and it is clear that Burien residents want a change on the Burien Council.

Press release:

Tonight, the West Seattle/Downtown Seattle Route of the King County Water Taxi will run an additional sailing from Pier 50 at 11:00 p.m. for the Seahawks vs. Raiders game.  Following the scheduled 10:30 p.m. departure from Pier 50, we will run a 10:45 p.m. departure from Seacrest Park, and a 11:00 p.m. departure from Pier 50.  The Water Taxi will make a final departure from Seacrest Park at 11:15 p.m. 

Interviewee: Terry Buchanan

Occupation: Project manager at a construction company. Race promoter.

Riding style: Racing

His ride: Seven Cycles titanium cyclocross bike. "The versatility of a cyclocross bike is what's so awesome and what makes it a great bike to have in your quiver regardless if you're going to race. You can shortcut through parks, set it up for touring, and fat tires feel comfortable, too."

The summer is almost over and so is road racing season. For many racers this means they'll be trading the pavement for dirt and mud as cyclocross season is about to kick off.

Originated in Belgium, cyclocross is a form of bicycle racing that takes place on wooded trails and muddy single tracks with short and steep hills, sharp corners and obstacles. Often the racer is required to dismount from their bike and run across obstacles while carrying the bike. The races are between 30 to 60 minutes in length and take place in fall and early winter.