October 2011

Home hidden by landscape makes an easy target
In a cautionary tale about the advantages of landscaping to keep your home visible to your neighbors, a house of 35th Ave S.W. with a tall wooden fence and a mass of shrubbery and trees keeping anyone from viewing the front was broken into during the day on Oct. 11. The unknown burglar(s), once inside the landscape of diversion, kicked the front door down, splintering the frame where the dead bolt entered. Although the victim had a large collection of firearms, the thieves only appear to have stolen a 32” Panasonic LCD TV. A civil war style sword and BB gun were moved to the couch, but ultimately not taken. The sword was taken to the crime lab for fingerprint analysis.

Robbed at gunpoint on 17th Ave S.W.

When the economy took a turn for the worst in 2009, Ballardite Thomas Whipple, a long-time interior finish carpenter, lost his job.

"Carpenterting just dried up and I couldn’t find any more jobs," he said.

But while many struggle emotionally in unemployment, Whipple found inspiration.

When jobs became scarce, Whipple went back to his artistic roots and reached for the camera.

Originally an art school graduate, Whipple said his whole world view changed when he graduated from South Seattle Community College in 1976.

"I would look down the streets and see lines and design and composition. I had block vision. I looked at the world through new eyes," he said.

But life intervened and he gave up his artistic pursuits to make a living, until that was recently halted as well.

"I picked up a digital camera [again] and started dabbling in photography," he said.

Researching photography on the internet, Whipple discovered a technique called High Dynamic Range imaging. HDR photography is a technique in which a series of photographs with various levels of exposure and dynamic range are merged together into one image using computer software.

by Kyle Howard
The Highline Pirates girls soccer team hosted the West Seattle Wildcats in a non-league game at Highline Stadium Thursday afternoon. The Pirates ended up shouting out the Wildcats , 3-0.

From the start of the game Highline took control, keeping the ball on West Seattle’s side of the field. Great offense and defense from Highline was able to control the tempo of the game with great passing that keep West Seattle’s defense on their toes. West Seattle’s goal keeper Haily Watkins stayed busy with Highline’s 23 shots on goal, blocking 15 of them. The Pirates had a few near goals in the first half, but the shots were either blocked or just missed.

Highline’s scoring got started at the 34 minute mark when sophomore midfielder Aimie Inthoulay dribbled up field and scored with an impressive 35 yard goal.

A Road by Any Other Name

If I could rule the Viaduct
I’d pick up from the zoo
Panda Bears and Bengal Tigers
And a Spotted Owl or two

Then plant thousand year old redwoods
On her roads where they could roam
Bury Indian bones and baskets
Make their presence quite well known

I’d make part of her a wetland
Mother Nature would revere
Build a little inn and post a sign
“George Washington slept here”

Then they’d have to leave her standing
For there’s no way they’d tear down
An endangered species, national treasure,
And Indian burial ground

The ninth annual Fauntleroy Fall Festival saw hundreds of people and a lot of families swarm the area between the Fauntleroy Church and the Hall at Fauntleroy for food, crafts, pumpkin painting, live music, and much more.

CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE MORE

The event which began in the days after 9-11-2001 was created by a group of people from the church and the Hall at Fauntleroy who wanted to bring people together and reinvigorate a sense of community. The first one happened in 2002. The festival is completely free (though food was for sale).

There were so many activities it kept every one busy with something, fun or interesting to do.

Planter building, learning about rabbits and chickens in city, a pony ride for toddlers, Engine 37 from the Seattle Fire Department, food from cupcakes to tacos from the nearby Guadalajara Restaurant, to bratwurst and hot dogs provided by Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering, to hair braiding and coloring, to fall photos by Gail Ann.

The event was sponsored by:
West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA
Fauntleroy Community Association
Fauntleroy Church/United Church of Christ
Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering

As Halloween season is upon us the favored color is orange. Even the moon as it rose over the city of Seattle skyline on Saturday Oct. 15.

The orange hue is due to the scattering of light by the atmosphere. When the moon is closer to the horizon, the light has to pass through more atmosphere than when the moon is directly overhead. By the time the moonlight reaches your eyes, the green, blue, and purple pieces of visible light have been scattered away by air molecules. You only see yellow, orange, or red. Atmospheric haze, caused by pollution (smoke or particulate matter) can enhance this effect.

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

Since the start of the month multiple cars have been vandalized by pumpkin smashers.

A car along NW 80th was the latest victim. The car's rear window was smashed in around 4 a.m. on October 16.

Any information regarding the people behind these acts should be reported to the police.

Organizers Susie Sposari and Barb Brandt hosted the 40th reunion of Holy Rosary High School's class of 1971 at the Mission Latin Bar & Restaurant Saturday night, Oct. 15. This was that school's last high school graduating class, and 31 attended the party out of a class of 42 graduates. They were located where Lutheran High School now is.

Many attending remembered, and honored, classmate Jeannie Borchert who passed away at age 19 in a tragic car accident on Snoqualmie Pass.

One attendee who came to the reunion, said she had once attended Sisters of Providence in Seattle for two years to become a nun. So why did she leave the convent?

"I decided I wanted to live with people other than women," she recalled. "I like guys. I found I could do the very same thing and yet still have the benefit of a good relationship. Also, I wanted a golden retriever."

The West Seattle Wildcats are on a roll. For Saturday's October 15 Homecoming game they faced and defeated Ingraham High School in a solid 30-13 win.

West Seattle's record now improves to 4-2-0.

CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE MORE

West Seattle scored first, late in the first quarter on a 15 yard Brennan Newquist reception from Isaac Johnson, with a two point conversion by DiAndre Jackson.

The Wildcats followed that up with a scoring drive capped by a Nikko Pablo Emm TD run of 4 yards. The pass to Junior Taulolo for the two-point conversion made it 16-0 WS. But a WS punt blocked and returned by Ingraham (kick failed) made it a 16-6 halftime score.

Ingraham scored on their opening possession of the second half, but the Wildcats answered with a Nikko Emm touchdown run and again and converted the two-point play (this time a run by Isaac Johnson) for a 24-13 lead.

A recovered fumble on the Kickoff gave the Wildcats possession, and set up the last scoring drive of the night, a 5-yard TD run by QB Isaac Johnson for a 30-13 score.

After taking a hiatus for a few years it was time to revisit an old tradition at West Seattle Nursery on Oct. 15 and invite kids (and adults) to come by and paint some pumpkins not to mention the shed on the southwest corner of the property.

Hot dogs were served and kids and their parents all enjoyed the funny looking gourds and even funnier looking pumpkins the kids created.

The designs added with the benefit of stencils to the shed are now a permanent part of the buildings decor.

CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE MORE