October 2011

In celebration of Ballard's green spaces, Groundswell NW features and celebrates a "Park of the Month" and the community around it. In October the spotlight is on Salmon Bay School's playground. Located at 1810 NW 65th St, the playground is an ongoing project.

The recipient of a $60,000 grant through King County's Youth and Sports Facilities as well as another $100,000 grant from the Department of Neighborhood’s Large Projects Fund, Salmon Bay School's playground renovation project is designed around autism spectrum disorder-friendly play-spaces.

ASD affects one in 110 children and is more common than juvenile diabetes. Families with ASD need playspaces that bring out the best in their kids, and ones which help to turn strangers into friends as neighbors come to play together.

"The process of making this playground happen has taken a shift in a way I was secretly hoping it would," said Robin Wise Lofstrom from the Salmon Bay School Playground Committee. "People are really starting to think about inclusion differently."

Loftsrom said that in awarding the $60K grant, King County recognizes the underserved population of children with ASD and other disorders.

If you think that SeaTac dining is limited to late-night bars and fast food for travelers on layovers, think again. SeaTac is brimming with dining options both old and new.

On Sept. 27, Seattle Southside sponsored a daylong restaurant tour showcasing SeaTac's diverse, culinary hot spots.

Seattle Southside, a visitor services and tourism organization jointly sponsored by the cities of Tukwila, SeaTac, Kent and Des Moines, hosted the SeaTac FAM event (Familiarization Tour). It was the second outing following a successful Des Moines event earlier this year.

"We want people to know that there are plenty of dining options in SeaTac and they are diverse and delicious for any budget or palate," says Ashley Comar, Seattle Southside's marketing communications manager.

Within its modest 10 square-mile area, the city of SeaTac boasts 24 full-service restaurants (not including the airport). The area is currently experiencing a bit of a boom thanks to revitalization efforts and easier access due to the light rail.

By Gwen Davis
Special to The Times/News

It's no secret that shared values can unite us into an adhesive community.

Which is why Ignition Northwest - an organization that promotes the popular Burning Man philosophy - will host the annual SeaCompression event, drawing hundreds to Burien who champion sets of common ethos and an appreciation for quality entertainment.

"Burning Man attracts people who are interested in alternative arts, large-scale sculpture and adhere to common principles," said Andrew Birklid, aka Tumbleweed, vice president of Ignition Northwest. "These principles, shared by a lot of people, include being responsible and not having to commodify everything."

SeaCompression, an annual fundraiser for Ignition Northwest, will be held on Oct. 15 in downtown Burien. The event will be held in the vacant lots north of the Burien Town Square. Now in its 10th year, SeaCompression features an array of participatory and interactive arts, including kinetic sculptures, live musicians and fire shows.

Man arrested with loaded gun at SeaTac
A man was arrested at Sea-Tac Airport after TSA found a loaded gun in his carry on baggage. The gun, a .380 IVER Johnson handgun, held six rounds of ammunition, including one in the chamber. A loaded spare single clip was also found. The man was headed to Minneapolis. Port of Seattle police officers arrested the man and charges are pending.

Attempt to pass fraudulent check
A woman attempted to pass a fraudulent check at the Chase Bank in the 200 block of S.W. 150th St. She allegedly forged a check for an unknown amount. The bank recognized the forgery and the woman left. She was arrested shortly after when police found her ID at the bank. Apparently she forgot to grab it when she left.

Unusual request
Police responded to a home in the 1000 blk S. 120th St. A married couple called to report a suspicious woman who knocked on their door. They had never met the woman but she asked if she could take a shower in their home. The couple denied her request and asked that the woman be trespassed from their property.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft

Former Governor Albert D. Rossellini died today at the age of 101. In honor of his remarkable life Robinson Newspapers publisher Jerry Robinson wants to share a column he wrote during the time the Governor was in office in the 1960's that we published last June.

I knew it was going to be an important day, so the night before I shined my shoes, and hid a pair of matching socks in a place the kids would never look (the soap cabinet) and went to bed.
Along with several others, I was scheduled to spend a few minutes with Governor Rossellini the next day. Naturally I wanted to be at my best.

Catastrophe struck early next morning. No white shirts. What does a guy do? Put on a flowered sport shirt and pretend he is just back from the islands? Wear a turtleneck and pretend you think it will snow? " Where are all my white shirts?" I asked the supine form who is my wife in the other bed. "They didn't get back from the laundry," she answered from somewhere under the blankets.
"But I can't talk to the governor in my T-Shirt," I pleaded.
"What do you want me to do? Knit one? she muttered. "There are some shirts in the box in the closet."

Press release:
If Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul then Stacie Calkins is surely the Princess! The star of AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ and LADY DAY AND THE BLUES, Stacie brings her own unique sparkle to the music of one of America’s greatest divas. RESPECT, THINK and CHAIN OF FOOLS…with a full 9-piece band. This night will be a rockin’, sockin’ night of soul music.

In Alec Clayton’s blog Stacie was dubbed: “Powerhouse vocalist Stacie Calkins, undoubtedly the best torch singer in this area and well beyond”.

Ms. Calkins has also appeared at Centerstage in I’M INTO SOMETHING GOOD and at theatres throughout Western Washington with her interpretation of Billie Holliday in LADY DAY AND THE BLUES. Stacie also played Effie White in DREAMGIRLS, Aida in AIDA IN CONCERT and Sarah in RAGTIME at Tacoma Musical Playhouse.

Now that the tunnel is a go and political discourse on the project set aside, conversations about the viaduct have turned to logistics.

A crowd nearing 100 gathered at the West Seattle High School Commons on Monday, Oct. 10 to get the scoop on how the nine-day closure of the Alaska Way Viaduct (Oct. 21 – 31) will effect their commute.

City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, County Councilmember Joe McDermott and Alaska Way Viaduct project director Matt Preedy (all three live in West Seattle) gave a presentation and answered questions from the crowd. Representatives from WashDOT, SDOT, and King County Metro were also available for individual questions.

“I leave West Seattle every morning at 7 o’clock … and I come down Admiral Hill,” a man in the crowd said. “Is it going to take me until 8 o’clock to get to I-5?”

“Yes,” someone in the crowd quipped, leading to a swirl of laughter.

“A common question that we get is ‘What should people expect for travel times?’” Preedy said. “And all we can say at this point is that all depends on how well people respond to take alternate modes, to leave earlier, to delay their trips, to not travel at all.

UPDATE: The suspect involved in the attack of a female jogger at Carkeek Park, was identified and subsequently contacted and arrested by Sexual Assault detectives and patrol officers in North Seattle.

After being interviewed by detectives, the 19 year old male was booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Attempted Rape

Previous article:

Seattle Police reports that on October 10, at approximately 8:26 a.m., officers responded to a 911 call of a woman assaulted in the 800 block of Northwest Carkeek Park Road.

Preliminary investigation indicates that an adult female was jogging in Carkeek Park. She ran past the suspect who was sitting on a bench. About 15 minutes later she passed by him again on her way back at which time the suspect then attacked the victim from behind, putting her in a neck hold. A serious struggle ensued.

The victim was able to fight the suspect off however, she did sustain abrasions to the right side of her neck, a scratch under her chin, and scrapes on her lower legs. She was treated by fire department personnel at the scene and released.

By Jerry Robinson, Publisher

Former Governor Albert D. Rossellini died yesterday at the age of 101. In honor of his remarkable life Robinson Newspapers publisher Jerry Robinson wants to share a column he wrote during the time the Governor was in office in the 1960's that we published last June.

I knew it was going to be an important day, so the night before I shined my shoes, and hid a pair of matching socks in a place the kids would never look (the soap cabinet) and went to bed.
Along with several others, I was scheduled to spend a few minutes with Governor Rossellini the next day. Naturally I wanted to be at my best.

Catastrophe struck early next morning. No white shirts. What does a guy do? Put on a flowered sport shirt and pretend he is just back from the islands? Wear a turtleneck and pretend you think it will snow? " Where are all my white shirts?" I asked the supine form who is my wife in the other bed. "They didn't get back from the laundry," she answered from somewhere under the blankets.
"But I can't talk to the governor in my T-Shirt," I pleaded.

Woodland Park Zoo and Stocker Farms have teamed up to create a corn maze that will make a difference.

Titled the “More Wonder More Wild” Corn Maze, the zoo-themed corn maze was made to raise awareness for More Wonder More Wild — the zoo’s $80 million campaign to save more animals and habitats in the Northwest and around the world.

While the “More Wonder More Wild” Corn Maze will be open throughout October, the zoo will host a special day at Stocker Farms maze on October 15 filled with activities, prizes, and fun.

Visitors can earn points for wild prizes including zoo admission passes, zoo membership, and animal coloring books for kids. Inside the maze, 16 renditions of a”mazing” endangered animals give clues to complete the maze. Along the way, visitors will learn about the challenges endangered species face in the wild, what Woodland Park Zoo is doing to help them, and how you can be part of the conservation solution.

Special Sneak Peek: