November 2011

Layla is a mix, a rescue but owner Beth Baum said, "We did one of those doggie DNA tests and it came back that she was half Afghan and a quarter Doberman and the rest kind of unidentifiable. So we say she's a 'Sighthound' mix from the family of Greyhounds."

At the age of eleven Layla looks younger and is, "very active for her age."

"We lived in North Carolina at the time we adopted her so she came from the Orange County Animal Shelter in North Carolina. We found her online where she was featured as the Pet of the week by the animal shelter."

NOTE: This marks the first time in the history of this feature that a Herald pet of the week has previously been a pet of the week elsewhere.

Sleep is a favorite activity for Layla but she's not a lazy dog. "She punctuates her sleep with periods of vigorous activity," said Baum," she like to chase squirrels, and cats, though that's not one of our preferred pastimes."

The West Seattle Lion's Club, through a program called Destination Reading gave away one book each to Head Start, kindergarten and first grade children at West Seattle Elementary School at 6760 34th Ave. s.w.

The club has given away 650 books since September.

After Christmas the club plans on donating books aimed at older children.

If you'd like to donate any children's books for the program please contact the Lions club at http://www.wslions.com/

THE WEST SEATTLE LIONS CLUB MEETINGS ARE HELD: Every Thursday, 12:10 pm to 1:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, 4217 SW Oregon Street, Seattle 98116

Here's a bit of history from the Lions Club website:

The LIONS CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE

SLIDESHOW, CLICK ON PHOTO FOR MORE

King County Executive and West Seattle resident Dow Constantine seems to be moving ahead in politics quicker than his years, especially if you believe he is 39. Today he celebrated his 39th birthday, for the eleventh time. Its sort of a running gag, as he did acknowledge hitting the half-century mark to an enthusiastic crowd of friends, family, colleagues and supporters in the Paramount Theater lobby downtown tonight to celebrate this milestone.

"If you have to spend 50 years anywhere, West Seattle's a good place to do it," Constantine told the West Seattle Herald. His friends prompted him to recall when he bought his first 45 record.

Roxhill Family Fitness Night on Tuesday, Nov. 15, saw approximately 400 people including parents, kids, teachers and others show up to meet Seattle Seahawks Cornerback Kennard Cox and Seagals Andrea and Carli at Roxhill Elementary School

The event featured free food, including apples, oranges, veggie chips, and several varieties of Subway Sandwiches all pre-made. People crowded into the auditorium/lunchroom and had to chance to meet Cox and the Seagals and get autographs on posters and take photos with the special guests.

But the focus of the event was on health and fitness. According to the Centers for Disease Control 68 percent of adults are overweight or obese. In the past 30 years, the prevalence of childhood obesity has more than doubled among adolescents age 12-19. The sponsor organizations teamed up to provide "health programming" for schools and reached more than 2200 students last year.

This event is one of three planned with the next two coming up in the next few months elsewhere in Seattle.

From today's Aggressive Driving Response Team enforcement effort and the Seattle Police Department Blotter.

Posted by Detective Jeff Kappel

On November 15th officers from the Aggressive Driver Response Team issued the following citations:

Highland Park Way SW – 30 mph zone

1 at 56 mph

1 at 53 mph

2 at 49 mph

1 at 48 mph

1 at 47 mph

1 at 46 mph

2 at 45 mph

2 No Proof of Insurance

1 No Valid Driver’s License

SW Admiral Way – 30 mph zone

1 at 51 mph

1 at 48 mph

1 at 46 mph

1 No Valid Driver’s License

Aurora Ave N – 40 mph zone

1 at 67 mph

1 at 61 mph

1 at 57 mph

1 at 54 mph

2 at 52 mph

School Zone Speed Enforcement – 20 mph zone

Our Lady of Guadalupe Elementary

1 at 36 mph

1 at 35 mph

1 at 34 mph

2 at 32 mph

1 at 30 mph

Roxhill Elementary

1 at 36 mph

2 at 30 mph

Arbor Heights Elementary

1 at 32 mph

2 at 31 mph

According to King County's online election results, as of the vote count released at 4:30 p.m. today, Sharon Peaslee has overtaken incumbent Peter Maier in the Seattle School Board election, District 1. Results showed her trailing since last Tuesday night.

Peter Maier 67294 49.80%

Sharon Peaslee 67385 49.87%

Meanwhile, in District 6, Marty McLaren has widened her lead over current School Board President Steve Sundquist, little by little over the course of the week.

Steve Sundquist 60932 45.91%

Marty McLaren 71184 53.64%

Check back for updates later.

According to King County's website page with election results, as of the vote count released at 4:30 p.m. today, Sharon Peaslee has overtaken incumbent Peter Maier in the Seattle School Board election, District 1. Results showed her trailing since last Tuesday night.

Peter Maier 67294 49.80%

Sharon Peaslee 67385 49.87%

Meanwhile, in District 6, Marty McLaren has widened her lead over current School Board President Steve Sundquist, little by little over the course of the week.

Steve Sundquist 60932 45.91%

Marty McLaren 71184 53.64%

We will update.

Update for Nov. 15, 8:45 pm
A press release from U.S. Attorney Jenny A Durkan provides further details on today's DEA activity, clarifying that establishments raided were under investigation for failure to abide by state medical marijuana laws, large-scale distribution and money laundering.

"Each investigation (and resulting raid) targets commercial enterprises that purport to operate as 'medical' marijuana establishments but also fail to comply with applicable state law," the release said.

"These businesses attracted the attention of federal law enforcement for a number of reasons: their failure to abide by state medical marijuana guidelines; indications that they were distributing large amounts of drugs; and evidence they were laundering large amounts of money."

Here is the press release in its entirety:

Press release
Bring the whole family out for ChoralSounds Northwest's (CSN) annual Christmas concert at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien on Dec. 10 and 11.

The new artistic director, Brian J. Winnie brings a renewed focus on polished choral performance and for his first concert with CSN he has created a show that tells the story of the Nativity through a modern allegory that is both creative and beautiful.

Centered around the story of a couple’s journey from their first date through the birth of their child, “Angels Watching” combines vignettes, videography and contemporary dance to weave this story that is at once secular and sacred.

In the second act, the chorus will let down their hair to celebrate the season with familiar and fun Christmas favorites including “Jingle Bells” and “Silent Night,” as well as a crazy, fun-filled “Twelve Pains of Christmas.”

Twelfth Night Productions' It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show is back for another holiday season, playing this December at Kenyon Hall. Based the classic 1946 Frank Capra film, playwright Joe Landry's take on “It's a Wonderful Life”, comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast.

The ensemble of characters bring the town of Bedford Falls to the stage, and George Bailey to the fateful Christmas Eve when, as he contemplates ending his life, he realizes the difference he makes in the lives of others. “Think Prairie Home Companion meets Christmas classic, this production had it all. From old timey outfits to a Silent Night chorus opener to delicious baked goods for sale to the famous Wurlitzer Organ, Twelfth Night Productions knows how to put on a show.... This is something everyone should experience." Barrie Arliss, Yay-Today.com said of the 2010 production.