November 2011

Hail storm at 5:40 p.m. on SW Stevens Street on Alki. Photo aimed toward street light.

West Seattle Chamber of Commerce President Dave Montoure and executives from the headquarters of the Les Schwab Tire company came to the firm's newest location on Nov. 11 to perform an official community welcome and ribbon cutting for the new store located at 3801 s.w. Alaska Street.

Also on hand for the event serving hot dogs were members of the Chief Sealth International High School band. Chelon Jackson, John Aguilar, and Alex Samson.

The West Seattle Herald introduced Paul Howell and Asst. Manager Mike Nestor in coverage last month as the store was preparing to open.

The store has retail space of 8,500 sq. ft. and six service bays. There is an additional 3,665 sq. ft. in the basement warehouse that will hold product inventories for tires, brakes, shocks and alignments.

10-12 people are now on the job.

(206) 932-1212 Mon-Fri 8:00am - 6:00pm Sat 8:00am - 5:00pm

Interior construction started this week at the two-story space on the corner of 17th Avenue N.W. and N.W. 56th Street. A Coming Soon sign was hung in the window, announcing to the community that The Amber Den is coming soon.

Slated for an opening in mid December, the Amber Dens hopes to provide Ballard with what it's been missing.

"We did some research and this part of Ballard lacks a good neighborhood corner hangout to enjoy great food, wine and beer," said owner Nick Simonton.

For lunch, the Amber Den will be serving paninis, soups, sandwiches, and salads and in the evening, the food fare will be tapas style. Good quality craft beer and wines will be served all day.

"Depending on what time of day you come to visit us, we are a lunch destination during the daytime and your neighborhood corner hangout in the evening," Simonton said.

Simonton, a marketer, passionate entrepreneur and wine enthusiast, was previously involved with The WineBar on 24th in 2005.

With the Amber Den Simonton hopes to promote small craft breweries and wineries and make good quality craft beers and wines to all.

By Anne-Marije Rook and Theresa Edwards, Intern

Last December, ten-year-old Anika Anderson was awarded the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America's Young Student Hardanger Fiddle Loan for 2011.

For one year, Anderson was allowed to use the unique, child-sized hardanger fiddle, made by violin maker Lynn Berg of Eugene, Ore, as her own.

The award not only gave Anderson access to a rare musical instrument, she also received a number of opportunities to play the fiddle for audiences throughout the U.S.  

Originally from Norway, Hardanger Fiddles have eight to nine strings. Four of the strings are played like a standard violin and the extra sympathetic strings run under the bridge and resonate, giving a full, complex sound. Child-sized versions of this instrument are rare.

“Sometimes it can be more challenging than the violin,” said Anderson of the special instrument. “I like how it rings more.”

In anticipation of the Twilight: Breaking Dawn movie release on the 18th, Cupcake Royale is serving exclusive Twilight cupcakes, only available at Cupcake Royale from now until the 15th.

Become 'Tween parent of the Year' when you win advance-screening movie tickets by entering in the drawing.

Cupcake Royale is giving away five pair of tickets everyday. Must buy a cupcake to be eligible for the drawing.

For more information, stop by Cupcake Royale at 2052 NW Market St.

Where were YOU on Veterans Day at 11:11, the morning of 11/11? Josh Menashe, Kim Gearon, and Katie Strong were right outside Menashe & Sons Jewelers, 4532 California Ave. SW, by their iconic electric clock.

"People who drive by like to see the clock," said Josh Menashe, the son of owner, Jack. "We've been here 38 years. My dad had the clock made eight years after he bought Teague Jewelers. There was an old clock out there. It was a square clock that just said 'Teague Jewelers'. When he changed the name of the store he changed the clock. This one is much more integrated to be more of a classic old clock. It is an electric clock, very accurate. It is one of maybe five standing in front of jewelry stores in the state of Washington."

"Our store is still that personal, old-fashioned shop," said Kim Gearon, a Gatewood resident. "We treat our customers like family, even though we're changing with the times."

Menashe & Sons Jewelers invites the public to their estate jewelry party Friday night, Nov. 18, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm with food, wine, and champagne as they launch pieces from different estates around the country, including some from the late 1800's.

On the day before the nation formally honors its veterans, a Freedom Shrine was dedicated at the Burien Community Center.

Members of the Exchange Club of Highline donated the shrine. It consists of photographic reproductions of 29 documents from American history, such as the Bill of Rights, the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence and the US. Constitution.

There are some more obscure reproductions but all are “the types of documents that are important to the United States,” Exchange Club member Jerry Heigh declared during the Nov. 10 ceremony.

The local exchange club has also donated a U.S. servicemen’s Missing in Action Memorial at Washington Memorial Park/Bonney Watson in SeaTac and history education materials to local schools and community centers.

Heigh noted the Highline club, which began in 1961, has about 30 members. The national Exchange organization is the oldest service club in the country with membership exclusively in the U.S., Heigh noted.

Patti Mullen, President and CEO of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce for many years has tendered her resignation and taken a new job, with the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce starting in Janary, 2012.

Current Chamber Chairman, Dave Montoure of West 5 restaurant and lounge shared the news with Chamber members and the media in a letter sent Nov. 11.

Dear Chamber Members:
Over the last eight years, our Chamber has grown in membership, quality of programming, community partnership and advocacy, networking and learning opportunities. In addition, the Chamber has gained recognition throughout the Greater Seattle area as a strong leader for business on the Westside. So it is with mixed emotions that I share the news that Patti Mullen has accepted the position of President/CEO of the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce. She will begin her new post in January, 2012.

From the National Weather Service:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A WIND
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 4 PM PST
THIS AFTERNOON.

* WIND...SOUTH WIND RISING TO 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45
MPH...BECOMING NORTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH LATE THIS AFTERNOON.

* TIMING...WINDS WILL INCREASE RAPIDLY THIS MORNING...REMAIN
STRONG THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...THEN DIMINISH LATE THIS
AFTERNOON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 39 MPH OR
GUSTS OF 45 TO 57 MPH ARE LIKELY. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN SNAP
SMALL TREE BRANCHES...TOPPLE SMALL OR SHALLOW ROOTED TREES...AND
CAUSE LOCAL POWER OUTAGES.

On Thursday, Nov 10, Ballardite Gary Fye presented Nancy McKinney of the Ballard Food Bank with a $750 check on behalf of the Northwest Packer Backers.

The Northwest Packer Backers have been the largest Packer fan club on the West Coast for over 20 years.

They meet at Mustard Seed Grill & Pub for every Packer game and raise money for charities by selling raffle tickets for Packer merchandise and trips during the games.

This is the second year that money from those raffles have benefitted the Ballard Food Bank and another portion of the money will be sent to the Christmas House in Snohomish County.

McKinney gave Fye and club secretary Traci Garner a tour of the food bank on Thursday so they could see who the money will benefit.