November 2011

By Charlene Strong

Senator Feinstein presented a bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday called the Respect for Marriage Act. The Committee voted 10-8 along strict party lines to consider a repeal of the Clinton-era law that defined marriage between one man and one woman. The law known as the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) has stood in place since 1996 denying same-sex couples the opportunity to full marriage equality in the United States.

Senator Feinstein pointed out that this historic milestone is an important first step in reaching full equality on the marriage front. She added that if the bill failed to pass in the Senate or House, she would continue to introduce it over and over until it successfully passed to become law.

Following Thursday’s vote, Senator Feinstein told the media, “Virtually any advance in civil rights or any kind of rights has been carried by the Democratic Party. It’s just a fact.” I agree with her assessment.
The Republican response was that the measure was a waste of time. John Boehner (R-Ohio) said that the White House didn’t have the right to pick and choose which laws the administration wanted to enforce.

Seniors looking for work can hone their job search skills at the Job Search Workshop for Older Workers, sponsored by the Mayor’s Office for Senior Citizens (MOSC).

The workshop is sponsored by the MOSC’s Age 55+ Employment Resource Center, which helps older workers find jobs, and helps local employers find experienced, dedicated and reliable employees. Services are free to both job seekers and employers.

A MOSC job counselor will be on hand to discuss LinkedIn, networking, resume writing, cover letters, interviewing and other tips and techniques for older job seekers.

The workshop will also feature Beverly Kashino, Human Resources Director at YMCA of Greater Seattle, who will discuss working at nonprofit organizations: how they hire, and how to prepare for and apply for work in the nonprofit world.

The workshop will take place on Wednesday, November 16, 2011, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Central Building, 810 3rd Ave., 1st floor conference room.

To register for the workshop, please contact Joan Uzelak at joan.uzelak@seattle.gov.

By Cassandra Baker, Intern

8:36 a.m. on November 8th. 8th block of NW 90th St

A man called police after he came home to find his front door unlocked, lights on in his house, and numerous items missing. The burglar entered through the back gate and managed to force open a locked sliding glass door. The suspect then took collector coins, jewelry, a DVR, the key to the victim’s car, and two valuable guitars. The responding officer found fingerprints on drawer handles and the TV stand doors.

3:48 a.m. on November 6th. 97th block of Holman Rd NW

A witness called police very early on the morning of November 6th after seeing someone trying to pry open the back door of a closed restaurant. The suspect was described as a male with a medium build wearing a red jacket and a dark baseball hat. The suspect was seen dropping a tool and heading southbound on 6th Ave NW on foot.

On Monday, November 14, the White Center Community Development Association (CDA) is hosting a unique event designed to highlight both healthy eating and local sources for produce in White Center.

Starting at 6:45pm the Produce Market Tour Business Mixer will begin at the CDA offices at 1615 s.w. Cambridge Street and will tour the following produce market locations

1. West Seattle Halal Market
2. White Center Market
3. White Center Mini Market Halal & Deli
4. New Golden Village Market
5. Phnom Khiev

Participants also receive a $3 discount coupon to use before Thanksgiving plus some healthy recipes.

The CDA recently produced a printed piece (it was inserted in the print edition of the West Seattle Herald) that tells the story of these produce merchants which also includes that coupon. You can download it at the link above.

An exclusive array of the greater region’s talented community of artists will display and sell their work November 18th – 20th at Seattle’s Smith Cove on Pier 91 near the Magnolia Bridge. Among the group will be jewelry designer Linda Grimes along with her company, Laughing Girl Arts.

She will be joining over 250 artists and artisans chosen to showcase their latest creations from one-of-a-kind clothing, works of metal, glass and wood, to paintings and sculptures.
 
Linda’s circuitous journey to the Best of the Northwest has been a long one. Creative throughout her life, it never occurred to her that making art could be her career.  Instead, she worked in accounting and management in the hotel and printing industries moving with job promotions from San Diego to San Francisco to Seattle. She enjoyed the challenges of the business environment but dreamed about being her own boss. She just wasn’t sure how to do that. She decided to become a real estate agent, and after 17 years it was time to move on. When she left, she took time to contemplate next steps and followed her true passion of creating art.  

 Press release:
Sustainable West Seattle will be giving a Spanish version of its presentation “Don’t Feed the Tox-Ick Monster,” this Saturday, Nov. 12th from 2:30 – 3:30 PM at the White Center Community Cultural Center (aka St. James Annex), 9421 Eighteenth Street SW.  Free pizza and prizes will be available.
 
The group has been giving this hour-long presentation, which informs citizens how to be stewards of Puget Sound, at venues across West Seattle.  Attendees of this weekend’s ¡No Alimente Al Monstruo! event will be eligible to win $500 in prizes including rain barrels, Pink Elephant car wash gift certificates, Alki Auto oil change gift certificates, landscaping materials from the West Seattle Nursery, biking gear from Alki Bike and Board, and more!  
 

Carol Wakefield, long time secretary for West Seattle High School passed away on Nov. 1. The West Seattle Herald received this note from her sister Sue Howard today, forwarded by West Seattle High School Principal Ruth Medsker.

Thank you for all your kind words and prayers regarding my sister, your friend. I know she will be missed by many.

Sue Howard

Carol Wakefield went home to be with the Lord, on 11/1/11.

A memorial service will be held, on December 3, 2011 in the Banquet Hall at the West Seattle Golf Course at 2:00pm. 4470 35TH AVE. S.W. SEATTLE, WA. 98126

Donations for flowers and a commemorative tree can be dropped off in the main office at WSHS.

I’m Free
Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free
I’m following the path God has laid you see.
I took His hand when I heard him call
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way
I found that peace at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss
Oh yes, these things I too will miss.

King County Sheriffs are asking for the public's help in finding 32-year-old Benjamin R. Munoz, a resident of the Top Hat neighborhood in Unincorporated King County who went missing on April 29.

"Investigating detectives believe the disappearance of Ben Munoz, age 32, is suspicious, and foul play is a definite possibility. There does not appear to be any other reason why he may be missing," Sgt. John Urquhart stated in a press release.

Additional details from KCSO:
On April 29th, his father heard Ben come home about 2:00 AM and go to bed. He saw Ben briefly the next morning before leaving for the day. No one has seen or heard from Ben since. He was unemployed.

Ben is 5’5” tall, 200 lbs with black hair, with numerous tattoos on his arms across his shoulders. He did not have a car.

If anyone knows where Ben Munoz is, or what may have happened to him, they are asked to call the King County Sheriff's Office at (206) 296-3311 (24 hours) or 9-1-1.

Tipsters can also call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS with information. Rewards are offered up to $1000.

Well, one thing is set in stone: King County Metro’s RapidRide C and D Lines begins service on Sept. 29, 2012, and the routes are finalized (RapidRide buses promise faster travel with less stops and more frequent pickups).

The rest of the West Seattle’s bus routes are subject to change with an implementation date at the end of September 2012(the same time RapidRide starts up). Of the changes proposed so far community reaction has ranged from elation to disappointment.

Three useful links are included with the story - including links to two transit maps created by Seattle Transit Blog's Oran Viriyincy and King County's official map (suggested_network_south).

On Nov. 9, King County Metro held an open house at Chief Sealth High School, bringing transit planners out to speak directly with the public. Participation was healthy, with tables set up for community brainstorming full of West Seattleites hashing out the pros and cons of Metro’s current proposal.

Concerns and applause

City Council finished preliminary voting on their modifications to the Mayor’s 2012 budget on Thursday, Nov 10, and presented their actions to rebalance the Mayor's proposals.

"Operating the leanest government possible while maintaining critical services was our overarching goal. We believe we have reached that goal," said Councilmember and Budget Committee Chair Jean Godden in a statement.

While certain earmarks like High-Capacity Transit planning, the merger of the Office of Housing and Office of Economic Development, and a community building advisor were rejected, the City Council focused on maintaining funding for public safety, health services and food programs, and housing for the most vulnerable.