November 2011

Press release
Shop local and enjoy free holiday activities at Burien’s Winterfest, a celebration for the whole family on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Burien’s holiday-bedecked streets will be hopping with live singing by the Marvista Elementary School choir, in-store specials, horse-and-carriage rides, Santa Bags filled with goodies from local businesses, holiday crafts for kids, hayrides, hot treats and photos with reindeer or jolly old Saint Nick, even for the family pooch.

Support the local economy and save money, time and fuel by shopping in Burien. Take advantage of Winterfest in-store specials and gift-wrapping at some local shops. Burien’s small businesses are the perfect place to find unique presents ranging from affordable fine wines to the best in pet care, kitchenware, hand-beaded jewelry, cute and comfortable shoes, facials and more. Beat the chill with free hot treats like cocoa and spiced cider at various shops.

Information from the author and Burien Books:

Former Seattle Times photojournalist Jerry Gay, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1975 for his 'Lull in the Battle' photo of firefighters at a Three Tree Point house fire on Oct, 11th 1974, will sign his book, “Seeing Reality” on Dec. 10 from Noon- 4 p.m. at Burien Books, 824 S.W. 152nd St.

As a photojournalist Jerry Gay has driven 500,000 miles of America’s back roads and highways over 40 years to continue his ongoing research of everyday life. With humor and acute philosophical perceptions, this highly animated motivational speaker brings his visual insights to every audience he touches. Jerry’s pictures and philosophy convey a positive and persuasive analysis to help us find hope and see solutions to the unique challenges we now face in this ambiguous universe. Jerry’s wisdom, his reverence for the earth, common people and sacredness of all life is revealed in his live audience presentations and in new book SEEING REALITY.

PLEASE CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM JERRY GAY.

Last week we were visiting Pete Daigle’s' unique zither manufacturing shop almost under the third runway, south of the airport. Pete owns d'Aigle Autoharps at S. 191st St and Des Moines Memorial Dr. S.

Autoharp, a brand name for the chorded zither, first introduced by Oscar Schmidt in the ‘20s, is Pete's obsession. Names like Desert Rose and Laura Lee grace the maple, walnut or cherry instruments. They can run anywhere from $300 to $3,000 in a variety of styles.

Need to repair your zither? Pete has the only place in the county to make unique stringed music makers look and sound like new.

He has been building and restoring all manner of these historic instruments in the Highline community for more than 35 years and has some marvelous tools in his shop, including a table saw that is so sensitive to touch of a finger that it shuts itself off in a fraction of a second, saving precious digits.

Stop by the shop or find them online at www.daigleharp.com.

Deadline for receiving items for Community Calendar is 5 p.m. Wednesday for the following week’s Times/News. Events are published based on timeliness and space availability. Email submissions to: hteditor@robinsonnews.com Items can be accepted from nonprofit groups and government agencies only. Others may call Dona Ozier at 206-708-1378 for inclusion in our “Out & About” advertising section.

Christmas Ships
Rainier Youth Choir—Dec. 8. Ships leave Des Moines Marina at 7 p.m. Brown’s Point, 7:55-8:15 p.m. Redondo Beach, 8:50-9:10 p.m. Returns to marina, 9:35 p.m.
Dickens Carolers—Dec. 15. Ships begin at Des Moines waterfront, 7-7:30 p.m. Dash Point, 8:10-8:30 p.m. Return to waterfront, 9:15 p.m.

Call for Artists
Burien Community Center-- Artists working in 2 dimensional media are invited to apply for the 2012 schedule of gallery exhibitions at the Burien Community Center, 14700 6th Ave. S.W. Application materials due by Nov. 30th to ginak@burienwa.gov. For more information: ginak@burienwa.gov, 206-988-3700 or go to www.burienwa.gov.

Events

Young woman dies on I-5
Katerina Valavala, 20, from Des Moines was killed in a crash in Tukwila on Interstate 5 on Nov. 26. Christina Valavala, 16, Marcia Foalima, 17, and El-Desicca Liffiti,17, passengers in the cars, were injured and taken to Harborview Medical Center. Police said Katerina Valavala was driving northbound on I-5 when she missed the exit, turned hard to the right and struck a curb, which made the car overturn. There was no evidence of alcohol or drug use, investigators said.

Rollover crash leaves one dead
A car crash on state Route 599 near Tukwila left one man dead and another seriously injured. A Honda Civic, driven by a 20 year old, was heading north on 599 at about 100 mph when he lost control. The car rolled several times ejecting one passenger about 80 feet away from the car. He was later identified as Terry C. Hang, 22 of Tukwila. Another passenger was seriously injured and taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Hang was later pronounced dead. The driver had minor injuries and was taken into custody for investigation of impaired driving. Alcohol or drugs were believed to be a factor in the crash.

Ballard's Salish Sea Trading Co-op ended its 2011 Community Supported Agriculture season last week with a purchase from Mayor Mike McGinn.

Salish Sea Trading Cooperative, a Ballard non-profit, relies on wind and tide to transport locally produced goods around Puget Sound by sailboat. Their goals are to conserve precious energy resources and re-introduce the idea of sail as everyday transport.

In the spirit of energy conservation, McGinn rode his bike for his vegetable pick-up at Ballard's Aster Coffee Lounge.

The company’s primary program is the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) vegetable box subscription. People can buy a box of organic vegetables from Dharma Ridge Farm on the Olympic Peninsula to support local farmers and the development of sail-based transport. The goods are transported by sailboat to Ballard, where people can pick up their produce.

“From June to November, our six volunteer sailboats sail from Ballard to Port Ludlow, pick up local goods, and sail them back to Ballard,” explained Managing Partner Kathy Pelish.

Emerald City Orchids (ECO), one of the Northwest’s lone orchid growers and distributors, is now going to offer espresso and lunch at their Ballard retail shop. Emerald City Orchids plans to open their new café in mid-December.

Entrepreneur and ECO owner, Joe Grienauer, is looking forward to add a café to the Ballard and Phinney Ridge communities and for his retail customers.

“This is exactly what I imagined,” says Grienauer. “I want to provide a home for orchid lovers to dwell while creating an atmosphere for everyone else to see what orchids are about. There is a culture in the flower and garden community. And believe it or not, there is a culture within the orchid community and we’re certain that if you’re going to find it, it’s right here.”

Lunch served at the Emerald City Orchids Café will include sandwiches and salads from Molly’s. Pastries and desserts will be from Hiroki and coffee and espresso will be from Fremont Coffee Company, offering all local bites and beverages.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish is presenting their 7th annual Tree Lighting and caroling celebration on December at 7:00 P.M.

Each year the event draws hundreds of onlookers to the site near the highest point in the City of Seattle in the High Point neighborhood. The Parish and tree are located at 35th Avenue SW and SW Myrtle St.

They ask that the public bring non-perishable food items to help neighbors in need.

The emcee for the event this year is again Brian Callanan from the Seattle Channel.

Immediately following the tree lighting, the Parish Hall will be open with crafts, cookies and holiday cheer.

Tasha Hicks is new to Evergreen High School. Really new. She just moved here in September from California and now she is the new head coach of the girls’ basketball team. She has only been with the team less about two weeks but in that short time she already has a good rapport and likes what she sees.

So where did she learn the game? Tasha grew up playing basketball at Auburn High School and would graduate in 1999. Because of Tasha’s exceptional talent she earned a full ride basketball scholarship to Weber State. She would play only one year before making a tough decision to leave the program to pursue other interests. She has never lost her love of basketball, so when the opportunity to coach came knocking, she opened the door and answered the call.

Headed south on Delridge Way s.w. on Nov. 28 "The Purple Perry" was pushing himself. His pedicab had no passengers but that was because he was on his way home in West Seattle.

He works for Seattle Purple Cabs. "I have a truck that we run five cabs out of in the downtown area," he said, "and I've got a new electric pedal cab that I'm working right now."

He works the Morgan Junction to the Alaska Junction and points south to north of those areas. He's been in the pedicab business for close to 5 years but this is the first time he's had his own business. He started it on opening day for the Mariners season this year.

With his new electric wheel he can transport people up (and down) hills with less pedal power required. That all depends on the load he's carrying of course. "I tell my guys no more than 600 pounds. That's two cheese eatin' Wisconsinites," he said laughing.

Perry, who is 46 years old pedals nearly all day and, "my legs and cardiovascular system are great but it does nothing for my belly. I got a tire that just won't go away."