November 2011

Westcrest Park was a beehive of volunteer activity on Nov. 5 as more than 130 people swarmed the woods all in support of the Green Seattle Day. The sixth annual event kicked off the restoration planting season with the aim of reversing the decline of the tree canopy.

Volunteers across the city from Magnuson Park to West Duwamish Greenbelt planted over 5000 native trees and shrubs, removed invasive plant species such as English ivy and Himalayan blackberry, and otherwise tended to the environment in our urban green spaces.

CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE MORE

Volunteers were welcomed by Green Seattle Partnership Executive Council members Gene Duvernoy, President of Forterra (formerly Cascade Land Conservancy) and Christopher Williams, Acting Superintendent of Seattle Parks.

By Steve Shay

Next time you're heading to Endolyne Joe's or the Original Bakery in West Seattle you may observe some interesting modeling going on around the corner inside the Gail Ann Photography Studio, 4507 Wildwood Pl. And, in this case, nobody is clicking a picture.

That's because Laura Marie Twedt-Leith of Arbor Heights shares the studio where she layers medical grade plaster of paris bandage rolls mixed with warm water on to the bellies or entire torsos of pregnant women. When the plaster dries and is removed, a form is created and made into an art piece, either a finished, painted plaster sculpture, or used as a form for a porcelain belly bowl.

Her business, Belli Vita, is, you might say, expanding, with plenty of womb to grow. Laura Marie, as she likes to be called, was recently contacted by Bravo-TV's "Pregnant in Heels". According to its website, "'Pregnant in Heels' is a docu-drama that follows maternity concierge, fashion designer, and pregnancy guru Rosie Pope as she guides expecting mothers through the joys and perils of preparing to have a baby." Sounds like a perfect fit for Belli Vita.

Stuffed Cakes at 9003 35th s.w. (near 35th and Hendrson) held a Grand Opening on Saturday, Nov. 5 but they've been part of West Seattle for more than a year. They make custom cakes, cupcakes and more, specializing in birthdays and weddings but the company grew out the owner's love of making cakes. It's often said you should do what you love and in this case it's working out well.

Owner Donna Lawson explained how the company got started.

"I was a professional graphic designer for 16 years and I got laid off and I came to a fork in the road as to what I wanted to do. I'd always made cakes and cupcakes for all my friends and family and they always told me they were the best and that I should do something with it. I took a few Wilton classes to refresh myself and that was a year ago last summer. In September, 2010 I started Stuffed Cakes. I was in a rental kitchen near the YMCA and business has just been taking off and growing and growing.

King County Sheriff Sue Rahr recently said the budgetary battle to reinstate White Center’s storefront deputy was a tall order, but victorious due in large part to the vocal community pleading for his or her return.

On Nov. 3 Deputy BJ Myers was officially introduced at the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting as White Center’s new officer dedicated to reducing crime and acting as a sounding board for community safety concerns (although he has already been on the job for three weeks).

King County Captain Joseph Hodgson introduced the new deputy who has two military deployments, a bachelor degree in political science (with a masters in policy studies in the works) and four years of KCSO experience under his belt.

“He is a well-respected, high-performing deputy,” Capt. Hodgson said, “and as we worked through the selection process the thing that probably impressed us most about him was his very wide perspective on White Center. We had a number of deputies who came in and talked about crime fighting and some of the more traditional law enforcement functions we have.

The Costco initiative

We like Costco. It's fun to go there and head for the Promised Land of Consumerism like so many Sooners. Our wagons are uncovered, but when the doors open at Costco, the rush is on to get as many products as we can, like a 500-pack of paper plates, or a 20-pack of double-A batteries, some $14 dress shirts and a tub of red licorice. And a big screen TV. And a huge apple pie. And an above-ground pool. And that's just one basket.

We don't like the liquor initiative Costco is attempting to get us to support. On the surface, there is something fundamentally unseemly about the $22,000,000 they have spent on advertising in support of a law that would allow them to sell hard liquor in their big box stores. And take that practice away from state liquor stores. Does it bother you that a company has the kind of money Costco has thrown at this change in the law to help people get drunk less expensively, rather than some more socially beneficial use of the money?

At the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council hearing on Nov. 3, Burien City Manager Mike Martin presented his monthly status report to the group.

Annexation
Martin said Governor Gregoire’s proposed cut to the sales tax credit for cities annexing unincorporated areas is not as simple as media has reported.

“She is proposing to eliminate the present and future tax credit,” Martin said. “It is a proposal that relies on changing the law through legislation. That seems to be lost on a lot of people; there is a whole legislative process, a gauntlet that must be surmounted to actually do this.”

“That’s not to say that it isn’t very serious when the Governor proposes something like this, but I wanted to make clear that it is by no means a slam dunk,” he continued.

Martin said he recently held a conference call with several other cities who have or plan to annex unincorporated areas. Burien falls into both categories with the annexation of Boulevard Park in 2010 and plans for the rest of North Highline. He said 120 cities, including Burien, have signed and sent a letter telling the Governor they are “mildly disappointed” in her proposal.

At the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council hearing on Nov. 3, Burien City Manager Mike Martin presented his monthly status report to the group.

Annexation
Martin said Governor Gregoire’s proposed cut to the sales tax credit for cities annexing unincorporated areas is not as simple as media has reported.

“She is proposing to eliminate the present and future tax credit,” Martin said. “It is a proposal that relies on changing the law through legislation. That seems to be lost on a lot of people; there is a whole legislative process, a gauntlet that must be surmounted to actually do this.”

“That’s not to say that it isn’t very serious when the Governor proposes something like this, but I wanted to make clear that it is by no means a slam dunk,” he continued.

Martin said he recently held a conference call with several other cities who have or plan to annex unincorporated areas. Burien falls into both categories with the annexation of Boulevard Park in 2010 and plans for the rest of North Highline. He said 120 cities, including Burien, have signed and sent a letter telling the Governor they are “mildly disappointed” in her proposal.

The young woman who died in a Des Moines shooting in the early hours of Nov. 5 has been identified as 19-year-old Jayme Thomas.

The Chase Bank branch on Marine View Dr. S. in Des Moines confirmed that a memorial fund has been set up for Jayme. Anyone interested can bring cash or a check to any Chase branch and let them know you would like to donate to "The Memorial Fund for Jayme Thomas Donation Account."

A memorial service for Jayme Leilani Thomas is scheduled for the following day, time and location according to a Facebook events page:

Saturday, Nov. 12, 1pm to 8pm

Mount Rainier High School
22450 19th Ave South
Des Moines, WA

Additional information:
We will have a section where friends and family can post pictures you have of yourself and Jayme. Please bring a copy of any pictures you would like to share.

The Memorial Fund for Jayme Thomas is set up at Chase Bank. Donations can be made at any branch.

Unlike some homeowners, when West Seattle-based Global Diving & Salvage is underwater, that means business is good. With 300 employees the company casts a wide net with locations in Richmond and Rio Vista, Ca., Houston, Tx., Anchorage, Ak., and 3840 West Marginal Way, in West Seattle, in addition to project sites spanning from New York State to the Gulf of Mexico to Honolulu.

"We're fortunate to be insulated from the (struggling) economy in that we do a lot of infrastructure work," explained Global Diving Marketing Manager Frank Immel. "You can put off maintenance, but only for so long."

Employees belong to the Carpenters Union. Their West Seattle facilities include their core office, warehouse, fabrication facility, storage yard, and environmental division.

Global sent a team to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf with response gear. They were also part of the ASARCO Smelter remediation project in Tacoma last year,and dug contaminated dirt out of yards, put in clean dirt, and are doing a similar project now in Saipan.

Immel completed the Highline Community College two-year diving program they offered in the early 1980's, but does not dive for the company.

UPDATE:

Appointments still available Tuseday at Curious Kidstuff:

Celebrity silhouette scissor artist Karl Johnson returns, Nov. 15, to Curious Kidstuff, 4740 California Ave. SW.
(206) 937-8788

The West Seattle Herald reported on Johnson last April when he was in town here.

Back then he had just appeared at the wedding of Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth to cut his creations for the guests. Last week Johnson did silhouettes at Grey's Anatomy start Sarah Drew's recent baby shower in Brentwood. The party took place at the mansion that is featured in the hit TV show Modern Family.

He will be appearing at 4 Seattle area locations. Please call each store to book your appointment. It only takes five minutes.

This is his upcoming Seattle schedule:

Saturday, November 12th.
Lollipop Children's Boutique
Bainbridge Island
(206) 780-9012

Sunday, November 13th.
Mockingbird Books
7220 Woodlawn Ave. NE
Seattle, WA
(206) 518-5886

Tuesday, November 15th.
Curious Kidstuff
4740 California Ave. SW