November 2011

The Argosy Christmas ships will be back in Ballard this December.

The Argosy Christmas Ship festival is a holiday celebration that has been a Northwest tradition for 62 years. Its main purpose is to bring communities together to celebrate the holiday season.

Each night, the Argosy Christmas Ship sails to different Puget Sound waterfront communities, over 45 in total. Choirs on board sing 20-minute performances to the people onshore On shore who gather around roaring bonfires, hot drinks and treats in anticipation of the ships' arrival.

The Christmas ship will visit the Ballard community twice.

First on Wednesday, Dec 7, the ships will depart at 7 p.m. from Shilshole Bay Marina to the Ballard Locks and on to Golden Gardens.

Later that week, on Sunday, Dec 11, the ships will depart from Pier 55 at 5 p.m. and sail to Carkeek Park and Blue Ridge.

The Dickens Carolers will be performing on the ships.

You can either join us the guests on board of the Christmas Ship™ or one of the Parade ships that follow, or watch from the shore.

It's time to get your pancakes on at the 65th annual West Seattle Kiwanis community pancake breakfast.
Starting at 7am the event helps fund children's cancer research at Seattle Children's Hospital and other Kiwanis Community Services.

It's on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 7am to 11am. at the Alki Masonic Bldg. 4726 40th Ave. SW

Here's what you get:

2 Yummy pancakes, slice of ham, syrup, butter and Orange Juice, Coffee or Tea

You can save some money by getting your tickets early so call or write to them today.
For tickets contact: 206-938-8032 or ewl@westseattle.com

DONATIONS:
$5 before Dec. 2nd
$6 at the door
$3 for kids 12 and under includes free photo with Santa for children 12 and under)

IMPORTANT NOTE:
This is a Toys for Tots event. PLEASE bring a new, packaged, unwrapped toy to donate to a deserving child.

On-street parking is free on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, but drivers must pay for parking on Friday, November 25, and observe time limits and other posted regulations as on any other Friday.

Paid on-street parking ensures that drivers limit the time they occupy parking spaces, making these spaces available to more customers. Access to commercial areas is particularly important on the day after Thanksgiving, traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year. The City wants to ensure that as many people as possible are able to find on-street parking near their destinations.

By Nick Licata, Seattle City Councilmember

On November 14th, the Seattle City Council passed Resolution 31337 which recognized the national grassroots citizen effort being made through the Occupy Movement in seeking solutions for economically distressed Americans at the federal and local levels. I introduced this resolution because the growing imbalance in our nation's wealth demands the attention of the nation's elected representatives.

press release:
The White Center Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its White Center Hero's Awards and Toys for Tots Christmas Luncheon at the Salvation Army, on Tuesday, Dec. 6, from noon until 1:30 pm. The Seattle/White Center Salvation Army is located at 9050 16th Ave. SW.

Annually, the White Center Chamber board recognizes three "White Center Heros" who have gone beyond the call of duty to serve our community. We will also be collecting "Toys for Tots" (new, packaged, unwrapped toy) that will be given to at-risk families. Attendees are asked to make a $10 contribution to the Salvation Army to help cover luncheon food costs.

Guests include King County Council member Joe McDermott, as well as are three White Center Heros who will be recognized, and we will discuss Chamber plans for greater clean up and grafitti removal within the business district and expanded business district marketing in 2012.

White Center Chamber of Commerce
White Center Hero's Award Luncheon and Toys for Tots Drive
Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 (Noon to 1:30)
Salvation Army - 9050 16th Ave. SW
Seattle, WA

Everyone is welcome.

Coming up, Thursday through Sunday, November 24 – 27, the holidays will get off to a fast-moving start with the Seattle Turkey Trot, followed by Macy’s Holiday Parade and the Westlake Tree Lighting Ceremony and several marathons, including the 42nd annual Seattle Marathon.

The events will likely create traffic congestion so motorists should allow for possible delays as they plan their travels. The Seattle Department of Transportation encourages drivers to help reduce their carbon footprint and traffic by trying one of the many alternate modes of travel available such as Metro Transit, riding the Sounder commuter train, taking Link light rail, carpooling, bicycling or even walking, if feasible.

Thursday, November 24

Seattle Turkey Trot: 9 a.m.

Run to benefit Ballard Food Bank assembles on Loyal Way NW between 31st and 32nd Avenue NW

1,500 participating

Run route: From Loyal Way, runners head south on 32nd Avenue NW, west on NW 77th Street; south on 34th Avenue NW; west on NW 57th Street; northwest on 37th Place NW; north on the Burke-Gilman Trail along the east side of Seaview Avenue NW; finishing at Golden Gardens Park.

Press release:

Apple Cup fans heading to the game this weekend are invited to take advantage of a half-price parking discount at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport connecting with Link Light Rail to CenturyLink Field. The offer is valid for game day parking in Terminal Direct at the Sea-Tac Airport garage including Seahawk games and looking ahead to next year as the UW Huskies play their home season at CenturyLink Field.

This weekend the discount covers Saturday's Apple Cup contest between Washington State University and the University or Washington, as well as Sunday's Seahawk contest versus the Redskins.

Terminal Direct parking at Sea-Tac Airport offers the most convenient access to the airport terminal and quick connection to Link Light Rail. You'll park on the fourth floor of the airport garage, an easy walk to the pedestrian bridge leading to the SeaTac/Airport Station.

When most people think of Christmas, they can't help of think of the Charles Dickens classic 'A Christmas Carol' (I'm fond of the 1940s black and white television version myself), and how little Tiny Tim's plight always makes one cry.

Well, put aside that august version (whether the multiple television remakes, or local, live productions), and get ready to have your laugh buttons pushed to the max with Burien Little Theatre's 'Inspecting Carol,' a hilarious play-within-a-play about a plucky and quirky theatre company that runs into all sorts of obstacles in their attempt to resurrect not only the classic, but the financially broke theatre itself.

PLEASE CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE FOR MORE.

Their 'Scrooge' (played with deft whimsy by Russ Kay (BLT's 'Frankenstein'), is a bit of a diva, who likes to put forth his political views (in this case, the plight of third world peoples, particularly Latin ones) through his role, much to the chagrin of the company's leader, Zora (a delightful, and sweetly naughty Yvette Zaepfel.) Every other member of the company, also, has some sort of problem or complaint; making getting the production staged a comedy of errors.

There has been enough turnover in Burien’s key government positions over the past year that some people started asking the usual questions, from “Why are they leaving?” to “With all this turnover, how much is city productivity hindered?”

Some specific examples of people leaving include the retirement of economic development manager Dick Loman (replaced by Issaquah’s EDM Dan Trimble), public works director Larry Blanchard (recently replaced by Maiya Andrews) and a shift for Burien’s management analyst Jenn Ramirez Robson to the interim director for New Futures. The vacant analyst position was filled last month by Nhan Nguyen – formerly of the White Center Community Development Association.

As to why people left their positions (or were asked to leave), there are laws protecting them from having those reasons aired publically, and Burien City Manager Mike Martin said he holds tight to that guideline.

In terms of productivity when Burien has a vacant position, Martin said, “You just make due, that’s what you do.”

“We are a small organization,” he said of the Burien government, “so when you have leadership positions leave, it creates a vacuum that needs to be filled.”

South Seattle Community College recognized the Huling family of West Seattle in June of 2010 for their more than 30 years of support by naming an expanded and remodeled automotive technology training facility in their honor. The new center and its equipment mean that students work with tools that closely match current industry standards.

On Tuesday November 29 at 11 am the Hulings will be honored in a ceremony, to unveil the new sign that officially designates the future Steve and Sharon Huling Automotive Center. No information on when the construction of the actual facility will begin was provided.

“We deeply appreciate the Hulings for their generous, long-time support of the college,” said Jill Wakefield, chancellor of the Seattle Community Colleges and former South president. “Their on-going partnership with the college has resulted in nearly $2 million in equipment, funds, and other support, which has advanced and improved the training opportunities for our automotive students.”