January 2012

Hundreds of Seattleites dove towards a refreshing start to the new year on January 1, including two dozen plungers at the Ballard Elks club.

While New Year's Day dives took place at various locations in the city, at the Ballard Elks Club, members were plunging for pledges.

Following the success of last year's fundraiser, the Ballard Elks hosted its second annual Pledge or Plunge to raise money for Elk Charities.

The number of participants doubled from last year, with around 20 plungers. The Elks Charities to benefit from the fundraiser include:

- The Washington State Thereapy Program

Washington Elks Therapy Program for Children provides occupational and physical therapy services to children with developmental delays or physical disabilities. These services are provided under the direction of a physician and at no cost to the families. Priority is given to infants and young children who would otherwise go without services due to lack of resources, transportation, and health status. Services are provided in the home with the parent/guardian present

- Childrens Hospital

- Veterans

Kids and kids at heart were changing out of their jammies and into their swim suits (or costumes) on New Year's morning to take the 12th Annual Polar Bear Plunge across the street from Dukes on Alki at 10:00 a.m. While the South Pole hit a balmy 9.9 degrees on Christmas Day, a record, it was solidly in the low 40's here, on Alki this morning.

Well over one hundred people showed up for the event this year all in various states of readiness with some clearly not having gone to bed from the night before. With the water temperature at 48 degrees it was warmer in the water than out. Still it takes grit, courage and a good warm towel for most participants.

It could have been called a polar/solar swim as plenty of sunshine donated to the cause as people greeted the new year with an invigorating dip.

Photographers David Rosen and Kimberly Robinson chose two different vantage points in West Seattle to see and photograph the annual New Year's fireworks show at the Space Needle.

Rosen was down near Salty's on Alki with approximately 200 people between there and Seacrest (with many more watching from elsewhere) and was asked to "try something experimental" while Robinson shot her photos from the Myrtle Reservoir Park where a group of about 40 people came to the viewpoint to enjoy the spectacle.

Rosen's experimental photo was shot in Bulb mode, set at f8 using a Canon 7D camera. Using a wired remote he shot a 13 second exposure turning the camera 360 degrees to create amazing light streaks.

Up at High Point Rosaline Dacanay and Jerry Purnell (due to be married in March) thought the show was "better than last year". They come up every year from Los Angeles for the holidays (though they are both originally from West Seattle). They acknowledged that L.A. doesn't have anything like the Space Needle show. "We both come up here a lot. We like Seattle," said Dacanay.

To see a larger version of the photo above click the link at upper right.