February 2012

Press release:
Burien Little Theatre presents the electrifying rock opera The Who’s Tommy, written by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff, opening Feb. 17. The show features a live rock band backing singing and dancing actors, plus such legendary hits by the rock band The Who as Pinball Wizard and See Me, Feel Me.

The Who’s Tommy explores rebellion, finding yourself, and the perils of celebrity. Childhood trauma renders Tommy Walker deaf, mute and blind. He finds solace through his uncanny pinball prowess, becoming a pinball superstar and messianic hero.

Music and lyrics for The Who’s Tommy were written by Pete Townshend, the book was written by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff, and additional music and lyrics were written by John Entwistle and Keith Moon. The Who’s Tommy was originally produced on Broadway by Pace Theatrical Group and Dodger Productions with Kardana Productions.

The Who’s Tommy will be performed at Burien Little Theatre from opening night on Feb. 17 through March 25. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Update for Feb. 23
All four suspects in the Feb. 9 armed robbery of a jewelry/grocery store on the 9400 block of 16th Ave S.W. (on the Seattle side of White Center) have been arrested as of Feb. 22, according to Seattle Police.

Here are the details from Det. Mark Jamieson with SPD:
On February 9th, four suspects entered a grocery/jewlery store in the 9400 Block of 16th Avenue SW and robbed the employee at gunpoint. The suspects then fled the scene. Officers and Robbery Unit detectives responded to the scene and began their investigation. During the course of the investigation, detectives developed information about the suspects. On February 16th, detectives contacted one of the suspects at his residence and took him into custody. After being interviewed by detectives, that suspect, age 17, was booked into the Youth Services Center (YSC) for Investigation of Robbery.

On February 17th, another suspect was located by detectives and taken into custody. That 18 year old suspect was later booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Robbery.

Burien City Council meetings will remain on Monday nights as they have for more than 10 years.

At the recent council retreat, lawmakers talked about changing the meeting day to accommodate city staff.

However, at the Feb. 6 regular council meeting, City Manager Mike Martin said staff members appreciated the lawmakers’ concerns but “respectfully, I ask that you drop (the idea) unless council has strong feelings about it.”

Councilman Jack Block Jr. noted, “This brouhaha is my fault.”
He said he believes that bad government begins with complacency so lawmakers should always explore new ways to serve the public. Block said that he felt that after having a weekend off, it might be burdensome for staff members to have a long day on Monday attending the evening council meetings.

After Martin requested the matter be dropped, Block said, “I would just as soon withdraw it.”

Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak said her public service commitments on other nights would preclude her from attending council meetings on another day.
Council members also approved unanimously a revised letter to legislators supporting the state Marriage Equality Act.

West Seattle Nursery is part of the Northwest Flower and Garden show again this year, running through Feb. 12 and have designed, built and installed an asian influenced garden display called Satori.

The show's theme this year is Floral Symphony and lead designers Jennifer Gaikowski and Jeannine James, working with WS Nursery Manager Marcia Bruno and Dave Storms built a kind of house with statues, plants, and a musical basin. Inside the basin or large fountain base float candles that when they strike one another or the edge create a gentle bell like sound.

Bruno said, "We wanted it to be a little rustic, so it looked like a Japanese Tea House. It's not raining inside the building but we put a rain chain there which would make sound if there were water on it. We tried to make it tranquil."

Storms spent about two weeks on the construction elements.

All the items in the display are available for sale at the store, except the tea house.

"We kept adding things to the display until it got really full!," said Bruno with a laugh.

Walkable communities promotion organization Feet First will be distributing 1000 free Neighborhoods on Foot White Center walking maps door-to-door throughout the community on Saturday, Feb. 11. According to Feet First the maps have been known to increase foot traffic in business districts, build understanding of walking and transit routes, bolster neighborhood identity, and raise awareness of vital community resources.

White Center Free Map Distribution
Saturday, February 11th, 2012
12:00pm to 2:00pm

If you do not receive a map and would like one, please contact Feet First by calling 206-652-2310 ext. 5 to have one mailed directly to you. This distribution is made possible by community partners Seattle Works, King County Parks and Recreation, and the White Center Community Development Association. For more information contact Volunteer Coordinator, Darcy Edmunds by emailing darcy@feetfirst.org or calling 206-652-2310 ext. 5.

If you'd like to see the map in electronic form the link is here.

Press release from Burien Parks:

We are happy to announce the winners of the “best soups” from the 7th annual Burien Empty Bowls event. Over 100 gallons of wonderful soup were served at the fundraiser for the Highline and White Center Food Banks, and we so appreciate the generosity of our local businesses! Dana and John Lasswell, our amazing volunteer kitchen managers, tasted all the soups and used a ratings system borrowed from a New York food critic. They gave us this report:

The results are in!!! This year's Empty Bowls best soup winner is Elliott Bay Brewing Company for their Habanera Beef Chili! They received 92 points out of a possible 100! Big chunks of perfectly cooked beef, full flavored spice, and a hint of beer! Superb!

White Center’s new restaurant “Company” deserves an honorable mention for coming in 2nd place with their very first contribution to Empty Bowls. Their potato leek with bacon soup came in strong with a rating of 89.5 points and nearly perfect marks for flavor!

UPDATE:

The Seattle Department of Transportation has approved Starbucks' application for a Sidewalk Café permit accessory to its new corner location on 22nd Avenue NW and NW Market Street.

The approved dimensions for the Sidewalk Café are 6.5 ft. by 33 ft. for a total 215 sq. ft.

People can request a decision review or reconsideration of the SDOT Decision
by writing to the Director of Transportation. The request must identify the application number (171490), grounds for objecting to the decision based on City standards, and the specific remedy being proposed.

Visit http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ for more information.

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Starbucks looking to add sidewalk café at new Market Street location
2012-02-09

Starbucks Coffee Company has submitted an application for a sidewalk café permit for its new corner location on 2200 NW Market Street.

Former Ballard News-Tribune reporter, Dean Wong, will be honored with the International Examiner's lifetime achievement award.

Since 1991, the International Examiner has recognized outstanding leaders and unsung heroes in the Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

A life-long community photo-journalist, Wong is being recognized for actively working towards uplifting and raising awareness of the local API community.

"I've always felt my role as a journalist was to help the community in any way that I can," Wong said.

His work has been much appreciated by the community and during his eight years at the Ballard News-Tribune, Wong's work was recognized by the Lions Club, Ballard Elks and Ballard High School.

Wong is currently working on a novel totled "Little Three Grand", a crime novel which takes place in Seattle’s Chinatown in 1965, a period in which illegal gambling was tolerated because police took bribes to look the other way.

By Ian Tyson and Anne-Marije Rook

In its annual meeting, the Ballard Chamber of Commerce announced Seafood Fest 2012 is on, and discussed its vision for the future of the neighborhood’s business district.

'We are currently investigating efficiencies and partnerships that would lessen the workload of SeafoodFest for our organization, particularly its staff. In doing so, we also are being very careful to maintain the community nature and flavor of the festival. SeafoodFest will continue to be a reflection of Ballard and its heritage," said Beth Miller, the Chamber's Executive Director.

Though some smaller chamber-sponsored community events may be cancelled over funding concerns, more money will be spent creating a stronger marketing presence for the neighborhood.

"We are in the middle of our visioning process," said Chamber president Michelle Rosenthal. "We are trying to figure out who we are, what our role is, and what people want."

By Amy Smith, UW News Lab

For the second year in a row, Bherd Studios and Tasty Delectable Collectibles will be exhibiting an all-women-artists art show beginning Friday, Feb. 10.

Titled "Pretty, Sexy, Dirty Girly", the exhibit features 20 artists from around the Pacific Northwest at the two galleries, which are located only a few blocks apart from each other on Greenwood Avenue.

The “Girls Gone Wild” show, at Tasty, will showcase artwork in a variety of materials and mediums, said Sheri Hauser, owner of Tasty and curator of the show.

“I’ve got an artist that uses skate decks—broken skate board pieces. I’ve got an artist that paints on cabinet doors,” she said. Another artist, Sarah Chambers, paints in glitter, a medium Hauser calls “unusual.”

Down the street at Bherd Studios (pronounced “be heard”), the exhibit will also display a wide range of art mediums, including a video installation and live performances on opening night.