June 2012

I've had a lot of dogs.

Mac was an Australian shepherd I had when I was a teenager. Skipper was a beautiful collie. Tessie was our dachshund for 17 years.

And Richard Tiger was a dog we got for son Tim at the dog pound. He was a wonderful spaniel (Richard, not Tim); I'd rent him from Tim for bird hunting. He charged me fifty cents.

The dog that stands out the most, however, was Charlie Brown. Charlie was a basset hound I got as a gift from my wife.

"They told me that bassets have good noses," she said.

Charlie was supposed to be my hunting companion. But, after one pheasant hunt in which I had to break trail through the beet fields, I gave up on him.

Basset hounds are ungainly, saggy, baggy and undisciplined. They require constant attention. Nobody owns a basset; they own you.

No fence can hold one in. Originally bred to hunt rabbits in Europe, they go off to find a new, more attentive patron once you stop petting them.

Seven panels along the south wall of S.W. 107th St. between 16th Ave S.W. and 17th Ave S.W. beckon any and all street artists for the White Center Chamber of Commerce's Mural Contest.

The fine print is below, but in a nutshell, there are seven panels artists can use as their canvas. Once your mural is done, snap a photo of yourself next to it, because the next day (or hour) someone else might swoop in and paint over your work.

The Chamber asks that all work be "respectful and family-oriented."

All murals documented with a photo and sent to the Chamber will be entered into the contest throughout the summer, and the winner gets $100 in September and the opportunity to create a larger mural in the neighborhood.

Get ready to see the western-most panels of the 107th wall change like a kaleidoscope.

Contest Rules from Mark Ufkes, president of WC Chamber of Commerce
Choose one of seven numbered panels, paint your mural on it (the mural must be respectful and family-oriented), take a picture with you standing next to your mural, date it, and email it to markufkes@comcast.net.

Seaway Marine on Harbor Avenue is a place many people drive by on the way to Alki Beach but it is where owner Greg Jacobsen is readying a series of boats that will for the first time, take part in some likely thrilling boat racing during Seafair August 3 -5.

Jacobsen is carrying on a family tradition, established by his father Bob Jacobsen by developing and racing Formula 1 or F1 race boats and taking part in the F1-PROP tour. Drivers will compete in the Graham Trucking Cup. These sleek craft differ from unlimited hydroplanes in that they can turn left and right (unlimited boats can only turn left) and they race much closer to shore, as close as 75 feet. These boats are also referred to as tunnel boats since they have a 2 primary points of contact with the water and a central tunnel in their hull. They race far more boats than unlimiteds do with 12 set to compete during Seafair. Boats first qualify for lane positions then race, in a series of heats to determine the winner.

SLIDESHOW, Click on photo for more

Over 600 students assembled in the Midway Elementary School gym Tuesday afternoon to enjoy three professional entertainers who brought puppets, jump ropes, and an assortment of magic wands. But they had something more up their sleeves, an important message to share. They explained that their interest in entertainment was sparked, and their talents developed thanks to reading books.

The entertainers included magician, juggler, and inventor Louie Foxx from Des Moines. The Highline Times featured his recent Tin Theater performance here.

Louie's daughter, Midway School second-grader Ella even got into the act, assisting Dad and wooing their pet rat, Daisy, into standing on its hind legs and doing a rope trick to the delight of her schoolmates. Her stage name is "Miss Ella", and she seemed to love the attention and work the crowd like the best of them.

Fifty years ago, Seattle welcomed the statue of Leif Erikson to Shilshole Marina on Norway Day at the Seattle World’s Fair. 

On Sunday, the Port and Leif Erikson International Foundation (LEIF) celebrated the statue's 50th anniversary with various events from noon until 3 p.m.

"The statue of Leif Erikson, the first recorded European to set foot on American shores, symbolizes the journey that our immigrant forebearers made to this country. Whether we're Swedish-, Norwegian-, Danish-, Finnish- or Icelandic-Americans, we're descended from courageous, risk-taking people who came to America to find a better future for the generations who would follow," said Kristine Leander, Executive Director of the Swedish Cultural Center and president of the LEIF. "I believe that it still resonates for us today, just as it did 50 years ago."

The public was invited to leave a mark by signing a book and offer comments about the statue, about Shilshole Bay Marina, or the immigrants whose names are inscribed on the runic-like stones around the plaza. LEIF will incorporate the signatures and comments into a book that will be presented to the Nordic Heritage Museum. 

A new charity project for the West Seattle Eagle’s Auxiliary is coming next November. The heritage "Pumpkin Pie Project" will be headed up by Diane Niemi in honor of her mother. Pumpkin pies, based on a recipe given to her by her mother, will be made for thanksgiving and sold with the proceeds going to Alzheimer’s and Dementia research.

According to the Eagles, "This is a delicious pumpkin pie that Diane’s mother taught her when Diane was only 9 years old and has been making ever since. The recipe was taught to Diane’s mother by her grandmother, making this a heritage recipe (Diane’s mother is now 90)."

There will be free samples at the West Seattle Eagles Beer Garden during West Seattle Summerfest this July 13, 14 and 15th.

Take the family on a Father’s Day bike ride on the second Burien Bike SaFaRi of 2012, Sunday, June 17.

The ride will follow a quiet, flat, 3.5 mile loop that connects Burien’s Town Square with several parks, community spaces, and schools to the north.
A lot of locals enjoy strolling along the nice, wide sidewalks along 4th Avenue SW, but fewer folks have discovered some of the quiet streets – such as 6th Avenue SW – that serve as safe, pleasant north-south connectors for people walking or bicycling to school, parks, the community center or downtown Burien.

SaFaRi bike riders will meet up at 2:00 pm and begin the ride at the grassy knoll in the middle of Burien Town Square. With playground stops for kids, plan to be back at Town Square by 3:30pm, just in time to get the charcoal started for that Father’s Day BBQ!

Burien’s Wild Strawberry Festival will be going on at the same time. Ride your bikes up to the Festival, take a break for a Bike SaFaRi, then finish off back at the Festival.

The No. 37 hydroplane owned by legendary Billy Schumacher will be unveiled to the public on Thursday June 14 as it departs the South Seattle Community College campus at 2 pm. Owner Billy Schumacher, former driver, will be on hand.

Automotive Collision Repair students at the college have given the race boat a complete make-over, including stripping the old paint, and applying the new color and clear coat. Heavy Duty Diesel and Automotive Technology students have performed major maintenance on the truck that will tow the boat for the 2012 racing season.

The No. 37 is owned by legendary Billy Schumacher (“Billy the Kid”), the former unlimited champion driver who won 17 races from 1967-1976, and is perhaps best known for his unprecedented string of wins with the Miss Bardahl team.

Schumacher Racing has paid a shop fee and materials costs for the student project. You can learn more about them on their Facebook page here

SLIDESHOW, Click on photo for more

Over 600 students assembled in the Midway Elementary School gym Tuesday afternoon to enjoy three professional entertainers who brought puppets, jump ropes, and an assortment of magic wands. But they had something more up their sleeves, an important message to share. They explained that their interest in entertainment was sparked, and their talents developed thanks to reading books.

The entertainers included magician, juggler, and inventor Louie Foxx from Des Moines. The Highline Times featured his recent Tin Theater performance here.

Louie's daughter, Midway School second-grader Ella even got into the act, assisting Dad and wooing their pet rat, Daisy, into standing on its hind legs and doing a rope trick to the delight of her schoolmates. Her stage name is "Miss Ella", and she seemed to love the attention and work the crowd like the best of them.

Information from Det. Mark Jamieson, Seattle Police Department

Last night (June 12) at around 8:30 pm, Southwest Precinct officers responded to a “shots fired” call in the 8100 Block of 9th Avenue Southwest. The call stated that a neighbor heard three gun shots and then a car speeding away. Officers arrived and contacted a resident.

He told officers that he was alone in the house sleeping when he heard a noise at the front door, followed by a loud crash at the back door of the house. The victim walked out of the front door to investigate, and he saw three Asian males, and a black male, all in their teens, running from behind his house. The victim told officers that he yelled at them.

One of the males turned around and pointed his arm at the victim. The victim stated that he could not actually see a gun, but saw 2-3 flashes and heard gun shots. According to the victim, the group of teens then ran southbound on 9th Ave SW and then west on SW Thistle Street.