July 2012

The 30th annual West Seattle summer celebration that began as a sidewalk sale has morphed into a full blown summer festival dubbed Summerfest is on now through Sunday July 15.
Vendors, booths, food, fun, education, art and music are all blended together in a 3 day pastiche of engagement for the whole family.

The event this year will feature GreenLife, a sustainability and garden expo, sponsored by the West Seattle Nursery and Sustainable West Seattle. Also new this year is Art Dive! a communal area coordinated by the Twilight Artists Collective where dozens of local artists will be displaying their work.

CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS

More than 150 vendors, from food booths to major companies will line up on California Ave. s.w. from Oregon Street to Edmunds Street s.w. selling everything from clothing and candles to cellphones and jewelry.
Local restaurants will have designated street side cafe areas set up to serve visitors including West 5, Elliott Bay Brew Pub, Bang Bar, Sugar Rush Baking Company (Coffee to a tea), and others.

Entertainment (see below) will happen all weekend on two stages. 28 musical acts are scheduled.

Press release:

Enjoy the all-too-fleeting summer with outdoor entertainment at the Olde Burien Block Party on Saturday, July 21 from noon to midnight.

Olde Burien will be packed with live music, outside dining and drinking, sausage-eating contest, $500 shopping spree and more. The event is the Olde Burien Retail Group’s way of thanking customers and community for their support.

To be entered into the drawing for a $500 Olde Burien shopping spree, just make purchases at participating businesses that day. What better time to explore the latest offerings of Olde Burien shops and take advantage of spectacular store specials.

Take in a variety of live entertainment while enjoying expanded outdoor dining and drinking provided by Olde Burien eateries:
12-12:50 p.m. – Darrell Data (rock to jazz)
1-1:50 p.m. – Ian Ayers
2-2:30 p.m. - Fashion Show (see the latest looks)
2:30-3:30 p.m. – Tupelo (California country rock)
4-4:30 p.m. – Sausage-Eating Contest
4:30-5:30 p.m. – Pink Torpedoes (classic rock and dance music)
6-7 p.m. – Pat Riefflen (guitar blend of many genres)
7:30-9 p.m.- West Side Sally (rock and blues)
9:30-11 p.m. - Burien City Ballbangers (hard rock)

Washington State Republican gubernatorial candidate, Attorney General Rob McKenna shared some thoughts with Robinson Newspapers on his campaign run. Last week we featured his opponent, Democrat Jay Inslee, former 1st District Congressman. Each wants to replace Governor Chris Gregoire, who retires at year's end.

McKenna, 49, was born in Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, the son of Robert, a career Army soldier and a schoolteacher, and Bonnie Jean (Olson). Rob served as student body president at the University of Washington where he graduated and then earned his law degree at the University of Chicago. He and his wife Marilyn then moved to Bellevue. They have four children.

McKenna was a three-term King County Council member beginning in 1995, and won his first of two terms as Attorney General in 2004. He was re-elected in '08 with 59.5 percent of the vote. His counterparts elected him President of the National Association of Attorneys General.

Believes he appeals to both parties

After a day of hiking with friends near the Wenatchee River in Leavenworth, 42-year-old West Seattle resident Monty Carter waded out into an eddy to cool off around 5:30 p.m. on July 8.

His friends later told Chelan County Police Carter started yelling for help but went underwater before they could get to him. 35 minutes later, rescuers found his body five feet underwater very close to where he disappeared, according to The Wenatchee World.

“It is a terrible tragedy that someone so kind and talented should slip from our grasp at such a young age,” Paul Dolejsi, pastoral assistant for music at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in West Seattle said of his friend and former colleague. “He will be greatly missed.”

Dolejsi said Carter, a gifted musician from an early age, was his principal accompanist at Holy Rosary from 2001 to 2006.

By Cassandra Baker

8:30 p.m. on July 9th. 101st block of Aurora Ave N

A passerby called police after discovering a dead man lying face down in the grass in a vacant lot behind a Chinese restaurant. Seattle Fire responded and confirmed the death of the victim, a 45-year-old male. Homicide Detectives responded to the scene but found no evidence of foul play. Autopsy results were pending at last report.

12:41 a.m. on July 8th. 95th block of 6th Ave NW

A man went to investigate after hearing strange popping noises outside his house shortly after midnight on July 8th. He saw shots from what appeared to be a pellet gun coming out of a white Lexus SUV and hitting his neighbor’s house. When the victim yelled at the occupant of the vehicle, an unknown male burst out from the passenger side and began shooting at the victim. The victim was shot twice in the chest before he was able to get inside his house, and the pellets left red marks.

I plan to enter SeafoodFest's lutefisk eating competition tomorrow, July 14. Think you got what it takes to beat me? Well, you're probably right.

The competition takes place at Bergen Place Park, 1 p.m. Cash prizes go to those who "rise above the others" according to the website. Winners are those who can stomach 3 and 1/4 pounds of lutefisk.

Much to the dismay of some Scandinavian-blooded people I know, I have never had lutefisk. Frankly, the look and texture of it scare me. So I expect to lose, sorely.

But it will be fun, I think. So join me!

By Seattle Police Department

Golden Gardens is one of Seattle’s premier parks, especially in the summer months. The Seattle Police Department, in cooperation with the Seattle Parks Dept., is dedicated to making Golden Gardens Park a safe place for all to enjoy.

The Seattle Police Department would like to take this time to remind park goers of some rules and regulations that are in effect for Golden Gardens:

Alcohol

First and foremost, the park has a strict no alcohol policy. Alcohol of any kind is prohibited in the park. Alcohol consumption largely contributes to the amount of violence and disturbances in the park. Alcohol fueled fights and disturbances negatively impact the enjoyment of the park for all citizens. Citizens found in possession of alcohol may be subject to a citation, fines and possible exclusion from the park.

Fires

Beach fires are only allowed in the metal fire rings provided by Parks Dept. rule. Beach fires are prohibited in any other part of the park. Please only burn clean wood in approved fire rings. Violations for illegal fires may be in the form of fines or exclusion from the park.

The city of Des Moines held the grand opening of its Beach Park Auditorium with a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, July 11.

Located in the city’s Beach Park, the facility is available to the public to rent for private events including weddings, reunions, company events and trainings.

The auditorium is 3,700 square feet with an 18’ X 25’ built in stage and tiled patio. The facility can accommodate up to 500 people with reception seating.

It boasts stained glass windows, cathedral ceiling and exposed Pacific Northwest-style wood beams.

Des Moines Mayor Dave Kaplan and King County Executive Dow Constantine led dignitaries in cutting the ribbon to officially open the facility.

The restoration of the auditorium is part of the city’s rehabilitation of the Beach Park National Historic Site.

The park is considered the birthplace of Des Moines. Settlement of the Des Moines area began there in the 1800s. There is evidence Native Americans used the site before then.

Since settlement, the site has had a very colorful history. It was one of the early European-American settlements along the shores of Puget Sound.

Fallout from a bitter SeaTac City Council election last fall remained Tuesday, July 10 as lawmakers voted on confirmation of the mayoral appointment of two alternates to a citizen’s advisory board.

Judith Williams was confirmed unanimously as Human Services Advisory Committee alternate.

However, the appointment of former city council candidate Othman Heibe to the same committee caused more controversy. He was eventually confirmed on a 4-3 vote.

A lengthy back-story is behind what is usually a routine vote on confirming residents who volunteer to serve on committees.

Back on Sept. 13, Heibe, who had lost a council primary race, accused then-Deputy Mayor Gene Fisher of violating the state code of ethics by using a city computer to support a candidate.

Heibe said Fisher sent an email accusing Councilwoman Mia Gregerson and King County Councilwoman Julia Patterson of using “Heibe as a “pawn.”

The email also contained an attachment apparently from Heibe’s campaign materials accusing Planning Commissioner Daryl Tapio of planning to close down Bow Lake Mobile Homes Park. The material also said Tapio was heavily funding a campaign for an elected mayor proposition.

by Furry Faces Foundation

The Problem
Did you know that only 2 -3 % of unidentified, lost cats are reunited with their people? That the unidentified, lost dog reunite rate is only 13% - 15 %? That 80% of pet owners believe it is important for their pets to wear pet ID, but only 33% actually have their pets wear tags?

An Affordable Solution
‘These are frightening, and often heartbreaking numbers for people that have pets’, says Teri Ensley of Furry Faces Foundation, (F3), ‘and this is where F3 can provide an inexpensive method for people to increase the likelihood of reuniting with their pets! ‘Tag Your Pet…It Ain’t Graffiti’ is our newest pet retention program and we are launching it at the West Seattle Summerfest, July 13th – 15th. It’s simple. It’s affordable. It’s a pet tag made for you on the spot!’