July 2012

by Jonah Spangenthal-Lee on July 5, 2012 for the SPD Blotter

Two armed men were arrested in separate incidents during yesterday’s 4th of July festivities on Alki Beach.
Around 8pm, police received a flurry of phone calls about a man brandishing a handgun on an apartment balcony near 55th Avenue SW and Alki Avenue SW.

SWAT, patrol officers, and gang detectives arrived and talked to witnesses, who reported that a man had used a skateboard to smash the windows of an Oldsmobile Cutlass parked behind the building. After smashing the cars’ windows, the suspect ran up to his third floor apartment where he’d flashed a gun.
When owner of the Cutlass ran up to the suspect’s third floor apartment to confront him, the suspect pulled a gun on the man. The suspect then went back inside his apartment.

Friday, July 6, starting at 6pm - you can help initiate what the Highland Park Improvement Club (HPIC) hopes will be a monthly "Corner Bar" at HPIC.

Draft beer, wine and non-alcoholic refreshments will be available at their "pop-up" neighborhood bar. They call it "A casual and friendly way to meet new friends and hang out with people you know. $3 gets you a beer or glass of wine, $1 for non-alcoholic beverages. We will have snacks like peanuts and pretzels - if you want more, bring your own or something to share."

The Highland Park Improvement Club is located at
1116 SW Holden
Seattle, WA 98106

www.hpic1919.org

The White Center Jubilee Days Golf Tournament for 2012 is set for a Sunday July 7th 1:00pm shotgun start.

The event is being staged at the Glen Acres Country Club, considered by many one of the finest courses in the greater Seattle area.

The shotgun start will help ensure a close to simultaneous finish.

Mixed into the tournament are added features including Best ball, longest drive, Best Vintage Attire, Lowest and Highest team scores, closest to the pin, and “Worst score at the Mystery Hole”.

The Awards Presentation and Gourmet Italian Buffet will follow in the Fireplace Room.

Music is being provided by White Center’s bluegrass band, Rats in the Grass, on the patio.

Prizes Include coupons to local businesses;
Zippy's Burgers, Dixon golf, Viva Mexico, Instructive Golf Books, Fun Trinkets,
Big Als Growlers and or T-shirts, Viva Mexico, "White Center Package", and Cafe Rozella.

UPDATE 12pm 7/6/12:
SDOT reports that the maintenance work scheduled for July 6 has been completed early. The ramp has been reopened.

Original post
press release
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will close the westbound off-ramp to Admiral Way from the West Seattle Bridge tomorrow morning, Friday July 6, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. The closure, which was previously scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., has been moved to the earlier time in order to take advantage of the lighter traffic volumes. Given this earlier time frame, the maintenance closure is expected to take no more than three hours.

During the closure, SDOT will detour traffic to Harbor Avenue, Avalon Way, SW Manning Street, and back to Admiral Way.

The City of Des Moines proudly announces the Grand Opening of the Des Moines Beach Park Auditorium. The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on July 11, 2012 at 5:00pm.
Located on the shores of Puget Sound this one of a kind facility is available to the public to rent for private events including weddings, reunions, company events and trainings. The Auditorium is 3700 square feet with a 18’ X 25’ built in stage and tiled patio. The facility can accommodate up to 500 people reception seating.
The Beach Park Event Center offers the ideal setting for any event or special occasion. This historic yet contemporary Auditorium boasts stained glass windows, cathedral ceiling and gorgeous exposed wood beams that are true Pacific Northwest style.
• Smilin’ Scandinavians to perform live
• Refreshments provided by Wesley House
• Ribbon will be cut at 6:30 p.m. by the Meyer of Des Moines
• Free event open to the public.
• Tours and additional information available at the event.

City of Des Moines Des Moines Beach Park National Historic District Rehabilitation Overview

Background

Press release:

The Burien Eagles have been various generous in their donations to Hospitality House, the Burien shelter for homeless shelter for single women.

The total donation to Hospitality House was $2,796.

The donation was made in two ways; first the Burien Eagles purchased a full-size washer and dryer as the old smaller units were failing. The balance a check presented at a recent ceremony at the Burien Eagles’ club to Hospitably House Board member Priscilla Stephensen by Jim Tobolski, Val Rufner, Tim and Charlene Farnam of the Burien Eagles

The Eagles raised the funds by selling sliders on Thursday nights and the proceeds of a few Sunday breakfasts.

Press release:

America has celebrated July as the nation’s official Park and Recreation Month for more than 25 years and in 2009 the U.S. House of Representatives officially mandated July as “Parks and Recreation Month.”

As the obesity epidemic continues to rage, programs like Park and Recreation Month and the First Lady’s “Let’s Move!” campaign are energizing an American population to adopt healthy lifestyle choices.

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), created Park and Recreation Month to specifically promote the many benefits of local parks and recreation and celebrate the value they bring to their community. From programs to promote conservation and environmental sustainability, to educational programs that teach healthy habits to fun recreational activities, there’s something going on in Burien’s parks this July.

And on the “wild side”, there are great concerts in the park and the first ever overnight family campout at Seahurst Park in partnership with REI, all fun ways to get wild about nature and the environment around you.

Press release:

Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila, Seattle and four other South King County cities were named All-America Cities by the National Civic League on July 2 based on the region’s ambitious plan to ensure that more children are reading at grade level by the end of third grade.

Chosen from a field of more than 100 entries, the proposal for Seattle and the cities of Auburn, Burien, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, SeaTac and Tukwila was submitted by the Road Map Project, a cradle-to-college-and-career initiative aimed at improving education in South Seattle and South King County. The community was one of 14 awardees selected from 32 finalists.

The awards were handed out at the conclusion of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading conference in Denver. Awardees will compete again in 2016 based on results obtained from efforts to improve third-grade reading.

Thrive Through Cancer, an organization dedicated to helping young people with cancer not only survive but thrive is the sponsor for the first West Seattle Outdoor movie event of the season Friday, July 20.

Thrive will be showing the film "50/50" to celebrate young adults' victory over cancer!

The evening will feature:
- Cancer survivors telling their stories
- Luminaries in honor of those we have lost to cancer, and those facing this disease today
- Snacks for sale, including cupcakes from Sugar Rush Baking Company
- Thrive shirts for sale

Doors at 6:30 p.m., survivors speak at 8, movie at dusk.

The event is free with a suggested donation of $5 to $20! Funds will support the Thrive "Hope Tote" program.

Team Tracy, the organization around cancer survivor Tracy Dart, will also be there signing people up for their team and collecting donations.

Bring chairs, blankets, family and friends!

"50/50" tells the incredible, true story of a young man diagnosed with cancer. However, the film is rated R for language throughout, sexual content, and some drug use and may not be appropriate for children.

Pouring crystal-clear water from a gallon tank, Larry Murphy, better known as Zen Dog, prepared tea from a 500-year-old tree.

“This is the purest water in Seattle,” he said, as he closely watched the water boil, smiling behind a long, white beard.

Clothed in a navy Mao suit, Murphy explained how every week and a half he journeys to Mt. Baker to retrieve water from an artisan well, bringing back 45 to 50 gallons.

To Murphy, tea isn’t just a drink, it’s a “life enhancing, life sustaining force.”

Murphy left 27 years of architecture in Seattle to prepare tea for anyone in the community. The very home in which he raised his children was transformed into what is now the Zen Dog Tea Gallery on Northwest 85th Avenue and 21st Avenue Northwest in Ballard.

On most days throughout the week, or by appointment, Murphy will prepare tea for anyone who rings his doorbell. All assortments of people come to his door, he said, including prostitutes, the homeless, even CEOs and millionaires.

Every full moon of every month, Zen Dog hosts a party with freshly brewed tea and live music. Everyone is welcome.