August 2012

It’s quite possible the next Alan Moore (Watchmen and so much more), Gary Larson (Far Side) or Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes) was inspired to do great things on Aug. 16 as 14 young West Seattleites gathered to learn the basics of cartooning from professional artist David Lasky.

The “Comics and Characters” workshop took place at the Seattle Library High Point branch as part of SPL’s Summer Reading Program in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the 1962 World’s Fair.

Lasky, a 44-year-old alternative Seattle cartoonist who has been making comics and graphic novels since 1989, approached his lesson by starting out with the basics: geometric shapes that anyone can draw.

“Even Spiderman is made of those shapes,” he said.

The children were armed with pencils, scratch paper and licorice (provided by the library and, ultimately, Seattle’s taxpayers and philanthropists), and followed Lasky’s lead by combining those simple forms into characters. Within minutes, the room was full of anthropomorphic apples, retro robots and “chill” cats (as one young artist put it).

He provided some insider tricks as well.

SLIDESHOW. Click on photo for more.

A large, colorfully-dressed crowd turned out for Wednesday night's "Celebrate Des Moines Caribbean Style' beach party at Beach Park near the marina. A large stage featured an array of musical performers including the four-piece Toucans Steel Drum Band, which contributed an authentic Caribbean touch. Also performing were musicians selected from the Aug. 8 "Des Moines Got Talent" Summer Beach Park event, including Nickolas Paul Adams, a singer/guitar player, and Janine Akins, a gospel singer who performed "El Shaddai", a Contemporary Christian Amy Grant hit containing Hebrew lyrics.

The event was one of many summer celebrations sponsored by the City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department, the Des Moines Art Commission, and the Des Moines Legacy Foundation. Key organizer Patrice Thorell, Parks, Recreation and Senior Services Director, called several others to the mic to thank them, folks who also helped with the event, including Sue Padden, Senior Services Manager of Des Moines.

All branches of the Seattle Public Library System will be closed from Monday, Aug. 27 through Monday, Sept. 3 (which includes the Labor Day holiday closure) as a city-mandated cost saving measure.

For the Southwest (9010 35th Ave S.W.) and West Seattle (2306 42nd Ave S.W.) branches, the last day to check out items or use the drop box will be 5 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 26. Book drops will reopen at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4.

For the Delridge (5423 Delridge Way S.W.) and High Point (3411 S.W. Raymond St.) branches (those not open on Sundays), the last day to check out items and use the drop box will be 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25. Book drops will reopen on Sept. 4 at 9:30 a.m. as well.

Most online services will shut down at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 26.

Most services unavailable during the one-week closure. Here are the details from SPL:

• Materials will not be due and fines will not be charged.
• The last day to check out Library items before the closure is either Saturday, Aug. 25, or Sunday, Aug. 26, depending on which library you use. Visit the Library Hours & Locations page or call 206-386-4636 for more information.

The Southwest Historical Society is planning to publish a cookbook featuring recipes submitted by people from the greater Southwest Seattle area.

The official title is:
Apron Strings: Recipes and Recollections from West Seattle and the Duwamish Peninsula

Ideally they say, it will be a favorite of yours and you will be able to share a story about it with the society for inclusion in the book.

If you'd like to share a recipe and have it considered for publication please email it (and your brief story about it) to loghousemuseum@comcast.net

You can also download the attached form, print it and send it via mail to
3001 SW 61st Ave. Seattle, WA 98116-2810

The categories are:

• Appetizers, Beverages, Dips
• Soups and Salads
• Breads and Rolls
• Vegetables and Side Dishes
• Vegetarian/Vegan Dishes
• Main Dishes and Meats
• Desserts, Cookies, Candy
• Miscellanenous

You can also learn more about it on Facebook on the cookbook page.

press release:
Beginning Monday morning, August 20, the eastbound off-ramp at First Avenue S will be closed for repaving and will remain closed through the end of September. The eastbound off-ramp at Fourth Avenue will remain open. In addition, eastbound surface Spokane Street will be closed to through traffic between East Marginal Way S and First Avenue S, also through the end of September.

Calendar of Upcoming Project Traffic Impacts

Thursday, August 16, 2012

· Eastbound travel on the Spokane Street Viaduct will be closed overnight from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. All traffic on the West Seattle Bridge will be detoured to northbound SR99. At the end of this closure on Friday morning, August 17, the eastbound Harbor Island on-ramp to the Spokane Street Viaduct will reopen.

Thursday, August 16 – Friday, August 17

· The westbound left lane of the Spokane Street Viaduct will be closed both nights from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following morning. The right lane will remain open to traffic.

Friday, August 17

It doesn't get extremely warm in Seattle very often so air conditioning is not in every home as it is in cities like Phoenix, Arizona. In fact Weather.com shows that from June through September the average monthly temperature here is between 71 and 76 degrees.

So when temperatures exceed 85 people flock to Alki and the parks in West Seattle to cool off.

Photographer David Rosen found people out doing just that today, in our wonderful little corner of the world.

City responds to heat wave with information about where to get cool

Actions include directing public to City facilities with air conditioning

Information from the City of Burien

The City is conducting a series of informational sessions designed to inform North Highline residents and merchants about the North Highline annexation on the Nov. 6 General Election ballot. City staff members will be available at the sessions to provide information and answer any questions.

Upcoming Information Sessions are:

Thursday, August 23, 6 pm
White Center Food Bank, 10829 8th Ave. SW

Thursday, September 13, 6 pm
Beverly Park Elementary School, cafeteria, 1201 S 104th St.

Thursday, Oct. 18, 6 pm
Cascade Middle School, cafeteria, 11212 10th Ave. SW

For information on the proposed annexation, including a list of Frequently Asked Questions available in five languages, see www.burienwa.gov/annexation

You can read the White Center News/Highline Times' prior coverage of these meetings here and here.

Information from the City of Burien

The City is conducting a series of informational sessions designed to inform North Highline residents and merchants about the North Highline annexation on the Nov. 6 General Election ballot. City staff members will be available at the sessions to provide information and answer any questions.

Upcoming Information Sessions are:

Thursday, August 23, 6 pm
White Center Food Bank, 10829 8th Ave. SW

Thursday, September 13, 6 pm
Beverly Park Elementary School, cafeteria, 1201 S 104th St.

Thursday, Oct. 18, 6 pm
Cascade Middle School, cafeteria, 11212 10th Ave. SW

For information on the proposed annexation, including a list of Frequently Asked Questions available in five languages, see www.burienwa.gov/annexation

You can read the West Seattle Herald/White Center News' prior coverage here and here.

Do you have some extra time on your hands? Do you want to contribute to a vital service in the community? Well, today's your lucky day. The Greenwood Food Bank is on the hunt for a new, part time Warehouse Lead Volunteer. See below for Greenwood Food Bank's press release and contact info.

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The Greenwood Food Bank is looking for reliable and involved community members willing to volunteer part time as a Warehouse Lead Volunteer. The Food Bank has recently moved to an all-volunteer run program model, the first food bank of its size in Seattle to do so. Without the support of volunteers, we would not be able to serve the 4,000 clients that come to the food bank each month. This volunteer opportunity is perfect for someone who wants to take on a leadership role in the organization, gain experience with the internal workings of a food bank and a non-profit, and make a real, tangible difference in their community. Please contact Alice at (206) 782-6731 or amaclean@voaww.org for more information.

Britt, Dave and Bob are three buddies at an age where many are in their dotage. All have lived full lives and continue to do so with gusto as portrayed by first-time director Taylor Guterson in his debut film, Old Goats.

The film has already won several important awards in the independent film world. The fact that it was made in and around the Seattle area gives it a special flavor for Northwest audiences. The 'actors' -- Britton Crosley, David Vander Wal and Bob Burkholder, who play themselves albeit in a fictional setting -- are real guys you might see in any cafe having coffee together and bickering over some small point. While there is some of the quality of grumpy old men in this, there is also an abiding affection between them. They are all members of that club which you automatically join once you reach a certain age. Guterson (whose father authored the book Snow Falling on Cedars) rounded up this gray trio and scripted a film that has some of the character of a documentary but is a lovely cinematic portrait of three friends squeezing every bit of juice they can from life.