August 2012

by Ken Robinson

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' are real guys you might see in any cafe having coffee together and bickering over some small point. There is some of the quality of grumpy old men in this. But there is also abiding affection between them. They all are members of that club to which you automatically join once you reach a certain. Director 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.

By Kyra-lin Hom

I thought I would take things in a different direction this week. I seem to recall my initial Take Two column mentioning something about me including 'How To's' every once in a while, and I've been a bit remiss in that department. Wracking my mind for something more universal than how to alter a dress or quickly resize a ring, I decided to skip the little things and go for the whole shebang. Instead of how to make, repair or acquire things how about we focus on something that frustrates or intimidates nearly everyone: how to effectively sell your things online.

I know you can probably find many an article or tutorial on the subject with just a quick google search. That's in fact where I looked when I first entered this business. I just didn't find them all that helpful. So if you've heard it before, I apologize. But I suggest you stick around, as I might just think of something google hasn't. Learning by trial and error tends to have its eventual advantages that way.

In order to ensure that all students in Seattle Public Schools have a school assignment by the first day of school Seattle Public Schools is urging families to enroll no later than Aug. 28.

The first day of school is Wednesday, Sept. 5.

If your family is new to Seattle Public Schools and your child has not yet enrolled you can submit an applications by mail, by email, or by visiting SPS at the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence (JSCEE) at 2445 3rd Ave. S. You can find a map, driving directions, and bus routes to reach the John Stanford Center here. Downloadable enrollment applications can be found here.

Enrollment hours are 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

“Those first few days in the classroom are so important, and we want to make sure all students have school assignments before the first day of school,” said Brandon Holst, JSCEE Services Manager. “It takes time to complete the enrollment paperwork, and the lines in our lobby grow longer as we get closer to the first day of school."

Locally Grown TV, a comedy web-series in the making, reached its Kickstarter campaign fundraising goal just in time last Saturday, the last day, raising a total of $10,500. All of the money will be going toward production costs.

Creators of the show had this to say:

"We would like to thank the community for its support in helping us reach our ambitious fundraising goal. You made it a success. We are excited to now start pre-production for the pilot episode shoot."

The series pays tribute to Seattle's local farmers markets and will be partially shot in the Ballard Farmers Market (Though creators are quick to note that it is set in the "Ballmont" Farmers Market, so don't get nit picky about the way its represented). It promises to be something like Portlandia, Modern Family, Arrested Development all rolled into one -- except with Seattle's unique and quirky influence.

Perhaps more importantly, the creators hope to highlight local vendors and street musicians, such as Ben Fisher, creating a community feel around the show.

Tag Your Pet & Support Furry Faces Foundation
‘Tag Your Pet…It Ain’t Graffiti’ Events:
West Seattle Outdoor Movies, Saturday, August 18, 6 p.m. and on.
West Seattle Nursery Dog Days of August Beerfest, Sunday, August 19, 1–4 p.m. Who Is Furry Faces Foundation ( F3): Retention and prevention. This is our mantra. Helping people keep their pets with them and out of animal shelters/rescue groups. It's as simple as it is complex. For further information about the Furry Faces Foundation, email us @ furryfaces@hotmail.com; visit our Facebook at HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/furryfacesfoundation/info" www.facebook.com/furryfacesfoundation/info or website at www.furryfaces.org (currently under renovation).

Discovery Shop
4535 California Ave. S.W.
206-937-7169

Yesterday at 2:39 p.m., Ballard residents called the Seattle Fire Department reporting a fire on the second floor of their house located on the 2800 block of NW 75th St, according to SFD's Fireline blog.

Turns out, it was caused by overheated electrical wiring, according to a Seattle Fire Investigator. He said it started in a crawl space on the upper half of the house.

By the time the firefighters arrived on the scene, the occupants were already out and safe. They were able to bring the fire down within 20 minutes. The fire had stayed on the upper half, extending into the walls, crawl spaces, attic and roof of the house.

Damage estimates include $50,000 lost in content and $100,000 worth of damage to the house itself. No one had to be transported to the hospital.

If you heard sirens around 3 am heading toward Alki early Monday morning Aug. 13 it was a fire caused by spontaneous combustion according to the Seattle Fire Department who released this story today.

The West Seattle Herald also spoke to a person (requesting anonymity) who knows the building tenants who said that the upstairs tenant made the 911 call.

From SFD
"Seattle Firefighters quickly extinguished a fire in an Alki 4-plex located in the 2600 block of 59th Avenue SW.

The Fire Alarm Center received a 911 call at 2:50 a.m. reporting flames coming from one unit of the house that was divided into four apartments. Engine Company 29 arrived to find smoke coming from a bottom floor unit of the two-story complex. Firefighters made a quick attack and knocked down the flames within a couple of minutes.

All of the occupants of the complex had safely evacuated by the time firefighters arrived.

By Cassandra Baker

Police ask for help identifying bank vandals

Shortly after 1:00 a.m. on June 17th, a masked man and woman were caught on camera destroying an ATM and spraying graffiti on the wall of the Bank of America in Crown Hill located at 15th Ave NW and NW 85th St. The woman was blonde and wearing a gray patterned tank top and a blue bandanna over her face. She smashed the bank’s ATM with a staple gun. The man wore a white mask, a dark baseball cap, and a black and gray jacket. He sprayed anti-bank graffiti on a wall. Seattle Police have posted several photos of the duo on the SPD blotter, and they are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the two. The photos can be viewed at http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2012/08/08/i-saw-you-crown-hill-bank-vand…. If you have information about either of the vandals, contact Detective Chris Young at (206) 684-5534 or YoungC@Seattle.gov.

1:00 p.m., August 9. N 88th St and Fremont Ave N

After four years of planning, designing and community input – as well as many more years of eyeing the property as a possible park location – Kirke Park had its grand opening last Saturday, Aug. 11, and is now open for public use.

The park, though fairly small in size, is able to fit an impressive amount of activities and uses without feeling too cluttered. On the south end is a playground for kids to enjoy, which includes large disc-like swings that several kids can fit on at once (at hit at the grand opening) and a rock climbing wall. In the middle of the park is the “living room” area, a place where people can sit at benches or lay on the grass and gather for conversation, picnics or relaxation. On the north side is a P-Patch garden with fresh beds of soil, fruit trees and berry bushes. Apples, plums, figs, blueberries, strawberries, gooseberries and many, many more edible foods all will start popping up around the park in the future. Some, such as the apples, have already started.

The fourth annual Southwest Community Center Family Fest on Aug. 12 saw more than 20 custom, low rider and euro and Japanese sports cars on the grounds as people enjoyed the music provided by DJ Sirreal and had a chance to talk to the car owners and support the teen programs in the area.

TJ Jackson was there with his custom 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme with a "built 350, and we took the frame completely off and did a restoration. We completely wrapped the frame and did a hydraulic installation in the back with 3 pumps and 8 car batteries," he said. These cars are part of a sport referred to as low-riding and hot rods in which cars from all eras are customized with special paint jobs, interiors and often with hydraulic kits that enable "hopping" (meaning the cars actually jump their front ends) or more commonly lift the body off the frame at amazing angles. The front wheels and tires are sometimes canted in at crazy angles just for visual effect, but they are not every day driving cars in any case. These are personal show cars.