August 2012

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.

The Ballard Elks originally planned for their event, "Beers, bags & boards," to be the largest cornhole tournament in the Pacific Northwest. Instead, they got second largest.

Over 40 teams participated in the event, while the largest tournament -- the ALS Corntoss Challenge at Safeco Field on June 23 -- had 64 teams.

"I think we should've been first," Ballard Elk member Katrina Sigurdson joked. "This has been really great … we're hoping this is the start of more events to come."

What is "cornhole" exactly? It's a bean bag toss-like game where contestants must try to get the bag through the hole in the board opposite them. As for the name, it is quite literal; traditionally the bean bag is filled with dried corn. So, corn + hole = "cornhole."

The game is popular in the Midwest and is thought to originate from Cincinatti, OH, said Brian Thiel, coordinator for Cornhole Washington.

SDOT is nearing completion of the Spokane Street Widening project so the remaining traffic impacts will be on First Avenue South and South Spokane Street. Repaving both the eastbound off-ramp to First Avenue South and the southern half of the intersection there is set to begin soon which will impact motorists who use these streets.

On Monday, August 13, First Avenue South will be reduced to one lane in each direction between South Horton and South Spokane Streets. Then the following week on Monday, August 20, the eastbound First Avenue South off-ramp will be closed (along with the surface eastbound S Spokane Street between East Marginal Way South and First Avenue South). These lane reductions and closures are slated to last up to five weeks while the repaving is done, and may not reopen until the end of September. The eastbound off-ramp at Fourth Avenue S will remain open while the First Avenue S off-ramp is closed.

Other traffic impacts related to the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project:

Monday, August 13 – Tuesday, August 14

According to Kingcounty.gov's Prosecutor's Office web page:

Sentencing in Seattle hit and run--Erlin Garcia-Reyes, 28, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for the hit and run death of cyclist Michael Wang on July 28, 2011 in Seattle. Garcia-Reyes pleaded guilty last month as charged to Felony Hit and Run. The sentencing hearing was before Judge Michael Trickey. The sentence range for felony hit and run is 31 to 41 months in prison. Prosecutors recommended 41 months.

Prior article from our police blotter page:

The West Seattle Outdoor Movie for Aug. 11 is Iron Man. The story line concerns wealthy industrialist Tony Stark who is forced to build an armored suit after a life-threatening incident. He ultimately decides to use its technology to fight against evil.

The film stars Robert Downey Jr. Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard and Jeff Bridges.

You are urged to bring blankets, chairs family and friends to 4410 California Ave. s.w. (between Hotwire Coffee and Dr. Wolff.

All movies are FREE.

West Seattle Outdoor Movies are presented by the West Seattle Junction. You can learn more by visiting www.wsmovies.org or on their Facebook page.

The West Seattle Herald previewed the entire summer series here
http://www.westseattleherald.com/2012/06/27/news/west-seattle-outdoor-mo...

More than 100 people came to The Nature Consortium's annual Wine in the Woods benefit event at Camp Long Friday Aug. 10.

The event (the third annual) was held in lieu of the organization's annual Arts in Nature Festival which Executive Director Nancy Whitlock said, "costs around $40,000 to produce. Half of that goes to the artists since it's an organizational value that we pay our artists living wages, plus the cost of renting the park and the cost of promoting the event."

This was the first time Wine in the Woods has been held at Camp Long. The past two years it was held in the West Duwamish Greenbelt. It was also the first time that Camp Long has allowed wine to be consumed outside the lodge. "It's an experiment for us and for Parks," said Whitlock, "but we billed it as a 21 and over event."

Gene Roger Nebenfuhr, 68, a lifelong resident of Ballard, gained his wings August 3rd in Missoula, MT on his way to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Born and raised in Seattle, he graduated from Ballard High School in 1962, then he proudly served his country in the US Marine Corp. After the military, he started his own construction business where he hammered and nailed everyone's dreams into reality, and enjoyed every minute of it.

In his spare time he found joy in playing Santa during the holidays, hanging out with his family, bowling, going to the movies, having coffee & breakfast with his friends, scuba diving, spending time with his grandchildren, and riding his beloved Harley V-ROD.

Gene loved life and lived every day to the fullest, and was never seen without a smile on his face. He enjoyed lighting off fireworks, waterskiing and could often be found cutting a rug in his dancing shoes. He will be remembered as the kind, cheerful, extremely generous, kid at heart that he always was.

West Seattle resident Craig Vinton, 65, died suddenly of heart complications Aug. 1. The West Seattle Herald wrote three articles about Mr. Vinton, focusing on his knowledge and fascination of electric cars, and his entrepreneurial spirit. Many of us saw J.P. Patches ride in Vinton's electric roadster, the one pictured above, in the 2009 parade. He operated AllStar Entertainment! and pioneered lip sync and DK Karaoke in Seattle.

Craig was preceded in death by sisters Jean and Rebecca. He is survived by sisters Jan and Heather.

The West Herald was saddened to learn of his passing, and offer our condolences to his family and friends. While his heart was aided by a lithium-powered pacemaker, it was the power of his big heart that those close to him seemed to admire most about him. We asked a few to share their thoughts about him for this article. Each was humbled to do so and insisted he had numerous other friends who were also very close to him, and who he also influenced positively.

Norm Smith, Torrance, CA.

Meander through quaint Olde Burien and you can't avoid seeing vacant storefronts along SW 152nd. Av. there, and east of there near 1st Ave. South. The cheerful blue color on the B-Town Burgers & Shakes exterior remains. But, other than a lonely mustard and ketchup dispenser on a table inside, 822 SW 152nd Street is vacant. Adjacent, to its east, Goodie Gumdrops toys and books just closed its doors while two children on its corner sign remain smiling.

Grassroots Home & Garden at 913 SW 152nd is gone. So is The Yarn Stash at 615 SW 152nd. Further east, Herr Backyard Center closed, partly due to the recession partly due for retirement purposes. Owners Michelle Codd and Keli De Ritis of Poggi Bonsi, 907 SW 152nd St, are also leaving, but will keep their larger, Renton Landing location and open another shop somewhere in Seattle.

"We've been in Burien for 10 years, at Renton Landing for almost three years," De Ritis said. "This was a hard decision to make because we have our roots in Burien and we have wonderful, loyal customers here, but we just didn't have enough of them. It was a business decision. We kept losing ground.

More than 500 cyclists will take part in the inaugural “Ride Around the Sound” bike ride on September 15 to benefit for the American Lung Association in Washington. The ride features five distance options, ranging from 100 miles to a family-friendly ride of under 15 miles in West Seattle.

The event will offer full support including breakfast at all starts, lunch on the course, five rest stops, detailed ride guides, and more. A delicious feast, beer and music await riders at the finish line party at South Seattle Community College. Relaxing coastal lodging is also available for participants who want to make the event a weekend getaway.

“We are thrilled to offer this amazing route with spectacular views of the Sound,” said Renée Klein, President and CEO of the American Lung Association of the Mountain Pacific. “What better way to celebrate clean air and healthy lungs than with a fun event in the beautiful outdoors?”