August 2012

Review by Aya Hashiguchi Clark

Burien Little Theatre’s 2012-2013 season began this weekend with a special pre-season opener. “Anna in the Tropics” is a collaboration with Latino Theatre Projects and brings a welcome and refreshing look at a culture and a period in history that many may not know.

A 2003 Pulitzer Prize winner for drama, “Anna” tells the story of a Cuban-American family in Ybor City, Florida in 1929. Santiago (Fernando Luna), the clan’s patriarch and owner of the family-run cigar factory, is seen in the opening sequence attending a cock fight with his half-brother Cheche (Jason Pead). A compulsive gambler, Santiago loses much of his money in poor wagers, and ends up selling shares in his cigar business to Cheche in order to pay off his debts.

Meanwhile, Santiago’s wife Ofelia (Eloisa Cardona), waits anxiously at the harbor along with their two daughters Conchita (Maria Knox) and Marela (Idalia Limon) for Juan Julian (Gabriel Sedgemore) to arrive from Cuba. Juan Julian is a lector, who is hired to entertain and educate by reading to the factory workers as they roll the cigars by hand.

The Southwest Precinct of the Seattle Police Department was a happy place to be for the community on Saturday, Aug. 11 as the SPD hosted “Picnic at the Precinct” in their parking lot and on 2300 S.W. Webster St. near Home Depot on Delridge Way s.w.

The annual event provides free food, ice cream and beverages, and a chance to meet the officers that serve West Seattle. local bands and performers were on hand providing entertainment and people could participate in a raffle for items donated by local businesses, meet the four-legged officers from the K-9 and mounted units, tour the precinct, and check out the gadgets used by special units like SWAT. Kids got special badge stickers and got to sit in police cars.

15 booths lined the street representing everything from Crime Prevention, Seattle Neighborhood Group, Dept. of Neighborhoods, West Seattle Food Bank, the 34 District Democrats, and South Seattle Community College.

The event was free to the community and sponsored by the Seattle Police Foundation.”

The Highline Medical Center is closing in on their late October move-in date that will bring their West Seattle urgent care and family medicine practices under one larger roof.

Highline will take over the old Cycle U location in the Fauntleroy Triangle (buffered by S.W. Alaska St. to the south, 38th Ave S.W. to the east and Fauntleroy Way S.W. to the southwest). They hope to have made the transition from their current location (4744 41st Ave S.W.) by October 29, according to Highline spokesperson Mara Burke.

“The new site is larger and allows us to provide separate, dedicated spaces for our family medicine clinic and our urgent care,” Burke said.

The family medicine clinic will be open Monday through Friday by appointment and the urgent care facility, with a separate entrance, will be open seven days a week with no appointments necessary, Burke said. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Since we all know that Ballard is obviously the best neighborhood in Seattle, it's no surprise then that our beloved place brought home a score of recognitions from Seattle Weekly's annual "Best of Seattle" list. Most of them are for the many excellent restaurants and bars that can be found in the area, but Ballard is also now somewhat-officially home for the best mile of Seattle. The full list of "Best of" in Ballard can be found here. Below are a few notables.

"Best Mile of Seattle," Ballard Avenue Northwest

It's common knowledge, but Keegan Hamilton reiterates for us: "Nearly anything your heart desires can be found on Ballard Avenue Northwest from Market Street to 17th Avenue Northwest."

Located on the strip are The Walrus and the Carpenter, Carta da Oaxaca, the Tractor Tavern, the Sunset and "enough bars to drown a thirsty sailor." One could spend a lifetime exploring the road.

"Best Liquor Store," Ballard Liquor and Wine

The Washington State Department of Ecology has fined the company responsible for spilling 320 gallons of diesel fuel into the Puget Sound off the West Seattle coast in October 2011, according to a press release from DOE.

Waterfront Construction will be fined $18,000 and could pay up to an additional $32,000 for “environmental damage and state costs associated with responding to the spill,” the department wrote.

The West Seattle Herald covered the spill in detail after the 74-foot, 1950’s military landing craft called "Justin" sank on Oct. 14, 2011 two miles south of Alki Point and around 100 feet offshore. The craft was moored off of a work site with plans to deliver boulders.

DOE said Waterfront “failed to notify (them) of the oil spill, (although) the company did hire salvage and environmental cleanup contractors to respond to the incident. They refloated and removed the vessel the next day.”

Initiative 1240 which seeks to authorize Charter Schools in the state of Washington is the subject of a debate set for Aug. 8 sponsored by Kiwanis of West Seattle. The event is scheduled for noon, Wednesday, August 8 in the dining room of BE’s Restaurant, 4509 California Ave. S.W. during the regular club meeting.

For Initiative 1240 will be represented by a speaker from its speakers bureau. Opponents of Initiative 1240 will be represented by Elisa Westcort of PTSA Seattle. Each side will be allotted equal time for presentations and audience questions. Washington is one of the nine states which have no charter schools. Charter schools are authorized in 41 states.

Initiative 1240 Ballot Measure Summary

The fall schedules have been released by the Seamount League for upcoming high school sports events.

Friday, Aug. 31
Football: Evergreen at Chief Sealth (SWAC); Lindbergh at West Seattle, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 4
Volleyball: Hazen at Evergreen, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 5
Boys tennis: Evergreen at Hazen, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 6
Volleyball: Evergreen at Lindbergh, 7 p.m.
Girls soccer: Washington at Evergreen, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 7
Boys tennis: Lindbergh at Evergreen, 3:30 p.m.
Girls soccer: Evergreen at Tyee (Valley Ridge), 3:30 p.m.
Football: Orting at Evergreen, 5 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 10
Boys tennis: Evergreen at Renton, 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 11
Volleyball: Renton at Evergreen, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 12
Boys tennis: Kennedy at Evergreen, 3:30 p.m.
Girls soccer: Evergreen at Hazen JV, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 13
Girls swimming: Evergreen at Hazen, 3 p.m.
Volleyball: Evergreen at Kennedy, 7 p.m.

Press release:

Congressman Adam Smith will be the keynote speaker at the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce August Membership Luncheon, on Friday, August 10, 2012.

The luncheon will be held on Friday, August 10th, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm, Embassy Suites Hotel, 15920 W Valley Hwy., Tukwila. Lunch is $20 paid in advance or $35 paid at the door. Sponsored by Aesthetic Rejuvenation by Dr. Brecht, Clean Scapes, Cox Financial, Mendoza Law Center, Republic Services, T-Mobile, and Waste Management.

Register online http://swkingcowa.usachamber.com/custom2.asp?pagename=calendar&a=view&e… or call the Chamber at (206) 575-1633.

Smith plans to give a Congressional update and will focus on the debt and deficit situation that is so severely impacting our economy. Audience members are encouraged to bring questions and provide comments about federal issues you want to share your opinion on and ask him to prioritize.

Art in the Garden

According to the website, the 12th Annual Ballard Art in the Garden is "poised to be our biggest and best yet!" The garden, full of ripening tomatoes, giant sunflowers, dahlias, and other wonderful plants, is already colorful and pretty enough on its own.

But then there's 24 local artists featuring their work at the garden, live music, a beer garden and a bake sale, all making this a good ol' fashioned garden party. And an artistic one to boot. More info

The event is located at the Ballard P-Patch, one mile north of Downtown Ballard on 8527 25th Ave NW, Seattle, WA. It's going on all day, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

"Let's Walk Ballard" greenway walk

Press release from the White Center Food Bank

Meet the Henriettas! aka the Food Bank Chickens at WCFB

OPEN HOUSE at the White Center Food Bank (10829 8th Ave S.W.)

Saturday, August 4, 2012

11 am to 2 pm

Learn about: volunteer opportunities, tour our facilities and gardens and learn all the ways you can help make a difference for our neighborhoods in need and of course meet our Henriettas – two Plymouth Rock sister hens who live at the White Center Food Bank.

To learn more about the WCFB, please check out the Herald story, "As food stamps get slashed, White Center Food Bank feels the squeeze."