November 2012

West Seattle expert knife maker, iron craftsman, and blacksmith, David Lisch has recently doubled the size of his already cavernous workshop in that large yellow wooden building under the West Seattle Bridge that was once the Alaska Copper and Brass warehouse. The extra space is set up as a classroom and authentic workshop. He is now offering classes in blade making. Students taking his two to three day weekend classs will walk away with their own handmade finished knife.

Since our last article on Lisch, he has won numerous awards including an international blade competition in Atlanta earlier this year.

To sign up for one of the classes, contact David at: info@davidlisch.com or (206) 919-5431.

The second annual Pizza for Parkas children's coat drive benefiting the Atlantic Street Center in on, presented by Pizzeria 22 in the Admiral District on SW College Street. You are urged to donate a slightly used or new jacket and and you'll get a coupon for a free Margherita pizza.

Last year Pizzeria 22, along with Via Tribunali, and Cornuto Pizzeria, collected over 500 warm winter jackets for children in need.

Owner Cary Kemp said, "Happy Holidays and thank you for your support!"

The Christmas Tree lot (located on the playground behind the school) at Holy Rosary is open and overflowing with fresh trees. The organizers said that some people still think the lot is in the Admiral District but for the past few years it has moved to the school grounds at 41st & Dakota Street SW.

This year the selection is large and since they just arrived they are extremely fresh. The lot smells like a pine forest.

The lot is busy and the Krishe family was shopping on Nov. 27. Amanda Krishe said that her kids were, "super excited that today is the day we get to buy our tree from the Holy Rosary tree lot! We are probably going to end up with a Grand Fir because it's got a nice scene to it and will fill our home with Christmas smell!

The lot has Douglas Firs starting at $20, Noble Firs starting at $30, Grand Firs starting at $40 and has a huge assortment of garlands, and wreaths plus what they described as daily specials, discounts and deals only available to those who come to the lot.

15% of the proceeds from sales go to support three charities locally. They are:

UPDATE 11:15AM Dec. 3
Asplundh Tree Expert Co. employees were up on lifts on Monday Dec. 3 to begin the process of removing 22 trees along Jacobsen Road SW. Kerry Castle, ISA Certified Arborist of Asplundh said they had until the rest of the year to complete the project but said they should be done by Thursday.

Original Post
Seattle Parks & Recreation has identified 22 hazardous Alder trees on Jacobsen Road SW and is hiring a contractor to remove them. The road meets Beach Drive SW at the south end of the Me-Kwa-Mooks natural area. All the trees identified have either dead tops, advanced decay, severe leans and/or compromised structure. All have been rated at 11 points out of 12 on the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA): http://www.isa-arbor.com/ hazard evaluation form, according to Dewey Potter, Parks Communication Manager.

Congratulations West Seattle.

After reviewing the elevation drawings of the two new construction projects slated for 4724 California Avenue SW and 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW it is abundantly clear that we are fast becoming home to bland, uninspired buildings. To use an architectural term, these ‘grey’ buildings lack both originality and substantive style. Will they make the Junction and West Seattle more visually appealing? Are they sensitive to the surrounding character of our neighborhoods? Are they a valued asset? It doesn’t look promising.

The West Seattle Herald had several tips today that Orcas had been spotted in the waters near our peninsula and they are known to be active lately as reported by OrcaNetwork.org who noted (and documented) their appearance off Point Robinson on Nov. 24.

Today they were headed south, but were seen at some distance a bit closer to Vashon Island, where they were spotted by photographer David Rosen.

Here's an excerpt from OrcaNetwork's site about those sightings (where you can sign up for their email newsletter, a sightings list and more importantly donate),

"November 24, 2012

Still heading south at sunset...we thought for a time they were heading back north towards those few of us still at Point Robinson. Through are binocs we were seeing the blows of a resting line, but they ultimately those beauties continued south.
Alisa Lemire Brooks
*

A candelight vigil will be held in honor of Don Farquharson, the man who was found dead in the Ballard Commons Park on Saturday, Nov. 17.

WHEEL, an organization of homeless women who advocate for those who are homeless, will be holding the vigil Noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 28, in front of the Municipal Courthouse/Seattle Justice Center on 5th & Cherry Streets.

For more information about Farquharson, read our report here.

See below for full release:

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Every time a homeless person is found dead outside or dies by violence in King County, WHEEL (a homeless women’s organizing effort) and the Church of Mary Magdalene (an ecumenical day ministry) mobilize for our silent witnessing vigil called Women in Black.

Is Ballard bikeable?

Well, considering the number of bicyclists that can be seen every day, the answer would have to be yes. But, according to a recent report, there's a lot of things that can be done to improve safety.

On Nov. 3, the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board held a bikeability tour of the Northwest quadrant of Seattle, a circuit which brought a group of bicyclists through the larger Ballard area, Green Lake, Fremont and Wallingford. the report will help supplement the Bicycle Master Plan using community feedback and was sent to the Mayor's Office, the Seattle Department of Transportation and other city officials

The report zeroed in on some specific problem areas.

Some time was spent at the Missing Link, which has now become a notorious subject in media as local businesses and bicycling advocates battle over its future. The report notes high traffic volume, poor pavement condition, train tracks, and the NW 45th and Shilshole intersection as factors for unsafe conditions. The writers suggest creating more clear signage and signaling, as well as paving the shoulder along Shilshole, to guide bicyclists safely through until the Missing Link is complete.

Maya Davis, 6, surveys the pies at the Navos Thanksgiving dinner in Burien on Nov. 20 for clients while she holds the sign she will be putting on the wall. Maya and her mother, Chanel Thorn volunteered to help serve.

Burien’s Winterfest celebration offers the chance to shop local while enjoying a free celebration brimming with activities for the whole family on Saturday, Dec. 1.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Burien’s holiday-bedecked streets will be packed with live singing by the Marvista Elementary School choir, in-store specials, horse-and-carriage rides, scavenger hunt at local businesses, holiday crafts for kids, hot treats and photos with Santa Claus, even for the family hound.

Help boost the local economy while saving time, money and fuel by shopping in Burien. Take advantage of Winterfest in-store specials and gift-wrapping at some shops. Burien’s small businesses are the place to find unique presents ranging from affordable fine wines to handcrafted chocolate, pet care, hand-beaded jewelry, cute and comfortable shoes, facials and more. Warm up with free hot treats like cocoa and spiced cider at various shops.