February 2013

At a meeting about homelessness on Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Ballard Odd Fellows Hall, King County National Association for Advancement of Colored People President James Bible paid a visit to talk about poverty and the law.

He was late and he showed up dressed in a sweatshirt and sweat pants -- hardly the formally dressed lawyer that he presents himself to be in the courtroom -- but he made up to a small, pro-social services crowd with eloquence and an explanation.

“I’m thankful to be in front of a group that does not judge me for not wearing a suit and tie and wearing a sweatshirt and sweatpants,” he said. “What ultimately I think we have to talk about … is make it critical that we put the human condition first.”

Bible, referring to people of low-income and/or in a state of homelessness, explained that people need to have the same rights, no matter who they were or what their appearance was. He was critical of comments on local Ballard news sources -- he didn't name them -- that expressed negativity toward social services in the neighborhood. (No one in the crowd had a negative opinion on the issues.)

West Seattle's Amanda Knox has agreed to an interview with ABC News that will air on April 30 according to published reports.

The New York Times has a story about the television networks efforts to secure the interview. Diane Sawyer will conduct the interview for the network.

The interview is likely part of a timed effort to coincide with the release of her book, "Waiting to Be Heard - A Memoir," which was delayed from its original publication date.

Knox was arrested and convicted of the murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy in 2009. She was acquited in 2011 after an appeal.

WestSide Baby, the agency that helps families by providing essential items to local children in need through collecting and distributing diapers, clothing, toys and equipment saw a large turnout for their 12th annual Tea on Sunday, Feb. 10 and received donations of more than $225,000.

The event featured tables set with individual sets of china shared by community members, mimosas, BabyCakes by Avalon Glassworks with one box holding a gorgeous champagne colored citrine pendant surrounded by a halo of diamonds donated by Wyatt’s Jewelers.

The agency helped more than 22,000 children last year.

Keynote speaker, Cathy Grace, Children’s Defense Fund Director of Early Childhood Education, spoke about the impact childhood poverty has on individual families and society.

Sponsors for the event included:

• Personal Safety Nets
• White Center Food Bank
• ReUsies
• Lake Partners Strategy Consultants
• Cairncross & Hempelmann
• AmericanWest Bank
• West Seattle Food Bank
• Nucor Steel
• Ventana Construction

By David Rosen

The Seattle Fire Department and Police Department responded to an Assault with Weapons call on the 4300 block of SW Hudson St around 12:59 pm on Feb 10. A white male in his 40's had a self inflicted gunshot wound to his chest and was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

A member of the Seattle Police Department said, " He called 911, says he was contemplating suicide, then he called back and said I shot myself. Officers were already responding in this direction before he shot himself, there was an open line couldn't establish communication, came through the door and seen an entry wound to the chest."

By Rev. Judith Laxer

I don’t know if the groundhog saw his shadow or not, but to anyone who is paying attention, Spring has arrived. Green shoots are emerging from soggy soil. Buds are forming on awakening trees. Pink primrose peeks through last year’s dead leaves, and dependable dandelion returns to the surface of the Earth. We may have more Wintery weather ahead, but there can be no mistake; here in the northwest Spring has sprung.

We are not fooled. Cold rain will continue for months yet. But that won’t stop us from getting out into the garden anyway. We will simply be circumspect and choose our activities wisely.

Early February is the time to prune the rose bushes. My heart is always a bit hesitant to employ the clippers even though my head knows it is necessary for future flowering. Articles in garden magazines tell us that ‘roses like to be punished’ and that ‘once punished, they repent with an extraordinary show of beauty!’ That is to say that the more ruthless you are in pruning them, the more blossoms they will yield this growing season.

By Corbin Lewars

“So, I’ve been blogging for over a year now,” a new client told me.

“Great!” I said.

“And I’m going to cut and paste them all together to make a book. A memoir of sorts.”

“Oh no,” I groaned.

“It will be great. I already have over one hundred pages and….”

“I can’t let you do that.”

“But I’ve been writing for over a year,” the client wailed. “I want to do something with all of this work.”

I nod my head sympathetically and then tell him about a doctor/cattle farmer whom I met in Montana. “’Darling,” he told me, ‘just because you have a hammer doesn’t mean you should build a house.’”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” the client said.

At the time, I had no idea what the doctor was talking about either, seeing as I was merely asking for directions to the gas station. But over time, I realized the brilliance of his words. Just because we have something that resembles a larger whole does not mean we have the whole. And sometimes, actually often, it’s better to start over rather than to try to scotch tape something together.

by Kurt Howard

This game was a tiebreaker. This game would determine who would advance to the 2A playoffs and who would, as they say, go home.

Evergreen, coming off their victory at home over Foster last week, was looking to make it two in a row. They won a close contest, 58 to 52 in overtime to force this tiebreaker.

“It was tough to be put into the position to play back-to-back games here”, said Foster’s Coach Isaac Tucker. Well, you just have to do what you have to do, and this was no exception: Foster was ready and eager, as was Evergreen.

Before the game began there was a technical foul against Foster. Evergreen’s Chris Sainz would step up to the line and make one of two free throws, putting them ahead 1-0 without one tick off the clock.

After the center jump, it took a while for both teams to score. It wasn’t until the 5:14 mark in the first quarter that Evergreen scored its first field goal, and Foster’s was at 4:44.

This was a very intense, aggressive game as you would expect - it was playoff- style basketball. Both teams play a fast, running game and they cover a lot of court very quickly.

The fire that destroyed many of the units at the Tra-Lee Apartments Jan. 28 displaced families and disrupted lives.

A fundraiser for victims of the fire is set for Saturday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. at Bison Creek Pizza in Burien.

There will be a silent auction with items supplied by many local businesses, a raffle, live music from two local bands. There is a $5 cover.
Those interested in helping can come to the event, participate in the auction/raffle, donate to the "Up From the Ashes" fire victim's fund at any BECU branch and by promoting on Facebook. Volunteers are welcome.

This fundraiser is being coordinated by Renatta Emerson Events of Burien on a volunteer basis along with other local businesses. If you would like to help in any way, contact Renatta at 206-923-8368.

Bison Creek Pizza is locate at 630 S.W. 153rd St. in Burien.

By David Rosen

Tonight's weather, combined with a -1.66 tide, brought out families from West Seattle and all over the Seattle area to scour the beach with their kids to look for nighttime critters and starfish. Beach naturalist staff and volunteers were on site to answer any questions about what they had seen and to offer interesting facts about different sea creatures.

About 75 people reserved their spot for the event tonight from the aquarium's website, but a lot of walk-ups pushed the number to about 150. Registering is not mandatory but the naturalists like to keep a tally on how many people show up to these kind of events. Tonight was the last night for the low tide beach walk put on by the beach naturalists but will resume for the daytime versions during the summer.

Barbara Owens, beach naturalist, spoke to the West Seattle Herald:

Mikel Davila Neighborhood Revitalization Program Manager at the White Center Community Development Association has announced he is leaving the community organization March 1. He shared a letter explaining his move with the media and the community.

"Dear friends, mentors and colleagues,
I’m writing to announce my departure from the White Center Community Development Association as of March 1st and the Pacific Northwest as of April 1st. I will be moving back to my hometown in the Bay Area – closer to family - where I am excited to continue working for local economic growth with sustainable businesses.
It has been an incredible experience to work alongside you and learn from you during the past year. In that time, we’ve made a positive impact in White Center together developing authentic leaders and I feel confident that I’m leaving a strong tight-knit community that will continue to strive for equity.

Thank you for the support, partnership, and fun you have provided me during my time working with you in the community. Though I will miss working with you for now, I look forward to crossing paths in the future.