March 2013

West Seattle Summer Fest will rock the West Seattle Junction July 12-14 with the biggest street party of the year. The event features arts and crafts, shopping, live music, local food, beer gardens, a kids play area and more.

If you'd like to be a vendor this year you can sign up now. But before you do, the organizers ask that you read the rules here

You can download the Vendor Application here.

You must complete the application and pay the $20 fee for consideration.

If you'd like to apply to provide music (bands and other musicians) you can apply on this form.

Scoring in every inning including four runs in the fifth, the mercy rule is invoked in the fifth inning after a dominating performance over the Quakers of Franklin High at the SWAC.

Starting pitcher Isac Bauer did have a shaky day on the mound hitting leadoff batters in the first and second inning and walking the leadoff batter in the third. Bauer did settle down and pitched his way out of the innings but Policarpio pulled Bauer in the top of the third when Franklin loaded the bases with two outs. Blaine Steele came to the rubber in a situation that can scare the heck out of any pitcher but Steele- an appropriate name- got the next Quaker batter to ground out preserving a 4-0 lead. Aidan Behar scored in the fifth when Merle rowan- Kennedy grounded out at first allowing Behar to race home from third and it was 5-0 Sealth.

By Charlie Ganong

In case you haven't noticed, a new fashion craze has clomped onto the scene. I'm speaking, of course, about women's boots. Today nearly every gal you see in West Seattle, Westwood Village or Burien is either a.) tightly encased in a pair of calf-hugging boots, b.) on a mission to buy (more) boots, or c.) distraught because her outfit clashes with her boots du jour.

I don't know how this craze got started or where it is headed. I only know that my spouse, BusyBee (last seen fashioning Bee Houses, Birdbaths and a bazillion other homespun creations), as desperately as she pines to clamber aboard the Boot-mobile, has resigned herself to the harsh reality that, due to the vagaries of anatomy, she simply cannot wear boots.

It's not for lack of effort (or footwork.) Lord knows she has dragged me through every shoe store around in search of the "Golden Calf"--that pair of boots that have the perfect look, feel and fit. "Well, how about this pair?" I say, tentatively waving before her, hoping beyond hope, what look like suitable contenders for the princess's magic slippers.

In advance of King County's plan to remove apartments and put in an underground storage tank for combined sewer overflows just east of Lowman Beach Park in West Seattle, Seattle firefighters will use the soon-to-be demolished homes for training purposes.

The tank, once finished, will store approximately one million gallons when the Murray Pump Station exceeds maximum capacity, according to King County. More information can be found at the project website.

Training will take place in two phases, one starting March 28 and another in April.

Here are the details from King County:

Yesterday afternoon (March 26) the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) notified King County that it had obtained the necessary permits to conduct training at the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Facility site across from Lowman Beach Park. The training will occur in two phases, the first of which will begin tomorrow Thursday 3/28, could extend into Friday 3/29.

West Seattle's Gabriel Marquez is an unusual man when it comes to his exercise routine. He walks. Okay, not that unusual. More than a mile. A lot of people do that. But Marquez does it in the waters of Puget Sound about once a week traveling from approximately a mile north of the Fauntleroy Ferry dock to the south end of Lincoln Park. He emerges and then runs, back north to his car and some warm, dry clothes.

Marquez said he used to do it, "all the time when I was a kid," but has only returned to the routine for about the past year.

According to the website Livestrong.com, "Water-walking or jogging burns 563 calories per hour if you weigh 155 pounds, and 654 calories an hour if you weigh 180 pounds."

That means it's very effective exercise and Marquez is obviously very fit. Why does he choose to walk and not swim? "I'm not a very good swimmer," he said laughing.

The walk takes him around 40 minutes, though he said his time right now is about 37 minutes. To make the soggy trek he wears a T-shirt, shorts and special nylon footgear that strap on with velcro, made for walking on rough underwater surfaces like rocks and coral.

Press release:

Burien Little Theatre announces auditions for the musical “Young Frankenstein,” written by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, with music and lyrics by Mel Brooks.

“Young Frankenstein” utilizes an ensemble cast of characters ranging in age from mid-20s through mid-50s. All parts are open and available and all actors are encouraged to audition.

Synopsis: IT'S ALIVE! A wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend based on Mel Brooks' classic 1974 comedy film masterpiece, the story follows bright young Dr. Frankenstein (that's Fronkensteen) as he attempts to complete his grandfather's masterwork and bring a corpse to life.

But this musical comedy hit, winner of the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award, is not without scary and hilarious complications. Accompanied by a live musical combo, the show includes such memorable tunes as "The Transylvania Mania," "He Vas My Boyfriend" and the famous "Puttin' On The Ritz.”

The New Year brought a new Seattle Police Southwest Precinct Commander to West Seattle ... sort of.

To be accurate, Captain Joe Kessler’s assignment to head the precinct was a return to an old job he held from 2008 to 2010, and one he said he hopes to hold until retirement at the West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ meeting on March 26.

It was just before Christmas when SPD Chief John Diaz asked the Captain if he’d be willing to return to West Seattle after being sent downtown in 2010 to head the West Precinct.

“I have to admit, I was really hesitant,” Kessler joked, “It took me about 30 seconds to say, ‘Yes, that’s a good idea.’”

Kessler said he turned down four other positions in favor of returning, and that “My hope is that this is where I’m going to be for the duration of my career.”

He told the room of block watch captains the decision was multi-faceted, based on the number of close friends he has in West Seattle, White Center and Burien, the good work of officers and detectives at the Southwest Precinct, and the vibrant block watch community West Seattle is known for throughout the city.

Compiled by Shara Wallace

Deadline for receiving items for Community Calendar is 5 p.m. Wednesday for the following week’s Times/News. Events are published based on timeliness and space availability. Email submissions to: hteditor@robinsonnews.com Items can be accepted from nonprofit groups and government agencies only. Others may call Dona Ozier at 206-708-1378 for inclusion in our “Out & About” advertising section.

Art Exhibits

Burien Community Center.--“A Sense of Place: In My Garden, Under the Sea – Four Highline Quilt Artists.” Featuring work of Marie O’Kelley, Carla Stehr, Sonia Grasvik and Linda Johanson. March 18-29. 14700 6th Ave. S.W. Admission is free.
Burien Community Center.--Paintings by Richard Jahn. 14700 6th Ave. S.W. Through March 31. Hours are Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Burien Town Square Retail Space.—S.W. 151st St. and 5th Pl. S.W. Works by Burien artist Don Liljar.
Normandy Park City Hall Council Chambers.—“No Boundaries 2013-Beginnings & Beyond.”

Two of West Seattle’s men in blue were honored in March as Officer’s of the Year for 2012 by the Seattle Police Officers' Guild for their work in ending the Ian Stawicki manhunt in May of that year.

Southwest Precinct Officer Scott Luckie and SPD Detective Scotty Bach were two of three officers honored at a recent guild event with the awards that are voted upon by peers who are members of the law enforcement labor union.

We reached out to Officer Luckie, who explained that the guild honors Officers of the Month throughout the year, and then looks at all those recipients to decide on Officer of the Year honors.

Carl Pearson was a force on the mound against the Garfield Bulldogs Monday afternoon at Whitman Middle School. The 6'6" senior right-hander dominated by striking out 8 batters and giving up only 3 hits, 1 run and 0 walks in the five inning complete game 'mercy rule' victory.

In high school baseball, when a team is ahead by at least ten runs after five innings, the game is ended. This is the first 'mercy rule' victory for the Beavers since last season's 14-2 play-off victory against the Inglemoor Vikings. On offense, the Beavers shortstop Ben Welch was on fire going 3 for 3, with 2 runs and 2 RBI's. Sophomore Alex Livengood was 2 for 2 on the day. Pearson was named 'Player of the Game' for his performance.

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