May 2013

Press release:

My name is Debi Wagner and I’m running for Burien City Council Position #3. I would like to tell you a little about who I am and why I’m running.

I believe it’s time to reform Burien city government, make it accountable, transparent and responsive. Citizens need to be heard. This isn’t happening with the current council majority.

Public safety needs to be a top priority along with jump starting our local economy. Burien’s businesses need to be revitalized and new ones need to be recruited.

Environmental protection and Town Square need to be an important part of Burien’s planning. With years of experience in financial management and environmental issues, I have the knowledge and skills to guide Burien during these critical economic times.

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

She noticed a low, slurping noise and saw me chin down at the counter licking my shirt.

"Just getting some crumbs off my shirt. A hunk of kiwi jam your mother made fell off the piece of cornbread I was eating and got on my shirt. "

"Well get a napkin!"

"A shirt is just a napkin you wear," I said.

The Redhead did a combination eye-roll and head shake that only women know how to do.

I don't care. It's my shirt and I can use it any way I like.

"It's not one of my good shirts."

Changing the subject… "Okay. So, what can I fix you for dinner?"

"What is there?"

I opened the fridge. "There's cheese, and some cold pasta and…some of those little tomatoes and..I think there are some shrimp in the freezer. I could sauté some shrimp in garlic butter, white wine and those tomatoes with a little chiffonade of spinach. How does that sound?

"That sounds okay." She spoke from her command post in a leather La-Z-Boy in the family room. "Try not to get any sauce on your shirt…" she added with a twist of the TV remote.

"Those are harsh words to throw at a man who spent the night with you."

As of May 17, Emerald City Trolley is making the rounds in Ballard.

No, it's not the high capacity transit that residents have been waiting for for years, but it is one of few tour companies to make its way out of the downtown core and give neighborhoods such as Ballard and Fremont some love.

In addition to all of the traditional sightseeing stops -- such as EMP, the Space Needle, the Aquarium, Pier 66 -- the trolley will have a north line that comes up and explores Fremont, the Woodland Park Zoo, downtown Ballard and the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. In addition, there will be two other lines exploring other parts of the city.

“We’re thrilled to launch the trolley network and think it will add a great deal of enjoyment for tourists and locals who want to experience the highlights of Seattle at their leisure,” said Howard Wright, founder and CEO of the Emerald City Trolley. “By hopping-on and hopping-off, our guests will have the ability to explore Seattle in new ways –- whether it is the Zoo, Aquarium, Pioneer Square, Ballard Locks or the Seattle Art Museum.”

Hair salon ripped off
West Seattle’s Ola Salon on Avalon Way was broken into sometime Wednesday night, May 15, and the unknown suspects stole an estimated $25,000 worth of cash, tools of the hairdressing trade and computers. Strangely, instead of ransacking the place and leaving everything in disarray, the crooks politely closed drawers after removing items from them, and left the place seemingly untouched until a closer inspection revealed the loss. Police continue to investigate and look for tips.

Technology gives front row seat to burglary
The owner of a home on the 4700 block of 46th Ave. S.W. was at work in the early afternoon May 10 when his phone alerted him that his basement surveillance cameras had just been activated. From his phone, the victim watched a male suspect enter the basement carrying a backpack and wearing gloves. The victim called police and they responded, but the suspect was gone by the time they arrived. Surveillance footage was able to pick up “high quality” images of the suspect that were submitted into evidence along with a fingerprint found on the outer sill of the entry point window.

From SPD Blotter

An officer on patrol in North Seattle was struck by a hit and run drunk driver early this morning on 3rd Avenue Northwest.

At approximately 3:12 a.m. a uniformed patrol officer in a fully-marked Seattle Police car was driving northbound in the 6700 block of 3rd Avenue NW when the suspect driver suddenly cut across 3rd Avenue NW traveling westbound and collided with the police car. The female suspect/driver then fled the scene. The suspect was located soon afterward at 15th Avenue NW and NW Market Street and taken into custody.

The suspect was processed for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Neither the officer nor the suspect were injured in the incident.

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Multicultural Day Fundraiser
Breath of Life SDA Church
9807 26th Ave. S.W.
206-762-0333 or 206-462-5866
Sun., May 26, 2-4 p.m. Come join us as we celebrate and learn about each others uniqueness. We will share music, songs, food, laughter and love. If you would like to present your country and culture please contact us to register.

Earthrise Chamber Choir Concert: Women Poets and Composers
Westside Unitarian Universalist Chapel
7141 California Ave. S.W.
Fri., May 31, 7:30 p.m. “The Tree of Life — Women Poets and Composers” concert focuses on works by Emily Dickenson, Ysaye Barnwell, Pauline Oliveros, Catherine Dalton, and others. Tickets at www.BrownPaperTickets.com : $15 in advance or $18 at the door. Information: Bert Gulhaugen, earthrise@wsuu.org or 206-851-3518.

Arbor Heights Elementary Spring Carnival
Arbor Heights Gym, Cafeteria & Playground
3701 S.W. 104th St.

By Kyra-lin Hom

I love that we in West Seattle do an official Community Garage Sale Day. Whoever decided to get that started near a decade ago, very nice. Consider this my vote for more and varied community events in the future.

I've always loved going to garage sales. Ever since I was old enough to handle money, I was all about the deals and steals, the second hand stores, the bargain boutiques and the antique malls. For a little kid, it was treasure hunting. Plus I used to make up stories about all the neat things I'd find. This piece of costume jewelry bestowed magical powers on its wearer. That cup once belonged to foreign royalty. Why, even this bizarre trinket that did who knew what was probably something from an advanced alternative dimension – no one's ever accused me of not having an imagination.

As I grew up and really started bargain hunting, it became a game. The more you know, the more likely you are to find a true 'diamond in the rough' (thank you, Disney's Aladdin) not just a pretend one. My dad is great at it and takes it very seriously. For me, like I said, I just like to play.

By Georgie Bright Kunkel

Last fall was the 40th anniversary of the state Equal Rights Amendment but not many people realized it. It went by without a blip on a radar screen since it didn’t have the priority that bringing a male basketball team to Seattle has. In the late sixties I sat on a state commission which went through the state laws to eliminate sexist content. However, sexist titles were not touched. Recently there was an attempt to change these sexist titles and this was met with anger and calling those who wanted to make these changes feminazis. Shades of the sixties and the backlash against women insisting on change in a man’s world.

Residents who fall into the Seattle Police Department’s North Precinct, which includes the Ballard area, may soon see a new police station.

According to the city of Seattle, the existing North Precinct Police Station, built in 1984 to house 154 staff and now home to 254, is badly overcrowded and there is not enough space available to adequately expand it on its current site.

Now, Mayor Mike McGinn and the City Council are accelerating the process to create a new station.

In September 2012, as part of the budgeting process, Mayor Mike McGinn proposed doing the planning required in 2013 to acquire land for a new station in 2014. The City Council accepted the Mayor's proposal and accelerated the schedule by moving funding from 2014 to 2013 to support activities related to planning and site acquisition.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

One road trip paid off in another for the West Seattle baseball team.

The Wildcats won two loser-out games in a row at the Mount Vernon Dream Field on Saturday to earn their way into the state Class 3A semifinals in Pasco.

West Seattle opened regional action in Mount Vernon with a 6-0 win over nearby Ferndale, then defeated Bonney Lake, 7-2, to clinch the semifinal berth.

Next up the Wildcats will face Mount Si in the 10 a.m. semifinal at GESA Stadium in Pasco this coming Friday.

The winner goes on to play for the state 3A championship against the 1 p.m. Kennewick vs. Auburn Mountainview winner Saturday.

The losers of those games will play for third and fourth place, also on Saturday at GESA Stadium.