May 2013

By Georgie Bright Kunkel

We often think that life should begin with loving parents and progress onward and upward, right? But that is not how it always happens. Sometimes we move inward for a time and it takes trust in people and the world outside ourselves to reach out and become what we are destined to become. Much of what we are is what is in our genes but the part of us that can be molded is still there to use--to bend and twist into what we end up with as adults.

Parts of my being did not fully emerge until a little later in life but that being was always there, ready to unfurl like the tendrils of a plant reaching for the sun. Then nothing could stop me thinking about the world in broad terms as if everyone on earth was waiting for me to unfold. There were hints of what I was to become very early and even if I didn’t know it myself, I was evidencing my spirit—my “what I wanna be” talents. Even they were somewhat skewed and not evenly distributed but I was able to use them instinctively without appreciating what I really had inside me.

By Kyra-lin Hom

I want to start off by saying, my goodness, the weather has been gorgeous lately! An uncanny amount of sun, a bit of precipitation to remind us, yes, we do still live in the northwest – indeed, I do call that gorgeous. I get a little bit of downtime in the afternoon right after classes, and I've been spending it lounging in the back seat of my car with the windows down, sun and a soft breeze, a good book in hand until I inevitably have to leave for my next destination. Perhaps it's a little vagrant-like, but I enjoy it. It's not quite enough time for me to get anything done so it's the perfect excuse for a bit of lazy afternoon. A nice break from all the crazy, so to speak. What's the latest crazy, you ask? I'll tell you: grad school. I set my deadline, and it's fast approaching.

(To clarify for those who may be familiar with application deadlines, I'm applying for spring 2014.)

The Redhead was at the coffee table looking at some ads in the paper. From the kitchen, where I am king, I asked her what she wanted for dinner. I am the cook. She is the diner.

"Why don't you just go down to Spud and get us some fish and chips? That way the kitchen will stay clean."

That's one of her things. I do the kitchen chores. But when it is clean, she wants it to always be that way, like in a magazine photo.

"I don't want to spend the money," I countered. "Besides, I can whip up a Bolognese in no time."

"Uhh," she said. I don't really know what that means. But I hear it a lot. It is her stock answer to a lot of questions.

So I said "What do you mean?" You don't like Bolognese? I have some nice Italian sausage, a good sauce, a beautiful yellow onion…"

"Pasta," she interrupted without looking up.

"Pasta? Yes, the sauce goes on penne. You know. Those short wide tubes."

"That's what I'm talking about. Pasta isn't good for you. Aren't you the one who told me about 'Wheat Belly?

"Yes. I'm the one. But I'm not ready to believe it. I need more evidence."

"Look in the mirror," she said.

Last week, Renee Erickson and partners announced their latest venture: Barnacle, a wine bar and restaurant that will act as a kind of supplemental extension to the perpetually busy Walrus and the Carpenter.

According to the announcement, made via Facebook, Barnacle will feature an extensive selection of wines by the glass, house-made charcuterie, seafood offerings, tartines, cheeses, beer and old world cocktails. The restaurant will seat 25 at a long bar and a private banquet.

Seattle Met has more details. Writer Allecia Vermillion, who talked to Erickson, says Barnacle will be taking over part of the Dutch Bike Co. (moving to a new, more spacious location on Leary Ave) and will act in part as a waiting space for Walrus. If you've ever tried to go to Walrus, you'll know there's often an hour-plus wait.

West Seattle Garden Club at Daystar Retirement Village
2615 SW Barton St. Bldg # 1
206- 932-2540
FRI.,May 24, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Registration ($5 Donation) with half hour Social Time. Morning Program begins with Business, Past Presidents Honor Day, Presentation of Outgoing Officers and Installation of new Officers, Commentary follows on Designs and Horticulture exhibits. Lunch at noon, by reservation or bring your brown bag, with dessert and beverage furnished. (206-932-8921) information.

Afternoon Program will be given by Marsha Bruno, from West Seattle Nursery, she will be sharing with us every thing we ever wanted to know about "Container Gardening"! Plants Pots, placement and more. Gardeners welcome.

3rd Women, Wine & Wellness Event
Roxbury Spine & Wellness Clinic
2656 S.W. Roxbury St.

Sustainable West Seattle is holding a special event on May 18 to create what they call a "Presto Garden" at Westcrest P-Patch located at 8th Ave. SW and SW Henderson. The event will run from 1 to 5pm.

Previous Successful Gardening with Nature forums have resulted in greater knowledge that will be applied to the creation of this Permaculture community oriented garden. It's output will go directly to the White Center Foodbank.
Update 1:30pm May 16

Volunteers are needed for planting the Presto Garden and refreshments will be provided. Contact Sustainable West Seattle if you have any questions at info@sustainablewestseattle.org.

Where:
Westcrest Park P-Patch Community Garden at 9000 8th Ave SW at Henderson - follow the road to the top of the hill and park by the playground. The P-Patch is next to the play area.
When:
Saturday May 18th from 1-5 pm
The following donations are being made to help complete the garden in a single day:

• Perennial vegetables – provided by Village Green Nursery

• Compost – provided by Alki Bike and Board

• Vegetable starts – provided by West Seattle Nursery

The sign on Angelo’s Hair Salon at Tallman Ave is down and in the window is a piece of paper that says “Chinso pisolino” -- Italian for “gone for little nap.”

The two Angelos are no longer working as the two Angelos. The older Angelo, or “the good Angelo,” is retiring at the age of 70, after 25 years of running the iconic neighborhood salon. He bought a house with his wife in Redmond to be closer to the grandkids, Lars and Allegra.

The younger Angelo, Angelo Sacco (or as he says, “the baaaad Angelo”) -- who had been at the salon for 10 years -- has already landed on his feet with a job at the Sweet Lily Salon (3000 NW Market St). Sacco said he’s happy to be working with Sweet Lily’s owner, Erin, because they both have the same vision of having an outdoor patio, an organic garden and a zen feeling. Sacco said he will be seeing a lot of the older Angelo’s clients.

“She has a beautiful vision for that space,” Sacco said.

Due to eagles devastating their eggs, all 90 heron roosts in the Kiwanis Ravine have been completely abandoned.

“Eagles are opportunists,” said Heron Habitat Helpers (HHH) monitor Pam Cahn, who has been witnessing the heron displacement since February. “It’s available, you got an egg on a nest, they can see it as they fly over.”

Now, you can see the herons nesting in Commodore Park, on the Magnolia side of the Ballard Locks. It’s a rare opportunity to see herons -- birds that usually try to stay hidden -- up close and personal. Whereas there were six heron nests two weeks ago, there are now 40. As you sit in the park, you can see herons frantically rebuilding nests in an attempt to lay another clutch of eggs before its too late.

“There is just a frenzy of nest building here,” Cahn marveled as she watched the herons flying every which way.

This year, many of the herons will be having a late season as young won’t hatch until August. Usually, but not necessarily, a great majority of eggs will hatch much sooner.

UPDATE 11:21pm
Thecause of a West Seattle vacant house fire at 6357 36th Ave SW was "spontaneous combustion of improperly disposed of stain rags," according to the Seattle fire Department. Damage done was estimated at $30,000.

Original Post
Shortly after 8pm on Sunday May 12 a fire at the corner of 36th and Morgan broke out in house that according to neighbors has been boarded up and a nuisance for months. Seattle Firefighters arrived quickly and knocked down the flames.

The house, according to neighbor Andrew McCarty, has been vacant for months.
See our previous coverage of this nuisance house here and here.

The marine mammal education and protection organization Seal Sitters was on the job on Sunday when, after getting a call around 10:30 am about a seal pup on Point Williams, where Colman Pool is located, the first responder confirmed a pup was present on the beach and put up yellow tape. The tape establishes a safe zone for the seals who come to rest on the beach.

The Seal Sitters volunteers estimated that the pup was approximately 9 months old. "Pups are weaned at 4-6 weeks of age and often struggle to survive their first winter and spring," said Seal Sitters Robin Lindsey, and reach sexual maturity in 3 to 7 years. They can be found along the Pacific coast of North America from Alaska to California. They are also found in Asia and Europe.

When they do come on shore it is to rest and warm up. Their presence on the beach is not unusual, even for many hours. Their mother may be out gathering food or it's possible the pup is weaned and is on its own.

Seal Sitters advises that you stay 100 yards away and that you should never feed, touch or pick up a seal. Also please keep dogs away from seals on the beach.