May 2013

By Georgie Bright Kunkel

Let’s forget predominately male sports stadium madness for a while and concentrate on neighborhoods. I have stopped pruning my rhododendrons out front so they will shade my view of the proliferation of technology on the power pole outside my front window. And younger people are replacing the old neighbors that I once had coffee with when my children were growing up. (Well actually, I don’t drink coffee much but we always called these get-togethers, coffee klatches.) I was one of the few women who worked outside my home when I was not actually in the act of childbearing. You have already heard me complain about the fact that when women left the farming communities they were no longer expected to “work” even though they had always worked on the farm—helping to put in and harvest crops, cooking for harvest crews, making clothes and preserving food for the winter.

With the National Film Festival for Talented Youth now behind them, the students of Ballard High School's video production class is at it again.

Three shorts by ten Ballard High School video students have won two of the major prizes and an Honorable Mention at the Dominique Dunne Film Competition in Colorado Springs. The competition, which was one of the first events in the nation to showcase the work of young filmmakers, awards only four prizes: two for Documentary, and two for Dramatic Narrative. Only schools with outstanding film programs were invited to participate, and each school was limited to just four entries.

By Holly Brown

Some of my fondest childhood and family dining memories have been around Mexican food. Growing up, I ate out frequently with my mom. She always ordered Chile Relleno and a Margarita.  I always filled up on chips and salsa! I can still recall the aroma of handmade tortillas at one of our favorite restaurants. The simple pleasure of a warm tortilla, spread with melted butter, along with salty warm chips and spicy salsa still makes me smile. My first job was even at a Mexican restaurant, so I honed my palette with taste treats like tamales, enchiladas, tacos, camarones, and my personal favorite, fajitas.  Of course when I turned 21, I quickly learned to love a good Top Shelf Margarita as well!

My kids love Mexican food too. So it was natural and lots of fun for me to experiment with and learn about classic Mexican dishes we could all enjoy together at home. Mexican Dishes typically feature ingredients with heat and spice like:

- Chipotle pepper, which is actually just a jalapeno that’s been dried and smoked. Chipotle has a distinctive flavor that goes well in many sauces and salsas. It’s also the primary flavor in Adobo.

Washington State Ferries announced on Saturday, May 4 that no left hand turns will be be allowed into the terminal from 2pm to 6pm, Monday through Friday during the Barton Street Pump Station Upgrade. Exceptions are made for Vanpool and Carpools.

They also announced that customers lining up along Fauntleroy Way SW should note that the ferry queue continues along road at the gas station at the north end of Lincoln Park; it does not go down 47th Ave. SW toward the beach. They warned that line cutting is against state law and subject to a fine of up to $124.

You can report line-cutters by calling 877-764-HERO. All violators are logged and receive a warning letter.

Multiple violations result in further action.

SLIDESHOW

Vaisakhi, the annual Sikh festival is celebrated worldwide, and, in this case, at the ShoWare Center in Kent Saturday, May 4. Featured were prayer, music, exhibits, food, demonstrations, and a parade. Vaisakhi Day marks the new year for the Sikh community & is historically the festival of spring harvest in Punjab, India. Over 3,000 attended the ShoWare event, many from Burien, SeaTac and Tukwila.

Gurdwara (place of worship) Singh Sabha of Renton sponsored and organized the festival.

"All the communities got involved," said Burien resident Gurdev Singh Mann, President, Gurudwara Singh Sabha of Renton, WA., serving 25,000 Sikhs. "People from the Hindu, Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities were invited. Government officials came. I'm very happy."

Many know Gurdev Singh Mann as the owner of the South Park 76 Gas Station just south of the South Park Bridge on 14th Ave. S. He was an outspoken advocate for the new South Park Bridge and his business slowed down when the old bridge was closed.

International High School and Chief Sealth High School took the match down to the wire as they faced off in the annual Carne Asada soccer match on Friday May 3.

Three minutes into the first half Alexis Zarate got the Seahawks on the board on a crossing in front of the goal for a 1-0 lead. At the 28 minute mark Sealth would score again from a shot by Mid-fielder Eric Swensen.

International High players fought hard throughout the first half. They were faster than the Seahawks and had more shots on goal than Sealth but were hindered by having to try and score into a stiff wind from the north. That would change for International in the second half. Attacking the south goal International was able to use their speed to get the ball down field quickly and put pressure on coach Ron Johnsons squad.

The ability to get the ball over the defense quickly paid off in the twelfth minute of the second half on a goal by Ricardo Hernandez when he got behind the defender for an unobstructed shot. Hernandez would score less than two minutes later on a similar type of play to tie the game at two all with twenty five minutes left in regulation.

West Seattle based theater company ArtsWest is holding their 14th Annual Gala and Auction: A Splash of Color on June 8 at the Seattle Design Center. The facility is located at 5701 6th Avenue South.

They promised "a fabulous dinner, live performances, and silent and live auctions."

They are hoping to raise $85,000 to support the theater, gallery and education programs.

On the menu for the evening are:

• Grilled Northwest Salmon Fillet with Smoked Tomato Roasted Corn and Arugula Relish
• Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Green Peppercorn Sauce
• Leek and Butternut Squash Galette with Balsamic Drizzle (vegetarian)

The event is sponsored by Union Bank.

To register for the event visit the registration form here.

The Gathering of Neighbors brought the community out to share information, enjoy some entertainment and to get to know one another on Saturday May 4 as community organizations tabled, and visited with people.

The morning consisted of breakout sessions talking about community issues such as neighborhood beautification, how to strengthen communities, and emergency preparedness.

Organizations on hand to raise awareness ranged from West Seattle Be Prepared, to the Southwest Seattle Historical Society.
Pete Spalding was there representing his effort to "re-imagine" Delridge Way. Spalding along with Matt McBride are working on gathering public opinion as to the future of North Delridge to be presented when the next levy is in development. His goal is to secure funding to improve the area. Also coming up on May 18 from 10am to 2pm is your opportunity to Paint Out and Spring Clean on Delridge. If you'd like to help contact David Bestock at 935-2099 or david@youngstownarts.org. Refreshments and supplies will be included.

By Maggie Nicholson

The old man’s fingers bent and arched the strings of the guitar. His hands moved like canoes along the instrument. Each string was a river. Rick Novito, a child then, looked up at the man. His round eyes shined like little moons. Rick was visiting his parents’ friends, the Villa’s. The Villa family had three sons. Rick and the youngest son, Joe, became close friends as children. They played guitar together, switching between relatives’ homes. As they aged, they continued to play together. Joe, like Rick, became an immaculate guitarist.

King County’s new Sheriff John Urquhart is making significant changes to the way his deputies operate, and we’ll get into that in a bit, but the primary question for White Center and North Highline residents attending a public safety forum on May 2 was, “What is going to happen to our storefront deputy?”

“I will do everything I can to keep BJ (Myers) in this storefront,” Urquhart responded, followed by a round of cheers from the crowd at the forum put on by the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council.

Funding set aside for the storefront position by the King County Council in 2011 is set to expire at the end of 2013, meaning money needs to be set aside in the budget King County Executive Dow Constantine is currently working on now.

Urquhart, who worked in Burien and North Highline as a narcotics detective during part of his long tenure with KCSO, said finding the money for White Center’s dedicated beat cop and community liaison depends on support from a “three-legged stool” of Constantine, county council, and the Sheriff himself.