May 2013

The Westwood Village Street Fair is back on and set for Saturday, June 15 from 10am to 6pm. Mall management promises it will be "bigger and better" this year.

The event features vendor sales, food, live music, amusements, train rides and a beer garden plus community information booths.

Visitors will find:

Food truck vendors- Xplosive (Vietnamese & Filipino), 314 Pie Seattle, Moonie Icy Tunes Ice Cream, and Waffle Wagon.

And kids will enjoy:

• Wrecking Ball
• Bungee Trampoline Ride
• Dual Lane Slide
• Modular Obstacle Course
• Balloonist

Information from King County

On the 50th anniversary of the summiting of Mt. Everest by the first American, King County Executive Dow Constantine today honored fellow West Seattle native and legendary climber Jim Whittaker by announcing the renaming of trails in Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park for Mr. Whittaker and his climbing partner, Sherpa Nawang Gombu.

“Jim Whittaker’s achievement 50 years ago today remains a triumph of perseverance and teamwork,” said Executive Constantine. “It is an honor to recognize both Mr. Whittaker and Mr. Gombu on their historic accomplishment, and I hope it moves us all to get out and experience our own hiking and climbing opportunities closer to home.”

“I’m honored to have my name on a wilderness trail, and I encourage people to get outside and enjoy this magical planet,” said Whittaker.

On May 1, 1963, when Whittaker and Gombu reached the summit of 29,028-foot Mount Everest, they each set or foreshadowed a record: Whittaker was the first American to stand atop the world’s highest peak, and Gombu later became the first person to summit Everest twice.

Press release:

Who: Group Health Cooperative

What: Walk and Talk with Group Health Care providers. FREE monitored exercise and health tips program open to the community, Group Health members, and employees.

When: Friday, May 3 from11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., (ongoing Fridays each week at 12:15 p.m.)

Where: Group Health Burien Medical Center, North Annex, 140 S.W. 146th St., Burien, WA.

Why:
Here's how it works:
You meet with other walkers at a predetermined location (often indoors) for introductions, and a quick health tip from a member of the health team. If you’re new to the program, you’ll receive a pedometer to log your progress, a drawstring bag, and water bottle.
Everyone heads outside, rain or shine, to walk for 30 to 45 minutes. You walk at your own pace, for the distance you choose.
You are joined by Group Health doctors, nurses, medical assistants and Group Health staff.
Whether you’re just beginning to log steps on your pedometer, or are training to participate in your first walking event, Walk & Talk is an invigorating way to get health tips along with exercise.

State Rep. Dave Upthegrove (D-Des Moines) has formally announced he will run for the King County Council seat being vacated by Julia Patterson.

Patterson announced April 26 she will not seek re-election after serving 23 years in public office. She has served the SeaTac area in the SeaTac City Council, state Legislature and county council. Upthegrove has worked as her aide.

Patterson told the Highline Times May 1 that she is endorsing Upthegrove.

“He is extremely well prepared,” Patterson declared. “He’s a south county guy like I am a south county girl.”

Patterson said she is unaware of anyone else planning to run for her seat.

Here is an excerpt from Upthegrove’s press release:

Born and raised in South King County, Dave Upthegrove believes the best way he can give back is to deliver results.

Dave began his public service as Senior Legislative Assistant to then-Senator Julia Patterson (D-SeaTac).

In 2001, Dave was appointed unanimously by the King County Council to fill a legislative vacancy and has been elected by his community five times to represent them in Olympia.

The topic of dogs, heat and safety is particularly relevant as Seattle begins to experience temperatures reaching into the 80s and the West Seattle community reflects on the story of a dog left in an abandoned car at Westwood Village for nearly a week with no food, water or open windows.

The dog, Zipper, was rescued by Seattle Police and is now in the care of Seattle Animal Shelter while possible animal cruelty charges are assessed.

Regional Animal Services of King County sent out the following announcement on May 1 to remind pet owners about the importance of keeping our pets safe during the warmer months:

In Warm Weather, “Hot” Dogs Are Not Cool
Regional Animal Services of King County offers tips to keep pets safe in summerlike temperatures

With temperatures expected to top out near 80 degrees this weekend, Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) wants to remind pet owners to keep their furry friends safe and cool as our region heads toward summer.

Members of a new church in SeaTac are holding a street cleanup in their new city this Sunday.

The World Mission Society Church of God, located at 18435 42nd Ave. S. is sponsoring the cleanup. They will begin at noon along South 188th Street, go north on International Boulevard to South 176th Street and back to 42nd Avenue South. The event goes until 4 p.m.

The members are inviting other volunteers to join them.

“Living in a clean environment contributes much to a person’s well being and allows a much more pleasant life,” the church said in a press release.

For more information, contact Amanda Tello at 520-256-3142 or Deborah Kwon at 206-465-0255.

The City of Seattle is seeking youth, ages 13 to 19, to represent their demographic as part of Seattle's Youth Commission. For West Seattle youth looking to get involved in public service and have something very powerful for those higher education applications, this could be a great opportunity!

The deadline to apply is May 10 (next Friday), and information from Mayor Mike McGinn's office is found below:

Mayor Mike McGinn and the Seattle City Council are looking for applicants aged 13-19 interested in helping to represent the voices of the city’s youth to elected officials.

The Youth Commission provides young people with the opportunity to participate meaningfully in local government and ensure that their interests are represented, and it also provides the City’s elected officials with the opportunity to work with and receive input from teenagers throughout the year. Serving on the Youth Commission represents a one-year commitment, from June of 2013 to June of 2014.

Damage is estimated at $250,000 from an April 30 fire in the Sea-Tac Airport parking garage. The fire destroyed eight cars and damaged another 10.

Cause of the fire is believed to be mechanical failure in one of the vehicles. Airport staffers will attempt to identify owners through license plate numbers and notify them before they return to the airport.

Smoke from the fire closed one service tunnel and doors were closed in the north end but airport operations remained normal.

The Port of Seattle Fire Department first responded at 7 a.m. on April 30 to the fire on the garage’s sixth floor. Firefighters from the SeaTac Fire Department and other jurisdictions also responded.

Information from King County
King County is offering grant funding to support the cleanup and protection of the Lower Duwamish Waterway and nearby neighborhoods for a third straight year.

Community groups, schools, tribes and local governments are invited to apply for grants to fund environmental projects that align with King County’s goals to control combined sewer overflows (CSO), improve air quality, curb new and ongoing sources of pollution in the Duwamish, and make improvements to water quality.

To promote community partnerships, King County encourages applicants to pursue collaborative projects.

A total of $108,000 in grant funding is available in 2013, with a maximum award of $50,000 per applicant. Grant applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, June 7.

Projects eligible for funding include structural projects or educational programs. Examples of projects include:
Stormwater controls and best management practices that prevent contaminated stormwater from entering the river.
Enhancing shoreline habitat through plantings of native vegetation and softening shoreline armoring.

Yesterday, Michael "Mikey" Hall, who had been homeless and was in his late 50s, died during the St. Luke Episcopal Church's breakfast program yesterday. He was a regular of the program.

To the best of Pastor Robert Laird's knowledge, Hall had collapsed in the restroom around 9 a.m. When it was discovered he was non-responsive, paramedics were called, but attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

"Mikey was a beloved member of the community and his passing was grieved by many people, both in the homeless community in Ballard and in the church."

Laird said he did not know much about Hall's past.

Jean Darsie, of the Ballard Community Task Force on Homelessness and Hunger, said volunteers were very saddened by the event.

"It has shaken people up pretty bad -- especially the volunteers who work so consistently to serve meals to help people -- to have someone die right there," she said.

We will update the article when we get more information.

Zachariah Bryan can be reached at zachb@robinsonnews.com

Follow Ballard News-Tribune on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ballardnewstrib