October 2013

By Holly Brown

Fall is the perfect time to try a German or Bavarian cuisine inspired menu. On a recent trip to Germany, I discovered fabulous food, wonderful wine, and enjoyed German Bier. I missed Oktoberfest in Munich by a matter of days, so I decided to throw an Oktoberfest party when I returned home. Happily, I was able to recreate the dishes I enjoyed so much in Germany. My Oktoberfest Party was lively, fun, and delicious! If that sounds like fun to you, read on for décor, menu, and recipe tips for a Bavarian Bash you can host!

My Oktoberfest menu includes schnitzel, spätzle, sausage, and strudel. You can find all my German Party Food recipes on TheBrownLounge.com. You’ll discover traditional recipes you can make at home. Of course, no Bavarian meal is complete without sausage. So, I took a trip to Pike Place Market and visited Uli’s Famous Sausage for his gourmet, handmade sausages.

FRIDAY, OCT. 25

Boys and Girls Club 9th Annual BBQ and Auction

What: Proceeds from this years event, Field of Dreams, will go for a new field renovation and scholarships for Boys & Girls Club Kids. The target date for completion is spring of 2014. This is your chance to impact current and future generations of children that will attend the Boys and Girls Club.

Where: Ballard Boys and Girls Club (1767 NW 64th St)

When: 5:30-9:30 p.m.

More info: http://ballard.positiveplace.org/

10 Days to Happiness

What: When do hilarity, torture, and enlightenment go together? When comic actor and award-winning playwright Donna Rae Davidson attends a ten-day silent meditation retreat (Vipassana), that’s exactly what happens! The result is 10 Days to Happiness, a zany, introspective comedy about discovering peace in the midst of internal conflict and angst.
Where: Amazing Grace Spiritual Center (2007 NW 61st)

When: 8 p.m.

More info: http://10daystohappiness.com/

Salmon Bay Eagles Music

What: Kami's Karaoke

Where: Salmon Bay Eagles Club (5216 20th Ave NW)

An impressive showing of elected officials showed up in White Center on Oct. 25 to celebrate and speak on the completion of 177 affordable housing apartments (known as Fairwind) at Seola Gardens, located on 5th Ave. S.W. just east of Lakewood Park.

We’ll get to those statements soon, but first we’d like to share the words of Neva Ellison-Long, a resident at Seola.

“I am honored to be here today,” Ellison-Long said as emotion rose in her voice. “I really and truly do appreciate everything that every person in this room, from the biggest to the littlest, has done for me and my family.”

Ellison-Long had a speech prepared but decided to crumple it up and shove it into her pocket, opting instead to speak from her heart.

“I am legally blind and I have three children … my husband Tyrone is here with me, we have been married for 17 years, my special needs son is Julius Long (who was also in attendance). Seola Gardens is the best in my book, no matter what … you have made a difference in my life.”

Liquor thief caught at Crown Hill store

Oct. 18, 8:57 p.m., 8300 Block of 15th Ave NW -- A man with a $5,000 theft warrant was booked into King County Jail after he tried to steal three liquor bottles from a store in Crown Hill.

The first witness was able to recognize him from the six or seven open theft investigations he had. They didn't know his name. The witness saw him grab a handbasket and place miscellaneous merchandise in it, per his M.O. He then took three bottles of liquor and walked over to the bakery section, concealed them in his messenger bag, and walked out the store without paying for them. The handbasket was left behind.

Two witnesses contacted him outside and identified themselves. There was a brief struggle -- the suspect flailed his arms, tried to run away and tried to reach for something in his pocket -- but was brought under control. (Police later found that the suspect had a pocket knife on him.)

The suspect was brought up into the office and 911 was called. The witnesses and suspect were not injured during the minor altercation.

Update for Oct. 29
The 34-year-old man accused of allegedly touching himself inappropriately while parked outside Chief Sealth International High School on Oct. 25 was originally facing charges at Seattle Municipal Court, but Kirotv.com first reported his case is being referred to the King County Prosecutor's Office where he could be charged with misdemeanor indecent exposure.

A KCPO spokesperson told the Herald their office received the case file this afternoon, but no charging decision has been made. She added there is no charging deadline as the suspect is not waiting in jail.

Police have not announced any connections between this incident and others over the past several weeks outside West Seattle elementary schools.

The suspect in this case is out on bail.

Original post on Oct. 25
Seattle police have arrested a 34-year-old man for allegedly masturbating inside his vehicle while parked outside Chief Sealth International High School on the morning of Oct. 25.

King County Housing Authority is celebrating the completion of their final 87 low-income apartements at Seola Gardens in White Center.

Here is the announcement:

The King County Housing Authority, residents and partners will celebrate the rebirth of this neighborhood at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 25. The community-based event will be held outdoors at Seola Gardens, west of Fairwind Park and north of the community center, located at 11215 5th Ave. Southwest, in White Center.

Congressman Jim McDermott, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Councilmember Joe McDermott, and others will be on hand for the festivities.

For those interested in learning more about the project, KCHA's Rhonda Rosenberg provided the following background:

AARP is teaming up with state and local officials in Washington to fight back against fraud targeting our seniors who, according to a 2011 AARP survey, are much more likely to be targets of scam artists than the rest of the population.

That poll claims 81 percent of investment fraud victims and 84 percent of lottery fraud victims that year were over the age of 55.

Unveiled at the Museum of Flight on Oct. 23, Attorney General Bob Ferguson, King County Sheriff John Urquhart, AARP officials and consumer fraud experts announced the launch of a statewide “Fraud Launch Network” to help seniors learn about the myriad ways scam artists can pillage their bank accounts, and connect them with resources to stay safe when approached by a potentially bogus offer.

By Marjorie Young

I recently saw ‘Gravity,’ the stunning new film by Mexican writer/director Alfonso Cuaron. It proved unforgettable, not only for the superb performances and visual effects, but even more so for its spiritual themes. Of course, the ‘message’ is in the eye of the beholder, just as ‘beauty’ is said to be.

Here, I’ll issue a SPOILER ALERT! Anyone planning to see the film may not want to read further.

The story of ‘Gravity’ is starkly simple. Two astronauts, a novice ‘Ryan’ (Sandra Bullock) and the gregarious veteran Matt (George Clooney) are repairing the Hubble Telescope, 400 miles above earth. They become stranded when unexpected debris destroys their craft. Cut off from communications, their space suits will soon run out of oxygen. Their only hope is to reach the damaged Space Station, or, even more implausibly, find their way to a Chinese orbiting outpost some distance away.

Dear West Seattle Herald,

Betwen the times of 11pm-4am on 10/24/13 my house at 3204 SW Graham Street was robbed while my mother and sisters were in the house. The car keys were taken along with the TV's, laptops and most importantly a 4x4 silver Toyota RAV4 was stolen from the house.

The license of the silver Toyota is 1800 ZUU.

We assume they got into the house through the window. My mom looked around and saw many belongings missing, such as keys and a TV. They gave the house an inspection to see if the thieves were still there. Once the police arrived fingerprints were taken but gloves were predicted to be used in this robbery.

If you've seen the truck please call 911.

Kwan Nguyen

By David Rosen

After years of being replaced by a giant T for Tully's Coffee a totally new and classic Rainier "R" was placed atop the old Rainier Brewery Building in Sodo Thursday night. The new "R" was built by Western Neon. Over 1000 people turned out for this historic event including Mayor Mike McGinn, King County Executive Dow Constantine and the Seafair Pirates. The event saw the massive neon landmark go up around 7pm to the cheers of those below. The history of the Rainier Beer brand was celebrated in memoribilia on display and the presence of the famous "Rainbeers" , costumed characters dressed as beers, made famous in the 70's in a series of TV commercials. Justin Fraher was the main man behind weeks of frame bending and constructing of the new sign.