July 2014

by Ken Robinson
Managing Editor

I just had to laugh. When I learned that the first person in line at Cannabis City was a 65-year-old woman from Ballard, and that about 80 other buyers, hipsters in skinny-leg jeans, were lined up too, I had to laugh because it meant that none of them have a connection.

The legalization of marijuana has taken all the fun out of being paranoid. Now, if you have a pipe and a baggie of weed under the seat of your car, and are stopped by a cop he might say instead "I hope you have some weed on you. It's legal, you know."

In the sixties, many people who are now close to 70 smoked pot. I (I personally did not have the money or inclination to do so, but pot was readily available. One had not trouble getting it).

So it is amusing to see people lined up to buy it retail. There is no longer a need to act furtively, smoked in secret, or make any attempt to hide it.

GET YOUR NON PROFIT EVENT LISTED HERE FOR FREE. SEND EMAIL TO CALENDAR@ROBINSONNEWS.COM

27th Annual Mediterranean Fantasy Festival
Hiawatha Community Center
2700 California Ave. S.W.
Sat., July 19, 11:00-7pm & Sun., July 20, 11-5pm. Free Entry. Two stages, dancing and shopping, great vendors and great food. The longest running Belly Dance Festival in the Pacific NW, Raqs Sharqi and Raqs Baladi.

Discovery Shop
4535 California Ave. S.W.
206 937 7169

By Kyra-lin Hom

To address an issue from my last column (the Supreme Court decision regarding cell phone searches): No, I don't believe it's right for criminals to get off on technicality. However, as soon as we start administering arbitrary law we start playing God. Our legal system is frustrating, and it doesn't always end up with the good guys riding into the sunset. It is not always 'right,' and it certainly isn't perfect. But it is, at core, stable and reliable – necessary foundations for a nation the size of ours.

I haven't always felt this way. Not by far. It wasn't until I actually started (collegiately) studying law and criminology that I realized our system isn't the broken mess we casually think it is. I still believe our nation would benefit from a rough scrub brush, but I now understand why that isn't practical.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

It will be a long road back for the West Seattle Major Little League baseball team, even if the drive remains short.

The squad of age 11-12 players fell into the loser's bracket of the Washington state tournament it is hosting on its own diamonds at the Bar-S complex with an 8-4 loss to Federal Way on Sunday afternoon.

West Seattle now must win five games in five days just to get to Saturday's championship action, then would have to beat its opponent twice.

So the only way the team can take the state title and advance to Western Regional action in San Bernardino, Calif. is to win seven games in a row.

The road through the loser's bracket begins with a 3 p.m. game Monday.

West Seattle had opened the tournament with a 21-8 victory over Camas on Saturday.

Friday July 18 marks the launch of the the Delridge Grocery Farmstand. Open from 4:30-7:30 every Friday at 5435 Delridge Way SW two doors south of the library, across the street from their future full-service grocery location on Delridge Way.

The launch party will feature free lemonade at the farmstand, and a fun comedy event afterwards from 8-12 at the Skylark restaurant and lounge.

Join the Canning Club!
Do you like canning pickles and jams to save for the winter? Join Friday Farmstand Canning Club and get first crack and discount prices on bulk quantities of leftover produce.

To sign up, email Farmstand Manager Ariana at taylorstanley@gmail.com with your name and phone number. You must be available to pick-up produce after the farmstand, at 7:30 on Fridays.

Need a lesson in canning? Check out offerings from Seattle Tilth or Delridge’s own Little Red Hen Project

West Seattle opened the Majors age 11-12 state Little League baseball all-star tournament by outscoring Camas, 21-8 Saturday.

The tournament on West Seattle's own home fields at the Bar-S complex above Alki Point continues Sunday.
West Seattle will face Federal Way in a 12 p.m. winner's bracket game.

The tournament continues through Saturday, July 19 with the winner advancing to Western Regional action in San Bernardino, Calif.

The regional winner goes to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn.

A fire call went out for a full response to fire on the top floor on a small deck of an apartment building at 3703 California Ave. SW. around 11pm on Saturday July 12.

According to scanner traffic the call was scaled back but still, a huge response was made even though it was a reasonably small event from all appearances.

It meant the apartment/mixed use building had to be evacuated and dozens of people in nightwear were out on the sidewalk as firefighters went through an apartment in the middle of the floor of the complex.

It's the address on the first floor of Chiropractors Junction.

No damage estimate or cause has been announced.

The WSHS Cheer Squad will be having 5 consecutive car washes over the next 5 Saturdays, starting 7/12, from 10-3pm at West Seattle Autoworks at the corner of 35th Ave. S.W. and S.W. Webster.

They are fundraising for this year's uniforms and camp. The cheer program is not a funded sport from the school, so this helps all the girls hedge their costs.

This is your chance to keep your car clean all summer long and help support the West Seattle High School Cheer staff.

By Gwen Davis

“Obviously, winning the marriage battle was a watershed moment for the civil rights movement, but we can’t rest,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine on Wednesday evening. “We need to make the law fair for everyone but there’s another step which makes sure that discrimination itself is eradicated in our society.”
That executive made those comments while dropping by the 2014 Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) Candidate Reception event, co-sponsored by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. GSBA combines business development, leadership and social action to expand economic opportunities for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and supporters. It is the largest LGBT chamber of commerce.
GSBA puts on the event annually.

“This is a pre-primary nonpartisan event,” said Matthew Landers, policy development and communications manager at GSBA. “We welcome all the candidates, anyone who is on the Aug. primary ballot.”

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Bar-S fields above Alki Point in West Seattle will be alive with action this next week as the 2014 Washington State Little League Baseball State Tournament invades Saturday, July 12 through Saturday, July 19.
A total of 13 teams will be involved in the double-elimination tournament for Majors all-stars ages 11-12, including the West Seattle team representing host District 7.
West Seattle came back through the loser's bracket to beat Rainier District twice in the District 7 tournament to earn the right to advance to state.
The teams at state will be vying for the chance to advance to the upcoming Western Regional tournament in San Bernardino, Calif. as the Washington state champions, with the Western Regional winner going on to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn.
State action kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 12 on the two Bar-S diamonds.
Burlington-Edison plays North Bothell on Bar-S No. 1 and Chehalis takes on Gig Harbor on Bar-S No. 2.
West Seattle waits until 1 p.m. to open, playing Camas on Bar-S No. 2 as Federal Way plays Richland National on Bar-S No. 1.