December 2014

By Matt Wendland

Driver shot in shoulder while on I-405 in Tukwila
Washington State Patrol is currently investigating a possible road rage shooting that took place on I-405 in Tukwila. The incident took place on November 23 between 2:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. when a man driving a silver late model Toyota Corolla was wounded in the shoulder. The victim told police that a white late model Cadillac sedan passed him after he first felt the pain in his shoulder. He speculated that the driver of the Cadillac may have been upset that they were unable to pass him on the interstate. Police believe a single shot, which eventually struck the victim, was fired into the back of the Corolla and that the Cadillac may have exited I-405 onto SR-181. The victim did not sustain any life threatening injuries.

Tukwila man arrested for opening fire on King County Sheriff’s Deputy’s home in Kent

by Tim Takechi

by Tim Takechi

One cannot help but feel both tons of sympathy and absolutely no sympathy for Bob. In Burien Actors Theatre’s annual Christmas show, “Bob’s Office Holiday Party” tells the story of a pleasant but weirdly deluded young man named Bob Finhead who really needs a change of scenery. Born and raised in a small town that seems like the Small Town from Hell, Bob is a meek insurance salesman
whose sole purpose in life is to bail out the kooky personalities he happens to call “neighbors.” His willingness to lend a helping hand to anyone in need, regardless of the head-scratching reason why that person would get in trouble in the first place, is a reason why the audience would feel sympathy for Bob. On the other hand, why Bob doesn’t “get the hell out of Dodge” as soon as humanely possible gives us a justified reason for thinking, “well, he may not have the most fulfilling life, but he can leave at any time…and doesn’t.” Bob Finhead is played by Thomas Maier, whose spot-on embodiment of happy-go-lucky merriment

Salty’s on Alki will be participating in the annual King5 Hometeam Harvest on Dec. 6.
The restaurant is currently accepting donations of non-perishable food items at 1936 Harbor Ave. SW.

The collected donations will be presented to the Hometeam Harvest King5 crew on live television Chanel 5 at 7:50am Dec. 6 outside the DSW store at Northgate Mall.

About Hometeam Harvest
Begun as a partnership between King5 and Northwest Harvest in the aftermath of 9/11 the annual food drive is in its 14th year has a goal of four million meals. Every food or cash donation goes toward that goal. So far the effort has served 21 million meals. The partnership between KING 5, Northwest Harvest, U.S. Bank and Safeway is now stronger than ever.

Date: Dec. 6
Time: 7:50am
Where: Northgate Mall, outside the DSW store

About Salty's

The Junction’s Hometown Holiday Events
Downtown West Seattle
SW Alaska St. & California Ave. S.W.

Shop Late Thursday
Thurs., Dec. 4,11,18, till 9 p.m. Many Junction retailers are open late on these dates. Pair with happy hour and you’ve got a great night out!

Junction Holiday Party
Sat., Dec. 6, 4-8 p.m. Stroll The Junction and discover a progressive party hosted by Junction businesses. You’ll find nibbles, drinks, games and deals all wrapped up with holiday flair. Don’t miss the most festive night in The Junction!

11th Annual Tree Lighting Event
Sat., Dec. 6, 5 p.m. Bring your family, friends and neighbors to the Junction Plaza Park at 42nd & Alaska.

Santa Meet-and-Greet
Santa will be in to listen to your children’s Christmas requests. Drop in for a hug and a smile. Bring your camera and capture your own special moment.
Sun., Dec. 7, 10-2 p.m. at City Mouse Store
Sun., Dec. 21, 10-2 p.m at Santa’s House in front of Key Bank.

Mule Drawn Carriage Rides

by Sarah Wyatt



Beginning Thursday, December 4, Friends of the Animals Foundation of West Seattle (FAF) will hold its annual Home for the Holidays adoption and donation drive at Next to Nature. The campaign ends January 2.

The local promotion is held in conjunction with the international Home for the Holidays program. The campaign was initiated by Helen Woodward Animal Center in California in 1999 with 13 other animal shelters. The annual event has helped more than 9.3 million families experience pet adoption during the holiday season, including more than 1.7 million pet adoptions in 2013.

“It’s especially rewarding this time of year for our rescue volunteers to take in a malnourished little kitten, and with a little food and love, that kitten blossoms, and then finds a new home,” says Marianne Hudson, president of FAF. “Animal adoption is a good way to celebrate the holidays. We’re happy to be part of this nationwide drive.”

By Kyra-lin Hom

Unless someone gives you extremely specific, play-by-play instructions, there is no such thing as a perfect gift. There is no infallible checklist, no users' guide, and certainly no set amount of money you have to spend. It is, in fact, this very freedom that makes us flounder. We scour the internet and implore everyone we know, hunting for hints about what might be the proper way to do this thing. Because while there is no perfect way, anyone who has ever given or received a bad gift knows that there is definitely a wrong way.

The most common mistakes in gift giving are self-centeredness, a failure to communicate, getting too fixated on a theme, or just plain over-thinking. The best gift givers instinctively navigate these minefields like bomb sniffing dogs. The rest of us need to tread a bit more carefully.

 
By Sallie Neillie
Project Access Northwest
 
November is in full swing and the holidays are fast approaching. Take a moment right now to think about YOU and consider some basic opportunities to care for your health – making sure your health coverage is the best it can be for 2015!

First, since it’s the autumn season, eat pumpkin. It’s just good for you.
Then, consider these opportunities for your personal health and health coverage.
Fall is open enrollment time for Medicare and the Washington Health Plan Finder. Plans change every year, so check your options.

Something to keep in mind is that the lowest premium is not always the cheapest plan or the best fit for you. Some plans have high deductibles, high co-pays for specialty medicines or they don’t cover particular medicines. Make sure to look at your total out-of-pocket expenses, which can add up quickly. Look at what you spent over last year for medications, office visits and services, and compare what they would cost with a different plan or insurance provider.

by Pat Cashman

It was some expert on television the other night. He was comparing the fat content of two different cheesecakes. “This one has less calories than this one,” he announced.

“Fewer,” I muttered to the screen. “It has fewer calories, not LESS!”

My wife called out from another room: “Give it up! You have lost the less-versus-fewer war, “she declared. “That train has left the station.”

She’s right. I just haven’t accepted it yet. But I’ve decided that it’s about time.

A friend is fond of saying, “That ship has sailed.” My wife likes “That train has left the station.” I’ve combined them into “That train has sailed.”
It all means the same thing: Change is inevitable---even grammatically incorrect and cultural change.
So I’m waving the white flag on all of it---from the pointed to the pointless.
Like the oft-heard phrase “It put a smile on my face.” I’m no longer going to say, “As opposed to where else? Your rear-end?” That train has sailed.
For that matter, I’m also going to look the other way when I hear, “I was thinking in my head.” That head has left the station.

By Tim Clifford

Pregnant clerk threatened with knife
Police were called to a convenience store on the 2600 block of Barton St. in the Westwood Village shopping center on Nov. 19 concerning a robbery with a knife. The clerk/victim involved in the incident was described in the report as “noticeably pregnant”.
At 1:30 p.m. the victim heard a loud crashing sound from the liquor section of the store. When she went to investigate she saw a man (the suspect) standing over a broken bottle of Jim Beam in the aisle. The victim assured him that she would get another employee to come and clean it up soon. At that point the suspect pulled his shirt back to reveal a large knife tucked into his pants with the handle showing. Catching the silent message he was sending the victim calmly asked the suspect to follow her to front of the store and turned around and began walking.