July 2016

By Pat Cashman

I was 12 years old, and everyone else had left the dinner table twenty minutes earlier. But there I remained seated while under the baleful eye of my mother. “Keep eating it until you’re done,” she said. The “it” she referred to was a hunk of suety oleginousness; a clump of sebaceous adiposity. Or, as it is more commonly known: fat.

My mom quite honestly believed that “fat is good for you”---and therefore my siblings and I were required not only to finish every meal she laid out for us, but also every component part of it---including trimmings, stems, skins and, yes, fat.

The problem with fat---be it from beef, chicken, ham, turkey or salmon---was that I simply could not swallow it. I could chew it for hours---even days---and make less progress than a slug traveling from Tukwila to Pullman.

Big Bertha could tunnel through the planet quicker than I could ingurgitate a glob of gristle. Even a gun to the head would not speed things along.

By Amanda Knox

On his birthday, my partner introduced me to this tradition he has, of writing himself a birthday sonnet. He read me a few from the last few years. They weren’t festive. Rather, they attempted to encapsulate sentiments for another year of life past, goals moving forward, what could be or could have been. They weren’t depressing, either! Just that particular combination of warm and cold often characterizing the thoughts of an adult on their birthday—another milepost on the mortal road.

I decided to take up the tradition myself, and for my birthday—July 9th—I’m going to break the usual mold of my weekly column by instead submitting my birthday sonnet. Because I can. It’s my birthday.
“Unity”

Juggling eggs, each one the one and only.

They’re potential, and serious; each a

transparent pre-hatchling, each a creature

worth being, but utterly, totally.

I struggle to warm one long enough

in hand for limbs to form, stretch, and break out

of their thin cast, to be. Be! Not without

dropping the others, equally worthy.

But, this is not adolescence. I have

By Peggy Sturdivant

There’s a Wall of Recognition on the first floor of Ballard High School with photographs of alumni who have distinguished themselves in the outside world. Their work may have been in laboratories, film studios, universities, libraries and museums. But the headshots don’t give a hint to those whose creations are around the corner and up the stairs. The high school school’s walls are home to a permanent art collection by major artists, many of them alumni.

Matthew Kangas, Class of ’67, independent art critic, BHS Foundation Art Committee member and the man leading a tour after the final bell of spring semester 2016 said as a matter of fact, “This collection is pretty much all masterpieces.” The remarkability of such a collection in a public high school is over the heads of the students, “’literally’ as teenagers are so fond of saying, but in this case, yes, literally above their heads, hung over the lockers and corridor breaks.

Man throws rock in jealous rage

A Ballard man has a bruised leg after he was struck by a rock on July 1while walking to his car on the 2000 block of N.W. 57th Street. According to the victim, he was leaving his apartment after a female companion had come for a visit. As the two of them were leaving they heard some unintelligible yelling from a man across the street. The victim suddenly felt pain in his leg. The suspect across the street had thrown a rock. The suspect shouted more gibberish and walked off. The two quickly called police. When they arrived, the victim refused treatment and asked police to file a report. The victim didn’t know why the suspect was so upset but told police that the female companion he was with was the suspect’s girlfriend and that the suspect was likely jealous. Police searched the area but did not find the suspect.

Three cars prowled in secure parking garage

7-Eleven’s annual promotion FREE slurpee day July 7 has arrived. To get yours just visit any 7-11 store from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Only the small size is free.

7-Eleven has expanded their program this year. If you choose to become a member of the 7Rewards Program and purchase seven Slurpees of any size by July 18 you will earn 11 free drinks.

You will need to download the 7-11 app to your smartphone to participate.

The coupons will be automatically added to the 7-Eleven app’s scan and save section after the purchases are complete. This promotion is available at participating stores only, so make sure to check with your local location before going for this idea.

West Seattle locations include

• 9200 35th Ave SW ·
• 9041 Delridge Way SW
• 1600 SW Holden St
• 3280 SW Avalon Way

Kiwanis Club Of White Center hosting two events during Jubilee Days
Steve Cox Memorial Stadium
1321 S.W. 102nd St.

Fri., July 15, 7:05 p.m. It is Kiwanis Night with the Highline Bears Baseball Team at Steve Cox Memorial Stadium. Tickets $5, children 12 and younger free.
Holy Family School
9615 20th Ave. S.W.

Sun., July 17, 7:30 a.m. Annual Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast. Tickets $8 at the door unless you have a $2 off coupon. Children 5 and under are free. The menu includes pancakes and sausage and juice along with several toppings including strawberries, blueberries, bananas, and whipped cream.
Tickets for either event available at the door or by contacting Bill Tracy at 206.248.2441 or billnancytracy@aol.com.

Discovery Shop
4535 California Ave. S.W.
206.937.7169

By Marjorie Young

With the current madness and turmoil pervading our world, many find themselves in dire need of being uplifted; to experience something which will reawaken us to the beauty and possibilities of life. This may come in myriad forms, serving as a reminder that cause for wonder and gratitude is all around us and abounds.

These reflections began recently upon viewing an audition on ‘America’s Got Talent’ by a thirteen-year-old girl named Laura Bretan. She was lovely, sweet, and very shy, but when she opened her mouth to sing…pure glory was delivered in the form of an operatic aria, no less! Both audience and judges were slack-jawed and were on their feet well before her performance ended. How could a child possess such a mature, astonishing gift? I watched her again and again, and each time was thrilled and moved to tears.

Only a few days later, I saw yet another child genius on ’60 Minutes’…a jazz piano phenomenon…a twelve-year-old from Bali, of all places! His brilliance has already attracted some of the greatest jazz musicians as mentors, and Joey Alexander is already performing in New York to sold-out audiences.

By Amanda Knox

On his birthday, my partner introduced me to this tradition he has, of writing himself a birthday sonnet. He read me a few from the last few years. They weren’t festive. Rather, they attempted to encapsulate sentiments for another year of life past, goals moving forward, what could be or could have been. They weren’t depressing, either! Just that particular combination of warm and cold often characterizing the thoughts of an adult on their birthday—another milepost on the mortal road.

I decided to take up the tradition myself, and for my birthday—July 9th—I’m going to break the usual mold of my weekly column by instead submitting my birthday sonnet. Because I can. It’s my birthday.

“Unity”

Juggling eggs, each one the one and only.

They’re potential, and serious; each a

transparent pre-hatchling, each a creature

worth being, but utterly, totally.

I struggle to warm one long enough

in hand for limbs to form, stretch, and break out

of their thin cast, to be. Be! Not without

dropping the others, equally worthy.

information from SDOT

The Fauntleroy Expressway will be closed Monday evening, July 11, beginning at 9 p.m. and will reopen by 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning. The contractor working for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has completed the installation of the 674 bearing pads on the Expressway. The Monday night closure will allow the contractor to survey and conduct finishing work related to the bearing pad replacement.

The finishing work is application of epoxy on some of the bearing pads. The epoxy is intended to ensure the pads are providing thorough cushioning. This is a step towards completion of the project and will occur below the structure. It has not been determined whether the epoxy application can be done while the structure is open to vehicular traffic, or whether it require additional night closures. Projects updates will be provided when it has been determined whether additional closures are warranted. SDOT thanks the public for its patience while this work is being completed.

This information will also be posted on the project website, located at http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/fauntleroyexpressway.htm.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Bellevue beckons the West Seattle Major age 10-12 Little League baseball all-star team after it routed Renton by a 20-3 score in the District 7 championship Friday.

The Westsiders will journey to the Eastside city for the state tournament at the Hidden Valley complex, jumping into the fray on the second day of action with a 12 p.m. game Sunday, July 24.

"I think we could do fairly well at state," said West Seattle manager Corey Helmstetler. "I'm excited. I feel great. We're representing District 7 at state for the third year in a row."

Basically the same crew has now won the District 7 title in their respective age groups the past three years.
"It's the same players except for three new ones," said Helmstetler.

The West Seattle charter has also won the past three years at the Majors level, taking second two years ago as the current group finished fourth at age 9-10.

"This year we'll see what happens," said Helmstetler.