September 2016

By Lindsay Peyton

Simply walking into Sheila Lengle’s home reveals much about the artist. The thrift store finds, family photos, books on writing, her paintings on the walls and a studio ready to spring into action provides a glimpse into her many passions and her circuitous life journey.

Despite her creation of the perfect interior to showcase her eye for design – and piles of paintings that point to her strongly developed voice as an artist, Lengle describes herself as a “successful failure.”

“I failed at everything in life,” she said. “But I’ve done it successfully, because I’ve grown, I’ve gathered experiences. I put everything in a philosophical filter – and I ask, ‘How can I add this to my story?’”

Lengle explains that she has learned to embrace and cherish adversity – and to look for the lessons inherent in a struggle.

“I always joke that it’s fodder for my fiction,” she said. “I think unconsciously I designed my life full of emotional, physical and financial adversity.”

The challenges have made her more compassionate. The struggles have resulted in shared experiences, she added.

By Pat Cashman

Remember that universal schoolroom nightmare?

It is the one where you show up for class one morning---and discover you have forgotten to wear any clothes. Of course once you awaken, you realize the dream is absurd. Unless you are Tim Kosebud, my long ago fourth grade classmate.

He arrived at St. Francis elementary one wintry day---and while taking off his long overcoat ---discovered he had somehow forgotten to don a pair of pants. Since St. Francis was a parochial catholic school, Kosebud was definitely not wearing the recommended uniform. A furtive call to his mother saved the day---as she soon arrived with his pair of salt-and-pepper corduroy pants.

(A few years later, Tim got himself into trouble again when he tried to sneak beer into school---and it wasn’t even good beer. Very flat. At least the nun who taught our class said so.)

By Gwen Davis

The Port of Seattle is set to cut down 2,800 identified trees in SeaTac, Burien and Des Moines. This plan, dubbed the "Flight Corridor Safety Program" is to ensure that planes can take off and land in a way that "safeguards the people at the airport and in the surrounding community", according to the Port. It is also intended to comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and state code. The trees will be removed over the course of three years. In phase one, which begins in late 2016, approximately 1,170 trees on Port property will be removed. Alongside the cutting, approximately 4,000 trees will be planted to compensate for the trees lost.

In subsequent phases, trees will be removed on publicly owned, commercial and residential properties. The full plan can be viewed on the Port's website.

"The airport needs to survey the area for obstructions every four years and in 2014 we did just that," said Stephen St.Louis, Port operator. "It's not about clearing places for the pilots to see, it's about the safety of the passengers."

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Chief Sealth was not without its highlights Friday, even in a 60-20 loss to Washington in its football season opener at the Southwest Athletic Complex.
Senior Chase McNelly provided the brightest, scoring all three touchdowns for the Seahawks.

McNelly rumbled down the left sideline on a kickoff return for the first, cutting the Patriots' lead to 35-6 with 3:37 left in the second quarter.

McNelly struck again at the 2:22 mark, this time catching a 59-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Kyler Gaither.

Gaither booted the extra point to make it a 41-13 game.

Washington led, 44-13, at halftime and took a 60-13 advantage before Chief Sealth could score the game's final touchdown with about 2:25 left on a running fourth quarter clock.

McNelly snagged a 10-yard pass from Gaither for the touchdown. Gaither's kick brought the score to its final 60-20 margin.

Seattle Public Schools will host the Third Annual Memorial Football Classic next weekend, September 9-10. The Classic is a special two-day event to celebrate Seattle high school athletes, to raise money for all Seattle public high school athletics, and to build support for the Metro League.

Seattle Seahawks alumni Paul Johns and Edwin Bailey will join organizers and participants at Media Day on Tuesday, September 6. Johns was a wide receiver for the Seahawks from 1981-84, while Bailey starred at left guard from 1981-91. The Classic will be hosted by Seattle City Council President Bruce Harrell, a Garfield High School and University of Washington alumnus and National Academic All-American First Team in Football. Special honored guests include O’Dea football coach Monte Kohler and football legend Terry Metcalf. The presenting sponsor is the Washington Army National Guard.

Third Annual Memorial Football Classic: 2 Days – 6 Games – 12 Teams When: September 9 – 10, 2016
Where: Memorial Stadium, Seattle Center

Friday, Sept. 9
5:00 p.m.: Archbishop Murphy Wildcats vs. Bishop Blanchet Braves

Burien Actors Theatre is seeking submissions of new plays by Washington State playwrights for the 2017 Bill and Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival. Both one-act and full-length plays are sought.

Winning scripts will be staged April 14 through May 7, 2017 as part of Burien Actors Theatre’s 2016-17 season. In addition to having their plays produced, winning playwrights will also receive monetary prizes.

The submission deadline for all scripts is Oct. 21, 2016. To qualify for the Festival, all submissions must follow Playwrights Submission Guidelines detailed below. The guidelines can also be found at www.burienactorstheatre.org.

About the Bill and Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival

The mission of the Bill and Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival is to encourage, promote and showcase previously unproduced theater works written by Washington state residents.

by Tim Robinson
 
       "My advice?, don't Google your disease." 

       "It is very easy to get bad information from the internet. If you have cancer or any life threatening diagnosis, stick with the doctors. 

       Those are the words of Burien author Laren Watson, former graphic artist and now holistic life coach, counselor, speaker and survivor of two cancers a year apart. 

       Watson has an important story to tell.  She's not looking for pity, prayers or people to rub her shoulders and say "there, there". In fact she has tips in her book, WTF?...I have cancer?, for well-wishers about what NOT to say to friends suffering from cancer and related treatments.

       She wants to share her story to help readers learn what can happen and how she coped, although she makes the point that everyone is different and what applies to one won't necessarily work for another. 

And why she advises not to Google a treatment for your diagnosed disease.

       "There are a hundred different cancers," she said. "Maybe more. Let the doctors help you."

First Class Petty Officer Garrett Rochon, who serves aboard the USS Nimitz had an idea. He knew the school year was approaching and knew kids need backpacks and school supplies to have the best school experience.
So he got going. He wanted to collect 100 fully stocked backpacks and give them away to deserving students where he went to school. He attended Denny Middle School back in the 90's, long before the new school was built and wanted to give back.

Officer Rochon took the idea to his crew mates in the Diesel Division of the ship and asked for help. He got it.

Together, the crew collected and stocked more than double his original goal, assembling 220 backpacks for kids.

Those backpacks were made available to students during Family Welcome Night at Denny on Sept. 1 when several hundred families with incoming students came to see the school and meet their teachers.

Denny Principal Jeff Clark graciously thanked Officer Rochon and his crew for their generous efforts, as he also welcomed all the new students to the school.

A Night in Spain, a community fundraiser for Senior Center of West Seattle at 4217 SW Oregon Street is being presented on September 9 at 6pm. The event will feature the paella dinner and live flamenco dancing.

On the schedule are:
6pm ~ Tapas and Sangria (1 glass included $3 for additional glasses)
6:45 ~ Ensalada Piperada
7pm ~ Paella presented and served
7:45 ~ Dessert- Sorbet de Champan'

The cost is $20 members/$25 non-members/$25 at the door if available.

Call 206 932 4044 x1 to register.

Presented by Jim Yragui & Ann Marie Murray

Sponsored by Living Care Senior Lifestyle Communities

You can pre-register at www.sc..ws.org

When a restaurant reaches "community fixture" and "legend" status, spanning generations it usually means adults can recall going there when they were kids and that they still go because the food, and people and atmosphere still work as they always did. So what happens when a restaurant like Pegasus Pizza on Alki is forced to change?

Alki Property Management exercised their option to take over the northwest corner of the building at 2770 Alki Ave SW forcing Pegasus to make a massive remodel and downsize by close to 25%. (Their new address is 2768 Alki Ave SW).

Ted and Sarah Nicoloudakis saw that as not only a challenge but as their duty to the community to keep the tradition of a family pizza restaurant alive on Alki. Ted has owned the restaurant for 24 years as of last July and oversaw its move from down the block a few years ago where it had operated for nearly eight years.