December 2016

By Amanda Knox

I suppose it’s a privilege that I’ve never had to rely on Black Friday to do my Christmas shopping. I know some people get a thrill out of competing to collect big on the best deals, but I don’t like to feel rushed, herded through a crowd, or pressured to make a purchase. The only thrill I get out of Black Friday is the thrill of knowing a bunch of black cats are going to get homes that day, because the Humane Society waives their adoption fees. Nope, Black Friday comes and goes for me without much notice. I tend to stay home, digesting leftovers.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t get into the gift-giving spirit. Post-Thanksgiving, I feel silly with glee at the prospect of stumbling across perfect gifts for people I love over the next month—unexpected, clever, fun, thoughtful, useful gifts. Gifts that will be just what the recipient wanted, without realizing they wanted it. Gifts that are as satisfying as the end of a Sherlock Holmes novel, or a cup of hot chocolate spiced with chili. Gifts that say, “I love you AND I know you,” but which also give the recipient something new to sink their teeth into.

BHS ACTIVITIES

Quote of the Week
“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.”
~Seneca

Kindness Week II
Monday, December 5
· Kindness Week: Good morning Monday!
· Kindness Week Assembly, featuring Luis Ortega
·

Tuesday, December 6
· Kindness Week: Tag a friend Tuesday!
o Free polaroid pictures at lunch

Wednesday, December 7
· Kindness Week: We love you Wednesday!
o Notes will be filled out Monday and Tuesday during lunch and will be passed out Wednesday.
· IC, Staff Lounge, 3:45pm
· Safety Team Meeting, Counseling Conference room, 3:45pm
· Winter Music Concert, PAC, 7:30 pm

Thursday, December 8
· Kindness Week: Compliment Thursday
o Compliment bibs will be given out to be worn and passed on
· BLT, Staff Lounge, 3:45pm
· Winter Music Concert, PAC, 7:30 pm

Friday, December 9
· Kindness Week: Fun loving Friday
o Free hot chocolate will be served during break!
· Collection of Bucky’s Home for the Holiday – during homeroom
· Winter Music Concert, PAC, 7:30 pm

By Peggy Sturdivant

Maria Ruano rolls up the warehouse door to reveal coastal freighters docked on the Ship Canal. On the west side’s loading dock we sit at a café table looking up at the Ballard Bridge, as though it’s the Eiffel Tower. Where are we? At Bedrock Industries’ new location on the Nickerson side of the Ship Canal, just below the Ballard Bridge.

It’s a shame if you don’t know about Seattle’s Bedrock Industries, because as owner Maria Ruano says, “We’re an institution!” If you’ve ever admired a friend’s new kitchen backsplash, the glass curtain in their yard or found a heart-shaped piece of glass of Golden Gardens on Valentine’s Day then you’re already connected by cullet.

By the way, cullet is crushed, recycled glass ready to be re-melted. With the addition of color and various firing techniques Bedrock Industries’ products are as much art as practical. The showroom would be easier to find if the company hadn’t been forced to move twice over the last three years, leaving their longtime home under the Magnolia Bridge in 2014.

Discovery Shop
4535 California Ave. S.W.
206.937.7169
Starting Sun., Dec. 11 We still have a good selection of holiday decorations and they are all half price starting Dec. 11, so it’s not too late to decorate your house, office or neighborhood. If you’re looking for gifts, we have fine china cups and saucers filled with treats that make great hostess gifts as well as tokens of appreciation for teachers, friends and others you want to acknowledge during the holidays. Also you’ll want to check our Antiques, Vintage and Collectible shelves for beautiful one of a kind treasures for those special people on your lists. The all volunteer run non-profit American Cancer Society shop is open every Sun. 11 a.m.–3 p.m., all other days 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Follow our blog at www.discoveryshopwestseattle.org.

Alternative Giving Fair
Fauntleroy Church
9140 California Ave. S.W.

Road rage on 16th Avenue S.W.

Around noon on Wed,, Nov. 30, police were dispatched to the 6000 block of 16th Avenue S.W. to investigate a hit and run case. They learned that two employees had loaded their work vehicle and were driving south on 16th Avenue, moving slowly due to the weight of their load. The suspect began tailing them and then started ramming their vehicle, pushing them forward several feet. The workers pulled into a parking lot and the suspect followed, yelling at them, before he fled. The victims did not want to pursue any charges.

Berserk after basketball

By Amanda Knox
 
I suppose it’s a privilege that I’ve never had to rely on Black Friday to do my Christmas shopping. I know some people get a thrill out of competing to collect big on the best deals, but I don’t like to feel rushed, herded through a crowd, or pressured to make a purchase. The only thrill I get out of Black Friday is the thrill of knowing a bunch of black cats are going to get homes that day, because the Humane Society waives their adoption fees. Nope, Black Friday comes and goes for me without much notice. I tend to stay home, digesting leftovers.
 
But that doesn’t mean I don’t get into the gift-giving spirit. Post-Thanksgiving, I feel silly with glee at the prospect of stumbling across perfect gifts for people I love over the next month—unexpected, clever, fun, thoughtful, useful gifts. Gifts that will be just what the recipient wanted, without realizing they wanted it. Gifts that are as satisfying as the end of a Sherlock Holmes novel, or a cup of hot chocolate spiced with chili. Gifts that say, “I love you AND I know you,” but which also give the recipient something new to sink their teeth into.
 

By Pat Cashman

By some accounts the verified world record holder for old age was a French woman who lived to be 122 years, 164 days (Jeanne Calmut, 1875-1997). Not verified were her last words: “Je suis si fatigue’”---French for “Man, am I pooped.”

122 years (and 164 days) is a long run. That’s older than some Hostess Twinkies. But just like every other “oldest living person in the world” before her, Jeanne’s reign finally ended. There is no precedent for anyone regaining the title.

Of all the records achieved by humans, ‘oldest person’ might be the hardest to train for. And even then, once you finally made it, anyone you might really want to impress wouldn’t be around.

You’d show up for your 100th high school reunion---and be the only one there. That means you’d be stuck paying for the entire keg. Plus, you’d have to dance with yourself.

By Lindsay Peyton

Realtor Don Bereiter says homeowners looking to sell at this time of year all have the same question on their minds.

“They want to know if it’s smarter to wait until the first of the year or not,” he said. “The downside of waiting is that so are a lot of other people. So your competition increases.”

In fact, there may be a few advantages for homeowners who decide to list now, Bereiter said.

“There may not be as many people looking, but of the ones coming to look in December, the percentage of people who are serious is higher,” he said. “The buyers are serious. The owners are serious. It just works.”

Bereiter, who is the branch manager at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, added that shoppers may have more time to look because of holiday vacations from work.

“And when you’re listing a home during the holidays, it’s usually decorated,” he said. “You’re kind of staging your house with those lights and decorations. It presents itself better.”

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory (and a Winter Storm Watch) though only the advisory is for conditions that will affect our area. The Watch is more aimed at the foothills of the Cascades and the mountains themselves).

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO NOON PST
MONDAY...
...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH LATE MONDAY NIGHT...

* TIMING...SNOW SHOWERS WILL INCREASE MONDAY MORNING BETWEEN 4 AM AND NOON. SLIGHTLY WARMER TEMPERATURES WILL CHANGE THE SNOW TO MOSTLY RAIN SHOWERS BY AFTERNOON. COLDER AIR ARRIVES MONDAY EVENING WITH A CONVERGENCE ZONE POSSIBLY PRODUCING SNOW SHOWERS DOWN TO SEA-LEVEL THROUGH LATE MONDAY NIGHT.

* SNOW AMOUNTS...A TRACE TO TWO INCHES ABOVE ABOUT 500 FEET MONDAY MORNING. UP TO THREE INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN SNOHOMISH COUNTY.