The West Seattle Herald asked some fascinating folks about their New Years notions:

Pete Seazle, Reporter, West Seattle Funblog.

2010 was twice as good at 1005. I wasn’t alive then, but I’ve read things and it sounded pretty lame. 2010 saw new writers join the West Seattle Funblog as well as the birth of our sister site, the Austin Funblog. The Funblog Convention in Vegas was… oh yeah, we can’t talk about that. But we can talk about the Funblog Food Drive benefitting the West Seattle Food Bank! Our readers and friends raked in over 2,000 lbs of non-perishable food and supported local businesses in the process.

2011 will be even better. Patty Seazle got me a crystal ball for Christmas, but it’s from Ikea and I haven’t figured out how to put it together yet, so the year will just have to come as it may.

www.westseattlefunblog.com

Edda Mellas, Arbor Heights, Amanda Knox's mother.

It's 2011 and Amanda is still in prison, but otherwise the trial is going well. We have a decent judge and prosecutor (in the new appeals case) we think is impartial and respectful. Since day one the 'every-day' Italians in Perugia have walked up and hugged me and said, 'Have courage. Stay strong. It will be O.K.' Every restaurant I have gone into, the owner has always come out to kiss me and say, 'Have strength'. It is the press that has changed. Most who cover the case in Italy now believe my daughter is innocent.

Joe McDermott, Admiral resident, KC Councilmember.

I'm looking forward to working on behalf of West Seattle on the County Council as we address challenging budgeting issues in maintaining Metro service, the Water Taxi, and human services all to the extent possible.

We're ending 2010 on a fantastically upbeat note because the County registered the deed, and now owns the gravel mine on Maury Island. (To become a nature preserve.)

www.kingcounty.gov/McDermott.aspx

Dr. Carol Coram, Arbor Heights Principal.

My thoughts professionally for the New Year focus around doing my best and facilitating any adjustments necessary at Arbor Heights to ensure that all students succeed academically and socially. This is an on-going goal.  My personal goals are to be healthy, physically fit and to compete in at least three half marathons and eleven triathlons in 2011.

Arbor Heights School blog: www.halcyon.com/arborhts

Carol Johnston, Activities Coordinator for Senior Center West Seattle, and musician.

I was blessed with good health this past year and enjoyed making music with my jazz and ukulele bands.  I played uke in an all-girl band in Sacramento, attended Bude Jazz Festival in England, and re-visited friends all over.
 
I look forward to planning new fundraising ideas for the Senior Center West Seattle in 2011.  Do you think people would come to see a Hypnotist Show, Karaoke and expanded Rainbow Bingo?   Hope it helps with our reduced funding we'll be receiving.

Senior Center of WS: www.sc-ws.org

Brent Amaker, of Brent Amaker & the Rodeo, and owner, Brent Amacher State Farm Insurance, Admiral Junction.

Is it 2011? Damn, that year went fast! When life is busy, you don’t really notice time. It’s good to look back, but I don’t waste a lot of time on it. In 2010, my band got signed to Spark and Shine records. They have been really good to us. Brent Amaker and the Rodeo released “Please Stand By” and toured the US. We charted on the CMJ Top 200 nationally and our digital release landed on the front page of the Modern Country page at iTunes. This is all a big step up for my band, and I’m thankful.

Things look just as busy for 2011. “Please Stand By” will be released in Europe this spring, followed by a tour of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. But before we take off, we have a big show at the Crocodile on 2/25 and in Austin, TX for the South by Southwest music festival. Our label will be releasing our two new music videos and a brand new 7” single. The more I travel and work at music, the more I appreciate my spot in West Seattle.

www.brentamaker.com

Trudy Muller, Aesthetician, Envy On Alki skin boutique.

2010 actually was a very good year for me. It was the boom of those coupons, LivingSocial Seattle and Groupon, and I jumped on the bandwagon. You discount your services with online coupons. They send emails about deals of the day. I sold 480 coupons in the summer for waxing services. I feel really fortunate that I retained at least 40- percent of those clientele. Also, I have people working here now doing hypnosis and massage therapy.

I'm looking forward in 2011 to writing a book on tales of waxing. Most clients know. I won't use their names. The book will be more about my own personal waxing experiences and my children.

www.envyonalki.com

Gary Oertli, President, South Seattle Community College.

As a West Seattle native, I’m thrilled to begin my first full year as South’s president. It’s really a very special place and I hope you get to know us in 2011 – take a class, utilize our WorkSource employment resources, visit the Arboretum and Seattle Chinese Garden, enjoy lunch and pastry at one of our on campus restaurants, or stop by our award-winning Northwest Wine Academy. I look forward to strengthening ties with our West Seattle community as we continue to foster educational and career success, and help get unemployed workers back to the workforce.

South Seattle Community College: www.southseattle.edu

Tracy Dart of Alki. "Team-Tracy" Race for the Cure.

I survived breast cancer in 2010. So 2011 is kind of a clean slate for me. I look forward to having another year of survivorship and to continue to raise money for breast cancer awareness and early detection.

Check out Team-Tracy: www.teamtd.blogspot.com