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Video: Everybody dance! Our Lady of Guadalupe Jog-A-Thon kickoff
May 7, 2010 12:48 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Perfect day to dance, shout, jump for joy outside – just ask the students of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School, who kicked off their annual Jog-A-Thon fundraiser with a choreographed routine to the Black-Eyed Peas‘ song “I Gotta Feeling.” (That’s Jill Pagano of the Nia Divas, leading the dance.) Afterward, K-3 students took the first hour-plus, 4th-8th graders followed; the official Jog-A-Thon page on the OLG website explained not only the event but featured video links to the routine, so everyone could learn it! (P.S. Q13 FOX TV news carried it live during their morning newscast.)

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Two theft alerts – car and mail
May 7, 2010 10:03 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports to share this morning – first, a stolen car (with a photo); second, stolen mail, and where part of it turned up – read on for both:Read More

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West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day eve: Preview #1
May 7, 2010 7:23 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news


View West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2010 in a larger map

Just one day till the 6th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, our third year to coordinate/present it – the Google Map you see above is the most up-to-date map, with three sales deleted due to emergency last-minute cancellations and one addition because we mistakenly left it off. (If you print out the PDF version, be sure to make the changes – listed here.) Remember that the sales are 9 am-3 pm (except for a handful that stipulated otherwise in their “ad” listings), no earlybirds, please! Today and tonight we’ll publish a few updates with highlights; right now, we wanted to mention the participating schools. Schmitz Park Elementary (sale #43) is participating for the first time – you’ll find their sale on the playground; they’re still accepting donated items to sell, 4-6 pm today and 8-9 am tomorrow at the school’s covered play area. Chief Sealth High School PTSA (sale #128) is participating – proceeds will be split between the PTSA and several student clubs at the school. West Seattle High School Grad Night (sale #34) is raising money with a 10 am-2 pm car wash along with their sale. Lincoln Park Co-Op Preschool (sale #131) has a sale at Seaview Methodist Church, where it has classes. Alki Co-Op Preschool (sale #38) is having a sale too, at Alki UCC Church, its class site. More previews later – and if you’re selling, share yours on the WSCGSD Facebook page! – but most importantly, be sure to browse the map!

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West Seattle Hi-Yu: 2010 float debuts tomorrow soon
May 7, 2010 6:08 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

(Editor’s note: This story is updated with new information from Hi-Yu President Tim Winston, in comments.)

“Dreams Do Come True,” as the 2010 West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival theme promises, and floats do get built … with a lot of hard work by volunteers, usually toiling up to the last moment. Five months after our first report of the winning theme, the float is in the final stages of assembly – scheduled to appear in its first parade tomorrow next week; we got a sneak peek last night:

The Sequim Irrigation Festival is was scheduled to be the first stop on this year’s tour of parades … it takes water for flowers to grownow they’re looking to next week’s Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival, so flowery Hi-Yu float decorations will be right in place:

Those flowers will be arranged on the float by the time the Hi-Yu delegation heads north. (You can see the official float-design sketch in this report from February.) If you don’t happen to see the float in another parade sooner, Saturday, July 24 is the day you will see it glide down California SW in West Seattle’s own American Legion Post 160-presented Grand Parade. As we are fond of pointing out, West Seattle is the ONLY community in the city that still has its own traveling parade float … powered by volunteers and donations … you’ll have a chance to chip in when you see Hi-Yu reps selling this year’s button at events; next one is the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club-presented Kids’ Fishing Derby at Seacrest Pier, 8 am May 15th.)

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More congratulations: WSHS baseball team wins division again
May 7, 2010 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on More congratulations: WSHS baseball team wins division again
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

On Thursday, we published news that the West Seattle High School fastpitch softball team is headed for the playoffs after winning the division championship (remember their Walking Taco Night event tonight) … this morning, we have news of the WSHS varsity baseball team also taking its division and preparing for the playoffs. Here’s the report from Assistant Coach Scott Meaker:

West Seattle High School Varsity Baseball has concluded their regular season by sweeping West Seattle rival Chief Sealth H.S. 10-0 on Monday May 3rd, and 13-3 on Wednesday May 5th. West Seattle finished the season in first place in the Metro League, Sound Division with a 13 – 4 record. This marks the 12th time in 13 years that West Seattle has won the Sound Division title under long-time head coach Velko Vitalich, a West Seattle Alum from the class of ’73.

West Seattle opens the Metro League Tournament by hosting Seattle Prep Monday at Hiawatha Sports Complex at 3:30 PM. The Metro League Tournament runs through the week ending on Friday at Southwest Athletic Complex (SWAC) on the campus of Denny Middle School. The first and second place teams earn an automatic berth into the state tournament of 16. The 3rd place team will play the 2nd place team from Kingco 3A for another berth in the 16 team state tournament. That tournament begins Saturday May 22nd in four venues around the state. The final 4 teams will play in Safeco Field May 28th & 29th.

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Romance on the run: Congratulations, Melissa and Dave!
May 7, 2010 3:00 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS & Sports

Brenda shares that photo “on behalf of The West Seattle Runners,” along with this report telling the story behind it:

Members of the West Seattle Runners celebrated a bachelor/bachelorette run for members Dave and Melissa (last night) at Alki. Dave is a founding member and current president of the West Seattle Runners. (Thursday) marked a special day for the couple, who met through the running club 15 years ago today during a club run at Alki. The couple is shown in this photo in their Bride/Groom outfits (note veil and funky glasses) that the group gave them for this special run. The couple is getting married this Saturday.

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West Seattle scenes: Sunset sighting over the Olympics
May 7, 2010 2:18 am
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to everyone who sent photos of last night’s unusual sunset cloud formation over the Olympics. These four photos show how it evolved – above and immediately below are photos from Bruce; third photo from Brian P; fourth photo from Brian H.

Tried to look up the technical name for this kind of cloud – failed to find it. Anyone?

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Alert for night owls/earlybirds: Toastmasters invite for today
May 7, 2010 1:56 am
|    Comments Off on Alert for night owls/earlybirds: Toastmasters invite for today
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

If you happen to see this VERY early Friday: The West Seattle Earlybirds Toastmasters Club invites you to come hear their VIP guest speaker, Bread of Life Mission executive director Willie Parish, talking about the “Each Person Counts” campaign and other ways his organization serves homeless people in Seattle. Toastmasters members will speak too – since that’s what the club (where your editor here was honored to be a guest speaker a few months back) specializes in – and you’re welcome to attend; the program begins at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) in The Junction at 7:45 am, back door opens 7:15 (and a pre-meeting social starts at Bakery Nouveau at 6).

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Dining with the Scouts: Troop 284 has 2 salmon sessions Saturday
May 7, 2010 12:32 am
|    Comments Off on Dining with the Scouts: Troop 284 has 2 salmon sessions Saturday
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

We’ve had this in the calendar for a few weeks, but now there’s an update, and in case you’re looking for something special to do this weekend (besides of course West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day!), here’s the full updated announcement sent by Erik:

Wild Alaskan Salmon Dinner: 5 pm & 7 pm Saturday (5/8):

West Seattle Boy Scout Troop 284, one of the oldest continuously running troops in the nation, is hosting its 5th annual salmon dinner this Saturday in the Parish Hall of St John’s Episcopal Church – 3050 California Ave SW (park in the West Seattle High School parking lot). The sit-down dinner features wild Alaskan King Salmon and a well-stocked silent auction in two seatings – 5 pm and 7 pm.

This is the perfect opportunity to take Mom out for a great meal, make a deal at the auction and support your local Boy Scouts. Tickets are all-inclusive and are $15/adult and $10/children 10 & under. You can purchase tickets at the door or reserve your spot by buying in advance – call Rich DeVore at 206-550-3969.

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Update: County cancels deadline for sewer-overflow comments
May 6, 2010 8:36 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

It’s a project without a pithy name; the shortest we can ever come up with is: The Combined Sewer Overflow control proposals for the Barton (Fauntleroy) and Murray (Lowman Beach) pump stations. Whatever you want to call it, there’s an update tonight. Got word from King County Wastewater Treatment Division community-relations rep Martha Tuttle that they have lifted the deadline for comments on the proposed alternatives in each area – after extending it three times, they’re just going open-ended:

We have decided to extend the comment period on the CSO Beach Projects. Right now there is NO deadline. We want to encourage comments and questions and give adequate time for community members to respond. May 14 is not a deadline anymore.

This follows three meetings overflowing with community concern about the proposals – most of which involve digging up roads, residential sites and/or parkland to store wastewater to avoid overflows — most recently the Morgan Community Association meeting two weeks ago (WSB coverage here). Other developments since that meeting have included the county saying it’ll have another public meeting after all, and community members planning their own “Save Lowman Beach Park” meeting for next Monday.

Feedback links:
*Online survey
*E-mail: CSOBeachProjects@kingcounty.gov
*Phone: Martha Tuttle at 206-684-1207

Additional feedback links:
*The Sound Angels site links to city, county and state leaders in its right sidebar

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11 days and counting: Another 1st Avenue S. ramp-closure alert
May 6, 2010 7:23 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Southwest District Council | Spokane St. Viaduct project | Transportation | West Seattle news

It was one of the hottest topics on last night’s Southwest District Council meeting – the upcoming closure of the 1st Avenue South ramp to the westbound West Seattle Bridge, as part of the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project. The closure’s now 11 days away – Monday, May 17th – and project manager Stuart Goldsmith got some tough questions last night at the SWDC meeting after taking some tough questions: What about West Seattle traffic after the closure? he was asked, as SWDC co-chair Erica Karlovits of the Junction Neighborhood Organization pointed out that trouble on The Bridge can back up traffic all the way into The Junction, or well into North Delridge. Goldsmith said SDOT would keep an eye on that. Meantime, the department has just issued another official reminder tonight of the impending ramp closure (which will mean almost a year and a half with no access to the westbound bridge between 99 and I-5), along with the official detour map (above) – read on for the full text:Read More

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Happening now: Day of Prayer gathering at Alki
May 6, 2010 6:49 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

Sunny evening on Alki as representatives of at least 10 local churches gather to lead the National Day of Prayer rally at Statue of Liberty Plaza. Jonathan Stumpf, covering it for WSB, sent that cameraphone photo and will have more visuals/info later.

ADDED EARLY TUESDAY: Jonathan reports more than 100 people participated. Among the clergy who spoke/prayed, Pastor Ken Ross of Arbor Heights Community Church, praying on behalf of “the media,” which by his definition early in this clip, includes people who use Twitter:

Jonathan reports that other prayer subjects during the event included: military and national leaders, state and local leaders, business, education/youth, families/marriage, the West Seattle community, and church/pastors.

There were performances as well as prayers:

The National Day of Prayer is designated by presidential proclamation – but a court fight under way could potentially end that.

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West Seattle-born Mother’s Day gifts: Take a photo; insulate a yurt
May 6, 2010 3:03 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle-born Mother’s Day gifts: Take a photo; insulate a yurt
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

With just three days till Mother’s Day, here are two unique West Seattle-inspired Mother’s Day gift ideas – one you don’t even have to “give” till the day itself! That would be the gift of photography – Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) has set up a Mother’s Day photo studio on its patio (Hotwire-provided photo at right) so you can bring “mom, dad, kids, pets, husband, wife, or main squeeze,” as Hotwire proprietor Lora Lewis puts it. Noon- 4 pm, photographer Wyn Bielaska will be there to photograph whoever you bring. $10 for a digital photo that’ll be e-mailed to you, $20 for one 8×10 and two 5×7 photo prints that you’ll be able to pick up at Hotwire. 25% of the proceeds benefit WestSide Baby.

Now, the other unique Mother’s Day gift: West Seattle-founded CoolMom is suggesting that West Seattle families reach out, in honor of Mother’s Day, to families across the globe, by buying a Yurtcozy. It’s a donation that will reduce coal-burning in Mongolia – saving families energy and money – as explained on the Yurtcozy website. Go here to find out more.

P.S. Hotwire and CoolMom are both among the great businesses/organizations/schools/individuals/blocks/etc. that are part of the 6th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – this Saturday, 9 am-3 pm! Maps here.

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Congratulations to West Seattle HS softball, & a chance to pitch in
May 6, 2010 1:43 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Sandy Watkins shares that photo and this report of a big achievement for West Seattle High School‘s fastpitch softball team:

West Seattle High School Softball Team – Sound Division Champs! The Lady Wildcats defeated Chief Sealth this week 7-3, and 3-1. Both games were well played and fought by both teams. This is the 7th division title WS has won since 2004!

Highlights from Tuesday’s game included sophomore pitching duo Toni Spadoni and Rosie Patnode combing for 12k’s 2 walks and 5 hits , junior Al’Asia Davis coming off an injured knee with a power performance going 3-4 at the plate and driving in 1 run, sophomore Annie Patnode went 3-4 with a triple, junior Candice Lastimado went 2-4 with 2RBI’s and sophomore Toni Spadoni went 2-4 with 2 triples and 2 RBI’s!!

Thursday’s game highlights included senior Katelyn Elder laying down a perfect bunt to load the bases and junior Al’Asia Davis hit a 2 RBI single and sophomore Rosie Patnode drove in another run for insurance. Westside’s senior pitching duo of Kelsi Baker and Corinne Kleeberger combined for 6 strike outs, 3 hits and 1 run!

WS also celebrated the brilliant careers of 4 seniors — 3 year varsity starter Katelyn Elder, 4 year varsity winner and 3 year starter Cortney Elliott, 4 year varsity winner and 2 year starter Kelsi Baker, and 4 year varsity letter winner and starter Corinne Kleeberger!!

West Seattle finished the regular season 12-0 in Sound Division and 15-3 in league play. The Wildcats will host the first round of the Metro Playoffs next Wednesday vs. Seattle Prep/Franklin at Riverview at 3:30 pm.

The team will be having a BINGO AND WALKING TACO fundraiser tomorrow night (Friday, May 7th) at West Seattle HS. Ten games to be played and 10 prizes to be won! Five dollars gets you in the door and gets you 5 games – (games 1-5), for an additional $5 you can buy the “cash games” (games 6-10). Food will be available: Walking Taco $3, Nachos $2, Drink $1. First Game Begins at 6:40 pm

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 updates from Admiral/California
May 6, 2010 10:44 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

FIRST: Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James tells WSB that the suspected robber and getaway driver from yesterday’s Admiral Way Bank of America robbery (WSB coverage here) both have been arrested. No details yet except that, according to Lt. James, “Tukwila PD that arrested the female driver after a short pursuit which subsequently led to the arrest of the male robber.” SECOND: We also asked him about an incident late last night in the same area, after two people sent us notes asking what was up with a notable police/fire presence around 11 last night. Lt. James says they got a call that someone had hit the clerk at the Admiral Way 7-11; the assault suspect walked/ran away, police set up “containment” including a K-9 unit, but didn’t find the suspect. 2:06 PM UPDATE: SPD Blotter has more details on this now, including the arrest of the male suspect at a Tukwila motel this morning – read the full report here.

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School Board gives final OK to Westside School lease for Hughes
May 6, 2010 9:12 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

As first reported here March 28, independent Westside School is moving into the old EC Hughes building in Sunrise Heights this fall – and the move is REALLY official now that the Seattle School Board has given its final approval to the lease, with a vote at last night’s board meeting. According to school district documents (read them here), it’s a 10-year lease, starting at $45,000 a year for the first three years – with Westside responsible for operation and maintenance costs (aside from major systems); the district expects to save about $50,000 a year for Hughes and each of two other buildings elsewhere in the city that it’s now going to lease out. The district also had requested proposals for two of its other “closed” facilities in West Seattle, Genesee Hill and Fairmount Park elementaries, but nobody submitted a proposal; Westside, which has been housed in a former Highline Public Schools facility, was the only entity to seek a lease for Hughes. They’re planning to open in their new home this fall.

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West Seattle Thursday: Day of Prayer; playground plan; port …
May 6, 2010 6:39 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Thursday: Day of Prayer; playground plan; port …
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Wednesday night photo by David Rosen from SlickPix Photography)
Maybe a little odd to start the day with an end-of-day shot, but the photo of last night’s sunset, near Luna/Anchor Park, came in overnight, and one of tonight’s major events is on the waterfront in the evening, so … The annual Day of Prayer gathering is tonight at Statue of Liberty Plaza on Alki, 6:30 pm, 10 local churches participating, full details here … Also tonight, the Lafayette Elementary Playground Committee is hosting a community meeting to vote on designs for the play structure and surrounding area at the Lafayette playground. The meeting is at the Lafayette library from 7-8 pm … This one’s downtown, but West Seattleites are involved in League of Women Voters of Seattle, which invites you to a forum about the Seattle Port Commission at 7:30 pm at Seattle First Baptist Church – speakers include Port CEO Tay Yoshitani; admission’s free, full details at www.seattlelwv.org … back in West Seattle, it’s the Friends of the College dinner at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor), Brockey Center, 5-8 pm (full details here). More for today/tonight/beyond, on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.

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West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day countdown: Days away
May 5, 2010 9:25 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

Checked The Map yet? Here’s the clickable Google Map version, and here’s the printable PDF version (or a Word doc if you prefer), for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day this Saturday, sales 1-200 (but cross off 105, which had to cancel), all over the peninsula, 9 am-3 pm. So far the weather looks promising! Time for some sneak peeks – first, we have a list from Lora Lewis at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), which again this year is a big group-sale site (#79 on the map), dozens of sellers in the courtyard (and next door at Ginomai). We’ve published the entire list at the official WSCGSD site. Other group/organization sale sites: Highland Park Improvement Club (sale #154), C & P Coffee (sale #107), CoolMom (sale #92) at Cycle U (WSB sponsor). And another reminder: The West Seattle Tool Library is taking donations at four sites, and sending “scavenger teams” out to buy tools. Full details (and list of locations) here.

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West Seattle High School senior wins “Be the Change” contest
May 5, 2010 8:30 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks to tech instructor Roni Ayalla from the Seattle YMCA for sharing the link to that video, along with the news that the West Seattle High School senior who’s featured, Rey Martinez, created the design that won the “Be the Change” T-shirt contest put on by PugetSoundOff.org and One Soul Revolution. OSR will print and sell Rey’s design; he also won an iPod.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Admiral Bank of America robbed
May 5, 2010 5:58 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Thanks to everybody who called, e-mailed and sent Facebook messages about the big police response at Admiral and California. Police at the scene confirm the Bank of America on Admiral at 44th has been robbed. No description at this point and no word of any arrest. The bank is closed because of the robbery. 6:34 PM UPDATE: Still no arrest, but Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James has a few more details: “No weapon seen, just a displayed note. The suspect was described as a white male, 35 years old. Witness stated he fled on foot to a waiting bluish/green Honda, driven by a female. Witness got a plate on it that turned out to be stolen plates.”

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Boeing’s Duwamish deal: Reaction from DRCC, King County Exec
May 5, 2010 5:16 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

A followup today to Boeing‘s announcement last night that it’s reached an agreement on cleaning up part of the Duwamish River and restoring habitat. Our regional-news partners at the Seattle Times reported on the deal here. This evening, we have reaction on two fronts: First, we asked the advocacy group Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition for its thoughts – here’s what Thea Levkovitz says:

DRCC congratulates Boeing on being the first out of the gate to address not only the cleanup but the restoration of Habitat due to their polluting activities. We certainly hope that other Polluters will follow suit quickly. What the story did not mention is that habitat restoration is a requirement of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA)process of the Superfund Law. There are two parts to Superfund. The first is the cleanup and the second is the restoration of habitat.

There is a lot of work to be done on the river including the draft Feasibility Study (cleanup plan) for the entire river in October, 2010. That will be the opportunity for the residents of West Seattle to weigh in and make sure that we get the best cleanup possible.

Also, we just received a King County news release with reaction from County Executive Dow Constantine – click ahead to read it:Read More

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West Seattle wishbone creator gets his wish: Court fight ends
May 5, 2010 3:30 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

kenandwishbones.jpg

We first talked with Ken Ahroni of Lucky Break Wishbone two years ago, when he notched a pivotal win in his fight against Sears and ad agency Young and Rubicam, over the plastic turkey bones they used in a promotion – which seemed a lot like the ones he had been making and selling. Today, Ahroni e-mailed to say, “After four years, we finally prevailed in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.” That federal court just rejected the challenge to the $1.7 million award he had won in a copyright case first filed in early 2006; the ad agency had talked to Ahroni’s company almost a year before that about possibly using his wishbones in a Thanksgiving promotion for Sears – procuring a sample, not striking a deal, then hiring another company to produce plastic wishbones in China. (Lucky Break Wishbones are manufactured in Auburn.) From the Lucky Break news release announcing the decision (you can read it in its entirety here):

“The Ninth Circuit’s decision reaffirms the validity of Lucky Break’s claims and originality in product design,” said (Ahroni’s lawyer). “As business becomes more globalized, it will be critical that U.S. courts uphold intellectual property rights in a manner that continues to encourage innovation and creativity. This case is an excellent example of the principle in action.”

After getting the news release about his court victory, we checked with Ahroni to ask if this is indeed the end of the legal line – he says, yes, case closed. And business is good, he tells WSB – sales of his wishbones were up 10 percent in 2009 over the previous year. If you’d like to read the appeals court’s decision, here it is in its entirety (Ahroni clarifies that “not for publication” does not mean what you’d think – it’s a term referring to the decision’s future uses).

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South Park Bridge: Study results out; county says, no surprises
May 5, 2010 3:15 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   South Park | Transportation | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy King County Department of Transportation)
As reported in previous coverage of the King County plan to close the South Park Bridge on June 30th, they’ve been awaiting one last consultant analysis to confirm their assessment that the bridge is too unsafe to keep open. This afternoon, that report is complete, and the county says it indeed underscores their decision. According to a news release from the county (read it here), the bridge “is in such poor condition it can no longer be safely used by the public.” The county also has posted the full report – you can see it here. Still no funding to replace the bridge, but logistical planning for its closure continues, with two meetings ahead May 11 and 25, as noted in our coverage of last week’s meeting about the “draft closure plan.”

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