Tinfoiler Zero

When we posted our list of Wallingford artists featured on Etsy, we included Greg Francke (aka “dobart“), who specializes in “divers artifacts of s scientifick and obscure character”. The Tinfoiler Zero (featured on the right) is one such artifact you’ll find on dobart’s Etsy page. This handy helmet is guaranteed to “stop mind control dead,” but you’ve got to see it first-hand to believe it. On Wednesday, February 1, you can do just that by stopping into Fuel Coffee (1705 N. 45th St.) for an art opening for Francke from 5:00PM – 8:00PM.

Here’s a fun piece of information about Francke’s work, from Fuel’s blog:

Greg Francke‘s synthesizers hypnotize, engage, and sometimes totally baffle their viewers. His Etsy shop - packed with circuit-bent synthesizers, re-purposed antique electronics, and desecrated children’s toys – was recently featured on Regretsy.com when it was mistaken for the work of an insane person. (Happily, the Regretsy feature flooded Francke’s online shop with traffic, skyrocketed sales, and garnered him several commissions.)

Francke’s photography will be featured at Fuel during the month of February, but the reception on Wednesday is the only time you’ll get to see his “divers artifacts of a scientifick nature”. Personally, I’m looking forward to checking out the “PROBLEMATIKA” (see below).

PROBLEMATIKA 2 to the 8th power Soviet solipsism syndrome intervention system

As expected (though one week later due to the snowstorm), the Seattle School Board unanimously approved the proposal to shift the school boundaries here in Wallingford to address enrollment growth. The changes are for the 2012-13 school year, so if you have a child entering Kindergarten next fall, please read the information below. Kelly Bradford was kind enough to provide us with this report:

Last night the school board adopted a Student Assignment Transition Plan for 2012-2013.  The part specifically relating to Wallingford permanently redraws elementary school attendance area boundaries.  Students living north of 45th and between Stone Way and 15th NE will be in the McDonald area.  Students in the area bounded by Stone Way, 45th, and a line running north-south between Corliss and Sunnyside, will be in the B.F. Day area.  For 2012-2013 only, entering kindergarten students in these areas that were formerly in the John Stanford area, and who have a sibling at John Stanford, will be guaranteed assignment to John Stanford if they request it as their first choice.  Also for 2012-2013 only, entering kindergarten students in the area newly annexed to B.F. Day will be guaranteed assignment to McDonald if they request it.

Parents of entering kindergarten students in these areas should make sure they submit their enrollment paperwork on time.  Go to seattleschools.org and look under Schools for the Enrollment page to find all the details, including an address-lookup tool to give you the information for your address – especially useful if you live between Corliss and Sunnyside. (Editor’s note: the address look-up tool will be available to use starting Tuesday, January 31: http://bit.ly/SPSaddresslookup.) Forms for choice requests will be available February 27 and must be submitted by March 9 to receive guaranteed assignment – after March 9, choice assignments will be on a space-available basis only.  The school board will be watching with interest to see how many families choose the language immersion programs at John Stanford and McDonald.  Pass the word to anybody you know with a student ready for kindergarten!

Now that plans are set for 2012-2013, it is a good time to let your school board members know what changes you would like to see for 2013-2014 and beyond.  On seattleschools.org you can look under District for the School Board page to find all their email addresses.

Click here to read the Capacity Management and Transition Plan for 2012-13.

Come sign along and learn some Spanish with musical duo Sing With Señor at Alphabet Soup Books (1406 N. 45th St.) this Saturday (January 28) beginning at 11:00AM. Sing With Señor will be performing songs from their CD, “Uno Dos (Songs for learning Spanish)” which features fun, easy-to-learn lyrics and catchy melodies that are enjoyable for the whole family. This event is free and open to the public.

Sing with Señor features Chilean artist Felipe Cañete (who is also a musician for Wo’Pop band Luc and the Lovingtons) and Soleil Kelley. While teaching Spanish to middle school kids in Bellevue, Cañete began to write original songs for kids to have fun learning and singing that would also fit the school curriculum.

For more information, see the interview with Cañete below (or click here), or visit Sing With Senor’s website here: www.singwithsenor.com

Earlier this month, we told you that the Seattle Public Library has been seeking community input to improve its services and discuss its future funding strategies. The last meeting, which was scheduled for January 18 in Ballard, was postponed due to the massive snowstorm. That meeting has been rescheduled for this Saturday, January 28, from 2PM to 4PM, but at the Northeast Branch (6801 35th Ave. N.E.) in Wedgwood.

If you can’t make it to the meeting on Saturday, you can still give your input online: http://www.spl.org/about-the-library/libraries-for-all/lfa-plan/share-your-thoughts.

Back in July, we told you that organic meat shop Bill the Butcher would soon occupy two-thirds of the old 7 Eleven space at 4612 Stone Way. Now, six months later, the signs are up but the store isn’t open yet, prompting us to repost the question: Where’s the beef?

Wallyhood reader Tracy dropped us a to let us know she wrote to Bill the Butcher, asking the same question. Here’s the reply:

Tracy,

Our current estimate is Spring.  I wish I could nail it down more than that but there are too many moving parts to forecast accurately.  We are expecting an influx of investor capital very shortly and that will determine how quickly we can open. 

Once we have a date forecasted I’ll let you know and thanks for the interest.  Hopefully we’ll be in the neighborhood soon.

Alan

Tracy adds, “Sigh, I might as well go ahead and order beef from my Eastern WA  rancher friends, as usual.  Wish it were more local to our neighborhood.”

If you’re a local business, you might want to consider donating a service or an item to the University of Washington School of Law’s Public Interest Las Association (PILA) for its upcoming annual auction. PILA is a non-profit, student-run organization dedicated to promote pro bono and public interest legal work both here and abroad. Amy Shebeck from PILA sent us a note, giving us a little bit of background on some of the good work PILA does:

The Public Interest Law Association (PILA) supports legal work that alleviates suffering and improves the quality of life for our communities by providing grants to fund non-paying summer internships for law students pursuing careers in public interest law. Last year, PILA supported work at Northwest Justice Project in Seattle, the Ministry of Water and Energy in Ethiopia and the Southern Poverty Law Center in Alabama, among many other organizations.  The work funded by PILA benefits refugees, children, homeless people, immigrants, and many other disadvantaged populations. These grants are made possible primarily through PILA’s annual auction, which is made up of donations given by businesses and individuals in the community.

On February 10th, over 400 attorneys, judges and other members of the legal community will be attending the PILA auction–it is a great opportunity for businesses to increase their exposure to new clients, and for a great cause.  If anyone is interested in donating items or services to the PILA auction, please contact Amy Shebeck, at shebeck@gmail.com, for details.

Here’s a little bit of trivia: The first Dick’s Drive-in opened on 45th Street right here in Wallingford during a snowstorm on January 25, 1954. A few days later, after the snow melted, they had a re-grand opening on January 28.

To celebrate 58 years of flippin’ burgers, Dick’s is offering 2 cheeseburgers for the price of 1 today (Tuesday, 1/24), between 2-6:30 pm.

On Friday (1/27), Dick’s will be offering 10 cent Cokes (Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Root Beer or Lemonade) all day long.