The City of Normandy Park is seeking applicants for its Arts Commission, with three openings in December.

The Arts Commission meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Applications are due by November 21, 2011.

Applications are available at the front desk of City Hall, 801 SW 174th Street, or online at www.normandyparkwa.gov and will be emailed or mailed upon request.

Contact Debbie Burke, City Clerk at 206-248-8248 for application information.

The Arts Commission is responsible for the development, promotion and administration of any activity, project, or program within the City that will relate to the growth and development of the arts and humanities in the City of Normandy Park.

Arts Commissioners plan and implement the following events: Artist Exhibits at City Hall, Juried Arts Festival, Art Vendor Show, 4th of July Bike Decorating Contest, Music in the Park Summer Concert Series, Holiday Decorating Demonstration, Kids Craft for the Cove Santa Party and Light the Park Contest.

Sophy Hildreth and Annastasia Nichol.

The Normandy Park Yule Craft Bazaar is coming Dec. 16-17, and is the brainchild of Annastasia Nichol and Sophy Hildreth, local high school seniors who are producing it for their senior project.

Proceeds will be donated to the Normandy Park Arts Commission.

The Bazaar will be held Dec. 16-17, in the Manhattan Village shopping center, 17849 1st Ave South in Normandy Park.

“A midwinter arts swapmeet for the local community of Normandy Park,” is what they’re calling it.

Before then, artists and crafters are encouraged to attend a free Craft Night on November 6 to hang out with fellow artists and create items for the Bazaar. Emphasis will be on decoupage on this evening – all supplies are provided and the creations made will be donated to the Yule Craft Bazaar. Participation is free of charge and open to all ages. The Nov. 6 Craft Night will be held at DTwenty Games, 17851 1st Avenue S, Normandy Park.

For more information e-mail Annastasia at yulecraftbazaar@gmail.com or stop by DTwenty to get signed up or have any questions answered in person.

Here’s more from the Yule Craft Bazaar website:

For the curious, our Yule Craft Bazaar Craft Nights are days where local artisans can come in, hang out with fellow artists, and create. All supplies are provided, and the items made that day will be donated to the Yule Craft Bazaar to sell. It’s free of charge and open to all ages! Show up early, or email us and reserve a spot now! It’s a good idea to bring some of your own business cards, so when we sell your creations, others will know who made what.

This time around, our theme is Mod Podge madness. Join us to decoupage anything and everything on Nov. 6th, from 2 to 8, at local game store DTwenty Games.

To learn more about the Yule Craft Bazaar project, visit yulecraftbazaar.blogspot.com/

Retirement has been busy for Jerry Wick. Since selling his J & W Septic Service a few years ago, he’s tackled all of those projects and hobbies he’s always dreamed of doing – metal detecting, building a greenhouse, expanding his vegetable garden, and more.

Last winter, when he found himself in his workshop with some scrap wood and a little free time on his hands – voila! – he added to his skill set once again. Now Jerry can be called a builder of birdhouses. He has created a variety of designs: single, multiple residence, funny face – and recently he’s branched out into building lodges for Mason bees, the peaceful pollinators that help make gardens bountiful.

An abundance of these bird and bee abodes are going to be on display at the upcoming Highline Garden Tour on Saturday, June 11. Jerry will be donating half the proceeds from the sale of any birdhouses to the Highline Historical Society, which sponsors the Garden Tour every year.

This will be just one of the special features on the 2011 Tour, which is going to feature four private gardens in Burien, Normandy Park, and SeaTac, as well as the kitchen garden of the gourmet Copperleaf Restaurant, and the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden.

Ticket holders on the 2011 Highline Garden Tour also will enjoy harp music, artists in the gardens, a plant sale, raffle items, discount coupons, and a lecture on “Small Is the New BIG” by gardening expert Lorene Forkner.

Tickets for the Garden Tour are $15 in advance, with group rates of $12 per person if bought in groups of four or more. Tickets will be $18 on the day of the tour. Tickets can be purchased at Herr Backyard Garden Center, 107 SW 160th Street; Burien Bark, 13258 1st Avenue S; and Lavina Mays, 17824 1st Avenue S. Tickets also can be purchased by calling 206-241-5786.

For more information about the Highline Garden Tour and about the Highline Historical Society, visit www.highlinehistory.org/Programs.html.

Normandy Park 'Geek' Don R. Crawley.

Normandy Park resident ‘Geek’ Don R. Crawley has co-written a new book, called ‘The Compassionate Geek: Mastering Customer Service for IT Professionals,’ aimed at helping IT professionals learn all-important customer service skills.

Crawley is quite accomplished as an author, speaker, musician and actor. He also is president/chief technologist of IT training firm soundtraining.net, has spoken before audiences in all 50 states, plus Canada, the U.K. and Australia, has appeared in numerous local films and plays (most recently in Burien Little Theatre’s production of ‘Unfound Fossils’), is an ensemble cast member in Seattle Theatre Readers, and plays the pipe organ at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines.

“In his spare time, he laughs with his family, howls with his dogs, and watches the ships on Puget Sound from his home in Normandy Park,” reads his bio.

He also wrote the ‘Accidental Administrator’ series of books for IT pros, and adds this about his ‘Geek’ role:

As a longtime IT author and trainer, I get phone calls and emails every week from C-level execs, business owners, and HR managers who are frustrated with their IT staff. They tell me that their IT staff members are technically competent, but lack the necessary customer service skills to help end-users with their jobs. That’s why my co-author Paul Senness and I wrote ‘The Compassionate Geek: Mastering Customer Service for I.T. Professionals.’ In this short (164 pages) book, you’ll find:

• The four intrinsic qualities of great customer service providers
• How to use emotional intelligence skills to deliver great tech support
• How to say “no” without alienating the end-user
• How to listen so you understand
• Ways to maintain your calm and manage job stress

Here are some links to info on Don:

• Don’s business website: www.soundtraining.net
• The Compassionate Geek book page on Amazon: http://amzn.com/145371278X
• Don’s Amazon author’s page: http://amazon.doncrawley.com

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We love to profile authors, artists, filmmakers, musicians, 'geeks' and other talented local folk, so if you know someone who lives in the general area you think is worthy of a story, please email us!]

If you’re like most of us, we have that favorite throw on the end of our beds or draped over a couch. One that provides a feeling calm and comfort in the coldest of times. Not to discount the long hours our grandmothers put into our cherished home adornments but this century’s knitter is anything but traditional.

Just Google the word “knit” and you’ll find any number of unabashedly loyal yarn artists just looking to turn the stereotype on its cookie cutter head. Not only can you find people adorned for life with tattoos of their passion for the craft but an endless number of blogs, websites, books and every form of new media thinkable about how “Knit Is It!”

Not only can you do it anywhere, but knitting goes beyond envious one-of-a-kind originals that turn heads to environmentally friendly tools. You know that cardboard sleeve you get each morning with that piping hot cup of java? You can replace that wasteful sleeve with a knit version that is simple and easy to make. Last year our local yarn experts and all around crafty divas at The Yarn Stash in Burien revealed their secret pattern for a coffee cozy that met with rave reviews. Practical, stylish and easy enough for even the greenest knitter among us.

Oh yes my friendly “Yarn Jockeys” (lovingly called so) are taking the fashion and accessory world by storm. I challenge you to go to a store and see if you don’t find knit incorporated into the chic new lines from winter to summer. Wouldn’t the inner creative genius in you be so proud if you could say “Hey, I could knit that myself?” The truth of it is, you can! The Ladies of The Yarn Stash have one-on-one classes and also group training if you’d rather bring a bunch of newbies along. If you’re of the more seasoned level of knitter and want to try something newer and bolder, Beth or Bonnie have the experience, tools and resources to help you evolve your passion for the purl.

For information on how you can join the knitting craze, contact The Yarn Stash in Burien at (206) 246-2727 or just drop in 615 Southwest 152nd Street Burien, WA 98166. There is always a big comfy chair and a lot of welcome smiles waiting for you.

Open Tue 10am-7:30pm; Wed-Fri 10am-6pm; Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 11am-4pm

by Dave Markwell

Apparently, I am now number 522. For some unknown reason my stock took a nosedive today. I was up to 37, but not any more. My seven year old daughter informed me of this. Using some complicated and mysterious calculations, she ranks me. As she looked at me with pity and dismissal while telling me my new ranking, I shook my bowed head wondering where I went wrong. I never know what I did wrong. Her system of quantifying my value to her puzzles me. Only on rare and precious occasions do I break the top ten. I am usually deep in the hundreds. My wife remains solidly placed at number one and my son, my daughter’s unrivaled nemesis, frequently ranks higher than me. I don’t get it.

I am the one making blueberry pancakes that I don’t eat. I construct lunches and brush hair and teeth. I play and read and talk. I say nice things. I tell her she’s beautiful and smart and wonderful. Yet, I still trail an apparently large pack of others. My current ranking of 522 is strange. I don’t think this little girl even knows 522 people. In this case, she must be ranking me behind people she doesn’t even know. WTF…whatever…if 522 is where I am, fine.

While considering how or where she even began to think of ranking people, I had to look no further than my left ring finger. My wife, while not vocalizing my rank, wears my placement on her face. Where I stand with her is very obvious. The scale and severity of my indiscretion or error in judgment is detailed in her expression. She does know over 522 people and I am certain that I have done things resulting in a ranking below 522. I am not proud of these moments and the only explanation I can offer during these uncomfortable moments is that I am male. The degree to which a guy can screw up in the eyes of his ladies is immense. Trust me on this. I have tested it, exhaustively.

An illustration of this occurred today as my wife called me to let me know she missed her yoga class. This may or may not have been my fault. Upon answering the phone, I immediately went into defense mode by pointing out the various delays, besides me, that may have resulted in her tardiness. How well this went over became obvious after she hung up on me. It was not good. Being concerned about my new and likely deserved slide in ranking, I dove straight into damage control.

I cleaned the kitchen and swept the floor. I picked up my crap from the living room. I even picked up the kids’ stuff. I, in a mild form of parental protest likely known only to me, rarely put their stuff away. I yell at them to clean it up, trying to impart some lesson on responsibility that goes largely in vain. I don’t enjoy talking to myself, but I do a lot of it. The clincher on my amends making was my preparation of chicken enchiladas for dinner. Tonight was my wife’s late night at work and understanding that the way to her heart truly is through her stomach, I knew that having a good meal ready for her when she walked in the door had the power to change the climate in my home.

It may not have been total magic, but it did soften the edges of her frown and she loosened the grip on her anger and disappointment. With each delectable bite, she unwound and I felt my rank creep higher. A hungry woman is an easy fix. My daughter is not so easily persuaded, but as all people do, I’m sure she has a trigger. I will keep searching and hoping that a soft spot is discovered. I will throw some chocolate chips in her pancakes and maybe add some whipped cream. I will scratch her back and rub her feet. I will serenade and dance. I will find her trigger…hopefully soon, because I don’t know how much longer I can take being number 522.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here. Or work out with him at his new exercise company Waterland CrossFit!]

The official “Best Soup” trophy presentation (L to R) John Lasswell – Volunteer Soup Coordinator, Mike Werle – Highline Food Bank, John Braicks – Archery Bistro Chef, Rick Jump – White Center Food Bank, Dana Lasswell – Volunteer Soup Coordinator

Dana and John Lasswell — kitchen managers for Empty Bowls — methodically tasted and rated all of the soups donated for this year’s fundraising event. Each soup was graded for texture, flavor, aroma, appearance and originality with a maximum possible score of 50.

Trophy created by Moshier studio artist Allison Moore (Photo by Allison Moore)

• Texture: 8
• Flavor: 9
• Aroma: 8.5
• Appearance: 8
• Originality: 9

In second place was 909 for their sweet potato and squash soup that earned 42 points, and tied for third were The Mark with their tortilla soup and Mick Kelly’s tomato basil soup, both earning 41.5 points.

For winning this year, Archery Bistro earned the right to display the official “Best Soup” ceramic trophy — created by Moshier studio artist Allison Moore — until next year’s Empty Bowls event.

You can bet that the other area restaurants that donate soup for this fundraiser are going to be planning to take it away from them next time around!

This past Friday (Jan 28) the Environmental Science Center (ESC) presented the grand prize award in their Earth Day Kids Art Contest to a 4th grade student at Marvista Elementary.

The winner, Olivia Gibson, entered a drawing called “Give the world a gift” that showed the life cycle of a seed becoming a tree. In her submission she said, “My picture is about little things like a seed [that] can make big things that can help the earth.”

For winning, Olivia received a collection of gifts and she and her parents will be guests of honor at the ESC Earth Day Celebration in April. Her artwork will also be featured on invitations to the event.

Two additional finalists were also chosen. 6th grader Jessica Hengtgen from St. Francis of Assisi School and 6th grader Rachel Martin, also from St. Francis of Assisi School.

The contest was open to kids ages 5-13. A total of 107 entries were received. The winners were judged by three Burien City Arts Commissioners.

Grand Prize Winner – Olivia Gibson, Marvista Elementary

Finalist – Jessica Hengtgen, St. Francis of Assisi School

Finalist – Rachel Martin, St. Francis of Assisi School

Normandy Park Christian Church certainly has one of the more unusual, innovative and entertaining holiday displays in the area – a Drive-Through Nativity Story – which runs this coming weekend, Dec. 11-12th from 6pm – 8:30pm at their campus at 908 South 200th in Des Moines.

We’ve driven through it before and were amazed at the set full of actors of all ages in period costumes, live sheep, a donkey, carolers, free storybooks and even free candy canes!

We think this is one of the most entertaining holiday traditions for all car-loving folks, and we highly recommend you check it out:

WHEN: From Saturday, Dec 11, 2010, to Sunday Dec 12, 2010, from 6pm until 8:30pm.

WHERE: Normandy Christian Church, located at 908 South 200th in Des Moines, WA 98198 (Map link)

INFO: “Travel in your car to scenes of the Nativity Story.”

More info at their website here.

For more information contact Patti Bertelsen at office@normandychristian.org or via phone: 206-878-4740.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The 8th Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Sale will be this Saturday, Dec. 4th from 9am – 3pm at 18511 Normandy Terrace SW in Normandy Park (here’s a map).

There will be “lots of hand-made gifts,” as well as jewelry, ornaments, baby gifts, bath goods, tasty goodies, cards and invitations, holiday decor, knitted wears, accessories, home furnishings and more.

This event is free and open to the public.

WHAT: 8th Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Sale

WHERE: 18511 Normandy Terrace SW Normandy Park, WA 98166

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 4th from 9am – 3pm

INFO: From a flier:

*LOTS of hand-made gifts!*

jewelry, ornaments, baby gifts, bath goods, tasty goodies, cards & invitations, holiday decor, knitted wears, accessories, home furnishings and more!

~OPEN TO THE PUBLIC~

Bring your friends!