by Brenda Anders

Salon Michelle on Marine View Drive was hit overnight by a crowbar-wielding thug who broke both the large plate glass window and glass doors.

Both were struck several times with a crowbar, leaving them shattered and riddled with holes. The vandal also moved the businesses’ freestanding sign in front of the door but did not damage it.

“The glass was everywhere,” stated Michelle Fawcett, salon owner. “We have spent hours cleaning up glass that was all over our waiting area.”

It appears the thugs were unable to gain entry to the salon and that no other businesses in the building were hit.

“The special film on the glass is probably what prevented entry into the building,” commented Sgt. Bob Collins of the Des Moines Police Department.

Michelle estimates there is several thousand dollars worth of damage.

“At least I was able to rearrange my schedule so I have not lost any business, although I will be staying late tonight to get everyone in.”  She went on to say, “I don’t do anything to anyone. I volunteer my time to help make this community a better place. Why would someone do this?”

Michelle has been a hairdresser here in Des Moines for over 20 years, opening her own shop 6-½ years ago. She is a board member of the Des Moines Legacy Foundation and volunteers every year for the annual Bayside Brunch, which benefits Des Moines Area seniors.

If you have any information regarding the vandalism to Salon Michelle or any other business in Des Moines, please call the Des Moines Police Department immediately at (206) 878-3301.

Workers clean up the broken plate glass and door windows at Salon Michelle on Wed. March 10th.

Cost is $10 in advance for adults ($13 at door); Students & Seniors $7; or $25 for a Family Pack.

All proceeds go to the Des Moines Area Food Bank, so come on down, have some good spaghetti and help your hungry neighbors.

Here are the details:

WHAT: St. Patrick’s Day Spaghetti Feed and Auction fundraiser for the Des Moines Area Food Bank.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 17th, 5:00PM-8:00PM.

WHERE: Clarion Hotel, located at 3000 S. 176th St. in SeaTac.

COST: Adults $10 in advance, $13 at door; Students & Seniors $7; Family pack $25.

INFO: Proceeds go to the Des Moines Area Food Bank.

RSVP: Please call 206-676-3742 to RSVP, or click here for more information.

by Janet Grella

Love continues to ferment at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival this year, in at least two separate instances:

1. Three years to the day that Sales Rep Dominic Calandri (pictured, left) met his wife-to-be Debbie at the festival, they’re getting married.

Dominic’s winery, Five Star Cellars, is in Walla Walla. He claims that it was Five Star’s extraordinary premium wine that brought Debbie to his table, but also reveals that “it was me who had to close the deal on the romance.”

2. If you read The Waterland Blog during our coming out party at last year’s wine fest, you may recall our first “Love Ferments” story about Burien residents Emma Wagner and Al Halvorson, who met two years ago at the fest when Al asked Emma to salsa dance.

We met the two lovebirds last year, who told us their story. They got married last March 14th, and of course dropped by our booth Sunday to let us know they were still happy, still together, and were back again to celebrate. And dance.

Photographer Michael Brunk took some pics of the two dancing at the exact same spot where they first danced in 2008:

A big congratulations to both Al and Emma, as well as Dominic and Debbie from all the folks at The Poverty Bay Wine Festival and your friends at The Waterland Blog – we’ll see you next year, where we’re certain there will be more romantic success stories to share!

by Scott Schaefer

Sunday (Mar. 7th) was the final day of the Poverty Bay Wine Festival, a fundraiser for the Des Moines Rotary Club at the historic Landmark Event Center in Des Moines.

There are dozens of reasons to come down this afternoon, from the 25 local wineries, various food vendors, local beer samplings, live music, MINI Coopers parked out front, great crowds as well as the fantastic causes this event supports for the community.

Another huge reason to venture down today is that it is being held in a grand, historic building that once served as the Masonic Retirement Center of Washington. Built in 1926, this majestic, six-story, castle-like building is so cool that you can get lost just walking around admiring it.

Can you find this photo of Grand Master Selucius Garfielde?

And, it may be haunted, according to the company’s website, which mentions that a ghost named “George” allegedly haunts the 5th floor.

To make things even more interesting, if you know anything about the Freemasons, you know that these guys (which include many of our founding fathers) were really into symbolism, and are known to have a myriad of secrets and rituals (check out the Wikipedia entry for Freemasons). There are Masonic symbols scattered throughout this building, despite the fact that it’s no longer a working retirement home. We recommend that all visitors venture up the ramps and explore around the third floor ballroom, paying special attention to the long-dead Grand Master Masons whose pictures line the wall (see if you can find Selucius Garfielde), as well as some of the detailed touches, such as a marble plaque dated Feb. 12, 1913 near the entrance and the classic Masonic symbols built into some of the furnishings (see photo at right).

One of the more interesting Masonic artifacts we found while at the festival is a time capsule that’s buried near the fountain at the center of the exterior front gardens. To us, at least at this moment in time, this time capsule is a mystery. As it is to Jane Ipsen, CEO and President of the Landmark Event Center.

“I have no information on that time capsule,” Ipsen said Saturday when asked about the Masonic mystery. “There’s no paperwork or records here in the building, so it’s a big mystery to us what’s in there as well. It’s owned by the Masonic Retirement Center of Washington, and it’ll stay there, at least until it’s opened in 2030.”

The cryptic-looking time capsule was sealed in place in a Masonic ceremony at 9pm on Aug. 25, 1980, and is scheduled to be opened again at 9pm on Aug. 25, 2030, some 20 years from now (so mark your calendars – we have, and we’ll see you here then!).

Here’s a closeup pic of the time capsule’s plaque:

Here’s the exact text inscribed on the time capsule plaque:

9 P.M.
Aug. 25, 1980
A. Dep. 2980

Records beneath to be restored to the craft 9 p.m. Aug. 25 A.D. 2030. The 150th anniversary of the General Grand Council Cryptic Masons International. Deposted by the most illustrious Grand Council Royal and Select Masters of Washington.

Most illustrious Grand Master…Elgan W. Cox

Deputy Grand Master……Morris J. Bean

Principal Conductor of Work…Norman F. Camp

Most Puissant General Grand Master.John Harris Watts

This ornate"G" Freemason symbol adorns a door near the 3rd floor ballroom.

One interesting element on the plaque is the use of the date “A. Dep. 2980,” which, according to our research, indicates the Masonic dating terminology “Anno Depositionis,” which means (according to this website) “the year in which Solomon’s Temple was completed.” This appears to be a common dating method used by “Royal and Select Masters,” and indicates that they add 1,000 years to the common era.

So…interesting history, mysteries, a possible ghost, Masonic symbols, excellent wine and beer tastings, food, live music, great people having a great time for a good cause…all at the Landmark Event Center until 5pm today.

Oh, and we’re here as well, blogging live from a table near the main floor ballroom, that is, until our time runs out…

New Waterland Blog Advertiser GGC Embroidery–Grams Gift Closet–is on a mission; that is “to provide small businesses in the area the opportunity to brand and logo in the same manner as a mid to large size businesses at a lower cost,” so says owner/operator Jeananne Tescar-Burcham.

With this mission in mind, Jeananne created her small business from what was once a hobby. She specializes in personalized-custom embroidery and logo items for local sports teams, companies, families and individuals. Her closet of logo-wear includes sweatshirts, polar fleece, polos and hats.

When it came time to order some new shirts for The Waterland Blog staff to wear at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival, we asked our good friend Wayne Corey of the Des Moines Farmers Market “who does your branded clothing?” He strongly recommended GGC Embroidery for their service, quick turnaround and embroidery work..

Come see Jeananne's embroidery handiwork on our shirts at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival.

Are we another satisfied customer of GGC? You betcha! Would we recommend their services for your small business? We sure would.

You can contact Jeananne at 206-931-1548 or click here for the website.

by Ralph Nichols

Sixty-four hundred miles – the distance from Sea-Tac International Airport to Santiago, Chile – is a long way. It’s a lot farther still if you’re here and have immediate family members in earthquake-ravaged Chile.

Patricio Mendoza, the owner of EC Computers in downtown Des Moines, knows this all too well.

For almost 48 hours after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Chile on Feb. 27, Mendoza could only wonder how his son Victor, his father Humbetor, his sister Cecilia, and his niece Erika Cecilia (who lives in the Seattle area, and whose initials give the computer shop its name) had survived.

Communications with the outside world are difficult with widespread power outages and many of the country’s cell phone towers knocked down. Mendoza has since been told the tremor “was so big,” and “lasted so long and was so strong.”

Despite his anxiety, he hoped and prayed for the best – and waited for their calls.

Then late Sunday and again on Monday he finally heard from his niece and his sister. Both were well – and they had word that Victor, who lives near Viña del Mar, a seaside community of almost 300,000 where Mendoza is from, was OK too.

But there was nothing like hearing his son confirm this himself when, at last, Victor called him Tuesday evening.

These reports brought welcome news because “at first I thought the worst,” Mendoza said. “This was one of the biggest earthquakes we have ever had. The destruction is total. It’s all around.”

Patricio Mendoza spoke with Waterland Blog Reporter Ralph Nichols.

Mendoza is still waiting for word about his 80-year-old father Humbetor, who he assumes is OK but who lives where power remains out.

In an irony of timing, Mendoza returned only a month ago from a six-week trip to his home town, which is not far from Santiago, the nation’s capital, and an extended visit with his relatives who live in that region.

He also accompanied his niece there. Cecilia, 19, had “worked for the last year to pay for her dream trip to Chile,” he told the Waterland Blog this week.

“She was supposed to get back to the states on March 1. Her flight was scheduled for Feb. 28.” But with canceled flights and possible damage to airport runways, “she’s still stuck down there.” If everything goes all right, he said, she now should return on March 9.

Cecilia sounded much calmer than she did in her first call just a couple of days after the quake, which continues to be followed by strong aftershocks, he added.

Mendoza’s first reaction after hearing about the earthquake was, “I want to get a ticket and go there. The first thing I wanted to do is help my family. But the airlines have raised the ticket price four times or more for this tragedy.

“I still plan to go when the price goes back down. I can’t afford it now. I want to see how my father is doing and how my son is doing. I want to see my father personally because he’s 80 years old and alone. I know he will say he’s OK, but I still want to know.

Map courtesy www.usgs.gov

“It’s pretty bad to be this far away and not be able to go down and help,” he said.

And after helping his family, Mendoza also wants to do what he can – including taking clothing and other necessities – to help others there who are trying to rebuild their lives and property.

“People are hungry, people are upset. I’ve been in strong earthquakes where aftershocks continue for days. You feel so little after that. You cannot sleep in the day. You cannot sleep at night. You have no peace. It takes weeks to recover.”

Mendoza said that although he’s not there now, “at least I can bring some of the resources they need to them” if he can find a way to get there.

“A lot of people from Des Moines have called or stopped by the shop, concerned about my niece and my family,” he continued. “I thank all of you for your moral support. It has really helped.”

We’re “blogging live” from the Poverty Bay Wine Festival at the Landmark Event Center in Des Moines, where we’re hanging out at our table near the main room, talking with visitors and enjoying the fundraiser festivities.

Here’s one interesting thing we spotted – one group of attendees were carrying “wine tasting trays,” which allows one to hold a wine glass as well as food samplings in one hand:

"You don't spill your wine and you don't spill your food," said festival attendee Mark Herwick about the trays he and his party carried with them at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival Saturday (Mar. 6th). The wine fest continues until 7pm tonight and from Noon – 5pm Sunday.

Story by Rachel Lusby • Photo by Mark Neuman

Friday night (Mar. 5th) was the opening “A Night in the Vineyard” gala party for this weekend’s Poverty Bay Wine Festival, which continues all weekend at the Landmark Event Center in Des Moines.

Sponsored by the Des Moines Rotary Club, this annual wine festival will run both Saturday (Mar. 6) from Noon – 7pm and Sunday (Mar. 7) from Noon – 5pm at the historic Landmark Event Center (formerly Landmark on the Sound) in Des Moines. Guests will enjoy live jazz and great food while tasting wines from 25 Northwest wineries.

Saturday’s music line-up includes Darren Motamedy and 4th Degree. On Sunday, it’s Rouge and Billet-Deux. Local restaurants and gourmet food vendors will sample breads, cheeses, smoked salmon, chocolates and other fine fare.

Here’s a Photo Slideshow by Michael Brunk of last night’s gala:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are just $25 at the door, and includes wine, food and even beer tastings.

Through the Poverty Bay Wine Festival, the Rotary Club of Des Moines has raised over $150,000 in its five-year history. All proceeds fund a wide variety of charitable projects, including college scholarships, grants to local schools, safety and recreation programs for children, yard projects for elderly residents, support for the local food bank and the homeless, and projects to assist needy people as far away as South Africa and Pakistan.

HOURS:

• Saturday, March 6: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Sunday March 7: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

WINERIES:

• Canyon’s Edge
• Chandler Reach
• Covington Cellars – NEW
• Coyote Canyon Winery – NEW
• Burien’s own E.B. Foote Winery (BTB Advertiser)
• Eaton Hill
• Erin Glenn
• Fall Line
• Five Star Cellars
• Fort Walla Walla Cellars – NEW
• Kestrel – NEW
• Knipprath – NEW
• Masset Winery
• Otis Kenyon
• Page Cellars
• Pondera – NEW
• Sleeping Dog
• Sodo Vino – NEW
• Stina’s Cellar
• Two Vintners – NEW
• Vashon Winery
• Vin du Lac – NEW
• Waving Tree
• Willis Hall
• Windy Point

MUSIC:

• Saturday, March 6:
  • 12:30-3:00: Darren Motamedy Duo
  • 3:30-6:30: 4th Degree
• Sunday, March 7:
  • 12:30-2:30: Rouge
  • 3:00-5:00: Billet-Deux

For more information, please visit www.dmrotary.org.

Be sure to drop by and say hi to us – our table is on the first floor on the right just after you go up the ramp!

Our friends at the Des Moines Police Department want our Readers to know the following about emergency preparedness:

If you have turned on a television, picked up a newspaper or surfed the internet recently, it would almost be impossible to not see the latest devastation left by several major earthquakes around the world.

What if the Puget Sound region experienced a major earthquake today? How ready would YOU be?

It is a fact that professional responders (Police, Fire and Medical) will be overwhelmed during a disaster. The disasters we face in our region could be as devastating as an earthquake or as minimal as a power outage. To an unprepared resident, both examples could result in the loss of life. By participating in the “Prepare in a Year” program and dedicating just an hour each month to an emergency preparedness activity, by this time next year, you and your family will be ready for disasters–whenever they occur!

Simply visit www.desmoineswa.gov/prepareinayear and click on one of the monthly preparedness activities. A detailed description of the activity will open and provide further instruction. You will also find “How To” videos and other useful preparedness information.

The Des Moines Police Department offers several other emergency and disaster preparedness programs. For more information, contact Community Service Officer Batterman at 206-870-7617 or by email at kbatterman@desmoineswa.gov.

BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s featured Open House for this week is an “extremely clean 3 bedroom, 2 full (all new) bath rambler” located near the beach in Hurstwood and priced at $376,950.

This home features newly-refinished hardwoods, new tile in the kitchen and family room, new interior paint, and a 2-car garage with huge attic storage.

Here are the details:

WHEN: Open House will be this Sunday, March 7th, from 1pm to 4pm.

WHERE: 13843 17th Ave SW • Burien 98166

INFO:

• List Price: $376,950
• Listing#: 32089
• Beds: 3
• Baths: 2
• Fireplaces: 1
• Year Built: 1966
• 2 Garage-Attached
• Approximate House SqFt: 1,420
• Lot Square Footage: 16,000

Interior Features:

• Bath Off Master
• Dble Pane/Strm Windw

Site Features:

• Cable TV
• Fenced-Partially
• Patio

Marketing Remarks:

Extremely clean 3 bdrm, 2 full (all new) bath rambler.

Newly refinished hardwoods and new tile in kitchen and family rm.

New interior paint. 2 car gar. w/huge attic storage.

Sought after Hurstwood-near the beach.

Get in this one! Furniture negotiable if interested..

Directions:

• Ambaum Blvd. to SW 144th St.
• West to 13th SW.
• Right to stop sign.
• Turn Right then immediate left to 13843 17th SW.

Click here to see the full, detailed listing.

Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.