erika schultz

Gay marriage in Washington: Legislature has the votes

Erika — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:37:05 +0000

Rep. Jamie Pedersen and his partner Eric Pedersen walk to testify in a hearing on gay-marriage legislation with their four children Leif, 2, left, Anders, 2, center, Erik, 2, red, and Trygve, 4, (behind not pictured) Monday, Jan. 23, 2012 in Olympia, Wash. Same-sex marriage supporters learned Monday that Washington state Legislature has enough votes to pass legislation legalizing same-sex marriage.

Erika Schultz/The Seattle Times

Read Andrew Garber’s article Gay marriage in Washington: Legislature has the votes.

State Senate approves same-sex marriage bill

Erika — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:31:19 +0000

Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, center left, and Rep. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, hug inside Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown’s office at the Capitol before floor debate on the Senate’s same-sex marriage bill. The legislation passed by a 28-21 margin, three votes more than needed.

All images copyright Erika Schultz/The Seattle Times

Read Seattle Times staff reporter Andrew Garber’s story, Historic Senate vote clears way for gay marriage in state and Lornet Turnbull’s article “Little outcry over plan to shift domestic partners into marriage.”

The crowd reacts after the same-sex marriage legislation vote passed the Senate in Olympia, Wash. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012.

Sen. Ed Murray, left, and his longtime partner Michael Shiosaki wave on the Senate floor in Olympia, Wash. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012 after the Senate floor debate on same-sex marriage legislation finished.

George Scarola watches the Senate debate on same-sex marriage legislation at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012.

Sen. Ed Murray, right, and his longtime partner Michael Shiosaki, left, talk in the wings of the Senate in Olympia, Wash. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012 before the Senate floor debate on same-sex marriage legislation.

Michael Shiosaki, from left, Rep. Laurie Jinkins, and Rep. Jamie Pedersen, right, talk in the wings of the Senate during the Senate debate on same-sex marriage legislation in Olympia, Wash. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012.

Marian Ericks, second from right, and others listen in the Senate wing to the Senate floor debate on same-sex marriage legislation in Olympia, Wash. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012.

Jeanne Kohl-Welles, left, talks with Rep. Jamie Pedersen and Rep. Laurie Jinkins in the Senate wings during the Senate floor debate on same-sex marriage legislation in Olympia, Wash. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012.

Judy Murray hugs her brother Sen. Ed Murray before the Senate debate on same-sex marriage legislation in Olympia, Wash. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012.

Sen. Ed Murray, left, and his longtime partner Michael Shiosaki wave on the Senate floor in Olympia, Wash. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012 after the Senate floor debate on same-sex marriage legislation.

Sen. Ed Murray, left front, smiles on the Senate floor while his longtime partner Michael Shiosaki, left, Rep. Jamie Pedersen and Gov. Chris Gregoire watch as same-sex marriage vote passed the Senate in Olympia, Wash. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012.

A splash of gold in the International District

Erika — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 18:13:19 +0000

Ying Chan displays a bag of goldfish outside of Liem’s Aquarium Shop in the Chinatown-International District in Seattle. Chan, who was taking the fish for display in a restaurant’s tank, often stops by the tiny store that has been owned by his brother-in-law Djin Kwie Liem for 32 years.

All images copyright Erika Schultz/The Seattle Times. View the online gallery on The Seattle Times’ website.

A telescope goldfish, center, swims in a tank at Liem’s Aquarium Shop in Seattle.

Tom Duong, left, picks out angelfish with owner Djin Kwie Liem at his aquarium and fish shop in the Chinatown-International District in Seattle. Duong said it has been almost 10 years since he last had a pet fish, and was picking some out as a present for his eight-year-old son.

Betta fish swim inside Liem’s Aquarium Shop in the Chinatown-International District in Seattle.

Djin Kwie Liem walks outside of Liem’s Aquarium Shop in the Chinatown-International District in Seattle. Liem, who has had a love for animals since his childhood, used to sell a variety of birds at the store— many who used to live in the front window of his shop.

Djin Kwie Liem pages through books at Liem’s Aquarium Shop in the Chinatown-International District in Seattle Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012. His store carries a wide variety of exotic fish from around the world.

A wide variety of fish from the around the world— including locations in Singapore, India, Thailand and Africa— are for sale at Liem’s Aquarium Shop.

Goldfish swim at Liem’s Aquarium Shop in the Chinatown-International District in Seattle Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2011.

Goldfish swim in a tank at Liem’s Aquarium Shop in the Chinatown-International District in Seattle Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012.

A customer walks with Djin Kwie Liem at the entrance of his store Liem’s Aquarium Shop in the Chinatown-International District in Seattle Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012.

Djin Kwie Liem CQ has run Liem’s Aquarium Shop for the past 32 years.

Fund For Needy donations top $1 million

Erika — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:15:24 +0000

Paula Carpenter, 40, tells her children, Ethan Carpenter, 7, left, and Aaron Carpenter, 5, that Christmas is more about giving than receiving. Presents will not be as plentiful as they were in past years. With paying rent, gas, utilities, phone bills — Paula said that she and her husband are focusing on the things they do have, including her husband’s job in a tough economy. Their family receives Salvation Army services in Renton.

Each year, The Seattle Times publishes “The Fund for the Needy,” a set of articles about local agencies who provide food banks, tutoring, toys for kids, housing and many other important offerings in our community. We featured Paula’s family in a recent article about the Salvation Army.

For the first time in its 33-year history, The Seattle Times’ Fund For The Needy has raised more than $1 million this holiday season. To read more about campaign, read Jack Broom’s recent article.

One of the best parts of living in Seattle is being apart of a community that is so generous.

Even though not every family can give money or toys — some give in other ways. While hanging out with Paula and her kids, she told me she was nervous about sharing their economic woes in the paper. However, she offered to share her family’s story because she realized she would be helping others in the process. Thanks for your generosity and grace, Paula.

All images – copyright Erika Schultz/The Seattle Times

Renton United Cowboy Action Shooters

Erika — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 03:36:55 +0000

Marc McDaniel, also known as Wyatt McCain, is dressed to shoot as he prepares for a match with the Renton United Cowboy Action Shooters. The local group is affiliated with the Single Action Shooting Society, which has about 92,000 members worldwide.

A participant competes during a Renton United Cowboy Action Shooters match at the Renton Fish & Game Club, in Renton, Wash. The club has been active for more than 20 years.

Karl Mayer, also known as the Carlsbad Kid, competes in a match with the Renton United Cowboy Action Shooters, an affiliated club of the worldwide Single Action Shooting Society.

Renton United Cowboy Action Shooters prepare to compete at the Renton Fish & Game Club, in Renton, Wash. Brian Howard, one of the organizers, said participants often use single action revolvers, lever action rifles and double barrel shotguns— guns you’d likely see in a old Western movies. RUCAS members also create aliases and dress in Western attire for the matches.

Mike Ray, also know as Shootin’ Straight, lights his pipe during the December meetup of the Renton United Cowboy Action Shooters.

Chuck LaFore, also known as Zocato, left, and Marc McDaniel, also known as Wyatt McCain, set up targets in between heats during the Renton United Cowboy Action Shooters monthly match.

All images copyright Erika Schultz/The Seattle Times

Check out staff reporter Erik Lacitis’ article, “Renton shooters recreate Old West, live ammo and all”