May 2006

The Elliott Bay water taxi began sailing May 1 and will continue regular service through the end of September.

Metro's water taxi service across Elliott Bay runs seven days a week, between Pier 55 at the foot of Spring Street on the downtown Seattle waterfront and Seacrest Park on Harbor Avenue in West Seattle. The crossing time between Pier 55 and Seacrest takes 12 minutes.

Again this year, there's a free West Seattle shuttle (DART Route 773) that connects the dock at Seacrest Park to Alki, the Admiral District and the West Seattle Junction.

King County Executive Ron Sims will honor students, teachers, school staff and volunteers at the 2006 Earth Heroes at Schools awards ceremony tomorrw, May 4.

"We recognize Earth Heroes at Schools for their invaluable contributions to protecting and preserving King County's natural environment, and their education of young people about the importance of becoming committed earth stewards," said Sims in a news release.

Beginning last Monday, Washington State Ferries implemented both the annual peak season surcharge and a 6 percent fare increase, recently approved by the state Transportation Commission.

The peak season surcharge equals about 25 percent on most routes and is only charged for the full fare vehicle and driver tickets and is not applied to the passenger fares or the frequent user fares.

"The surcharge is tied to the months with the highest traffic demands" says Traci Brewer-Rogstad, director of operations.

The 6 percent fare increase is across the board and impact

Kacey Hogan, has been named to the dean's list at the University of Washington for winter quarter 2006. To qualify for the dean's list, a student must be taking at least 12 graded credits and have a grade point average of at least 3.50 out of 4.

Booster seats have been proven to protect children from serious injury, yet new research shows that in some communities fewer than 21 percent of children 4 to 8 years old are properly secured in booster seats when they ride in cars.

More children were observed to be completely unrestrained (34 percent) or inadequately protected by an adult seat belt (45 percent).

Children in this age group are vulnerable because they do not fit well in adult seat belts.

As most Junction-goers know by now, the New Luck Toy sign is down and the infamous karaoke icon that lives long and strong in the minds of West Seattleites is gone.

Some may begrudgingly consider it a literal sign of the times. But already many Westsiders are turning their frowns upside down. Why? Because a new kind of luck has struck California Avenue - and with it comes pizza by the slice and, yes, the rebirth of karaoke.

Introducing Talarico's Pizzeria & Lounge.

The Ballard Beaver girl golfers dominated the Franklin Quakers last Thursday at West Seattle Golf Course in a 270 stroke to 344 victory.

Ballard golfers took the top five spots when the final hole was played.

Meet Gen, the reluctant King of a fantasy kingdom, unlovable Lump, who is being raised by a witch, and Liz, who is having trouble adjusting to life after death in these fantasy and science fiction titles.

Megan Turner, Whalen The King of Attolia

Although this memorable book stands on its own, it will be more enjoyable when read after prequels The Thief and The Queen of Attolia. Gen, the thief of Eddis, has entered into a truly complicated marriage with Irene, the Queen of Attolia.

A pair of Peregrine Falcons, similar to the one pictured here, are nesting under the Ballard Bridge with four eggs getting ready to hatch.

The photograph was taken by Martin Muller of Olympic Manor, who has been studying falcons and volunteering with the Falcon Research Group for the last ten years.

"We keep an eye on where the Peregrine Falcons are," he said.

Volunteers place bands on the young.

A memorial service for Arthur "Les" Malmgren was held April 30 at the Carkeek Park Environmental Learning Center. About 200 people came to pay respects to Malmgren, who, along with wife Nancy, were instrumental in restoring salmon habitat to Piper's Creek, the primary stream running through the park.

Malmgren was an electrical engineer by training, who worked for Boeing and Honeywell before founding his own medical equipment business.