January 2009

Field trips for middle school students are not uncommon, but in June a group of Pathfinder students will participate in a school trip that could greatly alter each child's world view.

The 25 Pathfinder students in grades six through eight will travel to China to volunteer at an orphanage for two weeks. The trip is part of the school's new World Travel Program organized by head teacher Lisa Clayton.

"My goal is for students to see themselves as global citizens," says Clayton.

The state, county and city executives have postponed deciding whether a surface couplet or an elevated structure will replace the aging Alaskan Way Viaduct, deferring to pressure to consider a bored tunnel despite its cost.

A joint statement was issued Tuesday, Dec.

While some businesses in West Seattle suffered in the end of 2008 due to the struggling economy and drastic weather conditions, others fared well and even benefitted from the snow storm.

Several stores reported that while they expected a decline in sales this holiday season they did not see too much different in comparison to sales one year ago.

At Northwest Art and Frame the poor economy and inconvenient weather didn't affect business much at all.

"I was pleasantly surprised with how the month ended up," said Dan Reiner, owner of Northwest Art and Frame.

As the Seattle School District gradually sells off surplus schools to the city and various non-profit groups, many community members are in support of the sales to keep these buildings in their community.

However Chris Jackins, coordinator of the Seattle Committee to Save Schools, has decided to bring a lawsuit against the district on terms of sale prices being lower than the buildings worth, possibly harming the district's financial status and future of students sharing the buildings' neighborhood.

As a state law there is a requirement that the sale price be at least 90

Mayor Greg Nickels announced today that additional private contractors will be hired to speed clean-up of city streets sanded during the winter storm.

For skiers and snowboarders things are going downhill faster than the economy, thanks to the snowy Northwest. Entrepreneurs Greg and Kara Whittaker of Alki Kayak Tours have capitalized on the snow and those itching to head for the hills. Their new business, Seattle Ski Shuttle, transports passengers via 11-passenger van from both the Fauntleroy Ferry and Seacrest Water Taxi docks to the Crystal Mountain, Snoqualmie Summit, and Alpental slopes.

Beginners are welcome, and you can snowboard, rent inner tubes, and snowshoe, too.

Police suspect that three men arrested in suspicion of the robbery of a West Seattle 7-Eleven early Dec. 28 may be part of a larger group of armed robbers that have been robbing convenience stores for past month.

The three suspects were identified as Jose G. Torres, 18; Lopes I. Valenzuela, 21; and Esgar Villegas, 18 and were arrested at about 1:35 a.m.

Admiral Theater

2343 California Ave. S.W.

938-3456

Movie tickets $5.50

Tickets available at http://www.farawayentertainment.com/admiral.html

http://www.farawayentertainment.com/admiral.html

Current films

Jan. 2-8

Role Models (R, Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd), 2:05, 4:15, 6:50, 9

Madagascar 2 (PG, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock), 2, 4:10, 6:45

A 27-year-old woman was taken to Harborview after she was found running in the street and falling near the West Seattle Bridge. She wore only pajama bottoms and a tank top and was disoriented. Glassy-eyed, she finally told the officer that she had been detoxing for several days. She vomited all over the patrol car and was later transferred to an ambulance for transport.

An elderly man reported that once again, a young woman he knows had stolen from him. She showed up at his door claiming to need gas money.

At the farmers market

www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org

This week will feature tulips, beans, beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery root, chard, garlic, greens, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, onions, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkins, broccoli, rutabaga, shallots, squash, turnips, apples, pears, nuts, cheese and dairy, eggs, pork, beef, chicken, duck, veal, lamb, goat, pate, soup stocks, wine, fish and shellfish, dried fruits and veggies, dried mushrooms, fresh pasta, artisan breads, honey, fresh pastries, ciders, jams, jellies, sa