May 2009

The King County Water Taxi's first full month in April, despite the rain, was deemed successful by the county with a total of 20,361 passengers riding the West Seattle-to-downtown passenger ferry.

“This answers the question of whether the Water Taxi can thrive during cooler weather—and that answer is an emphatic ‘Yes,’” said Dow Constantine, King County Council Chair and chair of the King County Ferry District Board. “These numbers bode well for a successful move to year-round Water Taxi operation next year.”

The Water Taxi averaged 663 riders on weekdays, 911 on Saturdays, and 1,406 on Sundays during April. This includes the Sunday, April 5, opening day on which 3,429 passengers took advantage of free rides to set a one-day Water Taxi ridership record.

Around 59 percent of the weekday ridership came during peak hour runs, showing that the Water Taxi’s regular summer-season commuters wasted no time getting back on the boat.

For more information on the King County Water Taxi, call (206) 553-3000 (TTY 206-684-1739) or go to www.kingcounty.gov/metro. Riders can check on the operating status of the Water Taxi by calling (206) 205-3866.

Skillet Street Food, the popular mobile kitchen, will be serving West Seattle for the next four weeks at Seattle Lutheran High School's parking lot on 41st Avenue Southwest and Southwest Genesee Street said executive chef Josh Henderson.

The restaurant was originally planning to serve next to the Farmer's Market when it first came to the neighborhood three weeks ago. When that became impossible, they served in the Hotwire Coffee parking area, although large crowds made that too small of a space.

But last Sunday, Skillet seemed successful at Hope Lutheran High School. Henderson said after four weeks they will reconsider a more permanent location.

Skillet serves bistro-style cuisine from a Streamline trailer all over Seattle. Each day, they serve a different neighborhood their tasty burgers, BLT sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, salads and garlic fries. Each dish features gourmet ingredients such as fine cheeses, caramelized onions and saffron.

Their take on the burger is served with bacon jam, blue cheese and arugula.

Greenwood resident Narda Curlee had been a dance instructor for nearly five decades. Since a car accident in 2007 injured her leg and ended her instructing career, Curlee has had trouble entering and leaving her home.

She can no longer use the stairs in the front of her house, and, until this week, had been using a plank to enter and exit from her back porch.

Aid for Curlee came in the form of the 16th-annual Rampathon. The Rampathon, sponsored by the Master Builder's Care Foundation, is a one-day event that builds ramps for low-income, disabled homeowners in King and Pierce counties.

Curlee's new ramp was built by Iron Brothers Construction and was the kickoff to the May 16 event. More than 30 other ramps are planned for this year's event.

"I think it's absolutely fantastic," said Curlee, as she navigated her new ramp. "This means everything because it's the only way to get out."

The Superintendent of Parks and Recreation has confirmed that, because several projects had bids that came in under projections, surplus funds—up to $500,000—could be available for the Delridge skatepark. According to Superintendent Tim Gallagher this will require approval from the Parks Board of Commissioners.

But Matt Johnston, of the SkatePark Advisory Committee, said that more funding could still be required.

"It may surprise you, but that’s not enough to construct a park the size of a typical skatespot as defined by the Citywide Skatepark Plan," ohnston wrote on his blog. "So the next step may be to shift the Myrtle Reservoir skatedot funding from the Parks For All Levy to Delridge."

The Myrtle skatedot is currently allocated $250,000 levy funds, but in the past the surrounding community has made it clear that they do not desire a skatepark in their neighborhood, unlike the Delridge neighborhood, which has been very supportive of the proposed skatepark.

Reallocating those funds will require approval from the Seattle City Council.

The Ballard High School girls lacrosse team had its highest scoring output of the season May 5 but couldn't stop Tahoma, losing 20-12.

Tahoma's 20 goals were the most given up by Ballard all season.

The Beavers are on a 12-game losing streak and haven't won since their season opener.

Jayne Barnes and Maddie Soukup had four goals each, Jessica Bryan added two, and Haley Jackson and Amy Billroth-Maclurg had one apiece.

Ashleigh Siegfried had 15 saves for Ballard in her first game at goalie.

The Beavers have one game remaining at 4:30 p.m., May 8 at Marymoor Park against Lake Sammamish. Lake Sammamish is in last place behind Ballard and has yet to win a game.

The Ballard High School boys soccer team is making a habit of coming on strong down the stretch.

In the final match of the Beavers' season May 5 against Eastlake, the teams were tied 2-2 with two minutes left. Ballard scored two goals in those final minutes to get the win and earn a spot in the playoffs.

It was the team's highest scoring match of the season.

The May 5 match was a microcosm of the Beavers' season. Ballard started slowly, going 2-4-1 in the first half of the season and scoring only five goals during that stretch.

But, things turned around in the second half of the season, starting with a 2-1 win over Issaquah April 14. Ballard went 5-1-1 with 16 goals to close out the season.

Ballard's playoff game is at 7:30 p.m., May 9 at Memorial Stadium.

It was a debate between my brother and I a few years ago: when choosing plants for your garden, do you focus on long-blooming plants to enjoy over an extended period of time? Or, do you cater to the individual plants that dominate the garden for a special showing for a limited time only, like Rhododendrons, for example.

When the Rhodies are in bloom, they rule the garden ~ but is it better than a subtle long bloomer?

I’m always looking to the garden for a good metaphor, and The Inland Empire Gardeners (TIEG) are both the long bloomers, and the champions of the garden club scene. While their enthusiasm and generosity lasts throughout the year, their big annual show is on this coming weekend. Gardeners unite!

The driving force behind this club are the many volunteers that are willing to pitch in, and it is The Sisters too. Well, I call them The Sisters, it makes them sound like action heroes: a three person team that hold down the lead jobs of the club, that make it possible for the rest of the group to do “the good work” of volunteering and contributing. It's a fabulous system that just works.

Author, community activist, and Admiral Junction resident Judy Pigott held a political fundraiser May 5 for King County Council member Dow Constantine, who is running for county executive.

The May 5 event filled her living room and dining room with other area politicians including Sen. Joe McDermott and Rep. Eileen Cody, both of the 34th District, and Rep. Sharon Nelson, also of the 34th District, as well as other Constantine supporters.

Seattle City Council candidate Highland Park activist Dorsal Plant attended, as did Tom Daschle's brother Steve, director of Southwest Youth and Family Services.

Also hosting, Herban Feast catered. They open their Sodo restaurant May 22.

"The energy here is fantastic and positive," said Pigott.

"I have spent my life living lessons my parents have taught me about trying to find ways for people to live together and eventually finding a 'win' for everyone," said Constantine in his speech. "But...also standing up and fighting for what is right.

There are lots of walks, runs and bake sales raising money for cancer research today. But this year, mothers and daughters, friends and family gather at the first annual "Hope is Our Cup of Tea," on May 9 at Salty’s on Alki for an afternoon tea celebrating hope, humor and the honoring of cancer survivors.

Event proceeds will benefit cancer research and survivor support services through the American Cancer Society.

Keynote speaker Debra Jarvis, cancer survivor, Chaplain at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and author of, "It’s Not About The Hair and Other Certainties of Life and Cancer," promises to uplift and inspire as she takes the gathering from tears to laughter while recounting being diagnosed with breast cancer five days apart from her mother.

Jarvis shares, “My mother’s focus was not on her own cancer – it was on me, her daughter. And that’s what mothers do.”

Known for her humor and honest take on reality, Jarvis is a living example of what cancer research has done to make cancer survivable. “A cancer diagnosis is not about death anymore. Today we have reason for hope. All the patients I’ve counseled over the years are those reasons.”

On Saturday, May 23, West Seattle Edible Garden Fair will teach residents how to grow their own groceries at a free event.

Held from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the South Seattle Community College landscape horticulture buildings, the day will be packed full of five rooms of interactive workshops, gardening demonstrations, “Ask the expert” panel discussions and educational booths all designed to teach you how to grow your own groceries right outside your door.

Organizers say the goal is to empower people with the knowledge, skills and passion to grow your own groceries.

"Now, more than ever, it is important that we know where our food comes from," according to the press release. "Take control of your food safety and your family’s well being by growing your own economic stimulus plan."

Speakers include, Willi Galloway, who will be presenting two of her most popular sessions: “Some Like It Hot - Growing heat-loving vegetables in the Pacific NW” and “Growing For Good Taste," and Jennifer Adler of Bastyr University presenting, “The Magic of Preserving Foods” and “Tasty Ways to Prepare Northwest Greens.”