March 2017

By Marjorie Young

It is a universally acknowledged truth that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction; this is known as Newton’s Third Law of Motion. While the realm of science is admittedly not my forte, proof of this hypothesis is evident all around us.

Several recent examples come to mind. In the small town of Victoria, Texas, the community’s only mosque was burned to the ground. The local rabbi, head of a congregation numbering no more than thirty, immediately handed over the keys to his synagogue to the Iman…allowing Muslims to still have a place to call home. The Christian community was not far behind, also offering their churches for prayer until the mosque could be rebuilt. Furthermore, a ‘Go Fund Me’ site was set up in to raise the required $850,000 to cover construction costs; within two days, well over a million dollars had poured in.

Information provided by King County

Washington is known for having some of the best seafood in the world, much brought to our shores from crews preparing to go to Alaska for the summer fishing season. The Metropolitan King County Council today recognized those brave men and women who will spend their summer in the North Pacific by recognizing the “Blessing of the Fleet” which will occur this weekend, the start of the halibut fishing season.

“Commercial fishing has been a foundation of our economy for over a century. Fishers risk their lives, and their families risk the loss of their loved ones every year. The fishing industry is an integral part of our King County community,” said Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles, the sponsor of the recognition. “We also acknowledge the many years of participation by the Ballard First Lutheran Church in the annual Blessing of the Fleet. We wish the fleet an abundant and abundantly healthy start of the season!”

This year’s blessing is also a poignant reminder of the dangers involved in fishing in the Pacific. Last month the Fishing Vessel (F/V) Destination was lost in the Bering Sea with six crew on board.

Congratulations Mount Rainier High School Band & Orchestra at the Soundview Region Solo and Ensemble Contest. Saturday, March 4, 2017 was an exciting day! The winners in each category at this competition earned a spot to play at the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) State Solo & Ensemble Contest. Mount Rainier High School band and orchestra students showed the region what a quality program we have at our school. The orchestra, only in its third year in existence, won ALL categories in both solos and ensembles, a feat that is unprecedented. Teachers, staff, parents and the community are very proud of each and every one of these musicians!
Here are the winners of the Soundview Region festival that will now perform at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA held on April 28 & 29, 2017.

Solo Winners –
Hayley Camp, Violin Hayley Camp, Cello Henry Crust, String Bass Jacob Lomboy, Bassoon Laura Martin, Viola
Erin Moine, Clarinet

Ensemble Winners -

Information provided by King County

The Metropolitan King County Council today unanimously approved legislation authorizing the purchase of renewable wind-generated electricity from Puget Sound Energy beginning in 2019. The energy will be sourced at the soon-to-be constructed Skookumchuck Wind Project in Thurston and Lewis Counties. 


“Today’s legislation is a significant step toward achieving towards King County’s goal of becoming a carbon-neutral government,” said Council Vice Chair Rod Dembowski, prime sponsor of the ordinance. “I am very proud that the County continues to lead on efforts to protect our environment and address climate change. From the boldest climate action plan in the country, to the soon-to-be largest all-electric battery bus fleet, King County continues to innovate and use new technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” 


Information provided by the City of Seattle

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) Superintendent Jesús Aguirre has approved the names of two new parks: a 1.7-acre neighborhood park that is part of the Yesler Terrace Master Planned Community and a new park in the heart of Fremont. SPR invited the public in October 2016 to submit potential names for these sites to the Parks Naming Committee.

By Katy Wilkens, MS, RD

I love citrus. I have six lemon trees in my living room that I baby all winter long. I love the smell of the blossoms when I move the trees inside. And I look forward to hummingbirds pollinating the second crop of flowers in the spring when I move the trees back to a sunny spot on the deck.

I have so much fun making homemade marmalades, lemon and lime curd and the Italian liqueur limoncello. What did I request from my husband when he went to Florida on business this year? Key limes! Meanwhile I am thoroughly enjoying the candied orange peel I made from the navel oranges and tangerines that are in season right now!

Citrus is a great, bright flavor you can add to almost any sweet or savory dish. Use it in place of salt to help keep your kidneys and heart healthy. Try these ideas to add some zip to your winter!

Homemade Limoncello
10 lemons
1 750-milliliter bottle of inexpensive vodka
3 cups water
2½ cups sugar

By Cynthia Flash

For many people with challenging illnesses, there is a “before” and an “after.
” They recall life before a diagnosis or scary event, and life after.

For Fatima Valentine of Des Moines, the turning point came in November 2015. Then age 50, she had battled high blood pressure for 30 years. She usually felt pretty good even though she didn’t always get around to taking her medicine. But lately she had been having trouble sleeping and was short of breath. Her family, in town for Thanksgiving, pushed her to see her doctor.

Still she didn’t get around to her own health care – until a neighbor walking her dog saw Valentine sitting outside her door, looking not quite right. The neighbor urged a call to 911. At Highline Hospital, Valentine was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure.

Years of uncontrolled blood pressure had taken their toll on Valentine's kidneys, slowly but surely damaging their ability to function. With almost no kidney function remaining, she needed regular dialysis or an organ transplant. There were no other options to rid her body of the waste her kidneys could no longer process – and to keep her alive.

By Dr. Christine L. Kirchner

They may carry cheery names like Gentle Dental and Bright Now, but what actually happens in these corporate dental chains can lead to some very unhappy outcomes for their patients.

Former patients talk of painful care, high staff turnover, inferior treatment that needs to be repaired later, unnecessary procedures, and actual expenses well in excess of the promised fee.
I’m proud of the dental practice I’ve built here in West Seattle over the past 17 years. I recognize that visiting my office is not my patients’ favorite activity, but I also know that when I provide high quality care, I am rewarded with their loyalty. Most importantly, I understand that the best results always come when my patients and I work closely together and communicate honestly in developing a treatment plan that meets their needs.

But corporate chains frequently don’t let that sort of direct doctor-patient collaboration take place. Instead, they inject non-dentist corporate managers into the relationship.

By Amanda Knox

Just under a year ago, my sister Delaney asked me to read and help edit her senior thesis project—an essay about her year volunteering at a local youth tutoring center. “You gotta help me, Amanda,” she pleaded. “I can’t use the verb to be.”

“That’s weird,” I said. English uses to be not only to define states of being, but also as an auxiliary verb, a necessary component of many verb conjugations. Without to be, light is neither a particle, nor a wave. Without to be, I will not be! I scowled. “That can’t literally be what your teacher wants. She probably just doesn’t want you to use passive voice, like, the milk was spilled, as opposed to, I spilled the milk.”
“No!” Delaney huffed. “I can’t use to be at all! I’ll get marked down! Help!”

By Peggy Sturdivant

The village is coming to Ballard. Or should I say being reintroduced to an area that has become more urban than village? After successfully establishing a multigenerational community surrounding Phinney Ridge the PNA Village is expanding its geographic boundaries to include Ballard and Fremont.

The PNA Village is a program of the Phinney Neighborhood Association, with offices at the Greenwood Senior Center. On Saturday, March 18 at 4 p.m. there will be an informational session at Ballard Library for local residents to learn about what it means to be part of the village, whether as member, volunteer, or both.

As usual when I hear about a wonderful program I wanted to sign up on the spot. A book club, cooking class, discussion groups, the ability to ask for help, and connect with interesting people. Potlucks, writing groups, decluttering…