June 2017

By Katy G. Wilkens

Two years ago I planted two tea plants in my suburban Seattle garden, and they have just provided me with my first cup of homegrown tea.

Tea bushes are related to the camellia, which does well in our area too. Both like sun or partial shade. Tea bushes are also evergreen, so they can add to your landscape year round and don’t take any special care. If you don’t have yard space, you can grow them in a pot. You can find tea plants at specialty nurseries or order them from Raintree Nursery in Morton, Wash.

Though the flower is pretty, it is the leaves you want for brewing a drink. I didn’t harvest any leaves the first year because I was worried about my “baby” tea plants. Last year I picked about 20, and next year, I should be able to take even more.

Tea is amazingly high in antioxidants with lots of health benefits, most of which disappear if you add milk or sugar. So drink it on its own.

By Katy G. Wilkens

Two years ago I planted two tea plants in my suburban Seattle garden, and they have just provided me with my first cup of homegrown tea.

Tea bushes are related to the camellia, which does well in our area too. Both like sun or partial shade. Tea bushes are also evergreen, so they can add to your landscape year round and don’t take any special care. If you don’t have yard space, you can grow them in a pot. You can find tea plants at specialty nurseries or order them from Raintree Nursery in Morton, Wash.

Though the flower is pretty, it is the leaves you want for brewing a drink. I didn’t harvest any leaves the first year because I was worried about my “baby” tea plants. Last year I picked about 20, and next year, I should be able to take even more.

Tea is amazingly high in antioxidants with lots of health benefits, most of which disappear if you add milk or sugar. So drink it on its own.

It’s no secret that public school funding is a challenge in Seattle, and hence the support (& existence) of important extra curricular programs at our high schools often comes down to the community and individuals stepping up and chipping in.

The Ballard High School boys basketball program is no different in its financial challenges, but the team, led by head coach and math teacher Mike Broom are working hard this offseason to fund their program for the year. For the 2nd year, the Ballard Beavers will host a regional high school basketball tournament to serve as their primary fundraiser for the rest of the year - including funding basics like transportation to games for Varsity, JV and freshman teams, snacks and drinks to keep the kids healthy, practice and game equipment and uniforms.

June 9-11th, @ Ballard High School gym, games start at 4:30pm on Friday, all day Sat & Sunday starting at 9am.
Day Pass Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for students/sr. citizens and kids 11 and under are FREE.
Updates available on Twitter @BallardBBall

A memorial gathering celebrating the life of Donald E. Rasmussen will be held at Camp Long Lodge, 5200 35th Ave. SW, Seattle, WA on June 13, 2017 from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Questions, contact Bernadette at blrasmussen60@gmail.com

If you would like to obtain some well considered financial advice, contact Sarah Cecil 206-938-6017.

Brought to you by Sarah Cecil Financial Advisor with Edwards Jones Investments.

Sponsored post.

By Pat Cashman

It was intended as a simple commercial promoting a baseball giveaway---in which 30,000 Mariners’ baseball fans would each receive a free vinyl M’s jacket when they came through the turnstiles on August 23rd, 1981.

The commercial was written and produced by the person writing this column. At the time, I was a freshly-minted (for breath purposes) producer for KING TV, the Mariners’ broadcast station of the early ‘80’s (carrying a measly 15 games out of 162.)

I thought it would be funny to feature an actual Mariner player as the spokesman---one who starts out doing a straightforward sales job---but is misinformed about what is actually being promoted. The premise had the player pitching a (non-existent) “Funny Nose Glasses Night”---rather than the actual “Jacket Night” promotion. Laughs would hopefully ensue.

Car prowler caught in the act, arrested

Around 12:20 a.m. on Wed., May 31, officers were dispatched to the 8800 block of 42nd Avenue S.W. in response to a report of a man testing car door handles to see if any vehicles had been left unlocked. As officers were arriving in the area, the call was updated. A witness observed the suspect getting into one of the parked cars and then walking away on foot. Officers found a man matching the suspect description and detained him. The witness was able to positively identify the man as the same one seen entering the car. The owner of the car confirmed that items left in the console were missing. Police arrested the 37-year-old man and booked him into King County Jail.

Bicycle thief

Car prowler caught in the act, arrested

Around 12:20 a.m. on Wed., May 31, officers were dispatched to the 8800 block of 42nd Avenue S.W. in response to a report of a man testing car door handles to see if any vehicles had been left unlocked. As officers were arriving in the area, the call was updated. A witness observed the suspect getting into one of the parked cars and then walking away on foot. Officers found a man matching the suspect description and detained him. The witness was able to positively identify the man as the same one seen entering the car. The owner of the car confirmed that items left in the console were missing. Police arrested the 37-year-old man and booked him into King County Jail.

Bicycle thief