June 2007

Tenants of surplus Seattle school buildings in Ballard, Small Faces Child Development Center and the Nordic Heritage Museum, will have at least a year to decide whether or not to purchase the facilities under a plan adopted by the School Board last week.

The board voted unanimously to amend the district's facilities master plan, changing the classification of 19 buildings to inventory for future school use, or surplus.

Five facilities, including the Crown Hill School (Small Faces Child Development Center) and Webster School (Nordic Heritage Museum), were assigned surplus

Ballard bar owners have encouraged city leaders to nix the idea of a nightlife license and instead hire more police and enforce existing noise, litter and public intoxication laws.

Dozens spoke out at a public hearing last week against a proposal being considered by Mayor Greg Nickels and the Seattle City Council that would require certain venues to obtain special licenses and comply with operating standards to control noise, litter and crime.

Representatives of the nightlife industry say the legislation puts too much financial and policing pressure on owners and employee

The King County Prosecuting Attorney has filed a possession of child pornography charge against Whitman Middle School teacher Timothy Daniel Sheehan.

In a letter to parents and guardians, dated June 1, Whitman Middle School Principal Robert Kogane said the "current allegations do not involve any of our students.

The Ballard High School Youth Basketball Camp is coming up on June 25 through 28 and will be lead by one of Washington State's top coaches in Karen Blair.

Blair is the second year head coach of the Ballard High girls varsity team and will be assisted by her staff, current players and former players.

Two sessions will be offered. Session one is for boys and girls in grades one through four will be from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. during the camp.

Tracey Eide hails it as an unprecedented victory for the education community - and the education community seems to agree with her.

After working on the issue since 1993, a measure by Sen.

Rose and Dave Ehl, along with Rose's daughter Karla, have operated the Federal Way Saturday Market for four years.

Dave trailers all the gear and rigs up the tents around seven a.m. each Saturday.

They also help the nearly 40 vendors set up their gear in hopes of good weather and a nice crowd.

The market is more than fruits and vegetables.

It's about people. It's about handcrafted items and things that sparkle.

The rules are simple. Handmade or homegrown will get you a booth...along with a modest $150 fee for the day.

If you are an avid reader of this column, (of course you are!) you will note that last week, I wrote about the wonderful Bonsai Collection on the Weyerhaeuser Campus.

It is worth seeing at any time of year as the change of seasons brings different looks to these living works of art.

I had intended to include an overview of the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in that column, as it shares the same acreage, but I ran out of paper in my notebook.

That's OK, because this facility deserves its own week of attention in the newspaper because it too is a world-cla

Eric Stavney of DeVry University has formally announced his candidacy for the City Council seat to be vacated by Councilmember Dean McColgan.

He joins Dini Duclos, Renee Maher, and Hope Elder as the fourth candidate for this position.

Stavney is a college professor of 18 years with a strong interest in environmental conservation and education.

He has worked at Highline Community College and the University of Washington, in addition to DeVry University.

Also a small business owner, Stavney brings recent experience as an entrepreneur in starting a jewe

The City of Federal Way Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Department is proud to present its first Outdoor Cinema Series at Steel Lake Park in partnership with Qwest Communications.

Movie showings include favorites for the whole family, providing a free alternative to the traditional movie theatre. Four events will be held on Friday evenings beginning at dusk.

Viewers are invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets for available lawn-seating.

The 2007 cinema series line-up is as follows:

Friday, July 6

Barnyard