March 2008

The Alki Homestead Restaurant owners, Tom Lin and Patrick Henley, have put the business back on the market two years after purchasing it.

"Restaurants aren't really our forte," said Henley. "We are better at other things. It's time for us to move on."

Lin and Henley said they wanted to assuage any fears the beloved 58-year-old restaurant might drastically change under new ownership. That was a worry among some in the community when the two took it over in 2006.

"We really (have been) stewards for this place and we want it to stay the same," said Henley.

Housing advocates are celebrating the approval of legislation passed by the Washington Legislature that strengthens protections for tenants displaced by apartment-to-condominium conversions.

The Senate passed the legislation on March 6 and was later approved by the House on March 8.

The new law will increase the ability of local jurisdictions to help low-income renters with the costs of moving.

Tyler Simpson convinced his parents and older brother to compost their food scraps into the yard waste at home. Now, he's working on restaurant owners, persuading them to switch from plastic to compostable take-out containers.

"In one million years, it'll still be there," Tyler says.

His mother, Jean Hamilton, prompts him. "The Styrofoam, you mean?"

"It doesn't seem right," he says.

Opportunity Knocks, the national on-line job site, announced that ArtsWest is a winner of the First Annual People's Choice Best Nonprofit to Work For Awards.

Winners were selected from nominations based on employee essay submissions. National nominations were held in November and December, Individuals were told to submit a brief essay on why they consider their organization a great place to work.

"We're very thankful for this incredible honor," said Alan Harrison, ArtsWest's executive director.

The Washington Legislature has approved legislation that will create a pilot project allowing a small number of grocery stores in Washington to offer beer or wine samples.

"Washington is known throughout the world for the great beers and wines we produce across the state," said Kohl-Welles.

If you pay someone to prepare your tax return, choose that preparer wisely, says the Internal Revenue Service.

Taxpayers are legally responsible for what's on their own tax returns even if prepared by someone else, so it is important to choose carefully when hiring an individual or firm to prepare personal returns.

If only every school could be so lucky as to have their weeknights filled with such color on stage. Seductive trumpet players decked out in black and silver. Women in bright dresses with skirts that twirl for miles, all against the black backdrop of a high school auditorium's curtain.

On top of that, all of it was free.

A city board will decide next month whether to designate an apartment building on California Avenue Southwest a city landmark, which could stop construction plans for a four story mixed-use building there.

Built in 1927, Charlestown Court at 3811 California Ave. S.W.

While many aspiring young artists dream of becoming as big as the Beatles or perhaps the next Madonna, Rose Laughlin was inspired to pursue a form of music that is less mainstream. While attending the Seattle Irish Festival she found her calling - singing.

Laughlin grew up in Seattle, graduating from West Seattle High School. In her 20s she wrote songs, in addition to working as an executive assistant and for a time a travel agent.

"I found myself always coming back to it (music) ...

The clich