March 2008

The West Seattle Farmers Market is officially open year-round, due to popular demand from both shoppers and farmers, the market operators announced last week.

The winter Farmers Market has seen a steady growth of loyal customers who weekly access unique products from local farms, and it was rapidly becoming apparent to market operators that shoppers would be extremely disappointed to see the market close at the end of February.

The market offers a large selection of high-quality products from near-by farms, including organic meats, fresh eggs, winter greens and vegetables

The city has opened a new, state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Center; a high-tech nerve center that will coordinate the city's response to disasters and other major events.

The new Emergency Operations Center is a critical step forward in fulfilling a goal of making Seattle the most prepared city in the country for dealing with emergencies, whether natural or human caused.

It's about opportunity; that's the 2008 Boyd Coffee ProStart Invitational in one word. Last week, 10 West Seattle High School students took advantage of that.

The Invitational is a culinary competition that consists of a team of four high school juniors and seniors creating a three-course meal-including a starter, entrée and dessert - in a hour using only two butane burners. If that seems hard it's because it is.

Although that's the main goal, the kids have their own ideas. "I just like cooking as a hobby," says 11th grader Verena Chung.

The rest of the group chimes in with agreement.

"I like to cook, but I never do it at home," says Rhiannan Basil, a 12th grader who will also be competing in the event.

Entering its eighth year, this event has also gained a wide reputation as a hotbed of recruitment. Not only do many top resorts and restaurants seek potential celebrity chefs, but culinary institutes as well. This huge reward undoubtedly increases the pressure on students, but it also increases the quality of work presented.

Charlestown Street Cafe owners Larry Mellum and Ron Hanlon are anxious to reopen since the popular spot's February 4 kitchen fire, now that Petco has failed to follow through on locating there.

Mellum said his landlord, Tom Strickland, who co-owns the property with Frontier Bank, wants to get the cafe up and running, and but he has been awaiting word from his insurance's assessment of the damage.

Mellum said his insurance covers the building's content affected by the fire, and the landlord's insurance covers the structural damage.

"It's all been held up by our

In a public location and in front of their children, a man grabbed his estranged wife by the throat, shoved her against a fence and yelled, "I'm going to kill you." A family member intervened, but as the woman and children walked home, Dad followed, rang the doorbell and yelled, "Don't leave your house or I'm going to kill you." The suspect's version of the story was quite different: he stated his wife was simply jealous of his new girlfriend and that he had been the victim of the attack.

Wildcats make state first time since '70

By Dean Wong

West Seattle qualified for the Class 3A State Tournament in boys' basketball for the first time since 1970 with some big wins in Metro and the district playoffs.

Lead by head coach Bob Wilzen, the Wildcats finished third in the Metro Sound Division and were fourth at the Sea-King District Tournament.

Every coach wants to go out on top and making it to state completes Wilzen's seven years at West Seattle.

Most teenagers are talkative. Taz or "Tazmo" is no exception. She's 171/2 years old, which in cat years is getting up there yet she is said to "look and feel much younger than her age." She's the proud owner of Debbie Daschner and Ed Busey and she loves to talk.

"She has a cat door, but she will go stand by the front door until we let her out," said Daschner, "Or she will demand that we open a closed closet door." Taz has a number of stuffed animals and has some regular routines.

'So, where are they?'

By Dave Kannas

This little girl was but one of the approximately 1.5 million fans who lined the roads along which the Tour of California professional road race sped for its third year this February. I've attended all three with no indication that my enthusiasm is diminishing.

The power of nature

By Don C. Brunell

As we try to put climate change in perspective, it is discouraging to hear some people blame every natural catastrophe on human activity. Such tactics are dishonest and do a disservice to well-meaning people on all sides of the issue.

The Green Movement continues to have many positive impacts. People are saving energy, reducing their waste, and changing their buying habits. They recognize that it is in their self-interest to do what they can to protect the planet.

The Seattle City Council will review a proposal in the next two months that would increase building height in an Interbay commercial area from its current 40-foot limit up to 125 feet.

The Council anticipates a draft proposal to be submitted from the Department of Planning and Development by April, according to central staff.