April 2008

Humboldt penguins at the Woodland Park Zoo have outlived their 60-year-old home, and plans are underway to build them a state-of-the-art natural exhibit area.

The zoo is conducting their "Pennies for Penguins Community Coin Drive", inviting the public to turn their coins into cash at Coinstar Centers located at more than 300 area stores. The machines offer an option to donate money to charities like the zoo.

Part of the zoo's Long-Range Physical Development Plan, the new Humboldt Penguin Exhibit will be 17,000 square feet in size.

This fall, the Department of Neighborhoods will be providing free trees for planting on residential streets in Seattle neighborhoods.

Applications are accepted from groups of neighbors and are due on Friday, August 15, 2008.

This is the Tree Fund's 13th year, having planted 19,000 trees, and investing nearly $700,000 in making Seattle a greener city.

The Port of Seattle Commission has adopted the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, a joint effort to reduce seaport-related air emissions with the Port of Tacoma and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.

The pact, initially released last year, is the culmination of input from the three ports, major stakeholders, environmental groups and local citizens throughout the region.

Beaver track squads warming to season

By Dean Wong

With spring temperatures on the rise, the runners, jumpers and throwers of the Ballard Beavers track and field team are just warming as the 2008 season progresses.

Head coach Bruce Drager's Beavers have developed a reputation for success in KingCo and state in recent years and this current team is no exception.

"We have a lot of good kids. We have a lot of new people; it's a very young team. We have good throwers and pole vaulters.

For years my local checking account charged a fee if I used a live teller. I lived in irrational fear of incurring the teller fee. One time when my father was visiting I sent him to the Ballard Branch to make a deposit, repeating, "Do not go to a teller. They charge me a fee. Put it in the Instant Deposit box." Of course he didn't listen (and cost me $2). This man worked for the Federal Reserve Bank for 25 years; an economist who rarely balanced his check book.

My sister and I were raised on economic theory and grilled on banking practices.

During the recent Ballard Open House, we met two fine residents.

Meet Elizabeth Thatcher. If you travel down Market Street in Ballard (and who doesn't?) you likely will see this smiling lady pushing her newspaper delivery cart delivering free copies of the Coffee News to businesses down main street.

You won't find the latest news about crime or condo growth but if you are in a cafe that serves coffee you may see it and laugh at the trivia.

Zoning is one those mind-altering issues that most people immediately zone out - excuse the bad pun.

This newspaper has been critical of the city for not adequately informing the citizens of Seattle on the potential effects of the zoning that creates the urban centers. People in the Ballard are simply overwhelmed with the massive influx of new condominiums and apartments.

t was a good ballgame for both Federal Way and Thomas Jefferson, with a closing finish from the Raiders, Derek Voigt, for a 9-8 win over the host Eagles Thursday.

The Raiders improved to 4-2 and 8-4 overall while FW dropped to 2-4.

"Interesting game, " said Raiders head coach, Mike Church. "Two teams that reall battled. They don't get much better than that."

They don't. From the beginning of the game, run production was in full swing as the Raiders scored four on Raiders starter, a senior, Jordan Beers early, leading 4-1 after one.

Des Moines residents Daniel Castillo and Justin Moser were honored recently by the American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties as three of its 2008 "Everyday Heroes."

Castillo, Moser and 16 other "Everyday People, Everyday Heroes" were honored at the 12th annual awards breakfast sponsored by The Boeing Company.

Des Moines Mayor Bob Sheckler publicly announced on April 10 that he will not run for a vacant legislative seat in the 33rd District.

Sheckler said last month he was exploring the possibility of running for the seat in the House of Representatives that is being vacated by five-term state Rep. Shay Schual-Berke, D-Normandy Park.

"I really, really love what I'm doing here," Sheckler said. "I couldn't say that about being a representative of the 33rd District.