July 2008

If one were to get on the 6:45 a.m. ferry to Vashon from Fauntleroy, they may notice an abnormal excess of adolescents present for such an early hour of the day.

What many don't know is that most of these unexpected adolescents are commuters. As students graduate from elementary and middle school, parents and children alike shy away from the prospect of enormous schools in the Seattle Public School District and the elite private schools all over the city.

Paper or plastic? Beginning in January either choice could cost you.

The City Council's committee decision on a proposal to tax all disposable shopping bags is scheduled for July 22. If approved, Seattle consumers would be charged a 20-cent "green fee" on each paper or plastic shopping bag they use in grocery, drug and convenience stores.

The proposed legislation, set to take effect next Jan.

A woman ordered her estranged daughter's boyfriend from her home. But the 20-year-old didn't leave willingly-instead, he began touching the breasts of a younger daughter and proclaiming to the mom, "I'm going to kill you. Nobody orders me out." He then wandered through the Admiral community exposing himself and throwing rocks at passersby. Three citizens were alarmed and kept track of the man was he walked toward Fairmount Canyon, where officers confronted him. Hostile and thrashing around in the patrol car, the man was checked by medics and then taken to the SW Precinct.

For the first time in its 50 year history, the West Seattle Little League swept the District 7 All-Star tournaments, winning the 9-10, 10-11 and the 11-12 age divisions.

All three teams were undefeated and will advance to state tournaments across Washington later this month.

District 7 tournament play began on June 21st for the 9-10 All-Star team. Their first game was against PacWest Little League, the league that hosted both the 9-10 and 10-11 tournaments.

West Seattle pulled ahead after a 4-4 tie in the sixth to win 8-5.

SummerFest soundchecks

By Marc Calhoun

I always like wandering the West Seattle street fair; watching people as I try to resist the street vendors offering their wares. It is also interesting to see all the booths that offer drawings for free vacations, free windows, free body fat tests, and so on. But I always walk fast by them, for to get any of this free stuff you usually have to sign a contract full of fine print and, if you're not careful, you'll end up owning timeshare property in Pahrump, Nevada.

I then passed the Boeing Employees Credit Union booth.

I read with interest your (Dave Kannas') article on biking from Chelan Caf

I regularly walk my dog along the West end of Alki Beach and in recent days have noticed that the grassy area from the Bathhouse to the west end of the beach is now just yellow thatch and will soon be no more than a dust bowl.

It would appear that the Parks Department can spend a lot of money on a fancy park area for the Statue of Liberty but cannot water the grass.

This is a disgrace for a part of Seattle that is used by many residents and visitors and, indeed, advertised.

No other city would permit this lack of maintenance to an area such as this.

A better view than Waikiki

Shilshole Bay Beach Club

6413 Seaview Ave NW

706-0257

http://www.apulent.com/thursday_nights.html

Thursdays Only, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

My way to Ballard

By Jackie Harris

Not too long ago I decided to go outside and enjoy our beautiful summer weather from my bike seat. I took one of my favorite routes, from the Admiral District to Fremont via downtown and Ballard. It's a nice route that's fairly easy.

I've experimented with a lot of potential routes out of West Seattle and this one really works for me. I head north on California Avenue Southwest and turn at Hamilton Viewpoint.

Streetcars are romantic to some, unnecessary to others, even considered menaces to some bicycle riders whose tires get trapped in grooves.

But suddenly at least one City Council member sees them in the city's future.