January 2009

Ferry riders next month can expect to see several fare collection changes starting Wednesday, Feb.

Mayor Greg Nickels has sent legislation to the City Council that he says will improve the character and design of townhouses in West Seattle and require environmentally sensitive building and landscaping.

"Most of us would agree that multifamily development must fit better into our neighborhoods," said Nickels in a statement.

South helps students plug into electric power

South Seattle Community College, in partnership with the Seattle Elecctric Vehicle Association, is offering a number of non-credit electric vehicle classes, including a six-day Electric Vehicle Conversion workshop. Team-taught by a group of experienced instructors who have converted over two dozen vehicles, the six-day workshop guides students through the complete process of converting a vehicle from a gasoline engine to electric power.

Tom Lin, co-owner of the Alki Homestead, said it's in his best interest to restore the historic restaurant.

This week, Lin met up with the potential buyers of the Homestead, "Johnny and Rose" (Zhu is said to be the buyers last name, but Lin would not confirm that). They are still interested in purchasing the business, but a few conditions need to be met.

First, the restaurant has to come back as the Alki Homestead.

On Jan. 29 the Seattle School board will vote to decide whether to carry out the Superintendent's recommendations for capacity management across the district.

Since the final recommendation was made on Jan. 6, school board members have attended numerous public hearings and community meetings to hear the opinions of teachers, parents and students.

"We've tried to listen very carefully to what people have to say," says school board member Sherry Carr.

The Washington State Department of Transportation Ferry Division held the last of 10 public hearings on its long-range draft plan at the Hall of Fauntleroy Wednesday (Jan.

Furry Faces Foundation, [F3], and multiple West Seattle Businesses are teaming to collect donations of supplies to assist with the care of the dogs and puppies that have been seized from three puppy mills. It appears that these puppy mills are part of a puppy mill ring and F3 wouldn't be surprised to see more seizures in the near future. Thank you for caring and helping these animals.

Everett Animal Shelter and Saving Pets One at A Time need help with the following supplies:

The vanity plate of the car parked just ahead of me at Leif Erikson Sons Lodge on Thursday night spelled out N-O-R-S-K-A. I don't speak or read Norwegian but obviously I had the right night for the Norwegian Commercial Club dinner.

A friend on the current Board of Trustees who is very persuasive when it comes to all things Scandinavian had decided it was time for me to expand my "At Large" experience to include attending one of the twice monthly dinners that start with open bar and networking and conclude with general business and gambling (raffle).

Waxing. It's one of those things you do because you have to, not because you want to. There's something that might make the experience a little more tolerable. The answer for you is at Ballard's Wax Bar.

There's nothing like some pre-wax booze to calm those jitters before the, "Holy *&#$!!!" when removing all that unwanted hair. Oh, the cost of beauty and the measures we take to look good.

The only spa with a liquor license in the state of Washington, Wax Bar serves $2 bottled beers to customers.

I have noticed recently that some dog owners have become more lax about cleaning up after their dogs. In my neighborhood not far off Market Street, owners are allowing their dogs to defecate on sidewalks without cleaning up after them. In addition to being a law, it is common courtesy to clean up. It seems that I am hopscotching down the street almost daily to avoid stepping in what has been left behind. Please dog owners, be a good neighbor!

Joan Lough

Ballard