March 2009

After Mayor Greg Nickels and the Seattle City Council approved a 20-cent fee on all disposable shopping bags, the Washington Food Industry successfully collected enough signatures on a referendum so that the issue will now go to a public vote this August.

Though the full council has not approved placing the measure on the ballot yet, they will be required to or be found in violation of the City Charter.

"It's disappointing that the polluters, the chemical and plastics industry, put $200,000 into getting signatures so now we have to take a vote," said Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin.

The proposed fee on disposable shopping bags arose from a Seattle Public Utilities study that found significant environmental impacts from the use of paper and plastic disposable bags. The ordinance sought to reduce those impacts and the use of throwaway bags by requiring grocery, convenience and drug store shoppers to pay a 20 cents “Green Fee” for each disposable bag used.

Dear Community,

ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery will host the "Ten Party" Gala and Online Auction. The benefit kicks-off with an online auction in April and ends with the gala on June 5. The night of food, wine, bidding and entertainment will take place at Herban Feast at SoDo Park.

Both events support the theatrical and educational programming that produces conversation and improves the imagination. More than 10,000 viewers or attendees are slated to participate.

The theatre company has requested the help of the community to continue growing and thriving. ArtsWest is on an ambitious campaign to expand our award winning youth summer theater education program and to produce a series of Seattle Premieres and World Premieres for the 2009-10 season.

For the sixth year in a row, ArtsWest intends to expand enrollment for its nationally recognized theater education program; 20 students will receive full scholarships, and 15 will receive reduced tuition. ArtsWest states its objective is to provide educational arts opportunities to strengthen a child’s connection to the arts and their community – no matter their background or income level.

Four Ballard High School basketball players will participate in the KingCo All-Star games March 27 at Bellevue Community College.

Senior Eric Taylor will compete for the blue team in the senior boys game. Juniors Kyler Korsmo and John Barnes will compete for the blue team in the underclassmen boys game. And, Junior Alexandria Lawrence will compete for the white team in the underclassmen girls game.

Taylor was named to the All-KingCo team earlier this year, and Barnes was an honorable mention.

Lawrence played in all 20 games for the Ballard girls and scored 122 points, second on the team. Her 6.1 points per game average was also second for the Beavers.

Taylor led the boys team with 322 points and a 14.4 points per game average.

Barnes was right behind him with 218 points (10.9 per game).

Korsmo tallied 108 points during the season for a 6.4 per game average.

The girls underclassmen game starts at 4 p.m. The boys underclassmen play at 7 p.m. And, the senior boys play at 8:30 p.m. The games will be available on Comcast On Demand 48 hours after they are played.

The Ballard High School boys soccer team was shut out in its second consecutive game, this time 1-0 at the hands of Woodinville.

The Beavers are now 0-2 in the conference and 1-3 overall.

Coach Gary Hunter said the team would spend more time on shooting practice in coming practices and put more emphasis on the offensive side of the ball.

Ballard has a lot of young players – they only started two seniors against Woodinville – and they are still trying to learn the system of the team, Hunter said.

"I think they are playing hard," he said. "The team is a young team."

The Beavers head to Bothell to take on Bothell High School at 7:30 p.m., this Friday, March 27.

The Ballard High School girls golf team lost to Woodinville by eight strokes in the first match of the season on an unseasonably chilly March 24 at the West Seattle Golf Course.

"It was really cold for one," coach Casey McMullin said. "And, for the first match of the year, it was our players getting their feet wet."

Ballard's Kayla Wenger tied for first place with Woodinville's Bri Hemming with a score of 57.

Amy Johannsen (62 strokes) and Caime Scott (63 strokes) placed fourth and fifth respectively for the Beavers.

McMullin said a number of girls were ineligible for the game due to grades.

The team faces Inglemoor at 3 p.m., March 26 at the West Seattle Golf Course.

As the rain began to let up, Eastside Catholic let loose a downpour of its own, beating the Ballard High School girls lacrosse team with 12 second-half points March 24.

The Beavers (1-2) made it through a first half of heavy rain tied with Eastside Catholic (1-1) at two goals apiece, but they couldn't keep up in the second half, losing 14-5.

Ballard had a balanced offense in the game, its five goals coming from five players – Haley Jackson, Amanda Bryan, Jessica Bryan, Ashleigh Siegfried and Maddie Soukup.

Jackson and Amanda Bryan lead the team in goals this season with four each.

Beaver goalie Hannah Breton had 17 saves against Eastside Catholic and leads the league with 48 this season.

However, Ballard has allowed more shots on goal than any other team with 87.

The Beavers don't play again until April 7, when they face Klahowya Secondary School (0-2) at 6 p.m. at Klahowya.

The Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership is in need of volunteers in increase awareness of underage drinking. Youth can earn community service hours and adults are welcome, too.

People are needed to serve at "resource tables" at local stores to have out pamphlets on the following days and locations:

Fri, March 27, from 3 to 7 p.m.
Jefferson Square Safeway, 4754 42nd Ave. S.W.

Sat, April 4, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Gathering of Neighbors @ Chief Sealth High School, 5950 Delridge Way S.W.

Sat, April 11, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Admiral Safeway, 2622 California Ave. S.W.

Sat, April 18, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
West Seattle YMCA, 4608 36th Ave. S.W.

Fri, April 24, 4 to 7 p.m.
Puget Consumer Co-Op (PCC), 2749 California Ave. S.W.

Wed, May 6, 3 to 7 p.m.
Roxbury Safeway, 9620 28th Ave. S.W.

Please contact Renaé Gaines, Community Coordinator at Madison Middle School, at 396-2945, rtgaines@seattleschools.org

Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership's mission is "to  eliminate underage drinking and youth substance abuse  by setting "no use" expectations in schools, in familes and in the community and by increasing healthy options for children and youth."

The Fauntleroy Community Association hosted its annual Food Fest Tuesday night at the Hall at Fauntleroy, bringing together local businesses, organizations and residents for a light-hearted night of dinning and mingling.

Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes, which operates out of the Hall at Fauntleroy, catered the event, but food was also providedd by Endolyne Joes and Giannoni's Pizza. The original bakery served up several delicious treats and Bird on a Wire Espresso served coffee.

Several community associations, including the local Farmers Market and Fauntleroy Children's Center, had information tables set up.

Local leaders, including Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin, attended the event and took the opportunity to mingle with local residents.

Click on the photo above to view more images from the event.

Dear Editor,

As a taxpayer, I am very concerned about our legislative priorities in the current session. Specifically I call attention to the debate regarding Senate Bill 6116 which would provide $150 million for the renovation of Husky stadium. The football program at the University of Washington generates millions of dollars, yet school officials and some of their friends in our State legislature fee that it is acceptable to do something unprecedented: Ask taxpayers to pay for one-half of the $300 million the University feels it needs to turn Husky Stadium into the most lavish college football stadium in America. The U of W is doing this at a time when the state faces a $9 BILLION shortfall. Academic programs and staff are being cut and critical human services are threatened. Please contact your legislators and tell them that good government and common sense must prevail. Say no to Husky Stadium Bailout Bill 6116.

Best regards,
Debi Nordstrom

A statement from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society Board released this week urges the owner of the Homestead Restaurant, a Seattle city landmark, to restore the fire damaged building and protect it in its damaged state, but owner Tom Lin said he is disappointed the board did not come to him first before making a public announcement.

"I'm very disappointed," said Lin. "When there's an important statement to be made, the party involved should be notified and confirmed."

Lin said he feels the statement from the historical board in support of the building's preservation, which calls the future of the building "uncertain" and urges it be better protected in adverse weather since the damage and that the yard and landscaping be maintained among other things, implies that he has not been taking care of the structure or working to preserve and restore it.

Lin said he has every intention of restoring the landmarked building.

As proof, Lin said he has been in discussion with Mark Fritch, owner of Log Homes based in Sandy, Ore., about making improvements to the 100-year-old building even before the Jan. 16 fire damaged its roof and dining area.