July 2009

An online friend, and one of my sources for inspiration for my business, Barbara Winter, has many favorite quotes to live by, but I especially like this one as it gets more and more applicable in todays online world where anyone can be an “expert.”

“Don’t take travel advice from someone who has never left home.”

I wish I heard that one years ago.

So, I’m on Twitter these days, and have been for several months now. I’m not sure if it is really helping my business, or it’s just a place for my random thoughts that pass through my head while working alone every day. Through this source, I’ve been exposed to many other garden-related people, and what they are Twittering about – perhaps that is the upside.

But, something is happening that is really starting to grind on me. It’s like reaching for a rose and getting poked by a thorn. We know the thorn is there, we just don’t what to think about it, so we don’t, and we get poked.

West Seattle resident and Seattle Lutheran High School student Sofia Wagner, 15, is not exactly sure how long her hair is, "But it's more than 2 feet long," she said with confidence.

Wagner will attend South Seattle Community College's Running Start program to take college level courses. Before she takes on college, in high school she will join five other area teens and attend the 2009 National Youth Gathering for Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in New Orleans July 22 through 26.

When Wagner returns some of her friends may not recognize her. That's because she will donate her locks to an organization that provides hairpieces to children with cancer.

"The last time I seriously cut my hair was in third grade," she recalled. "But I’ve had it trimmed since then."

According to the ELCA Web site, 37,000 will attend the gathering, called "Jesus Justice Jazz."

On a bright Friday morning, Lara McIntosh steps and sways across a dance floor at the ARC School of Ballet in the old Crown Hill Elementary building.

More than two dozen colorfully attired students of all shapes and ages mimic her movements. Some of them have been with McIntosh and her Wassa Dance class for more than a decade.

McIntosh, who has been teaching dance since the early 90s, has used her passion for dance to create a community around the long-running Wassa class, an incredible accomplishment for an independent dance class, she said.

"I was born interested in dancing," she said. "It's an endless field of thing to explore. There's so much possibility."

While studying modern dance as an adult, McIntosh became interested in African dancing. A seed for that interest was planted long before, she said.

Memories of watching a filmstrip featuring the National Ballet of Senegal at Carnegie Hall as a grade-schooler came back to McIntosh in her adult life and cemented her interest in African music and dance, she said.

By Bob Ferguson and Reagan Dunn

Our region is filled with majestic places. As two kids growing up in King County, the trails and backcountry of Washington were our playground, shaping who we are and what we value.

Though we both ventured afar to pursue various academic and professional opportunities, we could not escape the hold of this region's natural beauty and its access to open space. It played a prominent role in each of our decisions to return to King County.

Now, as the father of young twins (Bob) and a soon-to-be father (Reagan), protecting these open spaces has taken on a new significance. To ensure these unique places are maintained for future generations of King County residents, we have co-sponsored legislation to add a process to the King County Charter to protect county-owned lands.

Just as our national parks provide heightened protection for our nation's most treasured natural places, the Open Space Preservation Act will protect King County's most valued open spaces.

ArtsWest presents Stephen Sondheim’s Tony-winning musical thriller "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street" for nine performances only. Performed by participants in ArtsWest’s award-winning Musical Theater Apprenticeship Program, this classic Broadway musical runs July 15-25.

Now in its third year, the ArtsWest Apprenticeship Program is an intensive program where advanced actors, singers and dancers ages 16 to 21 learn and improve their theater skills while rehearsing and performing a full-length musical. The Sweeney Todd cast includes students from Seattle, New York, and Los Angeles.

“The purpose of our Apprenticeship Program is to prepare these young actors for a career in theatre,” said Theater and Education Director Christopher Zinovitch. “We design it as a professional experience, starting with auditions and carrying through to production. With only 11 students receiving roles, the talent level this year is incredibly high.”

It's that time of year again when the Phinney Farmers Market is brimming with a wide-variety of seasonal vegetables and fruits.

In addition to a plethora of greens, lettuces and all kinds of vegetables, it's peak season for berries and stone fruits (peaches, apricots, pluots, etc). If you buy more than you can eat, berries are easy to freeze, as are most vegetables (quickly blanch or steam).

New this season is Sol to Seed Farm, bringing their fresh herbs and plenty of summer vegetables. The market also boasts a new vendor, Apres Vin, who makes flavored grape seed oils and grape seed flour from local vineyards. Quilbay Seafood brings a selection of oysters, clams and other locally-raised shellfish - they'll be there through the end of the market season.

A low-tide at Lincoln Park was captured this morning, July 3.

The Lien Animal Clinic has been in its existing building since 1951, when there was just one veterinarian working there.

Now, more than 50years later, the clinic has clearly outgrown the space.

“We just had run out of room,” said Starla, Clark, the clinic’s lead office manager. “The clinic has really expanded, we are now 25 to 30 people.”

But Lien Animal Clinic, 3710 S.W. Alaska St., won’t be moving far. Owners Timothy R. Kraabel and Elizabeth Fritzler have built a new building directly north of the old building, which they began constructing in February. However, Kraabel and Fritzler began planning the move years ago.

The new building will measure just under 4,000 square feet, compared to the current 2,800 square foot building, which Kraabel said was poorly arranged. The clinic will now have five exam rooms, each larger than the three in the clinic’s current building.

It is two stories, with an elevator to assist patients with limited mobility. There is much more space for hospitalized animals and brand new cat boarding spaces.

Mayor Greg Nickels will walk with his neighbors in the Admiral neighborhood during their annual Fourth of July kiddies parade on Saturday, July 4 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.        

The Admiral Kid’s Fourth of July Neighborhood Parade takes place at Sunset Avenue Southwest and Southwest 44th Street.

As Highland Park community members have met on multiple occasions to discuss plans for the new Westcrest reservoir lid, it has become clear that not everyone agrees on what would be the best use for the new space.

Dan Mullins, president of the Highland Park Action Committee, has collected hundreds of suggestions for use of the lid.

Community members have suggested creating a viewpoint, which would overlook Downtown Seattle, or an open space for picnics.

Many neighbors have also asked for a walking or running path in the park.

While some community members want to activate the space with a sports play field, other neighbors have adamantly opposed that idea, which they say limits the use of the space.

Other have requested an outdoor amphitheater where summer concerts could be held.

One very popular request from the community has asked that a P-Patch be created on the reservoir lid.

"This neighborhood really needs a P-Patch," said Mullins. "There are lots of people living in apartments or townhomes who could use a place to grow (their own food.)"