September 2009

There may be nothing quicker for dinner than a carton of food you pick up at the supermarket and pop in the microwave, however, usually there is more salt packed in that pretty little box than you should have in a whole day.

How do you keep the salt out and still fix a quick meal? One answer is a technology from the past: a slow cooker such as a Crock-Pot.

Pull out that 1980s answer to the pressure of time. Slow cooking gives food time to develop that meaty, brothy taste called “umami” that chefs love.

By cooking foods slowly, you will increase flavor and decrease the need for salt. Put the ingredients in your slow cooker before you head off for work and when you get home, dinner will be ready.

Island Beef

2 pounds beef top round steak, fat trimmed and cut into thin strips
2 onions, cut into wedges
1 20-oz. can unsweetened pineapple chunks, juice reserved
½ cup water
4 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
¾ tsp. garlic powder
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 Tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch squares
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch squares
Rice

Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church pastor Steve Grumm said he was deeply saddened that a Level III sex offender was discovered living in Calvary Lutheran Shelter, which is located on property owned by Our Redeemer's.

"We are bothered and disturbed that this happened," he said.

Grumm said he is relieved that the shelter, which is operated by SHARE, has a protocol in place for screening prospective shelter residents. But, he said that protocol is flawed.

Our Redeemer's will be meeting with SHARE this week to discuss a new method for shelter admission, Grumm said. SHARE has agreed to disallow new shelter residents until that meeting happens, he said.

Grumm said he hopes a new admissions process will be employed by SHARE sooner than later.

SHARE does not conduct background criminal checks on possible residents. Instead, potential residents are interviewed by members of the shelter.

SHARE was made aware of a Level III sex offender living in the shelter at the old Calvary Lutheran Church building Sept. 12. They removed the man and his belongings the same day.

The North Seattle Industrial Association will hold a special election forum at its next meeting, Tuesday, Sept. 22.

The forum, co-sponsored by the Seattle Marine Coalition, will be held at 7:30 a.m. at Car Wash Enterprises, 3977 Leary Way N.W.

Agenda:

7:30 a.m. Introductions / Announcements

7:40 a.m. City Council Election Forum-Candidates Mike O’Brien and Robert Rosencrantz will participate in this forum. 


8:10 a.m.  Port Commission Election Forum-Candidates Rod Holland, David Doud, Tom Albro and Max Vekich will participate in this forum. 


9 a.m.  Adjourn 


The King County Auditor's Office released the second part of its audit of Metro Transit Sept. 15, and members of the King County Council did not try to downplay its significance.

"One-fifth of bus service will be gone if we don't recognize these savings," council member Reagan Dunn said. "That's why this is important."

"We must take a look at this audit to keep as much service on the streets as possible," council member Larry Phillips said.

The audit has found potential annual savings of $31.7 million, potential annual revenue increases of $51 million, and potential one-time savings of $105 million to deal with Metro's projected $213 million deficit.

The portion of the audit released Tuesday focused on Access paratransit, transit police and changes to staffing practices.

Access paratransit, which provides transportation for the handicapped, is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. But, auditors said Metro is operating above and beyond what is required by the act.

For example, auditors said Access, which costs the county $40 per trip, only charges riders $1 while the act allows for double the fixed fare (currently $1.50).

The King County Auditor's Office released the second part of its audit of Metro Transit Sept. 15, and members of the King County Council did not try to downplay its significance.

"One-fifth of bus service will be gone if we don't recognize these savings," council member Reagan Dunn said. "That's why this is important."

"We must take a look at this audit to keep as much service on the streets as possible," council member Larry Phillips said.

The audit has found potential annual savings of $31.7 million, potential annual revenue increases of $51 million, and potential one-time savings of $105 million to deal with Metro's projected $213 million deficit.

The portion of the audit released Tuesday focused on Access paratransit, transit police and changes to staffing practices.

Access paratransit, which provides transportation for the handicapped, is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. But, auditors said Metro is operating above and beyond what is required by the act.

For example, auditors said Access, which costs the county $40 per trip, only charges riders $1 while the act allows for double the fixed fare (currently $1.50).

Email "Letters to the Editor" to patr@robinsonnews.com.

Put "Letter to the Editor" in the subject field and please include your name and neighborhood.

Letters will be published online the same day they are received and will also be submitted to run in the print edition.

West Seattle High School Vice Principal Jenni McDonald will host a new blog to highlight the happenings at the school, according to a notice from Westside's Parent Teacher Student Association.

Here is a note from McDonald:

Welcome back Westside students!

At West Seattle High School, everyone is getting ready for another year of academics, athletics, activities and more! I've decided to create a blog this year to highlight all the happenings at West Seattle High School, from projects and speeches in classes to girls softball games and more. I'm always available by email at jmmacdonald@seattleschools.org.

If there are any items that you would like to see on the blog, please let me know. Here's to another awesome school year with best students and staff in Seattle! Ms. Mac.

After spending the summer above the Center of the Universe atop the northeast Fremont Bridge tower, Kristen Ramirez, resident artist for the city of Seattle, will be celebrating her temporary art project depicting the daily rhythms and sounds of the bridge.

Now in completion, Ramirez’s work, Bridge Talks Back, will be preceded by a colorful parade, pageantry and fanfare on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 1 to 4 p.m.

In June, Ramirez was chosen by Seattle's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs to serve as the artist-in-residence in the tower during the summer to create a $20,000 public art piece.

“As soon as I got into this space, I got to thinking that collecting sounds are interesting because it’s noisy in here," Ramirez previously told the Ballard News-Tribune. "Everybody has some story about this bridge and there’s a lot of different ways to experience it.”

Ramirez's three-minute audio composition will be played through the bridge’s sound system during daytime bridge openings.

The new QFC just east of the Junction at Alaska St. and 42nd Avenue SW has been stocked with food items and is now open to the public as of Wednesday, Sept. 16. There was a 7 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the opening.

"The new QFC has been a long time coming and we are looking forward to serving the West Seattle community," said Kristin Maas, a QFC spokesperson. "The above-store exclusive parking is unique, and we will have a full-service seafood counter, and a deli and bistro in the front of the shop, and we have a staff wine steward."

The privately-owned Westside Pharmacy will join QFC's new store. The new QFC manager, Jeff Brown, is the former QFC from Westwood Village.

Seattle Public Schools has released its latest update on the construction progress of the new co-located Denny Middle School and Chief Sealth High School campus.

"Last month, August, the contractor completed the sub-grade work for the new Denny International Middle School. The contractor also completed the initial work inside the existing Chief Sealth High School as well as the retaining wall along the east side of the property.

The contractor completed a deep sewer tie-in into a manhole in Southwest Kenyon Street. This month, September, work will continue on the foundation for the new Denny International Middle School.

The site asphalt paving at the south end of the project, the parking lots and new drives, will begin and work will continue on the short aggregate pier work and deep sewer line. The contractor will also continue work on the installation of the sewer line and water on north end of the project.

Structural steel for the Galleria started arriving and deliveries for the new Denny International Middle School will continue into October.