September 2009

The Alki Beach Walk/Run 5K, which will benefit the Northwest Hope and Healing Foundation and women battling breast cancer, is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27 this year and organizer's hope to raise more than $60,000.

This is the seventh walk/run benefit for Northwest Hope and Healing, said Erin Mooney, a spokesperson for the event.

This year's waterfront 3.1-mile route will take runners and walkers from the Statue of Liberty at Alki Beach Park and the historic Bathhouse, along the waterfront to Anchor Park. It is a U.S.A. Track and Field certified and sanctioned course, according to organizers, and timing services provided by Rogue Multi-Sport.

"Our prior events included a half marathon (13.1 miles) based out of Lincoln Park, but we have found the shorter distance to be more attractive to runners in the area," said Shari Sewell, the director of Northwest Hope and Healing Foundation. "The Alki Beach 5k Walk/Run is a family friendly event in a gorgeous setting along Alki Beach."

The Lady Raiders of Thomas Jefferson High School improved to 1-1 on the year with a home victory over Auburn September 10.

A late goal by Lauren Jerde gave the Raiders a 3-2 advantage that held until the end of the game. Jerde racked up two goals during the contest, one at 34:00, which put the Raiders on top, 2-1; and another at 72:00 to give TJ the lead.

Kenna Friedman scored the Raider's first goal at 20:00. Hannah Friedman provided the assist.

Decatur 3 Puyallup 0

Keeper Kayla Lipston tallied a shutout for the Lady Gators of Decatur September 10. The goalie held visiting Puyallup scoreless for 80 minutes, while her teammates tacked on three goals to help secure Decatur's first victory of the season.

All of the Gators' goals came in the second half.

Abby McFaul broke a nil-nil tie at 47:29 with a goal for Decatur. Rylie Buckholz assisted.

Rachel Markey added another score at 49:39, with an assist by Jennifer Kanesta.

Rachel Niera kicked in an unassisted goal at 60:00 to put Decatur up 3-0.

The victory was the Lady Gators' first of the season.

Some media outlets and Seattle voters have spread the rumor that if Mike McGinn is elected mayor, he will only use his bicycle for daily transportation. He said that's not true and wanted to set the record straight.

“Let’s put this story to rest,” said McGinn sporting a bicycle helmet with his two-wheeler at the ready with another day ahead filled with campaigning around the city.

“Even during my campaign I drive places,” said McGinn, a Greenwood resident. “Some places are too far to bike. But I do plan to bike when it makes sense. Short trips are often times faster by bike than by car. I started mainly for exercise. I discovered I really liked it, and saved money because I didn’t have to pay for parking and it's about as fast as the bus.

“But, yes, if elected, I do hope to bike as often as I can. You can just roll your bike on at a light rail stop, and also use those racks on buses. Of course there are some times you have to drive. That’s the way the city’s designed.”

McGinn also rides an electric pedal-assist bike.

According to West Seattle High's new blog, the Wildcats beat Franklin High School 28 to 13 at Friday's (Sept. 11) football game.

According to the blog, the game lasted more than three hours.

My small Ballard garden has been very kind this year, delivering fresh greens, kale and collards to my table, providing snacks and meals of green beans, squash, some radishes, herbs and one beet.

I haven’t raided the potato bin yet.

Any failure to produce has been entirely my fault for being too busy to properly care for my garden. Oh, we had big ideas last winter, very big. Seeds were purchased, a place in the basement with lights prepared - but you know how life is.

Today, we shelled some gorgeous purple beans that by all rights should have been eaten long ago. I love that purple beans turn green when they cook, just so you know they really are green beans.

The fresh beans were blanched, dried and put into the freezer for soup-making. I picked out the largest beans to set aside for next years crop.

Of course, as soon as we finished shelling the beans I read up about how to save them for seed and soup. Wouldn’t you know it, we should have left them to dry in the pods and had to prepare them for the freezer instead. That’s what happens when you don’t read the directions first.

After Georgette Valle served our area for 24 years as a legislator it seemed past time to show her appreciation for her years of service. Flora Belle Key, recently written up here as the "host with the most," made it all happen.

She staged an impromptu patio party inviting many of Georgette’s friends and former constituents, and the sun cooperated. It was great to see former senators Bob Ridder and Ruthe Ridder, Virginia Galle, former legislative colleague, and Beth Greiser, who was recently presented with a special volunteer award for community service.

Many current politicians sent their greetings in absentia due to conflicting commitments during this summer campaign season.

Even after stepping down from district politics Georgette didn’t stop. She went on to serve on the Burien City Council for four years and then after working in Arizona politics recently ran for the Senate.

When she was asked what a woman of 83 was doing running for office she said, “I doorbelled four hours a day in 100 degree heat so don’t think I am not capable.”

The PCC Market at 2749 California Ave. S.W. was handing out free burgers, salad, cake, lemonade, yogurt and falafel during cooking and product demonstrations to celebrate its 20th year in its West Seattle location on Sunday, Sept. 13.

PCC cooking classes are held in fully equipped teaching kitchens in some of its markets, including West Seattle.

About 20 decorated nudists and a few scantily-clad cyclists peddled their messages of peace, joy, and sustainability as they glided north on California Avenue Southwest toward Alki on a loop tour on Sept. 13.

They painted their bodies in a back room of Aaron's Bicycle Repair at the Morgan Junction, then emerged in their glory at 2:15 p.m. to begin the ride.

The ride is part of the World Naked Bike Ride and was the 6th annual Seattle ride. According to the World Naked Bike Ride Wikipedia page, "It's time to put a stop to the indecent exposure of people and the planet to cars and the pollution they create."

The closure of the Evergreen Pool on August 31 ended its nearly 40 years of community service.

Now, the students who attend Evergreen High School will walk by a boarded up and fenced facility, where many of them learned to swim, find recreation and social activity. Below the Evergreen Pool, the King County Park playing field, also being closed, is outlined by "crime scene" yellow plastic.

Over 100 pool supporters attended a spontaneous "rally" for the pool on the evening of its closure. They waved signs they created and told of their own relationships with the pool.

One young man invited us all to "jump in" as he did, fully clothed. (We didn't.) The names of the staff that have earned the respect and affection of pool users over recent years were read. No golden parachute or even compensation for unused sick time was available to soften their job loss.

However, they were there to keep the pool open and everyone safe to the end, even as they were packing up the office.

How can one describe the value of a pool to those who have not participated in aquatic sports, recreation, training or therapy?

Went looking for the weekly sage advice/column of the famous Jerry Robinson...and lo and behold, I find a fantastic new Web page.
Accolades to the team for the clean and invigorating look!

Dan McFadden
Petaluma, CA