January 2010

Todd Beamer is really good at swimming this year, as it showed in an easy come from behind win over the Decatur Gators' boys at the King County Aquatic Center Thursday.

Sue Bergman didn't have as much to say about the meet -- in fact nothing -- but most importantly noting, "Be sure to talk to my four relay swimmers over there."

She pointed at them and it was not known how good a couple of them are -- world class at the high school level for one, and the other is young, but the world will be his class, too, by the time he is a senior.

Freshman Jade Feigert was a national best in his age group, 13-14, last year and didn't win the 100 breast, that time was a 1:11.59, but he could have.

His best time is ”a minutish,” he said, which is frosh talk for one minute. Taking this kid for granted for not getting first this year in his signature 100 breast event is probably OK because a swimmer up north, Aaron Reichel, swims it a little faster.

Simple arithmetic turned a possible championship level duel into an overmatch for most of the evening at Auburn Riverside High School

After early girls basketball losses to Auburn Riverside and Kentwood, Federal Way had marshaled its forces to defeat two top 10 state teams and record an unblemished record since that time.

Auburn Riverside continued to devastate all opponents to gain the ESPN RISE 30th in the nation ranking as well as the state's top ranking.

Minus two key players, the visiting Eagles fought strongly before dropping a 64-49 South Puget Sound League North match up.

Federal Way (10-3 overall, 6-3 league) played without two strong front line players, 5-foot-10 inch TyShana Burgess and 6-foot, 1-inch Jaleecia Roland.

As the team's leading scorer (15.4 points per game) and rebounder (10.6), Burgess missed her third game while on what coach Danny Graham termed a leave for personal reasons. Viewing the game from the sideline in a wheel chair, Roland, who averages 6.2 points and 10.4 rebounds, collapsed in class Tuesday, with undiagnosed health problems.

"She's been pretty sick," said Graham.

Overall team depth powered the unbeaten Thomas Jefferson gymnastics team to victory against three opponents on Wednesday at the Todd Beamer gym.

In a preview of possible district and state contenders, the Raiders accumulated a season high 170.95 points to outscore the host Titans' 167.80. Kentridge (148.85) and the North Thurston School district squad (138.75) came next.

Samantha West of Todd Beamer edged out teammate Cassie Peterson 36.3-36.2 for the all-around honors while winning the uneven parallel bars at 8.7. West also captured second place on the vault (9.3), fourth on the floor exercise (8.8) and a tie for fourth on the balance beam (9.5) as part of her total.

"I was kind of nervous to start, but I felt better once it started," she recalled. "My best tonight was on the vault with my tsuk pike."

Peterson maneuvered to second place finishes on the beam (9.6) and floor (9.25). She also captured third place ribbons on the vault (9.15) and the bars (8.2).

Jessica Freeborn notched an 8.55 sixth on the vault in an individual event.    
 

Pasta Bella
5913 15th Ave. N.W.
(206) 789-4933
www.pastabellaseattle.com
Monday-Saturday: 4:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Sunday: 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Pasta Bella's spaghetti has called out to us for all 20 years they've been open.

In the early-90s we couldn't resist the thin, al dente pasta, rich red sauce and beautiful meatballs sitting astride the marvelous mound of magic.

We got locked into some repeat behaviors, almost always teaming the spaghetti and meatballs with linguine con vongole (whole clams, a smooch of butter and lots of pepper).

Dang, even writing this gets us going.

We also loved the value pricing, the well-spent $1 upgrade for the Caesar salads, and the roasted garlic cloves with the crusty bread.

Then things seemed to slip away for Pasta Bella, and the mid-90s brought rough waters for our relationship with the establishment.

Though we lived close by, our fondness was tested repeatedly, until we parted, pondering what was, and what was not.

What caused this separation?

Being rushed through a birthday dinner, with our server practically drinking the wine himself to empty the bottle and get us out, started the tailspin.

The West Seattle Wildcats battled against the Seattle Prep Panthers but were unable to pull out of their now four game losing streak.
Playing a close game up until the end the Wildcats lost to the Panthers 58-63.

Their season record now stands at 4-7, with a conference record of 0-2. Seattle Prep’s season record is now 10-3 with a conference record of 3-0.
Once again, West Seattle guard senior Joe Bell Austin scored the most points of the game with 17. No individual Seattle Prep player scored more than 6 points. But every quarter Seattle Prep either tied or outshot West Seattle.

Seattle Prep had a high energy crowd supporting them, who were asked at one point to tone it down.
West Seattle’s next game is a conference game at home against Chief Sealth on Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. Seattle Prep’s next opponent is Hale High School, an away game on Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Reed Hutchinson is someone who lives through his art. He's a very well respected hair stylist and he's a self taught musician (he plays guitar, piano and a variety of other instruments) that's been called the "next big thing" to come from Seattle.

He trained as a hair stylist with Gene Juarez Salons (known under the name Reed Alan) and has worked in that field in both Seattle and Los Angeles. He's been in many bands including the well known local band Feast and his own band called simply Reed.

His most recent brush with fame came through his agent who arranged to have him sing the theme song for a Fox Television show called Kitchen Confidential. He got interested in music around the age of 12 when he heard Ozzy Osbourne being played at scout camp. That set the course for a big part of Reed's life.

Today he works at the Elliott Salon just off Beach Drive and said that he wants to continue to serve his very loyal clients.

But Reed has higher aspirations. He wants to go to Broadway.

Beveridge Place Pub is sponsoring a fundraiser at Beveridge Place Pub Sunday January 17 to raise money for Doctors Without Borders and their effort in Haiti to help the victims of the massive earthquake that struck that nation on Tuesday.

DOGS for DOCS!
Join us this Sunday from 4-7pm at Beveridge Place Pub 6413 California Ave SW to help us raise money for Doctors Without Borders*' effort in Haiti. We'll be serving up hot dogs and sausages, [including veggie dogs], have a variety of silent auction items and run a raffle, too. So there's lots of ways for you to help! If you wish to donate raffle or silent auction items, please email Gary at Beveridge Place Pub to make arrangements.
Email: beveridgeplacepub@gmail.com

*Doctors Without Borders (or for you Francophiles: Médecins Sans

On Jan. 22, HomeStreet Bank's Ballard branch will host its Great Neighbor, Great Business award reception to honor the Phinney Neighborhood Association, Cancer Lifeline and the Ballard and Greenwood Sip & Ship.

The Great Neighbor, Great Business awards were started in 2005 to honor local businesses based on community partnership, being a great employer, and providing an exceptional customer environment.

The award reception, which is free and open to the public, begins at 5 p.m. at HomeStreet Bank, located at 8050 15th Ave. N.W. Refreshments will be served, and live music will be performed by cellist Gretchen Yanover.

The Phinney Neighborhood Association, established in 1981, serves the Phinney-Greenwood area and beyond, offering a large selection of programs, events, classes and services.

Cancer Lifeline, founded in 1973, provides emotional support, resources, classes and exercise programs to support cancer patients, survivors, their families, friends, coworkers and caregivers.

Sip & Ship (Ballard and Greenwood) has shipping and mailing services, a fair trade espresso bar and a gift shop.

The new Educare Early Learning Center in the Greenbridge community of White Center is scheduled to open in late February 2010. The Center will offer full-day, year-round preschool and child care programs for 132 children from income eligible families and children with disabilities. The Center will also offer caregiver and educator resources and training programs that focus on preparing all children in the community to be successful in school and life.

The Educare Early Learning Center is now enrolling children ages birth to five for 32 openings for infants and toddlers, and 20 new openings for preschoolers. Classes are scheduled to begin the end of February. An additional 50 preschool openings will be available in June.

The Educare Early Learning Center is part of a growing national network of Educare early learning programs that combine Head Start and Early Head Start with full day child care services.
Core features of the Educare Program are:
• Research-based practices and strategies
• Small class size
• Focus on language and literacy
• Emphasis on social-emotional development to promote school readiness

One of the largest aircraft in the world made a stopover for refueling and a crew break at SeaTac Airport Friday, Jan. 15th.
The Russian Antonov AN-124 carries a crew of 6, and can carry 88 passengers in addition to a 330,000 pound payload.

The aircraft is 226 feet long with a 240 foot wingspan. From the ground it stands 68 feet high and when fully loaded weighs
893,000 pounds. It has a maximum speed of 537 miles per hour, a range of 3360 miles and a ceiling of 35,000 feet.

By comparison, the Boeing 747-8l is 250 feet long, with a 224 foot wingspan, stands 64 feet tall and a maximum takeoff weight of 975,000 pounds with a ceiling of 43,000 feet and a maxium speed of 570 miles per hour.
The AN-124 was the largest aircraft in the world until it was superseded by another Russian built craft the Antonov An-225. Over forty
of the massive airplanes are in service.