February 2010

Dr. Doo, also known as the “Prince of Poo,” the “GM of BM” or the “Grand Poopah,” has been piling Zoo Doo deeper and higher all winter. This means the annual Spring Fecal Fest, the time of year when local gardeners have the chance to purchase Zoo Doo or Bedspread, is here.

According to a Woodland Park Zoo press release, Zoo Doo is the most exotic and highly prized compost in the Pacific Northwest, perfect for vegetables and annuals, composed of exotic species feces contributed by the zoo’s non-primate herbivores.

Bedspread, the zoo’s premium composted mulch, is like Zoo Doo but with higher amounts of wood chips and sawdust. It can be used for perennial beds and woody landscapes, such as native gardens, rose beds, shrubs, tree rings or pathways.

Zoo Doo and Bedspread are available only through a random drawing. For a chance to purchase either, gardeners must send in a postcard from March 5 through March 20.

Gardeners can enter both the Zoo Doo and Bedspread drawings, but separate postcards are required. Postcards should be marked “Zoo Doo" or “B.S.” for Bedspread.

CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO PLAY SLIDESHOW. Photographer Kurt Howard captured these images of the Federal Way girls' game against Auburn-Riverside at the West Central 4A District Tournament at Showare Center in Kent.

Pretty representative.

Four schools in the Federal Way area and a state championship match representative from each one, and that's got to be a first that's happened in decades -- not years -- of state wrestling at the Tacoma Dome.

Representing Decatur was Dylan Aparis. TJ had Kyle McIntosh, Beamer had Ares Carpio, for boys, and Federal Way's Jocie Weinberger represented for girls.

So, four out of four, that's...

"Very cool," said Travis Mango, the Eagles' second year coach, slowly, but surely turning that program a great direction starting with their girls where he had senior Weinberger in the 130-pound final, getting second along with Maria Manzueta (119) taking third and freshman Bianca Arizpe finishing fifth. All medalists, otherwise known as "placers" at state and that was very cool in the end to get the Eagles in the top 10 in the state. Something none of the boys teams did, even though boys for the area all-in-all performed well, too.

So, let's hear it for the girls!

This just in from the City of Seattle on Thurs. Feb 25. 9:00 AM
Accident involving seven vehicles on the northbound lanes of the Alaskan Way Viaduct at Seneca St. Emergency units are responding. SR 99 left lane blocked. Traffic is backed up to Spokane St, including the West Seattle Bridge and inching along.

While watching “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” one is haunted by the thought that director Chris Weitz’s main accomplishment was to create an unwitting homage to the first Twilight film and its director, Catherine Hardwicke.
With the Twilight novels, author Stephenie Meyer roughed out a storyline that sent harmonic tremors deep into the lizard brains of its readers. Twilight fans love these books and are willing to forgive anything that happens between their covers including some pretty uneven writing. Hardwicke smoothed out the edges. Bella (Kristen Stewart) got a little tougher and the cool hunk of marble that is Edward (Robert Pattinson) responded with the occasional display of vulnerability. They became, if one can say this about the undead, a very likeable couple. Better still, she lacquered the fluffy proceedings with a tint of indie-film sexiness.
Then Chris Weitz took the reins and did a face plant into every blockbuster formula that Hardwicke had worked so hard to avoid. “New Moon,” as Weitz conceives it, is less a film than it is a franchise episode.

A great blue heron stands in the shallow water by the pier at the Des Moines Marina watching the sun go down, oblivious to all of the construction and upheaval in the parking lot above him.

West Seattle Photographer Steve Shelton spotted this rainbow, formed as the recent rain showers finally brought an end to a long string of warm sunny days. Walking with his dog Tasha, just north of Point Williams (where Colman Pool is located) he did not report any pot of gold and despite St. Patrick's day coming soon, not a single leprechaun.

Want a night at the theater and can't find a babysitter? Problem solved.

The Jungle Gym has teamed up with Burien Little Theatre (BLT) to offer a "Kids Night Out" in conjunction with the theater's performance of "A Midsummer's Night Dream" on Friday, March 5.

On stage now at BLT is Arne Zaslove's 1950s Rock 'n' Roll adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, running Sunday, March 21.

On March 5 before the show drop the kids off for three hours of free play, games, snacks and a movie.

The Jungle Gym is located at 191 S.W. 152nd Alley, in Burien and the cost is $25 per child from 7:45-11 p.m.

This place is full of fun and exciting things for kids ages 3 and up to do, like the zip line, tumble track trampoline with pit, beams, bars and much more. Reservations are required, and kids must be potty-trained to attend.

The play is set in a gymnasium at Athens High School on graduation day 1957, and in a neighboring forest. A group of magical fairies intervene and meddle with the lives of two young couples for whom "the course of true love never did run smooth."

A live band and rockin' tunes make this a treat for all ages.

A friendly chat with a neighbor during a daily walk led three residents of Three Tree Point to collaborate on a book about the unique Burien peninsula community, tracing its history through more than 200 vintage photographs.
"Images of America Three Tree Point" will be officially released on Monday, March 8. It is part of the "Images of America" series of historical books about local communities.
The three authors are holding a book launch party at the Tin Room Bar and Grill, 923 S.W. 152nd St. on March 12 at 3 p.m. Copies of the book will be on sale for $20.

Co-author Pam Harper said she was walking by Doug Shadel's home one day when she remarked to Shadel that she had a picture of his house under construction in the 1920s.

Harper said they started talking about the history of the community and Shadel suggested they should write a book about it.
Having written five previous books, Shadel is an experienced author.

Seattle Department of Transportation crews plan to repair a sidewalk on California Avenue SW just north of Fauntleroy Way SW (6451 California Avenue SW) starting March 1 and finishing by March 19, weather permitting. The sidewalk will be closed, but access will be provided to the business at this location. On-street parking will be restricted at the construction site.

This project is funded by the Bridging the Gap transportation levy approved by Seattle voters in November 2006.