February 2010

South Seattle Community College, in partnership with the Seattle Electric Vehicle Association, is offering a number of non-credit electric vehicle classes, including a six-day Electric Vehicle Conversionworkshop. Taught by a group of experienced instructors who have converted over two dozen vehicles, the six-day workshop guides students through the complete process of converting a vehicle from a gasoline engine to electric power. By the end of the workshop, the group will have completed one running electric car conversion capable of highway speeds, with a 30-60 mile range on one charge.

Electric Vehicle Conversion Workshop
Instructor: Ed Stegall
An intensive six days hands-on learning class that teaches the basics in converting a gasoline engine to electric power.
8 am – 5 pm M T W Th F Sat March 22-27 $899

Additional non-credit Electric Vehicle classes:

Electric Vehicle Safety Systems
Instructor: Roger Wright
Learn how to keep your electric vehicle safe; how a DC system works, what parts go into it, and why you should have these parts.
9 – 11:30 am Sat February 27 $35

Nearly 50 people had signed up by the first day of EDGE Personal Training's Ballard Fitness Fest. But, according to one Ballard woman, the rest of the contestants should probably quit now.

"You might as well tell everyone coming in that I'm going to win," Cindi Worthington told EDGE owner Erik Hroncich during her Feb. 22 fitness assessment, "Oh, I'm competitive."

Ballard Fitness Fest is a three-month contest devised by Hroncich. It is open to anyone who lives or works in Ballard or the surrounding neighborhoods. The winner, loser of the most body fat, inches and weight, will be determined in May.

"I'm used to being 300 pounds," Worthington told Hroncich. "But, I also used to be 190."

Worthington had been participating in roller derby fitness classes and was preparing for tryouts for a team when she pulled her quadriceps. The injury was partially responsible for her gaining 40 pounds recently, she said.

She said her goal is to be at least 30 pounds lighter and have clothes that fit in three months.

"I'm tired of wearing black spandex all the time when I have a closet full of beautiful clothes," she said.

What a game by the Federal Way boys basketball team, holding off a determined, tough, fast Bellarmine Prep squad, 57-53, in a West Central District semifinal game that meant the defending 4A state champ Eagles stay unbeaten in this state after intense, mind-drilling action versus the Lions at Foss High School Friday night.

"Yeah, yeah, we expected a battle," said Eagles head coach Jerome Collins, 26 years coaching this team to the state playoffs the majority of those years, including this win over traditionally solid B-Prep that sends the Eagles that direction -- to state -- yet again. "Just proud of our kids. They didn't hang their head, and made plays when they had to."

But let's rewind the action a little farther back than the barn-burning final 120 or so seconds on the clock.

It was a sizable Eagles lead, 50-41, with 6:41 left in the fourth quarter. Then, B-Prep called a timeout, and came back onto the court. Bam!

An immediate three-pointer, 50-44.

Then Robert Christopher, for the Eagles, a 6-5 guard/forward, drove the lane next, got fouled, and made the free throws to make it 52-44, Eagles with 5:30 left.

It was a banner day for Beamer at the state Class 4A boys swimming and diving meet that concluded Saturday, Feb. 20 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

Yes, the Titans only finished fourth in the team standings, but fourth place is good enough for a trophy and a place on the awards stand -- and they gladly accepted both.

Todd Beamer scored 171 points behind the 194 of Shorewood, 179 of Gig Harbor and 173 of Inglemoor. Decatur came in 20th with 31 points and Thomas Jefferson scored two for 40th.

The Titans started off quickly as Bart Wanot, Cole Um, Shane Clare and Jade Feigert combined to take second place in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:38.97 behind Shorewood's 1:38.20 clocking.

Clare then came back and won the 200 individual medley in 1:55.54.

Tanner Brotherton of Decatur took third in the 50 freestyle consolation final with a time of 22.40.

Wanot captured second in the 50 free finals in an All American Consideration time of 21.22 and Beamers' Ludomir Wanot scored 361.70 points to capture third place in the diving competition.