March 2010

Non league girls' tennis matchups on Monday, March 15, at Thomas Jefferson High School produced a surprising level of excitement in a Kentridge 3-2 decision against the host Raiders after nearly three hours of play.

In the beginning, the main focus was to identify strengths and weaknesses while acquiring match play experience in a situation without the pressure of league standings on the line.

Despite this, or due to it, the squads found themselves entrenched in a 2-2 team match deadlock heading into the final match.

Jefferson's No. 2 singles player Breanne Ziccarelli won the battle of base liners in the first set at 6-4, but freshman Katie Ly turned the tables with a 6-4 second set win of her own, pushing the pair into a decisive third set.

Ziccarelli served for the set and match at 5-4 but was unable to hold serve. Exchanges of service breaks brought on a 6-6 score and a deciding tie-breaker.

Again, the duo battled to a 6-6 tie before Ly fought to gain two straight points and a three-set verdict.

After the loss, Ziccarelli thought about what she had learned.

"I learned that I can't make silly mistakes and I can't get down on myself," she said.

Two local girls' fastpitch softball teams clashed at Mount Rainier High School with the results being indicative of each squad's stage of development on Wednesday, March 17, at Mount Rainier High School.

Last season's Class 3A state semifinalist Mount Rainier quickly tamed the young and learning Foster team, 16-0, in three innings of a Seamount League opener.

Losing only one senior off last year's club, the state tested Rams kicked away the Bulldogs by first manufacturing a pair of first inning runs before powering home 11 runs in the second inning.

Foster pitching was inconsistent and the fielders were hesitant as befits a developing squad.

The second inning Mount Rainier barrage was triggered when BJ Mipalar turned on a fast ball and smoothly drove it over the right field fence for a solo home run within the framework of 16 Ram at bats. Maddy Dorhofer, Hillary Klein and Amanda Hopkins each clubbed two-run doubles. Tristen Vonn also singled home a run.

With the score at 14-0 in the bottom of the third inning, Tashia Keeve's two RBI double closed out the proceedings on the 15-run mercy rule.

Husband and wife entrepreneurs Masud and Fereshta Popal are celebrating 2010 with the opening of a brand-new Grocery Outlet in Seattle’s SODO district on Saturday, March 27. Seattle residents can expect to save up to 50% on brand name, quality foods at the new Grocery Outlet, the largest "extreme-value" grocer in the U.S. Located at 1702 4th Avenue, the new store will replace a former liquor and wine warehouse and is situated conveniently two blocks from Safeco Field.

Masud Popal, a resident of Tacoma and a native of Kabul, Afghanistan, has spent the past 2 years in Grocery Outlet’s AOT (Associate Operator in Training) program at the Burien Grocery Outlet in Seattle. Both Masud and Fereshta, also a native of Kabul, have deep roots in the downtown Seattle area where several family members and close friends own businesses.

Rose Fitzpatrick got Rivet, her dog who is half Pit Bull, half Whippet 20 months ago through Pet Finder at a Tacoma shelter. "There was a foster mom who rescued two litters of Pit Bull puppies and Rivet was one of those. This lady had like twelve puppies at once in her kitchen if you can imagine it, so she earned her halo."

Rivet's photo was on PetFinder.com and, "The moment I saw her little face I knew she was the right dog." Rivet joins Fitzpatrick's existing family of animals including two bunnies, both from PetFinder and a dove, and they all get along terrific," Fitzpatrick said.

Rivet's Pit Bull heritage sometimes causes people to think she's not approachable. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rivet has a large number of human friends. "Just about everybody," Fitzpatrick said, " especially in this neighborhood which is so dog friendly. If all the dog food vanished off the planet she could live indefinitely off the handouts she gets. People love her. They are so good to her."

Well over 200 people came to The Hall at Fauntleroy 9131 California Ave. SW to enjoy food samples from local restaurants and stop by information tables of neighborhood and government organizations. The Original Bakery, Endolyne Joe's, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering, Bird on a Wire Espresso, Guadalajara Mexican restaurant and Giannoni's Pizzeria were all present.

The free event is now in it's eighth year. Bruce Butterfield, in charge of the proceedings, said "We wanted a way to celebrate the local restaurants and let them know that we appreciate them. It was a good way for them to let everyone know that they appreciate the community. We had the idea of doing a sort of 'Mini-Bite of Fauntleroy' and we asked a couple of restaurant owners...and they loved it." The event grows every year now including 17 service agencies or information booths such as the YMCA, Little Pilgrim Daycare Center, The Fauntleroy Children's Center, Fauntleroy Community Service Agency (now in charge of the school building that houses the Hall, The Barton Pump Station Project, ArtsWest and others.

After a scoreless first half Chief Sealth boys soccer scored two goals against rival West Seattle to win 2-0.

Debuting acrylic artist Whitney Anderson is making a scene this spring in Ballard, where famous faces are expected to attend.

Heidi Klum, Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga are just a few of the icons scheduled to make an appearance – in portrait.

Anderson is a 2009 Duke graduate who has returned home to Seattle in hopes to continue with her love of painting realistic yet bold portraitures.

“A lot of people think that I use an airbrush in my work, but it is all simply done freehand,” Anderson said.

She gets her inspiration from a variety of sources, including traveling abroad. To date she has traveled to more than 40 countries worldwide.

Anderson will also be displaying her pieces depicting the controversial Exxon Valdez oil spill, as well as other notable pop culture events and icons of our time.

Anderson's work is being shown March 1 through May 15 at The Source Salon and Spa, located at 5400 Leary Ave. N.W., and Cugini Café, located at 5306 Ballard Ave. N.W., in April in Ballard.

While hanging out and drinking wine with my fellow divorced friends, the “Would you be willing to have another kid?” question arose.

Our answers varied from “No way!” to “Yes, if I could do it differently this time.”

The “Doing it differently” idea captivated all of us. Even the “No way in hell” women grinned when they paused to consider the possibilities.

Some of the “differentlies” were about having a partner that was more involved, but mostly the fantasies revolved around how could we make room for another child without giving anything up.

As Jill so eloquently stated, “I’d be open to having another baby if I only had to take care of it one day a week.”

Years ago, when I was yearning for a baby, my yearnings were based in the “one day a week” ideology more than reality, but I didn’t know it.

My fantasy consisted of the one-hour walk I would take with my adorable baby sleeping peacefully in the stroller and then some smatterings of cuddles, hugs and kisses. That’s what I thought motherhood would consist of.

On March 19, the King County Superior Court heard the case between the City of Seattle and representatives of Ballard industries over the completion of the Missing Link of the Burke-Gilman Trail. A ruling will be made in the case by April 2.

The hearing stemmed from a June 15 lawsuit filed by a group of maritime and industrial trade associations and businesses challenging the city’s decision no to conduct a State Environmental Protection Act review on the Missing Link, which runs from 11th Avenue Northwest to the Ballard Locks.

The same group of business and industry representatives filed an appeal with the Seattle Office of the Hearing Examiner over the Seattle Department of Transportation's determination of nonsignificance on the environmental impacts of completing the trail in December 2009.

The hearing examiner ruled in favor of the city June 9.

David Hiller, advocacy director for the Cascade Bicycle Club, said neither side has an inside track on what the judge was thinking during the March 19 hearing, and the ruling could go either way.

But, the judge must give extra weight to the hearing examiner's earlier ruling, Hiller said.

West Seattle resident and 7th Congressional District candidate Bill Hoffman threw a meet and greet at his campaign headquarters, 315 5th Avenue S., Sunday, March 21. Friends, family, and potential supporters gathered to hear him define the direction he would take the District and to excoriate incumbent Congressman Jim McDermott who has held the position Hoffman seeks since 1989. The primary is Aug. 17.

“We are all here I think because one way or another we voted for change in 2008 and still want change in this district in 2010,” said Hoffman in a speech there. “You know what I’m talking about. I’m talking about Jim McDermott. He has not done a particularly good job serving his constituents. When you compare him to Jackson, Magnuson and others, he just doesn’t compare. I lived in L.A. and Representative Waxman really cares about the people he serves. It’s like night and day. McDermott is a laughing stock in Washington, D.C.”