April 2010

The Morgan Street Thriftway will be holding it's annual Spring Fling on April 22 (also Earth Day of course) featuring spring and summer cheeses, salads and many more accompaniments from more than 12 vendors.

The event will run from 3 PM to 7 PM and will offer samples, special pricing on featured items and information from vendors and manufacturers in attendance.

"This event is mostly about cheese and specialty items, with an emphasis on preparation," said Tod Smith, Deli Manager.

Photographer Kurt Howard captured these images of the Decatur vs. Federal Way track meet at Federal Way Memorial Stadium on April 15. CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO PLAY SLIDESHOW.

Photographer Kurt Howard captured these images of the Decatur-Beamer boys' soccer game April 13. Beamer defeated the Gators 1-0. CLICK ON PHOTO TO PLAY SLIDESHOW.

Photographer Kurt Howard captured these images of the Highline - Evergreen softball and baseball game on April 16. The Highline baseball team rocked Evergreen 12-1, while the Pirates' softball team defeated Evergreen 16-0. CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO PLAY SLIDESHOW.

In celebration of International Migratory Bird Day May 8, the Woodland Park Zoo is offering a guided tour of zoo grounds with a keeper for attendees to learn firsthand about the wild birds that the zoo home and those that make it a temporary home during their annual migration.

Zookeepers and expert staff give natural history and birding tips to participants of all ages and levels of experience.

International Migratory Bird Day highlights the migration of nearly 350 bird species between nesting habitats in North America and nonbreeding grounds in South and Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Many think of migratory birds as symbolic harbingers of spring and melodious songsters of the woods, but migratory birds are also an important economic resource, controlling insect pests and generating billions in recreational dollars, according to a zoo press release.

Unfortunately, research has shown that many migratory bird populations are in decline, facing a growing number of threats on their migration routes and in both summer and winter habitats, according to the press release.

Seattle Parks and Recreation will host a community meeting to discuss the renovation for Ross Playground from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 20 at Ross Shelter House, located at 4320 Fourth Ave. N.W.

Parks has hired Worthy and Associates as the designer for this project. They will introduce the project and gather ideas from the community on building an improved play area at the park.

This renovation project, identified in the Parks and Green Spaces Levy, will provide new play equipment, site improvements and access improvements.

Seattle voters passed the Parks and Green Spaces Levy by a 59-percent vote in November 2008.

The $146 million Levy provides acquisition funding for new neighborhood parks and green spaces and development funding for projects, such as improved playfields, reservoir lid parks, renovated playgrounds, community gardens and safety upgrades at city owned cultural facilities.

The community is encouraged to come and participate in designing this new play area.

For more information, click here.

Jack Thompson former Evergreen High School, Washington State University, and NFL quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers is coming to Tibbetts United Methodist Church at, 3940 41st Ave. SW on Sunday April 25th.

The Tibbetts Men's Group will be hosting a lunch with Jack Thompson right after the Sunday Service which is at 10:00 AM and all are invited. Lunch will be bbq sandwiches from Pecos Pit BBQ, along with potato salad. A $5.00 suggested donation is appreciated.

Who is Jack Thompson? He was a quarterback for the Washington State University Cougars from 1975 to 1978. He set numerous records at Washington State, in the Pac-10 and at the NCAA level. He was the third pick in the 1979 NFL draft and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals. He was Tampa Bay's starting quarterback in 1983. His son Tony played football for Washington State.

Jack will be talking about religion in his life, his relief efforts from the Tsunami that hit in his homeland 2009 and the transition from high school to college.

There have been a few comments about my column suggesting that I seem to always present a rather negative view of education.

In this column I will present some positives that I have learned recently and then compose some “articles” that I would like to be able to write about in the future.

These “articles” will be modifications of articles that I have read in my daily readings about education.

First some “real” information.

This past week I learned about a local young man who has an invitation to attend the Summer Program at Cambridge University in Cambridge, England.

I would consider it quite an honor to have an invitation to attend Cambridge. I have visited Cambridge at least three times and one has to be impressed with the architecture and scholarship that is exhibited there. Many of the buildings date from the 1200’s and they have been very well preserved. A trip on the River Cam is a highlight of any trip to Cambridge.

If you were ever a boy scout or know one you may know about the Pinewood Derby. It's a gravity powered race between hand tooled cars of all sorts that are different in many ways but the same in one.

Each one must weigh no more than 5 ounces.

CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT

In what was billed as the 1st Annual West Seattle Pinewood Derby, dozens of experienced and beginner racers showed up with their handcrafted vehicles, ready to race at the Brickyard BBQ restaurant on Saturday April 17th. The field couldn't have been more varied with entries ranging from a Mack Truck to rather odd combinations of colors and shapes.

Many racers were making last minute adjustments in weight and looks and adding lubrication to increase their speed.
Sponsors and "Race commissioners" Don and Dave Kriley said, "This is the first of two events. This one is family friendly. The second one takes place at the Alki Tavern on the 24th. There are hot dog lunches and prizes for 1st 2nd and 3rd and for best design."
Live music was added later in the afternoon.

Nature Consortium hosted at least 938 volunteers plus coordinators in 12 sites who celebrated Earth Day 2010 with a large work party event as a part of Duwamish Alive! The Nature Consortium's Urban Forest Restoration Project is committed to long-term stewardship and restoration of the West Duwamish Greenbelt, the largest remaining contiguous forest within Seattle city limits.

Their main restoration goal is reintroducing the conifer species to the greenbelt. They also focus on invasive plant removal, site maintenance and environmental education.

Duwamish Alive! is a multiple-site work party around the city that is produced by Nature Consortium, Green Seattle Partnership, People for Puget Sound, EOS, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and others.