April 2011

By Patrick Dunn, Sustainable West Seattle

The Great Tool Migration of 2011 has officially and thankfully been completed. Through the kind help of a number of Tool Library volunteers and their trucks, our entire community tool collection is now down at our new location at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.

Though it was certainly a tough job, moving a collection like that with a bunch of environmentally-minded folks has its advantages. Due to a bio diesel truck in our fleet, our convoy smelled a lot like french fries the whole day. That always helps to take the edge off.

After the Migration (and a greasy lunch), the crew spent most of the evening just staring the collection, trying to make it smaller so that we could put it all away in time for our Grand Re-Opening. We have no idea how we crammed so many tools into the Tool Library’s previous storage closet up at SSCC.

By Alex Peery, UW News Lab student

Doug Miner is one of many Norwegian-Americans living in Seattle but he knew very little about his heritage until he was cast in a reality TV program.

“I literally knew lefse, Oslo and uff-da before I went on this show,” Miner said. “It was a history lesson, sight-seeing tour, competition and meeting family all in one trip.”

Miner was one of 10 contestants on “Alt for Norge”, a Norwegian reality TV show which casted Norwegian-Americans from all over the U.S. to compete in various activities throughout Norway. The winner received $50,000 and a chance to visit with family.

“The show is similar to ‘The Amazing Race' in the fact that we traveled every week and did locally traditional challenges,” explained Miner. “We just never left Norway.”

The contestants faced numerous challenges. They were usually split into two groups, and the losing team had to face an additional elimination round.

The show aired in Norway last year but Seattle residents can watch it every Sunday evening at 8 p.m. at The Lobby Bar in Capitol Hill.

C-SPAN’s Digital Bus came to Salmon Bay School on Friday morning to honor middle school student Leo Pfeifer, who won second prize in their documentary competition.

StudentCam is an annual C-SPAN documentary competition which encourages students to create short films about political and public policy matters. This year’s theme was “Washington, DC, Through My Lens” and asked middle and high school students to address issues directly impacting their communities.

Leo Pfeifer, 13, made a documentary titled “Homelessness: An American Crisis”, which deals with the homelessness issue on a local as well as national level.

The school held a special assembly on Friday morning to honor Pfeifer’s achievement and screen his film.

The new Seattle Public Schools superintendent, Susan Enfield, was present at the assembly and shortly addressed the audience and congratulated Pfeifer for his achievement.

“I hope that we all – not just you students, but also all us adults in this room – be inspired by what Leo has done,” she said.

By Sarah Wyatt
Popcorn, peanuts and beer: the aroma of traditional baseball stadium food signals the beginning of spring. Mariners fans have enjoyed these staples for decades, but times change and so do the tastes of baseball fans. Wednesday, the Seattle Mariners announced their new concessions lineup, a progressive array of comfort foods crafted by a team of chefs including Ballard resident and chef Ethan Stowell. Along with new spins of the classics, several new offerings are bound to take fans out to the ball game.

Safeco Field’s Bullpen Market, previously a dank, cramped space, had a complete overhaul during the offseason. Located in left and center field adjacent to the home and visitor’s bullpens, “The ‘Pen” is now a spacious, open area with a fire pit, cocktail bar, and four food concession stands, including Stowell’s Hamburg + Frites and La Crêperie. Centerplate Stir, the Mariners foodservice partner, worked with Stowell to develop a culinary experience that melded with traditional baseball culture.

Popcorn, peanuts and beer: the aroma of traditional baseball stadium food signals the beginning of spring. Mariners fans have enjoyed these staples for decades, but times change and so do the tastes of baseball fans. Wednesday, the Seattle Mariners announced their new concessions lineup, a progressive array of comfort foods crafted by a team of chefs including Ballard resident and chef Ethan Stowell. Along with new spins of the classics, several new offerings are bound to take fans out to the ball game.

Safeco Field’s Bullpen Market, previously a dank, cramped space, had a complete overhaul during the offseason. Located in left and center field adjacent to the home and visitor’s bullpens, “The ‘Pen” is now a spacious, open area with a fire pit, cocktail bar, and four food concession stands, including Stowell’s Hamburg + Frites and La Crêperie. Centerplate Stir, the Mariners foodservice partner, worked with Stowell to develop a culinary experience that melded with traditional baseball culture.

Over the last several years, various construction projects stalled due to lack of funds or legal wrangling. Rather than leave these vacant sites as eyesores, the Seattle City Council unanimously adopted legislation to enliven them.

The new legislation started a pilot program to allow property owners to temporarily locate active uses, like retail sales kiosks, mobile food vending carts or art installations on sites of stalled construction projects.
Also allowed are temporary conversions of vacant and underused lots into short-term parking, provided the sidewalk-facing sides of the lot are activated with creative uses that will attract and increase pedestrian activity.

Sites that qualify for the program must already have legally established accessory parking and have been cleared for construction as of June 1, 2010 or have an active building permit as of June 1, 2010.

After a whirlwind of activity getting ready the El Chupacabra Mexican restaurant opens today April, 8.
The West Seattle Herald and contributing photographer David Rosen had a chance to see the new restaurant/bar during the soft open on Thursday evening (see slideshow), and as was previously reported the new business joins the original in Greenwood offering cocktails, burritos and tacos including what has been selected by other publications as The Best Margarita in Seattle.

The El Chupacabra will have these beers on tap:
Negra Modelo
Modelo Especial
Pabst Blue Ribbon
Mens Room Red

They carry all the basics of liquor but being a Mexican restaurant they of course feature tequila offering twenty different brands.

The staff on hand for the opening will be Shelbe Sheppard, Tyson Rogers, and Clayton Wright.

Getting everything done in time for the deadline was the result of many hands.

CLICK ON PHOTO FOR SLIDE SHOW

Southgate Roller Rink, 9646 17th Ave. SW, officially opened and received nearly 300 beginner, intermediate and pro-level skating enthusiasts Thursday night, April 7, between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Some used the new skates provided by owners Josh Rhoads and wife Erin Venables (included in the $6 entry fee), while many brought their own pair. Rhoads, a competitive skater, deejayed and as the large disco mirror ball spun, so did the skaters. Rhoads had them go clockwise, then turn around, then allowed male and female "speed skaters" their own heats.

Eric Williams, an insurance broker living in the Morgan Junction area first skated there in 1976. "I skated through 1981. I graduated Chief Sealth in '83. It feels good to be back. I have a lot of good memories from the '70's. I considered this my home. I'd come here Thursday, Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night, and Sunday afternoon.

Burien lawmakers directed City Manager Mike Martin on April 11 to contract for city animal control services with a nonprofit group headed by Discover Burien events coordinator Debra George.

The contract will be for three years with monthly status reportsd required.

George, who also is the co-owner of the Mark Restaurant & Bar in Olde Burien, is organizer of Community Animal Resource Education Society (CARES.) She said the nonprofit group will also work on animal rights and wellbeing issues. The animal control services contract is just one component of the group, according to George.

Michael Snyder will be the full-time lead animal control field officer. He owns a small business in Burien that designs and produces award ribbons.

Snyder is president of the local American Pit Bull Terrier breed club and was national president of the organization for 10 years.

Sherry Meyers will coordinate animal placement. For the past 20 years she has been heavily involved in the rescue rehabilitation and placing of dogs in the Puget Sound area.
Burien resident Meyers is president and rescue coordinator of the local American Eskimo breed club.

Seattle Parks and Recreation will join other public and private swimming organizations throughout the state in celebrating the 18th Annual April Pools Day on Saturday, April 16.

On April Pools Day, more than 40 facilities throughout Washington are working to help families prepare for a safe summer by hosting free events that offer water safety tips and activities.

Participants of all ages are encouraged to learn hands-on water safety in and out of the water.

Activities include practicing using lifejackets, learning about hypothermia, taking a boat ride, practicing reaching and throwing rescues, and learning about CPR.

There will also be a drawing for a free lifejacket and other prizes.

The Ballard Pool will host April Pools Day activities on April 16th from 12:30 until 2 p.m. The nearby Evans Pool at Green Lake will host activities from 1:30 until 2:30 p.m. and activities will take place at the Queen Anne Pool from 3:30 until 4:30 p.m.

Contact the individual pools for more information.