January 2012

A few generations ago Popeye was right when he told the kiddies to always eat their spinach. And many children obeyed. They ate their vegetables, along with their meat and potatoes just like mom and dad, and Popeye, told them to do. But that is less common now. At meal time in our culture, most kids are calling the shots. And that means mac-and-cheese, while their parents eat protein and salad.

According to health and child birth educator, Catherine Berglund of West Seattle, parents caved beginning in the '60's and '70's and let the kids "just say no" to nutrition at mealtime in favor of mac-and-cheese and other bland standards.

"We were the first children to pull this, and now every kid in this culture is pulling this," said Berglund, whose son, Aidan, 6, a Lafayette student is on a healthy nutritional track, and happy about it, too.

"Obesity, diabetes," sighed Berglund, "Kids now are the first generation of Americans suspected to have a shorter life span than the generation before. At the current rates of diabetes and obesity today's youth might not live as long as their parents."

The Kenney Continuing Care Retirement Community in West Seattle at 7125 Fauntleroy Way s.w. opened their new Memory Care Community on Thursday Jan. 26 with an open house. They offered tours, providing a look at how they've prepared the new facility and tailored it specifically for the needs of those with dementia.

This new wing of The Kenney has been painted in soft, welcoming colors, to create a much more home like atmosphere. The primary hallway is a pastel green, and is equipped with handrails. Above each doorway are stained glass sconces that provide a decorative cover for assistance lights. Along the walls are nostalgic black and white photographs.

Karlene Colletti, Director of Memory Care said, “When you are dealing with dementia, natural lighting and natural colors are an important part of the experience. Because this was a dark hallway with really only one window (a former door is now two large windows) I wanted to bring in as much light as possible." That window will soon have a vignette painted by Jayne Monk (who is also Director of Nursing Services at The Kenney) to add another decorative element.

SLIDESHOW: CLICK ON ABOVE FOR MORE

Park West, the assisted living facility at 1703 California Ave SW, about a half mile north of West Seattle High School, hosted special ed students from that school who mingled with residents there and created valentine cards to send to Afghanistan soldiers.

Special ed instructor Don Hill and special ed Instructional assistant Julie Bramhall have brought his students to Park West about six times this year.

"They sing songs, play games, interact with residents to learn social skills," said Bramhill. "Some of these students will end up working in assisted living facilities, so this is a great way opportunity for the them."

"We are having a wonderful gathering of some local students working together with some of our residents to make valentines cards to send soldiers," said Park West activities director Annie Fairchild. "Students help residents, and residents help students, so everyone feels good. I have adopted Deborah, a soldier in Kabul, Afghanistan, through AdoptaPlatoon. She will share the cards with the rest of her platoon."

While January in Seattle tends to be grey and rainy, curators Susan Robb, Sierra Stinson and Jim Demetre are bringing a forecast of illumination and warmth to Ballard this weekend with their ONN/OF art exhibition and light festival.

Housed in Ballard's The Sweater Factory, ONN/OF is a weekend-long event of visual art, performance, installation, projection, music, food and drink, and workshops surrounding “light”.

Born from 2011's La Niña-drenched winter weather, the curators aim to create an environment "that not only lets people escape the cold and solitude that comes with Seattle’s winter season but to build a warm and energizing experience that might produce enough radiance to help see Seattle through the rest of the winter," according to the website.

Festival hours go from 4 p.m. until 12 a.m. on Saturday, and noon till 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Special events and workshops will be held at various times throughout the festival, check the website at http://www.onnof.us for the full schedule.

The Sweater Factory is located at 1415 NW 52st, across from the Bardahl Oil sign.

While the Sundance Film Festival is coming to a close in Park City, Utah, a locally-filmed film is creating a buzz.

Written Derek Connolly and directed by Colin Trevorrow, "Safety Not Guaranteed" follows three Seattle Magazine employees sent to investigate a personal advertisement placed in the newspaper: "guy seeking partner for time travel".

Clever dialogue, outlandish antics, and misfit characters come together in this modern romantic comedy which stars Mark Duplass (from "The Puffy Chair"), Jake M. Johnson (from "New Girl"), and Aubrey Plaza (from "Parks and Recreation") in the lead.

Shot in and around Seattle, many of the supporting actors and crew are from Seattle, including Ballardite Grace Arends.

A Ballard High School graduate, Arends is an aspiring actress who plays the role of Darcy in "Safety Not Guaranteed"

"Though my character only has a few minutes of screen time, my character is crucial to the climax of [a character," said Arends.

Press release:

Each year, Gold Star is a much anticipated awards celebration and fundraiser to benefit the Foundation, which is the only non-profit organization supporting all schools in the Highline School District.

The Foundation directly supports students in our district in areas where state funding cannot, through grants for classroom innovation, funding for arts programming, help for students in need with sports participation fees, a substantial college scholarship program, and more. In eleven years since the Foundation began, it has given over $1,000,000 in funds to programs and students in Highline Public Schools.

Below is a list of important Gold Star Related Events and Programs

GOLD STAR AWARD NOMINATIONS
Nominations are NOW OPEN for the 2012 Gold Star Awards in the following categories:
• Outstanding Teacher
• Outstanding Administrator
• Outstanding Alumnus
• Outstanding Volunteer
• Outstanding Classified Employee (non-certified staff)

Press release:

Rebecca M. Pratt takes her readers to Africa, Central America and the United States to bring awareness to the needs around the world and stimulate people to help those who are suffering in “Inspired To Action: How Following the Promptings of Your Heart Can Change the World” (ISBN 1466409029).

Pratt shares her experiences and challenges in her own walk with God to inspire readers to trust God in the unseen.

She brings her readers into the lives of those suffering and hurting., and she shares about being faced with unbelievable decisions that will change the outcome of hundred of children’s lives in Africa, . Her book will challenge readers’ faith as they reflect on their own personal walks with God.

“You will be challenged to live your life purposefully and to embrace the concept that we each have the ability to make a huge difference in the world as we say yes to all that God may prompt us to walk forward in,” Pratt says. “In return, we will live this amazing, empowered and fulfilling life like we have never experienced.”

While expressing sympathy for medical marijuana patients, SeaTac council members unanimously agreed Jan. 24 to extend for another six months a ban on medical cannabis dispensaries and collective gardens in the city.

City Attorney Mary Mirante Bartolo told lawmakers that as long as federal and state laws conflict with each other, the city should not place its employees in a position to be sued or arrested.

Without a moratorium and marijuana facility zoning regulations, a city employee could be sued for not granting a permit for a dispensary or garden, according to Bartolo.

On the other hand, it could be a felony for a city employee to issue a license for a business that is federally prohibited, she noted.

“The problem is not about not being empathetic toward suffering,” Bartolo said.

Dispensaries fill prescriptions for medical marijuana while gardens provide marijuana for members of a collective.

Police Chief James Graddon said that while King County prosecutor Dan Satterberg has indicated he is not interested in prosecuting medical marijuana cases, a federal task force recently raided facilities in White Center.

The Seattle Storm are hosting a free youth basketball clinic at the Ballard Boys & Girls Club on Saturday, February 4.

Open to Boys & Girls Club members only, the clinic will teach participants offensive moves and drills under
instruction from some of the best in the sport.

All participants will receive a free t-shirt as well.

Space is limited and RSVP is required. To register, visit http://www.wnba.com/storm/community/clinic_120204.html.

The clinic will take place from 11 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Ballard Boys & Girls Club, 1767 NW 64th St., Seattle.

By Peggy Sturdivant and Anne-Marije Rook

Some 40 community members gathered on Wednesday, January 25, for the second public meeting hosted by developer Bill Parks and Johnston Architects LLC to discuss pre-design plans for a commercial project at the Sunset Hill corner of 32nd Avenue N.W. and N.W. 64th.

Parks introduced his visions for the building, which houses the beloved Sunset Hill Green Market, at the previous meeting and rather than reintroducing his ideas, focussed last night's meeting on addressing concerns and give the community another opportunity to give input.

The main concerns from the previous meeting were parking, stormwater run-off, height /scale and overall building character. The architectural team revisited the three proposed schematics -- a three-story remodel of the existing building, a brand new three-story development, and a four-story “Living Building” challenge -- in the context of each concern.

Ray Johnston of Johnston Architects reiterated that they will adhere to city code on parking, providing at least one parking space per proposed apartment. Also they have fixed on NW 64th Street for the garage access.