April 2012

A large hand-cast bronze carp sculpture is still waiting for the right spot at the Seattle Chinese Garden (SCG) where it has been since the end of February. Donated by Nicholas and Marlene Zefferys to the Garden two years ago, the sculpture was moved from a Renton storage facility.

In a post on the SCG blog Elisabeth Hattemer writes:

"The Chinese name is "li yu," (鯉魚). "魚" in Chinese means surplus, or abundance, which implies being rich and always having extras. During the new year eve banquet, we always serve fish as the last course but do not touch it. Saving it to the next year indicates we'll have a lucky and abundant new year," explains Stella Chien, who came to take a peek at the beauty within the crate and help speculate about how and where to showcase this beautiful work of art."

Donor Marlene Zefferys purchased the fish in Chiang Mai. She kept the fish in Chiang Mai until she shipped it to Seattle about 8 years ago.

Over 150 students, teachers, family members and volunteers packed the Roxhill Elementary School cafeteria Saturday for a celebration of knowledge and community. The 12 week program concluded with 44 students from grades 3-5 graduating and receiving a diploma.

Saturday Academy is a program introduced by third year Principal Carmela Dellino in an effort to offer extended learning time in mathematics and reading for students grades 3 – 5. The Academy started last year, but grew even bigger thanks to a $20,000 infusion of cash from the school’s fundraising auction last May and from a grant from the Symetra Foundation.

The day started off like every other Saturday Academy with a breakfast snack at 9:00 am for all participants. All students then attended 2 separate sessions reviewing what they had learned, giving each other positive compliments and preparing their mini-speech for the graduation ceremony. Each student prepared a binder of their work over the 12 week course.

By David Rosen

Today marked the 73rd Annual Easter Sunrise Service at Forest lawn Cemetery located at 6701 30th Ave s.w.

The service began around 6:30 am. About 95 people were in attendance.

Ron Rice from West Side Presbyterian Church opened the ceremonies with a prayer.

After opening prayer was a scripture reading by Pastor Randy Leskovar from Calvary Chapel followed by the Sermon which was read by Pastor Dan Johnson of Westside Foursquare Church.

Pastor Ron Marshall from First Lutheran Church of West Seattle gave the Offering and the service concluded by Father John Madigan from Holy Rosary Church giving the Benediction.

After the service was over people enjoyed an overflowing Easter breakfast.

The Sunrise Service is sponsored by the West Seattle Ministerial Association in cooperation with Forest Lawn Cemetery and Funeral Home. They noted their indebtedness to their staff for hosting, furnishing the refreshments, and the physical set-up for this service.

A special thanks was given to the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle for providing greeters and ushers, something they faithfully do each year.

Easily one of the biggest Easter Egg hunts in West Seattle was held on Sat. April 7 at Lincoln Park. Staged by Eastridge Christian Assembly the event saw "over 1400 folks," as estimated by Josh Crandall, West Seattle Campus Pastor, seeking 10,000 eggs stashed in two fields. Senior Pastor for Eastridge is Steve Jamison who spoke at the event.

Broken up between under 5 years of age and from over 5 up to age 12 kids lined up and took the hunt seriously, dashing forward to get the most they could.

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Jamison mentioned that there are two Easter Services this year the first at 9am and the second at 11am at their West Seattle Campus located at 4500 39th Ave. s.w.

The hunt was fun for the kids but Jamison and Crandall wanted to emphasize that this was also a benefit event for WestSide Baby. "Every year we do this we want to put on a diaper drive. It's one thing to say we're doing this but we also want it to be a platform to help out our community."

The annual West Seattle Thriftway egg hunt was swarmed by a minimum of 600 children plus their parents and others on Saturday morning all the quest of plastic eggs seemingly everywhere in the store.

Owner Paul Kapioski said there were 20,000 eggs this year with very few new ones since people were so good about recycling the eggs from last year.

There were more than 120 prizes, including bikes, tv's, movie tickets and gift cards.

First in line for the youngest set was the Burris family who arrived at 8 am for the 9am admittance. This was their first year as a family. Folks who waited were treated to free coffee and snacks by vendors who worked tables outside.

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The first official draft of the new Hi-Yu Brü, the newest West Seattle charity beer was drawn at the Feedback Lounge by co-owner Matt Johnson, serving it to Steve Adams. "He was one of the very first customers when we opened the doors here nearly three years ago," said Feedback co-owner Jeff Gilbert. Adams on his first taste pronounced it, "outstanding!"

Gilbert was enthusiastic about the new beer and had praise for the brewmaster, Alejandro Brown at Big Al Brewing in White Center. "He's like the Harry Potter of beer making," he said laughing, "In fact I said why don't you make a Harry Porter!"

This is the third in the series of charity beers produced including Löwman Braü, Whale Tail Ale and now Hi-Yu Brü. Previously a portion of beer sales proceeds have gone to benefit charities all around the area but the beneficiary this time will be singular, Holy Rosary Parish.

Looking for a way to entertain the kids over Easter weekend? Check out the following egg hunts and spring events:

- Seattle Community Centers will be hosting their annual Spring Candy and Egg Hunt events Easter weekend.

Intended for kids ages 10 and younger, the egg hunt is free with a non-perishable food donation for the local food bank.

Organizers advice parents to plan in enough time to park and find the appropriate hunt area for their children's age groups.

This event runs rain or shine, and be sure to bring a basket or bag to put all of your goodies in.

The event will take place Saturday, April 7, at 10 a.m. at the Loyal Heights Community Center, 2101 NW 77th St., and the Ballard Community Center at 6020 28th Ave. NW.

- Bunny Bounce: egg hunts for kids and Easter treats for animals

Bounce to Woodland Park Zoo for egg hunts on the North Meadow and Easter-themed treats for the zoo’s animal residents at Bunny Bounce.

Ballard is home to the oldest Little League in the City of Seattle. Since 1954, Ballard kids have spent their spring days on the local fields learning how to throw, catch, and bat; making friends; and most of all, falling in love with America's favorite game: baseball.

The Ballard Little League takes great pride in its history, in teaching local children the ideals of good sportsmanship, and creating a fun and positive experience for hundreds of kids.

Some notable alumni of the Ballard Little League include Ballard High School baseball coaches John Lamm, and Jim DuBoise, as well as head softball coach Kyle Grey.

Ballard Little League has always been an all-volunteer-run organization and its coaches, board members, umpires, parents reps, clinic instructors, etc all share one common characteristic: they all love the game.

"It's a great group of volunteers who love baseball and want to make it a great experience for the kids," said Ballard Little League President Patty Lott. "Many in the league have no affiliation to the league other than that they love baseball."

By Anne Marije-Rook

Groundswell NW held its annual meeting last week at the Ballard Boys and Girls Club. Now in its 22nd year, the organization dedicates its time and efforts to create community parks and habitat in NW Seattle. They've successfully completed 20 projects as they work towards a vision of having green space in every quadrant of Ballard.

Seattle City Council President Sally Clark was the featured speaker of the evening, informing those in attendance about the City Council’s action plan and green space priorities for 2012.

Clark, currently in her seventh year as council member, said the City Council action plan is dominated by issues not related to green space issues. Instead the Council has their hands full with issues of police reforms, budget cuts, seawall replacement and the remake of the waterfront.

"Every council member has pet projects that don't make it to the action plan," Clark stated.

With that said, Clark did address some issues that were of the group's interest such as greenways, the Missing Link, and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review.

By Katy Wilkens

Americans’ sodium intake has doubled in the past 25 years, largely because of salt and sodium preservatives added to convenience foods. About two-thirds of the salt you eat today comes from foods that have salt added in manufacturing. A quarter of the salt you eat comes from restaurants. That leaves about 10 percent for you to add to cooking and at the table.

When people tell me they don’t salt their food, I say, “That’s great! Now let’s work on the other 90 percent!”

According to a recent survey, the most common foods that add salt to your diet are: bread and rolls, cold cuts and cured meats, pizza, salt-enhanced or fast-food chicken, soups, sandwiches, cheese, pasta mixed dishes, meat mixed dishes, and snack foods like chips and crackers.

Choosing low-salt alternatives to these foods could make a big difference in health care. High salt intake often leads to high blood pressure and other serious conditions, including heart and kidney disease. Reducing your salt by just a quarter could save an estimated 28,000 deaths and more than $7 billion in health care expenses a year.