September 2013

Who said West Seattle can't be hilarious? To prove it's possible to laugh various parts of your body off here The Feedback Lounge is holding a Fantasy Island Comedy Night on Wednesday, Sept. 18. And best of all, it's FREE.

The show starts at 8pm.

starring MONA CONCEPCION with special guests CRIS RODRIQUEZ, YOGI PALIWAL, DAN CLAYTON (replacing MONICA NEVI), JEFFREY ROBERT, and CAIT PARKS presented by the Feedback Lounge and 3Bs Live.

Feedback Lounge is located at 6451 California Ave. SW,

In a press release Wesley Homes, a retirement organization based in Des Moines, Washington announced they have moved to the next level of discussion to consider taking on the sponsorship of The Kenney retirement community in West Seattle.

Wesley Homes completed their first phase of due diligence and their non-profit board of directors voted to continue to pursue its sponsorship of the Kenney, becoming The Kenney’s sole corporate member.

The process is for Wesley Homes to now present a proposal to The Kenney for its acceptance, contingent upon acceptance by the lender. That then opens the discussion between Wesley Homes and the bank holding the note on The Kenney. Next steps may take several months before a final decision and mutually-agreeable terms are met.

The Kenney chose to explore sponsorship by Wesley Homes in June 2013. Non-profit sponsors are governed by a volunteer board of directors and within the non-profit sector, the term “sponsorship” is used instead of “ownership.

Imagine a community radio station tailored specifically for Ballard.

The possibilities are endless.

News. Talk. Local music. Heritage shows. Historical segments. Educational bits. Debates. PSAs. What have you.

It could be a place where a variety of voices and characters from around the community gather and connect and trade ideas.

Thanks to the Federal Communications Commission, who are reopening a window for low-powered FM (LPFM) licenses starting Oct. 15, a Ballard-centric radio station could become a reality.

LPFM broadcasts at around 100 watts or less and, depending on the area and the station built, would reach around three miles in an urban setting. Here in Ballard, Eric Muhs is spearheading the idea of a Ballard-based station that would reach south to Magnolia/Queen Anne, east to Phinney Ridge/Fremont and north to Loyal Heights/Crown Hill.

Over at Brown Paper Tickets, the philanthropic “Doer” program has been hard at work to try and encourage these little radio stations in Seattle.

Julia Patterson
King County Councilmember

Thousands of people throughout South King County ride public transit every day. Many of these riders do not own cars and depend upon buses and trains to get to work and school, and to access essential goods and services such as groceries and healthcare. I have fought for quality transit for South King County throughout my career because of the many benefits that transit provides and the difficulties that our community would face without access to transit services. This op-ed explores the need for transit, highlights upcoming changes for South County riders, and warns of possible service cuts to King County Metro due to budget challenges.

Our public transit system is run by two governments – Sound Transit and King County – each serving distinct roles to provide quality service. Sound Transit provides regional long distance services throughout King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties, whereas King County Metro provides local transit options with more stops within King County. Together these agencies provide more than 470,000 rides in King County each weekday.

By Lee Ryan

We appear to have an epidemic on our hands. There’s something in our food, water or atmosphere that’s causing an over abundance of saliva.

What I don’t understand is that most everyone that I know, personally, does not have this issue. So perhaps we need to do a study and find out what my friends and I are doing that prevents us from having overactive salivary glands.

Our government has funded studies for everything else – why not this rampant issue?

As a kid growing up in Montana, I was around quite a few country folk. Many of them were uneducated and knew little of social skills. They weren’t unintelligent, they just had to drop out of school and find work to help support the family.

However, I don’t remember seeing any of them spit, unless they were out in the country. Even then, they excused themselves and stepped aside to do the unsanitary deed in a bush or behind a tree.

By Lee Ryan

– Actor, Mark Ruffalo, recently sent a letter to a rally at a Mississippi abortion clinic. The organizers are touting “Reproductive Rights.” It sounds so noble, doesn’t it – asking for rights?

Here is the abbreviated post of his letter from the internet:
“I am a man. I could say this has nothing to do with me. Except I have two daughters and I have a mother who was forced to illegally have an abortion in her state where abortion was illegal when she was a very young woman. It cost $600 cash. It was a traumatizing thing for her. It was shameful and sleazy and demeaning. When I heard the story I was aghast by the lowliness of a society that would make a woman do that. I could not understand its lack of humanity; today is no different.

By Holly Brown, Publisher, Foodie, WebTV/Radio Host
www.TheBrownLounge.com

Eggplant is in peak season during the late summer and early fall. Now is the perfect time to enjoy this voluptuous vegetable! When selecting one of these stylish beauties, be sure to choose eggplant that's heavy for its size, and has a fresh cap of leaves. The eggplant's shiny; deep purple skin should be free of brown spots or scars. Eggplant is a "meaty" vegetable, often a substitute for meat in pasta dishes, and sauces. This versatile veggie tastes great roasted, sautéed, and grilled.

Some chefs like to "sweat" the moisture from an eggplant, by salting it, and letting it sit in a colander for about 30 minutes. Then gently squeezing it with a paper towel. Sweating also reduces bitterness, which can be found in larger sized eggplants.

Sustainable Ballard is celebrating their 10th annual festival on Sept. 29 at the Ballard Commons Park, and they promise that it's going to be the best one ever. That's why the theme is aptly titled, "Best of the Fest."

Of course, one will have to show up and see to opine on that, but it does have plenty to do.

The free, family friendly festival will have more interactive exhibits than ever (over 75!), an electric bike that people can test ride, prizes, live music on the solar-powered main stage, chef demonstrations, cider pressing and a whole litany of farm animals -- goats, chickens, rabbits and ducks.

The "Taste of Ballard" will be setup at the fest, offering attendees a sampling of the neighborhood's food and brews. Resident food carts Streetzeria and Patty Pan Grill will be setup, and Hale's Ales will be slinging brats. Local breweries will be Hale's Ales, NW Peaks Brewery, Peddler Brewing Co., Reuben's Brews and Hilliard's Beer.

Sustainable Ballard also needs volunteers. If you're interested, contact volunteer@sustainableballard.org

For more info, visit http://www.sustainableballard.org/

Details

OLYMPIA—State Rep. Tina Orwall was honored on September 10, World Suicide Prevention Day, at the Forefront launch event among a crowd of about 350 people, for her work on suicide prevention.

In 2012, the Des Moines Democrat sponsored ESHB 2366, known as the Matt Adler Suicide, Treatment and Management Act, named after a 40-year-old Seattle attorney, husband and father of two, who in 2011 took his own life in the midst of a battle with severe depression and anxiety. His widow, University of Washington social work professor Jennifer Stuber, who believes early detection and competent care in the treatment of suicidal thoughts could have saved his life, worked closely with Orwall to craft the legislation.

B-Town Dog Owners Group (B-Town DOG) will be hosting their seventh Park-n-Bark community dog walk on Saturday, September 21st.

B-Town DOG originally formed in the summer of 2012 with the intention of pursing the establishment of an off-leash dog park within Burien's city limits. Since that time, B-Town DOG has has worked with Burien Parks Board and Burien Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services to bring the dream of an off-leash dog park closer to a reality.

On July 1, 2013, Burien Parks and Rec. brought a preliminary proposal before the Burien City Council to establish an off-leash dog park within the undeveloped area on the upper level of Lake View Park, formally the home of Lake View Elementary School. The City Council unanimously supported the proposal but the final details, including an opening date, have yet to be established.

Since July, B-Town DOG has hosted a number of community dog walks and fundraisers for the dog park. The next fundraiser, The Flea Market, will be held on September 28th at Burien Town Square Park with all proceeds going directly to funding the off-leash dog park project.