February 2014

By Gwen Davis

The West Seattle Transportation Coalition (WSTC) met Tuesday evening in an emotionally-charged back-and-forth about the future of the troubled transportation budget package that state lawmakers failed to pass last year. As a consequence of the failure, King County transportation services can soon be in dire straits. Metro outlined a proposal to cancel 74 bus routes and reduce and revise another 107 routes to live within reduced revenues, according to Seattle Metro as of January of this year.

But King County voters could see an April ballot measure to save Metro bus services. The WSTC discussed the pros and cons of endorsing “Plan B”, as it makes its way to voters. “Plan A” – the original plan, which would have preserved and reportedly enhanced transportation services – is presumed dead by many advocates at this point. Plan B would more or less maintain the status quo for the next 10 years.

“Plan B will keep residents able to get to their jobs,” said Kevin Broveleit, of the WSTC’s research and solutions committee. “It’ll be a band aid – it’s not asking routes to maintain more services than we have. It maintains our current commute.”

A benefit event to help fund the Seattle Police mounted patrol horses is set for Feb. 21 at West Seattle's Beveridge Place Pub. Greg Hall, owner and cider-maker at Virtue Cider, and Wilson, the world famous Seahawks-supporting miniature horse will be in attendance. Right next door to the pub at Morgan Junction Park Tinkerbell and Peter Pan, playmates for Wilson will be available with a mounted patrol horse for those under 21.

There will be a raffle and photos with Wilson.

Seattle Police’s seven horses are supported solely through private funding and need donations to pay for food, care and support. They need to raise the final third of the monies required to fulfill a three year commitment made by the The Seattle Police Foundation.
Check out http://saveourhorses.net/ for more info.

The event gets underway at 5pm and Beveridge Place Pub is located at 6413 California Ave. S.W.

Note: dogs will not be allowed in the pub during this event.

To the editor:
Change, as the old saying goes, can be difficult, but it can also often herald something good. That has been my experience with a recent business transition. I have had a small business at the west end of Market Street for just over 22 years. Late in the summer of 2013, the complex that housed my office was sold, requiring relocation as the new owner implemented several changes.
I was sad and a little fearful initially, times being what they are. Two factors offered by the new management helped change my perspective about the move. 1) My office mates and I were given up to three months for relocation rather than just the usual thirty days. Since all of us are the primary, if not sole providers for our families, this helped immensely. 2) In addition, the new owner negotiated letting us remove several building items from the office space. We had done some modest remodeling and he plans a major renovation. This was a definite win, win. These items (carpeting, light fixtures, and interior doors) are being donated to help with a remodeling project for others with few financial resources.

By Katy Wilkens, MS, RD

Rushed mornings? Muffins make a great bake-ahead breakfast. While muffins sold at coffee shops can pack a caloric wallop, making your own muffins lets you control the fat, sodium content and portion sizes. To cut calories, reduce the fat in a recipe and substitute mashed or pureed fruit or vegetables, like bananas, apples, pineapple, carrots or onions. To cut down on sodium and keep your heart and kidneys happy, use low-sodium baking powder or baking soda and substitute oil or unsalted butter for salted butter.

Make your muffins on the weekend, then freeze them in zip-close bags, so when the work week starts, a quick breakfast is ready to grab and go. Top muffins with a cream cheese icing for not-too-sweet cupcakes.

Cheesy corn muffins
2 ½ cups yellow cornmeal
1 ½ cups flour
5 teaspoons low-sodium baking powder
¼ cup sugar
2 eggs

1/3 cup oil

2 cups nonfat milk
1 large onion, grated
3 jalapeno peppers, seeded, chopped fine (optional)
¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese

By Christy Wolyniak

With textbook costs on the rise, students search for alternatives without sacrificing the quality of their higher education.

Last fall the WashPIRG Foundation conducted a survey of 2,093 students from 150 different campuses across the country, including 87 responses from University of Washington, Seattle, and Evergreen State College. Released on January 27, 2014, “Fixing the Broken Textbooks Market: How Students Respond to High Textbook Costs and Demand Alternatives” highlighted their findings.

“We found that high textbook costs deter students from classes. In fact, 48 percent of students reported that textbook prices affected how many classes they took.  Students should be focused on taking the classes they need to earn their degree, not kept out because they have to choose between a textbook and rent,” said U.S. PIRG’s Higher Education Associate and report author, Ethan Senack.

The team discovered that 65 percent of students decided against buying a textbook because it was too expensive; 94 percent of these students were concerned that doing so would hurt their grade in a course.

After a wave of public concern, demonstrations and meetings following the death of James St. Clair on Dec. 30, Mayor Ed Murray and Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen announced that the City will launch a multi-year traffic safety corridor project for 35th Avenue S.W. The mayor and councilmember both committed to improving safety for all users on streets like 35th Avenue S.W. by reducing speeding and collisions.

In a press release they explained:

“Reducing speeds is the single most effective way to decrease collisions and prevent future tragedies on Seattle’s streets,” said Mayor Murray. “Through thoughtful traffic safety corridor work we can help make 35th Avenue SW safer for everyone.”

information from Seattle Chinese Garden

Opening Reception ~
Saturday, February 15, 2014 • 7 to 9 pm
Chan Education Center & Seattle Chinese Garden

Celebrate Lantern Festival and close of Chinese New Year. Enjoy wine or tea, dessert, and music. Meet the talented photographers from the garden’s the summer 2013 workshop led by landscape and garden and photographer Ray Pfortner of Vashon Island. The event includes a brief program at 8 pm with raffle drawing for 7 matted photo prints. At 8:30 pm, visit the lantern-lit Knowing the Spring Courtyard and see the garden under the full moon (if the sky is clear). It’s a rare opportunity to visit the garden at night — magical!

The reception is FREE, but donations are appreciated.
Please RSVP by February 13 to: info@seattlechinesegarden.org or 206.934.5219

By Jerry Robinson, Publisher

I'm not much of a craftsman. I admit it. I do like to tinker in the garage and I've owned nearly every type of woodworking tool to make everyone think I know what I'm doing. Crosscut saws, rip saws, band saws, table saws, hack saws. I never saw a saw I did not think I needed.

It wasn't always like that. My six thumbs were no challenge to my brother Russ. We once made sailboats to race at Peninsula Park wading pool, in Portland. Russ was gifted. His sleek sloop cut a fine figure. Its billowed sail moving briskly across the water. As captain of my boat, I should have scuttled it before launch. No one told me cardboard and balsa wood are not good in water.

By Scott Anthony

The Polar Vortex is tapering off now, but the weather across the nation is still pretty chilly.
Smithsonian Magazine reported this morning that some parts of Michigan are showing temps of 42 degrees below zero, which makes it colder than some parts of the planet Mars.

But by the time you are reading this, the temperature gauge in our part of the galaxy has likely climbed back into less Mars-like numbers and the it's safe to go outside again without wearing all of your clothing, but if the thermometer was just an inch longer I'm sure we'd have frozen over completely.

Compared to the rest of the country and the world, us Washingtonians are pretty wimpy when it comes to enduring inclement weather, and I know this because my friend Tom lives in Michigan and he tells me that they have about ten inches of ice and snow over EVERYTHING there. That's an interesting phenomenon, trying to get to work and your car when it's encased in a block of frozen water.  On the phone, I could here Tom's teeth chattering, so had to ask him, "How cold is it?"

Information provided by the City of Seattle

Mayor Ed Murray today announced plans to hold a Seattle Neighborhood Summit to improve how the city works with neighborhoods and community leaders.

“Seattle’s unique neighborhoods are what make this city special,” said Murray. “I want to build strong relationships with the leaders of these neighborhoods and community members and keep an open dialogue as well as build an administration where no one has to ask for a space at the table.”

Last month, neighborhood representatives and members of the Mayor’s staff gathered in the Central District to talk about what they would like to accomplish during the summit. The messages from attendees were calls for commitment, action and ongoing conversation. These messages have been reiterated at several meetings since. These are some of the themes that will be used to drive the summit’s discussions.