May 2016

By Pat Cashman

I was in a ferry line earlier this week---and saw the road sign you may well be familiar with: “Report ferry line cutters”---followed by the phone number you’re supposed to call: “1-877-764-HERO.”
Really? Hero?

I naively always thought of heroes as people who changed the world, did something truly
great, achieved courageous things and inspired others. You know, George Washington, Gandhi, Oskar Schindler, Amelia Earhart, Harriet Tubman---guys like that.
But squealing on someone else? A hero?

It all takes me back to the 7th grade at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School---a day I was very worried. After all, teachers did not normally tell a kid to stay after class unless there was trouble. I braced for the worst.
“Pat,” My nun teacher, Sister Mildred Marie, began, “I have some news for you.” I swallowed hard, as she continued. “Have you ever heard of The Leaders Club?” she asked.

“No,” I said, waiting to be hit over the head with such a club.

Come celebrate a decade of one of Ballard’s most treasured stores: Market Street Shoes. During the next Ballard Art Walk on June 11, the store will be giving away one pair of shoes every hour, all day, in addition to offering 10 percent off purchases, live music, and what every 10-year-old birthday needs--cake!

Co-owners Lanne and Ryan Stauffer have planned the festive day to thank the community that’s sustained their business. They built their store with help from friends and family, plenty of tenacity in times of economic uncertainty, and unwavering love.

“Sometimes we’ve steered the ship. Other times, we’ve weathered the storm and been along for the ride,” said Lanne Stauffer, whose career in footwear began almost 30 years ago at the historic Woolly Mammoth on The Ave. “But always, we approach each day with a passion for our business, for our customer, and for our community."

By Amanda Knox

Towards the end of high school, something rare and unexpected happened. A guy—a handsome, popular, football-playing math-genius who was way out of my league—asked me out on a date. It was a fluke. Had he gone to my high school, he would have known how boy-awkward and nerdy and weird I was. But he didn’t, so here we were, sitting across from each other at a Mexican restaurant in the Alaska Junction. It was going alright, I thought. We were talking! Although, after a bit, I did notice that I was doing pretty much all of the talking. Crap, was I babbling? He looked distracted, turned inward even. “Everything alright?” I asked, and then immediately thought, “Stupid question! You shouldn’t have to ask that question!” He didn’t say anything. He vomited his whole enchilada back onto his plate.

By Marjorie Young

Very recently I found myself encountering the ‘delights’ of moving to a new home after the owner of my long-time residence sold the building to developers. I was determined to stay in the neighborhood…that it worked out was a ‘lucky accident’ indeed, involving a confluence of events.

Article courtesy of Gerardo Bolong

AUBURN - SPSL Class 3A second place Auburn Mountainview jumped on top of Nisqually 1A League champion Seattle Christian early on Mon., May 16, en route to a character building and skills experience 7-2 home win under intensely cloudy skies.

The home standing Lions drew positives from the victory, but the Lady Warriors also drew plusses from playing tough non leaguers.

"I love it," said sophomore outfielder Madisen Fors. "It's a good opportunity to learn from other teams. It helps to go against fast pitching and it makes us better when we play against 1A teams."

Article Courtesy of Gerardo Bolong

Early missile strikes by Seamount League fastpitch softball champion John F. Kennedy Catholic led to the Lancers' downing of the Nisqually 1A titleist Seattle Christian 11-1 in five innings at the City of Burien's Chelsea Park on Tues., May 17.

For the Lancers ( 16-3) and the Warriors (13-4), it was another chance to keep active until the May 20-21 district tournaments at Sprinker Fields on May 20-21. 3A Kennedy had one more tune up against Bellarmine Prep on Wed., May 18, while Seattle Christian faced two days of tough practices before entering an 8 p.m Fri. district opener at Sprinker. Kennedy faces Prairie on Fri in a 10 a.m. district opener.

The Lancers avenged an earlier 6-5 loss at the Warrior home field and head coach Dino Josie felt confident about his team's metamorphosis from the start of the season

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Wednesday, May 18

Fastpitch softball
Bellarmine 7, Kennedy 2
Kennedy Catholic took a non-league loss to Bellarmine on Wednesday in a final tune-up for West Central District tournament action to be held Friday and Saturday at the Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway..

Tuesday, May 17

Boys soccer
Pasco 4, Mt. Rainier 0
The Rams' state playoffs appearance ended with a 4-0 shutout loss in action that took place over the Cascade Mountains at Pasco on Tuesday.

Friday, May 13

Track and field
Metro League meet
West Seattle finished fourth on the boys side and eighth on the girls side at the Sea-King District 2 tournament that concluded Friday, May 13 at the Southwest Athletic Complex.

Chief Sealth and other results were not available.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Kela placed on 60-day DL

Chief Sealth graduate Keone Kela has been transferred to the Texas Rangers' 60-day disabled list retroactive to April 25 after surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow.

His earliest possible return to the Rangers' bullpen is in July.

Barnette keeps improving

Thomas Jefferson graduate Tony Barnette has improved his record to 3-2 for the Texas Rangers and lowered his earned run average to 2.76.

Barnette has worked 16.1 innings in 17 games with 11 strikeouts and three walks.

Brett still on Durham's DL

Highline graduate Ryan Brett remains on the disabled list for the Class AAA Durham Bulls of the Tampa Bay Rays organization.

Ishikawa has six home runs

Federal Way graduate Travis Ishikawa has now hit six home runs and four doubles for the Class AAA Charlotte Knights of the Chicago White Sox organization.

He has 23 runs scored and 17 RBI with a .205 batting average (30-for-146).

Conger catching for Rays

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Kela placed on 60-day DL

Chief Sealth graduate Keone Kela has been transferred to the Texas Rangers' 60-day disabled list retroactive to April 25 after surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow.

His earliest possible return to the Rangers' bullpen is in July.

Barnette keeps improving

Thomas Jefferson graduate Tony Barnette has improved his record to 3-2 for the Texas Rangers and lowered his earned run average to 2.76.

Barnette has worked 16.1 innings in 17 games with 11 strikeouts and three walks.

Brett still on Durham's DL

Highline graduate Ryan Brett remains on the disabled list for the Class AAA Durham Bulls of the Tampa Bay Rays organization.

Ishikawa has six home runs

Federal Way graduate Travis Ishikawa has now hit six home runs and four doubles for the Class AAA Charlotte Knights of the Chicago White Sox organization.

He has 23 runs scored and 17 RBI with a .205 batting average (30-for-146).

Conger catching for Rays

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Four area Seamount League teams entered West Central District play at the Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway on Friday -- and all four bowed out in two games.

Kennedy Catholic, the regular season Seamount League champion, came the closest to winning playing in the Class 3A tournament.

The Lancers were edged by Prairie in their opener, 4-3, before being eliminated by Shelton, 15-5.

Three area teams played in the Class 2A tournament at Sprinker.

Evergreen of White Center took an 18-0 loss to Sequim in its opener before falling to North Kitsap, 10-0.
Highline, meanwhile, opened with an 18-0 loss to Bear Creek and then lost to Steilacoom by only a 7-0 score.
Tyee also earned its way into the tournament but took an opening 25-0 loss to Sammamish and a 23-2 defeat at the hands of Olympic.

All four area teams played their final games with 4 p.m. starts.