FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK: By Vera M. Chan-PoolI carpool from my affordable Pierce County home every morning, traveling 35 miles on six highways to South Seattle to drop off my husband and continue 10 more miles north to my Fremont office. There is plenty of time during my hour-and-15-minute commute (at best) to realize that something must be done for Seattle-area commuters to spend less time on the roadways and more time out of their cars. The Seattle Way, for which our city has been notoriously known nationwide, has curbed this from happening, by not passing ballot measures that would ensure that our local governments continue to maintain the roads.
More than most, this election season has been dreadful. Last time around I wrote about the vexing Proposition 1, the "Roads and Transit" package that requires voters wishing for 21st-century transportation solutions to also endorse a whole lot of counterproductive 20th- (and 19th-) century boondoggle to get it. That was bad enough. But city voters this season also must consider the future composition of the Seattle City Council. Can we abolish it and start over?
Last spring, a friend invited me along on a singles' pub crawl through Fremont, then he bailed. On my own, I mixed and mingled and met interesting people. I did not get a date, but I did get one memorable snub. At Norm's Eatery, I talked up a well-dressed, well-groomed man who looked promising. He told me he worked as a scientist at a nearby university and asked my profession. I shared, and he asked where I got my degree. I laughed lightly and admitted I ditched college before I'd earned the paperwork. He physically turned then to search the room, and our conversation terminated.
Improv theater can be a great source of entertainment for people. It can also be a great way to raise money. Seattle Scenic Studios (SSS), a Lake City-based theater set-design shop, hopes to use the appeal of improv to raise money for their company. It is a nonprofit organization, which allows it to keep costs low, but requires fund-raising to exist.The fund-raiser will take place Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. at the Bathhouse Theatre, 7312 W. Green Lake Drive N., in Green Lake. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased in advance or at the door.
HALE: z Dinner auction -Nathan Hale High School, 10750 30th Ave. N.E., will have its Voices of Nathan Hale autumn dinner and auction on Friday, Nov. 2, to benefits its foundation. The event will honor the school's radio station, KNHC 89.5, as well as individuals who have supported Nathan Hale students.
University Cooperative School students take a running start as they run around Cowen Park on Friday, Oct. 19. For the 27th year, University Co-op students have participated in the Blue Dog Coffeehouse-sponsored jog-a-thon, this year helping the Mac Suk School in Thailand.
❚ LAST RUMMAGE SALE: The University District Senior Center, 5225 15th Ave. N.E., which is closing its doors after 50 years, will sell its furniture, dishes, office supplies and even its grand piano during a rummage sale on Nov. 3. The rummage sale, which also includes other non-center items, will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In celebration of the groundbreaking on Merrill Gardens' newest retirement community near University Village, Senior Services' Denise Klein (left) and Patricia Hart accepts a check for $90,000 from Merrill Gardens executive vice president Steve Delmore. The official groundbreaking ceremony took place Sept. 26.
All sales proceeds benefit local, international charitiesCloud 9, a consignment and thrift store at 6518 Roosevelt Way N.E., does more than just buy and sell clothes, furniture and books. It also donates 100 percent of its profits to local and global charities. Throughout the year, various charities apply for grants from Cloud 9. Twice annually, the grant-review board looks over the proposals and divides the profits from the last six months among the charities that are chosen as worthy recipients. Diane Whittle, who has managed Cloud 9 for the last 22 years and is a member of the grant-review board, said the selected charities are usually small and depend on grant money for their survival.
PERMIT APPLICATIONS: 1050 N.E. 50th St. (3007757) for a Council Land Use Action to allow an addition to an existing fire station (No. 17) with outdoor training area and surface parking for 13 vehicles. Project includes grading.Three existing residential structures to be demolished. The following approval is required: SEPA environmental determination.
Help prepare children for a safe and enjoyable trick-or-treat fest. Halloween should be filled with surprise and enjoyment, and following some common-sense practices can keep things safer and more fun, too.
Drug-Free Marshals from Queen Anne's Church of Scientology turned out in force on Sunday, Oct. 28, at the annual Trick-or-Treat on the Waterfront Event along with superheroes, firemen, pirates and princesses, Dr. Seuss characters, court jesters, cheerleaders and many more. More than 3,000 trick-or-treaters and their parents stopped at the Marshals' tent, with hundreds taking a special pledge to be drug free. The Marshals celebrate Red Ribbon Week Oct. 23-31 each year in honor of the oldest and largest drug-prevention program in the nation.Submitted by Ann R. Pearce
The Rotary Club of Queen Anne has decided to concentrate most of this year's community projects on local schools and students. At the high school level the club will for the first time provide $2,500 in scholarships split between the Center School and the Marshall High School Teen Mothers program. Throughout the year Rotarians support the mothers and their children with back-to-school supplies and Christmas and graduation gifts. The Queen Anne club has been supporting the Teen Mother program for 20 years.
Paul Uhlir and Matt Pangrazio-teammates on the men's over-30 soccer squad the Capitol Hill Rowdies-get a laugh when they talk about the pre-game routine practiced by the team's goalkeeper. "His warm-up is to have a couple cigarettes," Uhlir says, perhaps unaware that this was the same pre-game ritual practiced by Oakland Raider great Fred Blitnikoff, a wide receiver during that team's heyday in the '70s.A group of 30-something Capitol Hill natives who coalesced into a single unit just around this time last year, the Rowdies currently stand undefeated in league play, riding an unbelievable 17-game winning streak diluted only by one tie. All the more remarkable when one considers the fact that, save for a few get-togethers here and there, they don't practice.
Eva Anderson, 6, decorates her kitty pumpkin at the Broadway Sunday Farmers Market on Sunday, Oct. 28.