There was a huge turnout for the Craze Summer Swim League championship meet at Peter Kirk pool.On August 13, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., the humble community pool coolly hosted 750 excited young swimmers in 64 events as they raced against time. Hosts for the event rotate among the league's six city sponsors, which include Kirkland, Edmonds, Shoreline, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and the Snohomish County McCollum Pool. It was Kirkland's turn this year - specifically the Parks and Community Services Department - which sponsors the Orca swim team.Kirkland's 82 swimmers ranged in age from 6 to 18, and in keeping with the league philosophy, were really racing against themselves rather than other teams. Orca's coach Crystal Borm has been with the team for five years and swam competitively for Inglemoor High School and taught swim lessons at Peter Kirk pool over the past eight summers. "I've always been interested in teaching swimming," she says. Of the event, she was proud of all the participants and the great turnount
Studio East, Training for the Performing Arts, is gearing up for another season of classes, workshops and youth theater productions.Auditions for the first Studio East youth production of the season - Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" - will be held on September 7 and 8 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at the Studio. There are roles for 20 teens, age 13 to 19. This fall, for the first time, Studio East will offer weekday theater classes and youth theater productions designed for homeschooled students in first through 12th grades.
In its promotional materials, Kirkland Performance Center is promising to "electrify the Eastside with an amazing array of artists appearing throughout the year." In response to their audience's request for high-profile entertainment, this season includes Rita Coolidge, the Cowboy Junkies, the James Cotton Blues Band and much more.
By now I am sure most of you have seen the land clearing that has been occurring along the west side of 124th between 100th and 95th. I wonder how many of you thought it was another housing development going in? Well wonder no more as this will be the future location of the new Woodlands Park playground. The playground was designed by neighborhood children under the leadership of playground consultants, Leathers and Associates
"The first day was very exciting, the market was very small," said Downtowner Marcia Beck. She is one of the vendors who was at the first downtown Wednesday Market several years ago. Marcia's booth is called Impulse. We met on a bright, sunny, hot day. We discussed that first market, how the market has grown and her plans.
My desk is crowded with all kinds of activities and meetings for this month. I hope you have enjoyed the lovely summer and are ready to "engage" your community this fall. It is always great to see the attendance of our neighbors at these meetings and all of the opinions and ideas expressed. Make sure yours is represented - attend if you are able - or send someone in your stead. Here's the run down on September's public meetings for the broader Juanita Neighborhood
I'm sure most of you have heard that Kirkland's animal statues - bunnies, mule deer and bears - have been purchased and will now be permanent Kirkland residents. But how many of you knew that someone in our neighborhood was instrumental in raising the funds that saved the statues? Mia Cooledge is only 14 years old, but already she has the poise and community spirit of someone much older. Mia's foray into fundraising began in 4th grade, when she helped raise money to purchase the Puddlejumper statues at Marina Park. Last fall, when she heard that the animal statues were on the block, she contacted the city to find out how she could help.
Bridlewood resident Betz Bernhard always wanted a home with a barn so she could own a horse and ride the trails. So when she and her husband purchased their home in Bridlewood Circle they eagerly built a barn and bought a horse. Unfortunately, Betz soon discovered she is quite allergic to horses! That dream was replaced with a passion for Bridle Trails State Park and a fascination for the creatures that live there.When Betz and her husband bought their house, it had a pool which had been drained. The pool filled with rain water before they could remove it and to Betz's delight there were soon pollywogs galore.
I am back rereading most of Graham Greene's novels. He is the serious writer among my favorites who I think would best appreciate today's turn of events in Big Corporation America.Greene was an Englishman who was very famous as a novelist ("The Power and the Glory," "The End of the Affair") and occasional screenwriter (especially "The Third Man") at the time of his death 14 years ago.Greene was loved (and hated) for his ability to both entertain and instruct - the dicta of Horace, famed Roman scribe of 2,000 years ago.Greene, who knew quite a few world leaders personally, took a dim view of many of them.
I am surrounded by a pride of Leos making August a very busy month for birthday celebrations, including Shakespeare in the Park. At Woodland Park we enjoyed an excellent production of "Henry V" by the Green Stage Players; the white flag bearing the red cross of St. George flew proudly from one of the tall trees. It was indeed a little touch of Harry in the park ... followed next weekend by a very athletic production of "The Tempest" by the same company, but in Lincoln Park. Between the storms of those two plays, I helped arrange several Seafair parties in Queen Anne and a welcome party for the Blue Angels.While the Blue Angels zoomed overhead, we stepped back to a more elegant and a more leisurely time for a weekend in the country - c. 1880-1890 - created by our friends Somewhere In Time Unlimited. A section of Woodland Park was transformed into the grounds of an English country estate.
The Department of Planning and Development has recommended approval of the 39-home, cluster-housing project on the grounds of the former Briarcliff Elementary School in Magnolia. The recommendation is only part of the process; both the Seattle City Council and a Hearing Examiner have to approve the project as well.But opponents of the unusually dense development in the affluent, single-family neighborhood near the water tower have vowed to fight it. A core group of residents calling themselves the Magnolia Action Group has raised around $50,000 and hired well-known land-use attorney Richard Aramburu to plead their case on Oct. 5, said MAG member Greg Cotter.
The King County Democratic Central Committee last week joined a growing list of organizations that oppose Southwest Airlines' proposal to move its operations from Sea-Tac International Airport to Boeing Field. It was a nearly unanimous vote, with only two committee members from Shoreline voting against a resolution approximately 70 other members from 17 legislative districts approved, said committee spokesman Dan Becraft.The vote pits the party faithful against fellow Democrat and King County Executive Ron Sims, who is widely perceived to favor the controversial plan.
Sweetening the deal for its controversial proposed move to Boeing Field, Southwest Airlines pledged Aug. 18 to use only the quietest of Boeing jets, to not schedule red-eye flights and to use GPS technology to route southbound flights over Elliott Bay if its proposed move to Boeing Field is successful.Not everyone was impressed with the promises, but the low-cost carrier maintains that moving from Sea-Tac International Airport to the King County facility would be good for the flying public, Boeing Field itself and the Puget Sound region.The move is necessary for the Texas-based company's bottom line, according to Ron Ricks, a senior vice president who oversees the law, airports and public-affairs divisions of Southwest Airlines.
The latest and greatest things for Janey or Johnny's back-to-school backpack range from hi-tech recorders and add-on devices for iPods to stretchable book covers in all kinds of colors and designs. Even backpacks are evolving, to handle the ever-increasing load of books and assignments children must carry to school and back. There are also messenger bags - they're like a backpack, but they're expandable. They have a slot for cellphones and can expand to hold the larger number of books students are carrying these days.However, there does seem to be an actual academic application for iPods. Some students are adding voice recorders to the bigger models - the ones that can hold more than 20 gigabytes.
The fourth annual Uptown Stroll had Lower Green Anne positively a-clutter with art, artists and artmaking this past Saturday, Aug, 27. Bradley Enghaus was there, too, and he took his camera.Ethan Anderson (with flute) and Jake Dodge (viola) are part of the band Massy Ferguson. Anderson also supplies vocals.