March Newsletter Vuecrest View
March 2017 Vuecrest View Newsletter
Monthly Board Meeting
The April Board Meeting will be held at 7 pm on Thursday, April 6th in Meeting Room 2 of the Bellevue Public Library. We would be delighted if you would consider hosting a meeting your home. It's real simple - just a few chairs - and you'll get to see all the "innerworkings" of Vuecrest. Contact Nyla at secretary@vuecrest.net.
Easter Egg Hunt
No foolin'-- our annual Vuecrest Egg Hunt, with candy and eggs for kids and coffee/sweet treats for adults will be held on April 1st at the Esplanade (Entrance at Park Road). Festivities begin at 11 a.m. sharp with an egg hunt for the 5 and under age group. This will be followed by ages 6-10 and then 11 and up. Volunteers will be needed several days before that to help fill the plastic eggs, as well as party day to help with table and beverage set-up. Contact social@vuecrest.net if you have some free time. Just an hour or two would make a big difference!
Bellevue Downtown Land Use Code Public Hearing
This Wednesday, March 8th, there will be a public hearing held on the code changes under consideration for Downtown Bellevue. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. and is located in Room 1E-113 at Bellevue City Hall - 450 110th Ave NE. Although the Vuecrest Board has been active in advocating for the neighborhood, this is a chance for everyone to come out and share their views on important changes that impact the area just outside our walls. The agenda and further information can be found at http://bellevuewa.gov/planning-commission-agendas-2017.htm
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TID-BITS!
I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm,
I'm as jumpy as a puppet on a string.
I'd say that I had spring fever,
But I know it isn't spring.
I'm starry-eyed and vaguely discontented
Like a nightingale without a song to sing.
Oh, why should I have spring fever
When it isn't even spring? ("State Fair" / Rogers and Hammerstein / 1945)
Greetings and Welcome to March! It is the month named after Mars, the Roman god of war which, in old Roman days, was the military campaigning season (unlike the American campaigning season which goes on every day of every month of every year...). In ancient Rome before Julius Caesar's calendar reform, March was the first month of the year. March is the only month with three consecutive consonants in its name in English. The expression "mad as a March hare" dates back to 1529 and refers to the wild behavior of male hares during the mating season in March (me thinks you could have figured that one out on your own). Its birthstones are aquamarine and bloodstone, which symbolize courage; and its zodiac signs are Pisces (the Fish: compassionate, artistic, intuitive) for the first part of the month and then Aries (the Ram: impatient, moody, short-tempered) from March 21 on. March starts on the same day of the week as November, every year. And there's LOTS to celebrate in the month of March: It is National Peanut Butter month (yes! Where's the jam?? I'm ready to do my duty!), it's also American Red Cross month (give a pint instead of drink a pint -), Colorectal Awareness month (no jokes here...get yourself checked; no ifs, ands...only butts!!) and Hexagonal Awareness month ( I am SO ready! I think I'll cut out all the white pieces from a soccer ball and stick them on my fridge...or maybe just diddle with an Allen wrench-)
OK, enough with the jokes. Actually March, our 3rd month of the year, was bestowed with a very serious mantle: it is "Women's History Month". And that's no small shakes - how many long years did it take for women to get the right to vote? To own property? To receive equal pay for equal work (sadly, not truly there yet)? Women had a singular day of recognition in 1909 to honor the one year anniversary of the garment worker's strike in NYC, when thousands of women marched in the streets for economic rights. And then, nothing, that is until 1975 when the United Nations declared an International Women's Day. Feminists were starting to find inadequacies in the way history books were written, as well as the dearth of women in politics, and the subordination they endured in the workplace. Led by Molly Murphy MacGregor, organizers held a "Real Women" essay contest, followed by school presentations; and a celebratory movement soon spread across the country. Gerda Lerner chaired the Women's History Institute and used her position and influence to lobby Congress and in 1980 Jimmy Carter declared March 2-8 the first National Women's History Week! In President Carter's proclamation Lerner stated: "Women's history is women's right - an essential, indispensable heritage from which we can draw pride, comfort, courage and long range vision". After persistent lobbying for a longer observation, Congress passed a proclamation in 1987 establishing Women's History Month.
Each year the National Women's History Project declares a theme. The theme for 2017 is: "Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business" and recognizes women who have successfully challenged their role in both business and the paid labor force. Women have always worked, but often their work has been undervalued and unpaid.
Several of the honorees for 2017 are:
Barbara Hackman Franklin (1940), Former Secretary of Commerce, who served 5 presidents and successfully led efforts to increase the number of women in government.
Lilly Ledbetter (1938) who faced daily sexual harassment and pay inequality as manager of a Goodyear Tire Factory and took her case to the Supreme Court.
Barbara Roads (1928) who challenged the right of the Airline Stewards and Stewardess Association (union) to fire all female flight attendants at the age of 32, or if they were married or pregnant or weighed over 130#.
Maggie Lena Walker (1864-1934), the first African American woman in the U.S. to charter a bank.
Norma Yaeger (1930), the first woman stockbroker to be permitted on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Norma continued to break barriers when she started California's first Money Market Mutual Fund and then established Yeager Capital Markets which served government pension plans.
Who will be our next heroes? Who will teach girls who will soon be young women to fight for what they deserve? To show them they are equally capable to do and be whatever they want? How about YOU?! If you are a father, mother, grandparent, neighbor, friend or human being, then you can do this! And you should-
March may be National Women's Month but I say we make all 12 months of the year National Everybody's Months and acknowledge that inequality cannot be rationalized or dignified or tolerated; it is never acceptable. Every individual has a story; a personal struggle. Let's extend a hand and help open a door; I don't care what you say; someone surely did it for you-
Book Revues -
Thirteen Days: A Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis By Robert F. Kennedy
This book could have been titled: "How World War III was Averted" or "How we Escaped the Nuclear Holocaust"! Thirteen Days is a step-by-step chronology of one of the most important episodes in the history of the United States by the man who was at the center of all of the action, Robert F. Kennedy, the U.S. Attorney General and brother of the President.
Day #1 of the 13 days began on Tuesday morning, October 16, 1962. One of America's U-2 spy planes flying a photographic mission over Cuba made a startling discovery: the Soviet Union was placing long range missiles and nuclear warheads in the western part of the Artemisia Province. This information was urgently conveyed to President John F. Kennedy, who summoned his brother Robert, his most trusted confidant, to the White House. It was apparent that the administration was caught off guard by this revelation. Chairman Khrushchev of the Soviet Union had given assurances for months that any Soviet activity on Cuban soil was only for peaceful purposes and that there would never be nuclear weapons on the Caribbean island nation.
President Kennedy realized immediately that this provocation could not be ignored and that he would have to act forcefully and without hesitation. He began by assembling a committee of his most trusted senior advisors from the Department of State, the military, intelligence and national security. Their mission was to gather evidence, do a thorough analysis and present their findings to the President. The Joint Chiefs of Staff argued that a blockade would not be effective and recommended an immediate military attack. President Kennedy was skeptical, fearing that a large loss of life of Russians and Cubans would lead to a vigorous military, and perhaps nuclear, attack against the United States. Robert McNamara and Robert Kennedy were strong proponents of a blockade. All members of the committee were fully aware that there was a major risk for a nuclear war. President Kennedy divided the committee into small groups with each group instructed to consider all of the contingencies and come up with the best plans of action.
On October 20th President Kennedy concluded that the most viable option would be a blockade and quarantine of Cuba by both air and sea. The President briefed allied leaders of France, Great Britain, Germany, the Organization of American States (OAS), and congressional leaders. All were in agreement and fully supported the plan. Our army was placed on full alert and began moving into position for a potential invasion. American ships and submarines were 500 miles off shore, surrounding Cuba. Air Force B-52 bombers were armed with nuclear weapons and at least one bomber was in the air at all times.
On Monday, October 22nd President Kennedy addressed the nation on television and radio. He outlined the threat of Soviet missiles and nuclear weapons in Cuba. He emphasized that any nation in the western hemisphere was at risk for attack, and that these offensive weapons could not be tolerated. In the words of President Kennedy, "To halt this offensive buildup, a strict quarantine on all offensive military equipment under shipment to Cuba is being initiated. All ships of any kind bound for Cuba, from whatever nation or port, will, if found to contain cargoes of offensive weapons, be turned back. This quarantine will be extended, if needed, to other types of cargo and carriers. We are not at this time, however, denying the necessities of life as the Soviets attempted to do in their Berlin blockade of 1948".
Simultaneously with the President's speech, intense negotiations were carried out between Soviet and U. S. diplomats which included direct communications between President Kennedy and Chairman Khrushchev. At first, the Russians denied that they had offensive weapons in Cuba. However, low level aerial photography demonstrated unequivocally that this was not true. As conversations progressed, the Russians continued their assembly of missiles and a convoy of supply ships and submarines were heading for Cuba.
Our blockade was extremely effective. Destroyers, submarines, and aircraft with anti-submarine capabilities, were all in place. Cargo ships which carried non-military supplies were allowed to pass, however the Russian convoy with military supplies was stopped and forced to turn back. By these actions, Khrushchev knew that the blockade was impenetrable, and he sought to end the confrontation in a peaceful manner by proposing that all Soviet weapons with offensive capability would be dismantled and removed from Cuba. In exchange, Krushchev requested a pledge from the U. S. that Cuba would not be invaded, that the U. S. would remove missiles (which were obsolete) from Turkey, with the understanding that Russia would not invade Turkey. These terms were acceptable to Kennedy and a potentially disastrous nuclear war was averted.
The last half of this small book is devoted to the aftermath of the crisis and lessons learned. Robert Kennedy discusses these aspects of the conflict with full powers of his intellect and a reverence for factual documentation. The essence is that diplomacy works, and in this incident particularly, it was a spectacular success. In his own words, "The final lesson of the Cuban missile crisis is the importance of placing ourselves in the other country's shoes. During the crisis, President Kennedy spent more time trying to determine the effect of a particular course of action on Khrushchev or the Russians than on any other phase of what he was doing." JFK was resolute in his efforts to avoid humiliation of Khrushchev or the Soviet Union.
There is an additional "Afterward" by Richard Neustadt and Graham Allison which entails a comprehensive discussion of factors pertinent to the successful conclusion of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
This book is a powerful endorsement of a careful, thoughtful, all-inclusive, diplomatic approach to crises confronting America or any other country. In reading this book one is compelled to reflect on how our current administration would respond to a major national emergency. It gives one pause-
Personal Addendum: In October, 1962 I was a battle group surgeon with the 82nd Airborne Division stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Our entire division of 15,000 men was on full alert with combat equipment and parachutes packed, confined to barracks, and ready to jump into Cuba. As a young man, it was exciting to contemplate going into battle, but I am forever grateful that wise and sensible diplomacy won the day.
This book is available at the Bellevue Library. David Pitkethly
Vuecrest Book Club
Our next meeting is Monday, March 6, at 7:30, at Dana Adell's home. Join us when we discuss Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale. Questions? Please contact Melissa Hambleton, mhambleton@comcast.netmailto:mhambleton@comcast.net.
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Be a Hero - Be a Volunteer-o!
"I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver"
Maya Angelou
Consider serving as a Museum Ambassador for our Bellevue Art Museum (BAM)! Volunteers are important links to the community and integral to its success - by joining their team of dedicated volunteers, you can help fulfill the Museum's mission while engaging in ongoing learning and, at the same time, be connected to the larger arts community. Committed volunteers can provide administrative support, as in data entry. For those of you seeking more people-oriented roles, consider "Free First Ambassador Day" (greeting visitors and assisting as they sign-in on the 1st Friday of every month) and "Get Crafty" and "Family Days", when BAM opens its doors for free community activities. There are also "One Day Volunteer" positions that will be open for sign-up in May, for assistance with their "Artful Evening" event (July 15) and the well-known downtown Bellevue Arts Fair (July 27-30). Prospective volunteers should be passionate about art, enjoy interacting with the public, and be able to make a 6 month commitment, on a weekly or every other week schedule. BAM also has a Teen Docent Position that counts toward 25-40 hours of high school community service. So -don't be an "ART-ful Dodger" (Oliver Twist/ Charles Dickens/1838)! Scoot an email to Julia at julias@bellevueartmuseum.org. For those adults who don't just want to "test the waters", but are ready to "dive in", consider becoming a docent! Call Eileen for more info at 425-519-0793.
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March 21!!! It's a BIG DAY! The FIRST Day of Spring!
The first day of spring is called the vernal equinox. The term vernal is Latin for "spring" and equinox is Latin for "equal night." ***** According to a Facebook study, couples are most likely to break up in the spring and two weeks before Christmas. The lowest breakup time was Christmas Day and from August through October. *****The fall and spring equinoxes (equinoxi?) are the only two times during the year when the sun rises due east and sets due west. ***** On the first day of spring, a person at the North Pole would see the sun skimming across the horizon, beginning six months of uninterrupted daylight. A person at the South Pole would see the sun skimming across the horizon, signaling the start of six months of darkness. ***** Spring almost always arrives on March 20 or 21, but sometimes on the 19th. The reason the equinoxes and solstices don't always come on the same day is that our planet Earth doesn't circle the sun in exactly 365 days. ***** The first day of spring in the Southern Hemisphere is the first day of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. ***** One long-term study found that, at least in the Colorado Rocky Mountain region, spring begins, on average, about three weeks earlier than it did in the 1970s. ***** Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. ***** The first spring flowers are typically lilacs, irises, lilies, tulips, daffodils, and, of course, dandelions!
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Vintage Vuecrest
David and I enjoyed such a pleasant afternoon at the home of Steve and Elaine Knapp. And, like everything in Vuecrest, they were just a short walk away at 9429 Vineyard Crest. Steve and Elaine were high school sweethearts, and still are! (well, not the high school part). They chose Vuecrest because it reminded of them of the small-town atmosphere they had enjoyed as kids in Walla-Walla and they have been Vuecrest residents for 38 years.
Though they certainly did some updates to their home, the original structure is solid, basic, with great "bone structure": it has 5 bedrooms, a large living room, dining room, plus a 3/4 lower level. They added on to the kitchen, creating a congenial eating and sitting area which offers spectacular views of Lake Washington, the Olympics and the Seattle skyline, as does the living room. Extensive exterior brickwork creates a large panoramic patio area for year-round gatherings and summer bar-b-ques.
We settle comfortably into the kitchen/den area which has a cozy older-style feel to it. Elaine confesses that she has occasionally thought about renovating the kitchen and would start with new cabinets, but then she'd probably need to update the counter top, and then, of course, there would be new appliances ... and that's where the fantasy comes to a screeching halt! How could she ever part with her beloved vintage 1950's electric Frigidaire range with side-by-side double ovens! No, no, no - there will be no remodel!
Elaine served on the VC Board during the late 70's, taking on the task of Grievance Officer. She and Anna Lee Luhman spent many hours walking, talking and encouraging conflicted neighbors toward finding amicable solutions to their differences. Steve, along with a committee, took on the laborious task of Covenant review and By-Law revision. He remembers many heated discussions over minor word changes, as the committee worked diligently to keep the focus on maintaining the intent of the original document. Those issues were (and still are) too familiar; preserving protected views, home sizes, set-backs, dealing with altered grade levels on major remodels, and enforcement. The committee also had many discussions as they sought the right words that would engender a sense of cooperation among the Vuecrest residents. Frequently the offending neighbor was asked to visit the aggrieved neighbor's home to actually "see" the issue from a different perspective; appealing to their sense of reason and "doing the right thing". The hope was that by appreciating the value of another individual's views, they were helping to preserve all views, thus benefiting everyone. When the homes with views, full or limited, are enhanced, there is no question - this enhances the value of the entire neighborhood.
Elaine notes that springtime brings to mind the wonderful memory of the many flowering plum trees that lined all the Vuecrest streets, blooming in March or April, like fluffy pink marshmallows. Sadly, most have died or been removed. How lovely it must have been to walk around Hilltop, Vineyard Crest or Evergreen Drive when it was a veritable arboretum! And the Bellevue view? Elaine recalls that the Cascades were clearly visible then, as was much of Lake Washington; in fact, only the Paccar building stood tall against the eastern foothills.
Steve brings out several old newspaper clippings. The first is from 1990 and is titled "Sticker Shock". It details that a new 3 bedroom Vuecrest home with a view sold in 1950 for $17,500; 20 years later in 1970, its value was $65,000. By 1980, it was appraised for $155,000. So what is the "sticker shock"? The clipping goes on to state that the Eastside real estate market is "bullish" and the value of this same home, now, in 1990 is a whopping $450,000!!! It sounds to me like that bull has never stopped running and he doesn't even seem to be slowing down! (FYI: Home prices on the eastside jumped 19.66% since January 2016 to January 2017). The last thing Steve shows me is an original advertising brochure from the late 1940's that highlights Vuecrest' s amenities: City water! Fire Hydrants! Careful Restrictions! Light and Phone Wires Underground! It closes with the catchy slogan: "Gateway to Gracious Living". That's true, but only half true; it should also say: "Gateway to Gracious People". After meeting Steve and Elaine - I can attest to that.
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A Good Laugh!
A woman went to the doctor's office where she was seen by one of the younger doctors.
After about four minutes in the examination room, she burst out screaming as she ran down the hall.
An older doctor stopped her and asked what the problem was, and she told him her story.
After listening, he had her sit down and relax in another room.
The older doctor marched down the hallway back to where the young doctor was writing on his clipboard.
"What the h---- is the matter with you?!"the older doctor demanded. "Mrs. Terry is 71 years old, has four grown children and seven grandchildren, and you told her she was pregnant?"
The younger doctor continued writing and without looking up said,
"Does she still have the hiccups?"
St. Patrick's Day
Are ya ready, Paddy-boy, for the "wearin' o the green"? Although originally an Irish holiday, St. Patrick's Day is now celebrated in many countries... and why not? Any holiday that shares the stage with Irish whiskey is bound to be popular! Another well-known Irish icon is the shamrock. A true shamrock (yes, there are "impersonators", or perhaps we should call them "imshamerators") come from the white clover plant trifolium repens; Faux-shams (is that a redundancy?), on the other hand, may come from pepperwort, oxalis, or water clover. For the religious Irish, the 3 leaves of the shamrock stand for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit with that occasional 4th leaf meaning God's Grace. For the remaining unhallowed souls, the meaning is simple: Leaf #1 is Leaf #1, Leaf #2 is Leaf #2, Leaf #3 is Leaf #3 and Leaf #4 is GOOD LUCK!!! And why such good luck, you may ask? (Okay, I know you aren't asking but I'm going to tell you anyway!) It's good luck because there are 10,000 3-leaf clovers for every single 4-leaf clover! Tough odds-
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Happening Now! Breaking News! (Wolf Blitzer/The Situation Room/ CNN)
"The Days of Wine and Roses... laugh and run away, like a child at play" (Henry Mancini & Johnny Mercer/ 1962) So, let's start with the wine...roses coming up next! How about a little taste of cabernet? Sound good? Well, how about a lot of different tastes of cabernet???Does that sound better? Porsche of Bellevue is hosting the Cabernet Classic with 25 different producers who will have over 50 different cabernet sauvignons for you to sample. Tickets are $75 and include first-class noshes to go with. If that sounds a little steep - think how much a really good bottle of wine costs, then consider the wide variety you'll get to taste, plus munchies, plus cast an eye-ball over some pretty spectacular vroom-vrooms in the showroom. Sounds like a fun way to spend an evening. March 4, 6-9PM Tickets at www.strangertickets.com ***** "Roses are red, violets are blue, forget the green thumb - all you need is zoo-doo!" Woodland Park Zoo is offering a workshop on Saturday, March 4, Noon - 3PM Here's your chance to grow your own gorgeous roses - learn how to prune them, feed them, transplant them and more. When you go to the workshop, take a little time to see their 2 ½ acres of rose garden, and have a one-to-one with a true rosarian (sounds like a religious order...you know.. the convent of the "Sisters of Rosarian" is up the hill, on the left) and you'll see... Rain or shine, light refreshments served. "Everything's coming up roses for you, and for me!" ( Gypsy/ 1959/ Ethel Merman) *****March 10 -Watch the arrival of St. Pat at south Lake Union by boat at 6 PM. If you miss him there, you'll have another chance at the Green Stripe Laying at 7 p.m. when the route for Saturday's parade is marked on 4th Ave, starting at Jefferson. Free ***** March 11: The Annual "Active Senior Fair", sponsored by our own Overlake Medical Center. This day-long event features free health screenings, seminars and workshops, also vendor exhibits of local businesses and organizations as well as entertainers, including a spring fashion show. Be a part of this terrific free event and get all your health questions answered. Westminster Chapel, 13646 NE 24th St, Bellevue 10AM-3PM. For more info call: 425-635-6191 ***** March 11-12: Quick Quiz: what do "Pumi" (poom-ee), Sloughi ( sloo-ghee) and Komondor have in common? They all bark! hahaha! Did you miss them at the Westminster Kennel Club? Here's a chance to see them in person (What?? Should I say "in DOG"?!) at the Seattle Kennel Club Dog Show when over 2,000 mutts (OMG! YIKES! Definitely a slip of the tongue!! I meant to say "purebred canines"!!) strut their stuff. And don't just go to see the pups, you'll want to indulge your own pooch and shop for some new fangle-dangle toys and kibbles and collars and leashes and brushes... Enjoy it all at the CLINK! www.seattlekennelclub.org ***** Here's a terrific favorite of mine: The Crossroads Cultural Crossroads Fair on 156th Ave. You'll probably see me there! It starts on March 10, Friday evening at 5PM and goes thru Sunday 6PM and the best part? It's FUN, it's FAB, and it's FREE! The entire mall transforms itself into an eclectic "souk-y/boutique-y" style shopping experience, with small booths offering unusual items from countries around the world. As you may know, Crossroads has its main music stage in the center of the mall and, for this special weekend, they also set up a dance stage on the south end, near the doors opposite Michaels Crafts. Friday evening enjoy Rouge and Noire (Red and White) Tango music with dancers (Romantic! Sensual! Irresistible! Put that rose in your mouth and CHOMP!) on the main center stage, 7-9PM and plan to grab a bite of dinner at the same time. Saturday and Sunday the booths will be open all day and you can watch continuous performances by dancers in original ethnic costumes, representing Hawaii, Mexico, India, Germany, Eastern Europe and many more countries. Plan a short walk-thru if you just need to get something at Joanne's or Half-Price Books, or stay and enjoy the cultural buffet that will excite your eyes and ears! One delightful highlight is the performance on Saturday night by Vela-Luka, a Croatian Dance Troupe, from 5:30 - 6:30 at center stage. You will NOT be able to stay in your seats...I promise! (At least I couldn't - last year, I happily became a dancing fool, along with many others, as we morphed into a long Croatian "conga" line that is symbolic of their dance.) And if you feel a need to get some fresh air, saunter over to the Crossroads Park and celebrate the Indian Festival of Colors ("Holi") with a DJ playing dance music, and delicious Indian food. Go...be happy, it's fun and infectious and free! ***** March 12-13th Thistle Theater presents "The Funny Woman Who Lost her Dumpling". If you're not familiar with Thistle Theater, its focus is on the young, and young-at-heart. I have attended their productions and they are always funny and entertaining and a delight for kids and adults too. They feature Japanese puppetry of the Bunraku style. This is professional and affordable entertainment; a perfect place for parents and grandparents to enjoy quality time with their young charges. www.thistletheater.org. ***** March 14 is National PI Day! Sure thing - you knew that! It's 3.14 (short for 3.141592653589793238462643 etc. etc.) so, let's celebrate! Time to order Pizza pie? Listen to Don McClean's 1971 hit "Bye, Bye Miss American Pie..."? Eat some Apple pie? Watch "The Life of Pi(e)?" What's the official animal of Pi Day? It's the PI-thon, of course! hahaha ***** "Lift me won't you lift me, above the old routine, play it soft, play it clean, oh Jazzman..." (Carole King/1974) Go ahead, get all JAZZED up as Starbucks presents its 22nd Annual "Hot Java Cool Jazz" night at the Paramount. Listen to the Seattle area's top 5 high school jazz bands as they vie for a slot with the finalists for the Essentially Ellington competition in New York later in the year. Friday, March 17, 911 Pine St. - Doors open at 6PM, Show starts at 7PM, $22. ***** It doesn't have to be "my way" or "your way"... let's take the "highway" to NORWAY! Saturday, March 18, take part in the Norwegian Cultural and Heritage Day at Leif Erikson Lodge (no surprise there, didja think they'd call it the "Davy Crockett Den"?). It's all about fun and food and getting to know more about someplace different (factoid: in northern Norway, they actually have no sunlight at all in December and early January!). The first event is the 9AM Leif to Leif Run/Walk from Ballard to Shilshole Marina, followed by craft demonstrations, music, food (Fresh lefse! Pickled herring! Krumkaker! Vaflers!) as well as genealogy research sites, parade of folk costumes and lots activities for the kids. No kroners needed - that means it's free! Alle er Velkommen! 10AM-3:30PM, 2245 NW 57th St, Seattle (Ballard). 206-783-1274 ***** Parlez-vous Francais? WEE! WEE! Come to the French Fest at the Seattle Armory on Sunday, March 19, and celebrate with live music, French food, wine-tasting, the "Best Baguette" contest and lots of fun stuff for kids. Last year over 6,000 frankophiles participated in this great day of culture and tradition. Sponsored by FEN (French Education Northwest) C'est la vie...and it's GRATUIT! (gra-twee =free) ***** Here's an unusual treat! In 1945 (okay, none of us go THAT far back!), Betty MacDonald, author and humorist from the Olympic Peninsula, wrote her bestselling memoire The Egg and I. In her own folksy style, she wrote of her experiences as a young bride as she attempted to please her brand-new husband who had decided to quit his office job and become a chicken farmer. Joys and frustrations abound as she detailed life on a farm and as a "chicken-momma". One year later, film rights for the book were purchased for $100,000 and a movie was made starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray. Local author and lecturer, Paula Beker, will discuss her own book "Looking for Betty MacDonald" and share the story behind the famous memoir. Monday, March 20, 7PM Newport Way Library. ***** March 24-26: City Opera Ballet with live orchestra presents "Firebird" at Meydenbauer Center. Watch how a beautiful mythical bird comes to the aid of two lovers after a sorcerer casts a cruel spell. Tikkies at www.cityoperaballet.org ***** Can't wait for the Bellevue Arts and Crafts Fair...? You don't need to! Get an early sampling of all the wondrous new artsy-chic-y "must-haves" at the Spring Best of the NW Art and Fine Craft Show on March 25/26 at Hangar 30 in Magnuson Park. Over 100 artists will display their jewelry, clothing, painting, art glass and sculptures. Food trucks too (not artistic, but YUM! Essential for a swell outing) *****Also happening on the 25/26 is the Lakeside Rummage Sale, a yearly frolic into all the arcane-plus-generic stuff you could wish for: clothing, furniture, housewares, electronics, home and garden etc. etc. All proceeds to benefit Lakeside School; if you don't plan to shop, perhaps plan to donate instead! Saturday: 9AM-2PM, Sunday: 9AM-11AM. www.lakesideschool.org/rummage. (FYI: "Rummage" - word root is from the French "arrumer" meaning "to stow goods in the hold of a ship" from about 1520-30. Only difference now is that we've replaced the ship with our house!) *****Whirligig is back! ("I'm so dizzy my head is spinning, like a whirlpool it's never ending, and it's you that's making it spin, I'm so dizzy..."/Tommy Roe/1969) Get ready to SPIN at Seattle Center Whirligig starting March 31 thru April 16! And remember, Thursdays are FREE! ***** March 28 - April 2 at the Paramount Theater in Seattle: "Mamma Mia!" And my-oh-my-o - what a terrific show! It was made into an unforgettable movie in 2008 starring Meryl Streep and all of the songs were written and performed by the Swedish pop group ABBA. Over 5 million albums have been sold and those great tunes are always a treat to hear: Dancing Queen, SOS, Take a Chance on Me, Waterloo.
Toob -Time on Public Broadcasting - Ch.9 (Hi-Def # 109)
There are some very good programs worth watching in March. "Georgia O'Keeffe: A Woman on Paper" This film follows her career through her various artistic stages, culminating with her vivid New Mexico paintings. Thurs, March 9, 4:30PM with a repeat on Saturday, 3/18 at 3:30PM ***American Masters presents Patsy Cline ("Crazy...I'm crazy for lying, crazy for crying, crazy for loving you..." 1961). The life and legacy of the ground-breaking country singer, narrated by Roseanne Cash. March 11, Saturday, 7PM; repeat at 3/17, 8PM. *** Carol Burnett's Favorite Sketches; this wonderful comedienne, made famous by her earlobe tug at the end of every show (meaning "I love you, Mom"), retired after hosting her own variety show for 11 years. Catch her very best skits on Sunday, March 19, 6:30PM with a repeat on Monday, March 20 at 8:30PM. Carol Burnett is followed by "Wuthering Heights" at 8PM (Oh, Heathcliff, take me away...to the moors! to the moors!) *** Holy Moly! Tuesday, March 21: 7PM-9PM "Ed Sullivan's Rock and Roll Classics", followed by "50 Years with Peter, Paul and Mary" from 9-10:30, then closing out the night with "70's Soul Superstars"! *** "To Walk Invisible: The Bronte Sisters on Masterpiece": The story of how these 3 sisters were recognized in a male-dominated, 19th century world for their genius at writing romantic novels. Sunday, March 26, 9PM with a repeat on Monday, March 27 at 3:30PM. *** "Nature: Yosemite" How global changes are affecting one of America's greatest national parks. Wednesday, March 29, 8PM *** "Secrets of the Dead: Nero's Sunken City". Watch a team of archaeologists as they map the underwater ruins of the ancient Roman city of Baiae that was lost to the same volcanoes as was Pompeii, in the Bay of Naples. March 29, Wednesday 10PM. *** Remember, if you like PBS, become a subscriber. These intelligent and tasteful programs are supported thru donations. Pay your way, every little bit helps.
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Here is my own personal story that begs to be told in this month of St. Patrick. I was perhaps 10 years old when I found my very own 4-leaf clover patch! I had discovered it while sitting outside on the grass in our backyard with my cat, Minky. I was telling him all the secrets that 10 year olds can only share with someone who won't tell a soul, and as we sat in the sun, I plucked a clover and casually counted the little leaves, and ... I saw FOUR! I plucked another, and another and another - they ALL had 4-leaves! I jumped up, and thoroughly examined my "sitz-mark" and found more and more and still more! I ran inside the house and grabbed a bundle of plastic forks and twine and immediately roped off my "Good Luck Patch", which was about 2' by 4'. Then I got busy with my harvest! I think I collected at least 40 or 50 of these little 4-leafed good-luck charms, and spent the rest of the afternoon pressing them carefully in dictionaries and encyclopedias, between loose bricks and even underneath pots and pans. The next week I headed to camp but left detailed instructions and a "Do Not Mow" sign scotch-taped to my "fork fence". I figured a month of growth would net me some bona-fide good luck for the coming school year, and I needed that! Though my father was always a darling, well-intentioned man, I think my little sign just blew away and by the time I arrived back home from Camp Hochelaga, our whole yard had been mowed several times. The good luck I had hoped for to get me thru 5th grade would have to come from my own diligence. The following several summers I routinely checked for those 4-leafers but they never appeared again. That's luck for you - you never know when it's going to show up, but it taught me one thing: ALWAYS BE READY!
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So, that's it! Did I forget anything?? Oops! Oh yes! National Pancake week is March 6-12, so you may want to check out IHOP for some special treats with special pricing. ** We change to daylight saving time on Sunday, March 12; remember to "spring" your clocks forward on Saturday night. ** Girl Scout week is celebrated every March and always includes March 12, the birthday of their founder, Juliet Gordon Low. Juliet registered the organization's first 18 members in Savannah, Georgia in 1912.** The first official day of spring is March 20, BUT it also happens to be the International Day of Happiness...- YIPPEE! (Every day should be!)
Oh Happy Spring! Mara