Our April Newsletter quizzed you on the following question:

Who invented Daylight Savings Time and why?

The Answer is: George Vernon Hudson, so that the afternoon would have more daylight.

Daylight Savings Time (DST) was first proposed in 1895 by the New Zealand entomologist George Vernon Hudson, who valued after-work daylight hours for collecting insects. He presented a paper to a local governing body proposing a two-hour daylight shift.

By 1918, the Unites States, Russia, and most of Europe had adopted DST. Adding daylight to afternoons benefits retailing, sports, and other activities that exploit sunlight after working hours, and studies have shown a reduction in traffic fatalities during DST.

An early goal of DST was to save energy by reducing evening usage of incandescent lighting. Modern electricity usage differs tremendously from that of the early 1900’s, however, and research about how DST currently affects energy usage is contradictory.

[Learn more about Daylight Savings Time on Wikipedia.org]

Email or call us (206.418.6260) with this answer and the secret passcode (”Spring forward”), and we’ll enter you into a drawing for a $25 gift certificate!

The pint-sized Carleton Avenue Grocery, on the corner of Corson and Warsaw streets in Georgetown, is one of my favorite local secrets, and a saving grace for the neighborhood’s typically under-serviced residents. Owners LaDele Sines and Allan Phillips have stocked their store with a mix of health-conscious items, fancy snacks, and a good supply of the basics. [read more]

And you’ll find more than sundries at the Carleton. Sines, a founding member of the Georgetown Historical Society and frequent “shopkeeper” on site, can tell many a tale of her building’s — and the neighborhood’s — tawdry past.

Carleton Avenue Market
6601 Carleton Ave. S.
(between Warsaw St & Willow St)
Seattle, WA 98108
(206) 763-3708

This classic 4 bedroom (3 on main level!) Wallingford Craftsman offers timeless style in one of Seattle’s most popular neighborhoods. Front sitting porch with architectural details leads into handsome formal living and dining rooms with matching distressed painted wood mantle and built-ins. Beautiful refinished hardwoods, traditional millwork, high ceilings, fireplace and large picture windows. The spacious layout provides an open kitchen & built-in dining nook. A sweet deck off back sits pretty in a fully fenced yard with garden space, shade tree and outbuilding. Finished lower level offers a 4th bedroom, utility room and storage, a large 3/4 bath, plus flex spaces (media and family rooms or workout room and office) bathed in natural light and featuring French doors.

Surrounding area offers:

• Walk to cafes, shopping, services and entertainment!
• Across from Wallingford Playfield
• Award-winning John Stanford International close by
• Walk Score: 85 out of 100—Very Walkable!

Located at the address:

4110 Wallingford Ave N
Seattle, WA 98103

For more information, please visit my website or download the flyer.

Four + bedroom, three bath, view decks – Smashing views in this sleek, modern-styled home minutes to Microsoft! Warm hardwoods throughout the upper level, modern kitchen w/ Viking range and Bosch dishwasher. Master suite and bath are fabulous! This house has 2,160 sq ft just on the top level!! Formal dining room for a sit-down dinner for 20! Downstairs offers options with a massive family room and 2 additional bedrooms. Large, private 16,050 sq foot lot backs to OPEN space…so, no neighbors!!

Surrounding area offers:

• Easy commute to neighboring cities
• Minutes to Redmond Town Center and Marymoor Park!
• Enjoy all the Lake Sammamish water fun!
• Bennett Elementary has multiple foreign language classes!!

Located at the address:

1811 187th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA 98008

For more information, please visit my website or download the flyer.

Homeless people are on their feet all day, and the only pair of socks they own are very likely to be wet, especially during Seattle’s rainy time of year. (September through June).

“Our feet get really chewed up,” says Fred. Working, walking around all day, and no change of socks. Yuck. You can guess how it is at night when guys in the shelter peel off their shoes.

In response, Operation Nightwatch hosts “Sock It to the Homeless” every October to kick off the season’s annual sock drive. Community groups, churches, youth groups, and concerned citizens bring new athletic socks to Operation Nightwatch and we have a ball . . . literally. Volunteers roll the socks into balls, thousands of them. These socks are distributed to homeless people at night through the rest of the year. In 2008, we collected more than 20,000 pairs of socks, gave them all away and needed even more!

Sock it to the Homeless 2009 is Sunday, October 25 from 1:30pm -3:00pm at the Shelter Dispatch Center, 302 14th Avenue S in Seattle. Plan to join us! The goal this year is 25,000 pairs of socks. Will you help?

For more information on “Sock It to the Homeless” call (206) 323 4359 or email here downtowner2003@hotmail.com.

Make a difference in the life of a homeless person today!

Beautifully landscaped, 2-story home sits quietly back in sunny, low traffic, cul-de-sac. Dramatic double height entry with stylish staircase and archways. Kitchen w/ stainless appliances and fixtures compliment the warm-toned, oak pantry, cabinets and floors. Handsome, dark granite tile countertops. Breakfast nook opens to large family room, den, back yard & patio for outdoor living and BBQ’s! Upstairs , the King-sized master attaches to luxurious 5-piece bath and walk-in closet. 3-car attached garage with ample storage. Walk to Rose Hill Elementary; minutes to Costco, I-405, Kirkland waterfront and downtown Redmond.

Located at the Address:

12715 NE 81st Pl
Kirkland, WA 98033

For more information, please visit my website or download the flyer.

Modern and stylish with outstanding westerly views, this 2 story w/ daylight basement home is perfect for families and big, style entertaining.

Main floor includes a grand entry; open dining and living room that adjoins a glass paneled deck; and a kitchen with slab granite, pantry, and stainless appliances including a Viking range, Miele dishwasher, and Grohe fixtures.

The upper floor includes a massive view master suite with a classy bath, Italian tiling, California walk-in closets, and vanity; as well as a 2nd bedroom with 1/2 bath.

The lower level hosts a 2nd master suite, recreation room w/ serving bar that opens to fabulous fiber optic lit spa with waterfall & a professionally designed and maintained yard; a wine cellar; and mud room.

With hardwoods exceptional detailing, and hi-fi systems throughout, this house can be furnished for high style entertaining, simple living, or anything in-between!

Located at the address:

8825 113th Place NE
Kirkland, WA 98033

For more information, please go to my website or download my flyer.

Terry Kegel has spent the better part of the last 5 years working on his dream project – a video of his soccer experiences during his travels around the world. The movie, I Speak Soccer, is coming to fruition, and will be shown at the Seattle True Independent Film Festival:
Sat, June 6, 4pm, Jewel Box Theater
Tues, June 9, Northwest Film Forum
Ticket and Showing info here.Terry is also very interested in having people from around the world contribute their experiences with pick up soccer go to the Come Play section to share your experiences.

Terry Kegel and his family are friends and clients of mine. Please let me know if you have any interest in joining me at one of the showings and pass this on!

Join me and many others on Saturday, May 30, 2009, at Seattle’s Seward Park, as we carry water in support of communities in need of clean drinking water. Individual and team participants will try to carry 5 gallons of water for 5 kilometers along Lake Washington Blvd., the average walk made by women and children in poor countries who lack access to safe, convenient water supplies. All ages welcome.

We walk so they don’t have to.

What would it be like to carry 5 gallons of water for 5 kilometers every day and still not have enough?

• In developing countries, women and children spend up to 5 hours each day collecting dirty water from contaminated streams and ponds.
• Water-related illnesses kill 5 million people each year, the majority of whom are children under age 5.
• Every day, 5,000 children die from preventable water-related illnesses.

CARRY 5 raises funds and awareness to end the water crisis for people living in poor countries. You can join in a walk for water near you, or start a CARRY 5 walk of your own. Once you’ve registered, you can create your own fundraising page, form fundraising teams, and invite other people to help you reach your goal.

5 easy steps to getting started:

1. Form a CARRY 5 team (Individual walkers are welcome, too!)

• You can have as many team members as you’d like.
• You can participate as an individual walker without joining or forming a team.
• All ages are welcome!

2. Register with Water 1st International

• Register online or call 206.297.3024
• If you form a team, be sure your team, and each team member, is registered.

3. Raise awareness and funds

• Individuals who raise $50 or more will receive a free CARRY 5 T-shirt!
• Create your own online fundraising page on FirstGiving.com, and ask your friends and family to sponsor you for the walk.
• Or use our printable Pledge Form to ask your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers to support you.
• See our Sample Fundraising Letter for ideas on what to write, how to ask for money.
• Try some of these fun, creative ways to raise money as an individual or as a team.

4. Collect your donations – it’s not too late!

• Collect the money you and/or your team raised and bring it to the CARRY 5 Walk for Water. All online donations will go directly to Water 1st.

5. Come to the CARRY 5 Walk for Water (rain or shine)

• Walkers at the Seattle CARRY 5 will try to carry 5 gallons of water for 5 kilometers along Lake Washington Blvd. Your team can take turns carrying one 5-gallon container, or divide the water into smaller containers that you each carry. One plastic water container will be provided for each registered team. (When full, a 5-gallon container of water weighs 40 pounds.)
• Attend other CARRY 5 events

You do not have to carry water to participate in a CARRY 5 Walk for Water.