First 10,000 fans at Earth Day weekend game take home free ‘Kitchen Catcher’ compost kit with compostable bags

 On April 21 – Earth Day Weekend – one of the greenest clubs in major league baseball teams up with BASF, The Chemical Company, to inspire its fans to follow its lead and start striking out landfills at home. Well on their way to batting 1.000 in their zero-waste program, the Seattle Mariners currently divert more than 80 percent of their waste stream away from landfills into composting and recycling centers.

The Saturday, April 21 Mariners-Chicago White Sox matchup marks the launch of “Sustainable Saturdays, a season-long program at Safeco Field to promote the kind of environmentally-conscious practices that have earned the club the prized position of number one in energy efficiency and number two in recycling in Major League Baseball.

The first 10,000 fans to arrive at the ballpark on Earth Day Weekend will receive a free “Kitchen Catcher” compost kit compliments of BASF, Ecosafe, and Seattle Public Utilities (SPU).  Inside are five compostable bags produced with BASF’s Ecovio^® biodegradable polymers.

This weekend’s game also marks the launch of the BASF Kid Compost Trivia game where fans compete for a chance to win an Amazon Kindle Fire and appear live on the centerfield video board at the end of the seventh inning.

“When we realized that the bulk of what we were sending to the landfill was organic matter, the answer was obvious,” says Scott Jenkins, Vice President of Ballpark Operations for the Seattle Mariners. “Turn it back into topsoil. Our zero-waste program has gone from batting .120 just five years ago to .810 today. To help fans follow our lead this Earth Day Weekend, we’re giving away 10,000 kitchen compost kits including everything they need to get going.  With the help of our fans, we aim to make 2012 the most sustainable Mariners’ season ever.”

The Kitchen Catcher will include a countertop container, five Ecosafe compostable liners, SPU coupons for Cedar Grove compost and savings towards the purchase of Ecosafe bags — plus simple steps to help fans follow the team’s green lead.

At each of the 10 Sustainable Saturday games, at the end of the first inning, the public address announcer will invite fans to play the BASF Kid Compost Trivia Game and test their knowledge about sustainability at Safeco field and the Seattle area. Trivia questions will be broadcast on the centerfield video board. Fans do not have to be eco-experts to win because all of the answers are provided at 16 zero-waste stations throughout the concourse, where they will also find the short code to text their answer for their chance to win. The winner will be drawn at random from all the correct answers.

At each zero waste station, volunteers from Camp Fire USA’s Teen Leadership Program will be standing by to teach fans how to strike out the landfill on their visit to Safeco Field and encourage them to do the same at home.  Then, in the bottom of the seventh inning, Kid Compost, one of the Mariners’ eco-mascots, will present the winning fan with a Kindle Fire broadcast live on the centerfield screen.

“Sustainable Saturdays at Safeco are about showing Mariners’ fans how we can all live more sustainably,” said Chris Bradlee, Biodegradable Polymers – Market Development Manager, North America, BASF, who will be on hand to throw out the first pitch at this Saturday’s Earth Day Weekend game.  “The Mariners are already doing a great job conserving water, natural gas, and electricity, recycling waste, and using renewable energy at Safeco Field.  Now, we’re helping them engage their fans to do the same at home.”

Mariners – Safeco Field, a green ballpark

81 percent recycling rate

Since 2006:

• 45 percent reduction in natural gas usage
• 30 percent reduction in electricity usage over 5 years
• 25 percent reduction in water usage over 5 years

All office copy paper is 100 % post-consumer.

All restroom paper is 100% recycled and minimum of 65% post-consumer.

Utilize green cleaning practices including 98% of cleaning products purchased green certified.

168 solar panels generating 40,000 kW hours per year.

Cut electrical use in garage in half via a relighting project.

Installed 4 electric vehicle recharging stations.

BASF – The Chemical Company

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 16,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $19.9 billion in 2011. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

“Cutters Crabhouse is prominent in its innovative spirit and absolute commitment to premier customer service. With this modern, fresh perspective, first-time guests will understand why for more than 25 years, loyal customers can’t get enough of the superior guest experience offered here,” said Chris Harter president and CEO of Restaurants Unlimited. “The chefs’ enthusiasm for fresh, colorful and healthy dishes is the focus and the stunning simplicity of the modern remodel is the perfect backdrop—the staff here is passionate and ready to welcome guests to the newly remodeled Cutters Crabhouse.”

Guests at Cutters find the freshest and most inspiring preparations of lobster and crab gnocchi, steamed Dungeness crab with risotto as well as established favorites like smoked salmon chowder and tempura Beecher’s cheese curds. A Seattle sunset compliments dessert options including apple cobbler with gelato or the chocolate soufflé.

Cutters Crabhouse offers a raw bar with oysters and fresh sushi as well as the prominent views of Seattle’s Elliot Bay and Olympic mountains—all adjacent to Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market. The restaurant maintains a unique relationship with many of the Market vendors, and regularly features items sourced directly, including Uli’s Sausage, Beecher’s cheese curds, Mike’s Pepper Jelly and special selections from City Fish. As part of their ongoing support of local purveyors and the Market as a whole, Cutters Crabhouse is set to debut its new event space by hosting the annual invitation only, Pike Place Market Foundation’s “Cut the Pie” on April 17.

The new interior reflects modern, yet classically designed details including fish murals by local Breeze Block Gallery, deep-sea diving signs and an open kitchen. Cutters’ newly designed bar offers extraordinary signature drink selections utilizing chef-inspired elixirs and syrups. Happy hour drink specials are available along with a bar menu Monday-Friday 3-6pm, Sat-Sun 4-6pm and daily happy hours 9pm-close. While there, view the new private dining room with an elevated, soundproof space, ideal for business meetings and special celebrations.

About Cutters Crabhouse:

“Come for the crab and stay for the view,” established in 1983 as Cutters Bayhouse, Cutters Crabhouse reopens in April 2012. The newly updated location, adjacent to the famous Pike Place Market, remains at 2001 Western Avenue. The restaurant is an award-winning Seattle tradition, with a successful 25-year history as one of the first and most successful restaurants on the waterfront. Cutters Crabhouse offers a raw bar including sushi and oysters, full-service catering and a private dining room for parties up to 70 guests. For reservations, hours of operation and more information visit www.cutterscrabhouse.com.

About Restaurants Unlimited, Inc.:

Since opening its first successful restaurant in 1968, Restaurants Unlimited, Inc. (RUI) has brought its talent for bringing the finest food to some of the best possible locations across the nation. RUI operates 21 different restaurant brands in 46 locations throughout the U.S.; its diverse concepts offer a variety of dining experiences, from casual neighborhood restaurants to full-service fine dining. The restaurants are located in eleven states, including Alaska and Hawaii, with the majority in Oregon, Washington and California. RUI is located in Seattle, Wash. and owned by private equity firm Sun Capital Partners. Additional details are available at www.r-u-i.com

My name is Conor Gormally and I’m an 8th grade at Washington Middle School in Seattle.  I have been reading your publication (editor’s note: we have not published a paper in almost 3 years) and I would like to hare my opinion on why our revised state and federal budgets both now and in the future should not include cuts in education.

Washington state’s recent budget deficit was over $4.8 billion dollars and the state legislature was considering making some major cuts to education.  I was appalled to hear this.  As we are slowly recovering from this recession, the education of the next generation of thinkers, innovators, teachers and leaders should be the highest priority.  If our generation is not readily equipped to tackle the issues of the future, what can we say for the generation after ours?

This also applies to advance learning programs.  The APP (Advanced Placement Program) at my school was barely able to escape budget cuts this time around.  Youths, when allowed to learn at an accelerated and challenging pace, can become smarter students, people and problem solvers.

With all of the budget cuts, schools are becoming unable to give teachers that account for yearly inflation and even have to ask them to do more with no pay.  While much of learning is student initiated, it takes a good teacher to bring out the best is their students.  If we can’t pay them well, then how can we assume their full and active participation and commitment to bettering education.?

The quality of education also applies to the economy.  Even now, the lack of educated workers to fill important technical and administrative jobs is forcing companies to postpone new growth, pay higher wages, or settle for training someone who doesn’t know what they are doing.  Our economy relies on the jobs that people with higher education hold.

We cannot afford to make major cuts to education in our budgets.  The next generation will have even tougher problems to solve and we need to be prepared for the major problems that might and will occur in the future.  Our economy, our country and our planet are depending on us.

Sincerely, Conor Gormally

6:00 – 6:30 am might not sound too early to some.  In fact, my dad wakes up at 5:00 in the morning to get to his job.  However, when he comes home some time between 6:30 and 9:00 pm, he doesn’t usually have additional work for his job, meaning that his work day is shorter than that of a student.  This is because of the one to seven hours of homework a kid in my classes has a night!  When one takes into account the time-consuming extracurriculars (soccer, dance, flute, crew, etc, etc) that my fellow peers and I partake in – in addition to a lot of homework – middle and high school students get to be very late.  Most kids end up coming to school very sleep-deprived, in fact.

Now consider that the amount of hours of sleep a fourteen-year-old is supposed to get is around ten hours a night.  Middle and high schools start at 7:50 am in the Seattle Public School District!  If one woke up at 7:20, which is when my yellow bus comes in the morning, then they would have to go to bed at 9:20pm to get ten hours of sleep!  The fact that a student would either “go to bed at 9:20 or wake up at 7:20″, however is quite “unrealistic” according to Conor Gormally of Washington Middle School.

This is why I propose that school starts at least an hour later than it currently does.  An hour of sleep would make a work of difference in a student’s attitude toward school and grades would definitely rise.  Most importantly, however, kids would be more well-rested and therefore healthier.

Hannah Farrell
8th Grader at Washington Middle School
Seattle, WA

I’ve been spending time in downtown Seattle since I first took the bus across the lake by myself at 7 years old, so I’m in pretty good tune with some of the awesomeness on that side of the lake – BUT ….  Since this is really a media review trip and I’ll be writing about it, I thought I would look for some things to do that I haven’t done before.  Maybe some cool stuff suggested by readers …

Do YOU have any suggestions on what we should check out in downtown Seattle next Thursday evening or Friday morning?  I’d love to have your feedback – thank you very much in advance.

By the way, don’t miss our LIVE spreecast Live from The Roosevelt at 7pm on March 29, 2012

Throughout the 22^nd of March, viewers will be able to log onto www.kirotv.com at 10:00 p.m. to capture raw moments and extensive interviews with guests as they prepare to go on live TV at 10:30 p.m. on KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.

“We decided to bring this opportunity to our viewers because we are excited about being on the forefront of new ways to interact with the community and provide them with accurate and impactful information and resources delivered to them in the best way possible,” said Todd Mokhtari, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News Web Manager.  “Viewers now have the opportunity to engage with newscasts in real time, and can truly impact the direction the show goes by sharing what they’re most interested in, asking questions, or making comments.”

KIRO 7’s Traffic Anchor, Jenni Hogan, was recently recognized as the ‘most followed local female TV anchor in the nation’ on Twitter, and currently has more than 120,000 Twitter and Facebook followers.  Hogan is passionate about sharing with viewers the opportunities and resources that social media can provide.  She will focus on topics aimed to inspire viewers to improve their lives and those around them through the power of connecting online.

The show will begin online with a livestream conversation, and then move to primetime TV.  The audience will be encouraged to interact online throughout the primetime segment by following hash tag #KIROConnect on Twitter, helping to create what the next generation of combined television and social media will provide.  The show will also highlight:

• Top Apps that can help save time and money;
• Ways to use technology to improve your life;
• Local celebrities and how they interact with their online communities; and
• The faces behind the online voices of your favorite brands.

Featured guests:

Josie Bissett, starred on Melrose Place

Ben Huh, CEO of Cheezburger

Blake Cahill, President of Banyan Branch

Porter Gale, Chief Evangelist of Kred

James Sun CEO of Pirq and former contestant on The Apprentice

Jean-Sun Hannah Ahn, Miss Seattle 2012.

“This is a show that can’t be done without the viewers and I’m excited to have them join us,” said Jenni Hogan. “They will be as much of a host as I am, adding their comments and helping to shape the direction as we explore the best ways to connect with each other during live broadcasts, using tools such as our mobile devices and laptops.”

Publisher’s Note:  I’m so happy for Jenni Hogan and hope that this turns out to be a very successful and weekly show.  You can join our Future of Network TV in Social Media Spreecast on Thursday morning at 10am PDT to hear more about the show and to contribute your opinion about the future interaction of television and social media – and potentially be invited to be part of the Live Spreecast.

Every year, nearly 800 women in Washington State die from breast cancer, a disease that touches nearly every person’s life in some way.  Early detection is the key to surviving breast cancer as it leads to early treatment and, when treated early, the five-year survival rate is 98% in the United States. When detected later and the breast cancer has spread, the five-year survival rate falls to just 23%.

“Women’s health remains our top priority, and we remain focused on the goal of serving our community and saving lives,” said Cheryl Shaw, Komen Puget Sound Executive Director.  “Our Grace Notes gala is a major annual fundraising event, and I’m gratified and overwhelmed by the generosity of our donors and sponsors who came together to raise $825,000, exceeding last year. This support will make a significant difference in our ability to continue the fight against breast cancer and provide vital services in the Puget Sound region and across Western Washington.”

Seventy-five percent of funds raised at the gala will be spent in the Western Washington community, primarily to provide essential services for underserved women, which include mammograms, screenings, education, prevention and research efforts.  Last year, Komen Puget Sound was able to provide free mammograms to over 13,000 qualified low income and underserved women.

The remaining twenty-five percent of funds raised, nearly $1 million annually, goes to medical research to find a cure for breast cancer.  Active involvement by more than 700 community volunteers allows Komen Puget Sound to operate with a small staff and spend just five-percent of its annual budget on administration.

Highlights of the auction included a 2013 Ford Shelby Mustang GT 350, A BBQ Party for 20 hosted by Seahawks star Jacob Green and a custom 2012 Harley Davidson  Ultra Classic Electra Glide motorcycle.

The night was dedicated to honoring the late C.J. Taylor Day, whose courage, compassion and drive to help others led her and a dedicated group of volunteers to found the Puget Sound affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure 19 years ago.  C.J. lost her mother to breast cancer at age 17, and was passionately committed to ensure all women facing breast cancer not only have a fighting chance to survive but to thrive.  She exemplifies the power of one person to change a whole community for the better.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and Komen Puget Sound Affiliate

The Puget Sound Affiliate was established in 1993 and has invested nearly $23 million to fund local breast health education, screening and treatment support in Western Washington and for research to find the cures for breast cancer. The Puget Sound Affiliate is one of the largest Komen Affiliates out of a network of 120 across the country. It focuses its efforts on saving lives by funding education and early detection, as well as patient assistance and patient navigation in 16 counties in Western Washington. To learn more about Komen Puget Sound, please go to www.komenpugetsound.org. Follow us on Twitter (@KomenPugetSound) or Facebook (facebook.com/KomenPugetSound)

Both Tap House Grill locations will be holding special events and parties throughout the week, including a private party for their coveted “160 Club” members, a select group of loyal customers who have experienced all 160 beers on tap.  Tap House will also celebrate a ceremonial tapping of ten new beers brewed exclusively for the anniversary, “We are working with our brewers to create a new beer for each year we’ve been in business,” said Bellevue General Manager, Patrice Fuller.  “These will be brewed exclusively for us and our celebration.”     Tap House will also feature a “roll back” menu with some original items from the first Tap House Grill menu.

Tap House Grill owner, Paul Reder added, “ In the past ten years we have served over 20,000 kegs of beer to our guests.  These beers have come from around the world including small, local brewers and brewers from across Europe and the United States. We want this celebration to be over the top.  We’ve had ten great years and have a lot to be grateful for.”  He continued, “We also have five original employees from opening day who are still working with us and we want to thank them for their loyalty, dedication and commitment to our restaurants. They certainly need to be celebrated and thanked,” added Paul.

Restaurant consultant, Arnold Shain added, “Paul Reder has experienced ten successful years because of his commitment to quality and exceptional service.”  He continued, “Tap House Grill is a consistent operation and offers a high quality product. You know what you’re going to get when you go there.”

Bellevue Downtown Association President, Leslie Lloyd added,  “Tap House excels in consistency and customer service. I’m always blown away by the courage restaurateurs have. Paul took a risk 10 years ago as a pioneer, catering both to downtown Bellevue’s lunch-time and late-night crowd. We salute his success and congratulate the Tap House team on an amazing first decade as one our city’s best-loved restaurants.”

Tap House Grill will also hold an “enter to win” contest for all guests who visit them during the anniversary promotion.  The grand prize is currently being worked on and may include a trip for two to Europe to visit one of the many breweries who supply to Tap House Grill.  “Other anniversary prizes will be announced in early June which could include lunch and dinner for a year at Tap House, private brewer dinners and other great prizes,”  said Reder.

Tap House Grill is open 7 days a week for lunch, dinner and late night dining and has two locations;

1506 Sixth Avenue Seattle Washington 98101

Phone - 206-816-3314
&

550 106th Avenue NE Bellevue, WA 98004

Phone – 425-467-1730
For more information on Tap House Grill and to view Tap House Grills menus visit www.taphousegrill.com

A group of local food entrepreneurs and chefs will be available for questions and conversation in the lounge of the Palace Ballroom between 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

• Kathy Casey of Kathy Casey Food Studios Liquid Kitchen™, Dish D’Lish®  and cookbook Sips & Apps
• Kurt Beecher Dammeier of Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, Maximus / Minimus, Pasta & Co, Bennett’s Pure Food Bistro and cookbook Pure Flavor
• Jessie Oleson of CakeSpy.com, CakeSpy shop and cookbook CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life
• Lisa Dupar of Pomegranate Bistro, Lisa Dupar Catering and cookbook Fried, Chicken and Champagne

Northwest restaurateur Tom Douglas will provide his Palace Ballroom facilities to host the event and serve a selection of appetizers. Additional participating restaurants showcasing and serving bites at the event will include Rover’s and Luc, The Coterie Room, Local 360, The Inn at Langley, Il Corvo Pasta, Harborside ,Volunteer Park Café, and many more. For a complete list of participating companies, visit www.foodportunity.com.

Foodportunity, created by Seattle event planner and food blogger Keren Brown, is open to food journalists, bloggers, public relations professionals, restaurateurs, farmers, companies and all food-passionate people.

The event will be sponsored by Metropolitan Market, the area’s premier independent grocer. Its six locations in Seattle, Kirkland and

Tacoma provide one-stop shops for fresh, local, organic and hard-to find items, and monthly, complimentary tastings and events such as its Annual Wellness Fair, going on now through January 29.

Early admission is $25 (including booking fees; $30 at a later date), which includes bites from restaurants and companies. Tickets can be purchased through BrownPaperTickets.com.

The first 40 Foodportunity ticket-holders to send an email to info@foodportunity.com will get a seat at the 8:30 p.m. “speed networking” session led by Julien Perry, Seattle Weekly Food Writer, Chefs Feed Seattle editor and Q13’s Restaurant Correspondent.

Chef Emran Chowdhury will be representing Cantinetta. Having a passion for fresh and simple ingredients it was very evident that Italian food would be his specialty.Having worked for Cantinetta for the past couple of years, Emran brings to the table his eagerness to perfect everything he creates,” It is more of a need than a want to perfect with Italian cuisine since the simplicity and the freshness of it makes it very easy to execute poorly”

The various chefs coming out to cook, all have one common inspiration to win: charity. The award for best dish will yield a $5,000 prize that will go to the restaurant’s charity of choice. If they win, Cantinetta will donate proceeds to “Treehouse for Kids” in Seattle, an organization that provides services to foster children. This particular charity is close to Chef Emran’s heart largely due his past experiences in organizations similar to this one that works closely with foster children to give them hope.

Competing against two Seattle restaurants, Chef Emran credits the advantage he will have over his competitors – to his team at Cantinetta. Bringing to the table an extensive background in wine, they will make his dish shine as it pairs with Palazzo De La Torre.

Check back next Tuesday to find out the results!