Seattle is fortunate to have not just the Pike Place Market, but also 11 neighborhood farmers' markets throughout the city providing fresh locally grown food during the summer growing season. Buying from these markets puts good fresh food on your table, supports local farmers, and protects the climate. The food we eat often travels long distances before ever reaching our table, and that increases greenhouse gas pollution, with one study showing that 17 percent of global fossil fuel use goes to fertilizing and transporting food. So, by buying from your neighborhood farmers market you are taking another step to protect the climate, like turning down your water heater and driving less. You can put food on your table without putting pollution in the air.
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With summer just around the corner, we are gearing up for our summer sack lunch program, which the City has operated since 1989. Each summer, this program provides children between the ages of 1 and 18 with regular meals at sites throughout Seattle. In 2006, more than 5,000 children each day, received nearly 270,000 breakfasts, lunches and snacks. This is just one of many nutrition-related programs run through our Human Services Department (HSD) for the benefit of children, homeless youth and adults, low-income families, and seniors and disabled people.
Find out more about HSD's nutrition programs

This wonderful historic building in Georgetown was a city hall for just a few months and in its nearly 100-year life, has served many other functions - jail, library, fire station, police precinct. Last year the City of Seattle joined with the Puget Sound Neighborhood Health Centers (PSNHC) and other partners to help fund renovations to the building. This month we celebrated the grand opening of the Georgetown Dental Clinic, which will provide critically needed dental care to clients from throughout the city. The building will continue to be an important part of the community, also housing a computer training facility for the PSNHC, Georgetown community council office and community meeting space.
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Seattle has great neighborhoods and whenever there is a Clean and Green event, it's always gratifying to see so many neighbors come together to clean up their neighborhoods - whether it's in Lake City, Ballard, Beacon Hill, or the Central Area. The 66th Clean and Green event was in my neighborhood. Since it began in 2002, these events have collected nearly 255,000 pounds of litter and debris, and recycled more than 11,000 pounds of recyclable material, all thanks to nearly 8,000 volunteers. Together, we are creating a more livable and cleaner city.

This year marked the sixth year for my Youth Town Hall, and each year I learn something new from the young people who participate. Over the past nine months, the Mayor's Youth Council, composed of 23 high schools students from across the city, has collected feedback from their peers on a variety of issues affecting quality of life in Seattle for people of all ages. By choosing to be involved, these young people are choosing to make a difference in their communities. The town hall is their forum for letting me know what is on their minds and for them to hear from me on what we're doing well and where we can do better.
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As part of the City's Bike Master Plan, we opened a brand new trail in southeast Seattle. The 3.6-mile multipurpose Chief Sealth Trail connects two urban villages and is the latest link in our plan to create a continuous regional trail system. This trail also provides access to two light rail stations. It is a great example of how Seattle is making it easier to get around by bike, on foot and connect to transit.

The Seattle Art Museum is back - with a new entrance at First and Union, new and expanded museum shop and restaurant, more than double the public and gallery space and a lot of new art. When SAM opened in downtown Seattle in 1991 it was a catalyst for change -- with the Benaroya Symphony Hall, residential highrises, stores and restaurants following to the neighborhood. SAM has grown into a signature metropolitan museum and the newly expanded building dramatically increases space for exhibitions, education and community gatherings.