The volunteer gears grind slowly, but we're getting closer 'n' closer to the ETS! leap to newsprint; once we figured out everyone's summer vacation plans, we settled on June 24 (in two weeks; we'll go to Wednesday masthead dates) as our first week with the new format and some new features. (Hey advertisers! You have a week to ensure your ad appears in our historic first issue! Call today!)

Some bugs to be worked out: we could sure use more graphics! And, there are several parts of the region where we'd like to begin print distribution but don't have distributors. This requires that you be able to arrange to get copies from the U-District (directly or indirectly) Tuesday or Wednesday, dropping them off at 1-6 places. Here are the possible new routes we can think of: Lynnwood/Edmonds, Northgate, Lake City, Greenwood/Phinney Ridge, Ballard, Green Lake/Roosevelt/Ravenna, Univ. Village/Wedgwood, Factoria, Renton/Kent Valley, CD/Madrona/Madison Valley, Georgetown, Columbia City, West Seattle (north & south). Volunteers? E-mail, or call 206-215-1156.

The other exciting news is that Ron and Emily Austin, whose cartoons grace this week's and many other covers of ETS!, have agreed to compile as a fundraiser a 1999 Eat the State! Wall Calendar. It will use art from lotsa folks and draw on our huge "Reclaim Our History" database of historical dates. If you'd like to be one of those folks, submit your artwork to Ron and Emily by August 1. Send to: 6519 128th Ave. NE, Kirkland WA 98033; for questions, call 'em at 425-889-7851. And many thanks to Emily, Ron, and all our other contributors!