September 2007

It's Sunday afternoon. My husband and daughter are out of the house and I'm at my usual weekend station: at the kitchen sink, by the kitchen window hurriedly scouring the dishes. Housework has once again become a sporadic task, now that school has started.

A small Sunday crew, a contractor and two teenaged young men pull up in an extended cab truck, and proceed to do some work around the monolith still under construction across the street. Then, a mid-size silver late model car drives by on my side of the street.

It slows in front of my house.

Mayor Greg Nickels wants to keep commercial and retail development off industrial land and has announced an initiative to strengthen zoning protection for industry and manufacturing in Seattle.

The purpose, Nickels said during a press conference, is to protect existing industrial jobs and encourage new ones.

Over 120,000 jobs in Seattle are in industry and manufacturing, according to the Employment Security Department.

As new residential development around the region is completed, rents will likely start to level out by 2010, according to Mike Scott of Dupre and Scott Apartment Advisors. But it's still cheaper to rent in the south end, where there haven't been a lot of new rentals built.

For example, just 200 new apartment units have been built in West Seattle during the last 10 years, said Scott.

West Seattle's vacancy rate is also better compared to the rest of the city.

September was the official back-to-school season and National Preparedness Month.

The American Red Cross serving King County reminds you any time is a good time to review the "basics" - the basics of preparedness, that is -by ensuring everyone in your home knows the family emergency plan.

National Preparedness Month is now a nationwide coordinated effort that encourages individuals to become better prepared for disasters and other emergencies where they live, learn, and work.

"There are three simple things each of us can do to be prepared: Make a Plan, Build a

Due to anticipated record ridership and higher than expected revenues, King County Metro Transit will extend service on the West Seattle Water Taxi through October, ending on Nov. 2.

The first of six projects to repair or replace more than half of the Alaskan Way Viaduct will start next month.

C.A. Carey Corp. has been awarded the contract to strengthen the viaduct between Columbia Street and Yesler Way where the structure has settled approximately five inches since the 2001 Nisqually earthquake. C.A. Carey submitted the lowest bid of $3.02 million. Work will begin in mid-October. No work will take place between Nov. 22 and Jan. 1 because of the holidays.

The foundation work is expected to take six months to complete.

So, rents are supposed to level off by 2010, says an expert in adivising apartment owners and managers.

Is it 'to hell with the rest of you?'

By Jennifer Hall

It's Sunday afternoon. My husband and daughter are out of the house and I'm at my usual weekend station: at the kitchen sink, by the kitchen window hurriedly scouring the dishes. Housework has once again become a sporadic task, now that school has started.

A small Sunday crew, a contractor and two teenaged young men pull up in an extended cab truck, and proceed to do some work around the monolith still under construction across the street.

needs customers

Nice story on the small family businesses not being able to survive in Ballard. It is a shame, and I think the small family businesses are what made and still make Ballard a great neighborhood. People just need to search them out. I am the fourth generation operator of Mike's Chili Parlor near the Ballard Bridge.

With all of the development on my block, I get a lot of people telling me how great it is that we stick around and have not given in to the development around us.

I have enjoyed reading your local newspaper. My son and I have lived in Ballard for over 26 years. My son, Joshua, has cerebral palsy, which means he is unable to do a lot of things himself.

Over the years, we have found the local businesses have always looked out for him. The people at Safeway, McDonald's, Burger King, Hollywood Video, Bartells, Ballard Library, Azteca and Ballard Market have always treated him with kindness and care. They all call me Joshua's Mom. I can never thank them enough for all they have done for him and me.