May 2008

A brighter, cleaner Crown Hill business district is in the works, now that a city grant has been awarded for improvements in the area.

The city's Office of Economic Development has given the Crown Hill Business Association a $6,000 grant to paint murals, fight graffiti and maintain tree wells.

The association is in discussion with area businesses to decide where the murals will be painted.

"Murals create a positive identification for the neighborhood," said Jack Seifert, a treasurer and Board member of the association.

Seifert said art can be an

Before hiring a limousine or town car to celebrate your wedding or a prom, make sure it's licensed and legitimate.

"If you're planning to make your event extra special by using one of Washington's quality limo services, we suggest you do your homework," said Liz Luce, Director of the Department of Licensing. "Always check references and be sure the company is licensed."

Limousine operators in Washington are required to be licensed, carry sufficient liability insurance, and undergo annual safety inspections by the Washington State Patrol.

Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash. has endorsed Barack Obama for president.

"I am proud to endorse Barack Obama today, because I believe he will bring us together to achieve the kind of change we need in this country moving forward," the Seattle Democrat said. "As Democrats, we are fortunate to have two very talented public servants running to be the nominee of our party, and I have great respect for Senator Clinton. But I believe now is the time to unite behind Barack Obama so we can be in the strongest place possible to win in November."

Opinions were strong, and manners weren't polite, at an open house for the Alaskan Way Viaduct at Adams Elementary School last Thursday.

Placards stood on easels around the cafeteria, describing building blocks toward replacing the viaduct. Agency staff answered questions.

On flip charts titled "What do you think?" people wrote comments.

"No elevated roadway. Less funding on 99 and I-5 and more on transit."

"The surface option has condos to the edge.

A three-hour power outage along the Syttende Mai Parade route along Market Street and Ballard Avenue did not seem to dial down the electricity in the air during this year's parade of Norwegian pride and independence.

Grand Marshal Hanne Krogh, an award-winning Norwegian singer appeared with her family. "I have been to many Syttende Mai parades in towns all over Norway but have never seen anything like this," she said with a gracious grin.

According to an Oslo newspaper this was the coldest Independence Day in Norway in 50 years.

An American Automotive Association study shows the cost of driving a passenger vehicle in the United States has increased 1.9 cents per mile in the last year and now averages 54.1 cents per mile.

"While the cost of some driving expenses declined since the start of 2007, higher gasoline prices have more than offset these savings and pushed the overall cost of vehicle ownership and operation higher this year," said John Nielsen, director of the association's Approved Auto Repair network.

The Ballard Building at the corner of Market and 22nd has many doors, and many facets. The Ballard Health Club is on the bottom, the penthouse on the top, with a variety of businesses and offices on different floors. Then there are the present day merchants with their own entrances on Market Street, the Starbuck's, Annie's Art & Frame, Lombardi's.

I tend to enter and exit the building through the back, down the yellow-walled ramp to the health club, but one morning I decided to climb the stairs and exit onto Market. It was raining, which strangely surprised me.

Meet Fran Reid

This versatile home-grown McMicken Heights grade-school girl, Mount Rainier High and U of W grad has been teaching piano and voice to music lovers since she was 15 years old.

An ardent supporter of the popular musical performers, the Hi-Liners, she can lay claim to having taught many of them and you can depend on seeing her at show time in the Highline Performing Arts Center beaming with pride.

Self-taught, she and her dad played a lot of music on Saturdays and a treat was going to Farmers Music in Burien and buying sheet music.

She no

"Write about something you know," experts advise, and "clutter" is right up my alley.

Truth be-known, a fair amount of our population could probably chime in, "Me too."

Does it seem like your "clutter" is giving birth to more clutter? Suddenly it's so overwhelming the urge is to run away and hide in the middle of it all-- and eat lots of cookies and chocolate. Never mind putting wrappers in the trash either, no one can find them anyhow.

How did this clutter start and grow and what is the effect on a family?

Popcorn flick, circa 1973: My earliest memory of a popcorn flick was the Swiss Family Robinson.

Now, this presents a problem, since Google tells me the show came out in 1960, and I clearly remember seeing it at a drive-in movie with my parents in 1973.

But I digress. The fact is, The Swiss Family Robinson was my first popcorn flick.

What is a popcorn flick, you ask?

For me, 'tis heaven.

Star Wars was a popcorn flick. Die Hard was a popcorn flick to me (okay, most gals don't like the violence like I do... but I love that movie).