June 2008

The viaduct has stopped sinking.

Crews with the Washington State Department of Transportation found no additional settling in the structure during a quarterly inspection last week Tuesday.

Bents 93 and 94, the two pairs of columns and their cross braces between Columbia and Yesler streets, have not moved since measures taken in March, and since new foundations were completed in April.

"This is good news, but the viaduct is still vulnerable in an earthquake," said Ron Paananen, Washington State Department of Transportation Urban Corridors Office deputy director,

With a system already intact to help the people of Seattle get quick answers and services to their basic city needs such as water, power, parks, roads and public safety, the city is still finding their service not up to par to what individuals need and are looking for.

Over the years and after receiving over 10 million phone calls, thousands of e-mails, letters and visits from people looking for help in their neighborhoods and in the city, the city says it has noticed three problems customers are running into with the current service.

First, most individuals do not know w

In the popular film, "This is Spinal Tap," Michael McKean's character, David St. Hubbins considers two album cover images, one sexually tasteless, the other sexually "artistic." He then recites the now classic line, "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever."

There is also a fine line between strip tease and burlesque, and the Admiral Theater wants to take the high road with three summer performances by Burning Hearts Burlesque.

South Seattle Community College has announced the selection of Joseph Hauth as director of the Puget Sound Industrial Excellence Center at the college's Georgetown campus, located in the heart of the Duwamish manufacturing corridor in South Seattle.

In this new position, Hauth will work with partners in business, labor, government, community and education to develop new training and industry support programs, with a special focus on the Duwamish area manufacturing corridor.

The public will be asked to comment on a city proposal that would ban certain uses of "expanded" polystyrene and encourage people to use reusable shopping bags, says Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin.

The hearing will on Tuesday, July 8 at 7 p.m.

A woman regretted inviting a stranger to stay at her house after he picked up a kitchen knife and attacked a box of Fruit Loops, declaring he was a "cereal killer." She ran to the SW Precinct to report in the incident. An officer accompanied her back home and stood by while the man gathered his things and left the apartment.

A 911 caller reported hearing gunshots and then finding a dead crow.

Ballard businessman Brian Robinson grew up cheering for the Seattle Sonics and now he is fighting to keep the team from moving to Oklahoma.

Robinson started the organization Save Our Sonics the day after Clay Bennett and other Oklahoma investors purchased the team for $350 million in 2006.

A Ballard woman has formed her own army in the fight against breast cancer.

When the 2008 Komen Puget Sound Race for the Cure happened on June 21, Ann McMurray brought "Ann E's Army," with over 105 supporters who have raised money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure Puget Sound.

"I am very proud to be the captain of such a great group of people that I have met during my life," said McMurray. They include childhood friends, co-workers, friends from college and friends she has met through others.

"Ann E's Army," has raised $10,000 each year since 2003.

Kids are spending more time indoors with the growing popularity of technology given to them each day. Computers, video games, and television are taking over and it's getting more difficult to get kids to enjoy the simple pleasures of the outdoors.

Recently, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has been avidly promoting Seattle to get kids outdoors through the No Child Left Inside Initiative.

The Ballard Avenue Landmark District Board considered changes in appearance of local establishments with an iron fist.

A few local business owners came before the District Board last week to discuss various changes they wanted to make to their establishments.

The majority of the meeting was spent in heated discussion over the restoration of the Olympic Athletic Club sign on Ballard Avenue.