August 2008

Near 30th and Andover, a suspicious citizen reported two men taking pictures of a neighbor?s house from the porch. When officers questioned the pair, they said they were simply taking photos for a MySpace web page. But one of the men had an outstanding felony fugitive warrant and was booked into King County Jail. And in Arbor Heights, someone called 911 to report an obviously drunk man standing in the road throwing small rocks at a house. When some neighbor children came out to play, the citizen was worried and told them to go back inside. The man turned out to be a homeless sex offender.

What do giant metal instruments, a geodesic dome and people in amazing costumes on stilts have in common? The 2008 Arts-in-Nature Festival was held at Camp Long in West Seattle August 23rd - 24th. Fire performers, string quartets, dance troupes and an outdoor museum of sound were all part of an incredible array of talent blending art, seen, produced, and made interactive all in a natural setting.

The festival showcased many local performing artists, sound artists and ensembles including: Lelavision, Phffft!

I've been following your coverage of the green fee repeal effort in the Ballard News-Tribune and wanted to bring to your attention the funding coming from the Virginia-based American Chemical Council that is working behind the scenes to support the signature drive. I feel that it is disingenuous to offer Op-Ed space to Jan Gee of the Washington Food Industry without pointing out in your reporting where much of their funding for their campaign originates.

Justin Rolfe-Redding

Co-Coordinator

Bring Your Own Bag

After reading about another report (Ballard police, Aug. 13) of another intoxicated man who was trespassed from a Ballard convenience store after he slurped down a couple of drinks and then spent 30 minutes dickering over the prices of the beverages, an energy bar, and cigarettes.

Maybe our drug laws aren't working. Maybe the wrong drug is illegal.

It is certainly not surprising that the alcohol industry is coughing up so much dough to our nation's decision-makers. For one thing, they want to protect their turf.

Please stop calling this 20-cent charge for a plastic or paper bag a tax. It is not a tax. It is not mandatory, you can avoid it by bringing reusable bags. These are being given away by many progressive groups already, and will be available at Sustainable Ballard's Fall Festival customized by sewers set up in the Ballard library.

The oil saved by not turning it into plastic bags is significant, the fewer trees we cut down for brown bags the better. Europeans have been bringing their own bags for decades.

This is in response to Michael R. Fox's letter regarding biofuels (Aug. 20). While he may not like ethanol and makes some valid points about its energy content vs. gasoline, these same points do not hold water when talking about an arguably 'better' biofuel - biodiesel.

There is effectively insignificant mpg lost vs. petro diesel, because the energy content is roughly the same while pollution from biodiesel is dramatically lower in almost every measure.

Thanks for the editorial and article on the new bag tax. I'm the first to sign, but unfortunately, I haven't seen a single petition gatherer at the usual corner, nor at Safeway. Maybe this weekend?

Bob Miller

Seattle

The Seattle City Council's proposed "Megahouse Legislation" will be debated in a public hearing on Sept. 22 and could take effect as early as November.

In response to community outcry against new, massive homes that tower over their neighbors the bill was introduced on July 28. It would modify the land use and zoning standards of single-family neighborhoods for the first time since 1982.

"The building design profession has changed dramatically since then," said Richard Conlin, Seattle City Council president.

Democrats John Burbank and Reuven Carlyle are battling each to take over Rep. Helen Sommers' seat in the 36th Legislative District, and after the results of the Aug.

New traffic circles are being installed at two Ballard intersections that ranked as high priority for "calming measures" based on collision, speed and traffic volume statistics.

Traffic circles are being put in place at Northwest 64th Street and 22nd Avenue Northwest and at 10th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 67th Street.