July 2009

Dear Editor,

Global warming and its dire consequences expounded in an article in the West Seattle Herald (July 8); “A Better Way To Slow Global Warming” is an example of what weather Channel founder John Coleman described as the greatest scam in history.

The article’s apocalyptic, sky is falling predictions: “flooding In the Northeast, higher temperatures that could wipe out maple sugar farms, apple orchards and cranberry bogs in new England, rising sea levels that will lead to coastal flooding are typical of the hysterical scare tactics now being used to convince the American public to accept more draconian government control over their lives.

These predictions are dead wrong and are based on a global temperature rise of less than 1ºC for the entire 20th century!

One thing we can agree with is the article’s criticism of cap and trade solutions to the problem “cap and trade would create a volatile market -- to the tune of $1 trillion -- in carbon futures and derivatives. Energy prices would be unpredictable, making it difficult for consumers and businesses to plan and budget their energy use.

Two famous Seattleites will appear in parades this weekend in a electric car.

On Saturday, July 18, JP Patches will ride in the West Seattle American Legion Parade sponsored by John L Scott of Westwood. The parade starts at 11 a.m. and stages in the Admiral district.

On Sunday, July 19, Mayor Greg Nickels will ride in the Seafair Chinatown parade. That parade is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. and stages at 10th and Jackson.

The car is completely a electric replica of a 1929 Mercedes SSK Roadster. It used no gas, emits no fumes or sound.

Dear Editor,

Larry Phillips is the only candidate in this race that has put forth a substantive and visionary agenda for the future of King County.

It began with his environmentally sound Greenprint, which simultaneously proposes a strong environmental outlook with an economic foresight for mass transit. Now, Phillips has expanded on revitalizing our economy in his Jobs Now economic action agenda.

In it, Phillips projects to bring 69,000 jobs to the region by expanding Sound Transit 2 and wants to increase financial investment in vocational institutes for green jobs training. Investing in mass transit to stimulate private investment in communities and working to expand the county’s jobs training programs leads us in the right direction to competitive and thriving job markets.

The labor communities of Seattle/King County Building and Construction Trades Council, Ironworkers Local 86 and the Washington State Council of County and City Employees among others recognize the optimistic future Phillips has for King County and I join them in supporting Larry Phillips for King County Executive.

Peter Jay Koshi
North Seattle

The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods is hosting two technical assistance workshops, one in Ballard, to help community organizations learn how to apply for the Small and Simple Project Fund through the Neighborhood Matching Fund.

Participants will learn everything from developing their project idea to understanding permitting requirements in preparation for the August 31 application deadline, the last application cycle of the year. The workshops are free and will be taught by Neighborhood Matching Fund project managers.

WHAT: Neighborhood Matching Fund Technical Assistance Workshops

WHEN: Monday, August 3, 6 to 7:45 p.m.

WHERE: Ballard branch of Seattle Public Library, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W.

or

WHEN: Saturday, July 25, 10 to 11:45 a.m.

WHERE: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way S.W.

RSVP: Wendy Watson at 206-684-0719 or wendy.watson@seattle.gov

FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/

The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods is hosting two technical assistance workshops, one in West Seattle, to help community organizations learn how to apply for the Small and Simple Project Fund through the Neighborhood Matching Fund.

Participants will learn everything from developing their project idea to understanding permitting requirements in preparation for the August 31 application deadline, the last application cycle of the year. The workshops are free and will be taught by Neighborhood Matching Fund project managers.

WHAT: Neighborhood Matching Fund Technical Assistance Workshops

WHEN: Saturday, July 25, 10 to 11:45 a.m.

WHERE: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way S.W.

or

WHEN: Monday, August 3, 6 to 7:45 p.m.

WHERE: Ballard branch of Seattle Public Library, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W.

RSVP: Wendy Watson at 206-684-0719 or wendy.watson@seattle.gov

FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/

Since the last Seattle Public Schools student walked out the door of Crown Hill Elementary in 1978, a mishmash of School District programs, arts and community organizations, and other businesses have made their home in the building with an uncertain future.

Now, with the Seattle School District's June 30 sale of the building to Small Faces Child Development Center, the tenants of the Crown Hill Center, as it will now be known, are looking forward to a bright future.

"The overarching goal is to make the center even more vibrant than it is today," said Catherine Weatbrook, project manager of the Crown Hill Center.

Small Faces has been using the 1919 building at 9250 14th Ave. N.W for more than 30 years. And, Weatbrook, who is also a Small Faces board member, said the acquisition of the property feels amazing.

"It's taken a lot of work, time, patience, all those things to come to this point and secure not only our future, but the future of the arts programs in the building," she said.

Since the district completely vacated the Crown Hill Elementary building about six years ago, the uses of the site have greatly expanded.

When writing for this blog last week, I started to write about memorial gardens. The idea came from the number of celebrity icons that passed away this spring and summer, and I was trying to put together ideas to commemorate them.

The article was lacking, I got depressed, I never sent it to my editor, and thus, it never got published. Thus, a big gaping hole in my bloggin’! What I needed was a rap on the noggin’ (I couldn’t resist that one!)!

As I sat down to write this one and tried to pick up where I left off, it occurred to me that memorial gardens can be much more than a remembrance of a loved one. The word memorial has different meanings, from honoring a person or event, to celebrating the same.

One of thefreedictionary.com’s definitions of the word memorial: “Of, relating to, or being in memory.”

Years ago, a friend always wore her hair long but one day appeared with it cut short. When asked why the change, she said, “Because I want to remember that I want to change. Now, when I look in the mirror each morning, I’ll remember that I have made the choice, and to follow through with it.”

Dear Editor,

The King County Executive race has become extremely tight in these last weeks approaching the August primaries.

While Republican Hutchison has a strong lead (for now) the Democratic candidates face fierce competition with Phillips and Constantine leading the way, subsequently the role of endorsements will play a significant role.

Though recently Constantine has received a few labor endorsements, Phillips maintains a stronghold over key labor unions such as the Washington State Council of County and City Employees, The Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, Seattle/King County Building and Construction Trades Council, and the Washington Education Association Political Action Committee.

With the primaries approaching, it will be interesting to see the impact of the labor unions and Larry pull through with such strong endorsements.

Temesgen Gebreab
Seattle

Learn how to be more green by attending B.F. Day Elementary's Rain Garden Workshop. Attendants will receive hands-on information on how to design and install a rain garden.

“Rain gardens serve as an invaluable educational tool for students to learn about the environment and specific ways to reduce the impact of urbanization on native habitats,” according to a press release from Seattle Public Schools.

The B.F. Day rain garden will provide students hands-on lessons about the importance of planting native species that will help collect, filter, and absorb pollutants from storm water runoff.

“During the school year, our students will use this outdoor lab as well as curriculum from our district, local agencies and Audubon partners to learn about complex environmental concepts including greenhouse gas management, storm water management, and ground water and soil protection,” said Principal Susan McCloskey. “This rain garden will significantly enhance our students’ understanding of urban wildlife, protection and use of urban natural resources.

The Seattle Department of Transportation is proposing that the city adopt the draft Pedestrian Master Plan, which defines the steps aimed at creating a more walkable, livable and healthy city.

The plan establishes the policies, programs, design criteria, and projects that will further enhance pedestrian safety, comfort, and access in all of Seattle’s neighborhoods.

The transportation department has determined that adoption of the plan is unlikely to result in significant adverse impacts on the environment. As a result, the department issued a Determination of Nonsignificance (DNS) on Monday, July 13.

This decision was made after review of the proposal's potential impacts on several elements of the environment, summarized in the SEPA environmental checklist.

The DNS and the SEPA checklist are available on the Pedestrian Master Plan Website: http://www.seattle.gov/mostwalkablecity.htm.

The public may comment on the DNS and checklist until 5 p.m. on July 27.

In addition, anyone may appeal this DNS by submitting a Notice of Appeal and a filing fee to the Office of the Hearing Examiner no later than 5 p.m. on August 3.