July 2009

With high temperatures predicted in the 90s this week, city of Seattle facilities, including parks, libraries and the Seattle Center are offering people a way to cool off and stay safe during the heat of the day.

● West Seattle and Southwest Seattle Senior Centers are air conditioned.

● Seattle Parks and Recreation offers indoor swimming at:

- Ballard Pool, 1471 N.W. 67th St.

- Southwest Pool, 2801 S.W. Thistle

- Evans Pool, 7201 E. Green Lake Drive N.

- Madison Pool, 13401 Meridian N.

- Meadowbrook Pool, 10515 35th Ave. N.E.

- Queen Anne Pool, 1920 First Ave. W.

- Medgar Evers Pool, 500 23rd Ave.

- Rainier Beach Pool, 8825 Rainier Ave. S.

Indoor and outdoor swimming pools are $2.75 for children and seniors, and $4 for adults.  For more information on outdoor public pools, beaches, spray features and wading pools: www.seattle.gov/parks.

● The International Fountain at Seattle Center will extend its hours of operation from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

● The Fountain of Creation, a large wading pool and fountain located in the Seattle Center’s Northwest Rooms’ lower courtyard, also
provides a place to cool down.

Ken and Laurie Tatt already owned a Schnauzer, Ashley, when they learned about a group of people who travel to other states and retrieve rescue dogs from "High Kill" shelters.

Typically, animals in these places are kept around three days before being euthanized. They got the newest member of their family, Mylo, this way. He's a miniature Schnauzer and he's changed their lives.

Ken is usually up early taking Mylo for a walk and Mylo is always on someone's lap when he is home. At night, he occasionally falls asleep in their living room but will wake up and join them on the bed when he realizes they've gone.

When the Tatt's first got Mylo he was a bit thin so they had him checked out by a local Vet and since then, "He's done really well," said Laurie.

He's had an effect on Ashley too. Ashley is 13 years old and acts her age but Mylo (who even looks like Ashley) has perked up and they are great companions now.

When they come in from a walk, Mylo will spin around, and around and run into the laundry room. He knows that's where the treats are stored.

The Seattle Planning Commission and the Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee are hosting a meeting tonight, July 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. to discuss progress on updating neighborhood plans.

The meeting will take place at the Delridge Community Center Gym, 4501 Delridge Way S.W., for the following neighborhood plans: Admiral, West Seattle Junction, Morgan Junction, Delridge, Westwood/Highland Park and Georgetown.

The two citizen groups want people from the community talk about how their neighborhood has changed since its neighborhood plan was adopted more than 10 years ago.

Comments and input at this meeting will help the city complete a status report that will look at how well each neighborhood plan is achieving its goals and strategies.

This first series of meetings will provide an opportunity to learn about the neighborhood plan, the projects that have been implemented, and growth and changes that have occurred since the plan was written in the late 1990s.

Issues, such as growth, transportation, housing, economic development , basic utilities, neighborhood character, open space and parks, public services, public safety, among other issues, will be explored.

The homeless encampment Nickelsville last week moved from its location on state owned property in South Park, after being ordered to vacate by the state transportation department, and set up camp on Port of Seattle owned Terminal 107, 4700 West Marginal Way.

But Port of Seattle officials have also ordered the camp off its property, citing legal reasons. But Nickelsville has announced it plans to stay on Port property despite the mandate to leave.

According to Nickelsville, the Port is seeking and unlawful detainer order, which will allow police to enter and evacuate the encampment at Terminal 107 Park. Nickelsville anticipates it will take the rest of this week for the Courts to process this.

Official response from the Nickelsville camp:

"Nickelsville goes on. Many have helped us make this opportunity to stay together and safe out of very little. Today's update focuses on how to keep Nickelsville safe from police action on its Permanent Site at Terminal 107.

A contractor working for the Seattle Department of Transportation will close 16th Avenue Southwest to northbound traffic at Southwest
Findlay Street (at the north end of South Seattle Community College) starting at 7 a.m. tomorrow, July 28, until early September.

For motorists traveling north on 16th Avenue with destinations north of Findlay, the detour will begin at Southwest Austin Street/Dumar Way Southwest/Southwest Orchard Street and Delridge Way Southwest. There is no other through street north of Southwest Austin to allow traffic to get north of Southwest Findlay

According to the Seattle Department of Transportation, there may be some traffic interruptions with assistance of flaggers this week, but they will be short in duration.

The Seattle Department of Transportation is reconstructing the worst section of 16th Avenue Southwest.

This project is part of the “Bridging the Gap” transportation levy approved by Seattle voters.

This project will involve reconstruction and minor widening of the roadway on 16th Avenue Southwest between Southwest Findlay Street and Southwest Brandon Street.

Work includes:

This year's Ballard Seafood Fest may have hit its peak at early in the weekend.

That's because at 1:15 p.m. on Saturday, 10 brave contestants took the stage to compete in the annual Lutefisk Eating Contest.

Lutefisk is a Scandinavian dish in which fish is soaked in lye until it takes on a gelatinous consistency. It is incredibly pungent and definitely an acquired taste.

Festival-goers packed Bergen place to catch a glimpse of the gastric feat. Sounds of simultaneous disgust and encouragement filled the air.

This year's competition consisted of three rounds. The five contestants who were able to eat a pound of lutefisk quickest were sent on to the second round.

The three who conquered the second-round's half-pound of fish first went on to the championship round.

The final round, consisting of contestants Dora, Keith and Sam, featured slightly more than a half-pound of lutefisk.

After a photo finish and some deliberation, the judges declared Keith the winner over Sam. But both were awarded cash prizes.

Did the judges make the right call? Watch the video and decide for yourself.

Lynn Gering, the Chief Appraiser in the King County Assessor’s Office for the past 11 years, was unanimously appointed today by the Metropolitan King County Council and sworn in to serve as King County Assessor until the results of the November general election are certified.

"I feel very fortunate to work with professional men and women who have collectively earned national recognition as an outstanding assessment office," said Gering upon her appointment. “We will continue to carry forward and provide the citizens of King County the good government they deserve."

Gering was serving as Chief Appraiser in the Assessor’s office with responsibility for developing the revaluation plan and overseeing the annual valuation of more than 700,000 real and personal property parcels totaling $340 billion. Gering has also served as Deputy Assessor as well as an appraiser in the Department of Assessments. 

As weather forecasters predict an unusually long stretch of record and near-record high temperatures in Seattle this week, Seattle City Light wants to remind its customers that they can stay cool while conserving energy and keeping their electricity bills low.

Temperatures are expected to reach 91 degrees today, 92 degrees on Tuesday and a high of 95 degrees on Wednesday.

According to the city, one of the best ways to keep your house cool is not to let the outside heat inside. Keeping the windows closed during the day and covered by blinds or drapes can significantly reduce the amount of heat gained through a window.

Exterior shades work well. Also, good insulation not only keeps your house warm in the winter, it helps keep you cool in the summer.

Other money-saving tips include:

1.Give appliances a break. Limit the use of ranges and stoves, dishwashers, dryers, washing machines and other heat-producing equipment especially during mid-day.

2.Prepare cool meals, such as salads and sandwiches. If you must cook a hot meal, wait until later in the evening when it's cooler.

On Monday, July 27 at around 3:04 a.m. a Honda Accord driven by a 27-year-old man was traveling eastbound on Northwest Market Street. As the driver approached Northwest 55th Street/4th Avenue Northwest where Northwest Market curves to southeast bound, the Honda hit the raised traffic inland at the apex of the curve, left the roadway and struck a steel light pole on the east side of Northwest Market Street.

The Honda landed in the northwest bound lanes of Northwest Market approximately 30 feet southwest of the pole.

Seattle Fire Medics responded and cut the driver out of his vehicle. He was treated for his injuries on scene and then transported to Harborview Medical Center for additional care. His injuries have been described as non life-threatening.

Traffic collision investigation detectives responded to the scene to investigate the collision and process the collision site.

It appears that excessive speed may have been a factor in this collision.

On Tuesday, July 28, 7 p.m. at Corinthians Yacht Club at Shilshole Marina there will be a benefit to support the Seattle Fisherman's Memorial, which was dedicated in 1988

There is a $25 minimum donation at the door for each attendee.  A minimum donation entitles all to all you can eat food, beer and wine at the Marina. 
 
Food will be featured from Smokin Pete's BBQ, just named No. 7 best barbecue joint on the West Coast by Sunset Magazine.

The Seattle Fishermen's Memorial is a bronze and stone aggregate monument at Seattle's Fishermen's Terminal. It culminated years of effort and contributions by Seattle's commercial fishing community.

This towering sculpture and the bronze name plaques at its base have become a place of reverence, recognition and healing for the families of more than 675 local commercial fishermen and women who have lost their lives pursuing their livelihood since the turn of the last century. 

At the barbecue, those attending will learn about more opportunities to support the memorial. 
   
Big Boat Sponsor-  $500.00 Invitation will feature Business Logo.   

Little Boat Sponsor- $250.00 Invitation will feature name.