September 2009

Nuke search exercise off Alki and beyond

More than 300 maritime law enforcement and first responder personnel from 23 federal, state, local and tribal agencies participated in an operational maritime exercise in Puget Sound Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 22 and 23.

They were simulating attempts by small boats to smuggle nuclear weapons into the area, particularly Elliott Bay and the Canadian Border because of it being a possible target during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

A serious game of cat and mouse played out. The small vessels, those under 300 gross tons, were loaded with safe, low-level radioactive materials. Law enforcement craft were armed with radiation detectors at lines drawn in the water, or “choke points” set up at Admiralty Inlet, Bellingham Bay and North Skagit Bay.

The boats carrying radiation attempted to breach the choke points.

For on-shore back-up. three temporary shore-based hazmet centers, in La Conner, Bellingham and Port Townsend were operated by members of the Washington State Patrol bomb squad, the Federal Bureau of Investigation bomb technicians, and the 10th Civil Support Team, a National Guard Unit.

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Meet with Parks chief Oct. 1

Seattle Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent Tim Gallagher will be at the High Point Community Center Thursday, Oct. 1. from 7 to 9 p.m. to meet with residents and discuss concerns and ideas.

The public is invited to meet parks' staff and have conversations about what is working and what can be improved within the department.

It's also an opportunity talk with the superintendent about ideas to build community relationships and make parks' programs and services respond best to the needs of those living in the High Point community.

The High Point Community Center is located at 6920 34th Ave. S.W., 206-684-7422.

Neighborhood
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Northwest council worries outreach could lead to loss of focus

City seeks to increase community involvement in district councils

After its second meeting to discuss the city’s idea to boost community involvement within Seattle’s 13 neighborhood district councils, some members of the Northwest District Council were concerned that increasing the amount of stakeholders could shake the the focus of council goals.

In a partnership with Imago Organizational Design, the city's mission is to work with each of Seattle's district councils to support their ongoing efforts to engage and involve all community members within their district, according to the Department of Neighborhoods.

The cities 13 district councils are composed of representatives from community organizations within that district, which makes recommendations to the city on a number of issues.

“The Department of Neighborhoods recognizes that the groups are already doing a lot of great work, so it’s an opportunity to strengthen what’s already happening,” Angela Powell, a primary consultant from Imago Organizational Design previously told the Ballard News-Tribune.

Neighborhood
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Romantic comedy 'Enchanted April' opens this weekend

Bask in the warmth and enchantment of Italy without leaving Seattle during Taproot Theatre Company’s production of "Enchanted April," opening at Greenwood's Taproot Theatre on Sept. 25.

Elizabeth von Arnim’s resplendent 1920s novel comes to life on stage in this Tony Award-nominated play by Matthew Barber. The enticement of an enchanting Italian holiday captivates the hearts of two British housewives on a drizzly London afternoon in 1922, and fills their imaginations with wisteria and sunshine.

By the time they arrive at their Mediterranean villa, an aging matron and a young socialite have joined their quest for something more. The gardens, sea, cinnamon and pasta are just the beginning of the transformation they discover.

"Enchanted April," directed by associate artistic director Karen Lund, opens on Sept. 25 and runs through Oct. 24 with low-price previews on Sept. 23 and 24, plus a pay-what-you-can performance on Sept. 30.

Neighborhood
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Target Northwest cleans up Roxhill school

School awarded a $5,000 grant

In partnership with Roxhill Elementary School, approximately 45 employees of Target Stores Northwest, spearheaded by the West Seattle Target, store came to the school on Friday, Sept. 25 to build benches, landscape the grounds, "re-do" the library and read to students.

Target also awarded the school a $5,000 grant.

Roxhill was chosen, according to Target "School Library Makeovers" Program Manager Kate Prucich, because of its need.

She met with school officials and Librarian Pat Bliquez to review the school's needs, and since the library is due for a complete remodel next summer, they chose to clean and disinfect all the books, add new section dividers, re-do book covers on worn paperbacks and do a general clean up of the shelves.

Target also funded and built a new outdoor reading "nook" and donated $1,000 worth of new books.

Neighborhood
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Lane closures next week on viaduct, Aurora Bridge

Next Monday, Sept. 28, through Friday, Oct. 2, a Seattle Department of Transportation crew will make repairs to a damaged guard rail on the Alaskan Way Viaduct. 

During the work each day, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the right northbound lane will be closed between College and Massachusetts streets.  

Also on Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the transportation department will make expansion joint repairs on the Aurora Bridge, closing the left lane southbound for about two-thirds the length of the bridge and the northbound left lane prior to the bridge deck will also be closed. 

Advance warning signs will alert motorists of the lane closures.

Motorists can expect slowing of traffic and are urged to use caution through the work zones on both structures.

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SLIDESHOW: Sneak peak of new Shelter Lounge

Employees and guests of Turnstyle, the Market Street graphic design agency, got a sneak peak at Ballard's newest bar, Shelter Lounge, Sept. 24.

Turnstyle was celebrating its fifth anniversary at the new bar, which is located at 4910 Leary Ave. N.W.

Shelter owner Kevin Carlson, a Ballard native and 1994 Ballard High School graduate, said the bar is still a few weeks from being ready to open.

Carlson has friends at Turnstyle and agreed to host the party for them, which forced him to hurry to get the bar usable, he said.

One Turnstyle employee and friend of Carlson said the floor had been covered in sawdust only a few hours before the party.

Carlson, who could be seen moving about the bar with a phone in one hand and a power drill in the other, said there is still a lot of work to do before he is ready for the public to see Shelter.

For example, the large outdoor fire pit still needs to be installed, as do the outdoor tables, and most of the plants that will surround the patio have not yet been planted.

The roofed patio and circular bar that is half inside and half outside are the distinguishing features of the bar.

Neighborhood
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Fly me to the moon...

During the evening of September 24, photographer Seth Bynum captured this image of a commuter plane staging its landing over Federal Way en route to Sea Tac Airport.

Clear skies in Federal Way made for sunny days and crisp nights, as autumn finally sets in throughout western Washington.

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Church dedicates new labyrinth

Dear Editor,

It is part of an ancient tradition - a tradition that ranges from the maze that held the Minotaur, to the floor of the Chartres Cathedral, to the hopscotch painted on your neighborhood playground. It symbolizes life, and pilgrimage, and wisdom. And you can find it at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Ballard.

It’s the prayer and meditation labyrinth on the church’s north lawn, officially opened and dedicated on Sept. 13, 2009. Located at 6512 12th Ave. N.W., just east of Ballard High School, St. Paul’s has long worked to make its grounds a welcoming, healing, and reflective space, open to the whole community.

Its Serenity Garden, designated an official Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary, provides a peaceful, shady respite to all who enter it.

Its monthly pancake breakfast nourishes bodies as well as souls. And now, with the addition of the labyrinth, St. Paul’s offers a space for walking prayer and meditation, one of humanity’s oldest spiritual traditions.

Neighborhood

TJ thumped by Trojans

Raiders defense no match for Auburn

The 0-0 tie at kickoff marked the closest these two SPSL teams would come during the one-sided wallop spearheaded by a strong Auburn offense.

Thomas Jefferson had no match for the run or passing game of the Trojans, nor did the Raiders recover from a 35-point first quarter scoring blitz that no doubt took the wind out of TJ's sails.

Special teams kickoff returner Phillip Haywood provided one of the few bright spots for the Raiders during the first quarter. The senior ran back an Auburn kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown.

TJ added the extra point, but the Raiders still trailed 35-7 at the end of the first quarter.

The Raiders tacked on another touchdown before the end of the game, but Auburn added another 20 points to their total to finish out a total blowout, 55-14.

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