March 2010

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) today announced the selection of a multi-disciplinary team led by Tetra Tech .

The firm has extensive experience with delivering multi-disciplinary design efforts, enhancing marine habitats, preparing environmental documentation and providing permit support for large, complex projects involving land and water. The city’s interview panel, which included representatives from SDOT, the Seattle Design Commission and several other city departments, ranked Tetra Tech as the top firm of four teams interviewed.

Built between 1916 and 1934, the seawall runs along Elliott Bay in downtown Seattle from South Washington St to Broad St. Tetra Tech will be responsible for assisting the city of Seattle in replacing the central portion from S Washington St to Pine St, which is anticipated to cost $285 million. SDOT is seeking to replace the seawall with a long-term solution that meets seismic standards, improves habitat, and provides effective protection for the public, waterfront facilities and economic activities.

The effective date for North Highline residents to become City of Burien residents is April 1. Residents of the southern section of North Highline voted on Aug. 18, 2009, to annex to the city.

As part of the annexation process, the city is required to conduct a special census of all housing units. A census worker wearing a fluorescent vest and a City of Burien identification badge between March 12 and April 25 will visit households in the annexation area. The only information required in this census is the names of all individuals residing in a household.

Annexation residents may also provide this census information directly, at any time after March 12th, by calling the Burien Census Hotline at 1-800-635-6594. The Census Hotline is available 24 hours a day. Any information provided will be held confidential. Cooperating with this special annexation census ensures that Burien receives a full share of state funds allotted for essential public services.

In a speech before the King County Council today County Executive Dow Constantine marked his first 100 days in office by outlining a Countywide Strategic Plan.
The primary goals outlined in the speech are for streamlining county government and increasing efficiency, even as tax revenue declines.

His plan begins with his signature of a series of executive orders including:
*Simplifying the procurement process by reducing paperwork
*Mandating shorter inquests and a tighter focus into officer involved shootings
*Establishing a "single point of accountability" to improve customer service for those dealing with the county

As part of the third order he said that people could expect answers to questions within 24 hours. Constantine said, "When we tell you we're going to call you back, we'll do it."

Constantine is proposing to establish a Cabinet-level position of Director of Labor Relations who would report directly to him and the Deputy Executive.
Constantine said "Rather than negotiate in public, we will meet with labor at the bargaining table to discuss our shared interests in an efficient and sustainable government."

All my life I have tried to refine my language to match my beliefs.

I particularly dislike bragging language. In a time of hoping for peace in the world after trillions spent on warring outside our shores, bragging does not endear our nation to people around the world. Politicians are constantly talking about this country being the greatest country in the world. This divides rather than bringing us together.
Recently I met someone for the first time and we were considering the language of making value judgments. We rate things good, better or best. But according to whose standards? Our own of course. Good and bad always require value judgments. If such judgments are not in the interest of the whole community, it is divisive.

There is nothing wrong with comparison. But when it becomes competitive to the point of angry argument we have lost our ability to get along in the world. Granted, we are constantly rated in our lives. Even elementary students are graded. When we look for a job we are rated on our background and abilities. But to face the world with a yardstick
in hand may create tension and not harmony.

Rachel Bair is at the beginning of adulthood (I am not), but we will be forever linked by a date in the future.

In June, we are going to be wedding twins as we are scheduled to be married on the same day; Rachel back with family in Ohio, me in Ballard.

Rachel is much younger but in some ways far better prepared for the event. A RE-Store employee, Rachel has developed the Salvage Bride Toolkit.

From 10 a.m. to noon on March 13, Rachel will offer a free workshop at RE-Store on Salvage Bride Basics. She plans to serve tea and homemade cake.

As a hint about how to incorporate salvaged materials into wedding planning, here is one of her suggestions, “Wire spools make excellent cake stands.”

Somewhat disgusted at the prospect of her mother being a “June Bride,” my daughter proposed the event make best use possible of recycled and/or second hand goods, from attire through decorations.

I am happy to report that Ballard’s Goodwill yielded “the dress,” which I purchased for $14.97 even though it was the only color tag not discounted that day.

Following a recent breakup, a man paid a midnight visit to his ex-girlfriend's home on 35th SW. Though he appeared to be high on PCP, she let him inside. After brushing his teeth, he went into the bedroom and became “fixated” on the ceiling tile, repeatedly poking and prodding it into the attic space until debris came tumbling down. Scared by his behavior, his ex called 911. The suspect was combative with both officers and Harborview staff, who found he was carrying three vials of unidentified liquid and a bag of rock cocaine. Following discharge from the hospital, he'll be booked into King County Jail for investigation of domestic violence property destruction and drug charges.

Hotwire Online Coffeehouse will begin offering a new option in West Seattle for the wheat and gluten intolerant West Seattleites.

Beginning March 10th, 2010 West Seattle folks will be able to pre-order and pick up some of their favorite wheat and gluten-free baked goods from 2 of Seattle’s premium bakeries: the Flying Apron and Wheatless in Seattle.

Lora Lewis, owner of Hotwire Online Coffeehouse, remarks “I’m finding more people coming into Hotwire asking for wheat and gluten-free items so it seemed natural to go out and seek some premium bakeries who were offering these types of goods”. After extensive research, 2 bakeries kept coming up, the Flying Apron who are known for their organic and wheat-free goods and Wheatless in Seattle a bakery that specializes in gluten-free breads and desserts.

“Now you’ll have another reason to shop locally” continues Lewis. You will be able to order your wheat and gluten-free baked goods through Hotwire and have them delivered each Wednesday. Hotwire will also have ready-to- purchase wheat and gluten-free items too.

Police fatally shoot pit bull

King County police responding to a call at a Burien apartment fired gunshots that killed a pit bull, reported KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.

The King County Sheriff's Office said officers who were called to a domestic violence incident at an apartment encountered a pit bull that lived in another unit.

Police said the dog charged one of the officers who then fired several shots at the dog, which died shortly after.

The Sheriff's Office said the dog was not connected to the domestic violence call.

Man accused of drowning pit bull

A Burien man has been accused of animal cruelty after he brought his girlfriend's pit bull to the Five Corners Veterinary Hospital in Burien and allegedly told staff he drowned the dog in a bathtub. He allegedly told investigators that he "just lost it" when the pit bull bit him when he was trying to bathe the dog.

Phone threats

Motel staff received threats via phone by a previous guest. There were threats of a 9mm gun, locked and loaded and ready for the victim. The guest was being charged for two missing blankets from the room they were staying in.

We can all be misled by slick marketing and propaganda.

I would have thought that couldn't possibly happen to me, critical thinker that I pride myself in being. But I have been seriously misinformed by well-credentialed experts who had my deepest admiration and respect.

How do I know? By dealing with my secret struggle of progressively declining health over the last two years. Insomnia stalked me; my entire body was highly inflamed and incredibly painful. I felt hot and angry 24/7.

I could not for the life of me understand why I was feeling so horrible when I took such good care of myself. How could I possibly tell anyone about this when I followed what I'm teaching based on what I'd been taught?

Fortunately the nutritionist I stumbled upon has helped me to begin to turn around these very troubling and "mysterious" issues that no one could get to the bottom of.

The very good news is that I have already been intuitively doing much of what I'm now learning. The other really great news is that while I'm upset about being mislead on many levels, my ego isn't so invested that I'm unable to admit these bombshells.

Over 1,000 wine aficionados attended the sixth annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival, tasting wine, sampling the food and raising money for a good cause.
All of the proceeds go to support different the charitable causes and projects of the Des Moines Rotary, who organize the event every year. Over the past five years the Poverty Bay Wine Festival has raised over $150,000, over $100,000 of which has gone toward local education in the form of scholarships and the Rotary’s project to get every third grader in Des Moines schools a dictionary.

25 Northwest Wineries participated in the event, including nine wineries new to the festival this year.
Organizers said attendance was up from last year.

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