April 2010

The Myrtle Street Reservoir project at 35th Ave. S.W. and S.W. Myrtle Street is nearing the point at which Seattle Public Utilities will complete their maintenance and update work and hand the project over to the Seattle Parks Department to get the process of creating the planned park on the site underway.

Plans for the Myrtle Reservoir Park include a central plaza, a children's play area, railroad tie stairways, and some concrete seatwalls. Seattle Public Utilities is replacing its open reservoirs around the city with underground structures that will improve the quality and security of the water supply.

The Woodland Park Zoo euthanized a 19-year-old, male elk April 13 due to a decline in health from age-related concerns, including limited mobility, joint discomfort and poor eyesight.

Despite treatments that included anti-inflammatory medication for the control of joint associated discomfort, the life of the elk, named Woody, had become compromised, according to a zoo press release.

The elk arrived at the zoo as a young calf in 1991.

During recent weeks, the zoo’s animal management and animal health staff had been closely monitoring the elk’s mobility, condition and pain levels, according to the press release.

“It became increasingly apparent he was in discomfort from suspected osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, not uncommon in geriatric animals, including humans,” Dr. Darin Collins, the zoo’s director of animal health, said in the press release. “Our staff had successfully managed his arthritid joint disease with supplements; however, during the last month he began declining in his comfort level with signs of increased mobility challenges and a reduced appetite. Euthanizing the animal was the most humane option in his continued care.”

No matter what the Ballard High School boys soccer team did in its April 13 match, Issaquah had an answer for them.

Brent Campbell gave Ballard a 1-0 lead early off a Jacob Kutrakun assist in the 13th minute.

But, Issaquah pulled even one minute later on Carter Michell's goal.

Adal Tedla put the Beavers back in front with a goal at the 20-minute mark.

Three minutes later, Issaquah's Lucas Morais evened the score.

Both teams were held scoreless for the next 56 minutes until Issaquah's Michael Axelson scored the game-winning goal in the final minute of play.

Unfortunately for Ballard fans, the Beavers had no answer for that.

Ballard is 0-3-2 in KingCo and 1-5-3 overall.

The Beavers take on Redmond at 7:30 p.m. on April 16 at Redmond High School.

The Ballard High School lacrosse team defeated North Kitsap 10-5 April 12 for its third win in its last four matches.

Junior Jayne Barnes, the Beavers' leading scorer this season, finished with a team-high three goals.

Juniors Haley Jackson, India Posner and Maddie Soukup finished with two apiece, and junior Kelsey Barta chipped in a goal as well.

Sophomore goalie Hannah Breton had four saves.

After winning only two games in their inaugural season last year, the Beavers have evened their record at 3-3 this season.

Next up is Tahoma at 5:15 p.m. on April 14 at Tahoma High School.

The Chief Sealth Choral Department and Mariachi Chief Sealth will host the eighth annual Tamale Dinner on Saturday, April 17th from 5:30-8:00pm.

This lively evening features performances by the Intermediate Choir, Honor Choir, Men’s Vocal Ensemble and the Sealth Singers as well as Mariachi Chief Sealth, Mariachi Seattle Azteca and Mariachi Quinto Sol. This event has become a “must attend” event so purchase your tickets early – seating is limited!

By Tim Burgess, Seattle City Council

Ed. Note: This column originally appeared in Tim Burgess' "City View" newsletter.

Can we have less crime and less punishment at the same time? I think we can.

The Seattle City Council will vote April 19 on a new aggressive solicitation ordinance, the first step in our efforts to reduce crime and make our streets and sidewalks safer for everyone.

The new law passed out of committee last week on a 3-1 vote; Conlin, Bagshaw and myself in favor, Licata opposed.

The ordinance is part of a five-point plan to address street crime and disorder. It has generated heated objections from some who claim it attacks the homeless and sweeps our city of people who look unpleasant or make us uncomfortable.

That's simply not true. In fact, the leaders of major human-service providers fully support this legislation, including the heads of the YWCA, YMCA, Downtown Emergency Service Center, Plymouth Housing, Union Gospel Mission and the Compass Center.

It's important to understand the philosophical underpinnings of this ordinance and why it is crucial that it be adopted.

The 15th Annual Greenwood/Phinney ArtWalk will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on May 14 and noon to 5 p.m. on May 15.

Designed to promote the arts and businesses in the neighborhood, the ArtWalk is a popular neighborhood party and this year features more than 100 artists in 60 businesses along Greenwood Avenue and Phinney Avenue between N.W. 59th Street and North 87th Street.

The ArtWalk includs paintings, sculptures, photography, prints, glass, metal and fiber art, ceramics and mixed media.

On Friday night, attendees will have an opportunity to meet the artists, and there will be a variety of entertainment, including musical performances in participating businesses and churches and chalk art for children.

The Jurors’ Top Picks will be featured at the Phinney Center Gallery, located at 6532 Phinney Ave. N., during the ArtWalk and through May 30.

ArtWalk maps will be available the week of the event at participating businesses as well as the Greenwood Neighborhood Service Center, located at 8515 Greenwood Ave. N., the Greenwood Library, located at 8016 Greenwood Ave. N., and the Phinney Neighborhood Center, located at 6532 Phinney Ave. N.

In about two months, foster kids graduate along with the other high school students at West Seattle and Chief Sealth. But there can be a big difference. Most of the other students will continue to have a roof over their head as they find a job or college to attend, and will also have a family support system in place to help keep them on track at this difficult transitional age. Not so for “foster alumni,” who “age out of the system” once they turn 18.

And because most foster kids were raised in an unstable, sometimes abusive, home environment, they are, as a group, ill equipped to take on the world in their late teens. Many falter.

“There isn’t a single point like an 18th birthday where foster youth are independent,” said Sean Walsh, with the YMCA of Greater Seattle.

On May 28, 2009, incense was lit, a ribbon was cut, speeches were made and the Vong family’s 26,500 square-foot White Center Square development was under way, on an acre-plus vacant lot on the corner of 15th Avenue SW and Southwest 100th Street. The $11 million project’s White Center Market, the Vongs’ Vietnamese restaurant, and at least three of eight smaller shops will open in July. They include a mortgage broker, jewelry store and hair salon. Five vacancies remain and they seek tenants.

Financing presented a problem for the Vongs, and they sought help from White Center Community Development Association. They connected the Vongs to the National Development Council via King County. The Council is under contract with the county.

“We are a financing technical assistance provider to cities and counties, and help governments figure out how to get communities to finance important development projects,” said Michelle Morlan, director of the National Development Council for King County. “They talked to many banks. The banks said it was way too risky for a small business to fund such a big project. That’s where we came in.

Liberty Belle, the most recently restored World War II Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress “Liberty Belle” will take to the skies over Seattle on Monday, April 19th (Media flights April 19th at 11am, Public flights available April 24-25 ) Flight hours are 10am to 5pm each day

The Liberty Foundation’s B-17 “Liberty Belle” is one of only 14 B-17’s that still fly today. The B-17 dubbed the “Flying Fortress” as a result of her defensive fire power saw action in every theater of operation during WWII. The majority of all WWII B-17’s were operated by the 8th Airforce in Europe and participated in countless missions from bases in England deep into enemy territory. There were 12,732 B-17’s produced between 1935 and 1945, of these 4,735 were lost in combat. Following WWII, the B-17 saw combat in three more wars, B-17’s saw service in Korea, Israel used them in the war of 1948 and was even used during Vietnam.

“Liberty Belle” was built toward the end of the war and never saw any combat. It is painted in the colors and nose art of the original “Liberty Belle” B-17 that flew countless missions with the 390th bomb group of the mighty 8th Airforce.