April 2010

Since January, the Ballard on the Park/QFC development has been the source of noise complaints from the neighborhood over the HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) units on the roof and the ventilation system from the parking garage.

In January, Jeanne Muir, spokesperson for the developers of the Ballard on the Park Apartments, told the Ballard News-Tribune the HVAC units, which can be heard humming from the adjacent Ballard Commons Park, would be visually and audibly dampened in March.

That schedule has since been moved back to April.

Muir said the shell of the HVAC dampening structure will be lifted into place on April 12. The rest of the structure will be assembled over the following weeks, she said.

The garage ventilation was causing noise issues for the apartments across from the north side of the development. Though Muir said she only heard complaints from one neighbor, she agreed with her.

"It was loud and needed to be fixed," Muir said.

She said an acoustical liner that was meant to be installed in the garage air shafts was never installed. The liner is on order and will be installed in a few weeks, she said.

Do you have questions for Mayor Mike McGinn? Why does the mayor want to add light rail to the State Route 520 bridge replacement? What will the mayor do about the City of Seattle's $50 million budget deficit? Does the mayor support the City Council's "street-civility" package with its new restrictions on panhandling? Why did the mayor send Governor Christine Gregoire a letter outlining his concerns about possible cost overruns in replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct?

On Thursday, April 15, 7 p.m. call 206-684-8821 and talk to the mayor and SEATTLE CHANNEL host C.R.Douglas. If you can't call then, call 206-684-8821 anytime (right now for instance!) and have your question recorded for the show. Or email your question by replying to this email or writing to askthemayor@seattle.gov anytime the inspiration strikes you.

Don't miss the opportunity to dialogue with City Hall’s new CEO! Also watch past episodes now by visiting http://www.seattlechannel.org/AskTheMayor/

Workers were putting the finishing touches on the new Emergency Room and Patient Care Center at Highline Medical Center in Burien on April 8th during a media walking tour. The contrast from the current cramped and outdated Emergency Room was dramatic. The new ER opens officially April 13th. Emergency Dr. Sue O'Brien provided the explanations of what the new facilities will offer including:
• 32 large, private treatment rooms with space for family members to stay with the patient, each room universally equipped to handle any emergency
• Three rooms where patients can be triaged and taken directly to a private treatment room with admitting handled at bedside
• Triage and admitting areas designed to offer privacy and to protect the confidentiality of patient information
• Two large adjoining trauma rooms with state-of-the-art equipment on moveable, overhead systems
• Three nurses’ stations placed throughout the ER for more efficient patient monitoring
• A private room for consultations and family meetings
• A separate family waiting area to create a more comfortable environment for kids and adults alike

The West Seattle Art Walk offered something for everyone, including Dave Blank's B&W doll head enlargements hanging at the Thursday night, April 8, West Seattle Art Walk, at Angelina's Trattoria just north of the Admiral Junction. He handprinted them in his basement darkroom. So what is the message he is trying to convey with his ominous images?

"There is no message," said Blank, adding, "Well, I am trying to promote 'doll awareness.' Dolls exist in West Seattle. My show includes photos of three heads from three different people, including one belonging to artist Shaun Doll."

Shaun Doll has a space in the art studio "The Building" at 4316 Southwest Othello. His work was also featured on the walk as was work from other artists in The Building building.

Due to damage caused by a truck to two tree limbs on northbound SR 99, a Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Urban Forestry crew will be working in the right curb lane between Harrison and Mercer streets this evening.

The crews will remove two damaged limbs to prevent any future issues for roadway users. For safety reasons, a short portion of the right curb lane will be briefly closed for the work this evening.

A fight between an apparently intoxicated man and a man selling Real Change newspapers escalated into a violent scuffle with the police on Thursday night about 6:30 PM in the West Seattle Junction.

According to the newspaper salesperson who asked not to be identified the assailant approached him at the corner outside Easy Street Records and after some contentious conversation the intoxicated man got violent pushing the salesperson and then striking the windows of the record store.

911 was called and the man was arrested and put in a police car. He attempted to kick out the windows of the car and was "Tased" in the car. He was then removed but spit on the officers who then put a mesh bag on his head and restrained him.

The man was then transferred to a police van and taken away.

Is there any possible way to get produce that is fresher than the stuff at the farmers market? There is one: grow it yourself. And where do you get the very best edible plant starts for your garden or patio planters? From the farmers at the farmers market, of course!

Currently at the West Seattle farmers market, numerous farmers who are experts at producing delicious fruits and vegetables are ready to help you start your own backyard farm, or even just a simple pot planted with fresh herbs or tomatoes.

Langley Fine Gardens, Billy's, Cascadian Edible Landscapes, Stoney Plains Farm and other market vendors have fabulous selections of herb, vegetable and other edible starts, and are happy to answer your questions and offer gardening tips. They offer plenty of easy options for novice gardeners as well, and good choices on decorative plants for almost any type of garden.

Shoppers can also stop by the Master Gardeners info booth at the market for free spring planting and gardening advice.

Workers were putting the finishing touches on the new Emergency Room and Patient Care Center at Highline Medical Center in Burien on April 8th during a media walking tour. The contrast from the current cramped and outdated Emergency Room was dramatic.

With the potential for traffic problems looming for downtown access from West Seattle in the next few years, the new facilities in Burien take on greater importance. For your reference the Highline Medical Group West Seattle Walk-In Clinic is located at 4744 41st Avenue SW, Suite 101.

The new ER opens officially April 13th, but a public celebration is being held this Saturday, the 10th of April.

Emergency Dr. Sue O'Brien provided the explanations of what the new facilities will offer including:
• 32 large, private treatment rooms with space for family members to stay with the patient, each room universally equipped to handle any emergency
• Three rooms where patients can be triaged and taken directly to a private treatment room with admitting handled at bedside
• Triage and admitting areas designed to offer privacy and to protect the confidentiality of patient information

Hope Lutheran Church is partnering with Renae Gaines and the Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership to sponsor a Town Hall Meeting to address the subject of Underage Drinking on April 28 at Seattle Lutheran High School - 4141 41st Avenue SW. The meeting begins at 7PM.

Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership, in collaboration with the Federal Government's Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking, is sponsoring the event. Parents, teachers, officials, youth, and other community members will be educated about the impact that underage drinking has on the community, and they will develop possible ways to address this issue.
This is one of many coalitions nationwide that are sponsoring community events in designed to raise awareness and find solutions to this growing concern.

According to the group, alcohol kills more youth than tobacco and illicit drugs combined. Regular alcohol use damages young brains: young drinkers’ score lower on vocabulary, general information, and memory recall.

Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D., has announced the designation of Chief Sealth High School as the district’s first international high school, completing a K-12 international program pathway in West Seattle that reinforces Seattle Public Schools’ commitment to international education. Chief Sealth is currently operating from its location at 5959 Delridge Way Southwest while the rebuilding of the school at 2600 SW Thistle St, takes place.

In 2009, Concord Elementary and Denny Middle – both in the same attendance area as Chief Sealth – received International School designations. Now all three schools will offer major components of an international education, such as language immersion at the elementary and middle school levels, academic excellence in all content areas, world language proficiency and global perspectives incorporated into each class.