June 2010

In light of a series of high profile Seattle Police Department incidents over the past few months Mayor Mike McGinn has taken some action to address questions hovering over the department. Levinson is a former Deputy Mayor, a leader in the city's gay and lesbian community and co-owner of the Seattle Storm of the WNBA. She appeared on the Seattle Channel in 2008 here.

The Mayor's office released this press release today:

Mayor Mike McGinn has appointed former Judge Anne Levinson to help oversee investigations of allegations of police misconduct. Levinson will serve as the civilian auditor for the Office of Professional Accountability (OPA), an outside consultant to the city who reviews complaints and investigations of misconduct, assesses substantive policies, procedures and training that impact the accountability of the Police Department or the public's perception of that accountability, and makes recommendations to the mayor and Council to strengthen accountability.

BACKGROUND

The solar-generating park that could one day stand at the site of the former Sunset Hill substation will include 189 solar panels generating enough electricity for 3.2 homes per year as well as a garden, fountain, community plaza, play area and more.

Two months after the last community meeting, CAST Architecture released the final design for the potential park at 32nd Avenue Northwest and Northwest 65th Street behind Ristorante Picolinos.

The new design features some significant changes from previous iterations, most notably in the solar panel array.

The new array will generate 35,000 kilowatt hours per year, a 17 percent increase over any of the previous designs. The array is now independent of the park's landscape to open up views into and out of the park and prevent the panels from being shaded by neighboring apartment buildings.

A landscaped wedge in the northeast corner of the site will slope up in that direction. There will be a shade garden and green roof on the wedge with stairs leading to an observation platform.

Ask Independent 34th District House of Representatives candidate Geoffrey "Mac" McElroy about Democrats and Republicans and he will tell you, "The party's over." McElroy has networked with four other Independent candidates running for the same office, but in different districts. The result is their "Declaration of Independents" website. While they have disparate views on some political issues, they are unified in what they cite as "special interest politics and the failure of the two-party system to represent voters."

In addition to McElroy, the others are Craig Mayberry of the 42nd District which includes Bellingham and rural areas eastward and north to the Canadian border, Ken Nichols of the 27th District, in Tacoma, Tim Sutinen of the 19th District with the Columbia River as its southern border, and the Pacific Ocean on its Western edge, and Rich Carson of the 18th District, just east of the 19th District. It includes Columbia, Clark, and Cowlitz counties. There are 98 races for House seats in Washington State.

McElroy is running against three Democrats, Joe Fitzgibbon, Michael Heavey, and Marcee Stone. No Republican is running.

What might have been a simple case of theft turned into a robbery last week at 35th and Morgan: Video captured two 15-year-olds shoving a convenience store owner and a third stabbing him three times. The victim suffered a laceration and puncture wound to the back of the head. Officers arrived at the bloody scene, and bystanders stated that the suspects had run into the High Point Library. Captured (one even confessed), the suspects—who had been trying to steal a couple of cases of beer—will be temporarily quenching their thirst at the Youth Service Center. No information was available on the store owner's condition.

If you were in West Seattle over the weekend you would have been hard pressed to believe that first day of Summer was today, June 21.
Photojournalist Kimberly Robinson spotted one family's yard sale that for many passersby did not seem all that out of place.

If you've lived here any length of time (or at least a couple of years) you should know by now that the first day of summer is almost always the 5th of July. So, be patient. It's coming.

Weather forecasts call for some sun today with a more normal pattern of morning clouds and afternoon sun with temperatures in high 60's to low 70's. At last.

Noon Jan. 1 – 8 a.m. June 14, 2300 N.W. 99th St.

The last time the victim checked inside his safe thoroughly was approximately Jan. 1, 2010. On June 14, he learned that someone had stolen his pistol and $5,000 from the safe that was kept downstairs in his house.

The key to the safe was kept on top of the safe for easy access.

The vicim does not know what happened, but there had been times when his back door was left wide open in the morning and there have been frequent break-ins to cars parked outside.

8 a.m. June 12 – 6 p.m. June 13, 4600 Block of Greenwood Ave. N.

Victim believes an unknown person was inside his residence between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Victim is not sure what date the incident occurred but thinks it was either June 12 or June 13.

The unknown person gained entry through a street-level bedroom window. According to the homeowner, he thinks he left the window open.

A few electronic items and some loose change were taken.

9:04 p.m. June 13 – 9:04 p.m. June 14, 500 Block of N. 85th St.

Nearly the farthest point in the continental United States from Ballard is southern Florida, almost 3,000 nautical miles. But, Bruce Hilyer and Geo Levin weren’t sailing across the country on a boat; they were flying an antique biplane – a Beechcraft Staggerwing.

Their cross-country flight began Sunday, May 9. By the following Saturday night, both men were back in Ballard. Over the course of seven days, they had logged 27.5 hours of flying time, stayed in Cheyenne, Wyo., weathered over in Denver, Colo., been adopted by “good ol' boys” in Tennessee and serendipitously landed in Florida in time to witness the final launch of the Atlantis space shuttle.

For Levin, who saw the Hindenburg aloft when he was 9 years old in 1936, the entire trip and its grand finale at the NASA launch was a dream come true, even though it was one he hadn’t known to dream.

But, that’s the end of the story; the beginning is closer to 1998, when Hilyer bought the 1937 Staggerwing after seeing it at an air show in Arlington.

Fantastic Outdoor BBQ & Movie
Hiawatha Community Center
2700 California Ave. SW
206-684-7441
Friday, June 25, 6-8 p.m. Kick off summer in sensational style. Dinner will include a hot dog or burger, a beverage, salad, and fruit. While enjoying dinner, view a free movie on a giant screen!
We'll be showing the Disney classic "Jungle Book"!
And while the movie is indoors the BBQ will happen rain or shine!
Fee is $3 per person in advance or $5 per person day of event.

Limber Babies
Seattle Integrated Martial Arts
4711 42nd Ave. SW
206-935-4531
Sunday, June 27, noon-12:45 p.m. This is a wonderful and unique playdate for moms, dads or caregivers! Bring the little one and relax, play, and recharge through yoga. Call now to register; 6 classes/6 wks: $60.

West Seattle See Dogs Meeting
Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights
2326 California Ave. S.W.

In weather better suited to penguins and ducks the 2010 Strawberry Festival rolled on thorough Sunday, June 20 with umbrellas, hoods, and other rain deflecting devices out in full force. Nonetheless, the brave souls who donned their foul weather gear managed to get out to see some classic cars and enjoy this year's edition of the annual event. Saturday was dry but cool and Sunday the rain was steady and strong.
Everyone was in good if damp spirits and seemed to enjoy everything the event had to offer.

The Burien Arts booth was giving free 10 minute music lessons and 3 year old Makena Fajardo, learned 2 songs on the ukelele and knew a couple already. "She's like American Idol 2020!," someone said. "I teach ukelele but usually to people older than this," her instructor Susand Howell said laughing, "She already knows Rub-a-dub-dub and Twinkle Twinkle."

Jim Huebner of NoGlare.com said, "Business is ok, considering the rain, because I have things that are otherwise unavailable." He said he'd be back next year.

Despite the gloomy weather, June 19 really was the summer solstice, and Seattleites came out in droves, braving the clouds and the rain, to strut their stuff or watch others do the strutting in the annual Fremont Summer Solstice Parade.

From the traditional naked cyclists to floats celebrating the Beatles and decrying wasted phone books, the parade had something for everyone, exemplifying Fremont's unofficial motto – “Delibertus Quirkus," or the freedom to be peculiar.

The Fremont Fair, of which the parade is a part, continues though 6 p.m. tonight.

The fair features:

• More than 300 shopping booths featuring colorful world imports and novel handmade creations, plus boutique shopping throughout the streets.
• Artistic street and stage performers showcasing a wide-range of talents, including featured act Cabiri Troupe who will perform throughout June 20 on Daedalus, a fully freestanding aerial dance stage.
• Mouthwatering food vendors and visits to beloved Fremont dining spots.