June 2010

On June 28, the Seattle Police Department launched an online Police Reports Map, which it sees as an enhancement to the online reports the department launched earlier this month.

The Police Reports Map will show mapped crime icons based on initial police reports taken by officers when responding to incidents around the city. After the information enters the Police Department’s Records Management System, it populates this map.

According to the Police Department, it has been working closely with the city’s Department of Information Technology to provide enhanced information on crime to the public.

The new application will go a long way to providing easy access to information that community members have been asking for while also increasing department transparency, according to a Police Department press release.

This new information is part of the My Neighborhood Maps already available online at www.seattle.gov.

As part of the MOHAI Minute series, the Museum of History & Industry released a short video on Ballard's old Carnegie Library earlier this week.

The Carnegie Library was built in 1904 and was one of the first free public libraries, according to the video.

It became a part of the Seattle Public Library system when Ballard was annexed by the city in 1907.

The library, located at 2026 N.W. Market St., was built by Andrew Carnegie, and the community raised money to buy the property through business donations and the selling of library memberships.

The Carnegie Library, which now houses Carnegie's Restaurant, ended its career as a library in 1963.

The Museum of History & Industry, started in 1952 and located in Montlake, focuses on preserving, sharing and teaching the history of Seattle, the Puget Sound region and the nation.

By KAELYN SAYLES

This Fourth of July, the people of Federal Way should extinguish the urge to light even the smallest of sparklers in celebration.

For the past 20 years, the city of Federal Way has had an ordinance against the use of all fireworks within city limits. This year, the difference is in the punishment.

Cmdr. Chris Norman of the Federal Way Police Department said, this is the first year people caught with fireworks will be charged with a civil infraction rather than a criminal misdemeanor.
However, those caught won’t be treated lightly: The first offense is $100, the second offense is $200 and the third offense is $300, said Norman. He said he “will be encouraging officers to issue infractions” and will have a low tolerance for fireworks users.

Brian Wilson, the City Manager and Chief of Police of Federal Way, said efforts are ongoing in educating the public through press releases about the dangers of fireworks. Wilson said he expects the community to obey the ordinance that they should already be familiar with.

The decade in the making Junction Plaza Park will make it's debut today at 5:30 in a ribbon cutting ceremony and community celebration.

The event will feature live music and light refreshments. Seattle Parks and Recreation along with the Junction Neighborhood Association, the Seattle Parks Foundation and the West Seattle Junction Association are hosting. The 6700 square foot park is located at 4545 42nd Ave. SW.

Our most recent previous coverage on the park is here.

For more information please visit:
Seattle Parks Department Junction Plaza Park
or contact Gary Gibbons, project manager at 206-386-1511 or gary.gibbons@seattle.gov.

Imagine having your own eggs, from your own chickens even though you live in an as non rural a place as West Seattle.

Seattle Tilth is suggesting that you spend a summer afternoon with family or friends visiting some of the city’s hardy urban farm folk and find out for yourself what it’s like to keep a flock of egg-laying hens. Also on tour: bees, goats, ducks, green building, rainwater harvesting, a solar oven and serious organic food production.

This is your chance to visit folks who are keeping chickens, as well as goats and bees, right here in the city of Seattle. On July 10, you can take a look at how people are raising urban livestock and incorporating animals into their home landscape.

In this self-guided tour through Seattle neighborhoods, you will see simple coops built in an afternoon and elaborate houses that took weeks of planning and building. Learn from seeing what your neighbors are doing. Ask questions about coop building techniques and materials, daily chores. The tour runs from 11a.m. to 4 p.m.

A sign (or rather signs) of the impending Pirate's Landing? A truck from Supergraphics was out on Alki Avenue Monday night, June 28 putting up 33 signs announcing the July 10 event on the light poles along the street.

The company also does a lot of signage and vinyl wraps for "cars, trains, planes and we do all the banners downtown," John from the company said. He runs the controls and Jeremy is in the "bucket" attaching the banners. After the event they take down the banners and the hardware "as if it was never there."

For more details on the Pirates Landing check http://www.seafairpirates.org/PiratesLanding/

The West Seattle Kiwanis will be at the landing event on the 10th and urge you to stop by and pick up a free kids pirate hat and join in the costume contest.

In a related story, the Seafair Pirates still need your help to be financially solvent. They lost their sponsor so Dukes Restaurant is behind the effort to help them stay afloat. You can donate either at any Dukes Chowder House or through this link
http://www.dukeschowderhouse.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=24&prod…

The Seattle Department of Planning and Development has approved the rezoning of a 152,755 square foot area from Neighborhood Commercial 1 (NC1-30) to Neighborhood Commercial 2 (NC2-40). The net effect would be to increase the height of buildings there by 10 feet. The property is comprised of 30 parcels in the east and west block front along California Avenue SW between SW Hanford Street and SW Hinds Street. The block front located on the west side of California Avenue SW, extending south 100 feet from SW Hinds Street is included in the rezone request.

The request was made in September of 2007 by REALTORS® Roger Cayce and Mike Gain who own approximately 20 percent of the land. Twenty other property owners are also involved in the proposed area.

The proposal will be presented in a public hearing on August 18 at 9:00 a.m. at the City of Seattle Hearing Examiner's office before going to the Seattle City Council and ultimately the Mayor's office. The rezoning was met with opposition when first proposed in 2007. However, the rezone request was not only approved without changes, the applicants report it received more positive than negative comments.

Ten times in the past nine months, officers have responded to complaints about excessive noise from a home in the 5900 block on 34th SW. Around 2 a.m. Friday, officers gave the tenants another warning to tone it down. At 3:30 the party was still roaring along at full blast, with empty beer cans and garbage all over the front lawn and sidewalk. So, noting that the tenants had “refused or intentionally failed to cease an unreasonable noise after being ordered to do so,”officers took advantage of the Seattle Municipal Code 25.08.500, and seized three guitars and two amplifiers. They also arrested the tenants for investigation of the noise disturbance.

Around 8 p.m. Friday, a father sat at the bleachers at Alki Playfield, yelled repeated obscenities at his daughter's baseball coach, and later threatened to kill the coach's family. Gone by the time officers arrived, he was arrested at home later that night and booked into King County Jail for investigation of harassment.

So, how’s that Fauntleroy road diet thingee workin’ for ya? You’d think that it was a complete failure if you attended a recent Seattle City Council Transportation Committee public hearing with me. At least that’s what several of those who offered input at the hearing implied.

I knew that we all wouldn’t be getting along shortly after I arrived on my bicycle and in my colorful riding kit. I chose to sit among people who were dressed in business attire, so I sat in front of a man in a fairly conservative suit with tasteful tie. I didn’t notice if he’d shined his shoes for the occasion. With him was a woman about my age or a bit younger who was dressed in such a way that I thought she might be considering a bike ride later. It was that bright. I settled into my seat and began my usual practice of listening to conversations around me. The couple quickly gave themselves away as being from the camp not representing my interests. They began by stopping a man and asking if he was going to speak and the points he might make, all anti-bicycle..

Sleep Country USA Foster Kids Clothing Drive
Now through July 11th at all Sleep Country and Sleep Train locations. Make a difference in a foster child’s life by donating new clothes of all sizes for foster kids throughout Washington and Oregon. For information: www.sleepcountry.com

Friends of Lincoln Park Morning Work Party
Saturday, July 3, 9 a.m-noon. Join us as we work to restore and maintain our beautiful park. We will be removing invasive plants, so wear sturdy shoes and protective clothing. Bring garden gloves and clippers if you have them. Meet in the north parking lot at the kiosk across from Rose St. Contact Sharon at sbaker@uw.edu or 206-464-1068.

Read the Qur’an
First Lutheran Church of West Seattle
4105 California Ave SW
Thursdays, July 8, 15, 22 and 29, 7-9 p.m. A four-week guided reading of the Qur’an led by Pastor Ron Marshall. The $50 fee includes and authorized translation of the Qur’an. Register now at 935-6530.

Delridge Night Market
Super 24
5455 Derlridge Way SW
Saturday, July 10. The Night Market includes: performances, fresh food, and community.