July 2010

Improvements to increase pedestrian safety and protect landscaping on 28th Avenue Northwest between Northwest 56th Street and Northwest 57th Street meant to begin this month have been pushed back to the second or third week of August due to Seattle Department of Transportation crews taking longer than scheduled to complete other projects.

The Department of Transportation will install a curb between 56th Street and 57th Street on both sides of the street and on the one-half block just south of 56th Street on the eastside of the street.

The curb will provide a better walking environment by creating a buffer between the sidewalk and the street and will provide a protected area for landscaping by preventing cars from parking on the planting strip area, according to a Seattle Department of Transportation press release.

This fall, trees will be planted on both sides of the street. When completed, the width of the street will be the standard for residential streets with parking on both sides, similar to the blocks to the north. The current on-street parallel parking will remain in place following construction.

Richard Schroeter of Shorewood was out checking his crab pot last week pulling up what he thought was quite a load of crab. To his surprise, a North Pacific Octopus with tentacles nearly 10 feet long was nestled nicely inside the pot enjoying a crab dinner. Richard managed to wrestle the slippery denizen into his rowboat for the trip to shore where he shared the surprise with his wife Carol. North Pacific Octopi are common in Puget Sound and can grow to 20 feet in deeper waters. There are many sites in Puget Sound that are favorites for divers wanting to catch a view of them underwater. Schroeter snapped a few pictures and released his catch by turning over the boat near the shore.

Richard Schroeter of Shorewood was out checking his crab pot last week pulling up what he thought was quite a load of crab. To his surprise, a North Pacific Octopus with tentacles nearly 10 feet long was nestled nicely inside the pot enjoying a crab dinner. Richard managed to wrestle the slippery denizen into his rowboat for the trip to shore where he shared the surprise with his wife Carol. North Pacific Octopi are common in Puget Sound and can grow to 20 feet in deeper waters. There are many sites in Puget Sound that are favorites for divers wanting to catch a view of them underwater. Schroeter snapped a few pictures and released his catch by turning over the boat near the shore.

"Night Out" , a national crime prevention awareness event is set for August 3. Promoted by the Seattle Police Department it is intended to increase neighborhood support in anti-crime efforts, and bring neighborhoods together.

You can register your Night Out block party at http://www.seattle.gov/police/Nightout/default.htm and visit the Seattle Night Out Facebook page for more information.

If you are planning to hold an event this year here's a link to some helpful materials, http://www.seattle.gov/police/Nightout/Materials.htm

According to the SPD they had 1,200 people sign up last year.

Registration is required because the street is closed for the event and barriers with signage are put in place (as long as you don't use an arterial or an intersection for your event).

Typically the events are potluck with everyone bringing food and beverages for a group. Live music (not loud) is sometimes featured and neighbors bring tables, chairs and blankets.

It's a great way to get to know your neighbors better, talk about neighborhood security, even discuss disaster planning and preparedness.

The Woodland Park Zoo is inviting Ballardites to celebrate one of the world’s most endangered and elusive wild animals at the fourth annual Snow Leopard Day.

Hosted by the zoo and its conservation partner, the Snow Leopard Trust, this full day of activities highlights the adaptations of the snow leopard and critical conservation efforts to protect them in the wild.

Activities include:

• Keeper talks and special enrichment for the snow leopards
• Conservation talks by Snow Leopard Trust
• Snow leopard-inspired crafts for kids
• Special themed programs for kids in Zoomazium
• Conservation commerce made by artisans to help support snow leopard conservation
• Live entertainment, facepainting and more

Woodland Park Zoo is home to five snow leopards, including cubs Gobi and Batu born May 2009, marking an important conservation milestone by helping to bolster the genetic diversity of this endangered species.

The Seattle Police Department has posted this story on their blotter site:

On July 26th at approximately 6:02 p.m. officers responded to a 911 report of a domestic violence threats incident involving a male suspect and a female victim in the 6300 block of 22nd Avenue SW. The 27-year-old male suspect fled the residence in a white 1993 Jeep Cherokee prior to the officers’ arrival on scene.

Officers conducting an area search for the suspect spotted the suspect’s vehicle in the parking lot of a convenience store in the 4300 block of SW Admiral Way. The Jeep was occupied by a small child who was sitting in the front passenger seat. Officers then saw the suspect exiting the store but were unable to stop him before he could get into the Jeep. Officers ordered the suspect to stop the vehicle and show his hands however, the suspect put the vehicle in gear and accelerated toward one of the officers, requiring the officer to jump out of the way to avoid being struck. The suspect drove off northbound on 44th Avenue SW followed by the officers.

Ray's Farm Dinner
6049 Seaview Ave. N.W.
206.789.3770

To celebrate fresh, Ray's Boathouse is hosting a series of "Farm Dinners," highlighting some of their many fine purveyors and the local fare they produce, including produce, meat, poultry, cheese and seafood. The focus is on sustainable and organic, and the growers are in the house.

With a prix fixe menu priced at $60, diners enjoy a sampling of seasonal local ingredients prepared under the watchful eye of Ray's chef Peter Birk.

Part of the fun is having the chef and purveyors make rounds during the various courses, filling us in on what we're eating. If you are the chatty type, they love to talk about what they do and how it got to your plate. And if you're the more reserved type of eater who doesn't like to get to verbal during a fine meal, they're down with that program as well. We have a little of both of those traits in our tandem, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

If you ever take the Airport Way Viaduct over the railroad yard in south Seattle you will want to attend an open house about it's impending closure early next year. The Open House is Wednesday night and SDOT has released the infomation below and posted a page on its site about the project.

The SDOT Press release:
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) invites the public to an open house to provide an update on project design and to share construction plans for the Airport Way South Viaduct over the Argo Railroad Yard:

Date: Wednesday, July 28
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Seattle Design Center, 5701 Sixth Avenue S

As a principal arterial and one of several heavily traveled freight routes in the area, the bridge has experienced significant distress because of large loads and high traffic volumes. Early next year SDOT will begin work to replace the existing timber approaches (raised roadways at each end), and rehabilitate and seismically retrofit the main span of the structure.

The Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu Coronation and Reception was held Monday evening, July 26 and the queen, Miss West Seattle for 2011 will be Kelsey Bills.

Named as her princesses were Rosemary Anne Ko Unite and Victoria Ferrulli.

She will represent West Seattle in events during Seafair and all year long. What does winning this title mean to her?
“This means spending a year with the community and getting to know everyone. I’m excited to be involved more and looking forward to the next year," she said.

CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT

At approximately 6:30pm, Federal Way Police responded to a 911 report of a recklessly driven vehicle in the area of Pacific Hwy and 356th. When Officers located the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop utilizing their emergency lights and siren, the vehicle proceeded southbound on HWY 99 at a high rate of speed.

The female suspect driver, approx 40 yrs of age driving a late model Honda approached the intersection at SB HWY 99 and Porter Way and T-boned the victim vehicle at a high rate of speed. The male driver of the victim vehicle was deceased at the scene; a female passenger was transported to Madigan Hospital in serious condition.

The female suspect was transported to St. Joseph hospital in serious condition.

HWY 99 is closed in both directions at Porter Way for the investigation. Washington State Patrol has assumed the criminal collision investigation.