January 2011

The Des Moines Police Guild told city officials they are not planning to reschedule a meeting with the meeting with the Mayor, after a meeting to discuss their letter demanding his resignation was cut short.

Before the beginning of the year, the Police Guild sent a letter to Des Moines Mayor Bob Sheckler asking for his resignation because of remarks he made regarding the investigation of a Des Moines Police officer shooting of Rosie, a Newfoundland dog.

A meeting between the Police Guild and the Mayor to discuss the guilds demands was cut short by unrelated police business.

On Thursday night, Jan. 27, City Manager Tony Piasecki said the Guild had decided there was going to be no further comment or communication regarding the Guilds demands for the Mayors resignation, and they were no plans to reschedule the meeting between the Mayor and the Guild.

Press Release:
Throughout last year’s budget process, Seattle City Council heard from hundreds of people about the value of programming at their Community Centers. As a result of the concerns voiced, Council passed a Statement of Legislative Intent asking the Department of Parks and Recreation to examine how Community Centers are operated.

Beginning on February 2, Parks will embark on a citywide conversation to look at the future of community centers, specifically how to continue important services while reducing costs and explore long-term, sustainable programming models.

"We heard from the community about the value of their centers and we hope to see those same individuals on February 2, so we can continue this much needed conversation," said Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, chair of the Parks and Seattle City Committee. "Now is the time to make a difference in your neighborhood."

Seattle residents are invited to share their feedback on Seattle’s Community Centers and join Councilmember Bagshaw at the kick-off event for this process:

When: Wednesday, February 2, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

The Ballard gym team hosted Woodinville, Roosevelt and Eastlake last night for Ballard's senior night. The Ballard seniors shone on their special night but the team ended up a few points short to Woodinville.

Woodinville placed first with a score of 171.7 points and Ballard with 167.75 came in second.

Taylor Stern set yet another career high and school record. She scored a 9.8 on the vault and beat her all around record by .05, scoring a 38.2.

Molly Barnes had another strong night doing new, more difficult tumbling on floor and placing second on beam for the second time this week.

Shannon Donnelly placed fifth on bars last night. Maureen Sturgeon was unable to compete last night due to a sprained ankle.

Ballard is hosting the KingCo 4A Championship Meet on Saturday, Feb 5th and would love to see some community support. For most seniors this will be the end of their competitive career.

All-around
1. Taylor Stern, B, 38.2
2. Jaci Wolf, W, 35.05;
3. Madi McMamus, W, 34.
8. Molly Barnes, B, 33.55
10. Erica Redman, B, 32.1

Vault
1. Taylor Stern, B, 9.8
2. Elaine Marshall, R, 9.4
3. Madi McManus, W, 9.0
4. Maria Volk, B, 8.9

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has made modifications to neighborhood parking rates that will be implemented over the next two months.

The new rates will decrease the hourly rate for parking in downtown Ballard and the Ballard Locks by $0.50, changing it to $1.50 per hour.

The new rates were unveiled earlier this month but since then SDOT has taken a critical second look at the methodology for setting rates. The new rates better align with policy direction provided during the 2011 budget process.

In adopting the 2011 budget, the Seattle City Council directed SDOT to set rates to achieve an average of one or two available spaces per block in each neighborhood.

Based on a thorough review of the City’s rate-setting approach, rates for 2011 will go up in four neighborhoods, down in 11 neighborhoods and will stay the same in seven others as compared to 2010 rates. 73 percent of paid spaces will either be lowered or see no change at all.

“We’ve taken a critical second look at our data and methodology for setting parking rates,” said Charles Bookman, SDOT’s director of Traffic Management.

The press release from the Seattle King County Realtors association was incidental to the pie brochure in my eyes – a belated footnote after Mary Schile first caught my attention last week. Of course it turns out they are linked in the same way that some pies are meant to be eaten with ice cream. The University of Washington philosophy major’s path to 2010 community service award winner was paved by a lot of flaky (real butter) crusts.

As her mother used to write on the chalkboard as a substitute teacher, Shile’s last name is pronounced “Shee-Lee.” Raised in Vancouver, Washington Mary just keeps adding more volunteer commitments on her journey through the film, music and photography industry, on her way to real estate.

On any given week Mary records an hour-long program through the Washing Center for the Talking Book, meeting in her capacity as provisional advisor for the Junior League, planning a fundraising event such as the Pie Buffet at Salmon Bay Eagles or working on a Ballard Historical Society project (she’s Vice-President).

The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods is celebrating Neighbor Appreciation Day on Saturday, February 12 and invites Seattleites to share stories about their neighbors.

They want to know what makes your street, neighbors, or neighborhood so extraordinary. Stories can be posted and read at www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/neighborday/stories.htm.

Neighbor Appreciation Day is Seattle’s annual day to reach out to neighbors, create new bonds, and express thanks to those who help make your neighborhood a great place to live. Hundreds of people across Seattle will come together on February 12 (and the week of) to celebrate.

To learn more about Neighbor Appreciation Day, visit www.seattle.gov/neighborhood/neighborday. There you will find ideas, tools, e-greeting cards, and a listing of events.

Photography & Encaustic class

Press release:

Take your art to new dimensions by learning to combine the ancient art of encaustics with modern photography and printing techniques. This course will cover paper use and selection, mounting techniques and materials, encaustic pouring and painting techniques, and use of other methods such as glazing, scraping, and photocopy transfer. Proper tools and safety procedures will be discussed. Fees will cover two giclee prints as well as mounting panels.

For information on this and other classes, and instructors visit: http://nwencaustic.com/classes.html

Daniel Santjer
Prerequisite: None
Fri-Sun 2/18 - 2/20/11
10am – 6pm
Number of sessions: 3
$365.00 (10% early discount)
$35 material fee included

Studio Address:
7150 44th Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98136
(West side of building)

Press release:

Have a great neighbor? Tell us your story!

Help celebrate Neighbor Appreciation Day on February 12

January 27, 2011 (Seattle, WA) – Do you have a great neighbor or neighbors? What makes them special? Why is your street the best place to live? Why do you love your neighborhood?

In celebration of Seattle’s 17th annual Neighbor Appreciation Day, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods invites you to tell us a story about what makes your neighbors or neighborhood so extraordinary. It’s easy to share. Just go to www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/neighborday/stories.htm to post your story and to enjoy stories that others have shared.

Neighbor Appreciation Day is Seattle’s annual day to reach out to neighbors, create new bonds, and express thanks to those who help make your neighborhood a great place to live. Hundreds of people across Seattle will come together on February 12 (and the week of) to celebrate.

To learn more about Neighbor Appreciation Day, visit www.seattle.gov/neighborhood/neighborday

SLIDESHOW, Click on first photo for slideshow.

Benaroya Hall was filled with glitz, glamour, and nearly 1,000 well-dressed people Jan. 27 to witness the 76th Annual Sportstar of the Year Awards for sports-related stars' accomplishments in 2010. Ten winners with a background in sports from different categories were announced. The Seattle PI's iconic sports writer Royal Brougham started the awards in 1935. There was one winner that year, Bobby Morris, a sports official.

"When the PI stopped printing the newspaper, the Seattle Sports Commission took over the awards," said its marketing manager, Rosie Selle, a Highland Park resident. "We decided it was such a great, feel-good program, we had to," she enthused. This is the Commission's, and Selles' second year with the event.

"We are a department of the Convention and Visitors Bureau," said Selles. "We try to bring events into this city, and try to get new franchises. It is our long term goal to get an NBA franchise back into the city."

I cannot allow 2010 to pass without noting that it represented the centenary of two significant events: women's suffrage in the state of Washington and the birth of my late mother-in-law, also in the state of Washington.

Washington's male voters (bless 'em) approved women's suffrage by a nearly 2:1 majority, making this the fifth state in the Union to give women the right to vote. National women's suffrage would arrive 10 years later, with passage of the 19th Amendment. It was the great watershed in the epochal struggle for women's equality that continues today.

I wonder what it was like to be born into a revolutionary era like that. Edna Mae's generation (which included my own mother, born in Illinois six years later) subtly reinvented the role of women. With new assurance of their equality with the male, they were challenged to perform an intricate balancing act. They still were called to safeguard certain cultural values and perform their traditional role as family nurturer. They advanced the cause of equal status for women, but quietly - and certainly not as quickly nor as far as my generation demanded.