July 2011

The West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network had a chance on July 29 to take their first close look at what will eventually become a web-based community tool for blockwatch captains to identify their watch group online so that those interested in joining can simply enter their address and find out who to contact.

The tool is being developed with complete flexibility for the sake of anonymity. While some captains will be happy to include their name, address and personal email address, the tool will allow those concerned with anonymity to keep that information private (and, for example, use a generic email address for inquiries about joining the watch).

The Block Watch Finder tool is being developed by Chach Sikes with Code for America under a one-year fellowship with the City of Seattle. It is a subset of the larger program (also still in testing but available to tinker with online now) called CityGroups which is a public directory of groups in Seattle.

Reminder to blockwatch captains about testing on July 30, 31

SLIDESHOW: Click the above image to see more young athletes playing their hardest by Kurt Howard.

Top level U12 baseball was put on display on Tuesday, July 12, at the Pac West Fields in SeaTac. The best players filling the Highline area's only elite baseball teams got together to play a game in season of January through August match ups that involving these teams and other teams in Washington state. Des Moines/Normandy Park and the Pac West Baseball Club(representing mainly Burien) play often.

According to Jeff Gibbs, these 11-12 year old squads will travel mainly through Western Washington with a few excursions east of the mountains. Tournaments are being planned for the future. The teams are included in two associations: BPA and USSA.

Mitch Bleitz, who has a long association with Little League baseball and has sons who play both Little League and Elite baseball expects the Elite prgrams to grow.

SLIDESHOW: Click on the above image to see several more images captured by Eric Mathison.

After hearing about 100 speakers in Burien a week earlier testifying about the importance of bus service, the King County Council voted July 25 to postpone a decision on increasing car-tab fees.

There were enough votes to place the proposed temporary fee on the November ballot, but supporters were one vote shy of a supermajority that would have adopted the tax without a vote of the people.
The council is expected to discuss the fee on Aug. 15.

Frank Abe, spokesman for County Executive Dow Constantine commented, "The County Council is still working on this issue, and the Executive appreciates the willingness of Councilmembers to take more time to carefully consider the merits.

"Clearly the hundreds who turned out to speak with one voice for a rescue of Metro bus service made a difference, and we thank them for their passion and commitment.

"The Executive looks forward to working with the Council toward an outcome that preserves transit, keeps people moving and helps get our regional economy back on track."

By Cassandra Baker, Intern

6:45 p.m. on July 22nd. 57th block of 15th Ave NW

A Ballard gas station was robbed on the evening of July 22nd. The victim, the clerk, said that a white male came into the gas station mart, selected several items, and put them on the counter. When the victim looked away for a moment, the suspect grabbed the items and left the store without paying.

The victim said that he chased the suspect as the suspect ran toward an old red van that was parked on NW 58th St. The victim said that he noticed two other people in the van. Before the suspect got into the van, he turned and pointed a gun at the victim and cursed at him. The victim then ran back into the store and called 911. Police did an area check for the suspect’s van but did not locate it. The incident was caught on the store’s security cameras.

5:00 p.m. on July 21st. 15th Ave NW and NW Market St

The architects handling the planning for the restoration of the Alki Homestead met with the Landmarks Preservation Board’s Architectural Review Committee (ARC) on Friday, July 29 to bring the group what was requested in the previous meeting, a report on the condition of the logs and windows in the historic but deteriorating structure.

Alloy Design Group's Mark Haizlip and Greg Squires provided that information and also provided three options for how the restoration might proceed.

But several of the members of the committee confessed to confusion about what was being presented and expressed concerns about how the evaluation was done. The architects pointed out that they had been working closely with engineer Todd Perbix, an acknowledged expert and had previously presented their conclusions regarding the roof and foundation requiring replacement but this too was met with confusion, and skepticism.

The meeting began with the windows and logs review.

Nick Esparza is running for Seattle School Board, West Seattle District VI, He is challenging Martha "Marty" McLaren, Joy Anderson and incumbent Steve Sundquist in the Aug. 16 primary. The West Seattle Herald interviewed McLaren, Sundquist, Anderson and now Esparza, all West Seattle residents.

The top two vote-getters are chosen by voters in their district where there is a primary race, four of the seven districts in this election. Then all of Seattle votes for their favorite candidate in all four districts. In addition to Sundquist, other incumbents being challenged are Peter Maier in District I, Sherry Carr in District II, and Harium Martin-Morris in District III.

Nick Esparza's bio

King County Executive Dow Constantine, State Treasurer James McIntire, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden, Seattle School Board member Steve Sundquist, and other local elected officials joined today to urge Congress to raise the debt ceiling and avert any threat of change to local government credit ratings that would make it more expensive to borrow money for public works projects.

“The failure of the federal government to raise the debt ceiling could undermine the sterling credit rating of King County and that of many other local governments with similar Aaa ratings,” said Executive Constantine. “This would stifle investment in our infrastructure and job creation, and unjustly punish our taxpayers. I urge the federal government to act quickly so it does not come to that.”

Moody’s Investors Service issued a notice late Thursday warning that local government issuers across the country could lose their Aaa credit ratings in the event the debt of the federal government is downgraded.
State Treasurer James McIntire spoke about the local economic impacts of a federal government default.

At a Ballard District Council meeting in April, Colonel Anthony Wright announced that he'd be retiring soon after serving three years as the commander of the Seattle District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and residing in the Colonel's Residence in the Chittenden Locks park grounds.

As of Friday, July 29, Wright has been replaced by Col Bruce A. Estok.

From the press release:

Estok will oversee military construction in Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon. He also manages an extensive civil works engineering and construction mission in Washington, Idaho and Montana.  His programs also include Historic Preservation of Historic Structures, and Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste cleanup.  Seattle District manages half a billion dollars worth of work annually with a workforce of more than 900 employees.

Colonel Estok joins the Seattle District after a year as a National Security Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. 

Over the coming weekend, July 29-31, there are Seafair events taking place around the city and in downtown Seattle. Motorists should allow extra time for possible traffic delays associated with the events, particularly on Saturday.

Saturday evening the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed from 5:30 – 8:30 northbound for the 6:30 Torchlight Run.

And some 300,000 people will be coming into downtown Seattle to watch the Torchlight parade. Starting at 7:30 p.m., the 62nd annual Torchlight parade offer something for everyone, including giant helium balloons, precision drill teams representing local communities, equestrian units, comical clowns, swashbuckling pirates and heart-pounding bands playing all your favorite tunes.

Renowned comedian, actor and producer Drew Carey has been named Grand Marshal of the 2011 Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade.

The parade moves through down Fourth Avenue from Broad to Washington Street starting at 7:30 p.m.