October 2011

What’s age got to do with it?
Clarification: the original posting of this story failed to mention the man apprehended was arrested for investigation of burglary. It has been updated.

The final meeting of the mayor's Road Safety Summit will take place in the Bertha Knight Landes Room of City Hall (600 4th Avenue) tonight from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Convened by Mayor Mike McGinn and members of the Seattle City Council, the summit centers around safety and responsibility on Seattle streets.

"Working together, we will develop a shared citywide commitment to safety and develop an action plan that will lead to safer streets for all," Mayor Mike McGinn.

The Summit centers around three basic questions:

- What do you think are the highest priority safety problems to solve on Seattle roads?
- What do you think are the most important things to do to make Seattle roads safer?
- We often talk about what government can do to promote safety. What are the ways that non-governmental groups and individuals can promote safety?

Since the summit meetings started in October, the city has collated the public's ideas, and the Summit Workgroup is beginning to develop action areas and next steps based on what they’ve heard from you, what traffic safety data tells us, and best practices.

Pictured is the traffic mess on Beacon Hill headed towards downtown this morning.

How has your commute been affected by the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure?

Were you stuck in traffic this morning? Are you taking alternative routes or transportation?

Let us know by answering our poll on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ballard.newstribune or answer in the comment box below.

In the meantime. here are some tools for getting around:

· King County Metro http://www.kingcounty.gov/getyouthere
· Sound Transit http://www.soundtransit.org/
· Community Transit http://www.commtrans.org/
· Sound Transit Sounder Train http://www.soundtransit.org/rider-guide/sounder-train.xml
· Sound Transit Link Light Rail http://www.soundtransit.org/Rider-Guide/Link-light-rail.xml
· King County Water Taxi http://www.kingcounty.gov/WaterTaxi.aspx
· Rideshare Online and rewards http://www.kingcounty.gov/getyouthere
· SR 99 – South Holgate to South King Street project http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR99/HolgateToKing/

The afternoon commute was basically a breeze despite heavy traffic on the lower level Spokane Street Bridge. The lack of a westbound bus lane on the upper level bridge and no on-ramps other than from I-5 kept the traffic reasonably light on the upper roadway. Bikers, runners and walkers were on the lower level and the West Seattle Water taxi was also busy during the afternoon commute.

Original Post
The first commute day for West Seattle residents who had to head north to downtown following the closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct saw the expected, heavy traffic on the West Seattle Bridge but also showed that at least to a certain extent, all the advance warning paid off.

Some, who wisely chose to head out 30 minute or more early, found it to be a breeze. Teri Saxlund who works downtown left at 5:10 am and got to work in about 22 minutes. Co-workers taking the bus arrived just a few minutes behind her.

John Doe whose musical career hit one of its high points with the Los Angeles punk band, X, made an appearance at Easy Street Records in West Seattle on Sunday Oct. 23 as a brief preview of his performance at the Tractor Tavern in Ballard. Doe, whose musical tastes and compositions often defy genre is also an actor appearing in the television series Roswell, and in such films as Vanishing Point, Boogie Nights and Road House.

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His musical career also includes performances with country folk punk band The Knitters and solo recordings.

He appeared at Easy Street with singer and musician Cindy Wasserman.

The Alaskan Way Viaduct, built in 1953, was celebrated one last time on Saturday, Oct. 22, with a public walk on, a brief sojourn along it by the Rat City Roller Girls and the Seattle Cossacks Motorcycle Club and speeches by Governor Christine Gregoire, County Executive Dow Constantine and others as the demolition of the structure's southern mile gets underway during a nine day closure.

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The event began at 9:30 in drizzly pea soup weather that did not deter thousands of people from coming down to bid the double decker roadway a goodbye. Some were sorry to see it go, losing a view from the upper deck, but many others were happy to see a solution finally get underway. Deann Casallo of West Seattle said, " I think it's good but then again it's going to be a little chaotic with the traffic, especially with all the people who take the bus (...) In the future when we have that big earthquake it's a safer, better thing to do."

PLEASE CLICK ABOVE PHOTO FOR MORE

Muttley Crew Cuts dog grooming across the street from Metropolitan market held its Muttster Mash 2011 fundraiser for AARF, Animal Aid & Rescue Foundation tonight. While a head count was difficult with all the scrambling and chasing, it seemed as though hundreds of dogs attended, but there were probably closer to 30. And those doggies donning costumes were pretty dog-gone spooky, if you consider a golden retriever with her tongue hanging out scary.

Solomon, an AARP dog, is about a year and a half, a pit bull missing one of his rear legs, is in training to be adopted out to someone with post traumatic stress disorder.

On Oct. 21, the same morning the Steve Cox Memorial Park field house was filled with law enforcement officers giving a press conference about their drug and gun bust operating from White Center businesses, another passion-filled group also advocating for a safer White Center was meeting a few blocks away at Mt. View Presbyterian Church.

The group of about 25 met to confront the issue of the chronic alcoholic homeless population in White Center, led by Nancy Woodland of WestSide Baby., a nonprofit that collects previously owned items for children and babies and distributes them, and diapers, too, free of charge, to South King County families in need.

She was joined by Mark Ufkes, White Center Chamber, Frank Cantwell, Principal, Holy Family School, Mike Johnson and others from the Union Gospel Mission, Natasha Hicks Mt. View Presbyterian Church, Peter Truong, King County Sheriffs Office, Geoffrey "Mac" McElroy, owner, Triangle Pub, and others.

So why focus on only those homeless people with drinking issues? Because this summit feels it can get a handle on this specific group.

It's voting time again and here to help you fill out those ballots, are the stances of your 36th District Republicans, Democrats, and Greens.

Glenn Avery spoke on behalf of the 36th District Republicans, Jody Grage for the 36th District Green Party, and Peter House for the 36th District Democrats.

Seattle City Council Positions:

The 36th Democrats and Greens agreed on all the Seattle City Council Positions favoring
Bobby Forch, Bruce Harrell, Tom Rasmussen, Tim Burgess, and Sally Clark, in their respective races.

Glenn Avery said the 36th District Republicans made no endorsements in the City Council races.

"The 36th District Republicans reviewed the City Council candidates, hearing presentations from a number of them. The consensus is that there are no candidates capable of turning City Hall away from its anti-jobs, anti-business policies; of bringing about sensible transportation policies; or of instituting a sustainable budget so does not make any recommendations in these races," Avery said.

Seattle School Board District:

Ed Kingston's friends and family attended his mass and reception today at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in West Seattle. He passed away suddenly Oct. 8, leaving behind his wife, Laura, son, Jack, 7, and daughter, Reese, 2.

We interviewed Laura Kingston here.

Speakers at the reception honored Laura and offered bittersweet comments about Ed, a popular teacher, sports coach, and motivator, by expressing the hole his death has left in their lives as both a void, and a space that hope can fill over time.

Behind the podium and microphone, an ongoing slide show was projected with images of the Kingstons' wedding day, jack and Reese as babies, Laura and Ed embracing, and of course lots of soccer pictures.

Brian Meza

Brian Meza of Ballard was a close friend of Ed since their sophomore year at Western Washington University, and spoke optimistically about Ed's positive legacy.