October 2011

The one thing people will miss when the Alaskan Way Viaduct is finally torn down is the view from the structure of the waterfront and downtown. On crisp sunny mornings or even on a rainy or cloudy day it's a unique perspective on the city.

The embedded video is an admittedly shaky attempt at preserving that view for those who have loved it and to share it with those who have never seen it.

Music by Scott Robinson.

NOTE: The footage was shot as passengers, not the driver.

You won’t see President Obama but you can drink some hot cider and indulge in a fun roster of activities such as microscope displays featuring local flora and fauna, a scientific drawing lab, and game stations where participants can win prizes at this Sunday’s grand opening of the Environmental Science Center at Seahurst Park

At the urging of former Burien city councilwoman and state legislator Georgette Valle, the Burien City Council invited the President but he is gong to be a no-show.

The Environmental Science Center (ESC), a Burien based non-profit promoting environmental stewardship, sustainability and academic achievement through science-based education, will launch the center at Seahurst Park on Sunday.
The public is invited to experience the building from noon to 4.

Opening festivities on October 23rd are free. Adults and children of all ages are invited to tour the display garden of native plants, learn about the building’s green features, and explore the beach and forest at Seahurst Park with a naturalist.

At 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 21, the State Route 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct, as we known it, ceased to exist.

While crews begin demolishing part of the viaduct and complete connections to new SR 99 lanes in SODO, drivers will face daily commutes without one of Seattle’s two north-south highways.

Traffic on Saturday will be especially heavy around CenturyLink Field as the Washington State Cougars play the Oregon State Beavers at 7:30 p.m. Drivers headed to the game should plan ahead for extra congestion.

The Washington State Department of Transportation urges football fans and daily viaduct commuters alike to find alternate ways to get to their destinations.

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

Senior Alex Bowns was one of the four Beavers to advance to the bi-district meet on Thursday, as the Beavers competed in the conference meet at Lincoln Park. While the Ballard team didn’t qualify, the top-40 runners advanced to compete individually.

Bowns finished 2nd with a time of 15:39, just six seconds short of the first-place runner. Victor Bailly finished 37th with a time of 16:49 to qualify, while Matt Rusk ran a 16:51 to finish in 39th place.

Junior Anna Mirenzi was the sole runner from the girls’ team to qualify, running a 20:03 on the day for 29th place. She will join the other three Saturday, October 29 for the bi-district meet at Lincoln Park.

Soccer

The Ballard soccer team was in action Thursday night at Memorial, losing 1-0 to Roosevelt. The Roughriders took an early lead off a goal in the 16th minute, and hung on to win the match.

Thursday night was also senior night for the Ballard soccer team, with six of the players competing in their last home game. The Beavers next match will be Tuesday, October 25 at Bothell.

Volleyball

CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE TO START SLIDESHOW

The Port of Seattle's Centennial 101 Series of tours culminated with "Ship Canal 101" Wednesday at Fishermen’s Terminal. The annual Port 101 Series included four tours beginning with Duwamish River 101 on Sept. 28 which we covered here. it also included Cargo 101 and Airpot 101.

The sold-out Ship Canal tour, a two and a half hour boat ride, took place on the Argosy's Lady Mary, the same vessel used for the Duwamish River tour. Maritime Industry representatives included Foss Maritime, Kvichak Marine, Pacific Fishermen Shipyard and PFI Marine Electric, Pacific Maritime Magazine and Fishermen's News, Seattle Marine Business Coalition, and Western Towboat. Western Towboat has a large presence on both the Duwamish River and Ship Canal.

Gael Tarleton

By Cassandra Baker, Intern

1:00 a.m. on October 16th. 36th block of Dayton Ave N

Police received several 911 calls about a large fight in the Fremont neighborhood on October 16th. Callers said that one of the participants in the fight had fired a gun into the air. The first officers to respond located the suspect and his car. The vehicle was searched and three suspects were detained. The gun was also recovered.

Officers determined that the suspect had assaulted two victims by punching, kicking, and pistol-whipping them. Seattle Police reports that the victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect also sustained minor injuries and was treated before being booked into the King County Jail.

1:46 p.m. on October 15th. 105th block of Greenwood Ave N

A man arrived at his office on October 15th to find that it had been burglarized the previous night. The burglar broke a window, entered the office, and stole numerous items. Three computer monitors, a flat screen TV, a gaming system, and four video games were taken.

9:25 a.m. on October 14th. 8th block of NW 45th St

29-year-old Jesse Kaein Drugger (who has five aliases) is sitting in jail with a $250,000 bail, one charge of second degree child molestation and five charges of indecent exposure hanging over his head.

In court documents, Seattle police allege Drugger was involved in five different cases across Seattle from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3., including a Sept. 29 flashing incident at Whale Tail Park on S.W. Lander St. in West Seattle.

Drugger allegedly wore the same outfit and drove the same car each time he went out to parks or schools in search of young children to expose himself to. He was described time and time again as a pale male in his 20’s with a goatee and light beard, dressed in a black hooded sweatshirt with a white logo on the back. The hood was always over his head.

He was always seen driving to the scene of the crime, or fleeing, in a tan colored four door vehicle - eventually defined by police as a gold-colored, four-door 2000 Kia Sephia.

The most serious charge, which includes child molestation in addition to indecent exposure, allegedly occurred at Pinehurst Playground in the Northgate neighborhood of Seattle on Oct. 2.

CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE MORE.

The Port of Seattle's Centennial 101 Series of tours culminated with "Ship Canal 101" Wednesday at Fishermen’s Terminal. The annual Port 101 Series included four tours beginning with Duwamish River 101 on Sept. 28 which we covered here. it also included Cargo 101 and Airpot 101.

The sold-out Ship Canal tour, a two and a half hour boat ride, took place on the Argosy's Lady Mary, the same vessel used for the Duwamish River tour. Maritime Industry representatives included Foss Maritime, Kvichak Marine, Pacific Fishermen Shipyard and PFI Marine Electric, Pacific Maritime Magazine and Fishermen's News, Seattle Marine Business Coalition, and Western Towboat. Western Towboat has a large presence on both the Duwamish River and Ship Canal.

Gael Tarleton

King 5 reported tonight that Washington Federal Savings, at the corner of Morgan Street and California Ave. s.w. was robbed late Thursday by two men. The two suspects wore President Bush masks to disguise themselves.

According to the King5 report Seattle police said the men displayed a gun, robbed the bank and then made their getaway in a black four-door car. The vehicle was last seen heading southbound on 42nd Ave. s.w. from Fauntleroy Ave.

The robbers both were dressed in dark blue windbreakers.

Dear Editor,

Regarding the occupy movement. I do not understand what Congress finds so hard to understand about it
What does surprise me is that there are not more seniors joining. Then I realize we don't drive downtown and restrooms are a must.

Joking aside some of the concerns as I see them are:

1. JOBS, JOBS, JOBS. without jobs among other things due to our arcane health system the family has no health insurance, cannot make their house payment and certainly has no disposable income. In 2010 44% of adults 19-64 either had no insurance at some point in the year or not enough to cover needs. This is up from 35%in 2003. The average cost in the US now tops $8,000 per year, more than twice what most other industrialized countries spend and costs rising. I guarantee your supplemental medicare coverage will increase more than your social security check. As for individual policies...........who knows?