October 2011

When Longfellow Creek came closer to surging over its banks last December, Seattle Public Utilities came to the area to deliver sandbags to residents in the area.

They brought a total of 250 sandbags but that clearly was not the best strategy since they were grabbed and gone quickly. This year SPU is offering a fixed number of bags, 25 to each address.

In a notice posted online they state: "SPU is making up to 25 sandbags available to households or businesses at four locations listed below starting October 15. Sandbags are heavy (they weigh about 40 pounds each), so be sure either you, or someone you bring with you, can lift, carry and load the sandbags into your vehicle. To make sure there are enough sandbags available for all those in need, please limit your supply to 25 sandbags per address."

For West Seattle they will be available Oct. 15 at the Delridge Community Center 4501 Delridge Way s.w.

Producer Jeremiah Kaynor on behalf of the cast and crew of the West Seattle based TV production The Divine Marigolds the West Seattle Herald has been covering for the past year shared the announcement that the show has won the NexTV Competition, an online effort to bring talented video producers and show makers greater attention and move them into real production.

Kaynor writes:
 
 "We the Producers of The Divine Marigolds wanted to give you the wonderful news about The Marigolds epic win in the NexTV Competition. We took 1st place in VIEWER’S CHOICE by 1200 votes completely demolishing the competition. This win moves The Divine Marigolds into the finals with the other 5 finalist from the different categories where we get massive exposure to Industry Leaders as we move on.
 
 From here this is where we go:
 
Finalists will be selected for overall quality of work, in addition to the project’s potential for becoming viable television content.

UPDATE

A memorial mass for Ed Kingston will be held on Saturday, October 22nd at 10 am at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in West Seattle (4202 SW Genesee Street, Seattle WA 98116). After mass, all are welcome for a reception celebrating Ed’s life in Holy Rosary’s Lanigan Gym.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund for the family has been set up at Sound Community Bank. Contributions can be made at http://www.edkingston.com/

Google Map:
http://g.co/maps/zad85
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On Saturday, October 8, Ed Kingston died suddenly doing what he loved, spending time with his young son on a soccer field. Ed left behind his wife, Laura, son, Jack, 7, and daughter, Reese, 2. West Seattle and other Seattle area communities have stepped up to be there for the Kingstons.

Laura recalls her courtship with Ed, and what made him a remarkable husband, father, friend, teacher, and coach. Two of her close friends, Debbie Petrusa and Karen Schrantz, both of West Seattle, helped support Laura during this interview.

(Editor’s Note: The Times/News has covered the SeaTac council controversy from the beginning. For our previous coverage, visit www.highlinetimes.com and search for ‘SeaTac City Council.’)

Update for Oct. 17 clarifies comments made by Councilmember Pam Fernald and adds her own clarifications at the bottom of the story.

With the election less than a month away that could change the City Council voting majority as well as the city’s form of government, tensions between the opposing sides boiled over at the Oct. 11 council meeting.

Councilwoman Pam Fernald blasted City Councilwoman Mia Gregerson and Human Services director Colleen Brandt-Schulter for “shameful, unlawful behavior.”

“…I’d rather travel on the high road. Right now the bridge is washed out and the only way to get to the higher road is to trudge through the muck,” Fernald declared.

Fernald recalled that a public disclosure request was filed for Gregerson’s public emails after Gregerson replied “lunatic” to an email from SeaTac resident Leonard Luna.

Fernald said Gregerson tried to stop the records request but the emails were eventually made public recently.

The seven seniors on the Ballard volleyball team will play their last home game tonight. It will be a bittersweet night as the seniors will be honored but also take one step closer to their last game together.

“They’re a very special group; I’ve been with them for awhile,” headcoach Tami Reese said. “We’ve bonded.”

Reese stated that most of the girls on the team have played all four years. They’re so close that during their practice on Thursday even the injured players showed up.

“We don’t always get to see each other at school,” said senior Annie Allen, one of the teams three captains. “We’re different people at practice.”

Along with Allen, the other six seniors are: Co-captains Monique Marquez and Deanna Myers, Cara Tomlinson, Miranda Eriksen, Kaila Lafferty and Katie Kennedy.

At least two of the seven seniors plan on playing volleyball at the collegiate level. Allen will be playing for Humboldt State in Northern California and Marquez will also play, but hasn’t committed to a school just yet.

press release:
Halloween Carnival
Delridge Community Center, 4501 Delridge Way SW
Friday, Oct. 21, 6 to 8 p.m.
Ages 12 and younger
Free
Get dressed up and join us for an evening of family fun featuring games and sweet treats. The Balloon Buffoon will be there to twist his award-winning balloon animals!

Toddler Pumpkinpalooza
High Point Community Center, 6920 34th Ave. SW
Thursday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m. to Noon
Ages 1-5
Free
Come dressed in your best costume for pumpkin painting, carnival games and more. Each child will receive a bag of age-appropriate goodies upon leaving.

Halloween Carnival
Hiawatha Community Center, 2700 California Ave. SW
Friday, Oct. 28, 6 to 8 p.m.
Ages 1 and older
25 cents per ticket
Join us for a family night of spooktacular fun! We will have games, face painting, treats and prizes. Costumes are encouraged but optional.

Halloween Carnival
South Park Community Center
Friday, Oct. 28, 6 to 8 p.m.
Ages 2 and older
25 cents per ticket

By Jeff and Eileen Bidwell

Planting Spring Bulbs

Hope springs eternal….as fans of the Chicago Cubs, we oughtta know! It’s hard to imagine anything that can inspire more hope in dreary winter than the first snowdrop or crocus showing off on a gloomy February day. And so it goes when cheerful spring bulbs come to life. Before long, tiny grape hyacinths appear, then delicate narcissus and showy daffodils, and finally tulips in a stunning rainbow of hues, the stars of spring.

October 1st through mid-November is the ideal time to plant spring bulbs. Check out the dizzying array of choices available at neighborhood garden centers.

Here are some planting tips:

Select bulbs that are plump and firm, with no decay or soft spots. Choose larger bulbs for larger, more resilient blossoms.

Begin with a site that has good drainage. Bulbs also do well in containers, but these must have drainage holes.

UPDATE: Last week SDOT announced that a paving project at the intersection of N 80th Street and Greenwood Avenue North would begin this weekend. The work this weekend now has been cancelled due to a forecast of unfavorable weather. Please watch for another announcement next week for a project update.

Construction starts this week on two north Seattle paving projects

This week the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will begin work to repair two heavily-traveled north Seattle roadways that have deteriorated over time: N/NW 85th Street and Greenwood Avenue N. This work includes new pavement, upgraded curb ramps, rehabilitated sidewalks, and other improvements along a two-mile stretch of N/NW 85th Street between 15th Avenue NW and Interstate 5, and also on Greenwood Avenue N from N 85th Street to N 73rd Street.

While major impacts for drivers will not start until January 2012 when eastbound detours on N/NW 85th Street begin, some initial work this fall will have impacts to drivers, neighbors and businesses in some areas.

Press release:
Starting next week, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will hold a series of open houses on the Transit Master Plan (TMP). The open houses will be an opportunity to learn about and comment on the City’s vision for top quality, frequent transit services over the next 20 years.
 
Open house dates and locations:
         October 18 at Seattle Vocational Institute (2120 S Jackson St)
         October 25 at Aljoya Thornton Creek (450 NE 100th St)
         October 26 at West Seattle Eagles Hall (4426 California Ave SW)
         November 15 at Ballard High School (1418 NW 65th St)
         November 17 at New Holly Gathering Hall (7054 32nd Ave S)
 
All meetings will run from 6 to 8 p.m. and will begin with a brief presentation and overview of the evening. Attendees will then be able to learn about the project, talk to staff, ask questions, and provide comments. Each meeting will cover the same information. Detailed directions can be found at http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/tmp_outreach.htm.
 

In his monthly community newsletter for October, Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon encourages Seattleites to please call 911 when they see suspicious activity ... even something as simple as an unknown vehicle driving slowly through your neighborhood.

Here is the newsletter in its entirety:

Why Report Suspicious Behavior?
A neighbor on the 7900 Block of 7th Av SW called 911 because of a suspicious vehicle seen slowly circling the neighborhood. This neighbor gave a description of the vehicle and officers soon located a vehicle matching that description in the 9000 Block of 11th SW.

Other officers and burglary detectives arrived in the area and started checking for homes that may have been burglarized. A short time later, one of the detectives noted individuals carrying items from a home to the car. The detective activated her vehicle’s emergency lights. The suspects saw this and fled; the items they were carrying now located in that car.