November 2011

Press release:

A very spirited celebration of orcas and education...

Please join us for Killer Whale Tales 11th Anniversary Gala Celebration Dinner & Benefit Auction Saturday, November 12th 2011 at the beautiful Duwamish Longhouse in West Seattle.

We did a recent article about the Killer Whale Tails organization here:

With your help, Killer Whale Tales has engaged and inspired over 50,000 children, their families, and communities to make a real difference in their world. Come celebrate protecting Puget Sound's orcas, their habitat, and 11 years of dedication to giving future generations hope and knowledge to make a real difference in the world!

On Tuesday, Nov 8, voters rejected Proposition 1 and with it, pulled the rug out from underneath the Ballard light rail project.

In August Mayor Mike McGinn challenged Seattle City Council to fund light rail which would connect Ballard and downtown via Queen Anne and Fremont, as recommended by the Seattle Department of Transportation.

A rapid streetcar study was one of the many transit projects intended to benefit from the $60 car tab increase.

In response to the voters. decision on Tuesday, McGinn said that he understood the voters' concern of regressive taxing and that he continues to be "dedicated to a progressive transportation system that gives people affordable ways to get around".

"We'll keep working on this because the need to catch up on maintenance and improve transit is not going away," McGinn said in a statement.

Press release:
Tonight, Thursday November 10, leading health journalists and professionals will speak at the public kick off of the Duwamish Valley Healthy Communities Project. The event will start at 6:00 p.m. at the South Seattle Community College–Georgetown Campus at 6737 Corson Avenue South.

Following a community Open House, Health and Social Justice reporter Carol Smith of Seattle-based InvestigateWest, and King County's Richard Gelb will give an overview of recent research on health disparities –inequalities that harm one community more than another – in South Seattle's Duwamish Valley. The disparities, which include the highest asthma hospitalization rates in the county, spurred the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/Technical Advisory Group (DRCC/TAG), which has been working for a clean and healthy Duwamish River since 2001, to launch the Duwamish Valley Healthy Communities Project.

Press release:

Sustainable Burien Gathering
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Burien KCLS Library
2:00pm - 4:00pm
doors open at 1:30

THIS MONTH: Emergency Preparedness and Burien’s Walk ‘n Talk.
Nancy Barry will share her experiences in CERT training this fall and we’ll talk about getting more neighborhoods interested in Map Your Neighborhood emergency preparedness.

Also, Maureen Hoffman will talk about the fun community members have been having on the Walk ‘n Talk outings and bike events.

She’ll also talk about an effort to get bike racks placed in strategic places in Burien.

We may also be doing a short report on desired efforts to make Burien a certified Wildlife Habitat Community.

Come join us for learning, exploring and more....www.sustainableburien.org

WSDOT press release:

The nightly lane closures are almost over in Tukwila and drivers now have smoother, more skid resistant sections on I-5, just in time for fall rains.

Our contractor crews have ripped out and replaced nearly 58 of the worst concrete panels in the area. The remaining work is expected to be complete by early next week.

But we’re not done creating a smoother ride on I-5 in King County just yet. More work is scheduled for early summer 2012 on I-5 near S. 260th Street in Kent and between the University District and Roanoke Avenue in Seattle.

Do you know your transit holiday schedule?
Take a moment to prepare yourself for the holiday season and winter weather. Inclement weather conditions and holidays can impact your daily commute. Be sure you know what your bus is doing this holiday season.

As a reminder, Friday is Veteran’s Day, and all King Country Metro Service will be on a holiday schedule.

On Nov. 10 Burien's Elk Lodge held their Annual Veteran's Lunch in honor of Veteran's Day.

Over 200 veterans were honored for their service.

Please click the image above for more.

Of the $27 million Mayor Mike McGinn slated for homeless housing projects, DESC’s Delridge Supportive Housing project will receive $4.5 million.

DESC plans to build a 75-unit apartment complex at 5434-5444 Delridge Ave S.W. that provides “supportive services for homeless men and women living with serious mental/addictive illnesses or other disabling conditions.”

On Oct. 24 the State of Washington approved $500,000 in funding for the project and King County delayed their funding decision until Nov. 17.

Nov. 25 through Dec. 24
Santa Claus at Westwood Village

Santa will be on hand to listen to your Christmas wishes from 11 am to 2:30pm and from 3:30pm to 8pm weekdays and Saturdays and from 11am to 2:30pm, 3:30 pm to 6pm on Sundays till Christmas Eve. You can find him east of the entrance to Bed, Bath and Beyond. Professional Santa photos are available.

Nov. 26 through December
Helmstetler Christmas Spectacular

More than 60,000 lights flash and glow in time to music at this amazing display at 3908 s.w. Charlestown Street.

Again this year they will be also collecting food items for the West Seattle Food Bank and cash donations for both the WS Food Bank and The Northwest Parkinson's Foundation. Learn more at www.westseattlelights.com

Dec. 5 through 29
Stuffed Cakes Coloring Contest

On Thursday, November 10, at 11:11 am, a ceremony/flag raising took place at South Seattle Community College to recognize Veterans Day. Throughout the day, the campus screens feature a slideshow of South veterans and their family members who served. No classes are held November 11, but campus offices remain open and staffed.

Nearly 200 student veterans reflect and add to the rich diversity of South’s student body. They come from all over the world, represent every branch of the military and, while they share some strong common bonds as veterans, all are following their individual paths to academic and career success.

Tonight Egan's Ballard Jam House is hosting Variety 4 Charity, a fun-filled hour and a half with local musicians, a poet, pianist, and a PG stripper to benefit Groundswell NW.

The venue offers cabaret style seating for roughly 50 people, great drinks and food and a packed hour and a half of entertainment.

Part of the event's proceeds will help Groundswell NW's continuing efforts to create community parks and habitat in NW Seattle.

Entertainment include keyboard chameleon Hugh Sutton, vocalist Susan Harper, GypsyFolk GrassRock band BLVD Park, poet Larry Crist, thespian Michael Murdock, and burlesque dancer Kylie Koyote.

Variety 5 Charity starts at 7 p.m. at Egan's Ballard Jam House, 1707 Northwest Market Street.