June 2012

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Seattle City Light (SCL) are partnering to upgrade the light poles and lights on the north and south end of the Ballard Bridge. SDOT owns and operates the bridge and maintains the approaches while SCL is responsible for the street lighting. SDOT crews are taking down existing poles and installing new pole foundations in preparation for the new poles and lights that will be installed. The new lighting will meet current standards.

SDOT’s Roadway Structures crews took advantage of the closures required for the recent bridge painting project and began installing the new light pole foundations; however, more time is required to finish this phase of the work and to complete the project.

Friday, June 22nd:

- Rock N Roll Marathon and Half Marathon Expo: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
CenturyLink Field Event Center;
18,000 attending
Expect congestion in the surrounding area

- Seattle Storm vs. San Antonio Silver Stars:  7 p.m.
Key Arena, Seattle Center
6,000 attending
Expect congestion on streets adjacent to arena.
 
- Pride:

- Wildrose Pride 2012: 6 p.m. – 2 a.m.
11th Avenue between E Pike and E Union streets
800 attending
Streets closed from 6 a.m. Friday, June 22, to 6 a.m. on Monday, June 25.
Traffic is expected to be heavy in the surrounding area.

Saturday, June 23rd:

- 4th annual Edible Garden Tour

Looking for inspiration? Or growing tips, planting strategies or answers to your perplexing questions?
Sustainable Ballard’s 4th annual Edible Garden Tour on Saturday, with this year focused on the northeast segment of greater Ballard.

Ballard Church will hold a neighborhood block party on Friday, June 29th featuring bouncy houses, face painting, movies, games, food, and more.

The church will be closing down 73rd Avenue between NW 14th and NW 15th street for the free family event from 4 p.m. till 8 p.m.

"We want to do something fun for the kids and families in the neighborhood!  Totally free, no strings attached.  We are opening up the church, letting the kids play in the Funland, watching a HD movie on the big screen, popping the corn, having sno-cones, slushies, and a whole lot more," reads the party flyer.

Ballard Church is located on 1460 NW 73rd St. All are welcome to attend.

Seattle Democrat and tax attorney Andrew Hughes is running against Congressman Jim McDermott in the upcoming 7th congressional district election. McDermott has won 12 consecutive elections, and is hoping for lucky 13.

The 7th congressional district encompasses most of Seattle, all of Vashon Island, and portions of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Burien.

Hughes, a 30-year-old first-time candidate, has garnered attention by raising a lot of money ($200,000 to date) and by his physical activities. On May 17, he rode his bicycle across Vashon Island then kayaked across the Puget Sound the same day. The following morning he swam across Lake Burien, and began the first leg of a two-day, 30-mile walk ending up in Edmonds, the new northern boundary of the 7th Congressional District. Here is a map of the new boundaries.

Also running are Democrats Don Rivers and Charles Allen, Republican challengers Scott Sutherland and Ron Bemis, and Third Party candidate Goodspaceguy. The primary is August 7, the two candidates with the most votes will go on the general election.

On Monday, June 18, the Seattle City Council unanimously approved a first-of-its-kind agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Ecology that will ensure the systematic control of Seattle's chronic sewage overflows, while allowing the city to use cost-effective and environmentally beneficial projects to control and treat both storm water and sewage.

The agreement, which took city, state and federal officials four years to negotiate, could save utility ratepayers as much as $375 million through 2025.

"This is a smart, responsible, and cost-effective way for Seattle to meet the goals of the federal Clean Water Act — using a new integrated approach that allows us better tools and strategic investments to protect the environment," said Councilmember Jean Godden, chair of the Libraries Utilities and Center Committee, in a statement.

"This plan is a win-win. I'm honored to work together with environmental groups to ensure the protection of our waters for generations to come," added Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, Libraries Utilities and Center Committee member.

Press release:

Highline Community College has received a generous gift to commemorate its 50th anniversary and to conclude the year of celebrations.

Highline alumni, Junki and Linda Yoshida, of Yoshida’s Gourmet Sauce, donated the bronze sculpture entitled Spirits Will Protect Me.

The 8-foot tall sculpture depicts a Native American warrior and represents pride, perseverance and overcoming obstacles.

“It is our hope that visitors and students on campus are inspired by [the statue’s] powerful meaning and grow to love it as much as we do,” said Linda Yoshida.

The artist, Jim Jackson, is a Portland resident and member of the Klamath Tribe of southern Oregon. Jackson studied art at the Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon. He began sculpting at a very young age, gaining national recognition at just 22 years old.

“The emotions expressed in the faces of my pieces reflect the pride and dignity of Native Americans,” said Jackson. His collection of work has made him one of America’s most respected sculptors.

At the June 18th Burien City Council meeting, Burien Arts Commission Chair Virginia Wright and Public Art Chair Andrea Reay presented artist Augustina Droze’s design for the mural to be painted on the Dollar Tree Building on 4th Ave SW across from the Burien Library. The City Council approved the design allowing the Burien Arts Commission and Parks, Recreations and Cultural Services Department to move forward with this exciting project!

Ms. Droze will be in Burien July 16-August 11th working on the project. Ms. Droze’s design intends to create a meditative artwork that can provide moments of relaxation and thoughtfulness for the viewer. Her concept is to integrate Burien’s natural and urban environment. The wave patterns, hands, and botanicals represent the natural elements in Burien, with the hands also portraying a feeling of togetherness. The circles reflect have a more ‘urban-centric’ theme. The background patterns were created by Cedarhurst Elementary School students, which reflects their recent study of “tessellation”.

A solid turnout of West Seattleites gathered at the Seattle Police Southwest Precinct on June 19 to talk public safety and, in lieu of a public speaker, the conversation was owned by those in attendance.

The discussion was held by the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council in their last meeting before a summer hiatus (they will reconvene in September).

Crime trends
Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Pierre Davis opened the meeting with good news on significant crime trends, saying they are on a downward spiral.

Looking at eight week totals, Lt. Davis said non-residential burglaries are down to an average of three a week, car prowls are averaging 12 a week (compared to upward spikes of 24 around this time last year) and residential burglaries are ringing in around nine a week.

He credited West Seattle’s strong block watch communities and significant arrests of repeat offenders in contributing to the drop.

Seattle Democrat, tax attorney Andrew Hughes, is running against Congressman Jim McDermott, 7th District, in the upcoming election. McDermott has won 12 consecutive elections, and is hoping for lucky 13. In our area, the 7th District includes West Seattle, Vashon Island, and portions of Burien, Normandy Park, and Sea Tac. It now extends north to Edmonds, while portions of the Central and International District have been pealed off of the District.

The 30 year-old candidate has garnered attention by raising a lot of money, $200,000 to date, and, on May 17, he rode his bicycle across Vashon Island then kayaked trip across Puget Sound the same day. The following morning he swam across Lake Burien, and began the first leg of a two-day, 30-mile walk ending up in Edmonds, the new northern boundary of the 7th Congressional District. Here is a map of the new boundaries.

Seattle Democrat, tax attorney Andrew Hughes, is running against Congressman Jim McDermott, 7th District, in the upcoming election. McDermott has won 12 consecutive elections, and is hoping for lucky 13. In our area, the 7th District includes West Seattle, Vashon Island, and portions of Burien, Normandy Park, and Sea Tac. It now extends north to Edmonds, while portions of the Central and International District have been pealed off of the District.

The 30 year-old candidate has garnered attention by raising a lot of money, $200,000 to date, and, on May 17, he rode his bicycle across Vashon Island then kayaked trip across Puget Sound the same day. The following morning he swam across Lake Burien, and began the first leg of a two-day, 30-mile walk ending up in Edmonds, the new northern boundary of the 7th Congressional District. Here is a map of the new boundaries.