July 2012

Dear Editor,

I write to express my vehement opposition to installing zip lines in Lincoln Park. According to recent news reports, the Seattle Parks Department has been in clandestine talks with a for profit private company, GoApe Ziplines, for a year.

My West Seattle neighbors and many friends who enjoy Lincoln Park are overwhelmingly opposed to the idea of ziplines in the park. Fundamentally, my opposition is based upon my belief that the primary purpose of a city park is to enable city dwellers to experience the peace and majesty of nature even if they can't afford to travel to a wilderness area. Obviously, people whizzing overhead on ziplines in the heart of the old growth trees of Lincoln Park is antithetical to more traditional enjoyment of the park, i.e., quiet walks or runs with family, friends and/or pets; picnics; meditation; reading, etc. Ziplines would deprive people who go to the park for quiet or contemplative activities of its use. GoApe's own promotional video for its ziplines shows a man running along a path with screaming, yelling zipline users overhead.

West Seattle Filmmaker Jamie Chamberlin, who toured nearly 70 shows in Europe and the States with legendary rock band ZZ Top in 2008 is at it again. That project, released October, 2009, produced the DVD set "Double Down Live" spotlighting the iconic bearded bad-boys Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and the beardless Frank Beard performing live, plus behind-the-scenes footage.

This time, Chamberlin filmed what concert-goers see projected behind the band as it performs, called "backline screen content". His work is featured throughout the 70-minute, 15-song set list on ZZ Top's current "Gang of Outlaws Tour" which began May 25 in Manchester, New Hampshire and runs through Sept. 16. They hit Portland Aug. 22, Spokane Aug. 25, then Mountain View Plaza at Snoqualmie Casino Sunday, Aug. 26. (Although their website does not list their Snoqualmie concert yet.)

The band has been together since 1969.

West Seattle Filmmaker Jamie Chamberlin, who toured nearly 70 shows in Europe and the States with legendary rock band ZZ Top in 2008 is at it again. That project, released October, 2009, produced the DVD set "Double Down Live" spotlighting the iconic bearded bad-boys Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and the beardless Frank Beard performing live, plus behind-the-scenes footage.

This time, Chamberlin filmed what concert-goers see projected behind the band as it performs, called "backline screen content". His work is featured throughout the 70-minute, 15-song set list on ZZ Top's current "Gang of Outlaws Tour" which began May 25 in Manchester, New Hampshire and runs through Sept. 16. They hit Portland Aug. 22, Spokane Aug. 25, then Mountain View Plaza at Snoqualmie Casino Sunday, Aug. 26. (Although their website does not list their Snoqualmie concert yet.)

The band has been together since 1969.

Press release:

Completing the new solid waste transfer building and adding recycling services represent a major milestone in the multi-year modernization project at King County’s Bow Lake facility in Tukwila. The entire project, including an expanded recycling area, will be completed in late 2013.

Beginning Wednesday, July 11, customers will be able to recycle appliances, yard waste, clean wood, scrap metal, bicycles and bicycle parts, at the new facility. Customers can also drop off home-generated medical sharps at the transfer station, which is located at 18800 Orillia Rd. S.

Recycling services have been unavailable at Bow Lake since early 2009, when the major redevelopment project got under way. Garbage disposal services have not been disrupted at the facility, which handles more than one-third of all the tonnage in the County’s solid waste transfer system.

This redevelopment project moves the County ahead by bringing efficiencies, enhancing service and ensuring regulatory compliance. In addition to areas for recycling, key features of the new solid waste transfer building include:

Press release:

Discover Burien will partner with up to two new or established 501©3 organizations each calendar year.

The relationship will be as a supportive partner, not as the lead or organizer of the event. The partners will be selected by the Board of Directors for the next calendar year.


Discover Burien Event Partnership may include, but is not limited to:
• Color and B/W copies at the Discover Burien office – For an amount determined by the Board of Directors (additional copies can be made at the Discover Burien office and paid at the established rate)
• Promotion – The event will be listed on the annual Event Calendar, event announcements/promotions will be included in the Discover Burien Newsletter, Facebook, etc.
• Marketing - Assistance will be provided on case by case basis
• Event Logistics
• Supplies – Tent, tables, chairs, etc.
• Other assistance

To apply for the Event Support opportunity, please send a letter describing your event, how you would like Discover Burien to be a partner and why you believe your organization should be selected.

The Hi-Liners press release:

Performance Dates
July 13-15 at the Burien Annex. Get map and directions at www.hi-liners.org. 
All Seats $10 — All Seats Reserved. G-rated productions featuring performers age 7-15.

About Into the Woods, Jr.
An engaging and funny musical comedy that twists familiar fairy tales into a brand new story. When a Baker and his Wife learn they've been cursed with childlessness by the Witch next door, they embark on a quest for the special objects required to break the spell; swindling, deceiving and stealing from Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Jack (the one who climbed the beanstalk)!

Buy Tickets

Early Sunday morning, a man was sent to Swedish Hospital/Ballard suffering a minor injury from an explosion, according to the Seattle Police Department Blotter.

The injured man told police he was walking with a friend outside the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks near NW 54 St and 32 Ave NW when he heard the explosion. A device affixed to a city parking meter had detonated. The detective said it appeared to be "vandalism gone awry."

The man said something struck him in the arm and that it was bleeding. The injuries are not life threatening.

The investigation is active and open and no further information is available at the moment.

Don't panic; the Ballard Locks website is still up.

Many links around the Internet may not be working anymore for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hiram M. Chittenden Locks website (this one does). That's because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is updating 58 websites, including the Locks', with a new system.

"The system provides the Corps with a consistent Web site look and feel and streamlines content management making it easier to keep Web pages current," states a press release sent out by the Corps.

The update is also causing a slight change in the URL, rendering many links defunct. So, if you have a link to the website, don't forget to change the URL in accordance.

Dr. Jill Biden, the nation's 2nd Lady as wife to Vice President Joe Biden is coming to the South Seattle Community College Hangar, a satellite classroom at Boeing International Field, for the latest stop on her “Community College to Career” tour today.

Dr. Biden will participate in a roundtable discussion focused on Seattle Community College industry partnerships in the aviation-aerospace, manufacturing, and maritime industries.

Photos and story later

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

It was as close as close could be.

West Seattle squeaked to three one-run victories in a row to claim the District 7 Senior age 14-14 Little League baseball all-star championship and the state berth that goes with it.

The Westsiders open the 10-day double-elimination state tournament with a 1 p.m. game Monday, July 16 at the Sherman Anderson complex in Mount Vernon.

"At least it's this side of the mountains," said West Seattle manager Vinnie Sposari. "A couple of years ago we went to Spokane. This time we can go home to our own beds. I like our chances when we can do that."
Sposari and the West Seattle team also liked their chances going into the District 7 tournament at the PacWest complex in SeaTac, but had to do things the hard way after losing their opener to South Highline National, 3-2. They bounced back to beat Renton by a 4-3 score, then edged South Highline National, 4-3, in eight innings in the provisional championship game to force a second if-necessary game Friday.

That turned out to be another close pitcher's dual, with West Seattle winning, 3-2, on a run in the bottom of the seventh.