July 2012

Lane closures coming up for West Seattle Bridge July 6

The Seattle Department of Transportation will perform maintenance work on the West Seattle Bridge on the Admiral Way exit this week requiring temporary lane closures.

Friday, July 6, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (expected to be approximately three hours during this period).

The off-ramp to Admiral Way from the West Seattle Bridge will be closed and traffic will be detoured to harbor Avenue, Avalon Way, SW Manning Street, and back to Admiral Way.

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SLIDESHOW: Rocksport Bar & Grill making their last call after 17 years

It was 1995 when Darren Ahlf, a 30-year-old bartender and lounge manager at Salty’s on Alki, took a deep breath and met with Frank Holert about renting a vacant bank at 4209 S.W. Alaska and turning it into a bar and grill called Rocksport.

“Oh, Frank Holert won’t give you the time of day,” Ahlf’s real estate agent told him before the meeting. “He’s a cantankerous old man.”

Ahlf had dreamed of starting up his own business since the age of 21, saw a future in that location (at a time when the Junction was not nearly as robust), and came to then 80-year-old Holert with his plan to create something more than a tavern. He presented his vision for good food, prime sports viewing, a stage for rock-n-roll and a family-friendly atmosphere.

“Have you ever owned a business?” Holert asked.

“No,” Ahlf replied.

“Do you have any money?”

“Not really.”

Somehow, Holert was sold on the young man’s plan and gave him a shot … with one stipulation: “The only thing Holert was concerned about was (that we put in) nice restrooms because, ‘If and when you go out of business, somebody else will come in here,’” Ahlf recalled.

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UPDATE: Hi-Yu Community Brunch is back on!

Set for Sunday July 22 at Alki Masonic Lodge from 8am to 11am

Hi Yu President James Kline reports that the Herald story about the potential loss of the annual Hi Yu brunch drew the attention of supporters and the event is back on!

Kline wrote:
Your article worked! The Community Breakfast is back on for July 22,
8:00am-11:00am at the Alki Masonic Lodge, 4736 40th Ave. SW with a number of volunteers. I also received a donation for funding a portion of the event.

Thanks,
James

PS- Partial sponsorship of the community breakfast is from the Waid family, including former Miss Hi-Yu and Miss Seafair, Erin Waid Flamiatos.

Adults: $6, Kids 12 and under: $3.

Original post July 3
The West Seattle Hi-Yu Community Brunch, held every year is likely not going to happen for 2012 because the event lost its underwriter according to Hi Yu President, James Kline.

In years past the brunch has been held at the American Legion Hall, or the UCC Church near Alki and usually offers a chance to meet the local royalty in the form of the Hi-Yu court of Queen and princesses and enjoy some great food.

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Southwest Precinct closing front desk, reassigning officers for summer months

Seattle Police precincts citywide, including the Southwest Precinct serving West Seattle, are closing their front desk walk-in hours and reassigning several officers on July 3 to "ensure SPD is able to rapidly respond to 911 emergencies across the city," according to Jonah Spangenthal-Lee with the department.

Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Pierre Davis confirmed those changes are happening locally.

According to Spangenthal-Lee, the changes are needed to “meet an anticipated increase in emergency calls this summer.”

Those changes include redeploying 25 officers currently assigned to front desks, traffic units, community police teams (CPT) and federal task forces.

West Seattle's CPT officers will be reassigned over the summer, Lt. Davis said.

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Local historian, author Clay Eals releases new version of his definitive Steve Goodman biography

West Seattle historian and author, Clay Eals, wrote the definitive biography of musician Steve Goodman, called "Steve Goodman: Facing the Music" in 2007 about the Chicago folk legend. Goodman may be best remembered for his Grammy Award wining song "City of New Orleans", made popular by Arlo Guthrie. He wrote three songs about the Chicago Cubs: "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request", "When the Cubs Go Marching In" and "Go, Cubs, Go". Goodman played the Chicago folk club scene in the 60's and early '70's. He died of leukemia at age 36, in 1984.

Eals has just released a new version of his book. He explains, below.

A letter of thanks from Clay Eals:

I am grateful for all of your support for this book, and pleased to let you know that in the five years since its 2007 launch, the first and second printings of "Steve Goodman: Facing the Music" have sold out, and a new version is now available.

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Meet BNT's new reporter and web editor

My name is Zachariah Bryan, and I am the new lead reporter and web editor for the Ballard News Tribune. You can call me Zach.

I am taking over for Anne-Marije Rook, who has taken a position as staff writer for Cascade Bicycle Club.

My background is in writing, journalism and civic engagement. Last year I graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a Bachelor's degree in English, concentration in creative writing.

While at SPU, I was assistant news editor for the award-winning student weekly, "The Falcon," a student worker at the City of Seattle Mayor's Office, a campaign intern with League of Education Voters and a student lobbyist for higher education.

More recently, I have worked as a freelance writer, editor and editorial intern. My work has appeared in Crosscut, Public Data Ferret and Northwest Asian Weekly.

I hope to combine my experience in civic engagement and journalism to tell the story of one of my favorite neighborhoods, Ballard.

Neighborhood
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The Amazing Spider-Man: a reboot that 'sticks'

A mutant-spider-bitten-teenager chasing a giant lizard-man through the sewers of New York may not sound like a synopsis for an artistic or thought provoking plot. But The Amazing Spider-Man manages to make it work, coming across more as a profile of a tortured teenage soul coming to terms with over the top responsibilities

Whereas Spider-Man 3 ended with Toby McGuire playing an “emo” Peter Parker, The Amazing Spider-Man continues with cultural relevancy with Andrew Garfield’s (The Social Network) portrayal of Parker as a misunderstood, slightly arrogant but nerdy hipster. Seattle is set to eat this movie up.

For those unfamiliar, The Amazing Spider-Man is a retelling of the Spider-Man origin story. Comic book fans will note that the original trilogy was based off of the “Ultimate Spider-Man” series while the current adaptation is based off of the original “Amazing Spider-Man” series. And yes, it does make a difference.

The most notable differences include a different love interest (this time Gwen Stacy, played by Emma Stone), a plot delving into Parker’s parents backstory and mechanical web shooters.

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Ballard Ave Pub closed only for renovation?

Update 6:17 p.m.: Ballard Ave Pub may not be closed for good, after all.

A worker next door at the Buffalo Exchange said she ran into someone working inside the Ballard Ave Pub while taking out the trash.

He told her that the pub was only closed for renovations and that they were going to change the "whole vibe."

She did not know when renovations will be done, or when the pub will open again.

(Editor's note: This is unconfirmed information. Will update when it has been confirmed.)

Ballard Ave Pub closed unexpectedly over the weekend, MyBallard reported. The pub opened Jan. 2011 and served only local beers.

Last July, the Seattle and King County Public Health Department closed the bar temporarily for not having a valid permit. That does not appear to be the case this time around. The restaurant is not on the list of places closed due to health reasons.

More updates as they come.

Neighborhood
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Update: Focus on family fun on the 4th

Highline will explode with Independence Day events on Wednesday, July 4.

So take a mid-week work break and enjoy parades, fireworks and more with your family. Fuel for the gas-guzzler is expensive so celebrate the national holiday, locally.

Burien

Organizers say the Burien Independence Day Parade has gained a reputation as one of the most enjoyable and spirited community parades in this region.

Community pride will shine with marching bands, energetic dance teams, elaborate floats and vintage autos.

Local community members will recognize familiar faces among the many organizations and elected officials that participate.

The parade is set against the charming backdrop of Downtown Burien, which features a mixture of business, retail and restaurants, along with the central landmarks of Burien Town Square and City Hall.

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LETTER: Keep service on bus route

(Editor’s Note: This letter was sent to Kevin Desmond, King County metro transit director, with a copy to the Times/News.)

I have been a rider, along with many others, of the King County Metro bus system for almost 35 years because I am not able to drive a car. I take bus number 139 from my home to my place of work.

The changes you are planning to provide a much smaller Dart bus with smaller seats and sporadic service, are unacceptable on this route.

The proposed small Dart bus can hold only a wheelchair passenger and two additional passengers. This means that hundreds of bus drivers will be adversely affected by this change.

I know this change is not due to lack of funds. Metro is NOT hurting in the money department. In fact, there was a $20 car tab tax that was passed for each vehicle in order to prevent King County Metro transit from cutting service.

Further, we, the bus riders, are paying your salaries. You management people have no idea (nor, I fear, do you actually care) how much the current bus service of the number 139 bus is needed in its current state.

Please keep it as it is.