July 2013

Today, July 21 is one of the biggest days of the year for local charity agency WestSide Baby as they ask the community to "Stuff the Bus", an effort to reach a goal of collecting 250,000 disposable diapers.
WestSide Baby normally collects diapers, good condition used children's clothing, car seats, strollers and more which they then redistribute through area social service agencies.

They urge you to donate a box, case or more of disposable diapers (sizes 4-6 are best).

The yellow school bus will be parked in two locations at:

• AmericanWest Bank - 4022 SW Alaska St, Seattle
• Burien Toyota - 15025 1st Avenue South Burien

You can also donate at area grocery stores from 10am-2pm on Sunday at:

• Burien Albertsons on 160th & 1st Ave South
• Burien QFC on SW Normandy Rd & 1st Ave South (Manhattan Village)
• West Seattle QFC on SW Alaska St & 42nd Ave SW (Alaska Junction)
• West Seattle Safeway on SW Admiral Way & California Ave SW (Admiral Junction)
• West Seattle Safeway on SW Alaska St & 42nd Ave SW (Jefferson Square)

By Gwen Davis

The White Center Library will undergo a nearly $4.2 million reconstruction. Last Thursday, the NBBJ architects hosted a public meeting at Mt. View Elementary School to incorporate comments and questions about the orientation of the new building.

The new library will have 10,000 square feet, contain more materials, more computers, wireless access and spaces for children and teens.

“We have had a lot of discussion about this and have a lot of decisions to make,” the host of the meeting began. “We wanted to make sure we had the opportunity to hear from the community before the architects started putting their thinking caps on.”

The competition among architecture firms to take on this job was keen, with several firms applying.
“We want to make sure your comments are captured,” one architect said. “Our library system has mostly come about because of comments and meetings like this. We are thrilled to be here.”
The meeting championed three large posters that illustrated how the library would look with different orientations.

UPDATE
The music schedule for the Sunday performances, often in a state of flux up until the last minute, has been released. See the link.

Original Post
The Alki Art Fair, back again for July 20 and 21 is bringing 44 musical and live performance artists to the stage during the weekend event.

Of course it's primarily about the art from the 60 plus artists but there's food, kids activities and of course the beach and much more on Alki during the event.

The complete final Sunday music schedule is at the link.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

West Seattle got out of the gates quickly at the AA South District American Legion baseball tournament, only to have them slam back in its face to put its season on the ropes.

The Westsiders, who entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed, opened with a game against No. 5 seeded Bellevue on Thursday afternoon and put them away by an impressive 10-3 score.

But it was a different story when they advanced to play No. 1 seeded Eastlake that evening as they took an 11-1 loss in the action at Woodinville High School.

West Seattle advanced to play Juanita in a loser's bracket opener Friday afternoon, and needed to win that game, a second that night and the loser's bracket final at 3:30 p.m. Saturday to reach championship play.

The Westsiders would then need to win at 6 p.m. Saturday and then take the if-necessary championship at 1 p.m. Sunday to take the South District title and go on to state action in Walla Walla.

UPDATE July 26

The Benchview Neighborhood Association has won a major battle in their quest to limit the adjustment of property lines allowing the development of three homes on land that previously only had one. David Allen, the Blockwatch Captain who has served as the group's spokesperson said,
"We are thrilled to report that Judge Spearman made a key ruling in favor of the Benchview neighborhood. By reversing the City’s erroneous approval of part of the lot boundary adjustment (LBA), the rest of the LBA falls apart and is nullified.

We trust the City will comply with the judge’s decision. The developer can submit a fresh LBA application. But because of the house under construction on the property, City law says he can now only claim two total lots, not three.

Two houses on these two lots has always been the fair and reasonable solution. Now it's the law.

The neighborhood's statement, the court’s decision document and other resources are on the Benchview blog. http://benchviewblog.wordpress.com/

Thank you to our wonderful Benchview neighbors. It was only through tremendous teamwork and perseverance that we could do this."

Hicklin Lake in Lakewood Park of White Center is two steps closer to cleaning up its act.

During the week of July 15 – 19 King County’s Water and Land Resources Division installed two of four floating islands that are designed to grow vegetation that will naturally extract pollutants from the lake through their roots.

The floating island idea was hatched, investigated and presented to King County by Friends of Hicklin Lake, a community group focused on cleaning up Hicklin, headed up by the lake’s biggest champion in Dick Thurnau.

A breakthrough occurred earlier this year when King County Senior Limnologist Sally Bartley Abella obtained a $50,000 grant from the Washington Department of Ecology to pilot the islands.

The islands have been planted with a variety of plants from native roses to dogwood bushes to cattails, and a thin wire mesh surrounds them to keep waterfowl from climbing onto the islands where they could disturb the plants and dropping excrement that could add to the pollution they are trying to clean up. Earlier this year Abella said waterfowl are unlikely to fly in and land on the islands due to their small size.

The City of Des Moines has placed on the August 6 Primary Election ballot a scheme to collect, according to the City, "approximately $1,100,000 per year for City street pavement improvements". Called Proposition 1, the scheme is to "increase the the utility occupation tax from 6% to 8% for a period of twenty (20) years". If approved, the 2.0% increase would be specifically dedicated to provide funding for city street pavement improvements.".

The Proposition suffers from several serious flaws and should be rejected by the voters. Here's why.

First, the City collects a tax from all utilities that provide services to Des Moines, such as cable, sewer, water, and all other such businesses that are contracted with the City. Not one of those services has ever been known to reduce it's customer rates over the years, instead, their rates always increase. So when the City taxes are added to your utility bills as a percentage, the City's take also always increases. The $1.1 million for next year will increase with time, becoming $1.5 million at an inflation rate of 2% for 20 years. Our streets could be paved with gold.

Friday, July 19

Salmon Bay Eagles Music

What: Teen Rock Nite

Where: 5216 20th Ave NW

When: Music from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., no cover

More info: 206-783-7791http://www.salmonbayeagles.com/

Emerald Contra Dance

What: All dances taught. No partner necessary. Please, no cologne, perfume or other scented products. $8 General Admission; $7 Seniors, PNA
members, SFS members; $5 Students.

Where: Phinney Neighborhood Association Community Hall-lower brick building (6532 Phinney Ave N)

When: Beginner’s workshop 7 p.m., dance 7:30-10 p.m.

More info: 206-440-9839 or emeraldcitycontra@pobox.com

Comedy Sportz

What: ComedySportz is improv comedy played as a sport. The show pits two teams of comedians against each other in a variety of games, in which they compete for audience laughter.

Where: Ballard Underground (2220 NW Market St)

When: 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

More info: http://comedysportzseattle.com/

Saturday, July 20

Seven Wonders of Ballard Bike tour

Press release:

Current Trustee and past chair of the Highline Community College board, Dan Altmayer of Federal Way has been elected to serve as the president of the Trustees Association of Community and Technical Colleges (TACTC).

TACTC is comprised of all the trustees of the 30 two-year college districts in Washington and provides support and coordination for trustees in the areas of education, communication and advocacy. The vision of TACTC is to insure quality, affordable and lifelong educational opportunities for all the people of Washington State.

“Dan's election as president of TACTC is truly an honor for him and the region, and it reflects his hard work and leadership in the community college system and his commitment to student success,” said Highline’s Board of Trustees chair, Bob Roegner. “We are proud of the recognition Dan has brought to Highline, Federal Way and South King County.”

If it seems like everything you could ever do on a summer weekend is crammed into the next two days you are not that far off. The weekend of July 20-21 is completely packed with activities so, it means allow extra time to get around, park and leave as you pick and choose what to do and when.

Saturday, July 20

Alki Art Fair
More than 60 artists will line the Alki Beach promenade featuring an amazing array of art from paintings to sculpture to jewelry and much more. The artists booths will be open from 10am to 6pm both Saturday and Sunday with music happening from 10am to 9pm Saturday, 10am to 8pm Sunday. 44 musical acts and live performances will be presented during the event.
There will be food booths, children's activities, and a silent auction.

Seafair Triathlon Expo: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Ninth Avenue (between Seneca and University streets)
1,520 attending
Streets closed from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Ninth Avenue from Seneca Street – University Street
Expect congestion in the area. http://www.seafair.com/AnEvent.aspx?ID=5&SecID=958