August 2013

In what may be the biggest foregone conclusion ever, Amanda Knox will not be attending the new trial of her murder case in Italy. That trial begins in Florence on Sept. 30.

The word came from the Florence daily La Nazione who quoted lawyer Luciano Ghirga saying he met with Knox and her defense team and that Knox confirmed what she previously stated after the Italian Supreme Court ruling was made in March. She's not going back.

The new trial was ordered according to the court because they said her acquittal ruling contained, "deficiencies, contradictions and illogical," conclusions.

The Fastest Girls in Town, a female only car, truck and motorcycle show will be staged at Jack Block Park on Sunday Aug. 25 starting at 1 pm.

Music, food, and soft drinks will be provided and vendors will be set up for shopping.

The gay friendly event is hosted by Girl4Girl. Their Facebook page is here: https://www.facebook.com/girlforgirl.seattle

According to the organizers The Fastest Girls in Town could become a monthly event. A previous event at Don Armeni Park, just down the beach from Jack Block attracted more than 150 women.

The event is free, no tickets required.

As the deadline for the closure of the homeless encampment, Nickelsville aproaches a group of West Seattle-White Center churches, the Westside Inferfaith Network (WIN)*, met this week and decided to hold a vigil at Nickelsville's parking lot each evening next week (Sun. 8/25 thru Sat. 8/31).

They've chosen this course of action based on these facts:

-Nickelsville is closing soon & there are still 160+ residents with no confirmed place to move,
-there's a steady increase of homeless people (recently 9 families asked shelter at N'ville in a 13 day period--& many couples/singles keep coming--none of them were looking for "freebies!),
-2-1-1 reports shelters are full (most people coming to Nickelsville are told to do so by 2-1-1),
-it's not safe to live in the green belt or city streets--as many beaten or robbed people can confirm,
-literally tens of thousands of people in our area struggle on the brink of homelessness. There will be future homeless people.

In their statement about the event WIN said:

Superintendent Jose Banda has sent a letter to the people who have students in Seattle Public Schools, employees and other regarding the labor contract negotiations the district is currently working on with the Seattle Education Association:

Dear Seattle Public Schools community,

There is no more important endeavor than the education of our students. We all share a common value that every student deserves access and opportunity to an excellent public education.

I am writing to provide you with an update on negotiations with our labor association partner, Seattle Education Association (SEA). The current contract was approved in 2010 and expires on August 31. We have been negotiating since spring and are committed to continuing discussions with SEA. We are hopeful that a fair agreement will be reached that focuses on the best interests of our students. We have been working to reach an agreement that supports increased achievement for all of our students and our collective commitment to close the achievement gap.

Information from SDOT

For two weeks beginning September 3, SW Orchard Street between Sylvan Way SW and Delridge Way SW will be closed to eastbound traffic as crews rebuild the roadway. This closure will be followed by a two-week westbound closure as crews complete the opposite side. This work is part of the Seattle Department of Transportation Delridge Way SW Paving Project that is rebuilding much of Delridge Way SW from SW Orchard to SW Roxbury streets.
· September 3-13 eastbound SW Orchard Street traffic at Delridge Way SW will be directed to use the following detour (please see map above):
o South on Sylvan Way SW
o North on Delridge Way SW
o East on SW Orchard Street

· September 16-27 - westbound SW Orchard Street traffic at Sylvan Way SW will be directed to use the following detour:
o South on Delridge Way SW
o West on Sylvan Way SW
o East on SW Orchard Street

For an update to this story, with information from Union Gospel Mission on the transitional work they are doing with Nickelsville campers, please click here.

Residents at Nickelsville, the homeless encampment on West Seattle’s eastern fringe, are busy preparing for one of two outcomes in the next week as the city council-mandated deadline for vacating their current home on W. Marginal Way S.W. arrives on Sept. 1: If they have three new campsites ready by that time (two are secured as of Aug. 23), they plan to pack up and move. If not, a showdown may be in the works.

“We have our deadline, and we have two sites secured but until we do get that third site, until we have room for everyone to go, we will stand our ground,” Nickelsville resident Mike Singer said during a Herald tour of the camp on Aug. 22. Singer said they want to move everyone at once to avoid leaving anyone behind, creating animosity.

Nickelsville is not a legal tent encampment and the residents are technically squatting on public land – prompting the shutdown.

Friday, Aug. 23

Outdoor Movie at Shilshole Bay Marina

What: Port of Seattle presents the second annual, FREE Movies at the Marina nights! Bring your friends, family, and a blanket to the marina plaza for outdoor movie fun. Chairs are welcome in the back row and along the sides. No alcohol allowed. Leashed pets are welcome. Dolphin Tale will be playing.

Where: Shilshole Bay Marina (7001 Seaview Ave NW)

When: 8:45 p.m.

More info: http://www.portseattle.org/Marinas/Shilshole-Bay-Marina/Pages/Special-E…

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

Story by Bridget Turrell

Original article Q13 fox

SEATAC — Workers at Sea-Tac airport say they deserve to make a living wage. And in November, citizens of the city of SeaTac will vote on a proposal to raise their salaries to $15 an hour. According to the Seattle Times, supporters and opponents of the measure have raised nearly half a million dollars. That adds up to around $37 a voter for SeaTac’s 11,852 registered voters.

The Times reports that ‘Common Sense Sea Tac’ has raised $243,000. It’s a business-funded political-action committee that wants to see the measure defeated. That money includes $75,000 from the American Car Rental Association, $50,000 from a hotel owners group, and $15,000 each from Alaska Airlines and a group of restaurant owners.

Supporters of the proposal, according to the Times, have raised nearly $200,000, mostly from union groups.

The 2013 Sound Orthodontics Alki Beach 5k Walk and Run benefitting Northwest Hope and Healing will dash, walk, run and otherwise move along Alki Beach Sunday Aug. 25. The race starts at 9am.

Northwest Hope and Healing is a cancer care organization that provides every day essentials for women who are battling breast cancer.

The 5k route runs from the Statue of Liberty at Alki Beach Park & the historic Bathhouse, along the waterfront to Anchor Park and back.

The organizers hope that participants meet a $100 minimum fundraising goal. Although fundraising is not required they hope you would consider a donation. $25 provides a Healing Basket, $50 buys groceries, $100 keeps the lights on and the phone connected, $250 ensures childcare during treatment and recovery, $500 helps prevent an eviction.

Register for the race here.
Donate online here.

Sandwiched between the Diablo and Gorge Dams along the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project in the North Cascades National Forest is the little, aged town of Diablo: a community built in 1925 to house workers who built the dams for Seattle City Light and, by extension, largely power Seattle.

What brought my girlfriend Melissa and I to that spot, nestled in the Skagit Gorge just off the North Cascades Highway, was a quick weekend adventure on Aug. 17 to hike Stetattle Creek Trail and camp overnight at Gorge Lake Campground, found just outside Diablo and very near the trailhead. The campsite is first come/first serve with limited spots, but it’s also absolutely free.

To be honest, we picked the campsite first and looked for hikes second. Coming to Seattle via Montana and Idaho, I’m used to ample free primitive camping and fall into an existential, diva-like crisis every time I’m forced to pay. Melissa, knowing that, recommended Gorge Lake and a nice day hike up Stetattle Creek earlier in the week.