September 2015

Seattle Summer Parkways are two events occurring in September that open up the city’s largest public space – our streets—for people to have fun, celebrate the spirit and personality of their community, discover active healthy transportation, connect with their neighbors, and support local businesses.

These events are taking place over the course of two weekends this month. We have a three mile route in the Central District on Saturday September 12, from 11 am-3 pm and a seven mile loop in Ballard on Saturday September 19 from 11 am-3 pm.

Because Seattle is a people powered city, the event will be hosted with the help of numerous local organizations and volunteers. Volunteering fosters civic pride and demonstrates your investment in Seattle’s vitality, livability, sustainability and diversity.

Blues. Jazz. Rock. Folk. These styles of music and most others all share a common resonance: bass.

The bass has taken many appearances – from the Wash Tub Bass (American) to the "Babatoni" (South Africa) – through history, but one form of the instrument has piqued a Ballard man’s interest, and he is reviving an old American and British folk sound by reproducing the Tea Chest Bass.

Mark Mollan is founder of Funky1Strings at 1132 NW 45th St. in Ballard, and he has been making the Tea Chest Bass for over two years. He said that the instrument was the primary bass resonator in Skiffle music. Skiffle is a type of music with jazz, blues, and folk roots and usually the band uses homemade instruments. The style of music evolved in the U.S. during the early 1900s and then later in the U.K. during the 1950s where the Tea Chest Bass was used. Some influential groups like the Rolling Stones and the Beatles had Skiffle influences.

“It’s really a nice folkie, acoustic style of music, and I thought the box (tea chest bass) would be a really good instrument to bring back. It’s unconventional,” said Mollan.

The Eighth Annual West Seattle Car Show will be held Sunday, September 13 at South Seattle College, a change of venue. All past previous shows were held in the West Seattle Junction.

The show, to be held in the north parking lot, will run from 10 AM – 3 PM

More than 200 cars and hydroplanes will be on display from classics to custom automobiles with free admission for the family-friendly event. This year will mark the first-year that this West Seattle tradition will be held at South and will feature a host of the college’s signature programs.

By Ken Robinson

What bonehead at Alaska Airlines came up with the idea that they should give the University of Washington $41 million dollars in exchange for putting their name on Husky Stadium?

They must have really been foaming at the mouth at the board meeting when someone  said "Hey! We've got an extra $41 million in the bank from charging people to take luggage with them on our airplanes. What if we get the UW to let us put our name on the stadium like Century Link did for the Seahawks?!" 

Here's the problem with this: The Seahawks and that baseball team in Seattle are commercial entities, businesses. We get it that they love having their stadiums (paid for principally by taxpayers) festooned with corporate logos, flashing intermittently at the games. It helps pay the salaries of guys who don't live here.

The Huskies are a team representing a public institution of higher learning. The players are playing for joy, not money. The taint of commercialism should not be part of college football.  

Police catch two burglars in the act

Seattle police arrested two suspects while they were trespassing in a home on the 2000 block of NW 65th Street on August 22. Officers were called to the residence after the owner reported two males were in the home. Officers made contact with the owner across from the house, and he told them that his neighbor had called and said there were two men trespassing in his home. Officers could hear male voices coming from the house. They called for backup. One suspect tried to flee out the back door and officers apprehended him. They called to the other suspect in the home. After two minutes the suspect came out and surrendered. In the home officers found drawers rummaged through and graffiti on the walls. The owners said he had had problems with trespassers in the past. Both suspects were booked at King County Jail for trespassing.

John Doe booked for harassment after dumpster diving

To the editor:

Crisis Clinic was one of the earliest organizations to formally endorse Best Starts for Kids, Proposition 1. The six-year levy invests in prevention and early intervention strategies that will strengthen families and ensure our children reach adulthood healthy and ready to contribute to the prosperity of the region.

“Every day we respond to families and youth in crisis and needing help,” said Kathleen Southwick, Crisis Clinic’s Executive Director. “This levy provides critical resources to help children and their families build a solid foundation for the future.”

Science tells us prevention and early intervention are the most effective and least expensive ways to address our most serious problems. Lack of early support for children results in costly interventions later in life. Indeed, much of the County’s current funding responds to negative outcomes like mental illness, substance abuse, homelessness, and especially incarceration – the most costly and least effective intervention.

The conversion to three lanes and lowering of speed limits for 35th Ave. SW and Roxbury will begin Sept. 10 as SDOT crews begin the process. It will start with re-paving 35th Avenue SW between SW Cambridge and SW Barton streets . This work will occur from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. and is expected to take one week.

Re-channeling SW Roxbury Street and 35th Avenue SW will take place after the repaving work has begun. Work will occur from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. for about two to three weeks, weather permitting. Crews will also modify traffic signals and signal detection systems.

What to expect:
 Re-paving on 35th Avenue SW between SW Cambridge and SW Barton streets  Re-channelization on:
 SW Roxbury Street between 17th Avenue SW and 35th Avenue SW
 35th Avenue SW between SW Roxbury Street and SW Morgan Street
 SW Barton Street between 34th Avenue SW and 36th Avenue SW

Paving and signal work will occur between 9 a.m. and 3p.m., and channelization work between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. Expect periodic lane closures in construction areas and temporary parking restrictions. Moderate construction noise is expected when the existing pavement markings are removed.

A fundraiser for NW Hope and Healing is set for SODO based Elsom Cellars for Sunday, 10/04/2015 from 2pm - 6pm. Elsom is located at 2960 4th Ave. South.

The mission of Northwest Hope & Healing is to provide financial assistance to women in need who are battling breast and gynecological cancer at the Swedish Cancer Institute. The Patient Assistance Fund provides assistance for every day living expenses such as child care, groceries, reliable transportation,and emergency rent. In addition, signature “Healing Baskets” are assembled and delivered, at no charge, to women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer at all Swedish Cancer Institute Campuses. Please contact a Social Worker at Swedish for the qualification guidelines. The goal of Northwest Hope & Healing is to help women get back on track financially, while they are dealing with the emotional and physical effects of cancer. We assist women with the healing process so they may begin to feel whole once again, and give them hope for the future

information from WSDOT

Drivers should expect nighttime closures this week on the southbound lanes of State Route 99 and First Avenue South near Seattle’s stadiums.

Tuesday night, Sept. 8 to Friday morning, Sept. 11

The left lane of southbound SR 99 will be closed between South King Street and South Royal Brougham Way each night from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
A short section of the right lane of southbound First Avenue South will be closed just south of Railroad Way South each night from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

During the closures, Seattle Department of Transportation crews will conduct maintenance work on SR 99 near the stadiums.

For more information about Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program, visit www.alaskanwayviaduct.org.

West Seattle Hi-Yu probably best known for its longevity, royalty and float in the Grand Parade has been performing community service since it began. Now an application for the new West Seattle Teen Ambassador Program for teens 13-16 that live in West Seattle in zip codes 98106-98146 is available. It was approved at the West Seattle Hi-Yu meeting Sept. 7th.

This new opportunity for teens expands the West Seattle Hi-Yu offering opportunities for community service to teens and fills the gap between the Jr. court and Sr. court.

In a press release about the new program Hi-Yu said:
"Please pass the information on to teens and encourage them to apply. They will gain confidence, have fun and be able to have recognition as a leader in the community as an Ambassador.

An orientation session is planned for teens and their parents on Mon. Sept. 28th to explain the program and answer questions.

West Seattle Hi-Yu meetings are on the First Monday of each month and all Mondays in July.

Please pass the information on to other parents with teens age 13-16.