July 2016

This Fourth of July, the City of Seattle is encouraging people to plan ahead and get a safe ride home as they travel to and from Independence Day festivities.

Earlier in 2016, the City began a partnership with technology company Uber on a pilot program that aims to prevent impaired driving, by raising awareness of the issue and giving people easy access to a reliable ride home after they've been drinking. The collaboration is part of Seattle’s Vision Zero plan to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets by 2030.

Annually, over 65,000 people gather in and around Gas Works Park on July 4th to watch the fireworks display over Lake Union. The event adds to traffic congestion and parking challenges in the adjacent neighborhoods. To help alleviate congestion in the area, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Uber are encouraging people to exit Gas Works Park and walk a short distance to North 40th Street or Stone Way North before dropping their location pin in the Uber app.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Kela working on a comeback

Chief Sealth graduate Keone Kela is working to return to action in the Texas Rangers' bullpen following elbow surgery in April.
Kela threw a bullpen session June 24 and was scheduled for a simulated game this week in hopes of getting back into live action later this month.

Brett still on Bulls' disabled list

Highline graduate Ryan Brett has been on the disabled list for the Durham Bulls of the Tampa Bay Rays organization all season. Brett, who saw some action with the Rays and Bulls last year, plays second base.

Barnette now 5-3 for Rangers

Thomas Jefferson graduate Tony Barnette now has a 5-3 record throwing out of the bullpen for the Texas Rangers.
Barnette has a 2.91 earned run average over 34 innings of work in 31 games, racking up 26 strikeouts and walking 10.

Conger hitting .202 for Rays

Federal Way native Hank Conger is now hitting .202 (21-for-104) as a catcher for the Tampa Bay Rays with five doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI and six runs scored.

Ishikawa has six home runs

By Katy Wilken

It’s almost Independence Day, and that means we’ll see a lot of red, white and blue foods in grocery stores. An online search for “Fourth of July recipes” comes back with loads of them, including blue pasta, red and blue deviled eggs and seemingly endless uses for blue frosting.

I used to say, “Don’t eat blue food!” because many are manufactured with an abundance of salt, fat, sugar, artificial colors and flavorings. But there are healthy red and blue foods.

I am thinking of blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. All are high in antioxidants, folic acid and vitamin C, as well as low in calories, high in natural fiber and packed with flavor, not salt and fat. This Independence Day, celebrate with low sodium, fresh recipes:

Fourth of July Blueberry Pie

One man was killed and another one injured in a fall from a lift bucket while working under an exit ramp from the West Seattle Bridge Friday morning, July 1 according to the Seattle Times. The men were working when around 8 a.m. a box truck struck the lift, according to Seattle police. They were working on the bearing pad replacement project that has been going on for the past two weeks.

The man who was killed was 40 years old and fell about 50 feet, landing on a roadway below the bridge deck according to Seattle Police. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center, but died there.

A 57-year-old man, fell about 15 feet suffering serious injuries police said. He was not taken to the hospital immediately.

According to police the driver of the truck was given a field sobriety test at the scene.

Earlier this week band members from Sound Garden joined King County Executive Dow Constantine at the King County Environmental Lab to christen the new scientific research vessel, Sound Guardian, a name inspired by the icon Seattle band.

Soundgarden members Kim Thayil and Matt Cameron attended the christening ceremony and both offered praise for the new vessel.

“We are honored that this witty name is used for the boat, and I do appreciate the reference to the physical and cultural geography in the name. We are very honored to be associated with this and the mission,” said Thayil.

“Well we are obviously the least qualified people here today to be speaking at the podium, but we are very honored for the privilege of being here today,” said Cameron.

The name is the result of King County’s “Name the Vessel” contest held last January.