June 2017

By Peggy Sturdivant

“I need to take a break,” I told Ken Robinson, my nominal boss, Co-Publisher and General Manager of what will always be the Ballard News-Tribune to me. “I’ve been doing this for ten years.”

Ten minutes later I was at the scene of house fire in the neighborhood, proving several things at once. The daughter of a fire engine chaser cannot change, and my father’s journalist blood still pumps in my veins. At the corner of 28th NW & NW 58th the assemblage of Seattle Fire Department responders were putting away ladders and chainsaws, hoses still snaking through the intersection.

The 2017 Jubilee Days festival has announced the main stage line up and it includes several bands based out of White Center.

The 2017 Main Stage will be located at 16th Ave SW & SW 100th St and there will be a rockin' beer garden (21+, with proper ID required) running from noon-10pm each day.

MAIN STAGE LINEUP
Please see www.jubileedays.org/main-stage-beer-garden for more information about the bands, including links to their websites and Facebook pages.

SAT, JULY 22
HOBOSEXUAL - 8:30pm
THE BLACK TONES - 7:30pm
ACAPULCO LIPS - 6:30pm
SKATES! - 5:30pm
TOUGH TIMES - 4:30pm
DYNAMITE NUGGET - 3:30pm
THE DEAD LETTERS - 2:30pm
TWICE NICE - 1:30pm

SUN, JULY 23
DELVON LAMARR ORGAN TRIO (DLO3) - 7:30pm
THADDILLAC - 6:30pm
THE SPOILS (of Seattle) - 5:30pm

By Lindsay Peyton

Replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a tunnel through the center of Seattle has been a monumental job.

Joe Hedges, Washington State Department of Transportation’s administrator of the project, compared the task with another giant step during his address to the West Seattle Chamber on Thursday, June 8.

“It was deemed to be, in the tunneling world, going to the moon,” he said.

Hedges added that the $1.4 billion tunnel, which is 60-ft. in diameter and 5 stories high, is “within the five top projects in the nation right now.”

The structure will house a two-story, two-lane road with 8-ft. shoulders. A ventilation system will extract 1.14 billion cubic feet of air per minute.

“A tunnel this diameter has never been bored in soft dirt before – the first of it’s kind,” Hedges said.

In fact, he believes that the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement has been inspiring to others in construction and engineering industries.

“Seattle’s set the new gold standard for tunnels,” Hedges said.” As a result, the interest in tunneling is piquing.”

information from DNDA

Please join DNDA for a Community Open House as we welcome our design team from Pomegranate Center to share their proposed design for the Delridge Wetlands Park! At the Open House you will have opportunity to see how the input of educators and project partners has been woven into an overall design. We will be gathering your input and feedback to help inspire the final design and formation of this community gem in Delridge!

The Delridge Wetland located on 23rd Ave SW and SW Findlay St, is a project spearheaded by DNDA to protect, restore, preserve and expand the existing wetland to improve water quality in Longfellow Creek, meanwhile developing the space as a public park for all to enjoy. Beside wetland restoration, other plans for the park include the creation of an urban garden, community orchard, as well as developing the space as an outdoor classroom for local students and the community to learn hands-on environmental science and wetland stewardship. If you get the chance, stop by and view the site!

information from King County

The King County Assessor’s Office has begun the annual process of mailing valuation notices to over 700,000 property owners. Notices will be arriving to homeowners in eastern West Seattle over the next week.

In most areas of the county, property values are up again this year. Higher valuations, however, do not necessarily translate into higher property taxes, said Assessor John Wilson.

“Most people don’t realize that the fluctuating value of your property has less to do with changes in your tax bill than do measures approved by voters,” said Wilson. “Decisions made by voters, in terms of approving special levies; and by elected officials in terms of adopting budgets, determine the total amount of tax to be collected in your area; the value of your property determines your share of that total amount.”
Wilson continues to encourage property owners to sign up to receive their annual property valuation notice via email instead of through the USPS. This electronic valuation notice program is convenient for property owners, will save money for the Department of Assessments, and is environmentally friendly.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is conducting an analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to determine the environmental effects of a westerly heading for turboprop aircraft departing from Runway 34 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). The heading would only be used when the airport is landing and departing to the north (north flow). A summary of the preliminary analysis may be found at: https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/communityengagement/SEA. As part of the environmental analysis, the FAA is holding a 14-day public comment period. In particular, the FAA is interested in suggested alternative paths for the westbound turboprop aircraft while SEA is in a north flow. Interested parties can submit comments online from June 8-21, 2017 to: 9-ATO-WSA-Public-Comments@faa.gov. People also can mail comments to: Noise Concerns, AJV-W25, FAA, 1601 Lind Ave SW, Renton WA 98057

By Tamara Gillest

Health is a balance. In 1948 the World Health Organization defined health as “a complete state of physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” For good health we require strength, flexibility, structural alignment, proper functioning of body systems and mental steadiness. Yoga therapy- a new kid on the healing block in some ways compliments Western medicine and other healing modalities such as physiotherapy, massage, chiropractor and acupuncture.
Yoga therapy is all about treating the whole person: mind, body and spirit. The International Association of Yoga Therapists states “yoga therapy is the process of empowering individuals to progress toward improved health and well being through the application of the teachings and practices of yoga.” It is based on the belief that human beings are born with the ability to heal and need only to remove the physical, emotional and spiritual blocks in order to let that natural ability shine through.

information from Landmarks Preservation Board

Seattle’s Landmarks Preservation Board will consider nomination of the Avalon Substation (3243 SW Genesee Street) on Wednesday, July 5 at 3:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in Seattle City Hall (600 4th Avenue, Floor L2) in the Boards and Commissions Room L2-80.

The public is invited to attend the meeting and make comments regarding the nomination. Written comments should be received by the Landmarks Preservation Board at the following mailing address by 3:00 p.m. on July 3:

Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
PO Box 94649
Seattle, WA 98124-4649

A copy of the Landmark Nomination is available for public review at the West Seattle Branch Library (2306 42nd Avenue SW) and the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ office in Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Avenue, 4th Floor (206-684-0228). It is also posted on Seattle Department of Neighborhoods website, (seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/landmarks.htm), under the heading of “Current Nominations.”

Last week, Councilmember Lisa Herbold listed several infrastructure improvement projects in her city newsletter. We’ve summarized a few of the projects below:

SDOT will be dedicating $200,000 of existing funds to advance design for a roundabout in the Highland Park Way SW and SW Holden St. intersection. Herbold was instrumental in on working with Mayor Ed Murray to locate funding for the project. The roundabout will work to improve safety and alleviate congestion by improving traffic flow.

Information from the Highline School District

Eight community members will be keeping a close eye on the progress and spending on Highline Public Schools bond projects.

These community members have agreed to serve as the Capital Projects Oversight Committee to ensure accountability on school construction projects. Committee members are appointed to serve a two-year term. They will meet monthly starting June 14.

Four members represent the Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) that planned the school bond. Other members were appointed for their experience in finance, construction and real estate. All are residents of the Highline community.

Please meet our Capital Projects Oversight Committee:

Dave Bush, Real Estate Broker, Windermere Realty
Dave is a City of SeaTac councilmember and has been a real estate broker for Windermere Real Estate in Burien for the past 25 years. His business experience includes serving as vice president of two corporations. He has served as a Highline Schools Foundation trustee, President of the SeaTac Rotary Club, Matt Griffin YMCA board member, and Tyee High School PTSA President.