August 2006

The state and the city have been pushing the tunnel at a cost of $4.5 billion and the rebuild at $3.5 billion and have tried to ignore everything else.

Recall that the viaduct is some 2.2 miles long, south of the Battery Street tunnel consisting of some 64 three-span structural units. But only two units were damaged during the Nisqually earthquake of Feb. 28, 2001 and those were repaired and the viaduct reopened to traffic.

The project now includes the lowering of Aurora and adding new bridges across Aurora.

Your article in the West Seattle Herald (Story Pole, Aug. 16) was very interesting to me.

My grandfather, J.E.

I am a subscriber to the West Seattle Herald. I just sent this letter to the mayor, and I wanted to also submit it to you for editorial-page publication:

Last night my husband and I opted to take the bus to Qwest Field for the soccer game. It was an absolute disaster and an insult and embarrassment to both us and this city. How horrible was our experience?

1) The bus was 45 minutes late.

Some West Seattle bar and restaurant owners say they are opposed to a draft proposal from Mayor Greg Nickels that would force establishments to get a special nightclub license and meet stricter noise and safety requirements.

Some also say the proposal and would give the city too much regulatory authority.

Gerry Kingen, owner of Salty's on Alki, said he's ready to battle Nickels' proposal "tooth and nail."

"If Nickels wants a fight we'll take it out on the street," said Kingen. "I don't like government meddling.

Monorail officials are feeling their way in the dark as they try to find how to kill the government agency that once planned a monorail line through West Seattle.

Apparently there are no instruction books explaining the procedure for terminating the Seattle Monorail Project. Usually the work done by a doomed agency is merely transferred to another department. But after voters killed the project last fall, no monorails are being planned.

The monorail agency must be put into a condition called repose.

A series of community meetings to discuss the second phase of Seattle Public Schools closures was cancelled last week because the school board thought too many families would be still be on vacation, said district spokesman Peter Daniels.

"Participation might not be as wide range as it needs to be," said Daniels, adding that public meetings will be rescheduled for early September.

According to a recent statement released from the district, the meetings were called off to give the district more time to consider options for the second round of school closures.

Extra police patrols are throughout King County until Labor Day to rid the roads of drunk drivers, so people should beware after boating, barbeques and an evening at the bar because officers say "if you drive hammered, you will get nailed."

In the county and city, officers will be working approximately 863 extra hours out on the roads. The money to pay them is coming from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

Contracts have been signed between the King County Sheriff's Department and the Coast Guard for the use of the county helicopter, Guardian One, to detect, map, and follow oil spills in Washington waters, including Puget Sound.

Guardian One is equipped with a Forward Looking Infrared system , which uses infrared technology to measure the relative heat of objects on the ground.

Mediterranean Shipping Company, the second largest operator of container ships and one of the fastest-growing maritime transportation companies in the world will begin calling at the Port of Seattle next year.

"We're thrilled that Mediterranean Shipping will be in our harbor," said Port President Patricia Davis. "The arrival of this very dynamic company brings a new shipping line to the Puget Sound region and builds on the growth in container volumes we've experienced in recent years."

Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping has experienced dramatic growth in recent years.

"We thought there was a need in West Seattle for a custom gift shop," said Kimberly Lim who, with co-owner Jodie Marr, recently opened Moxie Papergoods & Gifts.

The new shop offers custom wedding announcements and baby announcements as well as personalized stationery, customized change-of-address cards and wrapping paper.

Much of the store is devoted to artistic greeting cards, including letterpress cards and cards from Europe.