November 2008

The Fremont Chamber of Commerce and businesses in the area are strongly protesting the city's attempt to implement parking meters and residential parking zones.

The city's push to enforce paid parking in Fremont is still strongly opposed by the Fremont Chamber of Commerce.

Reaction to the Seattle Department of Transportation's second draft to put into effect paid parking and residential parking zones remains a dud.

"The chamber has insistently said that we do not want paid parking in Fremont and we came to vote on this," said Marko Tubic, Fremont Chamber of Com

In their quest to complete the Burke-Gilman Trail's missing link, the segment running from east of the Ballard Bridge to the Ballard Locks, the city has created what some bicyclists are already calling the new missing link.

Construction on the $14 million project will begin in spring 2009 and will create a trail from 11th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 45th Street to the Locks running along Shilshole Avenue and Northwest 54th Street.

The Seattle School Board has directed Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson to begin addressing capacity classroom imbalances immediately.

The board says there a $24 million deficit in the budget for the 2009-2010 school year, which must be balanced according to Washington State law.

With years of afterthought and wanting to contribute to the awareness of breast cancer as each October went by, Giovanna Duque owner of Duque Salon+Spa+Boutique in Ballard, always had the intention to create a window at the front of her boutique dedicated to the disease.

"My maternal grandmother died in her early 50s from breast cancer and my mother died at the age of 46 of breast cancer," said Duque. "It was just a little too close to the flame for me.

Two beloved Whittier School icons retired and were honored by school children, parents and staff. After 28 years as administrative secretary, Catherine Jolly said goodbye to a gathering of fans of all ages Oct. 14 in the library. The following day custodian Terry Lindsey, 55, and students whooped it up in the lunchroom where he moved from table to table to say so long as the kids wolfed down cake served in his honor. He had been with the Seattle School district 28 years, first at Blaine, then Olympic View, and arrived at Whittier 10 years ago.

"Terry and I got along very well.

This October Ballard lost another small segment of its Nordic history.

The Swedish-Finn Historical Society moved out of its location on 17th Avenue Northwest off Market Street when the building owner decided he wanted to do something different with the space.

Even if the owner had let them stay, the nonprofit organization could not have afforded the substantial rental increase they were facing, said Syrene Forsman, president emeritus of the society.

The society has moved into a new location in the Swedish Cultural Center at 1920 Dexter Ave.

All King County employees, with the exception of essential safety and transit staff, would take 10 days unpaid furlough in 2009 under the terms of an historic agreement reached with the King County Union Coalition to help with the unprecedented $93.4 million 2009 budget deficit.

County Executive Ron Sims thanked the coalition for their desire to be part of a budget solution and their recommendation to the rank and file of 15 unions to approve the plan that will save $10.1 million next year.

"This tentative agreement is an act of compassion and strong leadership

Repairs to four column foundations for the Alaskan Way Viaduct seem to have stopped their sinking.

Bridge engineers for the Washington State Department of Transportation found no more settling during their inspection of the structure Oct.

The morning after the 2000 presidential election I drove my daughter to school and then went to the neighborhood coffee shop on Northwest 32nd because I needed to be with other adults asking, what just happened? Never in my lifetime had I awakened to an undecided race. In 2004 the presidential election was conceded more quickly. I watched Kerry's concession speech while the backhoe digging a trench for the new side sewer narrowly missed hitting my picture window.

Last week I made another morning-after trip to the same coffee shop on Sunset Hill where 65th crosses 32nd.

A collector of horseshoes since her teenage years, Jill Andersen brings her Nebraska roots to Horseshoe - an eclectic Western-inspired feminine boutique in Ballard with much more than country flair. Welcome to the 'hood, Horseshoe!

Besides the great merchandise (to follow), Horseshoe's appeal is its cute antique western d/cor. Andersen uses old farmhouse antiques such as old sewing machines, barn and stable doors. Her husband even builds jewelry cases using antique iron bases.

Once in Fremont, Horseshoe has moved to the former Olivine space.