January 2009

City departments sited improvements to their responses of the recent December snowstorm but also said they could have done better.

At a joint meeting of the environment, emergency management and transportation committees, representatives from Seattle City Light, department of transportation and Seattle Public Utilities told council members what they did right and fielded questions about how they could have improved their services and communicated more effectively with other city and county departments.

Seattle City Light Superintendent Jorge Carrasco said the department

Snow and bad weather may have hurt the Majestic Bay Theater more than the economy this holiday season.

General manager Brent Siewert says the "media hype" over the snow made people fear going out and "the length of time that it was difficult [for people] to get around" contributed to a deflated holiday season.

"We had days where it wasn't in our best interest to be open," said Siewert.

Siewert also blames Hollywood for a less than stellar holiday movie season. The movie theater industry is largely affected by what movies are out.

Current Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin will run for reelection to the Seattle City Council instead of making a run for mayor of the city, as some have predicted.

"Seattle works best when we work together," said Conlin in a statement released from his re-election campaign. "I have the experience, the commitment, and the knowledge to do the job. My task is to work with al Seattle's communities to create and implement a positive vision for our future."

Conlin was elected to the City Council in November 1997 and reelected in 2001 and 2005.

Current Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin will run for reelection to the Seattle City Council instead of making a run for mayor of the city, as some have predicted.

"Seattle works best when we work together," said Conlin in a statement released from his re-election campaign. "I have the experience, the commitment, and the knowledge to do the job. My task is to work with al Seattle's communities to create and implement a positive vision for our future."

Conlin was elected to the City Council in November 1997 and reelected in 2001 and 2005.

Early design guidance for apartment/nursing home expansion

Thursday, Jan, 8, 8 p.m., West Seattle Christian Church 4400 42nd Ave. S.W., Social Hall Room.

Project 3008453

7125 Fauntleroy Way S.W.

Contact, R. Kevin McFeely, 937-2086

The proposal is to expand an existing apartment, assisted living and nursing home facility. The project will include demolition of 10 multi-family structures and construction of four new multi-family structures for a total of 194 apartments, 110 assisted living, and 35 skilled nursing units.

Provided by Jon Gerhardt

As an investor, you may sometime wonder what on earth is going on in the financial world. One day, the stock market is down 200 points; the next day it's up 300. One day, a scandal rocks a company; the next day, another firm declares a poor earnings report. Isn't there any completely smooth route for you to follow as you pursue a comfortable retirement and other key objectives?

Actually, there isn't.

Search the stores for your miniature garden accessories now, while the sales are on. Here are a few tips on where to look for your wee accessories, and then what to do with them when you get them home.

With everything on sale, it'll keep your costs down in the springtime, you’ll already have some items to play with, and you can spend your time enjoying the spring weather in the garden, instead of in the stores.

Garden centers and nurseries are a great place to start your search.

The length of the day is determined by the tilt of the earth and the position of the earth in relation to the sun during the year. Our solar calendar, invented during Roman times with final modern adjustments made by Pope Gregory in 1582, has determined when winter falls. So even though the weather may seem like winter in November, the calendar is based on arithmetic (counting the days as basic units of time) and the seasons on solstices and equinoxes, dividing the year into 4 parts.

Sex Pistol's Johnny Rotten on living in London during the late 1970's garbage strike

Snow in Seattle means a holiday from everything: school, dentist appointments, junk-mail delivery, and driving. At its best, the snow presents a get-out-of-jail-free card for the mandatory fun of office holiday parties; at its worst, a three-hour trek home on foot across the "low bridge" over the Duwamish when the Metro buses stop serving West Seattle. Strangers share meaningful glances and flash rueful smiles at each other while pioneering upon unshoveled sidewalks.

In her final recommendations to the School Board Tuesday afternoon, Seattle School's Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson has proposed to discontinue the Cooper School program and move the Pathfinder Alternative K-8 school into its building.

The proposal has been hotly contested by both school communities.

A final public hearing regarding school closures will be help on Jan. 22 and the School Board is scheduled to vote on Goodloe-Johnson's proposal Jan.