September 2009

In my 30 years at the beach, I have never seen fishing like it is now. The humpie run includes a lot of small silvers also and the beachfront is daily lined with fishermen casting buzz bombs and spoons.
John Richards, easily the best fly-rod aficionado around here, just walked through the yard to give nice silver to Ray Rice.
John is out on the beach in front of our house everyday during this amazing stretch of light winds, sunshine and water swirling with salmon.
I feel frustrated because I can't even go out to the deck. The step up onto the sundeck is too high to navigate with my walker. Alas.
The fishing frenzy can't last much longer.
I moved my watching post up to the big window and did spot a wild hare-- actually he was a small rabbit. I tried to get a picture of him but failed. He is a survivor as eagles get most of them
Neighbor Louise says she feeds it carrots when he ventures into her yard.

Girls have a way of getting noticed, and "Miss Katrina" knows how. Three years ago this August an impish, loving, then 10-month old, Shih Tzu became my roommate -- and as dog owners know happens --changed my life.
In a column that month I described her as a puffball of love and fun just waiting to happen. She still is.
When a pet dies, the pain is devastating with unbelievable lingering grief. I resolved to never have another hurt like that after Miss Daisy died, yet unexpectedly found 10-month-old Miss Katrina seven months later.
Owned by a breeder, she gave birth to three puppies when barely eight months old and the pups were for sale too. I'm convinced fate made this adoption a "done deal" for both of us because I no more than sat down and Katrina jumped into my lap.
With her head on my shoulder, she looked at me with the most spectacular golden/green eyes. To seal the deal when I was leaving the owner called Katrina, yet she came running straight to me looking like a Norm Rockwell painting waiting to happen, with hair flying and prancing like a thoroughbred horse headed for the winner's circle.

Beautiful cars and motorcycles, a hopefully gorgeous Labor Day weekend, and money going to a good cause will come together in style at the Des Moines Marina on Sunday, Sept. 6 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. when some of the most exciting cars, and motorcycles in the Northwest will be gathered for the 17th annual Italian Concours d' Elegance.
Visitors will see rare and historic Italian cars and motorcycles, as well as beautiful examples from more modern times. Admission is $5 per person, with children 10 and under admitted free.
The Italian Concours d' Elegance offers a daylong celebration of Italian engineering, design and style at its best. It is an opportunity to view a diverse collection of vehicles from Italian companies such as Alfa Romeo, Ducati, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Moto Guzzi and Vespa.
The Northwest has some of the most dedicated collectors of both Italian cars and motorcycles, and many have won awards at prestigious events such as the Pebble Beach Concours.
For 2009, the Italian Concours will be honoring all competition vehicles.

The Highline School District has agreed to buy three acres of undeveloped property at a reduced price for the possible expansion of the Puget Sound Skills Center.
Currently owned by the Port of Seattle, the parcel is adjacent to the district's Maintenance, Operations and Transportation facility and the skills center at 18010 8th Ave. S. in Burien. The property fronts 8th Avenue South.
The school board had previously approved the purchase in August 2008, but district officials later objected to the agreed-upon price after finding a considerable amount of fill dirt on the property.
The district's appraiser adjusted the valuation of the property down from $1.25 million to $870,000. However, the Port's appraiser estimated the parcel's value at $1.03 million.
To resolve the impasse, both parties agreed to a binding third appraisal. In July, the third appraiser upheld the district's figure.
The district still has 90 days to further study the property before the purchase is closed.

Burien council chambers were packed during a special session of the city council on Aug. 24 to discuss next steps after residents of south North Highline voted to annex to Burien.
Attendees were decidedly upbeat for good reason: Though the final results will not be certified until this week, nearly 38 percent of the votes had been counted and annexation was in the lead by a healthy margin of 12 percent (56 percent for, 44 percent against.)
Mayor McGilton cordially welcomed the roughly 14,000 "new neighbors" from the north and encouraged them to take an active role in the city government.
This sentiment was heartily echoed by fellow council members.
Councilwoman Sally Nelson commented, "We have opening positions on the arts commission, the planning commission and the economic development commission over time and we hope you will apply. We feel like you're part of us now... So thank you for coming, stay tuned and stay involved."
Barbara Peters, Steve Cox and Judy Duff were also recognized as members of the North Highline Council who played a significant role in the annexation vote.

The new Matt Griffin YMCA in SeaTac will open to the general public on Oct. 3.

The new Y at South 188th Street and 37th Avenue Southwest is the last of three new branches being built as part of the current capital campaign and represents a major investment in meeting the diverse needs of south King County's growing communities.

In only the third time in its 133-year history, the YMCA of Greater Seattle has named a new branch for a community leader.

Griffin, principal and managing partner of Pine Street Group L.L.C., has been involved with the YMCA of Greater Seattle for almost 30 years, serving in numerous leadership roles including co-chairman of the current capital campaign.

As chair of the board of directors from 1997-2000, Griffin was volunteer leader of the Step Up For Kids Capital Campaign that redeveloped the historic Downtown Seattle YMCA and added youth development centers in YMCA branches throughout King County.

Besides being a generous donor to the YMCA of Greater Seattle with his wife Evelyne Rozner, Griffin has been the major fundraiser for the YMCA for the past 25 years.

The King County Auditor's Office has identified up to $31.7 million in annual savings, $51 million in increased revenue and $105 million in one-time savings within Metro Transit operations.

Auditors presented the first half of the Transit Performance Audit to the King County Council's Government Accountability and Oversight Committee Sept. 1.

Metro is facing a projected $213 million deficit. The release of the partial Transit Performance Audit came three weeks after Metro Director of Operations Kevin Desmond spoke to the Seattle City Council about Metro's budget crisis and King County Executive Kurt Triplett's plan to deal with it.

"Metro is one of the best run agencies in the county," King County Council member Reagan Dunn said. "But, there is room for efficiencies in every agency."

Auditors found that Metro has focused more on service quality than cost efficiency in the past, and many opportunities exist within the department to increase efficiency and generate revenue.

Metro could save up to $19 million per year by cutting the amount of time bus drivers spend on break in between trips, according to auditors.

The King County Auditor's Office has identified up to $31.7 million in annual savings, $51 million in increased revenue and $105 million in one-time savings within Metro Transit operations.

Auditors presented the first half of the Transit Performance Audit to the King County Council's Government Accountability and Oversight Committee Sept. 1.

Metro is facing a projected $213 million deficit. The release of the partial Transit Performance Audit came three weeks after Metro Director of Operations Kevin Desmond spoke to the Seattle City Council about Metro's budget crisis and King County Executive Kurt Triplett's plan to deal with it.

"Metro is one of the best run agencies in the county," King County Council member Reagan Dunn said. "But, there is room for efficiencies in every agency."

Auditors found that Metro has focused more on service quality than cost efficiency in the past, and many opportunities exist within the department to increase efficiency and generate revenue.

Metro could save up to $19 million per year by cutting the amount of time bus drivers spend on break in between trips, according to auditors.

The Friends of Piper Orchard and Seattle Parks and Recreation invite the public on Saturday, Sept. 19, for The Festival of Fruit, a harvest celebration.

The festival takes place at the park, 950 N.W. Carkeek Park Rd., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

(Read related story here.)

Festival highlights include:

Talks and exhibits on non-toxic pest control methods, bee keeping, selection and care of your own fruit trees, and more.

Fun for young-uns in the Kids Korner.

Sample fresh pressed cider.

Naturalist-led walk to the historic 118 year-old orchard.

Pie Baking Contest: Bring a home-baked pie made of local or organic apples to enter in the pie contest. Judges will taste at noon.

For detailed schedule information, please visit the web at www.pipersorchard.org or e-mail carkeek.park@seattle.gov.

Last week at a Seattle City Council briefing and the following day before the city council's Transportation Committee, the city's Department of Transportation Director Grace Crunican presented a new budget for their two-way Mercer Corridor Plan, indicating a pricetag now exceeding $290 million up from $190 million six months ago.

Click here for a powerpoint they presented at that council meeting.  As can be seen when you scroll down to that budget, the transportation department has added $100 million due to the fact that they've now activated a long dormant plan to add a second phase to their two-way Mercer plan.

Phase I covers so called "improvements" from the freeway west to Dexter.  The Phase II plan would extend those "improvements" west of Dexter all the way past the Seattle Center and down the hill to the waterfront.  Most of the cost however of Phase II covers the cost to sinking Aurora and "reconnecting the grid" at Thomas and Harrison and then tunneling under 99 at Roy Street.