June 2010

This June, the Seattle Department of Transportation is starting months-long repairs and improvements, including painting, a seismic retrofit and new lighting, to the Ballard Bridge that will cause some detours for vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles.

The Ballard Bridge painting project, which will last from June until December, will necessitate the closure of the east side of the bridge to pedestrians and bicyclists for that time period, the Seattle Department of Transportation's Connie Zimmerman said at the June 9 Ballard District Council meeting.

Zimmerman said the seismic retrofit, which will start in 2011 after the painting project, will have less of an impact on bridge traffic.

As much of the work as possible will be done from work platforms to the side of the bridge or from below the bridge, though some lane closures will be necessary, she said.

As part of preparing for future earthquakes, the Department of Transportation will make improvements to the bridge's diaphragms, roadway dowels, seat extenders and columns.

The project is estimated at $7.6 million, which will come from the Bridging the Gap Levy.

More than 200 people attended the Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society's open house celebration at the Crown Hill Center June 8 to see its new rehearsal and set-building space.

Before guests toured the 5,000-square-foot indoor facility, transformed from an indoor/outdoor school play court, the Gilbert & Sullivan chorus treated the audience to some numbers from "HMS Pinafore" and "Cox & Box" in the adjacent gym.

Those Gilbert & Sullivan classics will be performed at Bagley Wright Theatre July 9 to July 11, July 15 to July 18 and July 22 to July 24.

The rehearsal space's floor has markings that duplicate the measurements of the theatre so people and props can move seamlessly between rehearsal space and performance stage.

"This is a tremendous facility," said David Ross, KIRO-FM radio host, and Gilbert & Sullivan aficionado. The facility relocated from 522 Dexter Ave. N. to the Crown Hill Center, located at 9250 14th Ave. N.W.

The monthly West Seattle Art Walk is on tonight from 6 to 9pm. This edition of the Art Walk will include the grand opening of "Baked in Seattle" with tasty baked good samples at Blue Willow Luncheonette on Oregon Street, a birthday celebration at Twilight, an anniversary celebration at CAPERS (25 yrs), wine tasting at Bin 41 & West Seattle Wine Cellars plus music at The Kenney and TILA Real Estate.

Over 40 local businesses will be showcasing artists from around the region.

Coffee to a Tea with Sugar is offering free cupcakes, and live jazz from Billy and the Bouncers with photos by RyAnn Michelle on display.

For a preview of some of the artwork visit the West Seattle Art Walk's Facebook photo gallery

Do your civic duty and vote a professional politician out of office this year. Begin by asking the question, do we exist to serve government or does government serve us?

Consider this:
Professional politicians in office today were present making the mischief that has brought us to a state of financial ruin and inept government today. After all the years of creating the mess, the professional politicians do not have the moral courage to ignore their special interests for the greater good of us all.

Here is Willoughby's rule for government services that describes the inevitable:
"The demand for government services rises to consume all available resources."
From the rule you can see that demand is insatiable, that furnishing all services demanded will destroy the economy, and too heavy a service load destroys the ability to furnish new services.

Surviving governments evolve over time, adapting as they go to changes in law and economics. Intrinsically, power and survival are paramount. As they evolve, governments age and deteriorate until they no longer function as intended. That is where we are today in much of our government.

Poetrybridge held its first Family Poetry Night at C&P Coffee Wednesday night, June 9. About 10 Gatewood and Alki Elementary School students read to a standing room only house. The event will continue the 2nd Wednesday of each month at C&P, 5612 California Avenue SW, from 6:30pm-8:00pm.

Kai Moss Clarke, an Alki student, read his poems "The Wump," and "The Monster." Gatewood's Nate Sipila read "Cakewalk.

Each month Poetrybridge will invite elementary, middle, and high school classes in the West Seattle area to be special guest readers followed by open mic to anyone of any age who has original poems to contribute in the spirit of the evening.

Also, the 4th Wednesday of each month Poetrybridge offers open mic to "grown-up" poets, including June 23.

C&P Coffee (206) 933-3125

The West Seattle Garden Tour celebrates the art of gardening for its 16th year on Sunday, July 18. 9 am to 5 pm

This year's tour features an eclectic mix of seven residential gardens including a bird sanctuary, a tree-filled garden, a “Disneyesque” garden of whimsy and, as an added bonus, the South Seattle Community College Arboretum. In addition, we are pleased to welcome Willi Galloway as our guest lecturer, who will present a noontime lecture at South Seattle Community College.

This year, all West Seattle Garden Tour ticket holders can sample culinary delights produced by SSCC students for free between 1:00 and 2:30 pm, immediately following the lecture. Simply present your ticket booklet for admission to the tasting. SSCC will showcase their student’s culinary efforts by providing small samples of different chocolates, confections and pastries, cheese and wine products. Quantity is limited and you must be 21 years of age to sample the wines.

For photos and additional information about the gardens, beneficiaries, sponsors, lecture, tasting and raffle items, visit: www.westseattlegardentour.com.

The Admiral Theater has World-Cup fever and on Friday, June 25 at 9PM and Saturday, June 26 at 7PM, they will screen the documentary, Argentina Futbol Club.

Singing. Shouting. Hysteria. Argentina lives for futbol. The battle between Boca Juniors and River Plate is not just about sports; it is an ever-enduring struggle for identity.

In Buenos Aires, historic tensions swell not only between legendary clubs Boca and River but among their intense followers, and the multitude of Futbol Clubs across Argentina. For these futbol fanatics, the game symbolizes strength, unity, and power in a society beset by stark social and economic divisions.

Through a journalistic lens, this film provides an intimate look into Argentina and its beloved sport to reveal an unparalleled passion that reverberates far beyond the pitch.

Argentina Futbol Club was directed by acclaimed Argentine Director Juan Pablo Roubio, and co-written and co-produced by local Seattle filmmaker, Gavin P. Sullivan. Sullivan along with the film's co-executive producer, Ben Meyerson, will be on hand for

The West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network now has a site on WordPress at http://wsblockwatchnet.wordpress.com. They have been on Facebook since mid-February 2010. Their group on Facebook, West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network, currently has 110+ members. They are asking interested members of the community to join them on one of the two sites.

They have held two meetings for West Seattle Blockwatch Captains thus far; the first meeting was on April 10th, the second meeting was on May 25th. You can find detailed meeting minutes and more information on their Facebook page.

Please email them at, wsblockwatchnet@gmail.com. The group has started to set up regular meetings and people can find out about future meetings and events on their Facebook group page or at http://wsblockwatchnet.wordpress.com.

The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, meets the third Tuesday of the month at the Southwest Precinct at 7-8:30 PM. Please see link for the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council at http://wscpc.org. No meetings are scheduled for July or August.

Police responded to an block collision that took place Tuesday afternoon near the 2400 block of S 348th. Witnesses said driver of sedan elderly male died at the scene.

Alki Homestead Inn owner Tom Lin told the West Seattle Herald he supports the sentiment of the Southwest Historical Society's upcoming 4th of July event "This Place Matters." According to the Log House Museum's website describing the event:

Southwest Seattle Historical Society plans July 4 group photo in front of Fir Lodge. The people of Seattle will have a public opportunity to stand up for a century-old West Seattle city landmark at a mid-day rally on July 4, 2010. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society has organized a mass photo event to take place at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, July 4, in front of Fir Lodge, the 106-year-old log structure that many have known for decades as the Alki Homestead restaurant. The building was damaged by a January 2009 fire and since then has sat vacant.