July 2012

Wearing a nametag that spells out just her first name in capital letters, Shirley presides behind the cash register at the gift shop in the visitor’s center at Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. She has been managing the gift shop since a month after she answered an ad in the Ballard News-Tribune for someone to work in the gift shop two days a week. That was 14 years ago.

Shirley Barney wasn’t raised in Ballard but along with the private staff and volunteers at the visitor’s center she functions as Ballard’s primary concierge. “What bus goes to Seattle Center? Where is there a lake to fish? Where do you recommend for lunch?” Between Shirley at the cash register and a staff member always at the information desk they are reigning guides, even as visitors go on hour-long tours or follow the bronze sidewalk medallions to the fish ladder.

Pressed as to why they describe Shirley as “unique” and “one of a kind,” her colleagues in their uniforms and more official name tags look over to Shirley in her patterned turtleneck, white hair and big eyeglasses. “There’s just nobody else like her.”

When Stanley "Mick" McDonald started teaching driver's ed in 1968, cell phones were nonexistent, windows were rolled open by hand and class only cost $25.

Now, Forty-four years later, McDonald's long career finally came to an end when Seattle Public Schools cut funding for the driver's ed program. Last Friday, after interviewing with the Ballard News-Tribune, McDonald returned his training car -- a Chevy Cavalier -- after years of storing it in the parking lot of his condominium. It was a bittersweet moment, not just for him, but also for everyone he had taught throughout the years.

You see, as the first and last teacher of the Ballard High School driver's ed program, he has undoubtedly taught most of the Ballard community how to drive. It seems he can't go anywhere without someone recognizing him, whether it be a trip to the grocery store or a walk around the neighborhood.

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El Dorado West Retirement Community at 1010 SW 134th St. and Ambaum in Burien celebrated their service to the community for over 35 years, and broke ground today on a new $14 million facility which they say they hope will serve the community at least another 35 years. Phase one will be three stories, phase two, two stories, both to be completed in about two years. It will have room for 102 residents, about 20 more than the current population.

El Dorado West is a family affair, founded by William Brown, 89, in December, 1975. Three generations now own and operate a Federal Way-based company including El Dorado West and 13 other retirement communities, all in Washington State, called Village Concepts. William retired and his son Steven is the CEO and President of Village Concepts. Steven's son, Stuart, is its Chief Operating Officer. All were at El Dorado West and made speeches under the driveway awning. They thanked Columbia Bank for its financial assistance.

Press release:

The City of Tukwila is happy to announce the opening of a new Police Neighborhood Resource Center (NRC).
Part of our Crime Reduction Initiative is focused on reducing crime along the Tukwila International Boulevard corridor. The “NRC” will be a new base of operations for the police to address crime and quality of life issues for our citizens, business owners and visitors in who frequent this vibrant neighborhood.

This new base of operations will afford a faster response to crime, support our proactive policing in the area and serves as a reminder of the partnerships between our citizens and the Tukwila Police Department.
The front desk will be staffed by volunteers but will not be keeping regular hours. We expect our officers to maximize their time on the streets; therefore, citizens should call 911 to contact the police for emergencies or to make reports.

An opening ceremony will be held on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at 10:00 AM. The public is welcome.

Olympic Gold Medalist and professional basketball star with the WNBA Seattle Storm Katie Smith paid a visit to the White Center Salvation Army July 31 and spoke to more than 40 kids from The Salvation Army summer day camp program.

She came to sign autographs on pictures and basketballs and give the kids an opportunity to meet a professional athlete, ask questions, and get some inspiration, motivation and guidance from her positive messages.

Smith spoke about her diverse interests growing up, mentioning her 4H participation and urged kids to pursue many interests, "not just stuff you are good at," she said. She cited the fact that she was her high school's valedictorian because while she was skilled at sports she worked hard on her studies too. "School and learning opens up all the doors," she said, "Never stop learning."

City of Seattle Press release
Mayor orders garbage transfer stations opened to public at no charge
Waste Management penalty fees to be returned to customers as billing adjustments

Mayor Mike McGinn has directed Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to open the city's garbage transfer stations, at no charge, to single-family residents whose garbage, recycling and food/yard waste has not been collected by Waste Management as the result of the week-long strike by Teamsters Union drivers.

"We will be rigorously inspecting Waste Management's work and fining them for every violation," McGinn said. "We understand that this disruption of service has real consequences for businesses and people, so we will not be charging those who bring their waste to a transfer station. Every penny that we collect from Waste Management in fines will be returned to our customers as reductions to their bill."

On July 30 the Metropolitan King County Council voted 6-3 to approve an amended proposal from investor Chris Hansen on the SoDo arena that could bring NBA and NHL teams to Seattle, but not without a voice of dissention from West Seattle.

Dave Montoure, Chairman of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and owner of West 5 Lounge, spoke at a press conference near the King County Courthouse on July 30, flanked by maritime and labor groups who are concerned the arena and its traffic could negatively affect the flow of business.

A press release from that group stated Montoure and the Chamber’s concern is that “West Seattle would be among the most impacted neighborhoods from a SoDo arena. Worsening traffic in SoDo could mean the loss of jobs for small businesses.”

“If you are in West Seattle and you want to leave and you don’t have a boat, you have to go south or you have to go through SoDo,” Montoure said via the press release.

The King County Metro RapidRide C Line is coming to West Seattle this fall with the promise of faster service and increased safety, but the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council worries about crime and pedestrian safety at the Westwood terminal on S.W. Barton St.

In a recent letter to King County Executive Dow Constantine, Betty Wiberg with WSCPC wrote, “The location of this station is lacking in its adherence with the concept of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED).”

Wiberg wrote that the location butts up against Roxhill Park which “will provide ample places for would be criminals to hide and also provide easy egress after the commission of a crime. This park and surrounding area (has) been the scene of multiple assaults and homicides.”

Four Talk-a-phone towers were recently installed on the South Seattlee Community College campus grounds to enable communications in case of an emergency.

"We currently have a campus alert system that a minimal amount of students sign up for so we looked at ways to communicate with students, faculty, visitors, and staff while on the campus grounds in case of an emergency," said James Lewis head of SSCC security.

The towers are located on the SW corner of the Robert Smith building, SE of the Jerry Brockey building between the tennis court and the Brockey Center, on the lawn West of University Center, and one on the lawn across the North gatehouse.

Each tower has speakers and a push button phone to reach security. There are five other speakers located across campus making a total of nine speakers, the push button phone does not broadcast over the speaker but dials directly to the security phone.

Watching the garbage collection strike unfold is almost amusing save for the fact that it will eventually cost us all more money. Allowing trash to mount for a few days isn't that big of a deal. It is more of an annoying symbol of the stranglehold Waste Management and the Teamsters union has on our communities.

This charade is played out every few years in order for this monopoly to further gouge us to take away our household waste. The cities which grant the right to collect trash to one of the two companies in the region which do so are over the same barrel we are.

Here's how it works: The city gives the trash hauler a contract to do the work. The trash hauler employes the Teamsters to do the hauling. That arrangement ties up the community for periods of years. This deal makes it worthwhile for the trash hauler to buy the expensive trucks needed to do the job. The Teamsters just have to show up for work, which more or less is driving around an expensive truck for a few hours. For this work, they want nearly $100,000 including benefits per man per year.