August 2013

Sandwiched between the Diablo and Gorge Dams along the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project in the North Cascades National Forest is the little, aged town of Diablo: a community built in 1925 to house workers who built the dams for Seattle City Light and, by extension, largely power Seattle.

What brought my girlfriend Melissa and I to that spot, nestled in the Skagit Gorge just off the North Cascades Highway, was a quick weekend adventure on Aug. 17 to hike Stetattle Creek Trail and camp overnight at Gorge Lake Campground, found just outside Diablo and very near the trailhead. The campsite is first come/first serve with limited spots, but it’s also absolutely free.

To be honest, we picked the campsite first and looked for hikes second. Coming to Seattle via Montana and Idaho, I’m used to ample free primitive camping and fall into an existential, diva-like crisis every time I’m forced to pay. Melissa, knowing that, recommended Gorge Lake and a nice day hike up Stetattle Creek earlier in the week.

The annual West Seattle Car Show is back again in the West Seattle Junction on Sunday, Sept. 15.

The show will run from 8am to 4pm and will feature classic cars, trucks, hot rods, and motorcycles from 1979 and earlier. Registration for your own classic car (if you'd like to be in the show) must be postmarked before Sept. 1 (see the link) and there's a limit of 300 cars.

There will be music, and a raffle to benefit West Seattle Rotary's Pencil Me In For Kids.

The organizers promise goodie bags for the first 100 cars and dash plaques for the first 200 cars.

The regular Farmers Market just behind the Junction will be going on from 10 am to 2 pm that day too.

A subletter's bad luck

Aug. 20, 8 p.m., 8700 Block of 2nd Ave NW -- A subletter came home at night to find the sliding window over the sink standing open and the backdoor off the deck unlocked. Cash and an electronic storage device was stolen from the victim's bedroom.

An RV burglary

Aug. 18, 4:30 p.m., 8900 Block of 1st Ave NW -- The owner of an RV had her Dell laptop and DeWalt drill stolen from inside. The victim said the door was locked and there were no signs of forced entry, but she said she had left several windows open. She suspected an acquaintance of hers who had been hanging around the area, but he denied it. He did not have a key. There were no witnesses to the burglary.

Trek mountain bike stolen

Aug. 17, 2:03 p.m., 1100 Block of NW 59th St -- Sometime in the early morning, an unknown suspect entered an apartment's secure garage and stole a woman's new Trek mountain bike. She had no suspect information.

Woman choked, threatened, dumped on random road

The Spyrographs - a 5 piece band that plays the best Spy, Pop, Surf and Bossa Nova hits of the '60s will close out the season for Concerts at The Mount, Providence Mt. St. Vincent tonight,4831 35th Ave SW Aug. 23.

You can get a sample of their 60's sound in the video.

Dinner and drinks are available for purchase at 5:30 p.m. and music starts at 6:00 pm, show is over at 7:30pm.

A midday neighborhood car crash resulted in injuries for a female Seattle Police officer and the driver of another car Aug. 22.

The marked police vehicle was headed eastbound on SW Andover Street approaching 48th Avenue SW, an uncontrolled intersection, no stop or yield signs.

Another car came to the intersection northbound where they collided. Both drivers sustained minor injuries.

The other driver was treated at the scene and released by fire department medics.

The officer was taken to the hospital for follow up evaluation and treatment. Both cars had to be towed from the scene.

No citations were issued pending further investigation and collision reconstruction.

Traffic Collision Investigation Squad detectives responded to the scene and continue to actively investigate.

This Male Hound mix was found wandering down 4th Ave SW and at 158th st in Burien this afternoon. Super friendly no collar or tags. If this is your dog or you know where he belongs please contact Burien CARES:

Monique Shiels
Office Administrator
C.A.R.E.S.
Community Animal Resource
& Education Society
(206) 812-2737

The 2nd Annual Alki Bike and Board Delridge Day skate competition held on Aug. 18 was a hotly contested matchup with a few minor casualties but a lot of happy spectators. The list of the winners was release on Aug. 22. Here's that list:

Groms
1st Finn pope
2nd Bo Spencer
3rd Jack Covlombe

Finn received a complete new skateboard
Bo and jack received new decks and t shirts

Women's 13+
1st Sally Roepke
2nd Chrissie Lathrop
No 3rd place

Sally received an Arbor longboard
Chrissie received a complete skateboard

Men's 13+
1st Simon Bannerot
2nd Oliver Kiphis
3rd Joe McClurg

Simon won a Db longboard
Oliver won a complete skateboard
Joe won a new deck

Simon was allowed to compete at the pro/am level.
Oliver was awarded a Pruno complete skateboard, but chose to donate it to someone who needed a new board (he had just purchased one recently)

Pro/Am
1st Simon Bannerot
2nd Bubba Johnson
3rd James Mclellan

Simon was awarded $300 cash
Bubba was awarded $150 cash
James was awarded $50 cash

Following a decision by the King County Superior Court on July 24, it appeared that the Benchview Neighborhood Association had won a significant battle in its campaign to prevent the construction of three homes on a lot previously zoned for two. Now the Association is requesting a formal meeting with Seattle Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith to revoke a permit they contend was issued in error.

Dear Darryl,

I request to meet with you briefly to ask that the Mayor direct DPD to use its clear authority (23.76.034) to revoke a permit that was issued in error. This would prevent developer Dan Duffus from squeezing 3 houses on 2 lots in my community.

In Jan. DPD said its hands were tied because the law required them to approve the LBA permit.
But the King Co. Superior Court decision on July 24 and TODAY, Aug. 22, triggered 23.76.034, requiring
that the City must now make a CHOICE:
- revoke the LBA permit and protect the n'hood, or
- side with the developer and degrade our n'hood.

Choosing to side w developer Duffus requires the City to:
- make an active choice AGAINST revoking the permit, and

From U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard will close to all marine traffic 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., August 28 to complete last week’s monthly saltwater drain screen structure inspection.

U.S. Navy divers from Naval Base Kitsap will finish inspecting welds and pressure washing the screen, items they didn’t have time to complete during the July 17, five-hour closure. The structure, immediately upstream of the locks, prevents salmon from entering the locks’ saltwater return intake. The divers, closed 10, 10-foot-by-6-foot doors and inspected the 30-by-60 foot curved-front, mesh screen structure June 6. Monthly inspections are required until the doors are opened mid-September.

The operation requires the Locks be closed to all but emergency vessels on emergency calls. The staff will make maximum efforts to complete the work as soon and as safely as possible. Boaters may call the lockmaster on duty at 206-783-7000 to verify the locks are open.

By Ken Robinson

It is disheartening to watch the ceaseless attack on Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn by the Seattle Times. In their words, McGinn can do nothing right. We know him from his many appearances in Ballard and West Seattle during his reign listening to the people. In our view, he is the best, most responsive mayor Seattle has ever had.

The Times, irked because the candidate they endorsed took a drubbing in the election that elevated McGinn, has not been able to get over it. They lowered the guns on him immediately and have not missed a moment to vilify him. It seems shameful that to a person, the Times reporters and columnists have not had the guts to back from the attack demanded by their publisher, who is a fellow traveler with downtown business interests.

But we get it. Whose bread I eat, his song I sing. All those writers want to keep their jobs and you do that by writing what the boss tells you to write.

McGinn is an honest, forthright man who follows a path with a heart. He has stepped on his own feet a couple of times. But his character can go unchallenged. He says and does what is best for the people. We respect him for that.