Andrew Taylor

Vote-bot Originally uploaded by mraaronmorris

In brief: Candidates for "our" School Board position and (almost) all the candidates for City Council and Mayor will attend.

Candidates will  give a brief introduction, be asked audience questions “drawn from the hat”, and in a final “lightning round” asked brief  question about our community (written 1 or 2 word answers) . You'll be able to grab candidates before/afterwards and ask them your burning question.

To submit Lightning Round questions, go to:    http://tinyurl.com/lightning-round

When: Monday July 27th, 6 - 9 PM

Location: Mount Zion Baptist Church, 1634 - 19th Avenue (on 19^th Ave. & Madison). Ample parking.  Buses: 11 and 12 go right past, buses 8, 10, 43, 48 within a few blocks. Enter from the Madison Street / 20th Ave parking lot: door in the corner.

There's more: candidates, Seattle Disposable Shopping Bag Referendum (pro/con), community groups will staff information tables.

See the attached flyers for details. Please print/distribute flyers to neighbors.

Volunteers to help run the event are needed: E-mail Andrew Taylor (tayles@jps.net) or turn up at Mt. Zion anytime after 5:15.

Schedule: 6:00 Start: 5 minutes Welcome (Pastor), 5 minutes intro etc.
1) 6:10 School Board position 5: Cullen, Helmstetter, Bass, Smith-Blum
2) 6:35 Council position 2: Conlin, (Ginsberg can't attend)
3) 6:50 Council position 6: Kaplan, Licata, Israel
4) 7:10 Council position 4: Bagshaw, Tobin, Carver, Plants, Bloom
5) 7:35: Council position 8: O'Brien, Williams, Forch, Miller, Royer, Rosencrantz
6) 8:05 Mayor: McGinn, Donaldson, Nickels, Mallahan, Garrett, Drago, Campbell, Sigler
7) 9:00. Thanks. Disband.

Questions: people are given color-coded postcards to write questions as they arrive: one card per race per person. Questions are 12 words or fewer. Questions go into separate boxes for each race. The moderator draws and reads each question: probably 3 questions per race.

Candidates will be seated and speak in the order that they will appear on the King County ballot (http://tinyurl.com/lmswx3).

Event is co-sponsored by many neighborhood groups (see flyer for details) and underwritten by CHS Capitol Hill Seattle.

You can just about see the Jones Soda World Headquarters from Capitol Hill:

13 lucky years ago, an offbeat soda company started handing out free soda every Friday. People from all over Seattle started coming to Jones Soda Headquarters to kick off their weekend with an ice-cold Jones. It became so popular in the South lake Union neighborhood that we decided to bring Free Soda Friday to a store near you.

We’re having a Free Soda Friday launch party at Jones Soda headquarters located at 234 9th Ave. N. on Friday, July 10th, 2009 from 8:00 to 5:00 so come on down and have a Jones on us. And make sure to check back often to find out where we’ll be having the next Free Soda Friday!

The conversion of the dustbowl that is Miller Playfield to artificial turf continues. Earthmoving gave way to installation of drains and then layers of rock and gravel. Cycling to work this week and I came across the artificial turf being delivered. Here are a few pictures of what a rolled up ballfield surface looks like. It's FieldTurf, made by a company in Georgia.

I remind you of the other improvements we are campaigning for, and invite you to encourage the Parks Department to make them. The Superintendent's letter, attached below, demonstrates that they are moving in the right direction, but your further encouragement will surely help (contact info).

June 15, 2009

Dear Mr. Taylor,

Thanks very much for writing in with your suggestions.

1) Free time on the field for pickup games

We considered the possibility of setting certain times for drop-in play, but after discussion decided against it. The problem is that organizations would travel to the fields to use the open fields for (free) practice. Field demand always exceeds supply. What is proving to work well at Loyal Heights, and what we can do for Miller, is to post online the scheduled field times. That gives would-be drop-in players some sense of what times are available but is not so standard that organizations can count on it for practice times.

2) Encourage teams to use off-street parking

When we issue field permits, we provide teams with information on parking, and we’ll certainly do that at Miller Playfield.

Also, as part of the playfield renovation project if funds allow, we’ll install two pedestrian lights between the play area and the lower parking lot to make access safer at night.

We will also install a kiosk adjacent to the playfield, and we’ll use that to post a sign encouraging field users to use the lower parking lot instead of street parking or the upper (community center) parking lot. We can supply the map you generously offer to the teams and ask that they encourage use of the lower lot. It was also requested at the public meeting that additional lighting be added in the area of the outdoor accessed restroom. Here again we’ll do that if project funds allow.

Of course enforcement is always a problem. SPD’s Parking Enforcement steps in only when laws are being broken and, then, only when an officer is available.

3) Equip the outdoor bathrooms at Miller Community Center with automatic locks, to allow their use by players after evening games

 If we can install automatic locks on the outdoor accessed restrooms at a reasonable cost that can be absorbed by the field project, we’ll do that. Staff have started researching that option. (The best systems require laptops, software, power.) It will take time for us to research work out a good plan.

In the meantime, starting June 15, we have contracted with Northwest Security to start locking the restrooms at night. Miller Community Center staff will open them weekday mornings, and Grounds Maintenance Crew staff weekend mornings.

 Again, thank you for your good suggestions. We look forward to Miller’s new and improved playfield getting a lot of use when it’s ready for play at the end of August.

Sincerely,

Timothy Gallagher

Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreation

The Ron. K. Bills play fountain at Miller Community Center is a handicap-accessible water play feature. It should be working from 11 AM till 8 PM every day till September. 

This little video shows Pedro, son of a colleague of mine, running around in his little wet-suit. Larger version of video is here.  

A slideshow of the construction of the fountain is here, but if you want to view our documentary about the people who built the fountain, you'll have to ask me for a VHS copy (tayles@jps.net)

Two thoughts:

1) If you're at the fountain and note that the central water jet is very low (or not working) or if the ring of water jets aren't shooting up as much as normal, please pop into the Center and tell the staff. It means that the filters are clogged up and need cleaning.

2) Next year will be the 10th anniversary of the opening of the fountain. Anybody care to help me organize an anniversary celebration? (Hint: we can invite the Mayor, which should be a good way to ensure that all necessary maintenance gets done). The 10 year anniversary party for the Center was fun.  Contact me: tayles@jps.net

CHS regular Comrade Bunny (who might reveal her true identity soon?) attended the Capitol Hill Neighborhood Planning Status meeting, and told us about it.      

The City is eager to hear from more of us, and has made information and a survey available, to let you participate from the comfort of your couch. From their message:

 

Do you live in Belltown, Capitol Hill, Eastlake, First Hill or Pike/Pine Upper Queen Anne/Uptown neighborhoods? How is your neighborhood doing? (More Neighborhoods are coming soon...so keep checking back)

We want to hear how your neighborhood has changed and your thoughts about growth, transportation, housing, economic development , basic utilities, neighborhood character, open space and parks, public services, public safety, and other issues. We know not everyone can come to a community meeting so Participate in a VIRTUAL On-Line Meeting NOW and take our questionnaire to make sure your voice is heard.

Watch a brief video, view your neighborhood summary and take the questionnaire!!! http://www.cityofseattle.net/planningcommission/

Sponsored by The Seattle Planning Commission and the Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee.

Barbara E. Wilson

Seattle Planning Commission

Executive Director

(206) 684-0431

barb.wilson@seattle.gov

At the Capitol Hill Community Council meeting on Thursday, a packed audience delivered landslide victories to President Jennifer Power and Vice-President Hong Chhuor. The rest of the slate, who ran unopposed, were also elected.

Jen and Hong rapidly assumed their Community Council duties, and represented the Council at the Gay (etc) Pride parade downtown this Sunday. Resplendent in white sashes proclaiming their titles, they waved to the jubilant crowds from the Goth Pride float.

(Discussion point: should we have a Capitol Hill Community Council / Capitol Hill Chamber float in the parade next year, perhaps with Sound Transit funds, to promote the Council and to bolster businesses in the area, which will be heavily impacted with light rail construction by then?)

Vice-President Hong Chhuor and President Jen Power wave to the Gay Pride parade crowds from the Goth float

For many long-time Capitol Hillites, the first reliable sign of Summer will be a sighting of Boe Oddisey (the Capitol Hill scarf dancer) performing [probably naked] at the Fremont Solstice parade on Saturday.

We need an under-employed statistician to make careful correlations between Boe's nakedness (or not) and the subsequent weather: I bet we could make him a Seattle Groundhog type of weather "prognosticator" in addition to his full time occupation of scarf dancer and street tidier? Volunteers?

Painted cyclists? Well, they're a part of it, but Boe's Boe.

Via Facebook:

Nick Licata sent a message to the members of Re-Elect Nick Licata.

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Subject: Update

 Friends,

 Hi! I just wanted to give you a brief update on the campaign! Just last night I received the sole endorsement of the 43rd District Democrats! I remain the ONLY candidate running for Seattle City Council position 6 with support from Labor Unions, Democratic District Organizations, and Environmental Organizations!

 

 Also, just a reminder. I am holding an event tonight on Capital Hill at the Richard Hugo House. I would love to see you there! Hope you can stop by! The details are below!

 Wednesday, June 17th, 7-9 PM

Literati Parti

The Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave Seattle WA 

 

Thanks again for your support

Nick

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 Don't miss the opportunity to see The Cabiri and our spectacular freestanding aerial dance stage Daedalus at a variety of art festivals this summer!  See below for all the details.

 If you're interested in helping us make our Cabiri magic happen this summer, you can become part of the show by volunteering! We need a few extra sets of hands to raise Daedalus skyward, and bring it down when the shows are over on June 20 and June 21. If you've got a little extra time to send our way, we'd be thrilled to have you. Volunteers should be comfortable lifting a bit of weight, and should know how to use socket wrenches. Contact volunteer@anunnaki.org to join in the fun and become part of the crew!

Registration begins today for our next session of aerial dance classes. Sign up soon, before it's full! See below for more information.

 The Cabiri at Fall City Days

 Come join us at the Art Park in downtown Fall City for a variety of art performances from live music to dance, face painting, chalk art, and many other unusual and entertaining art forms to delight during Fall City's annual Street Fair. The Cabiri will be performing throughout the day on Daedalus, our freestanding aerial dance stage.  This family-friendly event is free to the public.

 Find out more: http://fallcityarts.org/calendar.htm

 The Cabiri at the Burien Strawberry and Arts Festival

 The Cabiri will be performing on Daedalus throughout the day at this free, family-friendly event in the vicinity of the Burien Community Center.  Live entertainment, arts & crafts, food, and fun await you!  Learn more on festival web site: http://www.burienstrawberryfestival.org/

 Beginning Aerial Dance on Trapeze (4 week session)

 The Red Wagon Paint Out Program provides free materials and training to volunteers who want to remove unsightly graffiti on private property. Free supplies provided in your red wagon include: latex paint, paint rollers, a roller screen and bucket, gloves, cleanup rags, and safety vests. Call (206) 684-7790 today for your red wagon.

Learn how to volunteer for cleanup programs in your neighborhood. 

(From a Seattle Public Utiliities flyer).