After decades of being in business, two Greenwood institutions are closing their doors. The community will say goodbye this month to Cobblestone Used Furniture and Couth Buzzard Used Books.Malka Kripor and Phil Aust, owners of Cobblestone, 8404 Greenwood Ave. N., will retire at the end of the month after being in business for 36 years. And although they are sad about closing the shop, they say they are ready to rest."At times I get mixed feelings," Kripor said. "But no, we are very happy - very happy, very ready. It's hard work.... We are both tired."Gerry Lovchik, owner of Couth Buzzard Used Books, 7221 Greenwood Ave. N., has been in business since 1988. Lovchik also will retire this month, but he wanted to keep his business open, leaving current store manager Theo Dzielak in charge. But as Lovchik explained, the high cost of rent makes it impossible to continue. "Right now, rents have gone up, which makes it even more difficult. We were trying to move, but we couldn't find a location that really would work," he said.
Two Democrats and a Republican - all political rookies - made their case at a July 29 candidates' forum for taking over Rep. Helen Sommers' vacant seat in the 36th District. The heavily Democratic district covers Greenwood, Fremont, Phinney Ridge, Ballard, Queen Anne, Magnolia and Belltown. Sponsored by the Municipal League Foundation and the Nordic Heritage Museum, the forum at the museum saw John Burbank, Reuven Carlyle and lone Republican Leslie Bloss talk about everything from taxes to transportation to health care.
It's been nearly a year since Ethan Delavan released his documentary "Stories of Silence: Recovering from Boyhood Sexual Abuse" and aired it on KCTS Channel 9. He has received requests for the DVD from Scotland, Trinidad, Puerto Rico, England, Australia and Guam.While gratified to receive such support for his film, the Maple Leaf resident continues to struggle on his own journey of recovery that started when he was first abused by an uncle at age 9. He likens the recovery of a sexual-abuse survivor with that of an alcoholic's: "You're never done recovering. You have to catch [the feelings that come up] before they take you over.... There's always that tug," he said.
There was a time when public displays of technological marvels provided a unique shared experience for large numbers of people who would otherwise never see them.There was a time when the annual Blue Angels performance during SeaFair was one such display. Providing a thrilling aerial show of tremendous piloting skills, the Blue Angels used to be something worth looking forward to.
It blooms only once every several years, and spends most of its time building up the energy to do so. And if you were fortunate enough to view it, then you no doubt noticed a strong scent that has been variously described as that of rotting meat or ripe garbage or any number of unsavory aromas.
While some Seattle cyclists believe Critical Mass participants were too aggressive during the July 25 incident at 14th Avenue East and East Aloha Street, many feel the intentions of the group remain positive. The incident, which received a great deal of publicity, resulted in the arrests of two Critical Mass cyclists, several injuries, a damaged bike, a damaged vehicle and a lot of concerned cyclists.
Drive along East Madison Street toward Lake Washington and the fenced off, empty lot as you approach 21st Avenue East is hard to miss. But while such a large, empty lot is often a source of neighborhood concern, the mixed-use project that will soon begin has largely garnered the neighborhood's seal of approval.Before being torn down earlier this year, the property was the location of the infamous Deano's nightclub, later renamed Club Chocolate City, a business that for years was a focal point for chronic criminal activity in the neighborhood. Despite countless neighborhood complaints, considerable community involvement and police attention, drug issues, loitering, prostitution and the occasional shooting were defining characteristics of this relatively short stretch of East Madison Street.
Landmark recognition plaque unveilingThe Queen Anne Historical Society has begun a program by recognizing with a plaque great architecture and landmarks throughout the Queen Anne Hill neighborhood.
A neighbor was planning a very British sherry party, doubtless inspired by British comedies and Agatha Christie detective stories where the characters indulge in bright and witty conversation while sipping endless glasses of sherry. In fact, a glass of sherry has become the acceptable libation of polite society - one would almost assume from its high place that it is an entirely British product. Actually, sherry comes from a small area around
Pitbulls are misunderstood implores Charlie Ernst, owner of Sasha, a 4-year-old pitbull/golden retriever mix. "Show me a bad pitbull and
Mitzvot for Jewish familiesAs the High Holidays approach, the Jewish Family Service is hosting a hands-on experience helping with the holiday basket project, which provides holiday cheer for seniors and adults with disabilities. The event is from 3-6 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 7 at the Jewish Family Service facility at 1601 16th Ave. RSVP by August 29. 206-861-3146 or familylife@jfsseattle.org
Staging Wagner's "Ring" cycle is a monumental feat, but so is becoming a singer who excels in the German composer's taxing repertoire. Jason Collins and Deborah Humble, two opera singers taking on that formidable task, will perform in Seattle Opera's upcoming International Wagner Competition, dubbed Wagnerian Idol, after TV's popular singing contest.The contest aims to encourage promising opera singers between ages 25 and 39 to stick with their Wagnerian ambitions. It takes more time
The Queen Anne Community Council (QACC), the Magnolia Community Club and the Fremont Chamber or Commerce have all come out opposing the Mercer Mess fix proposed by the Seattle Department of Transportation.
My computer beeps at me, my cell phone beeps at me, the ATM machine beeps at me, alarm clocks don't ring anymore, they beep, and my car beeps at me; I'm getting beeping tired of all this beeping. It's like living in a giant canary cage.
Last Friday, a state appeals board ordered use of low-impact building techniques to control runoff, a known contributor to the pollution of Puget Sound. The sound is perhaps the region's greatest natural asset.