Though common sense is the first casualty in the gun-control debate, a pair of common-sense bills appearing this week before the House Judiciary Committee in Olympia represent a glimmer of hope.
The Ballard Bridge will narrow to one lane of traffic in each direction for the next several weeks as contractors place scaffolding around the bridge pier in the middle of Shilshole Avenue Northwest (between the east- and westbound lanes) for seismic-retrofit work.
In response to customer input, Metro Transit will add a later Route 24 trip to and from Magnolia starting Saturday, Feb. 16.
Last year, we wrote about a powerful coalition of developers pushing a bill in Olympia for “tax increment financing” (TIF). Under TIF legislation, a city (or county or other taxing authority) can create a district of almost any size, then take nearly every new property-tax dollar generated in that area, sometimes for decades, to subsidize large redevelopment projects serving special interests.
Classical KING-FM, headquartered in Uptown Queen Anne, has announced a call for entries for the 2013 Young Artist Awards Competition, now through April 5 at KING.org. The competition encourages young musicians to compete for a chance to perform on live radio in May. Classical KING-FM 98.1 created Young Artist Awards Competition in partnership with Seattle Chamber Music Society (SCMS) to encourage young musical talent in the Northwest by bringing it on the air.
North Queen Anne resident Jean Robinson has been chosen to serve as board president ACLU of Washington. As the state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the nonprofit organization defends and advocates for civil liberties throughout Washington. The ACLU-WA has more than 20,000 members statewide and is the third-largest state branch of the ACLU.
How many of you Queen Anners felt a personal sense of loss when our beloved Queen Anne Books closed its doors? Did anyone think wistfully, as I did, “I wish I could buy the store and keep it alive?” We fantasized, but not too many of us could realize the dream for any number of reasons.
With all the storm and stress of our 24/7 news chatter, sometimes it’s difficult to make sense of it all or know what to do with our lives. Consider the word “success” — the great American Holy Grail. Given some of the outsized egos and low-cunning scofflaws that seem to dominate the news cycle, it’s fairly clear being famous — or being famous for being famous — is not a genuine marker of “success.”
The air has changed from its brittle, winter cloak. There is a softening. And the light has definitely returned, even on our incessantly cloudy days. It is indeed safe to sing out the cliché: “Spring is in the air.”
Through Monday, Feb. 25, Twirl Café (2111 Queen Anne Ave. N.) is offering free educational activities about family wellness for parents and children. Upcoming events include a half-hour Breathing and Meditation class on Thursday, Feb. 21; a “Doctor Talk” on Friday, Feb. 22, about beating the flu; a Family Movie Night that night; and a book swap and waffle feed on Saturday, Feb. 23.
Aisha Carpenter of Magnolia will star in CORE Theatrics’ presentation of “FAME Jr.,” about the last years of New York City’s High School for the Performing Arts. “FAME Jr.” is a PG-rated show recommended for ages 8 and older. The show will run Feb. 28 through March 3 at the Lake Washington High School Performing Arts Center, 12033 N.E. 80th St., in Kirkland.