U. S. Rep. Jim McDermott is counting the days until President George W. Bush is out of office - 230, as of Wednesday, June 4 - and he sounded optimistic during an interview last week that a Democrat will take the White House in the upcoming election. "Then we're going to get to work," he said. There's a lot to do, according the Seattle Democrat, the 10-term congressman from Seattle's 7th Congressional District, who will seek reelection this fall. McDermott endorsed Barack Obama last month and describes Sen. John McCain as "Bush lite." Acknowledging that Democrats have held a majority in both houses lately, McDermott said that still wasn't enough.
Finding a parking place on Capitol Hill hasn't been easy for a number of years. Factor in growing residential density in the Pike-Pine corridor, for example, and the search for a spot is only going to get harder, notes Chip Wall, an activist on the Pike-Pine Urban Neighborhood Council (P/PUNC).
In early April, during a Sound Transit forum about Broadway's future light-rail station, New York-based artist Mike Ross presented his plans for the artwork he intends to create for the station. The reaction, to put it charitably, was less than positive. Following a presentation during which Ross detailed how two deconstructed fighter jets would be suspended above the station platform, he faced a decidedly critical and even unanimously opposed audience.
■ An unidentified bicyclist joined about 100 other riders on a silent bike ride on May 21 to honor cyclists who have been killed on public roadways. The ride started at Gas Works Park and wound through the city, finishing up at the park. photo/Susan Fried
U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott is counting the days until President George W. Bush is out of office (it's 228 as of today, June 6), and he sounded optimistic in an interview last week that a Democrat will take the White House in the upcoming election. "Then we're going to get to work," he said.
North Seattle Herald-Outlook guest columnist Matthew Wilemski won first place in the Society of Professional Journalists' (SPJ) Excellence in Journalism contest on Saturday, May 31.Wilemski, a Wallingford resident, took the prize for "Thou Shall Not View Naked Marble Buttocks," in the Humorous Writing category (Non-Daily Newspapers division). The column ran on Dec. 28, 2007.Editor Vera M. Chan-Pool took second place for Headlines (Non-Daily Newspapers division).Other Pacific Publishing Co. Inc. winners include:*Herald-Outlook writer-at-large Russ Zabel, who took first place for Spot News (Non-Daily Newspapers division) for his story "State Suspends Casanova Chiropractor's License" in the Queen Anne News/Magnolia News. *Doug Schwartz, who took second place in the same category for "What Was Lost Has Now Been Found," which ran in the Capitol Hill Times.Wilemski also received an honorable mention in the 2007 Washington Press Association's Communicator of Excellence Award in the Column/Non-Daily category. He won for his columns "Down the Cancer Road," "Notice of Proposed Word-Use Action" and "Former Enemies Among Us," all of which appeared in the Herald-Outlook. The columns are available on-line at www.northseattleherald-outlook.com.
■ Isaiah Ramirez gets a peck on the cheek from Minnie Mouse and a greeting from Mickey Mouse during the Walt Disney Internet Group's VoluntEARS work party at the Wallingford Boys & Girls Club, 1310 N. 45th St., on May 29. About 135 voluntEARS spent the day painting, building bookshelves, landscaping and cleaning. They then ended the day with a special Disney-themed party for the club's children and staff. The event is a part of the Disney VoluntEARS 25th global celebration, recognizing 25 years of service by Disney employees to local communities. photo/Bradley Enghaus
The Up in the Air public art project, which has brought one-of-a-kind sculptures to the light posts above University Way Northeast since 2004 is currently in its final stage. The artists will celebrate the near completion of the project with a reception on Friday, June 6, from 4 to 6 p.m.
The following information was provided by the city's Department of Planning and Development. Appeals are made to the Office of the Hearing Examiner, Seattle Municipal Tower, 40th Floor (SMT-40-00), 700 Fifth Ave., Suite 4000, Seattle, WA 98104. Appeals must be accompanied by a $50 filing fee in a check payable to the City of Seattle.The project number is in parentheses. For more information, call 684-8467.PERMIT DECISIONS1341 N. NORTHLAKE WAY (3007444) on a Land Use Application to allow alterations to existing building in an environmentally critical area. Project includes replacement of exterior siding, roofing, windows and exterior stairs/elevator tower. The following appealable decision has been made based on submitted plans: Determination of Non-Significance with conditions (no Environmental Impact Statement required). Environmental review completed, and project conditioned as applicable. The hearing examiner must receive appeals of this decision no later than Thursday, June 12.
BIKE HELMETS: In partnership with Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center, Metropolitan Market, 5250 40th Ave. N.E., will fit and sell bike helmets for adults and children over age 1 (the wearer must be present for fitting). Bicyclists can bring their own helmets for a fitting or buy a new one for $10.The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 7.
MATCHING GRANT: John Stanford International School, 4057 Fifth Ave. N.E., received a $15,000 matching grant from the city to hire Winterbottom Design to redesign the school's playground.The school will have a community workshop at the school on Saturday, July 7, from 8 a.m. to noon, to gather input for the playground design.
"In the Land of the Head Hunters," a historical docu-drama that scholars thought was lost forever will return to the Moore Theater on Tuesday, June 10, thanks to the work of executive producers Aaron Glass and Brad Evens and a partnership between The Burke Museum, the Moore Theatre and the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF).
A fish fry, to those of a certain generation, is the weekly fundraiser Catholic parishes would have each Friday. You would eat grilled, over-cooked fish on paper plates while chatting with your neighbors and trying not to choke on bones.But the Pike Street Fish Fry, a hole-in-the-wall restaurant on 10th Avenue next to Neumos, resembles a genuine English fish & chips place, at least its exterior. But the fish is perfectly cooked, lightly breaded for taste and it's not greasy. It is served with your choice of four dressing sauces, made on the premises from scratch.In short, this is not your parents' fish fry.
French-Tunisian Abdellatif Kechiche, one of SIFF 2008's three Emerging Masters, started as an actor but turned in 2000 to writing and directing films about North African immigrants in France. Like fellow Emerging Master Fatih Akin, Kechiche makes world-class art out of cross-cultural division and assimilation. Think globalization, not of trade goods but of emotional and spiritual sustenance.
Canadian film director Bruce LaBruce may be this generation's John Waters, but you could hardly be faulted for not knowing it. Given the latter's day-late and dollar-short recognition, nearly a decade after his best work, it may be no surprise if LaBruce's name isn't bandied about over dinner. Or, perhaps there's another reason.