Neighborhood news: magazine cover, soccer, PEPS, earthquake retrofit workshop

by | Aug 28, 2014

Here’s a roundup of various neighborhood news.

Couth Buzzard Books and musician Kenny Mandell, who frequently plays at the bookstore, are the cover story in the September issue of Earshot Jazz Magazine.

Woodland Soccer girls U12 team is looking for more players. Girls must have been born between August 2002 and July 2003 and live within the boundaries of North/NW 85th Street, Lake Washington Ship Canal, I-5 and 8th Avenue NW.

The late fee will be waived and you can use this link to register. When registering, enter ‘Lemondrops’ and/or ‘Jon Herlocker’ in the team/coach field.

A reminder that toxic algae scum has been found along the shores at Green Lake. The lake remains open to most activities, but…

People and pets should not wade or play in the lake where the scum has accumulated. Dog owners should be especially cautious not to allow animals to drink from the lake in these areas. If there is water contact for a pet, it is important to rinse well to remove all algae.

The lake remains open to fishing, boating, stand-up paddling boarding and other recreational activities. While Seattle Parks and Recreation’s lifeguarded beaches remain open. The last day of operation for East Green Lake Beach is August 24. The last day of operation for West Green Lake Beach is September 1.

A warm, dry summer has promoted the algae bloom, and continued warm weather continues to promote it. Blooms have been known to last into November in particularly warm autumns, and typically disappear as the weather gets colder.

Symptoms of illness from liver toxin are flu-like and may include abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting. If symptoms occur after ingesting lake water, park users should consult a health care professional immediately. Pets are at highest risk.

Registration is now open for PEPS (Program for Early Parent Support) programs at the Phinney Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N.
Baby Peppers, for families with babies 5-12 months old, meets once a week for 11 weeks from 12-1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays starting Sept. 24 o Thursdays starting Sept. 25. Second Time Around, for families with a newborn aged 0 – 4 months and an older child, meets once a week (one parent and baby only) from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays starting Sept. 16 or 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays starting Sept. 17 (this group meets at Illumination Learning Studio, 7720 Greenwood Ave. N.) New and expectant parents can attend a free While You’re Waiting session from 6:30-8 p.m. on Sept. 10 or Oct. 8.

The Greenwood Library, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N., is hosting a workshop by Seattle Office of Emergency Management on how to reduce earthquake damage by retrofitting your home from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. The workshop is free but registration is required. To sign up, email [email protected] or call 206‐233‐5076.

These introductory workshops provide information on how to seismically secure a house to its foundation, especially for houses built before 1980. Experienced home retrofit instructors will instruct attendees on what tools are needed to retrofit a house and discuss building techniques, the city’s free plan set and the permit process. The workshops are designed for all homeowners, whether they are doing the work themselves or hiring a qualified contractor.

Shoreline Area News has a story on the 80th wedding anniversary of Vern and Shirley Greer, who owned Greer Lumber in Greenwood for 47 years before the store closed in 1999.

If you’re heading through Fremont, be aware that Seattle Department of Transportation next week will begin a series of lane closures for painting the Fremont Bridge, which will last into February.

These closures will occur during off – peak travel hours, but heavier traffic should be expected regardless. The first stage of the closures, lasting several weeks, will affect just northbound traffic.

The northbound curbside lane will be closed to all vehicles, leaving a single travel lane open, between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday thru Friday starting Sept. 2. The adjacent walkway (on the east side of the bridge) will also be closed during these hours. All pedestrian and bicycle traffic will have to share the walkway on the west side of the bridge. Directional signage will be placed to route pedestrians and bicyclists when the lane/walkway closures are in effect.

Northbound vehicles – and bicyclists travelling in either direction – should allow for additional crossing time due to congestion during this initial phase of the painting project.

The bridge will also open more frequently until painting is completed, as more vessels will require the bridge to open to pass underneath. (The painter’s scaffolding and containment system beneath the bridge reduces the vertical clearance above the surface of the Ship Canal.) As a result, traffic back-ups resulting from openings of the bridge will occur more often. Drivers are encouraged to use alternative routes if convenient.

This pattern of traffic restrictions will be in place for several weeks, before one southbound travel lane will also be closed, but just between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., since south bound traffic flows are heavy in both morning and evening peak periods.

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