You're invited to the city hall open house on Saturday

You're invited to the city hall open house on Saturday

Neighbors grab your coats, your hats, your kids - and get on down to the city's Open House this Saturday.

This is the third year the city has hosted an open house event.

During the event folks can learn about city resources, meet local elected officials, ask questions and offer ideas on things you think can be improved throughout the city.

The open house runs from 10-2:00p.m., at 601 5th Ave.

Here's what organizers say you can expect if you're planning to come:

  • Tours of the Mayor's Office and City Council Offices
  • Q&A session with the mayor
  • Workshops on the legislative process and interpreting credit reports
  • Tabling by City departments and the City Attorney's Office
  • Live music
  • A farmer's market

Anyone and everyone is invited to stop by and check it out.

Georgetown merchants organizing to benefit Music Store

As mentioned here previously, Georgetown Music was recently robbed, losing a large number of musical instruments. Merchants and artists in the neighborhood are organizing an action at next month's Georgetown Art Attack to both raise money to benefit the Music Store, and to get the word out about the stolen goods in hopes of finding them or identifying the thieves.

Larry Reid of Fantagraphics sent out the following appeal:

Fellow Georgetown Business Owners and Artists:

You may have heard the Georgetown Music Store was the victim of a brazen burglary recently. They literally pulled the iron gates from the front of the store and stole thousands of dollars of musical instruments. They had clearly cased the store in advance of their brutal act.

Georgetown gets top spot on list of '7 Best Neighorhoods in Seattle'

A shout out to Georgetown for being named the 'Most Affordable' neighborhood in Seattle, according to 7x7.com.

The magazine recently came out with an online list of 'The 7 Best Neighborhoods in Seattle.'

Georgetown was recognized for its climbing home values, declining real estate prices and cheap rental market - just to name a few of the highlights mentioned.

You can check out the full list and the other neighborhoods recognized here.

 

 

Beard & Stache Fest 2012: Gentlemen, start your growing

Beard & Stache Fest 2012: Gentlemen, start your growing

Sure, you can grow a big, smelly beard or mustache anytime of the year. But for the next few months, you’ll be able to tell any complaining significant-others/employers/busybodies that you’re doing it for the kids.

The fourth annual Beard & Stache Festival returns in February. But first, organizers of the fundraiser need willing hirsute gentlemen to come down to the High Dive in Fremont Sunday to get their photo taken.

Those photos will adorn up to 125 cans placed around the city to collect donations for Treehouse, which supports King County foster children. Whoever’s facial hair earns them the most donations will earn prizes and the grudging respect of lesser beards and mustaches.

Photos will be taken from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 29 at the High Dive, located at 513 N. 36th St. If you can’t make it – or need a few more days of facial-hair-growing time – there will be a second photo shoot from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 9 at Bluebird Ice Cream, located at 1205 E. Pike St. (but only if the 125 spaces aren’t filled up at the first shoot).

Community Sponsors

Getting You Back On The Road Faster

City looking for storm-response stories from people with disabilities

City looking for storm-response stories from people with disabilities

Last week’s snow storm was challenging for drives, homeowners, parents and everyone else trying to manage day-to-day activities, but the challenges can be even more difficult for people with disabilities.

The city wants to know how people with disabilities coped during the storm, says the Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities, which has a group working on the City’s emergency planning and disaster management and response.

The commission is looking for recent weather-related experiences from people with disabilities, on topics including:

What happened to you during our recent week of snow and ice, as you tried to deal with the weather and all its challenges?

Did you use City information resources?  Were they helpful?

Is there anything the City could have done better?

What went well, what needs improvement? 

Were you – and your neighborhood - prepared?

The commission says it will work with city staff on the issues and feedback, to help improve the way the city assists the community.

Arctic ribbon seal spotted in Marysville, Duwamish River

Arctic ribbon seal spotted in Marysville, Duwamish River

A ribbon seal commonly found in the frigid waters off the coasts of Alaska and Russia has been spotted twice in the Seattle area.

It's quite unusual to observe the animals this far south, said Peter Boveng, leader of the polar ecosystem program with the National Marine Mammal Laboratory, part of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle. "There are not many people who see these regularly."

The ribbon seal, likely a young adult male, appears to be in good shape, though not as fat as expected, said Boveng.

The seal first showed up one morning earlier this month on the dock of a Seattle woman, who lives about a mile up the Duwamish River south of downtown.

Then last Friday, it was spotted on a snow-covered dock in Marysville, about 35 miles north of Seattle. A snow and ice storm had hit the state, leaving snow piled high in many parts of the region.

"It was just resting and it was fairly alert and active. It was responsive. It looked up at me several times," said Kristin Wilkinson, a marine mammal stranding specialist with NOAA Fisheries, who photographed the animal Friday.

Celebrate Peanut Butter Day with Whole Foods’ donation

Celebrate Peanut Butter Day with Whole Foods’ donation

Celebrate National Peanut Butter Day tomorrow by picking up some peanut butter for a good cause at Whole Foods Market.

Tomorrow, Whole Foods will donate a jar of peanut butter to the Chicken Soup Brigade for every 365 Peanut Butter (18oz creamy and crunchy) jar purchased.

The Chicken Soup Brigade is a program dedicated to improving the nutritional status of people living with HIV/AIDS and other life-changing illnesses in the Seattle King County area.

This is the first year Whole Foods is running this event. It hopes to donate 30 cases – or 360 jars.