Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 6, Issue 12, December 2002
Copyright 2002 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article and photos below in your research. Be sure to quote the Seattle Sun as your source.
News Briefs
North Helpline food drive
The North Helpline Food Bank in Lake City is holding a food drive from early November though Dec. 31. In North Seattle, those who wish to donate can purchase $5 or $10 bags of food at the Lake City QFC grocery store (3020 NE 127th St). Last year, the food drive raised three tons of food. For details, call North Helpline at 365-8043.
Kalakala still homeless
The Kalakala Ferry is still seeking a home. In October, Seattle Park's Superintendent Ken Bounds denied a request from the Kalakala Foundation and the Maritime Heritage Foundation to lodge the boat at Waterway 3 along the southern shore of Lake Union.
Art Skolnik, executive director of the Kalakala Foundation, said the decision had a positive side: Bounds also promised to help find a home for the historic Art Deco-style ferry on the downtown Seattle waterfront once it is restored.
But that doesn't solve the nonprofit foundation's immediate problem. The Kalakala will lose its current home on North Lake Union on Dec. 31. Skolnik said the foundation still needs a temporary home or funds to get the boat into dry dock. Otherwise the group could be faced with either selling to boat to an out-of-town investor or simply dragging it out to the middle of Lake Washington come Jan. 1.
Currently, the Kalakala Foundation is seeking a benefactor who will guarantee a $16 million loan to restore the ferry.
For details, call 632-0540.
Green Lake fire engine saved
As of the Seattle Sun's press time, it appears that the City's budget for 2003-2004 will include funding for Fire Engine No. 16, which is stationed at the Green Lake Fire Station. The Nov. 16 edition of the Seattle Times reported that Seattle Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis had warned City Councilman Jim Compton that funding for the fire engine would likely be cut unless the council approved an increase in the budget for the Mayor's office staff. The council approved the funds for Nickels' staff by a 5-4 vote. Ceis admitted to the Times that he wrote the note to Compton prior to the council vote, but denied that it was a threat. Ceis added that he wrote the note without consulting Nickels. Firefighters and members of the Green Lake community had been strongly urging the City to retain funding for fire engine No. 16.
Ravenna Creek update:
Last month, the Seattle Sun reported that the Parks Department had chosen Design Alternative Two as its preferred option for daylighting Ravenna Creek at Ravenna Park.The Parks Department has since selected a modified version of Design Alternative One as the preferred plan. For details, call the department at 233-7936.Mineral Springs Park meeting
Mineral Springs Park meeting
Seattle Parks and Recreation will host a public meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5 to discuss improvements at Mineral Springs Park. The meeting will take place at North Seattle Community College, 9600 College Way N., in Room 3353 of the College Center Building. Consultants from Charles Anderson Landscape Architecture will present the concept plan for the new park. Parks and community members jointly developed the design. Mineral Springs Park, formerly known as North Seattle Park, is located at N Northgate Way and N 107th Street. The proposed improvements include constructing an art walk along the eastern border of the park connecting N 105th and N 107th streets, and improvements to the disc golf area. The consultant worked closely with both local neighborhood leaders and disc golfers to develop a plan that incorporates both park uses. For details, call project manager Lynn Sullivan of the Parks Department at 733-9105.
Libraries to close, Dec. 17-25
All Seattle Public Libraries will be closed from Tuesday, Dec. 17 to Monday, Dec. 23, due to budget cuts. The last day to check out materials from the libraries is Monday, Dec. 16.
No fines will accrue during the closure and no library services will be available. This means: no branch book drops will be open, no access to the online catalog, no access to the Web site, no programs or events in Library meeting rooms, no automated telephone service/telephone reference service, no mail will be received, no book donations will be collected at library facilities, no book club books will be sent, received or returned, and there will be no mobile services.
All libraries will reopen Dec. 26.
The Library closures prevent the layoffs of about 30 staff, but mean salary reductions for about 640 employees who are not paid, and do not accrue vacation or retirement benefits during the closure weeks.