Author: Carl Setzer

I Just Updated My Music and Arts Page

Carl Setzer1 Comment

The good folks over at the Pacific Chamber Orchestra pinged me on Twitter a few days ago, asking me to add them to my Music and the Arts Page.

I always delight in finding new artists, so am more than glad to add them. Head over and say “hi”, and lend them your ears during their holiday concert season.

I5 In Marysville Closed In Marysville Saturday Night To Sunday Morning

Carl Setzer

An update from the good folks at the WSDOT.

Full closure of I-5 in Marysville overnight

116th Street Northeast overpass also closed for testing

Both directions of I-5 at 116th Street Northeast will close at 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. Contractor crews working for the Tulalip Tribes’ interchange project need the closure to safely test the water and sewer lines on the underside of the 116th Street overpass. That overpass will also be closed during the overnight testing. Crews will begin reopening the highway at 6 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 11

Here is the complete breakdown of the lane reductions and closures:

Southbound I-5 closure details

  • 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10 – One lane closed.
  • 10 p.m. Saturday – Two lanes closed.
  • 11:59 p.m. Saturday – All lanes closed.
  • 6 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 11 – Lanes begin reopening.
  • All lanes reopen by 9 a.m. Sunday.

Northbound I-5 closure details

  • 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10 – One lane closed.
  • 10 p.m. Saturday – Two lanes closed.
  • 12:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 11 – All lanes closed.
  • 6:30 a.m. Sunday – Lanes begin reopening.
  • All lanes reopen by 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

116th Street Northeast closure details

  • 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10 – All lanes of the I-5 overpass closed.
  • All lanes reopen by 8 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 11.

Detour routes

Traffic on I-5 will reduce to one lane in each direction, then drivers will follow detour signs taking them over the 116th Street Northeast off- and on-ramps. When 116th Street Northeast is closed, traffic will detour on local streets to either 88th Street Northeast or State Route 531.

116th Street Northeast Interchange Project

Improving the I-5/116th Street Northeast interchange is part of the Tulalip Tribes project to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow in this area. For more information about this project, go to the Tulalip Tribes’ project page.

Detour route for closure of 116th Street Northeast overpass.

A Major Voting Pet Peeve

Carl Setzer

Ok, if you’re a candidate running for office unopposed, I still expect you to fill out a candidate’s statement for the voter’s guide. This is something that deeply irks me.

When you can’t be bothered with writing a few paragraphs, you’re telling me you take my vote for granted. Um, nope…you won’t get mine.

I believe there is a minimum number of votes a candidate needs in order to get elected, even if they’re unopposed. If so, then getting zero votes, or getting 2 votes (thanks mom!),even without another candidate, would mean you lost. Which I think is appropriate.

My leaving that bullet blank may not inhibit candidate X from attaining office. However, I hope it does. Don’t take your constituents for granted!

Hey Snohomish County Drivers, Two Big, Abrupt Changes Today That Might Impact You

Carl Setzer

From the good folks at the Washington Department of Transportation.

TLDR:

  • Highway 529 south across the flats from Marysville to Everett will be closed from 10-11 this morning.
  • US 2 from Everett to Lake Stevens won’t have access to the shoulder today

 

Southbound SR 529 to close at Snohomish River Bridge Tuesday morning, Nov. 6

EVERETT – Travelers headed south on State Route 529 in Marysville will need to plan for added travel time Tuesday morning, Nov. 6, while Everett and Marysville police scan the scene of a recent collision on the Snohomish River Bridge.

People driving southbound on SR 529 will need to follow a short detour onto southbound I-5, and travelers headed south on I-5 will be unable to access the off-ramp to SR 529.

Closure Details

  • From 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 6, all lanes of southbound SR 529 at the north end of the Snohomish River Bridge will close.
  • From 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 6, the southbound I-5 off-ramp to southbound SR 529 will close.

Drivers can get real-time information on their phone with the WSDOT traffic app, following the WSDOT traffic Twitter feed and by checking the Snohomish County construction webpage.

 

US 2: Peak Use Shoulder Lane closed

People who use eastbound US 2 between Everett and Lake Stevens should plan for travel delays as the peak-use shoulder lane will remain closed through Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 6.

The lane closure is in place so our crews can use a large crane to remove logs and storm debris in the Ebey Slough. When water is running high and fast in the slough, debris can pile up against the bridge’s support columns, increasing pressure on the structure and adding to the potential for upstream flooding.

The peak-use shoulder lane is open to eastbound traffic weekdays from 2-7 p.m.

Eastbound US 2 peak-use shoulder lane closed through Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 6

Lynnwood’s Trinity Lutheran Church’s Thanksgiving Feeding Project

Carl Setzer

Every year, Trinity Lutheran Church’s seeks to help the needy, beyond Thanksgiving, but this time of year is a critical time. Our goal this Thanksgiving: help 140 families. Though we’re solidly on-track to meet that goal, it is ambitious and we need your help.

Of the three below, the gift cards are the most preferred. After consulting with our neighboring schools, who we partner with for this ministry, it was determined that gift cards help people celebrate the holiday is culturally relevant ways.

The items below can be dropped at Trinity during office hours, or brought on Sunday.

Trinity Thanksgiving 2018 Drive.jpg

Internal Monologues

Carl Setzer

I adore xkcd comics. Check out the whole site!

This little bit about our internal monologues amuses me so very much.

Hmmm…to become a real estate mogul…or not

Carl Setzer
A house made of dollar bills

I held a real estate license for over 7 years. However, last December I let it lapse. Over all the years I held my license I closed no transactions…as an agent. For that time I worked on a team that sold bank and government owned homes. That was my focus. So I didn’t work with clients…exactly. I worked with asset managers, on behalf of the institution that owned the house in our portfolio. I needed my license, but I never needed to go out and generate leads and such that’s part of being a real estate agent. Buy I know about the local market, how to price a home, how to market it, and I know the contract process better than most agents. So, though I haven’t a single transaction officially tied though, I’ve closed hundreds.

Now, I’m trying to figure out what to do next. I’m nearing the end of my grace period with the state of Washington. As of right now, I just need to take a few hours of online course work and then pay the renewal fee. After December, I’ll need to retake my real estate course work from scratch to renew.  A significant up-tick in cost and time. And, I’m not sure the pay-off. I don’t want to invest either cost without a plan for some kind of return.

So, currently, I manage the construction process from getting a contract signed around to having permits in hand. I believe that my understanding of the construction process coupled with my understanding of bank and government owner homes gives me a unique skill set in the real estate world. New construction, custom homes as well as real estate flipping and investing are things I understand well.

Not sure I want to become a mogul. But I think I could make a positive impact on the world. Do I need my real estate license to make that impact? Is it enough to make the investment worthwhile? Would I make back the investment in money, time and energy? I’m just not sure. What do you think? I’d love to hear your insights and recommendations.

 

Photos From My Walk Around Lynnwood

Carl Setzer

This morning I took a walk through my neighborhood. One of my favorite things to do. Nice exercise and it helps me see what’s going on around town.

Here are a few photos from my Flickr page.

A October Morning Walk

The Beauty Of Beginnings

Carl Setzer

I’ve long been a member of Lynnwood’s Trinity Lutheran Church. The past year and a half or so, we’ve been transitioning pastors. Never the easiest process. But we’re on the other side of that journey. 

Today we welcome Pastor Hector Garcifas-Toledo. Pastor Hector represents, to me, the evolution of my little suburb. First, we’re not very little anymore. And our ethic make up has changed radically since I was a kid. 

Growing up, Lynnwood was very white, middle class. My neighborhood is quite multiethnic now. We have myriad languages nearby. The microcosm of our planet, reflected here, delights me deeply. 

Pastor Hector has lived this microcosm. Born in Mexico, having lived in Taiwan, and serving as a pastor throughout the U.S., he understands diversity at the deepest levels. He IS diversity. 

I’m quite excited for him to join us, and for my congregation to move forward into the  next stage of our journey. The world is changing. My city has changed, and is changing. We’re ready to embrace that, finding ways to serve our neighbors. It’s quite wonderful, indeed. 

So, welcome to our neighbor Pastor Hector! I’m excited to see what our journey together brings. 

Any of you remember the Seattle radio station KJET ?

Carl Setzer

My friend Mike was a DJ at KJET, a progressive radio station from back in the 1980s. Lots of wave, groups like The Clash, etc.

Here he’s pulled together a show based on this classic 80s tunes. Check him out on Mixcloud and follow him if you’re a fan of that platform.