Category: Seattle and Beyond

First Thoughts on the #SPU Shooting

Carl Setzer

How absolutely terrifying to see Seattle Pacific University (fyi, the school’s servers are getting hammered by the media attention) as the latest victim of a school shooting. The coverage can be followed via this Twitter feed. With the website not able to keep up, Twitter is a powerful tool to stay aware of what’s going on.

Why do we need to know? Depends on the “we”, really. If you’re a student, it should be obvious. And, of course, for those who live nearby (it’s a pretty densely packed part of Seattle). Other clear choices: parents, family, friends of students, staff and faculty. Then there’s the larger impact on the community (several major streets blocked, all that traffic rerouted, emergency vehicles moving across downtown, etc). Perhaps a goodly portion of the watchers are just gawking, staring at the latest painful horror. I lean towards a belief that people care about others, and want to feel some connection. In many ways, it seems that this is the one way to do something; some thing against the mindless, some action to resist the helplessness.

 
Seattle is an amazing community. I know we’ll rally around our neighbors and do what we can to heal. SPU, we stand with you.
 

Tracking Traffic : Thinking Ahead

Carl Setzer

When I was at Starbucks (in the Support Center in the SODO district of Seattle), I made it a point to monitor traffic “issues” (everything from construction to ball games) and developed a bit of fame for it. It was useful, though, as traffic down there was miserable (and I’m sure it’s not much better). In that spirit, I want to note that this week will be particularly fun for Seattle area folks. (Gory details on the DOT’s site)

  • Work on 520
  • Northbound I5 by Spokane Street
  • Northbound I5 by the Ship Canal
  • Southbound 99 from Denny to Spokane

My friends at the Washington Department of Transportation have some great ideas to help manage this, and the rest of summer’s construction season:

• Check the Seattle traffic page before hitting the road.

• Use travel alerts to get real-time information about blocking incidents.
• Download WSDOT’s mobile app.
• Follow @wsdot_traffic on Twitter.
• Call 5-1-1 for traffic updates.
• Check the What’s Happening Now page for updates.

Best of luck to you all. Stay ahead!

Memorial Day 2014

Carl Setzer

Memorial Day

 

I always thought that Memorial Day started to honor the veterans of WWI. Turns out, at least per Wikipedia, that it actually started as Decoration Day after the Civil War. Though it often is considered the harbinger of summer (around here, it really tends to be a false-start for summer, but I digress), it’s function is to remind us of those who died in military service. We aren’t so fond of anything hinting at moroseness, but there really is value in considering the costs born for our way of life. Many have paid the ultimate price for us. That should give us pause. Let’s not take it for granted. Let’s not forget. And let’s remember those who willing serve and not put them in harms way mindlessly.

An Evening At The Lynnwood Rollaway

Carl Setzer

My son’s school had their final skating party of the year this evening. My memory calls this the Lynnwood Rollaway, though it’s now called Bowl & Skate. Whether Rollaway is legit, or some weird memory glitch, I’m unsure. Whatever the name, these are fun, though it’s different for the kids than the adults. Catching up with the other parents: fun. For me, though, there’s one additional piece. This rink is where I spent a great deal of my pre-teen and early teen years. Many formative moments happened here. It’s a key part of my, as well as the city’s history. I wonder how many first kisses, romances, fights, breakups, ups and downs, all within these same walls.

Oddly, to me, the space looks very much the same. Now, that could just be a memory trick. Memory is quite malleable. But, the visual cues seem unchanged.

20140522-223532-81332537.jpg

20140522-223531-81331845.jpg

I’m not sure how clearly these pictures will come through, but you should at least glean the basic idea. Anyway, it’s pleasing to me that the space has maintained that essence, and that my son gets to experience it…at least as close to that as we can. History continues.

Everett’s “Cruzin’ to Colby” Car Show this Weekend

Carl Setzer

I have fond memories of cruising downtown Everett, back before the anti-cruise ordinance. What a great way to hearken back to those halcyon days…without all the traffic.

This is one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier car shows, drawing more people into downtown Everett than any other single event.  And, besides bringing over 190,000 people into downtown, more than $140,000.00 has been raised for local charities. Entertainment and helping the neighborhood? Truly a win/win!

Sunday there will be a “parade” of hot-rods and classic cars down Colby Avenue in the early afternoon. Then on Monday there’s the car show. Starting at 8:00 am, cars and vendors will line the streets. It’s quite the show!

All the details are available here:

http://www.seattlerod-tiques.com/Cruzin.aspx

 

Comcast Arena Hosts GEAR Expo : April 26 & 27

Carl Setzer
As an outdoor enthusiast, this looks amazing! And, how much more awesome can we get than in my (proverbial) backyard.
This year’s Expo features nearly 200 booths, over 25 speakers, a kid’s activity area, a wine and beer garden, and a 30′ sandstone climbing wall.  A special thanks to the Snohomish Tourism Board, who sponsored the climbing wall, so it will be free each day between 10 am – 12 pm.  The American Hiking Society will have a Trails Pavilion featuring local hiking, camping and recreational boating.

Also, if that wasn’t fun enough, there will be fabulous prizes given away daily. Make sure you get your ‘passport for the ‘passport booth crawl’ (also featuring various speakers and exhibitors). 

This year’s keynote speaker, Helen Thayer, will share experiences from her global expeditions. Ms. Thayer has been named one of the Great Explorers of the Twentieth Century by National Geographic and honored by the White House.  She will sign her books during both days of the expo. 

More information can be found below and at gearupexpo.com.

GEAR Expo Sets up Camp
Second Annual Tradeshow Presents Latest Gear for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Saturday, April 26 – 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday, April 27 – 10 am – 4 pm

Tickets are available at the door.  

$10 adult, $5 ages 11 – 17, $5 with military ID and free for ages 10 and under.

Comcast Arena at Everett – Edward D Hansen Conference Center
2000 Hewitt Avenue, Everett, Washington 98201
p 425.322.2600 – f 425.322.2601 – www.ComcastArenaEverett.com

 

Grays Harbor Changes

Carl Setzer

Just read this over at KXRO’s blog:

Port of Grays Harbor may incorporate Friends Landing and Sterling Landing

Doesn’t look dramatic, but I’m wondering about the “whys”. I guess reverting ownership to a public agency would lower the costs for the org (a 501(c)(3)). And I’d expect the title for this transfer would have some conditions regarding what the Port Authority could actually do with the property. What are the full range of pros and cons? We’ll need to wait and see, I guess.

As Grays Harbor has struggled economically with the decrease in logging, losing key jobs with mill closings, I watch for these sorts of activities hoping that some economic revitalization can occur. I love the Washington Coast and it’s communities, wishing the greatest success to them all.

Robotic Engineering Comes Alive At Imagine Children’s Museum : April 19

Carl Setzer
These sorts of events delight me no end. Seeing local high-school students really work the cutting edge is just awesome.
Imagine Children’s Museum is hosting robotics clubs from Cascade, Glacier Peak and Lynnwood High Schools (The Cascade Bruin Robotics, Lynnwood Royal Robotics and Glacier Peak Sonic Squirrels) this Saturday, April 19. These students will demonstrate robots of their own design and creation, including FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST LEGO League bots.  Amongst other activities, you’re invited to participate in constructing the robotic equivalent of a functional human hand.  Young scientists will bring robotic hands to life, creating a mechanism that simulates the tendons in human fingers.

Activities will take place in The Great Room on the Lower Level from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m, and is covered by the regular $9.50 admission.

Part of the I-Engineers program, which is presented quarterly through generous sponsorship by our local Fluke Corporation.

Imagine Children’s Museum (ICM)

1502 Wall Street

Everett, WA 98201 ­

425-258-1006 x1015
http://www.imaginecm.org/index.html

 

Tulip Festival : Glory of Skagit County

Carl Setzer

Ah, the wonderful Tulip Festival, where the back-roads of Skagit valley become near-parking lots for several weeks. It is, though, beautiful and one of the most photogenic scenes that Western Washington has to offer (at least in the mud season otherwise known as spring).

MyNortwest.com has a nice article about the festival, well worth the few minutes of your time to read.  And here’s the main site for all the festival details.

One of my favorite elements of the festival are they’re frame-worthy posters. Below is the 2014 Tulip Festival Poster

Edmonds School District : Strategic Input Meeting : April 2

Carl Setzer

For those of us who have kids in the Edmonds School District, this is important info.

Dear Edmonds School District Families:

The second of four Strategic Direction Community Input Meetings is being held this Wednesday, April 2 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Lynnwood High School Theater. Any of these meetings are open to anyone in the community.  We are pleased to share that in addition to the opportunity to attend and participate in person, an audio live stream of the conversation will also be available. Whichever option you select, we look forward to your participation!                

In Person:

  • Lynnwood High School Theater, 18218 North Road, Bothell 98012.

Online Audio Live Stream:

If you cannot join the April 2 conversation, please join one of the two remaining opportunities:

  • April 16, 4 pm @ Mountlake Terrace High Theater
  • April 23, 7 pm @ Edmonds-Woodway High Theater