Folks on the northeast side of Queen Anne may have seen the smoke at noon today. A boat exploded while it was docked at a refueling station on Westlake Ave. — just southeast of Aurora Bridge — and witnesses say quick action by the Harbor Patrol averted what may have been a devastating marina fire.

Fremont Universe has the story. (Thanks Warren for the photo!)

Last Thursday caught most people offguard when the light dusting of snow began falling around 5:00 am.  Metro has received a barrage of voiced concerns (aka complaints) from the public regarding how it informs riders of changes in the schedule or changes in routes.  Even the King County Council has made comments regarding Metro’s archaic communications methods.  In a statement, Dow Constantine said,

During sudden storm events of this type, they [Metro] need to know what to expect so they can inform their families and employers.

Given the increasing sophistication of modern phones and wireless Internet providers, I encourage Metro to take immediate action to use instant messaging, Twitter, neighborhood blogs, and customer self-reporting systems to keep Metro operators and riders connected.\

Did any of you have a comment you wanted to submit to Metro?  The Seattle Times also is logging comments.

Opening Day, April 18, of Queen Anne Little League Baseball is 

just around the corner.  If you haven’tregistered yet, sorry, but registration closed on February 15th.  Evaluations for girls fastpitch softball players will be held on Sunday, March 1 at Coe Elementary.  Check the schedule for your exact time.  If you missed the earlier baseball evaluation for  on Feb. 28, there is a makeup time at 2:00 pm.

Magnolia Little League may still have spaces available on some teams.  Check their website for information and contacts.

Bartells Drugs has announced a new program that is designed to “Protect Your Family; Protect Our Community and Protect Our Environment.”  The ‘Take it Back Unwanted Medication Return Program’ program allows you to get rid of prescription medication, over the counter medication, inhalers and even pet medications.  y the blood pressure machine you will find a box in which to deposit old prescription medications. You can’t dispose of needles, thermometers or narcotics.

Bartells reminds us that it is dangerous to use medication that has been prescribed to someone else or to give your unwanted medications to someone else to use.

Around 4 a.m. this morning, snow began to fall in Seattle and here in Queen Anne, leaving around an inch or less on the ground. All Seattle Public Schools will start two hours late today with buses on snow routes. There will be no door-to-door service, no Head Start and pre-school, and no half day a.m. kindergarten or half day p.m. kindergarten. There are a handful of changes for Metro buses, especially impacting Queen Anne routes on steeper hills. SDOT says its plows are patrolling the main arterial routes.

A View reader asks us to caution neighbors in the area between Queen Anne Avenue and 2nd Ave. W, Smith and Raye Streets of the recent outbreak in vandalism being done to cars. Several cars have been randomly keyed.  If you observe anyone conducting these annoying and senseless acts, you are encouraged to contact the Seattle Police Department in order to file a report.  They will keep a log of these incidents and attempt to deter future occurrences.

 Twelve remaining unsold units at Queen Anne High School Condominiums, 201 Galer St., Seattle, WA,  will go up for closeout auction March 22.  For those who can qualify for financing or have extra cash, this could be a good opportunity.  Buyers who arrange financing from Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and close within 30 days of the auction will get $2,500 toward closing costs.

Nine two-bedroom units previously priced from $474,950 to $599,950 will have minimum bids of $245,000 to $325,000; a studio condo previously listed at $254,950 is down to a minimum of $145,000; and a 1,432-square-foot penthouse is down from $999,950 to a $650,000 minimum.

The auction is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt Seattle, 721 Pine St. Beverly Hills-based Kennedy Wilson’s Auction Group, which is hosting, has scheduled a “how-to-buy” seminar starting at 1 p.m. March 15 at the Queen Anne High School Condominiums Auction Information Office, which is open from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. daily.

Check out the website that has information and answers to your many questions.

We want to let you know that Seattle Public Schools Open Enrollment for the 2009-2010 school year begins Monday March 2 and runs through Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

Due to the capacity management/building closure process, the enrollment calendar for this year was adjusted from its usual January – February timeframe.  The district wanted to give families time to consider options and to prepare registration and application materials. 

Open Enrollment is when families register and apply for school for children entering kindergarten, for students going from elementary to middle school or middle to high school next year, for students who wish to change schools, and for students who will be new to the district in September 2009

Seattle Public Schools will be at the Queen Anne Library on March 19 from 5:30p.m. to 7p.m. so parents may submit their school application for the 2009 – 2010 school year. Make sure to bring all necessary
documents to register your child.

More than 100 people attended an open house at Adam’s Elementary this evening to learn more about plans to replace the Viaduct with a deep bored tunnel. The open house was organized by representatives from WSDOT, the City of Seattle and King County, who answered plenty of questions.
Phinney Ridge resident Robert Douglas wanted to know how he’d be affected. “I use the viaduct all the time,” he tells us, “So I was kind of curious to see how it was going to impact me, obviously, and my traveling back and forth from here to Sea-Tac, to West Seattle, to other destinations I go to.” WSDOT provided this map explaining how Ballard, Queen Anne, and other North Seattle commuters will access the tunnel (see larger map in .pdf format).

Bob Powers, the Deputy Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation tells us that construction of the bored tunnel is expected to begin in 2011 and be open to drivers in 2015. Added transit service will begin in 2010, and the Spokane Street and Mercer Street projects are slated to be complete by 2012.

Also: City council OK’s funding to rebuild Mercer Street
Plus: WSDOT renderings of the tunnel | Video animation

The rumors are swirling around Queen Anne resident and former Governor Gary Locke.  According to the Seattle Times and KING5 News, Governor Locke is President Barack Obama’s likely third pick for Commerce secretary.

On Feb. 13, Locke told The Seattle Times that he spoke with President Obama in November about the U.S. trade representative position, which was later filled. But he said he hadn’t been in contact with the administration since then. When asked if he was in the running for Commerce secretary, Locke said, “I have absolutely no idea.” He added, “I’ve been focusing on work. I mean, who knows what’s going on in D.C.”

Today, however, a senior administration official, said that Locke had been called regarding the job.  An announcement has not been officially made.  What do you think?

Many of us in Queen Anne were glued to the television watching the 81st annual Academy Awards. Can anyone believe that Ron Howard has been a part of the Academy for the last 50 years and has had five films nominated for Best Picture? (Do you know them?) Or that Meryl Streep has received 15 Oscar nominations, and won twice. (She’s the most nominated actress ever.) And yes, Slumdog Millionaire was the big winner taking home 8 of its 10 nominations. WOW! Online coverage of the Academy Awards has never been better. Check out the winners’ list on www.Oscar.com and watch the scenes outside of the theater by clicking on www.ontheredcarpet.com.D

Did you have a favorite moment?

There are big changes being planned for Nickerson Street that will affect Queen Anne residents. Seattle Department of Transportation plans to remove one lane of traffic each way in an attempt to make it safer and improve pedestrian access and bicycle usage.

The changes will be on the Nickerson Street corridor between the Ballard Bridge and W. Forentia Street.

The proposed changes will include:
• One lane of motor vehicle traffic in each direction (currently there are two)
• New two-way center turn lane
• New westbound bicycle lane and sharrow markings in a wide eastbound lane
• New pedestrian median islands at several intersections

Here is what it looks like now:

And here is what it will look like when the work is complete:
During construction you can expect lane closures, pedestrian detours and parking restrictions.  We don’t have a start date or timeline for construction. If you want to learn more, there is a project open house on  March 4th from 5pm – 7pm at Demaray Hall – Room 150 at Seattle Pacific University at 509 West Bertona Street.  That is the building with the clock tower.  You can also send comments to WalkandBike@Seattle.gov. 
 

Weekends are for dialing it back a notch and enjoying the sunshine, the chance to read the newspaper, and catch up on interesting stories on the web. Imagine life just a few years ago (or maybe 30) without the internet! Oh yes, and definitely tune in to the Oscars this Sunday night.  Watch for a report on Monday and the chance to post your comments.

Watch CBS Videos Online

There are going to be new signs and stripes on 15th Ave West by the end of this month and then Seattle Police Department will begin enforcement of the BAT lane restrictions. 

The signing and striping work is scheduled to be completed by next weekend and then drivers will have one week to get used to the changes before police begin handing out tickets to violaters. 

After a community meeting hosted by the Magnolia Community Club and feedback from drivers, the Seattle Department of Transportation is making changes to the controversial BAT lanes.   Here is what SDOT tells us: 

Parking will now be restricted on weekdays from 7 AM to 6 PM between W Prospect Street and W Lee Street.  Parking will be removed at all times between W Lee Street and the Magnolia Bridge entrance.  Due to feedback from businesses on Elliott between W Mercer Place and W Lee Street, off-peak parking will be retained with the current peak hour restriction ( 7 to 9 AM and 4 to 6 PM) between W Mercer Place and W Prospect Street.

The BAT lanes have been approved for use by all buses, including school and charter buses and vanpools.  They are working with the Port of Seattle to ensure that bus operators are aware that they may use the BAT lanes and they will be providing directions to bus drivers prior to the cruise ship season starting in April at Pier 91. 

The BAT lanes will not be open to taxis or carpools.   

SDOT will be posting signs encouraging bicyclists to use the parallel Myrtle Edwards Park Trail.  However, they say that cyclists are legally allowed to ride in the curb lane along this corridor.  

“We expect these changes to significantly improve operations and will continue to closely monitor traffic flow in the area.  Signal engineers are continuing to refine the signal timing,” says Eric Widstrand, SDOT.  

What do you think?  Let us know in comments below. 

It is no wonder that Queen Anne would house a number of stairways leading up and down the hill. But have you ever tried to find a map that would guide you on the location of these stairways?  Urban hiker and mapmaker Thomas Horton has just the map for you: Map of the (oft) Pedestrian Public Stairs of Queen Anne Hill.”  As reported in the Seattle Times, 

A self-described urban hiker, Horton became curious about the many stairways that lead up and down his “home hill” and began to look for information on the stairs. After discovering that nobody outside of the Seattle Department of Transportation had a public record of the stairways, he decided to devote the summer of 2007 to walking and mapping them — spending at least 120 hours exploring 120 of Seattle’s 550 stairways before publishing his map last May.

Not only does the map give you intriguing locations for the stairs, but there is history and folklore associated with many of the stairways.

Arguably the most hair-raising history belongs to the Boston Street Haunted Stair, No. 54 on the map. According to local legend, the original wooden stairway crumbled down the hill in the early 1900s, killing a woman who was on her way to meet her fiancé. (Is it just me, or is there a preponderance of fiancés in ghost stories?) Decades later, the legend continues, a woman was walking on the concrete steps that had replaced the ill-fated originals when a disembodied voice whispered urgently for her to turn back. The woman heeded the eerie warning and narrowly avoided serious injury when the stairway broke apart, crashing downhill.

Copies of the “Map of the (oft) Pedestrian Public Stairs of Queen Anne Hill” can be purchased for $5 at Queen Anne Books, 1811 Queen Anne Ave. N., Seattle; 206-283-5624.  Or order it online from the Queen Anne Historical Society,www.qahistory.org.

Congratulations to the Spectator Sports Bar and Grill, located at 529 Queen Anne Ave Seattle, WA 98109, for celebrating its second anniversary. Join the regulars on Sunday, Febuary 22nd, from 8 pm to close for drink specials, free appetizers and a Ping Pong Tournament. Purchase raffle tickets for Tator Birthday Presents (prizes)…Proceeds going to charity!

The Spectator Bar and Grill is located on Lower Queen Anne under the big red awning and is a utopia for the common man. They boast a great happy hour on the hill Mon – Fri from 4:00-6:00pm with specials on our grub, drafts and well drinks. Their menu was carefully crafted to feature all favorite sports bar food as well as a few special items unique to the establishment. You have to try our hot turkey sandwich!

In the main room you’ll find 13 large flat screen LCD TV’s highlighting every sporting event from around the world. A tournament style Brunswick Pool table located on the mezzanine will immediately draw your attention to a reservable area for private parties if the need arises.  Hope they remember it’s Oscars Night!

Some people have all the luck.  Andrew Greenwald makes it look really easy to win big in the Washington State Lottery.  Andrew has been shopping at the Safeway on the top of Queen Anne hill (2100 Queen Anne Ave. N) for years and knows several of the staff by name. Andrew is particularly close with one clerk named Holly, who just happened to sell him a $100,000 scratch ticket last Wednesday.

Andrew says he bought four tickets that day, “I scratched the first one, and it was a $10 winner, then the second was a $20 winner, then $50 and finally $100,000!” he recalled. He says when Holly checked the last ticket he had to get her a chair. $100,080 richer, Andrew took his friend Laurie on a date that night to Antonio’s restaurant in Bellevue to celebrate. Who can blame him?

Andrew says the first people he called with the news were his mother Laurie, and his daughter. When he called his daughter, he told her simply, “I’ll pay your bills.” She started to cry upon hearing the good news.

Andrew has lived in the Queen Anne neighborhood since 1969. Several years ago Andrew won $50,000 playing Vegas Nights, another Lottery Scratch game. This time he plans to pay off his credit card, take his mother to Hawaii and of course pay off his daughter’s bills.  Andrew won $100,000 playing Fab Fortune, a scratch game from Washington’s Lottery. 

Read more about Andrew on the Queen Anne News site.  Thanks for the photo grab!

An interesting website was sent to me by Kate.  The Seattle Free School, is for the community by the community. All are welcome. No money ever exchanges hands. All we exchange are skills, knowledge and experiences. This seems to be a great way to take classes and share a skill.

On Saturday, March 14, from 12:30 – 2:00 pm, a class is being offered at the Queen Anne Library entitled Creating Meaningful Success.  Success in the 21st Century often comes with a high price tag – disease, dissatisfaction and a feeling of never enough. Explore the cultural scripts that keep you chasing after someone else’s dreams and start to unravel the fears and self limiting beliefs that keep you stuck. This interactive class will look at the relationship between success and personal fulfillment and get you started on the path to meaningful success in your own life. Perfect for anyone who has been affected by the recent economic crisis as well as those just looking for more in their lives!

This class is facilitated by Desiree Bryan, a Certified Life Coach and the owner of Life Alignment Coaching. She supports individuals in bringing their outer world into alignment with their inner values so that they can live simply, joyfully and meaningfully.

Pagliacci’s Pizza celebrates their 30th anniversary by rolling back slice prices to 1979 at their Seattle pizzerias. On Thursday, February 19th, slice prices will be as follows:
       Cheese Slice – $0.85
       Pepperoni Slice – $0.95
       Canadian Bacon & Pineapple Slice – $0.95
       AGOG Primo Slice – $1.05
These slice prices will be available Thursday only at University, Broadway, Queen Anne, 550 Queen Anne Ave North,  HUB and McMahon pizzerias.

But the party doesn’t end there!  Starting February 19th, for 30 days they will be giving a 30% whole pie pizza discount at all of our locations. The offer is limited to one pizza per order and is not valid with another offer. In addition, during the remaining 30 days ourUniversity, Broadway and Queen Anne pizzerias will continue the slice love by offering primo slices at the price of our normal cheese slice price – $2.09.