Seattle-based nonprofit Teens In Public Service (TIPS) is accepting applications from teens ages 15 to 19 who want a summer job that combines community leadership with volunteerism.

TIPS, founded in 1997 by a Seattle mom and her daughter, (Maureen Brotherton and Tia Heim) who wanted to create more rewarding job opportunities for teens, is now in its 15th year of placing teens at local non-profits. TIPS selects teens for internships at charitable organizations by matching their talents and interests with the needs of over 75 local non-profits. Teens serve at no cost to the non-profit, but earn a paycheck through TIPS.

You will find TIPS interns organizing a talent show for children with special needs, comforting a 75 year-old woman as she struggles with Alzheimer’s and providing a meal and a smile to a homeless man in downtown Seattle.

“Our internships give teens the chance to earn money as well as open their eyes to the needs of their community,” Cathy Michalec, TIPS Executive Director, said in a press release. “Our hope is that these teens will continue to be involved with their communities long after their internships are over.”

Teens can submit an application online. For more information, call the TIPS office at 206-985-4647.

Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, adult mentors or others who can attest to the applicant’s character. Teens must be between the ages of 15-19, and must be 15 by June 1.

Each intern will work 20 or 30 hours per week for eight weeks, and five of those weeks must be consecutive. The deadline for applications is Friday, March 25.

Crews will be working on the east side of the bridge, closing down two northbound lanes.

Access to northbound SR 99 from Halladay near Canlis will be open. Lane closures will be from 6 a.m. to midnight again, with the noisy work beginning as early as 7 p.m. and continuing until 11 p.m. Since they will be on the east side of the bridge, the sound will likely travel further into Lake Union this time.

WSDOT has been posting some pretty incredible photos of the work, which will continue through September 5, on its Flickr page. Check those out here.

Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell sent out this message to community members this week encouraging participation in tonight’s meeting:

Beginning this June, Seattle City Light will begin a 10-week underground cable injection project on Queen Anne that will increase reliability of electrical service and add 25 years of life to aging underground cables.  City Light is working with a company called Novinium to inject the aging underground cables with silicone.  The process fills cracks that have developed in the cable insulation that can lead to power failures.  The project is planned to begin in mid-June and is estimated to last about 10 weeks.  On a typical day, crews will work between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Cables determined to be beyond repair will have to be replaced and customers will be notified at least one week in advance of any planned outages which may be necessary to replace the cable.

The silicone injection process is a great alternative to digging up and replacing old cables because it will cost less and be less disruptive to the neighborhood while extending the life of the existing cables. The process has been successfully applied to projects in Leschi, View Ridge, Laurelhurst and Arroyo Beach. When we can employ methods that enhance reliability, cost less and minimize disruption to customers, it is a step in the right direction.

From WSDOT:

When construction on the safety fence does begin, crews will work Sunday through Thursday nights and will work on one side of the bridge at a time. Construction will close two lanes and the adjacent sidewalk across the bridge from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly. WSDOT expects to finish installing the fence by the end of the year.

When construction does start up again, WSDOT says it will be extremely noisy. If you still haven’t received your free industrial strength earplugs, call 206-267-6019. Follow the fence project progress here.

The Army Corps of Engineers “expects to continue work along the Burke Gilman trail through Tuesday, March 9, and also expects to start work this week on the south side of the canal, affecting the Ship Canal Trail.”

It is recommended that trail users follow detour signs. For more information contact Andrea Takash at the Army Corps of Engineers at (206) 764-3464.