The Wallingford Kiddie Parade, heading into its 61st year and scheduled for July 10, 2010, hit a bump in the parade route recently, but thanks to an (ahem) authoritatively written e-mail from Wallingford's own Janet Stillman to the SDOT, the show goes on...this year, at least. Apparently, as part of a set of budget cuts, the city announced that they would not be paying for the cost of shutting down the streets for the parade (somewhere around $1,500 - $2,000), and…
This month’s Hamilton Construction Update is brought to you in part by the word “accoutrement”, as in: the construction workers at Hamilton are putting in plants, light fixtures and other accoutrement on school grounds. This to me signals the beginning of the end; the light at the end of the tunnel. Hallelujah! Over the last few days it’s been interesting to watch the installation of plants, trees, and beautiful wrought iron fencing around the perimeter of the school. My only comment…
As Rudyard Kipling famously wrote, "Run and find out" is the motto of the mongoose. Once you get to know an animal well enough, you'll discover its own personal creed. Long-time Wallingford resident Rita Amer has published a delightful new children's book, The Cat with the Golden Fang, whose heroine is an exquisite cat named Marta Petunia. Rita first had the inspiration for The Cat with the Golden Fang in the mid-80's, then moved to Seattle in 1989. Almost all of it…
This is an exciting time for the parents and children who are attending McDonald School Elementary next fall. If you're a parent of an incoming student, now is the time to start thinking about your involvement with the school. Parents are invited to join--and lead--the PTA for the upcoming 2010-2011 school year. As a former board member for the PTSA at B.F. Day, I can attest that it's a rewarding experience, and the only way to develop high quality enrichment programs…
Okay, let’s get the banjo jokes out of the way first: Q: How do you tune a banjo? A: Everybody yells the answer: “Who cares!” Q: What’s perfect pitch? A: Tossing a banjo into the toilet without hitting the rim! Okay, enough already. Despite the fun to be had making fun of the banjo (don’t get me started on flute jokes) it’s a terrific instrument. It can be fun, mournful, cheerful, sad. Love classical music? Check out Bela Fleck’s “Perpetual Motion”…
Last week, we reported that, despite concerns that the Wallingford wading pool might be closed due to city budget cuts, we had spoken with the Seattle Department of Aquatics, and the pool would, in fact, open this summer (although many other neighborhood pools would not be so lucky). Several days later, another local blog reported that contrary to what we had said, the Wallingford pool was, in fact, still on the chopping block. Obviously, some readers were confused, as were we.…
On Tuesday, King 5 reported the possible closure of two community centers and three swimming pools this summer, along with several of the wading pools citywide. Faced with budget reductions, former superintendent Tim Gallagher told King 5 "24 of the 27 public wading pools may close in June." Wallyhood contacted the Aquatics Office of Seattle Parks and Rec this morning, and spoke with Kerrie Stoops, acting coordinator for Mounger Pool in Magnolia to find out if our beloved Wallingford wading pool…