We welcome new advertiser Terry Thomas and Des Moines WA Web Design to the Waterland Blog. Terry’s just what every small business or organization in Des Moines and surrounding areas needs these days — he’s a web site designer.

“Compared to other marketing methods so much more information can be presented online that no business can afford to not have an Internet presence now. I’m surprised at how many Des Moines businesses still do not have even a basic website. I’d like to be the one to show them how to use the Internet to their advantage,” explained Terry

Terry didn’t just happen into this line of work. He began a web design and Internet marketing career in 1995 after a 22 year career in the U.S. Navy. He built response websites for major magazine publishers while employed at a Seattle marketing company. So he brings some big league experience at little league prices to local businesses and organizations. According to his website, here’s what Terry can do for your business:

• Website design for business, organizations and clubs.
• Complete website design and setup services from start to finish.
• Reasonable rates and timely delivery.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
• Existing website redesigns (makeovers).
• Websites designed from your specifications or to mine.
• List management, maintenance, repair and reformatting services.
• Internet and PC tutoring.

Terry and his wife Dona and their family moved directly to Des Moines after retiring from the Navy. There was no question that they’d settle in Des Moines as Dona was raised here and now is a para-educator at Des Moines Elementary which she attended as a child. Terry told WLB that as a young woman she apparently didn’t have enough to do and received no less than three degrees from Highline College.

Their foster daughter Marissa attended Mount Rainier High School and Highline College. Son Jared attended Des Moines Elementary, Pacific Middle School, Mount Rainier High School and Highline College. He also spent a year at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Terry can frequently seen around the Marina and park walking his Australian Shepherd, CeCe. He’s active in a Seattle based Flyball Club, the Jet City Jumpers.

“My goal is to be adopted by multiple local businesses as their go-to-guy for all things Internet. I enjoy getting to know people and learning about their lives and their business. It’s even more exciting when those business owners are your neighbors.” If you are interested in “adopting” Terry and Des Moines WA Web Designs, email him at terry@desmoineswawebdesign.com, visit his website or call him at 206-992-3018.

Des Moines Master Animal Control Officer Jan Magnuson reports some good news – due to the posting we did on Aug. 13th (read it here) showcasing “Oscar Meyer,” the black and tan male Dachshund put up for adoption, a new home has been found for him!

Apparently a Reader contacted Jan after seeing our post, and now “Oscar” has a new home.

Here’s Jan’s note:

Hey Scott -

Thank You so much for helping with finding Oscar his new home!

They are thrilled with him!

You guys are great, Thank You so much!

Jan~

And here’s a pic of the happy new family:

According to the Pierce County Emergency Management (PCWARN), the two loud explosions heard just before 2pm Tuesday (Aug. 17) were confirmed by the FAA to be from two F-15s intercepting an aircraft breaching the presidential no-fly zone (President Obama was in Seattle).

911 dispatch centers in Pierce County were temporarily overwhelmed by calls from citizens but were never off line. All dispatch centers remain fully operational.

Our sister site The B-Town Blog filed the following report:

Numerous Readers, along with this Reporter, heard two rather large explosions on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 17) around 1:50pm.

Initial Reader responses indicate that the sounds were heard in Eagle Landing Park, Three Tree Point, SW 148th and Ambaum (where it made a witnesses’ “door and window move”), Des Moines, and as far away as Federal Way.

Here’s what Rebecca Dare wrote us:

Around 1:50 p.m. there were two big booms (sort of like double-booms spaced apart). It shook our house and seemed like an earthquake. We headed out into the street and could hear a possible jet far away — don’t know if they were sonic booms or not. But I’ve never heard or felt anything like that that wasn’t an earthquake. Have you heard anything from anyone else?

Jm Branson wrote:

Two booms shook my windows near Eagle Landing Park. My friend said they rattled her house in Federal Way.

My guess is military planes in association with Obama’s visit.

Cassandra wrote:

I am at SW 148th and Ambaum and it was strong enough to make my doors and windows move!

Shelby wrote:

We are over at SW 114th and Ambaum and our doors and windows were shaken as well. No idea what it was though.

Our first thought was a series of short, sharp earthquakes, but the sonic boom theory may be more plausible, as President Obama is in town, which means that accompanying fighter jets may have cause sonic booms.

We just received word from the Washington State Patrol, which says:

Washington State Patrol is reporting the loud booms heard over the South King County area minutes ago is possibly resulting from a Sonic Boom. Residents are encouraged not to call 9-1-1 in regards to this event.

Any questions, you may call Normandy Park Police Department at 206-248-7600.

Also, KING5 is reporting on their Facebook Page:

If you heard/felt the booms this afternoon – the FAA says they are sonic booms from military aircraft in the area.

So…did YOU hear them? Where were you? And what did it sound like to you? Please leave a Comment below:

The City of Des Moines Transportation Department wants our Readers to be aware that there will be a traffic disruption on Tuesday (July 13) at Kent/Des Moines Road and 24th/25th South.

A traffic signal controller and cabinet will be replaced, beginning at 9am, and it’s projected that it will take several hours to complete the work.

Here’s the official verbiage from the cityfolk:

Traffic Disruption 7/13 KDMR @ 24/25th I/S
Des Moines Transportation Department
Release Date and Time: 07-12-2010 07:16:00 PM

The traffic signal controller and cabinet are being replaced tomorrow Tuesday July 13th at the intersection of Kent Des Moines Road and 24th/25th Ave S. The existing signal cabinet and controller equipment is over 25 years old and in need of replacement.

The change out process will begin at 9:00 AM, and will take several hours to complete. During some of this time the intersection will be dark, with no traffic signal indications, and traffic will be controlled through the intersection with flaggers and at times a police officer. Motorist’s should expect significant delays and alternate routes are recommended.

Once the new controller and cabinet have been reinstalled, signal maintenance crews will be spending time fine tuning the intersection control equipment. Our hope is to have the change-out completed before the afternoon commute.

R. Brandon Carver, P.E., P.T.O.E.
Associate Transportation Engineer
City of Des Moines
(206)870-6543

The mailman delivered our latest gizmo gadget (a state of the art Ultra Flip HD Camera) a few weeks back and we thought “what the flip should we do with this ding-dang newfangled thingamabob?”

Out of the red, white and blue, it occurred to us that our third President, one Thomas Jefferson, who loved new gadgets and devices and inventions and discoveries, would have gotten a kick out of this powerful little digital camera, the size of a deck of cards, not much smaller than a hand-held booklet-sized copy of what is known as the Declaration of Independence.

It was 234 years ago right now, that our Founders were “cutting and pasting” their final draft of what became known as that treasured and precious document, the Declaration of Independence, whose primary author was the then 33 year-old future President Jefferson.

So someone said:

“Let’s take our camera around Des Moines and Burien (and Normandy Park and White Center) and ask our fellow neighbors and friends and passersby to read aloud the Declaration into our new little camera, piece the quotes together into one colorful video, and release it to the nation and world on our various neighborhood news blogs.”

And so we did – well actually Mark Neuman did, then Scott Schaefer edited it – see if you can find yourself, or a friend or two:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grzhgTJx_7g[/youtube]

(…at the end of the video, look for some amusing outtakes as well as terrific “Happy Birthday USA!” salutations)

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY FROM THE WATERLAND BLOG!

This weekend, local amateur radio operators (“hams”) from the Highline (Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac, Tukwila, as well as the North Highline unincorporated area) Amateur Radio Club will be participating in ham radio’s annual national emergency exercise called Field Day, to simulate a disaster, and especially the loss of normal communications in a disaster.

Members of the Highline Amateur Radio Club will be setting up a radio communications center at Marvista Park (located at SW 200th and 4th Ave. SW in Normandy Park) to communicate with other hams participating from around the world. Antennas will be set up starting Friday and the exercise begins at 11 a. m. Saturday, June 26, and lasts 24 hours until 11 a. m. Sunday. Club members will be making contacts with the other hams utilizing both voice and Morse Code.

Hams have a long history of providing back-up communications for local governments as well as other non-governmental agencies needing communications in a disaster. Hams provide these services, volunteering their time and, often, using their own personal equipment. As more and more professional emergency management personnel (fire fighters, police, EMTs, emergency managers, etc.) are getting Amateur Radio licenses to be able to use this valuable radio resource, the FCC is contemplating changes to the rules to allow these professionals to work with the volunteers (since, normally, hams are not permitted to have any pecuniary interest in the communications that they make (e. g. wages.).

The Highline Amateur Radio Club extends an invitation to anyone interested in observing the exercise to visit Marvista Park on Saturday afternoon, evening or Sunday morning.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: The silly "Ham Radio" graphic is our creation, and does not reflect the mindset of these radio operators, who probably wouldn't stoop to such a ridiculous logo like that...]

An electronics recycling event for area residents will be held the weekend of June 18-20th at the South Center South industrial park off West Valley Hwy at 18435 Olympic Ave South in Tukwila.

Like last year, the event allows residences the opportunity to recycle the following:

• All TVs
• PCs
• Monitors
• Laptops

For FREE.

For more information, visit the website at www.ecycleevents.com or call 1-888-880-1254

Here are the details:

WHAT: Electronics Recycling Event for area residents.

WHEN: Friday June 18 through Sunday June 20th:

• Friday the 18th: 9 am – 3 pm
• Saturday the 19th: 9 am – 4 pm
• Sunday the 20th: 9 am – 3 pm

WHERE: American Electronics Recycling Corp, located at 18435 Olympic Ave South Ste B-100 in Tukwila.

INFO: From their website:

American Electronics Recycling will be holding an electronics recycling event for King and Pierce county residences.

This event will be held in the South Center South Industrial park off West Valley Hwy in Tukwila.

Residents are welcome to recycle all TVs, PCs, Laptops, and Monitors for free. A variety of other electronic items will be accepted, but a small disposal fee may be charged.

A full list of the items can be viewed on our website: www.ecycleevents.com

All of our recycling efforts meet the Washington State Department of Ecology standards.

We want to thank our local communities in advance for helping to keep Washington green.

WHY WE RECYCLE:
Every year more than 50 monitors and pcs are estimated to be discarded. A typical CRT can contain 3 lbs of lead. PCs and Macs can contain environmental toxins as well. Many laptops have a small fluorescent lamp in the screen that contains mercury, a toxic material when inhaled or digested.

*computers leaving your home or business may still contain personal, sensitive information. American Electronics Recycling will ensure that your hard drive is handled and destroyed properly

South King Fire & Rescue alerts us to the fact that a smoke alarm may have saved a Federal Way resident from a fire that broke out around 4am Saturday (May 29) at 32344 10th Ave South.

According to an email:

Smoke is often times more deadly than fire itself. This would have been the case in an early morning fire in Federal Way had it not of been for working smoke alarms. Just before 4:00 am (Sat. May 29), firefighters responded to an automatic fire alarm at 32344 10th Ave South.

Earlier in the evening, the occupant put some food on the stove and then went to bed. The food caught fire and burned down to ashes inside the pan. The smoke filled the house and set off the smoke alarms. This awakened the occupant who removed the pan and met firefighters as they arrived on scene. Firefighters placed fans inside the house to remove the smoke and then tested the air quality to make sure it was safe for the occupant to stay at his house.

Cooking fires are the number one cause of fires in not just Federal Way, but across the country. South King Fire & Rescue wants to remind people of two things this holiday weekend – please don’t leave food cooking on the stove unattended and also please make sure your smoke alarms are working by testing them and keeping batteries inside them – they can’t do their job without them!

On Monday (May 24), the King County Council unanimously adopted fall transit service upgrades, including “Rapid Ride,” a new bus rapid transit service in an area from Tukwila to Federal Way, including Des Moines.

The implementation of “Rapid Ride” is one of the 2010-2011 service improvements approved by the Council.

“Establishing the first Rapid Ride line from SeaTac to Des Moines and Federal Way will give South King County riders quick, frequent, all-day bus service connecting with light rail at the airport,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “Enhanced transit service helps to take cars off the road and lets people get where they need to go quickly and reliably.”

Rapid Ride is part of the “Transit Now” initiative adopted by voters in 2006. The “A Line” is the first of six Rapid Ride routes to be launched over the next three years. Arriving every 10 minutes during the busiest morning and evening travel hours, the specially-designed buses will have low floors and three doors, so people can get on and off quickly. A new fare payment system will allow riders with passes to pay as they enter any door.

The new route will replace Metro’s Route 174 operating along Pacific Highway S/International Boulevard between the Federal Way Transit Center and Sound Transit’s light rail station in Tukwila.

Starting Oct. 2, A Line buses will run every 10 to 15 minutes most of the day and their three-door design will allow riders to get on and off more quickly.  The new buses will be easy to recognize because of their red and yellow color scheme and sleek European design.  The new articulated coaches will also be low-emission hybrid-powered, similar to the many other environmentally-friendly buses in Metro’s fleet.

Come October, customers will discover there’s more to RapidRide than coach design and frequent service. New stations and shelters will reflect the new RapidRide brand and some stations will have ORCA fare card readers to speed boarding. Stations will also have electronic signs displaying the actual number of minutes before the next bus will arrive.

“Rapid Ride will allow riders to throw away their bus schedules for fast, frequent service on key corridors, and increased bus service on SR 520 will offer commuters alternatives to congestion and tolls,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, Chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee. “Bus riders will see these improvements to their service in the coming months thanks to voters’ approval of Transit Now and partnerships with the federal government and local communities. However, Metro’s budget shortfall continues to threaten the viability of our transit system, so we must remain focused on finding a long term solution.”

“These are exciting improvements,” said Council Vice Chair Jane Hague. “Today’s legislation provides significant increases in bus service to the eastside suburbs.  Bellevue and Kirkland commuters will now have more opportunities to avoid the 520 gridlock.”

“Rapid Ride is a solid transit investment that will serve some of the most densely populated, high ridership areas in our county, like the 15 mile stretch of roadway between Tukwila and Federal Way that will be connected by Line A this fall,” said Councilmember Julia Patterson, whose Council District includes part of the Rapid Ride corridor. “With Rapid Ride coming soon, we mark a time when we’ll be able to move more people more quickly than ever before, all while getting them out of their cars.”

Additionally, the adopted legislation implements a federal Urban Partnership Agreement on SR 520, making the region eligible for more than $100 million of grant funds to address congestion in the SR 520 corridor. As part of the partnership agreement, King County will add 28,000 hours of bus service to existing routes 255, 265, 271, and 311. The transit service improvements will add 38 peak period transit trips to help reduce congestion and improve mobility along this important corridor. Sound Transit will increase regional express bus service on SR 520.

Under the Urban Partnership Agreement-related service, in October 2010 and February 2011, there will be increased service between downtown Seattle and Kirkland’s Totem Lake Transit Center (Route 255), the Houghton Park and Ride (Route 265), and Woodinville (Route 311). There will also be more service from Eastgate and downtown Bellevue to the University District on the Route 271.

This legislation also initiates a number of bus service improvements jointly funded by King County and the cities of Kent and Auburn as well as an expansion of service in Issaquah where the county is partnering with the city, the Port Blakely Communities, Timber Ridge at Talus and the Talus Residential Association. Through Transit Now service partnerships King County has been able to leverage its investments with contributions from other public or private entities to continue expansion of the Metro system even with the current budget constraints.

Cleanup from last week’s diesel fuel spill at Dash Point State Park wrapped up Friday, and the day-use area – closed since April 30 – will re-open on Saturday, May 8th.

Fuel spilled in the early evening of April 29 from a 300-gallon tank owned by a contractor performing work for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) on a the F.B. Hoit Bridge along State Route 509 through the park.

Crews removed 250 tons of potentially impacted soil, asphalt, curbs and rip rap, and replaced them with clean materials.  To access contaminated areas, a cleanup contractor cut through and repaired small areas of a parking lot and road.

The cleanup also involved the removal of trees and other vegetation along Thames Creek, which flows through the park. New native plants will be planted along the restored stream bank next week. Erosion-control mats and fences remain in place in the meantime.

Dash Point State Park is a day-use and camping park on Puget Sound. The day-use portion of the park was closed to the public during the cleanup.  Regular park hours – 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. – will resume tomorrow, May 8.

The Washington Department of Ecology supervised the cleanup.  The WSDOT contractor hired an environmental cleanup firm.  WSDOT provided additional technical support for the cleanup.

“Everyone involved cooperated in full, and we achieved a successful and prompt cleanup,” said Shannon Dickson of Ecology’s spills program, who oversaw the response effort.

Most of the spilled diesel fuel soaked into the soil, but some entered the creek and flowed into Puget Sound, creating sheen – a thin coat of fuel floating on the water – that at one point covered a half-mile by half-mile area offshore.  That sheen dissipated by late morning on April 30.

Crews placed diesel-absorbent materials along the creek and adjacent beaches and tidal areas and removed leaves, twigs and other natural debris contaminated by the fuel.  By mid-week the creek and beaches showed no remaining signs of the spill.  There were no reports of harm to fish or wildlife.

Ecology has launched an investigation to determine what caused the incident and how to better prevent similar spills in the future.

Prevention, preparedness and response to fuel and other oil spills are parts of Ecology’s commitment to protect against toxic threats to people and the environment and to meet the state’s goal of protecting and restoring Puget Sound by 2020.

by Ralph Nichols

While a cargo container ship steams south from Seattle to Valpariso, Chile – carrying donated winter clothing for victims of February’s 8.8 magnitude earthquake – Patricio Mendoza is organizing one more fundraiser to benefit them.

Dance for Chile (Ven a Bailar por Chile) will be held this Thursday, April 22, at the Havana Sodo Salsa Club, 2942 1st Ave., Seattle, from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. There will be a $10 cover charge, with all money from the cover going to Chile relief.

Then Mendoza, the owner of EC Computer, located at 22311 Marine View Dr. in Des Moines, will fly to Chile on April 29 – his airfare donated by Public Access Channel 77 – to meet the shipment when it arrives at Valpariso.

Once there, he will buy kerosene heaters and deliver them along with the clothing, packed in 150 large boxes, to Talcahuano, a port city farther south in the “Zero Zone” where the greatest earthquake damage was done.

The container and its shipping cost were donated by Seattle-based Westward Seafoods.

Mendoza hopes local fundraising efforts – including Thursday’s dance – will bring in enough to pay for a total of 100 heaters, which cost $92 each plus tax. The dual-purpose heaters can also be used for cooking.

With monetary donations already received, he has bought 45 heaters – and paid for another 15 himself. Mendoza said he believes his personal contribution is “giving back to God.”

The heaters, which “will help them through the winter so it will not be so bad,” are being purchased in Chile to eliminate shipping costs. “We do need more financial help,” he added. “Everything, even five dollars or ten dollars, helps.”

Mendoza expressed his thanks “so much for the support this town has given to Chile. We know it’s not enough. There is so much to do. But it’s something that will make a difference.”

Except for the Waterland and B-Town Blogs, his fundraising efforts have been promoted largely word-of-mouth, with support from Latino radio stations AM 1540 and AM 1210.

After he arrives in Chile, Mendoza will get to talk with his father Humbetor for the first time since the earthquake.

Mendoza is the only individual or organization in this area to have permission from the Chilean consulate in San Francisco to ask for money and donations for earthquake relief.

by Ralph Nichols

Will a major upgrade of the water delivery system in downtown Des Moines attract new commercial development there?

“We do know if we don’t build it, they will not come,” Mayor Bob Sheckler opined during a joint meeting of the city council and Water District 54 commissioners on April 14. And “once it occurs, development can contribute to the cost” of the project.

Yet, said Mayor Pro Tem Dave Kaplan, even if no new commercial development did come about, “this [is] an investment in our city … the same as paving streets or fixing the auditorium. It’s an obligation … I think it has to be built.”

The potential impact on development was one of three key questions raised about a proposed project to make long-needed improvements in water capacity downtown – especially for fire suppression.

“Even if it would not bring another business to town, in terms of water flow and fire protection it is needed,” Kaplan said on that point. “And I do think it will bring in new business.”

The other two questions were how to pay for it, and whether the work along Marine View Drive should be done over one construction season or two. Funding for the estimated $1.8 million project would come from $486,000 in federal earmark funds, water district capital funds, and financing through the city.

At the end of the meeting, city and water district staff were asked to start drafting an interlocal agreement for the downtown water service project, which would be managed jointly by both jurisdictions.

“If we want to do all of it at once, that would mean borrowing would be involved,” observed Councilman Scott Thomassen. “If we were bold enough to borrow,” he asked, then how much money would be borrowed and where would it come from?

Thomassen suggested borrowing just enough to fund about half of the project this year, then borrowing the rest to complete the work later on, so the city could avoid putting its bare-bones budget at risk if anticipated revenue isn’t adequate to cover the annual debt service.

Adequate funding is already available to fund installation of a new 12-inch water main along Marine View Dr. from S. 219th St. to S. 223rd St., or from S. 223rd St. to S. 227th St., but not for the full eight-block stretch this year, Loren Reinhold with the city’s Planning, Building and Public Works Department told council members and the commissioners.

When fully constructed, the proposed water system would provide a north-south link to both feeder mains on Marine View Drive, and would include new 12-inch side street main segments at S. 220th, S. 222nd, S. 225th and S. 227th.

It would support the required 3,500 gallons per minute for three hours to the entire downtown area for fire suppression.

Sheckler disagreed with the idea of doing only part of the work this year. “We need to do this project one time and one time only, and not incrementally over a number of years,” he suggested.

Councilwoman Melissa Musser concurred. “I kind of like getting in and doing it all at one time and not disrupting downtown businesses anymore,” she said.

Water District 54 Commissioner John Rayback indicated that if money has to be borrowed, the city will have to do it. “We’re reluctant to go into debt and look to our customers to bail us out,” he said, noting the small district already is repaying four loans for capital projects.

That leaves borrowing about $750,000 in additional funds up to the city if the project is to be completed in one construction season and, noted City Manager Tony Piasecki, “finding the revenue to pay for debt service will be challenging.”

However, Piasecki offered several revenue options, including a capital service charge for new hookups, latecomer fees for developers and landowners not already in place, and one-time sales, business and real estate excise taxes associated with new construction.

Kaplan cautioned against committing one-time revenues to ongoing expenses.

The possibility was also raised of a downtown Utility Local Improvement District to help finance the project, which would be done through the water district.

While there isn’t enough time to get a ULID approved and in place to finance the water system upgrades this year, Thomassen said he can’t imagine the project beginning before 2011. There isn’t time to plan and design it, get bids, and then obtain funding in time to start work yet this construction season, he predicted.

Des Moines’ Aviation High School’s Skunkworks 1983 Robotics Team won the Chairman’s Award Saturday (March 27) at the 2010 Microsoft Seattle Regional competition held as part of the FIRST competition at Seattle’s Key Arena.

FIRST stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology,” and is an organization that was founded by inventor Dean Kamen in 1989. Its purpose is to develop ways to inspire students in engineering and technology fields. The organization is the foundation for the FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST LEGO League, and FIRST Tech Challenge competition.

Here’s the announcement from the group’s website:

FIRST Team 1983 – AHS Skunkworks Robotics received the Chairman’s Award at the 2010 Microsoft Seattle Regional. This is the highest award presented at a regional. The Skunks thank the many people who believed in us and helped make this and all we do happen.

Our robot, Pelè Le Pew, performed well. Team 3049, Team Knights, chose teams 1983 and 2660 to be part of their championship alliance. After four matches, our alliance was eliminated in the quarter finals.

The Microsoft Seattle Regional was held March 25 through March 27, 2010 at the Key Arena in Seattle. Sixty-four teams from three countries competed.

Here’s info on the Skunkworks 1983 program from the school’s website:

The Aviation High School robotics team is registered as Team 1983 Skunkworks with FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). To learn more about our team’s connection with FIRST and the impact it has on the team and its members, go to our About FIRST page. Team 1983 is affiliated with Aviation High School (AHS). AHS provides the facilities, coach and some of the mentors. The PTSA at AHS has been an avid sponsor of our robotics team. To learn more about Aviation High School and AHS PTSA, how they support robotics and what we do for them, go to our Aviation High page. While robotics is our theme and passion, Team 1983 recognizes that FIRST calls upon them to do more than just build robots. Skunkworks can and should have an impact on students, school, the surrounding community and even other FIRST teams.

Here’s a video on the competition from KOMO-TV:

Also, our news partners at The Seattle Times have a story on it as well – click here to read it.

UPDATE 3/27/10: The link to our new “Crime” page has been fixed – try it here – sorry for any confusion/problems!

The Des Moines Police Department has teamed up with CrimeReports.com, along with The Waterland Blog for a new online crime alerting and mapping service that provides easy-to-read incident crime maps and automated alerts to the citizens of Des Moines.

The service is located right here on The Waterland Blog’s new “Crime Page” (which also includes all Des Moines Police Blotter stories), and is also accessible at www.crimereports.com or as a link from the city’s website at www.desmoineswa.gov/police.

This new technology provides ongoing, continuous neighborhood crime information data, and will be a new and welcome resource for Neighborhood Watch Programs. Des Moines is now one of several cities in Washington State that use this service; others include Renton, Olympia, Sumner, and Lacey.

The CrimeReports service is free to the public and allows citizens to receive automatic daily, weekly or monthly email alerts if and when crimes occur near their home, office, local school, etc. Citizens can also view reported crime activity on a user-friendly map for any location within City of Des Moines boundaries. Crime incident data is updated nightly and includes:

• Incident type
• Date
• Location
• Distance from citizen’s address
• Identification/case numbers

Citizens can check daily for crime activity in their neighborhoods, as well as over a 3, 7, 14 or 30-day period; you can also check by months as well as compare months using the “Calendar” function.

“CrimeReports.com will empower citizens to work more closely with the Police Department to reduce neighborhood crime and will prove particularly valuable to those in the community who want to stay informed about what is going on their neighborhoods.” said Chief Roger A. Baker.

The CrimeReports is an ideal implementation of the Global JusticeXML Data Model (GJXDM), the authorized data-sharing protocol developed and supported by the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ). Using GJXDM as the underlying technology gives the application much more versatility and flexibility to benefit local law enforcement and communities. This technology allows the community to become an enhanced resource for crime reduction.

CrimeReports.com provides the Des Moines Police Department with an affordable and easy-to-use web-based service that allows sharing of up-to-date neighborhood crime data with the public. The use of this technology will help citizens be aware of any reported criminal activity in their neighborhoods so they can report any related suspicious activity that they may have observed to the Police Department and make informed decisions to help improve their safety.

For further information contact Master Sergeant Bob Collins at 206-870-7638 or please visit www.desmoineswa.gov/police.

Another interesting aspect of this calendar’s functionality is the ability to “show sex offenders” which culls from a state database (not the Des Moines P.D.’s) to display – here’s a screenshot showing one of the area’s most notorious offenders:

So check it out here and let us know your thoughts by Commenting below…

WLB Advertiser State Farm Insurance’s Vickie Bergquist has offered up some safety tips for traveling with kids in your car – this is worth knowing:

Vehicle safety of our children is of the utmost importance. Below are some guidelines for keeping your young child safe in a vehicle.

Infants up to 20 lbs and at least one year of age: Use rear-facing car seat correctly in a back seat every time your baby rides in a car. Use the vehicle’s safety belt or latch system to lock the car seat into the car – never use both. Use your baby’s car seat rear-facing and reclined no more than 45 degrees. Read the car seat instructions. Keep your baby rear-facing until at least age 1 and 20 pounds.

Children 1-4 years and 20-40 pounds: Use forward-facing car seat correctly in a back seat every time your toddler rides in a car. A child is too big for the seat when the shoulders are above the top slots, the top of the earns are above the back of the seat or the weight limit is exceeded.

Children 40-100 pounds: Use a booster seat correctly in a back seat every time your child rides in a car. Older kids get weighed and measured less often than babies, so check your child’s growth a few times a year. Use a booster seat until your child weighs between 80-100 pounds, is about 4 ft 9 inches tall and can pass the Safety Belt Fit Test. A booster seat uses no harness. It uses the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belts only. Never place the shoulder belt under the child’s arm or behind the child’s back.

Children under 13 years old must ride in the back seat – it’s the law.

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by thousands of interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

On Thursday (Mar. 4), Highline Community College’s Center of Excellence for International Trade, Transportation and Logistics (ITTL) announced that it had received $250,000 to provide additional job training opportunities for positions in the international trade sector.

“As our economy continues to change and adjust so too must our workforce,” said U.S. Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA). “This funding will help do just that by training Washington state workers for a career in a growing sector of our local economy – international trade.”

The project — part of the final version of the 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act signed by President Obama on Dec. 16, 2009 — will lead to a 20 percent increase in the number of trained ITTL workers in Washington state.

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Smith secured funding for the project that will also improve the image of international trade throughout Washington state and create awareness of career and training opportunities that lead to family wage jobs.

“In these tough economic times, it is more important than ever to ensure that our workers have the skills they need to compete in the 21st century economy,” Murray said.

Positions in the ITTL sector include managers, logisticians, cargo and freight agents, shipping and receiving clerks, locomotive engineers, drivers and warehouse workers. Washington state will need nearly 77,000 new employees in ITTL by 2018, according to estimates based on data from the state’s Employment Security Department.

For more information about the Center of Excellence for International Trade, Transportation and Logistics, visit www.ittlwa.com.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes. Alumni include:

• Former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice
• Entrepreneur Junki Yoshida
• Washington state poet laureate Sam Green
• And yes, even WLB Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer

Highline Community College’s Marine Science and Technology Center will be hosting former weatherman Andy Wappler this Saturday, Feb. 27th from Noon – 12:45pm at their Redondo Beach dock location.

Wappler now works for Puget Sound Energy, and he’ll be talking about how our region is meeting its energy challenges, examining how our energy choices affect the environment — including local waters.

Andy will talk about the newest developments in wind power and solar energy, as well as energy efficiency. He will also go over simple steps we can all take to use less energy, and protect local waters.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Puget Sound Energy’s Andy Wappler will speak about energy

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 27th from Noon – 12:45pm

WHERE: Highline Community College’s Marine Science & Technology 
(MaST) Center, which is located on Redondo Beach in Des Moines at 28203 Redondo Beach Drive S., Des Moines, WA 98198.

COST: Free

INFO: From a press release:

Please join….Andy Wappler Corporate Communications Manager, Puget Sound Energy

Puget Sound Energy’s Andy Wappler will look at how our region is meeting its energy challenges, examining how our energy choices affect the environment — including local waters.

Andy will talk about the newest developments in wind power and solar energy, as well as energy efficiency.

He will also go over simple steps we can all take to use less energy, and protect local waters.

Saturday February 27, 2010 from 
12:00 – 12:45
pm

Highline Community College
 MaST Center, located near the Redondo Beach Park.

For directions and more information on the MaST Center please visit http://mast.highline.edu/

Highline Community College Business instructor Jeff Ward has earned a statewide honor for his leadership and achievements in “eLearning,” also known as electronic learning.

No, it’s not for teaching people about electronics, it’s for helping teach classes online.

Ward, of Lake Forest Park, provides one-on-one support to faculty and encourages them to explore and expand their use of technology in the classroom as Highline’s Faculty in Residence for Technology and Distance Learning.

“With online learning we have erased geographical boundaries. I can have students in class from all over the world, and their different experiences and backgrounds enrich discussions and give topics a more global perspective,” Ward said. “Alternative delivery of classes such as online and hybrid courses are better able to meet the diverse needs of our students – working parents, returning students, full-time workers, etc.”

The Leadership & Innovation in eLearning Award from the eLearning Council of Washington’s community and technical college system recognizes up to two individuals annually for achievements in electronic learning.   The honor comes with a $200 cash award and a grant for all-expenses paid trip to participate in the spring Pacific Northwest Higher Education Assessment, Teaching & Learning conference from April 28-30 in Vancouver, WA.

For more information on the Washington State eLearning Council, visit www.sbctc.edu/college/e_elearning.aspx.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes. Alumni include former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida, Washington state poet laureate Sam Green and Scott Schaefer, Publisher/Editor of this here blog and three-time National Emmy winning Writer for “Bill Nye the Science Guy.”

The Des Moines Yacht Club will be holding its Marine Swap Meet on Saturday, March 27th from 9am to 3pm, and there are still openings for folks who want to sell boating accessories.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Des Moines Yacht Club Marine Swap Meet

WHEN: Saturday, March 27th from 9am to 3pm

WHERE: Des Moines Yacht Club, located at 22737 Marine View Drive South • Des Moines, WA 98198 • (206) 878-7220

INFO: From a flier:

“Rent Indoor or Outdoor Space and offer your spare parts and boating accessories for sale. Have fun turning your useful but no longer needed boating stuff into cash.

Indoor space availability is limited – reserve your space early!

$35.00 for an indoor space and $15 for an outdoor spot.

Registration Deadline is Saturday, March 20, 2010. No refunds after March 20.

For more information on how to register, click here.

We will need lots of help from members. Please volunteer to help us!”

The Museum of Flight is holding an Engineering Fair this weekend, and the one event that stood out to us was the 15th Annual Popsicle Bridge Contest, which is scheduled to take place Saturday, Feb. 13th from 8am to 5pm.

High School engineering students will be busy creating sturdy (and perhaps not-so-sturdy) bridges made entirely of Popsicle sticks and white glue, which to us sounds like a lot of fun (especially if they have to eat a lot of Popsicles beforehand to prepare).

Here are the details:

WHAT: Engineering Fair & the 15th Annual Popsicle Bridge Contest

WHEN: Saturday, Feb 13th from 8:00am-5:00pm

WHERE: William M. Allen Theater at the Museum of Flight, located at 9404 East Marginal Way South in Seattle; Phone: 206.764.5720

INFO: From the Museum of Flight’s website:

The Younger Member Forum of the American Society of Civil Engineers will put on a competition of bridges built using only Popsicle sticks and white glue. Each year teams of high school students from local schools build bridges that are strong, efficient, as well as aesthetically pleasing. The bridges will be judged and then tested to failure with a hydraulic press. Be sure to be in the room as each bridge snaps and broken Popsicle sticks fly everywhere. At 12:00 noon the winners will be announced and prizes will be awarded.

In the Museum’s Side Gallery, the Puget Sound Engineering Council will celebrate the annual National Engineers Week with an Engineering Fair. Local chapters of national societies representing the entire span of engineering disciplines will staff booths all day where those interested in engineering careers can learn more about the exciting opportunities available. Several university engineering departments and student clubs will also be represented.

Here’s a video about the Popsicle bridge competition:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NhBJJcXOPQ[/youtube]

The first in a series of public workshops for Sea-Tac Airport’s “Part 150 Noise Study” is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 24th at Mount Rainier High School (22450 19th Ave. South in Des Moines) beginning at 5:15pm.

So if you have something to say about airport noise, this would be the place to air your thoughts and hope that the Port of Seattle hears you.

Doors open at 5pm, with the program beginning at 5:15pm.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Public workshop for Sea-Tac Airport’s “Part 150 Noise Study” program

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 24th beginning at 5:15pm

WHERE: Mt. Rainier High School, located at 22450 19th Ave South in Des Moines

INFO: From a press release:

The Part 150 Study will look at ways to reduce aircraft noise impacts on communities.  Throughout the study, the public is invited to participate in the solution and recommendation process through active engagement in a series of topical workshops.

The February 24th workshop will include a brief presentation followed by facilitator-led, small-group working sessions designed to gather the public’s input on refining the scope for the Part 150 Study.  So, please review the meeting agenda and come prepared with ideas.

Visit the dedicated Part 150 Study Website – the single location for all documentation connected to the study.

Students from Des Moines’ Aviation High School (AHS) gave Port of Seattle Commissioners first-hand descriptions of their experiences and a robotics demonstration during the Commission’s first community outreach meeting of 2010, held last Tuesday, Feb. 2nd.

The Port of Seattle supports AHS through its tax levy along with an airport environmental curriculum challenge, a job shadow program and high school internships.

“The students at Aviation High School will one day help Washington maintain a competitive edge in aviation, aerospace and high tech industries,” said Bill Bryant, Port of Seattle Commission President. “They are an impressive group! The future is in terrific hands.”

Aviation High School, located in Des Moines, is the only public, college-prep aviation themed school in the Northwest. Founded in 2004, the high school is part of the Highline School District but is open to students throughout the region. Currently 65% are students from the Highline School District with the rest coming from other districts, as far away as Olympia, Bremerton and Everett. With a current student body of 411, AHS has been very successful in providing a rigorous, high quality education to its student body.

The Port of Seattle has pledged $15 million in tax levy funds for Aviation High School, including $9 million in 2010 to help with constructing a new facility to be built at The Museum of Flight at Boeing Field. After 2010, the school will receive $650,000 per year through 2013 from the Port.

The high school prides itself in having the third highest score in the state in math and science as well as a highly diverse population of which 21% qualify for the free or reduced cost lunch program.

The Port of Seattle Commission meets quarterly at community locations.

Aviation High School’s slogan is “Where the sky is not the limit,” and is administered by Highline Public Schools. It is open to students across the Puget Sound region, and serves as a model science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) school. The curriculum is college preparatory, and all subjects are taught in the context of aviation and aerospace.

As we reported on March 26th, Aviation High recently received a $4 million grant from James Raisbeck. It will be re-named Raisbeck Aviation High School, and will move to the Museum of Flight in Seattle; construction is expected to begin in March.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Des Moines’ Aviation High School Makes U.S. News “Best High Schools List”
• Aviation High School Kicks Off Fundraising Campaign
• Four Aviation High Students Graduate From Washington Aerospace Scholars Program
• Aviation High School Students Hitch Ride On Delivery Flight Of Brand New 737
• Aviation High School Gets $4 Million Dollar Grant, New Name & New Address

Everyone’s had a “bad date” at least once in their lives, and here’s a new twist on that concept – there were apparently some collation problems with the 2010 Des Moines Legacy Foundation calendars, so if you somehow got a “bad calendar” with misplaced months, you can exchange it for a new, correct one.

According to our inside source:

“If you received one of these calendars, you may bring it to the Des Moines Senior Activity Center and exchange it for one in the correct order.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.”

The Des Moines Senior Activity Center is located at 2045 S 216th St., just east of the post office, and hours are Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm.

We know there are no excuses for posting this video so late, as the event took place last Sunday (Jan. 10th), but, um…we left our Flip camera in our other pants, and since we weren’t wearing any to begin with…

Actually, we hate to just throw up lame raw video, and editing takes time, and um…there’s that whole “other pants” thing again.

But first, a little interesting behind-the-scenes backstory:

Two days before the pantsless prank, we received the following email from Emerald City Improv‘s Kelsey Wildstone:

First, please remember that we’re trying to be inconspicuous here.

If you’d like to film the event with a motion camera, try to find a way to disguise your camera in a box or something to make it a sort of “hidden camera”.

Use some creativity here, but the point is that we’d like to avoid people seeing you openly point a camera around.

Considering that we respect the fine art of successful pranking, and that our Publisher used to work on a hidden camera TV show (“Totally Hidden Video,” Fox), we wanted to abide by this request (unlike some local TV news stations who just showed up and shot with their huge cameras and “Reporters”). The end result was that our shooter Mark Neuman went out of his way to “disguise” our Flip camera thusly:

Okay, so here it is (finally!)…with video shot by Neuman, featuring Bart Bryan, edited by Scott Schaefer and featuring the groovy public domain hit “Midnight Special” recorded by some long-dead dude named Bill Cox in 1933, ironically during the last Great Depression when not wearing pants wasn’t a prank, it was a way of life:

Also, we were very curious to find out what the MuckyMucks at SoundTransit thought of this pantsless prank, so we sent an email to Andrew Schmid, Sound Transit Media Relations director –here’s his response:

Q: Was ST aware beforehand that this was going to happen?
A: No, we were totally caught with our… (unless you lack internet access, it was almost impossible to not know about this event).

Q: Did ST security goes pantsless?
A: No.

Q: Was security worried about this prank at all?
A: Slightly – our security is worried about everything.

Q: Did this event increase ridership? if so, by how much? (have any estimate on the # of pantsless?)
A: Yes, but the infrared technology on Link’s Automatic Passenger Counting machines is not designed to distinguish between the pant-sed and the pants challenged.

Q: Will ST tolerate future events like this?
A: So long as folks follow our code of conduct (read it here).

Q: Will ST ever sponsor future events like this?
A: No.

Q: How about creating some ST underwear for folks to wear?
A: Sorta already been done – see this.

Q: Did you, or any other ST officials, attend?
A: NO COMMENT

And in case you haven’t seen the other videos, here they are: