City blames storm for missed recycle pick ups

The city is blaming last week's historic snow and ice storm for a delay in picking up recycling, but that excuse isn't sitting well with some residents.

Recycling is picked up every two weeks, so missing just one pick-up day can create a serious backlog of bottles and other recyclables. That's exactly what happened when last week's extreme weather forced city crews to abandon their scheduled pick ups.

By the next pickup day, some customers will have have four weeks worth of bottles built up.

Seattle resident Chris Bloomquist doesn't understand why it's taking so long for the city to get caught up.

"We all have obligations and none of us could work last week, and we're all catching up this week, and I thought the city would do the same thing," Bloomquist said.

The city has added crews to make up for last week's missed dates, but officials say while customers like Bloomquist are dealing with a parking strip full of material, they're dealing with a city full of material.

A city spokesman said customers can double up on garbage and recycling for next week's pick up, but Bloomquist said that's not soon enough.

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Video: Watch Green Lake resident cook squirrel

We reported on Green Lake resident Melany Vorass and her urban foraging back in December. More than homemade goat cheese or fresh vegetables, what really got people's attention was Vorass' habit of catching, killing and eating the squirrels unlucky enough to find themselves in her backyard.

Well, thanks to the above video by the Associated Press, who paid Vorass a recent visit, we can all now enjoy her recipe for fresh-caught, home-cooked squirrel.

Anyone getting a tingle of culinary inspiration?

Scavenge free plants, materials from Roosevelt light rail site Saturday

Scavenge free plants, materials from Roosevelt light rail site Saturday

In preparation for construction on the Roosevelt light rail station, Sound Transit is letting Green Lake residents salvage plants and landscaping materials from the site of four displaced townhomes this Saturday.

Among the items up for grabs are yew, bamboo, juniper, pavers, retaining-wall systems and decorative concrete edging.

The items are all free on a first-come, first-served basis from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 28 at 1033A N.E. 66th St.

Sound Transit recommends bringing shovels, pots and gloves, and has only one request: Please, no early birds.

Beard & Stache Fest 2012: Gentlemen, start your growing

Beard & Stache Fest 2012: Gentlemen, start your growing

Sure, you can grow a big, smelly beard or mustache anytime of the year. But for the next few months, you’ll be able to tell any complaining significant-others/employers/busybodies that you’re doing it for the kids.

The fourth annual Beard & Stache Festival returns in February. But first, organizers of the fundraiser need willing hirsute gentlemen to come down to the High Dive in Fremont Sunday to get their photo taken.

Those photos will adorn up to 125 cans placed around the city to collect donations for Treehouse, which supports King County foster children. Whoever’s facial hair earns them the most donations will earn prizes and the grudging respect of lesser beards and mustaches.

Photos will be taken from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 29 at the High Dive, located at 513 N. 36th St. If you can’t make it – or need a few more days of facial-hair-growing time – there will be a second photo shoot from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 9 at Bluebird Ice Cream, located at 1205 E. Pike St. (but only if the 125 spaces aren’t filled up at the first shoot).

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Proposed bill from Sen. Frockt would protect residents selling their home

Proposed bill from Sen. Frockt would protect residents selling their home

If you’re under water in your mortgage and thinking about selling your home for a loss, a new bill from 46th District Sen. David Frockt aims to give you some extra protection.

The bill would require banks to choose between two options, either selling off the debt they didn’t recover from the home sale or taking it as a tax write-off, rather than the common practice of doing both.

“What we do in this bill is essentially provide the same type of protection to homeowners who are not yet in foreclosure but are at risk for foreclosure,” Frockt said. “I think in doing so, what we’re going to do is clear out and make some of these sales go quicker, and that’s better for the overall health of the real-estate market.”

Some may say the bill is essentially forcing banks and lenders to take a loss, but Frockt disagrees.

“If a homeowner in distress is in a short-sell situation anyway, the  bank is taking a loss anyway because realistically they are not going to collect the full amount of the debt,” he said.

Citizens help SPD collect 4,488 pairs of socks for local charities

Citizens help SPD collect 4,488 pairs of socks for local charities

Local charities will be able to help keep lots of feet warm, thanks citizens who donated socks to the Seattle Police Department collection.

The North Community Police Team and the North Precinct Advisory council collected 4,488 pairs of socks, according to the department.

“I want to personally thank all the citizens in the precinct who gathered 4488 pairs of socks,” says Sergeant Dianne Newsom. “(We collected) 154 pairs of gloves, 285 hats, 19 scarves, 3 afgans, 2 knitted baby shoes.”

The socks, along with gloves, scarves, hats and blankets will be delivered to charities including ROOTS in the University district and Harborview’s Pioneer Square Foot Clinic.

The department sends a special thank you to Target, Northgate Community Center, Lake City Lions, University Masonic Temple, Members of the North Precinct Advisory Council and others.

Metro considering two possible RapidRide routes through Green Lake

Metro considering two possible RapidRide routes through Green Lake

When King County Metro’s RapidRide E Line opens in 2013, it will get riders from Shoreline to downtown Seattle quicker and more safely. But before that happens, Metro needs input from Green Lake residents on two potential routes for the new E Line through the west side of the neighborhood.

For the first route option, E Line buses traveling south on Aurora Avenue North would leave Aurora at Winona Avenue North and travel along Linden Avenue North before getting back on Aurora at North 61st Street. This option includes a proposed station at Linden Avenue North and North 68th Street.

In the second option, E Line buses would stay on Aurora, and there is a proposed station at Aurora and 68th Street. If this option is chosen, E Line buses would not leave Aurora anywhere between Shoreline and downtown Seattle.