With the Ballard Bridge painting project near completion, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) says the contractor plans to work on the west side of the bridge today. One southbound lane and the west sidewalk will close from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The contractor will resume work in the northbound lane starting at 8 p.m., and sidewalk closures on the east side will resume. The work will go through May and into early June.

From SDOT:

Bicyclists will be detoured during sidewalk closures. Bicyclists may use the Fremont Bridge or may cross the ship canal at the Ballard Locks.  (The sidewalks are too narrow to accommodate bicycle traffic in two directions on the same sidewalk.)

Last year, SDOT painted the Ballard Bridge approaches (the raised roadways at each end of the bridge). This year SDOT is painting the bascule part of the bridge, which is the portion of the bridge that opens and closes for marine traffic. SDOT’s annual bridge painting program provides for the periodic painting of each of the city’s 20 structural steel bridges. The painting helps protect the steel surfaces on the bridges from corrosion and other weather deterioration.

Have you seen the forecast for this weekend?  The sun will be shining, and temperatures will be in the upper 70s — even flirting with 80 degrees on Sunday.  That’s a perfect excuse to head to Mounger Pool, which is opening for the summer season on Saturday.

Mounger is one of only two outdoor pools in Seattle, and it combines a regular pool with a warm wading pool.  This season on Friday nights (beginning next week), it will hold Friday Family Fun nights (5:30 – 7:30 p.m.) with themed events such as Rock and Roll Party, Outrageous Animal Safari, Art on Deck, and Pirate Pool Party.

Mounger Pool is located at 2535 32nd Ave. W, and it will be open daily until September 9, 2012.

SDOT wants you to know that the following roadwork will be happening for the rest of the week.  If you are leaving the hill, please plan accordingly:

Fairview Avenue N and  Valley Street will have nighttime lane restrictions until May 11. One northbound turn lane from the  Mercer Street off-ramps onto Fairview Avenue N will be closed during this time.  Traffic turning left from Fairview Avenue N onto Valley Street will be  restricted to one lane as crews complete potholing and underground utility work.  One westbound lane will remain open on Valley Street. Night work will occur from  8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The Seattle Pacific University Theatre department presents the childrens’ production “The Billy Goats Gruff.” This familiar tale of three billy goats prevented from crossing a bridge by a mean troll deals with bullying, forgiveness, and reconciliation. The show is at the Backstage Theatre inside McKinley Hall, May 22-26 at 7:30 p.m and Saturday, May 26, at 2 p.m.  Tickets are $10. Call 206-281-2959 or visit SPU Box Office.

Park for free in Crawford, Ross, and Dravus parking lots. The theater is wheelchair accessible.

Are you frustrated with people parking on your street that that don’t live there?  One Magnolia street appears to have put it’s collective foot down.  An MV reader sent this email:

I live on a street right near the village in Magnolia and drive 6 blocks to the bus stop and park there to take the bus to work. It seems my neighbors are forbidding me to park on their public street. Well when I bought my house I knew that it was right by the Village and people would park in front of my house. Seems like they don’t have the same thought process. Check out this letter that was put on my windshield today:

Hit and run (Saturday) on 28th (Barrett & Dravus), right before 7am.  A Hummer was rear-ended.  No one was hurt.  Driver/passenger of the white El Camino fled the scene heading south on 28th.  Teenagers/early 20s.  One wearing a gray hoodie.

By reporter Steven Smalley

A Magnolia Voice news-tipper says there are RV’s and other vehicles parked in Magnolia with people living in them. Police issue tickets, but the vehicles return. Play the video story here.

by Meghan Walker

As part of the city’s Bicycle Master Plan update, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is asking bikers for feedback. They’ve developed two tools to gather information: an online survey and an interactive map.

The survey asks users to highlight important bicycle issues and should take ten minutes. The map allows users to detail exactly where bikers travel, then prompts for feedback on which roads and intersections need improvements and which facilities work well.

SDOT says this is a great opportunity to find out how people currently use existing bicycle facilities and what residents would like to see for the future, as well as help us prioritize the issues most important to the community. The survey has been translated into six different languages – Korean, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Chinese and Vietnamese – which are available at the same link, according to SDOT.

From SDOT:

“It is perfect timing to launch the Bicycle Master Plan update, as May is National Bike Month and there is a lot of energy surrounding bicycling and its consideration to make it an even more viable mode of transportation,” said Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, Chair of the Transportation Committee. “I encourage everyone living and working in Seattle to participate in the update by filling out the online survey and providing input using the mapping tool.”

The Seattle School District has been calling parents to let them know that school buses are running 90 minutes late in bringing students home, due to the May Day protests in downtown Seattle.

Additionally, Metro has sent out the following:

Tuesday’s May Day activities in and around downtown Seattle are changing rapidly and expected to cause traffic and transit service disruptions and delays until after the evening rush hour. During this event, it is expected that all traffic – including transit service – could be affected by minor to possibly significant delays and disruptions on local surface streets, as well as in the downtown Transit Tunnel, nearby freeways, and areas outside of the downtown core. There are no pre-planned bus reroutes during this event, however bus riders are  encouraged to be aware of conditions and use caution in their immediate area; watch media reports; board or exit buses south of S Jackson St or north of Pike and Pine streets, use transit service in the downtown Transit Tunnel or change travel plans to avoid the affected area. It is not possible to predict specific schedule, route or bus stop impacts, and conditions are changing rapidly.

During this afternoon’s peak travel time, Metro will provide updates via its ‘Eye on Your Metro Commute’ blog and kcmetrobus on Twitter. Transit Alerts may be sent, depending on the nature of a significant impact, but may not be used for frequent updates.

Additionally, due to many factors, schedule or service disruptions in one area can cause delays in other areas. Metro’s primary concern is to operate safely at all times. As long as it is safe to do, Metro makes every effort to operate service according to regular routes and schedules. Routes and schedules may change based on situations beyond Metro’s control.

Your patience is appreciated during events that disrupt service. Visit Metro’s online Trip Planner to find out how to get to and from events and locations. The Trip Planner uses scheduled  service information and does not reflect service revisions due to events, construction, traffic or weather.

(Editor’s comment) This is not a Magnolia event, but worthy of a mention, and worth the drive.

As part of its commitment to making our schools and community safer, Seattle Public Schools is partnering with the Nick of Time Foundation to host free youth heart screenings on Wednesday, May 2, at Roosevelt High School. All students between the ages of 14-24 years are eligible for a screening, regardless of enrollment status. According to the American Heart Association, one in every 350 young people has an undetected heart condition. The best way to detect these conditions is through a heart screening using an ECG (electrical test) and Echocardiograms (ultrasound) of the heart. The test is painless and takes about 25 minutes. Athletes especially are encouraged to sign up for a cardiac screening.

More information, including forms and instructions, is available online at www.nickoftimefoundation.org. To pre-register your child for a screening, email appt@nickoftimefoundation.org.

Nick of Time Foundation- FREE Youth Heart Screening

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

1410 NE 66th St.
Seattle, WA 98115

For appointments, please contact: Ms. Johnson at the Roosevelt High School counselor’s office. Phone: (206) 252-4827. Email: lljohnson1@seattleschools.org

From our partners at Phinneywood

Thanks to the 2008 Parks levy, $15 million was allocated for communities to develop new parks. $7 million has already been allocated, but another $8 million is available in the 2012-13 cycle.

Project proposal letters are due by 4 p.m. on Monday, June 11, and full project applications are due by 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 17.

Parks Department officials will help applicants at a workshop from 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Greenwood Library, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N. Check out the Parks Department’s online application system, which includes templates for proposal letters and applications, a detailed timeline, criteria, and analysis maps.

It looks like it will be awhile before Magnolians can make their own fro-yo creations right here in the neighborhood.  I spoke with a crew member at the work site today and he said it would be a couple of months until Menchie’s Magnolia shop will officially open it’s doors on McGraw.  The  frozen yogurt chain is known for having  a “rotating selection of eclectic frozen yogurt flavors and every topping under the sun.”  You can sample the flavors, then fill your own bowl, top it and pay for it (the price is based on weight of the finished product).

In a phone conversation today, the Menchie’s Corporate office confirmed they don’t have an exact opening date for the store- but said it should be around two months.

By Reporter Steve Smalley

Door to door

The magazine crews are back in the neighborhood this afternoon. Homeowners are asked to order publications which the sellers say will, “get people jobs in the Central area,” according to a Magnolia resident who spoke with the men. As of 1PM Saturday, there were two salesmen knocking on doors, delivering their pitch to residents.