Cadence Chamber Orchestra (CCO), Seattle’s newest community orchestra, is offering free concerts throughout Seattle and on Thursday, March 11 they will perform at the Q Cafe in Interbay and on Friday, March 12 the performance will be at the Magnolia United Church of Christ.  Both shows start at 8p.m.

The concert program features two world premieres by Seattle-based composer Jon Brenner. It also includes Haydn’s well-known Symphony No. 88 and Mendelssohns Hebrides Overture. 

CCO was founded last year with the goal of widening the usual orchestral audience with a new alternative orchestra. They provide free concerts throughout Seattle. Each program is performed at two venues - one in an unconventional location, and the other in a more typical performance space. A world premiere piece is programmed at every concert set, among more well known orchestral favorites. CCO wants to attract people who would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience live orchestral music. CCO is made of entirely up of volunteer musicians.

Both 36th District Representatives Mary Lou Dickerson (D-Seattle) and Reuven Carlyle (D-Seattle) have seen success for bills that they’re sponsoring during this legislative session.

Rep. Dickerson has been working to ban the toxic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) from baby bottles, sippy cups and other food and beverage containers used by children under the age of three and on Wednesday, that ban moved one step closer. The House voted 96-1 on Wednesday to approve SB 6248 with an amendment that adds the ban of BPA on sports water bottles, which pregnant women use. “This is a huge victory for children’s health and for parents. Dangerous chemicals like BPA have no place in baby bottles, sippy cups or any product children put in their mouths,” said State Rep. Dickerson, the prime sponsor of the house version of the legislation. “Parents can soon go to the store with confidence and buy a bottle for their baby that won’t contain BPA.”

Rep. Carlyle has been advocating for tougher laws for drivers using cell phones. On Wednesday, the House passed a bill which would make it a primary offense to text and drive. It also prohibits teenagers from using a cell phone when behind the wheel. “I’m disappointed we had to accept a Republican amendment to take out the provision making speaking without a headset a primary offense. We just did not have the votes to push it through without any of their votes. Still, I’m pleased that we moved forward,” Rep. Carlyle wrote on his blog.

Both bills must pass the Senate with the same wording the House passed before moving to Governor Gregoire’s desk.

The Fishermen’s Terminal branch of the Bank of America has closed.  As we told you back in November, customers received a letter telling them that the branch would close at the end of February.

The signs are off the bank and there are boards covering old signage.  No word about what will happen to the building now that the bank is gone.  

The Magnolia Village Bank of America branch is still open on McGraw Street.

The city of Seattle and the Magnolia Neighborhood Planning Council presented arguments in front of the state Court of Appeals over the plan to redevelop the Fort Lawton base into a mixed-income subdivision.   At issue is whether the city’s plan should be subjected to a review under the state Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).

With Fort Lawton closing the Army named the city responsible for redeveloping the 29-acre site. Last year Seattle agreed to a plan to allow over 100 market-rate units, 85 units for the homeless and six Habitat for Humanity units.

After much concern was expressed by people living in Magnolia, the  neighborhood council sued, saying the city can’t bypass SEPA. Last March, King County Superior Court Judge Catherine Shaffer agreed.

The city appealed. Roger Wynne, assistant city attorney, argued that SEPA isn’t required because the plan will be approved at the federal level — and that means it will undergo an analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Gwendolyn Payton, attorney for the neighborhood council,told our news partners at The Seattle Times that the city should have done the SEPA review after Shaffer’s ruling, instead of fighting it in court.

"They decided to take what I believe is our taxpayer money and do this expensive appeal," she said. "By now, they could have done SEPA twice over."

A decision is likely by the end of the year.

The Blaine PTA will sponsor the school’s major fundraiser on April 9th and they are looking for donations and people to attend.  The theme of this year’s auction is Escape to Magnolia.

The auction will be held in the Magnolia Community Center and it is open to anyone who wants to attend.  The doors open at 5p.m. and the evening includes lots of bidding, dancing and dining. Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased in the school’s front office.

Money raised from the auction supports a wide variety of PTA supported programs at Blaine, including books and supplies.  The PTA also funds extra hours for the front office staff, after school activities, playground equipment and much more.

The PTA is also looking for auction donations from the community. 
If you can help, contact Auction Chair Devon Kelly  at  gdkelly4@msn.com or 206.419.7999.

Lina Kim gave kids something to smile about last Friday: Her new dental practice in Magnolia offered children from low-income families free dental care.

The one-day event was Kim’s first time participating in the Give Kids a Smile program, which the American Dental Association (ADA) organizes annually to raise awareness about the importance of dental health in children. Patient visits to Kim’s practice were arranged beforehand by the Seattle-King County Dental Society (SKCDS) and the Washington Oral Health Foundation (WOHF).

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It was a pleasant day for a stroll in Discovery Park today, here’s what you may have missed while watching the gold medal hockey game…

Magnolia celebrated the re-opening of Fire Station 41 this weekend, giving lots of little firefighters a chance to check out the equipment.

Station 41, located on 34th Ave West, houses four firefighters who respond to over 900 emergency calls each year.  The station got a big facelift that increased the building size from 3,967 square feet to 6,067 square feet.

It now has more room for equipment and space to operate, improving station operations. The building was strengthened to meet the seismic code and all new mechanical and electrical systems were installed.  The remodel was paid for by the 2003 $167 million Fire Levy.

Station 41 was built in 1936 and is designated as a landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Board. The remodel maintained the look of the building while adding upgrades that include a large apparatus door.  The old bi-fold doors were re-used in the building. 

Mayor McGinn was on hand for the ceremony that included fire department bagpipers.

Our news partners at The Seattle Times report that the man who brought international attention to Discovery Park is back in Seattle.

Jon Doe wandered out of Discovery Park last August with $600 in his sock and no idea who he was or how he got there.  He is now receiving psychotherapy at Sound Mental Health and participating in a day program at the Emerald House.  Although he has been identified as 53-year-old Edward Lighthart, he still prefers to go by the name Jon Doe.

While he’s hoping to stay in Seattle for good, he said, he still has panic attacks and impulses to flee. Recently, police found him back in Discovery Park, under a tree, with no idea how he got there.

“For awhile after (being found) when people asked me who I was, I just showed them The Seattle Times article,” said Lighthart, sitting in a downtown office building, his black pants, shirt and jacket contrasting with his white beard and mustache.  His memory of the past six months is hazy, but seems to include Portland, Minneapolis, Cleveland and Las Vegas, N.M.

Lightlart told The Times “I’m not aware of this getting better, I don’t want this to be a permanent thing, but I’m beginning to feel it might be.”

Another shop is vacating the Magnolia business district but this time the departure is due to the need for more space.  After opening last October, Fabric Crush has decided to move to Wallingford.

Here is the note posted on the company website.

While we have loved our little boutique in Magnolia it has become clear that we need to move to a larger space. So, after much thought and consideration Fabric Crush will be moving in March to the Wallingford Center.  This move will allow us to have more classes and much more room for inventory in a more easily accessible neighborhood location. The close proximity to I-5 will make it nice for our out of town customers and the big free parking lot will make it convenient too. Add in the other great merchants at Wallingford Center (yarn and cupcakes, hooray!!) and you could spend a fine afternoon in Wallingford.  We hope our local Magnolia customers will follow us to Wallingford as we continue on this fabric filled journey.

Fabric Crush will be open in Magnolia at 2312 Viewmont Way West through next Saturday (3/6) and then close for a few days to make the move.