King 5 news is currently featuring Hallie Kuperman, owner of the Century Ballroom, as one of its Home Team Heroes.

“SEATTLE – She is considered by many to be The Face of social dancing in Seattle. Hallie Kuperman says she got sucked into what she describes as the abyss of swing more than 20 years ago. It’s an addictive type of feeling, she says, that tells you there is nothing else in this world you want to do but dance….”

See the story and video here.

*Home Team Heroes are chosen via public nomination on the King 5 website.

Editor’s note:
Check out Seadevi’s comment. 10-year lease? Wow!

Add one more event to keep on the radar for street access this weekend.

The annual Swedish SummeRun is back on the Hill on Sunday. Starting at 8am, participants in the 5K Walk, 5K Run & 10K Run will head out northbound from Minor & Madison on Swedish’s First Hill Campus.

A notice sent out to neighbors along the route indicates that the course streets will be difficult to use or cross between 7:55am and 9:45am on Sunday. Some streets will also have restricted parking (no parking from 6am to 10:30am).

All proceeds of the Swedish SummeRun will benefit the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research.

Here’s more info about the event:
http://www.summerun.org/

And here’s a larger view of the map for the 5K & 10K course so you can come out and cheer them on or at least know which roads will be unavailable while the runners and walkers pass through:
http://www.summerun.org/node/44

According to signs posted around Volunteer Park, the western loop road will be closing to motor vehicles beginning Friday, June 12th. It will be available for use by pedestrians and cyclists only. Apparently, this will be a full-time deal as part of the Healthy Parks, Healthy You program.

It looks like vehicle-blocking posts will be installed to prohibit traffic at the 12th & Prospect entrance, the loop entrance (just west of the conservatory) and the loop exit (just west of the water tower).

I searched high and low on the Seattle Parks and City of Seattle websites but was unable to find any links to share with further details.

UPDATE:
CHS wrote about the closure plan in February — Plan to close Volunteer Park western loop to cars

Cue the celebration music Friends & Neighbors…..The Broadway Sunday Farmers Market Opens for its Fifth Season on Sunday & It’s Extended Through December 20th for 2009!

This SUNDAY, the Broadway Farmers Market opens with beautiful seasonal greens and heirloom lettuces, organic asparagus (best price in town!), rhubarb, baby vegetables, fresh herbs, wonderful cheeses, fresh baked goods, eggs, meats, and plant starts.

It also happens to be Mother’s Day, and there will be plenty of flower bouquets and other treats for Mom.

This year we have some great new vendors.

Quilbay Seafood is bringing their own fabulous assortment of shellfish, including oysters, several types of clams, Dungeness crab (seasonal), house-smoked oysters and freshly harvested sea beans.

On the prepared food front, new this year is Anita’s Crepes (sweet and savory), Got Soup (delicious seasonal soups ready to take home and heat), and Green Go (burgers made from Skagit River Ranch beef).

Spring 2009 has again been unusually chilly, so some crops are coming in a week or two later this year. You can nevertheless expect the same level of abundance and variety on the market tables, with more and more fruits and vegetables as the weather heats up: sweet local strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and other berries, as well as all kinds of tree fruits, heirloom tomatoes, summer vegetables of all kinds, mushrooms, preserves and ciders.

The Market will also host several cooking demos again this season, to help shoppers become familiar with preparing seasonal dishes and enjoying local eating. Live music, produce tastings, and activities for kids are also on the schedule for summer.

As always, we encourage shoppers to support local farmers and use the Market as one of your best resources for learning about sustainable food and farms in our region.

The Broadway Sunday Farmers Market also accepts EBT/Quest cards (food stamps), as well as WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Coupons.

The Broadway Farmers Market takes place every Sunday, 11 am – 3 pm, from May 10 through December 20, in the lot behind the Bank of American at Broadway & E. Thomas. The market is operated by the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and strengthening Washington’s small family farms.

You can find information about all seven Neighborhood Farmers Markets at http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org.

According to Seattle Real Time 911: http://www2.cityofseattle.net/fire/realTime911/getRecsForDat

Please share any reports.

Update: It was quickly changed to a closed incident on the 911 page so I’m guessing it was more of a minor incident.

View Larger Map

Seasonʼs Greetings everyone! The merchants of 12th Avenue would like to welcome you again this year to a night of revelry up and down our block between Pike and Madison, on Tuesday December 9th starting at 5pm.

Free nibbles! Special holiday cocktails! Carolers! Art and jewelry shows! Chestnuts roasting!

And if youʼve been a very good girl or boy this year, you can get your picture taken on Santaʼs knee.

Participating restaurants and merchants:
Retrofit Home
Pacific Supply
Izilla Toys
Balagan Theatre
Boom Noodle
La Spiga
Ferrari Maserati
Trace Lofts / Gun Club bar
Pizza Fusion
Barrio
Cafe Stellina

Even more details here (pdf).

Feel Good Vote soap at Bailey Coy

Vote Here at Lowell School

Lowell School Voters

For anyone taking 520 west to the Arboretum / Lk Washington Blvd exit, beware that an accident there has left a utility pole blocking the road at the exit. Therefore, anyone taking the offramp will be directed to take the right turn only.

Fire and police were on the scene when I was exiting around 3:30 or so. It may be cleared by now but wanted to send out the warning.

Update
As usual, CDN has the full scoop:

3:17PM – 26th Ave E & Lake Washington Blvd East – Accident – Between two vehicles. Medics are on the scene This was actually a rotted power pole that fell down into the street. No injuries. A city light crew is on the way to provide a fix. Lake Washington Blvd is blocked in both directions, probably for at least 30 minutes. There is one motorist trapped in her vehicle with live power wires touching it.
Update: 4:13pm – Traffic now open in both directions