Swamp Creek Flooding Makes the Seattle Times
Posted by the Kenmore Crow | Filed under General | 1 Comment
The Seattle Times covers some of the effects of the rain here in Kenmore: Rivers recede, rain decreases as residents deal with the mess
In Kenmore, Frankie Schmitt found herself battling the worst floodwaters she has seen in 27 years.
Schmitt rented an extra sump pump Friday and asked the Kenmore Fire Department to bring out sandbags to help protect her property. But on Sunday, she said the water in her driveway was 4 feet deep and the garage from which she runs her machine-quilting shop was taking on water.
Nearby Swamp Creek often floods in the rain, and changes the city made recently to the street seemed to make it worse, she said. Beaver dams cause the high water to back up on her side of the creek, she said.
Based on my occasional observations, I’ve often suspected that Swamp Creek has flooded more often since they did all that work a few years ago that was supposed to help it flood less.
Here’s the location of the flooding mentioned in the article:
Read more on the Seattle Times Weather Beat blog.
Tags: Seattle Times, weather
Best Friend in the News Again
Posted by the Kenmore Crow | Filed under Business | 4 Comments
Gotta say, I’m surprised neither of the competing Kenmore blogs have jumped on this story…
From Tuesday’s Kenmore Reporter: Customer orders a hot chocolate, allegedly gets a bit more at Kenmore stand
King County Sheriff’s detectives are investigating an incident in which a female barista at the Best Friend coffee stand in Kenmore allegedly exposed herself to a male customer buying a hot chocolate.
…
The reporting party told police he visited Best Friend after retrieving his car from the nearby Kenmore Park and Ride Lot. He stated he had no idea the coffee shop employed bikini-clad baristas. After he ordered his drink, the female barista allegedly asked him if he wanted a show. The man said he nervously responded positively, not really knowing what to expect.According to the police report, the man states the barista allegedly exposed herself from the waist up and from the waist down, reportedly fondling herself briefly. Asked by the barista if he had enjoyed himself, the man reportedly said, “No,” and drove off with his drink but no change from a 20-dollar bill.
Follow-up on KIRO 7 yesterday: Why Prosecutors Can’t Charge Baristas Who Bare It All (video)
KIRO 7 Eyewitness News morning anchor Chris Egert found that King County sheriff’s deputies have pages and pages of reports documenting questionable activities at a Kenmore espresso stand, yet so far, not a single case has made it to court.
…
It is stuff too raunchy to put in this report. It is beyond the level of bikinis: private body parts put on display, all body parts, exposed to undercover deputies.“At the face of this you’d say, ‘Well, my gosh. There’s indecent exposure, or perhaps even prostitution involved here.’ But as we read the statute, and more importantly as the prosecutors read the statutes and the city ordinance in Kenmore, it does not appear that there has been any crime committed,” said Sgt. John Urquhart of the King County Sheriff’s Office.
Even though investigators saw women take off their clothes, expose their breasts, backsides and vaginas, it is not a violation of the law.
City of Kenmore prosecutors told deputies that what happened doesn’t meet filing standards for indecent exposure or prostitution.
The King County Prosecutor’s Office could, in theory, attempt to move forward with charges, but said that even if it wanted to, it doesn’t have the resources to proceed.
What would it take to have charges filed? A victim—someone who isn’t a cop—and who didn’t want the show undercover investigators said was being offered at Best Friend Espresso.
Of course, none of the victims are willing to do that, so it would seem that for now, the show must go on.
I’m not going to sit here and defend the caffeinated peep show, but I have to wonder… why are King County sheriff’s deputies spending their time making multiple “undercover” stops to Best Friend, if nothing that’s happening there is illegal enough for them to pursue criminal charges?
I’ve got one theory…
Just sayin’.
Tags: Best-Friends, bikini, Business, photo
Bus Shelter Modified for ADA Compliance
Posted by the Kenmore Crow | Filed under General | 2 Comments
When I posted a few weeks ago about the new bus shelters that popped up around Kenmore, a commenter pointed out that the some of the shelters were not ADA compliant, in that they blocked so much of the sidewalk that a wheelchair would be unable to pass through.
As of today, that problem appears to have been remedied, at least at the stop I posted the photo of last month:
![New Bus Shelter [Modified]](http://eyesonkenmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/reconfigured-bus-stop.jpg "New Bus Shelter [Modified]")
The old bus stop pole has been removed, and the signage attached to the light pole. I don’t know the specific requirements of the ADA, but there appears to be more than enough room for wheelchairs to use the sidewalk with this new configuration.
Tags: transit
Kenmore Village Getting Some New Businesses: Coffee & Kids
Posted by the Kenmore Crow | Filed under Business | 1 Comment
In a surprise reversal from the slow and steady near-complete exodus of local businesses from the Kenmore Village location, it would appear that someone is gearing up to open a new coffee shop at 6734 NE 181st St — the building that used to hold a Tacos Guaymas.
In addition to the exterior of the building sporting a fresh new coat of paint, whoever is moving in has also been doing some landscaping, as well as some work to spruce up the inside.
According to a pdf flyer I located on the leasing company’s website, the new business is “The Coffee Roaster.” Just what Kenmore needs, another coffee shop! Especially one that’s literally less than 500 feet from Tully’s…
Also of note, the flyer says that a new kid’s gym called “Great Play” will be opening sometime soon in the location formerly occupied by The Little Gym.
The other thing I found interesting in the leasing company’s ad for the Kenmore Village spaces is that potential tenants are being offered leases of “4 years or less.” If they’re handing out 4-year leases, that would seem to imply that development on Kenmore Village is stalled until at least 2015, despite the perennial claims that they’re just pushing things off “one more year.” Hmm…
Tags: central-kenmore, downtown, Kenmore Village
Bus Shelters Pop Up Around Town
Posted by the Kenmore Crow | Filed under General | 4 Comments
Just in time for the rainy season, a crop of brand new bus shelters appeared seemingly overnight around Kenmore:
On Tuesday, riders were standing in the rain. By Wednesday morning, these spiffy new shelters had appeared, offering at least a little protection from the elements.
I’ve spotted at least three new shelters around the Bothell Way / 68th Ave NE intersection, but there may be even more.
Much thanks to whatever transit agency is responsible for installing these new shelters!
Tags: transit
