Already have an account? Log in here Meet this year's Best of 425 cohort, find out how a Kirkland contestant fared on an episode of 'Wheel of Fortune' this week, and more in this week's Feel Good Friday.  Fresh oyster shucking, carefully crafted sushi, and more in this week's Sip & Savor.  Lynnwood gets a pickleball facility, downtown Bellevue debuts its first head spa, and more in this week's Feel Good Friday.  Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. Solar storms cause auroras overnight over parts of western Washington by KOMO News Staff and Associated Press WASHINGTON STATE — Solar storms brought visible auroras to western Washington which started late Thursday and extended into early Friday morning Viewers sent photos to KOMO News which showed the colorful lights beaming from the sky “All the stars have to align" for that to happen National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The best way to see the auroras is at night when it becomes dark and away from city lights Taking a picture with a smartphone camera may also reveal hints of the aurora that aren't visible to the naked eye The sun's magnetic field is at the peak of its 11-year cycle making storms and aurora displays more frequent Unusually strong solar storms in May produced vibrant aurora displays across the Northern Hemisphere When the Sun emits electrically charged particles and they interact with the Earth’s magnetic field it causes ions to glow Some auroras may cause power disruptions in satellite communications as well as issues with radio and TV broadcasts The Associated Press contributed to this report The weather word of the day is bombogenesis.  It’s when a cyclone — a rotating system of clouds and thunderstorms like the one about 300 miles off the Washington coast — rapidly intensifies over a 24-hour period according to the National Weather Service.  This existing low-pressure system will continue to intensify and drop in pressure over the Pacific on Tuesday Meteorologists expect it to remain well offshore but what the NWS called the “anomalously strong system” will act like a vacuum sucking air toward it and causing a rapid increase in easterly winds across Western Washington beginning sometime between 4 p.m “If you notice it’s not very windy yet in the middle of the afternoon,” the weather service said Easterly winds are expected to gust up to 65 mph along the coast the western Strait of Juan de Fuca and much of the Puget Sound lowlands east of Lake Washington High-wind warnings are active for these areas through early Wednesday morning Damaging winds likely will blow down trees and power lines These easterly winds are likely to cause damage “because the wind is out of an unusual direction,” said Kirby Cook a meteorologist with the weather service in Seattle Winds most often blow into the region from the south or north and “trees actually adapt to the prevailing winds directions But whenever you put an unusual wind direction on a tree it may not be as strong as it would be for south or north winds,” Cook said Waves over the outer coastal waters could reach heights of up to 30 feet, with 12- to 18-foot seas closer to the coastline, the weather service said. There’s a storm warning in effect as such.  in the Cascade foothills along the Interstate 90 corridor.  Meteorologists are also watching for “mountain waves” flowing off the Cascades and into the foothills which could impact airports and air traffic near Puget Sound Mountain waves are updrafts and downdrafts that occur in mountainous areas when rapidly flowing air runs into a steep front They can produce very strong wind gusts in narrow areas and turbulence The possibility is low — less than 15 to 20% — “but it is something to be aware of,” the weather service said.  wind advisories for gusts up to 50 mph are in effect Tuesday afternoon through early Wednesday Strong easterly windstorms are not common outside the Cascade foothills that could be sheltered from winds Tuesday Easterly winds in the lowlands do not typically ramp up but Tuesday afternoon and evening could feature quick accelerations.  wetting pavement in the southwest portion of the state Tuesday afternoon rain will greet all of Western Washington.  Snow elevations will remain below pass levels Tuesday, at around 1,000 to 2,000 feet, and a rare blizzard warning is in effect for all the Cascade passes Tuesday night into Wednesday morning Heavy showers will dump up to a foot of additional snow and winds gusting up to 60 mph will make for whiteout conditions Travel in the passes will be “very difficult to impossible,” the weather service said.  Winds will start to subside by Wednesday morning knocked out power for tens of thousands and contributed to two deaths This week’s system spans much of the West Coast from Vancouver Island to Northern California The weather service advises people to prepare their homes by trimming trees repairing loose siding and shutters and securing loose items.  When wind blows, the safest place is indoors in an interior room, and away from windows, the weather service posted on X.  The Washington State Department of Transportation advises drivers Here are some other tips to be prepared for a power outage or storm damage: Material from The Seattle Times archives is included in this report The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser Puget Sound area organizations and businesses strive to normalize the topic of dying “It’s so wonderful connecting with all these women,” said breast cancer survivor Jennifer Dovey For people who may be new to house plants or those who want a way to help spruce up their living space Welcome to our weekend events guide, where we share what's up around Seattle. If we're missing something fun, email us at hello@seattlerefined.com HONK! Fest West.Bands at HONK Fest West travel from across the country to transform neighborhoods with free showcases of diverse musical styles capturing the spirit of Mardi Gras and Carnival Seattle Pride in the Park 2024.Seattle Pride in the Park will feature unmissable LGBTQIA+ performances Bothell Block Party & BrewFest Enjoy live performances by Seattle's top bands and treat yourself to delicious food from local food trucks Your ticket includes eight tasting tickets (5 oz White Center Pride Street Festival The 5th Annual White Center Pride Street Festival is back beer gardens and the adorable Puppy Pride Parade Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Find out more about specific Bristol Myers Squibb research and development locations around the world High winds are expected to return to Western Washington Friday days after a Pacific Ocean bomb cyclone sent heavy blows throughout the region The winds on Friday are not expected to be as severe as earlier this week The National Weather Service in Seattle warns that more power outages can be expected as well as more falling trees and tree limbs The National Weather Service has issued wind warnings for the coast as well as the Cascade foothills Winds between 20 to 35 mph are forecast throughout Bellevue and the East Puget Sound lowlands Another wind advisory has been issued for the central and north Washington coastline from 10 a.m Winds from the south are expected to be as high as 40 mph The National Weather Service in Seattle said Friday's winds will come in a one-two punch easterly winds will blow through the Cascade Mountains and through the Eastside early Friday morning the wind will shift and start blowing from the south This week's storm killed two people more than 300,000 people across the region still lacked power after the lights went out on Tuesday Puget Sound Energy says that it expects power to be restored for every customer by noon on Saturday RELATED: 2 killed, more than 600,000 without power in Western Washington amid pacific bomb cyclone winds and so we don't want people bringing their propane heaters inside or the barbecues or using gas stoves for heat," Puget Sound Energy spokesperson Melanie Coon told KUOW "People should not charge their cell phones in their cars with the garage door closed further said the utility hasn't seen storm damage like this since January of 2012 "We've had helicopters up inspecting damage so we can get an accurate assessment of exactly what's going on And we've had crews out on the ground as well," Kipp said We're trying to prioritize hospitals and schools." Most outstanding outages are on the Eastside Redmond went under a local emergency proclamation as of Wednesday The proclamation allows the city to respond more quickly to the storm's fallout Redmond has opened warming and device charging centers at City Hall Dyer Oxley joined KUOW as an Online Editor/Producer in 2020 handling day-to-day upkeep of the station’s website while providing editorial oversight He also helms KUOW’s Today So Far newsletter an insightful daily roundup of what KUOW is reporting .. nonprofit news organization that produces award-winning journalism WE ALL IMAGINE Main Street as a hospitable hub for shopping and schmoozing But sometimes it is a thoroughfare as much as a destination which — perched along the Sammamish River near the northern tip of Lake Washington — served for most of a century not as somewhere to go but mostly as “on the way to.” a railroad carried coal circuitously from Issaquah north around the lake and through Bothell to Seattle the nearby Sammamish River (before its water level plummeted with the 1917 opening of the Lake Washington Ship Canal) carried logs and passenger steamers along a similar route Thus, in concert with the statewide Good Roads movement led by Seattle’s Sam Hill (later known for building the U.S./Canada Peace Arch and Stonehenge replica at Maryhill) this coterie of cars bustles east on Bothell’s Main Street on May 29 Ernest Lister joined locals to salute the completion of a 4-mile highway between Bothell and Lake Forest Park to the west which helped connect Bothell with Seattle (today’s Highway 522) and Everett (Highway 527) so eventually it was repaved — all but a 1,000-foot stretch that survives in a landmark park southwest of downtown Bothell Boosting Bothell’s roads in that decade was a colorful land agent-turned-mayor who pushed for a 10 mph speed limit through town and in 1912 became the first person cited for breaking it single-minded talker,” prevailed in court by challenging four eyewitnesses including one who insisted the errant speed was at least 12 mph “but had no instrument by which he could prove it beyond a peradventure of a doubt.” Perhaps Woody’s constituents acquitted him two years later which The Seattle Times termed “clever,” asked motorists to carry spades and interrupt their automotive errands to fill in one rut every month Participants were to swear to a Woody-written pledge vowing that noncompliance would mean “no less a penalty than that of having my axles broken in twain my carburetor filled with water and my gasoline tank emptied 10 miles from a station looking west along Main Street and damaged as if run over by one of the parading flivvers comes from the scrapbook of Bothell pioneer Carlton Ericksen The three most prominent cars are likely (from left) a 1908 or 1909 International Harvester Auto Buggy; a 1911 Stoddard-Dayton; and a 1912 Studebaker Everitt-Metzger-Flanders as identified by West Seattle’s Robert Carney is the only depicted edifice that survives The closest building later became the site of Meredith’s 5 & 10 see the photo-filled book “Bothell Washington Then & Now” (2008 Proof read your articles on a dead kid please and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Website Design by Blaser Consulting - The driver suspected of killing two pedestrians in a hit-and-run crash along State Route 524 in the Bothell area west of Alderwood Manor has been caught The driver fled the scene after the crash but authorities were able to track down the vehicle at a nearby 7-Eleven and arrest the driver a few hours later Washington State Patrol says 27-year-old Alec Gajdos was booked into Snohomish County Jail for felony hit and run missing headlights and dented right front end State troopers and medics initially responded to the site Friday after receiving reports of a serious crash They believe the collision occurred at 5:30 a.m because that is when the suspect said he was driving to work Gajdos told state patrol he believed he hit a garbage can on his way to work and kept driving SR-524 was fully blocked at the scene for several hours Investigators were able to identify the suspect vehicle based on debris and parts left at the crash scene State Patrol says a trooper was at a nearby 7-Eleven checking surveillance video when Gajdos pulled into the gas station WSP detectives are looking for any witnesses to the collision or anyone who may have seen the pedestrians in the area Anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Rocky Oliphant at (425)923-6244 or Rocky.Oliphant@wsp.wa.gov There are no BECU locations with adjusted hours There are no locations with temporary closures Return to Top of Page Boeing Employees' Credit Union NMLS ID 490518 Need someplace for your cat(s) to stay while you’re away? Cat Sitting Hotels is a new WSB sponsor and here’s what they want you to know about what they do: Cat Sitting Hotels was established in 2011 in Bothell relocated to West Seattle in January of 2017 and in October of 2017 expanded into the space next door and doubled the size of the Hotel (now there’s the West Side and the East Wing) we’re on the way to and from the airport for most of our previous customers (as they typically leave their kitties with us when they’re traveling) and also can fill a very big need in the Seattle area for really great luxury cat boarding with loving care from a staff who all have cats of their own and truly love them Cat Sitting Hotels began several years ago when the founder / owner needed to travel and looked into having his 4 cats boarded and found that what was available was mostly smallish cage-like accommodations Knowing he couldn’t leave them locked up in a small space for a week he built the first 4 kitty suites in his living room for his own 4 cats They were huge 4′ wide and 4′ long wood frame enclosures where they’d have plenty of room to move around plus a table and shelves to jump up and down from or sleep on then procrastinating for a few months about taking them down the idea came to care for other people’s kitties in these nice big comfy enclosures It soon became a cat lover’s dream and his business building in Bothell was converted into the first Cat Sitting Hotel Quickly realizing he wasn’t the only one who was so deeply concerned about leaving their precious companions out of their own care a webcam system was created so feline parents could see their kid from anywhere in the world where they could get internet access Other recent high-tech options have recently been added such as the Petcube which allows our guest kitties’ parents to both view them and play laser light with them from the screen of a mobile device or for those whose kitties aren’t into laser play the Petzi includes the webcam and can dispense treats by touching your tablet’s feeder control There are also available food bowls which only open for the kitty with that bowl’s tag on the collar which keeps the food fresher and ensures that only your kitty can eat your kitty’s food They can be especially helpful for guest cats from the same home but who have different / special diets Cat Sitting Hotels is at 3513 SW Alaska. See more photos and info at catsittinghotels.com or call 425-442-1941 We thank Cat Sitting Hotels for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here. They took great care of our kitties last October A visit to their website has pictures that are guaranteed to generate grins and chuckles Well this ended up being a far cooler story than I imagined but something about the origin story doesn’t make sense Instead of just letting his cats roam free in his house like normal while he was away the founder kept them in cages in his house out of curiosity I poppped in last year and was quite impressed with the ample space and cleanliness After meeting Greg and one other staff member after they gave me a short tour I had encouraged them to join WSBlog and Nextdoor to get the word out more etc.) is just amazing what can be done by the pets owner from across the world Even though I’m in cat rescue work (and not pet sitting) I still get asked frequently for referrals This is a blessing that it’s in our community It seems like a genuine love for the felines goes into their care Looks better than some Hotels I’ve stayed in I just looked at the website and this is honestly amazing!  Looks like a great spot for kitties Please enter your username or e-mail address You will receive a new password via e-mail MYNORTHWEST NEWS Demonstrators in Saturday's "Day of Protest" march blocked traffic on Broadway East on Seattle's Capitol Hill (Photo: Seattle Department of Transportation) BY TOM BROCK Hundreds of people publicly denounced policies laid out by President Trump Saturday taking part in a National “Day of Protest” that included dozens of cities here in Washington state a protest and march blocked traffic on Broadway East and East Pine A photo posted by the city’s Department of Transportation shows dozens of protesters in the middle of the normally-busy thoroughfare The march followed a “We the People Means Everyone” rally at Seattle Central College sponsored by Capitol Hill Pride were scheduled to take place in many Seattle neighborhoods an I-5 overpass in the University District and at various parks and other locations in Lake City Activists were also scheduled to take part in protests in Tukwila One of the groups organizing the protests is called “Evergreen Resistance.” Leaders of the group says it is the Washington chapter of the “50501” movement which is partnering with other groups around the state in protests against the Trump administration The 50501 movement is an abbreviation of “50 protests one movement,” a grassroots political organization created to protest the policies and actions of the second Donald Trump term 50501 organized major demonstrations on February 5th and February 17th “Hands Off!” protests were held on April 5th while the “Day of Protest” was slated for Saturday Other protests considered to be part of the movement were scheduled for Olympia Monday (May 5) for more than 3,200 seats on city councils The prosecutor reported that Chase Jones was traveling at 112 mph when he crashed into the victims Bob Ferguson says federal funds are needed to address $34 million in damage caused by the storm It’s as easy as admiring decked-out houses in your neighborhood Or take a bigger trip to see some of the fantastic light events in the Greater Seattle area centered on light displays — to which we’ve added neighborhood gems to explore West Seattle essentially functions as an island and you’re never more than 15 minutes from one destination to another Start at Lincoln Park to find the Thomas Dambo troll before it gets dark West Seattle’s business district with a year-round Sunday farmers market then browse the vinyls at Easy Street Records and cue ’90s nostalgia Your light destination is Astra Lumina, back in Seattle for its second year Walk through nine star-themed installations synced with ethereal music and surrounded in fog Astra Lumina takes place at the Seattle Chinese Garden at South Seattle College make a bookmark to come back in spring when the garden is free The courtyard is one of my favorite photo shoot locations because it is stunning Refuel at Pho Aroma on Delridge Way Southwest, a no-frills spot for fragrant Vietnamese noodle broth. Then head to 5605 Beach Drive S.W. to gawk at the extravagant Christmas lights at the Menashe house.  If you go to Astra Lumina: Tickets range from $21 to $41, less expensive on weeknights and toward closing. Timed entries from 4:45 to 8 p.m. Open daily through the rest of December, then shifts to a Thursday-Sunday or Friday-Sunday schedule through Jan. 31. 5640 16th Ave. S.W., Seattle. Buy tickets online: astralumina.com/seattle Tacoma has ah-MAZE-ing museums and outdoor spaces and a zoo and aquarium that outshine Seattle’s and admission is free every Thursday 5-8 p.m Take a look at the Chihulys on the pedestrian overpass outside Kids will love the model train festival at the Washington State History Museum are free to visit in the evening on the third Thursday of each month (that’s Dec Here’s one we don’t have in Seattle: LeMay — America’s Car Museum It’s that funny-looking silver tube next to the Tacoma Dome Car enthusiasts young and old will love the zigzagging four levels of galleries Take a photo with Santa on a classic car Dec Melanie’s Park is a wild new playground on the waterfront near the Museum of Glass Try the 20-foot-high twisty tube slide if you dare Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park is an impressive park built over a Superfund site check out the series of six slides and stairs by the Wilson Way bridge You could easily spend an entire day at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium PDZA’s two aquariums close when Zoolights begins at 4:30 p.m. If you go to Zoolights at PDZA: Online timed tickets are required: $20 for everyone ages 3 and older, members are half-price. Open 4:30-10 p.m. through Jan. 5, closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma. pdza.org/event/zoolights Go to Garden d’Lights if you want a holiday light experience that is charming and not too expensive. Bellevue Botanical Garden glows with more than half a million lights. Download the scavenger hunt map ahead of time and see who can find all the animals first Conveyor-belt sushi is not for sushi snobs but nearby Kura Revolving Sushi Bar is fun and family-friendly Bring your patience for parking garage traffic reward yourself with soup dumplings at the gorgeous and newly expanded Din Tai Fung in Lincoln Square Catch the free Snowflake Lane on Bellevue Way Northeast between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square There are toy soldiers and dancers and swirling fake snow A word of caution to parents of littles: The sidewalks get very crowded Get there early to snag a spot and be prepared to defend it plan for dinner at a restaurant overlooking Bellevue Way Northeast and luck out on a window seat If you go to Garden d’Lights: $8 per person ages 11 and older; ages 10 and younger are free. 4:30-9 p.m. through Dec. 31; closed Christmas Day. 12001 Main St., Bellevue. Buy tickets online: bellevuebotanical.org/garden-dlights but it’s always 88 to 90 degrees at the North Shore Lagoon a full-size saltwater swimming pool at McMenamins Anderson School the tiki-themed pool is an affordable tropical getaway The line at T55 Patisserie is usually out the door head to the free Evergreen Christmas Light Show Enter through a light tunnel to see a giant light show projected across Evergreen Church photos with Santa and a holiday train setup Finally, drive through Keener’s Christmas The Keeners are a Bothell couple famous for over-the-top Christmas lights and bring money and food donations for charity If you go to the Evergreen Christmas Light Show: Free. 6-9 p.m. through Christmas Eve. 3429 240th St. S.E., Bothell. christmasatevergreen.com Chihuly Garden and Glass mostly draws out-of-towners but us in-towners should enjoy the glass art the first piece on the right is an installation that looks like an enormous cluster of icicles “Winter Brilliance” was originally commissioned for the Barneys New York flagship store in 2015 you’ll see “Winter Brilliance” as it was originally displayed in the holiday window with a background of classical music and soft pastel lights washing over it Grab a quick and easy bite next door in the Armory Skillet Counter and MOD Pizza are both great local options Seattle Center’s Winterfest runs through Dec 31; check out the model train village and frequent performances on the Armory stage If your party includes toddlers and preschoolers It’s downstairs in the Armory and currently has adorable winter-themed exhibits You can’t overlook the fencing enclosing Seattle Center from Fisher Pavilion to the International Fountain That would be the Seattle Christmas Market Inside you’ll find booths selling crafts and food and drink live musical performances and an all-you-can-ride double-decker carousel If you go to Chihuly Garden and Glass: Buy tickets online; $29-$37.50 for regular admission. Through Dec. 31, buy a $78 combo ticket for Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Space Needle and the Christmas Market. 305 Harrison St., Seattle. chihulygardenandglass.com/holidays WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo is a treat we look forward to all year It’s a brand-new show each year with custom-made lanterns in the shapes of animals and plants The zoo’s new Reptile Realm building is open 4-7 p.m Check out the larger-than-life Timor python lantern get 40% off a daily admission ticket when you buy a WildLanterns ticket Visit during the day to see your favorite animals awake offers a true Seattle unicorn: a classic burger for $7 Spend the extra 50 cents and upgrade your fries to sweet potato fries Just north of the zoo on Aurora Avenue North drink hot cocoa from a gas pump and play unlimited games at Kringle’s Filling Station Owner Gary Wichansky is a local dad who wanted to bring holiday cheer to Aurora If you go to WildLanterns: 4-9 p.m. through Jan 19. Prices start at $27.45 for kids ages 3 to 12, $31.45 for 13 and older. The cheapest tickets are nonpeak weekdays. The zoo has two main entrances: 5500 Phinney Ave. N. and 750 N. 50th St., Seattle. zoo.org/wildlanterns CHOKEPOINTS 5:58 AM | Updated: 10:55 am The City of Bothell has published this rendering of what Bothell Way will eventually look like after converting the road into a multiway boulevard BY CHRIS SULLIVAN You can’t go anywhere in this region without your view being obstructed by a construction crane and that extends beyond Seattle and Bellevue Even small bedroom communities are now developing downtowns and giving the big cities a run for their money Bothell used to be the spot you drove through to skip traffic on I-405 or slide over the top of Lake Washington And it was a quiet community without a lot of development The city’s population has grown by 12,000 in the past 10 years “We’ve had people talk about how they used to ride their horse downtown that really wasn’t that long ago,” said Erin Leonhart “We really have gone from a place that people would drive through Bothell is nearly finished widening a road most people still call Highway 527 The city took it over from the state and renamed it “Bothell Way” so it could handle not only the commuters who still roll through town but also all the new residents Not to mention all the people coming to Bothell for the new hotels and businesses “Downtown doesn’t shut down at 5 or 6 in the evening anymore We actually have some places to go and places to eat.” Bothell just received a grant from the state to continue its downtown expansion; to join all the new private investment on the west side of Bothell Way with the historic downtown Main Street on the east side of town The east side of town is an area that has also seen an explosion of new development “And really knit together the new development happening on the west side of the former 527 with the historic east side and historic Main Street.” The city is spending $7 million to revitalize its Main Street and make it a place to hang out and celebrate “We are really focusing on a pedestrian environment,” Leonhart said So people could not only use the sidewalks for walking Construction on Main Street will begin later this year about the time the widening on Bothell Way wraps up The city is also about to get to work on additional sidewalks and other improvements throughout the entire city funded by the successful ballot measure in November Bothell is just an example of what we’re seeing around the region Smaller cities are growing up to handle all their new residents and looking to become destinations of their own Follow @https://twitter.com/newsguysully Thanks for visiting A $4.7 million state grant will help Bothell complete its Main Street revitalization efforts and rebuild from a massive fire in July “We didn’t want Main Street to die off,” says Mayor Andy Rheaume The burnt embers from a massive July fire lie crushed between cracks in the sidewalk along Bothell’s historic Main Street Slabs of collapsed concrete angle across the vacant lot where the Bothell Mall once stood But amid the remnants of the fire that caused about $25 million in damage destroyed two buildings and displaced 25 businesses Workers in hard hats are preparing to reframe the six-story apartment building that was under construction in the old Mercantile Building where the fire broke out Several of the displaced businesses have reopened in new locations Last month, the city got a big boost in its Main Street revitalization efforts. The state Transportation Improvement Board awarded the city $4.7 million toward a $7 million plan to rebuild and modernize the historic heart of the city The project is part of a multimillion-dollar downtown Bothell redevelopment effort that has been under way for the past decade but the city hadn’t been able to secure financing for the Main Street portion Those plans took on new urgency after the fire “If there can be a silver lining to this tragedy it’s that the city will be able to move forward with rebuilding Main Street,” said Mayor Andy Rheaume standing near the 1908 brick facade of the Mercantile Building which survived the fire We wanted to preserve this part of the city.” The fire was so hot it melted a crane at the apartment construction site as well as the steel tension cables encased in concrete that supported the five upper floors That slab must now be broken apart and repoured president of Goodman Real Estate in Seattle “The plan is to rebuild the building as permitted We’re just delayed now by about a year,” he said An investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was unable to determine the cause of the blaze noting that it burned with such heat and intensity that virtually all evidence of an ignition point was destroyed Bothell Interim Fire Marshal Butch Noble said the investigators were able to secure some surveillance video from nearby businesses but the quality was poor and didn’t show anything suspicious A bar owner closing up for the night and several residents of a nearby mobile-home park heard explosions and saw the bright glow of flames but no one could pinpoint what may have started the fire The city set up a one-stop office at City Hall to coordinate information and assistance for damaged businesses The city also expedited permits and inspections for reconstruction City officials said they’ve received queries from an architect for the Bothell Mall owner but no firm plans for what might be built in the now-vacant lot An advisory committee made up of members of both organizations ultimately distributed $100,000 to displaced business owners and employees who lost their jobs visited the city and promised his support for Bothell’s Main Street improvements grant application Their businesses had already suffered economic hardship because of the lengthy street closures after the fire Now they were facing having Main Street between Bothell Way Northeast and 102nd Avenue Northeast torn up for most of 2017 for the revitalization work “We always knew it would be hard during construction but with the fire we had hardship before the hardship,” said Caldwell ‘Are we all still up for this construction Should we pause so people can get their feet under them?’ We came to the conclusion ‘Let’s rip the bandage off and get the construction done.’ ” Plans for the new Main Street call for removing aging underground pipes and utilities installing new storm drains and sewer lines rebuilding the sidewalks without curbs and replacing the current angle parking with parallel parking that could become outdoor cafe space in the summer The goal, said Deputy Public Works Director Eddie Low, is to create a seamless link from the historic downtown to all the redevelopment to the west $46 million City Hall and a $26 million renovation of the Anderson School into a McMenamin’s restaurant and entertainment complex denser and more urban downtown will likely continue for several more years city leaders say their focus now is on limiting the construction impacts to Main Street merchants The street improvements are scheduled to get under way in January “We want the old downtown to be able to compete and be cohesive with the new downtown,” Low said Main Street business owners say they’re heartened by the support they’ve received from the Bothell community “I think people are making a more conscious effort to be downtown, to support the businesses. It’s an amazing thing to see,” said Lauren Dillon-Merrill, owner of the Se.lyn Boutique on Main Street who runs the State Farm Insurance office on Main Street took it upon herself to revive a decades-old tree-lighting ceremony that had been abandoned in the late 1970s The Bothell Lodging Tax Committee awarded $15,000 to Main Street merchants to string lights in a massive old Douglas fir on the corner of Pipinich’s property They also hosted a holiday celebration which drew an estimated 2,500 people “We wanted to bring people home to Main Street,” she said “Let everybody feel like things are going to be OK.” Three days after a four-alarm fire tore through two large buildings in downtown Bothell residents and business owners are trying to press forward find out how a Kirkland contestant fared on an episode of 'Wheel of Fortune' this week downtown Bellevue debuts its first head spa The West Coast All-Star Classic Committee announced today that Bothell senior Zach LaVine will help headline the nation’s top 22 high school senior-class basketball player for the inaugural West Coast All-Star Classic Updates from assembly include transfer portal and rules for transgender athletes The Mariners Menu Preview Day brought local cuisine and legendary baseball dedications to the 2025 season Court ruling in Tennessee could affect NCAA eligibility for Washington athletes Senior Elena DeWeese led the girls' team with 19 points The Ballard High School basketball teams hosted the Bothell Cougars last night The lady Beavers started off behind and were down until the end The score was still tied until the end of the game until Theresa Moriarty hit a 3 pointer to put the Beavers ahead for good Ballard won by five points in the end for a final score of 43 to 38 Senior Elena DeWeese led the team by 19 points The Boys Beavers gained a six-point lead in the first quarter and stayed ahead for the whole game Ballard won with a final score of 69 to 45 The boys and girls varsity teams will host Issaquah on Saturday Bothell planners last week unveiled draft guidelines that will determine future characteristics of the city’s greater downtown area Freshman Sara Ives led Ballard with four goals against Bothell the team has shown great improvement from a year ago.<br><br><b>Photo by Dean Wong</b> Scoring four goals is a big achievement in any soccer league and Ballard High School freshman Sara Ives did it against the Bothell Cougars on September 12 in only her third varsity game the Beavers would have lost the game against the eastside school Ives scored two more goals on September 14 to help the Beavers defeat Franklin 9-0 She was assisted by Lucy Miner and Margaret Coke Stephani Nelson (assist Angelina Miller) were the other scorers Goalkeepers Britta Humes and Krista Yeasting earned shutouts This season is different with new coach Val Seid inspired play by the team's veterans and the addition of two talented freshman Ives is one of the freshmen who has earned a starting spot on the team at forward The other is Anna Kelsey who is a defender Seid is pleased with the aggressiveness show by his two youngest players Ives has been playing soccer since kindergarten and is she is familiar with the offensive formations the team is using The most goals she has scored was five during a select game In the Bothell game Ives was assisted by Coke This early success is good news for a team that has had trouble winning games since joining KingCo in 2004 Last season the Beavers were hampered by injuries to key players for much of the season Seid brings collegiate experience to Ballard He was a member of a NCAA Final Four team at University of California at Los Angeles) where he was a goalkeeper Seid helped his team to regular NCAA Tournament appearances Seid has coached at Cleveland and Bellevue High School in addition to working with many club teams the Beavers practiced "possession ball," a slow attack that makes the defense work harder to tire them out Although Ballard lost the first two games of the year against Roosevelt and Holy Names by identical 3-0 scores Seid was happy to get his first win as the Ballard coach against the Cougars They played as a team for the first time this season," said Seid It's unusual for a freshman to score four goals at the high school level "She could have scored more if they did not take her out They got frustrated and elbowed her in the head That's the rough part of the game," said Seid the roster remains relatively the same as last year when the team was routinely run off the field by opponents A new coaching system has benefited the team It also helps that all the players compete with select and premier level soccer teams in the off season They deserve to have a good coach," said Seid Seid offered to do running drills by himself because the team won the game and scored a lot of goals Players shouted encouragement for their coach as he ran back and forth Several players have said that last year they did not play together as a team Four seniors are back for their final seasons winner of round three for third state spot Cody Gregersen soars above Bothell defenders to score two of his 22 points.<br><br><b> Photo by Dean Wong <b> the Ballard Beavers came out of the locker room with a fresh attitude and the result was a 55 to 52 win over the Bothell Cougars last week Ballard shot poorly and lacked the intensity it has shown in previous games this season They trailed the Cougars by as much as ten points in the first two quarters Head Coach Billy Rodgers got on his team to play harder and made some adjustments to handle Bothell's zone defense Senior Cody Gregersen then took over the game with his inside post play He finished with a career high 22 points and 12 rebounds "Cody had a fantastic game and he made some free-throws," said Rodgers a junior transfer from Seattle Prep added 14 points Junior point guard Derek Mezich controlled the offense and made sure his teammates got the ball in good position to score "As time wound down in the fourth quarter and Gregersen on the bench with four fouls senior Cameron Wells came in and crashed the offensive boards for a lay-up to give Ballard a 48 to 44 lead senior Mace Rakestraw found himself wide open to the left of the key and wisely chose to pass the ball back out instead of shooting Denman was then fouled and made both charity shots for a 50 to 44 lead Bothell's athletic five foot seven inch player The Cougars tried to rally back but fell short as the buzzer sounded The Beavers have shown steady improvement all season under Rodgers and his coaching staff The energy and effort level has improved," said Rodgers Although they lost to Franklin (ranked number one in state) Ballard came roaring back against Skyline on January 13 The Beavers lost to Skyline in overtime 52 to 51 on a buzzer-beater three point shot Senior Collin Belcher had the hot hand with 18 points the Beavers earned their second KingCo win for a 2-3 league record and 4-8 record overall "It showed how the program is coming along we're right on the cusp and are ready to break over that hump and get some victories," said Belcher Practices have been more intense than in past years Gregersen's game has caught up with his six-foot-seven-inch frame He has benefited greatly from the new coaches and is leading the team in scoring with a 10.7 average "Coach Rodgers is really focused on getting me the ball It has really helped my confidence this year I really like playing defense and getting blocked shots," said Gregersen "We focus on competing in practice and getting that mentality of wanting to win We have been an on and off team and I would like to get us solid," said Gregersen The KingCo West Division standings as of January 19 are: Franklin (6-0); Garfield (3-3); Roosevelt (3-3); Ballard (2-4) In the Central Division: Inglemoor (6-0); Bothell (3-3); Juanita (2-4); Woodinville (2-4) The East Division: Lake Washington (6-0); Skyline (3-2); Redmond (1-5); Eastlake (1-5) Ballard's next game is against Juanita at home on January 27 Ask a person playing a trivia game to name a classic Broadway musical from the 1950s and shows like “West Side Story” or “My Fair Lady” may quickly come to mind