If you shop at our neighborhood QFC, then you’ve probably seen the rack of scanners. On a recent visit, I found them just inside the door on the front of the building (where you might normally exit). Perhaps you’ve looked right past them never noticing that they were there. I’ve seen very few people actually using them; I had only used them once.

So what’s the deal with these hand scanners? I headed to QFC to, ummm, check them out.

The scanners are part of a program that QFC calls “Scan, Bag, Go.”  It was first rolled out at the …

You’ve certainly seen their trucks moving about our neighborhood (and if not, I’ve provided a photo). Waste Management is the city contractor responsible for collecting recycling, trash and compost/yard waste here in Wallingford and about half of the remaining areas of Seattle. (The half of the populace not served by Waste Management gets their garbage collected by CleanScapes.)

Waste Management, in partnership with Seattle Public Utilities, has just announced that grants are available for projects conducted within the communities that they serve. (So, Wallingford qualifies.) Since Waste Management is, obviously, a waste management company, proposed projects must support waste reduction, …

A reader recently wrote to us alerting us to a possible scam artist who’s making the rounds of Capitol Hill, the U District and now, apparently, our neighborhood. Details are posted here on Reddit, but the basic story is that this guy came to Seattle for a job interview, had his stuff stolen, and now he needs your help with bus fare back home to San Francisco. I can’t independently confirm whether this is true or not, but our reader writes:

Just wanted to let you know that this guy intercepted me this morning on 45th street in front of …

Here at the blog, we’ve received a number of emails from the Green Lake and Wallingford Paving and Multi-Modal Improvements Project providing us with status updates on the ongoing work. I guess it’s high time we pass those on to you!

The Paving Project work is taking place in four areas:

Along 40th St from Stone Way to LatonaAlong 50th from Phinney to RooseveltAround the east side of Green LakeOn 80th St. from Aurora to I-5

All of these areas involve, obviously, repaving of the street(s). There will also be a considerable number of new ADA-compliant curb cuts created (more …

Next in a long lineup of summer Seafair events is the Wallingford Family Parade. This event got its start, incredibly enough, in the middle of the last century, and although it has had its ups and downs, it has survived up to this very moment thanks to local event producer Celebrate Wallingford.

Date: Saturday, July 13Time: 11 am

From the parade website:

The 70^th Annual Wallingford Family Parade celebrates the grand reopening of Lincoln High School and honors students from 1940 thru 2020. Show off YOUR school spirit and grab some pom-poms, some tie-dye or your best Goth; then …

If you haven’t had enough excitement from your July 4 celebrations, there is a Meaningful Movie in store for you tonight.

Date: Friday, July 5Time: 6:30pmPlace: Keystone Church, 5019 Keystone Place N. Cost: Free, but a $5 donation is suggested to help defray expenses

Here is brief summary quoted from the website:

“Unlocking the Cage” follows animal rights lawyer Steven Wise as he tries to break down the legal wall that separates animals from humans.  Arguing that cognitively complex animals such as chimpanzees, whales, dolphins and elephants deserve to be treated as sentient, self-aware and autonomous beings, Steve and his …

It’s that time of year again when our neighborhood plays host to forty thousand or so people hoping to get a close up view of the Lake Union fireworks display (organized by Seafair and sponsored by Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, as it was last year) on Independence Day at Gas Works Park. While this only comes once a year, it definitely has some impacts. Knowing what’s going on can help you navigate some of the inconveniences posed by this event.We received here at the blog a Community Notification from Michael McMorrow, Event Producer at Seafair. Says he:

Event hours are…