At some point during the evening of April 7, Lake Lucile disappeared, the latest victim of global warming.

Okay, it's a stretch. Lake Lucile wasn't really a lake. It was a mud puddle. But, like hundreds of Duwamish mud puddles, it was a puddle of gargantuan proportions that ebbed and flowed at the intersection of Utah and Lucile Street throughout the past six months, fed by the rain and snow storms that contributed to one of the most depressing runs of Seattle winter weather ever.

Even a few weeks ago, the pond was deep enough to support significant wave action as cars and trucks rolled through it, and not more than a month ago, on a couple of mornings, it crunched with ice.

But by 2 pm on Tuesday, the former pond was small enough to fit into a Super Grande latte cup to go and by this morning it was gone, dried up by 70 degree temperatures and the beautiful sunny days that brightened up the first half of April.

It tempted Seattle Industry to wonder if the demise of the mud puddle might provide a metaphor about the hopeful signs that seem to be sprouting up in the midst of the recession. You know, end of winter, brighter days, something like that.

Then we checked the weather forecast and discovered that rain is predicted for four of the next five days. Sobered by this news and a lifetime of soggy Seattle spring times, it became clear Lake Lucile might be back by Easter, so the grander metaphors about brighter days for now remain on hold.

But even if our economic squeamishness persists, this issue ends with a hopeful factoid that emerged from the news coverage about the G20 summit last week in London.

In 2008, the GDP of the United States was $14.3 trillion. Japan was next, with $4.8 trillion, followed by China, $4.2 trillion, and Germany, $3.8 trillion. Do the math.

In 2008, in spite of all the setbacks, US GDP was still larger than the combined total for the three next largest economies in the world and nobody just handed us $14 trillion. It was earned by US companies and US workers who'll bounce back just as sure as Lake Lucile will.

EARTH DAY pre-party with ECOSS
You are invited to join the staff and board of ECOSS for Non-Profit Comedy night at Comedy Underground! Half of all proceeds from this show will be donated to ECOSS, so this is an easy and fun way to support a great organization - bring all your friends!

Here are the details:

• The show is on Tuesday, April 21st. Doors open at 7:30; show starts at 8:00.
• Comedy Underground is located at 109 S. Washington Street in Pioneer Square.
• There is plenty of street parking available as well as pay lots.
• The show is all-ages, but Comedy Underground is a free-speech zone and the comedy can get political, so please be advised.
• Food and drinks are available for purchase at the show.
• Tickets are $12.00 at the door; $6.00 with student ID.

SR 519 Update

• From 9 a.m., Monday, April 6, to 5 p.m. Friday, April 10, crews will close Royal Brougham Way from just east of the Qwest Event Center garage to Fourth Avenue S. Garage access from the west will be maintained.
  
• Drivers should expect partial and full closures on Royal Brougham until early spring 2010. We will keep one lane in each direction open for major events such as Mariners, Seahawks and Sounders games, and concerts at Qwest Field.
  
• Third Avenue S. will be fully closed until early spring 2010.

  Vashon Ferry Terminal Preservation
  The Puget Sound Regional Council voted on March 12, 2009 to fund this critical ready-to-go project through the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It is estimated that this project will support more than 30 jobs.
  The project entails Washington State Ferries replacing approximately five percent of the timbers in the trestle structure under the Vashon ferry dock. This project also includes removal and replacement of existing cracked asphalt pavement on the trestle.
  Why is WSDOT replacing timbers and resurfacing the Vashon dock? Asphalt on timber docks provides a water barrier to protect the timber dock beneath it. Severe cracking in the asphalt, which allows water to penetrate, is accelerating the deterioration of the timbers below.
  
  What is the project timeline?
  Summer 2009 - Advertise for bids, award contracts and begin work
  Late September 2009 - Complete pavement
  January 2010 - Complete timber replacement

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Spring 2009 Issue
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