*From today’s city Land Use Information Bulletin: Alki Cafe‘s new owners have applied for a sidewalk-cafe permit. (The online notice says the city will accept comments till August 10th and explains how to send a comment.)

*Blue Angels update: The news release we quoted in last night’s story said #7 would be here at 9:30 today, but David DeSiga (who took the awesome photo we used in that story) says it actually landed before 9 am. So we should add the caveat, times approximate, which would go for tomorrow’s expected arrival of the other 6.

*Seattle City Light has issued its own set of heat-beating tips – with a focus on electricity, how not to overuse it, and what to do if you lose it. Read on:

As weather forecasters predict an unusually long stretch of record and
near-record high temperatures in Seattle this week, Seattle City Light wants to
remind its customers that they can stay cool while conserving energy and keeping
their electricity bills low.

One of the best ways to keep your house cool is not to let the outside heat inside.
Keeping the windows closed during the day and covered by blinds or drapes can
significantly reduce the amount of heat gained through a window. Better yet, install
an exterior shade. Also, good insulation not only keeps your house warm in the
winter, it helps keep you cool in the summer. Other money-saving tips include:

1. Give appliances a break. Limit the use of ranges and stoves, dishwashers, dryers,
washing machines and other heat-producing equipment especially during mid-day.
2. Prepare cool meals, such as salads and sandwiches. If you must cook a hot meal,
wait until later in the evening when it’s cooler.
3. Use a ceiling fan, A typical fan consumes 98 percent less electricity than most
central air conditioners use.
4. Adjust ceiling fans to turn counter-clockwise, which will push down warm air
trapped near the ceiling.
5. If you have central air conditioning: Cool only the rooms you use. But don’t
close all vents. Closing too many actually reduces operating efficiency.
6. Turn off the air conditioner when you leave the house for several hours.
7. An air conditioner thermostat is not a throttle, so don’t switch your air
conditioner to a colder setting when you turn it on. It won’t cool the room any
faster but it will waste energy when you forget to turn it up again. Keep it set at
80°F.
8. Install a timer on your room air conditioner, or use a programmable thermostat on
your central air conditioner.
9. Keep your air conditioner shaded to improve its efficiency.
10. Set your furnace thermostat as high as possible. The minimum recommended
energy-efficient summer temperature is 78°F.

High temperatures can add strain on our electrical equipment. Should the power go
out, first check your main switch for a blown fuse or an open breaker. If that is
not the problem, call City Light’s Outage Hotline at (206) 684-7000 for a recording
of all known outages. If your area is not mentioned, please let us know by calling
(206) 684-3000.

City Light urges its customers to be prepared for outages.
1. Customers relying on electric life-support machines should let City Light know
about their needs. Please call (206) 684-3000 and let us know. They also should have
emergency backup power and know how to operate it. The backup system should have an
alarm to alert the user if the power goes out.
2. Have an emergency kit ready. The kit should include a working flashlight,
glow-in-the-dark light sticks, a wind-up clock, a portable radio and a manual can
opener.
3. Cordless phones will not work without electricity. Have a corded phone or a cell
phone available.
4. In most cases, food should be safe if refrigerators and freezers are kept shut
when the power is out. If the power is out for longer than 12 hours, perishables
should be discarded. When it doubt, throw it out.