May 2007

Ballard's old library, now home to Abraxus Books, is safe from the demolition axe - at least for now.

Pryde Johnson Developments own the building at 5711 24th Avenue Northwest. It's sat empty for the last two years until the bookstore moved in March 1 from a warehouse on Seaview Avenue.

The developers had planned to build a mixed use, retail-residential building there with about 94 units and 120 below grade parking stalls.

With gas prices on the rise, Ballard resident John Marshall isn't too worried.

Marshall plugs his 1981 Volkswagen pick-up truck into an electrical outlet and it's good for 30 miles or more of driving at speeds up to 60 miles an hour. It costs an average of 45 cents to charge overnight and the extension cable's connector is behind the gas cap's hinged door.

The Volkswagen's former oil dripping, smog producing gas engine has been replaced by a clean, silent battery powered electric motor.

Marshall's second car is a Subaru that uses traditional fuel.

As students and staff at Viewlands Elementary go about their daily routines, the reality of school closures is sinking in.

"It's starting to get a little sad around here because people are realizing that we are doing things for the last time," said Joanne Bowers, Viewlands' principal.

Along with six other schools, the Seattle School Board voted last fall to close Viewlands, citing low enrollment and poor facility condition.

Seattle City Light is seeking community input about what should be done with a former substation lot in the Sunset Hill neighborhood; it could go to another city department, be sold to the highest bidder or become public open space.

The patch of land, about 5,400 square feet, is located on the south side of Northwest 65th Street just west of 32nd Avenue Northwest.

A court date of June 19 has been set for Alex Coberly, the principal at Whittier Elementary school who has been charged with a misdemeanor count of indecent exposure by the Seattle City Attorney's office.

Coberly's attorney, David Vogel has asked for a deferred prosecution.

"He (Coberly) has acknowledged his mental health problem and wants to get treatment," said Vogel.

Instead of a trial, Coberly would then be placed on supervisory probation while receiving mental health treatment.

A new scam cropping up in e-mail boxes is preying on Seattle residents, say Seattle Police. The scam e-mail, which first appeared in December, threatens to kill recipients if they do not pay thousands of dollars to the sender, who purports to be a hired assassin.

The extortion scam does not appear to target anyone specifically and we have not received any reports of money loss or threats carried out.

Police are advising citizens that this is a hoax. Do not engage the sender as this signals to the sender that they've reached a live account.

A worldwide "Kids Day America/International" on Saturday May 19 will feature an event at the Ballard Commons Park from noon to 3 p.m. There will be free health screenings and information on disease prevention and health promotion.

"We are very excited.

When offense clicks, 'we are deadly'

By Dean Wong

The Ballard Beavers became the first Seattle school to qualify for the KingCo baseball playoffs this season and they made a solid run against their eastside rivals.

Ballard lost their loser out game to Redmond on May 10, 2-1 and finish their year with a 13-10 record.

In their first playoff game, Ballard defeated Lake Washington 9-7 on May 7. Nicholas Palewicz and Nico Van der Ven both pitched in the game. Van der Ven earned the win and had five strikeouts. Stephen Kelsey was 2-4 with a run.

Lumber mills build the area

By Kay F. Reinartz

The heavy forests of Shilshole Bay, together with the ease of water transportation via Salmon Bay, a natural inlet of Puget Sound, naturally inspired men of an entrepreneurial bent to think of sawmills.

J. Sinclair led the way in constructing the first mill on Salmon Bay in a single month in 1887. Shortly thereafter, A. W. Hight opened the first shingle mill. In 1888 two brothers, James L.

When it comes to gardening trends, small is beautiful. Look up - hanging flower baskets are hot right now. Look down - containers can brighten a deck or patio without anyone having to pull acres of weeds.

May is when gardening season moves into high gear, and advice is plentiful from nurseries and gardens in the Federal Way area. Following are tips for the novice as well as the seasoned gardener.

Avril Steele, head gardener of PowellsWood, recommends using containers to keep your deck or yard looking beautiful without all the work of weeding.