November 2007

There are no worries in the world for this duck at Golden Gardens except for approaching winter.

Workmen at Pier 90 and 91 are laying paint on this vessel.

With summer behind, James Saito dismantles climbing "holds" on outdoor climbing wall at Stone Gardens in Ballard.

On Halloween, many area residents squeezed their dogs into costumes and fed them a bit of candy, giving a nod to the notion that a family pet is also a family member. As costumes and candy yielded to thoughts of Thanksgiving, a noteworthy golden anniversary passed with little fanfare.

On November third, 1957, a 13-pound Siberian Husky-mix named Laika became the first creature to launch into outer space.

A long time advocate for housing rights, John Fox might not be an obvious leader for social change and economic justice.

It was inspiration, not hardship, which led Fox to spend the last 30 years of his life challenging the structures of inequality in Seattle as the founder and coordinator of the Seattle Displacement Coalition.

The housing advocacy organization is an advocate for tenants' rights and helps residents fight unwanted development, while seeking to preserve and create more affordable homes in the city.

Fox, 57, grew up in the predominately white, mid

In a stroke of luck that overcame long odds, Ballard High School received one of five grand prizes in the "Win a Wireless Lab," sweepstakes recently.

Ballard was selected from a random drawing from with over 170,500 entries nationwide. The program is sponsored by CDW Government Inc. and Discovery Education.

"You won these.

While battling a health crisis, Chris Wedes, better known as J.P. Patches, still wears a smile, and plaid vest of buttons and badges. With sidekick, Bob Newman, a.k.a. Gertrude, the two Seattle icons clowned around on KIRO-TV from the 1950s through the early 1980s.

J.P.

For years, school counselors, medical clinics and hospitals have referred low-income clients to the Ballard Lions Club for help with hearing aids and eye glasses.

Now the Ballard Lions are looking for people who are shut-ins to assist, thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Wilson Trust, part of the legacy of Harry Wilson and Claire Cayo-Wilson, founders of the old Wilson Ford in Ballard on Leary Way.

The funds are earmarked to help financially needy individuals with vision and hearing problems who don't leave their homes and are not aware of the service provided by the

Mayor Greg Nickels says the city has stepped up efforts to keep people safe, protect property and keep Seattle moving during this year's winter storm season.

The mayor also urged all residents to make sure they are prepared to weather storms with emergency kits at home and in their cars.

"We can't control the weather, but we can control how we respond to it, and in Seattle our obligation is to be ready for the worst," the mayor said.

This year the city's winter storm preparations are based on lessons learned from the historic December 2006 wind and rain storm t

A penny may only be worth one cent, but some Ballard students are hoping to collect 750 pounds of them to support charitable causes in their community.

The fundraiser is called Penny Harvest and is being conducted at Adams, Green Lake, Loyal Heights and Whittier elementary schools. Whitman Middle school and Ballard High are also taking part. It started on Oct. 22 and runs through Nov. 21.

Seattle's Penny Harvest campaign is run by Fremont non-profit, Solid Ground.