January 2008

The Keystone Club at the Ballard Boys and Girls Club has been collecting donations for homeless teenagers.

The club joined 13 other Seattle Keystone groups in the effort and will give the clothing, sleeping bags, shoes and jeans to New Horizon, a group that provides services to teens living on the street. Members are also looking for snack items like granola bars, AA batteries, make up and other items that can be useful for homeless teens.

"It's amazing, the number of homeless teens. Seattle is attractive for homeless people and teens.

Sunset Bowl, which opened its 26 lanes and diner in January, 1957, has since become a Ballard institution, and will soon become a memory. The one-acre-plus site and building will not be spared as it was sold to Avalon Ballard LLC for over $13 million, and in mid-April will close to make way for apartments.

The property, at 1420 Northwest Market Street, is to some area residents a throwback to the good old days, and more than just a bowling alley.

Members of the Greenwood Senior Center plan to involved themselves in the community by making positive contributions now that their new group S.A.G.E. (Seniors, Active, Giving and Engaged) has been formed.

The goal of Seniors, Active, Giving and Engaged is to get the center's membership working on local and global issues by using their wisdom, judgment and experience.

In the Dec. 26 issue of the Ballard News-Tribune, in the article titled "Condo design criticized," the possible anchor tenant for a new condo proposed at the northwest corner of 15th Avenue Northwest and Northwest Market Street was incorrectly identified.

Developers Rhapsody Partners are no longer in negotiations with the Rite Aid drugstore chain to operate at the bottom level of the eight-story planned development.

Homer Vess celebrated his 100th birthday Jan. 7 at the Columbia Lutheran Home in Ballard. But he does not reside there. He takes care of himself, and others. Vess volunteers at the home twice a week helping residents eat. He drives there from his Capital Hill apartment. He learned to drive his father's Model-T nearly 85-years ago in Rockford, about 30 miles south of Spokane, where he was born.

"If you can drive that, you can drive anything," he declared proudly.

Woodland Park Zoo has increased its winter admission fee by 50 cents to help offset increasing costs.

Effective Jan. 1, the new fees through April 30 are: Adult (13-64) $11; Child (3-12) $8; and Toddler (0-2) Free. Seniors and people with disabilities receive a discount. Parking also will increase by 50 cents to offset the city's parking tax. The new parking fee will be $4.50 effective Jan. 1.

Summer admission will remain the same from May 1 through Sept. 30: Adult (13-64) $15; Child (3-12) $10; and Toddler (0-2) Free.

Jim Diers' charm is infectious.

Beavers are KingCo force

By Dean Wong

In gymnastics, the Ballard Beavers are becoming a force in KingCo, winning meets and earning the respect of top teams like the Garfield Bulldogs and Bothell Cougars in recent weeks.

The latest taste of success came on Jan.

1. The Wayside United Church of Christ fell victim to the mischief of vandals last week, January 7. The Church is located at 2000 Southwest Dash Point Road. The incident took place around 1:35 a.m. According to the Federal Way police log, officers responded to an alarm early in the morning, which they believed was triggered by vandals. The suspects used a large rock to break the 32" by 72" window on the parking lot side of the building. The church estimates the damage at $1,200. Officer located the rock on the inside of the church office.

Cara Rudd, 21, of Federal Way is participating in the Miss Auburn Scholarship Program, a preliminary to Miss Washington and Miss America Pageants, in hopes of attaining a scholarship for education.

The Miss Auburn program gives away more scholarship money than any other local program in the country.

Last year the program awarded more $61,000 to 23 contestants.

This year Rudd is one of 24 eligible young women competing for scholarship money.