March 2009

Thanks to a collaboration of organizations and nautical business, many based in Ballard, today was cause for celebration as the 64-foot Ocean Watch, a steel-hulled cutter rig sloop sailboat, was christened, then hauled into the water at Seaview East Boatyard for its first sea trial. It will circle the Americas via the Northern Passage, a nautical first.

The retooled research vessel was built in Havre de Grace, Maryland, in 1988. It was spotted in Mazatlan last summer where it had been used to collect and research Humbolt squid around the Sea of Cortez. It was then brought to Ballard.

Led by renowned sailor Mark Schrader, the expedition is scheduled to depart from Seattle May, 31, 2009 and will visit 31 ports in 11 countries over the course of 13 months. After completing 25,000 of sailing in a clockwise circumnavigation of the Americas, the vessel will return to Seattle in June, 2010.

Community members may have their last chance to comment on the Conner Homes mixed-use project in the Alaska Junction this Thursday at what could be the project's final design review meeting.

The process is part of the city’s required Early Design Guidance and a Recommendation phase, for mixed-use projects of a certain size. Administered by the Department of Planning and Development, the board reviews private development projects in the city and make recommendations to the city regarding massing, scale and character of the projects.

A recent design review meeting on March 12 could have been the final one for this project but a significant number of concerns from the community and a constraining time limit forced the board to request an additional meeting be held.

Conner Homes project, located on California Avenue Southwest, Southwest Alaska Street and 42nd Avenue Southwest, will include 12,745 square feet of commercial space at the ground level and 72 residential units above. Three levels of below grade parking will be provided for 307 vehicles.

Mike McGinn, who announced his bid for Seattle mayor March 24, is a north Seattle resident and said it was living in this community that got him involved in politics.

McGinn moved to Greenwood 11 years ago and got involved in his community by attending neighborhood planning meetings and working with his neighbors to improve the area.

“Working with my neighbors on things that were important to us was a good thing to do,” McGinn said. “It got me more involved.”

McGinn went on to become president of the Greenwood Community Council and worked on issues, such as sidewalks, drainage and transportation, that he said were important to the north end.

Transportation and education, two of McGinn’s three main platform issues, are vital to Ballard and the rest of north Seattle, he said.

For example, the Metro funding crisis is putting the planned RapidRide corridor on 15th Avenue Northwest at risk, and an improved transportation system is necessary to support development in the area, McGinn said.

He said there are also a number of unique problems facing Ballard and the surrounding areas.

On March 28 at 12:48 a.m. an eyewitness called 911 to report that a female suspect in her 30’s driving a red 2004 Ford Mustang had struck a metal barrier at Harvard Avenue and East Pine Street and drove off.

At 1:20 a.m. SWAT team officers spotted the suspect vehicle and stopped it in the 1400 block of Northwest Leary Way. Patrol Officers responded to assist. The 37-year-old female suspect/driver displayed signs of intoxication and was placed under arrest for DUI.

While transporting the suspect to the East Precinct she became violent and kicked the rear window out of the patrol car. At the precinct, as officers were escorting the suspect to a holding cell she turned and spit in the face of one of the officers. That officer was treated at Harborview Medical Center for biological hazard exposure and released.

The suspect was booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Assault on an Officer and Investigation of Malicious Mischief. Investigating officers requested additional charges of DUI and hit and run.

It was listed as a game, but the Ballard High School baseball team's March 30 matchup against Roosevelt might as well have been batting practice for the Beavers.

Ballard used 14 runs on 12 hits to blast their way past Roosevelt and on to a 3-1 conference record (4-2 overall).

What looked like a nail biter, with the score knotted at one apiece at the end of the first inning, turned into a laugher as the Beavers drove in nine runs in the bottom of the second, all with two outs on the board.

Ballard added four more in the third to completely ice the game.

Senior outfielder Jason Bergerson went one-for-three with a three-run home run. Sophomore outfielder Danny Thomson went one-for-two, adding another three-run homer for the Beavers.

Senior shortstop Dylan Murphy got his three RBIs the old-fashioned way, going three-for-four with a stolen base.

Senior pitcher Jimmy Pugel went four innings and threw eight strikeouts to get the win.

Ballard's dominating performance was not unprecedented, as the team hammered Roosevelt 11-2 March 16.

The Beavers head to Bothell April 1 for a 3:45 p.m. game.

The Seattle Department of Transportation plans to begin construction of 30th Avenue Southwest sidewalk improvements on Monday, April 6.

The sidewalk will be constructed on the eastern side of 30th Avenue from Southwest Brandon Street to the existing sidewalk at the top of the hill (just north of Southwest Juneau Street and High Point).  Some preparation work such as surveying will start later this week.

The construction is expected to take five to six weeks, depending on the weather.  For the duration of construction, 30th Avenue Southwest between Southwest Findlay and Brandon Streets will be closed to through traffic.  

A detour route will be signed for through traffic to use 29th Avenue Southwest.

Parking will be restricted in the area under construction. Access to driveways will be maintained.

Work hours will typically be from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Upcoming Construction Project
Seattle City Light will be moving the utility poles closer to the new curb on 30th Avenue Southwest between Southwest Findlay and Brandon Streets.  

Seattle sports fans, frustrated with losing teams, and teams that take their ball and leave town, have a winning team to root for they may not even know exists. It’s the Seattle Majestics, a full-contact women’s football team in the Independent Women’s Football League that plays by NFL rules.

And with their last two undefeated seasons behind them, (8-0 in each) they are ready again to take on the world. Or, in this case, the Corvallis Pride, on opening night, April 11, 7 p.m.

Several West Seattle residents play on the Majestics, and head over to French Field at Kent Meridian High School for four home games. In addition to Corvallis, the team plays Portland, Sacramento, and Tucson, both home and away. So far they have not gotten through the playoffs. If they do, this season they may battle with the Orlando Mayhem, the Santa Rosa Scorchers, the Montreal Blitz, or another of the 50 other teams in the league.

“We don’t like to lose,” said Admiral Junction resident Stephanie Nelson, No. 33, who plays both tight and defensive end. This is Nelson’s third year with the team. She works in Sea-Tac’s public affairs department.

At 12 years old, Tucker the golden retriever is two years older than his best friend Emily Schuster.

The Schusters originally got Tucker from Mt. Si Goldens and since then he's been an essential part of the family. They love to go hiking and Tucker will keep an eye on everyone, herding them along and even circling around making sure everyone is there.

It's when they head to the river though that Tucker really comes into his own. He collects river rocks, sometimes larger than a softball along the shore, putting them in piles of up to fifteen. He doesn't bring them to anyone. It's just what he does for fun.

"He holds his head underwater for 20 seconds," said Emily, describing how Tucker searches for rocks to collect.

Emily's mother, Laurie said, "He's a dedicated family dog."

How to nominate your pet:

Want to nominate your pet for Pet of the Week? Stop by the VCA West Seattle Veterinary Hospital at 5261 California Ave. S.W. and just ask for a form. A nomination is not a guarantee of appearance and your name and photo may appear in our newspaper and online.

Backed by close to $250,000 of out-of-state money from the chemical industry, a Seattle ordinance aimed at reducing waste, pollution and reliance on foreign oil by placing a 20 cent fee on non-reusable grocery bags is headed to the August ballot.

A Seattle City Council Bill was passed today, March 30, to allow a disposable bag fee ordinance to be submitted on the August 2009 ballot for voter approval or rejection.

Approved by the council and the mayor in July 2008, the ordinance arose from an Seattle Public Utility study that found significant environmental impacts from the use of paper and plastic disposable shopping bags. The ordinance seeks to reduce those impacts and the use of throwaway bags by requiring grocery, convenience and drug store shoppers to pay a 20 cents “Green Fee”
for each disposable bag used.

An August 2008 referendum suspended implementation of the ordinance pending its approval by Seattle voters.

The revitalization of White Center received an economic boost today with action March 30 by the Metropolitan King County Council to accept a $6.25 million federal loan for construction of a retail plaza.

“This is a great opportunity to finance an economic development project that directly benefits the surrounding mixed-income community, creating local jobs for local residents,” said Council Chair Dow Constantine, who represents White Center on the County Council.

The legislation approved by the council authorizes the King County Executive to borrow $6.25 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and re-lend those funds to the White Center Investment Fund, LLC. The legislation also pledges the county’s Community Development Block Grants funds as additional security for the loans.

“The next step in the transformation of the Park Lake neighborhood into Greenbridge is construction of the plaza that will be financed by this loan,” said Council member Larry Gossett, chair of the council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee. “This complex will spur economic growth in both Greenbridge and the communities within southwest King County.”