March 2009

Seattle Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent Tim Gallagher will attend the annual meeting of Groundswell NW March 9 to discuss the implementation of the Parks Levy, which was passed by Seattle voters last fall.

The meeting will be held at the Ballard Community Center, 6020 28th Ave. N.W. from 7 to 9 p.m. Gallagher will be asked about the status of the acquisition of open spaces at Crown Hill and Webster schools.

The event is a dessert potluck and will also feature Groundswell's annual Local Heroes awards and election of Groundswell officers for the next year.

Please contact Dave Boyd, 498-6636 or dave.boyd1@comcast.net for more info.

Seattle Sun Tan opened Feb. 27 in the southwest corner of the Ballard Blocks, just below L.A. Fitness and a few feet away from Edith Macefield's house.

This is Seattle Sun Tan's 15th location in the state and second in the city.

The Ballard Blocks, at 4609 14th Ave. N.W., includes the L.A. Fitness (already open), Trader Joe's (opens March 6) and Seattle Sun Tan but still has empty storefronts. The chain restaurant Chipotle recently backed out of the location.

I look out
Through big windows
Into a four a.m. sky,

Trash is kicked up in the wind
And floats down like flailing butterflies.
Monarchs, I think.

Though the trip, not as long
Is as beautiful.
Against the night sky,

Bruised by the Sun
All black and blue
The moon

Heals the wounds
The day has made
The Night cradles us

In her arms
With stories of
Bears

Men with hooves
And Long-handled ladles
We peacefully slumber

And are put to bed
Only to be struck
By the Sun once more.

You can pull at the covers all you want
But we all have to
Have to stand up

Take our solar beating
And wait for the eve
Where we can be,

Stand, live and breathe without reprehension
Like the sky,
I'm always there
But I only shine at night.

In 2009, we're focusing on our values, starting with Hope.

The eight Safety Net core values are:

Hope
Kindness
Security
Community
Humor
Power
Learning
Effectiveness

With major political shifts in our nation, polls say we're a people riding a wave of hope. Hope is, as we say in our workbook, the cornerstone of strength.

With hope comes the ability to have a vision of how things may be, to plan, to take action toward that anticipated state, and to enlist support. Hope is usually called upon in difficult times and sustains our belief in the possibility of a better tomorrow. Personal, political, and community safety nets will support us as we hold visions and take actions.

Tip: Start your year off right by getting Personal Safety Nets "In Case of Emergency" wallet cards for yourself and those you count on to support you.

1. Ask three people to be your first emergency contacts.
2. Tell them about how to reach one another - they are a team.
3. Write their names and phone numbers inside on the card.
4. Carry the card with you in your wallet or pocket.
5. Give each of them cards, with your name as one contact for them.

The Seattle Board of Park Commissioners will hold a public hearing tonight, March 12, on a proposal by the King County Ferry District to approve a change of use at Seacrest Park, allowing the Elliott Bay Water Taxi, which operates from the Seacrest dock, to provide year-round service. 

In addition, plans for Seacrest include dock replacement to accommodate this additional service and much needed repairs to the site. Parks staff briefed the board on the proposal on February 26. 

The hearing is scheduled at 7 p.m., at the West Seattle Golf Clubhouse, 4600 35th Ave. S.W.

At its regular meeting on Feb. 26 the Seattle Parks Board was presented with a proposal that the Water Taxi begin operating year round at Seacrest Park and that King County funds be used to improve conditions of the Seacrest dock.

In 2008, after the King County Ferry District took over the Water Taxi, a record high of 182,000 riders used the service. Now, the district has recommended the service become year-round in 2010. Currently, the Water Taxi runs from April Through October.

Captain (store manager) Scott Gundlach and First Mate (assistant store manager) Michael Lester will be opening the doors of the new Ballard Trader Joe’s at 9 a.m. Friday, March 6.

Gundlach said there have already been plenty of people stopping by and calling, and they are expecting a big turnout opening day.

“It should be a lot of fun,” he said. “The first day should have a lot of excitement.”

“For the grand opening we’re not going to open the doors and just have everyone come in,” Lester said. “We’ll have a lei cutting, we’re going to have the Seafair pirates come down and entertain for a few hours, and there’s giong to be some other musical entertainment. We’re going to make a whole day of it in celebration.”

The new store will combine Trader Joe’s traditional Hawaiian decor with art that celebrates Ballard’s rich seaside heritage.

A hand painted mural in the store incorporates Ballard landmarks, such as the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, Shilshole Bay Marina, Fishermen’s Terminal, a statue of Leif Erickson at Shilshole Bay Marina, the Ballard Bridge and the Railroad Bridge at the Locks.

Mayor Greg Nickels dedicated a public gathering space and overlook on Ballard’s last piece of undeveloped, wooded shoreline on June 7, 2008. The festive event included King County Councilmember Larry Phillips, Department of Neighborhoods Director Stella Chao, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Colonel Mike McCor- mack and music by the Susan Harper Conspiracy and Reckless Abandon.

First identified as a potential public open space in Groundswell’s 1996 Ballard/Crown Hill Open Space Inventory and Action Plan, this gem of a site has been a long time in the making. Along with the 34th Avenue Northwest street end, the site protects nearly 700 feet of shoreline that is valuable refuge and rearing habitat for juvenile salmon from the Lake Washington/Cedar River watershed. As the salmon smolt leave the Locks and their bodies adjust to the salt water and put on weight for the journey to the ocean, the shallow nutrient-rich waters provide refuge from predators.

A planting party is scheduled this Sunday for the new Ballard Corners Park, set to open to the public in the next few months.

David Folweiler, co-chair of Friends of Ballard Corners Park, says volunteers are still needed to help plant hundreds of plants, about 800.
The planting will start at 9 a.m. March 8.

Coffee and lunch will be offered to volunteers and kids will also get a chance to climb on the play structure before the park is fenced off again to let the grass grow, said Folweiler in an email.

"Once we get a better sense of when the fence will come down for good, we will be planning a grand opening celebration, likely for late spring/early summer," he said.

The park, in the last phases of construction, is located at 17th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 62nd Street and haas been on ongoing community effort since 2006. It's been paid for by city, county and state grant funds.

A planting party to finalize plantings in the rain gardens and parking strips around the park is schedule at the park for 9 a.m. March 8. Volunteers are being sought.

ArtsWest Theater in the Alaska Street Junction has announced productions for its 2009-2010 season.

Four of the six are Seattle premieres
Sep. 9, 2009 to Oct. 3, 2009.
“Dead Man’s Cell Phone” by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Carol Roscoe

Oct. 21, 2009 to Nov. 11 2009
“Measure for Pleasure” by David Grimm, directed by Christopher Zinovitch

Dec. 2, 2009 to Dec. 27, 2009
“Plaid Tidings” returns for the second holiday season

Jan. 27, 2010 to Feb. 21, 2010
“Love Song” by John Kolvenbach, directed by Kate Witt

March 10, 2010 to April 3, 2010
“Sunlight” by Sharr White, directed by Vanessa Miller

April 28, 2010 to May 23, 2010
“Tell Me on a Sunday” by Andrew Lloyd Webber, directed by Christopher Zinovitch

Supporters for the Junction Plaza Park, located on the northwest corner of 42nd Avenue Southwest and Southwest Alaska Street, are working under a tight deadline to raise the funds necessary to complete the park. Without significant funds and volunteer hours from the local community, the park could lose $100,000 dedicated to the project by the 2005 Pro Parks Levy at the end of this year.

Members of the local community have been working to develop this park since 2005 when the property was purchased by the Seattle Parks Department. The project has been designed as both a destination and a pass-through park. It would be used for casual daily activities and community festivals.

A conceptual design has been created for the Junction Plaza Park, and after one more community design review meeting the project could be ready for development. However, before any work begins the total cost of construction, $350,000, must be secured.