May 2009

“Change was never one of your strong suits,” my former mother-in-law wrote to me by way of acknowledging my recent half-mile Ballard relocation. Her words have always inspired a reverse psychology response in me. Within minutes of her email I went to the basement and sorted another box from the past, exercising my newfound ability to embrace change by recycling my 30 year-old college notebooks.

It seems that ever since last fall my life has been nothing but change, from the loss of the Seattle PI from the doorstep to a different doorstep.

There’s an Indonesian expression that became of book title, “When the World Was Steady.” I have been trying to find a sense of steadiness beneath my bare feet on these new to me (splintery) floors.

I’ve worked to find my footing while realizing I traded perhaps the only Ballard house with a dry basement for a more traditional model with built-in stream.

I still dream of my old block, dreaming myself back into my old house, popping out to chat while still in my bathrobe. Then the garden here started to pop and change seemed wonderful.

Last year, West Seattle High School worked to better prepare incoming ninth graders for the academic expectations of high school and will continue to do so for this year’s incoming freshmen with the Summer Bridge Program.

The program is funded by a grant from the Family Education Levy and is intended to help schools prepare incoming freshmen for high school. West Seattle, Chief Sealth and Franklin High Schools are part of this citywide levy grant.

The levy currently funds West Seattle High's D.E.N. and other freshmen programs, as well as some new faculty positions at like ninth-grade academic intervention specialist Lisa Coacher, YMCA Coordinator Anne Powell, and ninth-grade counselor Susan Nyman.

“The school organization can play a critical role in determining students’ success in academics and social adaptation," reads the program’s rationale. "The ninth grade Summer Bridge program will serve to better prepare incoming ninth-graders for the academic expectations of high school and will support positive social experiences between ninth grade students."

It may not have meant much in the standings, but the Ballard High School baseball team's 11-2 win over Woodinville May 7 was just about the best ending the Beavers could ask for to what was a rough 2009 season.

Ballard had a 9-3 lead going into the final inning against Woodinville April 3. Woodinville exploded for seven runs, won the game and sent the Beavers on a 10-game losing streak, changing the course of their season dramatically.

"The Woodinville game was the turning point in the season," senior Nick Palewicz said. "We were 2-1 in the league before that, and we would have been 3-1 with that win. The 10-game losing streak started with that loss, and we lost a lot of confidence."

Five weeks and 10 losses later, Ballard got its revenge.

Senior Dylan Murphy went two-for-four with a home run and senior Jason Bergerson went two-for-three with a double and a triple.

Starting pitcher Emmett Niland, who spent most of the season at catcher, went five innings, giving up one earned run, walking two and striking out four.

The Beavers finished 6-12 overall and 5-11 in the league. But, there is hope on the horizon for Ballard baseball.

Beginning Monday, May 11, traffic on Airport Way South will be restricted from turning west onto South Spokane Street for approximately eight weeks.

This closure of westbound traffic between Airport Way South and Sixth Avenue South will not affect vehicles approaching South Spokane Street from northbound I-5 (via exit 163) or from Beacon Hill (via South Columbian Way), according to the city's transportation department.

Westbound traffic on South Spokane Street will, however, take a slight jog to the left as they proceed through the intersection. Westbound traffic will also have the option of turning left to proceed south on Sixth Avenue South.

South Spokane Street remains closed to eastbound traffic between First and Sixth avenues, with a detour route north on First to South Lander Street. (Local access is being maintained to businesses between First and Second avenues on eastbound South Spokane Street.)

The turn restriction from Airport Way South to South Spokane Street is needed to allow placement of a water quality vault underneath the
Spokane Street Viaduct just west of Sixth Avenue South.

About 80 grandparents attended Arbor Heights Elementary School's annual "grandparents day" May 8, said principal Carol Coram.

"We had a little reception where grandparents signed in with coffee, juice, and doughnuts, and the grandparents and their grandkids got matching name tags," she said.

"I want to be either a doctor or soccer player when I grow up," said Noah Webster, while his grandmother Glenda Daniel helped him write a paper on a bread recipe in Janet Feagan's second grade class.

"I attended Arbor Heights School and my mother, Pauline Dudley, taught first grade here," said Karen Lavallee, managing broker at Windermere in the Junction.

"She still lives in Arbor Heights. "

Lavallee was visiting her grandson Conner Roed who now attends.

"It's just fun to come and see the school again, and how much the kids are learning," she said. "I'm involved with my grandkids' lives a lot. I have four grandchildren here in West Seattle. So I have softball on Saturdays and soccer on Sundays."

Mayor Greg Nickels has finalized his plans to cut about $13.3 million from the city’s 2009 general fund budget, while preserving funding for public safety and direct human services, according to a press release from his office.

“These are difficult decisions, but these cuts are prudent and we are able to make them while maintaining our core services for public safety and for people in need,” Nickels said.

After consulting with the Seattle City Council and getting feedback from an April 22 public hearing, the mayor restored a position assigned to the Emergency Operations Center. This position will continue to help community groups prepare for disasters.

Departments will begin implementing cuts this month, according to the mayor's office. In anticipation of the 2010 budget deliberations, Nickels will continue looking for additional savings in the months ahead.

Nickels is proposing to tap up to $5 million in reserve funds this year, leaving more than $25 million available to help balance the budget in 2010.

A 22-year-old woman said she was forced off the 8400 block of 35th Avenue Southwest, causing her to hit a tree earlier today.

Witnesses on the scene reported seeing a navy blue Volvo station wagon force her out of the right lane causing her to leave the road and hit the tree.

The driver said she was burned by the airbag and would be going to Northwest Hospital for observation.

The Regence Foundation has announced it awarded a $20,000 grant to help West Seattle-based Cross Cultural Health Care Program (CCHCP) take its training online, so health care institutions anywhere in the state can communicate medical issues in a culturally and linguistically appropriate way, according to a press release from the non-profit.

Regence employee Jennifer Frederick nominated CCHCP as part of the Regence’s second annual employee-nominated Transformation Grant program.

“In health care, misunderstandings are not only uncomfortable, they can be expensive and life threatening,” said Frederick. “I nominated CCHCP for a Regence Foundation grant because the work they’re doing to bridge language and cultural barriers for patients and providers is absolutely essential for improving healthcare outcomes.”

The Ballard High School girls golf team lost their final match of the year 218-295 to Mercer Island May 7, but four Ballard golfers are going to districts.

Coach Casey McMullin said despite the final score, the match went well for the team with all Ballard players shooting 68 or better.

The loss puts the Beavers at 2-5 for the season.

Kayla Wenger, Blair Morgan, Caitie Scott and Diana Shyue qualified for the district championships for Ballard.

This is McMullin's first time taking players to districts so he doesn't know what the scores are like, but he thinks the Ballard players have a good chance, he said.

He said districts will be an especially good experience for Shyue, who is a freshman.

Districts are May 12 and May 13 in Snohomish.

While Ballard's boys' squad finished tied for second with Roosevelt in the Seattle City Meet May 7, there is a bit of optimism as the championship season gets under way with next week's KingCo Championship meet.

Host Garfield won both the boys' and girls' competition Thursday afternoon at the Southwest Athletic Complex, scoring 85 points in the three way meet, with the Beavers tied with Roosevelt at 42.

Senior long jumpers Julian Montante and Carlos Stanley took advantage of a trailing wind to finish first and second in the event with personal bests.

Stanley, who played quarterback for the Ballard High School football team last fall and had not picked up a javelin until a few weeks ago, parlayed his throwing skills to win the javelin with a personal best toss.

The most unexpected personal best of the day belonged to senior Nolan Kozu, who only began turning out for track this spring.

Kozu, who had only run the 400 in competition once this season, won the event and put himself in the mix in the KingCo Conference, as his time puts him in the top 10 heading into next week's championships.