May 2009

This year’s 120th Ballard celebration of the 17th of May, commonly known as “Syttende Mai,” Norway’s Norwegian Constitution Day, will be a mix of Norwegian and American Culture.

The community, which has historically had a high population of Norwegians, has been celebrating the Syttende Mai since 1889. Beginning at the Norway Center off of Elliot Street followed by Seattle Center, the celebration has been rightfully in Ballard since the late 1980’s when the Leif Erikson Lodge was built in 1986.

The festival is sponsored by the Norwegian 17th of May Committee, an independent, non-profit organization founded to commemorate Norway’s Norwegian Constitution Day. It is a celebration of the day in 1814 when Norway’s constitution was signed in the town of Eidsvoll, Norway.

“The 17th of May is like our Fourth of July,” Jim Vatn, parade chairman for the past 30 years said. “ It’s really a celebration of freedom. The Norwegians, of course, are very grateful for that.”

On the day, there is a parade and festivities. Vatn said it's always a fun event, especially since the community has expanded and even more people are involved.

"X-Men Origins: Wolverine"
Dir. Gavin Hood
PG-13, 107 min.
noon, 2:30, 5, 7:30, 10:10

You're sitting in a restaurant. The waiter puts a dish in front of you. You take a bite. It's delicious. Just as you are about take another bite, the waiter takes the dish away and replaces it with another. The same thing happens a dozen times. In the end, you've had a few truly enjoyable bites but not a very satisfying meal.

That pretty much sums up "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" (a title as cumbersome as that restaurant metaphor).

"Wolverine" is the prequel to the hugely successful (and two-thirds excellent) "X-Men" franchise. It follows the transformation of Logan (Hugh Jackman) from super-healing mutant to the famous metal-clawed title character.

The problem with the film is that it spreads itself too thin, covering hundreds of years and dozens of characters. As soon as an event or character grabs the audience's interest, it or they are swept under the rug, often offhandedly or unceremoniously.

Question:

A. Asked me the other day about her son’s ear infections. He’s 2 and will most likely grow out of them, but while he’s having them, he’s in such pain and we all really feel bad for the little guy. So, what are some safe things to do at home, just to get them feeling better and back to sleep when you’re up late and the doctor’s office isn’t open? Fortunately, most ear infections resolve on their own, since they are the result of viral infections and don’t require antibiotic treatment.

Answer:

First, check for a fever. Make sure your child’s temperature is below 101. If it’s not and you have a number for a nurse hotline, call that and follow their directions. They may suggest Children’s Tylenol or even a trip into urgent care, depending on the other symptoms.

If there’s no fever or if it’s lower than 101 degrees, it’s a pretty safe bet to keep them home. Encourage your child to drink fluids (swallowing may be painful due to pressure changes) in order to promote drainage down the throat.

Legislation has been proposed to update Seattle Department of Transportation’s (SDOT) Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) program, which could affect residential street parking in West Seattle.

According to Jodie Vice, legislative aide to Seattle City Council member Jan Drago, the new legislation policy currently being reviewed is citywide and will not affect any existing RPZ's in West Seattle. However, if a neighborhood comes to the city to request an RPZ, than the legislation would apply.

One neighborhood that may benefit from the proposed legislation is the Morgan Junction. According to Fairmont Community Association president, Sharonn Meeks, the area has been experiencing parking issues for 10 years.

“There is a lot of ‘hide and ride’ in the Fairmont area,” Meeks said.

The term 'hide and ride' refers to cars being left on residential streets while drivers catch a bus and head to work for the day. An RPZ would limit parking time to a matter of hours, unless a vehicle has a permit allowing them to park in the designated zone.

Seattle Department of Transportation crews will work at two locations on Saturday, May 9, if the weather is favorable. One
location will be North 46th Street between Fremont Avenue North and Linden Avenue North. The other location will be on Northwest Market Street between Sixth Avenue Northwest and Eight Avenue Northwest.

Work hours will be from 9 a.m. to no later than 8 p.m. One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained at these locations. Access
to businesses will be maintained, sidewalks will remain open, but on-street parking will be restricted.

The crews will restore pavement that was previously excavated for work on underground utilities.

For more information, please call (206) 684-4661.

According to police reports, one couple living on California Avenue in the Morgan Junction neighborhood have been victims to vandalism. A series of homophobic slurs have been written on their home and garage for a year and a half.

The 54-year-old victim and his longtime partner believe they have been targetted because of their sexual orientation.

Police are currently investigating the incidents.

Please check back for updates on this story.

Seattle Parks and Recreation has named the new park at the corner of California Avenue Southwest and Southwest Eddy Street "Morgan Junction Park," despite a petition signed by 130 members of the community requesting that the park be named after the late West Seattle Herald reporter Tim St. Clair.

The parks department explained that park naming policy requires a person be deceased for at least three years if a park is going to be named after them. St. Clair died from cancer just one year ago.

Morgan Junction Park was acquired with 2000 Pro Parks Levy and King County funds, and is under development, also with Pro Parks Levy funds, as a piazza-like space with green edges, a U-shaped public gathering space with seating, a central lawn, and a prominent tree in its southwest corner.

The parks naming committee considered 17 different nominations, and after applying the criteria in the park naming policy, unanimously recommended the name Morgan Junction Park because it acknowledges the history and location of the park, they said.

The Morgan Junction Park will be dedicated at 10 a.m. on June 13, just before the Morgan Junction Festival begins.