October 2009

This week I sat down next to this man at the grocery store and I said, "Talk to me."

He smiled and said, "Okay."

He is sharp as a needle and I found out he is 98 and once played baseball for the Seattle Indians way back in 1935. His name is Russ Balzer and proved it by showing me his passport.

He also had a picture of himself in his baseball uniform.

He said Edo Vanni was quite an athlete out of Queen Anne and they both played with Freddie Hutchison.

Russ was a shortstop. He was two months shy of mustering out of the Army when a local guy with the team noticed him in a pick-up game in Seattle.

He asked him if he wanted to sign with the Seattle Indians.

"You've got quite a arm," the guy said. Russ was 26 at the time (1937)-- too old by the standards of the day.

"But he never asked my age," Balzer said.

He was impressed enough to sign him for $125. Russ signed, but never got the money. He was farmed up to Vancouver B.C. He hated the cold and wet and quit shortly after getting there.

Seattle Parks is hosting two public meetings to discuss the improvements at Delridge Playfield and gather community feedback.

At the first meeting on Monday, Oct.19, Parks will present schematic design for the field. At the second meeting on Monday, Nov. 23, Parks will present a final concept design. Both meetings will be held at the Delridge Community Center, 4501 Delridge Way S.W., from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

The community is encourage to come and participate in the meeting.

Jennifer Grassley left her husband Bret home alone for a weekend two weeks ago. Upon returning home, she opened the door and saw an animal carrier and said "Oh, what did you do?"

He had found some kittens for sale in the paper, checked them out, fell in love and brought them home. He even gave them names, Hansel and Gretel, perfect for a brother and sister team.

It didn't take long before Jen loved the kittens and now they are a family of four. The kittens are just 9 weeks old and sleep all night long. They do use a litter box and have not had any accidents, but Bret had to help them to the litter box in the morning at first to re-enforce their training.

At 8-and-a-half weeks old Hansel weighed 35 ounces and Gretel weighed 27 ounces, but they are growing "like wildfire," the couple said.

Gretel is a ball of fire and Hansel is a little more mellow like a good big brother. They have toys but they play with lots of things including their tails.

The Ballard Senior Center is hosting a fundraising event this Thursday, Oct. 8 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. called Wine, Chocolate and Art, although the title order varies depending on personal preference.

Tickets are $20.00 available in advance and in person at the center, which is locates at 5429 32nd Ave. N.W.

The center (profiled more fully in this week’s At Large in Ballard) funds 72 percent of its operating costs through fundraisers, such as annual concerts and rummage sales.

This year, instead of trying to fill a venue like Benaroya Hall, they’re converting their own space into an art gallery for the evening along with wine tasting and Theo chocolate sampling.

Sommelier Buddy Dunn is pairing wines with Theo chocolates. The works of six local artists will be on display and available for sale for just the one night.

While writing three men a liquor violation, an officer heard one of the suspects threaten another officer at the scene. He watched as the suspect stepped up, took a swing, and completely missed the intended target, who was happy to—as the writer of the report put it—“assist the suspect to the ground” before booking him into King County Jail.

A Ballard business has discovered more than $1,000 missing along with checks totaling nearly $500 from customer payments. One employee has been fired, and the investigation continues.

Early one morning, near the 7100 block of 34th Avenue Northwest, a woman jogged past a parked white Camry. Leaning against it was man (naked, save for his sneakers) who fondled himself under a conveniently positioned light that was shining down from the top of the car. Officers visited the home of the registered owner of the car, but no one answered.

Kudos to the citizen who called 911 around 11:30 on Saturday night to report a suspicious red car idling on the street, with a group of males seemingly throwing things from inside. An officer who heard the broadcast report immediately recognized the description of the vehicle and the suspects as being involved in an armed robbery at the Alaska Junction earlier in the evening. (A businessman had been forcibly robbed of the day's receipts and numerous gift cards.) Several patrol cars were dispatched to the vehicle's location in the 7100 block of 32nd Avenue Southwest and officers arrested four young men (three juveniles and one adult). Inside the car was money and other items taken from the victim. The older youth (18, from West Seattle) was booked into King County Jail, and the other five (two 17-year-olds from the Tukwila area; one 16-year-old from West Seattle) were booked into the Youth Service Center. All face possible robbery charges.

Thomas Jefferson and Decatur swam in a girls dual meet and the winner was the more experienced TJ team.

Raider sophomore Amber Cratsenberg parted the water the fastest, as she and other state-returning teammates like Savannah Coe, Janice Huynh and Michelle Hogan won 9-of-11 races, plus the diving was won by TJ freshman Monica Church, to dunk the Gators at the King County Aquatic Center Thursday.

"We graduated about 15 seniors and we have about 15 freshmen coming in," said TJ head coach Wendy Neely. "We are a young team, but we have a lot of returners, too."

Returners who should help the Raiders do quite well this season at state. But let's not get too far ahead of things.

For now, let's stick with the biggest winners of this meet. Sure, it's Cratsenberg, as well as the Gators' Kelsey Crowder and Coe winning two events each.

Cratsenberg and Coe were on state relay teams last year, and Cratsenberg took second in the 50 freestyle at state last year as a freshman. Cratsenberg was also fourth in the 100 free at state.

The chefs and local food producers take center stage at the Sixth Annual Eat Local Now! fundraising dinner on Sunday, Oct. 11 from 5 to 10 p.m. at the West Seattle Masonic Lodge, located at 4736 40th Ave. S.W.

The featured chefs include many West Seattle favorites, including:

Toby Matasar - Eats Market Cafe
Tony Kurzinski - Feedback Lounge
Dalis Chea - Fresh Bistro
Hajime Sato – Mashiko
Nance Tourigny - Personal Chef and Cooking Instructor
Bill Taylor - Talaris Conference Center
Maria Gonzalez
Brad Glaberson

"I'm preparing one of the courses from local farmers and producers," Tourigny said. "I'm preparing it for 220 people showing up for Sunday's dinner. I think it's really important to support these people. What they are producing is so incredible. It's a real treat to be able to play with all this food."
Bill Taylor added,"I'm tremendously supportive of locally produced food. I love West Seattle."

Save Our Swimming, the citizens group formed to pass Des Moines Proposition 1 and save the Mount Rainier Pool, will host its campaign kick-off from 4-7 p.m., Oct. 9 at the pool. A free family cookout and open swim will follow the rally.

The guest of honor will be Ariana Kukors, who shattered the world record in the Women's 200 IM in August at the FINA World Championships in Rome.

Kukors swims for KING Aquatic Club, which trains at Mount Rainier Pool.

Her teammates include Olympians Megan (Quann) Jendrick and Margaret Hoelzer. Des Moines Mayor Bob Sheckler will recognize Kukors' accomplishment.

Also expected to be on hand is Faith Callahan, a three-day-a-week veteran of Mount Rainier Pool's low-impact water aerobics program. Callahan celebrates her 105th birthday on Oct. 24 and credits the pool for her continued mobility.

A large number of seniors from local retirement homes utilize the pool.

Highline School District will hold its annual Life after High School Fair on Oct. 7 from 5:30- 8:30 p.m. at the Tyee Complex, 4424 S. 188th St., SeaTac.

In addition to colleges and career booths there will also be a keynote speaker at 5:30 and break out workshops with a variety topic from: financing college, college application, preparing your middle school student and more.

For more information contact Barb Wilson at 206-433 2430.