January 2011

To the editor:

Open letter to all the Republicans and Democrats in Washington DC and this includes the Tea Party. Listen carefully because I'm only saying this once. Ok ok, I'll speak slowly.

We are not terribly impressed that you all have cut your huge staff budgets by 5%. If that is a symbolic gesture it falls short. It actually feels condescending like we are too stupid to understand that it is not terribly meaningful.

We would be more likely to listen to you if you did a few simple things that would not be just simple symbolism. Many of us feel that you have totally lost any real connection with us. It is our day to day existence that you all seem totally unaware of. You live a life style for the most part that is foreign to us. If you did several things that would bring you closer to our lives you may have a better understanding of how disgusted we are with the process and at times of you.

1. Lose the medical system you have and get what the rest of us have.
2. Lose the retirement system and get one that you pay into and you do not get to collect anything but a modest retirement after you have worked a lifetime...not for a few years.

CNBC's morning financial news show, Squawk Box, was broadcast live from Port of Seattle's Terminal 18 this morning. The show highlighted how the port is driving economic growth for the region. Squawk Box correspondent Carl Quintanilla is featuring five cities this week that are outpacing the rest of the country in economic growth as part of his "Opportunity U.S.A." series. Quintanilla called Seattle's port the "port of economic promise."

The Port of Seattle had record cargo year in 2010, with 2.1 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) crossing the docks. Port Commission President Bill Bryant noted on the broadcast how the port serves as an economic engine for Washington. "One of the most important policy decisions we can make is to reinvest in our transportation infrastructure," Bryant said. "If we are going to be able to move more products from Asia to the American Midwest, and more American products to Asia through Washington, we need a road and rail system that can adapt to changing demands."

Last Monday a burglar made away with a large quantity of gold nuggets, bullion and silver and gold coins from a man’s house on Belvidere Ave s.w. The unknown suspect kicked in the kitchen door, tore out the door jamb and looted a steamer trunk containing the precious metals. The police noted the burglar did not touch the rifle or ammunition in the trunk, nor the rifle and shotgun in a closet that was rummaged through. The victim has bought and sold gold for several years and told police he suspects a younger salesman he deals with that he does not like.

Early last week a burglar forced open a basement window sometime during the middle of the day on 40th Ave s.w. and stole jewelry, a wallet and laptop. To ensure karma swinging far into the red, the burglar also took a piggy bank from a child’s room. Police found the little piggy shattered by a hammer in the basement with all the coins gone.

By Rachel Livingston, special to the Ballard News-Tribune

What do Sasquatch, a wealthy English girl, and a gigantic dog with eyes as big as saucers have in common? They are all characters in the upcoming Battle of the Bards, a fundraiser for Ghost Light Theatricals.

Each year, Ghost Light Theatricals invites three writer and director ensembles to submit an act they’ve adapted from a classic piece of literature and perform the act in front of an audience in the second week of February.

The audience then gets to vote which act they like best with dollar bills. Each vote costs $1 and there is no limit to how many votes you can cast. The act that raises the most money gets to perform their play in full in the upcoming season. which runs from September through April.

South Seattle Community College will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Association pour la Formation des Métiers de l’Aerien (AFMAe) Feb. 2 establishing an agreement to work toward programming that supports curriculum, faculty and student exchange. The signing will take place on the campus inside Olympic Hall Auditorium at 4:00 pm.

In attendance for the event will be South Seattle Community College President Gary Oertli; Executive Dean of Technical Education Malcolm Grothe; AFMAe Manager Muriel Caristan; and French American Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Northwest representative Jack Cowan.

Thirty students from the Massy, France institute have begun a two-week overview of South’s Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) program. They are already familiar with the AMT field from their training in France, but seek to extend their knowledge by studying the U.S. model.

The students are working with South AMT instructors on reviewing airframe construction, and airframe systems turbine engines.

Discovery Shop
4535 California Ave. S.W.
206-937-7169
Now, quality-brand rain/outer wear at dramatically reduced prices, includes men’s & women’s colors and styles. Yellow Tagged items are ½ price. Pictures & frames are ½ price. Bundle up against the cold in one of our fine quality winter coats or jackets. A great variety in most men’s & women’s sizes. The Shop is open on Sundays, 11 a.m. to 3p.m. All other days the Shop is open for our valued customers & donors – purchasing and/or contributing goods; offering estates or financial support – from 10 a.m. to 4:30p.m

Green Exercise with Friends of Lincoln Park Work Party
Saturday, Feb. 5, 9 a.m.-noon. Join us as we remove invasive plants from the forests of Lincoln Park. Dress for weather with sturdy shoes or boots and bring garden gloves and clippers if you have them. Extras available. Meet at the kiosk across from Rose St. in the north parking lot (on Fauntleroy Way S.W.). Contact Sharon at sbaker@uw.edu or 206-935-1769.

23rd Annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser
Hiawatha Community Center
2700 California Ave. S.W.
206-684-3879

UPDATE

As a result of the West Seattle Herald running the above poster, we have removed our prior story as we have received new information from tenants in, and representatives of, the historic artist colony building at 619 Western in Pioneer Square. Some tenants are not against the deep bore tunnel nor protest the potential loss of the 101-year old structure. This contradicts statements we have witnessed at more than one press conference and City Council meeting that gave us the impression the tenants were unified in wanting the building spared, and wanting WSDOT and the City Council not to bore beneath their current home.

This from one 619 Western advocate:

"One thing that has shifted since Jan. 6 is, despite what that flyer says, the majority of 619's artists are not protesting the loss of the building, they are more focused on asking the powers that be to ensure a smooth transition for the artists relocation, and in particular provide support for artists who wish to relocate together in Pioneer Square."

This from an artist and tenant:

UPDATE

At 10:00 a.m. this morning, Elizabeth Campbell of Seattle Citizens Against the Tunnel turned in over 27,000 signatures to the City Clerk's Office to place Initiative-101 on a ballot for Seattle citizens to vote for or against the deep bore tunnel project.

"The tunnel is not a done deal, and the future of this project should be decided by the will of the people," she said.

SCAT collected 27,504 signatures, she said, and 20,629 must be validated for the initiative to pass.

Campbell said this:

This was a fairly easy validating process (...) It (signatures) would stop the tunnel once validated. It eliminates the city's right of way for the tunnel or any tunnel-like structure. Most of the right of way is city-owned.

I don't hate (the tunnel). I love something else more. I love capacity, I love mobility. I love the environment more. And I think the tunnel closes all that. It doesn't provide anything.

On Friday, Jan 28th, BNT reader Judi was unloading her car as she prepared for an event at a church in Crown Hill. She left her trunk open and went inside the church for a few minutes. When she returned she found that her Greenwood schoolbag with all its contents had been stolen.

The most precious item in the bag was a box of family pictures.

The police has been notified but Judi is calling out to the community to get her family photos back. Judy is offering a reward of $50.00 to anyone who finds her pictures.

If you've seen the box of family pictures, contact Judi at 206.789.6070

The boys basketball team hosted the Newport Knights over the weekend and saw their first loss in seven games.

It was a back-and-forth game that wasn't decided until the last few minutes. In the end, the Beavers came up short by three points for a final score of 61 to 64.

Senior Salim Gloyd had another double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Seth Berger contributed 17 points.

The Beavers' next game is Tuesday night at Garfield High School, who is currently ranked the #1 team in the state.

The regular season wraps up on Friday night at Roosevelt High School. To secure a home game as the first playoff game, Ballard has to win one of their two remaining games or Inglemoor has to lose one of their remaining two games.