November 2012

Update, Aug. 20

The folks at Percy's (5233 Ballard Ave NW) went ahead and decided to open last night, as they originally planned.

Cocktails at Percy's are apothecary-inspired, leaning heavy on different herbs. Their cocktail menu features drinks like the "Wild Ones" ($9), which has basil-infused tequila, orange liqueur, strawberry puree, fresh rhubarb and sour mix; or the "Garfunkel" ($8), wich parsley-sage-rosemary-&-thyme infused gin, fresh watermelon juice, mint & our sour mix.

Chef Dave Lamping is serving up the plates. You'll find seasonal items such as the parisienne gnocchi ($14), served with sweet corn, roasted oyster mushrooms and brown butter; and the pork dip sandwich on baguette ($10) served with sweet onion marmalade, wilted pea vines and pork jus.

Percy's will be open seven days a week, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. A brunch may become available later.

We'll drop by and get some photos.

For more info and to look at the menus, visit http://percysseattle.com/

Update, Aug. 16

This military veteran is so delighted by his prime-rib lunch from the Burien Elks he took a photo of it with his cell phone.

The Elks treat area military veterans to a free lunch each Veterans Day as a way of saying thanks for their service

Noting the election season just ended, Highline Public Schools Chief Accountability Officer Alan Spicciati presented the district’s latest analysis of its goals by using a common campaign line—Are Highline schools better off than four years ago?

Spicciati told board members the district had met its 2013 targets in five out of 27 areas of the district’s “Systemwide Measures of Success.” According to Spicciati, the district is on track in 4 areas, above baseline in 11 areas, at baseline in 2 areas and below baseline in 5 areas.

Using 2007-2008 school-year data, the district set a base line for progress in 27 areas with goals set to be reached by the 2013-2014 school year.

Using the data, Spicciati noted Highline is better off than four years ago in 20 of 27 criteria.

However, all five of the measurements below baseline relate to academic achievement. Spicciati said the poor economy may have affected academic progress.

The academic areas are enrollment in post-secondary programs, gap in college readiness, gap in secondary programs, reading scores and on-time graduation rate.

The threat that Normandy Park will cease to be a city has diminished as voters approved a property tax increase in the Nov. 6 election.

Approval of the measure allows Normandy Park lawmakers to raise the city’s property tax rate to $1.60 per $1,000 of assessed value. The current rate is $1.31. Burien and Des Moines properties are also assessed at $1.60.

As of Nov. 10, King County Elections reported 2,371 yes votes (65.84 percent) and 1,230 no votes (34.16 percent.)

The extra levy rate will raise about $330,000 annually for the next four or five years.

Both the chief supporter and opponent of the measure agreed that the vote showed Normandy Park residents suppoort their city.

“The citizens of Normandy Park are pleased with the services they receive and are willing to pay for them,” Karen Steele, chair of the Pro Committee for Proposition 1, declared.

Councilmember Stacia Jenkins said, “This is a very clear demonstration Normandy Park residents care about their community. I’m happy to see that.”

Despite three brewery giants participating, no one from Ballard won in the Phinney Neighborhood Association 25th Annual Winter Beer Taste.

Hale's Ales, Hilliard's Beer and Reuben's Brews all participated in the competition. Hale's brought their Wee Heavy Winter Ale, Hilliard's submitted their Murdered Out Stout and Sour Saison, and Reuben's went the IPA route with their Roasted Rye IPA and Imperial IPA.

Two neighboring breweries were able to score: from Greenwood, the Naked House Brewery was able to take home second with their Kentucky Dude, and Bluebird Brewery (a very recent extension of Bluebird Microcreamery in Greenwood, which opens Thursday) won third with their Theo's Chocolate Stout. Snoqualmie Brewing got first with their Wildcat IPA.

Despite Ballard's losses, it still turned out to be a fun event. Adam Robbings of Reuben's Brews writes:

"It was a fun night! Lots of people! We had a number of people who saved their last tickets for us, which was nice. And we met a lot of new people, and my voice had virtually disappeared by the end!!!"

Need a winter warmer? Support our local breweries and grab a drink.

Under pressure from county and local political leaders, the King County Library System board agreed to postpone consolidating the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries into one facility near Southwest 128th Street until after the North Highline annexation vote.

Last week, North Highline voters overwhelmingly rejected annexation into Burien.

This week, the library system’s planning committee will consider the consolidation proposal again. The discussion will come at a committee meeting open to the public on Thursday, Nov. 15 at the Burien Library, 400 S.W. 152nd St. The meeting begins at noon with the North Highline library discussion at the top of the agenda.

Annexation proponents argued that the library system would go forward with their consolidation plan if annexation was not approved. Opponents said the annexation vote would not affect the decision on the libraries.

Anyone with concerns over current aircraft noise or other issues is invited to a public forum with the FAA and Port of Seattle, with jurisdiction over SeaTac Airport and Boeing Field.

Here are the details from the FAA:
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Port of Seattle (Port) will facilitate a public meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13 to provide information on existing flight procedures into and out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Boeing Field.

The meeting details are as follows:

Who: Representatives from the FAA, Port of Seattle and King County Airport/Boeing Field.

When: Tuesday, Nov. 13, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Cleveland High School - Auditorium
5511 15th Ave S.
Seattle, WA 98108

If you've been inside the Ballard Branch Library these past couple weeks, you've probably noticed all of the art on display.

That art, which was created by students at the St. Alphonsus Parish School for the 24th Auction and Gala, will be up for auction this Saturday, Nov. 17, at 5 p.m. The theme for the event is "Wings For the Future."

The goal of the event is to raise $25,000 to "spruce up" the school," according to St. Alphonsus principal, Selina Innes. Though it has recently had a seismic retrofit, she noted that other parts of the school are not doing so well. With the money, they will replace the mechanisms on all of the windows so they open and close safely, install refrigerated drinking fountains to the second and third floors, add a sink and countertop to the art room, and paint the walls and classrooms of the building -- including a new logo and motto on the main wall of the commons area.

St. Alphonsus has been in the Ballard community since 1907. According to the website, St. Alphonsus is an accredited Catholic school which accepts families of all backgrounds. They teach preschool through eighth grade.

The number of evening RapidRide bus trips increases tonight as Metro continues to change and address growing ridership between downtown Seattle and West Seattle.

Two more RapidRide bus trips will carry evening commuters making it six added evening trips since the C Line and RapidRide service began.

Previously Metro added two trips Nov. 5 and two additional trips Oct. 8. Together, the added trips target full buses and gaps in bus service when buses are delayed between 4:15 and 6:45 p.m.

In a press release Metro detailed the changes:

“When delayed buses show up downtown, they quickly become packed and that frustrates riders,” said Kevin Desmond, Metro Transit general manager. “We’re adding bus trips when commuters need them most so they don’t have to wait as long between buses and bus loads can even out.”

Of the six new evening RapidRide trips on the street as of Nov. 13, one will start as a RapidRide D Line from Ballard, traveling to downtown Seattle and then on to West Seattle; five others will start in Belltown – a move designed to avoid traffic delays in lower Queen Anne.

Starting today, Nov. 13, Ballard will be getting one more bus for it's RapidRide D Line; meanwhile, King County Metro's emphasis is improving the C Line to West Seattle.

Metro is adding two buses for the evening commute today, bringing the total of added evening RapidRide buses to six, with two added Nov. 5 and two added Oct. 8. Only one will be starting in Ballard, however, and going the full route all the way to West Seattle. The other five, in order to avoid the Lower Queen Anne traffic tangle, will be starting in Belltown and going down to West Seattle.

This means lots of good news for West Seattle. But for Ballard -- where the Ballard News-Tribune has been receiving a steady influx of emails from community members unhappy with the service -- not so much.

Metro is continuing to monitor bus frequency, growing ridership and rider feedback.

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