April 2016

Update: 6:00 p.m.

Michael Milstein of NOAA Fisheries told the Ballard News-Tribune that the gray whale seen today at the Ballard Locks was first sighted there on March 21 and has continued to be sighted in the area.

The whale was later spotted as far south as the Fauntleroy Ferry area a few days ago.

“It has been in the area for a few weeks, so it could come back. For some reason it seems to be hanging around in the shallow waters of a heavily commercial area, which is very unusual for it to do,” said Milstein.

Milstein also said that the whale is an adult but is smaller because it appears to be emaciated.

“If you look at the pictures you see that it looks pretty skinny and bony.”

In their migration from Southern California and Mexico to the Arctic, Milstein said it’s not uncommon for gray whales to stop in Puget Sound to feed on shrimp, sardines and herring. However, the whales primarily feed on the things in the sediment of the seabed by sifting through it.

As to whether the two 40-ton gray whales attacked by an orca near Whidbey Island are linked to the whale at the locks, Milstein said it’s “unlikely.”

The body of what is believed to be a 59 year old male Vashon Island resident was found this morning at around 10 am, floating in the water just east of the Island, according the King County Sheriff's deputies.

This morning around 8:00 the U.S. Coast Guard found a small aluminum boat floating unattended in Puget Sound between the City of Des Moines and Vashon Island. A cellular phone and a lifejacket were found inside the boat.

The U.S. Coast Guard called a contact on the found phone and learned the phone belonged to a man living on Vashon Island. King County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the residence of the phone’s owner but no one was home.

The U.S. Coast Guard used a helicopter to continue searching the area for anyone in the water. Around 10:00 they spotted the body The body was retrieved and the investigation was turned over to the King County Sheriff’s Office.

The name of the deceased and cause and manner of death will be determined by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.

information from Highline Public Schools

Former NFL quarterback Jack Thompson is featured in this month’s #HighlineAlum social media campaign sponsored by Highline Public Schools. Thompson is a 1974 graduate of Evergreen High School.

Thompson earned a football scholarship to Washington State University where he earned the nickname “Throwin’ Samoan.” He was a first-round draft pick for the Cincinnati Bengals in 1979 and played in Super Bowl XVI. Today, Thompson is a vice president at Umpqua Bank in downtown Seattle.

Thompson grew up in White Center, attending elementary, middle and high school in Highline.

"I’m a product of the Highline School District. The values that I have in me are a byproduct of all the mentors, the coaches and the teachers that I had. I’m so blessed that I was trained under them,” said Thompson. “Each had an effect on me. My classmates would say the same thing. It was a great, positive experience."

As part of Mayor Ed Murray’s Digital Equity Initiative, Google has offered $344,000 in grant money that will bring free Wi-Fi to Seattle community centers and affordable housing projects.

The funding will go toward establishing Wi-Fi access points at all 26 Seattle Parks and Recreation Community Centers, which includes Ballard and Loyal Heights Community Centers. The City hopes the Google funding will facilitate civic engagement and learning programs at these facilities.

According to the Office of the Mayor, at least 15 percent of Seattle residents cannot afford internet service at home. The numbers are even higher among Seattle’s lowest income residents and immigrant communities.

“Seattle is a city known for its technology and innovation, yet too many residents do not have sufficient Internet access, a high-quality device or the skills necessary to participate fully in our high-tech economy and community,” said Murray. “Working together, we can make Seattle a leader in ensuring digital equity and opportunity for all our residents.”

By Katy Wilkens

I just planted two kinds of spinach in my garden and I am waiting excitedly for the sprouts to poke their little heads though the mud!

I grow both “regular” and New Zealand spinach, a look-alike green, because they are chock full of nutrients like potassium, folic acid, vitamin E, K and A, as well as lots of trace minerals. Eating more potassium will help control blood pressure and keep your heart and kidneys healthy. Contrary to popular opinion, spinach is not high in iron or calcium, and the small amounts it does have are not absorbed in the body.

New Zealand spinach does better in my Northwest garden in the summer, since it seems to tolerate the heat without bolting. Spinach is nice to use fresh in salads and smoothies, and cooked in egg dishes, stir fries, pasta dishes or even sweet or savory spinach pies.

Spinach and Strawberry Salad
1-2 cups strawberries
1 bunch fresh spinach
¼ cup slivered almonds or hazelnuts
¼ cup purple onion, diced
½ cup goat cheese or blue cheese
Balsamic vinegar
Olive oil
Fresh tarragon

Arrests have been made in the shooting that happened at the convenient store at the White Center Mini-Mart at 1505 Roxbury St on March 31 around 11: 15pm according to the King County Sheriff's office.

In the incident a man came out of the store with a beer and a female and male were outside and asked him to give them the beer. When he refused the female asked for the money in his hand and when he refused she shot him in the leg.

Both the male and female were arrested by Federal Way police on April 2. No names have yet been released pending formal charges but they are a 26 year old female from Seattle and a 24 year old man from Seattle.

By Peggy Sturdivant

At first glance it might seem like just one of many interesting pairings on the dance floor for the Monday night Waltz, Etc. at Lake City Way Community Center. A woman about whom absolutely nothing is ordinary, widely known for her real-time reports from the police scanner dancing with the shorter 100 year-old man. Interesting doesn’t even scratch the surface.

At the invitation of Ballard’s Lauri Miller, better known as Silver, I left Ballard after dinner on a Monday to witness just one of many birthday celebrations for Bob Dreisbach’s 100th birthday. She’d hooked me with the words, “He wrote the book on poisons.” I was hoping that would be written on the Larsen’s sheet cake.

Information provided by Seattle Police Department

A man and a woman associated with a stolen car inside a Ballard parking garage last night eventually led detectives to other stolen cars in the area.

Last night, at about 10:15 pm, officers were dispatched to a secured parking garage in the 6500 block of 15th Avenue NW to assist the Seattle Fire Department with an unresponsive person inside a car. The 911 caller provided a license plate of the car, which came back as a Seattle Police Department reported stolen car. The male suspect saw officers arriving and fled into the stairwell of the parking structure. Officers gave chase and took the suspect into custody. A woman near the stolen car inside the secured garage was also taken into custody.

The 18-year-old man was arrested for possession of stolen property, burglary and an outstanding warrant. The 28-year-old woman was arrested for burglary. The stolen car was towed away pending a search warrant.

The fourth annual Seattle Chinese Garden Peony and Bamboo Festival is on again, April 16 and 17 with beautiful plant life and activities planned on both days.

This family friendly event, celebrating two of China’s horticultural treasures, kicks off with a rousing lion dance at 11 am on Saturday. A festival centerpiece is the tree peony display garden with more than 400 plants of two dozen varieties from Luoyang, China’s peony capital for more than 1,500 years.

Festival activities include talks and demonstrations on plant care, plant sales including unusual varieties of bamboo from specialty growers in Washington and Oregon, cultural entertainment and Chinese artist painting demonstrations, and sale of art and craft items. Plus, Chinese food booths will offer a variety of dishes and snacks. Visit the SCG website on April 12 for the schedule of activities.
Suggested adult donation is $5.

Cosponsors:
American Peony Art and Culture Association
American Bamboo Society Northwest Chapter

LOCATION and TIMES:
Seattle Chinese Garden

West Seattle Hi-Yu is number 123 in the Daffodil parade on Saturday April 9th, which will take place in four communities in Pierce County over the course of the day. The final parade line-up is posted on, www.thedaffodilfestival.org.

Parade Start Times:
Tacoma – 10:15 AM
Puyallup – 12:45 PM
Sumner – 2:30 PM
Orting – 5:00 PM

Television coverage of the parade has been expanded to two hours beginning at 8:00 PM Saturday on KONG TV Channel 16.

Traveling through the four cities of Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner, and Orting, the Parade consists of over 180 entries, including floats, bands, marching, and mounted units. Linking one generation to another in tradition, floats are decorated with thousands of fresh-cut daffodils, just like the daffodil flowers that have been grown in the Puyallup Valley for more than 80 years.

The West Seattle Hi-Yu 2014-2015 Jr. Court Queen Emily Cain, and the 2016 Jr. Court Princess Cailyn White and 2016 Jr. Court Princess Stephanie Moore will be riding on the float.