November 2016

The 4th Annual White Center Food Bank Dinner and Auction is set to feed and please attendees on Nov. 18 at the White Center Eagles 10452 15th Ave SW

Cocktails start at 3pm and dinner is served at 5pm.

The cost is $15 per person for dinner and tickets are sold at the door.

Following dinner the silent AND live auction will start at 7pm and Boneyard will provide the live music starting at 8:30pm.

This event sponsored by The Live Butcher which is a family owned and operated full service meat counter, featuring high quality meats and custom cuts in White Center. They are located at 9432 16th Ave SW | Seattle, WA 98106 | 206-762-MEAT.

By SBA Regional Administrator Calvin Goings

An increasingly popular tradition sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday continues to gain momentum and benefit local businesses in Ballard.

Falling on Nov. 26 this year, Small Business Saturday is a day to support the small businesses that ignite our local economies and enrich our communities.

Why It Is So Important to #ShopSmall

Small business owners and Main Street businesses create two out of every three new private-sector jobs in America, helping spur economic development in communities like Ballard and giving millions of families and individuals the opportunity to achieve the American dream.

According to American Express and the National Federation of Independent Business, 95 million Small Business Saturday shoppers spent an average of $170 last year. This gave an overall $16.2 billion boost to Main Street merchants and small businesses. This year, we’d like to see 100 million shoppers in neighborhoods across the nation.

2016 was a busy year for the Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association with a flurry of activities, including a trip to Bergen, the 17th of May at Bergen Place, the annual Edvard Grieg Gala at Ballard First Lutheran Church, and the Seattle Sister Cities Reception at Seattle City Hall. The gift of 100 ceramic flowers from the City of Bergen and its Flora Metamophicae artists also lent itself to multiple exhibits, including a window display at Secret Garden Books, the National Sons of Norway Convention in Tacoma, and then again at City Hall. As the year draws to a close, the sister city group again focuses its attention on Ballard for the month of December.
The association’s connection to Ballard has always been a strong one, with deep ties in the Norwegian immigrant community, the Bergen Place Park commemorative mural, and cooperative work with other Nordic organizations. Over the years, many members have been neighborhood residents, as does the association’s current vice president, Bernice Chouery.

A 3-story seven unit townhouse building at 1706 Alki Ave SW has been approved by the Seattle DPD. Parking for ten vehicles will be provided. Existing structures will be demolished. Alki Courtyard Townhomes is being developed by Kelten Johnson of JOHNSON & CARR, LLC in Seattle.

From the DPD decision:
The project involves the construction of two, three-story townhouse structures (for a total of seven units) in an environmentally critical area. Parking for ten vehicles will be located in attached garages and at grade. Access is proposed from Alki Ave SW, at the northwestern corner of the site.

The rear proposed structure would be located within the steep slope buffer. The proposed development would disturb 68% of the steep slope buffer.

Pursuant to SMC 25.09.180, 25.09.080 and 25.09.320, the proposal is required to comply with ECA requirements for steep slopes and potential landslide areas.
Steep slope critical areas (SMC 25.09.180)

Hundreds of activists gathered in the parking lot of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hiram M. Chittenden Locks facility in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle last night for a vigil to show support for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and their opposition to the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline through North and South Dakota.

The demonstration was part of activist action in at least 300 cities around the globe against the pipeline, and many of the protests were held at Army Corps sites.

Organizers of the demonstration reported the protest was to “call on President Obama to instruct the Army Corps of Engineers to deny final permits for the Dakota Access Pipe Line (DAPL).”

information from South Seattle College

Each year, the Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle College holds a big Fall Release party where we feature our newest vintages of student-created wine. This year’s event runs November 17, 18 and 19 from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm each day, with complimentary tastings during those times.

There is no cost for admission, and bottles of wine are available for purchase. Highlights this year include a 2015 Chardonnay, 2015 Reserve Chardonnay, 2014 Merlot and 2014 Well Read Blend.

Parking is free in the north parking lot of South Seattle College, where the Northwest Wine Academy is located. Campus map located at http://www.southseattle.edu/documents/maps/Campus-RSB.pdf

*Parents are welcome to bring their kids!

Update: 2:10pm

SPD confirmed earlier this morning that what was reported to be a drug operation in the building was not actually a lab and the white powder found at the scene was not a narcotic.

"After an extensive investigation, no narcotics or public safety risk found during yesterday's investigation," wrote SPD.

Update 3:45pm
The initial security sweep of the area around 907 NW Ballard Way has been completed by Seattle Fire hazmat teams and wrap up operations are taking place. A one block area around the site has been cordoned off for safety reasons.

Original Post
A large scale haz-mat response took place near 11th Ave NW and NW 46th one block off the Burke Gilman Trail around 9:30am with both Seattle Police and Fire units coming to the scene.

Initial reports indicated that it was a potential drug lab of some kind but officials were waiting for further information before releasing a statement.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials announced that they would close the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks park grounds today at 4:00 p.m. due to the anticipated gathering of more than 700 people who support the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s action against the construction of the Dakota Pipeline.

"Current projections are for a gathering of more than 700 people near the Locks, and the Corps doesn’t have the scheduled staff to ensure public safety and property protection for a gathering of the size anticipated this afternoon, " the Corps wrote in the announcement

Normal operations will continue in the small lock. The park will reopen at 7 a.m. on November 16.

A new sculpture at Junction Plaza Park by artist Troy Pillow will be dedicated in a special ceremony on Nov. 20 at Noon. The groups behind making the sculpture a reality are according to the West Seattle Junction Merchants Association, JuNO, The Junction Association, Department of Neighborhoods, and Seattle Parks. The total cost was $50,000 with $25,000 from Blue Star and a matching $25,000 grant through the Department of Neighborhoods.

Junction Plaza Park is a .15 acre park in the heart of the West Seattle Urban Village. It was dedicated in 2010 and is owned and maintained by Seattle Parks and Recreation. Under the project management of Seattle Parks and Recreation, the park land was purchased with initial funds from the Pro Parks Levy Opportunity Fund and a park design was completed with significant public input. In 2007, developer Blue Star Management was granted an alley vacation by the City of Seattle for their West Seattle development (now known as the Spruce Building). As part of the public benefit, $25,000 was dedicated to Junction Plaza Park.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

High schools
Winter sports
Winter sports practices just got underway across the state of Washington with no openers until the end of next week.

Pros
Seahawks
Hot off their impressive win in New England, the Seattle Seahawks will come home to CenturyLink Field to play the Philadelphia Eagles in a 1:25 p.m. game Sunday.

Sounders
Seattle will host the Colorado Rapids for a 7 p.m. Western Conference Finals playoff this coming Tuesday at CenturyLink Field.

Thunderbirds
The Thunderbirds will host Lethbridge for 7:35 p.m. Canadian Hockey League action at the Showare Center in Kent on Friday.
Seattle then visits the Portland Winterhawks for a 7 p.m. match Saturday before hosting Edmonton at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday.

Stars
The Tacoma Stars professional indoor soccer team visits the Dallas Sidekicks at 5:35 p.m. Friday before dropping in on the St. Louis Ambush at 5:05 p.m. Saturday.

Colleges
Husky football