December 2016

A dispute over a small parking area just adjacent to the Pecos Pit Bar=B=Que on 35th SW is the subject of a public meeting scheduled for Jan. 12 at the West Seattle Senior Center.

The space in question served as a parking lot for more than six decades according to owner Gerry Kingen, but never had the kind of traffic now being generated by the presence of Pecos Pit. The issue came to a head when neighbors pointed out that parking was taking place there, in a spot that by law is not permitted for the purpose.

City Councilmember Lisa Herbold said, “the lot in question is single family zoned and - without a permit - parking is prohibited outright as a use.  

The community discovered that the property use was in violation in early December after a meeting with Department of Construction and Inspections.  My recollection was that neighbors were shocked that the parking was occurring in violation of the code.

The permit- as do other permits - has specific conditions that will address impacts arising from a parking lot location within a single family zone.”

The land Pecos is on, is owned by Seattle City Light.

Sustainable Ballard has been awarded $900 to fund community projects in Ballard!! Thank you to everyone who participated in our outreach during Waste Management‘s recent Think Green Challenge to waste less, recycle and compost more…those efforts won our neighborhood a $900 grant from Waste Management.

Do YOU have a project idea for Ballard?

We are inviting proposals for the $900 award money through Friday, January 6, 2017. Proposals must be for a project initiated by a Ballard neighbor and benefiting the Ballard community. You may apply for all or part of the award. Applicants can be individuals, organizations, or groups; selected projects will be sponsored by Sustainable Ballard. Please include the following information:

–> Project description (including how the work will benefit the Ballard community)
–> Fund amount requested
–> Timeline (project should be completed by June 30, 2017, with a start date no sooner than February 1)
–> Name, phone number, email address and (if applicable) non-profit name and 501(c)(3) Tax ID number

information from the West Seattle Junction Merchants

Free Parking NYE
Saturday December 31st
After 7pm through Jan 1st before 10am

The West Seattle Junction merchants feel it's important to stay safe while celebrating incoming 2017. On Saturday, December 31st from 7pm through Sunday, January 1st 10am we invite you to leave your car overnight in one of our FREE Junction parking lots. Please pick up your car by 10am though, so we have plenty of parking for the January 1st brunch crowds. Happy New Year from the merchants!

Barleywine Festival Beer Junction

Usher in the new year with 25 delicious warming brews, many of which have been patiently waiting in The Beer Junction cellar for 3-5 years. Despite its name, a Barleywine (or Barley Wine) is very much a beer, albeit a very strong and often intense beer! In fact, it's one of the strongest of the beer styles. Lively and fruity, sometimes sweet, sometimes bittersweet, but always alcoholic. Read on for what The Beer Junction will be tapping.

Champagne Toast West 5
NYE Midnight

information from Seattle Parks Department

Many Seattle Parks and Recreation facilities will be closed Monday, Jan. 16, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

These facilities and services are CLOSED:
· Community centers
· Teen centers
· Environmental Learning Centers
· Indoor swimming pools
· Small craft centers
· Moorage Operations Office

These facilities are OPEN on regular schedules:
· Boat ramps
· Interbay, Jackson Park, Jefferson Park and West Seattle golf courses
· Amy Yee Tennis Center

Fear, hubris, adrenaline, high velocity impact, libations, and glory: all the hallmarks of the Great American Sport. Indeed, and of course, what would all this be without the opportunity to carry into the stadium your favorite 9-millimeter pistol Dad bought you for Christmas?

A new bill introduced by a few conservatives is calling for just that. The bill proposes that private operators of public municipalities would not be allowed to prevent people with conceal and carry permits to bring their guns into the facility. This would affect Safeco Field and Centurylink Stadium.

The bill was introduced by conservatives Bob McCaslin (Spokane Valley), Matt Shea (Spokane Valley) and David Taylor (Moxee).

The three have serious agendas in the Washington State House.

Taylor sponsors bills that include limited mandatory motorcycle helmet use for people under age 18, a bill declaring a fetus has a right to life at the moment of conception and a bill prohibiting a government database of law abiding owners of legal firearms.

The Highland Park Action Committee meeting on Jan. 25 will cover the "State of Delridge" with Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold.

They shared news of the upcoming meeting today in the following announcement:

All HPAC meetings are held at the Highland Park Improvement Club, 1116 SW Holden, Seattle, WA 98106 on the 4th Wednesday of the month (except Aug & Nov, Dec) Doors open at 6:30 - Meeting from 7:00 – 8:30 pm

• Weds. Jan 25th - 7:00 – 8:30 pm
• Agenda Overview
• "State of Delridge" with Councilmember Herbold
• HPAC Steering Committee Election Announcement
• Update on new grant awarded to HPAC
• Update on Myers Way Encampment
• Launching Community Needs Survey Sub-Committee
• HPAC is excited to have Councilmember Herbold provide us with a "State of Delridge" address to start off 2017. This meeting is co-sponsored with the newly formed South Delridge Community Group and the North Delridge Neighborhood Council.

Sponsored by Sarah Cecil

As an investor, your main goals will change at different times in your life. During your working years, you need to grow as many resources as possible for retirement. Once you retire, however, you will likely need to focus more on getting income from your investments. But what are your options?

There’s no shortage of income-producing investments, of course. You might immediately think of bonds, which can provide regular interest payments and probable preservation of principal, provided the bonds are considered “investment grade.” Still, if interest rates are low when you retire – as they have been for several years now – bonds might not provide you with as much income as you need. And just as importantly, the income you receive from most bonds won’t rise over time, leaving you susceptible to inflation and the loss of purchasing power.
Consequently, you may also need to explore other types of income-generating vehicles, including dividend-paying stocks and real estate investment trusts (REITs).

By Lindsay Peyton

The sponsors of a pop-up concert held at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 28 in Pioneer Square’s Occidental Park may have come a bit as a surprise for the crowd gathered to hear the sounds of local band Hey Marseilles.

Before the musical group started crooning its folk-rock tunes, representatives from the City of Seattle’s Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Uber came on stage to deliver a message.

The two organizations teamed up as concert co-hosts to spread the word about a special offer that could prevent accidents and possibly save lives.

Tracey Breeden national safety spokeswoman for Uber, explained that the company is providing a $10 discount on uberPOOL trips on New Year’s Eve.

Users can redeem the discount by entering the promo code “SAFESTART2017” in the Uber app. The deal will apply to any rides between 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31 and 5 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 1.

“We can be your designated driver this New Year’s Eve,” Breeden said. “Not getting behind the wheel saves lives.”

The nice folks at the Highland Park Improvement Club want to to come as you aren't on New Years Eve. It's costume party and you are encouraged to dress up. The party is at 1116 SW Holden.

Here's their announcement:

Join us for our 8th Annual New Years Eve Celebration, including a special costume-party Corner Bar! Saturday, December 31 – starting at 6pm…until it’s 2017.

We encourage everyone to dress up or come in costume!

The Not-So-Silent Night Parade.
Assemble in the HPIC parking lot at 6pm. Bring noisemakers, flashlights, umbrellas – whatever is necessary! Parade starts when everyone is ready.

McTuff will play sets through the night, with DJ Evan and DJ Dr Lehl weaving dance tunes early and later. RL Carroll will be there to take your keepsake photos.

Get ready for 2017 with your friends and neighbors close to home!

Beverages – Draft beer, wine, special cocktail and champagne! As always, we offer a wide assortment of non-alcoholic beverages as well. Please remember that no outside alcohol is allowed.

The Ballard News-Tribune published a story earlier this month about the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife proposing an initiative that would increase the commercial fishing license renewal fees for residents and lower the fees for non-residents.

The WDFW commission formulated the initiative as part of the 2016-19 state budget. The proposed fees would generate close to $4 million in revenue per year, with $700,000 of that coming from license fee changes.