January 2017

The Senior Center of West Seattle is hosting a free screening of the movie “Age of Love,” a documentary that follows the adventures of 30 seniors who sign up for a first-of-its-kind Speed Dating event exclusively for 70 to 90 year olds.

From anxious anticipation through dates that follow, it’s a comic and poignant tale of intrepid seniors who lay their hearts on the line and discover how dreams and desires change—or don’t change—from first love to the far reaches of life.

People of all ages are invited to join us on Thursday, February 9 at 2pm for this free screening. 4217 SW Oregon St. Call 206 932 4044 x1 to register. This screening is sponsored by Senior Care Coalition.

You can visit the film’s website here: http://theageoflovemovie.com/

Some praise for the film…

Police Reports
Shane Harms

Man assaults people with pepper spray, threatens with gun

Police responded to an assault in the heart of Ballard off N.W. Market Street on Jan. 21 after a complainant reported a man was outside businesses threatening people with a gun and pepper spray. Police arrived at the scene, and witnesses told police they were sprayed by the suspect and then he fled. Officers located the suspect some blocks away and arrested him. He was verbally and physically uncooperative. Police found a can of spray in the suspect’s shirt pocket but no gun. The suspect was brought back to the scene for a show-up identification where victims positively identified him. The victims agreed the pepper spray burned, but Seattle Fire Department did not treat them. The suspect was booked at King County Jail for assault.

Off-duty SPD officer stops shoplifter, saves mini-fridge

Everyone is invited to a screening of new work by students in the Ballard High School Digital Filmmaking Program. The Ballard Film Festival (BFF) will be on Friday, February 10 at 7 pm in the Ballard High School auditorium. The screening will feature short comedies and dramas, advertisements, and documentaries. Tickets ($10 for adults and $5 for students) will be sold at the door.

Films that first screen at the BFF frequently win honors at prestigious national and international film festivals as well as awards from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. BHS film students hit the ground running this fall with 10 Official Selections in the national All American High School Film Festival, awards from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for Best Music Video and Best Editing, and winners at Fresh Film Northwest - including the documentary Living Honestly by PJ Hase and Skala Leake. This will have its Seattle premiere at the Ballard Film Festival.

information from Washington Department of Ecology

The Washington Department of Ecology has fined Seattle Iron and Metals Corp. $64,000 for discharging stormwater with excessive levels of several pollutants into the Duwamish River in Seattle.

The recycling business at 601 South Myrtle St. recovers metal from cars and other machinery. Under an Ecology water quality permit, the company operates a treatment system to remove pollutants from stormwater that drains from 6.5 acres of the property before discharging treated water into the river.

The company’s monitoring records showed 27 violations of pollutant limits in water treated by its system from February 2015 through December 2016. On parts of June 20 and 21, 2016, stormwater was allowed to bypass the treatment system, which resulted in 4 additional violations. Seattle Iron and Metals also failed to submit monitoring reports for the fourth quarter in 2015.

To the editor:

I buy the Westside Weekly to keep up on local news . I am increasingly offended by columnists who express their political views and assume everyone feels the same way. I quote Peggy Sturdivant in her article about the young girl and the "Womens' March". "Like many she watched the Presidential  returns in shock". The March has no purpose. Why not spend all that time and money on hungry people and animals. I will add Peggy Sturdivant to the columns I don't read in the Westside Weekly. Like many I was very happy to see President Donald Trump win. Finally we have a President who actually loves this country and will work to make it better.

A former Democrat from a long time ago.

R. Krouse

By Peggy Sturdivant

No photo exists, or could capture, the power generated last February when arborist Cass Turnbull learned chainsaws had started on Japanese Cherry trees at the former Loyal Heights substation. She stalked toward the security officer and yellow hazard tape with the force of a bull. She was afire with anger. I saw steam coming from her nostrils. She was the mother bear of a whole forest of cubs, from sapling to giant. I have never seen anyone so passionately, eloquently, powerfully outraged.

Cass Turnbull, arborist, activist, writer, the Northwest’s Queen of Pruning died suddenly January 27, 2017, while on annual vacation in Hawaii.

As her lifelong Seattle friends and family respond to news of her death there will be other stories in which Cass Turnbull has superhero powers. They will all be true.

By Pat Cashman

As I was driving 20 miles above the speed limit in the wrong direction down a one-way street the other day, I realized something: The mandatory seat belt in this state has been around for more than 15 years now. So by now it’s a lame excuse to tell a cop, “Gee, officer. I didn’t know.”

The seat belt law was designed to protect people from themselves. Meanwhile there is no mandatory pants belt law---that would also protect people from themselves.
In the case of the seat belt law, people get protected from injury or worse in an auto accident. A pants belt law would protect people from embarrassment or worse---in a dancing accident.

The road signs that used to read: “Seat Belts Must Be Worn”---were replaced a few years ago because people thought it meant that only used and beat-up seat belts could be used.
Originally the fine for not wearing a seat belt was $86---now it’s gone up to $136. The lesson? If you’re going to break the law, do it early when it’s more affordable.

By Amanda Knox

This first week under the new administration disheartened me in many ways.

Already, President Trump has taken executive action to suppress the reality of climate change, to interfere with women’s access to reproductive healthcare, to refuse immigrants and refugees from entering the country on the basis of their religion, and to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, among other things.

But even on the day of the inauguration, before any of these unwelcome measures were signed into existence, I was reminded of the disheartening reality that someone like me will likely never hold the office of presidency—not from my generation, at least. What disqualifies me, or someone like me, is not the fact that I’m a woman. To our country’s credit, I think the U.S. is ready and willing for our first Madame President. No. What disqualifies me, or someone like me, is the fact that I’m atheist. I don’t believe in God.

By Lindsay Peyton

Stoup Brewing is here to stay.

Lara Zahaba, who co-owns the establishment with her husband Brad Benson and friend Robyn Schumacher, dispelled rumors that the beloved Ballard brewpub might close its doors as a result of the property being sold to a new owner.

“The new landlord has taken over our lease – and they want us to stay,” Zahaba said. “They’re keeping us in the loop as they develop the property.”

Since 2013 when the business opened at 1108 NW 52 St., the craft beer production site and neighborhood gathering spot has steadily grown.

After a successful first year, a beer garden sprung up on the patio next to the building. The following summer, a fire pit was installed in the outdoor seating area.

Zahaba said construction is now under way for an event space upstairs.

“We were receiving a lot of requests to reserve space,” she said. “But we weren’t able to accommodate them because our taproom is small.”

That will change in the months ahead. “Our goal is to always be bringing something new and dynamic to the table,” Zahaba said.