After a very memorable Sunday evening after the Seahawks defeated the New York Jets and thousands of fans braved the monstrous snowflakes at Quest field to see Mike Holmgren make his final walk around Qwest Field, one individual in Ballard had another agenda.

Usually, when we return home we are greeted with a sign that reads "Welcome to Ballard" with delicately docked boats, soaring seagulls and Bardahl Oil intriguing your senses as you cross over to Ballard. Recently, something very unmemorable stole our attention through the thick snow of our windshield as we crossed over the Ballard Bridge: A huge, lighted, neon sign that shouts, "LA FITNESS," lit up brighter than the Christmas tree at Westlake Center. Only this sign, positioned, as if it's welcoming you to LA rather than Ballard, is lit 360 days of the year.

When I first moved to Ballard, I had just quit my job to take care of my grandmother who was being pressured by a money hungry developer who had a special technique of purchasing homes and apartment buildings from senior residents who didn’t have the knowhow or resources to fight back. So, when the story of Edith Macefield surfaced and developers began to box her home of 56 years in with six-story concrete walls, my heart dropped.

I made it a point to deliberately drive past Edith's home nearly every day to see what chaos was surrounding her. Whenever we had friends and family over, our tour of the city always began with Edith's house. Driving by, extra slow, the reaction from our friends and family was always the same: Total shock and disbelief.

During the past year, I have read and listened to many discussions about the potential development of an LA Fitness and a grocery store by the Ballard Bridge. Many Ballard residents have voiced their opinions and concerns about it. Unfortunately, however, since it was nothing more than voicing their opinions, I think many Ballard residents felt like their concerns went unheard.

Obviously, the development and their out-of-state tenants didn't care. What could be done about how it or they would affect the landscape and public perception of Ballard and our community? It wasn't until I read the black spray painted letters "LA FITNESS KILLED EDITH" and "SAVE BALLARD" did someone's voice penetrate my spirit.

At first I was really upset that someone would vandalize the gates that flanked both sides of the home but then, I remembered Edith, the 78-year-old woman who lived there and made her last stand against the commercialization of Ballard, when she refused to sell her home for $1 million dollars to developers. She stated, "I liked the old Ballard. The new one, you can have it."

One can only wonder what new people who visit Ballard are going to think about the little house where Edith lived. It sounds like, if the Superintendent of the construction company building the project has his way, it will be torn down soon (In a recent interview, I read where he commented that the building around her home was fabricated to accommodate the future demolition of her home.).

However, even if they tear down and build over her home, her memory and independent spirit, which very much reflects the Ballard community, will live on. Unfortunately, the huge lighted commercial LA Fitness signs erected on the building above her home directly behind the public sign on the Ballard Bridge that proclaims: "Welcome to Ballard" will stand, like a commercial victory sign, forever changing the perception of our community.

Although, I have never protested, I really must give credit to whoever felt the need to brave the cold weather to reflect on what is and will always be a true hero to the Ballard Community, Edith Macefield. It just goes to show that a little paint can go a long way.

Kammie Lisenby is a Ballard resident.