Ballard Lions

Ballard Lions partners with community to create new Sensory Garden portion

Guest — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 17:44:16 +0000

Guest (not verified) Tue, 09/18/2012 - 10:44am

The new garden enhancements will feature raised beds with fragrant and textured plants at wheelchair height. This map shows where they will be located.

Courtesy of Ballard Lions

By Ballard Lions Club

September 22, the Ballard Lions will partner with others in our community to build a new section of the Sensory Garden, currently under development adjacent to the Rose Garden at Woodland Park Zoo.

The new section will feature a raised bed with plants that either have a fragrance or have interesting textures, planted at wheelchair height. The Ballard Lions funded the proposal and contacted Seattle Pacific University for volunteer workers through their community service weekend, CityQuest, which aims to involve students in community projects. Through it, they will be dispatching 20 students on Saturday, September 22 to the Sensory Garden to join other volunteers in building this portion.

Ultimately, the new raised bed will be surrounded by smooth paths and will have signs with clear lettering and Braille explaining the plants and which senses they appeal to. You, your friends and your family will all be able to share this experience and more as the garden continues to develop. Everyone is also invited to become a part of the process.

The Sensory Garden concept was first envisioned a few years ago by members of the Queen Anne and Capitol Hill Lions Clubs. Mindful that the Rose Garden itself was brought about by the combined efforts of Seattle Lions Clubs and the Seattle Rose Society, they saw the potential of a further enhancement to provide all people, including those with impairments, with a special place to enjoy nature together. The Lions Club mission to meet the needs of the hearing and sight impaired could be advanced through a safe, wheelchair accessible garden, with a variety of environments to engage all the senses.

A steering committee was formed and they met with the Woodland Park Zoo to secure the site. They obtained funding for the site study and to develop the conceptual plan. By the summer of 2011, the initial phase of the plan, a demonstration garden, was installed. Since then, the steering committee and other volunteers have tended the garden while seeking the additional funds needed to implement the rest of the plan.

The Sensory Garden welcomes donations of plants, time in tending the garden, and funds to take this garden forward. E-mail info@seattlesensorygarden.com for more information on how to participate directly with this garden.

The Ballard Lions also welcome your participation in its projects to benefit those with hearing and sight impairments, and to benefit our community in other ways. Ballard Lions provide assistance to individuals in obtaining help with getting glasses, hearing aids and procedures related to these senses. They also actively contribute to scholarships, direct service agencies, and more. Affiliate with the Ballard Lions to find a friendly way to give back to your community. Contact C. Morgan for more information, 206-524-4841.

Lions Club 'Mad Men' party attracts younger crowd

Guest — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 15:31:17 +0000

Guest (not verified) Fri, 08/17/2012 - 8:31am

Photo by Shane Harms

In an attempt to attract new younger members, the Ballard Lions club hosted a 1950’s “Mad Men” themed cocktail party Aug. 16 at a beach side property in Ballard.

Maggie Mallett, a coordinator for the Lions and member for over two years, organized the event. In a tied retro hairstyle and poodle skirt, she dressed the part for the event.

“Our goal is to get some young people involved in the club ... The lions are some of the unsung heroes in the community," she said.

After seeing membership losses of over fifty percent, the Lions club is falling in line with many community clubs across the nation by looking to a younger generation to carry the torch of community and charity.

Mallett explained the goal is finding young people who are tech savvy, well networked, and have a desire to make a difference in their community.

“The biggest part of course, is just having fun doing it and enjoying people,” Mallett said.

Although a lot of Lion’s charities focus on the developmentally disabled in hearing and sight, the Lions club is known for helping such causes as the Ballard Food Bank, Millionaires club, and projects like the Rose Garden in the Woodland Park Zoo. They are helping with future plans for a tactile sensory garden that showcases plants with features that are appealing to senses other than sight.

On September 22, Lions club members, volunteers from Seattle Pacific University and others will be expanding the rose garden by making raised beds with tactile gardens, including braille and other features for citizens with sight and mobility impairments. The goal of the extension is to build gardens for all people to enjoy.

Colleen Morgan of the Lions explained that the Lions Club acts as a funnel to service the community, and that a unique quality of the Lions club is that they have no facility and therefore no overhead, so one hundred percent of proceeds from fundraisers go directly to charities. On example of this is a crab feed happening on October 20. Morgan said the event accommodates around two hundred-twenty people and features a raffle. All proceeds of the crab feed go to Thanksgiving dinners for families in need.

“We work with selfless, generous people that work with the community ... its hard because I see less face to face, hand to hand cohesion in our community happening now for a variety of reasons, but at the same time the need is growing and growing,” Morgan said.

The “Mad Men” cocktail party accrued range of younger individuals from the community. Ballardites Christine Alar and Lafcadio Darling attended the event looking like “Don Draper” and “Jackie O.”

“We are just civically minded Ballardites here to meet other like-minded people, and have a good time too,” Alar said.

Visit http://www.lions19b.com/ballard.html for more Lions events. For questions or volunteering information for the Seattle Sensory Garden, send to info@seattlesensorygardenor.com or visit the website at http://seattlesensorygarden.com/

Dean Wong says goodbye to Ballard

dean_wong — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:00:00 +0000

dean_wong Mon, 07/21/2008 - 12:00am

Few people know how I got started in the newspaper business.

I'm choosing this time to tell that story because after eight years and approximately 1,500 stories I'll be leaving the Ballard News-Tribune on July 24.

My interest in journalism began in junior high school when I was assigned to write a story about the Susan B. Anthony dollar. I sat for hours at the typewriter, not knowing what to write. I didn't know how to do interviews or conduct research. There was no Internet on which to do a Google search.

From there I helped publish the Cleveland Journal at Cleveland High School. Then I went to the University of Washington, grew my hair long past my shoulders and wore a stylish leather jacket. I became the typical Asian American student activist of the mid-1970s.

After I moved to San Francisco, I was exposed to real grass roots journalism as a volunteer with the San Francisco Journal.

This was a weekly newspaper covering issues in the Asian community. Volunteers wrote stories during the week, taking time off from their jobs. They gathered in a small building south of Market Street and published an English and Chinese edition each Sunday night. The staff even ran their own printing press.

It was a publication fueled by dedication. The newspaper had no advertising.

Back in Seattle, I became involved in the International Examiner, in the Chinatown International District.

The staff did everything there, including distribution, loading our cars with bundles of newspapers, until the suspension began sagging. We took turns bundling the third class bulk mail and doing janitorial duties.

I was originally a photographer. I learned how to write by myself with the help of a few demanding copy editors.

When I started doing freelance photography with a side job as an assistant apartment manager, I began taking assignments from Robinson Newspapers.

News Tribune editor Tony Brouner then asked me if I wanted a job at the newspaper writing stories, putting together the community calendar and answering the phone back in December 2000 and I accepted.

Before coming to Ballard, I did not know anything about the community, other than the Ballard Locks that I visited as a kid.

I quickly learned how much people cared about this neighborhood.

Ballard has many service organizations like the Ballard Lions, Ballard Rotary, Ballard Elks and Ballard Eagles.

All the different community councils, parks advocacy groups, Sustainable Ballard, youth sports programs, Scandinavian organizations, Nordic Heritage Museum, Northwest Senior Activity Center and others make this a better place to live.

The Ballard High School Foundation and the various booster clubs help make the school one of the best in the city.

I've gotten to know the coaches of 18 sports teams and the student athletes wearing the red and black have come and gone.

Over the year's I've seen the area change. Condominums have taken over.

Institutions like Denny's and the Sunset Bowl are gone.

Residents of apartments are left scrambling to find a place to live as their buildings are converted to condos.

Homeless people live in their cars and motor homes. Others find shelter in our greenbelts. Some die on the street.

Rich Lang, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church was the first to invite Tent City to move in. The reaction in the community was outrage.

Tent City returned two more times. The third time at Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church this spring, where neighbors helped residents move in, gave them food and clothing and held dinners for them.

Lang said my stories about Tent City and homeless people like Ronnie Robinson who passed away in a shack last fall helped change attitudes in Ballard on the homeless.

Former editor Adam Richter had a framed cartoon by his desk. It showed a pen sitting at a bar next to a sword. The sword is looking at the pen with caution. A man tells the sword, "Remember what happened the last time you messed with him."

The caption read, "The pen is mightier than the sword."

During my time at the News-Tribune, I've tried to focus on the groups and individuals doing charitable work and the people in the community who had unique and interesting stories to tell.

I tried to give credit to the young people collecting donations for the food bank or the high school students learning about the maritime industry.

I imagine my stories and pictures have filled many scrapbooks and have been held up by many refrigerator magnets.

As a journalist, I was continuing a tradition that dates back to the first issue of the Ballard News Tribune in 1891.

Randi Hansen thanked me for writing about the social causes and for stopping condo building. Sorry Randi, I didn't do a very good job at the latter.

Tennis coach Brad Hamilton said Ballard sports won't be the same without me. I appreciate that Brad, but there were reporters before me and there will be reporters after I've gone. But sure, there's only one me.

Jim Vatn said jokingly said I'm now a Norwegian and Scandinavian specialist. Well Jim, I've still never tried lutefisk.

Vatn said I was one of the easiest people he has worked with and he could not think of anyone who has promoted and reported on the community with so much energy.

Well our news writers like Richter years ago and Rebekah Schilperoort and Steve Shay now, covered many night meetings and stories. They deserve credit too for making this a great newspaper.

Pete Kinney, Anna Kay, Matt Lewis and Dick Sherman helped keep the paper in business with their ad sales.

And we can't forget editor Jack Mayne, I'll miss his stories about his long and distinguished journalism career.

I have to thank the Robinsons too. They include Jerry, Elsbeth, Tim, Ken and Pat. I include my first boss Roger Hollings and all the current Robinson Newspapers staff on that list too.

I'll be working for the Asian Counseling and Referral Service where I'll be doing facilities and security work in their new $19 million building.

It's an amazing agency that provides mental health counseling, citizenship classes, a legal clinic, English lessons and other services, including a food bank.

With the new job, I'll find time to continue writing a book about my childhood days, growing up in the Chinatown International District.

While I won't be working in Ballard, I plan to continue doing some freelance assignments for the News-Tribune.

So you'll see me again Ballard. You betcha!

I can be reached at deanw@robinsonnews.com.

Ballard High School

Nordic Heritage Museum

Master griller Aakervik on duty for 33 years

dean_wong — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:00:00 +0000

dean_wong Mon, 07/21/2008 - 12:00am

SEAFOODFESTING WITH FRIENDS. Ballard Oil president Warren Aakervik is the masters of ceremony for the traditional salmon barbecue at the SeafoodFest. During both days his popular salmon meal brings old friends who visit.<br><br><b>Photo by Cynthia Payne</b>

The biggest party of the year, the Ballard SeafoodFest, is this weekend and thousands of people are expected to come enjoy the entertainment, children's events, booths and the famous salmon barbecue.

Warren Aakervik, president of Ballard Oil has been the master griller behind the salmon meals for the last 33 years.

"It's great. All the old friends come by. It's a great community and family event," said Aakervik.

A few weeks ago, Aakervik and his grandson went to Granite Falls to cut alder wood for the two day cookout.

"He likes it (wood) green and smoky. He even drives the forklifts and big rigs," said Beth Williamson Miller, executive director of the Ballard Chamber of Commerce.

Miller credits Aakervik for his years of community service and says no one else can put together a barbecue like him. "People like Warren have been doing it forever. He believes in the community and supports the chamber. He is the fiber and foundation of Ballard," said Miller.

Trident Seafood donates about 2,000 pounds of salmon each year.

The wood Aakervik chopped up will be used to bake, not grill, the salmon in a 250-degree oven he said. The salmon fillets take 30 to 45 minutes before they are done.

"The real secret is to monitor it closely," said Aakervik, who will be assisted by his friends from Pacific Fisherman.

The Great Harvest Bread Company provides 400 loaves of country French bread with garlic butter. The store started with 250 loaves in 1999 and the sales at the festival have grown.

"The barbecue has gotten bigger. It's the chamber's main money making venture of the year," said Bob Carleson, who owns Great Harvest Bread Company with his wife Crystal.

The meal, along with cole slaw, is $8, $7 for seniors. All proceeds from salmon sales benefit the Ballard Chamber of Commerce.

This year's poster and program features the Leif Erikson statue at Shilshole Marina with a cardboard sign "Will Pillage for Seafood." Jay Dotson took the photo.

Twenty-three food vendors will give visitors plenty of other choices when they get hungry. The food ranges from shrimp and crab melts, fruit smoothies, east Indian, Hawaiian shaved ice, gyros and more.

Main Stage musical acts on Saturday include: HB Radke and the Jet City Swingers, noon; the Weavils, 1:30 p.m.; Chuck Prophet and Mission Express, 3:15 p.m.; Joey Kline Band, 5:15 p.m.; and Big World Breaks, 6:45 p.m.

Sunday groups include: Etouffee, noon; The Buckaroosters, 1:15 p.m.; Juan Barco y Su Conjunto, 2:45 p.m.; Carrie Akre, 4:15 p.m.; and Laura Love with Harper's Ferry 5:30 p.m.

A Ballard institution performs on the Community Stage on Saturday, 11 a.m. and Sunday, noon, when Stan Boreson, the "King of Scandinavian Humor" appears.

Volunteers from the Nordic Heritage Museum are the emcees for the Community Stage this year and all but one of the acts is Scandinavian.

"We're trying to hold onto the Scandinavian past and what we still have of it. We want to keep that tradition alive in our community," said Miller.

Other Community Stage entertainment include: Nordiska Folkdancers, noon; the always fun Lutefisk Eating Contest, 1:20 p.m.; Watermelon Eating Contest, 2 p.m.; Whateverly Brothers, 3 p.m.; The Pickled Herring Band, 4 p.m.; and Peter and Viki, 5 p.m.

Sunday features: Svea Trio, 1 p.m.; the eighth Annual Slotky Memorial Couture Coverall Contest sponsored by the Ballard News-Tribune, 2 p.m.; Mad Fiddlu, 3 p.m.; Seattle Spielsmanslag, 4 p.m.; and SUS, 5 p.m.

The Ballard Commons Park will be the site of the Family Stage. The Saturday lineup includes: Welcome Marionettes, 11 and 1 p.m.; Deano the Clown, noon and 3 p.m.; Clay Martin's Puppets, 2 and 4 p.m.; Alleyoops Maritime Show 5 p.m.; and Seth Franco, former Harlem Globetrotter basketball great, 6 p.m.

Sunday's family entertainment continues with: Mario the Funny Man, 11 and 1 p.m.; Clay Martin's Puppets, noon and 2 p.m.; Alleyoops Musical Games, 3 p.m.; Mary Shavers Marionettes, 4 p.m. Alleyoops Maritime Show 5 p.m.

For the adults, there's the La Senioritas Beer Garden and the Ballard Rotary Wine Garden. Money from the wine garden goes towards the Ballard Food Bank.

Learn how to live a greener life to save the environment at this year's festival.

The Sustainable Living Lounge offers demonstrations and information by experts, along with "mocktail" samplings from local restaurants.

UnDriving Ballard is signing up people to get out of their cars to explore alternative transportation.

Ann Scheerer, Green Scene and Standard Biodiesel are holding the Seafood Fest Recycling Challenge to try and recycle more than half of all festival waste products.

A Solar Stage at Ballard Commons is going to be powered entirely by the sun.

The Ballard Lions are bringing the Lions Health Screening van for two days of vision, hearing, blood pressure, glaucoma and diabetes tests. People are being asked to bring their unused eyeglasses for recycling.

"It's well attended always. We provide services free of charge to everyone," said Bill Damon, Lions Club member.

Swedish Hospital's Ballard Campus is offering free health screens in their own van.

He public is encouraged to support the event. Look for the donation fishes, where volunteers will be collecting money for the festival.

The festival depends on their volunteers to make the SeafoodFest happen. "It's really a big collaboration that is making the event successful. The community is embracing it," said Miller.

The Ballard SeafoodFest hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday, July 26 and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday, July 27.

Starting on July 24 through July 27, area businesses are holding the annual Sidewalk Sale. The hours are: Thursday Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Over at the St. Alphonsus School parking lot, Michael Johnson's Hoopaholics organization and the Olympic Athletic Club are holding a 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament on Saturday and Sunday. Team registration is $90. Visit http://www.hoopaholics.com. Johnson can be reached at 235-5195 or michael23johnson@hoopaholics.com. Other tournament sponsors include Anchor Environmental and Home Realty.

The highlight sponsor for the Ballard SeafoodFest is Ballard Market. Other main sponsors include: Swedish Medical Center; American Family Insurance; Boeing Employees Credit Union; Chen's Accupuncture; Crown Hill Chiropractic; Maritime Pacific; PEMCO Mutual Insurance. Starbucks; and Sterling Savings Bank.

Olympic Athletic Club

Nordic Heritage Museum

Festivals/Annual Events

Robinson Papers

Three get Lions

releasearchive — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:00:00 +0000

releasearchive Mon, 06/30/2008 - 12:00am

Club scholarships

Seniors win scholarships

Ballard High School seniors Kevin Vitz-Wong, Amar Shah and Deisi Fernandez received scholarships from the Ballard Lions Club based on their community service and school work.

Vitz-Wong is an outreach volunteer and school liaison for Teen Link and is a founding member and president of the Student Lives Always Matter Club. He plans to attend Lewis and Clark College. His goals include traveling, studying abroad, and publishing his writing.

As a volunteer at Swedish Hospital the last three years and as a volunteer technical service coordinator at Interconnection, Shah plans to attend Washington State University with a focus on computers and business.

Fernandez does volunteer work with Union Latina, Maritime and Link Crew. His goal is to become a pastry chef. He would like to join the Peace Corps and own his own pastry shop someday.

Ballard Lions make smoke detectors available

releasearchive — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:00:00 +0000

releasearchive Mon, 04/28/2008 - 12:00am

If you need a smoke detector, the Seattle Fire Department will giving them away to low-income and elderly people during the Ballard Lions White Cane Days fundraiser on May 2 and 3.

The smoke detectors will only be available in front of the Fred Meyer Store. In addition, the fire department will have light flashing smoke detectors available for people with hearing problems.

White Cane Days is a tradition for the Lions Club to raise funds for sight and hearing programs. Last year's campaign brought in over $2,200.

Lions Club members will also be stationed at the Ballard Library and the Safeway Store at 15th Avenue Northwest and Northwest Market Street. Hours at all three locations, on both days are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This year, the Lions will be joined the Ballard High School's Leo Club, a student version of the Lions.

The Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight and Hearing has provided 31,000 people with free vision checkup across Washington and Idaho. Over $100,000 has been used to pay for eye treatments. Cornea transplants benefited 2,801 people in Washington, Alaska, Montana and Northern Idaho since 1969 to make the Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight and Hearing the number one eye bank in the U.S. last year.

Look for the Lions Health Screening van at this summer's Ballard SeafoodFest.

Ballard Lions look for shut-ins to assist

dean_wong — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:00:00 +0000

dean_wong Tue, 11/06/2007 - 12:00am

For years, school counselors, medical clinics and hospitals have referred low-income clients to the Ballard Lions Club for help with hearing aids and eye glasses.

Now the Ballard Lions are looking for people who are shut-ins to assist, thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Wilson Trust, part of the legacy of Harry Wilson and Claire Cayo-Wilson, founders of the old Wilson Ford in Ballard on Leary Way.

The funds are earmarked to help financially needy individuals with vision and hearing problems who don't leave their homes and are not aware of the service provided by the Ballard Lions.

"My idea is to try and reach shut-ins and help them with eye and hearing exams and then glasses and hearing aids if needed," said Gary Filion, treasure of the Ballard Lions Foundation.

Most people who have received assistance from the Ballard Lions, have heard about their services through word of mouth.

Now the club is encouraging friends, family and neighbors to identify people for their sight and hearing programs.

Often relatives, caregivers or a relative will call said Nancy Debaste, the Ballard Lions' hearing aid volunteer.

While the club has provided assistance to many people, shut-ins tend not to go to senior centers or hospitals where they can be referred to the Ballard Lions.

"They have gone through other resources. The Lions are at the bottom of the totem pole to get help," said Debaste.

"If they can't read a newspaper due to sight impairment, they won't read this article, and don't know what help is available to them" said Filion.

"We're just trying to come up with ways to help our area residents. Often they are elderly and simply isolated, many times due to the fact they can't hear or see well," said Filion.

"It's wonderful, people can have this gift and enjoy life more," said Debaste.

To receive help with hearing, call the Ballard Lions' Nancy Debaste at 282-4097. The number Ted Peterson and vision assistance is 789-9417.

Lions to start high school club

dean_wong — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 07:00:00 +0000

dean_wong Mon, 10/01/2007 - 12:00am

SEEING AND HEARING. Ballard Lions Club members Terry Nelson Froggatt, Susanne Stauffer and Erin Goodwin are volunteering their time on the upcoming Golden Ears Days fundraiser. Stauffer and Goodwin are also co-chairs of the new Leo Club at Ballard High School. Dean Wong photo.

Members of the Ballard Lions have been busy organizing their Golden Ears fundraiser on Oct. 5 and 6, and starting a new service club for local high school students.

While the Golden Ears Days take place annually, for the very first time, the Ballard Lions have started a Leo Club at Ballard High School.

With Lions Club membership peaking at 40, the club is targeting a younger audience. Members spent time meeting with parents and students this summer to talk about being involved in the new Leo Club.

The goals of the Leo Club include: developing leadership skills through organizing, managing time and motivating peers; providing experience and cooperation through community service; and giving young people the opportunity to excel, develop positive character traits and receiving recognition for their contributions to the community.

This is the 50th anniversary of the Lions Club International Leo Club Program. There are 5,500 Leo Clubs in more than 130 countries with 140,000 members.

"We have met several kids who have shown an interest," said Suzanne Stauffer, one of two chairs of the Leo Club. The others are Zoe Kelley and Erin Goodwin. Gary Fillion is the Ballard Lions advisor.

So far 20 Ballard students have shown an interest by signing up. Seattle high school students must do 60 hours of community service in order to graduate and serving with the Leo Club would satisfy those requirements.

Both Stauffer and Goodwin said they have been involved in community service since there were young and understood the value of joining the Ballard Lions.

Leo Club members will likely start with a food drive to feed the needy as a introduction project. First they'll need to get their membership organized and elect officers.

"They get to choose what they want to do, we hope for them to be future Lions Club members," said Stauffer.

A longtime member, Bill Damon hopes the Leo Club will help the Ballard Lions grow and sustain people who want to be members.

Students will help represent the Ballard Lions during the Golden Ears Days later this week. Ear plugs and Golden Ears Days stickers will be handed out in exchange for donations.

Last year the club raised $1800 and the goal this time is $2,000. Out of 290 Lions Clubs in Washington and Northern Idaho, the Ballard Lions were the top contributing club per capita in 2005 and 2006. Monies raised go to the Northwest Lions Hearing and Sight Foundation to pay for glasses, hearing aids and cornea transplants.

This year's co-chair of Golden Ears Days is Terry Nelson Froggatt, who graduated from Ballard High in 1964. The other chair is Christine McGarry.

"We want to take this opportunity to thank the Ballard community for donating. Without their support we could not support our hearing and sight programs," said Froggatt.

The announced a $2000 Mel Bleakney Memorial Scholarship to Libby Martin and a $15,000 contribution to the Bloedel Hearing Research Center at the University of Washington.

Golden Ears Days is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 5 and 6. Ballard Lions Club members will be stationed at the Fred Meyer store, Ballard Market, QFC on Holman Road, Ballard Liquor Store on Market St. and in front of Tully's Coffee on Market Street.

People who need assistance in obtaining a hearing aid can call Nancy Debaste at 282-4097 or Ted Peterson for glasses at 789-9417.

Newspaper 'really helps'

letterarchive — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 07:00:00 +0000

letterarchive Mon, 06/25/2007 - 12:00am

This belated letter is to thank you, reporter Dean Wong and the Ballard News-Tribune for the story you wrote last month about the White Cane Days event held by our Ballard Lions Club. As a club member, I can tell you that this coverage from your newspaper really helps. From my location at the local Safeway, I can almost tell who has read the story by the people who smile at me and reach into their purse or wallet in search of a contribution as they walk from their cars to the supermarket entrance.

These people are a godsend, because this duty as a club member otherwise entails a lot of rejection. Their smiles and words of support are what keep you going and turn potential drudgery into a fun, positive day. At the end of my shift, I feel good about the money collected. Each dollar in the jar helps our club and our Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight and Hearing restore sight to people who can't afford the cornea transplant, cataract surgery or other medical treatment or special equipment they so desperately need. You should read some of the thank you letters we get from recipients who can finally see. Their stories make it all worthwhile. Thank you again for the role your newspaper plays in making it possible for us to help.

Bob Sheffels

Ballard Lions

Ballard

Robinson Papers

White Canes Day successful

letterarchive — Tue, 29 May 2007 07:00:00 +0000

letterarchive Tue, 05/29/2007 - 12:00am

I would like to thank the Ballard News-Tribune for the story on White Cane Days. Our goal was to collect $2,200. The Ballard community gave generously and we collected approximately $2,200 in front of Fred Meyer's, Safeway, Ballard Market and Tully's across from Bergen square and Ray's boathouse. Many people who donated mentioned seeing the article.

In addition, $135 was collected from people who saw the article and sent money directly. Other donations raised the total to slightly over $2750, the best collection ever by the Ballard Lions club.

Monies raised by the Lions clubs here in the Seattle area go to the Northwest Lions Foundation, which funds SightLife. SightLife was previously known as the Northwest Eye Bank. Last year, SightLife prepared over 20,000 corneas for transplantation on the West coast and performed over 115,000 health screenings in the Seattle area. In addition these monies go towards recycling eyeglasses collected by the Lions clubs.

We look forward to your paper's support for our fall collection for the Lions Club's hearing programs.

Steve Little

Days Chairman

2007 White Cane

Ballard Lions club

Ballard Lions

Ballard

Robinson Papers