September 2006

A cash-strapped Seattle School District is considering increasing rents or possibly selling a number of properties in the city including a former elementary school in Crown Hill now home to several non-profit educational organizations.

The district’s decision may also doom a planned green space in that neighborhood.

The Crown Hill School, a former elementary school between Holman Road Northwest and Northwest 92nd Street, is one of several Youth Family and Community Service Centers designated by the district for use supporting school-related programs.

The vision of a parking garage at Woodland Park Zoo became more concrete last week when zoo officials, engineers and architects held what will likely be one of the final public comments on the project during an open house.

Despite light attendance, several visitors raised the same concerns that have made building the $18 million, four-floor garage at the zoo controversial.

Concerns about viaduct construction impacts and housing costs are forcing one Ballard business to look beyond Seattle to find labor for a $600 million U.S. Coast Guard boat-building contract.

“I don’t have a great deal of confidence that we’ll find people we need willing to commute into Seattle. I’m taking the jobs where the people are,” said Brian Thomas, one of the owners of Kvichak Marine, a company located on the Lake Washington Ship Canal that builds aluminum-hulled workboats.

The goods news is the Ballard Beavers season opening win over Juanita 29-21 on the first day of September.

Then bad news came in losses to Woodinville 31-6, Redmond 32-0 and the latest defeat 35-19 to the inner city rival Franklin Quakers last Friday.

“They out played us,” said Ballard Head Coach Alex Barashkoff after the Quaker game.

Beaver starting quarterback Joey Bolinger dislocated his left shoulder diving after a fumble in the first half and that was bad news for the Ballard offense.

“Joey got hurt.

Of the nearly 56,000 registered voters in Federal Way, just over 10 percent, or 5954, cast their ballots in last week's primary election.

As none of the candidates for state senate or house positions from legislative district 30 had a challenger within their parties, the same names will appear on the general election ballot in November.

Democratic State Senator Eide received 2,836 votes, while her Republican opponent Renee Maher earned 2,100.

2,764 votes were cast for Democrat Mark Miloscia, currently serving his fourth term in the House.