December 2006

BLOGGERS:They can give niche coverage to new subjects

When Peggy Sturdivant first started a blog about Ballard she had no idea it would change her life.

"I feel a responsibility now to the whole community," said Sturdivant, a Ballard resident for 19 years. "I've discovered I'm looking at everything differently now, as though I'm a keeper of Ballard."

For years, Sturdivant wrote down her observations about Ballard curled up on the end of her couch, scrawling away in her notebook.

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Lights to stay on

Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Ken Bounds has officially denied resident's requests to leave field lights at the Loyal Heights Playfield off for more than one night a week, limiting the fields' availability to five nights a week.

The 6.7-acre park is now under construction for year-round use, with the replacement of grass with synthetic turf and eight new, 80-foot field lights.

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Gymnastics

More practice for good season

By Dean Wong

With a smaller team than in past years, the Ballard Beavers gymnasts are looking forward to more quality practice time and a good season.

The team has 19 girls and this allows teammates to spend more time on the beam, floor, vault and bars.

Senior Jayna Lehman has been the team's top gymnast in the last three years and has been using practices to hone her skills, while passing helping her teammates.

"All our returners are strong. We have some new freshmen," said Lehman.

Neighborhood
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$20.5 million center slated to open

Residents of Federal Way and surrounding areas will soon be able to jog, climb, swim, take yoga, learn Pilates, relax in a sauna, have a birthday party and attend community classes all in one place.

In June, the City of Federal Way began building a new Community Center at the south end of Celebration Park.

"We're a growing city, and that growth means a greater demand for recreational programs and the need for a community gathering place," said Mary Faber, Superintendent for the City of Federal Way Recreation and Cultural Services.

"A new Community Center means

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Raiders wrestlers rack up win over Eagles

Thomas Jefferson won nine of the 14 weight classes to stave off the challenge of visiting Federal Way, 48-29, Wednesday.

"We knew it would be a close match," said Eagles wrestling coach Beckett Cordes. "We needed a few matches to go our way and didn't get things to do that."

It's true that things were close. In fact the Eagles out-pinned the Raiders, 5-4. So that obviously was not the difference in the Raiders' winning by 19 points.

What was?

Close matches that the Raiders took, just like Cordes said.

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Dennis Michael LARSON

10/07/64 - 12/08/06

Complications following surgery for lung cancer claimed the life of

Dennis Larson, 42, of Burien. He was born in Seattle, the youngest of

four children, graduated from Ballard HS in 1982, and served four years

in the USAF, attaining the rank of Sgt. Dennis was the dearly loved

son/stepson of Ella and Georg Kjonsvik, and Robert & Devota Larson. He

No power, good neighbors

Great neighbors came forward to make the recent power outage an unforgettable event. My wife and I were facing the freezing weather with only Duraflame logs, flashlights and candles, and our next-door neighbors with three small children were facing similar circumstances.

George and Joann Hiatt and their daughter Brianna checked on us the first day of the outage. They had the luxury of a generator, and they invited the neighborhood to their house for a pancake breakfast on Saturday morning.

Neighborhood

Additional year of math may be required

Beginning with the current eighth-graders, Highline public school students likely will be required to take a third year of math in order to graduate.

Superintendent John Welch told board members on Dec. 13 he would recommend that they impose the additional requirement.

Total credits needed to graduate would remain at 23, but total elective credits would be reduced to seven and a half.

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