February 2007

A crime wave, targeting residents and businesses in Crown Hill has one neighborhood concerned enough to start a Block Watch Party.

Dean Frazier has been living on 16th Street Northwest for the last 20 years. It had been relatively crime free.

"We've had our share of people sleeping in the back alley, there was a suicide a few years ago," said Frazier.

In early November, around 9:30 a.m., a burglar tried to break into Frazier's home.

A dead man was found floating in the water near the bird sanctuary at Golden Gardens on Monday, Feb. 12 by a park visitor. The King County Medical Examiner's office has identified the victim as Thomas Christopher Robbins, 54 years old.

Seattle Police Department spokesperson Jeff Kappel said a call came into 911 around 4:30 p.m.

Two Ballard residents realized they had been scammed at their homes last week after giving money to a man claiming to represent a local non-profit organization.

Both people described a black man with a slight beard, 5 foot 11 inches and weighing about 170 pounds, approximately 35 to 40 years old as the person that knocked on their door last week.

The Port of Seattle will build a new container terminal and relocate an existing cruise terminal, the Port Commission decided last week.

"Recent and anticipated growth in the Port's container shipping business is driving this project," said Port of Seattle Chief Mic Dinsmore.

Container volumes in Seattle grew by nearly 40 percent from 2003 to 2005, and while volumes were down slightly in 2006, additional growth of approximately 8 percent annually is expected in the coming years.

"Container shipping at the Port of Seattle generates more than 18,000 jobs and over

There are plans to install a double faced, externally illuminated 50-foot high billboard just north of the Ballard Bridge on 15th Avenue Northwest, according to Seattle's Department of Planning and Development.

Clear Channel Outdoor Communications, the owner of the billboard, wants to replace an existing sign at 4900 15th Ave. N.W. with a newer one at 4810 15th N.W.

HB 1116

Creating a plan to increase the homeownership rate to 75 percent by 2020.

By a vote of 65 to 31 on Feb. 12, the House approved HB 1116, which would require the Washington State Housing Finance Commission to develop a plan for increasing homeownership rates to 75% by 2020. The plan must be a joint effort between the Affordable Housing Advisory Board, the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development, and other housing stakeholders. The Commission is required to present the plan to the legislature December 31.

Six Ballard residents have made the Seattle Pacific University's 2006 Autumn Quarter Dean's List. Each has completed at least 12 credits and have attained a 3.50 or higher grade point average. The students are: Megan Dianne McGilvray Brady; Alan Edward Butcher; Yi Chen; Katelynn L. Cress; Meguire Anne Heston; and Timothy Michael Neill.

Juarez barely misses first place

By Dean Wong

Ballard gymnast Johanna Juarez earned second place in the beam last weekend against the best talent Washington State had to offer at the 4A Gymnastics Championships at the Tacoma Dome.

Juarez was joined at state by teammate Jayna Lehman who made it in the vault.

Juarez's score of 9.55 was just one-tenth of a point short of Bothell's star gymnast Carrie Dragland who was awarded a 9.55 score to take first.

In the floor exercise, Juarez continued to shine finishing in a four way-tie with a 9.6 sco

Perry Sharify gets second place

By Dean Wong

In boy's swimming, Ballard Beaver Perry Sharify won second place in the 200 IM (individual medley) at the WIAA (Washington Interscholastic Activities Association) 4A Swimming and Diving Championships last Saturday.

Sharify recorded a time of 1:57.10 in the race. Bothell's Chris Winchell took first at 1:53.66, an All-American Time Consideration. A time of 1:00.43 was good enough to earn Sharfiy fifth place in the 100 breast.

The 200 free relay team was fifth in that event with a time of 1:31.34.

'Astronaut Farmer' is a rarity

Directed by: Michael Polish

Rated: PG

(three stars)

By Bruce Bulloch

The Polish Brothers latest film "The Astronaut Farmer" opens with an iconic image of the American West. A lone horseman makes his way across an arid landscape bathed in the sharp-shadowed light of early morning sun. It is only when the camera approaches the rider that we realize he's wearing a space suit.