April 2007

Swedish Medical Center Opens New Clinic

The Swedish Medical Center has opened the Swedish Midwifery and Women's Health Clinic in the Ballard Medical Plaza,

The staff includes three experienced certified nurse midwives.

A full array of obstetrical and women's health care services includes: preconception counseling; prenatal visits; nutritional counseling; labor support; childbirth (at Swedish's Ballard Family Childbirth Center); breastfeeding support; family planning; annual exams; gynecologic exams; and care from adolescents through menopause.

The cl

I just spent the last week on vacation in Ballard with guests from out of town. I have one sister and she lives with her husband and three daughters in a small New England town where our parents still live. Their almost annual visits give me an opportunity to view our corner of the city with outside eyes.

In only three years, the Ballard Beaver girls golf team has continued to close the gap between themselves and their more seasoned eastside rivals.

Inglemoor, narrowly beat Ballard last month 273 to 281 strokes in the Beavers first match of the year.

A roster full of depth and talent is resulting in more wins for the Ballard Beavers girls tennis team this spring and one of those victories came against defending state 3A champion Bellevue last month.

Ballard dominated the Wolverlines in a 6-3 non-league win. The Beavers then went on to beat Interlake and then Eastside.

"The team is balanced and deep, with strong play from the number one through number six singles.

Once I wanted to join the local garden club and was asked for my resume. I sent in a five-page list of my educational background and accomplishments and soon received a letter stating that I was accepted into membership.

But first the president asked me one question. "Why didn't you mention anything about gardening?" I answered with complete honesty. "I have never gardened in my life and would like to learn more about it. That's why I want to join your club."

Talk about self-disclosure and you only have to look at what I downloaded from a forwarded e-mail recently.

Ballard resident Darrell Kirk has been helping Seattle Central Community College students receive an education through the Nelson Mandela-Graca Machel Scholarship program.

Kirk and his wife, Elizabeth Devereaux, a teacher at Wing Luke Elementary started the Nelson Mandela-Graca Machel Scholarship six years ago. Machel is Mandela's wife.

Through the scholarship, the couple has funded the education of six students.

"Seattle Central gave me a chance to go to school," said Kirk. "Education is so unattainable for most people.

Construction workers at the NoMa Condominiums were lined up floor-to- floor last week. They were passing up pieces of lumber from the ground floor to each other.

High school students marched in n Seattle on April 18 to protest the war in Iraq. Here they are seen approaching the Seattle School District headquarters in the Sodo District. Over two hundred students left school for the demonstration that began at West Lake Center.

Federal Way batter Shane Elliot connects with a sixth-inning fastball that he redirects over the left field wall. The homerun put the Eagles on top, 4-3. Federal Way defeated Kentwood by the same margin last Tuesday.

Photo by Seth Bynum.

Do you think you have to write the Great American Novel the first time you set your pen to paper in order to be a writer? That's not how it happens.

Find out more about the writing world at the first-ever Federal Way Writer's Retreat at the Dumas Bay Center on April 27 and 28. The Center is located at 3200 SW Dash Point Road in Federal Way.

The event opens with a wine and cheese reception at 6:30 p.m.