January 2008

Jim Bristow is fed up. After hearing his favorite haunt, the Sunset Bowl, would shutter in April, he immediately began gathering signatures for a petition and calling investors to see if he might save the Ballard icon, or some form of it.

"I'm tired of the soul of Ballard getting stripped away," said Bristow, a local independent contractor.

The Sunset Bowl, one of just four bowling alleys left operating in the city, was sold to Avalon Ballard LLC for $13.2 million and is set to close in April.

As you walk down Market Street in Ballard there are coffee shops, bakeries, gift stores - and Live Girls! Theater.

Wait a minute! What is a theater devoted to live girls doing in an area as wholesome as downtown Ballard? Well, it is empowering women.

According to founder and Artistic Director Meghan Arnette, Live Girls! is a theater dedicated to producing and developing new works by women.

King County Metro will hold a hearing tomorrow evening on a proposal to split bus Route 17 during midday and evening so that it serves both 32nd and Seaview avenues.

Some people are concerned that change is cutting off-peak rider service on 32nd Avenue and all service on but Route 17 at 9 p.m. (See Letter, Page 6).

King County Councilman Larry Phillips says it appears to be "a reasonable proposal" but said he would await comments at the Thursday meeting before making up his mind.

For the third year, HomeStreet Bank's Ballard branch has presented a "Great Neighbor, Great Business Award" to two Ballard-area businesses.

This year's winners are Martha Rose Construction and Origin Records.

Martha Rose has been spearheading the green building efforts in this area since 1974 by public speaking on sustainability topics and as a role model for many builders in the area.

Origin Records is a local jazz record label dedicated to promoting Seattle jazz and jazz in general.

Taproot Theatre's Road Company is taking its social-issues plays to elementary and secondary schools throughout Western Washington and the Yakima Valley through mid-May to teach students how to recognize bullying, inform them how to react and give them the tools they need to speak up and stop suffering in silence.

Fifteen to 25 percent of students in the United States are believed to frequently experience the turmoil of bullying, according U.S.

The Port of Seattle Commission have approved a slate of items that together form the initial elements of what is called the Port's Accountability Action Plan.

- Strengthening Commission oversight. Commissioners formed a group which will research best practices for organizational governance and recommend ways to strengthen oversight of major construction projects.

Ballard residents recently met some future neighbors, when eight Tent City 3 residents talked about an upcoming move to Our Redeemer's Church.

The church has invited the roving homeless camp to set up their tents in their parking from March 1 to April 26. The church is at 2400 N.W.

Toy recalls alone are not enough to ensure children's safety, says Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, who is seeking additional protections for Washington parents and children.

"The safety of children's products is a major concern of any parent with young children," said Kohl-Welles. "It should be a major concern - and a top priority to be addressed this session - for the Legislature as well."

Kohl-Welles has introduced legislation.

If an oil spill ever hits the waters around Ballard, students at the local high school are ready to respond and order clean up procedures.

Last Thursday, Ballard Maritime Academy teacher John Foster conducted an oil spill drill in his classroom at Ballard High and his students broke into four different groups to deal with the situation.

While oil was not actually spilled, students used computer programs, charts and maps to decide how to take action.

They acted like actual spill responders and formed teams to handle: Planning/Prediction, Logistics, Command and S

Every day Seattleites hop in their cars ready to start another day. For a lucky few, the commute is easy.