March 2008

In my early life growing up in Chehalis, we lived on Prindle Street where it flooded every few years. But in all those years water never rose high enough to flood our home.

I remember water gushing under our house leaving all manner of debris after the flood waters subsided. My sister Sarah put on hip boots and carried me through the water to high ground so that I could walk to school. My little friend Percy would begin building a raft and then would come by for me and we would raft up and down our flooded street.

On Tuesday, March 17, Seattle Mayor Nichols put in a presence at the Groundswell NW annual meeting to announce that Ballard was going to get a new public park. Purchase of the property owned by the Seventh Church of Israel at Northwest 70th and 73rd on 9th Avenues Northwest has contracted by the City Parks Department. The property will become a public park.

The purchase will cost around $3 million and is a little short of one acre. This is the second new park for Ballard in recent time.

Much has been written about Miro, whether or not the tea should cost this much or the food should take that long to make, and so on. But the pleasant surroundings make up for all of that, and weekday evenings are uncrowded and relaxing. It's a bit noisy in here, so think of it as more of a place to experience the vibrant atmosphere, to see and be seen, or meet a date for the first time.

After reading your article "Homelessness Kills" plus "Community Spirit Lives On," and "Save Old Ballard Buildings" in the March 12 edition (of Ballard News-Tribune) along with an article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "Under The Needle: They Have Vehicles, But Nowhere To Go," we agree with you, that "we should do something."

These articles, almost all on the same day, in your paper and the P.I., direct us all into immediate action.

Editor's Note: This letter was addressed to City Councilman Bruce Harrell with a copy to this newspaper.

Thank you for your carefully considered response to the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment regarding the requirement that the city not declare any land surplus until it has been considered for retention as a City Light photovoltaic project. You and your staff have clearly done a lot of research and we appreciate the effort involved.

Please join us in thanking Mayor Greg Nickels for participating in our annual meeting on March 11 and bringing the exciting news of a preliminary agreement to purchase a 39,000 square foot property on the 7000 block of 9th Avenue Northwest. Groundswell and Seattle Parks have had our eyes on this property, belonging to the Seventh Elect Church in Israel, for nearly 18 years.

The weather was almost perfect for a birthday party. Saturday morning the sky was blue, offering a view of the Olympic Mountains still wearing their winter whites and of ferries steaming out of Coleman Dock just below.

She had to look her best. Like buying a new dress for the party, the Alaskan Way Viaduct got her lanes repainted, renewed dashed stripes on both road decks. Road crews hung over the edges in cherry pickers, inspecting her sides.

The city was invited. People lined up at white canopies on the ramp at Columbia Street.

The appeal of the Manning's/Denny's designation as a city landmark has brought into question the fairness of the entire process of how a landmark is decided in Seattle.

The diner's landmark status was decided Feb.

Ballard's Bergen Place has a new rune stone that honors His Majesty King Olav V of Norway and gives the park signage to identify it to new visitors.

A plaque that was once mounted in the park's kiosk has been added to the rune stone along with designs by artist Jay Haavik.

The park has a history of attracting Norwegian royalty.

A series of focus groups have provided input on the design of the Nordic Heritage Museum at its future site on Market Street.

The 75,000 square foot museum will be constructed on the site of the Fenpro building at a cost of $50 million.