Much has been said about our future restaurant. Rumors, gossip and blogging has fed a considerable amount of speculation which is swirling around Sunset Hill like an unchecked tornado.
I thank you for providing an opportunity to clear up what appears to be miscommunication/interpretation of the application for a liquor license for Pizzeria Picolinos.
Thank you for the article "Jewish life in Norway during WWII recalled" (May 21 Ballard News-Tribune). However, there was a misunderstanding of some facts that I presented and so the article, as well as its title, gives an erroneous impression of what happened to the Norwegian Jews during World War II.
It was after WWII that the Norwegian government under Einar Gerhardsen determined to "exchange" the 700 Norwegian Jews who the Nazis murdered with Jewish refugees from Hungary, Poland and Germany.
The shrinking ice cream affair
By Jack Mayne
In a city where gasoline prices are the highest around (except in Vancouver, B.C., where gas is $1.30 a liter or $4.93 a gallon for regular), you would think big business would understand that we comprehend that things are costing more and more each day.
But that appears to have escaped the people at the Dreyer's Ice Cream company.
Yes, it's a landmark, but go ahead and knock it down.
After voting to protect the Ballard diner as a city landmark in February, the Seattle Landmark Preservation Board voted reluctantly, but unanimously, last Wednesday not to impose any controls on the Manning's/Denny's building.
"It's a very sad situation," said board chair, Stephen Lee, noting this was the first building in his experience the board deemed a landmark, but then later decided could not be preserved.
By law, a landmark designation cannot prevent the owner from seeing a reasonable economic return.
Community members pleaded with Seattle City Council members last week to consider more money for human services in the 2009-2010 biennial budget process, but the residents were told the city is facing a potential steep loss of tax income.
While there were many Ballard residents in attendance, people spoke about concerns relating to all areas of the city, but in particular, services for the poor, elderly, homeless and infirmed.
Based on results from 58 instant polling devices that were distributed amongst the more than 100 people who filled the Ballard Senior Center cafete
Ballard Corners Park, in the planning process for years, is one step closer to becoming reality with construction firms turning in their bids by May 28 and work possibly starting in late June.
The park will revitalize the intersection of Northwest 62nd Street and 17th Avenue Northwest. The engineer's estimate for the work on the base elements of the park is $108,000.
The Seattle Police Officers' Guild overwhelmingly approved a new city contract that increased wages by 25.6 percent over the life of the four-year contract.
With more than 90 percent of 1,119 ballots returned, 89 percent favored the agreement, which included changes to the police accountability system.
"This contract makes clear that we value the hard work and dedication of the men and women who serve in the Seattle Police Department," said Mayor Greg Nickels.
Seattle students should have schools that prepare them for college, for work and for life, not force them to look for another school system to find quality education, said Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson last week.
Community meetings at West Seattle and Roosevelt high school were held to let people review and discuss goals and strategies in her still developing plan.
Goodloe-Johnson said that the plan would have every school becoming a high quality school.
The city says meat and dairy products will be allowed in the yard waste cart, glass will go in the same recycling container as paper and plastic, and more plastic materials will be eligible for recycling, thanks to new solid waste contracts that could take effect in Seattle next year.
The city believes the new contracts would significantly reduce the amount of residential food waste sent to the landfill each year.
"More than half of Seattle's garbage that now goes to landfills can be recycled or composted," said Mayor Greg Nickels.
Exactly two years ago I phoned the Ballard News-Tribune and Rebekah Schilperoort answered the telephone. I had questions about the Ballard Journal that was suddenly appearing in my mailbox and wanted to speak with editors for both papers for a post on my At Large in Ballard blog. The editor was out of the office but Rebekah took my questions very seriously and we proceeded to discuss differences in local content. I promised to send the link to my story and that's how a reporter 20 years my junior became my mentor.
This edition will mark Rebekah's last as reporter and assistant editor for the Ballard News-Tribune and West Seattle Herald, although she will continue as a freelance writer for both papers. Starting in early June she will leave full-time journalism to work as content editor for a private company providing information resources. Rebekah has a journalism degree from the University of Washington and has been with Robinson Newspapers since February 2005.
