August 2008

I have known Bob (Wenman) for almost all of these 38 years. To me he has been a friend, a role model and an example of a life and career well lived. Bob always put the kids first. He was the last one to stand in the limelight. He deeply believed in his calling. He and Gloria raised a fine family of their own, but Bob's extended family numbers in the thousands. Bob's retirement will, no doubt, be active. With much love,

Lynn Templeton

Executive Director/CEO

Boys & Girls Clubs of America

The article in April started this way: "... (Aberdeen) was hemorrhaging jobs. Mother Jones tells it like this: 'Families were breaking up and moving out. There were suicides. It was really a hard time.'"

The author goes on to note that "Grays Harbor and four other Washington counties are exemplifying another new trend in small-town America: life expectancy is declining among the rural poor."

But, good news is on the horizon says the environmental activist who wrote the piece: the "green" economy is coming.

The Seattle Planning Commission says it approves, with caveats, a proposal to increase the building height in an Interbay commercial area from the current 40-foot limit, but it was unable to come up with a specific height limit.

The original proposal sought an increase in some areas to 125 feet. The mayor had proposed a limit of 85 feet.

After delays to the spring start for construction of the Ballard Corners Park, Phase 1 of the park is now underway.

A port-a-potty, heavy equipment to start construction and fence surrounding the designated 37,000 square foot site for the park was put in place mid-July and ground has finally been broken at the site.

The base bid portion of the project has kicked off Phase 1 of the construction. They have begun preparing the site inside of the sidewalk along with the play structure.

In the July 30 issue of the Ballard News-Tribune, incorrect information was given about where townhomes will be located ("Design standards worry builders", page 1). The story should have said, "Ten percent of the city is zoned multifamily, some of that, in a portion of the least intensive low-rise zones, will be developed as townhouses, which have been an ongoing sore spot for single-family homeowners...". These would be the LDT, L-1 and L-2 zones.

Plans for a new Fire Station 21 on Greenwood Avenue and 73rd Street are being developed, and a public meeting on the designs will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. Sept. 4 at City Hall.

The new station is being built under the Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Levy approved by Seattle voters in Nov. 2003. Under that levy 32 neighborhood fire stations would undergo renovations from 2004 to 2013.

Kate Spitzer, head architect for the project for the Miller Hull Partnership, said construction could begin as early as Sept.

Last week the cast of Theater Simple's "Gerda's Journey" gathered together at the Ballard Locks to rehearse scenes for the play. But, they were missing one important cast member: the audience.

In "Gerda's Journey," based on Hans Christen Andersen's children's play "The Snow Queen," Theater Simple will make use of the entirety of the Ballard Locks and allow the audience to become a character in the play, said producer Llysa Holland.

New business owners learned that the impact their establishments leave on Ballard Avenue is meticulously measured by the Landmark District Board.

Mark Magdaleno, of local shoe store Triple, came before the board for approval to install an aluminum blade sign with black and white vinyl graphics over the entryway, and to install vinyl graphics on the windows of the entry doors.

"This is not a traditional application," board member Elaine Wine said. "What we need to look at is its impact.

15th Annual Fusion sponsored by Peggy LaPorte in conjunction with Metropolitan Market, Jeff & LeAnn Stock, Prudential NW Realty Associates, HomeStreet Bank, Barefoot Winery, Women's Club of FW, Master Builder's Association and The Boeing Company. Also contributing were St. Francis Hospital, Puget Sound Energy and Smith Barney.

Table sponsors included:

Aerospace Industries

CeCe Carr

Jack and Linda Butcher

Weyerhaeuser Company

Football schedule

Fall 2008

Sept. 4

Beamer at Spanaway Lk., 7 p.m.

Auburn at Federal Way, 7 p.m.

Sept. 5

Decatur at Em. Ridge, 7 p.m.

Tahoma at TJ, 7 p.m.

Sept. 12

Puyallup at Decatur, 7 p.m.