April 2009

Three suspects have been charged in the Everett District Court for the April 12 burglary of the Senior Center of West Seattle. They are Byron J. Bowman, a 44-year-old felon, his son, Tyler B. Bowman, 22, and a friend, James M. Densmore, 49.

They stole cash and gift certificates totaling more than $5,000 from a safe at the senior center. They pried their way in and kicked in some drywall in two spots. That was their calling card on other burglaries they are suspected of. Video surveillance capturing the suspects was turned over to Detective Nick Bauer of the Southwest precinct who shared it with a multi-regional crime task force.

Southwest Precinct Sergeant Jeff Durden explained, "A task force including Seattle Detective Mel Britt, along with the Lake Stevens, Arlington, Marysville, Snohomish, Skagit and Pierce county police forces has been organized. County police departments got the video from Detective Bauer. The suspects matched those captured on video during another burglary at a Lake Stevens grocery."

Durden said the task force is examining more than 130 burglaries where a pry-bar and bashed-in drywall were evident.

While the 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy did not initially include any mention of a Delridge skatepark, it seems that construction funds for the park could be made available through the levy after all.

Design costs for a Delridge skatepark have been completely funded by Seattle Parks, but construction funds for the project were quickly cut from the city’s budget earlier this year.

Currently, funding from the 2008 voter-approved Parks and Green Spaces levy has been allocated to create skateparks at the Roxhill Playground and Myrtle Reservoir. However, the $250,000 allocated to Myrtle could likely be transferred and used to construct a skate park designed for Delridge Playfield.

Funding from the levy was allocated to different park projects months before voters approved it. In early 2008, a skatepark at the Myrtle Reservoir seemed like a strong possibility. But after a few public meetings Myrtle residents made it clear that they did not want a skatepark in their neighborhood.

Final recommendations from the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) regarding updates to the city's Restricted Parking Zone ordinance are now available online .

The Seattle City Council Transportation Committee is accepting comments on the proposal until May 15.

The transportation committee is holding a hearing on the legislation on May 5, 9:30 a.m., in Chambers of the Seattle City Council at 600 4th Avenue. Public comments will be accepted at that time and via email to the city council member Jan Drago at jan.drago@seattle.gov.

MaryCatherine Snyder, SDOT, will present further information on the proposed legislationat the Southwest District Council meeting on May 6, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the President's Board Room at South Seattle Community College.

For the ninth game in a row, the Ballard baseball team didn't have didn't have the offense needed to get the win, falling 9-2 to Lake Washington April 23.

Ballard's three pitchers, Nick Palewicz, Jordy Donald and Brendan Foor, combined to give up nine runs on nine hits. Palewicz, despite giving up four runs, threw seven strikeouts in less than four innings.

For the Beavers offensively, Grady Williams went one-for-three with a run scored, Charlie Beaudoin went two-for-three with an RBI, and Jason Bergerson went one-for-three with a stolen base.

During Ballard's nine-game losing streak, the team is being outscored 53 to 22.

Part of the problem for the Beavers is they aren't capitalizing on the hits they are getting.

The team has been outscored by 15 runs, eight to 23, in the last four games. But during that stretch, Ballard has only seven fewer hits than its opponents.

In at least three of the last nine losses, the Beavers have actually outhit their opponents.

Alternately, Ballard's opponents are getting near-maximum efficiency out of their offenses. In at least five of Ballard's last nine losses, their opponents have scored as many runs as they have hits.

While the Ballard track and field teams were swept by Issaquah in an April 23 dual meet at the Southwest Athletic Complex in West Seattle by scores of 97 to 47 in the boys’ meet and 126 to 23 in the girls’ competition, two individuals clearly stood out for the Beavers.

Senior Michael Tran set lifetime bests in the 100 and 200 meter dashes, winning both races in hand-timed marks of 11.2 and 23.3.

Tran also had a hand in Ballard’s victory in the 4 x 100 meter relay, teaming up with fellow seniors Nolan Kozu, Carlos Stanley and Jack Sandstrom, winning in 44.6.

The senior also finished third in the long jump with a mark of 18-0 1/2.

On the girls’ side, freshman Cassie Winter finished second in the 100 meters in 13.8, had a hand in the Beavers’ victory in the 4 x 100 meter relay with juniors Clara Amorosi, Chelsea Fidler and Bailey Turner, as they ran 53.4, then scored an unexpected victory in the triple jump with a mark of 30-1.

Other Beavers scoring individual victories in the boys' competition included senior Nahom Workie in the 3200, junior Baxter Smith in the discus and senior Carlos Stanley in the triple jump.

This weekend there's so much to do in West Seattle, from an author signing at Easy Street Records to specials on spa treatments and no taxes on products purchased in the Junction this Saturday.

Friday, April 24

A night of beauty and fashion in the Junction
Carmilia’s, Clementine, Edie’s and Sweetie
7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Each store will offer mini-spa treatments, drinks and treats. They will also be giving out a punch card that earns a glass of bubbly at West 5.

The One and Only True Messiah ( Rock ), Jacob Carver CD release ( Rock / Alternative / Acoustic ) and Celebrity Orphans ( Rock / Electro / Rock )
Skylark Cafe
9 p.m.
Free, 21+

Saturday, April 25

The Junction Rebellion: No Sales Tax day
Daylong event at participating businesses

Merchants will offer special promotions and charge no sales tax all day. Great deals include free coffee at Red Cup Espresso when you bring your own cup and one third off any full-priced item at Capers. Print out coupons for additional offers.

Feedback Lounge grand opening
6 p.m. to close
21+

West Seattle residents Jet Holzwarth, Brendan O'Firinn, Michelle Nickley, Dana Weinreb and a group of volunteers with the Foundation for a Drug-Free World passed out more than 3,000 The Truth About Drugs booklets in the greater Seattle area last weekend, in a planet-wide effort to raise awareness of the dangers of drug abuse on April 18 and 19.

The Foundation for a Drug-Free World is a secular, nonprofit organization that empowers youth and adults with factual information about drugs so they can make informed decisions to be drug-free. Education plays a vital role in preventing drug abuse and the foundation provides tools that hold the attention of young people, debunking common myths and empowering them to resist peer pressure to use drugs.

It’s staff and volunteers work with youth, parents, educators, volunteer organizations and government agencies–anyone with an interest in helping people lead lives free from drug abuse.

After more than a year of design review meetings, the Conner Homes project finally passed its design review at a fifth meeting with the Southwest Design Review Board Thursday, April 23.

Unlike most projects, which typically require three sessions with a city- appointed design review board, Conner Homes’ project was under intense scrutiny from both the board and the local community.

The project will be built in one of the most prominent locations in West Seattle, on the corners of California Avenue Southwest , Southwest Alaska Street and 42nd Avenue Southwest.

The mixed use project includes two buildings, divided by a mid-block alley, containing 12,745 square feet of retail space, 190 residential units and parking for 307 vehicles.

Last night’s meeting was focused on concerns regarding the massing of the west building, on California Avenue.

The architect, Jim Westcott, presented four different massing schemes in detail, although the community and board members both seemed to like one in which two “saddlebag” massings extended out on each corner of the project’s seven-story portion.

The Adams Elementary School Parent Teacher Association is inviting the community to a free FUNdraiser on Sat. April 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Ballard Community Center, 6020 28th Ave. N.W.

Bring the kids, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and neighbors—the Adams Silent Auction FUNdraiser is the family-friendly event of Adams’ two annual auction events (a Live Auction is held Saturday, May 2). Spend the day bidding on a wide variety of goods and services generously donated by local merchants and families, and keep the kids occupied with temporary tattoos, plate decorating or earring making.

This year’s goal is to raise $80,000 for the parent teacher assciation budget for Adams Elementary School in Ballard, the only arts-integrated school in the Seattle school district. These funds support vital school programs including tutoring; technology; after-school activities; music, drama and dance programs; classroom supplies; and school improvements.

Interested in supporting Fair Trade and participating in what is billed as the largest drum circle EVER? Grab your percussion instrument of choice and head on down to Market Street in Ballard on Saturday, May 9 for Fair Trade Day, a day that is celebrated in 80 countries around the world.

Market Street Traders, a local fair trade retail store and cafe in the neighborhood of Ballard, is hosting the drum circle to “Drum Up Support for Fair Trade."

Fair Trade Facts

• Almost half the world’s population lives on less than $2 a day.

• 80 percent of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.

• For many, the difference between poverty and prosperity can be as little as 50 cents. Adding this small amount daily can change a person's life by allowing them to have shelter, food, clean water, health care, education and hope.