April 2009

The two-story Kolstrand Building on Ballard Avenue is slated to become a three-story, mixed-use development by early 2010.

The building, built in the early 1900s, is located at 4743 Ballard Ave. N.W., just south of the Ballard Hardware building. It served as a machinery and distribution center for the Kolstrand Marine Supply Company for 80 years, according to a press release about the project.

According to permits acquired for the project, a third story will be added on to the structure, and a three-story addition will be built as well.

The entirety of the original structure will be kept, said Chad Dale with evo Properties, developers for the project.

The first phase of construction will add a third story to the original building, and the second phase will build three stories of work lofts in the rear of the structure, Dale said.

The press release states that the building will house retail on the first floor, office space on the second, and a mix of office and condo space on the third.

A vacant lot behind the building on Shilshole Avenue will be used for 11 surface parking spaces until the space is used for the work lofts in the second phase of the project.

In an uncertain economy, it’s natural for people to “tighten their belts” by cutting down on their spending. And yet by having too much cash on hand today, you could actually slow your progress toward your financial goals of tomorrow.

Before we get to the possible pitfalls of hoarding cash, let’s consider your fellow Americans’ recent savings habits:

How much? In the last quarter of 2008, the personal savings rate was 2.9 percent, the highest level since the third quarter of 2001, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Where? People are putting their money in what they consider safe vehicles. At the end of 2008, the ratio of money market fund assets and bank savings deposits to stocks — as measured by the Wilshire 5000 Index, one of the broadest market indices — was 95.4 percent, according to Ned Davis Research. (Keep in mind that the Wilshire 5000 index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment.)

The Board of Park Commissioners recommended last week that new driving ranges, club house, cart barns, perimeter trails, cart paths and maintenance facilities be installed at the West Seattle Golf Course as part of the update of the Seattle Parks and Recreation Golf Master Plan.

“What we started doing in October was work with the golf steering committee and looking at the 1991 Master Plan and updating that with the 2005 Golf Financial Analysis Plan,” said Susanne Friedman, a project manger with the parks department. “This plan brings it into this decade and this plan is really focused on the capital improvements over course layout.”

The parks department operates the Interbay Golf Center, Jackson Park, Jefferson and West Seattle Golf Courses.

Six main priorities that were being looked into for the Golf Master Plan update were remodeling or building new club houses; looking at driving ranges; on-course restrooms; electric cart barns and paths; perimeter trails; and maintenance facilities.

The Ballard High School softball team lost its seventh match in a row after a seven-run fourth inning by Redmond and a lack of Ballard offense lead to a 11-0 Redmond win April 27.

Ballard had six errors and only one hit in the game. Redmond racked up 10 hits and no errors.

The Beavers (1-10 overall, 1-9 conference) have scored only three runs during their past seven losses and 13 runs all season.

Ballard's next game is against Skyline at 4 p.m., April 29 at Skyline.

April 27 was close for the Ballard High School baseball team. It was close to a win. Close to ending their current losing streak at nine games. Close to something positive.

Unfortunately for the Beavers, things didn't swing their way. They lost 2-1 to Inglemoor, their 10th loss in a row.

Pitcher Jimmy Pugel held the shutout for six innings, even working himself out of a bases-loaded jam early in the game.

Ballard went into the top of the seventh and final inning with a 1-0 lead after scoring in the bottom of the sixth, but Inglemoor did just enough in the seventh to pull out the win.

The Beavers had five hits, most from Emmett Niland, who was a perfect three-for-three on the day.

Ballard will have a chance to bookend a lousy month if the team can win against Roosevelt April 29. Ballard's last victory was a 14-1 romp over Roosevelt March 30. The Beavers also beat Roosevelt 11-2 March 16.

The April 29 game is at 7 p.m. at Lower Woodland.

Linda Robinson has been appointed principal of Whittier Elementary School for the 2009-2010 school year. Robinson served as principal at Bryant Elementary for six years and as assistant principal and head teacher at Kimball Elementary.

Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, and Chief Academic Officer Carla Santorno confirmed the appointment principal appointments.

Kim Fox will replace Robinson as principal of Bryant.

“These are two strong, data-driven educational leaders who are excellent matches for their respective schools and school communities,” said Goodloe-Johnson. “Both of these leaders have demonstrated their commitment and skill in collaborating with students, staff and families to create an excellent learning community.”

Chief Academic Officer Santorno said, “We know that high quality educational leadership in our schools is a key strategy for academic success. These two experienced, highly motivated educators embody the results-oriented focus of our District through our strategic plan, Excellence for All, which is dedicated to seeing every student graduate, prepared for college, careers and life.”

At age 32, Christine Smith already had her hands full. A mother of two boys, ages 2 and 3, living in West Seattle, she and her husband enjoyed life’s challenges and looked forward to expanding their family.

But on May 5, 2000, their plans were put on hold when Smith was diagnosed with infiltrating ductal carcinoma, a highly aggressive form of breast cancer.

Initially, the young mother was overcome with fear that she wouldn’t see her children grow up, and even made her husband promise to remarry.

“It was beyond scary; having two little kids,” said Smith. “I was feeling desperate, it was ugly.”

But her attitude began to turn around when her loved ones demonstrated their love and support in incredible ways. Family members drove her to doctor appointments and helped care for her children. Smith’s husband constantly reminded her to keep fighting.

And then Smith did something incredible. While fighting the greatest battle she had ever dealt with in her personal life, she turned to help others.

The long awaited playground at Adams Elementary was installed last Saturday as an effort to upgrade the 1980's style playground and to meet current federal safety codes.

Kompan equipment, which has been popular at many parks popping up in Ballard, has a 360-degree play philosophy, giving kids a new and exciting way to move, Alison Krupnick, Grounds Renovation project manager and Adams Elementary parents previously told the Ballard News-Tribune.

Since the excavation of the playground’s area cost a little more than they had expected, Krupnick said they will be reevaluating their funding, but they do plan to put in adjustable basketball hoops, a wall ball and with funds permitting they hope to also put in one more piece of play equipment.

The Fauntleroy resident involved in a five-hour standoff with Seattle Police on Saturday, April 25, was taken to Harborview Medical Center for a mental evaluation and has not been booked in King County Jail at this time.

According to Seattle Police public information officer Mark Jamieson the man, whose name has not yet been released, may not be charged with any crime, as police have not indicated that they plan to do so.

Jamieson was able to confirm that the man did have two shot guns and one hand gun in his home.

Jamieson also describes the man as a 50-year-old white male. The incident began at 1:25 p.m. when a neighbor called 911 to report that the man was walking around the front of his house, on the 4500 block of Southwest Wildwood Street, armed with a shotgun.

Police responded to the scene but the man had retreated into his home and would not respond. Hostage negotiators and a SWAT team were called to the scene.

(Editor's note: this article has been edited to reflect Seattle City Council action at its April 27 meeting of the whole.)

The openness President Obama is bringing to D.C. hasn’t reached a Seattle still in its Bush era, complete with unearned claims of "mission accomplished." True, the city council committed in April 2008 to develop a plan to make government open, and easy to participate in, but a year later there’s no draft, not even a request for input.

And some city actions have hurt openness. First, do no harm--then merit your claims, as follows:

(1) Mayor Greg Nickels must release his grip on the bureaucracy’s sharing of information. More than any recent mayor, he requires city employees to have permission from his political circle before talking to the press or even the council.

(2) City council must stop its closed, “serial” meetings that violate the spirit and letter of the state Open Public Meetings Act. Less than a majority of council members shouldn’t meet (in person, by phone, or e-mail) in a series to keep the public from seeing the discussion or decisions.