June 2009

The Ballard Food Bank has seen an 11 percent increase in clients compared to the first quarters of 2008 and 2009, and organizers there only expect that number to continue to climb.

Today they are serving just under 1,000 people each week and have distributed 478,485 pounds of food to 3,510 people who’ve been served 17,679 times.

“That’s a significant number,” Nancy McKinney, executive director of Ballard Food Bank said. “We’re seeing instead of the six to 700 people a week it’s just under 1,000. That’s a lot of people to get through in eight hours."

The Ballard Food Bank serves people from the Ballard, Magnolia and Queen Anne neighborhoods, along with some, mostly homeless, who are out of their coverage zip codes.

McKinney said their need in the area has definitely increased due to the recession. Currently, the clientele breaks down like this: one percent children 2 years and under; 14 percent children 3 to 18 years old; 62 percent 19 to 54 years old; and 24 percent 55 and over.

“We’re (also) delivering food to 85 to 90 homebound individuals and recovering groceries from all of the local grocery stores in Ballard and Magnolia,” McKinney said.

Seattle's mayor said today that funds from the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative will help the city put 650 young people to work this summer, engaging them in positive and productive jobs.

“One of the best ways to reduce youth violence is to show our young people new opportunities and a bright future," said Mayor Greg Nickels. "The city’s summer jobs program will give hundreds of young people new skills and help put them on the right path."

In addition to $402,000 from the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, the Seattle Youth Employment Program is receiving $1.1 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), also known as the federal stimulus.

As a result, this summer’s employment program will significantly increase the number of participating youth, from 492 last summer to 650 this year.

The jobs begin on Monday, July 6, and last for seven weeks. Youth interns receive minimum wage ($8.55/hr). Youth in group projects receive academic credit and a stipend of $900.

The Swinery Deli has just signed a lease and plans to move to 3207 California Ave. S.W., where dog grooming business Muttley Crew Cuts is currently.

Proprietor Gabriel Claycamp originally planned to start his deli in the storefront of Seattle Fish Company. However, when that did not work out, Claycamp found this location where he will have more space and more opportunities.

In the new building, Claycamp plans to install a full kitchen and butcher shop. He said he will be able to offer cuts of anything, primarily from local farmers. And of course, he will sell the bacon that he has become known for.

Since USDA laws changed within the past few months, he says buying from local farmers will be much more affordable.

“There’s a lot of great meat grown in the northwest and you'll be able to get it here," said Claycamp.

The Swinery will also offer a broad selection of cheeses and deli items including homemade salads and sauces. Claycamp even hopes to eventually serve barbecue dishes to customers dinning on the building’s outdoor courtyard.

The Smith Cove Cruise Ship Terminal opened for the tourist season in April. On June 24, fishing industry leaders got the chance to tour the new facility, as well as the rest of Terminal 91, and raise concerns to the Port of Seattle.

The cruise ship terminal is a two-story, 143,000-square-feet building with berthing space for two ships. It shares space on Terminal 91 underneath the Magnolia Bridge with seafood processing facilities, cold storage, factory trawlers and other operations.

The difficulty for the Port of Seattle, which operates Terminal 91, is to integrate all the different operations with the increase in use brought on by the cruise ship terminal, said Greg Englin, manager of dock operations for the port.

Warren Aakervik, owner of Ballard Oil, asked if the terminal had needed to turn away any fishing trawlers when the cruise ships were docked.

Englin said they hadn't, but it had required a bit of hustle on the part of port staff.

Dear Editor,

While I applaud Mr. Donat's enthusiasm for Ballard history (click here to read the story), either he was quoted incorrectly or there are some inaccuracies.

First of all, East Ballard was mainly industrial from Market to Salmon Bay, along 14th. Fourteenth was not known as "Railroad Avenue" for nothing! Actually, a 1905 Ballard newspaper complains about "Gypsies" living in tents along 14th, complete with a picture.

There were many houses below Market to Salmon Bay, as well as small stores, but the mills and shipyards took up all of the waterfront real estate. There are a bunch of new condos going up on 17th below Market where the Carlsen family owned four houses, a grocery store and butcher shop.

Secondly, where the Fred Meyer is currently was not residential; it was the site of an ironworks and foundry and the dump.

Unexpected Productions has been performing comedy improv in Seattle since 1983. Their show Theatresports, which includes comedy, improv and theatre, is Seattle’s longest running show and is coming to the Admiral Theater this weekend.

Theatresports is fully improvised, using information from the audience as a jumping-off point. They focus mainly on story, narrative, technical game-playing and comedy. The show is all ages.

Tickets for the comedy shows are $12 and can be purchased through Brown Paper Tickets or at the door the evening of Saturday, June 27. Groups of 20 or more get a $10 ticket rate if purchased prior to the showing by calling the number below.

The Admiral is also teaming up with a few exclusive restaurants who will be offering “Dinner and a Show” discounts. Attendees who bring a receipt from participating restaurants that evening will get a $2 discount off one ticket at the door.

Participating restaurants include Café Revo, Endolyne Joe’s, Mission Bar, Feedback Lounge and Eats Market Cafe.

For more information please call (206) 938-0785.

I often get little notes from my fellow mini gardeners saying how much they enjoy their gardens, and sometimes I get photo essays from my customers, too.

I received this one the other day from Cindy Sapore in Spokane, Wash., and I thought you might like to see it. It looks like she had a bit of fun with her fairy garden:

“This is Cindy in Spokane. I heard you speak at The Inland Empire Gardener’s Meeting last year. You gave me the great start to my own Fairy Garden.

Alas, the winter was tough and killed my trees, so I anxiously waited for you to arrive this year at the Garden Expo here in Spokane. Well everything is set up and here are my pictures. I am looking forward to adding to this and expanding on it. Tell me how these come out, if they do :) Happy gardening and thank you for the inspiration...Cindy.

“Three years ago, I bought this great art piece: a table made out of birch wood/branches with a planting box. When you came in 2008 to visit our garden club, I knew exactly the purpose for this stand. Although the plants from 2008 died over the winter, here are the plants and items I bought from you at the 2009 Garden Expo.

Dear Editor,

I have been in a loving and committed relationship for 18 years and we have a wonderful and successful son who is an English teacher in a community college and we are honored that our wonderful state legislatures recognizes our relationship by providing us domestic partnership legal status.

Our constitution was designed to protect ALL people and especially the minorities who are often discriminated against by the majority. I urge everyone to Decline To Sign Referendum 71 and protect Washingtonians and their families from having their legal rights taken away from them.

Thank you and God Bless.

Randall Dickson
Seattle