August 2009

On a run through Carkeek Park 25 years ago, Daphne Lewis noticed an apple tree in the underbrush.

The tree caught her interest and lead her to investigate the area. To Lewis' surprise, she discovered a number of trees in the vicinity that comprise the historic Piper Orchard.

At the time, Lewis, a member of the Western Cascade Fruit Society, was also working with retired microbiology professor Paul Donaldson, who had moved back to Seattle from the south with his wife.

Donaldson hired Lewis to help uncover the orchard because of her experience in reconstructing old landscapes.

It took them and several volunteers to do the job. The volunteers, which would come to be known as Friends of Piper Orchard, uncovered more than 30 surviving fruit varieties on the one-and one-half acres of cleared of overgrowth, said Joan Ritzenthaler, current volunteer with historic Piper Orchard.

Piper’s Orchard was planted in 1889. Then after becoming a part of Carkeek Park, in the 1930's, it succumbed to blackberry growth, said Ritzenthaler.

This Saturday, Aug. 22 the West Seattle Junction retailers will hold their first “Big Bonanza” end of summer sale.

The one day, "Wild West" themed event includes summer and fall merchandise, from designer shoes and accessories to books and music, discounts, western-themed food specials and a noontime showdown, according to organizers.

"We were looking for something fun to do in the month of August and we came up with a Wild West themed sale," said Susan Melrose, director of the West Seattle Junction Association. "August is a great month for a sale since merchants can offer summer merchandise for close out prices. Also, merchants are offering up to 15 percent off new fall arrivals."

Melrose said having Junction-wide sales helps remind shoppers that their shopping needs can be met in their own neighborhood.

She pointed to one project, www.the350project.net, as an example of the mind-set Junction merchants are working toward. The 3/50 Project asks consumers to consider what three independently-owned would they miss if they disappeared, and then, encourages residents to stop in, say hello and purchase something.

It has been quite a summer so far. More than 100 degrees, record stretches without rainfall, the hydros (congratulations, Kayleigh Perkins), the Blue Angels, West Seattle Street Fair -- whew!

Now, the ads are in the paper and on TV ... back to school sales. Going back to school often comes with something else -- driving.

I've seen quite a few student drivers this summer, and if your son or daughter is one of them, they may be getting a car soon (or at least borrowing yours).

One thing that may get overlooked with the lessons, the tests, the fretting, the pleading and, finally, the joy of getting the coveted driver's license, is the vehicle itself.

Not many high schools these days still offer a course in auto shop, and therefore not many kids understand what it means to take care of your “ride." Oh, they'll figure out how to put gas in it and how to work the stereo, but they also need to be taught how to check to oil and coolant, what the warning lights and gauges on the dash mean, and how to check the lights and other basic safety checks like tire inflation.

What do “bad brakes” feel like? How is the vehicle running?

On her walk down to the Sunday Market, fourth generation Ballardite Julie Albright said she realized how many cute dogs there were in the neighborhood.

Previously an event organizer and currently unemployed, Albright decided that Ballard needed a dog contest to show off all the pretty pooches.

“I used to do much bigger events than this so this would be a piece of cake,” Albright said.

Albright said the event, which she is calling the first annual Dog Day of Ballard, will be a free and fun event to bring Ballard neighbors and their adorable dogs together.

Dog Day of Ballard will be held at the Ballard Common Park this Sunday, Aug. 23 from 3 to 5 p.m.

Albright was surprised with how extraordinarily generous people have been considering that current economic climate Going as she went door-to-door to Ballard businesses looking for support.

“People have donated their time (and) money," said Albright. " And the parks department said they would co-sponsor the event because it’s a great way to use the park."

The sixth annual Sustainable Ballard Festival is approaching, and festival organizers are looking for volunteers.

Neighbors interested in helping out can fill out an online signup sheet here. All volunteers get swag from local businesses and a free T-shirt.

The Sustainable Ballard Festival is a community fair that showcases the activities and initiatives Ballard residents have been involved in throughout the year.

This year’s festival will feature live music, how-to workshops, educational activities, and local and sustainable businesses.

The festival takes place from noon to 5 p.m. on Sept. 26 and Sept. 27 at Ballard Commons Park.

The next volunteer orientation/work party will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 3. The location has not yet been announced.

Anyone who is interested can contact festival volunteer coordinators at volunteer@fest.sustainableballard.org,

In addition to volunteers, festival organizers are looking for donations of seldom-worn T-shirts that can be turned into “logo-adorned festival fashion.”

Seattle Department of Transportation paving crews will work on curb bulbs and curb ramps at the intersection of Rainier Avenue South and South Oregon Street this Saturday, Aug. 22.

The work will be on the south side of Oregon Street and both sides of Rainier Avenue South.

Lanes of travel on both Rainier and on Oregon will be affected.

No on-street parking will be allowed in the construction area.

You’re on the road and you’re hungry. But you don’t want to fill up on unhealthy fast food. How do you replace the drive-through's typical meal of burger, fries and soda?

Instead of fatty burgers, think wraps. Use a lettuce leaf or a rice wrapper to hold a tasty filling. Or wrap a corn tortilla around peanut butter and banana. Hummus and pita bread is a great snack.

Or you can make pita sandwiches with mozzarella cheese, red peppers and tuna. Try our recipe for healthy Speedy Wraps that you can fix ahead. Likewise, our Quick Chix Nuggets can be ready to go in your refrigerator to serve with one of the dips below.

Skip the chips! Instead of salty, oily chips, use an air popper for homemade popcorn or try our Brown Bag Popcorn with lots of seasoning ideas to suit your mood.

Replacing the soda in the typical drive-through meal can be easy. Think flavored waters (sour flavors will quench your thirst better), or UHT packaged milk (which doesn’t have to be refrigerated, although it will be more refreshing if it is).

For a special treat, mix up a thermos of our homemade Lemonade. Enjoy!

Brown Bag Popcorn
¼ cup popcorn

PATH, a nonprofit organization that uses innovative technologies and solutions to solve global health problems, has been selected to receive the 2009 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize of $1.5 million.

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation presents the annual award, the world’s largest humanitarian prize, to an organization that is significantly alleviating human suffering.

Since its inception in 1977, PATH has worked to improve the health of people around the world by advancing technologies, strengthening systems and encouraging healthy behaviors.

PATH is currently located in Ballard just east of the Ballard Bridge. It announced earlier this year it will be relocating to South Lake Union by January 2010. Read coverage here.

PATH works in more than 70 countries in the areas of health technologies, maternal and child health, reproductive health, vaccines and immunization, and emerging and epidemic diseases.

I started my second pregnancy believing I would behave exactly the same way I did with my first pregnancy. A few glasses of wine and a spotty attendance to my prenatal yoga class quickly told me otherwise.

This time around, things would be different. Being a second child myself, I was all too familiar with the fact that second children get the shaft.

It was bad enough that I didn’t treat my body like a temple, nor play soothing music to my in utero daughter, but even worse was I let my then 2.5-year-old son call her Odo. And the name stuck, hatching the common “Poor Odo,” refrain heard around our house.

Despite the fact that it took me four months before I started my prenatal care with a professional, Odo was born healthy, pink, and full of vigor. I breathed a sigh of relief, beamed at my son holding her so gingerly in his arms, and then heard a “thud!” followed by, “I’m all done.”

My son stood up and raced outside, causing my not even day old infant girl to roll on to the floor. Poor Odo.

On Aug. 18 at 6:14 a.m., Southwest Precinct patrol officers responded to a report of an injured female bicyclist in the 7700 block of Delridge Way Southwest.

Seattle Fire medics responded and transported the woman to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of life-threatening injuries. The woman is in her 20's.

Traffic collision investigation detectives were called to the scene to investigate and process the collision site. It is unknown at this point whether or not this was a single vehicle collision or a hit and run.

The investigation continues. Anyone who may have information regarding this collision is asked to contact detectives as 206 684-8927.