August 2009

While looking through my voter’s guide, something stood out to me: almost every candidate in every race seemed to be from the same party.

This realization led to another question: which city council member do I talk to if I have a Ballard-related question?

Seattle politics needs a few changes. We need more politically diverse candidates, a city council that represents individual districts and to get rid of the top-two primary.

This is the second election year that we have had the top-two primary. Last year, in the race for our local state representative, that gave us a choice between two well-funded candidates of the same party, one of whom won the general election.

How was that a choice?

I fail to see how the top-two primary is an improvement of the democratic process when it means that in districts like ours where large numbers of people vote for one party, both candidates in the general election will nearly always be from the same party.

Reuven Carlyle, 36th District Representative, met with Ballard residents Aug. 6 at Caffé Fiore to discuss issues that are affecting them.

The conversation touched on cellphones and driving, drug dealing in Ballard and the homeless.

The completion of the Burke-Gilman Trail was a major topic.

"We have to think about what will be best 25 years from now," said one woman.

Carlyle said it is unimaginable that the completion of the Missing Link now sits before a judge instead of being worked out within the community.

"We need to negotiate a deal about this," he said. "I find it hard to believe that we can't come down to some kind of win-win."

Carlyle said that win-win could take the form of moving the future trail a block over or looking at an elevated trail.

The Metro funding crisis drew heated conversation as well.

Carlyle described what he called the "double whammy" of looming Metro cuts. Seattle could possibly have its routs cut at the same level as the rest of King County, but due to a county agreement, those routs would be returned at a higher level outside of the city, he said.

I had the opportunity to speak with fellow miniature gardener Kathy from Pennsylvania. Kathy has been a customer of mine forever – literately! She found my first eBay store back in 2003 and has since got hooked on miniature gardening – and the wee conifers too.

Kathy took the time to speak with me about my new You Pick It Miniature Garden Kits yesterday. Here’s a transcript of the fun and informative interview that I would like to share.

“Well hello, Kathy! How’s it growing?”

“Hi Janit, good to talk to you!”

“I noticed that you bought two of the new You Pick It Kits yesterday. I thought you were an old hat at this stuff and wouldn’t need my kits!?”

She laughs, “Ya, I know. But you put it together so nicely, that all I had to do was choose one of each, and I had a complete mini garden. It took no time at all, and everything was there, waiting for me. All the plants were figured out too! And then it was so fun, that I did it again.”

So, let me ask this, since you’re a seasoned mini gardener. Are you going to make two miniature gardens out of these, or “kit-bash” them, so to speak?

Local artist Jennifer Carrasco will be hosting a painting and drawing session in Lincoln Park Aug. 18.

There will be no instruction, but participants will be able to draw and paint in the company of other artists as well as join in a group critique at the end.

"We need to fill our hearts with summer visions for the drippy months ahead," Carrasco said in a press release.

The session will last from 4:30 p.m. to approximately 7:30 p.m.

Carrasco will have a booth at the Art Walk Cameron and Pete's Coffee House Aug. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Seattle Parks and Recreation, in conjunction with the Seattle Police Department, will host a meeting to continue discussions with the community about safety and security issues in three Ballard parks – Ballard Commons Park, Bergen Place Park and Marvin’s Garden. 

The meeting will be held on Thursday, Aug. 6, from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Ballard Branch Library, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W.
 
This is a follow-up to the June 4 meeting in which Parks, Police and Neighborhoods staff discussed the establishment of an exclusion zone for the three parks, increased programming and police support. 
 
The follow-up meeting will include an introduction and update from Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher; an update on the exclusion zone from Sgt. Dianne Newsome; information on programming efforts for the parks; and a question and answer session.
 
For more information, please contact Joelle Ligon, at 206-684-8020 or joelle.ligon@seattle.gov.
 

Residents of Providence Elizabeth House, the senior living facility at 3201 S.W. Graham St. in the High Point neighborhood, keep busy with activities inside and out, including tending to their garden patches in the back courtyard area.

Newlyweds Lauren Kisser and Barry Fuchs reached the summit of Mt. Baker on Aug. 1 after a year of training for the Climb to Fight Breast Cancer and have almost reached their fundraising goal.

Both are members of the Mountaineers and previously told the Ballard News-Tribune that they wanted to do the climb in honor of Kisser’s grandmother Ellen, who passed away in January.

They have achieved more than 90 percent of their fundraising goal of $6,000 to support cancer research.

Kisser had climbed up Mt. Rainer last year and thought she’d share the experience again with her husband.

“I was training for Rainier and was going through the preparation and was wanting to do it for the cause,” Kisser previously told the Tribune. “My family has a strong history of breast cancer, my mom, my aunt and my grandmother. So eventually it was fate that we’d be doing this.”

The Climb to Fight Breast Cancer is a summer event for outdoor enthusiasts to join together in honor or memory of loved ones who have battled breast cancer. This year, Washington gave the climbers the opportunity to ascend Mt. Baker, Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams.

In 2002, Ballard resident Judy Sanderman travelled to Ethiopia as a tourist. Seven years later, she, along with her husband Dennis Wilkins, are working to bring change and optimism to some of that country's most desperate villages.

While in Ethiopia, Sanderman met Awoke Genetu, a retired history teacher. Upon returning to Seattle, Sanderman and Wilkins sent Genetu $300, which was used to purchase uniforms, books and school supplies for 25 children in a small rural school.

From this donation, a unique partnership between Sanderman, Wilkins, Genetu and his brother Workineh was formed, giving birth to Project Ethiopia.

In the past few years, Project Ethiopia, with the aid of donations, has helped to build latrines for 1,226 students and 60 families, facilitated the digging of eight wells, finished two pipe systems that carry water to thousands of students, and helped build 10 new homes in four villages.

Awoke Genetu said toilets are important because they break the cycle of disease in the homes and schools.

The lack of toilets is the biggest barrier keeping Ethiopian girls from attending school, Sanderman said.

In conjunction with the national celebration of August Night Out, the Fifth Annual Greenwoodstock neighborhood event took place Aug. 4 at the Sixth Avenue Pocket Park on Sixth Avenue Northwest and Northwest 76th Street.

With bands lined up to entertain and neighbor/caterer Tiberio Simone back in action making pizzas in his outdoor oven, residents of the neighborhood enjoyed the live music, good eats and each other’s company.

Stephen McClelland once again shared his courtyard for bands to set up across from the park and for residents to dance the night away.

Music included great tunes from Pipers Creek Players, classical music featuring Greenwood neighbors Rebecca Evans and Kirsten James; The Greenwood All*Stars, a high energy rock band; and Banzai Surf, a three-piece surf band.

Neighbors sat on the curb, set up blankets and lounged in folding chairs as they enjoyed the evenings events together.

While there was no sign of rain, there was a heavy sprinkling of block parties in West Seattle Tuesday night, Aug. 4.

Streets were blocked off with make-shift signs, garbage bins and twine to discourage traffic and instead encourage a strong neighborly spirit during Night Out Against Crime, a national crime prevention event to heighten crime prevention awareness.

One loyal cluster of neighbors meets annually along 39th Avenue Southwest just north of Southwest Elmgrove Street, which happens to be in front of Ed Miller's house. While young girls were roasting marshmallows over an open fire to make s'mores, Miller toasted a "slug." He squished two Pillsbury biscuits together, then onto a stick and cooked them in the fire until brown. He then filled the toasted biscuits with handmade jam from area fruit trees.

But the evening was not only about watermelon, tricycles and puppies. Seattle firefighters arrived just after sunset, an annual tradition, to show kids around their truck, and to discuss neighborhood safety.

CLICK ON PHOTO FOR SLIDESHOW OF THE EVENING'S EVENTS