September 2009

The Ballard Boys and Girls Club is planning a 6,000 square foot addition to its building to meet increasing demand on the club's services.

“Our main focus is probably to add about 75 to 100 kids on a daily basis that come to the club,” Mark Hendricks, the club's executive branch director said.

A second floor was added to the club eight years ago. Hendricks said the staff and kids were crammed elbow-to-elbow in the previous building.

“Our numbers didn’t increase (after the addition) but our quality did,” he said. “By dividing kids in age groups, they were able to play appropriately with their age groups."

The Ballard Boys and Girls Club is one of 13 clubs in King County, which share funding. The eight-year-old addition exhausted the club’s capital project funds, said Hendricks.

The full funding amount for the addition, expected to cost between $1.7 and $2 million, has been generously helped thanks to a donation from local Ballard residents John and Shawn Goodman, who pledged $1 million dollars.

On Thursday, Sept. 10, at approximately 11:25 p.m., a citizen was robbed in Green Lake Park followed by the subsequent robbery of four more victims who had been walking along the Green Lake path.

The three suspects were wearing bandanas across their face and at least one suspect brandished a handgun during the robberies. A K-9 unit and King County Guardian 1 helicopter responded to assist.

The three suspects remain at large.

The Ballard High School boys tennis team suffered a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Issaquah in their first match of the season Sept. 10.

Coach Charles Brenner said his players managed to find ways to win close matches, even when they weren't playing their best.

Ballard's Neal Berg took his match against Kyle Beathy from Issaquah 2-1, by scores of 5-7, 6-1 and 7-5.

In doubles, Ballard's Banks Hunter and Kensei Kawamura beat Issaquah's Nica Hefty and John Brendel 2-1, by scores of 6-0, 1-6 and 6-4.

Brenner said the Beavers need to work on their play close to the net and their overhead shots if they want to improve.

Ballard boys tennis heads to Inglemoor next for a 3:30 p.m. match on Sept. 15.

The Ballard High School golf team lost their second match of the season, falling to Woodinville High School 217-186 on Sept. 10.

Michael Day had the best outing for the Beavers, shooting a 39 and placing fifth for the day. His score was three above par for the Echo Falls Course and three strokes behind the first-place score.

Ballard boys golf is now 0-2 on the season after dropping their first match to Inglewood.

The Beavers play Lake Washington at 3 p.m. on Sept. 17 at Bellevue Golf Course.

Des Moines' financial woes have been mostly the concern of city officials and residents.

However, after one of the nation's two leading credit agencies downgraded the city's limited tax general obligation rating to Baaa1, Des Moines' budget situation has affected the agreement to site a misdemeanor jail to Des Moines.

With a little tweaking of the interlocal agreement between the seven cities that make up the South Correctional Entity (SCORE), all the cities should be paying the same amount as previously agreed.

Each of the seven cities--Des Moines, Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila, Auburn, Federal Way and Renton-- agreed to pay its allocable portion of debt service due on bonds issued to build the $80.5 million jail.

As part of the bond process, the nation's two leading credit agencies reviewed the financial conditions of the cities. Moody's downgraded Des Moines' rating. The rating is still considered "investment grade" but is lower than the six other cities. Officials said Moody's agreed to use a blended rating to determine the bonds' interest rate.

However, Standard and Poor's, the other credit agency, has indicated it would use a "weakest link" methodology.

The mild weather and variety of art drew crowds up, down, and around California Avenue Southwest for Thursday night's (Sept.10) Art Walk.

In addition to painting, sculpture, and jewelry adorning area shops, C & P Coffee held a wine tasting and some establishments featured live music.

"If you go really fast it comes in one day, or it can take two to three days," said Romy Ehrsam, 8, a Schmitz Park student, of her dozen or so images displayed at Shoofly Pie. "I draw the picture first, then trace over it with tracing paper, and rub on it," explained Ehrsam to an interested art patron of the first steps of her complicated process. One image called "Sun Dance" had a "sold" sticker on it by 9:00 p.m.. She made that piece way back when she was 6. Click on photo for slide show.

Before the new school year, school districts routinely dissect their budgets. Where are the high costs that could be mitigated? Are there programs that don't pencil out? Are there revenue sources that should be pursued?

In this economic climate, Highline is taking a look at a little-known provision of federal law, one that requires that district students who leave the district because of homelessness are able to continue to attend the district afterwards.

And Highline must provide them transportation.

The requirement is part of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a 1987 federal law that ensures educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness.

Last year, Highline spent $383,815 on transporting 337 kids into the district after they became homeless.
The district uses Metro buses, special buses, paid drivers, and even a taxi. They paid $152,000 alone in cab fare to transport 33 kids into the district during the year.

Portage Bay Café
2821 N.W. Market St.
783-1547
Daily, 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Fresh, local, sustainable. That's what matters to Portage Bay Cafe.

Making meals made with the freshest ingredients possible from organic farms is the goal. While the University District location has been popular for a while, the restaurant is new to Ballard. We're thrilled the old Grace's Kitchen space did not go to waste or turn into more condos, even though some of our best friends live in condos. OK, one person we know does.

The cavernous industrial space at Portage Bay Cafe catches the eye of those interested in building structure, but at the same time manages to seem cozy and like it's been there for years. While spaciousness abounds, most of it is in the kitchen, and the table seating area reminds us a little of livestock pens.

But Portage Bay offers eggs from free range chickens and meat from grass-fed animals, so it's a little contradictory to feel penned-in while the food is from an animal that was not.

Ample counter seating is available, too, but some adjustments need to be made. The stools are too low.

Gatewood Elementary School says goodbye to its students Thursday. But it's back-to-school today.

Seattle Public Schools began it's 2009-2010 school year on Wednesday, Sept. 9.

The Ballard High School girls soccer team couldn't quite hang with Mercer Island, losing 2-1 Sept. 10.

Mercer Island found the net first at the 39-minute mark. Ballard's Sara Ives answered with a goal three minutes later.

The team's found themselves in a stalemate for the next half-hour, but Mercer Island put the game away with a winning goal in the 73rd minute.

The Beavers are now 1-1 in non-conference play.

Their next match is at 11 a.m. on Sept. 12 at Pop Keeney Stadium against Woodinville.

The team starts conference play Sept. 22 against Redmond.