October 2009

Starting this week, Michael Harthorne will be the online editor for www.ballardnewstribune.com, replacing Rebekah Schilperoort.

Harthorne will be continuing as the lead reporter for the Ballard News-Tribune in both its print and Web form.

He can be reached at 206.755.8147. News tips, press releases and online calendar items can be sent to michaelh@robinsonnews.com.

Harthorne will also be in the conference room at the Neighborhood Service Center to meet with Ballard residents every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

The Neighborhood Service Center is located at 5604 22nd Ave. N.W. next to the Ballard Public Library.

The print deadline for Diversions' submissions is Friday at noon for the following Wednesday’s publication, email sharah@robinsonnews.com.

Kenyon Hall
7904 35th Ave. S.W.
206-937-3613
Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30 and 31 at 7:30 p.m. Mostly Magor. Pianist Louis Magor hosts a musical melange featuring the Belle of the Hall, Connie Corrick, soprano Madeline Bersamina in her Kenyon Hall debut, and Gospel Luminary Pat Wright in a rare solo appearance. Songs and stories, with a kittenish nod to the holiday.
  
"Measure For Pleasure"
ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery
4711 California Ave. S.W.
206-938-0339
Oct. 21 - Nov. 14. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 25, Nov. 1, and 8, 3 p.m. A deliciously naughty Restoration-romp-meets-modern-sex-farce, Measure for Pleasure chases rakes, romantics, and transvestite tarts through mistaken identities, duels, and double-dealings galore on their way to learning that, whatever else it may be, love is rarely pure and never simple. Tickets $32 (under 25, $10).

Children’s puppet theater
Alki Bathhouse
2701 Alki Ave. S.W.

The print deadline for calendar submissions is two weeks before the date of the event to be publicized. Email calendar@westseattleherald.com.

Citizenship Class
Southwest Branch Seattle Public Library
9010 35th Ave. S.W.
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-7:30 p.m. Study to become a U.S. Citizen, prepare for the Citizenship interview. Improve you English. Citizenship application assistance is also available.

Skate Church Haunted House
“Underground” of West Seattle Baptist Church
4157 California Ave. S.W.
Oct. 29, 30, 31, 7-9 p.m. This is especially designed for teenagers of West Seattle so come prepared to get scared completely out of you wits! The “Empty Tomb” Haunted House is staffed by Skate Church and the leadership team of the West Seattle Youth Group. $5 each. All proceeds go towards funding the fun, positive activities of Skate Church. “Making a difference in our community.”

Hope Lutheran Church events
Children’s Harvest Festival - Saturday, Oct. 31, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Hope Fellowship Hall (4456 42nd Ave. S.W. – Oregon Street entrance).

Dear Editor,

1. Agree they MAY give us more affordable housing.

2. They may allow some folks to remain in their homes  longer as income from cottage can help with ever growing real estate taxes.

3. Cottages will raise lots more revenue from property taxes if they are taxed seperate or add to existing assessed value.

HOWEVER, are they out of their collect minds when NO ADDITIONAL PARKING is required if the cottages are located within urban villages or urban centers?
 
Harriet Benjamin
Seattle

Gov. Chris Gregoire and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels signed a memorandum of agreement on Saturday, Oct. 24, which outlines the city and state’s construction and funding responsibilities to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with the proposed bored tunnel.

The Seattle City Council unanimously approved an ordinance on Oct. 19 that endorsed the proposed tunnel and authorized the execution of the agreement.

The agreement establishes a formal partnership between the City of Seattle and Washington state for removing the viaduct along the waterfront, between South King Street and the Battery Street Tunnel. The state will fund the replacement of SR 99 along the waterfront, removal of the remaining viaduct, and construction of a new waterfront boulevard.

The city will improve city streets, such as Mercer Street, replace the central waterfront seawall, relocate utilities, and build new public spaces along the waterfront.

Roll over Beethoven. It was "Boo"-thoven at Tibbetts United Methodist Church, 3940 41st Ave. S.W., Sunday, Oct. 25, when 24 kids in costume performed a Halloween Recital.

Their piano instructor, John H. Van Lierop, Jr., Tibbetts organist for nearly 30 years, sported an orange dress shirt with black tie to get into the spooky spirit.

Songs performed included "Little Black Cat," "Creepy Crocodile," and "The Ghost with the Blues."

"I would call this a dork outfit, quite honestly," said Olivia Vasquez, 11, who wore oversized sun glasses and a beanie cap with propellor on top. The Explorer West sixth-grader has studied piano under Lierop for over three years. She is now learning the saxophone.

To reach John H. Van Lierop, Jr., call (206) 937-6982.

Are some men finally coming out of their dens where they hid during the women’s movement to declare that feminism is now dead?

It would seem so. Sen. John Kyl of Arizona is denying the healthcare needs of women because he says he doesn’t personally need maternity care. Also, rumblings that all mothers should stay home with their children are again being heard in the land. No mention of working fathers not being with their children during the day.

Did it ever occur to these men in public life that until cities arose and the upper classes moved to the suburbs that there were really no homes for women to stay in?

The poor worked all day and slept on straw mats outside the rich landowner’s mansion. Poor farm workers worked the land and never had a home to retreat to. Their working hours were long and there was only time to sleep wherever they could lay their heads. Schools for the poor were unheard of and certainly not for females.

Hattie's Hat
5231 Ballard Ave. N.W.
784-0175
Mon - Fri 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.
Sat and Sun 9 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Over the years, we've walked through the door into Ballard Avenue's Hattie's Hat many times, always leaving with a smile and a commitment to return. Time and time again, when we're completely uninspired by the thought of other places, we turn to Hattie's.

Nothing much changes at Hattie's, and although it's under (slightly) new management now, the friendly old dive bar feel remains. The famous back bar, carved in Europe and shipped around the horn at the turn of the century, still looms as magnificently as ever, framing consistently friendly and skilled bartenders who can make a drink, spin a yarn, or just leave you alone if need be.

In the old days, before the mid-1990's ownership change, Hattie's could be a scary place. The kitchen was even more frightening, and we never imagined eating there in our wildest dreams.

The Ballard High School football team squandered its best offensive output of the season and a halftime lead Oct. 23 against Woodinville.

The Beavers fell behind early, trailing 14-3 after the first quarter but fought back in the second to take a 22-21 lead.

Unfortunately for Ballard fans, Woodinville was able to score eight points in the fourth quarter for a 29-22 victory.

Ballard's 22 points were the most it has scored in any game this season.

Senior Matt Law-Phipps had a 32-yard field goal and an eight-yard rushing touchdown.

Senior Fraser Biemiller scored on runs of four and three yards.

With one game remaining, the Beavers have a 1-4 conference record and are 1-7 overall but have turned things around in the last three games.

Over the first five games of the season, the Beavers were outscored 202 to 21. Starting with their Oct. 9 win over Lake Washington, they have scored 56 points to their opponents' 64.

In the final game of the season, Oct. 30 at Memorial Stadium, Ballard, which is ranked fourth in the KingCo Crown Division, will take on the correspondingly ranked team in the Crest Division.

Aaron Goss, owner of Aaron's Bicycle Repair at 6527 California Ave. S.W., took advantage of a beautiful fall Saturday Oct. 24 to ride his custom made "Tall Bike" to his shop.

Goss built the bike, about three years ago with some welding assistance from long time West Seattle resident Ken Olsen, "Just for fun," he said.

It stands about 6.5 feet tall and getting off and on the contraption is, apparently, not that difficult. He rides it a few times a month.

It has a cargo space called an "Extra Cycle" but is otherwise just a normal bike. Goss noted that he's "kind of the 'King of the Road' on this bike."

People laugh, honk their horn, smile, take cell phone pictures and give him the thumbs up. He gets asked a lot of questions about it - mostly about getting on and off.

It is part of his collection of unusual bikes, and while he does ride it at the street fair, he has yet to commit to riding in a parade.

"Maybe next year," he said.