December 2010

Ballard Baseball is in need of facilities and it hopes to raise funds to get kids practicing their swings indoor by the end of the summer in a brand new batting cage.

Coach John Lamm said they're hoping to raise $20,000 for a drop down batting cage to be installed in the auxiliary gym. Currently, Lamm travels with his team to Showcase Sports for batting practice two hours a week.

“We don’t have our own field or access to a field with lights in the off-season,” Lamm said. “It’s costly to pay for cage time and it would be great to have onsite facilities instead.”

Lamm added that for many boys in Ballard, playing Select Baseball is the only way to practice during the off-season but that it’s not affordable for every one.

“If a young kid wants to succeed in Baseball in Ballard, it’s my job is to give every opportunity to every kid and money shouldn’t be an issue,” he said.

Team Mom, Susan Wbber, said there's an element of disadvantage at Ballard High School for Baseball.

"These boys go to the schools on the East side who have onsite fields with lights, indoor gyms, et cetera. That is a little intimidating.” she said.

By Steve Shay

Many of our readers have met signature collectors representing Seattle Citizens Against the Tunnel (SCAT) or have seen their kiosks, and some have signed their I-101 initiative to stop the progress of the deep bore tunnel. According to SCAT, they will shortly surpass the signature number required to place their initiative on the ballot. While SCAT chair Elizabeth Campbell has told the Ballard News-Tribune that the verification of 20,000 signatures will make this initiative a done deal, she also pointed out that the predominantly pro tunnel City Council, WSDOT, and the State of Seattle may attempt to use ploys to derail this initiative.

Here are portions of the latest SCAT press release:

Dear Friends of Seattle Citizens Against the Tunnel,

Tuesday, Dec. 21 was the shortest day of the year in Seattle, with a sunset at 4:20 p.m. and the sun setting a mere 19 degrees above the horizon. It also marked the first official day of winter.

A crowd of 20 astronomical enthusiasts gathered at Solstice Park at 7400 Fauntleroy Way s.w. with hopes of viewing the sunset while learning the science behind winter solstice from West Seattleite Alice Enevoldsen, planetarium specialist for the Pacific Science Center and NASA Solar System Ambassador.

Enevoldsen brought along her globe and, with the aid of a few observers acting as the sun and the earth, explained the event and how Solstice Park can be used to observe sunsets for the winter and summer solstice and spring and autumn equinox.

“The solstice is a very specific point in the earth’s orbit around the sun and it is the point where the earth’s North Pole is pointed as directly away from the sun as it ever gets,” Enevoldsen said. “This gives us the shortest day of the year, and for the southern hemisphere it is the opposite. They’re having their summer solstice at the same time,” (and also their longest day of the year).

Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation was just notified by Rev. Peter Morales, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association, that it is being awarded the distinction of being a "Breakthrough Congregation."

Westside's Rev. Peg Morgan told the West Seattle Herald, "This award, given to four congregations out of 1200, recognizes those that have been successful in many arenas, and for over several years to grow and develop despite considerable obstacles. Six years ago Westside set forth to implement a strategic plan that called for more vital children and youth, music and social action programs. Membership has more than doubled, and we now have 168 adults and 110 children.

The plan also called for buying its own home, which the congregation did this past April, when it purchased the former Gatewood Baptist Church at 7141 California Avenue SW. Westside will be honored at their Association's General Assembly this next June."

Many of our readers have met signature collectors representing Seattle Citizens Against the Tunnel, or SCAT, around West Seattle and beyond, or have seen their kiosks, and some have signed their I-101 initiative to stop the progress of the deep bore tunnel. According to SCAT, they will shortly surpass the signature number required to place their initiative on the ballot. While SCAT chair Elizabeth Campbell has told the West Seattle Herald that the verification of 20,000 signatures will make this initiative a done deal, she also pointed out that the predominantly pro tunnel City Council, WSDOT, and the State of Washington may attempt to use ploys to derail this initiative.

Here are portions of the latest SCAT press release:

Dear Friends of Seattle Citizens Against the Tunnel,

Operating a business in a landmark location on 35th s.w. where thousands drive by every day means you are seen and recognized by many people. So Todd Ainsworth. owner of West Seattle Autoworks was, "very happy to get our identity in place," when their new sign was placed on their location at 7501 35TH Ave. s.w. on Tuesday, Dec. 21.

The business, only open a few months, is doing well, "a little slow during the holidays but otherwise pretty busy," said Ainsworth, and they have plans to further enhance their place in the list of West Seattle businesses over the next year with promotional efforts.

The sign was created by Clarity Signs from Kenmore.

Editor's note for Dec. 7, 2011: King County Sheriff's Office Captain Joseph Hodgson met with the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council on Dec. 6 and clarified the laws regarding public drinking in White Center. He told the council that statewide in Washington it is legal to be drunk in public, however it is not legal to drink openly in public and citations would be issued if an officer drove past someone drinking an unconcealed alcoholic beverage in White Center.

Take a walk down the streets of White Center and there is a good chance of spotting at least a couple littered cans of Steel Reserve 211, a 24 oz. malt liquor with 8.10 percent alcohol by volume.

You may also see people hanging out in the White Center business district, drinking malt liquor openly while visibly intoxicated.

“It’s pretty difficult to get past the guy staggering down the street or the guy passed out in the corner,” said Mac McElroy, owner of Mac’s Triangle Pub and a Chamber member.

It is an uncomfortable scene for some, and a scene the White Center Chamber of Commerce is intent on changing.

The Ballard Tigers, a girls recreational soccer team, has won the Seattle Youth Soccer Association girls-under-11 All-City Tournament (ACT). The team played seven games from December 4th to the 16th, then won the eighth and final game over the weekend at Nathan Hale High School with a record of seven wins and one loss.

This is the first time a GU11 team from Ballard won the tournament in eight years. Earlier this season, the Ballard Tigers won first place in their Fall GU11 Gold Division with a record of 8 wins, no losses, and two ties.

Seven out of 16 Seattle teams were from Ballard in the ACT and three of those teams won their age division. The winning teams were The Jedi, a boys under the age of 15 team, and Ballard Black Bears, a girls under the age of 12 team and the Ballard Tigers, a girls under 11 team.

The players are students from various Seattle public and private schools who reside in and around the Ballard community.

How high a “Priority” is academic achievement in Washington’s schools?

At a recent school board meeting there was recognition of some of the scholars at Todd Beamer High School. There was a National Merit Semi-Finalist, the first in the school’s history, and 20 Advanced Placement Scholars. About the same time in “Education Week,” the national newspaper for K-12 education that is not well read in this state, there was an advertisement for a new superintendent of Chappaqua School District in New York State. It stated that their high school, Horace Greeley, had 15 National Merit Semi-Finalists and 30 Advanced Placement Scholars. Horace Greeley has 1250 students and Todd Beamer has approximately 1750 students. Horace Greeley’s SAT scores were in the mid 600’s and Federal Way’s are just above 500.

SeaTac man arrested in sex-trafficking of minors case
A 22-year-old SeaTac man was arrested Dec. 16 on suspicion of commercial sex-trafficking of minors, rape and assault. A SWAT team raided a house in the 17300 block of 33rd Avenue South following a three-month undercover investigation. Police said the man began romantic relationships with young girls and lured them into prostitution. He was booked into the Kent jail.

SeaTac man's mini mart, home struck by burglars
The Tabarak Mini Mart in SeaTac has been burglarized three times in the past 18 months, including on Dec. 11, police reported. The Mana Market, two doors away from the other mart was also burglarized on that Saturday night. The Tabarack owner also reported his home was also hit on the same night.

Burglar goes through roof
Police responded to a commercial burglary in the 12000 block of Des Moines Memorial Drive. Witnesses saw a man tear off the roof vent and climb through the ceiling to gain access to the business. He took multiple items from the store and left. No suspect had being identified at the time of the report.

Drunk at a bus stop