January 2011

The White Center Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Seattle Foundation and the White Center Community Development Association (CDA), has installed two new multi-language “Welcome” signs in White Center. Of the five original signs installed in the early 1990s, all are damaged beyond repair.

These two signs are coated with an anti-graffiti material and represent the first phase for replacing all White Center Welcome signs. Each of the two signs has different langagues. The languages on the one in the photo are different than the languages on the one located on 4th s.w. and 108th.

The signs are located near Holy Family School roughly Roxbury Street s.w. and between 18th s.w. and 20th s.w. The second new sign is located at 4th SW and SW 108th in unincorporated King County. The Chamber will continue fund raising to replace the other three signs in 2011.

To see a larger version of the sign click the image link above.

Kelly Herron is one lucky Ballardite. Herron’s self-proclaimed winning streak continued on January 13 when her entry was drawn as the winner of the Holidays in Ballard “passport” promotion.

Herron, who says she has amazing luck, scored a shopping/eating/drinking spree in her favorite neighborhood as the prize package from participating Ballard merchants.

“I absolutely love and adore and support Ballard businesses!” Herron said when notified about her latest win.

Having lived both on Ballard Ave and in North Ballard near Laura Bee Designs, Herron said she loves the fact there are so many great places to eat, drink and shop within walking distance from her home.

The Holidays in Ballard campaign gave shoppers and diners the opportunity to collect stamps from participating retailers, restaurants and bars throughout the month of December to be entered into the grand prize drawing.

Herron participated in the December 16 Grub ‘N Pub Crawl. She stated, “It was a great excuse to check out new places that I hadn’t tried.”

The Market Street Singers (MSS), a choral ensemble based in Ballard, is looking for more choral singers as they prepare for their Spring concert.

MSS aspires to cultivate neighborhood pride with choral arts. In 2010, the MSS performed summer and fall concerts and during the holidays the MSS performed carols and songs for local retirement communities, such as the Hearthstone and the Norse Home.

While everyone is welcome to join, they're particularly looking for basses and tenors for their “Market Street Seasons” concert in the spring.

The chorus rehearses under the direction of Chris Vincent, on Tuesday nights from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Ballard N.W. Senior Center at 5429 32nd Ave N.W.

The upcoming concerts will be Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22 at Ballard First Lutheran Church on N.W. 65th & 20th N.W.

For more information, please contact MSS at (206) 465-3296 or director@marketstreetsingers.org.


With our marvelous year-round farmer’s market and destination restaurants opening almost every week here (or so it seems), it makes perfect sense that Ballard is now home to some great cooking classes. How about starting the still relatively new year by learning how to shop and cook some healthful and tasty dishes with talented chefs right here in Ballard?

Dish It Market Tour Class

Recently I took the Market Tour class at Dish It Up on Ballard Avenue. You Ballard Farmer’s Market regulars have undoubtedly seen this bright new shop situated right next to the farmer’s market.
We meet at 10 a.m. Sunday morning at Dish It Up when the market opens. Armed with reusable shopping bags courtesy of Dish It Up, we then venture out as a group to the market with Chef Tom Black and shop for seasonal things we’d like to learn how to use.
“Anyone have anything they’re curious about?” says Chef Tom.

Ballard HIgh School hosted Issaquah, Inglemoor and Redmond for a gymnastics meet last night.

Coach Stephanie Grundel said the Ballard team had a rough night but managed to still come out on top with 167.95 points. Issaquah followed with 163.85; Inglemoor scored 158.0; and Redmond finished with 152.2 points.

Taylor Stern and Molly Barnes places second and third respectively in the all-around. Maureen Sturgeon took first in vault. Taylor Stern took first in floor and bars.

Grundel was especially pleased with the performances of Maureen Sturgeon and Erica Redman,

All-around:
1. Olivia Goree, IS, 36.6;
2. Taylor Stern, B, 35.85;
3. Molly Barnes, B, 34.1.

Vault
1. Maureen Sturgeon, B, 9.3
2. AJ Bowers, IS, 9.25
3. Taylor Stern, B, 9.2.

Bars
1. Taylor Stern, B, 8.6
2. Olivia Goree, IS, 8.4
3. AJ Bowers, IS, 8.1

Beam
1. Olivia Goree, IS, 9.55
2. Katie Thoma, IN, 9.3
3. Erica Redman, B, 9.2.

Floor
1. Taylor Stern, B, 9.7
2. Olivia Goree, IS, 9.65
3. Maureen Sturgeon tied with Katie Thoma, IN, and Cristal Spinrad, R, 9.35.

Press Release:

HIGHLINE MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BURIEN, WA – January 20, 2011 – Highline Medical Center Foundation welcomes Susan Bean, CFRE, as its new executive director responsible for leading the Foundation’s philanthropic activities with special events, planned giving programs, annual giving programs and sponsorships.

Highline Medical Center Foundation raises money for health care services and facilities in the Highline communities of Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, SeaTac, Tukwila, West Seattle and White Center. The Foundation's projects are entirely supported by charitable contributions that are used to assist Highline Medical Center to build new facilities, remodel old ones, purchase new equipment, provide health related services to the community and to assist those who need outpatient care, but lack the resources to afford it.

After the news of the positive identification of the body of Jeremy Peck was announced a group of his friends joined his uncle John Peck at the Puerta Vallarta restaurant in the West Seattle junction to share memories, tears, and theories as to what might have happened.

Most suspect foul play and are hoping for swift resolution and if they are right, justice for Jeremy.

Then a suggestion became a purposeful tribute to a fallen friend.
The group of ten to fifteen people, including Peck's uncle headed to Royal Blue Tatttoo at 4215 s.w. College Street to get a "R.I.P. J.P." mark as a way to honor and remember their friend. The tattoos were created and inked by the owner, "Blues" and another artist Alicia.

"I'm doing this for my son," John said.

Jeremy had lived with him for the past 14 years and he had legal custody of him until he reached 18.

 Press Release:
 
Bernadette (Bernie) Matsuno, a former deputy director of  the Department of Neighborhoods and a well known community activist and volunteer, will return as interim director of the department, Mayor Mike McGinn announced.
 
The mayor named Matsuno to the interim position while he searches for a successor to Neighborhoods Director Stella Chao, who is not seeking reappointment.
 
It is the second stint as interim director for Matsuno, who is now retired from city government. She held the same position in 2006 under Mayor Greg Nickels before Chao was hired. She also was deputy director of the Department of Neighborhoods in 2007, director of the department’s Community Building Division from 2004 to 2006, and participated in the creation of the Department of Neighborhoods and the Neighborhood Matching Fund in 1988.  Most of Matsuno's public service career has been with Neighborhoods and she looks forward to supporting the department during this period of transition.
 

The King County Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy Friday morning to determine cause of death of Jeremy Peck. His body was found on Bainbridge Island on Wednesday morning. He had been been missing since since the early morning hours of Dec. 24, 2010. The cause of his death was to be announced today but according to Cheryl Perry, spokesperson for the Peck family the cause cannot be immediately determined and an announcement must wait 8 to 10 weeks.

His identity was confirmed by both a tattoo of his initials across his back which read J.A.P. and by a shoe he was wearing the night of his disappearance.

A candlelight vigil had been planned to raise awareness about him for Sunday in West Seattle but that event will now take the form of a memorial. Plans for that are being made today, Friday, Jan. 21

The Seattle Police Department took the lead in the investigation once the body was recovered, have not yet received the official notice from the Medical Examiner's office and are waiting for the cause of death to be determined before taking any further action.

In addition to its fine American cuisine and drinks menu, 5 Corner Market is now serving a side of art. The gastropub that replaced Lombardi’s on 22nd and Market St is now exhibiting art by Ballard artist Lina Raymond.

The series titled “2011 Studio Raid” include no less than 26 of Raymond’s paintings.
Steve Hayter, owner the restaurant, came down to Raymond’s studio on a whim to see what she had in store.

“When I asked what he’d like he said, ‘We want all of it’,” Raymond said.

Raymond said her small studio is now empty and feels like it has been raided.

“They cleaned me out,” she said.

Cheryl Hayter, owner of the restaurant, is happy with Raymond’s art.

“Her art is awesome,” she said. “It’s very creative and it fits us. The color is a great addition.”

Raymond is known for her 2010 series “Bearing Witness/Adaptations” in which she painted the changing Ballard scenery as condos went up and historic buildings came down.