April 2011

UPDATE: Questions still loom in Evergreen track coach’s contract non-renewal

Update: District provides information on coaching contracts and Evergreen's coaching situation (found at the end of the story)

Ty Ivy was preparing for his 17th year as Evergreen’s track coach when he was summoned to the school athletic director’s office for a meeting the last week of January 2011. He met with Evergreen’s athletic director and one of the school’s three principals.

“The principal announced to me that they were not going to renew my track contract this season and I asked what the basis was, what were the grounds, and he said, ‘Let’s just call it a collective decision,’” Ivy said.

Ivy left the office dismayed and went to speak with Tyrone Curry, Evergreen’s other track coach who has co-coached the team with Ivy during his 16 years. They went to the athletic director’s office together to plead Ivy’s case but to no avail. Ivy said Evergreen’s athletic director told them his hands were tied and the decision was made by the three principals at Evergreen.

Ivy said there are, at last count, 53 student-athletes on Evergreen’s track team for the 2011 season.

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Reminder: Ballard town hall meeting with Mayor McGinn

Mayor Mike McGinn and representatives from various City departments will be in Ballard for a town hall meeting on Wednesday, April 6, at the Ballard High School commons.

Starting at 5:30 p.m. City departments and community groups, including the mayor's Service Plan partners, will have information tables and volunteer opportunities.

At 6:30 p.m. a youth group will give a short performance after which there will be an open discussion with the mayor until 8 p.m.

Here is your chance to ask Mayor McGinn those burning questions or give him a piece of your mind.

Ballard High School is located at 1418 NW 65th St

Neighborhood
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At Large in Ballard: Meet Gazelle: Part II of Cars & Cocktails

Last's week Part I of “Cars & Cocktails” alluded to history made at X-Ray Auto on Market Street last spring. We met the players: Matt Pollitz, Kent Bakke, the Nordic Heritage Museum, Todd McCallister, Jeanette Meade and a car named “Gazelle.” On the future site of the Nordic Heritage Museum the first known electric conversion of a pre-1975 Volvo took place, actually welding the famous Swedish export with future technology.

The serendipitous meetings of all the players (through coffee) put in play what was needed to create a prototype for future conversions: a car, funding, a shop, and a team with the skills to convert a 1965 Volvo from internal combustion engine to electric.

By the time Jeanette Meade, Nellie’s espresso stand owner and herself a Swede, released her automobile to the team of electric car pioneers at X-Ray Auto on Market Street, I had been sucked into a group that spoke Volvo like a first language.

Neighborhood
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Letters to the editors: In close quarters

Dear Anne-Marije and Council Member Sally Bagshaw,
 
Thank you for writing the recent article about the Woodland Park Zoo elephants.  It was well written and well rounded.  I appreciate you taking the time to look into the situation. 
 
I worry that the "free the elephant" supporters come across as nutty animal rights activists working for a silly cause.  They are passionate people who see injustice and want to fix it.  We all have different ways and styles of going about it.  It appears that none of the ways and styles are effective.
 
I have written numerous letters to the Zoo and to the City Council.  Sometimes I get a response, but it is always the same.  The elephants are fine and the zoo is taking good care of them.  I see it differently and even went to the Zoo Board meeting to speak out about it despite my intense fear of public speaking. 
 
I really appreciate a new, independent, outside perspective writing about the issue and do hope that someday the Zoo and the Board realize the what they are providing isn't best for the elephants.
 
Thanks again.
 
Sincerely,
Samantha Everett
Seattle, WA

------------------------------

Dear Ms. Rook,
 

Neighborhood

Pet of the week: Sequoia is a bounder

While the exact heritage of Sequoia is not clear, one thing is. This dog can bound. Owned by Danny McMahon and Elaine Moy.

"We got her in Yakima at the pound," explained McMahon, "We looked online and it turned out that in Seattle and Bellevue there was a lot of pit bull mixes and we didn't really want a pitbull, so as we looked in Yakima and Wenatchee, they just had a whole bunch of good looking puppies. But we didn't see a picture of her. We went to look at the puppies but when we got there, there was Sequoia.

She was five months old at the time and is now two years old.

McMahon explained that they live by a park and that Sequoia is, "highly energetic."

"When we get her in the park and let her leash off you've never seen a dog bound like that. In a matter of five seconds she's a hundred yards away. She can jump probably 3 or 4 feet in the air. When she does it, her legs are straight. She loves just tearing it up in the park."

Neighborhood
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UPDATE: Target making major changes as they prepare to introduce fresh food

The Westwood Village Target store has begun their remodel in earnest in preparation for the introduction of fresh food as the West Seattle Herald reported in January.

UPDATE 4/25: The electronics section of the store has been successfully moved to the north side of the store and more dry goods and canned goods have been brought in to new shelving now located on the west side of the store.

CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE THE CURRENT REMODEL PROGRESS

The P-Fresh concept will bring in fresh produce, fresh meats (like ground beef and chicken), fresh fruit and baked goods. At this time, no plan is in place to add a pharmacy to the Westwood Village location.

Store Manager Amanda Martinez gave a brief tour of the changes coming that should be completed by June 5.

"At the end of this remodel our grocery area will be along the west wall so that we can increase cooler size," Martinez said. "The construction will mostly be done by the end of May."

Neighborhood
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West Seattle All Time Crimes - 1930

Taking a look at the history of public safety in West Seattle

Editor's note: The West Seattle Herald has been covering news here for nearly a century. Robinson Newspapers (which publishes the West Seattle Herald) have a massive news archive of Herald coverage dating back to 1928. What follows are crime reports and public safety issues from 1930. Although reporters’ names were not included with stories at that time, their original words remain intact. As more historical crime reports are compiled there will be more installments of West Seattle All Time Crimes.

Feb. 13, 1930
West Seattle Still Worked by Robbers

Some thief, who must be intending to set up an office supply store, broke into the office of the Puget Sound Fuel Co., 2350 W. Spokane Street, the night of January 29 and took all their pencils, three pair of shears, fountain pens, a typewriter, a jack knife, and about $8 in cash, reports Paul Thomas. The same night the State Fuel Co. was also ransacked and a restaurant on Spokane Street broken into.

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Bakesale for Japan raises $3,100 in Ballard and Capitol Hill

Over the weekend, stands across the nation were selling baked goods to benefit Japan. The Seattle Bakesale for Japan organizers announced yesterday that between Seattle and Capitol Hill, the grand total of money raised was $3100.
The Cakespy event in Capitol Hill on Saturday raised $2,000 and Ballard added $1,100 Sunday at the Ballard Farmers Market.

The remaining items were taken to Teen Feed in the University District, a shelter that feeds homeless youth every night.

"By all accounts we had a super successful event!" wrote organizer Courtney Keen in an announcement.

"Thanks to each and every one of you for your support. Whether you baked all night long, showed up to buy, buy, buy, or gave us a shout out on your blog, we couldn’t have done it without all of you."

For the nation's total and more information, visit www.bakesaleforjapan.com.

Neighborhood
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Old Carnegie Library for sale

Ballard's beloved landmark, the old Carnegie Library, will soon change ownership. Owners Karoline Morrison and her husband are selling the 1904 historic building for $3 million.

"It's time for someone new to step in my shoes. It's time for a new chapter," Morrison said.

In addition to the price tag, Morrison requires the new owner(s) to care for the building as she has.

"There has been some interest but I'm looking for someone to care for it and do all the things I have done," she said.

The building is listed on the National and State historic register and Morrison would like to see the building preserved. Morrison started leasing the building in 1963 and bought it in 1979.

"I've been here for a long time," she said. "When you have tenants, it's a 24/7 job. I have a busy life and this will give me more time."

Both, the old building as well as Karoline Morrison, are about to start a new chapter.

Morrison has big plans for the near future. She has a book titled "Twilight of the Blondes" coming out soon and she's currently working on the sequel. (More on that next week.)

Neighborhood
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Preschool Fair gets a lot of attention from parents

Parents of preschoolers (many with those kids in tow) made their way to St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church on Monday, April 4 to learn about preschool options in West Seattle. The preschool fair participants included

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