June 2011

The Ballard High School Concert Choir, Treble Choir and String Orchestra performed at the Vancouver Heritage Music Festival last weekend and each group won a Gold Rating from the nine judges.

Schools from California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alberta competed and the Ballard High Music Department, led by Courtney Rowley and Michael James, won the Festival Sweepstakes Award for having the highest scores out of all schools in attendance.

Several group and individual awards were also received:

- Concert Choir – Gold Rating and 2nd place in the 3A Concert Choir Division
- Treble Choir – Gold Rating and 2nd place in the 3A Women’s Choir Division
- Orchestra – Gold Rating and 1st place in the 3A String Orchestra Division
- Orchestra – Adjudicators Award
- Orchestra – Best Overall Orchestra
- Orchestra – Maestro Award to violin soloist Eva Gaertner-Johnston

Next week, the music department will show off their talent to a local audience at the Spring 2011 Music Concerts at the Earl Kelly Performing Arts Center at Ballard High School.

Press release:
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is removing an outdated bridge on East Marginal Way South between South Hinds and South Horton streets in the industrial area of Seattle and replacing it with an asphalt roadway. Starting mid June, the bridge will be closed to all traffic, and a bypass route will be provided to the west, along Port of Seattle property. As a safety precaution, the speed limit on the bypass route will be reduced. The contractor working for SDOT expects to have the new surface road open to traffic by early September. (See a map with the bypass route.)

The contractor plans to begin work at the site on June 6, starting with the construction of the bypass route. The project is being coordinated with other nearby construction to reduce traffic disruptions as much as possible. (See the City of Seattle Web site for more information about the coordination.)

A two car accident near the intersection of 34th and Trenton at approximately 4:15 pm, June 2 resulted in one person going to the hospital and serious damage to two vehicles.

Thad Williams who lives on the northwest corner of 34th and Trenton did not see the accident take place but heard it, as they impacted his house and yard.
Williams said:

"My little girl and I were just playing in the back yard when we heard three or four collisions, like a car accident and we looked out and saw that a Cadillac had ended up in our flower bed. At first we were concerned about him because the horn was stuck and it was really loud and the airbags were out. We couldn't really tell if there were one or two people in there because the windshield looked really bad. We found that it was an older gentleman that was able to get out of the car and he appeared to be o.k. When we turned around we saw that there was another car, a black BMW SUV that took off the left side of the tree and then went into the house. She stayed in her car until the Fire and paramedics arrived. I think she left in the ambulance but I don't know for sure.

She seemed to be pretty shaken up if nothing else.

Power Tools 101: Lose Your Fear, Not Your Fingers

Learn to safely use power tools while getting hands-on experience building a cedar planter. This class is for people with little tool experience that would like to be able to take on projects. Instructor Amy Ecklund (http://www.amyworks.com) teaches how to use a table saw, nail gun, drill and other tools in the West Seattle Tool Library workshop. This class also qualifies you to use the Community Workshop. You don't have to RSVP, just show up!

Date/time: Saturday, June 4th, 9 AM-11 AM
Cost: $20
Location: West Seattle Tool Library at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
4408 Delridge Way S.W., Seattle, WA

For more information: library@sustainablewestseattle.org

Press release:
Drivers and freight haulers headed to Seattle’s SODO neighborhood should expect to see a combination of transportation projects near the intersection of South Spokane Street and East Marginal Way South that will impact traffic and require detours.

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the Port of Seattle urge drivers to map out routes in advance, allow extra time, and prepare for more congestion than usual.

SDOT, WSDOT and the Port of Seattle are coordinating to reduce traffic impacts. The three agencies reviewed the limited detour options in conjunction with planned special events, and have put together traffic plans, which include uniformed police officers at key intersections to keep traffic moving. See attached detour maps.

Timelines and information regarding the upcoming projects are as follows:

East Marginal Way Grade Separation – Beginning at 7 p.m. on June 3

Press release:
Highline School District Athletics is hosting a free Sports Safety Clinic sponsored by Safe Kids Seattle Coalition at the Mt. Rainier High School Theatre on Thursday, June 9 from 3-6 p.m. (breaks and healthy snacks provided).

NOTE: WIAA Coaches' Standards Hours will be awarded to individuals attending the clinic AND upon completion, participants will receive a certificate verifying concussion training (good for two years).

A flyer and registration form is attached along with a Sports Concussion Fact Sheet. Additional information can be found below.

Lead presenter is nationally known brain injury expert, Dr. Stanley Herring. Dr. Herring will be joined by other medical professionals to discuss information about concussion diagnosis and management, lessons on proper hydration and how to prevent injuries, components of a pre-participation physical exam and additional information relative to individuals working with youth sports programs. Time to ask questions of the experts will also be part of the program.

Please RSVP by returning the attached registration form on or before Tuesday, June 7.

Local boxer Vincent Thompson returns to the ring Saturday, resuming his quest to become professional heavyweight champion of the world.

The undefeated fighter, who likes to be called "Vicious Vincent," takes on Kelsey Arnold (4-7-2) in "Battle of the Boat 82: Fight Night at the Playboy Mansion," at Emerald Queen I-5 Casino in Tacoma on June 4.

Thompson, 28, of Federal Way, last fought March 19, dispatching Ryan Shay easily in a second-round TKO.

His present opponent, Arnold, has not been shy in taking on quality matchups. In his first 13 pro fights, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Arnold, a Lexington, Tenn., resident, has faced 10 unbeaten competitors. He lost his last fight to Mexican heavyweight Andy Ruiz, Jr. (8-0, 6 KOs).

"Kelsey Arnold is a straight-forward, rugged-type of a guy who has never had an easy fight," said Sam Ditusa, one of Thompson's trainers. "That being said, it's no wonder why his record is upside down. But I can assure you that everyone associated with Vincent Thompson has the utmost respect for the ability of Kelsey Arnold and we view him as a dangerous opponent."

Press release:

Local divers and ocean enthusiasts will celebrate World Oceans Day with a series of family-friendly activities designed to help protect the world’s sea life and raise awareness of threats to our oceans. The celebration will take place Wednesday, June 8, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Highline Community College’s Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST), 28203 Redondo Beach Dr. S., Des Moines, WA 98198.

Among the highlights of this year’s events will be a Live Dive, special presentations and a reading of Dr. Seuss’ “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” by former Seahawk Pro Bowl center Robbie Tobeck, now host of 710 AM ESPN’s Outdoor Line radio program. There will also be a pre-event beach clean-up beginning at 4 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.

In celebration of Ballard's green spaces, Groundswell NW features and celebrates a "Park of the Month" and the community around it. In June, the spotlight is on Salmon Bay Natural Area, its history and a new group forming to maintain it.

From Groundswell NW:

OK, it's not technically a park, in that it's not a Seattle Parks property. Instead it's a mix of the 34th Ave NW shoreline street end, Ballard rail spur right-of-way and five shoreline parcels purchased by Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) as part of their salmon recovery efforts. And June is a good month to go and try to spot juvenile salmon in the shallows below the overlook deck.

Those shallows are very important for young salmon who hit salt water for the first time as they spill through the flumes at the Locks. Dazed by the transition, they are very susceptible to predators and escape to the shallows where they adjust to the salt water. There they feast on daphnia fly larva who are also dazed by the transition, and build strength for the journey to the ocean.

A new exhibition titled 17 Swedish Designers is opening at the Nordic Heritage Museum on Friday, June 3, featuring the recent work of young, progressive women working in contemporary industrial and interior design.

From the press release:

More than 60 examples of high design in the form of furniture, textiles, glass, and ceramics represent innovative development of objects for everyday use.

“This is a great opportunity to see cutting edge Swedish design: furniture, textiles and household objects as unique and extraordinary as the women who designed them,” said Eric Nelson, CEO of the Nordic Heritage Museum. “If you know Scandinavian design, you’ll want to see this exhibit. If you don’t know Scandinavian design, you need to see it.”