September 2011

After years of planning and design review meetings, AvalonBay Communities broke ground on its Ballard project yesterday. A six-story, 265-unit apartment complex will be built on the former Sunset Bowl site, on 14th Avenue NW and NW Market St.

The complex will be AvalonBay’s fourteenth community in Washington State, offering 265 studio, one, and two bedroom apartment homes, a fully-equipped clubhouse, a fitness center, a rooftop deck, and courtyards with an outdoor barbeque and cooking area. The ground floor will be home to a total of approximately 12,000 square feet of retail space.

“We are very pleased to be able to break ground in Ballard, further expanding our presence in the State of Washington. Seattle, in particular, is an excellent market for AvalonBay, and we have had a great deal of success and a very positive experience here. Residents will have all the benefits of luxury living in a conveniently situated community that is dedicated to minimizing its impact on the environment,” said
Brian Fritz, Vice President for Development in a statement.

The Delridge Skatepark, adjacent to the Delridge Community Center at 4458 Delridge Way s.w. will open Sept. 17 with the official ribbon cutting taking place at 1:00 pm.

The event begins at 11:00am with free beginner skateboard lessons and free helmet fittings. Also featured will be demonstrations by professional skateboarders, prizes for people attending and music from Grindline the Band, composed of members of the speciality construction company that built the park.

Grindline Skatepark Inc. was featured by the West Seattle Herald here.

The event is being presented in collaboration with Delridge Day (Like them on Facebook here) an annual one day event that takes place at the heart of the neighborhood, the Delridge Community Center.

At 1:30 a.m. on September 8, North Precinct officers responded to a 911 call of a robbery at the ARCO/ampm gas station on North 85th Street.

According to the clerk, the suspect entered the store, grabbed a beer, and brought it to the register. When he was told how much it was, the suspect put his hand in his pocket, implying that he had a weapon. He then demanded money, cigarettes, and beer.

As another customer walked in, the clerk took the opportunity to call 911 and the suspect then walked out of the store.

Officers arrived and located the suspect who was attempting to hide himself in the parking lot of a nearby motel.

He was detained and the victim was brought by for a positive identification. The suspect was then taken into custody. A pistol-grip hose nozzle was located in the suspect’s pocket. The 47-year-old suspect was later booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Robbery.

In remembrance of the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and in honor of those who put themselves at risk in service to their community and country, Woodland Park Zoo extends free admission to all active and retired U.S. military, police, firefighters and emergency medical services personnel with valid service identification on Heroes Weekend, Sept. 10 – 11, 2011.

Woodland Park Zoo also recognizes the families and friends of our local heroes with a special offer: up to six guests accompanying heroes with valid ID will receive half off regularly-priced zoo admission during the Heroes Weekend event. Note: Heroes Weekend discounts cannot be combined with other offers or zoo discounts.

The DIY (Do It Yourself) Coaches are the featured guests at The West Seattle Tool Library at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center at 4408 Delridge Way s.w. tonight starting at 6:00 pm.

Those attending will have the opportunity to speak with some local experts on solar power, water harvesting, green building, and permaculture.

Seattle’s 33rd annual Lake Union Boats Afloat Show takes place Wednesday, September 14, with more than 180 new and used boats or vessels from 18 to 101 feet on display.

Recognized as West Coast’s largest floating show, the four-day show features anything from sport boats to cabin cruisers and sailboats to mega-yachts.

Attractions this year include:

· 180+ new and used boats or vessels in every size and price range

· The largest and most expensive boat, which is a 101 foot mega yacht, priced at $7.2 million

· The sexiest boat, which is an 85 foot Ocean Alexander, priced at $5.7 million. According to Yachting Magazine, “If this yacht were a person, she would be Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief or Faye Dunaway in The Thomas Crown Affair. Cool. Slightly distant. Ever so desirable.”

· New for 2011: sport boat row with 30 multi-sport performance boats under 30 feet

· Free daily 45-minute sailboat rides on Lake Union on 30-40 foot boats through Discover Sailing

· Free 90-minute sailing lessons for kids 8-16 on 13’ Hobie Cat Waves courtesy of Sail Sandpoint. Lessons will be available Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Seaview Boatyard, a longtime Ballard business, was recently recognized for its environmental commitment and best practices.

The business was recently awarded with the Environmental Excellence Award for Leading Environmental Practices by the Association of Washington Businesses (AWB).

AWB's Environmental Excellence Awards recognize member companies for exemplary innovations and achievements in environmental protection, conservation and compliance.

Seaview's proactive approach for complying with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) was cited as a critical reason they were recognized for this award, along with creating a system of best business practices and investment in new equipment that would reduce environmental impacts.

Located at Shilshole Bay Marina, Seaview Boatyard has enjoyed great success amongst the Puget Sound boating community since 1973.

"We at Seaview Boatyard will continue to be environmental stewards in the business community," said Phil Riise, owner of Seaview Boatyard.

This weekend, September 9-11, features many events to be enjoyed outside in Seattle’s wonderful late summer weather. The list of choices for sports fans includes Husky football, Mariners baseball, Sounders soccer and the Iron Girl 5K and 10K Walk and Run. There are also plenty of options for lovers of food, entertainment, and arts with Nihonmachi Nites, Chamber of Commerce celebrations at Northgate and in Ballard, and the NEPO 5K Don’t Run.

There will be multiple events throughout the day on Sunday between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m.at the Seattle Center in remembrance of the ten-year anniversary of 9-11.

The Seattle Department of Transportation encourages event-goers to consider reducing their impact on the environment by leaving the car at home and trying one of the many alternate modes of transportation available - Metro Transit, the West Seattle Water Taxi, the Sounder commuter train, Link light rail, car pool, bicycle or even walking, if feasible.

Ballard Blossom celebrated Good Neighbor Day on Wednesday, September 7, by given away flowers and spreading goodwill.

Started in 1994 by a florist in Jackson, Mississippi, Good Neighbor Day was started as a way to spread goodwill in the community, said Ballard Blossom co-owner Rachel Martin.

"The idea is that you get a free bouquet of flowers and you keep one and give the others to 11 different people," Martin said.

"It's bigger back East as more florists have picked up on it," Martin said. "I just wanted to give it a try. Thought it would be a fun event at the end of the summer and make people smile."

This was the first time for Ballard Blossom to celebrate this event and they celebrated it big, giving away 80 dozen roses, offering free samples of gourmet treats, beverages, and prize give-aways.

While the event started at 9 a.m., one eager man waited outside the shop on a little chair at 8 a.m., Martin said. "Of course, we told him he didn't have to wait and gave him some flowers," she added.

Only a handful of people showed up in the first hour, but all had touching ideas on who to share the flowers with.

The Lady Beavers basketball team will be having a car wash this Saturday, September 10, to raise money for their upcoming season.

The car wash will take place at Bernie's Automotive from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Bernie's Automotive is located at the corner of Leary Way N.W. and 8th Avenue N.W. Click here for a map.

GO BEAVERS!