October 2011

Waterfront Construction, the owner of the 75’ vessel “Justin” that sank in the Puget Sound early this morning, has contracted with NRC Environmental Services to contain the surface sheen released from the vessel. 

NRC Environmental Services has multiple spill response vessels and skimmers on scene and has deployed a containment boom.  The company, a subsidiary of National Response Corporation has offices from Neah Bay to San Diego and is an experienced spill recovery firm.

According to the company additional boom is on scene and ready to be deployed as needed. 

Marine and shoreline emergency response trailers as well as vacuum trucks are standing by for additional support. 

UPDATE Thursday

Today at Chief Sealth International High School speakers gathered to draw attention to the issue of teen susceptibility to Meningococcal disease, from 10:30 – 11:15 a.m.

Meningococcal disease, which includes meningitis, can take the life of an otherwise healthy young person in just a single day. Teens and preteens are at higher risk of contracting this deadly disease due to low vaccination rates and personal habits. Examples include sharing water bottles and eating utensils, kissing on the lips, close interaction at boarding schools and sleep-away camps. Death rates are up to five times higher among teenagers and young adults compared with younger age groups.

To address this issue Constantine, Neighborcare Health and the Immunization Action Coalition of Washington (IACW) have joined forces with the School Nurses Organization of Washington (SNOW)’s Voices of Meningitis campaign to declare October 20 Seattle Meningitis Awareness Day to increase vaccination rates among preteens and teens.

When Ryan Shannon, 29, a single father of two, returned home from his 2007-2010 deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, civilians thanked him for his service, but his family was almost forced out into the street. His wife left his kids while he was serving, and when he did return to his home state of Michigan, let's just say they weren't hiring. Worse, he lost three fingers on his left hand due to a circular saw accident last year.

Luckily, Shannon, who served with the Army's 2nd Ranger Battalion, Delta Company, deployed out of Fort Lewis, found another vet who hooked him up with the Veterans Innovations Program, or VIP, a Washington State organization that, too, is struggling financially, and has helped get him back on his feet with financial assistance in the form of a flexible fund.

The next White Center business district mixer is set for Tuesday, October 18th, from 6-7:30pm. It will take place at Uncle Mike’s Superlicious BBQ at 9640 16th Ave s.w.

Agenda items include:

1. Creating a wayfinding system in the White Center business district
2. Unveiling of the district’s walking map and directory
3. A call to action – collective action to address top concerns in the district
4. Community announcements

This is the last mixer for 2011 before the holiday season arrives; they will resume again in 2012.

U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) joined Air Washington in unveiling details of a new program to train 2,600 more workers with the skills needed by Washington state aerospace employers at an event at South Seattle Community College on Friday. It was held in the Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) building.

Cantwell and Murray formally announced a $20 million Department of Labor grant for Air Washington’s new training programs, which will help make the state a national commercial aviation training hub. SSCC will receive $1.4 million. It is to be paid over three years.

The college also received an additional $1 million dollars in partnership with Clover Park Technical College (which received $600,000) to expand the shared composites curriculum and the new composites lab at the Georgetown campus.

The Ballard cross-country team took on Roosevelt, Garfield and Skyline at Lincoln Park on Wednesday. The meet featured several Ballard runners setting personal best times.

Senior Alex Bowns ran a personal best of 15:45 but came in second by only one second when the Skyline runner took him by surprise at the finish line. Two other Beavers finished in the top 20, including Matt Rusk, who was tied for 12th with a time of 16:51 — a personal record for him — and Victor Bailly, who ran a 16:57 for 16th place.

For the girls’ team, junior Anna Mirenzi finished 4th on the day, completing 5,000-meter race with a time of 20:03, which was also a personal best. Alyson Fromm also had a strong showing, placing 11th after running a 20:48.

Golf

The golf team traveled to Skyline on Thursday, where Senior Michael Day placed 4th on the day. The team captain finished with a score of 152, and qualified for state.

Soccer

The Beavers took on Newport Thursday night, losing a tough match by a score of 2-0. The Knights scored an early goal in the 3rd minute of the match, and were not able to get one of their own.

The Beavers lost a hard-fought game on Thursday at Memorial Field, falling to Roosevelt 28 to 19. The game was neck-and-neck, with Ballard holding the lead going into the fourth quarter, but Roosevelt scored two unanswered touchdowns to win it.

The game started out with a bang, as Jesse Scott hit Nate Rauda for a 60-yard touchdown on the very first play of the drive. Rauda, who had a big game, finished with three touchdowns and 160 yard on four catches. After a back-and-forth first quarter, the score was 7 all, with the Beavers driving.

The first play of the second quarter was another Ballard touchdown, as Johnny Verduin connected with Rauda for a 30-yard score to give the Beavers a 13-7 lead. The Roughriders would answer right back with a 7-yard touchdown run to go on top 14-13.

The Beavers started driving in the third quarter, following a defensive stand that forced a Roosevelt punt. After a big third down conversion, Verduin hit Rauda on a 15-yard pass for his third touchdown of the night to put the Beavers up 19-14.

By Patrick Robinson and David Rosen

UPDATE 7:25pm
The Justin, the landing craft style vessel that sank on Friday morning has been brought back to the surface after a full day of preparation and seemingly endless delays. The vessel was first sealed (an improperly sealed vent had leaked 100 gallons of fuel) and then righted after divers had attached lines. Then it was partially raised, then lowered again, then finally raised after 6:00 pm to be placed on the Waterfront Construction barge. The crumpling of the wheelhouse where it impacted the bottom of the Sound could be seen as it was pulled from the water. According to the Coast Guard no oil has been found at Lowman Beach or Lincoln park and "A team of environmental specialists has completed a shoreline assessment and search for oil at Lowman Beach and Lincoln parks. There is no evidence of oil on the shore, on driftwood or on the absorbent boom near the shore. The team will continue their search for any sign of oil on the shoreline and overflights to monitor the evaporation and breakup of light weathered diesel ribbons that remain.

By Cassandra Baker, Intern

10:59 p.m. on October 10th. 8th block of NW 50th St

A man was arrested after making death threats against his neighbor. The victim said that he was smoking in his indoor porch area when he saw the suspect get out of a car. He said the suspect appeared to be intoxicated or high. He invited the suspect to come smoke with him since it was raining. The suspect said, “I would but I’d have to kill you.” The victim asked why he said that, and the suspect said that it was a joke. The suspect then came up to the victim and pulled out a folding knife. The victim became afraid and attempted to take the knife from the suspect. The victim punched the suspect to fend off an attack, and the suspect left without further incident. The victim then called police.

The responding officers contacted the suspect, and he willingly came out of his residence. He was arrested and read his rights, then taken to the North Precinct. The suspect stated that he had felt “belittled” in the past and wanted to prove that he was a man. He said that he did not blame the victim for any part of the incident.

Twenty years ago, a group of hikers, conservationists and passionate Washingtonians completed a now-famous hike from Snoqualmie Pass to Seattle. This watershed moment marked the birth of the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the character, the landscape and the local communities that make up the remarkable 100 plus mile corridor between Seattle and Ellensburg.

Since then the Greenway has expanded to the north and south from the spine of the Interstate 90 corridor, to include a number of new communities, such as Roslyn, Woodinville and Ellensburg.

Seattle’s historic districts have always been a key part of the Greenway, as they represent the priceless cultural assets of the region, and tell the story of the state’s development.

And so it is fitting that Ballard will this month host the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust's first ever Photo Exhibition, as part of their 20th Anniversary celebrations.

The exhibition will feature 30 images of the Greenway taken by the people who live, work and play in the cities, towns and open spaces from Seattle east to Central Washington - amateur photographers of all ages and abilities.