October 2011

In recent years I've watched with great interest how large corporations front themselves as grass roots, community based organizations looking to improve the lives of Americans.

Things like the "Clear Skies Initiative" (An industry sponsored initiative which sought to roll back allowable pollution emissions not seen since the 1950s) and the "Healthy Forest Initiative" (which was a front for logging of old growth timber on protected lands) are typical of what many of us have come to expect.

Someone recently joked that the gambling industry would roll into Tukwila with a phony grass roots title for the purpose of swaying votes in the upcoming election. They even conjectured it would have the word "family" in it. We both had a good laugh but on a less humorous note the casino lobby has now registered a political committee with the Public Disclosure Commission. "Families for a Better Tukwilla."

Evidently these "families" don't know how to spell their hometown.

We need to place our trust in the democratic process, and in direct democratic elections. This is what Proposition #1 is all about-- direct democratic election, by the citizens of SeaTac, of our own mayor.

At the September 27th city council meeting (video available online at http://www.seatvonline.com) information was revealed regarding inappropriate actions by some city council members who oppose Proposition #1 and who oppose democratic election of our own mayor.

Email exchanges involving city council members who oppose Proposition #1 show they used city facilities, city equipment and city staff work time to campaign against Proposition #1 in 2009.

When we consider that Proposition #1 lost by only nine votes in 2009, we see that the anti-democracy forces on the city council through their improper actions, used city resources and taxpayer dollars to improperly influence the 2009 vote on Proposition #1.

Fortunately, the citizens of SeaTac will have another opportunity to approve Proposition #1 this November.

You've probably all heard about Proposition 1, which proposes raising the Vehicle License Fee by $60. If it passes, this will be a critical source of revenue to fix streets and sidewalks, improve transit and improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians.
Passing this will give the city the funds to commit to building a network of neighborhood greenways. If it fails, each community group will be slowly trying to raise money for one greenway at a time and a cohesive network will be many years in the future.

Please vote yes for Prop 1 and visit Streets for All for information and volunteering opportunities to make Seattle the city it can be.

Regards,
Jennifer Litowski
Ballard Greenways

The plan to install a "skatespot" at Roxhill Park at 2850 s.w. Roxbury Street had its first public showing of the early schematic designs and while the meeting at the Southwest Branch of the Seattle Public library was only attended by 14 people, several very vocal skaters showed up to offer their input and well informed ideas to the project.

CLICK THE LINK TO SEE THE OVERHEAD VIEW OF THE SKATESPOT SCHEMATIC -- CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE MORE

Led by Seattle Parks Department's Kelly Davidson the plan was designed by Colby Carter of California Skateparks who said he's spent a solid three weeks of labor, working out how to handle the elevations, the elements, and to work within both the budget and the space allotted.

Free information on how to get girls involved with Girl Scouts - joining troops or getting information to those who would like to join will be the topic for three nights in three locations around West Seattle starting Oct. 17.

Forms will be there to fill out to register with Girl Scouts, and Danielle Otey, Troop #43034 Leader
and certified Outdoor Specialist, Quantity Cook, Archery Instructor, 1st aid CPR & AED will be at one of the events. Representatives from the Girl Scout Council will be on hand at all the events to answer questions and present information so those who come will be able to learn more about what Girl Scouts is all about.

The organization is also seeking to recruit volunteers to run troops or be involved with scouting (volunteering any way they can). Each meeting will last approximately an hour they will have fun activities for kids to do while the representatives talk with the adults.

The meetings will be held:

Delridge Library, Monday Oct 17th @ 6:30pm

White Center's storefront deputy has been named by the office of Precinct Commander Major James Graddon of the King County Sheriff's office.

A letter was sent to the North Highline Unincoporated Area Council with the department's choice.

"After a thorough review of the results of our storefront deputy selection process, and an in-depth discussion with my command staff, I have selected Deputy Benjamin (BJ) Myers for the storefront position. Dep. Myers comes from this precinct area and is very familiar with White Center. We will ask for time to introduce him at the November meeting. We have permission to move this selection along very quickly, so he should be on the job next week."

James G. Graddon
Chief of Police - City of SeaTac
Precinct Commander - King County Sheriff's Office
West Precinct

Seattle Parks and Recreation is offering numerous Halloween activities throughout the city this month. These events are either free or low-cost. In Northwest Seattle, Seattle Parks will be offering the following events:

Haunted Bounce
Ballard Community Center, 6020 28th Ave. NW
Friday, Oct. 28, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
All ages
$2 per person
Join us for the Haunted Bounce. This Green Halloween event is kid-tested and parent-approved: no candy and all fun. Prizes are included

Halloween Carnival
Loyal Heights Community Center, 2107 NW 77th St.
Friday, Oct. 28, 6 to 8 p.m.
Ages: 11 and younger
Free
Join us for a fright fest of activities. Show us your best costume and remember to bring a goodie bag. Festivities include Halloween carnival games, crafts, mini pumpkin decorating, cookie decorating, a cakewalk, and ghastly prizes. We’ll have a special area for tots.

Teen Flashlight Pumpkin Hunt
Bitter Lake Community Center, 13035 Linden Ave. N
Friday, Oct. 28, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Free

The Ballard golf team participated in the Kinco 4A tournament on Tuesday, totaling 432 strokes on the day. Ten other teams competed in the tournament—which took place at Willows Run golf course—including Bothell and Garfield, who both finished behind Ballard in the stroke count.

Volleyball

The Beavers took an early lead on Tuesday against Garfield, but the Bulldogs rallied back to win in 4 games. Monique Marquez continued to find her teammates, totaling 21 assists on night. Liza Berg added 12 kills to her stat line. The Beavers will be on a bye Thursday night, but are at home next Tuesday for the final home game, which is also senior night.

Soccer

The Beavers earned their first conference win of the season, defeating Inglemoor 1-0 on Tuesday night. The lone goal came in the 53rd minute, when Lexie Grey took the ball 60 yards and put it into the net.

The goal keeping for both teams was superb, as the Vikings were able to keep the Beavers from scoring on several occasions. But it was Jennie Ohlin who earned the shutout, helping the Beavers to secure their victory.

While many young students use their first college years to find out what to study, who they are, and what they want to do with their lives, Ballardite Sean Hendricks is doing that self-searching in the middle of the Swiss Alps.

Hendricks is a Troop 100 Eagle Scout and spent the first six months of this year in Europe working at Scouting events and traveling.

Currently at home before he returns to Europe in December, Hendricks said he's grateful for his experience.

"I have no set degree in mind so this gives me a chance to figure out what I want to do," Hendricks said. "My friends are sitting in their dorm rooms drinking beers while on any given night I'm sitting by a fire in the middle of the Alps with a guy from the UK and a girl from Hong Kong.”

A third generation Scout, Hendricks has been a scout since he was six years old. His father is an Eagle Scout and his grandfather a Scout Master.

"I joined the same group of scouts that my father has been in since he was six. I knew from an early age that I wanted to become an Eagle Scout, too," Hendricks said

Press release:
Construction Reroute – Routes 21 Express, 37 southbound, 54, 54 Express, 55, 56 Express, 113, 120, 121, 122 and 125

From Friday evening, October 21 at 7:30 PM through Monday morning, October 31 at about 5:00 AM, Metro bus routes 21 Express, 37 southbound, 54, 54 Express, 55, 56 Express, 113, 120, 121, 122, and 125 will be rerouted off of the Alaskan Way Viaduct due to construction.

During the closure, the buses will travel via Fourth Avenue South in the SODO area and Third Avenue in downtown Seattle.

Bus stops on Columbia and Seneca streets at Second Avenue will be temporarily closed during this time.

Both northbound and southbound buses will stop on Fourth Avenue South at South Lander Street in SODO for convenient transfers to Link light rail and other bus routes.

Northbound buses will also stop on Fourth Avenue South at the South Jackson Street island stop; and southbound buses will not make any stops between Third Avenue at Columbia Street and Fourth Avenue South at South Lander Street.