January 2012

The former Lora Lake Apartments site at 15001 Des Moines Memorial Drive in Burien is currently being tested to reveal the full extent of hazardous contaminants from industrial use, according to Perry Cooper with the Port of Seattle.

Once a cleanup plan is established, Cooper said cleanup will begin in 2013 and, once finished, the land will be open to redevelopment. The Port is considering two main options – develop a cargo center for the airport or selling the land to Burien’s larger auto dealers to create an auto mall.

Cooper said the Port Commission is “having good discussions with the City (of Burien)” over the auto mall concept which would relocate 1st Ave. S. dealerships to Des Moines Memorial Drive. You can read more about the auto mall idea, a longtime project of former Burien Councilmember Gordon Shaw, in the Highline Times story found here.

The Port expects to submit a draft report of their findings to Washington’s Department of Ecology (DOE) sometime in January. Cleaning up the site is required by state law for it to be further developed.

Press release here:

Time: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Location: William M. Allen Theater, Museum of Fight

QANTAS Captain Richard de Crespigny was at the control of the world’s largest and most advanced commercial jetliner when he and his fellow crew members were faced with their greatest challenge. The date was November 4, 2010. Early into the Singapore/Sydney leg of flight QF32, one of four engines exploded resulting in extensive damage to the airplane and its systems. Captain de Crespigny will discuss how for two and half hours he and his entire crew stabilized the damage, configured the over landing weight airplane, then maneuvered toward Changi Airport in Singapore. This extraordinary emergency wasn’t over when the aircraft landed safely. His presentation will also address the rationale for the many decisions he made as captain in the air and once on the ground that resulted in the safe return of the passengers and the A380.

A woman walking home from the Gasco convenience store at 35th Ave S.W. and S.W. Henderson was accosted by an adult female who stole her wallet and attempted to steal her 18-pack of Pabst beer on New Year’s Eve.

According to the police report, the woman was walking east from the Gasco around 9 p.m. when a dark brown, late 80s to early 90s lowered Cadillac pulled up. An adult female stepped out, approached her and asked, “Do you need help with that?”

The victim said no and the suspect asked for her wallet. Saying no again, the suspect reached into her sweater pocket and grabbed the wallet. She tried to take the victim’s beer as well, but the handle broke.

In the ensuing struggle, according to the report, the victim wrestled with the woman in an attempt to get her wallet back. Inside the Cadillac were a male driver and a younger male in his twenties. The suspect was able to jump into the backseat of the vehicle, but the victim grabbed her foot and attempted to pull her out.

The younger male yelled, “Let go of my mom!” as the tables quickly turned.

The dean of Highline’s state legislative delegation, Sen. Margarita Prentice has been redistricted out of the 11th District and will retire at the end of the year.

Prentice, 80, has announced that after 20 years as a state senator, she will retire when her fifth term ends Dec. 31. She will serve in the current session that begins Monday, Jan. 9.

According to the new legislative redistricting plan, the Skyway home she has lived in since 1958 is now in the 37th Legislative District. She likely would have had to face current 37th District Sen. Adam Kline in the fall 2014 election to keep her legislative seat.

Prentice was appointed to the state House in 1988 and was elected to the Senate in 1992.

The 11th District encompasses the northeast portion of the Highline area. Zack Hudgins and Bob Hasegawa are the state representatives

I save holiday gift wrap and try to re-use it year after year. It’s easier to save and sort the wrapping paper than memories. There’s a methodology to sorting the remaining shapes and sizes that can’t be applied to what we choose to remember or not.

I wish I could sit down at the end of the holidays and sort my memories like the ribbons and ornaments. If I put some of the loose ends together perhaps I could weave them into a whole. What do with the random images? As a writer they are my “pieces of string too short to be saved.”

I know how lucky I am. I get to live, work and write about Ballard. Sunset Hill Community Association allows me to create events for them. I meet new people every week in the course of column and acquire new friends. I get to be curious for a living, and process my observations and neighborhood intrigues. For me finally glimpsing a man changing the sign at Limback’s was akin to spotting Santa Claus.

PRESS RELEASE:

The Highline Historical Society, in partnership with Burien Little Theatre, presents Chautauqua actress Joan Wolfberg in "Golda Meir: From Pogrom to Prime Minister" on January 22, 2 PM, at the Burien Little Theatre, 425 S.W. 144th St.

As a child, Golda Meir, knowing the fear of pogroms in Russia, dreamed of a homeland for her people in Palestine. Her dream became a reality in 1921.

Golda's continued commitment to her land and to her people was the paragon of human dedication. Her complete involvement, tempered with love, fired by fierce devotion, and a wonderful sense of humor, caused the world to know that she was a true mover of mountains.

Joan Wolfberg, as Golda, takes the audience from the pogroms of Russia, to Milwaukee, to Denver, to Palestine...and finally to "life in state of our own"...Israel...as Prime Minister.

At the end of this program, Wolfberg will stays n character and answer questions posed to her about Golda, and her life.

According to a King 5 report, a 55-year-old male pedestrian was struck by a dark colored vehicle while he was trying to cross at the intersection of 14th Ave S.W. and S.W. Roxbury in White Center on Jan. 5.

The accident occurred around 1:45 a.m., according to King 5, and the victim “suffered serious, but not life-threatening injuries.”

The suspect sped away from the scene after hitting the victim.

Anyone with information on the suspect or vehicle involved is encouraged to contact police.

The coming year will bring new developments and services to accommodate the homeless in Ballard.

The December meeting of the Ballard District Council surrounded the theme of homelessness and the city and non-profits announced various projects to start this coming year.

After delayed constructions, Compass Housing Alliance is ready to start building its Nyer Urness housing project in February. Slated for opening in March 2013, the seven-story, 80-unit housing development on 1753 NW 56th St will serve homeless people throughout the city.

While the housing development will certainly serve some of Ballard's homeless population, "it won't necessarily decrease the number of homeless people you see in Ballard," said Beth Boram from Compass Housing Alliance.

The Nyer Urness House will also offer a neighborhood clinic to be open 20 hours a week.

The Ballard girls basketball team hosted Skyline last night for their first conference game of the new year.
Skyline got the lead early on in the game, showing that this was going to be a tough match for the Lady Beavers.

By halftime the Beavers were trailing behind 19 to 30. Skyline continued to build on there lead in the third quarter, getting 17 points ahead of the Beavers going into the final quarter.

A last quarter rally wasn't in the cards for the Beavers as Skyline was simply too strong.

Beavers lost with a final score of 42 to 65.

Cailey Beckett led her team in scoring with 15 points, nine rebounds and one steal. Nancy MacGeorge had 11 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, and three assists.

The Lady Beavers play again at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan 6, at Garfield.

Through a generous grant from the BHS Foundation, Ballard High School has hired Jeff Robinson as it's new strength and conditioning coach.

A Kennewick native, Robinson is a retired professional football player who played 14 years in the NFL.

He has a BS in finance from the University of Idaho where he was a three-year First Team All Big Sky athlete, two-time conference defensive player of the year, two-time First Team 1-AA All American and was team captain his final two years.

He is considered a Vandal Athletics Point of Pride and has been inducted into the University of Idaho Hall of Fame and Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame.

He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 1993 and has also played for the St. Louis Rams, Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks. He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV.

Jeff currently is a kinesis instructor at 5Focus Kinesis.