February 2012

Poetry returns to C&P Coffee, again featuring open mic, & all are welcome to attend and participate 7pm, Wednesday, Feb. 22. 5612 California Ave. SW. Featured readers are Noel Parkinson and Beau Prichard.

Noel Parkinson is lots of things.  At times, she even finds moments to reflect things into her laptop in words as a poet.  She loves theater, office supplies, and the freedoms her liberal lifestyle affords her.  She also loves both Tito and Beau dearly and is honored to be working with them in this wonderful capacity.

Beau Prichard was born in Australia, raised in New Zealand, and educated by Quakers in Oregon. He views himself above all as a story teller, working as a freelance writer and editor, and also helping others find their own words. He is also in the midst of building a theater company. He is presently directing Proof, which will open in February at the Odd Duck on Capitol Hill. He is honored to speak Tito's words this evening with Noel Parkinson.

Fire stations, gardens and community centers across Seattle welcomed neighbors to the 18th annual Neighbor Appreciation Day on Saturday Feb. 11

Work parties, special events and more took place in West Seattle too. The Roxhill and Longfellow Creek restoration area saw workers make an effort to remove garbage and clean things up in preparation for the arrival of spring. Fire stations 11 and 37 (among many) had people stop by to say hello, take a tour and meet some of the firefighters.

The Southwest Community Center had an all adult swim and served a special cake, with the words " West Seattle Rocks" done in frosting on it.

The Barton Street P-Patch at SW Barton and 34th Ave SW hosted a special Mason Bees presentation by Missy Anderson (alias Queen Bee), a King County Master Gardener and owner of www.rentmasonbees.com.

If you don't know about these amazing bees, and you have any kind of fruit trees or plants that need pollination, you should learn more. They do not bite or sting but are among the best pollinators in nature.

David Rosen contributed to this story.

Mind Unwind is the culmination of a vision for owner Krystal Kelley. It is "an event-driven art studio and gallery" as she describes it but it's much more. It's a classroom, complete with a kitchen, a foundation, an entertainment venue and a kind of play space for the mind. It's also her home.

Kelley, whose career path has taken her through journalism, interior design and real estate was seeking a way to combine her varied skills, interests, and her home life in a single business and Mind Unwind is the result. "I had a dream about a year ago that I lived and worked in the same space." She shares the space with her boyfriend Jason Nivens and two daughters. "We both wanted a place to not only bring art out into the community but to get the community involved in making things. I owned a design business for seven years Stage By Design but sold it in 2009. It kept me away from home a lot and I have two kids and I wanted to be more involved in the community and my children's lives."

Jim Sweeney, owner of Alki Lumber, who passed away Feb. 5 will be honored by a vigil this evening, February 11 at Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLG) Catholic Church 7000 35th Avenue Southwest at 7pm.

The funeral mass will be at OLG on Sunday, February 12 at 2pm.

A reception celebrating Jim’s life and legacy will follow at the Hall at Fauntleroy. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to the West Seattle Pee Wee Baseball or the Medic One Foundation.

For more on Jim Sweeney please see the Herald's previous coverage.

The Ballard boys basketball team's run at playoffs ended on Friday night with a loss to Newport in the second playoff game.

The Beavers came just a few points short against the Bellevue team in a nerve-wrecking game that went into overtime three times.

Newport got the better start and at halftime, Ballard was trailing three points behind. But Ballard game back strong for the second half and evened the score.

With a score of 38 against 38 the game went into its first overtime. Both teams scored seven points and in the second overtime tied again, scoring five points each. But then in the third overtime, Newport outplayed Ballard, winning the game by only four points.

The final score was 55 against 59.

This devastating loss ends the season for the Beavers with 10 wins and 12 losses.

Seth Berger led his team in scoring during the final game with 22 points and seven rebounds. Berger also led his team in scoring in the overall season with 336 points, averaging 15 points per game. Johnny Verduin came in second with 263 points overall and 12 points per game.

On February 10th, Ballardite Frank Cunningham celebrated his 90th birthday. Reaching your 90th birthday is a gift in and of itself but the lifelong rower was also given a very unique present by the State of Washington.

On February 2, 2012, the Washington State Senate passed Resolution 8675 in his honor. Sponsored by Senators Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Paull Shin, Resolution 8675 honors Cunningham for his service to his community and the nation as a teacher and coach.

"It was fun to meet the governor and it is nice to get that kind of attention," Cunningham said. "But it was kind of a charade."

"It doesn't compare to the things that my students made with their own hands. I feel quite sentimental about that," added Cunningham, who was a teacher for thirty years and a coach for fifty.

At the presentation of the resolution, Cunningham visited with Governor Chris Gregoire and even ran into an old rowing mate of his - Representative Hans Dunshee.

"I rowed against him when he was an undergrad and I was sixty-something at the time. He had difficulty accepting that I beat him," Cunningham said, laughing.

From thousands of Marriott guests to renowned Iron Chef food critics, Chef Wayne Johnson has impressed people with his cooking all across the nation, and now he's hoping to do so in Ballard as he takes over the helm at Ray's Boathouse. 

Johnson comes to Ray’s from the acclaimed Andaluca restaurant of the Mayflower Park Hotel, where he had served as Executive Chef since 1999.

Previously, he served as Executive Chef for the prestigious Renaissance Parc 55 Hotel in San Francisco, and various Marriott Hotels and Resorts in California and Colorado. He's also known for his appearance on Food Network's Iron Chef and he has earned many accolades in his 30 years in the restaurant industry.

But Ray's Boathouse will be his first Executive Chef position at a free-standing restaurant.

Saturday, February 11, mark's Seattle's 18th annual Neighbor Appreciation Day, a special day to reach out to neighbors and express thanks to all who make your neighborhood a great place. Community organizations and residents across Seattle are hosting work parties, special events, and potlucks to celebrate this day. 
 


The following events will happen in the Ballard area:
 


Fire Station Open House

Saturday, February 11, 11 a.m.
Fire Stations 18, 1521 NW Market Street

Several Seattle Fire Stations will participate again this year by hosting community members on Neighbor Appreciation Day between 11 a.m. and 1 p,m.
 


Interfaith Community Church Historic Building open house

Saturday, February 11, 11 a.m. 

1763 NW 62nd St 


Friends and neighbors come visit this historic building (built in 1890). A brief presentation about our building will be shared at 12 noon. Cookies & tea will be served.
 


Restoration event at Golden Gardens

Saturday, February 11, 9 a.m.

8498 Seaview Pl NW
 


Neighbor Appreciation Day Swim

Saturday, February 11, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Ballard Pool, 1471 NW 67th St
E

press release:

In an effort to get the core programs for the White Center Community Development Association a boost the organization has a special Valentines Day program.

The first 50 people who make a $50 donation to the White Center CDA will receive a special commemorative t-shirt.

The White Center Community Development Association (White Center CDA) is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote a vibrant neighborhood full of heart and high quality of life for White Center residents.

Their goal for this Valentine’s Day is to raise $5,000 for White Center CDA’s core programs (neighborhood revitalization, family development, and community building).

To donate and help the WCCDA go to their website, www.wccda.org and make a secure donation on-line today or print the form below and mail a check to their address. Please email your t-shirt size to Kate Stannard, CDA Administrative Director or call her at (206) 694-1082 Ex. 161

press release:
Between December 12, 2011 and sometime in June of 2012, there will be multiple overnight and some possible weekend closures of the Fauntleroy Expressway at the west end of the West Seattle Bridge, due to a seismic retrofitting project.

During overnight weeknight closures, Route 54 heading to West Seattle will be rerouted via the Delridge exit to S Spokane St below the West Seattle Bridge, and on to Avalon Way, with no stops missed On weekends, Route 55 will also be rerouted with no stops missed.

Buses headed downtown are not affected.