July 2012

PORT ORCHARD--PacWest won in the loser's bracket twice before bowing out of the Junior Little League baseball state tournament at South Kitsap Western's American Legion Post 30 field last week.

PacWest opened the age 13-14 tournament by taking a 6-2 loss to a tough Upper Valley squad Sunday, July 15 then began the comeback trail through the loser's bracket with a stingy 1-0 win over the Bellevue Thunderbirds Tuesday, July 17. They followed up with a not so well played 7-4 victory over Hazel Dell Wednesday, July 18, earning a day off for Thursday.

But PacWest advanced to play a tough Bonney Lake/Sumner squad Friday afternoon and lost by an identical 7-4 score.

Danny Perkins was near perfect on the mound for PacWest in the Tuesday game against Bellevue.

Perkins scattered three hits and three walks in his seven inning complete game, having one other runner reach on an error. He struck out three in a performance that included seven ground ball outs and nine fly ball outs.

The PacWest hitters, meanwhile, provided the only run they needed in the top of the sixth
.

AUBURN - Absence of big hits added up to the end of the season for the District VII champion Pac West 9-10 age Little League baseball unit on Monday, July 16, at GSA Park Field No. 2.

District XII titlist Richland National's pitching limited Pac West to a pair of hits in a 4-1 loser-out game victory at the 2012 state tournament.

"We couldn't hit today," explained District VII manager Roger Patten. "Their shortstop seemed to suck up every hit. We just couldn't find the holes. It's been a wild ride with a fun group of kids. We're like the Bad News Bears; we come to play."

After dropping a 15-5 match up against District III Chehalis on Sunday, July 15, Pac West played toughly against National, but simply was unable to consistently put together a series of scoring plays.

"We did well, today," said Jordan Aycox. "They were just better than us."

In an encounter where scoring runs was an outstanding obstacle, the late innings carried the climactic action.

by Cassandra Baker

11:24 p.m. on July 16th. 59th block of 24th Ave NW

Police responded to reports of a burglary in progress at an office building on the night of July 16th. Officers arrived at the scene to find two witnesses pinning down the suspect, who was lying near three cash boxes. Police spoke to a subject at the scene, who said that she was an employee of the business. She opened one of the safes that were lying near the suspect, which the witnesses had seen the suspect carry out of the business. The safe contained cash, and the employee told police that it usually contained about $700.

Tonight (July 23) at 6:30 p.m. in the library of Ballard High School, the Department of Planning and Development will be holding a meeting about development on 24th Ave NW and NW 64th St, where The Viking tavern and the barber shop 2 and 1/2 Happy Barbers sit.

The meeting is open to the public. Property owner Bill Parks and the architects from Johnston Architects, PLLC will be present. Tim Cannon, owner of the Viking, also confirmed he will be at the meeting.

Development of a six-story, 90-unit apartment building, "Ballard Lofts," is planned for the site. The owner has made no promises or final agreement with the owners of either business yet, but said it is still a possibility for them to move into the new building on the retail floor. Parks confirmed that the Sunset Hill Green Market will be moving in.

Our 92 year old publisher, Jerry Robinson responds to seeing the harvest from his son Scott's garden:

Scott, 
You have no idea how delighted I am to get your garden report and the pictures. I want to show other members of our extended family. It was just great and my heart swells. I have been an advocate of gardens since I was a stripling after watching my dad plant his garden every spring. 

Yeah, he had a drinking problem but he also had a fine garden. String beans, tomatoes, lettuce, potatoes, carrots, radishes, peas... sounds like you. We also had 8 walnut trees, two green gage plum trees and a row of gooseberry bushes. Best of all was our huge Gravenstein apple tree. 

    The place we rented in Portland must have housed a farmer as all the trees were there when we moved in. We lived a block from the Vancouver Avenue woods where we feasted on hazelnuts every summer.

  Rent was $15 a month and much of the time dad didn't have it. It was in the twenties. Dad was a  salesman and rarely had any money. 

Performance of “Something I Can Do: Voices From Occupy Seattle”
Puget Ridge Co-Housing Common House
7020 18th Ave. S.W.
Thursday, July 26, 6:30 p.m. - Snacks, 7 p.m. - Play starts. Free. Play by Seattle playwright Ed Mast. Discussion afterwards. Hosted by West Seattle Neighbors for Peace & Justice, and Occupy West Seattle.

2nd Annual White Center Outdoor Open Mic
Greenbridge Plaza
9010 8th Ave. S.W.
Friday, July 27, 7 p.m. It’s an open mic with a concert feel with established local artists showcasing their talents. Free and open to all ages. Hosted by Cultivate, the White Center CDA, The YES Foundation and Dub Sea Coffee.

West Seattle Cheer staff Car Wash Fundraiser July 28
Come get your car squeaky clean and support the West Seattle High School Cheer staff!
Car wash fundraiser this Saturday July 28th from 10am - 3pm at West Seattle AutoWorks at 7501 35th Ave SW.

Discovery Shop
4535 California Ave. S.W.
206-937-7169

by Mali Main, UW News Lab Intern

James Manning wants to get into your living room.

That’s part of his new job as the Seattle Police Department’s Community Outreach officer for Ballard (and the rest of the North End). The unit was created last year to build relationships between the beat cops who protect the neighborhoods and the people who live in them. Not just in Ballard, but city-wide. Manning joined the unit in June.

“What happens,” Manning explained, “is we never get to meet people except when they are in crisis. I want to let the community know officers are just like them and let officers know that the people in the community, you know, they’re good people.”

One way the Community Outreach unit makes this happen is through “Living Room Conversations.” Someone from the neighborhood opens their living room to Manning, a few officers from the Community Police Team and about 15 or 16 neighbors.

Manning has already led a few Living Room Conversations with Alex Chapackdee, Community Outreach officer for the Southwest Precinct. He is looking forward to his first living room conversation in Ballard. He says they’re fun, because the conversations

Seattle Times, "Seattle's Legendary J.P. Patches Dies"

Chris Wedes, better known as J.P. Patches, passed away Sunday morning after a long battle with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. Seattle Times staff reporter Jack Broom gives a long, detailed and loving obituary.

Many people in the Puget Sound area grew up watching J.P. Patches on his whimsical kid's show, and took his lessons to heart. "He also reminded his tiny viewers, known as 'Patches Pals,' to follow the rules, which included minding Mommy and Daddy, saying your prayers and sharing your toys," Broom writes.

In an interview with the Ballard News-Tribune, fellow entertainer and friend of Swedes, Stan Boreson, said that Swedes could be a quiet person. But when Swedes put on his makeup, he transformed almost instantly into J.P. Patches, and even in his old age was the same bright and exuberant clown, Boreson said.

Seattle Times, "Seattle's Legendary J.P. Patches Dies"

Chris Wedes, better known as J.P. Patches, passed away Sunday morning after a long battle with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. Seattle Times staff reporter Jack Broom gives a long, detailed and loving obituary.

Many people in the Puget Sound area grew up watching J.P. Patches on his whimsical kid's show, and took his lessons to heart. "He also reminded his tiny viewers, known as 'Patches Pals,' to follow the rules, which included minding Mommy and Daddy, saying your prayers and sharing your toys," Broom writes.

In an interview with the Ballard News-Tribune, fellow entertainer and friend of Swedes, Stan Boreson, said that Swedes could be a quiet person. But when Swedes put on his makeup, he transformed almost instantly into J.P. Patches, and even in his old age was the same bright and exuberant clown, Boreson said.