February 2013

Halquist Productions is once again setting up at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma to put on their 23rd installment of the Northwest’s premier MMA promotion, CageSport, featuring two title matches and some of the best fighters in the region . Headlining the 10 bout card will be Burien native and current Kirkland resident Brent Knopp (3-0), in a rematch against Darrio Mobley (2-2) for the CageSport Middleweight Title.

Tickets for CageSport XXIII, scheduled for Feb. 16, are still available and can be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the Emerald Queen Casino box office.

Knopp trains at one of the most recognized MMA gyms in the country, AMC Pankration, located in Kirkland. AMC is headed by world renowned trainer Matt Hume, who trains numerous UFC and DREAM fighters. Such fighters include: Josh Barnett, Chris Leben, Hayato Sakurai, Matt Brown, Rich Franklin and Demetrious Johnson. Johnson fought on UFC’s latest promotion, UFC on FOX: 6 in the main event to defend his flyweight championship for the first time and came out victorious in an action packed battle with John Dodson.

Tyee came to Evergreen on Senior Night… that should have been a clue to the Totems that things were going to be difficult at best.

The Wolverines jumped out to a 14-5 lead in the first period and even though Tyee closed the gap to 24-20 at the end of the half there was a sense that the night belonged to Evergreen.

Prior to the game coach Tony White spoke of his fondness for his team and his seniors. One by one their names were called. Each player was handed a rose which they presented to a family member in the crowd. Banners showing the love lined the wall around the court. Friends, classmates, and family filled the stands. Some student body members came with painted faces, arms, and hands showing their spirit. Everyone was boisterous and excited. This is what makes high school athletics fun.

All of the above was an indicator that the night belonged to Evergreen.

As the third period progressed the Totems pushed back, and as the period ending buzzer sounded Tyee held on to a slim 38-35 lead.

After numerous calls from the public, a cat who had climbed to the top of a power pole at 46th SW and SW Andover, got the attention of a line crew from Seattle City Light. They came out about 9:30am Monday (the cat had been there according to neighbors about a day and a half) to put up their hi-lift bucket and bring the cat down. The plan was to throw a blanket over the kitty and then bring it into the bucket and bring it down.

It didn't quite work out that way.

The cat was retrieved by Aaron Swanon, an Apprentice Line Worker for Seattle City Light, (without the blanket) but once in the bucket, it jumped out while the bucket was still at height, and it fell to the ground. Cats, however, land on all fours and it then ran away. There's no way to know at this point if the cat is ok.

George Reed a neighbor (among others) had tried for a while to coax the cat down with treats and food but it wouldn't budge. Then numerous calls to Animal Control, the Seattle Fire Department, and finally Seattle City Light followed by people in the area, trying to get some help for the animal.

At this time, the cat is still at large.

Volunteer Introduction Session
Southwest Seattle Historical Society
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013
Log House Museum, 3003 61st Ave. S.W., one block from Alki Beach

Got time to volunteer? The Southwest Seattle Historical Society needs you!

Seth Berger picks the ball and brings it in for a score on Friday, Feb. 1 against Roosevelt.

On Tuesday, Jan. 29th, prior to the Ballard High School Boys Basketball game against Redmond High School, Senior Seth Berger was presented with his certificate of nomination as a McDonald’s All American Basketball Player. This honor is reserved for the best high school players in the nation. 24 of the nominees will be selected to participate in the McDonald’s All American Game in Chicago, April 3rd.

Berger is a four-year letter winner, an all-league selection, and he has signed at the University of Massachusetts. Berger has led the Beavers to a 13-7 record, and a 5th straight league playoff appearance. As of press time, he has averaged 15.5 points per game for a total of 326 points this season. In his overall career, he has reached and surpassed the 1,000 point mark.

Beverly Verduin shoots eight three-pointers in a game against Roosevelt on Friday, Feb. 1.

By Christopher Duclos

It’s not about how you start, its how you finish. The Beavers made a strong case for that statement this past week by posting perfect 2-0 records for each the girls and boys basketball varsity squads, bringing a close to the regular season.

Tuesday, Jan. 29 Boys play host to Redmond for senior night

Ballard basketball held its annual senior night game in a game for both nostalgia and victory. Seniors Nate Rauda, Ray Owens, Will Leonard, Seth Berger, Stuart MacGeorge, Carl Pearson, Thomas Christensen, Kemal Deger and Johnny Verduin were honored Tuesday night in one of their final regular season games at the Beaver Dam.

Update: If you haven't noticed yet, Senor Moose is open again.

Original

Just a notice that Senor Moose (5242 Leary Ave NW) is closing this week for remodeling, so the delicious happy hour margaritas will have to wait. We spotted this note on their Facebook:

"Exciting news! We are starting a much needed and long dreamed about remodel project today. Naturally we hope to reopen by the weekend and will keep you updated. AJUAAA!!"

If you don't know what "AJUAAA!!" means, it's basically a cheerful, excited expression. A lamer, English version might be "Yippee!"

We'll drop by sometime this week and update on what all the hubbub is about.

Follow Ballard News-Tribune on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ballardnewstrib

And Twitter at http://twitter.com/ballardnewstrib

Tattoos, beer, and Punk Rock music. Sounds like the normal Saturday night live music scene in Seattle. Except this night fell outside the norm. Rough and rowdy punkers, usually known for their thrashing chords and their beer swilling ability, showed a soft side that most of main stream Seattle doesn’t see or know exists.

Ally Rudolph, little girl barely four months old with A.L.L.- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia- needed help, and these edgy folks stepped up to the plate to raise money for her and her family.

The evening was the brainchild of Rockin Stan Records owner Donnie McDermott and Brett Thompson, bass player of Rat City Ruckus.

Triangle Tavern owner Geoffrey (Mac) McElroy, who does a lot for the community of White Center was approached by Brett Thompson about the Rudolph’s situation and instantly said yes to hosting the event at his establishment.

On Feb. 2, 18 Ballard High Schools made public their intent to join Garfield High School on the boycott on MAP testing. Ballard High School has already finished administering the test, so the boycott won't take effect until May, but the teachers wanted to show their support.

Sources say they expect more signees in the near future, once the petition makes its rounds. Below is the full text of the petition, minus signatures.

Ballard High School and MAP Testing

We, the undersigned educators are professionals who know how students learn and what they need from our daily experiences with them in the classroom and our years of expertise in education. We believe the MAP test is a waste of students’ classtime. We believe in real learning opportunities.

Assessments are helpful, but the MAP test is not connected to what we teach, is not connected to our standards and has little benefit to students or student learning. It provides little useful data and is not taken seriously by our students. The MAP test also consumes unsupportable labor, time, hardware, software, and financial resources.

While Garfield High School has taken the spotlight on the recent controversy over the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) test, the subject has a history in Ballard.

On Saturday, Feb. 2, 18 Ballard High School teachers (so far) made public their intention to join Garfield in boycotting the MAP test. Though all of the 9th grade teachers have already finished administering the winter test, and won’t give it again until spring, they wanted to show solidarity.

Want to know what’s wrong with the test? Just take it from one of the more outspoken voices among Ballard High School teachers, Eric Muhs, who teaches science.

“You could replace it with a broken toaster or a flat tire and we wouldn’t notice,” he said.

Ballard High School Principal Keven Wynkoop took a more politically centrist position.

“I think that there are many pros and some cons to the MAP test, and that it’s a much more nuanced discussion than some reports have stated,” Wynkoop said. “For us, it’s very helpful to identify students that are deficient in certain skill areas.”