August 2013

Finally, over six years after planning first started, the old Ballard library building at 5711 24th Ave NW -- and formerly the home of Abraxus Books -- is getting demolished. Today.

Going in the space will "Ballard West," be a six-story building containing 9,572 sq. ft. of ground level retail and three live work units with 107 residential units above. Below grade parking for 80 vehicles to be provided.

Back when plans were first coming together for the building, it was still just the beginning of the high-rise apartment craze.

In a 2007 Ballard News-Tribune article, residents expressed concerns over parking, traffic and population growth. For some, it spelled the end of a sleepy and comfortable neighborhood.

"If all these people move here, I don't know where they are gong to park," said Ballard resident Ted Pederson at the time. "Nobody's really looked into it and planned for what the impact is going to be. It's not going to be the same nice neighborhood - it's going to look like downtown." "It seems like overkill. These buildings are too big.

By Sarah Wyatt

Decisions, decisions: watch a group of mariachi musicians, a nationally-acclaimed gospel choir, a 1980s “girl band,” a glass artist or a fire-eater?

Is this an alternate universe?
No, it’s Bumbershoot, the diverse annual arts event that takes over Seattle Center over Labor Day weekend. With artists representing a wide range of performing, visual and literary genres, the festival celebrates the varied nature of the arts and culture scene in the Pacific Northwest and internationally.

Hollis Wong-Wear is a teaching artist and mentor for Youth Speaks Seattle, a role she assumed after a stint at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. The poet, who also performs with a music group, is participating in Bumbershoot this year.

“I've been involved with the festival for five years now, on the community board and literary programming, but this year for the first time I am performing on a music stage with my synth-pop trio, The Flavr Blue,” Wong-Wear explained. “We perform on Saturday on the Fisher Green Stage.”

Wong-Wear enjoys the festival, and appreciates her progression from volunteer to performer.

By Kyra-lin Hom

For my officially last Washington state-side column, let's dig into something distinctly Washingtonian: Initiative 522. Perhaps you're not familiar with it yet. You will be soon. I expect the marketing campaigns for both sides of the argument to start ramping up any day now, gaining steam for the November Washington state ballot.

I-522 concerns the labeling of GMO's (genetically modified organisms) in our food. A vote 'yes' would require manufacturers to label any food products containing artificially modified genes. A vote 'no' would not. A vote 'no' would also give momentum to the biotech companies' push to establish GMO labeling as a violation of the manufacturers' first amendment “rights.” I don't know how that squares away in our legal system – oh wait, I forgot, in America corporations are people. For example, in 1994 Monsanto sued Vermont in Federal Court over the bioengineered Bovine Growth Hormone in their cows. Despite the growth hormone being linked to an increased rate of cancer, Monsanto won and was not required to label its products.

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council will host representatives from Public Health at the Thursday, September 5 meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

Information will be presented regarding the outreach and enrollment campaign, “Coverage is Here King County”. This is a county wide effort to enroll 180,000 newly eligible King County residents in Medicaid and the Health Benefit Exchange (WashingtonHealthPlanFinder) once enrollment starts on October 1, 2013. Coverage begins January 1, 2013.

When: Thursday, Sept 5, 7pm

Where: North Highline Fire Station (1243 112th Street, SW)

As the Sept. 1 deadline for the closure of Nickelsville homeless encampment looms the plight of the homeless and near homeless in the Seattle area brought together people of faith, from different churches in an effort to highlight the issue. The Westside Interfaith Network staged a "flashlight vigil" outside Nickelsville on West Marginal Way on Sunday evening, Aug. 25 as an act of compassion, awareness and belief that better solutions can be found.

Mary Anne deVry, who attends Hope Lutheran Church spoke to the West Seattle Herald about why the effort was being made. She had previously stated in a release, "As people of faith we help bring God's light into our world; and we shed light on the plight of the 10,000's who are homeless--or on the brink of homelessness--in our area. Where will the current--and future--homeless go after 9/1? Shelters are full; greenbelts are not safe. In the past 13 days, 9 newly-homeless families arrived at N'ville! This is simply our churches/community saying, "we care about our neighbors in need."

The fastest girls in town held their hot car meet up at Jack Block Park on Sunday Aug. 25 and got attendance from all over Seattle with ladies on motorcycles, scooters, cars and trucks.

Sponsored by Seattle's Girl4Girl, the event was the 2nd in what they hope to make a series with lesbian women taking part.

One of the attendees, M.A. Allen arrived on a 2013 Harley Davidson Softtail Deluxe with a Stage One kit on it. She's with the ARC Angels Women's Motorcycle Club, currently seeking a non-profit status, who reach out to help homeless women and children around Seattle. They deliver both food and goods to people on the streets. " We pull up on the sidewalks, and we hand out sealed bags of things to help them." The packets contain items like a washcloth, fresh socks, toothpaste and other items meant to last about 2 weeks.

There will be FREE HOTDOGS AND BEER at West Seattle Nursery from 1pm to 5pm as they begin their Fall Sale AND help Furry Faces Foundation. It's a Pet Adoption event so if you are looking for a great pet you will likely find one here.

West Seattle Nursery is located at 5725 California Ave. SW.

West Seattle Nursery is matching all donations made to Furry Faces who will be on site offering engraved pet ID tags for just $5.

Tim Scallon will be there providing the music.

A meeting Tuesday, Aug. 27 will discuss the possible disposition of the Dakota Substation at 4918 SW Dakota St. and other West Seattle substations. The meeting is set for 7 p.m. at the High Point Community Center, 6920 – 34th Ave. SW.

Theres is a potential to preserve the site as a community space such as a park, community garden, or other uses. Or the site could be sold for development pending soil

The annual Northwest Hope and Healing Alki Beach 5K walk/run, sponsored by Sound Orthodontics was a brisk sunny event won by Miler Haller, 16, of Edmonds Woodway High School in the men's division with a time of 16:11 and by Hailey Kettel, 17 also from Edmonds in the women's division with a time of 18:25.

Well over a thousand people showed up to participate in the event with many more watching from the sidewalks.

The event benefits Northwest Hope and Healing and their efforts to help women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Funds help provide food, gas, childcare & emergency rent while women are in treatment.

Winners:

Men's Division-
Miler Haller 16:11
Terry Robinson 17:48
Brig Seidi 18:04

Women's Division-
Hailey Kettel 18:25
Kate Dishino 19:40
Meissa Neumann 20:40

Thank you for your thoughtful reporting on Nickelsville. We appreciate your reporting on our home by visiting us, talking to us, and rounding out the picture. That's good reporting, and we don't know who else in West Seattle is doing that.

Keep up the good work!

Sincerely,

Scott Morrow, Nickelsville Staff