March 2014

White Center Heights Elementary kindergartners and first graders working on their community helpers module in class got a very special set of visitors March 13th when a Fire Engine from North Highline Fire District, an ambulance from American Medical Response, MJ Olmstead from the King County Sheriffs Office, and King County Sheriff's Guardian1 helicopter all came to share what they do with the students.

Approximately 85 students took advantage of the sunny weather to come outside and greet their visitors.

They had a chance to clamber through the helicopter, fire engine and ambulance sit in the seats, and ask the officers, pilot and drivers questions about what they do.

Fact: More people are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the Pacific Northwest than anywhere else in the world.

To help raise money and awareness for this disease, Molly Johnston is inviting the community to join her at the 9th Annual M.S. Pub Crawl in Ballard this weekend.

The M.S. Pub Crawl will take place from 3p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 15 in the Ballard neighborhood. The first stop being The Ballard Loft, followed by King’s Hardware, Hattie’s Hat, Sunset Tavern and lastly the Bal Mar for the raffle give aways at 7:30pm.

By donating $30 participants reserve a t-shirt from the event, and drink specials at all the bars you visit.

Reserve your t-shirt and DONATE here:

$30 donation, click on "Donate to Pub", add your t-shirt size in "notes"

In view of the Skagit River Bridge collapse last May, the Ballard News-Tribune decided to investigate the condition of the Ballard Bridge.

The iconic bridge was built in 1917 and has a length of 2,854 feet, linking Magnolia and Queen Anne with Ballard. It is one of the longest bridges in Seattle. Moreover, it is one of five bridges on the ship canal that boats have to pass under from Lake Washington to Puget Sound.

The bridge has undergone many changes. It was originally constructed with wood but has been remade through its almost 100 years with concrete and steel. Steel approaches were constructed 1937 and concrete was added at the far ends of the bridge in 1937 and 1957.

In all its forms the bridge has been designed with the regulations set by the Federal
Highway Administration. Using measures set by these Federal regulations, SDOT released a report in 2012 that examined the quality of all the bridges in Seattle, and there were findings that at first seem alarming.

The Department of Planning and Development has released an update for development in the Northwest area of Seattle. There are four new land use applications including subdivisions, a row house and a 33 unit apartment.

Comments may be submitted through Mar. 26.

Information provided by the DPD

834 N.W. 53rd St.: Land Use Application to subdivide one development site into two unit lots. The construction of residential units has been approved under Project #6371102. This subdivision of property is only for the purpose of allowing sale or lease of the unit lots. Development standards will be applied to the original parcel and not to each of the new unit lots.

6216 20th Ave. N.W.: Land Use Application to allow a three story, 5-unit rowhouse structure with surface parking for four vehicles located on the site. Existing structures to be demolished. Review includes future unit lot subdivision.

It's been a long road thus far for the massive apartment complex proposed for 3210 California Ave. S.W. The 433 foot long set of buildings is facing yet another design review board recommendation meeting on April 3 and thus far the changes requested by board members have been largely cosmetic. It's listed as project #3014176 with Seattle DPD.

The changes in building the last time were in parapets and brow structures which changed the overall height of the roughly 60 foot tall buildings by less than two feet. Neighbors and others expressed their concern that a building this long and tall would be out of character for the neighborhood. See our previous meeting coverage here.

MEETING

Date: Thursday, April 3, 2014

Time: 06:30 p.m.

Location: West Seattle Senior Center
4217 SW Oregon Street
Hatten Hall

Without A Clue or, Who Whacked Willamina Willagillespie from Walla Walla, Washington, a live comedy play is coming to the Westside Unitarian Universalist Church Saturday, March 29, 7:30pm at 7141 California Ave SW.

The Olio Players are back with a hysterical romp through the opening night of a new radio station in 1942. What could go wrong? Well, just about everything. Enjoy the antics of our brilliant cast as the radio “stars” desperately strive to save the show. The show must go on!

The play is written by Jerry Halsey, who also directs. Bertram Gulhagen is a writer and music director and Emily Cowgill is the accompanist.

$15 general admission and tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com

information from the Seattle Chinese Garden

The flowering plum trees are now in full bloom along the Welcome Garden pathway and magnolia trees are bursting forth at Knowing the Spring Courtyard. The Garden welcomes visitors to enjoy a cup of Chinese tea and stroll the grounds to see recent enhancements and the new tree peony garden, which will bloom in May. Jon Geiger, Seattle Chinese Garden president, and garden manager Bob Seely will be on hand to chat with visitors and answer questions. An added attraction is Garden Light and Moon Magic, the new juried photo show of 40 garden images, on view in the nearby Chan Education Center.

A pathway now opens from the Chinese Garden directly to the South Seattle CC Arboretum, where early bloomers include rhododendrons, heather, and hellebore. Both gardens welcome dog walkers.

Open House & Garden (free event)
Sunday, March 16 — 11 am to 3 pm

Check www.seattlechinesegarden.org on March 14 or 15 for event updates:

Location: 6000 16th Avenue SW, North Entrance at South Seattle Community College (plentiful parking)

By Christy Wolyniak

Sandy beaches and majestic views of the Puget Sound attract crowds to Golden Gardens with every cloud break. However, the ever-increasing rise in sea levels might someday water down Ballard’s sink-your-feet-in coastline.

According to sea-level measurements, global sea levels rise an inch per decade. As carbon emissions and climate temperatures increase, these levels are projected to be even more dramatic for coastal areas in coming years.

Organizations on the forefront of managing these destination beaches find resources and information on the subject limited. As for a sure-fire action plan in the case of sea level rise, Seattle Parks and Recreation Manager Joelle Hammerstad says they do not have one.

“We’ve only become aware of what sea-level impacts might be in the last few years. If sea levels rise, (Golden Gardens) will certainly be impacted, but it is just a beach, so even if sea levels were to rise two or three feet, it would just make usable beach smaller. There are no buildings or facilities that close to the water line,” she said.

By Peggy Sturdivant

Raise your hand if this has happened to you, or if you are this type of parent.

Your parents have rented motorcycles in Laos and you’re riding behind your mother when just around the blind curve there’s a jackknifed bus or a steep drop. So did your mom try to brake or lay the motorcycle flat? This would be on the year round trip around the world when your parents took you out of school, like every other seventh grader, right?

The answer to the above might depend on whether your mother when asked, “Would you like to be one of the first American women to summit Mt. Everest?” would answer yes without hesitation.

She might also need to be the type of woman who would convince her husband to quit his job and bicycle around the world for three years. And then take up blacksmithing when parasites acquired in Africa cut into her usual athleticism. Just another Ballard mom?

A home in the 20100 block of 13 Ave. S. has burned for the second time in a month.

Today’s fire was first reported by a Highline Public Schools’ bus driver at 3:00 pm, as heavy black smoke coming from the single story house.

Because the fire had gotten into the attic, firefighters cut holes in the roof to release the pressure and heat. Normally, this type of “vertical ventilation” is done while crews inside the building pull down the ceiling to access the seat of the fire from below the roof openings in a coordinated fire attack.

Unfortunately, this house, like many near SeaTac Airport, had plywood as a sound deadening material in the ceiling. This forced firefighters to change their tactics and use a “piercing” nozzle to reach the fire from the roof. This nozzle shoots a wide spray of water and was used to access hard to reach areas of the attic space.