February 2015

Seattle Public Utilities hosted a meeting with Ballardites Feb. 23 to discuss the progress of the Ballard Natural Drainage Systems Project that will one day prevent one million gallons of storm water from entering Salmon Bay.

The meeting was held at the Loyal l Heights Community Center and Ballardites showed up with questions about the project.

SPU representatives Emily Reardon, Grace Manzano, and Rachel Garret presented the progress and project changes to neighborhood members.

Since a project update last November, SPU has decided on a new garden design that has more capacity and changes the number of beds (cells) needed for the project. The new design is a modular subsurface cell system that extends underneath sidewalks, providing more space for water containment. Because of the added capacity, now SPU has determined that 17 city blocks are needed instead of the 22 originally planned. 40 cells will be constructed on those blocks. The 17 blocks were determined a ‘best fit” by the soil composition in the areas and already placed utilities. In projects like this, SPU aims to cause the least amount of infrastructure disruption as possible.

By Amanda Knox

In the wake of Chinese New Year, ArtsWest Theatre has welcomed home ex interim Artistic Director Annie Lareau to direct the theatre’s latest production, Chinglish, by Tony award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang. Lareau—tall, warm, and full of energy—shared some time prior to rehearsal to discuss her vision and mission.

Let’s get right to it. What is your connection to this play?

I chose this play for a couple of reasons. One, I’m really interested in seeing more diverse casts onstage. It’s sort of a passion of mine. Then, David Henry Hwang is a seminal Asian-American writer in our country and he’s not done often enough. This is his newest piece, and when I heard that other theatres were passing it up because it’s challenging, I took up the gauntlet. It’s an important piece, it’s a comedy, and it’s fun. It’s also just doing his work and bringing more Asian-American actors to the stage. All those things combined led me to choose this piece, even if it’s a big challenge.

Can you talk to me a bit about the specific challenges?

Today Mayor Ed Murray nominated Harold Scoggins as the next Chief of the Seattle Fire Department.

“As Seattle grows rapidly over the next 20 years, our fire service must continue to evolve to serve the city’s public safety needs,” said Murray. “Our department saves lives every day and our Medic One program remains a national leader in paramedic training for our fire fighters. Chief Scoggins has an outstanding track record and brings the right kind of experience to Seattle.”

Scoggins comes to the Seattle Fire Department from Glendale, CA. He joined the Glendale Fire Department 25 years ago as a fire fighter and rose through the ranks, serving at every level of the department. He was named chief in Glendale in 2008.

“I am honored to serve as the Fire Chief for the City of Seattle,” said Scoggins. “I look forward to working with the men and women of Seattle Fire Department to set its course for the future. My family and I are also very excited about the community and all it has to offer.”

The Seattle Animal Shelter reminds the public that the Spay and Neuter Clinic is offering free spay/neuter packages to area pets this week. Microchips and vaccinations are also offered free for animals having surgery through this promotion. Space is limited; to schedule an appointment, call 206-386-4260.

“Spaying and neutering allows your pet to have a longer, healthier, happier life,” says Dr. Mary Ellen Zoulas, director of the shelter’s Spay and Neuter Clinic. “It can reduce the risk of serious health problems, eliminate undesirable behaviors such as fighting and spraying, and reduce inter-dog aggression.”

By Peggy Sturdivant

Last spring a local writer asked if there was a space in Ballard similar to Hugo House; a writer’s center on Capitol Hill that provides classes, workshops and overall support for writers. She also said, “If nothing exists, then maybe we can talk about creating such a thing?”

She has powerful ideas. A few months ago I saw a notice about a Hugo House writing class being offered by Ross McMeekin, a writer who happens to live in Ballard. The venue was listed as Ballard Homestead. Clever, I thought, assuming he was teaching in his home.

It was after I saw a second reference to Ballard Homestead that I realized it might not be McMeekin’s house. Then I progressed from research to shock in learning that a community venue curated by Abbey Arts was about to launch practically underneath my nose. The building belongs to the Church of Nazarene and it’s located on Jones Ave. NW just one block north of NW 65th. When I found it I just stood in front and gaped.

The Ballard Community Center will celebrate its 23rd annual Daddy Daughter Dinner March 13, and the theme this year is Totally Awesome 80s.

Dads and daughters are encouraged to pull out those old acid washed Jordache jeans, fanny packs, big hair, scrunchies, spandex, shoulder pads, parachute pants and neon garb of any type for the event. Attendees should be ready to have a cow and to hang with tubular dweebs and gnarly dudes in true 80s style. That’s a fer sher, man! Totally!

Join the new-wave-o-rama and take a chill pill for a righteous Italian dinner catered by Buca Di Beppo. Party hearty with giant Rubik’s Cubes on the dance floor and show off your favorite dance moves like the Alf, Hammer Dance, Lambada, Boogie Down, Robo Cop and, of course, the Moon Walk.

Now in its 23rd year, this, like, totally radical Ballard tradition celebrates dads and daughters, and is, like, a great time for all ages. Duh!

information from King County

Starting March 2, the north ferry lane will be closed around-the-clock for two weeks as crews work on the retaining wall between the Barton Pump Station and the north side of the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal.

Crews will work between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily, but the closure will remain in place 24 hours per day to accommodate the work area and construction equipment.

Prior to this closure, expect intermittent daytime closures of the north ferry lane while crews prepare for this construction.

Keeping ferry traffic moving

King County has been working closely with Washington State Ferries throughout the project to ensure minimal disruption to traffic along Fauntleroy Way SW and to keep ferry traffic moving.

While the north ferry lane is closed, commuters can expect flaggers as necessary to assist pedestrian and bike traffic during work hours.

What to expect

· North ferry lane closed around-the-clock for two weeks in early March.

· Work hours 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

City staff are hosting a series of meetings in March to discuss specific land use policies for designated Manufacturing and Industrial Centers (M/IC) that will preserve these areas for ongoing industrial use. This policy work is aimed at strengthening our industrial business sectors as a part of Seattle 2035– the City’s major comprehensive plan update.

The purpose of our outreach meetings is to receive community input on the proposed policies. We will share your input with the City Council in early 2016, when they consider the policies as part of the major comprehensive plan update.

The recommended land use policy amendments shall:

Ø Strengthen the long-term viability of the M/IC

Ø Protect industry and port operations

Ø Reinforce the M/IC as a place designated for industry

Ø Inform the Seattle Industrial Areas Freight Access Project being conducted by the Seattle Department of Transportation

For additional information:
Review the background information
Attend one of the community meetings

March 3, 6p.m. - 8 p.m.
Ballard High School – Commons
1418 NW 65th St.
Seattle, WA 98117

Disgruntled co-worker punches man at bus stop

On Feb. 10, Seattle police officers responded to an assault at the 5400 block of Leary Avenue Northwest. Officers found a man with a bloody nose and a swollen face. The man told officers that while waiting for a bus, a man he used to know approached him. The suspect wore a pink shirt and pushed a stroller. The suspect asked the victim, “Do you remember me? Do you still want to fight?” The suspect primarily spoke Spanish and did not understand the suspect. The two men used to work together and their employer prevented them from fighting. The suspect kept pushing the victim to fight and suddenly punched the victim in the face. The victim bell back into the glass window of a business. The business owner called the police, and the suspect fled. The victim was taken to Swedish Hospital in Ballard to be treated for his injuries. Police searched the area, but did not find the suspect.

Kid Rock look alike suspected of burglary

Students from Seattle’s Whittier Elementary school toured the state Capitol on Feb. 24 as guests of Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, and Rep. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle.

“It is so exciting to meet students from our district who are eager to learn about state government and find out ways in which they can make a difference through active participation,” said Kohl-Welles. “I really enjoyed having them introduced by our lieutenant governor when they were sitting in the Senate gallery as well as talking with them in the State Reception Room. I hope we’ll see some of them as pages when they’re in middle school.”

“I enjoyed the enthusiastic questions and comments from the Whittier students and congratulate them for making the effort to travel to our state capitol,” said Carlyle.
Whittier Elementary is in the Crown Hill neighborhood of Seattle.