October 2015

The Macefield Music Festival was held in the heart of Ballard over the weekend. The festival is named after and honors Edith Macefield for what the organizers of the festival calls her “fiercely independent spirit” in not giving in to developers.

Take Drugs Steal Shit performing Friday night at the MMF.

There were over 50 bands that played at five stages, three of which were at local bars. Food trucks and vendors also made it out to the event. Three-day passes were $45 and thousands of people flooded Ballard Avenue to enjoy the festivities.

Dedicated to the preservation and celebration of Ballard history since 1988 the Ballard Historical Society (BHS) looks to the future with an interactive mapping project thanks to a grant from the City of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods.

The ‘Mapping Historic Ballard: Shingletown to Tomorrow’ project will build a widely accessible, living map of this area’s past. By updating and digitizing previous historic resource surveys and conducting a contemporary survey, the BHS intends to catalyze an exciting and informed connection between current and new residents.

As Ballard Historical Society member Susan Reinhard says of her walking tours, “It’s the little stories that make up the big stories.” There is great interest on the part of Ballard’s newer residents in learning about, and from, Ballard’s storied past, particularly through a digital format.

Teens assault man with Taser, flee

Police are looking for two African American teens who attempted to assault a man with a Taser on the 8500 block of 16th Ave. N.W. on Sept. 21. The victim told police that he had just arrived home from work when the incident occurred. He was stepping out of his car when the two teens approached him. One of the teens asked him for a dollar. The victim said “No,” and the teen revealed a Taser from his pocket. The suspect pressed the Taser to the victim’s wrist. The victim felt a slight sting and said, “Hey!” When the suspects saw the victim was unfazed by the Taser they ran. Police searched the area but were unable to locate the suspects.

Baseball cards stolen from safe

Video provided by Tim Hunter

The 27th annual Fishermen’s Fall Festival was held at Fishermen’s Terminal Oct.3 and thousands of people gathered to feast on the bounty from the sea and welcome the fishing fleet home.

The Port of Seattle hosted the event and offered all kids of games and learning activities for kids, as well as live music, fresh seafood and a beer garden for those of age.

The Port puts on the event every year for a number of reasons. It serves primarily to welcome the fleet home, but it also provides an opportunity to invite the public to the docks to learn about the maritime industry and its significance for the local and state economies.

The event also raises money for the Seattle Fishermen’s Memorial Foundation, which honors fishermen lost at sea with a memorial at Fishermen’s Terminal. Over 200 volunteers worked to coordinate and serve the public at the event, and all proceeds went go to the Seattle Fishermen’s Memorial Foundation.

Friends to the end
William Blake once wrote, “it is easier to forgive an enemy than it is to forgive a friend.” One suspect in an armed robbery that occurred along the 5200 block of California Ave. S.W. on Sept. 25 is putting this expression to the test after he decided to set up and rob an old friend of his.

According to the victim the suspect is an old buddy who is mostly known by his nickname (which was redacted in the police report). On Sept. 25, around 10:45 p.m., the suspect called the victim and asked him if he would want to catch up that night. The two acquaintances hadn’t seen each other in about a year. The victim agreed to meet up and waited for the suspect to pick him up outside of his apartment complex.
The suspect arrived in a newer model Chevy Malibu with another subject driving. The victim had never met this man before and does not remember if his name was ever mentioned. They opened the door for the victim and asked him to get in.

By Pat Cashman

When he was about eleven years old, my brother Dan walked in the door one day wearing a new ball cap. “Where’d you get that?” I asked him, dripping with envy.
“I found it in the woods,” he said, dripping with pride.
“I should have known,” I replied, dripping with sarcasm.
“Would you two please go outside?” said our mom. “You’re dripping all over the place.”
She was also not buying Dan’s story about where he’d found the hat. After all, ‘the woods’ were where kids like us said we ‘found’ everything.

‘The woods’ were not far from the house in the small town we all grew up in. My siblings and I would shortcut through that sizeable patch of forest anytime we wanted to walk to town, to school or to just meet up with friends.

The woods were a great place to hang out. They seemed to be teeming with imaginary bad guys, mad men and monsters---especially at night. The surroundings actually harbored only a few timid chipmunks, rabbits, birds, and insects---including so-called potato bugs.

A house in the 5200 block of 45th SW that was having some roofing done was the scene of a fire on Sunday shortly after 6pm.

The home, which was once located in the Morgan Junction area and made the move to the block some years ago had roofing materials in place atop the steeply pitched roof. The owner said she had left for about 30 minutes and came back to find the roof over her bathroom in the back of the house in flames. She called 911, grabbed a hose in the bathroom and tried to put out the fire. Firefighters arrived and quickly cut holes in the roof to gain access and vent the fire.

No one was hurt in the fire, the woman's pet had been taken to a neighbor's home.

No official cause or damage estimate has yet been released.

A van parked near a building at NW 64TH ST / 20TH AV NW was engulfed in flames when Seattle firefighters arrived on the scene shortly after 12 noon on Saturday Oct. 3. Putting the fire out proved to be smoky, difficult and dangerous task since vehicles contain many flammable and even explosive substances.

With some effort it was eventually brought under control and put out. The van was completely destroyed.

No cause or monetary amount of damage has yet been announced.

A house fire that did major damage to a home in the 9200 block of 31st pl SW may have been arson. A young woman, that police and fire officials were talking to said she and her 18 year old boyfriend and been staying at the home owned by his grandmother. She said that had an argument at Roxhill Park. He left threatening to set the house on fire.

There’s no official confirmation yet but neighbors saw the young man leave and the house was apparently then in flames. She said he has previously threatened to hang himself. Investigators are now on the scene to determine the cause and extent of the damage.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Kenny Bui, a player for Evergreen who suffered a serious injury during a football game against Highline High School last Friday night, died on Monday afternoon.

Bui, a TEC High School senior wide receiver and defensive back, was hurt during the 4th quarter of the game at Highline Memorial Stadium, according to sources, suffering a head injury.

Highline Public Schools spokesperson Catherine Carbone Rogers said he was taken by ambulance to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he underwent surgery.

Highline Superintendent Susan Enfield released the following statement:

"It is with great sadness that School Board President Bernie Dorsey and I share with you that TEC High School senior Kenney Bui, who was critically injured in Friday night’s Evergreen v. Highline football game, died this morning at the hospital.

This is a devastating loss for all of us -- Evergreen students, families, and staff, and our entire Highline community.

Our deepest condolences go out to Kenney’s family and all who knew him. Please join us in keeping them in your thoughts and prayers."

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