May 2016

Detectives are investigating what lead to a 17yoa male being shot in the chest early Thursday morning near an apartment complex in Burien. The victim was rushed to Harborview Hospital by medics for emergency surgery.

At around 1213am, on Thursday May 19th, 2016, King County Sheriff 911 communications received reports of the sounds of gunfire in the area of SW 116 St and Ambaum Blvd SW, in Burien Wa. Very shortly thereafter, they received updates that a man had been shot in the chest and was laying in a parking lot of an apartment complex in that same area.

Deputies from Burien arrived in the area within minutes and found the victim, later learned to be 17yoa male, lying near an apartment complex in the 11400Blk of 16th Ave SW. The victim had a single gunshot wound to his chest. Deputies as well as medics from North Highline fire and King County Medic-1 provided aid to the victim at the scene before he was rushed to Harborview Medical center for emergency surgery.

Promising the "Crunchiest Korean fried chicken you've ever tasted," chef Brian O'Connor and partners including Jael DeLeonardis will open Bok a Bok (the sound a chicken makes) on June 1 in White Center at 1521 SW 98th Street Suite D.

The original plan was to also open a noodle bar called Same Same, ideally in the suite next door, but he's chosen to put that off for now due to a non-compete with the restaurant on the corner. Instead for now that space will become an exercise facility.

O'Connor who is from New York is classically trained in french cooking but has worked in many cuisines "From Asian to Creole" and has cheffed at the Skillet Diner, the Huxley Wallace Collective and Roux. He moved to Seattle ten years ago.

That kind of high end restaurant experience is being distilled into a fast casual restaurant that offers a gourmet style item at a lower price point. O'Connor is
aware that he's part of the growing trend in White Center for improved locations and foods that fit area.

Everyone is invited to a screening of new work by students in the Ballard High School Digital Filmmaking Program. The Ballard Film Festival (BFF) will be on Friday, June 3 or Saturday, June 11 at 7 pm in the Ballard High School auditorium. The screening will feature short comedies and dramas, advertisements, documentaries, news features, and a music video. Tickets ($10 for adults and $5 for students) will be sold at the door. To screen the festival promo, visit www.vimeo.com/bhsfilmprogram/BFFpromo .

Films that first screen at the BFF routinely win honors at prestigious national and international film festivals and awards from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Six of the productions to be screened this spring have already been nominated for High School Awards of Excellence. The envelopes will be opened, and the winners announced, at the Northwest Emmy Awards on June 4.

Thousands of people thronged the streets of Ballard yesterday for the annual 17th of May (Syttende Mai) parade.

People dresses in customary bunaders danced to traditional Scandinavian songs and spectators speaking Norwegian could be heard amid the crowd. Norwegian flags were flown by many of the parade attendees, some of which traveled from Norway for the celebration. Among the assemblage was the Norwegian Parliamentary Leader, Trond Helleland, and Norway’s Minister of Culture, Linda Hofstad Helleland.

According to parade volunteers, there were close to 80 entrees for the parade this year, which was a slight dip compared to last year with numbers closer to 100.

There was also a thinner crowd compared to last year, which volunteers attributed to the parade being on a weekday rather than over the weekend.

Still, there was a good turnout with a heavy showing of people on N.W. Market, especially at the 22nd Avenue N.W. intersection. Even Ballard’s Fire Department (Seattle Fire Department Station 18) joined the crowd at the intersection where firefighters watched the parade perched on top of a fire engine.

Seattle Fire Department responded to a natural gas leak in Ballard earlier this morning after a Seattle Public Utilities crew struck a gas line while installing a water pipe.

Around 10 a.m. SPU crews were digging at the 2000 block of N.W. 64th Street when they noticed the scent of natural gas. They called 911 immediately, and SFD crews responded within minutes.

Four SFD crews searched the area. They knocked on the doors of at least 20 homes in order to evacuate residents and check for leaks. Six residents were asked to leave their homes.

Around noon SFD reported the area to be secure, however there may be an odor in the air outside for at least an hour. SFD asks residents to call 911 immediately if there is a lingering natural gas odor inside their homes.

Information provided by the Port of Seattle

The Port of Seattle today announced the recipients of 13 grants to support tourism across Washington. The grants will fund nearly $100,000 in projects, from websites and advertising to booths at tourism fairs. The grants must be matched by the organization and used for publicizing and attracting visitors to their destinations.

“The Port of Seattle is the gateway for the entire state of Washington,” said Commission President John Creighton. “By helping local communities grow tourism, we can boost regional economic development by getting more visitors to spend more dollars in great destinations across our state.”

With its grant, the Ballard Chamber of Commerce plans to develop a new brand and website, www.visitballard.com, to provide a one-stop resource about “all things Ballard.” Chamber Executive Director Mike Stewart said the site will feature information about restaurants, shopping, services, and unique experiences, like a visit to the Ballard Locks, Fishermen’s Terminal, Shilshole Bay Marina, or Golden Gardens Park.

By Amanda Knox

It’s easy to become absorbed in Steven Universe, an animated series that I’ve been binge-watching ever since another favorite animated series, Gravity Falls, came to its epic “weirdmageddon” conclusion on February 15th. Like the Gravity Falls’ magic- and mystery-riddled Pacific Northwest, Steven’s universe is only a little different from our own. The earth is populated by normal people with normal jobs, and Steven is a tubby pre-teen who’s noteworthy only because he’s uncommonly kind, and he’s half-human. His other half is Gem, an ageless, technologically advanced, and magical alien species of sentient gemstones who take on humanoid form. Steven’s guardians are the three Crystal Gems—Amethyst, Pearl, and Garnet—whose missions are to protect the earth, even against their own kind, and to raise Steven, the unnatural offspring of their beloved leader, Rose Quartz.

Custom bike stolen from shed

A Ballard man is missing his bicycle after a burglary occurred at his home on the 600 block of N.W. 85th Street on May 8. The complainant said that his custom-built bike was taken from his shed in the backyard. There was no sign of forced entry, and the complainant could not remember if he had left it unlocked. The theft of the bicycle occurred between 11:00 p.m. on May 7 and 6:30 a.m. on May 8. The bicycle was custom-built road bike with black carbon fiber. It had a clear coat finish with S-curve forks with a rack on the back. The bicycle also had a seat that displayed a "San Marco" logo. The estimated value of the bicycle is $1200.

 
Highline Public Schools is launching an online conversation about three possible school changes. Community members are invited to share what is important to them and ideas for making schools better. Participants will be able to see others’ comments and “like” the comments they agree with.
 
The school district is asking for feedback on:
 
·         Early Release Day: What day is best? Should schools have late start instead? 
·         High Schools: What's working? What needs to change?
·         Class Schedules: How can schools change to give students more learning opportunities?
The community is invited to participate in a three-step process:
 
·         Share – answer open-ended questions about possible changes – May 18-31
·         Star – review ideas from others and place a star on the ideas you like best – June 6-15
·         Discover – learn what is important to the community as a whole – July
The process starts with an email invitation to participate. If you would like to participate and have not yet received the invitation, please register in English or Spanish to join the conversation. 
 
For more information: highlineschools.org/share.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

West Seattle blanked Bainbridge by a 4-0 score in its first Sea-King District 2 girls fastpitch softball tournament game Tuesday.

The Wildcats, who won their first ever Metro League tournament championship last week, opened play in the second round of districts after drawing a bye Monday.

West Seattle now advances to the Sea-King District 2 semifinals, playing at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Southwest Athletic Complex located next to Chief Sealth High School in West Seattle.

Thursday's winner plays for the district title at 7 p.m. Friday at the SWAC, while the loser plays at 5 p.m. Friday on the same diamond for third and fourth place.

Tuesday's battle with Bainbridge was played at the Southeast Athletic Complex near Rainier Beach High School.