The Ballard District Council presented the 2008 Ballard Community Service Awards to individuals who have helped improve the neighborhood or bring more attention to it Feb. 11.

The winners received tote bags marked “local hero” that included gift certificates and goods from local businesses as well as a commemorative plaque.

Kate and Cory Bergman, creators of the My Ballard blog, were the first recognized.

The Bergmans created a popular news site that encourages community participation and reader interaction, Mayor Greg Nickels said in an award certificate read by council president Steve Cohen.

Crystal and Bob Carlson, owners of Great Harvest Bread on Market Street, were honored for their contribution to neighborhood projects and their dedication to organic food.

“They made it cool for kids to eat grain,” said Fred Maxie on behalf of the council.

Seemingly everyone at the meeting was there to see Randi Hansen receive her award.

Hansen is a neighborhood activist, working on behalf of the homeless and others, and was instrumental in founding the Nordic Heritage Museum.

Jody Grage, helping present the awards on behalf of the council, said Hansen has always had a little extra going for her.

“”She’s even more human than most of us,” Grage said.

Hansen said Ballard is a wonderful place to live because people respond to those in need here.

“How do you get an award for doing something that you enjoy doing so much?” she said.

Dave Boyd was given the award for his work with Groundswell NW to preserve parks and open spaces, and Curt Pryde and Fawn Johnson were honored as the developers of the Hjarta condo on Market Street for building an environmentally conscious development.

The council gave the final community service award of the evening to Helen Sommers, recently retired representative from the 36th District. She represented Ballard for 28 years.

Sommers said she came to Ballard often during her time as representative, especially for the coffee shops.

“I have always loved representing Ballard,” she said. “It’s just a special place.”

Grage closed the evening with a reminder to keep an eye out for individuals making a difference in Ballard in the coming year.

“There’s an awful lot of heroes in Ballard that we don’t know about yet,” she said.