With 2009 coming to a close, here is a look back at some of the biggest stories of the year. Click the image above for a slideshow of the year in photos.

JANUARY

Ballard thief arrested
By Michael Harthorne

A 46-year-old man suspected of stealing from numerous businesses in Ballard in the past weeks was arrested Dec. 31 near 20th Avenue Northwest and Market Street for an outstanding warrant in Missouri.

According to victims, the man is suspected of entering businesses on Market Street and Ballard Avenue during business hours and taking money from back offices, safes and employees’ purses.

“I’m glad he’s been caught,” said Kylee Harris, owner of Cugini Café on Ballard Avenue. “But, I think the real thing we need to figure out is how to bust him for what he’s stolen.”

Macefield house to be sold
By Michael Harthorne

The house once belonging to Edith Macefield that has stood empty in a cocoon of new development since her death in June will be sold by its new owner, Barry Martin of Ledcor Construction.

Macefield willed the house to Martin, the superintendent of construction for the Ballard Blocks development that enveloped her home, after he befriended her during the final year of her life.

Martin plans to sell the house to pay for his daughter’s education but said he is not quite ready to let Macefield go, and selling the house will the final step in that process.

Two hotel projects pushed back
By Michael Harthorne

Ballard may have to wait a little longer than planned for its first hotel. Two long-planned projects meant to start construction before the end of 2008 have been pushed back.

Chris Weymouth, an owner of the future Point Hotel at Salmon Bay, said in July that construction on the hotel to be built on Shilshole Avenue on the land housing the Yankee Diner would most likely break ground in October.

As of January, construction on the project had not begun.

The Olympic Athletic Club has put Ballard’s second hotel on indefinite hold due to the current economic recession said Jim Riggle, owner of the club.

Riggle said he has the money and the permits to get the hotel off the ground, but this is a huge project and now seems like a good time to sit back and watch what happens with the economy.

“I’m not in any big hurry,” he said.

Tunnel could be mean lost connection to Ballard, Interbay
By Allison Espiritu and Rebekah Schilperoort

Ballard residents and business owners are speaking out against state, city and county officials’ plan to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a deep-bored tunnel.

“I don’t think it’s the best decision for the public in the long term,” said Warren Aakervik, owner of Ballard Oil. “The tunnel doesn’t make it. It’s a heck of a lot better than any surface solution, but it gives us all the pollution and doesn’t help the way it’s been presented.”

FEBRUARY

Family, friends remember cyclist who died
By Michael Harthorne and Rebekah Schilperoort

Between 75 and 100 people crowded around the makeshift memorial for Ballard resident Kevin Black on 24th Avenue Northwest on the evening of Feb. 5.

The onlookers, alternately crying and laughing with their memories, were gathered there to say farewell to Black, 39, who was killed Feb. 4 when his bicycle collided with a van.

Black, a father of two girls, worked at the University of Washington as a molecular neurobiologist.

Beavers ousted from first-ever KingCo 4A playoffs
By Michael Harthorne

It was a momentous accomplishment followed by crushing disappointment. The Ballard High School boys basketball team made the playoffs for the first time since switching from the Metro league to KingCo 4A, but were quickly dispatched by Issaquah and Bothell in the double-elimination tournament.

“For me, it’s not good enough to make it,” said senior Eric Taylor, Ballard’s leading scorer with 14.8 points per game during the regular season. “We needed to capitalize.”

MARCH

Ballard Trader Joe's finally opens
By Allison Espiritu

A booming cannon-shot welcome by the Seafair Pirates accompanied a celebratory lei cutting as the Ballard Trader Joe’s had its grand opening this morning, finding Ballardites waiting outside Ballard Blocks in near-freezing temperatures for the doors to finally open.

“I can’t wait,” said Linda Logan, resident of east Ballard. “It’s the talk of the town.”

Phinney association now owns Allen school
By Allison Espiritu

The Phinney Neighborhood Association can now say they are the proud owners of the former John B. Allen School after they received a check for $650,000 from the state.

The two buildings that make up the school were deemed surplus last year by former owner the Seattle School District. Phinney has been leasing the old school for the past 27 years.

“We’re excited to know that we finally have closed” said Ed Medeiros, executive director of the neighborhood association. “We also got the balance amount from the City of Seattle and we own the building free and clear.”

APRIL

Former Beaver goes big with national film festival
By Michael Harthorne

At age 17, Ballard High School graduate Jesse Harris wrote and directed a feature-length film, “Living Life,” that received a multi-city theatrical release. As a follow up, he’s got his eye on something a little bigger – a multi-day, international, youth filmmaking event.

“This is so much harder,” Harris, now 23, said. “Making a feature film was hard, but this is insane.”

Harris is the cofounder and executive director of the National Film Festival for Talented Youth, an annual festival for young filmmakers that features screenings, workshops and music every spring in Seattle.

Living in north Seattle got candidate involved in politics
By Michael Harthorne

Mike McGinn, who announced his bid for Seattle mayor March 24, is a north Seattle resident and said it was living in this community that got him involved in politics.

“Working with my neighbors on things that were important to us was a good thing to do,” McGinn said. “It got me more involved.”

McGinn went on to become president of the Greenwood Community Council and worked on issues, such as sidewalks, drainage and transportation, issues he stated were important to the north end.

In November, he will be named Seattle’s mayor-elect.

MAY

Swedish preparing for swine flu
By Michael Harthorne

More than a dozen probable cases of swine flu have now been reported in King County, and Swedish Medical Center in Ballard is taking steps to prepare for what the World Health Organization is warning could be a pandemic.

Rayburn Lewis, executive and medical director at Swedish, said Swedish is studying recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization on what they can do to prepare.

“We’re taking this very seriously and urging people to take the precautions in the news and on Web sites,” Lewis said.

Avalon Ballard passes design review
By Rebekah Schilperoort

At its third design review, developers of Avalon Ballard were given the green light to apply for a master use permit with the city after the Northwest Design Review Board approved the six-story development set to replace the shuttered Sunset Bowl at 1400 N.W. Market St.

SHARE shelter coming to Ballard
By Michael Harthorne

A controversial 20-person homeless shelter will be moving into the vacant Calvary Lutheran Church building for one year starting May 30.

Members of Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in Ballard voted May 7 to allow the shelter to move into the building at 7002 23rd Ave. N.W., according to a May 10 press release from Our Redeemer.

Concerned neighbors requested that SHARE run background criminal and sex offender checks on its residents. Our Redeemer brought that request to SHARE, but the organization refused.

Archie McPhee bids farewell to Ballard
By Michael Harthorne

After 10 years in Ballard, novelty purveyor Archie McPhee is down to its final month in the neighborhood.

Archie McPhee is leaving its Market Street home for a store at the corner of 45th Avenue Northwest and Stone Way after it couldn't secure a long-term lease for its current location.

JUNE

Crown Hill QFC to close
By Michael Harthorne

With the pending re-opening of the Ballard QFC, under construction since December 2007, the Crown Hill location is slated for closure.

Kristen Maas, with the real estate division of QFC corporate, said the lease for the QFC located at 15th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 85th Street will expire in August.

Three Ballard parks to become exclusion zone
By Michael Harthorne

Seattle Parks and Recreation will designate Bergen Place, Ballard Commons Park and Marvin’s Gardens in downtown Ballard as an exclusion zone, meaning an individual banned from one park will be banned from all three parks.

The decision to create the exclusion zone was made after a series of meetings called by Ballard residents who are concerned with a perceived deterioration of safety in the area

“Done deal,” Tim Gallagher, Parks superintendent, said at the meeting. “That will happen right away.”

Landmarks Board approves Aurora Bridge suicide prevention barrier
By Allison Espiritu

After much deliberation, changes and recommendations between the Seattle Landmark’s Preservation Board and the Washington Department of Transportation, the design for a suicide barrier that will be installed on the Aurora Bridge was passed in a 6 to 5 vote.

The Aurora Bridge has the second highest rate of suicides in the United States after the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Since a shoe salesman first leapt from the bridge in 1932, 230 people are known to have committed suicide on the historic monument.

JULY

Olsen's Scandinavian Foods will close

After almost 50 years in business, Olsen’s Scandinavian Foods on Northwest Market Street announced over the weekend they will close.

Though the final day is uncertain, owners said they will likely shutter in July. A sign announcing the store would close was posted in the front window on June 22.

Several other Market Street businesses have closed or announced they will close this year, including All the King's Flags, Best Regards, Bella's Best, Annabelle's Consignment and Antiques and Mandrakes Antiques.

August

Ribbon cut at Crown Hill Center
By Michael Harthorne

A large crowd of friends, neighbors and well-wishers gathered together on a sunny Sunday afternoon to witness the official ribbon cutting of the Crown Hill Center.

The old Crown Hill Elementary building was purchased by Small Faces Child Development Center, a 30-year tenant of the building, on June 30. And, on Aug. 16 if officially became the Crown Hill Center.

"This building has a long and wonderful history of serving the community," said 36th District Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, on hand for the ribbon cutting. "Now it is going to be an even stronger builder of community."

Lark turns into one of Seattle’s longest-running clubs
By Michael Harthorne

In 1994, the space that had housed the New Melody Tavern on Ballard Avenue became available. It needed a sound system, but rent was cheap, and Dan Cowan saw an opportunity.

"It was a bit of a lark," Cowan said. "But, music has always been important to me."

Cowan, who had worked in clubs and owned a cafe where Madame K's currently is, turned the space into the Tractor Tavern, the Ballard music venue that will celebrate its 15th anniversary this month.

SEPTEMBER

Changes at the Ballard News-Tribune

It’s true, this October the Ballard News-Tribune is leaving the office on Market Street that it has inhabited for 34 years. But, we are not leaving the community we have served for more than a century. Not even close.

While our base of operations will officially be the Robinson Newspapers publishing offices in Burien, we will not be covering Ballard from Burien.

The Ballard News-Tribune reporters, ad sales staff and online editor will remain in the neighborhood, working out of homes, coffee shops and parks – wherever we can plug in a computer to best serve you, the readers.

Sex offender booted from Calvary Lutheran Shelter
By Michael Harthorne

On Sept. 12, SHARE removed a Level III sex offender from the Calvary Lutheran Shelter. The offender had been a member of the shelter since late August.

According to a SHARE representative, the individual was admitted to the shelter Aug. 20 after a screening process with another member of the shelter.

SHARE was made aware of the individual's status as a sex offender last Saturday, and the individual and his belongings were removed the same day, according to the representative.

OCTOBER

Greenwood Fred Meyer development moves forward
By Michael Harthorne

The Northwest Design Review Board gave its approval for the Greenwood Fred Meyer Project – the $77 million, 7.31 acre project that stretches from Third Avenue Northwest to First Avenue Northwest along Northwest 85th Street – to move forward Sept. 28.

The plans include a 160,000 square-foot Fred Meyer that is sunken underground, except in the northeast corner where the elevation of the site is significantly lower, 25,000 square feet of additional retail space and 200 apartment units.

Parents sound off against proposed boundary changes
By Andrew Doughman

During a meeting at Ballard High School Oct. 14, more than 100 parents crowded into the library to let the Seattle School Board hear their reactions to proposed new school boundaries.

School Board members said the plan will simplify the process for families and also save the district considerable money. But, residents did not seem convinced.

Many of the complaints came from Ballard residents living north of Northwest 85th Street, an area that would feed students into Ingraham High School under the proposed plan.

After 30 years of building community, time for a change
By Michael Harthorne

The small office belonging to Ed Medeiros in the Phinney Neighborhood Center does not look like the office of someone less than three months away from retirement.

Papers, folders and Post-Its cover nearly every surface. The calendar on the wall does not, at first glance, appear to contain any empty squares. And, one of the walls is home to hundreds of faces from the Phinney Neighborhood Association’s history.

But this January, after nearly 30 years as the executive director of the Phinney Neighborhood Association, Medeiros will be stepping down.

NOVEMBER

Hundreds show they are the missing link
By Michael Harthorne

"What do we want? The Missing Link! When do we want it? Yesterday!"
Hundreds of Burke-Gilman Trail supporters, from seniors with walkers to babies on the back of their parents bicycles, turned out for "We Are the Missing Link" Oct. 27.

"It warms the cockles of my heart," Friends of Burke-Gilman Trail's Kevin Carrabine said of the crowd.

The event, hosted in part by Sustainable Ballard, was meant to draw attention to the Missing Link, the section of the trail from near the Ballard Bridge to the Ballard Locks that has not been completed yet. It has been held up by litigation between the city and local industries.

Our Redeemer’s to close SHARE shelter
By Michael Harthorne

Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church will be closing the SHARE shelter it has been operating in the Calvary Lutheran Church building since last spring. The announcement was made during a Nov. 5 meeting of Our Redeemer's, SHARE and neighborhood representatives.

Rebecca Butler, spokesperson for Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church, said the shelter will be closing due to Our Redeemer's and SHARE not being able to come to an agreement on sex offender checks.

She said the shelter will move out of the Calvary Lutheran building when it has found a new place to go. Or it will close if shelter membership dwindles to five or fewer residents.

Vigilance in face of arson, suspect apprehended
By Michael Harthorne

Seemingly all of Greenwood turned out for the Nov. 10 meeting hosted by the Seattle Fire Department and Seattle Police Department to answer questions about the string of arsons plaguing the neighborhood.

Hundreds of residents packed the Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church's basement, spilling out into the foyer and the upstairs sanctuary.

Assistant Fire Chief Alan Vickery, a Greenwood resident, told the crowed that there have been 14 non-accidental fires, most of them damaging businesses, in the Greenwood area since June.

The most recent fires have damaged 11 businesses since Oct. 23.

Suspect Kevin Todd Swalwell was apprehended in connection with the arsons Nov. 13.

DECEMBER

Food bank finds a new home
By Michael Harthorne

The Ballard Food Bank, currently located at 7001 24th Ave. N.W., is moving out of its residential location into a new building in Ballard's industrial area south of Market Street.

Nancy McKinney, executive director of the food bank, made the announcement Dec. 9 at the Ballard District Council meeting but could not give the exact address of the new location because the lease has not been signed yet.