With 2010 coming to a close, here is a look back at some of the most popular stories of the year. Click the image above for a slideshow of the year in photos.

January

Small business boom in recession
By Emily Dreisback, Web Intern
2010-01-01

Conventional wisdom leads us to pity the person who chooses to open a business in the midst of the current recession, but there are small retailers who thrive in a risky economic climate — traditionally bars, repair shops, education and other services where demand increases as general societal thrift grows.
Ballard has its own collection of businesses that have opened in recent months, well into the current economic downturn.
Sustainable, Sound Gold Buyers, MovieCycle, and Buffalo Exchange all opened in Ballard in the last six months and are doing better than they had expected.

Local musician organizes benefit for Haiti
By Michael Harthorne
2010-01-19

Faustine Hudson, a local musician, was, like many others, affected by the Jan. 12 earthquake that struck Haiti.
She said her feelings came not only from that tragedy, but from the culmination of a handful of international tragedies in the past decade.
"After reading about the earthquake, my heart hurt a lot," Hudson said.
She said she felt like she needed to do something, and for someone as submerged in music as she is, putting on a benefit show was the obvious choice.
"Not being a doctor or a nurse, I can't do anything hands on to help," Hudson said. "But, I can raise money for people doing hands on stuff."
The Luvin' Haiti benefit show will be held Jan. 31 at the Tractor Tavern. There is a $10 suggested donation, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the Red Cross for Haitian relief and development.

Fine could be issued over removal of monkey tree
By Michael Harthorne
2010-01-21

Crews started work early Jan. 21 to remove the large monkey tree from the property on the southeast corner of Northwest 60th Street and Ninth Avenue Northwest.
East Ballard resident Robert Donat was watching as the tree came down. For some people, the tree was a symbol of the neighborhood, he said.
Roger Smith, another observer, said the tree has been there since before most of the residents – at least since 1947.
The Department of Planning and Development is looking into whether the removal of the tree went against a city ordinance requiring the removal of "rare, uncommon, unique or exceptional" trees on private property to be approved by the department.

Final 9th Ave. Park design can't please everyone
By Michael Harthorne
2010-01-29

Most of the neighbors at the third and final design meeting for the new Ninth Avenue Park were happy with the proposal. But, debate still arose over who the space should be geared toward, especially conflict regarding play equipment versus a P-Patch.
The Seattle Parks Department and Site Workshop presented their final concept, Magic and Mystery, for the park on Ninth Avenue Northwest between Northwest 70th Street and Northwest 73rd Street Jan. 28. It was culled from a mass of neighborhood input during two previous meetings.
The design features a 20-plot P-Patch in the northeast corner.
There was disagreement over the best use of space in the park with some neighbors arguing that a P-Patch privatizes a portion of the public park.
Each plot of a P-Patch is owned by a local family for their personal gardening. They have control of it for as long as they make use of it.
One attendee said there are already enough gardens attached to homes in the neighborhood. Another said there is a waiting list of 60 people in Ballard for P-Patch plots.

February

Low-income housing project has some neighbors worried
By Michael Harthorne
2010-02-09

Some Ballard residents are concerned that Compass Center Ballard, a housing development for formerly homeless individuals, is being snuck through the planning stages and will seriously damage the neighborhood.
Mike Yamaguchi, owner of the Landmark Apartments to the east of the site, said Compass Housing Alliance is trying to sneak the housing development into Ballard.
He said the community needs to have a chance to voice their opinion on the project – an 80-unit residential building for homeless men and women that includes services for residents who have substance dependencies or other disabilities.

Neighborhood weighs in on possible Ballard light rail
By Michael Harthorne
2010-02-18

During his Feb. 16 state of the city address, Mayor Mike McGinn reaffirmed his commitment to putting light rail expansion on the ballot within two years. During his campaign, McGinn said one of his priorities for that expansion would be a line to Ballard.
Seattle's transportation system is not working the way it should, and it is imperative the city invest in more transit, McGinn said in his speech.
Barry Hawley, owner of Hawley Realty in Ballard, said the expansion of the Link Light Rail system is a worthwhile discussion because Ballard needs to be tied into the future transportation circuitry of the city in some way.
"I think light rail would be helpful," he said. "I think that it would certainly be nice."
While support for a Ballard light rail line seemed to be high before and after McGinn's election as mayor, a number of community members said the success of such a line would depend on its execution.

March

Free healthcare for students, regardless of insurance
By Michael Harthorne
2010-03-05

While the federal government has spent months proposing, discussing and debating healthcare reform, there is one group of Ballardites who have been getting free, safe, confidential primary care, regardless of insurance, for eight years.
The Teen Health Center at Ballard High School, started in partnership with Swedish Medical Center in 2002 as part of a citywide program, acts as a primary care clinic for students.
"It's more like a doctor's office than a school nurse," said Sara Rigel, manager of Patient/Family Education and Community Health at Swedish.
By providing services at no cost to students, some of whom have no insurance or are under-insured, the benefits of the Teen Health Center are huge, Rigel said.
"It's an opportunity to contribute to the greater well-being of our youth and community," she said.

Swedish engineer takes on union
By Michael Harthorne
2010-03-26

For the past 30 years, engineer John Olafson has been in charge of fixing water heaters, repairing electrical systems and maintaining any other nonmedical equipment at what is now Swedish/Ballard.
Swedish has been very good to him, and he said he wants to stay there until he retires. But, a disagreement with the engineers' union, which he is not a member of, over a pension plan he doesn't want is putting a dark cloud over the job he has enjoyed doing for three decades.
"I'm forced into a Central Pension Fund I don't want anything to do with," Olafson said. "I feel like I'm not being heard by the union I'm represented by but not a member of."

Marijuana forum informs those curious about cannabis
By Rachel Solomon
2010-03-31

When Jeanne “Magic” Black-Ferguson found a stash of pot in her son’s room 30 years ago, she did what most parents would do: She got angry. She yelled. She flushed it down the toilet.
But then, Black-Ferguson, a nurse, did some research.
“That’s what got me off the sofa,” said Black-Ferguson, 70. “I understand the problem, and I understand the fear.”
She is now the executive director of Grammas for Ganja, which hosted a public forum last night for Seattleites interested in the plant with a bad reputation.
Panelists State Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, University of Washington researcher Sunil Aggarwal and naturopath Michelle Sexton shared their insight into the plant and took questions from a crowd curious about everything from treating diabetes with marijuana to cannabinoid receptors in the brain.

April

Fatal collision on Market
By Robinson Newspaper Staff
2010-04-04

At approximately 4:41 a.m. on April 4, officers responded to a one-vehicle collision near 28th Avenue Northwest and Northwest Market Street.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a red 1986 Pontiac Firebird with four occupants was traveling westbound on Market Street at a high rate of speed.
Near the intersection with 28th Avenue, the Firebird left the road, crossed the sidewalk and struck a steel pole (part of the Taco Time sign).
Seattle Fire Department medics were called to the scene.
Three of the four vehicle occupants, including the driver, adult males in their 20s, died as a result of the collision.

Sweden Week honors relationship between Seattle, Scandinavia
By Michael Harthorne
2010-04-26

The first-ever Seattle Sweden Week, the brainchild of Swedish Consul to Washington Lars Jonsson, kicks of May 2 to pay tribute to the long shared history between Seattle and Sweden and to strengthen the current relationships between the two uniquely similar places.
Sweden Week includes both private and public events, such as a fashion show spotlighting Swedish designers, a VIP dinner recognizing six northwest Nobel laureates, a three-day business conference uniting Swedish and American business leaders, and a celebration of the centennial birthdays of both Swedish Hospital and the Scandinavian Department at the University of Washington.
Jonsson said the two major anniversaries – Swedish Hospital and the U.W. Scandinavian Department – created an appropriate opportunity to tell the story of the strong Swedish presence in Seattle's past.
Swedish royalty will be in attendance, as will the chairman of the Nobel Committee, Princess Madeleine, diplomats and dignitaries.

May

Ballard to get LED streetlights this summer
By Michael Harthorne
2010-05-13

Seattle City Light will be converting residential streetlights between the Ship Canal and 65th Street to LED streetlights this summer. Switching the approximately 5,000 sodium streetlights in that area to LED will save the city an estimated $295,000 in the first year.
Sodium streetlights burn out every three to four years, Edward Smalley, manager of streetlight engineering for City Light, told the Ballard District Council May 12. Sodium streetlight manufacturers guarantee only that 50 percent of the lamps will still be working after approximately four years, he said.
LED streetlights will last for 12 years, at which point they will begin to dim but continue to burn and give light, Smalley said.

Bit Saloon gets second chance
By Michael Harthorne
2010-05-27

When The Bit Saloon announced it was closing in October 2009, it left scores of metal, punk and hardcore bands, not to mention countless other fans of the 62-year-old Ballard bar, in despair.
But, thanks to two Burien residents, the bar has been given a second life, revived as The 2 Bit Saloon.
Jessica Young and Jamie Bernard took over the lease in January and officially opened The 2 Bit May 8.
Young said bands were stoked to hear the bar was reopening and maintaining its focus on punk, hardcore and metal. She also said neighbors have thanked them for doing just enough to improve the bar without turning it into an over-priced yuppie destination.

Domestic violence murder/suicide in Ballard
By Robinson Newspaper Staff
2010-05-28

At approximately 10:15 p.m. on May 27, officers responded to a disturbance in the 2400 block of Northwest 57th St. The victim and suspect reportedly resided together.
The couple got into some sort of domestic dispute and the suspect beat the victim with a hammer and possibly other objects, mortally wounding her.
The suspect then jumped to his death from the south windows of the sixth-floor apartment. The victim was treated at the scene by Seattle Fire Department and taken to Harborview Medical Center, where she died.
Homicide and CSI were called out to the scene. The area was canvassed and CSI processed the scene for evidence.

June

SLIDESHOW: Seattle struts its stuff in Solstice Parade
By Michael Harthorne
2010-06-20

Despite the gloomy weather, June 19 really was the summer solstice, and Seattleites came out in droves, braving the clouds and the rain, to strut their stuff or watch others do the strutting in the annual Fremont Summer Solstice Parade.
From the traditional naked cyclists to floats celebrating the Beatles and decrying wasted phone books, the parade had something for everyone, exemplifying Fremont's unofficial motto – “Delibertus Quirkus," or the freedom to be peculiar.

It's World Cup time in Ballard
By Michael Harthorne
2010-06-11

The 2010 FIFA World Cup got underway June 11, and even thought the global soccer tournament is taking place thousands of miles away in South Africa, people here in Ballard are getting fired up for competition.
World Cup soccer has the magical ability to drag people from all over the world and all walks of life out of bed at ridiculous hours of the morning just to watch a game, said Ballard resident Chris Bodan. The deli he works at downtown opened at 4 a.m. just to show a match.
"What else does that?" he said. "I don't know how else to describe it other than a reason to get out of bed in the morning."
Bodan was spending his Friday morning watching a replay of Mexico vs. South Africa at the Market Arms, Ballard's newest pub, which opened this week at the southwest corner of Market Street and 24th Avenue Northwest.

Ballard principal accepts promotion, will leave school
By Michael Harthorne
2010-06-16

After six years as Ballard High School principal, Phil Brockman will be moving to a new position as executive director of schools for Seattle Public Schools. Assistant Principal Keven Wynkoop will be appointed interim principal for the 2010-2011 school year.
"This was a very difficult decision for me because I love my job and the Ballard community," Brockman said in a letter to parents. "These past six years have been an amazing experience and the most rewarding in my 27 years with Seattle Public Schools."

First look at new Ballard/Swedish building
By Michael Harthorne
2010-06-23

Swedish Medical Center's new five-story, 90,000-square-foot Medical Office Building on its Ballard campus is taking shape and headed for an early-November grand opening.
Construction started on the Medical Office Building in September 2009.
The Medical Office Building is part of a movement by Swedish/Ballard to revitalize its campus and meet the healthcare needs of the growing Ballard community into the future.
"The community now has visible evidence of a long-term commitment to Ballard, which was not the case before," said Dr. Rayburn Lewis, executive director and senior medical director of Swedish/Ballard during a June 23 tour of the half-completed Medical Office Building.

Lawsuit filed against city on behalf of zoo's elephants
By Robinson Newspaper Staff
2010-06-29

Two Seattleites represented by the Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against the city of Seattle June 29 to stop what they see as the city’s unlawful use of taxpayer dollars to support the Woodland Park Zoo’s reckless and illegally cruel treatment of its elephants.
Plaintiffs Mary Sebek and Nancy Farnam brought their concerns about what they characterize as misuse of city funds to support illegal conduct at the zoo to the national non-profit Animal Legal Defense Fund, whose attorneys are representing them.
“As a taxpayer, I feel obliged to take a stand to make sure that the city of Seattle stops funding animal cruelty,” Sebek said in the press release.
According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, as a result of inadequate facilities, abusive management practices, longstanding intentional neglect, and breeding practices in callous disregard for elephants’ welfare, the zoo’s elephants, Bamboo, Watoto and Chai suffer from severe and chronic foot and joint injuries, unexplained physical trauma and bleeding, and sustained psychological harm.

July

VIDEO/SLIDESHOW: Zombie apocalypse overruns Fremont
By Michael Harthorne and Kim Robinson
2010-07-04

Thousands of zombies swarmed the streets of Fremont July 3 looking for victims, brains and a Guinness World Record.
The second-annual Red, White & Dead zombie walk was an attempt to reclaim the zombie walk record from England, who stole it after last summer's event. Seattle had 3,894 zombies last July, but England edged the city out with 4,026.

SLIDESHOW: Greenwood Seafair Parade turns 60
By Michael Harthorne
2010-07-29

Thousands of people young and old lined the streets of Greenwood July 28 to bear witness to the 60th annual Greenwood Seafair Parade.
Politicians and princesses waved to the crowd, marching bands played, giant meerkats posed and children swarmed to the free candy being tossed their way.
The Greenwood Seafair Parade truly feels like a neighborhood event as business owners and patrons watched from windows and doorways, old-time residents came out of their homes to line the sidewalk and inhabitants of the newer apartment developments watched from their balconies.

August

Ballard cyclist sets new world record
By Michael Harthorne
2010-08-06

Six hours into what would eventually become a more than 30-hour, 620-mile ride, Ballard resident and ultra cyclist, Chris Ragsdale, virtually alone on a rural stretch of road outside La Conner, Wash., was feeling confident.
This epic ride, taking place July 31 and Aug. 1, was an attempt to set world records in road cycling for most miles ridden in 24 hours and fastest time to 1,000 kilometers.
Ragsdale, a 33-year-old Michigan native who has lived in Ballard for the past eight years, started cycling in 2001 after Sept. 11 convinced him to commit time to doing the things he loved.
In 2008, after setting a competition record in the National 24 Hour Challenge, he told the Ballard News-Tribune his ultimate goal was to attempt a 24-hour world record within the next three years.
On the morning of July 31, Ragsdale set off on his world record attempts, sanctioned by the Ultra Marathon Cycling Association, with support crew and judges in tow.
Ragsdale realized during the long, dark night that he wouldn't be able to break the 24-hour record, Muellner said in his blog.
At the 24-hour mark, Ragsdale had ridden 494 miles, approximately 46 miles short of the world record, held by Italy's Orlando Borini. That left the 1,000-kilometer record for a consolation prize.
Thirty-one hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds after he started his ride, Ragsdale hit the 1,000-kilometer mark, becoming the fastest cyclist to ride 1,000 kilometers on the road in the world.

Ballard Food Bank ready to serve at new location
By Michael Harthorne
2010-08-10

At 2:30 p.m. Aug. 10, nine months after it announced its move, the Ballard Food Bank will officially open for business in its new home at 5130 Leary Ave. N.W.
The food bank moved out of its old space at 7001 24th Ave. N.W. Aug. 6 with the help of volunteers and the Ballard High School football team.
And, after an exhausting few days of preparation, the food bank's new space is ready to receive its first customers.
"People just worked hard until we were done," said Nancy McKinney, executive director of the Ballard Food Bank. "It was a couple of 12-hour days."
The new Ballard Food Bank has 75 percent more square footage than the former space. There is more room for storage and services and customers will no longer have to wait outside in the cold and rain.

New Greenwood Fred Meyer scrapped after decade of planning
By Michael Harthorne
2010-08-20

After more than 10 years of working with the city and the neighborhood to develop a satisfactory replacement for the 30-year-old Greenwood store, Fred Meyer has announced it is scrapping plans for a new $91 million, mixed-use development in favor of a much cheaper remodel of the existing store.
The most recent design for the new Greenwood Fred Meyer development, which was approved by the Northwest Design Review Board in September 2009, included a mostly below-ground, 170,000-square-foot Fred Meyer with a three-story parking garage, additional retail space along Northwest 85th Street and 250 apartment units.
The project was $13 million over budget. Melinda Merrill, public affairs director for Fred Meyer, said they knew the project – the most expensive Fred Meyer development ever – would be over budget going in, but $13 million is too much to cover.
The remodeled Fred Meyer, located at 100 N.W. 85th St., will include groceries and apparel and be more high-end than a typical Fred Meyer, Merrill said. When the neighboring Greenwood Market's lease is up, it will be converted into Fred Meyer's garden center and home department, she said.

Art in the Garden Festival returns today
By Michael Harthorne
2010-08-21

For neighborhood residents ready for a break from the crowded, noisy summer street festival scene, the Ballard Art in the Garden Festival is here to help.
The annual festival at the Ballard P-Patch returns for its 10th year Aug. 21.
Event Chair Kelly Ryan said he credits Art in the Garden's longevity to the venue.
"The whole concept of music and food and art in a garden is so relaxing," Ryan said. "There's something pretty special about walking around and smelling that food and hearing that music."
The nature of gardening itself has also helped keep the festival going for a decade, he said.
"Gardening is a thing that once you get it in your system, it doesn't go away," Ryan said. "It's a lifestyle."

September

Bill Gates Sr. stumps for state income tax
By Michael Harthorne
2010-09-15

"Here in Washington, we're as bad off as any place could be. We are simply the most regressive tax system in the nation."
Bill Gates Sr., father of the Microsoft founder and spokesperson for Initiative 1098, which would create a state income tax, didn't sugar coat his message when he and Phinney resident John Burbank spoke at a Sept. 14 fundraiser at 36th District Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welle's Queen Anne home.
Gates pitched the initiative as a much-needed step toward improving public education in the state. Washington currently ranks 46th in the country in spending on education per $1,000 of income and 37th in per pupil spending, he said.
There have been $12 billion in cuts to the state budget during the past three years, including chronic underfunding of education, said Burbank.
"It's an impossible situation we're putting our teachers in," he said. "And, it's going to get worse."

Police Blotter: Woman sexually assaulted in east Ballard
By Michael Harthorne
2010-09-24

A woman was sexually assaulted at approximately 9 p.m. Sept. 22 while walking alone on the 1100 block of Northwest 57th Street, according to the Seattle Police Department.
The victim said she is scared the suspect will assault another woman if he is not caught, and she wants to share her story with people to remind them to be aware.
"I'm usually a really careful and watchful person," the victim said in an email. "If this could happen while I am stone sober at nine at night in a relatively safe area, it could
happen to anyone.”
While she was walking, a man ran up behind her and put a hand over her mouth and one on her chest and dragged her into a nearby yard, the victim said.
The suspect took off her shirt and was unzipping her pants when the owner of the home whose yard they were in opened the front door, scaring off the suspect.
"I am so grateful that the guy was home and checked his yard out when he heard screaming," the victim said. "If he had ignored it, I have no doubt I would have been raped despite my best efforts to fight back."

October

Ballard students offer messages of acceptance to gay youth
By Michael Harthorne
2010-10-04

In the face of five high-profile stories of American students committing suicide last month after enduring harassment from their peers for their perceived sexual identify, members of the Ballard High School SLAM club spent the early morning hours Oct. 4 writing messages of acceptance and love in chalk outside the high school.
SLAM, which stands for Student Lives Always Matter, is Ballard's suicide prevention club. It spends its time doing educational outreach to help students who need it and to let students know how to help their friends.
The chalk messages, such as "Just be yourself" and "You are loved," are part of the second-annual national You-Are-Loved Chalk Message Project. The project was started in 2005 by a student at Drew University in New Jersey to highlight the extra risk of suicide faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer students.

Lombardi's, Ballard restaurant cornerstone, closing after 23 years
By Michael Harthorne
2010-09-17

After 23 years as the cornerstone of the Ballard Building on the corner of Northwest Market Street and 22nd Avenue Northwest, Lombardi's Italian Restaurant and Bar will be closing its doors for good Oct. 9.
Owner Diane Symms is transferring ownership of Lombardi's, which also has locations in Everett and Issaquah, to her daughter, Kerri Lonergan.
Lonergan will keep the Everett and Issaquah locations open, but Symms is selling the Ballard space to "someone with deep roots in the Seattle restaurant community" who will open a "gastro pub" in the location, according to Lombardi's blog.

November

ELECTION SPECIAL: 2010 election results
By Michael Harthorne
2010-11-02

Ballard's three representatives in the state legislature swept their contests, but Democrats and liberal policies outside the 36th District didn't fair as well in early election night results Nov. 2.
Incumbents Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Reuven Carlyle and Mary Lou Dickerson are all handily defeating their challengers and will continue representing Ballard.
Incumbent U.S. Sen. Patty Murray is slightly ahead of challenger Dino Rossi, while incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott is easily beating North Seattle resident Bob Jeffers-Schroder.

SLIDESHOW: 777 Cyclocross Racers Compete in Woodland Park
By Anne-Marije Rook
2010-11-15

On Sunday, Woodland Park was transformed into a long, muddy and windy course for the final MFG cyclocross event of the season.
The Woodland Park Grand Prix race is the biggest event of the MFG series with 777 registered racers and around 1,000 spectators.
Originated in Belgium, Cyclocross is a form of bicycle racing which takes place on wooded trails and muddy passes with steep hills, sharp corners and lots of muck. Often the racer is required to dismount from their bike and run across obstacles while carrying the bike. The races are between 30 to 60 minutes in lengths and take place in fall and early winter.
MFG has only been in existence for two years and with the Woodland Park GP they’re finishing up a second successful year.
MFG Registration official Ken Hillyer said that they’re trying to organize races close to the city and that Woodland Park offers a great location.
While the cyclocross season only runs from September to November, Hillyer said it takes year-round planning to make the MFG series happen. In a few months they will announce the schedule for the next season.
“We’re hoping for bigger, better, faster , and more next year,” Hillyer said.

The Winter Beer Guide
By Anne-Marije Rook
2010-11-23

The temperatures are dropping, trees are standing bare and snow is falling. Winter season is here which means it’s time for winter ales. Winter brings out unique small-production seasonal brews called winter warmers. There are no specific rules for how these beers should be brewed but winter warmers are typically malty, complex and higher in alcohol. Some have spice or fruit characteristics, others are flavored with chocolate or vanilla.
In the Northwest, we are fortunate to be surrounded by many breweries so the winter beer selection is plentiful. BNT visited a few beer experts in Ballard and Fremont to hear their take on winter beer.

BNT: Which beer(s) should be had with Thanksgiving dinner?
George Hancock from Maritime Pacific Brewery: It’s a holiday so I would have a holiday beer. Thanksgiving dinner has so many flavor. You have the complexity of the jams, cranberries, and the gravy surrounding the turkey. The Jolly Roger would accentuate the flavors, not disguise them. I like to make beers that go well with with food. The caramel characteristics of the Jolly Roger goes well with the sweetness of pie as well.

BNT: What’s the perfect beer to drink in the lodge after skiing?
Matt Lincecum from Fremont Brewery: That is exactly why I designed the Abominable. To take up the hill and put in a snowbank. Then, after skiing you get back to you car and you dig out the beer to enjoy with your friends. That’s why it was called the Abominable after the Abominable Snowman except that it’s not scary. It’s really nice.

First snowy day in Seattle comes to an end; Forecast predicts more snow
By Anne-Marije Rook
2010-11-22

Seattle's first snow storm of the season is coming to an end but there's more snow to come, according to the forecast.
Delays in commute were widespread throughout the day as cars were sliding and several accidents temporarily closed down lanes. Starting around 9 a.m. this morning, two car crashes blocked Aurora Bridge and traffic was backed up for about two hours. As snow continued to fall, accidents and slippery conditions on Highway 520 and Highway 99 slowed traffic in the afternoon and Interstate 5 was in gridlock.
Middle schools and high schools in the Seattle School District were dismissed in the early afternoon and all extracurricular activities as well as parent-teacher conferences were canceled.

December

Opinion: The Deep Bore Tunnel Controversy
The latest plot twist introduces two new developments.
By City Councilmember Nick Licata
2010-12-01

Replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct has more twists and turns than a Hitchcock movie, and the final credits are still a long way off. The latest plot twist introduces two new developments.
First, the Sierra Club and Real Change are considering a city initiative to stop the deep bore tunnel from being built unless certain conditions are met. Under the name Move Seattle Smarter, they are trying to craft an initiative that would protect Seattle taxpayers from any potential cost overruns before construction could begin.
Second, state initiative promoter Tim Eyman testified before the Washington State Transportation Commission that the commission lost the power under state law to set toll rates when his Initiative 1053 passed this fall. Since funding for the deep bore tunnel is dependent on about $400 million in tolls, the state legislature would have to vote to set the tolls rates, rather than the State Transportation Commission.
Whether Tim Eyman or Move Seattle Smarter efforts to halt the deep bore tunnel succeed or not, the controversy over it as the best replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct will continue until it is built or the bill has been paid.

Ballard shows high potential for creating a strong, high quality biking community
Transportation Planner Adam Parast analyzes Seattle's bikeability in comparison to Portland
By Anne-Marije Rook
2010-12-16

Earlier this year, Adam Parast, a transportation planner and regular contributor to the Seattle Transit Blog, released a GIS study in which he compared the bikeability of Seattle to that of Portland (the second most bike-friendly city in the US according to Bicycle Magazine).
What he found was that Ballard has the most potential to become a great biking neighborhood for families and athletes alike.
“What people can take away from the study is that Seatte is bikeable and that Ballard specifically, is one of the better areas in Seattle because it’s relatively flat, has great connectivity, and offers lots of destination that can be reached by bike,” Parast said.
“This is where Ballard looks more like a Portland neighborhood than a Seattle neighborhood. From how I look at it, Ballard, more than any other Seattle neighborhood can learn from what Portland has done to create a strong, high quality biking community.”

Living car-free in Seattle
A Coffee Date with Carla Saulter a.k.a the Bus Chick
By Anne-Marije Rook
2010-12-17

Widely knows as the “Bus Chick”, Carla Saulter is a writer and a mover-and-shaker when it comes to public transportation in the city. In 2003 she exchanged her car keys for a bus pass and has been living car-free ever since. From being sacrifice to being a lifestyle choice, giving up a car has profoundly and positively changed her life. She even met her husband (the “bus nerd”) on the 545 bus to Redmond and together they’re raising two bus-riding babies.
BNT sat down with the Bus Chick to chat about the car-free lifestyle, the benefits and the challenges.

BNT: Is that the motivation behind living car free - to come out on top financially?
No not for me. My husband has never owned a car in his professional career and for him it was perhaps more about the money. When he came here from Detroit, his company gave him a rental for the first few weeks. When he realized how much money he saved by not owning a car, he decided he didn’t want to buy a car.
For me it was guilt. Guilt was my motivator because I’m from here and it’s so beautiful yet it’s being destroyed by sprawl. We’re cutting down trees and polluting the environment. I started realizing just how much an impact cars have on our lives. It’s a given that that is how we commute but it has made us unhealthy. It’s such a detrimental way to live.