Ballard News-Tribune | Recent Articles

At Large in Ballard: The Braillist

michaelh — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:04:15 -0800

Joyce Van Tuyl’s life work began in the 1950s with a newspaper story. Her job may be ending this week, but not her work.

Half a century ago, her local paper in Santa Clara County, Calif., wrote about the lack of Braille texts for blind students being integrated into classrooms with sighted children.

The story also mentioned an evening class in Braille transcription that caught Joyce’s interest. She took the class and practiced two hours a day while her younger child was in kindergarten.

Two years later Joyce became the teacher.

Joyce’s children are long grown, in fact she now has five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, but she is still a Braillist, and will be after her job at the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library ends on Feb. 12.

Even though Joyce will be 85 next fall, she is not retiring by choice, rather as a victim of severe state budget cuts.

It is an emerging theme I wrote last week in a piece about Simone Vilandre, who is starting a new career at age 60.

That was Joyce Van Tuyl’s age when she moved from California to take a job at the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library.

Joyce’s specialty is translating mathematics and science. She has a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan.

She has been in Seattle, and the library, for 25 years, and a beloved member of her late-husband’s family, who are longtime Ballard residents.

Ever since that first class, Braille transcription has consumed Joyce’s life, even though she was more often a volunteer than a paid employee in the early years.

One math teacher at a school where she volunteered would telephone from home to dictate the math test, and Joyce would have it transcribed by the time she arrived at school.

When Joyce began transcribing Braille in the 50s, it was done with slate and a stylus, punching in the dots backwards so that they could be read correctly on the reverse side.

In the early days of transcription, a single error on a sheet meant starting over from scratch. Now she uses a computer and says her two favorite words in the English language are “insert” and “delete.”

Although special software aids transcription greatly, computers are not infallible.

A computer tracks letters rather than context. Joyce cited the example of the computer transcribing “chemotherapy” using the symbol for “mother.”

Joyce loves teaching others transcription and plans to offer classes, with an emphasis on math code, after her job ends.

She is purchasing a new computer for her Sunset West apartment in order to continue her work.

In her 25 years with the library, she has always had at least 25 volunteers working at home. There are more than 400 volunteers working with the library, 40 in her department.

The library has upwards of 11,000 patrons, but Joyce points out there are likely double that many people in the state who do not even know they could benefit from the library’s services.

Services for the blind were first developed for World War II veterans and then expanded to other visually-impaired persons, from causes as varied as macular degeneration, side effects of diabetes, glaucoma and even Parkinson’s Disease due to tremors.

Joyce had been considering retirement but would have liked to have it be on her time schedule. Now she is scrambling to prepare for the consequences of unemployment, such as the need to apply for Medicare.

She will not be idle nor does she plan to leave Washington, even though all her offspring are elsewhere.

Joyce feels adopted by her late-husband’s family. “I will never leave Seattle as long as my sister-in-law is here," she said.

Joyce can foresee some advantages, such as driving her car less and perhaps less frustration over the lack of bus service along Seaview Avenue Northwest, to no longer commuting to the library located at Ninth Avenue at the northeast edge of downtown Seattle.

She also looks forward to choosing what to read rather than working on transcribing as many as 20 books at one time.

Perhaps she’ll have more time to socialize at Sunset West. As it is, all she claims that she does is eat and sleep there; her job has been all consuming.

But, transcribing Braille is still her passion, and she is not going to stop doing what she loves to do.

Joyce reads by touch and she reads with her eyes, “It’s all the same to me.”

What will not be the same after Feb. 12: the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library.

Joyce has more than 60 years of experience coded in her brain and her fingertips. She will prove irreplaceable.

The Washington Talking Book and Braille Library is located at 2029 Ninth Ave. Their Web site is www.wtbbl.org.

Community Calendar

Rebekah — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:45:58 -0800

The print deadline for calendar submissions is two weeks before the date of the event to be publicized. Email calendar@ballardnewstribune.com, or to get it posted online immediately, email michaelh@robinsonnews.com.

Norwegian Male Chorus' Sweetheart Dinner Fest
Leif Erikson Hall
2245 N.W. 57th St.
206.783.1274
Monday, Feb. 22, 6 p.m. Dinner is served at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $20 per person with a no-host bar. The singers will perform several songs before dinner. Dinner includes Polse, meatballs with potatoes and vegetables, flat bread, coffee and dessert. Please call for reservations.

East Ballard Community Association February Night Out
St. Alphonsus Parish School
5816 15th Ave. N.W.
Thursday, Feb. 18, 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
The EBCA has been busy these past few months on two very big projects, both involving 14th Avenue Northwest. The first project is Planting Partnerships on 14th Avenue Northwest which is bringing our community together to plant and take care of new planters that will be installed at the median ends along 14th Avenue Northwest north of Market Street in April. The second project is to pursue Seattle Parks and Green Spaces Levy funds to transform two blocks of 14th Avenue Northwest between Northwest 59th and Northwest 61st into an urban park boulevard as a first phase implementation of the 14th Avenue Northwest Visioning Project Plan.

Sunset Substation Public Meeting
Sunset Hill Community Association
3003 N.W. 66th St.
Wednesday, Feb. 24, 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Community Meeting number two to introduce our design consultants, headed by CAST architecture, and establish a vision statement for the project, flesh out ideas generated at our December kick-off meeting and develop concepts for community use of the surplus substation at 3209 N.W. 65th St. To date, the leading concept is a multi-use space with a solar array over a neighborhood gathering space, but other ideas and input are welcome.

Valentine’s Benefit Dinner for Alzheimers
Salmon Bay Fraternal Order of Eagles
5216 20th Ave. N.W.
Saturday, Feb. 13, 6:30 p.m.
The menu is Alaskan King Crab $20 or Prime Rib $16. Please call 206.783.7791 for reservations. It’s a Valentine’s Day celebration, and we will crown a King and a Queen. The music to dance to is Fever.

Open Mic Nights
Couth Buzzzard Books Espresso Buono Cafe
8310 Greenwood Ave. N.
206.436.2960
Wednesdays at 7pm.
Hosted by Katie Weller. Sign-up at 6:30pm. Come and share your music, poetry, stories, whatever. Phone is. Drinks and food available.

Shambhala Meditation Class
Soma Yoga Studio
1423 N.W. 70th St.
Every Tuesday thru Feb. 23.
Introduction to Meditation at 7:30 p.m., Meditation at 8 p.m. , Readings/Discussion at 8:30 p.m. Class ends at 9 p.m. mala@tddseattle.com

Norse Home Fundraiser
5311 Phinney Ave. N.
206.781.7400
Sunday, Feb. 21, 6 p.m.
Norse Home is hosting a Smorgasbord & Lutefisk Fundraising Dinner. All of your Scandinavian favorites including Lutefisk will be served! Valet parking is available. Evening attire. National Costumes encouraged. Raffles will be held during the event. $50.00 per person. All proceeds to benefit a New Norse Home Transportation Van! Reservations required by February 12, 2010 as seating is limited.

Ballard High School Visitation Days
Feb. 24, Feb. 25, March 2
Ballard High School offers four dates for current eighth-graders to visit our school. Daytime visits begin at 8:15 a.m. in the Commons. The daytime dates are Feb. 24 and March 2. Our evening open house is scheduled for Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Main Gym. For more information about the Seattle School District enrollment process for 2010-2011, please visit http://www.seattleschools.org/area/eso/story.dxml.

Toastmasters Open House
Ballard Baptist Church
2004 N.W. 63rd St.
Saturday, Feb. 20, noon (registration begins at 11 a.m.)
If you would like to improve your speaking and leadership skills, Toastmasters can help. Visit the open house for a demonstration meeting to see how it works. The proven, cost effective educational program offers opportunities to enhance your skills in prepared and impromptu speaking, oral and written evaluation, and meeting facilitation in a supportive environment. It also offers a Jobmasters program to help you develop your job interviewing skills. For more information, please contact Area 24 Governor, Philip Schefflin at 206.291.8440 or via email at mapingitore@gmail.com.

Family Game Evening
Newly re-opened Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono Cafe
8310 Greenwood Ave. N.
206.436.2960
Thursdays, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Cafe offers card and board games, chess, Go, bridge, Scrabble, dominos and more.

Emerald City Contra Dance
Phinney Neighborhood Center
6532 Phinney Ave. N.
914.8324
Every Friday , 7:30-10 p.m.
Beginner's workshop at 7 p.m. $8 general admission; $7 seniors, PNA members, SFS members; $5 students. All dances taught, no partner necessary.

"Soap For Hope"
AAA Washington 
1523 15th Ave. W.
206.216.4200
Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Support AAA Washington in their "Soap for Hope" donation drive. We are collecting unused sample-sized or full-size shampoos, conditioners, lotions, shave cream, razors and soaps along with new socks to support DESC Downtown Emergency Service Center in Seattle. Donations may be dropped off at the AAA Seattle (15th Avenue) office Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Children's Dance Class
Motion and Rest Studio
5340 Ballard Ave. N.W.
Soma Yoga
1423 N.W. 70th St.
Now registering for winter classes. Six weeks for $90. Classes include: pre-ballet, ballet and jazz for students ages 1-9. www.darrahblantondance.com or 206.281.9815.

Lifelong Recreation for people 50+
Aerobics:
Work on improving your endurance, balance, and strength. Mondays 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Starting Jan. 4 - March 15. Ballard Community Center, 6020 28th Ave. N.W. Call 206.233.7138 to register. Cost $30 for 11 weeks.

Lifelong Conditioning:
This class holds variety. Work on strength training at exercise stations while doing walking cardio intervals. Thursdays 9:15 a.m.-10:15 a.m., Jan. 7-March 18, Ballard Community Center, 6020 28th Ave. N.W. Call 233.7138 to register. Cost $35 for 11 weeks.

Gentle Yoga:
Improve balance and flexibility. Two classes to choose from: Mondays 10 a.m.-11 a.m. or Wednesdays 9 a.m.-10 a.m. at Loyal Heights Community Center, 2101 N.W. 77th St., starting Jan. 4 or Jan. 6, runs 11 weeks. Equipment provided. Cost $40 each.

Maria Montessori Language & Cultural Center
Ballard High School is offering after school programs in Mandarin Chinese on Wednesday afternoons. For more information call 206.252.1124 or email galongo@seattleschools.org.

Nordic stories
Nordic Heritage Museum
3014 N.W. 67th St.
789-5707
www.nordicmuseum.org
First Tuesdays, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Join us for Nordic Stories, a program geared toward stay-at-home parents and their preschool aged children.

Eagleson VFW meetings   
2812 N.W. Market St.
VFW Post 3063 meets on the first Thursday of the month. The third Thursday of the month is social night. Free catered full course dinner is served, public welcome.

Emotions Anonymous
St. Paul’s Church
6512 12th Ave. N.W., Room 1
Saturdays, 6 p.m.
Join us for Step 3 in this 12-step group. For information call James at 467.9027 or visit www.emotionsanonymous.org.

Intro to Yoga with Nikki Chau
Taj Yoga
9250 14th Ave. N.W.
206-782-9642
Wednesdays, Jan. 13-Feb 24. 6 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
Learn the basics of yoga in a safe. methodical manner. Alignment, use of props and breath awareness will be covered to give the participants confidence to join ongoing beginning yoga classes. Cost $85.

North End Flower Club
Saint John United Lutheran Church
5515 Phinney Ave. N.
206.324.0803
First Friday of the month. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
The North End Flower Club welcomes prospective members. Programs are horticulture and flower design speakers. Annual membership is $20. Catered lunch at each meeting $20.

Breathing Lab
Taj Yoga Studio Space
Crown Hill Activity Center
9250 14th Ave. N.W.
206.783.4593
Wednesdays, Jan. 6-Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
The body's requirements for oxygen vary widely with muscular activity. Sometimes we interfere, hold our breath or get tense. Breathing and moving efficiently will benefit intelligence, balance, avoid injury and pain, and increase your sense of well being. Play around with experiments, increase your efficiency in yoga, working at your computer, speaking to people, singing, playing an instrument, dancing, walking, singing. $80

Ballard Northwest Senior Center Events
5429 32nd Ave. N.W.
297.0403

Wellness Checks
Wednesdays (third and fourth weeks of the month) 11 a.m. -1 p.m. An RN will be at the Center to check blood pressure, answer questions and discuss medications with you. Come see her this week and bring your questions.

Foot Care
Thursday's. By appointment only. $20 for members, $25 for non-members. Bring a towel, and Echo will provide you with great foot care to meet your needs.

Drawing and Painting Class
Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Taught by artist Susan Schneider. $10 per class. All levels welcome from beginners on. Come check this out and develop your artist side.

Knitting and Crochet Group
Wednesdays, 10 a.m. Interested in knitting and crocheting, why don't you come join this group and bring your latest project. Everyone is welcome to join this free group.

Laughter Yoga
Thursdays, 11 a.m. Laugh your way to good health. This is a fun class and you get a great workout. This class combines yoga breathing with playful laughter exercises. New participants welcome. Free.

Card games
Pinochle: Tuesdays at 9 a.m.
Cribbage: Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m.
Bridge: Mondays at 12:30 p.m.
We have a great group of people that play Pinochle and socialize. Bridge games are fun and social. $1 to play. No partner is needed. Cribbage is a new and growing group. It is free to play.

Enhanced Fitness
Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:45 a.m., 10:45 a.m. or 3:30 p.m. Classes include strength training, balance, aerobics and stretching. $25 per month, no charge for eligible Group Health members. Please call in to sign up.

Living alone
Fourth Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. Come and share the ups and downs of living alone. What can be done to make it better? What solutions have you found?

Social worker available
Our social worker, Scott Theisen, is here to help you, your family, your friends and our community. If you need someone to help or just to listen, contact Scott on his voice mail 268.6761.

Free job bank
Available for businesses and individuals who need work done and individuals who are looking for work. The job bank matches the needs of each party and assists the parties to make contact. The potential employer and employee negotiate the particulars and pay. Available for members of the Ballard, Magnolia, North Seattle and Queen Anne community. For information contact Gail at 297.0403.

Legal advice
By appointment 10 a.m. – noon, first Monday of the month.
Attorney Cliff Johnson is here to help you with legal issues, notarization of legal forms, and questions about legal matters. For the preparation of wills and other important documentation such as health care directives, etc. The initial consultation is free but further work may include a fee. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment, 297.0403.

Financial assistance
By appointment 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., second Thursday of the month.
If you are in need of financial assistance please take advantage of Kyle, our volunteer financial adviser. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment, 297.0403.

The Dream of America
Nordic Heritage Museum
3014 N.W. 67th St.
789.5707
www.nordicmuseum.org
“The Dream of America” exhibit is an interactive path that traces the journey of a Nordic immigrant from Scandinavia to Ellis Island, and into the American frontier. Admission: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 students K-12, children under 5 free.

Pickleball
Loyal Heights Community Center
2101 N.W. 77th St.
684-4052
Wednesdays 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Bring your friends, family, toddlers and more for this fun and exciting time. Bring your paddle and be ready to compete. Open for all levels of experience. Cost: $2.

Toastmasters
Ballard Baptist Church
2004 N.W. 63rd St.
Tuesdays, 7:05 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.
Come conquer your public speaking concerns. For information visit www.toastmasters.org.

Farmers market
Sundays, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Check out the new Ballard Farmers Market blog at ballardfarmersmarket.wordpress.com to see what’s new. To see our fresh sheet, go to www.fremontmarket.com/ballard/index.html.

Men’s club
Greenwood Senior Center
525 N. 85th St.
297.0875
www.greenwoodseniorcenter.org
Second and fourth Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
$3/PNA member, $5/non-member. Join facilitator Joseph Raineri and get together with other men to socialize, discuss issues, hear speakers, take part in outside activities and gather information on a variety of interesting topics.

Volunteer opportunities
Foss Home and Village
13023 Greenwood Ave. N.
Volunteers needed Wednesdays, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. and to escort residents to Foss Beauty Salon. Volunteers also needed Tuesdays, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. to staff the Foss Gift Shop, and Thursdays 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. to assist with resident birthday parities. To volunteer call Carolyn Fuson at 834.2586.

Volunteer opportunities
Carkeek Park
950 N.W. Carkeek Park Rd.
Meet on the fourth Monday of each month. CAN (Carkeek Area Neighbors) is a committee of the park Advisory Council, and is open to the public. Call Jack Heavner at 782.7054 for info.

Introduction to meditation
Soma Yoga Studio
1423 N.W. 70th St.
Tuesday evenings, doors open at 7:15 p.m., beginner’s meditation instruction 7:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., sitting meditation and dharma discussion 8 p.m. – 9 p.m. Shambhala Meditation is a simple mindfulness-awareness meditation, based on the teachings of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Drop-ins welcome, no experience necessary. $30 for the four-class series or $10 per class.

Court appointed advocates
Train to become a volunteer advocate for abused and neglected children in court. Must be 21 or older, have excellent references and attend 28 hours of training. For more information call 296.1120 or e-mail casa.group@kingcounty.gov.

Adult education
Northminster Presbyterian Church
7706 25th Ave. N.W.
783-3402
www.northminsterpres.org
Sundays, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
We’re discussing the novel “Gilead.” Breakfast and childcare included.

WICS support group
Ballard Landmark Inn
5433 Leary Ave. N.W.
Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
New Ballard location for an ongoing support group for widows and widowers through Widowed Information and Consultation Services (WICS). Open to all, regardless of the time since death. Suggested donation $5, no one will be refused for a lack of funds. For information call Doug at 441.9490.

‘The Beautiful Game’
Phinney Neighborhood Center
6532 Phinney Ave. N.
914.8324
Learn all about the rules, offsides, penalties, the history, FIFA, World Cups, the folklore, class struggle, great games and players. For information e-mail fraser509@gmail.com.

Circuit training for seniors
Loyal Heights Community Center
2101 N.W. 77th St.
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Use multiple weight stations and cardio equipment to get fit. Each class is $35 for 11 weeks. For information call 233.7138.

Parent’s night out
Loyal Heights Community Center
2101 N.W. 77th St.
Fridays, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., $15. Ages 2 – 10.
We will provide child care for three hours, pizza, and give parents a chance to have some time to themselves. Space is limited, please RSVP.

Propose a neighborhood project
www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/btgnsfcrf
Have ideas for neighborhood improvements? Propose a project today. The Neighborhood Projects Funds can be used for small-scale improvements such as sidewalk repair, traffic circles and traffic calming, sidewalks, school zone speed limit signs, playground improvements, etc.

Ballard giving gardens
Change your grass to gardens. Using French intensive and master gardener methods I can help you recycle unwanted grassy areas into highly productive sustainable vegetable gardens. For more information call Jeff at 789.3168.

Now recruiting scouts
Boy Scout Troop 125 is now recruiting boys ages 11 – 17. For more information go to http://troops.scouter.com/wa/troop_125 or call 781.8978.

Interspiritual children’s class
Interfaith Community Church
1763 N.W. 62nd St.
www.interfaithcommunitychurch.org
Sunday mornings, 10 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
For ages 3 through 12.
Age appropriate values based spiritual education that embraces all faiths and cultures. Learning is through song, story and games. Pre-registration not required. For more info call 783.1618.

Weight management class
Ballard Curves
2821 N.W. Market St.
789.1965
Crown Hill Curves
10033 Holman Rd. N.W.
783.1556
Curves Free Weight Management Classes will be offered at the work out studios in Ballard and Crown Hill. Ballard Curves will hold classes on the first Tuesday of every month from 10 a.m. – noon. Crown Hill Curves will hold classes the first Wednesday of every month from 7:15 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. Members and non members are welcome. Call to RSVP.

Computer classes
Northwest Senior Activity Center
5429 32nd Ave. N.W.
297.0403
Starts every second Thursday of the month, runs each Thursday for three weeks. 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. $36 members/$40 nonmembers. All levels welcome.

Seeking singers
The Market Street Singers, a Ballard community choir, invites choral singers to join us for the winter into spring season, culminating in our fifth anniversary concert in May. Fun and satisfying, call 297.3228 or visit www.marketstreetsingers.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters
Becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister is a fun and easy way to make a big difference in your community. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound has several program options that you can choose to fit your schedule and interests. All you have to do is hang out, have fun, and be a friend to a local child. For more information, text the word “BIG” to 839863 or go to www.bbbsps.org

Fremont Toastmasters Club
Fremont Baptist Church
717 N. 36th St.
Come learn how to increase your confidence in speaking. We meet every Wednesday morning 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. (Toastmasters is not a religious organization.) For information call 347.3352 or visit http://fremonttm.freetoasthost.net/index.html.

North Seattle Lapidary and Mineral
Northminster Presbyterian Church
7706 25th Ave. N.W.
Second Tuesday of the month, 6:30 p.m. juniors, 7:30 p.m. adults
Our club is a group of individuals who’ve been meeting for over 55 years promoting earth sciences, rock hunting, jewelry making and the like. Each month we feature a guest speaker who presents on various topics ranging from geologic studies to how to make cabochons. Visit www.northseattlerockclub.org for more information.

Ballard wrestler heading to women's regional tournament

michaelh — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:13:11 -0800

The Ballard High School wrestling team's Kaila Lafferty is heading to the women's regional tournament after her performance at the women's subregional tournament on Feb. 5 and Feb. 6.

Lafferty helped the Ballard girls wrestling team to a 17th-place finish out of 26 teams with 14 points.

Stanwood placed first in the tournament with a score of 131.5.

At the same time, the Ballard boys team finished 12th out of 12 in the KingCo tournament with nine points.

Woodinville won the KingCo tournament with 193 points.

Matt Kelly scored six points for the Beavers with two pins. Luke Fabian added three points with a single pin.

The Ballard High School wrestling team finished its season with two team victories, the first under second-year head coaches Domingo Gomez and Luke Hagler, over Franklin and Bellevue Christian.

The team was very young this season, with the majority of the varsity team being made up of freshmen and sophomores.

Compass Center begins design review process tonight

michaelh — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:11:52 -0800

The Ballard Compass Center has its first design review meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 8 in the Ballard High School library. Constriction on the seven-story low-income housing development is scheduled to get underway by Oct. 1.

At the meeting, the public will have the opportunity to comment on design and siting of the project.

The Compass Center, which provides housing and services at 16 sites in King County, purchased the property at 1753 N.W. 56th St. in February 2008. In June 2009, a vacant house on the property was torn down.

Rick Friedhoff, executive director of the Compass Center, said funding for the project, 80 units for single men and women on 57,000 square feet, has been secured pending a tax credit application.

In September 2009, Compass Center Program Director M.J. Kiser told the Ballard District Council that construction on the project was still a few years away. But, Friedhoff said they are confident funding will come through and construction will begin this fall.

In September, a representative of Weinstein AU, architects for the project, said they want a neighborhood feeling for the building with transparency on the ground floor.

Weinstein AU designed the Majestic Bay Theater in Ballard.

Friedhoff said he hopes the design review process goes smoothly. He said he has a good design team in Weinstein AU and is comfortable the plans for the project.

Diversions

Rebekah — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:47:35 -0800

The print deadline for calendar submissions is at least two weeks before the date to be advertised. Email sharah@robinsonnews.com. To get items posted online, email michaelh@robinsonnews.com.

Mostly Nordic Chamber Music Series
Nordic Heritage Museum
3014 N.W. 67tth St.
206.789.5707 ext. 10 for tickets

Feb. 21, 4 p.m.
“Songs of Finland” with soprano Mimmi Fulmer and pianist
Rhonda Kline in a lecture-recital; followed by smorgasbord of gourmet Finnish delicacies.

March 14, 4 p.m.
“How Swede it Is!” with Karl-Ove Mannberg, renowned Swedish violinist and Lisa Bergman, pianist; followed by smorgasbord of gourmet Swedish delicacies.

April 11, 4 p.m.
“Icelandic Fantasies” with Ogmundur Thor Johannesson, award-winning Icelandic guitarist, and Michael Partington, international guitarist; followed by smorgasbord of gourmet Icelandic delicacies.

May 23, 4 p.m.
“Danish Delight” The Northwoods Wind Quintet with Roberta Hansen Downey, cellist; followed by smorgasbord of gourmet Danish delicacies.

Skandia Folkdance Society Mixer
Phinney Neighborhood Center
6532 Phinney Ave. N.
206.784.7470
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
$6 www.skandia-folkdance.org.

Skandia Folkdance Society Basics Class
Phinney Neighborhood Center
6532 Phinney Ave. N.
206.784.7470
Wednesdays, Feb. 17 through March 17, 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
No partner or dance experience required. Members, $25 per series, non-members, $35 per series. Minimum eight participants.

Taproot Theatre 2010 Senior Matinees
204 N. 85th St.
206.781.9705

"The Great Divorce"
Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2 p.m. – By C.S. Lewis, adapted by George Drance & The Magis Theatre. C.S. Lewis’ fantastical work springs to life in this electrifying regional premiere. One drizzly afternoon our author embarks on a supernatural voyage with a cast of eccentric, humorous characters that bear a remarkable resemblance to us. Theatrical, imaginative and thought provoking. It’s a bus ride through heaven and hell that, in the grand C.S. Lewis tradition, leaves you breathless and wanting more. Runs Jan. 29-Feb. 27, previews Jan. 27 and 28.

"Brooklyn Boy"
Wednesday, March 24, 2 p.m. – By Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies. Can we ever go home… and do we want to? Eric Weiss has finally made it big with a best seller and a shot at a Hollywood film. An inconvenient phone call brings him back to the Brooklyn neighborhood he grew up in and happily left behind. Witty and deeply touching, this story of growing up, coming home and making sense of it all is sure to warm your heart. A regional premiere. Runs March 19-April 17, previews March 17 and 18.

"Charley's Aunt"
Wednesday, May 26, 2 p.m. – By Brandon Thomas. By George! This is splendid! A quiet afternoon luncheon turns into a hilarious masquerade when college chums attempt to woo a pair of charming young ladies. After persuading a classmate to impersonate their missing aunt (and chaperone), mischief, high jinks and shenanigans ensue. This hilarious classic has been delighting audiences for over 100 years. Runs May 14-June 12, previews May 12 and 13.

Land Use Bulletin: Shoreline crane, new residences, Washington Federal Savings, more

Rebekah — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:31:26 -0800

The following are applications or decisions made by the Seattle Department of Planning and Development that can be appealed or commented on by the public.

469 N.W. Bowdoin Pl.

Shoreline Substantial Development Application to install a land-based crane with a 90-square-foot footprint in an environmentally critical area. The maximum height of the crane will be 52.8 feet.

Comments can be submitted to the Department of Planning and Development through March 9.

Contact: Skip Satterwhite, 206.547.3456
Planner: Paul Janos, 206.233.7195

1716 N.W. 61st St.

Land Use Application to allow five single-family residences, two three-story and three two-story. Surface parking for five vehicles to be provided. Existing structures to be demolished. Review includes future unit lot subdivision of two parcels into five unit lots.

Appeals of this decision must be received by the Hearing Examiner no later than Feb. 22.

Contact: Paul Pierce, 206.251.5962
Planner: Scott Ringgold, 206.233.3856

2020 N.W. Market St.

Land Use Application to allow a two-story commercial structure containing 9,000 square feet of retail space (Washington Federal Saving Bank). Review includes demolition of existing 7,045 square foot building. Parking for 15 vehicles to be located on adjacent site (2021 N.W. 56th St.) is being reviewed under related project 3010375.

Comments can be submitted to the Department of Planning and Development through Feb. 17.

Contact: Cris Gunter, 206.223.4999
Plannter: Scott Ringgold, 206.233.3856

2021 N.W. 56th St.

Land Use Application to allow a remote drive-up teller station. Surface parking for 15 vehicles to be provided accessory to Washington Federal Saving Bank located at 2020 N.W. Market St. Project includes a pedestrian walkway.

Comments can be submitted to the Department of Planning and Development through Feb. 17.

Contact: Chris Gunter, 206.223.4999
Plannter: Scott Ringgold, 206.233.3856

1541 N.W. 64th St.

Land Use Application to subdivide one development site into two unit lots. The construction of a residential unit is being reviewed under Project #6233876. This subdivision of property is only for the purpose of allowing sale or lease of the unit lots. Development standards will be applied to the original parcel and not to each of the new unit lots.

Comments can be submitted to the Department of Planning and Development through Feb. 14.

Contact: Loren Landerholm, 206.669.2711
Planner: Paul Janos, 206.233.7195

Ballard places third in KingCo, heads to districts

michaelh — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:11:21 -0800

The Ballard High School gymnastics team edged out Issaquah by 0.05 of a point for third-place in the Feb. 6 KingCo 4A Championships and a spot in the district meet.

Woodinville took first, as Ballard coach Stephanie Gundel predicted they would, with a score of 176.3. Inglemoor came in second with 165.925. Ballard rounded out the top three with 164.25, beating Issaquah's 164.2.

The Beavers' Taylor Stern took second all-around with a score of 36.6.

She placed first on the bars with 9.15 and second on the vault, also with 9.15.

Despite not placing any gymnasts in the top three spots in the beam, Ballard had its best performance of the season in that event.

"[The girls] just kept feeding off each other," coach Stephanie Gundel said. "You could see the confidence growing as each person went."

Gundel said the team had an uncharacteristically rough time on the vault, which made things close at the end. The 0.05-point difference between Ballard and Issaquah is equal to one pointed toe or arm out of place, she said.

Stern was the only Ballard gymnast to crack the top three in any event.

The Beavers are heading to the district meet as a team for the second time ever. The top two all-around individuals and the top five individuals on each event move on to the state meet.

Stern advanced to state meet last year. Gundel said she is looking good to do so again, but getting the whole team to districts sets up well to have as many Ballard players qualify as possible.

"Everyone is proud of the accomplishment," Gundel said. "But, there's more work to be done before next weekend, and we want to have a good showing there, too."

You Are What You Eat: Ban the can!

michaelh — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:35:50 -0800

Most canned soups have more salt in one serving that you should have for a whole day.

The roasted pepper tomato soup recipe we share has 2,000 milligrams of sodium for 16 servings. That is less than the sodium in just one cup of commercial canned soup.

Making your own chicken broth is easy. You can freeze it and have it ready or whip up a simple substitute in the microwave – it only takes about three minutes.

You will save money, eat less salt and have more flavorful meals.

Simple Soup Base
Makes 2-4 cups

2 Tbsp. flour
2 Tbsp. margarine or butter
2 cups milk
¼ tsp. dry mustard
¼ tsp. paprika
½ tsp. parsley, basil or any other fresh or dried herbs you like

Mix flour and margarine or butter together in a 2-cup glass measuring cup. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir. Microwave for another 30 seconds. Add milk and spices and stir. Microwave for 1 minute, stir again. Microwave for 1 more minute. If not thickened, add 1 more minute. You can do the same thing on the stove, and the soup will have less of a starchy taste.

Use in place of any creamed soup. For Cream of Mushroom, add sautéed fresh mushrooms, for Cream of Celery, add sautéed fresh celery, for Cream of Chicken, add diced cooked chicken.

Nutrient Information:
Calories: 117
Carbohydrates: 9 grams
Protein: 5 grams
Fat: 7 grams
Sodium: 120 milligrams

Mediterranean Roasted Pepper Soup
Serves 6. You can double the recipe and freeze for later.

2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 medium onions, sliced
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. paprika
½ cup lentils, sorted and rinsed
3 fresh red peppers, roasted
1 can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes
2 cups low sodium chicken broth or water
2/3 cup nonfat dry milk
1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
¼ cup cashews or almonds, toasted

Heat olive oil, add onions and cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until onions are very soft and caramelized. Add garlic and paprika, cook 2 minutes. Add lentils, peppers, tomatoes, and 1 cup broth. Bring to boil, reduce heat to maintain a steady simmer, cover, and cook until lentils are very soft, about 30 minutes. In several batches, puree in blender or processor until very smooth. Add dry milk and vinegar to the last batch. Stir together. Add more vinegar and broth if needed.

If you freeze this soup, add a little more vinegar after it’s reheated.

Serve topped with a sprinkle of almonds and a drizzle of oil if you like.

Nutrient Information:
Calories: 240
Carbohydrates: 31 grams
Protein: 11 grams
Fat: 9 grams
Sodium: 128 milligrams

Meanwhile, Northwest Kidney Centers is sponsoring a healthy recipe contest with the winning recipe to be showcased in a cookbook that will be distributed at the Kidney Health Fest for African American Families on June 5 at Van Asselt Elementary in Seattle.

Creators of the top three recipes will receive gift cards.

Recipes should be low in salt and low in sugar, and entrants must live in Washington.

Entries are due by Feb. 19. Send the recipe to gepnern@nwkidney.org or to 700 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122.

Questions? Call 425.821.8785.

For more information, click here.

Katy G. Wilkens is a registered dietitian and department head at Northwest Kidney Centers. She has a Master of Science degree in nutritional sciences from the University of Washington.

Ballard continues push for postseason

michaelh — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:45:50 -0800

The Ballard High School boys basketball team took sole possession of the eighth and final playoff spot with a 41-38 victory over Woodinville Feb. 5.

The Beavers found themselves down 15-7 after the first quarter but outscored Woodinville in each of the final three quarters to get the important win.

Woodinville's 38 points were the fewest given up by Ballard all season.

Junior Salim Gloyd led the team with 14 points, and senior Gary Smith had eight.

Ballard improved its record to 6-8 in the conference and 7-11 overall with two games remaining.

Next up, the Beavers face Bothell, a team that beat them 52-37 earlier this season and is one game ahead of Ballard in the KingCo standings.

The game takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 9 at Bothell High School.

Beavers drop eighth in a row

michaelh — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 09:04:29 -0800

The Ballard High School girls basketball team hung with first-place Woodinville for one half of their Feb. 5 matchup, but Woodinville was able to pull away in the second half for a 61-47 victory.

The loss is the eighth in a row for the Beavers.

Junior Taylor Hall and senior Kayla Wenger both finished with 14 points for Ballard in a losing cause.

The loss puts Ballard at 1-13 in KingCo and 3-15 overall. Last season the team finished 1-15 in the conference and 3-17 overall.

The Beavers have two games to get a win and show some improvement over last year.

The best opportunity for Ballard to do that is on the horizon when they take on Bothell, a team winless in KingCo, at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 10 at Bothell High School.

The Beavers got their only conference win against Bothell 56-54 on Jan. 8.

Wildcats bring home the trophy

michaelh — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:44:36 -0800

Late in the Feb. 6 city championship game between the Whitman Middle School and Denny International Middle School girls basketball teams, the Wildcats drew a charge, throwing fans, players and coaches into a giddy celebration.

It was a fitting scene for the Wildcats, whose tough play and team mentality, led to a perfect regular season, a tear through the playoffs and a 53-33 championship victory.

"It feels really, really good," said Whitman's Nancy MacGeorge, who finished with four points. "We had a good team bond. It was a huge team effort."

Nine different Whitman players scored in the championship game. Imani Bender led the team with 16 points, 10 of them in the fourth quarter to ice the game.

Denny scored first to open the game and took a four-point lead midway through the first quarter. The Wildcats stormed back to take a 13-11 lead to end the quarter and would not trail again.

By halftime the Whitman lead had grown to 13.

In the third quarter, Denny's Myah Williams almost single-handedly kept her team in the game. She caused mayhem for Whitman, forcing turnovers, drawing fouls and shaking defenders.

WIlliams scored 17 of her game-high 21 points in the second half.

Despite Williams' efforts, a balanced Whitman attack only allowed Denny to cut its lead to 11.

Whitman used Bender's offensive tenacity in the fourth quarter to overcome a trio of three-pointers from Williams and put the game away.

Whitman coach Mary Williams said the team was able to pull away from Denny after the first quarter by focusing on boxing out and rebounding.

She also said the team's traps against Williams seemed to work for much of the game.

MacGeoge put it another way.

"We just completely shut down their best player on defense," she said.

Whitman finished the regular season Jan. 28 with a perfect record for the second time in two years before romping through the playoffs with a 60-7 defeat of Orca Feb. 2 and a 48-10 victory over Hamilton Feb. 4.

Whitman lost 61-39 to Meany in last year's championship game.

Mary Williams said it felt amazing and exhilarating to win this year.

Whitman's Makeylah Kirkwood, who finished with eight points, said the team's friendship and ability to work together helped it achieve its goal.

"It feels good," she said. "We've been through so much. It's amazing."

Box Score:

First quarter: Whitman 13 – 11 Denny
Second quarter: Whitman 28 – 15 Denny
Third quarter: Whitman 41 – 23 Denny
Final score: Whitman 53 – 33 Denny

Whitman Wildcats:

#1 Marissa Rowe – 5 pts.
#2 Claudia Morrison – 2 pts.
#3 Tessa Sechler – 5 pts.
#4 Makeylah Kirkwood – 8 pts.
#5 Cailey Beckett – 4 pts.
#7 Beverly Verduin – 0 pts.
#8 Rhiannon Geving – 0 pts.
#9 Shelby Bailess – 7 pts.
#11 Sophie Peck – 2 pts.
#12 Imani Bender – 16 pts.
#13 Nancy MacGeorge – 4 pts.
#14 Maddy McDonald – 0 pts.

CLICK THE PHOTO FOR MORE SHOTS FROM THE GAME.

EDGE looking for Ballard's biggest loser

michaelh — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:28:09 -0800

It's not often people will fight to be a loser, but that is about to change. EDGE Personal Training in Ballard is launching a contest to give locals a chance to lose big while winning big.

EDGE's Ballard Fitness Fest, a three-month contest to see how much weight and inches contestants can lose, starts Feb. 22.

It costs $10 to enter, and there are more than $650 dollars worth of prizes.

Anyone living or working in Ballard, or surrounding communities, is eligible. To enter, call EDGE Personal Training between Feb. 22 and March 5 for a fitness assessment.

Contest participants spend the next three months working off the extra weight, either on their own or with an EDGE personal trainer.

The final re-testing will be done May 17 to May 27. The winner will be determined by who lost the most body fat, inches and weight.

The winner will be announced the first week of June.

Judges will give the winner, or loser in this case, a $250 gift certificate to the Ballard business of their choice. The winner also receives three free training sessions with an EDGE personal trainer ($225 value).

The second-place contestants wins a $100 dollar gift certificate to the Ballard business of his or her choice.

Third-place winner receives a $50 Ballard business gift certificate.

A fourth-place finish means a $25 dollar gift certificate.

Everyone who enters qualifies for a 10 percent discount on regular-price training sessions at EDGE, located at 2821 N.W. Market St.

In a press release, owner Erik Hroncich said the contest is a way to give back to the community that has been his adopted home for more than seven years.

"I just want to thank everyone who has supported me in owning my own business and give them a chance to achieve their dream," Hroncich said in the press release.

Contest rules are posted on edgepersonaltraining.net.

Ballard man restoring century-old house

michaelh — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:22:12 -0800

Ballard resident John Barker has a thing for projects, especially fixing up old houses. He has restored Magnolia homes from 1906 and 1928, a 1900s farmhouse, and a number of old homes in Bellevue.

Barker has now set his sights on a the large 1909 house on the corner of Northwest 68th Street and 30th Avenue Northwest, which he purchased in December.

Barker said decided on the house because he wanted to be near Ballard High School for his 16-year-old daughter and his offices at Barker Landscape Architects, which recently worked on Ballard Corners Park.

The site has a nice view, good sunlight and is a blank slate in terms of landscaping, plus it is a buyer's market, he said.

"It was the right location and the right project," he said.

Barker said he hasn't been able to locate the original building permit with the architect and first owner yet, but the house was part of the Jennings Addition to Ballard in the early 1900s.

He said be believes a welder lived in the house in the 1960s, which may have resulted in a lot of the metal work on the interior.

Judy Swanson owned the house for the past decade or so. She restored much of the interior to how it looked prior to being converted into a duplex in the 1960s, Barker said.

Thanks to Swanson's work, the interior feels more like the original house, he said.

"My job is to restore the outside so that it's better than it once was," he said.

That restoration will be welcomed by many neighbors, some of whom remember it as always being a bit derelict.

Georgia Selfridge, president of the Ballard Historical Society, said that at a Feb. 4 open house at the property, a number of residents in their 50s and 60s remembered walking by it when they were children and thinking it was spooky.

"Apparently, it's always been fairly rough and scary," she said.

The house had holes in the siding, missing shingles and was covered with blackberry bushes, Selfridge said.

In addition to a home for he and his daughter, Barker said he plans to turn the house, which is still a legal duplex, into a short-term vacation rental.

He said there is just way too much house for the two of them, so when vacationers want to rent the bottom half of the duplex, he and his daughter can retreat to the upstairs portion.

The house should be ready for vacation rentals sometime around April, he said.

Redmond blows out struggling Beavers

michaelh — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:40:15 -0800

The Ballard High School girls basketball team, looking for its first win since Jan. 8, found itself on the wrong end of an 82-55 blowout at Redmond High School Feb. 3.

Ballard was down by 11 points after the first quarter. By halftime, the deficit was 23.

Ballard coach C.J. Sealey said her team had one of its better games of the season offensively, but Redmond didn't seem to miss a shot.

"Teams always seem to have their best games against us," Sealey said. "I don't know why that is."

The 27-point loss was the Beavers' seventh in a row and ties their worst loss of the season.

Redmond's 82 points, the most given up by Ballard this season, helped the team break its own three-game skid.

Senior Kayla Wenger led the Beavers with 17 points. Junior Theresa Moriarty had 12.

With three games remaining, Ballard has dropped to 1-12 in KingCo and 3-14 overall.

Sealey said the team is going to keep working on defense and playing hard to finish out the season, and hopefully that will result in a win.

She said the girls on her team continue to have a great attitude despite the losses.

"They are a really, really good group of kids," Sealey said. "They are always motivated to show up."

If there is any bright side for the final games of the season, it's that the Beavers have a rematch against Bothell, the team they beat for their lone KingCo victory.

But before that, Ballard has to face first-place Woodinville, a team that previously beat them 59-34, at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 5 at Ballard High School.

Depression: Another perspective

michaelh — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:47:27 -0800

By Sarah Gardner

“How can you know what is right for the world?
By knowing what is right for your own life.” – Tao Teh Ching

If you or a loved one experience feelings of depression for short or long periods of time, you are familiar with its oppressively heavy cloak.

Studies show that 9.5 percent of Americans 18 and older are diagnosed with depression and 27 million are prescribed medication for their symptoms.

These medications for depression are, by design, short-term remedies which mask – not cure – symptoms, create dependency, withdrawal symptoms, adverse side effects, new illnesses and have an 80 percent relapse rate.

Add to this the fact that depression often goes undiagnosed in a culture where a state of discontent is often the accepted norm, and we start to see that it is time to look at other ways to understand and treat depression.

As a practitioner who sees clients with symptoms of depression, it would not be my wish to take the medications away.

However, I see them as a crutch, and we don’t want to walk with a crutch for the rest of our lives. What we want is for our broken parts to be mended so we can stand on our own two feet.

Popular theory tells us we should use strong medications for our ailments, silver bullets if you will, to make our ailments go away and allow us to function.

Yet, medications do nothing to address the root problem, which can become a ticking bomb.

Indigenous cultures do not have the degree of disconnect from nature and each other that we experience in the “modern” world and typically do not experience depression as we know it.

However, they recognize the journey that brings humans closer to themselves.

They understand that in order for people and cultures to grow, they must face the dark as well as the light. In other words, we must face our discomforts.

To be born, we must die in some way by letting go of our white-knuckled beliefs that no longer feed us in order to rediscover our true center.

As Pema Chodron writes in her book, "Comfortable With Uncertainty:" “Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.”

If your spirit is slowly dying on the vine and desires change, discomfort is a valuable tool to grab your attention.

How do we embrace discomfort in a culture that shuns most everything that doesn’t appear happy?

We want so much to feel safe, but it is precisely that which holds us prisoner to old thoughts that makes us depressed. So we medicate, as unsatisfying as that is.

The purpose of this article is not to answer these questions as much as to open a window into another perspective.

Staying with your discomfort is not an easy task, especially in this world where many feel isolated not only from each other but ourselves.

And many feel ashamed, as if something is wrong with them, when it’s quite possible that you are being pulled by something greater than your understanding at the moment.

There is opportunity in crisis if we are willing to be open and venture into the unknown.

Michael Meade, mythologist and inspired writer, poet and activist, writes: “All creation emerges from the darkness."

There are options for people who want to look beyond the accepted norm, and Seattle is rife with them. There are also lifestyle changes that we can do for ourselves.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is widely known as a viable cure for pain and functional diseases. But, what is less well known is that it is also a powerful tool for emotional healing.

The World Health Organization validates its effectiveness for such disorders.

Mental and physical processes get stuck, and TCM can open us to those maligned and forgotten parts of ourselves in order to rediscover our own wholeness where we can let go of outmoded ways of being and open to new, more authentic versions of ourselves.

TCM can also help us to heal the physical pain that prevents us from being fully present in our bodies.

Healing from emotional illness with TCM is best done with a practitioner who specializes in mental health, as it involves specific methodologies.

The active participation between both client and practitioner is essential to the healing process, allowing a deeply rewarding and lasting experience.

Dr. Friedman Schaub uses mind-activating technologies to work with the subconscious where emotional patterns are formed.

We store emotions from our past and the psyche habituates to them, even if they are negative.

When you can gain access to these subconscious patterns and let them see the light of day, they are freed and released, never to come back.

That, combined with integrating and working with negative core beliefs that we are not aware of, enables Schaub to help patients feel more safety, comfort, self-appreciation and overall empowerment.

Trina Doerfler uses non-entrainment biofeedback to correct emotional “trauma” to the brain that gets imprinted upon us throughout our lives.

Humans contain a cellular memory from birth about what a balanced mental state is, and through her sessions she is able to help people restore that memory.

Doerfler found her calling while looking for help with her daughter’s OCD. When her daughter was cured, she devoted her practice to this unique type of biofeedback in order to help patients heal from a wide variety of emotional illnesses as well as many of the side effects like insomnia.

Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman and Robert Ullman treat depression and mental disorders as well as ADD in children with constitutional homeopathy.

This is not the Arnica you buy at the store. It involves an in-depth, individualized interview and has shown to be very effective.

Cari Dimartini teaches yoga for depression at the NW Community Yoga Center in Ballard.

Her groups meet for eight-week sessions, allowing trust to develop among her students.

The opportunity to freely share is a relief for most people, who often feel alone in their feelings.

She sees the yoga mat as a laboratory to try things out differently, akin to “sitting in the fire.”

People become less trapped in their mental state and more connected to their physical body. They feel empowered to do more for themselves and are willing to take more risks in and out of class.

The body, at the core, is designed to move. Exercise is like an essential nutrient.

Research proves that exercise dramatically affects mood and positive clinical changes in depression. It activates key transmitters related to mood and improves the physical highways by which they travel.

The key is consistency. Some people with mild depression find their symptoms disappear simply by committing to a regular exercise program.

And, of course, food. A well-balanced diet consisting of ideal foods the body needs is powerful medicine.

Equally, the wrong foods over time are a powerful detriment to our well-being.

A decade-long research project has shown that a Mediterranean diet free of saturated fats and harmful oils, low on meat and dairy intake, moderate alcohol use and increased levels of legumes, fruits, nuts, cereals, vegetables, fish and healthy oils, such as olive and Omega 3s, is directly related to healthier mental states.

Emotions need a body to be expressed, and there is a physical basis to every emotion.

If the body is healthy and getting what it needs, our thoughts have a better chance of feeling balanced.

It is important to have consistent mental health support from a counselor or group, especially as one journeys into new and unfamiliar territory.

Your journey may be your own, but your well-being is of benefit to us all.

Sarah Gardner is a licensed acupuncturist since 1994 and specializes in treating depression and other mental health disorders. She practices in Ballard/Crown Hill and can be reached at www.moongatemedicine.com.

Local Boys & Girls Club members honored

michaelh — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:46:53 -0800

Two local Boys & Girls Club members have been nominated for the 2010 Youth of the Year Award celebrating service to community, family and the club, as well as academic achievement and moral character.

Taylor Franks, a Ballard High School senior and nominee from the Ballard Boys & Girls Club, has completed more than 200 hours of community service in the past year.

She is involved in many clubs, but still takes time to volunteer at the Boys & Girls Club.

She said the club is a great because it gives young and underprivileged youth a place to go where the atmosphere is always positive and there is always someone to listen to them and help them.

"I really do care about the club," she said. "I love it."

Franks said she was surprised to be nominated, but it is a great honor.

"I was very ecstatic because I was up against some tough competition," she said.

Amaris Williams is the nominee from the North Seattle Boys & Girls Club. The Roosevelt High School student has been a member of the club for a decade.

Franks and Williams are two of the 11 Youth of the Year contestants from King County. Each contestant received a $500 education scholarship.

They will compete in front of a panel of judges Feb. 9 at Benaroya Hall with the chance to advance to the state level, earning an additional $2,500 scholarship.

The national winner will be inducted in a ceremony at the White House with President Obama.

According to a Boys & Girls Club press release, many of the contestants come from difficult backgrounds, such as homelessness or violent neighborhoods.

"Many of these youth have overcome major obstacles in their lives, making their success all the more amazing," the press release stated.

Signal improvements on Leary and 15th

michaelh — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:56:10 -0800

The Seattle Department of Transportation announced Feb. 3 that more signal improvements are underway in the Ballard area in the vicinity of 15th Avenue Northwest and Northwest Leary Way.

This work is part of the department's city-wide Intelligent Transportation System Program, which will enhance traffic flow and responsiveness to roadway conditions.

The current signal and sidewalk work is anticipated to continue through Feb. 19.

The construction work should have minimal impacts on traffic as there will only be brief interruptions when the signals are being adjusted.

Pedestrians will follow slight detours during sidewalk restoration work.

Ballard students bring apocalypse to garden show

michaelh — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 09:23:13 -0800

Visitors to the 2010 Northwest Flower and Garden Show, which opened Feb. 3, may be shocked by one of the gardens they see situated amongst the more prim, pretty and perfect gardens at the show.

"Viridis Veni Vidi Vici," created by Ballard High School agriculture students, is a depiction of nature reclaiming an abandoned school – a post-apocalyptic garden.

"People will either love it or hate it," said Emerald McAmis, one of the students behind the project.

The garden features graffitied walls, mangled books and broken desks being taken over by plants grown in the Ballard High School greenhouse and other collected plants, such as weeds and blackberry bushes.

"It's not going to be like anything else at the flower show," said India Carlson, who teaches horticulture and botany at Ballard High School and supervised the project.

The garden is part of the Northwest Flower and Garden Show's Funky Junk program, which allows high school students and nonprofit organizations to create garden displays using recycled and found objects.

Funky Junk was started a few years ago, but this is the first year Ballard High School students have participated.

Despite the chaotic look of the finished project, Carlson said it took a lot of planning to make the garden look unplanned because in reality nature would take over in a non-ordered way.

About 16 Ballard students started on the project in November. They worked on it during winter break and on weekends, and the 10 students who stuck with it installed the garden Jan. 31.

"I'm pretty impressed because it really was their project," Carlson said of her students. "It's student-driven. It's not Ms. Carlson's garden. It's Ballard High School's garden."

"Viridis Veni Vidi Vici" benefitted from donations from Limback Lumber, Swanson's Nursery and the ReStore.

Student Reena Mays said the project was a lot of fun, and McAmis said they learned more about by plants through attempting to make the garden look nature-made instead of manmade.

Carlson said the experience of creating the garden was invaluable to the students.

"You just don't get to plant a garden very often as students," she said.

She said the students worked together to create the garden, but there was some division along gender lines.

Catlin Baker, another student involved in the garden, said she expected the boys to be more hands on and the girls to sit back, but it was really the opposite.

The boys in her class got more hands on when it came time to destroy things for the garden, Carlson said.

Despite the hard work and stress accompanying the creation of the garden, Carlson said she would be open to participating again next year.

"If I have a group of students interested in it, I will totally do it again," she said.

Next year she said she would try to recruit other agriculture teachers in Seattle to get their classes to participate.

There are only two other high school participating in Funky Junk at this year's Northwest Flower and Garden Show, and Carlson said she is pretty sure Ballard is the first public high school in Seattle to participate.

Ballard ended up taking second place out of the three high schools, and Carlson said overall their garden seemed to be a hit.

She said some people couldn't figure out what they were going for, but others said it was a good reminder to take care of the planet.

Beavers keep playoff hopes alive

michaelh — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:20:19 -0800

WIth four games remaining and a playoff berth hanging in the balance, the Ballard HIgh School boys basketball team took care of business Feb. 2 against Redmond, earning a 69-59 victory and keeping its hopes for a second-straight KingCo playoff appearance alive.

Senior Gary Smith led the Beavers with a game-high 21 points. Junior Salim Gloyd finished with 16.

"Our focus was excellent last night, as was our ball movement and unselfishness on offense," coach Billy Rodgers said. "I don’t think we played a complete game, but we played a very strong three quarters."

The Beavers let a 22-point lead in the third quarter narrow a bit but were able to recover.

"Redmond had been playing well, so beating them was a solid win," Rodgers said.

The win puts Ballard at 4-8 in KingCo and 6-11 overall. More importantly, it ties them with Redmond for the eighth and final playoff spot.

"There is a lot basketball to be played," Rodgers said. "We need to stay committed to an unselfish approach on offense and [make] a commitment to defense."

The Beavers are only half a game ahead of Newport and Roosevelt in the standings with a daunting season-closing stretch on the horizon.

Woodinville (8-5 in KingCo), Bothell (6-7 in KingCo) and Roosevelt (4-9 in KingCo) each beat Ballard in their previous meetings this season.

The Beavers lost 44-38 to Woodinville Dec. 18, 52-37 to Bothell Jan. 8 and 59-52 to Roosevelt Jan. 15.

Ballard will need to find a way to win against those opponents to give themselves a good shot at the playoffs.

"Each game becomes very important this time of the year," Rodgers said. "It is nice to be in the hunt."

The Beavers start with Woodinville at 8 p.m. on Feb. 5 at Ballard High School.

Search warrant served in Ballard

michaelh — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:04:10 -0800

At approximately 2:07 p.m. on Feb. 2, Seattle Police robbery detectives received a tip in an on-going pattern robbery case that led them to the 3000 block of Northwest 63rd Street.

With the assistance from the SWAT team, a search warrant was served on a residence and two adult subjects, one male and one female, were detained.

There were no other subjects located at the scene.

Robbery detectives subsequently interviewed and released both subjects pending further investigation.

This remains an active and on-going Robbery Unit investigation.

'Troublemaker's Mother' debuting at Nordic Heritage Museum

michaelh — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:06:43 -0800

Every Feb. 28, Finns and Fennophiles everywhere honor the Finnish national epic, "Kalevala (Land of the Heroes)," compiled by Elias Lönnrot and published more than a century and a half ago.

There is particular excitement surrounding this year’s local celebration, for it marks the second musical adaptation from that source by Seattle writer Nick DiMartino.

His popular "Sampo (The Magic Mill)" was the highlight of the national FinnFest held on the University of Washington Campus in 1999.

DiMartino’s new work, "Troublemaker’s Mother," is derived from the story of “wanton lover boy” Lemminkäinen and his adoring and long-suffering mother.

This adaptation retains the classic elements of tragedy – pride, passion, betrayal, violence and death – while mining the humor beneath the somber surface.

In bringing this work to the stage, DiMartino is joined by composer Kim Douglass, director Lori Larsen and a cast of talented performers, including some returning from the "Sampo" production.

Performances of "Troublemaker’s Mother are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 26 and Feb. 27 and 3 p.m. on Feb. 27 and Fen. 28 in the Nordic Heritage Museum at 3014 N.W. 67th St.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for museum members and $15 for students and seniors. Children 12 and under are free with accompanying adult. To purchase tickets, please call 206.789.5707 ext. 10.

"Troublemaker’s Mother" is produced by Finlandia Foundation Seattle Chapter – an organization dedicated to the dissemination of Finnish arts and culture in Greater Puget Sound.

Mariners pitcher hosts baseball clinic

emily_dreisbach — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:36:48 -0800

Seattle Mariners pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith gathered 60 elementary school-aged children in the gym at the Ballard Boys & Girls Club on Jan. 31 to talk about his experience with the team and answer questions related to baseball skills.

Rowland-Smith, who lives in Greenlake, organized the clinic independently of the Mariners and said he picked out the closest Boys & Girls Club to get children excited for the start of baseball season.

It is the second year that Rowland-Smith has held the clinic. Attendance last year was limited to club members, but this year the spike in participants was partly thanks to the fact that attendance was opened to the community.

Rowland-Smith signed photos after the talk.

Ballard resident Mitchell Below said it was generous of Rowland-Smith to share his time with the children and he seems to have a great way with children.

“[I came to the clinic because] my sister-in-law has an immense crush on him, and I wanted to get a photo,” said Below.

Ballard After Dark: Nightlife – not for weekends only

michaelh — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:30:03 -0800

Ed. Note: Ballard After Dark is a new online column on the neighborhood's nightlife by Ballardite Lindsey Johnson.

Ask anyone about local nightlife, and inevitably they tell you about the late-night weekend scene with crowded bars and restaurants, cabs home and sometimes that dreaded hangover.

But, what about those five nights in between the weekends when our brains crave a break from work and our regular routines? Is there something for us to do that gets us out of the house without spending a lot of money or being out late?

The answer is yes, thanks to bar trivia nights.

Many local bars and restaurants hold trivia nights during the week, a perfect way to get away from the TV, meet with friends and have some fun.

The best part? It’s cheap! Anywhere from $0 to $10 a team, with typically up to six people.

Share a plate of appetizers and a pitcher or two of beer, and walk out spending less than if you had gone to a movie.

Plus you don’t need to dress up or take a cab, and you are home in time to get a good night’s sleep.

You're sold on this idea aren't you? So, here are some tips on who to recruit for a successful team.

First, everyone knows that one person who seems to be an endless source of random facts and information.

They can answer more than three Jeopardy questions, and for some reason know not only that the 1956 Summer Olympics were in Melbourne but that the gold medal winner of the mens field hockey competition was India. (“What?” they reply. “It was briefly mentioned on a History Channel show three years ago.”)

Next up is the science/environmental guru since there are certainly questions dealing with topics like the average rainfall of some jungle, the periodic table or ligaments in the knee joint.

The third key player is pretty easy to find – a guy.

I say this because sports, weapons and cars are three very common trivia categories, and the majority of my female friends do not know what kind of gun a Mossberg is.

Last, but certainly not least because I myself tend to fall into this category, is the current gossip fiend.

This is someone who reads the entertainment blogs and knows the name of the first reported mistress – Rachel Uchitel – of Tiger Woods. (No googling for me!)

Trivia nights love to add in current news, so read up, especially articles about entertainment and political scandals.

If you read that last paragraph and are thinking to yourself, “Meh, trivia is not for me. I am not a science geek, I remember nothing from U.S. history class, and I never have time to read up on politics. I don’t fit into any of those categories,” fear not!

I personally guarantee that you will have a blast and will be good for at least one question, and it will be an important one. Yes, that is right, I guarantee it.

Every trivia team I have participated on has one person that complains they know none of the answers, then when it counts most, are quick to name Jem’s holographic computer, Synergy.

Also, there are lots of questions on music, movies and food, and two of my favorite trivia hotspots, Lockspot Café and Conor Byrne Pub, also offer between-round games that have nothing to do with answering questions.

So get off your couches, gather some friends and hit up one of the local trivia joints to unleash your competitive spirit because Ballard offers some of the best trivia around.

A good Web site to check times and schedules is www.quiznight.net. If you have any tips, recommendations or trivia answers you are especially proud of knowing, be sure and post them in the comments.

Lindsey Johnson is a devoted Ballardite who loves spending time reading, discovering local eateries and exploring the nightlife Ballard and surrounding areas have to offer. To offer ideas on the latest and greatest activities, email her at ballardafterdark@yahoo.com.

B-MONT O'Rama- Everything nightlife in Ballard and Fremont

Rebekah — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:09:35 -0800

February CONCERTS and SPECIALS

BALLARD

Bad Albert's Tap and Grill
 5100 Ballard Ave. N.W.
 782-9623
 Happy Hour: 3 to 6 p.m. daily, $1 off appetizers, beers and well drinks on special.
 Thursdays, 8 to 10:30 p.m. No cover 
Taste of the Blues, featuring Annieville Blues and her special guests 
Sundays, 5 to 8:30 p.m. No cover 
Bill Chism, Jazz and guitar
First Saturday of the month, 9 to midnight. No cover 
Cooke and Green Live (acoustical blues)

BalMar
 5449 Ballard Ave. N.W.
 297-0500 
Happy Hour: 5 to 7 p.m. daily. No cover. 
Thursday through Sunday, DJ 
Mondays, Happy Hour food all day until 10 p.m. 
Tuesdays, Trivia upstairs at 7:30
 Wednesdays, 50 percent off regular price of all full bottles of wine 
Bella Cocktail Event -- monthly
Each month BalMar hosts The Bella -- a swanky, after-work cocktail party for professional, gay women. Sip. Flirt. Mingle. For details, email us at thebella@thebalmar.com. All women are welcome. 7 to 9 p.m. in the upstairs bar. Free admission.

Ballard Loft 
5105 Ballard Ave. N.W. 
420-2737
 Happy Hour Monday through Friday, 4 to 6 p.m., $1 off wells/drafts, half off appetizers
 info@ballardloft.com
 Manic Monday Industry Night (must show industry proof), playing the best of the 1980s 
Trivia Tuesdays (cash prizes), 8 p.m. 
Wine-O-Wednesdays, half off wine and specialty cocktails
 Thirsty Thursday, Shuffle and Buck Hunter Tourney (7 p.m.), $1 off drafts all night

Bop Street Records 
5219 Ballard Ave. N.W.
 297-2232 
All shows are Free, All Ages In-Store Performances
TBA

Cafe Keffa
 7001 15th Ave. N.W.
 "Unpretentious" open mic night Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. with signups at 6.
 No cover charge, but there is a very small drink minimum.
 All-ages venue, acoustic only.

Conor Byrne Pub
 5140 Ballard Ave. N.W. 
784-3640 
Music starts at 9 p.m., cover on Friday/Saturday. 
Happy Hour: 3 to 7 p.m. daily. Micro pints are $2:50, pitchers $10.50. Rainier is $1.75 for a pint and $7 for a pitcher. 50 cents off all bottled beers.
 Mondays, Bluegrass Jam 
Sundays, Open Mic with Ricky
 Tuesdays, Ol' Time Social

Feb. 2 - Ol' Time Social, hosted by members of the Tallboys - free

Feb. 3 - Broomdust Blues Jam - free

Feb. 4 - MoZo, Tippy Canoe, Antonette G, Dexter Street Stompers - $7

Feb. 5 - Westerly, Facts About Funerals, Cady Wire - $7

Feb. 6 - Creeping Time, Hillfolk Noir - $5

Feb. 7 - Open Mic w/Josiah - free

Feb. 9 - Ol' Time Social, hosted by members of the Tallboys - free

Feb. 10 - Brainiac Beatdown Trivia - free

Feb. 11 - Vince Mtz. and the Blue Yonder, NoRey, Amy Jo Savannah - $5

Feb. 12 - Yogoman Burning Band, Sarazin Blake - $8

Feb. 13 - Valentine's shenanigans w/the Illicit Jug Cartel, God's Favorite Beefcake, Lonesome Shack, The Whisky Swillers, and Burlesque Beauties! - $8

Feb. 14 - Piper's Club - West Coast Tionol - Recitals & Session 4-11ish - free

Feb. 16 - Ol' Time Social, hosted by members of the Tallboys - free

Feb. 17 - Honky Tonk Revue - $6

Feb. 18 - The Susan Harper Conspiracy, Birds May Bite, Alicia Healy

Feb. 19 - Pert Near Sandstone, Lonesome Rhodes, Native Guerrillas - $7

Feb. 20 - Legendary Oaks

Feb. 21 - Open Mic w/Josiah - free

Feb. 23 - Ol' Time Social, hosted by members of the Tallboys - free

Feb. 24 - Brainiac Beatdown Trivia - free

Feb. 25 - Deep Dark Woods, Nettle Honey

Feb. 26 - Southern Skies, Cast Iron Maiden

Feb. 27 - Purty Mouth, Sneakin' Out, Ashleigh Flynn

Feb. 28 - Open Mic w/Josiah - free

Egan's Ballard Jam House
 1707 N.W. Market St. 
789-1621

Feb 2
7pm - "That's Impossible!" - A magic/comedy show featuring Tony Comito, Rick Anderson, and Louie Foxx! ($10 cover)

Feb 4
7pm - Susan Robinson, with Darin Clendenin (piano), Clipper Anderson (bass) and Mark Ivester (drums) ($10 cover)
9pm - Susan Robinson, with Darin Clendenin (piano), Clipper Anderson (bass) and Mark Ivester (drums) ($10 cover)

Feb 5
7pm - Port Townsend Songwriters Larry Johnson and Gary Engbrecht. Original acoustic gems. ($10 cover)
9pm - Dina Blade and Friends, with Greg Glassman (guitar), Chuck Kistler (bass) and Jim Knodle (trumpet) - Jazz, Folk, and Bossa Nova! ($8 cover)

Feb 6
7pm - Lucy's Large Lovefest, featuring Lucy Diamond (aka Elise Kloter). With Hans Brehmer on piano, Rick Leppanen on bass, Don Dieterich on drums, backup vocals with Ruby Garnet (Ann Nicolaysen) and Sapphire Sadie (Raisen Cathon), and of course, Lucy Diamond herself! Should be a romping good time! ($10 cover)
9pm - The Hayburners: Jennifer Spector & David Tieman, with special opener Al Hirsch on the baritone uke! ($8 cover)

Feb 12
7pm - Susan Carr
9pm - Dwight Beckmeyer CD Release

Fu Kun Wu at Thaiku 
5410 Ballard Ave. N.W. 
706-7807
 Wednesdays, The Ron Weinstein Trio 
Thursdays, Fu Kun Wu Trio

Lombardi's Live  
2200 N.W. Market St. 
783-0055
 Every Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. to midnight - free. 
For information, please visit www.ponyboyrecords.com

Salmon Bay Eagles 
5216 20th Ave. N.W. 
783-7791
 Music starts at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday and 7:30 on weekends 
No cover
TBA

Smokin Pete's BBQ
 1918 N.W. 65th St. 
783-0454
 Thursday Night Live, 6:30 p.m., all ages, no cover

Feb. 4 — Jazzmeat 

Feb. 11 — Andrew Buchanan

Feb. 18 — Folk Voice Band

Feb. 25 — Armstrong Lawton

Sonic Boom Records
 2209 N.W. Market St. 
297-2666 
TBA

The Sunset 
5433 Ballard Ave.
 784-4880
 Tickets for shows can be purchased at www.ticketweb.com 
Happy Hour: Every night from 6 to 8 p.m., $1 off all drinks and $2 PBR's.

Feb. 2, 9pm: Doctor and the Bird, Radioshark, guests - $6

Feb. 3, 9pm: Salmon Thrasher, Koozbane, Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk, Alica - $6

Feb. 4, 9pm: The Age of Aquarius Dance Party with DJ BJ Slumbers, DJ Child of the Dust, Ponce De Leon, DJ Fiddle Faddle - FREE

Feb. 5, 7pm: Terri Tarantula (record release show), Tresspassers William - $7

Feb. 5, 10pm: Betsy Olson, Jack Wilson and The Wife Stealers, Molly Rose - $8

Feb. 6, 8:30pm: KEXP presents the Audioasis showcase and benefit with music by D. Black, Blood Red Dancers, People Eating People and a special KEXP DJ set with Hannah Levin - $7 advance tickets / $8 day of show

Feb. 7, 4pm: Sunday Bloody Sunset presents: Chelsea Speed Party, Innuendo, The Mothers Anger - $5

Feb. 9, 9pm: Motorist, Weatherbox, Off Shore Radio - $6

Feb. 10, 9pm: Gladiators Eat Fire, Solid Gold Eagle, Happy Birthday Secret Weapon - $6

Feb. 11, 9pm: Leslie and the Badgers, Lindsay Fuller and the Cheap Dates - $7

Feb. 12, 10pm: Volcom's Blizzard Bizzare Tour with Kandi Coded, Valis, ASG - FREE!

Feb. 13, 10pm: Shim, The Spinning Whips, High Class Wreckage - $8 advance tickets / $10 day of show

Feb. 14, 4pm: Sunday Bloody Sunset presents: A special Valentine's Day Party. Fall in love and feel the heartbreak with The Witness playing 60's soul - $5

Feb. 14, 9pm: Nick Jaina, Rauelsson, Kaylee Cole - $6

Feb. 15, 6pm: Kung Fu Grindhouse - FREE

Feb. 16, 8pm: Fez and Mask presents: The Sunset Mardi Gras party with DJ Taco Supreme, Beads! Dance party! King Cake! - $6

Feb. 17, 9pm: Open Choir Fire, System and Station, Friend-O - $6

Feb. 18, 8:30pm: Seattle Improvised Music Festival with Chris Corsano (NYC), C. Spencer Yeh (Cincinnati), Wall Shoup and Bill Horist - $10

Feb. 19, 9pm: Scraps, Watch It Sparkle, Panama Gold, Summer Babes - $8

Feb. 20 10pm: The Purrs, Hotels, Black Mercies - $8

Feb. 21, 4pm: Sunday Bloody Sunset presents: The Snow, Spiderface, Three Legged Dog - $5

Feb. 21, 9pm: The Magic Mirrors, Doctor Doctor, Old Cuban - $6

Feb. 22, 8:30pm: Black Monday - A night of goth, industrial, dance and ebm with musical guests The Daughters of Bristol (CD Release), Hands of Kali and DJ Coldheart - $6

Feb. 24, 9pm: Gavis Guss, Low Places, Silohs - $6

Feb. 25, 9pm: Finn Riggins, The Globes, Boy Eats Drum Machine - $7

Feb. 26 9:30pm: Damien Jurado, The Robinsons (of Viva Voce), Jen Wood - $10 advance tickets / $12 dos

Feb. 26, 10pm: Curtains For You, Little Pieces, Chris Robley and the Fear of Heights - $8

Feb. 28, 4pm: Sunday Bloody Sunset presents: Zach Stokes, Hurricane Lanterns - $5

Feb. 28, 9pm: Kasey Anderson, Matthew Ryan, Shasta Bree - $7

Tractor Tavern
 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W. 
789-3599
 Tickets for shows can be purchased at www.ticketweb.com. 
Tickets also available at Sonic Boom in Ballard.

Feb. 1 - THE FIASCO, RANE STONE Cover: $6 Time: 8pm

Feb. 3 - YAKUP TRANA, THE HEAD AND THE HEART, BRYAN JOHN APPLEBY Cover: $7 Time: 8pm

Feb. 4 - THE TOWN PANTS, OCKHAM'S RAZOR Cover: $8 Time: 9pm

Feb. 5 - THE BLASTERS, MEMPHIS RADIO KINGS Cover: $18adv/$20dos Time: 9pm

Feb. 6 - CLUMSY LOVERS, CODY BEEBE & THE CROOKS Cover: $10adv/$12dos Time: 9:30pm

Feb. 8 - MONDAY SQUARE DANCE feat. music by THE TALLBOYS Cover: $5 Time: 7pm

Feb. 9 - DAWES, CORY CHISEL & THE WANDERING SONS, JASON BOESEL of Rilo Kiley Cover: $10 Time: 8pm

Feb. 10 - THE GOURDS, SHINYRIBS Cover: $15 Time: 8pm

Feb. 11 - THE PIMPS OF JOYTIME, HAIKU-CHI Cover: $10 Time: 9:30pm

Feb. 12 - SCOTT H. BIRAM, THE DIRT DAUBERS feat. Colonel JD of The Legendary Shack Shakers Cover: $12 Time: 9:30pm

Feb. 13 - AARON DANIEL, BIG HIGH, FURNITURE GIRLS Cover: $8 Time: 9:30pm

Feb. 15 - JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE, JOE PUG Cover: $12adv/$15dos ~ Time: 8pm

Feb. 16 - RED HEART ALARM, THE PHANTOM SONS, TBA Cover: $6 Time: 8pm

Feb. 17 - MOONALICE, MONTE MONTGOMERY Cover: $10adv/$12dos Time: 9pm

Feb. 18 - JUNO WHAT ?! feat. members of The Motet, TBA Cover: $10 Time: 9pm

Feb. 19 - YOUNG FRESH FELLOWS, GIRL TROUBLE Cover: $10 Time: 9:30pm

Feb. 20 - PORT O'BRIEN, TBA Cover: $8adv/$10dos Time: 9:30pm

Feb. 21 - JAMES McMURTRY, JONNY BURKE Cover: $15adv/$17dos ~ Time: 8pm

Feb. 22 - MONDAY SQUARE DANCE feat. music by THE TALLBOYS Cover: $5 Time: 7pm

Feb. 23 - OAKHURST, MILLION DOLLAR NILE Cover: $8 Time: 8pm

Feb. 24 - FRED EAGLESMITH, THE STARLINGS Cover: $20adv/$22dos Time: 7pm

Feb. 25 - PETE BERNHARD of Devil Makes Three, ZOE MUTH & THE LOST HIGH ROLLERS, SCOTT WETZEL & THE NORTHENDERS Cover: $8 Time: 9pm

Feb. 26 - BLVD, THE PANDA CONSPIRACY, THE ACORN PROJECT Cover: $10 Time: 9pm

Feb. 27 - THE FULL MONTY Join OPSB Rugby for a night of culture and dance at the 8th Annual Full Monty. For more information visit www.opsbrugby.com or email opsbrugby@gmail.com Cover: $20adv/$25dos Time: 9pm

Feb. 28 - benefit for Vic Chesnutt’s family feat. IAN MOORE, JASON DODSON of The Maldives, MARC OLSEN, MIKE DUMOVICH w/ ANNE MARIE RULJANCICH & LORI GOLDSTON, ERIN JOURGENSEN, YOUR HEART BREAKS--more to be announced soon. All proceeds will go directly to Chesnutt's family to help pay off his remaining medical bills. Cover: $10 suggested donation. Time: 8pm

FREMONT

The Dubliner
 3405 Fremont Ave. N. 
548-1508
 Happy Hour: 3 to 7 p.m., $2 pints, wells and wine. $1 well drinks until 11 on Wednesdays. 
Sundays, Happy Hour All Day, Free Pool 
Trivia at 8 p.m. 
Mondays, Karaoke, 9 p.m. 
$4.50 Mugs of Sam Adams
 Tuesday, Rock Band at 9 p.m. 
$3 Pints of Pyramid Hefeweizen
 $1 Pulled Pork Sliders
 Wednesdays, College Night
 $1 Wells, 8 to 11 p.m. 
$2 Wells, 11 to Close 
40¢ Hot Wings 
Thursdays, Open Mic 
Sign up @8:30
 $2.75 Pints of New Belgium
 $1 Pulled Pork Sliders

High Dive 
513 N. 36th St.
 632-0212 
Happy Hour: Monday through Thursday 6 to 7 p.m., 5 to 7 p.m. Sundays. $5 PBR pitchers, $3 wells and draft beers. 
See www.highdiveseattle.com to view an upcoming schedule.

Nectar 
412 N. 36th St.
 632-2020 
Shows start at 9 p.m. 
Happy Hour: Tuesday through Sunday 5 to 7 p.m.
Free music Fridays with Arcade VJ. 
See www.nectarlounge.com to view an upcoming schedule.

Red Door Alehouse
 3401 Evanston Ave. N. 
547-7521
 Happy Hour: Monday through Friday, 3 to 6 p.m., $1 off all pints.
 Cribbage every Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Green My Ballard: Vacilando? I mean, just walk

michaelh — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:38:39 -0800

I really like to walk. I do it mostly because I have two dogs that like to walk even more than I do.

There’s something about “just walking” that feels good and gets the blood flowing. I love seeing different gardens and what folks do to them.

Walking in the rain? Great! Walking at night? Well, that’s a treat only city-dwellers can do.

I had a conversation with someone recently that makes my little jaunts look like a walk in the park.

Brian Kern, co-owner of Dandelion Botanical, an herbal apothecary located in downtown Ballard, likes to walk, too.

He and local author and friend Tom Trimbath go for all-day walks, 10 or even 20 miles at a time.

He calls it “vacilando," a quote from Steinbeck’s “Travels with Charley."

Steinbeck writes: "In Spanish there is a word for which I can't find a counterword in English. It is the verb vacilar, present participle vacilando. It does not mean vacillating at all. If one is vacilando, he is going somewhere, but does not greatly care whether or not he gets there, although he has direction."

With vacilando in mind, Brian and Tom have walked all of the named streets in downtown Seattle. Then, on another outing, the numbered ones.

What’s a day of walking like?

“We walk until we’re hungry, then we walk until we’re tired”, says Brian.

He makes it sound easy, but I bet he sleeps well at the end of the day.

Other trips have included walking from Fremont to the Bremerton ferry and exploring downtown Bremerton.

In a time when everyone seems so driven and busy, it’s great to hear stories about just walking for the heck of it – just because it’s fun.

Next chance you get, walk on down to Dandelion and visit Brian for yourself. Start your own “vacilando” and see your city from the ground up.

Rhonda lives in Ballard and is the Urban Crop Circle Project Leader for Sustainable Ballard. Questions, Comments, Ideas? You can reach her at Rhonda@sustainableballard.org.