Ballard

On a typical summer day, kids are attending baseball camps, playing basketball, going on field trips or working on computers at the Ballard Boys and Girls Club, where the motto is "the positive place for kids."

All this makes the club a busy place with sports camps alone bringing in 150 kids daily. The club has an annual membership of 1,800 and also runs three day care programs in the Ballard, Magnolia and Queen Anne area. "This is one of the busiest clubs in the city.

Rebecca Louise Smith, daughter of Ballard residents Peter W. and Cheryl L. Smith, received a $1,500 President's Scholarship for the 2007-2008 academic year from Western Washington University.

President's Scholarships are awarded to approximately the top 8 to 10 percent of incoming freshmen and transfer students, and are based on superior academic achievement.

Smith is an incoming freshman at Western and earned a 3.77 GPA from Ingraham High School.

At Large in Ballard by Peggy Sturdivant

I am drawn to old school buildings, the closer to being demolished or discarded, the better. Often my relationships with these old buildings are doomed from the beginning, but in the best-case scenarios these old-style schools take on even greater roles in the community, serving as veritable incubators for all ages of learners.

My first year in Seattle was spent on Queen Anne; perhaps no coincidence that former high school was sold and converted to condominiums the same year.

Most fire calls are not for fires, but for first aid and the mission of the Seattle Fire Department is to prevent the loss of life and property resulting from fires, medical emergencies and other disasters.

"The fire department has a layered response system," said Helen Fitzpatrick, public information officer of the Fire Department. "About 80 percent of the calls we get are for non-fire situations.

"If it's more serious, one of the medic units will be dispatched," said Fitzpatrick.

Navy Ensign Jeffrey M. Stolsig, a 2003 graduate of Ballard High School recently completed the four-year officer development program at the U. S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Stolsig learned basic skills in seamanship, navigation, infantry drill, marksmanship and sailing. Throughout four years at the Naval Academy, he studied courses in engineering, science, mathematics, humanities and social science while undergoing extensive training in leadership, discipline, athletics and character development. Stolsig also fulfilled the community relations requirements.

Some believe the extension of the new Burke-Gilman Trail from Northwest 60th Street to Golden Gardens Park can cause traffic problems while a another says some trail signs are not consistent.

The comments came at a meeting last week where residents voiced their concerns and questions.

A large segment of the trail runs along Seaview Avenue to Golden Gardens Park. Sharon Briggs, Recreational Boating Manager for the Port of Seattle, expressed concern that construction traffic will negatively impact nearby businesses.

Contractor Steve Murdoch, of C.A.

The Greenwood Senior Center's long awaited remodeling project is set to begin soon with changes coming to the main room and other areas. Work is expected to take about three weeks.

Most visitors to the center know the main room as "The Greenwood Room," because of the distinctive glass panel over the doorway, painted with that name. The walls will be renovated and new curtains installed.

Classes like tai chi, support groups, beauty and health services will move downstairs while the work is done on the Greenwood Room.

The largest and oldest sidewalk sale in Seattle has become a tradition as the business community welcomes the annual Ballard SeafoodFest each summer with deals and bargains for shoppers.

The four-day sale starts on July 26, two days before the SeafoodFest begins and has been going on since 1942.

"We love to do this for our customers to find bargains and enjoy their shopping in downtown Ballard," said Ballard Merchants Association President Mary Hurley, who owns Best Regards.

Over 100 businesses on Market Street and Ballard Avenue are expected to participate in

This year's 33rd Annual Ballard SeafoodFest is going green during the weekend event.

The Ballard Chamber of Commerce's new Sustainability Committee has taken a number of measures to reduce material and energy waste generated by the weekend-long festival.

"I suspect that this is the future of events, that there will be more and more push for events to do these kinds of things because clearly we have generated a lot of trash in the past," said Beth Miller, executive director of the Ballard Chamber of Commerce, which annually organizes the event.

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