Ballard Preschool Cooperative (a program of Phinney Neighborhood Association at 7503 18th Ave NW) is hosting an open house this Saturday, January 24, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

The cooperative comprises of a nurturing community of instructors and families with children aged 5 and younger. The team offers classes for children from birth through pre-K.

“The play-based curriculum supports children’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive development and provides parents the opportunity to significantly contribute to their child’s preschool experience,” says the Ballard Preschool Cooperative team.

All are welcome to attend the open house to meet the teachers, view the classroom and learn about the program. RSVP to the All-School Chair at bpc.allschoolchair@gmail.com if you are able to attend.

Click here to learn more about the preschool.

Welcome to another fantastic weekend! Enjoy it in Ballard.

Friday, January 23

• 2015 Ballard Pie Party at The Salmon Bay Eagles (5216 20th Ave NW) from 6:30 p.m. The event is a fundraiser for the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research. The event will feature a pie buffet both savory and sweet with live music. Bring a pie for the buffet or $20 per person. Click here to learn more.
• Live music at Conor Byrne Pub (5140 Ballard Ave NW) at 9 p.m. Featuring The Swearengens, Andrea Peterman and McDougall. Tickets $8. Click here to purchase tickets and for more information.
• Live Music at Tractor Tavern (5213 Ballard Ave NW) at 9 p.m. Featuring the Whiskey Syndicate (Album Release) W/ Van Eps  and Massy Ferguson. Click here to purchase tickets and for more information.

Saturday, January 24

• Ornamental Woodcarving for adults at the Nordic Heritage Museum (3014 NW 67th St) from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Students will concentrate on the fundamental leaf formations of the Acanthus style, working up combinations of the Acanthus curl, or explore the Viking/Dragon style. Click here to find out more.
• Coffee Treats Cooking Class at the Nordic Heritage Museum (3014 NW 67th St) from 2 p.m. –  4 p.m. Join the team for one or more of the Saturday morning hands-on classes to learn how to cook afternoon coffee treats from each of the five Nordic countries. Review the history and culture of each treat, roll up your sleeves and cook, then stay afterward for a proper Nordic fika. Click here to find out more and to register.
• Live music at Conor Byrne Pub (5140 Ballard Ave NW) at 9 p.m. Featuring Crying Shame, Stage 11 and Hotel Vignette. Tickets $8. Click here to purchase tickets and for more information.
• Live Music at Tractor Tavern (5213 Ballard Ave NW) at 9 p.m. Featuring American Honkey Tonk ‑ Whitey Morgan & the 78’s with Joe Fletcher. Click here to purchase tickets and for more information.

Sunday, January 25

• Ballard Farmers Market along Ballard Ave from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Click here to see this week’s specials.
• Australia Day Celebrations at the Kangaroo and Kiwi Pub (2026 NW Market St) from 11 a.m. Join the Australian festivities including a bbq and the annual pie eating contest. Click here to find out more.
• Free Opera Concert presented by The Ladies Musical Club of Seattle at the Ballard Odd Fellows Hall (1706 NW Market St) from 2 p.m. Click here to find out more.
• Live Music at Tractor Tavern (5213 Ballard Ave NW) at 8 p.m. Featuring True West Presents: Willie Watson and Guests. Click here to purchase tickets and for more information.

Know of more events? Email the information to tips@myballard.com

The team at Seattle ReCreative is hosting their grand reopening in their new space at 8408 Greenwood Ave N this Saturday, January 24.

The day-long celebration of Seattle’s first creative reuse and art center will include 20% off purchases of reused materials, free workshops and Make & Take crafting sessions, snacks and beverages, a raffle and tours of the new space.

The festivities will kick off at 10 a.m. for shopping and all ages art-making, and a party with music, special cocktails, beer from Hilliard’s will be held from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

If you would like to make a donation of materials, please contact the team in advance to schedule an appointment.

Workshops will be held throughout the day for children and adults. Click here to check out the workshop schedule.

With Seahawks mania in full swing, we thought it was time to take a look back at some of the Ballard sports teams from back in the day.

The black and white photo below shows the 1920 Whittier Baseball Team standing in what appears to be a shed.

The black and white photo below, also taken in 1920, features the “Ballard 75th Team” of young boys in a field with houses in the background.

The black and white photo below shows the 1948 Ballard High School baseball team sitting on the steps of the school.

The black and white photo below, taken in 1920, shows young athletes lining up for the start at a Ballard track meet.

Photos and information courtesy of Ballard Historical Society.

Two subdivision applications, one subdivision approval and an application for a 4-story structure make up today’s development update from the City of Seattle’s Department of Planning and Development (DPD) as posted in the Land Use Information Bulletin.

6721 Alonzo Ave NW

A Land Use Application has been submitted to subdivide one development site into two unit lots. The construction of residential units is under Project #6405065. 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.

6301 15th Ave NW

A Land Use Application has been submitted to allow a 4-story structure containing 61 residential units and 2 live/work units with ground level retail. No parking proposed. Existing structures to be demolished.

2229 NW 60th St

A Land Use Application has been submitted to subdivide one development site into two unit lots. The construction of residential units is under Project #6440500. 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.

Decision:

6742 Alonzo Ave NW

A Land Use Application has been approved to subdivide one development site into three unit lots. The construction of residential units has been approved under Project #6394909. 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.

Appeals of this decision must be received by the Hearing Examiner no later than February 5, 2015.

Comments about the above applications should be submitted to PRC@seattle.gov or mailed to the address below:

City of Seattle DPD PRC
700 5th Avenue Suite 2000
PO Box 34019
Seattle, WA  98124-4019

This Friday and next local Hawks fans can sweeten up their day with some free KuKuRuZa popcorn.

Simply stop by the Ballard store (2211 NW Market St ) while wearing your Seahawks gear and receive one free flight bag of “Beast Corn” all day while supplies last.

The local company is celebrating the Seahawks with the special popcorn that is made with real lime and blueberry.

Head down and be rewarded for your 12th Man pride!

Lucy the dog is still lost in the Ballard area after being missing since January 13.

She is a white and beige Chihuahua mix and was last spotted near Loyal Heights Elementary and North Beach Park.

Lucy is described as being very shy with strangers

If you have seen Lucy contact Christina Weis at (206) 549-0393 day or night or email christinaweis@gmail.com.

A reward is being offered for Lucy’s safe return.

Around 800 volunteers will be involved in the 2015 annual One Night Count that is set for the early hours of Friday morning. Volunteers will take part in counting the number of unsheltered homeless people around Seattle and beyond.

The effort is organized by the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness (SKCCH) with support from the Committee to End Homelessness in King County (CEH) and dozens of local and state nonprofit and government partners.

The teams of volunteers will return to areas all over Seattle, Ballard included. Teams are led by trained captains, and count in specific areas to look for people sleeping in doorways, under bridges, or in their cars.

The Coalition also collects information about people who are seeking shelter in local hospital emergency rooms, on Metro night owl buses, and at special overnight events to document youth and young adults who are homeless.

During the day on Friday, volunteers with the Coalition are set to conduct in-person surveys at community locations to gather additional information about people who are surviving outdoors, including veterans and people who are chronically homeless.

The data collected before and at the count informs elected officials and planners at all levels of government about the extent of homelessness in King County.

Last year volunteers counted a total of 3,123 men, women and children trying to survive in cars, tents, by riding all night buses, waiting in hospital emergency rooms, or curling up in blankets under bridges or in doorways.

Click here to find out how you can assist the One Night Count effort and to find out more information about Friday’s count.

Seattle’s Landmarks Preservation Board is set to consider nomination of the Wiggen & Sons Funeral Home (2003 NW 57^th Street in Ballard) for landmark status.

The board will deliberate on the decision on on Wednesday, March 4, at 3:30 p.m in the Seattle Municipal Tower (700 5th Ave, 40th Floor, Room 4060).

Locals are invited to attend the meeting and give their opinions on the nomination. Written comments will also be accepted at the mailing address below until  March 3 at 3 p.m.

Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
PO Box 94649
Seattle, WA 98124-4649

A copy of the Landmark Nomination is currently available for public review at Ballard Library (5614 22nd Ave NW) and at the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods office in the Seattle Municipal Tower (700 5th Ave, Suite 1700).

An electronic version is also available online.

Photo of Wiggen & Sons from 1946 courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Board.

One lane on the Ballard Bridge will be closed this week while SDOT crews make accident repairs.

The southbound right lane will be closed from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. from Tuesday, January 20, through Friday, January 23.

Motorists are advised to expect delays in the area and plan extra time for their journeys.

The King County Seed Lending Library is hosting its Second Annual Seed Swap on Saturday, January 31, to  coincide with National Seed Swap Day.

The events provides locals with a chance to get their edible gardening started by sharing seeds from their favorite plants and getting inspired to grow  new varieties.

The free swap will be held  from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Phinney Neighborhood Center (6532 Phinney Avenue N, in Rooms 6 and 7 of the Blue Building).

Attendees should bring seeds if they have them and they can be homegrown, store-bought or even partially used packets. Attendees aren’t required to bring seeds to take them, but are asked to limit what they take in order for all to enjoy the swap.

Workshops throughout the swap will offer further information on saving and cleaning seeds. Speakers include KCSLL Co-director and Urban Food Warrior Caitlin Moore; author Bill Thorness (Edible Heirlooms, Cool Season Gardener); and author and educator Lisa Taylor (Your Farm in the City, Maritime Northwest Garden Guide).

Non-profit greening groups will be on hand at the event, and attendees can learn about the library’s newest branch: the Phinney Neighborhood Association.

The PNA has agreed to host the seed collection in its popular Tool Library. Starting next month, seeds can be “checked out” during the Tool Library’s regular hours.

“Come find some seeds, meet some great organizations making a difference in your community, get a raffle ticket, and learn new skills,” writes the organizers.

Click here to learn more about the event and the King County Seed Lending Library.

The Ladies Musical Club will be performing a free opera concert this Sunday, January 25, at the Ballard Odd Fellows Hall (1706 NW Market St) from 2 p.m.

Attendees are set to enjoy some rarely heard beautiful opera duets from The Golden Age of Italian Opera along with violin accompaniment from Candice Chin and pianist Joan Lundquist.

The singers performing at the event include Lori Williams, Victoria Chaussee, Katie Hochman, Regina Thomas and Leslie Stark.

Click here to find out more about the event.