We always knew the Ballard High School film team was good, but now it looks like they’re getting some national recognition. Several of the students’ films are up for Emmys in the high school category.

The following films are nominated:

• Long Form – Fiction: “Godsend“  by DJ McCoy, Writer/Director/Cinematographer/Editor/Producer
• Long Form – Non-Fiction: “My Little Brony” by Vann Fulfs, (Producer/Director/Editor), Taylor Martin, (Producer/Director/Editor) and Bryan Quandt, (Producer/Director/Editor). “Impact“ by Mackenzie Wright, (Concept/Director/Writer/Lighting/Editor), Kenton King (Cinematography/Editing), Jacob Scott (Audio/Lighting/Editing)
• Community/Public Service Announcements (PSA): “Not Even Once” by Paris Burhen (Producer/Director/Writer/Editor), Sam Baldwin, Brian Cropp, Gabe Tagulao. “Anti-Littering” by DJ McCoy (Producer), Sage Borlo, Tristram Fetters
• Photographer/Editor: “Sundown” by Vann Fulfs (Producer/Director/Editor), Jacob Scott (Producer/Director/Editor), Bryan Quandt (Producer/Director/Editor). “Nordic Heritage Museum” by Julian Amrine (Producer), Josh Vredevoogd (Producer). “Dream House” by Ana Krafchick (Writer/Director/Producer/Editor), Louis Weissman (Director of Cinematography/Editor/Lighting)

The BHS film production team is headed up by teacher Matt Lawrence. You can keep up with their most recent accomplishments on the BHS film blog.

Crews working on the project to replace a 77-year-old wooden sewer line beneath the Lake Washington Ship Canal have finished most of the shoring work at the south shaft on West Commodore Way, and will now continue tunneling toward the north shaft located in Ballard. According to the King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division, crews worked late Wednesday evening to reduce disruption to nearby businesses during business hours from vibratory work to remove shoring installed for the afterbay structure.

The work will continue later this summer, as crews still need to remove the remaining shoring from the afterbay structure. The tunneling will continue 24 hours a day, Monday through Saturday from the south shaft toward the north shaft in Ballard. To read more about the siphon replacement project, click here for our past coverage, or here for King County’s project site.

The Norwegian Ladies Chorus of Seattle handed out some impressive scholarships this week at their End of the Year banquet in Ballard. Among the recipients were Ballard High School’s Performing Arts Program, a high school senior, and recent graduate.

The group awarded $1,500 to the Performing Arts program at BHS. Lynne Miller from BHS accepted the award, and gave an update on the school’s band, chorus and drama programs.The second award of $2,500 was given to BHS senior Helen Miller. Miller plays the French horn, and is a classic and jazz pianist. She has a 3.95 GPA and plans to attend St. Olaf College next year. The third scholarship recipient was Molly Barnes, a BHS graduate and former scholarship winner. She received $2,500 to continue her music studies at Pacific Lutheran University.

Congrats to the scholarship winners!

Pictured above: Helen Miller. Photo courtesy Jehan Moulton Kyllo

By Jules James

Last night our Ballard Beavers defeated Stadium 10-5 within the hallowed confines of Tacoma’s Stadium Bowl. We meet Nathan Hale Wednesday May 29th at 5:45 PM for the right to face the winner of Richland at Garfield for the Division II Lacrosse State Championship.

The Stadium Bowl, a concrete amphitheater constructed in 1913 out of a gulch, has now hosted Presidents, victorious generals and a dominating performance by the Ballard Boys Lacrosse team.

The game was 2-1 starting the second period when the Stadium goalie attempted to clear from the crease. With his four seconds to leave the crease expiring and Ballard Attackman Josh Schwartzenberger riding, he passed instead of dodging into a run. His pass travelled three feet into Josh’s stick for a Stadium shocking goal. Moments later, middie Thomas Christensen’s speed down the topside alley left him open for a quick stick from “X” goal. By halftime Ballard had pushed the lead to 5-2.

Stadium opened the 2nd half with a quick goal, but Ballard began to pound on its strengths: Nick Garton winning face-offs, John DeGarmo’s sideline force-outs, Jacob Marks dancing from “X” through the defense gaining assists and a team-wide grinding pursuit of ground balls. Forty-nine ground balls won (second-most of the season) kept Stadium down and Ballard pounding. Stadium’s goalie was valiant saving 15 during the evening’s onslaught. Our Goalie James had a tidy game with eight saves and a clear efficiency nearing 90%.

Next up, the boys will take on Nathan Hale at Nathan Hale.

Good luck to the Beavers!

For those Ballardites who take the Burke-Gilman Trail to the University of Washington each day, a smoother ride could be coming in the future, as the UW is applying for federal funding to fix up the portion of the trail that passes through campus. UW Transportation Services is vying for a $12 million U.S. Department of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant to finish the university-owned 1.7 mile segment of the trail before the Link Light Rail service begins service to the UW in 2016.

According to a statement from the UW, planning and design work is already underway for the corridor, which serves around 10,000 a day. The improvements would include “widening the trail, separating bicyclists and walkers onto different trails, adding bicycle parking facilities, enhancing lighting, upgrading the trail’s ADA accessibility, building public spaces and creating safer intersections between popular footpaths, roadways and the trail.”

The UW plans to finish the work on the trail regardless of TIGER funding, but will be forced to use their own funding as it becomes available. That means the construction and detours would be dragged out well after the completion of the Link Light Rail opens in just a few years.

That portion of the trail is in need of repair, according to UW Active Transportation Analyst David Amiton. “In spring 2010 we started looking at the trail and conducting studies on trail use and future utilization and demand,” Amiton said in a statement from UW. “The data shows that the trail is not operating well under current conditions, and that those conditions will only degrade further over time.” Crumbling asphalt, sudden bumps and cracks caused by tree roots, and some dicey intersections are among the poor conditions that necessitate improvements, according to UW. And, with the light rail coming soon, they expect that traffic along that portion of the trail will only increase in the coming years.

Alicia Halberg, a communications coordinator with the UW Transportation Services, says the funding would immensely benefit commuters from our neighborhood. “We’re excited for what this work means not only for the UW community, but the thousands of users who rely on the trail as a regional connection to downtown, Fremont, Ballard and other neighborhoods,” Halberg said in a statement.

To get a glimpse of the concept design and report, click here.

Construction for the Ballard Neighborhood Greenway Project is in full swing, according to the Seattle Department of Transportation. The greenway is along NW 58th St and construction includes the installation of ADA curb ramps, sidewalk repairs, and speed bumps to make the road safer for bikers and pedestrians.

Here’s a list of the improvements and updates, from the SDOT:

ADA Curb Ramps

New ADA ramps are being installed to make it easier for people with mobility challenges, strollers and wheelchairs to move along NW 58^th Street. The ramps are being constructed at 32^nd, 24^th, 20^th, 7^th Avenues NW. This work is underway.

Sidewalk Repairs

Permanent sidewalk repairs are the responsibility of adjacent properties. However, NW 58^th Street is being prioritized for pedestrian movement so SDOT is making 460 temporary repairs along this corridor. The sidewalk will be beveled where there are uneven spots so that it is more level. This work starts the week of May 20.

Wider Sidewalk at Seaview Avenue NW

The sidewalk will be widened from the current 5 feet to 10 feet, providing more space for pedestrians and bicyclists to connect to the Burke-Gilman Trail without having to cross Seaview Avenue NW. A new bike ramp will also be constructed to improve access to the sidewalk from 37th Place NW. Construction begins mid- to late-May.

Asphalt Speed Humps

Asphalt Speed humps are modified speed bumps designed to slow vehicle speeds and are gentle enough to accommodate bicyclists and other non-motorized vehicles including wheelchairs.  As part of the project, 18 speed humps are being constructed on NW 58^th Street near arterial streets at 32^nd, 24^th, 20^th, 15^th, 14^th and 8^th Avenues. This work is expected to start in June.

The construction for the greenways is expected to be complete by September. SDOT says some on-street parking will be temporarily restricted during construction. Visit SDOT’s web site for more project details. Call (206) 684-7583 or email walkandbike@seattle.gov with questions.

The Nyer Urness House is looking for some volunteers to help with meals. Nyer Urness is the new supportive housing project located at 1753 NW 56th St. Amy Besunder from the Compass Housing Alliance wrote to tell us that they are in need of volunteers to plan dinner or brunch, purchasing food, and cooking in the center’s kitchen. “This is a great way to get involved, as it provides residents with a nice meal and helps build community,” Besunder says.

The volunteer groups can range in size from one to 10 people, and youth under the age of 18 are allowed if accompanied by an adult. They serve dinners seven days a week at 6 p.m., and brunches are served on the weekends at 10 a.m. Besunder tells us that the number of residents varies at dinner, but will be no more than 80. To get more information or to schedule a volunteer meal, contact Kevin Friedrich, volunteer coordinator, at volunteer@compasshousingalliance.org.

The Ballard Pediatric Clinic has been reunited with their bronze statue that was stolen about a week ago. Janine Peterson from the clinic said the whole situation was bizarre, and that the man who returned it wanted to remain anonymous, “due to possible retaliation.” Either way, the clinic now has their statue returned.

The statue has some claim to fame, as it was created by Georgia Gerber, the creator of the pig statue at Pike Place Market and the husky dog statue at the University of Washington.

Over the weekend, Seattle police broke up a group of teenagers staging their very own fight club at the upper parking lot at Golden Gardens. Here’s the report from the SPD Blotter:

Seattle police broke up a teenage “fight club” at Golden Gardens over the weekend, proving once again that teenagers just aren’t ready for R-rated movies.

Officers working an emphasis patrol in Golden Gardens pulled into the park’s upper parking lot just after midnight and spotted a crowd of about 40 juveniles cheering on a group of two or three people fighting (although, spoiler alert, it might’ve been one person fighting themselves).

Once officers flashed their lights and sounded their siren at the group, the crowd scattered into the woods, leaving behind garbage, beer bottles, and several cars.

Officers ticketed a few of the cars—which were left in the lot after closing hours—and waited to see if anyone ever came out of the woods.

No one ever did.

The Inaugural Beaver Nation Athletic Awards night will be held on Tuesday, June 11 at 7 p.m. in the Ballard High School gymnasium (1418 NW 65th St). The event will be a celebration of the accomplishments of BHS athletes this year and will focus on what it means to be an athlete in life, at school and on the field or court.

The event is set to summarize of the accomplishments of more than 25 BHS teams and clubs and award the top male and female athletes in multiple categories. During the celebration an outstanding parent, community or business member who goes above and beyond to serve the BHS student-athletes will be awarded the Jim Vatn Award. A coach, teacher or staff member will also be awarded the John Nygaard Award for exemplifying the heart and soul of Ballard High School athletics.

Nominations for the awards are now being accepted from coaches and the community. Click here to make your nomination. A select committee of Ballard High School coaches, teachers and staff will vote from those nominated.

All are welcome to attend and help to start a new Beaver Tradition!

For more information about the event click here.

Catching a big fish is always a thrill, but when your vessel is a kayak, it adds a certain dimension of excitement and danger. One can only imagine the thoughts running through Ballard resident Brad Hole’s head when he pulled a 4.5-foot halibut on board his 14-foot kayak while on a recent fishing trip in Neah Bay.

On May 9, Hole was out with three friends off of Hobuck Beach. He wasn’t out long before seeing the big “flatty,” as he calls it, from his kayak. “After about 15 minutes, the near 5-foot-long flatty lay within three feet of the bottom of my kayak,” Hole said, telling his story to Northwest Sporstman.

Here is Hole’s story (from Northwest Sportsman):

I had my hand-made harpoon attached with a rope to a crab float and a canoe cushion. I had role-played this scenario in my head a hundred times, never thinking I would get to this moment. I knew I had one shot at this fish and it needed to count. I held the fish there for a good five minutes, slowly moving it into the best position I could. I drew back the harpoon and gave it a blow just below the head.

The water exploded like someone canon balled next to my kayak. My drag screamed and the fish peeled a couple hundred yards of line out into deeper water. I looked out and saw my floating harpoon, crab float and canoe cushion floating out of reach. I yelled to one of my buddies to grab my harpoon as I chased the fish down. I was able to reel in the slack and rise the fish from a greater depth. My buddy paddled over, delivering the harpoon back to me.

After a few minutes of positioning and adrenaline rushing I went for a second attempt to harpoon the fish. Again, the water thrashed, the buoy and cushion pulled under water and this one stuck. After things settled down a bit I was able to gaff the fish and bring it on to my lap as my buddy tied down and secured the tail.

We tied the fish to the back of the PA and secured him under the bungees behind me. The next hour the fish beat it’s tail against the PA. The final measurement was 54.75″ (estimated to be 80 lb) .The fish of a lifetime.

Hole (second from left) and his fishing partners

Hole and his fishing buddies all landed big flatties that day, although Hole’s big fish could be the largest halibut caught from a small vessel the lower 48, according to Northwest Sportsman. Hole is originally from Virginia, but has been in Seattle since 1994. And, he’s quite the fisherman; he’s currently in second place in the Northwest Kayak Anglers’ Angler Of The Year contest.

Photos courtesy Brad Hole

By Bucky Beaver

The Ballard High School boy’s lacrosse team, after winning their opening game in the state playoffs, traveled to eastern Washington on Saturday to play Wenatchee in a Sweet 16 matchup.  Ballard got on the board early with a goal from Junior John DeGarmo and senior Josh Schwartzenberger added three more goals in the first half.  Ballard, the visiting underdog, was tied with Wenatchee at 4 at the half.

Senior Jacob Marks, one of the top players in the state, scored to open the second half and Ballard never looked back.  Schwartzenberger had 5 goals and 1 assist, Marks 2 goals and 4 assists, senior Thomas Christiansen added a goal as did junior Jackson Bowen, DeGarmo, and senior Kyle Garrity.  Goalie Alex James had 6 saves on the day.  Ballard won the contest 11-9 and have advanced the furthest they ever have in the playoffs.  Four of the Ballard players (Marks, Schwartzenberger, Bowen, and DeGarmo) are in the top 10 in playoff scoring!

The boys are now in the state quarter finals and next play this Wednesday the 22nd at 7:00 pm at Stadium High School in Tacoma.

Pictured above: BHS senior Will Leanord. Photo courtesy Sam Hanske