The 36th Annual SeafoodFest, moved a little earlier this year, attracted thousands of people to Central Ballard in beautiful weather.
The theme this year: “May the Norse be with you.”
Like every year, Stan Boreson, the King of Scandihoovian humor, kicked things off on Saturday morning. Stan and his wife own a tour company, and recently they stayed in a fancy hotel in New York City. Says Stan, “The pillows were so fluffy I could barely close my suitcase!” (Thanks, Silver for the photo!)
The big attraction, of course, is the seafood. Warren Aakervik, owner of Ballard Oil, oversaw the traditional salmon BBQ — his 34th year at SeaFood Fest. “The recipe is exactly the same it’s been for years,” he said. This year, members of the Ballard High Football Team helped at the cookers. “Maybe there will be a year in which I can just sit over there, shout orders, and watch,” Warren jokes.
With lutefisk sales on a steady decline, the lutefisk eating contest “may be the biggest simulus package lutefisk producers see all year,” says the SeafoodFest program. We covered the event right here.
On the main stage, musical acts like Portland-based Derby (above) and local favorite The Maldives entertained the crowd.
A brand new KidsZone featured a climbing wall, inflatable slides and a bouncy room, not to mention puppets and marionettes on the Family Stage.
SeafoodFest runs until 7 p.m. on Sunday. (Full disclosure: The Seafood Fest is run by the Ballard Chamber of Commerce, of which My Ballard is a member.)
![](https://www.myballard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-My-Ballard-Tile-Ad-Troop-100.png")
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Where is the disclaimer that MyBallard is a member of the Ballard Chamber, which organizes this event?
The event is actually a fundraiser for the Chamber.
The Chamber (and as members, the GeekySwedes) are suing to stop the Missing Link trail.
Ballard can do better. Don’t support the organizations fighting the trail most residents want.
The GeekySwedes said they would report their association with this group. They did not.
The GeekySwedes don’t want you to know they are members of the group suing the city to stop our trail.
Paranoid much?
Yea Seafood Fest, just got back had a gret time!
Not paranoid. Just pointing out that the Swedes are members of the group that runs this fundraiser and it is not disclosed – as they promised – in the post.
Resident –
STFU.
overit –
No.
Not only are the GeekySwedes members of a group suing to stop the trail, they post promotional pieces like this without mentioning their association.
The group that runs SeafoodFest is suing to stop the bike trail.
Readers of this blog deserve to know the truth.
Um, pay attention Resident. The Geeky Swedes already stated they were a member in an earlier post on Seafoodfest. Forced to by another troll just like you.
Here’s what the GeekySwedes told us three days ago:
“However, we agree that transparency is always the best policy. So we’ve added a disclosure to this story and will be adding disclosures on all subsequent stories, not only about the chamber, but the merchant associations as well.”
And today we have a huge promotional story and pictures about the Chamber’s biggest fundraiser of the year…
…and no disclosure from the Swedes.
Why not?
“(Full disclosure: The Seafood Fest is run by the Ballard Chamber of Commerce, of which My Ballard is a member.)”
Sure sounds like disclosure to me. *cough*paranoid*cough*
You alright there son? I keep hearing the most terrifyin’ sounds outta you. Ah Say. Boy’s about as sharp as a bowlin’ ball. Kid don’t stop talkin so much he’s liable to get his tongue sun burned…
Pay attention, Nora.
They said there would be a disclosure on subsequent stories.
This one certainly applies. SeafoodFest is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Chamber, and the Swedes membership should be disclosed.
I’m guessing they don’t want their readers to know they are members in one of the groups suing to stop the Missing Link.
Foghorn – they just added that.
My work here is done.
I for one, fully support MyBallard for being part of the BCC. I do not want the trail, and even if I did, I don’t think I would care that they are a part.
If you really want to boycott the BCC, stop posting on here and giving MyBallard tons of hits (every time you refresh the page, you add a hit to their counter). Stop being a hypocrite.
I’m happy to give them a few extra “hits.” Your use of early 1990s Internet terminology makes me smile.
Because of my comments, they just added the disclaimer I wanted.
So there.
I am a loser.
No, you just want to be me. That’s ok but you gotta get in line and it is a long one.
Wow, the boycott was a stunning success! Just look how stunned that fish looks.
Well if attendance was down, I doubt we’d be reading about it on this blog. MyBallard is a member of the group that runs the event. So not surprising their reporting is going to be happy and supportive – this is their biggest fundraiser of the year.
Look everybody, I am debating against myself on the Interwebz because I am 12 and failed out of the sixth grade.
I agree resident, I think they faked those photos. I can squeeze more people in my shorts on a hot day.
Darrell? Is that you??
(the Chairman of SeafoodFest himself was caught last week posting on this blog under multiple aliases.)
Nope, Doug11.
Shut up shut up shut up – give me an effing break!! Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar – people in the neighborhood had a good time !! That’s it, that’s all!!
Can’t you people just look out the window one morning and say “looks like a nice day” and leave it at that????????????
but that’s not “it” when you realize the profits are used on lawsuits we as taxpayers must pay to defend
didn’t realize this blog supported the chamber that is a big disappointment
I think it might be time to consider disabling comments. If every story’s going to be hijacked in the name of some fringe cause by people who’ve led too privileged a life to know what a “real” cause is, then I’d rather forgo them altogether.
I wonder if The Maldives knew this is essentially an anti-bike trail fundraiser they were playing at.
I doubt they would have played there if they knew where the money goes.
I think Resident’s ravings are great. They really illustrate a lot about the self-important, oh-so-entitled, spoiled children who have come here to remake Ballard according to their whims, and anybody else be damned.
Can’t have everything you want right now? Oh, boo hoo, how tragic. Get out the tiny violins.
For all those folks who didn’t realize and are suffering great injury over the fact that this blog is a member of the Chamber – I expect to never see you here again. Nope – you don’t even get to comment about entries you like/dislike because you may be subjected to advertising that either funds a blog that is a member or may be paid for by companies that are members. Protect your fragile selves and exit to the right – quickly!!
Oh and btw – soo many real life and death issues and causes affecting our local population……. just saying…
I just got back from Seafood Fest and I had a blast. Since the boycott didn’t succeed, maybe the bike trail cry babies can try another tactic like holding their breath until they turn blue.
Wow, is it just me or does Resident sound a lot like our old anti-bike trail buddy, doug11? Same tactics, language usage, and word choices of old, but without the all-caps.
And really, doug, not everything is about this one issue. I’d say “give it a rest,” but you never did in the past, even after you essentially voted yourself off the MyBallard island.
And as for membership in the BCC, the organization is just one of hundreds that people may join for a variety of reasons. Before patronizing retail stores, restaurants, bars, doctors, dentists, etc. do you demand a list of to know every organization they’ve joined or donated to – Save the Children, the NRA, the Seattle Animal Shelter, Greenpeace, the Tea Party, Greenpeace, Planned Parenthood, Earth First, conservative right-wing or wildly liberal political organization – before spending your money? I didn’t think so. Frankly, I applaud the Geeky Swedes for being a member of the BCC.
If you really disapprove of their participation in the Chamber and are going to advocate against supporting such businesses, then put your proverbial money where your mouth is and leave My Ballard. Otherwise you’re just being a loud-mouthed hypocrite who enjoys having a platform for criticizing others without having the moral fortitude to practice what you preach.
I am delighted to learn that this blog supports the Ballard chamber of commerce. Go to their site for comments on the recent Burke-Gilman Trail appeal ruling.
+1 with Walter Agony. I would rather have the comments disabled than read about the flippin bike trail every 10 minutes, it makes for bad feelings on every freakin’ thread.
Resident, please get a clue as to what a Chamber of COMMERCE is. It’s not a secret society it’s not a community council, it’s not a philathropic group. It is a group devoted to increasing business and supporting the member businesses.
Bike trail would hurt businesses in the group ergo they are fighting it. Black and white.
The bacon-wrapped scallops were awesome! We had a great time, the kids loved the velcro wall. We saw lots of friends, the kids saw some classmates. It was a sunny, summer day — one of the best Seafood Fests we’ve attended.
Ballard should make that area safer for bikers — it would be good for business.
C’mon people — we can all get along, really!
That area sucks for cars, too. Make it better for everyone.
To me its not really about the bike trail, its about the idiots who obsess about it and whine about it in every thread. The BCC and Ballard is much, much more than about this freakin’ missing link.
Every review of the festival this year mentioned fewer people in attendance.
“Every review of the festival this year mentioned fewer people in attendance.”
Not only that, these anti-trail folks will never understand how hard it is to pull unsubstantiated ‘facts’ out of your backside while wearing spandex!
cute, but not all cyclists wear spandex. your fetish is your business, but you’re missing the mark there chief.
“but not all cyclists wear spandex”
Apparently the ones who pull facts out of their backsides don’t.
“Every review of the festival this year mentioned fewer people in attendance.”
Still waiting for some evidence for your ‘facts’?
I talked with a few people that went, they said the fest was slow and nothing special. I did not go this year, I want nothing to do with a BCC event. It did give me an opportunity to tell my friends about the actions of the BCC.
“I talked with a few people that went, they said the fest was slow and nothing special”
Ooooo, a ‘few’ people went and they thought it was ‘slow’. Indisputable evidence of the stunning impact of the spandex-cott!
What’s funny, though, is that when I was there it was packed tighter than my nads in spandex.
It was packed when I was there today, but this was my first time going so I’m not sure how it compares to prior years. I didn’t expect it to be as big as it was and wished I came hungrier! Nice to see people coming from all over to support our local businesses and didn’t hear one bit about the bike trail either for or against while I was there. =)
“I talked with a few people that went, they said the fest was slow and nothing special.”
I went and I also didn’t hear one word about the bike trail – just a nice crowd having fun and enjoying the sun, the food, and the music. So a big thank you to all the bicyclists that stayed home instead of trying to turn it into some kind of referendum on the trail.
The attendance was obviously lower compared to past years.
I’m curious- how, exactly, would the bike trail be good for Ballard businesses? I used to commute to the UW 3-4 days a week, (10 miles each way) for 12 years and the only thing I ever bought was the occasional bottle of water. (but mainly I just brought my own in a water bottle) My SO commutes to Everett, as far as I can ascertain, he has never spent one thin dime on his travels.
I am not fond of that part of the BG trail, but let’s be honest- it’s really for recreation. How many people are actually commuting TO Ballard to work? No, no, they are commuting out of Ballard.
I’m not anti-anything. I support all the hard working people of Ballard, and the people who VOLUNTEER countless hours to put on SeafoodFest, to give pleasure to our little corner of the world. Waren Aakervik has been cooking that salmon for 34 years- what have you done lately? The guys at Pacific Fishermen built the barbeques and get out there and cook the fish. Trident Seafoods provides the fish. These are all local businesses that provide actual jobs in this community.
(Historical footnote: SeafoodFest was an offshoot of the Nordic Nights Festical and parade. It was started by a woman named Genvieve Taylor, who was the first female head of a Chamber of Commerce in the US.)
I’m beginning to suspect that all the people shouting the loudest about the trail don’t live in Ballard. I also suspect that 99% of the people posting on this board have just moved here from elsewhere. Come on, be honest.
SeafoodFest is supposed to be a fun event for the families of Ballard. One of the things that the Chamber does is provide insurance for the event. They provided insurance for a public event I held at Ballard Commons Park. I don’t see any group (bikers, Cascade Bike etc.) stepping up to the plate to pay for insurance, Porta-Potties, the sound system, stages, food, ice, tables, tents, etc. that constitute a huge amount of money expended on your bahalf.
So, the day that the bikers come up with the funds to throw a big public event (without charging admission, mind you.) I’ll be a little more accepting of critisizing SeafoodFest. Don’t like it, don’t go.
Warren never had to work a day in his entire life. He is the fourth generation Aakervik to run Ballard Oil. He did not build the business. He did not earn the business. He inherited it.
He is a rich stubborn man who puts on a giant show grilling salmon for the little people once a year. That’s all.
Apparently you have never fueled up a boat or gotten fuel from Ballard oil. I’ve certainly seen Warren get his hands dirty.
Well, it isn’t like they can put a fuel dock somewhere else….like a strip mall in Kent.
Ballard-Lifer,
You certainly seem well acquainted with the size of Mr. Aakervik’s bank account. Can you tell us how you came in possession of this knowledge?
Oddly, every single time I have gone down to Ballard Oil I’ve seen Warren there.
I enjoyed the Seafood Festival Sunday. I will also enjoy the missing link trail and the new museum when they are completed. We’re tired of the stalling. There’s no fringe cause conspiring to ruin Ballard. In fact, it actually seems the other way around.
all of you BCoC and seafood fest “boycotters” might be more effective if you actually did something other than post comments on MyBallard.com…which is a member of the BCoC btw…something they’ve never tried to deny or hide.
maybe get out in the community and gather signatures to show your alleged evidence of the ballard community’s support for the missing link. in fact, you even could have walked around seafood fest, like other intiative signature gatherers do every year.
but no, on two of the most beautiful days of the year, you just sit at home in front of your computers posting comments and making ridiculous claims about things like the “secret membership” of the BCoC…all 300+ members can be found on their web site
guess what? 99% of ballard doesn’t care about the missing link. at least not to the point where they’re going to boycott 300+ local lbusinesses.
like myself, an avid cyclist, they actually care more about important things like reducing crime and improving neighborhood schools.
but please keep complaining and posting because it is sheer entertainment for me.
i actually mentioned the missing link controversey this weekend to 3 different friends who also live in ballard, and they had no idea what i was talking about.
i think that shows how much community support there really is for this “cause”.
Funding for the BG trail was voted on years ago and many assumed it had been completed.
I’d like to propose a new rule. You only get to complain about the laziness of local business leaders if you’ve had the responsibility of making payroll yourself. Seriously. If you’ve never had to find 20-30 thousand dollars a month to pay salaries, then go read a book on microeconomics, start a cupcake shop and shut up. Think about how frivolous lawsuits from riders (who are known to be litigious) and the loss of parking spaces is likely to effect your bottom line, your ability to service debt, keep your house, get a decent night’s sleep, etc.
It’s not easy to build a business. It’s not easy to run one. Most of the people whining about this issue sit in cubes writing code where someone else has to worry about where the money to pay their salaries comes from. Those would be the people working while you’re riding the trail.
Obviously, something will have to give here. Bike riding lefties will have to eventually acknowledge the right of for-profit business to exist and advocate for their own interests. Business will have to learn to work constructively with community groups, even though it will often mean dealing with entitled, unreasonable wing nuts.
The missing link issue was once about safety and protection of local business (also known as the tax base). It’s since degenerated into an eye poking contest or else we wouldn’t be talking about it here of all places, feeding the trolls.
Bicyclists have an image problem. You’ve heard the usual claims before: entitled, arrogant, self-righteous, traffic scofflaws, etc. In spite of all this, the real reason drivers complain about bicyclists is that we don’t want to kill somebody. As annoying as bicyclists are, as true as all the stereotypes are, we don’t want to kill you. Honestly.
First, there’s the basic issue of having a human life on our conscience, then there’s the dead certainty of being vilified and sued even if the dead guy broke traffic laws. It’s immoral to drive. It’s moral to ride a bicycle, ergo any time drivers and cyclists come into conflict, it’s the driver’s fault, even if it isn’t. The irony is that completing the trail would actually make it less likely for drivers to hit cyclists — other than those crossing it to enter the businesses, which is why I support it. But I’m running into the same issue I had with the music of 311. I thought I liked it, until I met the other people who liked it.
But, as my regular listeners know, I’m a pragmatist. If I were to invite the parties to Camp David, here’s what I’d propose:
Ballard businesses agree to let the missing link run right along the tracks, right where the bicyclists want it, with stop signs at all the high risk crossings. This can be done in a way that almost completely skirts the parking issue.
In exchange, the cyclist groups come out in favor of licenses for bicyclists and the city agrees to enforce traffic laws with cyclists (which would mean fines, suspensions, etc.) This is designed to ensure the stop signs are respected by cyclists. The city should also agree to indemnify business or set liability limits for any accidents that occur along the missing link. This could have a sunset provision, and if there really isn’t a safety issue as many cyclists claim, we can retire the indemnity.
The practical problem most drivers have with cyclists all boils down to public safety. Public safety is why people who drive motor vehicles have licenses. There’s no reason bicyclists shouldn’t be held to a similar standard since their rising numbers also impact public safety.
And cyclists need to learn some negotiating technique. Offer solutions to the problems raised by your opponents rather than just dismissing them as bogus. They might be bogus, but you’ve got a much better chance of proving that if you address the reasons rather than dismiss them as disingenuous. For example, bringing Warren Aakervik into this just fans the flames and sidesteps the issue, raising the idea that he deserves to be punished for something, as though inheriting a business is immoral. Even if it is, that’s an issue for Ayn Rand and Immanuel Kant to debate and has nothing to do with the friggin’ bike trail.
And business leaders need to face facts. The missing link is coming and it’s going to be built along Shilshole. You can either get some concessions from the cyclists for dropping the appeal or you can simply delay it and end up losing anyway. You can’t stay in business for long if you aren’t practical. Let’s be practical and get some concessions.
If cyclists want the missing link so badly, let’s use the issue as leverage and get something in return that would be good for everybody.
Wow, from award winning blog to mouthpiece for the BCC and nest of astroturfer commentors for the BCC. Way to embody New Media, guys.
I thoroughly enjoyed another SeafoodFest, my 20th year in a row of attending. Great salmon. Great music. Great weather.
Looking forward to 2011.
Hey Walt, I agree with much of your post, but the BG trail is used by pedestrians of all kinds – not just bicycle riders. There are people pushing baby strollers and just plain walkers. Divers entering and exiting those businesses can be just as careful as if they were visiting a fast food restaurant. It’s really simple.
Maybe it’s geeky Norwegians that are conspiring against the Trail. Did you ever think of that, cowardly anonymous “Resident?”
I like Walter’s solution. I commute by bike a few days a week and would appreciate there being some enforcement on the trail. I like to ride fast (totally relative!) but when it’s crowded there’s some dangerous passing going on and I’m shocked at the number of bikes flying past stop any yield signs. It would be nice to see a few bicycle cops on the trail.
Anyway, lets put the sarcasm and name calling to rest. I like seeing what’s going on in the neighborhood but 9 times out of 10 I’m bummed by the tone of comments. I’d like to live in a neighborhood where people treat each other with respect – even anonymously.
Bjorn:
I’m just saying that if the cyclists and the city offer to make such huge concessions on safety and liability, the BCC couldn’t possibly still object to the project on safety grounds. If safety isn’t the real issue behind resistance, calling their bluff is the best way to prove it.
Another great packed Seafood Fest! So glad all whiny little spandex turds stayed home. You really taught us all a lesson…
Dang! I wuz thinking about going to Seafood Fest, but wasn’t in the mood for crowds, so didn’t…. Had I known that my participation would have been an affirmative action against the bike trail, I woulda been there every day! I’m not against bikes, (I own several,) but I’m against bikes when they are detrimental to the best interest of existing businesses. The bike trail can be re-located, those affected businesses can’t. You go, GeekySwedes… Resident, you can just go away…..
Seafood Fest is not a “fundraiser” for BCC. It’s a community event and I thouroughly enjoyed it and appreciate all of the effort to make it happen. BCC is tyring to protect the interest of businesses, which is it’s main function. That doesn’t mean that they don’t want the trail, they just don’t want it in it’s current form. These suits often lead to mediation and a solution that everyone can live with. If boycotting makes anyone feel better, then I’m happy for them. Just realize that it will NOT make any difference.
I apologize to “Resident” for calling him/her cowardly, I have absolutely no basis for that as most of the other commenters are also anonymous.
As a Swede, I do enjoy the occasional jib-jab of my Norwegian neighbors. No harm intended.
What amazes me about guys like Walter is how he spews stereotypes and unfounded assumptions all over the place.
So nobody who supports the trail runs a business of their own! They all sit in cubes writing code!
Too Funny.
Typical industrial idiot.
As a person who has worked with SeafoodFest for over 15 years, I am not only appalled, but actually in some odd way, rather heartbroken by the intense negativity here. I have seen you all attend. I have talked with you. I have laughed with you. I have seen your joy while watching scarf man dance. I have watched you eat (with gusto) a plateful of cajun gumbo. I have watched you dance with your children, watched your children dance with performers, and watched people fall in love.
The SeafoodFest committee, (a volunteer committee, I might add, whose names and faces have changed over the years, but each whose heart is ever and always instilled with a strong passion to create a really cool event) works its butt off to bring the Ballard community a little summer weekend in which we can all participate, embrace our neighbors and enjoy beautiful summer weather. It’s not about politics and it’s not about lawsuits. It’s about kids laughing with glee, playing in the water from a fire hose or jumping frenetically on a giant inflatable. It’s about seeing a nationally known and respected performer on the MainStage for FREE! It’s about tasting some of that succulent salmon off the street grill done with a recipe so secret even event organizers don’t know it.
This is a people coming together event, not a polarizing one. Had you seen Soul Senate perform that incredibly beautiful version of Amazing Grace on Sunday morning, you’d understand what it’s REALLY about.
So finally folks, take a giant step and look beyond your politics. We all sure did that this weekend at the MainStage.
Nice try Cindy Payne but most people in Ballard aren’t the fools you make us out to be.
The Ballard Chamber is as political as it gets. Suing to stop the trail, then not even accepting the partial judgement, but suing again to start all over?
How can you say it’s not polarizing?
Take of your rose colored glasses and see Seafood Fest for what it is. It is the Chamber’s biggest money maker. And they use that money to advance their narrow business agenda at the behest of Ballard Oil and the other industrial companies. That’s pretty clear.
Look beyond your own ignorance and consider the harm the Ballard Chamber is doing to residents, the everyday people in Ballard who do not own oil companies.
It is not a surprise attendance was so low this year.
We’re sick of the Chamber and it’s anti-neighborhood agenda. The neighborhood wants the trail built the way it was designed and approved.
The only fools are the zealot bikers that flood this website with their CBC dogma.
Political is exactly how we got to this point. Gutless politicians have sold Ballard down the canal to garner the biker vote.
The only thing clear is your ignorance of the function of a chamber of commerce.
No harm is being done. Specifically how were we harmed?
How do you know attendance was down?
Who’s we? You don’t speak for Ballard residents. Did you talk to everyone in Ballard?
Yes I want the trail completed to give bikers, walkers and runners a place to recreate and commute, just not through an industrial area.
“Typical industrial idiot.”
I agree, the sooner we get some nice waterfront condos, tech biz, cupcake cafes and a nice finished bike trail in Ballard the better! This kind of gentrification will do wonders for my home’s value.
Just wanted to be comment number 69.
Carry on.
It’s not really that funny. I was going more for ironic tension breaker, but your interpretation, descriptive though it was, is fine too.
Thanks Walter that certainly broke the tension!
Can we build the trail now the way the city designed and approved it?
I certainly want the trail completed, as planned. That being said, we went to seafood fest this weekend and it we had a great time. I don’t think boycotting the festival would get the trail done any faster. The BCC did sign the appeal, and I think that is bad and short sighted, but removing my self further from the community by staying home isn’t going to solve anything. I ended up having a few very good conversations about the issue with some chamber members. I think talking about it with people with opposite views helps. It’s a complex issue, not one solved by name calling.
P.S. We brought the dog and he ate his weight in dog treats that various booths had at the ready. We also went home with about 10 lbs of free dog food/treat samples. Nice!
The Seafood Fest was great this year! Zipper, it seemed like it was dog Central- it was great!
Is it my imagination, though, or is becoming more the “Jewelry Booth Fest”? Wow, I think the *food* used to span up and down Market street from 22nd, now it’s all craft, t-shirts, and chiropractors! :-) Oh well, still good food and music- and thanks sponsors, for the extra tables this year!
Nothing? That’s what I thought.
I enjoyed the Seafood fest. The bands were fun and all seemed to be having a good time. My only addition would be to edit some of the food vendors – it was just nasty stuff and should be more focussed on fresh seafood. The rest was fun – good job BCC!
There are plenty of street festivals around. West Seattle had theirs this weekend too and it wasn’t a fundraiser for a Chamber that is suing to continue the private use of public land for just a couple businesses. Many of us will not put money into the chamber’s pockets given the choices they continue to make. Hopefully the Chamber businesses that are for the trail and against the Chamber’s involvement in the lawsuit will quit it, publicize their quitting, and join another business association.
gobigblue-that you have friends that don’t have a clue about one of the biggest issues in ballard says quite a bit. I had a great weekend and didn’t put any money in the chamber’s coffers.
Cindy – nice post, thanks! Don’t let the anonymous patronizers/attackers get you down.
I notice that the most vitriolic attacks seem to come from handles I haven’t seen on myBallard before, which leads me to suspect one or two obsessed individuals are behind those. Please note, I’m not talking about long-established posters such as motorrad.
motorrad – so what exactly does it say that my friends…who include a microsoft manager, a fireman, and an owner of 3 different business in Ballard…don’t know (read: don’t care) about the missing link?
one of the biggest issues in ballard? maybe in your world it is but not in everyone elses.
and if you really don’t want to support members of the BCoC, why do you keep posting on MyBallard.com, which is a member?
i went to seafood fest and bought my kids slices at Snoose Junction (BCoC member) and ice cream at Tully’s. they got to play on the inflatable rides and climb into a firetruck and the big fish.
please do tell me exactly how much of the money that i spent (about $25) went into the BCoC’s coffers?
gobigblue:
The math is very simple. Go back to Snoose Junction and ask for their year end financial statements. I’m sure they’ll give them to you.
Then take the gross income from that document and divide $275 (the BCC membership fee for companies with 16+ employees) by that number. This will give you the fraction of Snoose Junction’s revenue that went toward BBC membership.
Multiply the total from your Snoose Junction receipt (before tip) by that number and voila: your personal contribution to the BCC.
I’m guessing Snoose does around 600K a year in revenue (rough estimate), which would put your contribution, assuming you spent the full $25 dollars at Snoose, at 1.14 cents.
If anyone needs help with their accounting homework, I am available at reasonable rates.
:-)
Maybe the fixed-agenda/fixed-gear types will get their friends over at Critical Mass (Mess?) to roll-into Ballard on a Friday evening. That’ll pretty much kill any community support for the “missing link.”
Rabidly asserting a secondary issue (a short bike path) should be a the front of the community agenda actually does far more harm than good for the cause of bicyclists (of which I am one.)
Ballard (old and new residents alike) are far more concerned about the basics (aggressive vagrants, crime, schools, business climate) than with the convenience of pedaling between Shilshole and Fremont.
If the radical fringe of the bike community wants to get our trails paved, then they should go to work ousting our useless Mayor, who can’t seem figure-out that a prosperous, competitive economy will makes all theses “extras” possible.
Why on earth would Myballard be a member of the Ballard Chamber??? Come on MyBallard. You guys are better than that. Chose your community over frivolous lawsuits. Do you like it that the money supporting your website is wasted like that?
ballrdlifer – warren hasn;t worked a day in his life? I he going to Habitude (another BCC member – cospiracy afoot) to get the diesel oil applied to under his nails and his cuticles?
Two thumbs up to Walter Agony for a back of the envelope cash flow analysis. I love a man who knows his GAAP.
Ditto gobigblue: a non scientific survey of Ballard residents at dinner this weekend yeilded a big “What are you talking about?” when asked their thoughts on the bike trail. Followed by a “why would anyone think a trail there is a good idea?”
Although to those of you with this huge emotional involvment in the bike trail this may seem like one of the biggest issues facing Ballard, I assure you, to the majority of Ballard residents it is not.
PS Thanks Cindy for all your hard work. Everyone who went or volunteered had a great time form what I have heard. It’s a huge job to put something like this on thanks for being a part of it.
“They will give them to you” really?
Nobody will give their financials to some random person that walks in off the street.
Sven – I believe that was a sarcastic jab at the many people who post about the financial viability of various businesses and/or go on and on about how much their patronage of chamber member businesses is indirectly supporting the lawsuit.
Why would my Ballard join the BCC? You think they started it as a public service? It’s a business and that’s what business do, they join CC’s and trade associations.
Sounds like they did choose their community and the other business’ that make Ballard vibrant and healthy.
Please boycott my Ballard if it pisses you off.
gts206 and Walter. Uff Da!
If that’s the case then ignore my comment.
I also talked to friends, family, and business associates about this. I’m fourth generation Ballard so I know a few people and the majority had the same opinion, build the trail, just don’t build it through the industrial area.
Most have a dumbfounded look and say “why would they build it there?”
Geeky Swedes. Please disable comments. PLEASE!
PS Thanks for the content on the Seafood Fest. We went and had a great time.
+1 For Keith
Those of us from the Alaska Scallop Association really enjoyed the festival. We apologize to Ballard for not knowing you would love our Scallorito so much. We were not prepared for the volume of people that wanted one. Next year we will be ready for all of you. Two grills and a larger crew.
Sad to see Ballard arguing so bitterly on this blog, Hope you solve it amicably.
I have known and bought oil for our fishing boats from Warren for 30 years. He is a standup guys who works his butt off. He is there at 5am catching our lines and then dragging fuel hoses and supplies to our boats all day. Also I have been shoulder to shoulder with him at many charitable events around the state working for free, for the good of others. Please go easy when throwing rocks at this man.
Cheers, Jim Stone, Alaska Scallop Association
Right Jim, so what if Warren ‘works’ at 5 am and gives people ‘jobs’,….how much global warming is he causing? That’s the real issue here.
He’s just kidding, Jim.
We Swedes are a naturally funny people. Think of us as tall blonde Jews.
And BTW, Jim didn’t want to toot his own horn, but his booth won “Best of the Fest” at SeafoodFest this year (there was giant sign they were awarded that hung in front of their booth). In fact, his scallps were so popular that they ran out of food at about 2 PM on Sunday. Good job!