Category: Uncategorized

With last summer’s increase in wildfires and other climate-related shifts, global warming effects in the Northwest are becoming increasingly more apparent. This panel discussion will analyze local climate change trends in our region, and give insight into how these will shape the Pacific Northwestern lifestyle. Hear about current local efforts underway to adapt to these changes, and learn more about what actions to take to make a difference in the future of regional climate change. Panelists include Amy Snover, University of Washington Climate Impact Group; Crystal Raymond, Seattle City Light; and Rhys Roth, Director of the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure at Evergreen State College.  Downstairs at Town Hall; enter on Seneca Street.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014; 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Presented by: Sustainable Path.
Tickets: $5.
Doors open: 6:30 p.m.
Learn more: About Sustainable Path.

Ballard Urban Design Framework Open House 2:
Building Character, Streetscape and Open Space
November 6 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm at the Ballard Library

The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) is working with neighborhood groups and non-profits, organized as the Ballard Partnership for Smart Growth, to develop an Urban Design Framework (UDF).  The UDF will establish the desired design qualities for the central Ballard area, and examine how development regulations can better shape growth in ways that reflect those qualities.

At a public meeting this last May, the community expressed their views on the character of growth in the Ballard core.  The community overwhelmingly loves that Ballard is a beautiful, walkable neighborhood where one can visit the great variety of shops, restaurants and parks.  However, the community is also concerned that a number of recent high-density projects being built in the area do not contribute Ballard’s character.  DPD and the Ballard Partnership’s Urban Design and Transportation Committee have worked since May, to define responses to this central issue.  On Thursday, November 6, from 5:30 – 7:30, at the Ballard Library, DPD will present the initial strategies to better guide development in the Ballard core.  Our strategies address the bulk and character of development, streetscape design, and public/private open space within the areas shown in orange below.

Visit DPD’s website  to get information about this upcoming meeting.  If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can also sign up to receive updates and an invitation to participate in a questionnaire about our proposals.

You can also contact David W. Goldberg at 206.615.1447, or davidw.goldberg@seattle.gov

The Nordic Heritage Museum presents a community event celebrating Ballard old and new. Ballard residents, business owners, artists and musicians will gather for a fun evening of talks, music, food and vendors. Food will be graciously provided by Ballard Landmark.

Thursday, October 23 @ 7pm

Among the speakers are artist Matt Bazemore, urban farmer Jeanene Miller from Abundant Greens Urban Farm, micro-brewer Adam Robbing, co-founder / head brewer at Reuben’s Brews and architects from Mithun who will talk about the plans for the new Museum on Market Street.

Also participating in this event are Ballard Famers Market, Ballard Historical Society, Secret Garden Bookstore and more.

Moderator for the evening will be Peggy Sturdivant freelance writer, well-known for her popular column in Ballard News Tribune; At Large in Ballard with Peggy Sturdivant
This event is in conjunction with the exhibit The Color of Time: Ballard from Dusk to Dawn, photographs by Tod Gangler. The exhibit will be open for a special viewing during this event and Tod Gangler will be in attendance.

This is an evening you don’t want to miss!

Cost: Free, $5 donation suggested. Purchase tickets here:

Or by calling 206.789.5707 ext. 10.

We love and appreciate all of our 55 fabulous volunteers who gave their time and energy to make the 11th Annual Festival such a success!  But we drink an extra glass to those of you — our SUPERSTARS — who went above and beyond and dedicated extensive time, energy and creativity to the Festival – – you guys truly rock!

Hannah – who worked three shifts (!!!), took initiative, and brought a great positive spirit!!!

Margaret – who spent countless hours creating our Reusable Cup Campaign and worked a full day from dawn to dusk at the festival!!!

Chris – who helped set up and then managed our music stage all day!!

Regina – who set up and then managed our Taste of Ballard Beer Garden all day!!

Tim – who spent countless hours helping “schlepp” stuff from storage and back to storage, set up the festival, take down the festival, run errands, and more!!

Susanna – who reached out to Ballard breweries and got eight of 11 to participate in our Beer Garden!!

Vic – who worked a full day helping out everywhere, from Beer Garden to merchandize to Green Team!!

Todd – who worked all day with uncanny motivation and zest, from set up to hospitality to Green Team to tear down!!

Alina – who helped at work parties, created our Green Home display, designed and modeled a Trash Fashion outfit, and organized, planned and activated the Kids Zone all day!!!

John – who designed, built, housed and put together our Main Stage, and designed and implemented all our electricity needs at the park!!

Christy – who pulled together the smashingly successful Trash Fashion Show from start to finish!!

Bill – who recruited activities and participants for our Urban Farm area including goats, cider pressing, bee harvesting, seed saving, cloches and straw bales. Then helped with set up on Saturday, transported our sound equipment and engineer to and from the fest, and helped out all day at the fest from set up to tear down.

Kudos, applause and much appreciation to all of you awesome people!!!

We join with our friends from the Washington Environmental Council in asking you to sign this petition to Governor Jay Inslee.

Asthma rates are skyrocketing among our kids. Wildfires are burning our homes. Excessive rain is flooding our communities.

These are the threats we face from a dirty fossil fuel industry that is more interested in protecting its bottom line than cutting pollution to protect the people in our cities and towns.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Here in Washington, we have legislators ready to act to solve the biggest problems of climate that are affecting people right now. They are joining our neighbors in California, Oregon, and British Columbia to protect our children’s future by acting on climate change.

Now they need to hear from you that protecting our health by building a clean energy economy is the right step forward for Washington. Join thousands of your neighbors in our state and sign this petition to tell Governor Inslee and the leaders in Olympia now that you support climate action.

We know that the pollutants from unregulated power plants, dirty coal trains, and the effects of burning oil have been linked to terrible health effects like stunted lungs and impaired brain development in children. Thankfully, there is still time to act and protect our health and our children’s futures—we just need to act now.

Sign this petition to tell Governor Inslee and the leaders in Olympia to protect our health by acting on climate change and building a clean energy economy.

Thank you.

To our 3,823 attendees, 65 volunteers and 65+ exhibitors and sponsors — THANK YOU!

We had fun, we learned, we enjoyed our community and found inspiration to live more sustainable lives.

We had a great time at the Festival, got to meet a ton of people interested in sustainability. We plan to return again next year.
~ Susie Saalwaechter, Volunteer, The Nature Conservancy

The Sustainable Ballard event was awesome. I’m a Ballard resident and really enjoyed it. I was intending to just drop by, and then ended up staying for more than an hour. I think the interactivity that most of the vendors included in their “displays” was really really good. Hats off!
~ Gwen, Ballard Resident

See you next year!

Bees might be small in size but humans depend on them for the success of our food supply. As bees are rapidly disappearing our food supply is also in peril. Uncover some of the mysteries of why bee populations are struggling to survive and the solutions affecting the health of honey bees, native bumble bees and other native pollinators.

In this new class, you’ll learn from experts about the threats facing bees locally and globally, as well as what you can do to help in your own backyard.
Fee: $25 per person

Register Online

Washington state-approved clock hours are available to teachers who take one or more classes that total more than three contact hours.

At Commodore Park, near the Locks.
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Heron Habitat Helper’s mission is to protect the great blue heron and its urban habitat, especially around the Kiwanis Memorial Preserve Park in Magnolia. HHH is continually working to preserve and broaden wildlife habitat by planting native plants, shrubs and trees.

This event offers the opportunity to include native plants in your yard or garden and promote a natural habitat in our community. You’ll find interesting plants, special pricing and get to support HHH at the same time!

We’re excited to partner with Go Natives! a small retail nursery in Richmond Beach, that features more than 180 species of native plants from local growers throughout the Pacific Northwest.

This sale event is open to all! Hope to see you at either location from 10am – 4pm!

Monday, October 20th – 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm at NE Seattle Library, 6801 35th Ave NE
Tuesday, October 28th – 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm at Montlake Library, 2401 24th Ave E
Thursday, October 30th – 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm at Greenwood Public Library, 8016 Greenwood Ave N

Register Here

• Find out about RainWise Rebates – a City of Seattle program that will pay up to 100% rebate for rain gardens and cisterns on your property.  Check here to find out if you are eligible.
• Learn how rain gardens and cisterns help manage storm water and protect Puget Sound.
• Hear from property owners who have already taken advantage of this great program!
• Meet RainWise-trained contractors who can create beautiful rain gardens and cistern installations and walk you through the whole process.
• See a variety of examples of RainWise installations.
• Get your questions answered! RainWise might even be able to help you with a wet basement.