Community Spirit

Ballard High School student battles cancer and comes out on top

Submitted by Jill Russell, Social Media Producer
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012, 1:56pm
Ballard High School student battles cancer and comes out on top

When most high school freshmen are gearing up for finals or thinking about weekend plans, Mikael Perla was sitting in recliner at Seattle Childrens’ Hospital receiving chemotherapy through a shunt in his chest.

Shortly after celebrating Christmas with his family four years ago, the Ballard High School student was diagnosed his freshman year with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), a form of cancer that attacks blood and bone marrow — the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made.

And after a nearly four year fight for his life, the high school senior has received two gifts – cancer in remission and the honor of being his school’s valedictorian.

“I’m surprised I’m valedictorian. I didn’t expect it,” Perla said.

HEART-BREAKING DIAGNOSIS

Perla had an early fascination with science. Upon entering high school, he quickly enrolled in the Biotechnology Career Academy, a bio-tech track program that challenges students with courses in genetics, chemistry and biology. When he enters the University of Washington this fall, he plans to follow his passion and study bio-engineering.

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Local high school students to win scholarships tonight

Submitted by Rose Egge, KOMO Communities Reporter
Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, 2:23pm
Local high school students to win scholarships tonight

The Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund Trustees will honor 24 Seattle high school students this evening with a $2000 scholarship for post-high school education. The students will be recognized at an award ceremony and reception tonight at 7 p.m. in the Frances Penrose Owens Auditorium of the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence. 

Friends, family, and school district personnel who have worked with these students are invited to attend this celebratory event.

The following students will be honored:

  • Elyses Ayenew and Kelsey Bolinger, Ballard
  • David Coven and Ana David, Cleveland
  • Theophilus Savini and Rachel Visario, Franklin
  • Lucero Torres-Bravo and Francisco Martinez-Crisanto, Garfield
  • Mohomed Fofana and Gennevi Lu, Hale
  • Teri Hunter and Choega Thundrup, Ingraham
  • Andres Arano Aguilera, Interagency
  • Salenna Green, Middle College at Northgate
  • Alexis Ford and Anthony Segi, Rainier Beach
  • Sofiya Idris and Risku Tuffa, Roosevelt
  • Kindra Galan and Antonio Horton, Sealth
  • Jennifer Romero-Diaz and Jesus Sanches, South Lake
  • Suzanne Bechara and Jomar Rumbawa, West Seattle
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May 17 can mean only one thing in Ballard: Sytennde Mai

Submitted by Michael Harthorne, KOMO Communities Reporter
Monday, May 14th, 2012, 1:36pm
May 17 can mean only one thing in Ballard: Sytennde Mai

Are you ready? The Ballard-est day of them all is nearly here!

That’s right, this Thursday is the 123rd annual Syttende Mai (17th of May) Festival in Ballard. So, break out those Norwegian flags and Viking hats.

The Nordic Heritage Museum kicks things off at 10 a.m. with free admission, children’s activities, Scandinavian snacks and the return of the Norwegian Fjord horses.

After that, you can stop by Leif Erikson Lodge from noon to 2 p.m. for its traditional Norwegian lunch and special entertainment.

Three hours of live entertainment at Bergen Place starts at 2 p.m. And, the café at Leif Erickson Lodge is your Syttende Mai headquarters for food, pins, programs, flags and more from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Then, you better stake out a spot for the annual parade, which drew 20,000 people last year. It starts at Adams Elementary School at 6 p.m. before heading down 24th Avenue, Market Street and Ballard Avenue.

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Get moving to this weekend's Pedaler's Fair

Submitted by KOMO Staff
Friday, April 20th, 2012, 3:06pm
Get moving to this weekend's Pedaler's Fair

This year marks the first annual Pedaler’s Fair in Ballard.

The event, sponsored by Swift Industries and Go Means Go, will feature all things bike.

Vendors from across the state will offer free workshops, music, food, there will be a beer garden and more.

According to organizers:

“Pedaler’s Fair was born of a strong belief in buying local and supporting people that make things themselves. We enjoy having a connection with the products we use on a daily basis.”

The fair runs Saturday and Sunday, April 21-22, from 11-5:00p.m. at 'The Building', 1415 NW 49th Street.

Check out the full list of activities online.

 

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North Beach safety patrol students raise $1,077 for NW Harvest

Submitted by Michael Harthorne, KOMO Communities Reporter
Thursday, April 19th, 2012, 3:08pm
North Beach safety patrol students raise $1,077 for NW Harvest

North Beach Elementary School’s safety patrol students already donate their time and energy toward making their fellow students safer while crossing the street. But, they recently put some of that effort toward improving the lives of less-fortunate members of the community.

The fifth-grade students decided to collect donations for Northwest Harvest in their safety cones after learning about the increasing need at local food banks, according to Seattle Public Schools.

“We thought we would step up to the plate and do what we could,” teacher and safety patrol advisor Filina Niemeyer said in a press release.

The students set a goal of collecting 67 cents (Northwest Harvest can feed a family of three for 67 cents) for each of North Beach’s 320 students and collected donations for a week during morning patrols with the help of the Seattle Fire Department.

All told, the safety patrol raised $1,077.

“The kids are extremely proud of their hard work,” Niemeyer said in a note to Northwest Harvest.

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Share your neighborhood's story

Submitted by Rose Egge, KOMO Communities Reporter
Tuesday, April 17th, 2012, 9:07am

Every neighborhood has a story - whats yours?

The Next Fifty and Seattle Department of Neighborhoods is looking for community members to contribute to its film project "A Story Runs Through It." This community filmmaking project will celebrate Seattles neighborhoods and the civic life within them.  

You can 

submit your film of up to 3 minutes between now and August 31. Selected participants will receive modest cash awards and the opportunity to screen their videos at a festival during The Next Fiftys Civic Action month in October. 

Free filmmaking workshops will be offered at Seattle Center on April 14, May 5, and July 14.  

You can also share your video with us and we will post it here! Just email communities@komonews.com with "neighborhood video" in the subject. 

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Help beautify Ballard this weekend

Submitted by Michael Harthorne, KOMO Communities Reporter
Thursday, April 12th, 2012, 9:40am
Help beautify Ballard this weekend

This weekend is shaping up to be another nice one in Ballard. So, why not get out of the house and help a couple community groups beautify the neighborhood?

On Saturday, the East Ballard Community Association is hosting its twice-yearly Adopt-A-Street cleanup on 14th Avenue Northwest.

The EBCA needs volunteers to help pick up trash and weed around the planters. Vests and tools – not to mention treats from Ballard Market – will be provided.

The Adopt-A-Street cleanup takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sign in at Blowing Sands Glass, located at 5805 14th Ave. N.W.

Now that you’re all warmed up for volunteering, Friends of Ballard Corners Park needs help weeding, pruning, cleaning and raking Sunday at the park on the corner of 17th Avenue and 63rd Street.

Friends of Ballard Corners Park will have some tools to use, but volunteers should bring gloves, tools and yard-waste containers if they have them.

The park cleanup takes place from 9 a.m. to noon.

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