The Willamette University Chamber Choir and Willamette Singers, under the direction of Wallace Long, will perform Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019, 7 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 6215 196 St. S.W. in Lynnwood.

Choirs from Bothell High School, under the direction of Taylor Iverson, and Meadowdale High School, under the direction of Jeff Horenstein, will also perform in the classical portion of the concert.

The concert will open with a vocal jazz performance by the Willamette Singers, followed by the high school groups and the Willamette Chamber Choir. The concert is free and open to the public, although a goodwill donation is encouraged.

The performance will include a variety of sacred and secular works, both a cappella and accompanied. The chamber choir performance will include “Magnificat” by Jackson Berkey, “Exsultate” by Brian Galante, “Brazilian Psalm” by Jean Berger and “Ner, Ner” by Jake Runestadt.

The Willamette Singers, a vocal jazz ensemble, will perform selections including “Nothin’ but Static” by Brian Eichenberger, “Tenor Madness” arranged by Michele Weir, “The Bones of You” arranged by Kerry Marsh and “That Old Black Magic” arranged by Kirby Shaw.

The Willamette Chamber Choir is a 41-voice ensemble that performs throughout the Northwest. The Willamette Singers is a 17-member vocal jazz ensemble.

Both groups have recently performed at regional, national and international conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, the Music Educators National Conference, the Oregon Music Educators Association and the International Association of Jazz Educators.

The Lynnwood City Council is scheduled to vote on the city’s 2019 salary schedule at its Monday, Jan. 14 business meeting.

The ordinance drafted after the council approved the 2019-2021 Police Management Guild agreement, so the salary schedule reflects accurate wage information.

The schedule under consideration will remove the step 1 pay for the lifeguard position,  as it does not meet the legal minimum wage for Washington state. The salary schedule will also reflect the adjusted pay rate for the position of reserve police officer to match police officer and sergeant wages.

In addition, the council will elect a new council president and appoint councilmembers to various boards, committees and commissions — all actions that were rescheduled from last week’s meeting.

Councilmembers serve as liaisons between the city and various boards and commissions, as well as serving as the city’s representative to outside agencies and organizations. Some of these positions are elected by city councilmembers and others will be appointed by the council president.

Positions elected by the city council include:

• Council President
• Council Vice President
• Alliance for Housing Affordability
• Community Transit
• Lynnwood Tourism Advisory Council
• Snohomish County 911 Board/SERS
• Snohomish Health District
• Snohomish County Tomorrow
• Snohomish County Fire Commission

Positions appointed by the city council president include:

• Arts Commission
• Audits and Insurance/Finance Committee
• Disability Board
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission
• History and Heritage Board
• Human Services Commission
• Lynnwood Public Facilities District – PFD
• Lynnwood Citizens Patrol Volunteers
• Lynnwood VIPS Volunteers
• Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts
• Planning Commission

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the council chambers, Lynnwood City Hall, 19100 44th Ave. W. You can see the complete agenda here.

For the past seven years, Edmonds resident and Diversity Commission member Donnie Griffin has been helping civic leaders in Seattle put on an annual Seattle prayer breakfast to celebrate the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This year, Griffin is thrilled to be working on an event closer to home — a Tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Inspiring a Beloved Community in Song, Spoken Word and Dance — set for Monday, Jan. 21 at the Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 4th Ave. N.

“Martin Luther King Jr. talked about a Beloved Community, where you do care, where you do respect and love your neighbors,” Griffin said. “In this premier event, we seek to encourage, engage and inspire the audience through avenues of song, spoken word and dance to be caring citizens by loving our neighbors as ourselves and promoting a community standard free of hatred, injustice and poverty.”

While the event is being held in Edmonds, the goal is to involve neighbors from cities in North King and South Snohomish counties in both a free morning program for families, children and young people, and an evening tribute featuring dance, song and story telling.

The event is being organized through the Griffin-founded Lift Every Voice Legacy (LEVL), which he says reflects “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” written by James Weldon Johnson in 1900 and often referred to as the “Black National Anthem.”

The evening program, at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21 — on the federal holiday that honors King — is produced in partnership with the Edmonds Center for the Arts. General admission tickets are $10; $5 for students; and $12 day of the event.

The free morning program for children, youth and families will run from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 21 — also at the Edmonds Center for the Arts. It will feature Kaleidoscope Dance Company and Northside STEP.

Griffin says that both morning and evening programs are designed to inspire Dr. King’s vision of a Beloved Community – a local living environment free of hatred, injustice and poverty. Featured performances at the evening event include:

• • The Sound of the Northwest choral ensemble, directed by Juan Huey-Ray, highlighting a rich African American musical heritage in song
  • Story telling from published author, inspirational speaker and storyteller Dr. Gloria Burgess, an Edmonds resident whose life stories of poverty, racism and sexism have lifted spirits around the world.
  • Dance performances from Barclay Shelton Dance Center and Price Arts Dance. 
  • Featured vocalist Josephine Howell, a Pacific Northwest gospel, R&B and jazz singer

Griffin said there will be a Beloved Community Award presentation for local activism, and the ECA lobby will offer a variety activities and displays for families.

While the Jan. 21 event is aimed at celebrating King’s legacy, the hard work will begin after the celebration ends, Griffin said. “We plan to create a follow-up roster of those in attendance and others who wish to join the LEVL Network for ongoing educational activities and programs as a way of staying engaged throughout the year,” he said.

For tickets and information on the Jan. 21 event, contact the ECA Box Office at 425-275-9595 or online at ec4arts.org.

Sponsors include Edmonds United Methodist Church, Hazel Miller Foundation and The Campbell Auto Group Fund, Verdant Health Commission, Diana and Stephen White, and Leanne and Steve Shelton.

Growing up  . . .

It isn’t always easy. As a newly elected public official, I entered office convinced that the ability to convince others of my way of thinking was the mark of a great leader. I thought I needed to demonstrate my power and strength by convincing others of my point of view.

Let’s just say, I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

Then a funny thing happened on the way to growing up. A wise man crossed the pathway of my life and asked me a life-changing question. In short, he asked, “Loren, do you want to convince or do you want to connect?” That simple question changed my thinking about effective leadership in a lasting way.

I suddenly realized making a deposit in the “relationship bank account” would get me higher returns in the long run and make me a far more successful leader. More important, I suddenly became aware of my addictive need to be right. Underneath my need to be right, I discovered a deeper insecurity… people might find out I really wasn’t as smart as I thought I was.

This is the paradox of being judgmental. The more we demand that others agree with us, the more we are covering up our own insecurities. Leaders who are secure in their own self-identity and have healthy egos, do not need to make others wrong. In fact, they look at those who disagree with them as an opportunity to learn and discover what they don’t know.

With the passing of time and considerable reflection, I have determined when we spend a lot of energy trying to convince others we are right and they are wrong, we may not notice how much judging, blaming, resentment and anger might control our life. Moreover, a leader who is addicted to being right will never be effective in the long run — nor will they be happy in life.

Our society values strong and decisive leaders. This undoubtedly is a byproduct of our individualistic society and can fool us into thinking convincing others that we are right and they are wrong is the path to successful leadership. Not so.

Unfortunately, many leaders fear they will be accused of being “soft” if they are not decisive. They attempt to convince others they are right, rarely listen and dominate conversations. This is the quickest way for quality people to leave the organization or the team. No one wants an arrogant leader shutting down their creative ideas and no organization can afford to have one person thinking for the whole team.

When we choose to connect with others, we are building trusted personal relationships that will transcend the particular issue at hand. Our ability to listen, build common ground and learn from each other will expand.

I would offer you a few tips about how to move from “Convincing” to Connecting:”

• Notice how often you judge others and not just their ideas, but also how often you judge their dress, hairstyle or lifestyle.
• Avoid being critical of yourself once you begin to notice how often you judge. It is better to smile and notice your judgmental habits rather than to criticize them. Awareness is the key to developing any new habit.
• “Ask first and tell later.” This is another simple phrase that brings profound results. Your team and others working with you will begin to trust that you actually want their opinion if you ask first and tell second!
• When you are in the convincing mode, ask yourself, “What am I trying to control?” This will give you a clue to what is driving your need to be right and allow you to face the fear that is controlling you.

With the opportunities of a new year before us, I would encourage you with the following suggestion.

Before you go into your next meeting or next conversation, ask yourself, “Do I want to convince or do I want to connect?” How you answer that question will give you a clue about what you hope to accomplish.

Effective leaders connect more often than convince and dig for diverse perspectives in order to achieve more effective results.

Until next time . . .

— By Loren Simmonds

Loren Simmonds has been a resident of Lynnwood for 37 years. He served on the Lynnwood City Council for 16 years, including eight as Council President. He remains active in the community by serving on the Parks and Recreation Foundation Board, Civil Service Commission and the Snohomish County Planning Commission. He believes that volunteerism sows the seeds of community. Loren is semi-retired and works as a writer, speaker and leadership coach.

Julie Andrews, a veteran teacher at Lynnwood’s Spruce Elementary, has been named December’s Rotary Club of Alderwood-Terrace Educator of the Month.

Andrews has taught most grade levels at the school and spent eight years as an instructional coach.

“Julia’s dedication to volunteer work has been such a huge benefit to Spruce,” Principal Emily Moore said. “Whether organizing a garden cleanup to help beautify our school or connecting us with her church to provide food, gifts and so much more to our community, Julia’s heart and commitment is a gift.”

“Mom, I wanna play lacrosse” is a sentence I ignored after my youngest came home telling me how much fun he was having during his lacrosse unit in P.E.. Pre-kid Jen thinks this makes me a terrible and unsupportive mother, mid-kid Jen understands that if you start every sport or activity at the first mention of it, you’d go bankrupt while giving speeches about “sticking with it.” When he brought this up the first time, he had just started a different sport, skateboarding, which is a great sports community, but isn’t as widely organized as many other sports and is tricky to maintain in a rainy area, so adding another new sport was out of the question.

After joining the Healthy Habits Cross Country team through the Edmonds Boys and Girls Club at his school this fall, we saw that they also offered lacrosse for November/December (they are about to offer rugby and then track, and I highly recommend the program). This was his chance to try out lacrosse and keep going with his Boys and Girls coach, Abby, who he really likes. While the format that the Boys and Girls Club runs differs from the organized lacrosse you’ll find locally (they’re co-ed and don’t require protective gear), it’s a very fun and affordable way for kids to try it out.

Given the success of the Boys and Girls Club experience and his asking Santa for lacrosse gear, we set out to find out as much as we could about the sport and what it took to gear up and sign up. As you may know from seeing them at the Edmonds 4th of July parade, Edmonds has boys lacrosse teams — The Edmonds Eagles for kids from Kindergarten through 8th grade and the Meadowdale Mavericks, the school district’s high school lacrosse team, which includes players from anywhere in the Edmonds School District.

When we were deciding where to play, we knew that LFP-Shoreline has a team established, in part, by friends we trust from my older son’s hockey team. We’re right in the middle of both practice locations, so it wasn’t as simple as find-the-local-team. I submitted a question to EaglesLax.com which got a call back in what I would consider record time. Kim Newman, treasurer of Edmonds Youth Sports, which covers the Eagles and Mavericks, answered the first of my many questions.

Newman and I caught up over the phone to cover the rest of the information, though EaglesLax.com really does include a lot of information. Students in the Edmonds School District are eligible to play for the Eagles or Mavericks, depending on their age, and there are age groups from kindergarten through high school. Registration for the Edmonds Eagles covers, according to the website, “Game Jersey to Keep, League fees, Fields fees, Ref Fees, Coaches gifts, End of Season Party, up to 2 in-season Tournaments, and ONE FUN EXPERIENCE!” It’s important to add that a membership to US Lacrosse, $30-$40 depending on the age of the player, is also required to play. Newman told me that for those in 3rd through 8th grades, the season starts Feb. 4, with three practices a week until mid-March when the games start. Kids in kindergarten through 2nd grade start on March 6 with one practice a week and the Meadowdale Mavericks start in the last week of February and they practice five days a week.

Besides the rules of play, which we don’t know much about yet, the first mountain to climb was the gear. For boys lacrosse, the players need a helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, stick, mouthguard, protective cup and cleats. Of course, each of these items are just different enough from the bag full of hockey gear we already have for him.

Provided by Santa, his parents and a grandparent, the gear my son has is all used — except the gloves, mouthguard and cup he already had from hockey — came from a mix of Play It Again Sports — both Lynnwood and Marysville locations — and another local store. Edmonds Eagles offer the main items for rent, $90 for the season, or even individual items at different prices. The only items you must purchase are the mouthguard, cup and cleats — we found a pair of cleats at Play It Again in Lynnwood for $9.99.

Like hockey — our only really comparable experience — there is contact in lacrosse. In hockey, my older son will likely never “check,” as it is reserved for the highest level “rep” teams. I asked Newman about the contact in lacrosse; she said at the 3rd and 4th grade level there is “poking,” which is hitting another player’s stick in hopes they’ll drop the ball. She said that the next age group up, 5th/6th grade team, is when checking starts though she reiterated that there is incidental contact, much like hockey, even when checking isn’t permitted.

For more information and registration for either the Edmonds Eagles or Meadowdale Mavericks, visit EaglesLax.com. Any additional questions can be submitted under the “Contact Us” tab.

There is also girls lacrosse in Edmonds through the Edmonds Lacrosse Club, for those in 4th grade through high school. Edmonds Lacrosse Club President Marnie White gave me the rundown on who is eligible, what gear they need and when you can attend their open house for more information. White told me, “All girls in Edmonds Schools District boundaries, as well as Shoreline School District, can play with us. Private school students in these areas can play with us as well,” she said, adding that one of the nicest things about Edmonds Lacrosse Club teams is that “the girls come from multiple schools.”  The gear requirements are a stick, cleats, mouth guard and eye protection.

I know from having been in the lacrosse section at Play It Again in Lynnwood a lot, you can get eye protection there. They aren’t like any other piece of equipment I’ve used, but I would describe it as a mix of the catcher’s mask I wore in softball and ski goggles, or a hockey cage, but for your eyes.

For more information or to register, you can visit EdmondsLacrosse.com or attend their registration Night for families on Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Lynnwood Fire Station, 18800 44th Ave. W., Lynnwood. White describes this event as a “great way to get to meet team members, coaches and parents.

— By Jennifer Marx

Jen Marx, an Edmonds mom of two boys, is always looking for a fun place to take the kids that makes them tired enough to go to bed on time.

1 of 3

A man in his 20s was arrested for investigation of vehicular homicide Sunday afternoon after the car he was driving struck a parked car and then another vehicle, sending the male driver to the hospital where he died of his injuries, police said.

Lynnwood police are investigating the crash, which occurred in the 19700 block of 76th Avenue West at approximately 3:45 p.m. Sunday. According to LPD Commander Sean Doty,  preliminary information indicates the suspect may have been traveling at a high rate of speed when he struck a parked, unoccupied vehicle, before striking the vehicle driven by the victim.

“The suspect fled the scene of the collision on foot but was captured by Edmonds police officers,” Doty said. The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center, where he died, Doty added. There were no passengers in either vehicle.

No additional information is being released on the victim pending notification of next of kin, police said.

On our weekly profile of high school sports in the Edmonds School District, we welcome Mountlake Terrace girls basketball players Lydia Prelow, Trinity Prout and Kierra Scott, and Meadowdale wrestlers Alex Krueger, Nathan Lee and Jin Lee. Plus a wrap-up of other high school sports districtwide.

The Port of Edmonds is currently recruiting for a Security Officer II and a Security Officer part time. Please visit our website www.portofedmonds.org/business/employment for complete job descriptions and details on how to apply.

— Sponsored by the Port of Edmonds

In his “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.“

For many of us — I would even say the vast majority of us — the goal of a society that sets this dream into practice is highly desirable. But 55 years after King spoke, institutional racism and white privilege still represent a major impediment to the attainment of equal justice in America.

I can’t help thinking of the pigs in George Orwell‘s Animal Farm, who tried to float the idea that “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” It’s a statement that is absurd on the face of it. There simply cannot be cannot be equal justice for some. None of us is free, until all of us are.

Recently, a youth group from All Pilgrims Congregational church in Seattle retraced the steps of the American civil rights movement. Upon their return, they set out to do something to make a positive impact with respect to racial justice.

Here’s what one of their youth leaders pointed out:

“I think one thing that is really crucial in the work of racial justice, specifically for white people, is to understand that this work cannot be done on the backs of people of color, that our education and our awakening and understanding cannot be something that we are relying on folks of color to teach us.”

Born from this youth group’s heightened awareness, the group reSound, a Northwest Chamber Ensemble, will perform Let Justice Roll Down – A Multi-Media Musical Journey to Selma and Back.

A 10-voice chamber group that is choir-in-residence at Lynnwood’s Trinity Lutheran Church, reSound is directed by Dr. Stephen Marshall-Ward, who brings a passionate love of choral music and gifted leadership to this small but talented vocal ensemble. Part of reSound’s stated mission is “to design creative connections to engage the heart of our human family.”

Raising awareness within our community about racial justice through music seems like a great fit. Music has long been an effective medium for communicating important messages. We Shall Overcome, and Give Peace a Chance spring to mind.

The City of Edmonds Diversity Commission thought so. The commission has joined The Institute for Social Change Through the The Arts, and several faith-based organizations to provide financial support, awarding a $500 grant to help bring the event to Trinity Lutheran in Lynnwood Sunday, Jan. 27.

This event will feature an exciting performance of “Kyrie,” a new 20-minute work by Stephen Marshall-Ward and Michael Austin Miller. Kyrie will take listeners through the first steps of understanding, showing us what we can do to begin the process toward personally dismantling white privilege, supremacy and racism.

The event features many talented greater Seattle-based musicians, including duo-organists Wanda Griffiths and Stephen Marshall-Ward with reSound; Dave Beck, cello; Kyle Erickson, trumpet; Ian Alvarez, percussion and filmed interviews with Plymouth Youth Forum Members.

“Our desire for this project is that our audience members will gain an understanding of how white privilege and institutionalized racism can be identified in our communities and in our own lives, encouraging people to think and act differently and be willing to enter similar conversations to further the message,” said reSound member Royce Napolitino. “If attendees go on to lead more self-aware lives and are able to articulate what institutionalized racism is, an evolution has happened and change is possible.”

Learn more at www.resoundsings.org.

Let Justice Roll Down – A Multi-Media Musical Journey to Selma and Back

Jan. 27,  7 p.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church
6215 196th St. S.W.
Lynnwood
Donations accepted at the door

~ ~ ~ ~

Our community is also hosting another event aimed at honoring Dr. King’s legacy. A daylong Tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Inspiring a Beloved Community in Song, Spoken Word and Dance is set for Monday, Jan. 21 — the federal holiday recognizing King — at the Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 4th Ave. N.

The free morning program for children, youth and families will run from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 21 — at the Edmonds Center for the Arts. It will feature Kaleidoscope Dance Company and Northside STEP. Featured performances at the evening event include:

• The Sound of the Northwest choral ensemble, directed by Juan Huey-Ray, highlighting a rich African American musical heritage in song.
• Storytelling from Dr. Gloria Burgess, an Edmonds resident whose life stories of poverty, racism and sexism have lifted spirits around the world.
• Dance performances from Barclay Shelton Dance Center and Price Arts Dance. 
• Featured vocalist Josephine Howell, a Pacific Northwest gospel, R&B and jazz singer.

For tickets to the evening event, contact the ECA Box Office at 425-275-9595 or online at ec4arts.org.

You can also learn more in our earlier story.

— By James Spangler

When not actively scheming about ways to promote the arts, James Spangler can be found (highly caffeinated) behind the counter of his bookstore on 4th Avenue in downtown Edmonds.

1 of 4

Students from Edmonds-Woodway and Meadowdale high schools are helping restore and enhance local salmon populations. Last Friday and Saturday, students placed fertilized coho and chum salmon eggs in instream incubators called “hatchboxes.”  The hatchboxes with chum salmon eggs were placed in lower Lunds Gulch Creek at Meadowdale Beach Park and those with coho salmon eggs were placed in Edmonds’ upper Shell Creek.

The salmon eggs will hatch in the hatchbox and the baby salmon will grow there until they have consumed their yolk sac and are ready to swim out of the hatchbox and begin life in the stream as salmon fry. This is similar to the natural process that occurs with salmon eggs laid in the gravel and growing to the fry stage before emerging from the gravel. Chum salmon fry will remain in the stream for only a few days before swimming out to saltwater, whereas coho salmon will spend the first year of their life in the stream.

The EWHS Students Saving Salmon club placed the coho salmon eggs in the upper portion of Shell Creek in Yost Park so that the young salmon can grow in stream habitat that is otherwise inaccessible due to an impassable waterfall near 7th Avenue and Glen Street.

— Story and photos courtesy Joe Scordino

Contractor crews will reduce State Route 524 between Locust and Larch Ways to one lane overnight, Tuesday, Jan. 15, the Washington State Department of Transportation says.

Crews need to close one lane to install some long-awaited drainage that was weather-dependent. “Now that we have clear skies in the forecast, they’re going for it,” the WSDOT announcement says.

Traffic will alternate between Locust Way and Larch Way from 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15 to 6 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16.

Lynnwood-based Girls on the Run of Snohomish County has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Rite Aid Foundation.

Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based positive youth development that is designed to enhance girls’ social, emotional and physical skills and behaviors to successfully navigate life experiences. The program’s curriculum places an emphasis on developing competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, and contribution in young girls through lessons that incorporate running and other physical activities. The life skills curriculum is delivered by trained and caring coaches in a safe and inclusive environment.

The grant from the Rite Aid Foundation will provide more girls with the opportunity to participate in Girls on the Run. An independent study found that the program is highly effective at driving transformative and lasting change in the lives of 3rd – 8th grade girls. According to a Girls on the Run announcement, 97 percent of participants said they learned critical life skills such as how to resolve conflict, manage emotions, help others and make intentional decisions at Girls on the Run that they are using at home, at school and with their friends.

“Girls on the Run envisions a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams,” said Megan Wolfe, Executive Director of Girls on the Run of Snohomish County. “This grant from the Rite Aid Foundation will help move this vision forward by providing opportunities for more girls to participate in our life-changing program.

Girls on the Run of Snohomish County is one of 22 Girls on the Run councils to receive the Rite Aid Foundation KidsCents Regional Grant. Over $460,000 was awarded to councils in 12 states to advance the mission of Girls on the Run.

Learn more at www.girlsontherunsnoco.org.

Even though Judge Richard Achilles Ballinger died 32 years before there was a city known as Mountlake Terrace, he can be remembered as the first to see the possibilities for the land around Lake McAleer becoming a great place to live or play. In our time, thousands of people do find enjoyment in this scenic area that once belonged to Judge Ballinger. Today, Lake McAleer is known as Lake Ballinger, and ownership of the lake is shared by Mountlake Terrace on the east and Edmonds on the west side—with the major part of the lake belonging to the City of Mountlake Terrace.

As told in the first of this Looking Back series on Mountlake Terrace, in 1902 when Judge Ballinger purchased the island in the lake from Ira and Julia Bartholomew — the original homesteaders — his father Col. Richard Henry Ballinger, a devout sportsman, made the island his permanent home until his death in 1906.  Judge Ballinger also acquired title to the lake itself and also to over 400 acres of the surrounding land. He renamed the lake in honor of his father. After his father’s death, Judge Ballinger and his wife continued to use the island cottage as their summer home.

Beyond his position as a major landowner in South Snohomish county, Judge Ballinger was a respected Seattle jurist, as well as a public figure in the city. He also became a national figure in Washington, D.C., and a bright hope for the Republican party.

Born July 9, 1858 in Boonesboro, Iowa, Richard Achilles Ballinger was the son of Civil War veteran, Col. Richard Henry Ballinger (1833-1906) and Mary Elizabeth Norton (1838-1912). His father Col. Ballinger read law in the Illinois law office of future president Abraham Lincoln. With the beginning of the Civil War, Col. Ballinger left his family and his legal work behind to serve as an officer in the military on the side of the North.

From cowboy to Seattle mayor

After the war, safely home, Col. Ballinger changed course and tried sheep-raising. With this, young Richard Achilles Ballinger at the tender age of 7, became a sheep herder. Next, his father became postmaster in the small town of Virden, Illinois. In addition, he became the owner and editor of the country newspaper. As a young lad, Richard learned to set type for his father’s newspaper, and also operated a news stand.  Evidently, still looking for a permanent place to settle, the roaming Ballinger family then made the journey to Kansas where Col. Ballinger tried cattle ranching, and young Richard became a cowboy.

Still a young man, Richard Achilles Ballinger decided on a career in the legal field. He studied law in the towns of Lawrence and Topeka, Kansas, and after a lot of hard work, finally earned admission to prestigious Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where he graduated in 1884 at the age of 26. He first practiced law in Illinois and then in Morgan County, Alabama. In 1886, he married Julia Albertson Bradley, a young lady from a Massachusetts family.

In late 1889, the entire Ballinger family traveled to the brand-new state of Washington, where Richard Achilles Ballinger and his wife and son settled. He began practicing law in Port Townsend, and eventually became a superior court judge for Jefferson County, earning the lifetime courtesy title of judge. In 1904, Judge Ballinger and his family moved to Seattle, where he opened an office in the city. His law firm became known as Ballinger, Battle, Hurlburt and Shorts. Very well-versed in the law, Judge Ballinger authored several important legal works, including the much-respected Ballinger on Community Property.

In 1906, he was elected to serve as the reform mayor of a still young Seattle — a town considered to be a little on the wild side.  He was credited as having played a major role in cleaning up the bad influences in the lively town.

While serving as mayor of Seattle, Judge Ballinger’s talents were noted and he soon became a national figure when he attracted the attention of the administration of President Theodore Roosevelt, and in 1907 he was appointed commissioner of the United States General Land Office. In 1909, he was back home in Seattle where he became president of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition World’s Fair.

Rumors and mudslinging

Later that year, during the administration of conservative Republican President William H. Taft, Judge Ballinger — also a conservative Republican — was appointed to the important cabinet position of Secretary of the Interior. While serving in that capacity, Judge Ballinger expressed strong ideas regarding making public resources more available for private interests. He ran afoul of some powerful progressives in the Taft administration who had their own strong ideas on conserving those lands solely for public use.

Rumors and mudslinging by those opposing the outsider Judge Ballinger led to falsehoods and speculation, even a scandal suggesting that Ballinger had a personal and self-serving agenda involving the use of public lands. Referred to by the press as the Ballinger-Pinchot scandal, this volatile controversy in the Republican Party over the public land issue and Ballinger’s inferred personal agenda caused a split in the Republican Party and eventually led to his resignation. Even though President Taft sided with Judge Ballinger, in 1911 — in order not to cause further embarrassment for the president — Ballinger resigned, claiming health issues.

Worn down from all the bitter and baseless accusations thrown at him, his health deteriorating, a much-discouraged Judge Ballinger left Washington, D.C. under a cloud of innuendos. He went back to his Seattle home and announced that he was finished with serving in public office. He then resumed his private law practice.

Judge and Mrs. Ballinger did own a beautiful home on Capitol Hill in Seattle; however, after retiring from public life, they began spending more time at their summer home on their secluded little island in South Snohomish County.

During his years of practicing law and involvement in public service, Judge Ballinger had little time to spend on the development of his Lake Ballinger properties. He mainly leased a portion of the land to timber companies for the clearing of the forests, and also to sawmill interests. However, in 1912, following his forced retirement, Judge Ballinger began making different plans for his properties. Before he was able to see the fruition of those plans, his health did fail, and at the early age of 63, Judge Ballinger died June 6, 1922 in Seattle, the result of a heart attack.   He is buried at Seattle’s historic Lake View Cemetery.

Through the years, government officials, including President Taft himself, attempted to atone for the slanderous treatment Judge Ballinger had suffered. However, it wasn’t until many years after Judge Ballinger’s death that his wife and family realized final closure. In fact, vindication came during the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt, when on May 25, 1940, the Saturday Evening Post published anarticle about the Ballinger-Pinchot debacle. Entitled “Not Guilty” and written by then-Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes, the article fully exonerated Judge Ballinger from all the charges that had been leveled against him.

At her Edmonds home on the west shore of Lake Ballinger, where she lived with her youngest son Richard Talcott Ballinger, Judge Ballinger’s widow Julia had continued through the years to harbor unpleasant feelings regarding the accusations against her husband and the besmirching of the Ballinger name. During a 1940 interview with Howard E. MacDonald of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Mrs. Ballinger acknowledged that the Saturday Evening Post article had helped her and the family in overcoming their anguish.

Julia Ballinger lived a long life. She died in a Seattle hospital the day before Christmas in 1961 at the age of 97. She is buried next to her husband at Lake View Cemetery in Seattle. Two sons, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren survived them.

Mountlake Terrace-owned Edmount Island, the Ballinger’s former island home, is currently closed to the public as the result of a stubborn peat bog fire which engulfed the island in flames during the summer of 2009.

The next issue of this Mountlake Terrace series will cover more about the lake and the land in the early days, as well as Judge Ballinger’s Lake Ballinger Land Company and the development of his properties.

— By Betty Lou Gaeng

Betty Gaeng is a long-time resident of Lynnwood and Edmonds, coming to the area in 1933. She researches and writes about the history and the people of early-day Edmonds  Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace.

In this Military Wire podcast, you’ll hear from Army veteran Luis Bordonada and Hollywood actor Max Martini that “asking for help is not a show of weakness.” You’ll also get the “behind the scenes” on what makes the movie Sgt. Will Gardner, written and directed by Max Martini, a must-watch if you are working through issues related to combat and transition.

“You can’t heal unless there is a dialogue.” Max Martini, who has long portrayed roles of great warriors in such movies as Saving Private Ryan, The Unit and 13 Hours once again delivers an incredible performance as Sgt. Will Gardner, an Iraq War veteran. Gardner suffers from PTSD and the lingering effects of a traumatic brain injury, which he sustained years earlier when he and his platoon, led by his fellow soldier and best friend Tops (Omari Hardwick), came under attack.

Enduring painful flashbacks to his harrowing combat days and humiliating setbacks in the present, Will sets out on a spirited motorcycle journey across America in hopes of reconciling with his young son and former wife (Elisabeth Röhm). Along the way, he encounters other veterans and a young woman (Lily Rabe) who will push him to confront some of his most painful memories in hopes of finally finding some peace and closure.

He is joined by a powerful cast: Omari Hardwick (Starz’s Power, Sorry To Bother You), Lily Rabe (F/X’s American Horror Story), Dermot Mulroney (Insidious: Chapter 3), Robert Patrick (CBS’s Scorpion, Terminator 2), Elisabeth Röhm (Law & Order), JoBeth Williams (Poltergeist), Luis Bordonada (Barracuda), Leo Martini (Edge) and Gary Sinise (CBS’s CSI: NY, Forrest Gump). 

Mona Vista Productions will donate a portion of the film’s proceeds to three charities that support veterans suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD and veteran homelessness: Higher Ground, Warriors Heart and the Gary Sinise Foundation.

Cinedigm will release the picture in select theaters, On Demand and Digital in January 2019 with a Blu-ray and DVD release to follow in February 2019.

Check out Sgt. Will Gardner today.

— By Mike Schindler

Edmonds resident Mike Schindler is the founder and chief executive officer of Operation Military Family Cares –– a 501(c)(3) veteran service organization and technology provider that combats veteran homelessness, while working to strengthen relationships and equip communities and families for success.

Bobby Search passed away peacefully in his home January 9, 2019. He is survived by his five children: Charie Search, Trina Search, Zachary Search, Zion Search and Zerek Search; his 7 grandchildren: Chantel, Christian, Makenna, Ilea, Katalina, Sabrina and Savannah; and his 2 great grandchildren: Justice and Avery; as well as his brother and sister: Pat Search and Rita Search. He is joined in death with the love of his life Sabrina Search. Memorial service for Bobby will be held at his home Monday, January 21, 2019, 3 – 6 p.m.

Looking for a brief reprieve from the mid-winter blahs? Why not spend the evening listening to jazz, watching local artists demo their work, enjoying small plates, and sampling wines from 15 boutique wineries? Sound fun? All of this is happening at the Lynnwood Convention Center, Friday, Feb. 1 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., when the Lynnwood Arts Commission hosts its first The Art of Food and Wine event.

Tailored in part from Art Walk Edmonds’ successful wine walks, it will also include a variety of food options. In addition to the chefs of The Lynnwood Convention Center, others will be serving up all manners of delectable small plates, including Chef Dane Catering, The Here and There Food Truck, Bar Dojo, Salt and Iron, and The Rock Wood Fired Pizza. Whidbey Coffee will also be on hand.

Two of Lynnwood High School’s jazz combos will share the gig. I’m always impressed by the quality of these young ensembles.

In keeping with the food and wine theme, three prominent local artists will engage attendees with interactive demonstrations that combine food, wine and art.

Formally trained in architectural and graphic design, Allan Capacia Carandang paints with coffee in all its forms  — brewed, ground and whole. This versatile medium produces a wide range of warm sepia tones. You might also catch him using wine as a medium that evening.

Angela Bandurka, whom I’ve written about previously, has done some amazing still lifes of beverages. She has an astonishing ability to capture glass and fluid.

Ron Stocke is an artist, author and art instructor who also represents M Graham Watercolors. His atmospheric interiors often include scenes of restaurants, bars and patios.

According to Lynnwood Arts Commissioner Robert Gutcheck, proceeds for this event will benefit the Lynnwood Arts Commission, which is currently planning to install a large mural along 36th Avenue West, a roadway that is currently undergoing a substantial overhaul. They also hope to continue funding the art wraps of utility boxes in Lynnwood. Thus far, five of the 63 utility boxes around Lynnwood have been decorated with carefully selected art. Other major projects include a large-scale sculpture project planned for the convention center and several installations within the future light rail station.

In generating the event, the City of Lynnwood has demonstrated an ability to work collaboratively within the city to promote art. Gutcheck credits his fellow commissioners — along with City of Lynnwood staff liaison Fred Wong and City Councilmember Ruth Ross — for creating a partnership that will make the event possible. Sponsors include the Lynnwood City Parks and Recreation Foundation, Lynnwood Convention Center, Lynnwood Arts Commission and Seattle Uncorked.

Lynnwood also earmarks funds specifically for public art. One percent of its new city construction is reserved for producing public art in Lynnwood.

— By James Spangler

As the world mourned the death of comedian Carol Channing Jan. 15 at age 97, locals note that she was originally from Alderwood Manor.

“Carol Channing never forgot her roots in Alderwood Manor,” said historian and Lynnwood Today columnist Betty Lou Gaeng. “When my mother and father were back in New York in the 1960s they went to one of her shows, and when she mentioned she was from Alderwood Manor, they let her know they were too, and they were invited backstage to meet her.”

Wikipedia reports that Channing’s father — a city editor at the Seattle Star — took a job in San Francisco and the family moved from the Seattle area when Channing was two weeks old.

Channing — an actress, singer, dancer and comedian — was known for starring in Broadway and film musicals, Wikipedia says.

Also from Wikipedia:

“Her characters typically radiated a fervent expressiveness and an easily identifiable voice, whether singing or for comedic effect. Channing also studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City.

“Channing was inducted into the American Theatre Hallof Fame in 1981 and received a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award in 1995. She continued to perform and make appearances well into her 90s, singing songs from her repertoire and sharing stories with fans, cabaret style. She released an autobiography, Just Lucky I Guess, in 2002, and Larger Than Life, a documentary film about her career, was released in 2012.”