Thanks to all who attended our Annual Meeting on March 14, with special thanks to Mayor Michael McGinn for graciously fielding a number of questions about "green infrastructure" in Ballard and beyond. Our current slate of officers was elected for another year by acclamation, and two new Local Heroes were recognized.

Dawn Hemminger was lauded for her years of service on the Board of Directors, for the last few years in the most time-consuming job, Treasurer. She also has helped spearhead the 14th Ave NW Visioning Project, which was featured at the meeting in a presentation by her and Peter Locke. If that was not enough, she helped re-form the east ballard community association over the last couple of years, energizing her corner of the neighborhood. She has also been involved in the Ballard District Council and its efforts to prepare for a neighborhood plan update.

Michael Harthorne was recognized for his tireless reporting of Groundswell and other community events for the Ballard News Tribune. At a time when BNT has consolidated its operations and closed its Ballard office, Michael has kept their reporting of community events at a high level, showing up for evening meetings, daytime work parties and helping us spread the news through his articles and photographs. His report on our Annual Meeting, which modestly ignores his Local Hero honor, can be found here.