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Bergen Place to get facelift

Thanks to the Pro-Parks Levy, Ballard's Bergen Place Park will be getting a facelift in 2003. The levy provides $276,000 to revamp the park, which is a triangle located between Leary Way, Market Street and 22nd Avenue NW.

Despite Bergen Place's location in the heart of Ballard, the park is cut-off by traffic and seen by some as a place for transients. The space has been renovated before, but Cathy Tuttle, a project planner for the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department, said she hopes this time the effort will be successful.

"Hopefully, we're going to be the group that can finally pull the sword from the stone," said Tuttle at a recent public meeting.

In the meantime, Kathie Huus, a Parks Department spokesperson, said the agency would consider removing the park's blue awning, an unpopular feature, in the short term. The next Bergen Place planning meeting will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 10 a.m. at St Luke's Church, 5710 22nd Ave. NW. For details, call Tuttle at 684-7033.

New recycling Web site

Seattle Public Utilities is now offering a "virtual recycling tour" online at www.cityofseattle.net/util/services/recyclingtour/. The tour shows what happens to the 150 tons to recycling that leaves Seattle homes everyday and includes behind-the-scenes photos and recycling tips.

Daly's to hold design class

Daly's Home Decorating Center will hold the final installment in its Design Resources Seminar Series on Sept. 17 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The class will be held at the store, which is located at 3525 Stone Way N. The cost is $50 for those attending the series for the first time or $35 for those who have taken previous classes in the series. To register, call 633-4200.

Call for produce donations

Gardeners who find themselves with extra produce this summer are encouraged to donate their surplus fruits and vegetables to Lettuce Link, a program of the Fremont Public Association, during the 10th annual Week of Giving, Sept. 9-14.

Last year, the FPA, a Wallingford-based non-profit group, distributed over 4,500 pounds of donated produce to 15 agencies that run food banks or hot meal programs. Donations will be accepted at several locations including the Picardo Farm P-Patch at NE 82nd Street and 26th Avenue NE on Thursday, Sept. 12, from 4-7 p.m., and the Tilth Organic Harvest Fair at the Good Shepherd Center (4649 Sunnyside Ave. N.) on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For details, call the FPA at 694-6754.

Seattle Tilth Organic Harvest Fair, Sept. 14

Seattle Tilth will hold its 15th annual Organic Harvest Fair on Saturday, Sept. 14 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Meridian Park, which is located behind the Good Shepherd Center (4649 Sunnyside Ave N.). In addition to booths selling organic produce, the fair will feature prepared food vendors, a home-baked bread contest, products from several local bakeries, chefs' demonstrations, presentations by Tilth gardeners and master com posters and more. There will also be live music by local musicians. Sponsors include PCC, Cascadian Farm, Larry's Markets, Town & Country Markets and Central Market in Shoreline. For details, call 633-0451.

It's Zoo Doo time again

The Woodland Park Zoo will be accepting requests to purchase Zoo Doo during its annual "Fall Fecal Fest." Zoo Doo is highly prized among local gardeners as an excellent fertilizer. Because the Zoo typically receives far more requests to purchase Zoo Doo than can be accommodated, it will hold a drawing for appointments to this year's sale. Entry cards (only one per customer) will be accepted from Aug. 26 until Sept. 6. Phone orders will not be taken. Pick-up dates are Sept. 21-29. The Zoo will randomly select as many cards as supplies of Zoo Doo allow and will contact only the customers whose cards are selected. For details, call 625-POOP.

Landscaping class

The Center for Urban Horticulture at the University of Washington will offer a six-part class on landscape design basics from Oct. 1-12. Instructor Keith Geller, a landscape architect, will teach the principles and mechanics of design, site analysis, selecting plants and more to students at all levels of expertise. Cost for the class is $160 and preregistration is required. The center is located at 3501 NE 41st St. For details, call 685-8033.