West Seattle, Washington
12 Friday
6:12 AM: At least one TV helicopter is hovering because of reported police activity. We’re working to find out what’s up. 6:44 AM UPDATE: Chopper left (its home base decided not to use its picture). We haven’t found the reported ground activity yet but have messages out to police.
7:26 AM UPDATE: For those still wondering, whatever it was happened fast. Sounds like classic early morning raid/warrant activity. Commenters saw in Gatewood and High Point. SPD media unit is working to gather info on whatever they can officially tell us news types, and we will update when that info is available. We have reported recently on raids in West Seattle also involving federal agents (there was a drug raid a week or so ago) – “ongoing investigation” was all that they could say back then – no indication yet on whether this was that type of thing.
10:01 AM UPDATE: Police say the 37th/Thistle vicinity activity (the one that initially drew the TV chopper) was a drug warrant. Then there was activity in High Point that some have mentioned; that was described by SPD as assisting the FBI – a commenter has shared information on that one which we are working to confirm with the federal authorities. As for Arbor Heights after that – SPD had no new incidents, so likely related to something from earlier. Thanks for the on-the-ground police sightings – in cases like that, that may be the most significant information we ever get.
On Alki Beach, you can sit and watch the sunset … or you can play and watch the sunset! WSB contributor Stephanie Chacharon shared a scene from the season’s first Wednesday night games involving teams from Underdog Sports Leagues (WSB sponsor), which has “early summer” Monday games too.
Just announced tonight, another food truck is joining Marination Mobile on the Hans VW lot at 35th and Graham starting this Saturday – Parfait, which proclaims itself “Seattle’s only from-scratch, organic ice cream maker.” The truck launched two years ago, according to tonight’s announcement, which says owner Adria Shimada, a pastry chef, makes a 100 percent organic custard base and that her ingredients from “dairy, eggs, and produce are all sourced directly from small local farms within 150 miles of Seattle.” Oh, and hand-rolled waffle cones. And compostable cups, spoons and napkins, with “the truck’s dipping freezer (running) on a green system that requires no generators during operation.” The ice cream also will be sold by the pint as well as cup or cone. Hours on Saturdays will be the same as Marination’s – 11 am-2 pm. (Photo courtesy Parfait)
Just before the old South Park Bridge closed permanently last June 30th, we recorded that video of the crowd on the bridge chanting “We want a bridge/we need a bridge” – at that time, the replacement plan was by no means finalized. Now it is, and tomorrow’s the day that the start of work will be celebrated. We have already told you about the huge piñata (here’s our April 24th report) and the official groundbreaking tomorrow as bridge construction gets going. But the party (starting at 1:30 pm) has become REALLY big – and while our mailbox overflows with “official” announcements of what’s happening where and when (plus there’s tons of info here), the liveliest invite we’ve seen came from longtime South Park community advocate Bill Pease, via the SP community e-mail list. He granted our request to republish it here:
In case anyone missed the memo…
South Park is getting a NEW BRIDGE! The construction trailers are assembled on the old County Line lot, and the official ground-breaking is going to happen this Thursday, May 5th at 1:30 pm at the end of the red brick section of 14th Ave S.
Now: Ground-breaking ceremonies are normally dry, stuffy events… and there will certainly be some of that. But this is South Park, and we march to beat of a different drum! Before the pictures of politicians posing earnestly with golden shovels, there will be a performance of the Danza de los Diabolos. Do you think Microsoft had Devil Dancers perform at the ground breaking for their new bridge? No. They did not!
Next comes the speech-i-fyin’. Lots of people have been working long and hard to make sure we got the money to rebuild our link to Seattle so I will gladly listen and clap for everyone who wants to speak. Next comes a quick photo-op with the golden shovels (if you’ve never used a golden shovel, don’t feel bad… they are very heavy, and they bend easily.) But then, THEN… they wheel out the BIG photo-op… A 26′ long piñata in the shape of the new bridge. Suspended by a crane! Did the bridge movers on I-405 have a giant piñata? Not even close!
OK. By 2:30 the whole she-bang is normally winding down, but we live in South Park, so we want to kick it up a notch. Our elected officials have committed to dining at the local South Park establishments, and will be having a Meet & Eat for anyone that wants to join them. Don’t be shy. They get paid for this, and it is your chance to speak one on one with the very people who can affect the positive changes we are asking for. Be polite, be direct, be funny, but for gosh sakes, be there!
Got kids? Bring them to the crafts tent between 3:00 and 5:00 and they will create their own works of art that they will want to keep forever, seriously. They will receive a certificate that proves that they were at the ground-breaking event, complete with their own photo… and they get to make it their own with custom decorations.
By 3:30 the atmosphere will begin to change. Mariachi Ayutla will arrive and It won’t just be a celebration anymore, it becomes a Fiesta! The 5th of May is not an arbitrary date, it is the Cinco de Mayo. The anniversary of the day that a small group of Mexican soldiers –fighting for the independence of their fledgling country– defeated a much larger and better equipped French army at the Battle of Pueblo. While this skirmish was not the final battle for their independence, it showed that a scrappy, dedicated force could prevail over seemingly insurmountable odds. Just as a scrappy, dedicated community did to get the funding for our new bridge. This is our victory, all of us, and we deserve to celebrate!
At 4:30 we really start to feel the happy feet-a-tappin’ and it’s no wonder, Banda Gozona is giving us a taste of Oaxacan dances, reels and marches. Bailar!
If you can only make it to one event on Thursday, then show up at 5:00 for the second showing of the giant piñata. Did I mention that it was on a crane? Well, at 5:00 it makes it’s second appearance, only this is no photo-op. This is the real-deal where a rumored 100 lbs. of candy will rain down on the suspecting crowd below. Keep all hands and feet away from the mouths of children! But wait! There’s more! For those of us in the crowd that envy the exuberance of the children… there will be an adult piñata drop that will contain gift certificates from local businesses, T-shirts, prizes, seed packets and Dog only knows… there is some really fun stuff to be had.
6:30. The kids are in a sugar coma, the politico types are home writing letters to their local op-ed columns, and the seedy underbelly of South Park emerges. That’s right… Artists! They confront the two evils that strike fear in the psyche of every artist: A deadline, and a live audience! Five brave souls will pit their skills against each other and the clock to create works of art that must be completed within 1 Hour. While they are working, they will be in full view of the audience, and the audience gets to bid silently on the works while they are in process. All proceeds from the silent auction will go to support Arts & Cultural experiences for the teens at the South Park Community Center. All bids must be in by 7:30! *As a side note: All five artists will be starting with the same canvas… doors reclaimed from the historical “Witches Hat House” on 7th Ave S.
Time for another change in tone. Beginning at 8:00, the band Hamanah Don will beguile you with West African rhythms and a traditional 20 string harp. Their siren call will lead the crowd to the final event of the day.
All through the ages, there has always been one element that can evoke a response from even the most jaded individual. Fire. At 9:00 PM on Thursday, Rusty Oliver and Spinergy Arts will use fire as their medium to create a performance art piece that will quite literally burn itself into the memories of all that see it!
Come on out on Thursday, South Park is fine!
See you there.
6:55 PM: The big response is en route to the 4600 block of SW Alaska (map), reported house fire. Will know more about the size as soon as we get there. 7:04 PM: There now. Only a small SFD contingent still there, smell of smoke but no smoke or fire visible, so not a huge incident. Still working on more info. 7:09 PM: Talked to the incident commander. Fire was contained to the dryer. The callout was briefly upgraded to “full response” for a house fire because at one point there was so much smoke, it looked bigger – but upon arrival they determined it was contained to the dryer, and it’s out now.
Congratulations to the Daystar Dialoguers for reaching this milestone!
Daystar Dialoguers Toastmasters Club will be five years old in June. On May 9 we are holding a special “Guest Day” to attract potential new members.
Most people who join Toastmasters do it to gain confidence speaking. Then they not only become better speakers but also better listeners and better leaders. Come as our guest to observe this safe, fun, and supportive group and learn how you can overcome your fear of speaking in public.
Daystar Dialoguers Toastmasters Club meets twice a month on the second and fourth Mondays from 12 Noon until 1 PM. While guests are welcome at all Toastmasters’ meetings, the May 9 meeting will be special in explaining what Toastmasters is and how it works for you. Please arrive early because the meeting will start at noon sharp.
Daystar Dialoguers meets at the Daystar Retirement Village, 2615 SW Barton (across from the Westwood Village Shopping Center’ Target store), Seattle. Call Bill at 206/ 932-6706 if you have questions before this special guest meeting.
Story and photos by Bill “Hutch” Hutchison
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The owner of Pike Place Market’s Pan Africa Restaurant and Bar is planning to open another grill in West Seattle – in the space where Ho Win-Chinese Restaurant operated till last Saturday.
We just spoke with Mulugeta “Mulu” Abate, a former West Seattle resident who has long wanted to return to this area and says the empty Ho Win space afforded him the opportunity to open Pan Africa Grill: “We’ve always wanted a neighborhood location where there is ample parking and we can get to know our customers.”
They will be serving a “core menu” of mostly traditional East African/Ethiopian dishes, including curries (here are menu highlights for the Pike Place location), and many vegan offerings.
It hasn’t received as much attention as the now-under-construction Delridge Skatepark – but Roxhill Park (south of Westwood Village) is getting a skateboarding area too, technically a “skatespot” rather than a “skatepark.” $600,000 was set aside by the Parks and Green Spaces Levy, and now the project is full speed ahead – the city is just going out with the “request for qualifications” for design work for Roxhill. (The RFQ – see it here – says it’ll be 5,000 to 8,000 square feet of skating space, with construction to start next spring.) And tomorrow, Mayor McGinn plans to announce a donation for the Roxhill project (which also is to include a renovation for the park’s play area). We’re told it involves the people behind the big-name skateboarding event that’s at KeyArena this weekend.
3:45 PM P.S.: A mayor’s-office advisory confirms it’s a donation of “funding and equipment” to be announced by the Rob Dyrdek Foundation. Dyrdek is a pro skateboarder/promoter; his foundation sponsors the Safe Spot Skate Spot program to help with urban-skatepark projects like this one.
Thanks to our friend Rebecca from Ravenna Blog, who watches the Coast Guard Local Notice to Mariners more closely than we do, for first word on this. What’s in the U.S. military photo above is the Sea-Based X-Band Radar, and it’s on its way to West Seattle’s Vigor (formerly Todd) Shipyards for $27 million in maintenance work also involving Boeing. It’ll be here for about three months, and is expected to arrive in the next week or so. The Sea-Based X-Band Radar belongs to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency; a news release described it as “one of the sensors for our nation’s missile-defense system … to identify ballistic-missile threats to our nation and relay that information to the communications, command and control center for missile defense.” It’s 240 feet wide, 390 feet long, and 280 feet high from the keel to the top of the radar dome. If you are a boater, note that there’s a “vessel protection zone” planned while it’s here – including a 100-yard keep-away zone. We’re told the media will be allowed in for a closer look while it’s here.
Another case of a watchful neighbor thwarting crime – plus, a stolen motorcycle, a found bicycle that might have been stolen, and suspected “suspicious activity” – West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports from the WSB inbox, after the jump:Read More
Once again for this year’s West Seattle Summer Fest – July 8-9-10 in The Junction – Twilight Artist Collective is coordinating the Art Dive. And Mary Enslow from Twilight says they are ready to hear from YOU if you have arts/crafts you would like to sell under the Art Dive tent(s). Mary explains, “Art Dive was started as a push to create opportunities for artist who can’t necessarily invest in a booth. The artist are placed under a series of circus tents at the North end of the festival on California. Each artist gets use of a 8 x 2′ table or space to display their goods. Sales are direct from the artist to the customer and Twilight simply acts as a facilitator.” They’ve written more – and linked to application forms – via their website, so if you’re interested in being part of Summer Fest and having thousands of people see your creations (and hopefully buying too!) – here’s where to start.
Two coyote sightings to share – one somewhat pastoral, one less so. First, from Andrea, out of the WSB inbox this morning:
At 7:40 am I spotted a coyote briefly in our neighborhood. The coyote appeared between two houses just across the street from us and surveyed the scene for about 30-45 seconds before turning around and returning to his/her original spot. We’re near 17th Ave SW & SW Myrtle in the Puget Ridge/Delridge area. It made breakfast much more interesting!
Ahead – Kurt shared the story of a coyote that was having its own breakfast (maybe lunch? dinner?) last week – a bit graphic so it’s after the jump:Read More
While the Seattle School Board met tonight, one increasingly hot topic for some local families was not on the agenda: Another round of changes in school start times.
The alarm has been sounded by the Sanislo Elementary School PTA, but theirs isn’t the only school affected. Transportation changes for Seattle Public Schools are going to change start times at more schools next year. Technically, the district decisions have to do with bus pickup times, not bell times, but the two are inextricably linked, with start times 15-20 minutes after scheduled bus times. From a notice the Sanislo PTA sent to parents:
We want to let our parents and families know that the Seattle School District has decided to change Sanislo’s bell schedule for the 2011-2012 school year. Next year school will start at 9:35 am with dismissal at 3:40 pm. This means that breakfast will start around 9:15. Students not participating in breakfast will not be allowed into the building until 9:30 unless they are enrolled in CDSA, a before school club, or music program.
The district pointed out in February that some changes were on the way, and the board approved “ranges,” but the district hasn’t made a specific announcement of times, since they are not final yet – district spokesperson Teresa Wipple says acting Superintendent Susan Enfield has the final say and hasn’t signed off yet. The district’s list of bus times – which says that bell times are generally 15 minutes after those times – would indicate school would start next year, if the list here gets final signoff, in this vicinity:
ELEMENTARIES – 15 MINUTES AFTER BUS TIME WOULD MEAN:
approx. 9:30 am – Concord (9:15 now), Lafayette (9:20 now), Roxhill, (9:20 now), Sanislo (9:25 now)
approx. 8:55 am – Alki (9:05 now), Arbor Heights (9:10 now), Highland Park (9:10 now), Schmitz Park (9:20 now)
approx. 8:45 am – Gatewood (9:15 now)
approx. 8:30 am – West Seattle (8:15 am now)
K-8 – 15 MINUTES AFTER BUS TIME WOULD MEAN:
approx. 8:20 am – Pathfinder (8:20 now)
MIDDLE – 15 MINUTES AFTER BUS TIME WOULD MEAN:
approx. 7:50 am – Madison (8:05 now)
TBD – Denny (8:05 now)
HIGH SCHOOL – 15 MINUTES AFTER BUS TIME WOULD MEAN:
approx. 7:50 am – West Seattle (8 am now)
TBD – Chief Sealth (8:05 now)
Again, ***the final official word will come from principals***, but that would be after district leadership signs off on the plan. If you have concerns or questions, check with your school’s principal; Sanislo’s PTA also suggests school board and superintendent messages:
You can reach our local representative, Steve Sundquist, at steve.sundquist@seattleschools.org.
You can send a message to our new interim superintendent, Susan Enfield, at superintendent@seattleschools.org
Sundquist also has community-conversation meetings coming up next week; here’s the schedule. We covered the last major change to start times two years ago. And if you still think “what’s a few minutes?” – here’s some context: Gillian Allen-White from the Sanislo PTA says that when her child started at Sanislo as a kindergartener in 2005, the start time was a full hour earlier.
ADDED: Denny and Sealth’s planned start times were revealed May 11th in a joint PTSA forum with the schools’ principals, who say Denny will start at 7:40 am and Sealth at 8:30 am.
(WSB photo, taken looking southward at the Duwamish River from the “low bridge”)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: Reps from community groups and other major organizations in western West Seattle gather for tonight’s Southwest District Council meeting, South Seattle Community College board room, 7 pm. Public invited.
AT ARTSWEST: “Shipwrecked! An Entertainment …” continues at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), 7:30 pm.
MEDITATION: “The Royal Road to Enlightenment” at Viking Bank (4022 SW Alaska), 7:30 pm. Wes Busch, West Seattle resident and a certified teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique, will speak. The presentation is free but pre-registration is required; 425-221-3203.
BREWER’S NIGHT: West Seattle Garlic Jim’s (4520 California Ave SW) starts a series of Brewer’s Nights, 6-9 pm. American Brewing Company is featured tonight with 4 of their beers on tap, plus reps and giveaways; stop in for a sample or order during dinner.
TONIGHT’S KARAOKE: Karaoke with DJ Tony B at 9:30 pm – The Bridge (4439 35th Ave SW). He takes advance requests on his Facebook page.
(WSB photo from luminaria ceremony during 2009 Relay for Life – West Seattle)
Five weeks may sound like a long time, but for an event like Relay for Life-West Seattle, which involves assembling a team and making plans for the all-night walk, it’s not much – Rebecca sends this update:
…Tiime to get your team signed up today!!!
We are so close to surpassing all our goals and we need your help. We already have 19 teams signed up from all over West Seattle– schools, churches, businesses – this community wide event will be a great way to meet others in your local area. Help us reach our goal of 25 teams and raising more than $75,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Mark your calendar for June 10th at West Seattle Stadium.
Even if you can’t spend the night with us, plan to come by for some great community fun, fundraising, and local bands! Or donate to this great cause, here! Questions? Please ask Rebecca today – bec@busstop.org
Relay for Life is both a festive and contemplative event over the course of the evening and morning that it runs, and at times moving for spectators as well as participants. WSB is proud to have joined the sponsor lineup for this year’s Relay – if you’re interested in sponsorship, Rebecca would be able to handle those inquiries too.
Quick news bites regarding local restaurants current and future:
UPDATE ON ZIPPY’S GIANT BURGERS’ PROGRESS TOWARD WHITE CENTER REOPENING: You’ll recall that Zippy’s had hoped to open its new, expanded White Center location last Monday, but as reported here that day, some inspections/permits were taking longer than expected. WSB/White Center Now contributor Deanie Schwarz reports an update tonight from Zippy’s proprietor Blaine Cook: Looks like it’ll be at least another week. An intertwined list of installations and inspections (involving alarms, electrical, and fire suppression) isn’t done yet, and Cook says next Tuesday is their “best-case scenario.”
UPDATE ON A TERRIBLE BEAUTY’S PROGRESS TOWARD WEST SEATTLE OPENING: WSB contributor Katie Meyer talked today with the co-owner of the new Irish restaurant/pub coming to California/Edmunds in The Junction, Jenna Shannon Garvey O’Brien. She told Katie the finish work is taking longer than they thought it would, so they believe it’ll be “another two weeks, three at the most” before they’ll be ready to open. Jenna was out front staining the window trim when Katie caught up with her; she explained they’re enjoying doing some of the work themselves, and she appreciates the kindness of folks who have been stopping by to ask about progress, or shouting out from their cars, or sending enthusiastic e-mail.
PROLETARIAT PIZZA ADDS SUNDAYS: Just announced last hour via Twitter, White Center’s popular pizza place is going to be open on Sundays starting June 4th.
The West Seattle Community Orchestras are unique in that they’re for everyone – beginners on up – and everybody gets to play! Tonight, the String Ensemble (in our video above, tackling “My Favorite Things“) and Westside Symphonette groups performed the first half of a two-Tuesday doubleheader for WSCO – a spring concert at the Chief Sealth International High School auditorium. The second half is next Tuesday, with WSCO’s senior group, Westside Symphony, presenting “Bach, Beethoven and Beyond,” 7 pm (May 10th), also at CSIHS, details here. (And if you’re interested in potentially joining the orchestras at some point, scroll down the WSCO website’s home page for information on that.)
This Saturday afternoon, a memorial service is planned at Hope Lutheran Church for Barbara Steen, who died last week after living in West Seattle for more than half a century. Her family shares her obituary:
Barbara Ann Myers Steen, 82, died April 29, 2011. She was born November 2, 1928, to Max and Katherine Myers at her grandparents’ farm in Leroy, Kansas. The family moved soon after to Shelton Washington where she attended Irene S. Reed High School, where she was known as Bobby Ann. She especially enjoyed being in drama club, and graduated from there in 1946. She was baptized and confirmed at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, and met Wayne Steen there, when they both taught Sunday School.
After high school, she worked in an office in Olympia, WA until her marriage to Wayne, May 21st, 1948, upon his return from serving in Germany during WWII. They moved to Seattle in 1950 and settled here to raise their growing family.
4:12 PM: After a few notes and calls, we checked out major police activity this past hour near the Fauntleroy ferry dock. According to police on the scene as well as scanner traffic, a possible burglary in progress was reported. However, police say, no burglary after all – but they were still trying to find the people who had been seen possibly trying to break into a house; the only description we heard was white, male, early 20s, one in a red hat, last seen possibly eastbound on SW Director (which is the street that’s just north of the Fauntleroy Creek overlook across from the dock). 4:28 PM UPDATE: There’s a new call of a possible prowler, maybe related, just a bit east/uphill. Meantime, we’ve added a photo from the earlier search. 4:50 PM UPDATE: Scanner traffic indicates a possible suspect has been detained. We’ll be checking for more information on whether that led to an arrest.
5:53 PM UPDATE: Just talked with Brian, the nearby resident whose tip appears to have led police to the suspect. Brian lives near Fauntleroy Creek and was startled to look out a window and see “this guy walking through the back yard.” After seeing the guy walk on to open the gate, Brian went out and asked the man what he was doing. The man claimed to have been lost in the woods. Brian went back in the house and called 911 to ask if they were looking for anyone in Fauntleroy; and of course, they were. He then called some neighbors to alert them – and the neighbors told him a whole bunch of police had just rolled up, and found the suspect. (Brian says he was told they were going to detain the suspect on warrants that were out for his arrest; we’re still working on getting official information.) “I was impressed,” Brian told us. “From the time I saw him walking through the back yard, it was maybe five minutes (till they arrived) – they were right on top of it. There’s no reason for anybody to be in my back yard!”
7:26 PM UPDATE: Police confirm this all started with someone reporting “2 suspicious males attempting to enter a residence in the 9100 block of Fauntleroy Way SW.” Police talked with one suspect shortly after that 3 pm report, according to Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen, who says it all wound up with one arrest. Since no actual burglary happened, that arrest was for criminal trespass plus “miscellaneous warrants” including one for escape. Capt. Paulsen adds:
The Southwest Precinct would like to thank all of the citizens who called 911 when they observed the suspicious behavior at the residence as well as calling 911 after observing one of the subjects running through yards. It was your watchful eye and knowledge of your neighborhood that helps keep West Seattle as one of the safest places to live.
A similar sentiment from Lt. Alan Williams: “Once again, the Community-Police partnership has made life difficult for criminals in our area!”
ADDED 11:30 PM: From area resident Natascha:
I wanted to respond to your story and also provide my feedback and strong support for the Seattle police department. I had left my patio door open while working in my home office. After my dogs did not stop barking for quite some time, I left my conference call to find 6 police officers surronding my house and asking if they could search the premises for the suspect who was seen in my backyard. I was very impressed with the action of the police officers and response to the calls from the neighbors. Nice to know that everyone takes prowlers seriously and want to keep our amazing neighborhood safe. Having relocated from LA this is definitely refreshing!
After another wave of “what’s up with the West Seattle Trader Joe’s and why hasn’t work started already?” we checked around this morning, and uncovered big news: The city’s decision on the project’s Land Use Permit will be published in the city’s next Land Use Information Bulletin, which comes out on Thursday, according to Bryan Stevens from the Department of Planning and Development. (That’s also noted behind the “land use” tab of this DPD page.) And sources suggest to WSB the decision’s a thumbs-up. That’s a major step toward the start of construction, though Stevens cautions, “The related construction permit will need to be obtained before work can begin. Corrections are currently being addressed by the applicant.” (If you are interested in all the minutiae, you can click through the tabs at the bottom of DPD project pages like this one for the TJ’s building permit, particularly “reviews” – the department now puts more detailed information online than they used to.)
Of course, we know the main answer you want is – when will it be open? Project documents we perused at DPD HQ downtown for this February update project a six-month construction schedule, so there’s still a chance it will at least be open in time for Christmas shopping. (And if you are completely new to this story – the location is 4545 Fauntleroy Way SW, the former longtime Huling Brothers Buick showroom; the building will get a new facade on its southeast-facing side, but the project overall for the 14,000-square-foot store boils down to remodeling, not rebuilding. It’s now been almost eleven months since the original announcement.)
Another delay this afternoon in the case of accused Lincoln Park jogger attacker Duane Starkenburg, over the prosecution’s objections. Starkenburg was arrested January 25th and charged with indecent liberties in connection with three attacks on women jogging in the park – the one that led to his arrest, as well as 2 in August and December. He returned to court today, and contributor Katie Meyer was there for WSB. She reports that while the prosecution wanted a trial date set, Starkenburg’s lawyer wanted a delay because they have arranged for a mental-health expert to meet with him, but that evaluation might not be complete for two months. They also wanted time to prepare for a certain type of evidence they say the prosecution is planning to use; Katie looked up the code that was cited, ER 404B:
Other Crimes, Wrongs, or Acts. Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.
Judge Theresa Doyle granted the defense’s delay request, though the prosecution protested it, saying that Starkenburg is charged with indecent liberties against “strangers,” involving force. So the next court date is set for July 5th. Starkenburg remains free on bond, and remains under orders to stay out of all parks in King County. (Photo from today’s hearing, by Katie Meyer for WSB)
A recently issued permit for a “new storefront” at Elliott Bay Brewing Company in The Junction sparked our curiosity – so we stopped by today to find out what’s up. Elliott Bay Brewing owner Todd Carden tells WSB he’s been thinking for months about facade work that will leave the building looking a little more like what it looked like decades ago. And even just with a bit of work, he’s uncovered some history:
The inscribed bricks shown in our photos are part of what he uncovered while out doing some work today – with the inscriptions 1932, above, and below, GJ Vayhinger:
(Who was GJ Vayhinger? So far, we’ve only found one reference, in a Google Book search result about a national board of hardware sellers. Help, Junction historians!) Carden says he doesn’t have the plan completely finalized yet – he’s still exploring options. There are even windows under the current facade, so he’s going to see what kind of shape they’re in, to possibly let some more light into his establishment. So be on the lookout for a “new ‘old’ look” at Elliott Bay!
4:14 PM UPDATE: WSB’ers have been researching GJ Vayhinger while we were working on other stories – read their discoveries in the comment section – and the research indicates he indeed ran a West Seattle hardware store!
With the Alaskan Way Viaduct closed for part of the day, it’s a better-than-ever reason not to even bother thinking about leaving the peninsula on Saturday, May 14th. West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day will have more than 250 sales on the map by the time we’re done – what you see at left is a screen grab of the rough-cut map ***with only about two-thirds of the addresses input so far*** (once they’re all in, we number the sales, north to south, west to east).
From Admiral to Alki to The Arroyos to Highland Park to Pigeon Point and beyond, you will find sales in your neighborhood on May 14th – and you will find reasons to go explore West Seattle neighborhoods you’ve never visited. Since West Seattle can certainly be reached without using The Viaduct, we encourage you to invite your friends, relatives, co-workers all to c’mon over. As we go through the list, we are making sublists of the benefits, the block sales, the unusual items, and once we publish the maps – still trying hard to make the promised date of next Saturday! – you’ll want to peruse and preview. One neighborhood’s having what they call a mini-street fair; one school has a sale with more than 100 families participating … This is HUGE.
If you have stuff to sell but didn’t make the deadline … you can still check with the group sites that had tables to offer – Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) plus the Ginomai lot across the alley, lora@hotwirecoffee.com … the VFW Post 2713 Hall in The Triangle (e-mail Commander Ron Zuber at rzuber@clearwire.net) … Cycle University in The Triangle (contact info on their website at cycleu.com) … and C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), e-mail candpco@comcast.net. Plus you can stop by any of the aforementioned sites to see about signing up in person.
Two other things – We are reminded (thanks, Kris!) that May 14th is also Stamp Out Hunger Day, the annual postal carriers’ food drive, so before you go out to sell OR shop, be sure to leave a bag of nonperishable food by your mailbox for your carrier to pick up. And the other events around West Seattle that day include one that’s bought a spot on the map – the West Seattle Kiwanis Classic Car Show and Motorcycle Poker Run, which is offering a barbecue too, 4700 Fauntleroy Way.
Sale hours are 9 am-3 pm; watch here, on the WSB Facebook page, on the Garage Sale Day Facebook page, and on the official WSCGSD website for the announcement of the map, plus other info.
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