West Seattle, Washington
20 Thursday
We just spoke again to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, which finished its notifications this morning and is confirming that the man stabbed to death in his Fauntleroy home as 60-year-old Robert Stabile, much better known as the entertainer in the video clip above – Professor Hokum W. Jeebs.
He once told a Seattle Times interviewer (for this 2002 story) he only used his real name on his income-tax forms. As Hokum Jeebs, he co-founded West Seattle’s iconic Kenyon Hall in 1993, as Hokum Hall. It gained a reputation as a quirky vaudeville palace; you can read a bit of background here, if you weren’t around back then.
He had a 30-plus-year career of performing vaudeville, with comedy and keyboards, around the world. (There’s more biographical information here.)
As reported last night, police have arrested a suspect, who is expected in court for a bail hearing at 2:30 pm today. (Research indicates he has a juvenile record out of state including assault and burglary charges.) At and after that court appearance, more information will be released about what police believe to be the circumstances of the case. The Medical Examiner’s Office has the cause of death officially listed as “multiple stab wounds.” We have no information yet about a memorial but will report it if and when we do.
It can get a little confusing if you start talking about “the mural at Link,” since the new Triangle building in the Harbor Properties family is sibling to Mural in The Junction (both are WSB sponsors) … but here, the pictures tell the story.
Work has begun on the mural decorating the stairwell at Link, part of the 40-plus-work buildingwide art collection being curated by Twilight Artist Collective in The Junction. They’re putting up the other work too. And one of Twilight’s trio of proprietors is among the mural’s artists:
Twilight’s Erin Staffeld is working on the mural with Curtis Ashby and John Osgood (more of his work can be seen here).
According to Harbor’s Emi McKittrick, the first move-ins at Link are still expected to happen sometime next month.
As the Delridge District Council met tonight inside the theater at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, posters decorated the center’s walls, promoting its upcoming 5th-anniversary party. Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association runs Youngstown, and its executive director Derek Birnie announced the February 26th party to celebrate the Cultural Arts Center’s fifth anniversary, which also will be a sendoff for two longtime DNDA employees as well as an open house (all detailed here).
Also announced at tonight’s meeting – Mayor McGinn is tentatively planning a visit to tour the Westwood neighborhood, according to Delridge district coordinator Ron Angeles. The date looks like March 6th, and so far the starting point is expected to be the new P-Patch site at 34th and Barton. More to come on that.
Also discussed tonight – a new citywide project that could bring a rain garden to a Delridge business … read on for that and more:Read More
Info on two fundraisers to share – this first one is happening tomorrow (Thursday) night but just came in. From Peter:
All proceeds from food sales at the Alki Tavern (1321 Harbor Ave SW) tomorrow night, Thursday, February 17, 2011, are being donated to the West Seattle Food Bank and Family Promise of Seattle. Readers of the wsblog are already familiar with the great work being done by the WS Food Bank in our community, and they will also recognize Family Promise as the only homeless shelter in West Seattle. The Alki Tavern is well known for its Taco Thursday promotion where they sell tacos for $1.00 apiece, and the view from the tavern is the best in all of Seattle. Good food, good friends, good view, all with a view to building a stronger community. Come join us.
Family Promise, you may recall, is working to raise $90,000 so it can reopen its program housing homeless families with volunteer help from local congregations. Meantime, Jennifer is inviting you to a benefit at the West Seattle Eagles‘ HQ weekend after next – and collecting auction donations now:
Event- 2nd annual Art Erhmann Cancer benefit
Where- West Seattle Eagles, 4426 California SW
When- February 25th, 530-1100 pm
Silent Auction preview starts at 330 pm.We will have pulled pork sandwiches, beer specials, silent auction, and entertainment.
I’m currently taking donations of any kind of stuff we can put into a gift basket; deadline for donations will be Thursday the 24th by 11 pm. In addition, for any business donating, we will provide a form for tax purposes.
My contact info – 206-938-4426
Jcollinsyoung@gmail.com
An announcement tonight from Jeff Clark, principal of Denny International Middle School in West Seattle’s Westwood neighborhood:
Please join me in congratulating Ms. Chanda E. Oatis as the recipient of the Principals Association of Seattle Schools Middle School/K-8 Assistant Principal of the Year award! Way to go, Ms. Oatis–we are proud of you.
She’s at left in the photo above, shared by her boss, who describes it as “Ms. Oatis and several Denny scholars enjoying a visit from local members of the prestigious Tuskegee Airmen.” (You may also have seen her on WSB, YouTube, and regional TV recently helping promote Denny’s student-sparking video “Teach Me How to Study“ – now past 18,000 YT views!)
Youngstown is throwing a party – and just sent out the invitation/announcement:
Our building is old, but we are still young! Join us in a celebration of the creative, collaborative success story that is Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. We opened to the public five years ago on February 26, and this party is for everyone who enjoys the space that exists here for artists, citizens, students, educators, activists, advocates, environmentalists, magicians, performers….you get the idea. It’s for culture building in our community.
4:30 PM-6 PM The residents of Youngstown kick off a monthly film series in our theatre with the funny and insightful Banksy documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop. This movie looks at street art and legitimate art side by side, inside out, and drops it like it’s hot. Oh yes, there will be popcorn. Afterward, we’ll make our own art in the halls.
6 PM-8 PM Guests are invited on a Potluck Adventure (food provided by residents) through the upstairs floors of Youngstown, moving from place to place, floor to floor. Bring your binoculars and you might spot some artists in their native habitat.
8 PM-1 AM At the very end, we take a moment to give gratitude to founding faces Randy Engstrom and KC Corell, who guided Youngstown through its infancy, the terrible twos, the wobbly toddler years, all the way to the sturdy age of five. Now they are off to their next adventures, but not without our love. Our Open Mic and Dance Party is in the Movement Studio. There’s beer! 21+ only.
RSVP and More Info at the links below!
5:27 PM: A suspect was booked into King County Jail this afternoon for investigation of homicide – and Southwest Precinct commander Captain Steve Paulsen confirms it’s a suspect in the Fauntleroy murder early this morning (here’s our previous coverage). He will not comment on whether it’s the person that WSB commenters mentioned seeing in the area, but he does say – as he has said in connection with other recent arrests – thanks to watchful residents for reporting suspicious circumstances and sightings. More to come; we’re researching the background of the person who’s been booked into jail.
6:16 PM UPDATE: The suspect is 19 years old, according to SeattleTimes.com (WSB partner). There is no one in Washington state/county/city criminal records with the name that’s listed on the jail roster (also, to answer another question that’s been asked, the suspect’s surname is not the same as that of anyone listed in public records as living in the household where the stabbing happened). We should have a lot more information through the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office after an anticipated bail hearing tomorrow. Meantime, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet announced the victim’s identity, and we won’t publish an ID, either in a news story or comments, until it has been made public either by authorities or by the victim’s family.
6:48 PM UPDATE: SPD Blotter also has just noted the arrest, but no additional information.
If you’ve driven through Fauntleroy/Alaska over the next few days, you have likely noticed another rebranding in progress at the gas station on the east side of the intersection – we’ve received four notes about this so far. Most recently, it’s been a 76 station; before that, a BP. WSB contributor Katie Meyer went over for the photo and a check on what the blue color scheme portends; answer – Arco. She talked with the crew working on the rebranding – including some digging that has to do with infrastructure for the pumps’ payment system – and neither they nor the employees could tell us whether this means an ownership change, or just a rebrand, just that they’re working to get it done as fast as possible. Another national brand spotted not far away:
Thanks to the WSB’ers who wrote with sightings of the Sprint sign in the window of what was briefly a Starbucks on the north side of inner Jefferson Square (and Infinity Espresso before that) – we haven’t rustled up the projected opening date yet (here’s the city project page), but the sign promises “coming soon.” Jefferson Square had a cell-phone store until Cellular World closed after opening a new storefront in Morgan Junction. There’s also a quick update on an in-progress project we wrote about a few months ago:
(WSB photo from last December)
The former pharmacy at California/Brandon – reported here in December as in transition to a “neighborhood restaurant and bar” – has applied for its liquor license, and in the process its new name is now public: Outwest Bar. We checked again with the new tenants, who told WSB they don’t have anything more to say yet about their plans.
ADDED 8:44 PM: Making a periodic check of the commercial-real-estate listings, we note that the OTHER gas station on the west edge of The Triangle, currently a Shell station, is now for sale – just under $2 million.
Now that Seattle City Light has finished inspecting all 37,000 metal streetlight poles, ground plates, and other facilities, the utility has announced what it plans to do differently so that cases of “contact voltage” will be caught more quickly. The inspections were announced after an electrified plate on Queen Anne killed a dog, followed by a problem with a pole in High Point (as reported here). Eight more problem spots were found in West Seattle and White Center (reported here and here). Read on for today’s SCL announcement:Read More
Though the air temperature isn’t close to freezing, the National Weather Service is warning of potential snow showers, because of a weather phenomenon that is “dragging” snow levels to sea level – the city’s covered by this advisory; read it here.
Congratulations to West Seattle High School senior Phi Hoang (center), who is off to a state competition after taking second place in the Auto Service/Advanced competition of the Skills USA Regional competition in Everett last weekend. Two other Automotive Technology students from WSHS, senior Jonathan Delgado Quintana and sophomore Michael Sullivan, both finished in the top 10 in their competition categories, according to automotive instructor Pete McCue. He’s at right in the photo and new this year at WSHS after previous work including 8 years at Garfield HS and 6 in Port Angeles; at left, is Shorecrest High School’s Peter Smith, who set up this year’s regional competition. Congratulations to all and good luck to Phi, who will be vying in the state competition for a $34,000 scholarship to Universal Technical Institute and a spot in the national finals this summer.
Quick heads-up if you haven’t heard this already: For Presidents Day next Monday (February 21st), Metro will be on “reduced weekday service,” and the King County Water Taxi will NOT run at all (West Seattle and Vashon runs will both be idle).
We checked out reports of a small “sinkhole” by the traffic circle at Fairmount/Forest, south uphill end of Fairmount Ravine area (area map), the other day – it didn’t look major, and had a road sign over it more than covering the area, but this morning, Stefan e-mailed to report:
I thought it might be worth mentioning that the intersection of Fairmount and Forest by Hiawatha Community Ctr is closed due to a developing sinkhole. I noticed the beginning of it on Monday and called SDOT. Looks like they will be working on it shortly since they have cordoned off the whole traffic circle and roads leading to are closed.
Just announced:
West Seattle Hi Yu Spring Tea and Silent Auction
The Hall at Fauntleroy
9131 California Ave. SWTea sandwiches, savories and sweets! Please join us for a Spring Tea and Silent Auction on Sunday, April 3rd from 2-4:30pm at the The Hall at Fauntleroy. Funds raised will support the Miss West Seattle Hi Yu Scholarship Program and help build the float that represents West Seattle at parades throughout the Puget Sound. Our premier sponsor this year is Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering and special guest Seafair Pirate Chuck Marcoullier will be our MC for the afternoon. Tickets are $25 per person or reserve a table of 10 for $250. Make your reservation today! Call 206 835-0561 or email wshiyu@yahoo.com. Seating is limited.
(This story will stay atop the home page TFN – please scroll beneath it for other, newer stories. Latest update, 5:24 pm, working to find out whether a suspect booked into jail for investigation of homicde is linked to this case)
(Police car in Endolyne business district, as part of search/containment following nearby stabbing)
12:20 AM: Police are on the way – and you may hear a helicopter soon too – to a reported stabbing in the 9300 block of 44th SW (map).
12:28 AM UPDATE: We have a crew on the way. What we’ve heard from scanner so far: Victim is a man about 60 years old. Multiple stab wounds, CPR under way.
(Photos and video added from here, all by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
12:57 AM UPDATE: Search continues, with K-9, but no suspect found so far. WSB’s Christopher Boffoli is there; he’s been told the victim is believed to be around 65. Scanner indicates no suspect description available so far but the suspect “may be injured.” (If you think you see or hear anything or anyone suspicious anywhere near there, call 911 immediately.)
1:16 AM UPDATE: SeattleCrime.com cites Seattle Fire sources as saying the victim has died. We can tell you that the aid unit in which he was getting CPR never left for the hospital – then, a few minutes ago, left without lights/sirens.
1:35 AM UPDATE: Media have been allowed to leave their vehicles. A briefing is expected shortly. We’ll have details as soon as they’re available.
(iPhone video added – briefing, unedited)
2:02 AM UPDATE: Here’s what Christopher says the media was told: SPD Captain Greg Schmidt briefed reporters, confirming that the victim, in his early 60s, is dead. The 911 call came from the victim’s wife, who was in another room of the house and heard her husband talking with someone, then arguing; when she went out, she found her husband stabbed, apparently in the chest, though SPD cannot confirm number of wounds. The man could not give police any information about the attacker; the wife didn’t see him and didn’t recognize the voice, but it’s believed he was “known” to the victim. This is West Seattle’s first homicide in almost five months; the previous ones were on two successive days, September 22nd and 23rd of last year – first the man killed in Roxhill Park, then the quadruple murder-suicide shootings in southeastern West Seattle.
5:31 AM UPDATE: Still no arrest reported.
8:35 AM UPDATE: Same status; police have posted a short item on SPD Blotter, without new details, except that it mentions a single stab wound to the chest, and asks that anyone with information on the case contact them. Photos added above and below – crime tape across the front of the property, and unmarked (except for the letters/numbers in the back window) Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) vans on the street.
12:23 PM UPDATE: We’ve just checked with the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, and they have NOT yet released the victim’s identity. If they DO confirm it – which doesn’t appear to have happened yet, according to the person with whom we spoke – and finish required notifications, the public announcement would likely be late this afternoon.
1:32 PM UPDATE: Just talked to Det. Mark Jamieson from the SPD Media Unit to ask if anyone’s been arrested or is being questioned. “Nobody in custody,” he replies, and no other news to report as “very active” investigation continues.
5:23 PM UPDATE: The King County Jail Register lists a suspect as having been booked into jail this afternoon just before 3 pm for investigation of homicide. We are working to confirm whether this is indeed a suspect in the Fauntleroy case.
(SPD’s Lt. Pierre Davis (left) and Lt. Darin Chinn talk with community members at the SW Precinct)
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
West Seattle residents and Block Watch leaders gathered Tuesday night at Southwest Precinct for the monthly meeting of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, to hear positive news about recent crime trends – but also to hear a presentation that served as a sobering reminder of ongoing drug problems facing communities as a whole.
SW Precinct Lt. Pierre Davis (pictured above, at left) reported that in the past month, there has been a “39% decrease in property crimes” in West Seattle, following a “spike in activity” in January in which burglaries and car prowls were more frequent.
Lt. Davis said that SPD “mobilized more patrols” in response to that spike, and worked closely with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and community members to identify troublesome individuals and “basically take them off the streets.” He cited yesterday’s arrest of an “active car prowl suspect” as a major success story in these ongoing efforts, which include a crackdown on catalytic converter thefts from parked cars.
A major goal, Lt. Davis said, is to build strong cases against the repeat offenders to keep them behind bars longer – more like “25-50 months” versus much shorter sentences.
From Bellevue College: Chief Sealth International High School over Mercer Island HS, 68-54. That guarantees the Seahawks a state-playoffs spot. More to come.
ADDED: More details, and video, ahead:Read More
Thanks to Donna at Giannoni’s Pizza for sending that photo of a car crash at Westwood Village. More info to come, but from the first photos, looks like the car just nosed into one of the Pier 1 Imports front windows.
8:58 PM UPDATE: SPD tells us that just after 8 PM tonight, the woman driving the Toyota Camry jumped the curb and drove into the front window of Pier 1. They say it appears the car was parked out front and that she intended to put the car into reverse and pull away but accidentally put the car into drive. There were no injuries. Fire crews remain at the scene securing the broken glass and boarding up the window. The store manager tells us that a glass repair company is on the way and that the store will be open for business as usual tomorrow. Video and more photos to come.
9:30 PM UPDATE: Adding a few pictures from Christopher Boffoli:
10:26 PM UPDATE: Here’s Christopher’s brief video clip:
Following up on last night’s report about the closing of Tom Yum Koong in The Junction – we have confirmed that it’s indeed been sold to Kay Fuengarom, owner of Zab Thai in Everett and Chaiyo Thai in Northgate The new restaurant will be named Bang Bar Thai (pronounced “bahng”) and is expected to open within two months, once renovations are completed, according to WSB contributor Bill “Hutch” Hutchison, who’s been working on the story. Among the renovations he’s learned of – a new neon sign, designed and constructed by Western Neon in SODO. No other details yet on the new ownership’s plans, but we’re expecting to find out more during the renovation period.
A new development today in the saga of the West Seattle Junction state liquor store, which we’ve been following since the state confirmed last May that the store might move; in October, that became “will move.” The new location is official, according to Anne Radford with the Liquor Control Board; this summer, the store will move into Capco Plaza (41st/Alaska), the same building as the Junction QFC. (As reported here in late December, the California SW location’s lease was extended till the end of June.)
A team of four city employees visited last night’s North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting for a briefing on the work coming up at Fire Station 36 – that’s the one next to The Bridge, just past the north end of Delridge Way SW. The project is technically a big deal for the city because it requires some “right of way” – property once set aside for streets/sidewalks – to be given to the Fire Department (“vacated”), which means extra process to wade through before it’s approved. In the graphic above, the purple area is the proposed “vacation,” which requires City Council approval.
In terms of public impact otherwise, the project won’t have much; it will include earthquake-safety upgrades and the addition of a 500-square-foot building (with decontamination facilities among other things). Station 36 has strategic importance including its bridge access and its status as headquarters for the marine-response team. The project – paid for by the city’s 2003 Fire Levy – is outlined here; while the crews technically will have to move out of Station 36 while the work is done (no sooner than next year), they won’t be going far – the visitors at last night’s NDNC meeting said the station’s temporary quarters will be set up on their current site. For even more details, here’s the fact sheet distributed at last night’s meeting.
The Cascade Bicycle Club‘s Major Taylor Project, to help get tweens and teens into bicycling, is rolling into West Seattle, and you can be part of it at a “Spinathon” this Thursday night. 5-8 pm at Allstar Fitness in North Delridge, there’s a fundraiser for expanding the project to South King County sites including Chief Sealth International High School. Organizers say there are 2 ways to help:
1. Ride in the Spinathon – some spots still open! You can ride for 1 hour, 2 hours, or all 3 hours – from 5-6pm, 6-7 pm, or 7-8pm time slots. To register: e-mail opa@cascadebicycleclub.org or ed.ewing@cascadebicycleclub.org. Cost is a minimum $25 per hour donation. Checks can be made out to ‘Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation‘, which is a (501)(3)c. Participants can bring their donation the night of the event or mail to the address below.
2. For those not riding – you can help the program reach more kids in West Seattle
by donating to the Major Taylor Project. Two ways to donate:Online (you’ll need to set up an account)
shop.cascade.org/content/major-taylor-project-stp-donationor postal mail:
Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation Major Taylor Program
7400 Sand Point Way NE, Suite 101S
Seattle, WA 98115
Another “Special Weather Statement” out within the past hour from the National Weather Service – this time warning we might see thunderstorms again today. (Here’s our report from last night, with photos of the trees taken down by the wind that roared through on the heels of more ground-softening downpours.)
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