West Seattle, Washington
06 Thursday
Craig Roberts shares his mom’s photo and obituary, hoping to get the word out to as many of those who knew her as possible, before her service this Sunday. It tells quite a story of a woman deeply and joyfully involved in her community – a great West Seattle story even if you didn’t know her:
Evelyn Jean ROBERTS
6/26/25 – 11/16/10While we have lost our mother, America has lost a Patriot. Evelyn “Jean” Roberts, 85, of West Seattle passed away November 16, 2010 after a brief illness. A celebration of her life will be held December 19 (see below).
Jean was born June 26, 1925 in Kalo, Iowa, the last of seven children from parents Francis John Craig & Janetta Mae (Alvord) Craig, who preceded her in death, as did six brothers and sisters: Eva Leona Craig, Laurence Alvord Craig, Aileen Janetta Wynn, Charles Francis Craig, Olive Rosena Schultz & Lois Mae Finkle. Four siblings served during WWII: Laurence, Francis, Olive & Lois. Growing up as a teenager during WWII brought to her a level of patriotism and love for her country that continued throughout her life. After the 1971 death of husband, Wilfred R. (Tiny) Roberts, who also died of service-connected causes, Jean devoted her life over the last 40 years to Veterans’ organizations including countless volunteer hours at The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the USO and the Red Cross.
Just like a scene from “The Grapes of Wrath,” in October 1936 when Jean was just 11 years old, the family packed up their Plymouth, leaving Iowa headed for Seattle, making the 1,700-mile trip in four days, three nights. Following scarce employment, the family moved to Fairbanks, Alaska from 1936-1942. Jean, 15, returned to Seattle to study voice, living with her sister Olive. When WWII broke out, the entire family returned to Seattle for good. Graduating from Garfield HS in the spring of 1942 at 17, Jean loved to sing and entertain, and her career was just beginning.
During the war, Jean, 18, married John Abner Robbins in November 1942 in Coeur d’Alene Idaho, divorcing shortly thereafter. After the war, Mom auditioned for and got a singing job with band leader Wilfred R. (Tiny) Roberts, our dad. After three weeks of working together in nightclubs, our Dad was so jealous of all the attention Mom got singing, he proposed and they married June 27, 1946, the day after her 21st birthday. They traveled throughout the Western States, Montana, Washington and Idaho, performing and entertaining with their band, “Three Satan’s and an Angel.” After five years touring, they settled in the Admiral District of West Seattle, her home for the last 60 years.
After two notes and one call, including one person describing the sight as “new lawn art,” we had to go see this for ourselves: A fire truck is parked (at least since last night, when our first note came in) on the lawn of an apartment building along 44th SW, north of Junction TrueValue and Terry Gangon‘s building. We knocked on doors and asked nearby, and couldn’t find anyone who knew exactly what it was doing there; we spotted a Parking Enforcement Officer nearby and she said it wasn’t the kind of thing she’d be ticketing for, though she couldn’t say whether it was legal in terms of land use. The fire truck bears the name of Westport/Wauna, which is along the Columbia River in northwestern Oregon. The person who called us said they’d heard secondhand that someone had bought the truck from that department; so far, we’ve discovered that Westport/Wauna indeed had three surplus fire trucks offered via eBay this fall (scroll down), including a 1975 American LaFrance – and this truck is marked LaFrance.
Any more info, please share!
Thanks to Westside School (WSB sponsor) for sharing photos of a big event today – for the fourth consecutive year, Westside kindergarteners hosted the holiday toy drive for Toys for Tots, and their toys/books/bikes/pillows collection was bigger than ever! Above, the proud kindergarteners; the picture below was taken a few hours later as firefighters from the new, nearby Station 37 received the donated toys:
If you can give toys – a number of drives continue – at Twilight Artist Collective in The Junction, they’re collecting for foster kids via Treehouse; at every West Seattle community center (“like” them all together on Facebook!) they’ve got a drive under way; and of course, there are your local firehouses. More giving opportunities on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page.
Her name is Nevaeh – “Heaven spelled backward” – and though she’s been through hell, she is one of the smiliest 7-year-olds you’ll ever meet. We met Nevaeh Harm earlier this week at Southwest Youth and Family Services‘ headquarters in North Delridge earlier this week, a place where she and her mom Thyda Phan spend a lot of time. They are among the survivors of the September shootings in West Seattle in which Thyda’s mother shot and killed three Phan/Harm family members – Thyda’s husband and two teenage daughters – and herself. Thyda is the only one to have survived gunshot wounds; Nevaeh was shot at, as was her older brother Kevin, but they managed to escape with no physical injuries. Cara Kroenke at SWYFS has been helping the survivors find new places to live, and new belongings to replace what they lost in the destructive rampage – or never had at all. In our photo, Nevaeh was trying on a helmet to use with one of the bicycles donated to SWYFS by Nucor (here’s our story on that). Cara was awaiting results of an inspection for the White Center rental house found for the family, near Nevaeh’s elementary school. And for those who have asked for an update on what they still need from this list we published a week and a half ago, Cara talked with us – that info’s after the jump:Read More
The photos are from Ruth Oldham of West Seattle See Dogs, who was in Tacoma for a special regional delivery in the middle of the Sunday rainstorm. Her group is hoping for new members to help them turn puppies like these into guide dogs – “a gift that keeps giving,” as she explains:
Bundles of yellow, black, and golden fur, sweet puppy breath, and wiggly joy were delivered into the arms of twelve puppy raisers from across Washington State in the midst of (Sunday) morning’s deluge.
The puppies, bred at our San Rafael, California campus were between the ages of 8 and 10 weeks old and traveled on the puppy truck which was converted to a special sleigh for Santa Paws and his helper’s deliveries!
The puppies will stay with their families for about a year and then return to be off to puppy college to become guide dogs and future “soulmates” with a visually impaired partner. This is a story about a gift that keeps giving long after the season is over!
Do you have love and time to share with a puppy? Call Ruth Oldham with the West Seattle See Dogs at 206-953-0268 or 1-800-295-4050 for information on how you can raise a Guide Dog Puppy in your area. More info at www.guidedogs.com; become a friend of the West Seattle See Dogs on Facebook to learn about events and meetings. Our next meeting is Monday, December 20th, 6:30 pm, at
Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights.
Merrill Gardens-AH (WSB sponsor) is at 2326 California SW.
You made suggestions – and now the decision’s in. Just received from the Admiral Theater, word that the free Christmas movie at 7 pm next Thursday (December 23) will be Jim Carrey‘s 2009 animated version of “A Christmas Carol.” Carrey is the voice of Scrooge as well as the three ghosts who visit him. The “free” admission is qualified, as Dinah from The Admiral reminds us:
Remember, we are doing this as a benefit for the Humane Society. Statistics prove that animals are a good Xmas gift only to be brought back after the holidays. That’s when animal shelters see a large jump in attendance. So before you get your Jingle Bells on, you MUST bring something from the list below to the theater:
Animal crates (all sizes)
Premium dog & cat food
toys
bedding
collars
leashes
brushes
shampoo’s
warm blankets
and a new Prius (okay, that’s for me)Can’t wait to see you there!
Mrs. Claus (Dinah)
Never been to The Admiral? No! Well, maybe you’re new. California SW just north of Admiral Way.
It’s been on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar a while, and now program highlights have just been sent by the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle for the free Seattle Symphony concert they’re presenting at South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center at 7 pm January 12th:
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Eric Garcia, conductor
Andrew Brady, bassoon of the Seattle Symphony
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Mozart: Bassoon Concerto in B-flat major, K. 191
Honegger: Pastorale d’été
Haydn: Symphony No. 47 in G major
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Again, the concert’s free; more info on the Kiwanis website at kiwaniswestseattle.org.
Three quick notes previewing tonight: Shop local and shop late! It’s the second-to-last Shop Late Thursday in The Junction, with some stores open till 9 pm – see the list of participants here; four (Clementine, Click! Design That Fits, knows perfume, Twilight Artist Collective) also have deals/info featured in our Holiday Shopping Guide. … West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth International High School face off in basketball tonight – junior-varsity boys at 4:45 pm, varsity girls at 6:15 pm, varsity boys at 8, at WSHS … At CSIHS tonight, it’s the music program’s Winter Concert, 7 pm in the auditorium … Reminder: For most if not all local schools, private as well as public, tomorrow’s the last day before winter break; for Seattle Public Schools, classes get out an hour early on Friday.
As part of the just-concluded city-budgeting process for next year, the Neighborhood Matching Fund process is changing. It’s been a important source of funding for many projects in West Seattle as well as other parts of the city, and this morning the Department of Neighborhoods has sent an explanation of the changes ahead – read on:Read More
At right, that’s just one of the kittens awaiting new homes at West Seattle’s nonprofit cat-only shelter Kitty Harbor – and any Kitty Harbor kitties who don’t get those new homes this weekend will be going into foster care until June. That’s according to Kitty Harbor volunteer Anna, who says the shelter is open 1 pm-6 pm this Saturday and Sunday, and those will be its last days till next summer. Kitty Harbor is at 3422 Harbor Avenue SW, just north of the West Seattle Bridge. You’ll find tons more photos and info on the Kitty Harbor website.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*Three young men showed up at a Fauntleroy business Thursday afternoon and purchased one item. But two of them also distracted the clerk while the third — claiming to have gone to use the bathroom — made off with a laptop computer from the rear of the store.
*Early Thursday, a man with a history of mental illness showed up at his brother’s Avalon-area house to retrieve a special copy of Playboy (special because it featured his “girlfriend,” the late Anna Nicole Smith). When he refused to leave, officers were called to provide assistance. They offered to call him a cab, but he walked off, saying that he was willing to “trust Steve Sarkisian” (the UW football coach) but that he “needed his Cougar gloves.” Football was still on his mind the next morning, when he was found throwing garbage on a statue at Admiral Viewpoint and mumbling about terrorists, 9/11, and former NFL star (killed in Afghanistan) Pat Tillman. The 37-year-old was transported to Harborview for an involuntary evaluation.
Five more summaries after the jump:
Just a week after the White Center Chamber of Commerce announced plans for a community Christmas tree in the small park area at the end of the Delridge Triangle (on the city side, so West Seattle can claim it too), the tree was lighted in a ceremony tonight. Video/photojournalist Cliff DesPeaux was there for WSB and partner site White Center Now. If you haven’t followed the backstory on WCN, the “power” to which nearby pub owner “Mac” McElroy refers in the clip is electric power – with the help of Seattle City Light, the area got connected earlier this week, which also makes lighting possible for the flag that flies over the triangle as part of a veterans’ memorial.
(Rendering provided by Trader Joe’s with the June West Seattle announcement)
Update for those who drive by the future West Seattle Trader Joe’s location (4545 Fauntleroy Way SW) and wonder when you’ll see signs of remodeling activity: There’s finally a bit of motion in that direction. If you have been following the saga, you know that last time we talked to a spokesperson for the property owner, the company told him they were about to officially apply for permits. That didn’t happen quite as immediately as expected, but the online Department of Planning and Development files are finally showing activity – and we know it’s brand-new, not just because of the dates, but because we’ve checked the online files for the site every day since the June announcement, so we know when something has changed. Putting it all together from the outside is a bit like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, but here goes: First, there’s a new, separate land-use permit application file here, with the summary:
Land use application to allow 29 parking stalls for a total of 76 parking stalls in an environmentally critical area. Project includes change of use from automotive sales and service to general retail sales and service (Trader Joe’s), modifications to front façade to create new entry and exit tower, elevator and stairwell.
The “fees and receipts” tab on the same DPD webpage indicates a variety of fees paid just yesterday, including one for the Land Use Information Bulletin, which means an official comment period is likely to open for this shortly, when you see a city informational sign go up at the site. And new contacts have been added, including a Redmond architecture firm, and a corporate contact at TJ’s HQ in Southern California. In addition, that page points to another case number for an additional address on the site – 4527 Fauntleroy Way – with its own set of fees marked as paid today. Meantime, according to the “inspections” tab on this DPD page, a “pre-application site visit” happened last week. We’ve had a request out for corporate comment for a few days, no reply so far, so reading the paperwork tea leaves yields the most information at this point.
ANA leaders (from left) Mark Wainwright, Katy Walum, and Gary Williamson with their new banner.
Story and photo by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The mood was festive at the final meeting of 2010 for the Admiral Neighborhood Association at the Admiral Church on Tuesday night, as the group celebrated a successful year and looked forward to 2011.
ANA President Katy Walum thanked the group’s volunteers for their hard work and dedication, and passed around a two-page list of “2010 Activities and Accomplishments” (which will be revised and posted online in January) that emphasized just how much the group has been up to. Here’s a summary:
Walum unveiled the group’s new banner (pictured above), notecards and letterhead, featuring their new logo. She also reminded attendees that the group’s new Admiral apparel (pictures here) “make great holiday gifts,” and encouraged anyone to e-mail her at katy.walum@gmail.com if they’re interested in buying some — $40 jackets, $15 t-shirts, $10 kids’ shirts.
Other meeting notes:
In case you were wondering: We checked in with SDOT this afternoon on two post-storm road issues. SDOT spokesperson Marybeth Turner sent answers. First, on the Beach Drive slide:
SDOT has a bit of work to complete on Beach Drive SW. Crews will continue working on it tomorrow. Until then, the roadway will remain restricted to one shared lane.
Second, we asked about the strategy for re-filling the potholes that lost their fill during the deluge – we noticed multiple cases along Alki Avenue SW while driving around on Sunday morning, and published this photo in our ongoing coverage that day:
The SDOT reply:
Thanks for asking about potholes. We are receiving lots of pothole requests from all areas of the city, at times several reports for the same pothole. We have crews out in force to fill them.
If you want to report one – 206-684-ROAD, or use this online form.
(WSB photo from 2008)
Seattle West Inn, the former TraveLodge in The Triangle, is about to get a makeover under its new ownership, according to a news release just out of the WSB inbox. Working on more details, but for starters, from the news release (which you can read in its entirety here):
Saddle Rock Hospitality has assumed management of the Seattle West Inn, West Seattle’s only motel. The motel was recently acquired by a local investment group committed to reinvestment in the property with a goal of repositioning the motel in the marketplace.
Seattle-based Seattle Rock Hospitality took over management of the property in early October. Hotel veteran Joey Disque will oversee the motel operations and renovation. The motel concept, once complete, will offer price/value-appropriate lodging with a unique guest service paradigm for today’s traveler. The facility, services, and environment will facilitate contemporary guest activity by offering ‘most-valued’ amenities and self-enabled services.
“With our 50 guest rooms and more than 1,000 square feet of meeting space, this property has immense potential to be a draw for business and leisure travelers as well as a convenient location to host meetings and local events,” said Joey. …
Renovation plans include updated guest rooms, the addition of food and beverage services, full-service meeting and banquet facilities and new landscaping including the addition of an outdoor patio. The facility offers a variety of length-of-stay accommodations including the standard overnight as well as a mix of extended stay rooms and suites. Renovation is expected to begin in early 2011, during which time the property will remain open for business.
At one point, Harbor Properties – which has almost finished building the mixed-use Link nearby – was considering buying this site, but the deal was never completed. County records show the site was sold in September for $3 million; its previous owners bought it almost 11 years ago for $2.4 million. Its new owner is SSLL, LLC, whose partners include one of the owners of two properties across 36th from the motel site; another owner of those properties’ is also owner of the commercial building immediately north of the motel.
Three more holiday notes this afternoon:
FESTIVUS AT HOTWIRE: This is as official as Festivus (TV-show-inspired anti-holiday explained here) is going to get in West Seattle. If you haven’t been to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) lately, a Festivus Pole is up with notes all over (we took our photo some days back, so it’s likely even more “well-decorated” now) it. The official Airing of the Grievances is Thursday, December 23rd, 10 am. And before then, you can donate to the new Hotwire Pet Giving Tree, with the theme “Festivus: For the Pets of Us“:
Besides having sponsored WSB continuously for more than three years, Hotwire is also one of the participants in our West Seattle Holiday Shopping Guide.
Meantime, more renown for the Helmstetler Family Spectacular Christmas lights by the Charlestown water tower:
EVENING MAGAZINE SPOTLIGHTS ‘THE LIGHTS’: After sending crews over multiple times while the lights were going up and then on the official first night just after Thanksgiving, KING 5‘s Evening Magazine aired the full story last night – you can see it in its entirety above. The ongoing show at 3908 SW Charlestown has its own website, with schedules, special events, and other info, at westseattlelights.com.
YOU’RE INVITED TO JOIN COMMUNITY CAROLING THIS FRIDAY! We mentioned this as a side note the other day, and it’s on the still-frequently-updated West Seattle Holidays page now, but in case you missed it: You are invited to go caroling with an informal group planning to gather this Friday night – here’s the invite, shared by Karrie:
Hey neighbor!
Come Christmas Caroling with us this Friday night!
What: Spread holiday spirit, sing & socialize
Meet at: Greg Davis Park at corner of Brandon and 26th Ave SW [map]
When: Friday 12/17 at 7 pm (we’ll head north on 26th at 715 pm)
Bring: Flashlight for reading songs, umbrella, a warm drink, jingle bellsWe’ll have copies of many traditional Christmas songs but all faiths and songs are welcome. If you have a favorite, make lots of copies to share and be ready to lead us in the tune. Neighbors in Delridge and High Point joined forces to plan this and we hope to make it an annual event.
Hope to see you there, rain or snow!
From Ray:
Our Volvo wagon was broken into overnight. It was parked in our alley carport between Graham and Morgan/ 39th and 38th Sts. SW. (map) They rifled through the glove box and another compartment between the front seats. They took our daughter’s canvas swim bag from the back seat and scattered its contents down the alley: a purple swim cap, one pair of blue goggles, a green diamondback suit, a YMCA card. The sight of her cherished swim gear trashed in the alley was quite the cold awakening this morning for our seven year old. “Who could do such a thing?” she cried.
Another sad reminder, as per the current SPD awareness campaign, that *nothing* is safe, left in a vehicle – even if you are sure it’s something in which no thief would take an interest.
(Santa photo by Donna Ryan Photography)
Two more Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB) events ahead in The Junction this week – another Shop Late Thursday tomorrow, then the third and final round of professional Santa photos and mule-drawn carriage rides 11 am-3 pm on Sunday. The Santa photos by Donna Ryan Photography raise money for local nonprofits, and West Seattle Junction Association‘s Susan Melrose just sent an update:
The Junction’s Santa Photo/Fundraising is going great. This is the Junction Association’s 6th year hosting Santa photos and a greater success is being achieved every year. In our 3rd year working with Donna Ryan Photography, we are not only delivering beautiful photos to West Seattle families, but also raising funds for community members in need. The first weekend raised more than $800 for WestSide Baby, last weekend raised more than $1,000 for the West Seattle Helpline, and this Sunday we’ll be raising funds for the West Seattle Food Bank. Thank you, West Seattle families, for participating in this holiday tradition.
And while you’re in The Junction for Shop Late Thursday, shopping any time (our 21 Holiday Shopping Guide sponsors include 11 Junction stores), or Hometown Holidays Sunday, get in on the $4,600 raffle, too.
Holiday favorites resounded through the Chief Sealth International High School auditorium last night as the Westside Symphony and West Seattle Big Band teamed up for a holiday concert. Our top clip features the symphony performing four selections from “The Nutcracker” – conducted by Rob Duisberg (who you may also know as the Lincoln Park bee rescuer). This is the first year for the group to perform as part of the West Seattle Community Orchestras, the new umbrella name for what was Westside Symphonette – this is the older group (the younger groups performed their holiday concert last week). One more selection from last night: WSBB and symphony musicians played several crowd-singalong songs together, including “Winter Wonderland” under the direction of the orchestra group’s founder Toni Reineke:
You can find out more about the WS Big Band here; the WS Community Orchestras are always welcoming new musicians and usually practice Tuesdays at CSIHS – find out more about them here.
First thing in today’s preview: Chief Sealth International High School band director Marcus Pimpleton reminds us here that today’s the last day to vote for Sealth in the online Battle of the Bands – that link explains how, as does our original story … From the West Seattle Holidays page, 2 holiday parties tonight: The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s holiday party is tonight at Salty’s on Alki, 5 pm, and the 34th District Democrats, 6:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, plus a port-wine tasting at Bin 41 (WSB sponsor and part of our deal-laden Holiday Shopping Guide), 5:30-7 pm … The Delridge Neighborhoods District Council has its monthly meeting an hour earlier than usual, 6 pm, including a presentation about proposed Duwamish River habitat restoration, then a holiday potluck at 7 (Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way) … At the south end of Delridge, the new White Center Community Christmas Tree will be lit at 7 pm … And two events are on the calendar this morning: The Funeral Mass for Tony’s Market proprietor Tony Genzale, 10:30 am at St. Francis of Assisi in Burien (16226 21st SW) as detailed here, and the “One World” discussion series at the Senior Center of West Seattle tackles “Winter Holidays Across Cultures” at 10:45 am (California and Oregon in The Junction).
Five Seattle Police officers served as international goodwill ambassadors at the Southwest Precinct this morning – including the entire 3-member SWP Community Police Team. Officers Hoang, Kiehn, Mazzuca, McDaniel, and Nguyen answered questions and served as tour guides for a high-ranking 20-member visiting group from Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security. The visit began with a Q/A session in the precinct’s community room; Officer Hoang, from the downtown-headquartered West Precinct, did most of the interpreting. The questions were mostly operational: How are officers hired? What are the ranks between officer and precinct commander? What are the differences between the precincts? We wish we could report the details in those answers as well as the questions – but most of the former were given directly in Vietnamese. The ministry is accountable for not only “regular” police operations, but
The Public Security Ministry is accountable for an internal-security army as well as regular law enforcers. Before moving on to tour the precinct building, the visitors presented their hosts with gifts – art in honor of the recent celebration of the 1000th anniversary of Vietnam’s capital:
And a plaque bearing the logo of their ministry.
The capital, Hanoi, is where most of the visitors are based, according to a South Seattle Community College liaison who was touring with them. According to Officer McDaniel, their Puget Sound visit included stops at Bellevue PD, Microsoft, Washington State Patrol, SeaTac Airport Security, Kent Correctional Facility, and the Seattle Emergency Preparedness Unit. They’re scheduled to leave this area on Thursday.
Seattle City Light just sent a late-night news release with an update on streetlight inspections following last week’s discovery of “contact voltage” by a light in High Point (reported by HP’s Wendy Hughes-Jelen after her dog and another one behaved oddly around it, and following the Thanksgiving contact-voltage electrocution of a dog): 270 more poles were checked in High Point and Greenbridge (a similar development in White Center), and no further cases of contact voltage turned up, according to the news release. But three cases were found in neighborhoods east of downtown. SCL says it’s figuring out whether it can speed up the citywide inspections that were to be done by May.
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