West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Several people have reported seeing/hearing this — multiple police cars and officers, reportedly including King County Sheriff’s 
Office as well as Seattle Police with K-9, involved in a search in Seaview overnight, between 2 and 4 am. (Phone-cam photo at left.) We’ve received reports from several spots along 49th SW (map), including this post in the WSB Forums. No official information so far but via Facebook, Deirdre – who was in the search zone, and says officers told her to stay inside – says she finally got a dispatcher to tell her that it was a case of someone running away after “a traffic stop,” and says they told her someone had been taken into custody. We may not be able to get any official details before early tomorrow morning but will update, whenever we do.
Not West Seattle news, but so soon after former West Seattleite Officer Timothy Brenton was murdered here in our city … this is the region’s biggest story today, and we’re noting here in case you had not heard: Someone went into a coffee shop in Lakewood, south of Tacoma, around 8:15 this morning, where four police officers — whose marked cars were outside — were working on their laptops, and shot them all dead. KING5 is streaming investigation coverage; our partners at the Seattle Times have just published an update, including a preliminary description from a Pierce County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson; there’s also continuing coverage online at the Tacoma-based News-Tribune site. If any official “be on the lookout” bulletin comes out at some point, we will add it here, since so far there is no word of an arrest. According to KING, this hotline’s been set up for tips: 866-977-2362. 12:46 PM UPDATE: No major new information so far. The officers have been identified only as a Lakewood Police patrol team, 3 men, one woman. Among those who have spoken to the media is Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor; a media friend shared with us this link we wanted to pass on: something wrenching and important he published on his website after attending Officer Brenton’s funeral. 1:20 PM: Pierce County’s website is posting its updates in a special box on the home page – here’s the link. 3:24 PM: The Lakewood police union has published a statement that includes information on how to assist the murdered officers’ families.
The most recent West Seattle crime-stat toplines included a slight rise in auto theft, and this morning we have two reports to share. First, from Meryl:
They stole my neighbor’s car (Friday) night, an old Bronco, on Holden St. between 41st and California (map).
I believe they were pros as they broke the window and no one woke up except my cats. I looked out and saw the car rolling down the hill, but it was too late.
Last year my car was broken into the same way. Didn’t hear the window break. Didn’t wake up till they opened the door and the car alarm went off.
Also, Tanya reported a car theft by commenting after a previous Crime Watch report:
My boyfriend and I live in Highland Park. We got home from a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. Got up to go to work and his car was stolen from our driveway. We live on 8100 block of 14th [map]. It’s a white Nissan 240sx with bronze wheels and a loud exhaust. Please e-mail tanyacoy@ymail.com or my cell #20677984898. Thank you so much for your time.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm as always. New items include parsnips, pears and matsutake mushrooms, according to the new Ripe ‘n’ Ready list.
HOTWIRE FREEBIES: The first two of four new coupons from Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) runs through tomorrow – free latte’ or americano – get the coupons here, then hop up the street while you’re in The Junction for the Farmers’ Market.
CONTEST ENTRIES: Hotwire’s among the more than three dozen places you can enter (no purchase necessary) the $6,500 Junction holiday giveaway. First drawing’s at the tree lighting next Saturday night!
Richie Jenkin says there’s two things in the back of everybody’s closet – a guitar and a set of weights. He says that people want to find a way to make the instrument part of their lives and he said that’s why he’s in the business of teaching guitar. Teaching guitar is not his first line of work, but lately it’s his chosen one. 
As noted here when Richie first joined WSB as a sponsor in August 2008, he’s a trained counselor and has worked with people in recovery from substance abuse. Now, Richie’s at a point in his life where he’d like to put his energy into helping people learn the guitar and improve their understanding of music. While he works with kids as young as six, Richie says more than two-thirds of his students are adults. His average student is someone who has owned a guitar for some time, but needs someone to work with, to get some structure on how to play. As he points out, it’s structure that’s personalized to each student: “I take my teaching seriously. By that I mean that I take the time to prepare for each lesson. I look at what we¹ve been doing; the pace of things; what you want to be learning; your particular way of learning; and what I think is best for a particular lesson to make sure your playing is coming along in a way you can be confident and enthusiastic about. So it¹s not just about showing you something new every week and then out the door. If the music is going to be rewarding, exhilarating and fun, then I better be doing my part to make it so.” Richie’s been teaching guitar for 25 years and he specializes in beginners and intermediate students. He works out of offices at 3618 California SW; best way to reach him is (206) 799-7432.
For the second consecutive Saturday, West Seattle Bowl played host to a “Turkey Bowl” fundraiser – this one, including the group of local celebs you see above. (Recognize ’em? Lots of media and/or sports links.) They bowled today to help out St. Martin de Porres shelter (which assists homeless men 50+) and the cat shelter Whisker City. We talked to two of the celebs, who also happen to be West Seattleites – Gregg Hersholt and New York Vinnie; after we asked how they prepared for the big event, they managed to name-drop a multitude of West Seattle establishments:
A silent auction was part of Turkey Bowl too – organizer Mike Brown wrangled guitars with autographs from rock superstars Eddie Vedder and Dave Matthews.
On the same day King County Executive Dow Constantine was sworn in, the list of 11 applicants for his now-empty County Council seat was made public. Two are from West Seattle. State Sen. Joe McDermott‘s candidacy already has been covered here – including video of what he told the 34th District Democrats‘ last 
meeting (see it here), when they voted to support his quest for the job. The other: Vlad Oustimovitch, an architect and planner who runs a West Seattle-based project-management firm and has served on numerous boards and committees including the Southwest Design Review Board, Alaskan Way Viaduct Stakeholders’ Committee, Southwest District Council, Monorail Board, Fauntleroy Community Association Board. Oustimovitch e-mailed WSB a copy of his application for the position, saying he intends it to be a public document but hasn’t seen King County post the applications yet. You can read it here. We followed up by asking him, so why do you want to be a County Councilmember? Read on for his reply:Read More
The murder trial of Amanda Knox, whose mother Edda Mellas lives in West Seattle, could be over by this time next week. Mellas and Knox’s father Curt Knox are back in Italy now to await the verdict, but today they got unexpected news: They’ve received notice that Italian authorities are investigating them — allegedly for defamation because of their claim last year that their daughter said police had treated her roughly. This news broke after their live TV interview earlier today with CBS, in which they discussed evidence in the case and what happens if the verdict isn’t what they hope it will be:
Knox has been in custody for more than two years, since her arrest a few days after the November 2007 murder of her British roommate Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy. Her parents told citywide media that they bought her ticket home before flying to Italy for the remainder of the trial.
Note the barrel in the foreground of our shot from Santa’s House in Westwood Village – it’s not just a place for the little ones to share their holiday wishes, it’s also a place for you to help make somebody else’s holiday dreams come true – Santa photos are free with a nonperishable food donation; there’s also a diaper drive for WestSide Baby, and giving trees large and small:
Noon-4 pm, Saturdays and Sundays till Christmas, you’ll find Santa in his own storefront on the Westwood Village breezeway across from 24 Hour Fitness. (Santa photo opportunities start in The Junction next weekend; info on that, and lots more holiday happenings, abounds here.)
Thanks to Kate K for the tip about the Apple Cup-apropos flag flying over Metropolitan Market. WSU’s won the last two; will UW break the streak? Big game’s at 3:30 pm, Husky Stadium (here’s a preview from our partners at the Seattle Times) – via Twitter, just caught a little Husky spirit video from @despeaux – best Coug spirit image we’ve seen on Twitter so far is this one. Game time: 3:30. 7:55 PM UPDATE: If somehow you missed it elsewhere – final score UW 30, WSU 0.
The gate swung open at noon, though the final touches are still in progress, for the Holy Rosary School Christmas Tree Lot behind Admiral Safeway (map). Through December 20th, it’s open 9 am-9 pm Saturdays and Sundays, 3 pm-9 pm Mondays-Fridays. Holy Rosary’s official announcement notes, “As in years past, 15% of the proceeds support local charities including the West Seattle Food Bank, West Seattle Helpline and Hickman House of West Seattle.” For your full range of options, we’ve listed all the local treesellers we know of on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page, plus a link to U-Cut tree info (outside the area), which came up in the WSB Forums. Plus lots of new listings for other holiday events – tree lightings, Santa, Hometown Holidays in The Junction (co-sponsored by WSB), concerts, plays, bazaars, more – have been added too. (Click “Holidays” in the tabs atop any WSB page, any time.)
Authorities responded to a wild call in the 7900 block of Delridge (map) this morning: A goat on the loose. Nothing like that Sunset Avenue roundup last month, though, nor did it require transport to a holding cell: A couple of official city items were turned into makeshift barricades to keep the goat from going on the lam before animal control arrived.
On this date 158 years ago, Charles Terry recorded the first sale at what was the first store in King County – set up on Alki Point two weeks after he and the rest of the Denny Party arrived. Check out this HistoryLink.org article with his merchandise list (the first items sold: two axes), and you’ll feel thankful for whatever you happen onto in your next West Seattle shopping stop. (By the way, November 28, 1851, was the Friday after Thanksgiving.)
Compared to the next three pre-Christmas weekends, this one is relatively quiet. Nonetheless, if you’re ready to start emerging from the post-Thanksgiving/Black Friday haze, you’ve got some choices today and tomorrow: Some are holiday-related – the Holy Rosary Christmas Tree Lot opens today, as does Santa’s House at Westwood Village. Some are changes: Marination Mobile is taking the long weekend off, so no West Seattle visit today. Some are charitable: There’s another “Turkey Bowl” fundraiser at West Seattle Bowl today, and this afternoon, you can make holiday cards at a unique fundraiser that also includes dessert! More than 20 events/activities today and tomorrow, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club:Read More
(Photo of Julie and Dorothy at Highland Park Improvement Club’s Nov. 15th party, by Dina Johnson)
Two weeks after the 90th-anniversary party at Highland Park Improvement Club, a closer look at the event and the group is online this morning at seattletimes.com (WSB partner) – see the story and photos here. HPIC’s website is at hpic1919.org; the club building is also home to the Highland Park Action Committee, which invites you to its holiday potluck meeting there, 7 pm next Wednesday (more here).
Seattle Public Schools management hasn’t issued a formal announcement of this yet — but since they did promise after last week’s five-and-a-half-hour School Board meeting that the final attendance-area maps would be online this week sometime, we checked again tonight, and they ARE now published online. From this page, you can either click the big pink medallion to get a form where entering your address will bring up your official attendance-area schools (Sat. note – if you have trouble with that, go here instead), or you can follow this link to an index page where you can look at the maps for individual schools. Next step for the board/district – “implementation,” which includes working out transition details, including “sibling grandfathering” and possible rule changes, such as West Seattle school-board member Steve Sundquist‘s suggestion that families at three WS elementary schools might be given the option to either track to Denny/Sealth or Madison/WSHS. Here’s a new timeline for how that will all roll out.
The action on Alki Playfield at midday today might have looked like just another flag football game – but this was no average game – it was the 10th annual Idiot Bowl, replete with celebrity hosts, including State Sen. (and County Council hopeful) Joe McDermott and Seattle Times (WSB partner) sports columnist Jerry Brewer. “The Commish,” Paul Leonardo, took a moment to explain (with a young helper) what the game’s all about:
Still checking on the final results. Added 10:24 pm – From Paul, the results:
The Farmville Freaks beat Squadron C by the final score of 49-23 to win the Commissioner’s Trophy. MVP went to Zach Eastey and Rookie of the Year to brother Luis Eastey. A good time was had by all with no injuries and fun all around.
WSB side note: This story marks the debut of HD video here, courtesy of the recently procured replacement for our first-ever video camera, which gave up the ghost after 2 years of intensive use. We’ll still probably use our non-HD camera more often, but are interested in your feedback on this one … thanks!
Wondering how much longer you’ll see all that on the east end of the main stretch of Alki Beach? When last we got an estimated end-of-project date from King County Wastewater Treatment for the Alki pump station project, they expected it would wrap up this month. With the month almost over, we checked back. The project is now in what you might call the home stretch – it’s in the “commissioning” stage, which means a lot of testing to make sure it works, but that could take a few more weeks before you start seeing the equipment pull out, according to county spokesperson Martha Tuttle. She also said they hope to set up a public open house at the site for people “to be able to go down the stairs and take a look,” but no date’s set yet. The work was expected to take about 20 months when it started in early 2008; so far it’s lasted almost 22.
At left, that’s Bob Warden of Kent, with the parks security employee who asked him to leave Southwest Community Center during his much-publicized challenge to the city’s parks-facility gun restrictions two weeks ago (here’s our coverage from that day). He said at the time he planned to file legal action as a result; now, he has, according to e-mail we just received from him, which included the complaint he says was filed in federal court this morning and served at Mayor Nickels‘ house. The mayor and the city are named as defendants, in Warden’s claim that the city rule violates the U.S. and Washington state constitutions. Read the entire 11-page document here. (City offices are closed so we might not get an official response today.)
Two things to mention: First, we just checked out a tip about a notable police response in The Junction near the Chase bank branch. An ambulance was called too; turns out, police tell us at the scene, to have been a fight between two people described as transients. Second, just got this note from Courtney at Wallflower Custom Framing (WSB sponsor) across from Jefferson Square:
I thought it might be worth mentioning that I just watched a coyote run down the middle of 42nd Street. It briefly ducked into the parking garage under Jefferson Square and then came out (with a bunch of crows giving chase) and ran north on 42nd toward Alaska Street. I lost sight of it after that, and it all happened faster than I could react to snap a photo. I only mention this for any potential safety issues both for the public and the animal, and also to see if anyone else can confirm the sighting or if I am just sitting here in the frame shop hallucinating…
No special place for media to shoot the Macy’s Holiday Parade downtown, so we just picked a spot – and got lucky: The Chief Sealth High School–Denny International Middle School combined marching bands, directed by Marcus Pimpleton, stopped right in front of us for an entire Christmas medley (and a few dance moves). According to e-mail forwarded to us last night by Denny principal Jeff Clark, the two bands only had three combined rehearsals – but as you can see in the video (and as evidenced by the crowd reaction), they rocked the parade – take three minutes and have a look/listen. Another West Seattleite was in the parade – the last parade for Greg Nickels as Seattle Mayor; we’ll add that clip when it’s done. (Update: Here’s the link.) Downtown tonight, it’s the Macy’s star lighting and fireworks – if you can’t be there, our friends at KING5 say they’ll be showing it live, as well as a special edition of Evening Magazine at 7 co-hosted by West Seattleite Jim Dever (pictured here covering this morning’s parade).
Thanks to David Rosen from SlickPix Photography for sharing a shot of the line at Westwood Village Target before it opened at 5; we just drove past WWV Staples and noted about 15 people waiting for its doors to open at six. (Nothing like Southcenter, where we’d gone just to gawk at the enormity of the lines; for Best Buy, for example, the line stretched for blocks across neighboring storefronts before the store opened at 5; [added 1:04 pm] our video caught linecutting again this year, this time unnoticed.) If you haven’t already, please see our West Seattle BF update from last night, with some local deals for today – once you’ve gotten the early-morning malling out of your system, it should be a great day to wander around The Junction, the Admiral District, and other West Seattle spots dotted with shops.
WEST SEATTLEITES IN MACY’S HOLIDAY PARADE DOWNTOWN: Reminder, if you’re going downtown to see it (here’s the official parade-route map; it’s NOT on TV this year), look for the Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth High School bands marching together (they’re scheduled to be the 22nd entry in the parade). And it’ll be West Seattleite Greg Nickels‘ last parade as mayor.
METRO: “Reduced service” – explained here.
MOST GOVERNMENT OFFICES: Closed.
TRASH/RECYCLING/YARD WASTE: If you have Friday pickup, it’ll be on Saturday, as crews catch up from the holiday.
LIBRARIES: Open.
STREET PARKING: Where there are city pay stations/meters, this is NOT a holiday, so be sure to pay up.
MAIL DELIVERY: Yes.
BANKS: Open.
CHRISTMAS TREES: We’re working on our official list. So far, we’ve seen them at West Seattle Nursery, Tony’s (35th/Barton), TrueValue in The Junction, and both RiteAid stores. (The Holy Rosary lot opens tomorrow.)
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