West Seattle, Washington
05 Saturday
The business-district trick-or-treat trifecta for West Seattle is now locked in – as noted in the past week or so, the Admiral District will be handing out treats 3-6 pm Friday 10/30, The Junction will welcome trick-or-treaters 1-3 pm Saturday 10/31, and Westwood Village manager Stuart Crandall has just announced their trick-or-treat session will be 4-7 pm 10/31. It’s all on the WSB Events calendar now in case you lose track and want to check back!
Last night at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting (earlier reports here and here), Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen briefly mentioned that officers had been busy yesterday afternoon chasing after burglars who’d hit at least three places. He also said an arrest had been made thanks to alert citizens noticing and reporting someone suspicious. This morning we have the story firsthand from one of those citizens – who happened also to be among the victims – and actually tracked down one of the suspects:
Our home, in which we have lived for 26 years, near 35th and Morgan [map], was robbed September 15, 2009.
Our neighbor saw a youth with a backpack leaving the area about 4 PM.
My wife arrived home at about 4:30 PM and found a window screen off a back window, door open, drawers open in bedrooms, my son’s coin containers on the floor, and a laptop computer missing.
I returned home about 5 PM and decided to check the Westwood QFC to see if the thief had deposited the coins my son had saved for years on his dresser.
There was the thief, feeding my son’s coins into the Coinstar machine. I introduced myself and asked to look in the backpack, there was the computer and my son’s iPod speakers…I detained this young man until the police arrived.
Several youths left the parking lot in a white car with a spoiler in a hurry when the police arrived.
Our possessions were returned and the thief was described to me as a convicted felon.
We have asked police for more information today about this case and any other related break-ins yesterday and will add to this story when those details come in. 4:54 PM UPDATE: Talked with Detective Brian Ballew. He says they’re not sure if this suspect is linked to the two other burglaries yesterday afternoon – the only thing in common is that “large amounts of coins” were taken in the others. Also they’re not sure if anyone else was actually involved with this break-in – the one suspect who was nabbed matched the description of the one person seen afterward – but someone did drop the suspect off at the QFC, and, as described above, left in a car described only as “white … with a spoiler.” Det. Ballew also confirmed the suspect was booked into jail and that he has a record.
Even as signs of economic improvement break through the clouds, local nonprofits that help those in need are still very much in need themselves, of your ongoing support. Latest example: We heard this morning from West Seattle Food Bank board president Pete Spalding. He reports:
At our board meeting of the West Seattle Food Bank last night we were discussing our continuing to see record numbers of clients. I wanted to share with you that in July we served over 3,000 households, which worked out to over 7,600 individuals and we distributed over 100,000 pounds of food. The continuing generosity of the West Seattle community and our very loyal donor base is a never ending wonder to me.
To help all those people, it takes a lot of donations, from a lot of sources. Just this week, we’ve received info on results of a few contribution-yielding efforts – for example, the Holy Rosary Christmas Tree Lot reported its distribution from last season, including $2,057 to the WS Food Bank and two other nonprofits; the Food Bank also was among the beneficiaries from raffles that raised hundreds of dollars before West Seattle Junction Summer Outdoor Movies on the Wall presentations, and from the Paint Ball event that raised $500 at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) during last week’s West Seattle Art Walk. And while we were at the new Junction QFC store opening this morning, it was pointed out that they’ll be partnering with WS Food Bank in the “grocery rescue” program, where food that’s about to be “culled” from market stock will instead go to the food bank. You can donate any time online – just go here.
Changes this year for Westfest (WSB sponsor), the family fun festival coming up this Friday-Saturday, presented every fall by West Seattle’s Holy Rosary School on the north side of The Junction. One of them, a new festival-site layout – it’s viewable on the Westfest website – click the map on this page to enlarge it. Westfest also has rolled back the ride prices (and you can get a third-off discount for buying in advance). Read on for the official Westfest news release with details:
Friday, September 18th, 2009 6 -10 p.m.
Saturday, September 19th, 2009 10 a.m. 10 p.m.Holy Rosary School
4142 42nd Avenue SW
(map)westfest.holyrosaryws.org
WestFest is fun!Imagine a sunny Fall weekend in September that brings together family and friends from the West Seattle community, an event put on by the Holy Rosary School and Parish that¹s safe and tons of fun for all ages. You¹ll find rides, kids games, an entertainment stage, specialty food booths, BINGO, a used book sale, a raffle, an arts & crafts fair, and much more on the Holy Rosary School grounds.
WestFest is community!
Now on its 20th year, WestFest has become our community¹s Fall Family Festival. In it, we celebrate the culmination of a summer well spent as well and the beginning of an exciting new school year!
Join us this year for our 20th anniversary! In celebration, we are rolling back prices on the kid¹s ride wristbands to $10 for unlimited rides. (Purchase in advance at Curious Kidstuff 4740 California Avenue, West Seattle. Phone 937-8788). Wristbands will be available at the festival.
My ID Club will be on site to make ID cards for kids. Check them out at MYIDCLUB.org. This is one of the only times they will be in West Seattle! Hope to see you there!
ORIGINAL 6:50 AM REPORT: That’s QFC president Donna Giordano, one of many executives in the Bellevue-headquartered chain (owned by national chain Kroger) here at the new Junction QFC, which opens with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7 am. We just finished a preview tour with QFC media liaison Kristin Maas taking us around as workers bustled to finish the last-minute touches. Got to see some items we didn’t know they were offering – like gelato:
Here’s the sandwich menu:
The main parking for the store is on a deck you enter from 42nd, with elevators and a staircase leading down.
The street entrance at 42nd/Alaska has a seating area, as does a corner right inside the store, close to its Starbucks kiosk. The store is managed by Jeff Brown, who used to run the Westwood Village QFC:
We’ll add video and info after the ribbon-cutting – just as we finish this (writing from inside the store), someone announced over the loudspeaking, “Ten minutes till ribbon-cutting! Everyone start clearing the store. Have a good time, and remember, customer first.” The store’s open 24 hours a day and is the chain’s 75th store, first one they’ve opened in two years, since the Uptown store near Seattle Center in Lower Queen Anne. It has 110 employees, and a QFC news release says “60 of them are new to QFC – net new jobs.” ADDED 7:51 AM: Here’s the ribboncutting less than an hour ago:
Dozens of early-bird shoppers poured into the store afterward; we’ll have another report coming up with more video, including what Capco Plaza owner/developer Leon Capelouto – a longtime Junction entrepreneur – told us right after he went inside. (If you’re on Facebook, be sure to “friend” us at WS Blog – we’ve just added an “album” with all 20-plus stills we took inside the store before it opened.)
One major event on the calendar tonight — the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council‘s regular monthly meeting: Reps from major community groups and organizations in eastern West Seattle will gather to talk about successes, challenges, projects, ideas and more – and you’re invited. 7 pm, Youngstown Arts Center (4408 Delridge; map). ADDED 8:44 PM: Got word from DNDC’s Pete Spalding of Pigeon Point that the date is set for the DNDC/Southwest District Council candidates’ forum – 7-9 pm October 15th at Youngstown.
Second of at least 4 reports from Tuesday night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting: A rep from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office 
confirms that the case of 19-year-old West Seattle repeat offender Skyelar Hailey is being reviewed to see if the Repeat Burglar Initiative could apply. Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg didn’t mention it specifically in his speech to the group (though he had a lot to say about the juvenile-justice system and how he believes repeat-offender juveniles are not appropriately dealt with – Hailey had a juvenile record), but Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen mentioned Hailey’s August arrest (detailed here), and a Satterberg assistant spoke up to say the RBI deputy is taking a look. Hailey is still in jail, by the way, though his bail was cut two weeks ago to $15,000. He’s due back in court next month.
Double bill at Skylark Cafe and Club tonight – after turntable time, bellydancers took the stage. Dina Johnson shares the photo and a report:
Terrific bellydance show from 7:30 -8:30 at Skylark on Delridge, about 8 short sets by solo and troupe acts. The place was packed with bellydancers & friends, but at least one guy there for the self disc-spinning was surprised and HIGHLY entertained by the bellydance show.
Picture: 3 members of the polished Troupe Hipnotica, who improvise all their routines using invisible cues in American Tribal style. Julia, on the right, is a resident of Highland Park.
Could become a regular thing if enough interest, I hope so!
Skylark is at 3803 Delridge, just south of The Bridge (map), usually known a bit more for their four-nights-a-week live music (here’s the calendar).
It wasn’t a quiet closing night for West Seattle’s last free-standing drugstore: When we got to Westside Pharmacy just before its posted shutdown time of 6:30 pm, the little shop at California/Brandon bustled with workers taking inventory – they’re supposed to be up and running in the new Junction QFC store’s pharmacy less than a mile away by morning. As reported in our feature story last week, owner Michael Ng – who’s had Westside for 32 years – said his decision to make the move was in part because red tape is making it tougher for independent pharmacies to run efficiently. (We’ll look for the pharmacy when we’re touring the QFC pre-opening early tomorrow morning.)
Much news from tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting. We’ll break it up into chunks. First, updates on two spots that have sparked community concern – both were asked about while Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen was answering attendees’ questions:
ADMIRAL PUB: Particularly since the gunfire/beating incident outside the bar on August 28th, some questions came up about repeated problems (as noted in this WSB comment thread, too). Lt. Paulsen said, “We had some concerns about whether it was managed responsibly, so we are working with the owner”; he explained that police and City Attorney’s Office reps met with the Admiral Pub‘s owner last week, talking about “how (the problems) are affecting the residential community surrounding it.” He told the group the owner said he wanted to cooperate to have a “good safe business”; assistant city attorney Beth Gappert, who is based at the Southwest Precinct, said that the city has till the end of the month to decide whether it wants to object to the renewal of the Admiral Pub’s liquor license. (Side note – as we wrote in this comment thread last night, court documents show that the man arrested after the Sept. 1st incident, Jedidiah Doyle, is charged with second-degree assault.)
35TH/MORGAN CONVENIENCE STORE: Talk about loitering and suspected drug dealing has bubbled up from time to time regarding this corner. Asked about it tonight, Community Police Team Officer Kevin McDaniel said, “We’ve been aggressively taking care of that situation.” He said he’s “trespassed” – a citation that requires someone to stay away – at least a dozen people, and says other tactics are in the works. “We are very much on top of that spot there …pretty soon we’ll have it under control.” He drew laughter by noting he’d outsmarted some would-be repeat offenders who figured out what hours he usually worked and tended to stay away during those hours — “For two nights two weeks ago I changed my shift, and trespassed more people” – who apparently were surprised to see him.
More to come later tonight, including the latest crime trends, and what King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg told the group.
One year ago this month, the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza was dedicated. Now, extra touches including a time capsule are about to be added, with a celebration at 2 pm Saturday; tonight David Hutchinson sends photos, with this preview info:
Seattle Parks & Recreation has begun the preparation work for the burial of the “Strengthening the Arm of Liberty” Time Capsule. The capsule will be buried at the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza this Saturday in a ceremony that begins at 2 PM. The name of the capsule refers to the theme of the Boy Scout 40th Anniversary campaign that placed over 200 of the original statues in over 39 states and several U.S. possessions and territories – http://troop101.thescouts.com/liberty
More details of Saturday’s event are at sealady.org.
On our way to a single-family residence fire call at 42nd and Edmunds. More shortly. 7:03 PM: Closed fast but we’re continuing on to see what it was. (Footnote: Scene totally clear. We’re carrying on with tonight’s other coverage of three community meetings.)
Thanks to Todd in Westwood for noting this in the WSB Forums: A man whom authorities believe is half the duo responsible for at least 17 bank robberies around the region, including 3 here in West Seattle (here’s our report from a week ago), is now in jail. Here’s the latest from the Seattle Times (WSB partner). No indication at this point whether the man who’s in jail is the one caught on camera in the three local robberies, or his accomplice, caught on camera in others. According to the King County Jail Register, his bail is set at $750,000; online court records show he has a criminal history, including a burglary case. ADDED 8:02 PM: Here’s the entirety of the news release the FBI sent tonight:
On September 11, 2009 at approximately 9:30 PM, Quincy Quinn, age 36, was taken into custody at his residence located in Skyway, Washington by deputies and detectives of the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO). The arrest came as a result of a joint investigation by KCSO Detectives and members of Seattle FBI’s bank robbery task force. Since June 1, 2009, agents and detectives had been investigating a pair of males believed to be responsible for as many as 17 King County bank robberies.
On September 10, 2009 the investigative efforts to date along with bank surveillance photos were shared with local media. As a result, several leads were developed that focused the investigation onto Quinn and an as of yet unidentified associate. After his arrest, Quinn was booked into the King County Jail with regard to an outstanding warrant in an unrelated matter and investigation of multiple counts of 1st Degree Robbery.
We’re still trying to determine which of the two suspects in photos is Quinn and which is still being sought – we’ll update as soon as we know that for sure. 8:45 PM UPDATE: Finally have that nailed down. The suspect in jail is believed to be the one shown in photos from at least two West Seattle robberies – meantime, here are photos of the man who is NOT YET UNDER ARREST:
If you know or see him, call 911.
As reported recently, The Junction is having its trick-or-treating event 1-3 pm on Halloween (Saturday 10/31) … and now we know that the Admiral District merchants will offer theirs the day before, Friday 10/30, 3-6 pm – that word just in from Kent and Parris Sadow at Max and Quinn’s Atomic Boys Shop-O-Rama, this year’s event coordinators. Haven’t heard from Westwood Village yet if/when they’re having one, but we’ll be checking.
We asked QFC media liaison Kristin Maas if she’d share photos from inside the new Junction QFC, which opens with a 7 am ribbon-cutting tomorrow (public invited if you’re up that early and interested); she offered a few from the past week-plus of setup:
And here are the “gourmet cheese” and sushi areas:
What else is in the store (in Capco Plaza at 42nd/Alaska; map? Here’s the fact sheet listing it all – pizza, bakery, flowers – and noting that it’s about the same size as Westwood Village QFC. She also says there will be valet parking on the store’s “exclusive customer-parking deck” over the store (entrance is midblock on 42nd SW) 10 am-8 pm tomorrow through Sunday. We’ll be up bright and early tomorrow for a tour of the store before the ribboncutting so watch WSB, Twitter and Facebook for updates after 6 am.
ADDED 7:07 PM: A little more information about parking, from QFC’s Kristin Maas:
There are several areas to park for the complex (residential and retail), so there are signs around the building. Here’s the layout:
* QFC Customers Only Parking on the deck above the store – with easy access mid-block on 42nd. This will be the easiest access for our QFC customers, both for parking and for access to the store.
** And tomorrow, our Valet Parking will be available beginning at 7am for the ribbon cutting and then the rest of the week through Sunday it will be from 10am to 8pm.
* Two levels of underground parking located mid-block on 41st is for the loading dock, other retail customer parking, QFC customer overflow parking and residential parking.
CITYLINK: We noticed a while back that some of the city’s newer web sections, such as SPDBlotter, had a “CityLink” logo, perhaps a sign of something to come. Turns out it was — the city has just unveiled CityLink Seattle, with 11 city “newsfeeds” (including SPDBlotter) linked from one page. See it here.
TWEETING FOR STARBUCKS, AND HITTING THE ROAD: Got word from Starbucks PR that its official tweeter at @starbucks, Brad Nelson, is hitting the road as part of a nationwide promotion for the company’s new instant coffee – and she noted she was letting us know because Brad is a West Seattleite. They had a big kickoff event today – we were at the Concord event instead, but they promise they’ll be tweeting (at @starbuckslive), posting video, and more. (P.S. Brad’s not the only West Seattleite who is the “Twitter voice” of a major Seattle-based company – there’s also Elliott Pesut, who tweets for Alaska Airlines at @alaskaair.)
Just east of West Seattle – but part of the Seattle Public Schools‘ West Seattle “region” – Concord International School held its first assembly today under its new designation, one day after a similar assembly at Denny International Middle School (WSB coverage here), whose principal Jeff Clark was on hand (not only to visit with potential future Denny students, but also because he’s a Concord dad). The Concord assembly also featured cultural performances – and new Concord principal Dr. Norma Zavala explaining why multiculturalism matters, after talking about growing up bilingual/bicultural in a small Eastern Washington town:
Concord social-studies teacher Robin Kanev (a West Seattle resident) told us she’s excited – she’s been at Concord for nine years and specifically wanted to work at a school with a dual-language program. Meantime, district Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson also noted the significance of Concord’s new status:
And of course, there were performances – African-Cuban drummers to open the assembly, and shortly afterward, these dancers:
Concord has more than 300 students speaking 15 languages, and, as described in a Seattle Public Schools news release, “two classes of Spanish/English dual immersion program as well as an English cohort in kindergarten and 1st grade, (adding) 2nd grade this year, continuing to expand to additional grades each year.” Never been to Concord? Here’s a map.
Just in from Gary Jones – some love and care for a West Seattle icon!
Back on May 20, we published a Crime Watch report from Robin, whose car was stolen just weeks after she arrived in West Seattle. All this time later, she says, it’s finally turned up:
For what it’s worth, I thought I’d follow up with news that my car that was stolen on 5/14 from in front of my house on 39th and Morgan [map] was found last Thursday. SPD left me a voicemail with the address where it was “found.” Of course, 4 months and an insurance claim later, the car no longer belongs to me. However, I thought I’d check to see if any of my belongings were still there. Upon arrival (1.5 miles from my house — just out of the radius I had personally searched for it), the car was in perfect condition, albeit dirty, and it was clear that it had been sitting there for months. Only a few items were taken, but the thieves left a pair of expensive sunglasses, a booklet of CDs, an FM transmitter, and several other easily sell-able items. Should I want to pass any message along to WSB readers, it would be to not be afraid to report abandoned vehicles! They might actually be helping someone by doing so.
The city in fact has an Abandoned Car Hotline: 206-684-8763.
Police and fire responding to 6400 block of California, which would be immediately north of Fauntleroy (map). We’ll be there in a minute. UPDATE: Police have just called off the fire/medic crews, saying “it’s NOT a shooting.” The 911 log call originally said “assault with weapons” but it has closed. 2ND UPDATE: Police are leaving. Here’s what happened: Two people were hanging out in the alley area near Zeeks, described to us as “transients,” and one started yelling about a shooting. Police determined no such thing had happened, though one of them had a “cut-up hand.” Case closed but we’ll leave this up in case you saw everyone rushing there and wondered what happened.
In a weekend of big events this Saturday and Sunday, one of the biggest is the 2nd annual West Seattle Junction Car Show (with WSB among the sponsors), for which California SW in The Junction will be shut down all day Sunday. Coordinator Michael Hoffman from Liberty Bell Printing had more than 100 cars pre-register – and some of their proud owners don’t have to go far to participate in the show – like Bakery Nouveau proprietor William Leaman, who showed us his 1964 Ford Falcon Club Wagon the other day:
And he told us the van’s story:
The van will be in front of Bakery Nouveau during the Junction Car Show (the street closure is going to be a lot like West Seattle Summer Fest, only extending another half-block north to Genesee). After Leaman talked with us about his cool wheels, it was off for a ride:
Car owners are also welcome to register on show day – space available, first-come, first-served. The car show website explains where to be, and when, to participate. Coordinator Hoffman says, “We have two of the best car show people in Seattle, Dean Olson and Scott McMahill, handling the day of logistics. Steve and Dean also head the Roadster Show that take place yearly at the Convention Center.” And while the show is free, he suggests bringing a few dollars to get in on some great prizes for a great cause: “We are also having a raffle, with all proceeds going to the West Seattle Helpline. There will be over 30 items donated by local merchants. The main prize is a $350 gas BBQ grill donated by Junction True Value. And TILA Mortgage has donated two round trips on the Victoria Clipper and one night’s lodging, worth $250.”
From the WSB West Seattle-wide Events calendar (where you’ll find even MORE that’s happening tonight, and beyond):
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Crime concerns? Bring them directly to local police leaderships and community advocates in the meeting we always call a “don’t-miss.” 7 pm, Southwest Precinct meeting room (map).
BACKYARD COTTAGES: This isn’t in West Seattle but the proposed city rule change allowing “backyard cottages” would affect our part of the city too: City Council Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee‘s public hearing, 5:30 pm, City Hall downtown (map).
NEED MEDICARE INFO? Bridge Park in High Point has Medicare Health-Education Consultant Marian Sofferin on hand for Q/A at 1:45 pm today (map).
WESTSIDE SYMPHONETTE: New season for West Seattle’s community orchestra, as previewed here, and if you play an instrument, chances are they have room for you (youth welcome too)! Chief Sealth High School at Boren (map; we’re checking on the start time). Update – Symphonette’s Toni Reineke tells us the start times are 5:30 for beginning strings and junior orchestra, 6:45 for senior orchestra.
DANCE LESSONS IN HIGHLAND PARK: Six Tuesdays, three different dance styles; times and other details on the Highland Park Improvement Club website – HPIC is also where you’ll find the classes (map).
BELLY DANCING AT SKYLARK: With Alauda, 7:30 pm (map).
While a lot of Twitter marketing is fairly basic “hey! come see us and buy our stuff!” (in the case of us news sites, we send out links in hopes you’ll come READ our stuff), there are also 
cool little moments like this one we just happened onto, hours after it happened: Pearl Jam‘s official Twitter account sent word of a photo (at left) of a limited-edition “record” (remember those?) and said, first person who finds it gets it. If you look at the photo full-size here, you’ll see the visual hint – Easy Street Records coffee cups. According to the comment thread on the Twitpic photo page, “someone named Megan got it.” (Reminds us of the April tale of a local family that found a Tony Hawk skateboard at Shadow Land via Twitter.) We use Twitter not just to send out story links (if you ONLY want those, find ’em at @westseattlenews), but also, at @westseattleblog, other tidbits, newsy and otherwise, plus Twitpics of events we’re covering, while we’re there, like the Denny International Middle School ceremony Monday morning (here and here). You can also just check in on the Web – our main @westseattleblog account is at twitter.com/westseattleblog. P.S. Easy Street itself is on Twitter, here – you’ll see tweets about the Pearl Jam release party this Saturday night and the Black Whales in-store show at 5 tonight.
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