West Seattle, Washington
02 Wednesday
We’ve been reporting all this on Twitter because the citywide media hasn’t jumped in yet, but now the potential West Seattle connection is stronger so we’re mentioning it here too: Two armed robberies in the past hour-plus in the North End, and per scanner traffic, witnesses say the second one appears to be the same guy who held up KeyBank in The Junction last Wednesday:
It’s also been noted via the scanner that in the West Seattle case the robber and a possible accomplice were believed to be in an early ’90s police-style white Chevrolet Caprice with a chrome/silver spotlight. We haven’t yet gotten the location of the second robbery today, but the first one was at a Bank of America in Wedgwood, and the second one is also being handled by North End units – in that one, the description was closest: Black man, 40s, round glasses, heavy set. These are both still active investigations in North Seattle; we’ll add more here later when additional information’s available. (There’s also talk of a possible link to an incident elsewhere in the city yesterday – checking into that.) 3:11 PM UPDATE: While the possible WS link is not mentioned, the two robberies are now discussed briefly on the SPDBlotter site. The 2 locations from today were just about 2 miles apart (map).
P-PATCH PROJECT: Originally found that via Facebook, and Joni says it’s OK to share with you — she’s updating progress (Whrrl allows you to keep adding photos) on another day of volunteer work at the new MacArthur P-Patch in High Point. Just click to see what’s happening. (A celebration of the new garden is set for 5-7 pm this Friday – more info here.)
FREE CAR WASH: Also via Facebook, Nancy sent word that hubby Kevin has organized a free car wash in the parking lot at Ginomai, southwest corner of 42nd/Genesee. Scheduled to be there till 2 pm. (Just a stone’s throw from tonight’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies on the Wall site!)
TWO RETAIL EVENTS: Ann at smallclothes (which recently moved to 3215 California SW) says today’s the last day of their summer sale – “everything in the shop is 20% off including all resale items, Imp Wear and SKR shoes.” And Coastal on Alki is having a “Happy Hour” event 2-5pm with 20% off Smith and Nikita items – plus DJ Sean Majors. Don’t let the weather ruin the summer mood; fall is still six weeks away. (By the calendar, anyway.)
GARDENING AND BEER: They’re together again at West Seattle Nursery, 1-5 pm today, benefiting the animal advocates at Furry Faces Foundation.
ORIGINAL 11:16 AM REPORT: We’re en route to this [“assault with weapons” call] – also monitoring the scanner, and so far it seems to involve a van and a knife, other circumstances hard to sort out from the radio traffic, but we’ll let you know what we find out at the scene. 11:28 AM UPDATE: From information at the scene and on the scanner – bystanders noticed a man (late 20s/30) in a van who appeared to be injuring himself; they called for help, and he is being taken to Harborview Medical Center. No one else apparently involved, no crime, authorities are clearing out.
IN A FLASH: It’s been discussed here on WSB multiple times; now channel 4 has crossed the bridge to do a story about the frequently flashing 35th/Thistle (map) red-light camera. (Most interesting factoid in there — this camera is reported to average 2.5 tickets/day.)
TRANSPORTATION (DEPARTMENT) TALES: This relatively new city website is providing updates on SDOT projects at a fairly busy clip. Most recent West Seattle update – a look at this past week’s work to repair sections of the Duwamish Trail.
FAREWELL, FERRIES: Two of the four steel-electric ferries the state took out of service and sold for scrap started their final journey last night, under tow. Since they were briefly in Elliott Bay, you might have seen them; if not, here’s a Seattle Times photo. Until concerns about their seaworthiness arose, a steel-electric was usually the third boat on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Quinault and Nisqually were the two towed last night; the other two, Klickitat and Illahee, will be towed away later this month.
“CLOSE ENCOUNTERS” AT MOVIES ON THE WALL: Come make a protective tin-foil hat and sing along to the famous five notes during the preshow nuttiness, then watch the classic movie on the big screen at dusk, courtyard next to Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor). See you there. If you’re looking for indoor entertainment …
“A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, KIDS”: Thanks to Matt Durham from mattdurhamphotography.com for those shots (including, in the closeup photo, West Seattleites Cameron Lee and Levi Starkweather) from ArtsWest‘s production, with 3 pm matinees and 7:30 pm evening shows finishing the run today and tomorrow. Also onstage tonight, with stars of all ages:
“THE MUSIC MAN”: It’s night two of the classic musical as presented by Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor). 7:30 pm, West Seattle High School Theater.
(August 2008 photo by John LaSpina)
DUWAMISH RIVER FESTIVAL: Celebrate West Seattle’s “other” body of water while also learning what’s being done to restore its health. The festival’s in the park on the river bank in South Park, 7900 10th Ave. S. (map), noon-4 pm – the tentative schedule of performers/events is here.
BIG SALE BENEFITING THE SERVICE BOARD: Check it out at tSB’s home base at Youngstown Arts Center, 8 am-2 pm. Full details here.
Lots more happening – all listed in the latest West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
(Thursday night sunset from Alki, photographed and shared by Mike Boyle)
Since we’re sponsoring tomorrow night’s edition of West Seattle Outdoor Movies on the Wall — “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” — we’re keeping a really close watch on the forecast, since this week only, there’s no backup indoor location. So far, while it definitely sounds like a sweater night, the National Weather Service probably wouldn’t put much odds on a rainout. From the newest twice-daily Forecast Discussion, issued about an hour ago:
SYNOPSIS…EXPECT A WEAK LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TO BRING A CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN OR DRIZZLE TO MAINLY THE COAST ON SATURDAY. A STRONGER SYSTEM WILL BRING A BETTER CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION TO THE REGION ON MONDAY.
.SHORT TERM…
A WEAK…UPPER TROF WAS APPROACHING THE COAST FROM THE W. THE CDFNT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL LIKELY FALL APART BEFORE REACHING THE WA COAST. THUS THE BEST CHANCE OF ANY PRECIP…ALBEIT LIGHT… WILL BE ON THE COAST…AND MOST LIKELY IN THE AFTERNOON. ELSEWHERE…ANTICIPATE CLOUDY SKIES ON SATURDAY WITH DAYTIME TEMPS REMAINING WELL BELOW NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.
As always, tomorrow night’s movie is scheduled for dusk on the big “screen” (white wall) in the courtyard by Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) — gates open at 7 – free, but bring a few $ for concessions and raffles, all benefiting local nonprofits. And if it DOES turn showery at any point during the day, keep an eye on WSB and/or Twitter (twitter.com/westseattleblog) and/or Facebook (facebook.com/westseattleblog), whichever is most convenient for you, because we will post updates about the movie’s status in all three places. Meantime – hope to see you there!
As with the rest of West Seattle’s outdoor entertainment slate this summer – Providence Mount St. Vincent‘s Summer Concerts at The Mount (WSB sponsor) series offers more than music. In that clip from tonight’s 2009-debut event on the south grounds of the Fairmount-area retirement center, you see Carol Johnston leading a Charleston dance lesson while her Duwamish Dixieland Jazz Band-mates play in the background. And then there was Chuckalou the Clown:
Chuckalou’s balloon stylings captivated the younger members of the audience. The Mount’s concerts are free, 6 pm the next three Fridays, with the grounds opening at 5 pm for food/beverage sales; Maia Santell and House Blend are scheduled next Friday night, and you can see the full-season lineup here.
Just a reminder that the Freebies, Deals, Sales category in the WSB Forums is open to yard/garage sale listings (as well as individual items you or your business is offering at a “deal” price) – free. Five yard sales are listed for tomorrow, so far, including a big group sale at Youngstown Arts Center by the Service Board. See these sales (and the other Freebies/Deals/Sales items) here.
(from left, Seattle Vein Clinic doctors Dr. Dave Omdal, Dr. R. Torrance Andrews, Dr. Manrita Sidhu)
This afternoon we welcome one of our newest sponsors, Seattle Vein Clinic. Here’s what they would like you to know about their practice: Seattle Vein Clinic specializes in the treatment of painful or heavy varicose veins. Varicose vein sufferers are often not aware that varicose veins are a serious medical condition and tend to get worse over time. They also don’t realize that treating this problem is covered by most major medical insurance. Those who suffer from varicose veins are often less apt to exercise and stay active because of the associated pain and discomfort. Once patients have undergone this procedure, they are often able to remain much more active, which contributes positively to their overall health. We’re a division of Seattle Radiologists and are located just a few minutes from West Seattle on 
First Hill (Broadway and Cherry; map). We’re offering free consultations for anyone who would like to discuss their varicose vein issues. We also have a free information CD available to help potential patients learn about how we treat this problem. Just visit our Web site or call (206) 292-7734 for more information. Thanks to Seattle Vein Clinic for joining the WSB sponsor team, listed here along with info on how to join the team!
News release we received this afternoon:
The city of Seattle has proposed to the Coalition of City Unions a 10-day
furlough program aimed at reducing the number of layoffs required in 2010. If
approved by union membership, the city would extend the same program to
non-represented city employees.“Over the past several months, we have worked together with our unions and I
appreciate their cooperation in these difficult budget times,” said Mayor Greg
Nickels.Under the proposal, approximately 6,700 workers, including coalition union members
whose bargaining units ratify the agreement and non-represented employees, would
take 10 furlough days spread across the year. Uniformed police and fire personnel,
and employees represented by IBEW 77 are not part of this furlough proposal at this
time.The city has seen a continued drop in sales tax and business and occupation tax
revenues, and a revised revenue forecast used for planning the 2010 budget will be
available by the end of the month. The furlough plan would help preserve services
for city residents by reducing the number of city employees who would be laid off in
2010 due to the recession. This plan would save approximately $8 million from the
general fund and a total of up to $20 million from the entire city budget.The proposal is being discussed with the 20 unions that make up the coalition. Under
the plan, furlough schedules would be assigned so that most city services would
remain open to the public. Some exceptions to the furloughs would be allowed, such
as for employees whose departments have minimum staffing and operational
requirements, and for employees earning less than $18 an hour.In May, the mayor made $13.3 million in mid-year cuts from the general fund budget
while preserving funding for public safety and direct human services. To reduce the
number of layoffs in 2009, full-time employees at the Seattle Public Utilities call
center went to a 38-hour-a-week schedule, and employees at Seattle Public Libraries
will take a one-week furlough this month. In 2009, the mayor also implemented
furloughs for professional staff in several departments and rolled back salaries for
100 senior managers to 2008 levels. In 2010, those salaries will remain at 2008
levels.
West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen took that photo in the Alki alley that runs just west of 61st, south of Alki (map). He asked if we would share the photo and this message:
This is a photograph that I took this morning of what I am seeing around West Seattle. These computer monitors were dumped in the alley behind the Homestead Restaurant. Please let people know that there is free drop-off at authorized locations, and television and computer monitors will be picked up at your residence for a fee. Here is where you can get more information:
RCW 70.95N (passed in 2006): “sets up a third party organization called the Washington Materials Management and Financing Authority to be funded and run by the electronics manufacturing industry for the purpose of collecting and reusing, recycling or disposing of certain electronics products at their end of life. The products included are TVs and monitors, CPUs and laptops.” As a result, a system allowing consumers to drop off these “covered electronic products” was in place Jan. 1, 2009.
There is free drop-off at authorized locations, and fees for television and computer monitor pickups at your residence. Relevant links:
From the .pdf link below, King County has a noticeable increase in electronics collected compared to last year.
(http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/eproductrecycle/docs/2009Collections.pdf)Links:
E-Cycle Washington
(Washington State site describing program)Search results for Television Pick-Ups
SPU Look-up-your item for televisions
That’s the Duwamish Dixieland Jazz Band last night at The Kenney‘s annual barbecue – tonight, you can see and hear them at Providence Mount St. Vincent in the first of four Summer Outdoor Concerts at The Mount. (Bring a sweater, it’ll be fun.) Then make music with us and a few hundred of your closest friends tomorrow night in the courtyard next to Hotwire Coffee (which, like The Mount’s event, is a WSB sponsor):
Singing along to those five famous notes from “Close Encounters to the Third Kind” (practice up!) is part of the preshow fun before CE3K takes the big screen at tomorrow night’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies on the Wall. And if you’d rather have fun indoors – here’s a highlight tonight:
That’s Manooghi Hi, playing Admiral Theater tonight, as part of a double bill that includes a movie, too. Also on tap – though it’s in South Park, the Duwamish River Festival tomorrow is all about the body of water on West Seattle’s eastern border, so be there … these are among more than four dozen events ahead in this edition of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club … here goes!Read More
It’s the hottest topic in coast-to-coast politics at the moment – will our health-care system change? Are the proposed changes for the better or for the worse? Our area’s biggest political organization, the 34th District Democrats, will take on health-care reform at next Wednesday’s meeting (7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy), headlined by Seattle’s U.S. House Rep. Jim McDermott (who is a physician as well as a politician). The forum also will include Lisa Plymate, M.D., who’s active not only with the 34th DDs but also with Doctors for America. See who else is on the roster (and what else is on the agenda) by going to the 34th DDs’ website at 34dems.org — where you’ll also find information about their big annual fundraiser one week from tonight, the Garden Party.
At community meetings and in WSB comment sections – as recently as this week – we have seen and heard complaints about open drug dealing in some neighborhoods. SPD just issued a news release about a just-complete operation which targeted a so-called “open-air drug market” in the Central Area, with others in the city potentially to follow, and while this isn’t West Seattle-specific (yet) we thought you might be interested in reading about it —Read More
It’s big, it’s bold, it’s brassy, it’s a classic, and it’s playing in West Seattle the next three weekends: “The Music Man,” presented by Twelfth Night Productions at West Seattle High School Theater. Twelfth Night is returning as a WSB sponsor to get the word out; here’s the official news release about the show:
Twelfth Night Productions (TNP) is pleased to announce its next offering, Meredith Willson’s ode to Americana, The Music Man, an affectionate tribute to small town USA of a bygone era. The Music Man follows a fast talking traveling sales man, Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band he vows to organize. This despite the fact that he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain’s fall.
TNP is excited to partner with the All City Band for this cherished musical. Expect surprises, laughter, fun and an old fashioned good time this summer as Twelfth Night Productions presents The Music Man. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the All City Band.
TNP is a non-profit performing arts organization located at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. This production features several artists from the West Seattle community as well as the greater Seattle area.
The Music Man runs in a special limited engagement at the West Seattle High School, 3000 CALIFORNIA AV SW. Show times are: August 7-8, 14-15 and 21-22 at 7:30 PM, with matinees at 3 PM on August 9, 16 and 23. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students & seniors, and are available through Brown Paper Tickets (www.brownpapertickets.com), and at West Seattle High School two hours before each performance.
Longtime WSB’er Kevin McClintic cc’d us on this letter earlier this morning, and we asked to publish it as an open letter. He had told us a few months ago about being hassled on a state ferry for taking photographs, and while we’d thought about writing a story then, we never got around to it. Now that he’s been hassled again, it seems worthy of further light. He is sending this to various government officials:
Thursday evening (8/6) I finally decided to take my first ride on our new light rail system. I parked my car at the Mount Baker Station and took two small pocket cameras and a monopod with me. I purchased a round trip ticket and boarded a train to Westlake Station.
I had a delightful time at Westlake with one exception. If you have not yet been, you should! It is beautiful, and there is SO much to see and photograph. I will have to return when I have more time. Public art everywhere! I was a little concerned about leaving my car on the street in the Mount Baker area after dark, so I cut my Westlake visit a bit short.
Upon arrival at Westlake Station, I put one of the cameras on the monopod (similar to a handicap cane) and proceeded to walk all over the station, taking pictures of buses and trains. After a few minutes of that, I took the escalator to the upper level and took more pictures on the mezzanine level. There were plenty of security officers around and some of them walked right past me. Not one even said hi to me.
Metro might just want to take a clue from the banking industry on this one. If someone “looks” suspicious, take a moment and say hi to them – perhaps take a moment and suggest a good place to get great pictures or a particular item of interest?
I even approached one security officer with my camera in hand, and asked him if there was a time limit on my round trip ticket. His answer was “good all day” and that was the end of that conversation.
After I had been shooting all over the mezzanine area, a security officer finally approached me and told me that “this is a sensitive area” and I need to “STOP taking pictures.” Hmm… where did I least hear that line? On a Washington State Ferry, and that issue has since been resolved. Their head of security personally invited me to return often, and take ALL the pictures I want.
I told the Metro security officer that as far as I know I have the right to take pictures ANYWHERE in a public place. He did not like that answer. I was polite, but I was not going to back down, and he did NOT like it.
Kevin’s letter continues after the jump:Read More
Tonight’s hot-ticket (but still free) special offering: Face painting. As Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Katy Walum explained as the Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series she spearheaded made its debut last month, they procured grants to offer facepainting twice during the series; tonight was #1, and artist Lynn from Wild Smiles Face Painting estimates she had up to 40 takers. That would be about one of every five showgoers, by our estimate of the crowd peaking at 200:
No video – technical difficulties with our camera – but we did get pix of the acts on the double bill, Cajun/Zydeco specialists Swamp Soul (find out more about them here):
… and Neil Young tribute specialists Ragged Glory (find out more about them here).
Next week is the fourth of six Thursday night shows (all listed here), free of charge thanks to a big team of sponsors (all listed here) including WSB, and you’ll see and hear the Elizabeth Carpenter Trio that night on the Hiawatha east lawn.
The planning process for a potential new municipal misdemeanor-offender jail to serve Seattle and several other King County cities has been proceeding fairly quietly, but proceeding nonetheless. West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way remains one of the sites on the list. Now, the City Council has released results of a study they ordered on whether drug treatment and other diversions could reduce the need for jail beds – read on for their news release, plus links to two documents related to the report itself:Read More
Later this month, The Kenney‘s century-old Seaview Building will be considered by the city Landmarks Preservation Board for designation as a city landmark – but tonight, it’s a stately backdrop for the retirement center’s annual barbecue. What’s for dinner, you ask? Salmon and hot dogs, among other things:
And though “green” may not be a color you associate with sizzling barbecue, The Kenney’s been making headlines for its Green Team (as reported here last year), and that led to some showcasing tonight as well:
Tonight’s music is being provided by the Duwamish Dixieland Jazz Band, who you can catch tomorrow night at Providence Mount St. Vincent‘s first show in this year’s Summer Concerts at The Mount (WSB sponsor) series (6 pm, free):
The Kenney’s guest list for tonight included hundreds of residents, neighbors, family and friends, and they’re scheduled to continue the celebration till about 7 pm.
A Westwood man is charged with possessing and dealing in child pornography, according to King County Superior Court documents. The charges filed within the past week against 23-year-old Chas Voelckel result from a search of his home last October, in an investigation that began in June 2008, when police received a complaint about child-pornography images uploaded to a photo-sharing site. Investigators found 1,600 photos and more than 50 videos on computer equipment linked to Voelckel, according to court documents, which say he did not deny possessing child pornography. Some of the children in the photos are described in the court documents as “known victims” as young as 8 years old, though there is no indication that Voelckel took any of the photos himself. In addition to possession, he also is charged with dealing in child pornography, because of records showing that he transferred files to other people. Prosecutors asked that his bail be set at $25,000, saying investigators found online chat records in which Voelckel expressed a desire to sexually abuse a 10-year-old, and noted that:
“While the defendant may wish to be released to the custody of his mother, it’s important to note that his mother was fully aware that he was downloading and viewing child pornography and saw no problem with it because she believed that the children who were being sexually abused were from other countries.”
The mother’s address is listed as the same as the suspect’s. Meantime, in addition to the charges, court documents also indicate authorities were seeking a warrant for his arrest as of a week ago; there is no indication that he has been booked into King County Jail, so we will be checking tomorrow on his status. (Note: This story was first reported earlier this afternoon at seattlepi.com; we subsequently obtained the court documents, from which we gathered all the information reported in our story.) ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Dan Donohoe tells WSB that Voelckel is scheduled for arraignment next Thursday, though he has not yet been booked.
You might remember the mugshot at left from last October, when police asked everyone to be on the lookout for Daniel P. Ward, wanted for stabbing his girlfriend multiple times with a box cutter at the Stewart Manor building at 34th/Morgan. He was arrested in November, and a tipster told us this afternoon that his trial just ended. King County Prosecuting Attorney‘s Office spokesperson Dan Donohoe confirms that Ward was found guilty on all charges: Attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault and felony harassment. Donohoe says the sentencing range is 20-30 years in prison, and Judge Michael Hayden is scheduled to sentence Ward on September 4th.
Were you in one of those photos? An entire decade has passed since the year that sounded so far in the future when Prince sang about it in the ’80s … but passed, it has, and now West Seattle High School Class of 1999 reunion organizers are trying to get word out to their classmates. Jessica Seeley shared the photos, along with the invite:
West Seattle High School Class of 1999 Reunion
Location: Alki Beach Bathhouse
When: Saturday, September 26, 5:00 PM
Cost: $52 per personJoin us in celebrating the West Seattle High School Class of 1999 10-year reunion at the Alki Bathhouse in West Seattle.
Tickets are $52 via PayPal. Prices include:
-Appetizers
-Non-Alcoholic Berverages
-Beer and Wine
-Desserts
-Entertainment
-Spending time with the Class of ’99Act quickly as ticket prices will go up if you buy them at the door!
We’re trying to get the word out to everyone any way we can, but we are still missing e-mails and mailing addresses. If you know of someone who … hasn’t heard about the reunion, please forward this to them! We want everyone to be included.
Thanks,
Jessica Seeley
You can use the Share This link below to e-mail this item, or to share it via Facebook or Twitter, among other services. And you can make your reservation by e-mailing the organizers directly: wshs1999@gmail.com
Some fire and police investigations wrap up fast – some don’t. For the ones that don’t, we check back with the investigating agency from time to time. Here’s what we found on two such checks:
That was the aftermath of the fire that tore through an Arbor Heights house near 35th/108th on May 25 (original WSB coverage here), seriously injuring one man. Information on his condition was never been made available to media; privacy laws were invoked while he was in the hospital. We asked Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen if the fire’s cause was ever found – short answer, no. It will remain on the books as “undetermined.” That’s also the result of the investigation into this one, another fire in May:
A neighbor shared that startling photo from the May 3rd early-morning house fire in the 1700 block of 44th SW (original WSB coverage here). The house was empty and listed for sale; no one was inside; no injuries were reported. Vander Houwen says investigators ultimately could not find the cause of this one either, and it will remain on the books as “undetermined.”
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