December 2009

The Seattle Parks Department and Seattle Police Department have determined that someone stole an 18-foot-tall totem pole from the viewpoint near the West Seattle Golf Course. It was installed there in 1976.

UPDATE: The totem pole has been found in a suburb of Salem Oregon. An unidentified 69-year-old West Seattle man was arrested December 9th in connection with the theft. He led investigators to the stolen pole. Detectives from the Seattle Police Department are assembling a case for the prosecutor's office. It has not yet been determined if charges against the employees of the crane company that helped take it from the park will be filed.

The West Seattle Kiwanis club held it's 63rd annual pancake breakfast at the Alki Masonic Hall at 4736 40th Avenue Southwest on Saturday Dec. 5th raising more than $2000. This year the breakfast served ham and pancakes to "between 400 to 500 people," said immediate past President Mike LaFranche, "A lot of pancakes, a lot of hot grill work."

Club Secretary "For about twenty years", Warren Lawless said, "We have the scouts from Boy Scout Troop 284 and we couldn't put it on without their help. We've sponsored them for 60 years."

Also participating in the event were West Seattle Hi-Yu, selling Christmas ornaments, the Kiwanis Club of White Center selling nuts, and some United States Marines there collecting toys for their Toys for Tots campaign.
There was a $5 donation charge.

This Kiwanis event and others throughout the year go to benefit youth in our community, specifically Key Clubs at area High Schools which mirror the Kiwanis club itself. "It's a leadership training club," said Lawless.

By Chris Leman and Jeannie Hale, Seattle Community Council Federation

The Seattle Community Council Federation is calling on the Seattle City Council to make major improvements in open government proposals it is considering at a Dec. 7 public hearing, Dec. 9 committee meeting and Dec. 14 full council meeting.

"It is strange that these proposals would have come out of the council's 'Open Government Committee,' because as a whole they are a setback for open government," Jeannie Hale, president of the federation, said.

Hale did find some things to praise in the proposals.

She thanked the council for proposals that would: (1) Put on the Web the materials to be considered by committees; (2) Begin audio recording of special meetings and special committees; (3) Have an attorney present during executive (closed) sessions to discourage Open Public Meetings Act violations; (4) And, from an interagency committee led by the city clerk, rules and guidelines to ensure that councilmember use of social media such as blogs, Facebook and Twitter don’t violate public records, open public meetings and campaign practices laws.

With many Ballard residents waking up to thickening layers of frost and low temperatures, King County Emergency Management, Public Health and Animal Care and Control are urging residents to prepare their families, pets, homes and vehicles for freezing conditions.

“Personal preparedness is important year round, but especially during storm season,” Robin Friedman, director of King County Emergency Management, said in a press release.

Everyone can take simple steps to prepare for cold weather conditions:

–Keep cold weather clothing in your vehicle for road emergencies and extra blankets in your car and home for staying warm.

–Fill your car’s gas tank and keep it at least half full at all times to avoid running out of gas due to unexpected weather-related traffic conditions.

–When going outside, wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Wear a warm, woolen cap.

–Wrap or insulate pipes and outdoor faucets to prevent them from freezing.

The Ballard High School girls basketball team opened the 2009-2010 season with a 51-36 loss to Nathan Hale Dec. 4.

Nathan Hale was able to get out to a 24-15 halftime lead and never looked back in the nonconference matchup.

Junior Elena DeWeese led the Beavers with 11 points, and senior Alexandria Lawrence chipped in seven.

Ballard takes on Inglemoor at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 9 at Inglemoor.

The West Seattle Rotary club got a lot of people up early on Saturday to help 100 local economically disadvantaged children in the organization's 36th annual Children's Holiday Shopping Spree.

Sears department store in the Starbucks Corporate building was open two hours early for the event and West Seattle elementary students accompanied by adult and student volunteers first got some breakfast and determined the children's sizes for the shoes, coats and clothing they were to be given.

Six schools participated in the rotating program including Roxhill, Cooper, Concord, Alki, Gatewood and Pathfinder elementary schools.
The children were chosen by school counselors or family support workers who look for children who are in need. Each child was given a one-hundred dollar gift certificate and Sears added a 10% discount to make those dollars stretch further. Volunteers included people from JaK's Steakhouse, Seattle Lutheran High School students, Mercer Island High School students, Kappa Alpha Phi fraternity members, Foster High School students and many West Seattle Rotary Club members.

SDOT crews will close the right-hand, southbound lane on the Alaskan Way Viaduct next week from South Massachusetts Street to South Holgate Street. The closure will take place on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, December 7 - 9, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. The crews will repair railings that were damaged by vehicle accidents.

Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) issued the following statement on Amanda Knox's guilty verdict decided today by an Italian court in Perugia, Italy. Knox, a 22-year-old Seattle native, was accused of murdering her British school roommate Meredith Kercher in November 2007.
Knox stood trial with co-defendant and former Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito.

Senator Cantwell's statement:
"I am saddened by the verdict and I have serious questions about the Italian justice system and whether anti-Americanism tainted this trial. The prosecution did not present enough evidence for an impartial jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. Knox was guilty.
Italian jurors were not sequestered and were allowed to view highly negative news coverage about Ms. Knox.

Other flaws in the Italian justice system on display in this case included the harsh treatment of Ms. Knox following her arrest; negligent handling of evidence by investigators; and pending charges of misconduct against one of the prosecutors stemming from another murder trial.

Jack Miller and the Husky Deli celebrated the 77th anniversary of one of the most beloved stores in West Seattle Friday night.

Numerous food tables were placed strategically around the store offering chicken drumettes, meatballs, pasta, chocolates, cake, ice cream, deli meats, baklava,wine samples and much more.

Hundreds of people streamed through the crowded aisles of the Husky Deli, many coming back for more. Jack Miller was stationed at the west end of the service area, handing out samples of ham he described only as, "Good ham!"

The store, open since 1932, has been through some changes in it's history, moving a couple of times but has been part of the Miller family from the beginning. It has earned its reputation as West Seattle's best deli and offers sandwiches, soups, deli meats, chocolates foods from around the world, an amazing wine selection and of course is famous for its hand made ice cream.

Amanda Knox, the UW student and West Seattle resident has been found guilty on all charges in the murder case involving the death of her roomate, Meredith Kercher. This could result in a sentence of 26 years for Knox and 25 years for Raffaele Sollecito her former boyfriend who was also found guilty. The Italian court arrived at the decision after a process of deliberation by 2 judges and 6 jurors.

Amanda's aunt, Janet Huff said, "This is so stupid. They didn't listen to the facts in the case. All we have now is the appeals process to get her home." Knox who has spent the last 2 years in prison is clearly expected to appeal.

"We've been told that in the Italian court process nobody wins in the first part," said Huff, "I think they (the jurors and judges) were scared and intimidated. "

Seated in the courtroom were Knox's father Curt, her mother, Edda Mellas, and the oldest of her three younger sisters, Deanna, 20.