February 2010

Steven Parker lives in Burien and works in the marine industry. He says he doesn’t play the state lottery that often.
“I probably haven’t spent $50 over the past 20 years,” he said.
Still, something compelled Parker to buy a couple of Mega Millions tickets before heading to his fiancé’s house for the weekend.

He returned home on Sunday and started work repairing the transmission on a vehicle that had recently broken down when he remembered the lottery tickets. So, he went in to check them online.

“I looked up and thought, ‘hey, they’ve got my numbers!”
Parker recalled seeing the match for the first time.
“It took me a second to realize what was going on, and then I looked again and realized how much it was…I immediately called my fiancé, but I could hardly speak – I was speechless,” Parker said.

Parker’s second tier Mega Millions jackpot was worth $250,000.
“It was a great, great relief,” said Parker, recalling his feeling after the realization had set in.
Now he and his fiancé, La Rae, have some decisions to make.

At an upcoming kickoff meeting, Sea-Tac Airport neighbors will have an opportunity to help “scope” a new airport noise study that will include the third runway.
Participants are invited to contribute their ideas and concerns during small group break-out sessions, and get involved in and learn about the study at the first in a series of workshops, scheduled for Feb. 24, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Mount Rainier High School, 22450 19th Ave. S., Des Moines.

This study, known officially as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 150 Noise and Land- Use Compatibility Study, is a voluntary effort that looks at ways to reduce aircraft noise impacts on communities. The objectives are to determine existing noise levels, predict noise for the next five years, evaluate alternative mitigation ideas, and recommend targeted programs to minimize impacts. This will be the fourth Part 150 Study undertaken at Sea-Tac since 1985.

A Part 150 Study also enables the airport to use federal money for noise mitigation projects. It is the main vehicle the Port of Seattle uses to work with the community in creating a package of noise reduction programs.

Information sharing

Taco is a 2 1/2 year old Chihuahua and not a shy dog. We encountered Taco on the playfield in White Center next to Steve Cox Memorial Stadium when he ran up full speed, barking all the way. He practically demanded to be Pet of the Week.

Taco lives with Theresa Perez and her daughter Roxana in White Center and they got him as a gift from a friend originally. "He's like a baby" Theresa said, "When we say 'Taco let's go outside' he just gets crazy happy and that is so funny for us."

Taco enjoys chicken and all kinds of meat but does in fact eat Tacos. He's a fierce guard dog, very aware and protective.
When Theresa picked him up she wrapped him in a Hello Kitty blanket but he didn't seem to mind. That might be because he has
a great sense of humor. "When we watch TV, he seems to understand what we are watching." Though he doesn't actually laugh he does have a TV preference, "He likes funny things," Theresa said.

How to nominate your pet for Pet of the Week:

On December 12th, 2009, at approximately 10:45 pm, two suspects entered a convenience store in the 6300 Block of 35th Avenue SW. They attempted to purchase beer, but were unable because neither had any photo identification.

Both suspects then started throwing beer cans at the clerk, who ran out from behind the counter. Both suspects then confronted the clerk and started beating him in the face, neck and shoulders. One of the suspects then walked behind the counter and took the cash register. Both suspects then fled the scene. Responding officers conducted a thorough area search, but were unable to locate the suspects. The beer cans handled by the suspects were recovered by officers and submitted for fingerprint analysis.

On January 25th, 2010, the Latent Print Examiner contacted the Robbery Unit and advised them that they had obtained a positive identification on a 19 year old man. The victim in this crime positively identified the suspect in a photo montage. Detectives then spent the next week attempting to locate the suspect.

Here are some recent new business notes from West Seattle:

Bank of America
4001 SW Alaska, West Seattle 206.767.3014 Come in and say “hi” to our newest teller, Lisa.

The Puppy Perfectors, LLC
Nancy Hansen, Owner
9629 17th Ave SW, White Center
206.935.0289
New Dog Training facility offering drop-in obedience, agility, flyball, freestyle (dancing with your dog), tricks and rally classes.

Pure Hair
Malissa Wolley, Owner
3429 California Ave SW
206.933.0811
Pure Hair welcomes Keri Knauff.
Keri has been a hair stylist for 17 years and perfected her craft in West Seattle for 3.5 years.
Please call or stop by and say “hello!”

Saigon Boat Cafe
2632 Alki Ave. SW
Open 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Our Grand Opening was January 29th. Now Alki has its very own Pho & Vietnam- ese sandwiches! Owners Nhung Tran, and her sister Thu Tran also own Red Nails, around the corner from Saigon Boat Cafe at 2648 59th SW.

BG Motors
Mr. George Kizhuharov, Owner 4712 40th Ave. SW 206-985-6887 Newly opened! Offering used car sales, service and financing.

Table 35

Spring is just around the corner that means West Seattle Girls Softball registration has begun. Starting February 1st – 21st you can sign your daughter up for this year’s season.

More details can be found at http://www.westseattlegirlssoftball.com/frameset.php.

The cost of registration includes one ticket for the player to the UW Huskies Softball game on May 2nd, a uniform for your daughter to keep and a trophy at the end of the season. For scholarship details please contact Shawn Herrera at wssshawnp@yahoo.com. See you on the field!

A suitcase chained to a bus schedule sign at the Burien Transit Center was blown up early Monday morning by a police bomb squad.

It contained only clothes.

A Metro bus driver spotted the suitcase around midnight at the center, located at 14900 4th Avenue Southwest.

The transit center and surrounding roads were reopened about 5 a.m. in time for the Monday morning commute.

Police had closed off 4th Avenue Southwest between Southwest 148th Street and Southwest 150th Street.

Discover Burien and 16 area restaurants have created a discount coupon book for free meals, desserts and beverages in support of Highline Medical Center's Campaign for a new ER.

The idea, according to Debra George, co-owner of Mark Restaurant, is to promote dining while supporting a great cause with the Passport Book, which sells for $10.

"This is a fun and easy way for folks to support the hospital," says George, "and at the same time get discounts at their favorite restaurants; it can pay for itself the first time you use it!"

Passport books are being sold at the gift stores and cafeterias on Highline's Burien and Tukwila campuses, and at all participating restaurants: 909 Coffee & Wine, Angelo's Ristorante, Archery Bistro, Aussie Pie Company, B-Town Burgers & Shakes, Bison Creek Pizza & Pub, Emerald City Smoothie, Hey Paison!, La Costa Mexican Restaurant, Mark Restaurant & Bar, Mick Kelly's Irish Pub, Sal's Deli, Sidestreet Kitchen and Bar, Tin Room, Yo Bistro, and the Burien Farmer's Market Hot Dog Stand (beginning in May).

For more information, call 206-901-8500.

The Seattle-Tacoma International Taxi Association (STITA) announced a lawsuit against the Port of Seattle on Monday to stop the Port from awarding its airport taxi contract to Yellow Cab (Puget Sound Dispatch).

On Friday, STITA filed a complaint asking the court to halt the Port from signing a contract with Yellow Cab.

"If you think it's difficult to hail a cab in Seattle now, wait to see what will happen if STITA cabs are put out of business," said Jesse Buttar, STITA cab owner. "We're trying to make sure that doesn't happen. We're asking the Port to reconsider and allow us to fairly compete for the airport contract. We're sorry this has come to legal action, but we STITA members are ready to fight against what we feel was an unfair process by the Port of Seattle."

In 1989, STITA - a non-profit co-op - was created by the Port to exclusively serve the airport and provide service to airport users..

"People tell us to go work for Yellow, but we can't," said Kanwarjit Bassi, who followed in his father's footsteps and drives a STITA cab.

After Matador owner James Imonti was stabbed inside the Market Street restaurant on Oct. 10, he said it took 25 minutes for police to respond to the 911 call.

Information from the Seattle Police Department posted Feb. 1 on Seattle City Council member Tim Burgess' Web site show that police arrived on the scene approximately five minutes after the first 911 call.

In Dec. 10 and Dec. 11 articles, the Ballard News-Tribune repeated Imonti's 25-minute claim.

The Seattle Police Department was unresponsive when contacted in December for specifics on response time for the Oct. 10 incident. But, Sgt. Dianne Newsom of the North Precinct Community Police Team said a 20-minute response time would be possible during Friday and Saturday nights, when a high-volume of calls are coming in.