May 2010

At approximately 7:31 p.m. on May 20, officers responded to the 3000 block of Northwest 73rd Street following a 911 report that a mentally distraught male suspect had threatened mental health professionals with a rifle.

Officers arrived on scene and surrounded the suspect’s residence. The SWAT team and negotiators also responded.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspect had contacted his social workers earlier in the day and intimated that he was suicidal.

King County mental health professionals responded to the suspect’s residence to conduct a welfare check on him. They knocked on the door but the suspect refused to answer.

As they were leaving, the suspect came outside yelling and pointed a rifle at the mental health workers. They fled the scene and called 911.

Responding officers quickly set up containment and attempted to establish contact with the suspect.

Information was developed indicating that nobody else was inside the suspect’s house other than the suspect.

Numerous attempts were made to get the suspect to talk with officers and surrender peacefully.

Radio station KEXP 90.3 FM staged an event in the West Seattle Junction yesterday, May 21 to celebrate West Seattle’s victory in their "Hood to Hood Challenge." KEXP DJs, West Seattle artists and local businesses participated.

SLIDESHOW OFFERS SELECTIVE COVERAGE OVER THE WHOLE DAY'S EVENTS. CLICK THE MAIN IMAGE TO SEE OTHER PHOTOS.

They conducted a live broadcast from Easy Street Records at 4559 Calfornia Ave. S.W. in the West Seattle Junction, with activities and music for the kids at Cupcake Royale. The live broadcast continued all day with artist showcases and KEXP DJs spinning in the evening, a gallery of KEXP in-studio photography, discounts at local businesses throughout the neighborhood and a food drive for the West Seattle Food Bank.

King County Water Taxi provided free passage to and from the waterfront downtown.
Terminals located at Pier 50 in downtown Seattle and Seacrest Dock in West Seattle brought people to the event via the Free Shuttle service to the West Seattle Junction.

The West Seattle Democratic Women hosted an evening of food, drink and artwork by the late Paul Horiuchi while "RUBBING ELBOWS" with politicians and supporters at the Woodside/Braseth Gallery Thursday night, May 20, at the Woodside Braseth Gallery, 2101 Ninth Avenue.

Attending were King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle City Council's Sally Bagshaw, Sally Clark, Jean Godden, Tim Burgess, Tom Rasmussen, King County Councilmember Jan Drago, State Senator Joe McDermott & State Representatives Sharon Nelson and Eileen Cody, and 34th District Legislature candidates Joe Fitzgibbon and Marcee Stone.

Members of the West Seattle and White Center Food Bank's were honored, as well as Steve Daschle, executive director of the Southwest Youth and Family Services. John Braseth, gallery owner, was raised in West Seattle. Karen Chilcutt, Chair of the West Seattle Democratic Women and Carol Frillman hosted.

Somehow, 33 West Seattle food and beverage venders, a bevy of belly dancers, a hungry crowd, and a large cardboard check all fit into the Hall at Fauntleroy for the Taste of West Seattle Thursday night, May 20. All proceeds, including the check donated by the Metropolitan Market for $6,107.47 went to the West Seattle Helpline.

According to the West Seattle Helpline's Website, "The West Seattle Helpline is a non-profit social service agency dedicated to helping members of the West Seattle community. We provide information, referrals, and limited financial assistance to help working families in need. We strive toward a strong community of "neighbors helping neighbors."

"What wonderful participants we have in the West Seattle area that constantly give to the West Seattle Helpline," said its executive director, Anna Marie Fern. "You can see the generosity and it is expressed again and again. They want people to realize the camaraderie and feeling we have in West Seattle.

Participants included Adriene Rice and her belly-dance group, Troupe Hipnotica. Restaurants and pubs included:

Bakery Nouveau
Beveridge Place Pub
Bin 41
Blue Willow Catering & Luncheonette

Chief Sealth Fastpitch pulled off an upset Thursday afternoon, shutting out the division leader, and rival West Seattle 3-0 in a district playoff game. After winning against West Seattle Chief Sealth fell to Juanita 12-0, only going five innings.

The defeat ends West Seattle’s season. The playoff game was winner out. Chief Sealth remains in the playoffs.
West Seattle had come against Chief Sealth twice before this season, defeating them both times. West Seattle defeated Chief Sealth 7-3 on May 4 and 3-1 on May 5.

First in the division, West Seattle had a conference record of 14-3. Chief Sealth was a close second in the division, with a conference record of 10-7.
It was an emotional game between Chief Sealth and West Seattle, both with something to prove, and a lot to lose.
After winning against West Seattle, Chief Sealth Assistant Coach Jim DiObilda said the team was emotionally exhausted.

Chief Sealth did not bring their A game against Juanita, who is the leader in their division (King County 3A/2A) with a conference record of 11-1. The game was called after the fifth inning, Juanita winning 12-0.

This June, The Sunset Tavern, the eclectic Ballard Avenue venue that boasts "the cleanest bathrooms in rock 'n' roll," hits the 10-year mark after thousands of shows and millions of drinks.

Sunset booker Mike Jaworski, who has worked various jobs at the club for seven years and played it about 30 times, said celebrating The Sunset's 10th anniversary is extremely special to everyone involved with the club.

It has a close-knit staff who truly love and believe in it, he said.

"It's a pretty big accomplishment to have survived as a successful music venue for 10 years, especially in today's rough economy," Jaworski said. "We couldn't have done it without a great staff and so many talented artists who have performed here over the years."

Celebrate Kids Day on Aug. 4 at Steel Lake Park. The annual event runs from 2-8 p.m. and caters to ages 2 to 12 years old.

Activities include:

• Sandcastle building
• Inflatable bouncer
• Main Stage entertainment
• Crafts, music, face painting and more

Free admission. Concessions available for purchase. Sponsored by the City of Federal Way Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department.

The Seattle Department of Planning and Development is hosting back-to-back meetings June 14 to review the environmental impacts and design of Compass Housing Alliance's 80-unit low-income housing development Urness House.

Urness House, to be located at 1753 N.W. 56th St., will house formerly homeless men and women and provide onsite treatment facilities for physical and medical conditions. It is being operated by the nonprofit Compass Housing Alliance.

The environmental review meeting will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 14 at Ballard High School. During the meeting, the public will be able to comment on potential environmental impacts of the project, including traffic, parking and public safety.

The design review meeting for the project will take place immediately after the environmental review meeting, at 8 p.m. The meeting is a follow up to the Feb. 8 design meeting.

With Mayor Mike McGinn's final budget decisions looming in June, the neighborhood group Save Ballard's Community Centers is starting a postcard campaign to let the Mayor's Office know they shouldn't mess with Ballard.

"We want to start sending a message to the Mayor's Office that we want Ballard's community centers to stay open and stay funded," said Amy Janas, organizer of the postcard campaign.

Ballard Sip & Ship is donating several thousand postcards for the campaign. Janas said physical cards will help the city see the impact cuts would have on Ballard.

Save Ballard's Community Centers started when outgoing Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tim Gallagher gave a television interview in late April in which he said the Ballard Community Center and Loyal Heights Community Center were in danger of closure due to budget cuts and their close proximity to each other.

In addition to drawing McGinn's attention to Ballard's community centers, Janas said she is hoping the campaign raises more awareness in the neighborhood about the danger the community centers are in.

The City of Federal Way is expanding its program to help transform foreclosed properties into community assets. Both the income limits and the geographic areas available have been opened up to allow more potential first-time homebuyers to qualify.

Families of three or more making up to $97,000 now qualify, as do one-to-two person households making up to $90,000. In addition, the program is no longer restricted to certain census tracts. Buyers may purchase foreclosed properties anywhere within city limits. The program calls for loans with 0% interest, no payment and a loan deferral of 15 years.

The maximum loan amount is $50,000.

Other qualifications for the “House Key Federal Way” down payment assistance program:

• Repayment is due at the time of sale, transfer, or refinance within first 15 years
• The property purchased must be foreclosed, bank-owned, 90+ days delinquent, or abandoned
• Loan is forgiven at end of 15 years, but a loan payoff is not pro-rated prior to 15 years
• The property must be located in Federal Way
• Borrowers must attend pre-purchase counseling and home buyer education sessions