August 2010

ZZ Top's guitar player and composer Billy Gibbons stopped by the Mission Latin Restaurant and Lounge in the Admiral Junction Saturday night, Aug. 28, to enjoy their hot offerings and talk tabasco sauce with Mission co-owner Eric Cozens, ZZ Top documentarian and West Seattle resident, and Gibbon's pal, Jamie Chamberlin, and the West Seattle Herald. ZZ Top is in town as they will perform Sunday night, Aug. 29, at Snoqualmie Casino.

The iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band, including Billy Gibbons' bearded cohort, bass player Dusty Hill, and their beardless drummer named Frank Beard once opened for the Jimmi Hendrix Experience, and will next week iaunch their "BFG" brand pepper sauce.

Sunset Hill resident Viola Gustafson turns 100 Aug. 28. And, to what does she credit her longevity? Healthy eating? Regular exercise? Stress-free living? No. Nope. And, not a chance.

"I have a vodka collins before dinner every night," Gustafson said. "I have for 50 years."

Her doctor said a little alcohol can keep her arteries clear, but good family genes don't hurt either, Gustafson's son Gary said.

Viola Sells was born in Auburn, Wash., and grew up in Kent. She married Hank Gustafson in 1935 before moving to Sunset Hill in 1943.

After 67 years in Sunset Hill, it's still a nice, quiet neighborhood, Gustafson said and agreed with Gary that the nearby water helps it stay cool in the summer.

Gustafson has a son, a daughter, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. And even at 100, she still does her weekly grocery shopping and cares for Gary.

"The time goes fast," she said. "I don't feel any older than I did when I was 60."

Providence Mount St. Vincent's outdoor concert series ended with people eating barbecue, tapping toes, clapping hands, and even dancing in the outdoor aisles Friday night, Aug. 27.

The Haggis Brothers‘ performed bluegrass and at times seemed to evoke Johnny Cash.

Residents joined family, staff, and volunteers while a magician, sketch artist and professional dancers entertained.

CLICK ON PHOTO FOR SLIDE SHOW.

All photos by Steve Shay

The FREE West Seattle Outdoor Movie this week is the triumphant 2008 prequel Star Trek. The film was originally scheduled to be shown on August 7 but was rained out. The weather forecast is looking like dry weather for this Saturday, the 28th.

The IMDB synopsis is HERE.

It is presented by the West Seattle Junction Association and West Seattle merchant sponsors. The movie will be shown at 4400 California Ave SW, West Seattle, in the courtyard between Dr. Wolff & Hotwire Online Coffeehouse.

You are invited to bring a blanket or chair, family, friends and neighbors and enjoy this journey where no one (well practically no one) has gone before. Concessions will be provided by West Seattle Christian and Coffee to a Tea with Sugar. Raffles for local merchant gift certificates will be held with all proceeds going to local West Seattle charities.

Gates to open at 6:30 pm with pre-show fun starting at 8:30pm.

Cost:

The Farmers Airship zeppelin was spotted over West Seattle, taken here from Providence Mount St. Vincent. The craft is based at Paine Field until Sept. 8.

It is 246 feet long, 64 feet wide and 54 feet high. It can carry a crew of two and 12 passengers, and is 14 feet longer than a standard Boeing 747.

The airship is usually based in northern California, but will be in the Northwest for the next few weeks. Beginning in Salem, Oregon then making its way to Paine Field.

There is a scheduled two-hour flight with opportunity for ticket purchase, at a mere $377 plus tax, it appears to be a real bargain. For more information, go to: http://www.airshipventures.com/cal/#calendar

West Seattle is home to a large number of very technically adept people. It was among the first areas to get broadband cable internet access and many local people tele commute or work from home here. The City of Seattle is seeking people to sit on an advisory board about technology and you may be the kind of person (or know someone) they are seeking.
Here's the official Press Release:

Are you interested in helping shape city technology and city government telecommunications policies? Mayor Mike McGinn and the City Council are seeking candidates for the Citizens’ Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Board (CTTAB) for terms beginning in January, 2011.

The 10-member board advises City officials on issues of community-wide interest relating to telecommunications and technology, including broadband, digital divide issues, open government and community technology applications, online public engagement, and cable television. Members serve a two-year term, must reside in Seattle and serve without compensation.

The City is seeking five new members who reflect a broad range of diversity, professional and community experience.

UPDATE, Noon, Saturday, Aug. 28

"Cheyenne," a 15 year-old golden retriever was just reunited with her owner thanks to this West Seattle Herald story and some super-sleuthing by West Seattle Facebook Friends Sydni Smith and Helen Johnson, and Ryan Baumann, a son of the dog-owner. Coincidentally, we reported on both Smith and Johnson last week with Jayme Miller's fundraiser: http://www.westseattleherald.com/2010/08/22/news/update-slideshow-walk-…

The owner, Heidi Fish, is a well-known award-winning bikini designer with her studio, Heidi Fish Swimwear on California Avenue. She lives just one block from where Cheyenne was found and said she is grateful to the West Seattle Herald for its help. We will update again, shortly, with a photo of Heidi and Cheyenne. She said that while she has been so busy developing her new line of men's swim wear in her studio, she stayed home yesterday and was up all night searching the beech and neighborhood for Cheyenne. Now that they are reunited, all Heidi needs are some buff male models for her new catalog.

King County Sheriff's detectives are looking for help from the public to solve a 2001 homicide. The crime occurred on August 28, 2001, exactly nine years ago.

➢ Specifically, they at least hope to find the White Center house where the suspect took the victim and her sister prior to fatally shooting one of them on a street corner.

Case History:
Crystal Vaughn (age 29 at the time) and her sister Misty were drinking beer at a bus top in White Center when they were contacted by the suspect. They went back to the suspect’s house for a drink. An argument ensued and the sisters were driven back to the area of SW 101st and 15th Ave SW.

The argument continued between the suspect and Crystal. The sisters were out of the man’s car and walking away when he pulled up next to them and shot Crystal three times. She died at the scene.

Suspect’s Residence:
The house was about a mile or so away from where the women were first approached, generally in the area of the 3700 block of SW 106th, unincorporated King County in the White Center neighborhood.

➢ See attached drawings of the interior of the house.

6:20 p.m. Aug. 23, N. 87th St and Palatine Ave. N.

"Shawn" and his niece were leaving dinner at Baranof. They got in his car, which was parked on Greenwood Avenue North, and drove around the corner.

Shawn stopped at the southeast corner of North 87th Street and Palatine Avenue North to drop his niece off to meet a nearby friend.

A few seconds after they stopped, a man approached the open window on the driver's side of the vehicle and put a gun in Shawn's face.

"Give me all of it," the man said.

Shawn tossed the $30 he had with him out the window.

"Give me more," the man said.

Shawn said he did not have any more, and the man walked quickly away, heading north on Palatine Avenue.

Shawn and his niece told police they had not seen the suspect before and did not remember seeing him at Baranof.

Shawn's niece, who was outside the vehicle at the time of the robbery, told police she was positive she could identify the suspect if she saw him again.

3:30 p.m. Aug. 21 – 7 a.m. Aug. 24, 5600 Block of 24th Ave. N.W.

On a cloudy night that threatened rain at Steve Cox Field the Islanders defeated the Rainiers 20 to 10 in PSSBL baseball play. The fourth place Islanders maintained their standing with an explosive 7th inning that the Rainiers couldn't overcome. The game was in doubt with the Rainiers up by one run but the Islanders took control and never looked back when the Rainiers committed several pitching and fielding errors that resulted in 7 runs in the 7th inning for the Islanders.

Frustration was evident within the Rainiers players when a Rainiers batter challenged the home plate umpire on a called strike and was ejected from the game. The batter was convinced that the curve ball thrown was clearly outside the plate. However the umpire was not impressed with his argument and decided to end the conversation with an ejection.

Last night at Seath Field in the Rocky division the Diablos defeated the Sea Wolves 13 to 4.

PSSBL play continues in the West Seattle area with three Cascade division games being played at Chief Sealth H.S next week.

Tuesday August 31st Orioles v Reds first pitch at 6:45pm
Wednesday September 1st Phillies v Mariners first pitch at 6:45 pm