September 2010

By Ty Swenson
After nearly ten years as the woman behind the West Seattle Herald Police Blotter, Megan Sheppard has moved on. Luckily, she left the new guy with some pointers on how to do the column justice, and I hope to do just that. My name is Ty Swenson and I recently left the potato-paved streets of Idaho with a print journalism degree in hand and a plan to forge a life in the Puget Sound area. The future success of this column is largely based on feedback, tips and suggestions from you, the reader, so please never hesitate to contact me at policeblotter@robinsonnews.com. I look forward to hearing from you and serving the wonderful community of West Seattle.

Michael Supino and his wife Shannon Cross own Red Star Pizza at 7514 35th Avenue Southwest and had been running their small business successfully since July of 2009 when they were approached a few weeks ago by someone who thought their already colorful exterior could be better. That person was Chester Carlson, who has high aspirations to be a kind of graffiti-hip hop style artist.

By day he works as a Traffic Manager for Allied Waste but in his free time he paints.

Our previous story about Red Star Pizza is here.

Supino already had a "space theme" at the small pizza shop and Carlson told him he could make it far better, while not disrespecting the work that had already been done. The two came to an agreement, part of which involved a fair amount of free pizza and other compensation and Carlson got to work.

Chief Sealth International High School (CSIHS) held the official ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 7 with the Sealth marching band providing a rousing soundtrack for the many dignitaries and community members who came to the event.

Principal John Boyd welcomed Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson , Mayor Mike McGinn, and was assisted in the welcome by Denny International Middle School Principal Jeff Clark who took a few moments to offer greetings in multiple languages.
The Sealth Cheerleaders kept the energy going with a well rehearsed cheer and after some more music from the marching band, led by Marcus Pimpleton, the flag was raised by Project Manager Robert Evans. The Pledge of Allegiance was read followed by Gina Thomsen's rendition of the National Anthem.

Cecile Hanson Chairperson of the Duwamish Tribe and great niece of the school's namesake Chief Sealth, gave her thanks, pointing out she had prayed for good weather, and introduced Mike Evans, Chair of the Snohomish Tribe who along with Hansen's granddaughters, grandson and daughter sang a Native American song of blessing.

The 2010 Bumbershoot Arts and Music Festival rolled on Sept. 5 with a surprise appearance from the sun bringing out droves of festival-goers.

This slideshow from day two of Bumbershoot 2010 features:

• The Physics
• Dolorean
• Fences
• The Bouncing Souls
• David Bazan
• Georgia Anne Muldrow
• The Crash Kings
• The Lonely H
• Fresh Espresso
• Horse Feathers
• Eldridge Gravy and The Court Supreme

Click the image above to view the slideshow.

The 40th annual Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival got underway Sept. 4 with local talent like Great Waves and Visqueen, legends like Bob Dylan and Solomon Burke, and even a few Ballardites sprinkled in.

This slideshow from day one of Bumbershoot 2010 features:

• Solomon Burke
• The Cute Lepers
• Balkan Beat Box
• Jamie Lidell
• Atlas Sound
• Wheedle's Groove
• Zo Muth & The Lost High Rollers
• Star Anna & The Laughing Dogs
• Idiot Pilot
• Great Waves
• Grynch
• Becki Sue & Her Big Rockin' Daddies!

Click image above to view the slideshow.

This West Seattle retired former Boeing aero - mechanic, now 88 years young spent most of his working years testing the innards of B-17s, B29s,and B50s until the Aero Mechanics decided in 1948 to go on strike.

So, he went to work inspecting and tweaking guided missile silos for the defense department.

His experience and training stood him in good stead and he ended up buying and rebuilding one armed bandits.

He presently has about 15 machines he is repairing and repainting.

He is looking for a good painter.

As a Boeing functional test electrician working at Boeing field on the west side that same year I too lost my job testing wing flaps and landing gear on the B50.

Jerry Robinson is the Publisher of the West Seattle Herald/White Center News and can be reached at publisher@robinsonnews.com

Viewing “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” the latest offering of Stephenie Meyer’s vampires-and-the-girl-who-loves-them series, is a dissonant experience.

On one hand, Kristen Stewart is coming into her own as a film star. While never a particularly kinetic actress, she’s found a screen presence that telegraphs sexual energy to the camera. It gives her character the kind of gravitational pull that draws a story around her. She’s more of a woman now and less of the angst-ridden teen that charmed the original Twilight film. It’s a tradeoff that has its costs, but a franchise must evolve if it wants to sustain itself and Stewart is up to the task.

I have discovered a great new diet. I am going to write a book and make a million dollars! The diet is guaranteed for weight loss, heart and kidney health, blood pressure control, diabetes control and cancer prevention.

What’s the secret, you ask? Vegetables!

Americans eat fewer vegetables than we used to and a lot less than most people around the globe. An initiative called the Iowa Plate Plan advises you to fill half your plate with vegetables, one quarter with protein foods and one quarter with starches.

Seems easy, doesn’t it? Can Washington take this on?

The rule for my new million dollar diet is you must eat 10 half-cup servings of fruits and vegetables a day before you can eat anything else. Think I can get anybody to do it?

The problem with eating more vegetables is our lack of adventurous spirit. The average American eats only eight types of vegetables– carrots, corn, peas, beans, lettuce, onions, tomatoes and potatoes. How boring!

By Steve Shay and Patrick Robinson

A man was shot by Seattle Police officers tonight at a house in the 6100 block of Admiral Way.

According to Interim Deputy Police Chief Nick Metz, "We got a call from a woman who said that she had called a relative at the house (...) and she could hear what appeared to be some kind of disturbance going on and she heard a shot being fired. The line went dead. The caller then called back to the house and this time a gentleman answered and the man had made suicidal threats during the conversation. Then the phone went dead again. The caller called 911 and reported this information to our dispatch center. Officers were immediately dispatched to the scene because of shots having been fired and the officers responded in a very quick fashion."

Police surrounded the house. A man was seen in the back of the house at the back door walking out toward officers. The officers reported that they heard a gunshot. He leveled his assault weapon (an AK-47) at the officers. Three officers responded and shot him. He suffered one gunshot wound in the abdomen and was taken to Harborview.

Chief Sealth football fell to Port Angeles 41 to 0 in a non-league contest tonight at the Southwest Athletic Complex on Thistle Street.

CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE A SLIDESHOW