March 2011

Jonathan Irish the Spanish teacher, along with Tara Requa and Matt Evans and 24 students from West Seattle Montessori came to the West Seattle Junction on Thursday, Mar. 24 to help raise money for the people of Japan struck by the recent earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters.

Irish said, "The science class was talking about what we could do to help the people of Japan and instead of sitting around we thought we'd use our talents and just come out to West Seattle and ask for help."

Student Henry Heck wore a mailbox, a former Halloween costume while his classmates played music on the street as they all collected money.

If you'd like to join them you contribute to the Red Cross, WorldVision or you can be part of the effort on March 27 in which dozens of West Seattle businesses are joining together to assist.

You can get updates on those participating on the event's facebook page.

If you've got the urge to seek out eggs and a certain bunny that appears in April, here's an early notice on where to find them about a month from now.

April 19
High Point Community Center, 6920 34th Ave. SW
Toddler Spring Eggstravaganza
Ages 2 – 5
10 a.m. to noon
Activity Fee: $5; please use #69489 in the SPARC registration system at www.seattle.gov/parks.
Bring your little one for a morning of fun and activities, including a very special bunny visit especially for toddlers. There will be games, crafts for the children, and an egg hunt (11
a.m. sharp) with age-appropriate prizes.
candy.

April 22
Teens Only! Hiawatha Community Center, 2700 California Way SW
Teen Night Egg Hunt
Ages 12-18
8:15 p.m.
Free
Join us for the biggest outdoor teen night hunt in West Seattle! Please remember your
flashlight and goodie bag, and there will be prizes. We’ll serve a spaghetti dinner after the hunt. Please call 206 684-7441 for more information.

April 23
Teens Only! Southwest Teen Life Center, 2801 SW Thistle St.
Late Night Flashlight Egg Hunt
Ages 13-19
Free

King County Medical Examiners have released the cause of death in the Jeremy Peck case to detectives and family, although the information has not been released publicly since it is an ongoing investigation, according to Peck’s uncle John Peck.

According to Det. Renee Whit with the Seattle Police Department, homicide detectives are working the case which they are treating as a “suspicious death.” She said it is an open and active investigation.

Update 1
According to James Sosik Jr. with the King County Medical Examiner's office on March 25, Jeremy Peck's cause of death was "undetermined" with no toxicological or body trauma causes identified.

However, this information from the medical examiner's office runs contrary to information received from Peck's family, who told the Herald they were told a cause of death was determined (as mentioned at the top of the story).

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Jeremy Peck went missing during the early hours of Dec. 24, 2010 and his body was found on Bainbridge Island on Jan. 19.

Harbor Properties and the public attended a hearing tonight, 6:30 pm. at the Senior Center of West Seattle for Harbor Properties' proposed "Nova" apartment building.

This meeting involved an application for Early Design Guidance with three options, or "massings". No one rendering or plan is yet offered.

The proposed site is at 4600 36th Ave. SW, in the "Fauntleroy Triangle.

According to their 22-page Application Form pdf sent to the DPD Currently, which is here:

http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/AppDocs/GroupMeetings/DRProposal3011957Agend…

The applicant’s development objective is to provide the highest and best use for the site and to create a high-density,workforce/efficient housing development. The proposed project is a 5-story, 50-foot tall building with 63 units of housing. We are providing parking for 5 vehicles in a below grade parking garage, and there will be no commercial uses. The project takes advantage of the new code that sets no minimum for parking for residential buildings located within 1,320 feet of a bus station.

The following press release was issued this morning by King County Prosecutors:

A man and two teenagers have been charged with Robbery First Degree, Burglary First Degree and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm Second Degree for allegedly robbing a medical-marijuana dispensary in West Seattle on March 19. Donshae D. Sims, 24, faces a sentence range of 15 to 17 years in prison, and Malik D. Heckard, 16, who is charged as an adult, faces a range of 14 to 16 years. The third defendant, who is 15, is charged in Juvenile Court. He could be incarcerated for 3½ to 4½ years at a juvenile facility. The ranges include firearm enhancements on the robbery and burglary charges.

King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said that the rise in the number of medical marijuana dispensaries in our county and state make them potential targets for violence.

West Seattle High School baseball emerged victorious in their home game against the Ingraham Rams at Hiawatha Field on March 23.

The Wildcats 11-1 win puts them at two wins, one loss for the season.

Ingraham opened up the game with a first inning home run to go up 1-0, but the Wildcats tied it up in the first when a Ram outfielder lost a deep fly to right in the sun by Tim Tinkler, giving him a triple and driving in Kellon Gearon who had hit a single over second base.

The WSHS Wildcats went up 2-1 in the second inning, added 4 more runs in the third and another 5 in the fourth to secure their 11-1 victory.

The Wildcats next home game will be against Rainier Beach on April 1 at 3:30 p.m. at Hiawatha Park.

Please view the slideshow above for pictures of the game.

The final design for the Salmon Bay playground renovation and the necessary budget were revealed last night. Last night's Open House gave community members one more chance to ensure that the design expresses the needs and dreams of the entire community.

At a community meeting in February, architects Johnson/Southerland presented three different designs for the playground and for two weeks community members were encouraged to vote on their favorite designs online. The playground is being designed to specifically support the needs of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders while being engaging for all children.

"The final design is really a blend of concept one and three," said Project Manager, Robin Wise Lofstrom.

The community voted on elements they liked in each of the concepts and the architects worked to include them in the final drawing.

"The star planter was popular with everyone so we incorporated that into the final design. The little play pods is a specific ASD feature because it gives them space and allows them to be in their own bubble," Lofstrom said.

Ballard News-Tribune's bike-riding-reporter is sad to announce that her commuter bicycle (and main form of transportation) was stolen yesterday evening on NW Market and 22nd. The bike was parked in the bike rack outside from Starbucks from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. and it was gone when she returned to her bike.
The bike, a black with yellow Denali with several upgrades, has noticeable black and yellow handlebar tape and red SPD pedals. It also had a Planet Bike rear fender and a tool bag underneath the seat.
The theft has been reported to the police. If you see this bicycle, please notify the police.

At Moshier Park in Burien last night, Highline's Caleb Simpson beat Ballard’s goalie, Nick Onstad-Hawes in the final minutes of the game to break the tie and put Highline ahead. With less than four minutes remaining in the game Ballard was unable to even the score. The Beavers lost 7 to 6 in the boys Division II.

Ballard's John DeGarmo had two goals and one assist. Goalie Nick Onstad-Hawes made eight saves.

The boys lacrosse team plays again on Tuesday, March 29th at 5 p.m. against Nathan Hale at Queen Anne Bowl.

Today's Beavers games:

Thursday, March24
· Girls JVC Softball vs. Franklin JV @ Rainier Playfield, 3:30pm
· Boys Soccer vs. O’Dea, Varsity @ Genessee, 3:30pm JV @ BHS Field, 3:30pm
· Girls Golf vs. Inglemoor @ Jackson Park GC, 3:30pm
· Girls JV Tennis vs. Redmond @ Ballard High School Courts, 3:45pm
· Girls Varsity Tennis vs. Redmond @ Redmond Tennis Courts, 3:45pm
· Boys JV Baseball vs.Inglemoor @Inglemoor, 3:45pm
· Boys Varsity Baseball vs.Inglemoor@Whitman, 3:45pm
· Track and Fieldvs. Eastlake @ Eastlake, 4pm

My father is 89, a former Life Magazine photographer, and a skilled story teller. I was raised with many of them, some amazing, others amusing. Most were even based on facts. I was always fond of his Liz Taylor story as its ending seems tender to me. Because of the tragedy of her passing today, I asked my dad to recount the story. He was living in Chicago at the time, where he still resides.

"I was covering Elizabeth Taylor in 1960 for Life Magazine at a party at the Ambassador East (Hotel) in Chicago. She was there to promote the movie Scent of Mystery. It was produced by her late husband, Mike Todd, and his son, Mike Todd, Jr. She and Peter Lorre were in the film, and he was there too. The party was also for the introduction of "Smell-O-Vision", which the movie used. The invention was owned by Mike Todd, who she recently widowed (in 1958). He had invested millions of dollars in the process by which when you show a movie and you have a scene of, say, an orange orchard, an electrical system with fans blew the smell of orange blossoms in the theater. It was a big flop.