July 2011

It caught my eye, the sign on the telephone pole. It was on the kind of lined paper that is characteristic of kindergarten through 2nd grade work books; space for a drawing on the top, just 3-4 big lines with mid-line dots below. There was the photo, a small stuffed animal carefully buckled into a seat belt. “A pink pig,” it began in careful print, ending with the words, “If you find her…”

I kept thinking about that sign over the following week, and wondering if the pig, standing up as the lost notice specified, had been found. Once I found a rubber giraffe in our parking strip and stood it on the retaining wall. Perhaps a week later the doorbell rang and my husband reported, “That was Elizabeth. She has just reclaimed Gordon.” Gordon, it turned out, was the giraffe.

Don’t give up hope I want to tell this little girl (an assumption made on the description of the missing pig’s “dress with lots of light pink flowers”). The pig is waiting for you, perhaps next to a sign that says Found: Pink Pig.

Husband and wife Edward and Margaret Smith stood side by side, surveying the unrecognizable charred remains of what they once called home on Tuesday, July 26. The torched husks of their two vehicles sat in the forefront of the Lighthouse Apartment complex that was devastated by a multiple-alarm fire two days prior.

It took 60 firefighters from 12 different units to put the fire out and all 41 tenants escaped with their lives, although two were taken to Harborview Medical Center for non-life threatening burns. People as far as Tacoma reported seeing the smoke as the 19-unit apartment blazed. The fire absolutely destroyed vehicles near the building, melted the rear light covers and bumpers of vehicles parked at least 70 feet away and gutted every apartment unit, now a burnt approximation of their original form.

The Smiths could see directly into their lower level apartment, all of their furniture and belongings reduced to ash.

“We figured we were in a safe house and nothing like that would happen,” Edward said as he inspected the devastation.

Smoke and then panic
“If it wasn’t for her, I would have been burned up.”

Husband and wife Edward and Margaret Smith stood side by side, surveying the unrecognizable charred remains of what they once called home on Tuesday, July 26. The torched husks of their two vehicles sat in the forefront of the Lighthouse Apartment complex that was devastated by a multiple-alarm fire two days prior.

It took 60 firefighters from 12 different units to put the fire out and all 41 tenants escaped with their lives, although two were taken to Harborview Medical Center for non-life threatening burns. People as far as Tacoma reported seeing the smoke as the 19-unit apartment blazed. The fire absolutely destroyed vehicles near the building, melted the rear light covers and bumpers of vehicles parked at least 70 feet away and gutted every apartment unit, now a burnt approximation of their original form.

The Smiths could see directly into their lower level apartment, all of their furniture and belongings reduced to ash.

“We figured we were in a safe house and nothing like that would happen,” Edward said as he inspected the devastation.

Smoke and then panic
“If it wasn’t for her, I would have been burned up.”

Judy Wanamaker got her dog Maggie, a Schnauzer (whose birth name is Charisma Southern Magnolia), from a breeder called the Charisma Kennels in Silver Springs, Maryland. Wanamaker had a previous standard Schnauzer that passed away two years ago. She reached out to that breeder, who had moved to Florida, but did happen to have a dog who had a litter of pups. Wanamaker flew to Florida to pick her up. That was two years ago.

Maggie is 35 lbs, has a Salt and Pepper coat and eats Canidae dog food from her favorite store, Pet Elements.
"That's Maggie's store. When I tell her we're going to Maggie's store she runs and gets her leash and practically drags me all the way down here," Wanamaker said, "They all spoil her rotten."

Her treat of choice there is barbecue marrow bones.

Click on photo for SLIDESHOW

About 50 members of the public and 20 candidates and staff local answered West Seattle-specific questions at The West Seattle Candidate's Forum staged at the Brockey Student Center on the campus of South Seattle Community College Thursday night, July 28.

Co-sponsored by The VIEWS group, West Seattle Kiwanis, and numerous local neighborhood councils, the event started with an Ice Cream Social, featuring the primary and general election candidates serving up Husky Deli™ ice cream giving people a chance to talk more informally.

Part 1:

Port Commission
Position 5
Dean Willard spoke. His opponent Bill Bryant was not there.

County Position 8
Joe McDermott, Diana Toledo, Goodspaceguy all attended.

Part 2:

City Council candidates

Position 1
Jean Godden left early, but Bobby Forch, Maurice Classen, and Michael Taylor-Judd attended the Q&A.

Postion 9
Sally Clark and Dian Ferguson attended. Farthi Kashie did not appear.

Part 3:
School Board candidates
Position 6

press release:
King County Metro Transit and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) are evaluating options to improve traffic flow and transit operations on Columbia Street at 2nd Avenue near the Alaskan Viaduct on-ramp.

One suggestion is to close the bus stop located on Columbia St just east of 2nd Av. It currently serves as the last stop for passengers leaving downtown on Metro routes 21 Express, 54, 55, 56 Express, 113, 120, 121, 122, and 125.

If this bus stop closes, people who ride these buses will instead board or exit southbound on 3rd Av, at the stop between Seneca and Spring streets, about three blocks north of Columbia St.

The closure of this stop is one of several concepts being considered, and Metro and SDOT are seeking initial feedback on the potential impacts to riders and the general public. To provide comments about the possible closure of this stop send email to customer.comments@kingcounty.gov with Columbia/2nd Ave in the subject line, or call 206-553-3000 by Friday, August 12.

press release:

The westbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct will not be closed overnight this week as originally planned. The work planned for tonight through Friday night will be rescheduled when steel girder delivery is confirmed.

Also, the overnight closures of Sixth Avenue S will now continue through the morning of July 29th. With the quick procurement of materials for viaduct work above Sixth Avenue, crews will now be able to use the extra days to progress further on this part of the project.

See www.seattle.gov/spokane for more details on this project.

In an effort to expand its ranks the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce is holding a membership drive/meeting on Thursday, August 18, 2011 from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM a the LINK Apartments on their Rooftop Deck. The LINK is located at 4550 38th Avenue s.w.

The Chamber of Commerce represents the business interests of West Seattle merchants, keeping them apprised of legislation and government actions that could affect them and speaks to government on behalf of businesses here. The organization has been in existence for more than 75 years.

If you'd like to apply for membership an application is available using the form attached.

The invitation states:
"Now is the time to raise the roof on membership and continue to build a strong, local economic climate. Please join us for a fun evening and a great networking opportunity.

Bring friends, colleagues, and neighbors to come help us spotlight the incredible work that the West Seattle Chamber does and invite them to join their local Chamber. By working together we can build an even stronger and more vibrant local business community.

The Greenwood Seafair Parade, the oldest neighborhood Seafair parade in the region, kicks off its 61st annual parade at 6 p.m. tonight.

Thousands of people are expected to line the route to watch the over 90 entrants that include bands, drill teams, floats, pirates and more.

This year's theme is "Greenwood Takes Flight" and Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar, a retired five-time NASA astronaut, will be honored as the Grand Marshal.

Staging begins at 4:15 p.m. on Greenwood Avenue N. between N 95th and N 105th streets. Greenwood from N 105th to N 84th streets and 85th from Dayton Avenue N and 8th Ave NW will be closed from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The parade gets underway at 6 p.m. on Greenwood Avenue N at N 95th Street heading south to N 85th Street where it turns right and moves west on 85th to Sixth Avenue NW. The parade will end at approximately 9 p.m.

For more information about the parade, visit the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce website at www.greenwood-phinney.com/events/greenwood-seafair-parade.

Assault Victim Found in Burien
The victim of an apparent assault was found near Highline Medical Center in Burien. He had serious head injuries and was taken to Harborview. He is 18 years old. Deputies were called to the 16200 block of Sylvester Road SW to look for a man bleeding from the head. He was found standing on the sidewalk on the east side of the roadway with dried blood in his face. He had trouble standing and was incoherent. The man kept pointing across the street towards Sylvester Middle School. Deputies checked and found what appeared to be the man's belongings and more dried blood in a breezeway and on the side of the building. There have been no arrests and the investigation is continuing.

Archery equipment stolen from Burien Boy Scout Camp