September 2011

Puget Sound is fish heaven this week as the Salmon continue to migrate to area rivers. I've been fishing for close to 83 of my 91 years starting with scrap fish in Renne Lake near Portland, Oregon in 1928, so I've learned a few tricks in that time. I should mention that fishing is as much luck as it is skill.

    South of the outfall at Harbor Island in Elliot Bay the Duwamish River becomes the Green River about where the old drive-in theaters were located. One early morning in 1959 I hit the water bright-eyed and bushy tailed hoping to land an elusive Steelhead Trout I'd heard so much about.

    Down below the Allentown bridge the water runs slow and slightly murky. Dressed in my Warshal's knee-high waders I made my way over the slippery bank, through the blackberry vines to take my place along side a rather taciturn gent who was already working the water.

   Fishermen are a special breed. Finding a secret spot was important; being their first was paramount. He was not delighted to see me but said nothing. That was okay. Talking scares the fish.

Dear Editor,

I think we are all happy at the outcome for Vera Johnson owner of Village Green Nursery getting her loan modification.

What we should all be screaming and demanding is that Congress force the banks to do what is right with everyone. If you have to have a newspaper to bring it to their attention your newspaper would weigh 10 lbs or more.

Most people do not know that the banks were caught robo-signing and agreed to clean up their act................they did not ....and again got caught robo signing and again said they would cease and desist. Will they? Since there is no punishment in place if they don't .....personally, I think the abuses will continue.

The banks will start foreclosure even if the person is in the process of trying for a loan modification. It is not like it is the banks money they are insured loans by FHA,VA, Fannie, Freddie etc.

Banks have been bailed out  by we taxpayers and still refuse to use those funds to help those that need it but they continue to collect obscene bonuses.

Ladies Night Out
The White Center Eagles Club 10452 15th Ave SW  Seattle, WA. 98146  is hosting a Ladies Night Out, Oct  1st. 7:00 to 8:30  tickets are $15.00 per person that includes the 4 male dancers if you have any questions please call 206 248-1400 or Michele Curry at 206 387-8077  Doors open at 6:00

Grief Share
Grace Church
10323 28th Ave. S.W.
206-932-7459.
Saturdays, 10-11:30 a.m. For those who have lost a loved one. 13-week grief recovery support program. You are free to start at anytime.

Breakfast Fund-Raiser for Fauntleroy Fall Festival
The Hall at Fauntleroy
9131 California Ave. S.W.
Saturday, Sept. 17, 9 to 11 a.m. $5/person; $18/family (4) Come raise a fork to help keep the Fauntleroy Fall Festival (Oct. 16) free. Tickets at the door.

4th Annual West Seattle Junction Car Show
At California Ave. S.W. & S.W. Alaska St.
Sunday, Sept. 18, 8-4 p.m. Classic Cars and Hot Rods. Celebrity appearances by four of the Deadliest Catch Cast. Raffle and 50/50 drawing benefiting Pencil Me in for Kids. www.wsjunctioncarshow.com or 935-0904.

Discovery Shop

The Seattle Police Blotter reports that on Friday, September 10, at approximately 6:18 p.m, a cyclist was traveling southbound on University Way N.E. when he collided with a car turning from northbound University Way N.E. onto westbound N.E. Campus Parkway.

In the collision, the cyclist was thrown from his bicycle and sustained life-threatening injuries.  He later died from his injuries while being treated in the Emergency Room at Harborview Medical Center. 

The driver of the vehicle was evaluated for any signs of impairment but none were detected. 

The Traffic Collision Investigation Squad (TCIS) detectives will continue to handle the investigation.

UPDATE:

Tom Fucoloro at Seattle Big Blog reports that the victim has been identified as 23-year-old bike messenger Robert Townsend.
Townsend delivered sandwiches for Jimmy John's on University Avenue.

It is always beer-thirty for this guy
On Aug. 28 around 2:30 a.m. a man driving an El Camino pulled up to a gas station on Holden St., walked inside and told the clerk he wanted to buy some beer. The clerk told him it was after 2 a.m. so the beer coolers were locked for the night. The suspect walked outside to gather a large rock, came back inside and threw it through the glass pane of the beer cooler. He grabbed two 18-packs and walked them out to the El Camino, and then decided to come back in for seconds (two more 18-packs) and thirds (another 18-pack and a 12-pack) before leaving the scene. Total value of the beer was $91. Police planned to secure surveillance tapes from the business owner for further investigation.

Chalk one up for the alarm
Burglar(s) entered a 51st Ave SW home sometime during the day on Aug. 31, breaking both sides of a slider double pane window in the kitchen with some sort of pry tool. Once inside, they made their way to the living room where a motion detector triggered a blasting home alarm. The unknown suspect(s) made off with a laptop, but did not ransack the rest of the house before fleeing.

The West Seattle Herald asked some folks attending the candle light vigil at the Liberty Plaza gathering the night of September 11 (See candle light vigil story here) about their feelings and recollections of that tragic day one decade ago.

1) Jim Paribello. (wearing Twin Towers t-shirt) "I came here to pay my respects. We are originally from New York City, but we lived here. My wife is from the Bronx and I am from Brooklyn. We felt so removed from what was happening in New York, and that made us sad."

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As temperatures surpassed 80 degrees on Saturday, September 10, many Ballardites cooled down with an ice cream cone from Parfait or in the beergarden at the second annual Ballard Urban Picnic.

While Beth Miller from the Ballard Chamber of Commerce said the crowd was smaller than anticipated, the people that did attend were having a great time listening to local bands, enjoying the many mobile food vendors, and playing in the Ballard Commons water fountains. Between the water fountains, an inflatable slide and bounce house, and face painting, most fun was had by the kids.

On stage many bands warmed up the crowd but the band that got everyone tapping their feet or dancing was 70's rock band, Matt the Hoopla. Matt the Hoopla is a band formed by Matt Bazemore, a Ballard artist whose paintings are currently on display at Miro Tea. 

A male driver heading westbound on s.w. Barton Street shortly before 9:00pm Sunday, Sept. 11 struck a parked van near 36th s.w., causing his vehicle to rollover and move the struck vehicle a few feet down the street. According to a Seattle Police officer on the scene the driver was not seriously injured, and the accident appeared to be caused by inattentive driving, though an investigation remains to be completed.

While the driver's exact condition was not disclosed an ambulance on the scene carried a single passenger and left the scene shortly before 10:00 pm.

The road was blocked until the flipped vehicle could be removed.

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Click on photo for SLIDESHOW

About 80 people gathered around the Statue of Liberty on Alki Sept. 11 to pay their respects to fallen police and firefighters who lost their lives 10 years ago while rescuing folks trapped in the Twin Towers and Pentagon. Many lit candles at 7:00 p.m. and sang patriotic songs. Some had visited the statue following the tragedy 10 years ago. A group of New York City transplants now living in the Seattle area clustered together and told the West Seattle Herald "We knew we'd find each other" even though they were strangers until then.

The event was organized by the SW Seattle Historical Society.

Earlier in the day people came with cards, flowers and other items to leave at the base of the statue in tribute to the lives lost. The West Seattle Herald spoke to some of them.

Jill and Bill Wunch

In commemoration of the events of 9/11/2001 a memorial exhibit can be viewed at the Log House Museum from 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm. The museum is located at 3003 61st Ave SW.

Tonight, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm there is a candlelight vigil at the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. The event is free, and you are asked to join the community to memorialize the fallen and honor the families and survivors.

Craig Roberts shared this via Facebook: "God Bless America. A moment of silence at the Statue of Liberty at Alki beach was observed at 9:59AM, the moment of the first tower collapse 10 years ago, thank you Seattle Fire Department."

People came the Statue of Liberty on Alki to share memories, leave cards, and pay their respect. The West Seattle Herald spoke to some of them.

Jill and Bill Wunch