November 2011

According to the Seattle Police Department, a man was attacked while watching a movie at Majestic Bay Theatre for disturbing the film.

The police report states that the incident occurred during the five o’clock showing of “Tower Heist” on November 21.

The victim of the attack was watching the movie when his phone rang. After silencing his phone, the victim checked to see who had called him and the suspect, who sat a few seats over from the victim, yelled at the him to turn off his phone.

Five minutes later, the victim received another phone call and the suspect yelled at him again.

At some point during the movie, the victim spoke to himself and the suspect told him to keep his mouth shut.
The suspect then left the theater twice, brushing the victim’s legs as he walked past him.

When the suspect returned to his seat the second time, he grabbed the victim’s throat with both hands. The victim stated that he couldn’t breathe and tried to pull his attacker’s hands off him. The attack lasted for about 30 seconds and the suspect
subsequently grabbed his backpack from his seat and left the theater.

Burglary call turned welfare check
Earlier this month a woman called police to her 21st Ave S.W. home to report a burglary. She said her suspect is a man she met in 2009 at a “meeting for people who want to start companies.” She believes he has been robbing her home habitually since that time. She started to describe how the man would steal items, but bring some back. She said he once took 30 cans of Chef Boyardee Ravioli for the winter, but brought two cans back a few days later. Of her 50 cans of zucchini, 47 had been stolen and seven were eventually returned. Responding officers realized the woman was unsure of when and where items were stolen from and switched gears from a burglary investigation to a welfare check. They made sure she had food, electricity, a warm home and family/friends that check in with her on a regular basis. Those basics were covered, according to the report.

An oddly careful entrance

North Delridge Neighborhood Council Design Review meeting on DESC project
Dec. 1 6:30 pm
The North Delridge Neighborhood Council encourages all neighbors to participate in the Design Review process for the DESC proposed development at 5444 Delridge Way SW. Beginning with a Design Review 101 meeting this Thursday, December 1, at 6:30 p.m. in the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center Room 111 (4408 Delridge Way SW), neighbors can learn about the process from a Land Use Supervisor with the City of Seattle’s Department of Planning and Development, who will facilitate a Q&A session followed by a breakout session.

65th Annual West Seattle Community Breakfast
Alki Masonic Bldg.
4726 40th Ave. S.W.
Saturday, Dec. 3, 7-11 a.m. Hosted by West Seattle Kiwanis, proceeds help fund children’s cancer research at Seattle Children’s Hospital and other Kiwanis Community Services. Two pancakes, ham slice, syrup, butter and orange juice, coffee or tea. Donations: $5 before Dec. 2; $6 at the door; $3 kids under 12 yrs. (includes photo with Santa). Tickets: 206-938-8032 or ewl@westseattle.com. Bring a new unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots.

You have many options for a Christmas Tree (though experts now say a fresh natural tree is a better environmental choice over a plastic one) and many places to get one. But for the past 22 years Holy Rosary School has been selling high quality trees and helping the community at the same time.
Santa has given us the charge of bringing cheer throughout the West Seattle neighborhood. So, fifteen percent of the proceeds of our Sale goes to these local area charities:

15% of the sale of all items goes to:

Hickman House (Salvation Army), a shelter in West Seattle for women and children
West Seattle Food Bank
West Seattle Helpline
plus the Ed Kingston family.

Located just beyond the corner of California Avenue at Dakota and 41st Avenue s.w. on the Holy Rosary School playground the sale includes a range of tree types and sizes plus garlands and wreaths.

They will be open daily until Dec. 18 Monday - Friday 3:30PM - 9PM and Saturday - Sunday 9AM to 9pm.

West Seattle Produce, the produce store on Fauntleroy Way, after opening in the spring of 2010 has been through some changes. But on Dec. 1 they will see the biggest change in their brief history as a company when they physically move across the street to 4722 Fauntleroy Way s.w. into the former Hertz Equipment Rental location and open for business there. A grand opening celebration is likely coming this spring.

Owner Bruce McPherson said it was time to make a change and the move will be especially significant since it will represent entirely new directions for the company. "We needed more indoor space," said McPherson. The former location only had 700 square feet total and especially for ladies produce shopping on colder days, it meant having to be uncomfortable. The new retail space is close to 4000 square feet but is all windows so it lets in a lot of natural light.

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The two recent and somewhat unexpected Seattle School Board victories by outsiders Marty McLaren over School Board President Steve Sundquist, and the nail-biter, challenger Sharon Peaslee with the presumed win over the well-funded Pete Maier, could do more than tweak the direction of the future of Seattle education.

McLaren, a retired West Seattle school teacher, and North Sider, Peaslee, also degreed in education, see the dust settling soon in the rough-and-tumble blackboard jungle, the Seattle Public School System. They want students' math skills to improve, and increased parental involvement in future school board decision making.

Sharon Peaslee
Peaslee explained, "Marty and I have been friends for quite a few years working on math issues together. Marty is a very savvy, articulate, sensitive person and I think she will bring the perspective of not only teachers but of students. She's very tuned in to the needs of students. I think that is what we should all be tuned in to.

Saturday, Nov. 26 is Small Business Saturday and this now annual event has become a movement across the nation to keep our economy alive and keep local jobs by keeping spending local.

The event has attracted some big name participants including FedEx, Google, Twitter, and even Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corporation.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there were nearly 28 million small businesses in the United States last year. Over the past two decades, they created 65 percent of net new jobs. Their importance to local communities extends even further. For every $100 spent in locally-owned, independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures, according to the small business advocacy group The 3/50 Project.

West Seattle and White Center are neighborhoods that depend on local residents for support. This idea, shopping locally, has benefits that extend well beyond just keeping a small business going. It actually builds a network of support for the entire community, keeping lights on, reducing crime, and preserving local resources.

The SeaTac City Council approved a 2012 general fund budget Nov. 22 that includes $480,000 more in expenditures than revenues.

Taking money out of the reserve fund will make up the difference. The city will still have three months operating expenses left in the reserves.

General operating fund expenditures will be $30.3 million with expected revenues of $29.8 million.

Expenditures for all funds are projected to be $55 million and revenues are estimated at $50 million.

That will dip the total reserve funds in all accounts from $50 million to $45 million.

“While it is most desirable to plan expenditures that do not exceed current anticipated revenues, it has become commonplace in recent years for Washington cities to supplement dwindling General Fund revenues with fund balance, in order to maintain services at levels which the citizens desire, deserve and expect,” City Manager Todd Cutts wrote in a budget message.

While the city laid off some employees this year, there are no plans to reduce the workforce in 2012.

That jolly old elf, Santa Claus has arrived at Westwood Village and you can find him to tell him what you want for Christmas just east of the entrance to Bed, Bath and Beyond from 10 am to 2:30pm and 3:30pm to 8pm Mondays through Saturdays and Sundays 11am to 2:30pm and 3:30pm to 6pm.

Photos are available through Arthur and Associates Holiday Photography (you can see sample photos at www.santaphotos.com) with packages starting at $15 for four wallet photos or $21 for a 5x7 image.

There's a Salvation Army Christmas Angel Tree at the same location for children who would really benefit from your help. The tree is laden with tags that mention a specific item you can purchase for a child. Select the tag, go purchase the item and bring it back to the tree. It will be collected by the Salvation Army and given to that child for Christmas.

Kids can also win a stuffed penguin by entering the coloring contest with images of "Westie" the Westwood Penguin available on site. Winners are drawn randomly each Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Candace Oehler, the South Seattle Community College Director of Communications, volunteered for the Morale Entertainment Foundation which produced the highly-publicized, $2 million, Veterans Day basketball game on the USS Carl Vinson.The 2011 Quicken Loans Carrier Classic took place on the flight deck of the United States Navy aircraft carrier docked at Naval Base Coronado, in the San Diego Harbor. The Veterans Day celebration was created to entertain and honor the men and women of the Armed Forces.

According to Morale Entertainment Foundation's website, "Morale Entertainment works closely with Armed Forces Entertainment to bring outstanding tours downrange. As the official Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel overseas, Armed Forces Entertainment and its performers have the honor of supporting soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors by bringing them the very best in American entertainment.
Entertainment has long been one of the biggest morale boosters for US military personnel serving overseas."