February 2012

Kermit and Faye Franks, longtime West Seattle residents, will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary February 26, 2012 with an open house at The Kenney. They married February 21, 1942 at the bride’s home in Clinton Kansas.

Both KU graduates, they met teaching school in Eudora Kansas. Kerm served with the Army during WWII in Alaska, was eventually transferred to Seattle and spent 30 years with Seattle Public Schools. Faye focused her energy on raising a family, and supporting the many activities of the children.

Together they managed Seabeck Conference Grounds from 1961-1975, have been involved in many volunteer organizations, and remain active members of Tibbetts United Methodist Church. They enjoy spending time at their Lake Cushman cabin with extended family including their four children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Stop ‘N Shop
4504 California Ave. SW
Feb. 24th to March 1st, 2012 50% off last marked price on Fabric pieces and Craft items. All proceeds benefit the Senior Center of West Seattle. Remember to donate reusable items ie kitchenware, tools, knickknacks, jewelry, linens, furniture, home decorations, clothing & accessories to the Senior Centers Stop‘n Shop. Our thrift shop runs on the generous donations of folks like you!!! All donations tax deductible! Hours are 7 days a week, 10am to 4pm.

Discovery Shop
4535 California Ave. S.W.
206 937 7169

By Ty Swenson

The downside of small safes
On Feb. 10 around 1:30 p.m. a Bonair Dr. S.W. home was broken into by unknown suspects. The alarm tripped upon their entry and the homeowner came how to find the thieves stole three wristwatches and his small locked safe which contained no cash, but stocks, bonds, birth certificates, a marriage certificate and his family’s social security cards. The victim estimated the safe weighed around 100 pounds. Southwest Precinct officers have mentioned the drawback of small fire-proof safes: while they are great for protection in a fire, they are a magnet for burglars and small enough to pick up and run off with.

Small knife assault at 16th and Thistle

Edith was born in Selje, Norway October 23, 1923 and went to be with the Lord January 15, 2012.

She was the daughter of Haldor and Entse Lillesalt and was one of six children. She grew up and went to school in Selje, Norway. At 17, Edith met and later married Arvid Myrold from Starheim, Norway. In 1943 she gave birth to their son Harold Olav. She worked in a fishing cannery and cooked in a cafe in Maaloy, Norway for about 15 years while Arvid was a fisherman.

In 1961 Edith and son Harold immigrated to Seattle's Queen Anne area to join her husband Arvid, who had immigrated in 1959 to work in the construction trade with his Uncle Meyer.

In 1964 she gave birth to their daughter Rita Elise Myrold. They settled in West Seattle until 1972 when they moved to Ballard, Seattle's ethnically Scandinavian seafaring community.

Loyal Heights Community Center is once again hosting their annual pancake breakfast on March 4th. This family-fun event is the community center’s major fund raiser to provide low-income families with scholarships for programs and activities throughout the year.

In addition to the all-you-can-eat breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and sausage, there will be activities and crafts for kids.

The event will tale place on March 4th from 8 a.m. till noon at the Loyal Heights Community Center, 2101 NW 77th Street.

Tickets are $4 per person in advance, $5 at the door. There's no charge for kids three and younger.

Organizers are looking for volunteers to make this fundraiser happen. PLease contact the community center at 206-684-4052 for more info.

Seattle Department of Transportation’s paving crews plan to resurface NW 100th Street from 8th Avenue NW to 14th Avenue NW from February 28 to March 2.

Work hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and traffic will be reduced to one lane, being flagged through the work zone.

There will be a police officer at the intersection of NW 100th and 15th Ave NW. Drivers should expect congestion and use alternate routes if possible. All crosswalks and sidewalks will remain open.

For information about bus services, look for Rider Alert notices at bus stops, see Metro Online, www.kingcounty.gov/metro or call (206) 553-3000.

This work requires fair weather, and if the forecast is not favorable, the work will be rescheduled.

Tomorrow, the Ballard Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, and Consul of Norway, will be presenting speakers from Norway's Thor Heyerdahl Institute to talk about climate research and polar expeditions.

The visiting lecture series will feature accliamed researcher Willy Østreng and renowned polar explorer Liv Arnesen.

Liv Arneses:

In 1994, Liv Arnesen made international headlines by becoming the first woman in the world to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole — a 50-day expedition of 745 miles (1,200 km)

Two years later, in 1996, Arnesen climbed the north side of Mount Everest, getting to within 6,200 ft. (1,900 m) of the summit before altitude sickness forced her to descend.

And in February, 2001, Arnesen and American polar explorer Ann Bancroft become the first women in history to sail and ski across Antarctica’s landmass — completing a 94-day, 1,717-mile (2,747 km) trek.

Willy Østreng:

By Greg McCorkle
Sunday evening a vigil was held near the Vigor Shipyard on the north end of Harbor Island to honor the passing of two fallen workers. An estimated 200 family, friends, and co-workers gathered on the pedestrian footbridge near the north end of Harbor Island to share stories of the lives of Bill “Bull” Shelby and Steve Cushing who passed away last week.

Members from all phases of the shipbuilding community were in attendance.

Bill Shelby was 39 years old and had been working as a shipwright since 2006. Steve Cushing was a boilermaker and started his career at age 18 in 1989.

Mr. Shelby fell 100 feet to his death while working on a scaffolding at Vigor Shipyard early last Friday and Steve Cushing passed away from a non-work related incident earlier in the week. Stories of love and respect were shared by many at the vigil.

A memorial service for Bill Shelby was held in the Bremerton area over the weekend and the Cushing family will hold services for Steve in the coming week.

By Patrick Robinson and David Rosen
UPDATE: 7:25 Tuesday Feb. 21

The diver who died will diving off Seacrest in a deep water dive has been identified. He was Tareq Saade, 29, and his cause of death was accidental drowning, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. Saade had previously made 50 dives.

UPDATE: 8:30 pm Feb. 19

The body of a diver, reportedly 29 years old, according the Seattle Fire Department that went missing in a training dive around 11am today was discovered in about 130 feet of water about 250 to 300 yards off shore by a civilian diver named Johanna Raupe. Raupe, who is a veteran of more than 700 dives was diving near Cove 2 off Seacrest Park late this afternoon. Another set of divers had already come in after doing a grid search of the area but did not see the missing diver's body.

Raupe surfaced and called out to those on shore to call 911 but may have surfaced too rapidly and emergency personnel who responded to the scene rushed her to Virginia Mason hospital for observation in the event she had suffered the effects of rapid decompression. The hospital has hyperbaric chamber to treat the condition.

A new West Seattle based arts coalition called The West held an exclusive, invitation only event at the West Seattle Eagles club on Saturday Feb. 18 to get their new organization a memorable birth.

Formed by a variety of West Seattle businesspeople and organizers The West aims to be the prime mover behind art events of all kinds, and all sizes. Among the organizers and members of the core group are Oliver Little of The Workshop (the people who handle Summerfest every year), Lora Swift of Hotwire Coffeehouse and Swift Media Services, Brent Amacher of State Farm Insurance and his band Brent Amaker and the Rodeo, Jeff Gilbert of Feedback Lounge, Cary Kemp of Pizzeria 22, Ben Jenkins of Shadowland, Matt Vaughn of Easy Street Records Jessie Summa-Kusiak of the Skylark Cafe and others.