February 2012

By David Rosen

Update as of 9:00pm from SFD

February 18—Seattle Firefighters contained a fire at a 3-story West Seattle home to a laundry room. At 6:04p.m. neighbors called 911 to report a fire at the home located in the 4000 block of 52nd Avenue SW.

Engine Company 29 arrived first at the newly remodeled home. Heavy black smoke poured from the front door once firefighters forced entry. Within 11 minutes of arriving, crews controled the flames. In less than a quarter hour, firefighters completely extinguished the fire.

Firefighter’s aggressive actions contained the fire to a laundry room. The flames appear to originate from the dryer. The fire also burned through the washing machines water hose causing water to spurt across the laundry room and helping control the flames. The burned hose also poured about an inch of water across the floor of the home.

The homeowners were on vacation and no one was inside the home at the time of the fire. There were no reported injuries.

Seattle Fire Investigators determined the fire was an accidental fire caused by an electrical malfunction in the laundry room.

A cross on Calfornia Avenue, in front of the Morgan Junction Park, went up recently to honor the memory of Travis Hood who was shot to death Jan. 21.

It was built by Stacy and her husband Aaron (last names withheld by request who put it up to honor the memory of their friend but also as a place for Hood's friends, Jamie and Kerry Vause and others to note where Hood died.

"I only met Travis once," said Stacy," but Kerry has worked for my family and we've known them for a couple of years. When I heard what happened I felt it was necessary since Travis didn't have any family here and all he had was Jamie and Terry and his friend Robi, and since he was a Christian and was not being buried in Seattle that it was appropriate to put cross there. The Jaguar is on it because he was from Jacksonville, Florida and the Jaguars was his favorite team. He was a huge fan."

The West Seattle Water Taxi is in danger of losing a place to dock if the current rebuilding plans for Colman Dock are carried out.

The Washington State Ferrie's plan is to remove the northern section of Colman Dock leaving open water and to tear down Pier 50 on the southern side of the dock, currently being leased by King County. The move would not happen until 2015.

Pier 50 is also the dock for the Passenger Only service from Vashon Island.

King County Councilmember Joe McDermott is looking for alternatives but the fact is that finding one is not looking likely at this point.

"Once we learned of WSF’s plans for Colman Dock, we began a siting study," McDermott who is chair for the board that oversees the ferry district said, "We are now in the preliminary stages of that study. What we know at this point is that the options are limited. Few meet our desire to find a location that is both affordable and convenient to business hubs and other modes of a transportation."

If you'd like to learn how the 9-1-1 emergency dispatch center works the King County Sheriff's office will provide a very special opportunity on March 31 through their Citizen's Academy.

You can learn about the role 9-1-1 Communications Specialists play in the public safety system and get a good grounding in why and how call to the center is handled.

The all day class includes information on the history of 9-1-1, call-taking and police dispatching, training program, King County geography, agency partnerships, citizen training, and what the CALEA Accreditation process means.

In addition to the classroom session, academy participants will be scheduled to spend two 2-hours sessions with an on-duty Communications Specialist. The “sit-along” time will offer a practical demonstration of the lessons learned in the academy.

The academy is open to anyone at least 18 years old with no felony convictions. Applicants must live or work in King County.

Press release:
Traffic changes will be in effect next week, February 20-24, on the Spokane Street Viaduct (at the east end of the West Seattle Bridge) and the Fauntleroy Expressway (at the west end of the West Seattle Bridge) as work progresses on improvements to these structures. Both of the contractors for these two projects will work on Monday, Presidents Day. (For traffic changes occurring this weekend, February 18-19, please see the previous advisory.)
 
The Fauntleroy Expressway will not be closed Monday night, but will be closed Tuesday and possibly additional nights next week. The following detours will be in effect during the nighttime closures:
 
·         Westbound motorists traveling to West Seattle via the West Seattle Bridge will be directed to use the Delridge Way SW off-ramp.
 
·     Eastbound motorists on Fauntleroy Way SW will be detoured at 35th Avenue SW and will be directed to the West Seattle Bridge via SW Genesee Street and Delridge Way SW.
 

Mayor Mike McGinn will be in West Seattle tonight, Tuesday March 13 for one of a series of Town Hall meetings meant to let people voice their concerns and offer their feedback directly to the mayor.

The event is part of the Engage Seattle initiative.

SCHEDULE:
5:30 to 6:30 pm: Community information fair
6:30 to 6:40 pm: Performance by local artists
6:40 to 8:00 pm: Open Q&A with Mayor McGinn and City staff

Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW

A children's slide called the Slalom Glider at Myrtle Reservoir Park 6900 35th s.w. has been recalled by the U.S.Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in cooperation with Landscape Structures Inc. The CPSC stated that the slide lacks a transition platform on the top and sides of the chute. This omission has caused a number of children to fall causing serious injuries. They list 14 fractures to arms and legs, a fractured collar bone and bruises.

Landscape Structures Inc. will be working at Myrtle Reservoir Park on Monday, February 20, 2012 to remove the recalled slide.

Landscape Structures is requesting consumers to immediately stop children from using the recalled gliders.

The slide is a playground slide that lacks a transition platform on the top and sides of the chute. The Slalom Glider is a distinctive 6-foot high slide that is curved in shape and made from molded plastic. It includes an arched, tubular steel access ladder. The recalled product comes as a stand-alone slide or as an attachment to other playground equipment.

There is a second slide of this type located at Ross Playground at 4320 4th Ave. NW in the Fremont neighborhood.

Press release:

On Feb. 16, the Washington State Boundary Review Board for King County reached a final decision approving Burien's annexation request of North Highline.

The next step is for the City Council to pass a resolution confirming the Board's decision and requesting that King County set an election date, which could be in August or November.

The City Council is waiting for the state Legislature to approve a state budget before requesting an election. The Council has indicated it will not proceed with the annexation if the current state tax credit that helps cities provide services to newly annexed areas tax credit is reduced or eliminated from the state budget.

The Woodland Park Zoo's 19-year-old male Sumatran tiger named Rakata was euthanized today, following a period of physical decline and age-related kidney failure and liver disease.

The average life expectancy of Sumatran tigers is 18 to 20 years in zoos and 15 years in the wild.

A comprehensive health examination was performed on the elderly tiger in early February after zookeepers noticed a sharp decline in his activity level and appetite. Ongoing kidney and liver decline were confirmed and no other potential health concerns were identified.

“Despite supportive care and treatments, the tiger never regained a healthy appetite and euthanasia was the most humane option for this geriatric animal,” explained Woodland Park Zoo’s Associate Veterinarian, Dr. Kelly Helmick.

A necropsy performed at the zoo also showed extensive stomach and intestinal wall thickening and an unexpected hernia involving the diaphragm.

“The hernia was most likely congenital and, as recently as today, became a medical problem,” explained the zoo’s Director of Animal Health, Dr. Darin Collins, who performed the necropsy.

Poor Tommy Walker.

The son of a World War II veteran, witness to an unspeakable murder, victim of an unusual medical condition and eventually reluctant popular cult figure, Tommy leads an unorthodox life that could only be told through music.

More specifically, the music of legendary British rock sensation, The Who.

“The Who’s Tommy,” brought to life by Burien Little Theatre, is a musical play based on The Who’s 1969 rock album, “Tommy.” Directed by Steve Cooper with musical direction by Ann Sager, BLT’s latest production is a frenetic rock opera that explores identity, social manipulation and the dangers of celebrity in front of the backdrop of the political upheaval of the 1960s.

Young Tommy (Dylan Zucati) was born to a young mother (Roxanne DeVito). His father, Capt. Walker (Justin Carrel), is sent off to serve his country in the Second World War. Captured and imprisoned in a POW camp, Tommy’s father is presumed dead, which leads his mother to take on a lover. But matters become complicated when the Allies win and Capt.

Walker returns home to see his wife has moved on without him.