July 2012

The 2nd Annual Beat the Burn Run/Walk 5k is scheduled to take place Sept. 30 at Jack Block Park, 2130 Harbor Ave. s.w. from 9am to 2pm.

The event, sponsored by the Port of Seattle Fire Department, Local 1257 Firefighters and the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters Burn Foundation will benefit Camp Eyabsut for young burn survivors ages 7 through 17.

It is open to all runners, walkers and family members of all ages.

Also taking place simultaneously is a health/safety/kid's fest that will include food vendors, displays, entertainment and a standup paddle board and kayak demonstration by Alki Kayak Tours.

There's plenty of free parking for the event too nearby.

Event Schedule:

7:30am Registration- Day of Race
9:00 am 5K Run/Walk Siren start
9:15am Health/Safety/Kids Fests opens
9:30am Post-Race Celebration begins
10:00am Entertainment/Beer Garden/ Food Vendors begin
10:00am Free Kids Dash
10:30am Award Ceremony
10:30am to 2:00pm Event continues

Update for July 19
Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Pierre Davis provided a few more details on yesterday's shooting in Delridge at a community meeting.

Lt. Davis said the three individuals arrested are part of a group SPD has been "noticing and tracking" recently in the Delridge corridor.

A gun was not found in the aftermath of the shooting (shell casings were), but Lt. Davis said his department is "writing warrants right now," because, "what you have in that area is a few houses that are working in concert with each other ... running from house to house."

While he did not go into specifics on what activity tenants of the problem houses are up to, he mentioned drug and burglary activity as possibilities.

Original post on July 19
Information from Det. Renee Witt, Seattle Police Department

Summer update press release from WSBWCN:

Hi Everyone,
A few summer updates for you:

•West Seattle Grand Parade: This year, we decided that it would be a great opportunity to have some fun and get some visibility by walking in the West Seattle Grand Parade. You and your family/friends are invited to join us this Saturday, July 21! It should be great fun for kids (of all ages), especially those who like to dress up or are creative. I’d love to see some of you in 9-1-1 costumes to hand out 9-1-1 stickers. We also have No Soliciting signs and informational flyers about WSBWCN to give away. We could use a (decorated?) wagon or two to transport our handout materials. We’ll also need some signs espousing community building, crime prevention, and emergency preparedness. Perhaps you have better/other ideas?

Bernie Dorsey has joined Wesley Homes Retirement Communities and Health Services as the Director of Outreach. Dorsey’s primary focus is Wesley Homes Home Health.

As the Director of Outreach, Dorsey will raise visibility, build relationships and inform the public about the services Wesley Homes provides. “My ultimate goal is outreach for all of Wesley Homes,” said Dorsey, “and I’m starting with the growth of Wesley Homes Home Health.”
To Grow and Expand Our Services is one of the Five Big Goals of Wesley Homes. The other goals are: Be the Provider of Choice, Be the Employer of Choice, Be Financially Sound and Live the Mission of Wesley Homes.

The city of Normandy Park will hold three community meetings on the levy lid lift proposal that will be on the November ballot.

The first meeting is Thursday, Aug. 2 at 7 p.m. in the City Hall gymnasium, 801 S.W. 174th St.

Other meetings will be held Monday, Aug. 20 and Wednesday, Sept. 26. They will also be held at 7 p.m. in the gymnasium.

Flyers on the proposal will be handed out.

City Council members are also scheduled on Aug. 2 to select committee members to write pro and con statements on the levy lid lift for the voters pamphlet.

One possible short-term solution for Normandy Park’s budget shortfall of $1.2 million is the levy lid lift that will be before voters in the Nov.6 election. If approved, property taxes could be raised 30 cents per $1,000 of assessed home value. City Manager Doug Schulze said that would raise another $300,00 each year.

The City Council voted 6-1 on June 12 to place the levy lid lift on the ballot. Newly elected Councilwoman Stacia Jenkins was the lone dissenting vote. She argued that lawmakers should identify a long-term fix before asking for more taxes.

Press release from King County Sheriff's Office

Can You Identify This Bank Robber?

The King County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help identifying a man who robbed a bank last Friday afternoon in the White Center area.

The incident occurred at the Key Bank in the 9600 block of SW 17th around 4pm on July 13th. The suspect entered the bank and produced a note demanding money. The suspect fled on foot northbound towards Roxbury.

The suspect is described as a white male, 24-27, 5’ 6”- 5’8” with a skinny build. He was last seen wearing glasses, a dark zippered hoodie, a dark t-shirt, and gray knit cap.

If you have information about this crime please call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311

Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and charges in this case. You can remain anonymous. Call 1-800-222-TIPS.
**You must call Crime Stoppers with the tip in order to be eligible for the reward!**

West Seattle resident and Garfield High School student Miranda Kubasti, 16, is a scholarship recipient to study in Turkey for the next academic year as part of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs YES Abroad program.

Kubasti explains: “The YES Abroad program awards full scholarships to US high school students to study abroad in countries with significant Muslim populations, with the aim of promoting understanding through intercultural exchange.

“This year, 53 scholarships were awarded nationwide, with four of the
recipients from the Seattle area. I live in West Seattle and attend
Garfield High School. Ruby Fore and Amina Mohamud also live in Seattle and attend Seattle Public Schools. Maggie Alexander attends Eagle Harbor High School on Bainbridge Island.”

You can follow Miranda's adventures on her blog.

Here is the official press release from the YES program:
Miranda Kubasti Wins Full Scholarship to Study in Turkey for a Year

After 17 years, the Rocksport Bar and Grill in the Alaska Junction said goodbye to West Seattle after a raucous farewell bash on July 13 and 14 (in fact, they were supposed the continue the party into Sunday, but ran out of food and drink and had to call it a day early!).

There will be one more chance to see and possibly walk away with part of Rocksport with a public auction at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 24.

Auctioneers James G. Murphy Co. are holding the auction, and you can see pictures of everything going out for bid at their website.

The West Seattle Herald was there reporting in 1995 when Rocksport opened, and there when they closed to account for the journey in-between.

Rocksport owners are calling it quits as national developer Equity Residential told tenants on the southeast corner of the Junction they need to be out by the end of July to make room for a seven-story, two-building apartment complex. Demolition is expected to begin in the coming months.

The Seattle Seahawks are hosting the Gatorade Junior Training Camps at Alki Playfield on July 25. The two hour clinic combines first-rate football instruction and life skills messages that focus on self-improvement and a motivational life-skills session with a Seahawks player, coach or alumni.

The Gatorade Junior Training camp is FREE to kids ages 7-14. Participation is limited to 200 kids filled on a first come first serve basis. A parent and or guardian will be required to fill out the online registration form. Following the submission of the online registration form, you will receive confirmation of your registration.

Seahawks Kids Club members receive registration priority and are guaranteed a spot, even if the camp is full to any of the Gatorade Junior Training Camps.

Bailey, owned by Patricia Glen is a service dog and an unusual breed from Madagascar called a Coton De Tuléar. He's seven years old. "Coton means cotton so he's as soft as a cotton ball," said Glen, "I say he's a living stuffed animal. He just loves to snuggle and he's happy."

She got Bailey in Spanaway from a woman who trained him and she and Bailey get around the West Seattle Junction pretty well. "Most people in the Junction know him."

Bailey was actually born in Germany. "A woman brought him back here to breed and he sired three litters. His puppies sold for $2400." He has since been neutered.

Glen said that Bailey is very very calm."He's calm with other animals and with people," she explained, "and so he's not a barker. He's not a yipper. If someone comes to the door he'll bark but once they are inside and I know them he's fine.
I take him to restaurants and he sits at my feet and people don't know he's there. He also travels well. He's just so easy and full of love."