October 2012

Hilliard's barged into the Ballard brewing scene last year, and since then Ballardites have never been the same.

Offering perhaps the most delicious canned product in all of existence, Hilliard's turns one on Saturday, Oct. 6. And for it, they're throwing themselves a birthday party, from noon-1 p.m.

From the press release:

Hilliard’s Beer will be celebrating their 1 year anniversary at the brewery on Saturday, October 6th from 12pm-1am.

In addition to their tallboy cans of Amber, Blonde and Saison, the draft line-up includes Chrome Satan, E.xtra S.pecial B.elgian, Nautical Reference Pale Ale and features the re-release of their Cast Iron Stout AND $4 pints of a barrel aged version of the Saison. Only one keg will be available of the Saison so show up early for that one!

Starting at 4pm, Snout and Co will have their truck on the lot selling their delicious Cuban bowls and sandwiches.

Longtime Burien residents Gary and Marlaina Lieberg would most likely be embraced by any civic organization because of their amicable personalities and interest in meeting new people. In the case of the Burien Lions Club, where they are new members, the couple of 19 years are especially desired as Gary is paralyzed, Marlaina is blind, and they plan to be spokespeople for disabled issues through the club.

"I was an Air Force pilot in Vietnam for three years and compressed my c6 and c7 (vertebrae) when I was flying," Gary recalled. "They put me in the hospital and stretched me out. Then I flew for 17 more years, Boeing KC-135's, mostly, for the Strategic Air Command. Just when I retired in 1987 I bumped my head and became an instant quad (quadriplegic). I had a really great surgeon, and rehab, and operate more as a paraplegic."

He said of Marlaina, "You're looking at someone who's always been an advocate, and someone who, when she discovers something out of kilter she will be either challenged or want it fixed," Gary said with pride. "She's testified before the House and Senate and been in the Rose Garden a time or two. At the table when the ADA was being formed."

Washington State Department of Transportation announced that they will temporarily close the north ferry loading lane and tollbooth at Fauntleroy between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday this week.

These closures are necessary to accommodate increased construction activity on King County's Barton Pump Station Upgrade Project. Flaggers and ferry staff will direct pedestrian, bicycle and auto traffic safely through the site, and a uniformed police officer will direct traffic in and out of the terminal.

For more information about the Barton Pump Station Upgrade Project, call the 24-hour project hotline at 206-296-2999.

Arbor Heights Elementary School received an Emergency and Disaster Preparedness grant from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. As part of this grant they will be hosting an Emergency Preparedness Workshop Event at the school (3701 S.W. 104th Street) for parents and neighbors in the Arbor Heights area and surrounding communities in West Seattle and White Center on Saturday, October 20th, from 10:00 to 2:00.

What would you do if there was a natural disaster or emergency? Would you be prepared? What about your family, friends, and neighbors? Leaders and experts will provide you with the emergency preparedness know-how and tools to get you and your loved ones ready for the "just in case".

These organizations will be there to provide vital information: American Red Cross, Cool Moms, Make It Through, Seattle Animal Shelter, Seattle Fire Department, Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare (SNAP), Seattle Police Department's Living Room Conversations, Seattle Public Utilities, West Seattle Be Prepared, West Seattle Blog, West Seattle Block Watch Captain's Network, and the YMCA.

This weekend, people will receive what they have always yearned for: watching the Ballard High School staff perform in a musical.

Several members of BHS faculty will be in the show, called "Nunsense," including head honcho beaver Principal Wynkoop. Proceeds will go toward Ballard theater and will help send a musical to Scotland next summer in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

There are two shows, on Friday and Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., in the Ballard High School auditorium. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and children under 18.

by Patrick Robinson and David Rosen

An accident involving two trucks at the intersection of 104th and and 41st Ave. s.w. just after 8 am Oct. 5 sent both drivers to the hospital. One had to be extricated from the cab of his truck after emergency crews sawed the top of the cab off.

Witness, Alex Deckon, said," I saw a red F-250 heading southbound on 104th and a green S-10 Chevy truck coming westbound on 41st and they met at this intersection, both of them going way too fast. The red pickup t-boned the green truck pretty fast. They were probably both going 35 to 40 (...) they didn't even look and didn't even slow down. It was just a matter of time before something like this happens. I'm out here with my kids all the time, and cars just go flying by, back and forth. I was taking my kids to school, two minutes before that. It could have been me in the intersection. I actually put a caution sign out front because people go so fast.
All the other neighbors around here say this is the worst intersection, and this happens all the time. It's not safe for the kids out front and hopefully we can get something done about it."

By Cassandra Baker

6:18 a.m., October 2. 18th block of NW Market St

Police responded to reports of a burglary in progress in Ballard early on the morning of October 2 and arrived at the scene to find a suspect throwing items out of a window. The responding officer observed one of the suspects behaving erratically, and one of the officers recognized him and was able to call him by name. The officers then observed a second suspect inside the room. The first suspect was arrested and handcuffed. He was sweating and had an elevated pulse, and Seattle Fire responded to the scene and determined that he needed further medical attention. He was taken to the hospital.

The second suspect attempted to escape via the elevator but then saw two officers and tried to go upstairs instead before finally taking the elevator, at which point he was taken into custody. He was later booked into King County Jail on burglary charges.

The Monogram Club, an organization of former West Seattle High School lettered varsity athletes providing scholarships to new alumni there met at the West Seattle Golf Course Clubhouse Thursday, Oct. 4, for their luncheon.

Jerry Costacos, WSHS Class of '44, told the West Seattle Herald that he once caddied for Arthur B. Langlie, who was then Seattle's mayor, in 1940 when the West Seattle Golf Course officially opened. Langlie then became governor, from 1941 to 1945, and 1949 to 1957.

"I was scared as hell," Costacos recalled. "I don't remember much about that day."

Kim Depew:

Guest speaker was Kim Depew, Athletic Director at West Seattle High School. She has taught math and chemistry at West Seattle High School for 15 years. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree from Western Washington University and her Master’s in Science Education from the University of Michigan. She also holds her Principal Certification, doing her course work at Central Washington University and City University.

Paul and Nancy Boschee, longtime West Seattle residents, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. They celebrated with 70 friends and family members Saturday, Sept. 29th at the Burien Elks Lodge.

Paul, 84, was born in McClusky, North Dakota. Nancy, 81, was born in Walla Walla. They married in Milton (now Milton-Freewater), Oregon Sept. 28, 1947. They moved from Oregon to West Seattle in 1954.  They raised three children, Rob, Terry and Tanya Black. They have four grandsons and two great-grandsons.  

Paul sold heavy equipment, and retired from Sahlberg Equipment in 1990.  Paul and Nancy then owned and operated a successful self storage business, Hoodsport Dry Storage near their cabin.  

Paul is a member of the Masonic Lodge in West Seattle and Benevolent Order of Elks. Nancy is a member of Eastern Star.  

What makes a happy marriage?

“Never go to bed angry," said Nancy.

SDOT press release:
The number of traffic impacts related to the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project continues to shrink as construction nears completion. The last segment of project roadway still closed is westbound travel on lower S Spokane Street, which should reopen no later than the end of October. The other related project closures in the coming days are listed below.

Saturday, October 6

· The westbound off-ramp from the Spokane Street Viaduct to First Avenue S will be closed for a six hour period Saturday morning from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. Motorists traveling southbound on I-5 who wish to exit to SODO are encouraged to take the S Forest Street exit from I-5. Motorists heading northbound on I-5 who wish to exit in SODO may do so by instead using the Spokane Street S off-ramp from I-5 which touches down at Sixth Avenue S.

Tuesday, October 9 – Thursday, October 11