March 2013

Watch out for the beige Suburban
Possibly linked, police have responded to three burglaries in the past weeks all related to a very similar looking beige Chevy Suburban with Arizona license plates as the getaway vehicle. In the most recent incident on March 4, a homeowner living on 31st Ave. S.W. returned home after picking his daughter up from school around 4 p.m. and saw the Suburban parked in his circular driveway. Suddenly, two suspects emerged from his home and ran to the waiting vehicle. Suspect #1 was described as a heavy-set, possibly Samoan male with a long pony tail and facial hair. A good description of the second suspect was not available. The burglars fled and the victim went inside to find jewelry missing. It appeared the suspects used a power drill to remove the entire lock mechanism from the back door to gain entry.

Same M.O., different results

If it's one thing Mayor Mike McGinn wants to be known for in Ballard, it's helping to push through progress on the Ballard-Downtown high capacity transit corridor.

On Tuesday, March 12, 5-7 p.m. in the Ballard High School Commons (1418 NW 65th St), he will be attending the first open house on the Ballard-Down transit study, which has started at the beginning of this year and will be completed mid-2014. For residents, it's a chance to express any initial concerns, questions and support for the study and the project as a whole.

Certainly, Mayor Mike McGinn is giving it all he has. Last week, he sent out a wave of robocalls to people in Ballard and those who have expressed interest encouraging them to attend the open house. He also sent the following statement in an email:

The West Seattle High School PTSA is sponsoring their annual WSHS "Taste of the Arts" event April 5 at St. John's Chuch Hall, 3050 California Ave. SW. It's blend of visual, performing and culinary arts that offers something for everyone.

The evening starts with the ProStart culinary art students preparing and serving delicious appetizers as attendees view the visual art (Student photography, ceramics, painting, drawing, and wood shop) on display that has been judged by 4 local artists. The musicians and cast of the spring musical, "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" are present for a short time to mingle before the attendees are escorted to the high school theater for the evening's 8:00 pm performance. The orchestra and band will perform throughout the evening. Tickets are $20 (advance, $25 at the door) and include appetizers, 2 beverages and entrance to the spring musical.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS VISIT: http://wshsptsa.org/events/taste

Location:St. John’s Church Hall
3050 California Ave SW ,
Seattle, WA 98116

TICKETS INCLUDE:
Appetizers, 2 Beverages (wine, beer, soft)

You are invited to attend a Community Conversation this Thursday evening regarding the new elementary school to be built on the Genesee Hill site. This meeting will be co-hosted by Seattle Public Schools and GSNC, and will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Immediately after the Community Conversation, GSNC will hold a short general meeting from 8 to 8:30 p.m. in the same location; the community is invited to attend this meeting as well for updates on other community issues.

Date: Thursday, March 14

Time: 6:30-8 p.m. Community Conversation
8-8:30 p.m. Brief GSNC General Meeting

Where: Schmitz Park Elementary Cafeteria, 5000 SW Spokane St.

Topics: 1) Community Conversation: Progress on design of new elementary school
2) GSNC meeting: 48th Ave. Greenway; status of parks levy application; and more

Please SAVE THE DATE for future Community Conversations and GSNC meetings:

SPS/GSNC Community Conversation: Tuesday, April 30 (to be held from 6:30-8 p.m. at Schmitz Park Elementary School)

GSNC Quarterly General Meeting: Thursday, June 13 (time and location to be announced)

Seattle Public Utilities is inviting you to participate in a city-wide program to spruce up your neighborhood.

Between April 1 and May 3, SPU is supporting volunteers by providing free litter cleanup bags, gloves, safety vests and waste disposal permits.

Help pick up litter, stencil storm drains, paint out graffiti, remove invasive plants, or join an event in your community.

Neighborhood clean-ups are great for families and relationship building with your neighbors.

For more information, call 206-233-7187, or register online at www.seattle.gov/util/SpringClean.

I was fishing with my brother Russell in the Columbia River Slough one summer day in 1928. I was eight, he was ten.

The murky, slow moving river had lots of crappies, perch, catfish, carp and chubs and hundreds of logs next to a shingle mill. There were some abandoned house boats scattered along the shoreline or half submerged in the slough.

Russell could swim and was fishing off the logs. I was inside one of the half-sunk houseboats and fishing out of a glassless window because I could not swim.

Inside there was a three foot square hole in the floor where a coal chute might have been. It was full of water.

I knew the river was dangerous because one of my chums had fallen off the logs and drowned the year before.

I was lucky and hooked a small fish right away but my willow branch fishing pole had no reel so I just backed up and kerplunk!; I fell into the water-filled hole in the floor. My  bare feet just hit mud and by holding my chin high I could holler like mad for help. Russell heard me and dove into the river to swim to my aid. He climbed through the open window and grabbed me by the hair. With one hand he pulled me to safety. I was lucky.

By Kyra-lin Hom

To continue from last week, though I had a lot of fun, I sadly never got to meet Gillian Anderson at Emerald City Comicon. You know those 6-inch heels I mentioned before? Well, those had something to do with it. Turns out I'm good for about two hours in those shoes. After that, chairs become my very best friends. I learned this smack in the middle of the massive dealers' hall without a public chair in sight. I did, however, manage to convince what turned out to be the Playboy Comics booth to lend me a chair. I did not actually know whose generosity I was partaking of until I was good to stand again and the comic artist wanted to take a picture with me. So I think a photo of me is on that blog somewhere. I aimed for 90's feminism and found Playboy. I'm not sure how I feel about that...

By Georgie Bright Kunkel

Of course I pay attention to my present condition and to my state of mind. How can I not pay attention sitting here with my leg in a cast, elevated on my office shelf. When one’s physical condition is hampered for a time it is difficult to remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel. And I don’t mean the light that leads to joining dead relatives and friends in the hereafter. I mean it is helpful when suffering a downturn to remember that times will get better.

Some years ago when I was looking after my older brother, the doctor warned him that he had only three months to live. After several months he called the doctor and cussed him out, literally. “Here I have been preparing to die and I am still around. You really shouldn’t scare people like that.” Well, as luck would have it, my brother lived for many more months.

A shooting that took place at a marijuana grow operation in SeaTac early Monday in the 3000 block of South 146th Street left one dead and another wounded.

King County sheriff's PIO Sgt. Cindi West reported that a woman called 911 around 3 a.m. reporting the crime. She said there were two attackers who apparently got away though no description was available.

KCSO deputies found one person dead inside the home and another person who was wounded. That victim was taken to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.

Approximately 50 marijuana plants were inside the house, and police said detectives are investigating to learn if the attack was part of a robbery attempt.

King County Sheriffs are hoping to get the public's help in finding a double murder suspect who may be seeking weapons.

Detectives said they received information that murder suspect Michael (Chad) Boysen may be seeking to obtain firearms and is considered an extreme danger to the public and police. Boysen is suspected of murdering his grandparents in their Fairwood home (near Renton) sometime late Friday night or Saturday morning. Boysen had recently been released from prison after serving a year for burglary.

Detectives said the credibility of the information was bolstered by Boysen’s internet searches just before or after his grandparents double murder. Boysen had done an internet search of GUN SHOWS all across the Pacific Northwest and Nevada.

Detectives also released an actual photo of the victim’s vehicle missing from the crime scene. The vehicle is a red, 2001 Chrysler 300. 046XXU-Wa

(Note-the bumper sticker on the trunk, also the vehicle color is approximate and was adjusted via computer).

If you see Boysen or the vehicle call 911 IMMEDIATELY!

MICHAEL (Chad) BOYSEN
5’10” 170 lbs
Hazel eyes
26 years old