July 2013

Information from Seattle Public Schools

Seattle Public Schools to host a community meeting on
Arbor Heights Elementary School BEX IV Project
Date: Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Time: 7:00–8:30 p.m.
Location: Arbor Heights Elementary School, 3701 SW 104th

Dear Arbor Heights community,
Seattle voters approved the Seattle Public Schools Building Excellence IV (BEX IV) Capital Levy in February 2013, which includes the project to replace the existing Arbor Heights building with a newly constructed elementary school building on the Arbor Heights site.

The meeting will be presented by representatives of Seattle Public Schools capital projects team and Bassetti Architects and will include information about the projects’ early design progress. You will be able to learn more about the project scope, schedule, existing conditions and design explorations, ask questions and give feedback.

Editor's note: West Seattle block watch captain Carolyn Hart shared the following story (and a number of helpful tips) about a suspicious Comcast technician visiting a West Seattle home with Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon recently. Solomon passed it along to the community-at-large.

By Carolyn Hart

Safety first when service technicians visit your home!

An incident (earlier this month) in the neighborhood of S.W. 112th and Marine View Place S.W. suggests that a man driving a Comcast truck who does contractual work for Comcast very likely used his position as a contractual worker for Comcast to gain access to a home and scope it out as a possible burglary opportunity, or worse.

Just as you would never ever give your credit card information out over the phone unless you initiated the call, never ever let anyone into your home to perform a service call for your internet or TV or phone service (or any other kind of service) unless you personally initiated the request for service with the company.

Vacationing man gets bicycle stolen

July 5, 2:06 p.m., 1500 Block of NW 59th St -- A man's bike was stolen while he was on vacation. An unknown suspect entered the apartment's secure garage and stole it. Police officers checked for prints but could not find any.

Burglar makes off with change, digital camera

July 5, 12:28 a.m., 300 Block of NW 77th St -- When a woman arrived home late at night, around 11:25 p.m., she found a window and a door open and several items missing. Missing items included an unknown amount of change from her change jar, a digital camera and maybe some jewelry (she could tell it had been gone through, but was unsure if anything was taken).

A neighbor said that at approximately 11:30 p.m., she saw an unknown male come out of the yard with a dark colored bag. She described the suspect as 6'2", African American, male and athletic. She said the suspect had very short braided hair.

A fingerprint check turned up negative.

Don't trust a girl named Sky

Chief Sealth Athletic Director Sam Reed is leaving his post for a position in the Tacoma School District. In January of this year, Reed was named Washinton Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) District 2 Athletic Director of the year. WIAA District 2 includes all the schools from KingCo 4A, KingCo 3A, Metro 3A, Emerald City 1A, and SeaTac 1A and 1B leagues.

Here is the letter Reed send to staff, students and parents of Chief Sealth International High School.

Dear Sealth Community,

I hope this e-mail finds you well and that you and your families are enjoying your summer to date. I’m writing you say that I have made the difficult decision to accept a new opportunity that will take me away from Chief Sealth International High School.

Big Benefit for Big L Raffle and Auction from 2-6 p.m. on July 13 at Skylark Cafe and Club, 3803 Delridge Way S.W.

Here are the details from Logan Wicker's friends:
In the early morning of June 23rd, Logan Wicker was driving home from working a shift at the Skylark Café when his car was hit by a drunk driver. He and his passenger both sustained critical injuries and were rushed to Harborview. He remains in critical condition and will have a very long road to recovery ahead of him.

Friends and family of Logan are hosting a benefit in his name to take care of the financial load that is accumulating so that he and the family can focus solely on his health and recovery. To raise money towards his recovery, we are organizing an all-ages benefit on July 13th from 2-6pm at the Skylark Café. There will be live music, information about the consequences of drunk driving, a raffle containing numerous items, and an auction.

Hella Sunshine will be playing at 5pm and we will have another band (tba) before that. There will be a $10 cover at the door and kids under 12 are free.

Update for July 13
A missing elderly man from Renton who was last spotted in West Seattle on July 12 was located later that evening in Bellevue, according to the King County Sheriff's Office.

"He is safe and has been reunited with his family," Sgt. Cindi West said.

Original post on July 12
The King County Sheriff's Office is searching for Renton resident Roy Thompson, 81, who was last seen in West Seattle on the morning of July 12.

Prior to that, detectives said he was last seen at his Renton home on July 11.

He has also been traced to Stanwood and Burien, where credit card purchases were attempted or made.

KCSO Sgt. Cindi West said Thompson has serious medical issues and early signs of Alzheimer's.

Roy Thompson is 81 years old with gray hair and blue eyes. He stands 6 ft. 1 in. tall, 155 pounds and was last seen wearing glasses and tan clothing.

He is believed to be driving a 2006 gray Toyota Avalon with WA license plate AJY8994.

If you see him, please contact the Sheriff's Office at 206-296-3311 or call 911.

Information from the Seattle Chinese Garden

Saturday, July 13, 1–2 pm
Seattle Wushu Center students demonstrate wushu, tai chi, and other martial arts techniques in Knowing the Spring Courtyard under the expert guidance of Restita DeJesus, who teaches in West Seattle.

Sunday, July 14, 1–3 pm
Get a close-up look at the arts of peony painting and calligraphy by George Jiang (Jiang Yiqiao) of Luoyang, China’s famed peony capital. With swift strokes, Mr. Jiang will create vibrant art right before your eyes. Signage will direct you to either the Chan Education Center or Knowing the Spring Courtyard.

The Seattle Chinese Garden is open from 11:30 am to 5 pm and both admission and parking are free. www.seattlechinesegarden.org

Location: 6000 16th Avenue SW, North Entrance, South Seattle Community College.

West Seattle based marine mammal organization Seal Sitters is sponsoring an art and essay contest for Seattle area children grades K-5 encouraging them to become involved in protecting marine mammals and help keep our waters free of trash.

The contest is in part a celebration of The “Sentinels of the Sound” sculpture, being prepped by noted northwest artist Georgia Gerber due to be unveiled on Sept. 8 on Alki.

Seal Sitters is asking kids to imagine, through words and/or art media, the story of seal pup Spud (the name of our very first pup that came ashore in 2007), depicted in the sculpture with his mom (be on the lookout for the upcoming contest to name the mother seal).

If you ask Jeanne Pittari, she will be the first to say that she was never the best runner.

She always left that up to her spry, health-conscious sister, Mary Pittari.

Mary had lived in Ballard since 1995, was an active community member, a member of Ballard Peace Activists, a feline veterinarian and founder of A Peaceful Parting, a cat hospice service (no longer running).

When Mary passed away from ovarian cancer, Jeanne found a reason to run. It's why she will be running this Sunday, July 21, with sister Carolyn in the Rivkin Center SummeRun 5k. All proceeds from the run go toward ovarian cancer research.

Their team name? "Mary's Messengers."

"The run was a really big deal to Mary, she really became a strong advocate for ovarian cancer awareness," Jeanne said. "After she got diagnosed she realized there was such low awareness for it among woman."

When Mary was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2010, Jeanne said it shocked everyone.

"It was completely off her (and the family's) radar to be thinking she would get cancer," Jeanne said. "She was very athletic, ate very well, she looked after her health as much as any person possibly could."

Like a Phoenix, The Viking tavern rises to take over 24th Ave NW.

We already reported on long-time Aquavit joint the Copper Gate being transformed into Olaf's, inspired by The Viking's mascot and bought by fans of The Viking.

Now, according to Eater.com, 10-year veteran Viking bartender Darren Miller has bought the Stepping Stone along with wife Liz Nielson. They plan to apply for a liquor license soon and feature good sandwiches, a daily soup, a few salads and snacks like hummus. (But what about the eggs?)

"Well, I've been a bartender for years and years and years, so I figured, I'm too old, fat, and grumpy to work for anyone else, so I might as well do it myself," Darren told Eater.

The duo plans to open sometime in August. The hours will likely be noon to 2 a.m. every day.

Now, if the original Viking makes its semi-promised return to the ground floor of the new Ballard Lofts development, there would be a complete Viking invasion on 24th.