November 2013

A Halloween scuffle

Nov. 1, 1:41 a.m., 4300 Block of Phinney Ave N -- A man and his girlfriend went to a Halloween party on Phinney Ridge went things turned sour. It's unknown why, but a fight broke out between the man and three males who were described as "black, over 6-feet tall, with medium builds."

According to the man, the three guys punched him several times in the face and took his wallet and cell phone. Two others at the party were also assaulted, but they didn't want to cooperate. The suspects left before police arrived and no one else at the party was cooperative and no further information was collected.

The victim said he had guns at his house and said he would "take care of this" himself. Officers advised him that maybe that would be a bad choice.

A missing handgun

West Seattle’s Barbie Anaka has released a new recording entitled “Speechless”. The album offers ten tracks with seven songs penned by the artist, and three songs by others, including a version of Sade’s “The Sweetest Taboo”.

Anaka recently performed to a packed house in celebration of the disc’s release at The Triple Door in Seattle. Anaka is a contemporary jazz/pop singer, songwriter and producer with her own record label.

Barbie’s music charted at #1 on the reverbnation.com jazz charts for Seattle, a site driven by social media in early November, 2013. This comes on the heels of a successful radio campaign, where the title track, “Speechless”, attained #35 on the USA Today/Mediabase Smooth Jazz Chart nationwide. The album also registered in Europe at #15 on the UK Soul Chart Top 30 for over two months.

Did you see the cameras outside Hot Cakes yesterday on Ballard Ave? We received word from local filmmaker Brody Willis that they were shooting a commercial for a Washington Federal Bank commercial.

We don't know what it's about, exactly, but the bank was born in Ballard nearly a century ago, founded by local businessmen in 1917. They just reopened their Market St location this past March after the old building was renovated. (It had been flooded several times over the decades and had black mold growing.)

Brody sent us a couple pictures of the film action.

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From Seattle Police Department

Detectives from the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad (TCIS) are investigating a two-car collision that left several people with injuries, including one 17-year old with life-threatening injuries.

Last night, just before 11:00 pm, Seattle Police and Seattle Fire responded to the the intersection of 3rd Avenue NW and NW 90th Street for a two-car injury collision. A BMW SUV was travelling northbound on 3rd Ave NW when it collided with a Subaru Wagon at NW 90th.

The Subaru was occupied by two adults and a 17-year-old. The 17-year-old passenger sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to Harborview Medical Center by SFD medics. The two adults in the Subaru sustained minor injuries and were also taken to the hospital.

The BMW was driven by a 19-year-old man. There was also a female passenger in the BMW, but she did not sustain any injuries.

In observance of Veteran's Day, the Vashon and West Seattle routes of the King County Water Taxi will not be in service on Monday, November 11.

information from Sustainable West Seattle

After nearly 3-1/2 years of providing free tools, advice and workshop space to the community on a donation basis, the West Seattle Tool Library is holding its first fundraiser and inclusive “Festivus” party.

Everyone is welcome. No cover charge.

The fundraiser gala, which will also serve as Sustainable West Seattle’s annual winter holiday party, will be held Friday, Dec. 6, from 6:00 to 9:30 pm. Any funds raised will go to the maintenance of tool library operations, as well as potential enhancements such as extended hours and more classes, depending on the amount raised.

To be held at the dance studio at Youngstown Cultural Arts center, the fundraiser is being billed as a Festivus in a nod to a classic Seinfeld episode with beer, wine, soft drinks, food, music, a silent auction, kids activities and a used tool sale. In addition, discounts will be offered on new and renewing tool library memberships (normally a suggested $40 a year). And members who have tool library items that they’ve been meaning to return will be offered amnesty for any returned tools. No fines and no questions asked!

Information from SDOT

Thanks to the Bridging the Gap voter–approved transportation initiative, 100 new trees will soon take root in West Seattle. Next Tuesday, November 12, SDOT’s Urban Forestry division will begin planting on Fauntleroy Avenue SW from SW Trenton to SW Holly Street, and on California Avenue SW from SW Orchard to SW Graham streets.

The number of trees to be planted per day will vary because the tree sizes vary by species. The crews will be made up of three to four people and will plant all 100 trees by the end of the year, hopefully by Thanksgiving.

The large trees (Red Rage Tupelo and Magyar Ginkgo) will be planted where there are no primary distribution power lines overhead. The small trees (White Wonder Dogwood, City Sprite Zelkova, Fragrant Snowbell and Parrotia) will be planted where there are overhead primary distribution lines. Most of the small trees will be planted on Fauntleroy, while the majority of the large trees will be on California.

The annual Holiday Taste event at West Seattle Thriftway is back Nov. 7 from 4 to 7pm and will present more than 50 vendors throughout the store.

Everything from specialty cheeses, meats, to a full Rib Roasts and Turkey Breasts in the meat department will be available for a FREE tasting to anyone who attends.

Michele Grasso, speaking on behalf the store said, " We wanted to present what we can do for the holidays and this is the biggest event yet."

In addition to all the food tasting, a wine tasting will be taking place as well and shoppers can save 10% off any purchase of $20 or more during the event.

The store is located at 4201 S.W. Morgan Street.

There's no question that Ballard is densifying -- fast -- and each week the DPD Land Use Bulletin is filled with applications and decisions in regards to developers subdividing lots.

What's the point of subdividing lots, you ask? Usually it means a single family residence is being demolished to make way for townhomes or smaller single-family residences (otherwise known as infill housing).

This week is no exception. In fact, Ballard received a bigger wave of applications than usual. You can view them below.

To look up development happenings yourself, visit http://web1.seattle.gov/dpd/luib/Default.aspx

Applications

If you believe in the ability of women to change the world for the better a film coming to West Seattle is not to be missed. To better understand how central women are in building relationships, negotiating differences, showing understanding and compassion and bringing a more measured approach to life, you need to see Girl Rising at the Admiral Theater.

From Academy Award-nominated director Richard E. Robbins and the award-winning producers of The Documentary Group and Vulcan Productions, strategic partner, Intel Corporation, and distribution partners CNN Films and Gathr, comes Girl Rising - an innovative new feature film about the power of education to change a girl – and the world. Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Liam Neeson, Cate Blanchett, Selena Gomez and other A-list actresses contribute voice performances to the film, which features original music from Academy Award winner Rachel Portman, in collaboration with Lorne Balfe. It will be shown Nov. 11 at 4pm.