March 2014

information from the WCCDA

The White Center Community Development Association (WCCDA) is gearing up for 2014 Spring Clean events to take place April 12, May 10, and June 7. White Center Spring Clean is an opportunity for volunteers and residents to take part in an annual spruce up of White Center through projects aimed at cleaning up and beautifying the neighborhood.

“Spring Clean is a hands-on way to get involved in making your community, literally, a better place. Whether it’s gardening, graffiti removal, bringing in more art or whatever is identified as a community need: everyone in White Center benefits from having a neighborhood with cleaner and improved spaces to show that people in this community care about where they live and/or run a business,” says White Center CDA’s business district manager, Vy Nguyen. “Spring Cleans are fun and a great way to connect with others that care about community, plus a way to score a free I ‘heart’ White Center t-shirt!”

The Admiral Benbow at 4210 S.W. Admiral Way is coming back. The restaurant which has been operating on the site for more than six decades was at one point going to be torn down and a four story mixed use building put up.

But those plans never came to fruition. So the storied location where troubled actress Frances Farmer came to have a cocktail, where the Seafair Pirates often visited in part because of the nautical theme, where a female ghost haunts the ladies room and where Seattle grunge legends Mudhoney once shot a video, will be returned to its West Seattle roots say the new owners Ian and Allison Hill.

It will once again be known as the Admiral Benbow.

The self proclaimed "greatest rock-n-roll band in the world" Supersuckers band members Eddie Spaghetti and 'Metal" Marty Chandler will be making an in-store appearance at Easy Street Records in the West Seattle Junction on Wednesday, March 26 at 6pm. They are currently on tour with The Toadies and will play at El Corazon in downtown Seattle, with the show starting at 8pm.

If you've never heard of the band here are some quotes they offer from their Facebook page.

The greatest American underground rock band of the last 25 years...
- Classic Rock Magazine (2014)

One of the few outfits that can call itself “The World’s Greatest Rock ’n’ Roll Band!” and actually get away with it, the Supersuckers eat Marshall stacks and cowboy hats and s**t out high-volume ass-kickery, Motörheading country music and Willie Nelsoning garage-punk better than virtually anyone else, ever.
– Philadelphia Weekly

UPDATE 9:45 am

A woman was charged with arson in West Seattle, several hours after investigators believe she set fire to the top floor of her home at 10022 51st Ave. S.W.

The fire was in the top floor of the three story home.
According to police reports, investigators found a gas can in a room on the top floor and quickly determined the fire was the result of arson.

The SPD blotter report said:
"The woman had left the scene, so police contacted the woman’s husband, who was not home when the fire was set.

After speaking with the woman’s husband, officers determined the woman appeared to be suffering from a mental health crisis. The woman had left the scene before officers arrived, but returned home around 1:30 AM, where police took her into custody. Officers later booked the woman into the King County Jail for investigation of arson.
Fire investigators estimate the fire caused $450,000 in damage to the home."

Original Post Mar. 25

Information from WSDOT

WSDOT’s SR 99 Spokane St. "Timber Bridge" replacement completed its last traffic milestone this past Saturday when traffic was restored to two lanes in each direction. 

Traffic in the southbound direction was restored to the pre-construction configuration. 

Traffic in the NB direction was modified slightly. 

The pre-construction configuration has three lanes south of the bridge with the right lane being an option lane to E. Marginal and the right lane ending on the bridge itself.  In the new configuration the right lane is an exit only lane to E. Marginal with the center and left lanes continuing over the bridge. 

Overall, traffic should improve in the SB direction with the restored capacity.

Information from the King County Sheriff

King County Sheriff’s detectives have released a sketch of a man that violently assaulted and raped a woman earlier this month.

On Friday, March 7th just after midnight the victim was walking eastbound on the south side of Roxbury near 24th Ave. She was approached by a black male who asked her for a cigarette. The victim gave the suspect a cigarette when the suspect suddenly dragged her to a nearby lot where he punched her repeatedly then sexually assaulted her.

After the assault the suspect fled, taking the victims purse with him. The purse was never located and may have been discarded nearby or possibly given to an associate of the suspect. The purse is very distinctive (see photo)

The suspect was described as a younger black male, early 20’s, about 5’9”, medium build wearing a dark colored hoodie and jeans. The suspect may have injuries to his hands due to the violent assault on the victim.

If you have information about this suspect or the missing purse please call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311 (24 hours).

to the editor:
BAT (Burien Actors Theatre) just completed its five week run of “Noises Off” at the old Staples space in Burien. BAT moved to that location following the fire at its home theater space. It just goes to show, if you give art a chance, it will happen wherever.

BAT’s old theater space is being rebuilt. Thanks to the City of Burien. Thanks too to the City for granting BAT a permit to use the old Staples space.

Big thanks also go to BAT’s audience, both new and old, who followed BAT to its temporary space to enjoy “Noises Off.” The show was a great success. Audiences loved it. There is a very good reason why “Noises Off” is called one of the funniest scripts ever written, and BAT’s production highlighted all of the laughs. Thank you, thank, thank you.

BAT’s audience is sole the reason to put on a show. Without you, there would be no reason to produce better live theater. BAT draws its strength from its audience. Thanks to all who came to see “Noises Off.”

White Center- King County Sheriff’s detectives have released a sketch of a man that violently assaulted and raped a woman earlier this month.

On Friday, March 7th just after midnight the victim was walking eastbound on the south side of Roxbury near 24th Ave. She was approached by a black male who asked her for a cigarette. The victim gave the suspect a cigarette when the suspect suddenly dragged her to a nearby lot where he punched her repeatedly then sexually assaulted her.

After the assault the suspect fled, taking the victims purse with him. The purse was never located and may have been discarded nearby or possibly given to an associate of the suspect. The purse is very distinctive (see photo)

The suspect was described as a younger black male, early 20’s, about 5’9”, medium build wearing a dark colored hoodie and jeans. The suspect may have injuries to his hands due to the violent assault on the victim.

If you have information about this suspect or the missing purse please call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311 (24 hours).

Book Trust, a non profit agency dedicated to building the literacy skills of children from low-income homes through book choice and ownership, and Seattle Public Schools are teaming up Thursday, March 27 to showcase critical services being offered in Seattle. They will be at West Seattle Elementary which has participated in the Book Trust program since 2007, and since that time, students have been able to choose and own thousands of books.

Research indicates that children living in middle-income communities, on average, own 13 books. Yet, more than half of the children living in low-income communities do not have any books in their homes. In fact, in areas of poverty, the ratio of books to children is one book per every 300 children. Without access to books, children will never develop the literacy skills necessary to be successful in school. In fact children who are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. Book Trust is committed to changing these trends.

Mayor Ed Murray will be the featured Keynote Speaker for the annual Westside Awards Breakfast on April 3 at Salty's on Alki. Sponsored by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce the event begins at 7:30 am.

The event will honor three local businesses and one individual who demonstrate success and innovation that contribute to this thriving economic region.

Honors will include:

• Westside Business of the Year
• Westside Emerging Business of the Year
• Westside Not for Profit Business of the Year
• Westsider of the Year