June 2015

By Pat Cashman

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
---Franklin Delano Roosevelt

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. And, of course, the boogieman.”
---Pat Paulsen

My car was wearing more dirt than a pitcher’s mound the other day, so I decided the time was apt to run it through a car wash. After selecting the $8.99 Super-Duper, Bubbler-Scrubber, Master-Blaster---with wax---I began to inch the car forward.

Suddenly my passenger---a guy named Joe---spoke up and grabbed for the car door. “I’m getting out,” he said shakily. “I’ll meet you on the other end.” He leapt out and left me to ride solo through the car wash.
Climbing back in afterward, Joe sheepishly apologized. “I’ve always been freaked out by automatic car washes,” he said. “I’m not all that crazy about the Great Wolf Lodge either.”

Seattle Chinese Garden Tour and Work Party
Saturday, June 27— 10 am to 3 pm
6000 16th Avenue SW, North Entrance at South Seattle College

Come volunteer anytime between 10 am to 3 pm to help ensure the garden looks great for summer events and visitors. Gardener Bob Seely will give a quick site tour at 10 am. Then help water plants, weed, tidy and rake beds, or prune/thin bamboo. Bring tools if you have them, plus gloves, and lunch. For info: seattlechinesegarden.org

Discovery Shop
4535 California Ave. S.W.
206 937 7169
DONATE SHOP VOLUNTEER
That's how you can help us fund cancer cure research so come volunteer for a great cause and join others in having a good time doing it.  Stop by the store and find out how you make a difference.  The American Cancer Society shop is open Sundays 11 am to 3 pm and all other days 10 amlivepage.apple.com to 4:30 pm.  Follow our bog at www.discoveryshopwestseattle.org and LIKE us on Facebook. 

“Swing Into Summer” Dance
The Hall of Fauntleroy
9131 California Ave. SW

By Tim Clifford

Once bitten
Police responded to a peculiar assault incident at the intersection of California Ave. S.W. and S.W. Juneau St. on June 8. The exact details and schematics surrounding the assault were still unclear at the time the report was filed.
According to the victim he was in his home when an acquaintance of his, known only as “JZ”, knocked on his door at 5:33 a.m. demanding cab fare. “JZ”, who is described as a tall, dark skinned male in his mid-20’s, was obviously drunk and is known for being “unstable”. When the victim refused to give him cab fare “JZ” bit him on his thumb, just under the edge of the nail.
Police interviewed the victim as he was being treated for his injury which was apparently quite a severe bite wound and was causing the victim extreme pain. Medics transported the victim to Harborview for treatment. Officers performed an area check which turned up negative results. “JZ” is at this time still on the loose and at large.

Mid-afternoon bus stop robbery

By Kyra-lin Hom

This last week, I had the wonderful experience of being awoken by a phone call from an unidentified number. For months now, I've received several of these mystery calls. I generally refuse to answer – automatically selecting 'ignore' on my cell if I don't recognize the number, as they have nearly all been either phishing phone calls (checking the validity and usability of my phone number) or scams with a recorded voice informing me of some fake credit emergency.

Usually these numbers ID as some foreign area code and are noticeably scams just based on the numbers themselves. But this particular call was different. Though I did not know the number, I was familiar with the area code as being from the area surrounding my graduate school. (I remotely attend Michigan State University.) So, after ignoring the first call, I answered the second one that came immediately after.

They cast off early around 6 am on June 15 as the massive oil exploratry platform the Polar Pioneer began it's trip to Alaska. leaving West Seattle's Terminal 5 where it has been moored since mid-May.

Protestors attempted to form a blockade around the rig but the Coast Guard took charge and towed them out of the way. Several protestors were detained by officials, City Councilmember Mike O'Brien was among those detained. He was fined $250.

The rig is headed to the Chukchi Sea northwest of Alaska. Shell was granted to more permits to do its exploratory drilling in that area this summer.

They will be allowed to discharge wastewater which could include water based drilling fluids, cuttings from inside the well and wastewater produced on board.

Four more federal permits are required for Shell to begin drilling including two "incidental harassment" authorizations allowing Shell to disturb marine life in the region and two drilling permits that must be granted by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.

Seattle Fire, Seattle Police, the US Coast Guard, rescue boats and even divers came to Beach Drive SW Sunday night responding to reports of "multiple parachutists in the water" at approximately Genesee Street or near Emma Schmitz Memorial Viewpoint around 10pm on June 14.

Spotlights scanned the water as people massed on shore to see what was happening in the dark water. A response team was sent to Don Armeni Boat Launch to treat anyone they recovered.

But in the end, it wasn't parachutists after all. It was multiple mylar balloons.

They were recovered and all units returned to service.

information from the Morgan Junction Festival

The 10th anniversary of the Morgan Junction Community Festival produced by the Morgan Community Association (MoCA) will be celebrated on June 20th, starting at 10:30 am and ending at 6:00 pm. This year’s festival will feature several special events in addition to the “Bite” and “Bark” of Morgan, live music, children’s entertainment and activities, commercial vendor and community informational booths, and food trucks. The festival takes place in Morgan Junction Park and blocked off streets/parking lots near the park.

Special events:

information from King County

King County contractors will begin storm drain work near the project site on Monday, June 15. Crews will use concrete saws, jack hammers, excavators, and trucks to modify storm drains along 48th Ave S.W., Lincoln Park Way S.W., and in the intersection with Beach Dr. S.W. Crews will work on one storm drain at a time to minimize traffic impacts. This work is expected to take approximately 2-3 weeks to complete.

Traffic delays of up to 15 minutes, parking restrictions, and sidewalk closures can be expected between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Flaggers and signage will be in place to safely direct vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic around the work site. Local and emergency access will be maintained at all times.
Storm drain work begins Monday, June 15.

The bus stop on the west side of 48th Ave S.W. near the intersection with Beach Dr. S.W. will be temporarily relocated north approximately 50 feet while crews work on the storm drain on the west side of the road. Please plan to board the bus at this new location and expect delays while work is underway.