June 2015

Researchers from the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation will be interviewing motorists and gathering data in six Washington counties in June 2015, as part of a research project aimed at measuring driver drug and alcohol use patterns.

“Impaired drivers kill more than 200 people each year in Washington State. This research will help us better understand the extent of the problem,” said Washington Traffic Safety Commission Director Darrin Grondel.
The project is being funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and organized in collaboration with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

Data collectors will work in Spokane, Yakima, King, Snohomish, Whatcom and Kitsap counties and at five separate locations within each of those counties. For drivers, participation in this research is voluntary and anonymous. Last June they interviewed a total of 926 drivers.

“We are grateful to the media for helping us get the word out about this project because we want motorists to know that the survey is entirely voluntary and anonymous. Researchers will not block traffic,” Grondel said.

Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole West Seattle's Denny International Middle School’s Youth Ambassador (YA) class this afternoon. The class, facilitated by Lori Markowitz and Denny staff Mathew Riippa, emphasizes peer mentorship, leadership and compassion. The YA’s are currently culminating their acts of compassion projects.

The scholars felt compelled to explore issues of student safety by writing a grant to help promote safety awareness.

In preparation for the Chief O’Toole’s visit, the YA’s surveyed approximately 150 eighth graders to acquire a sample of youth opinions on how they feel safe in their neighborhood as well as questions and comments they would want to share with the chief.

Students told the chief their stories about incidents involving crime in the neighborhood.

Foss Home and Village has installed an interactive art piece on the corner of Greenwood Ave. N and N 130th. The community is invited to share their thoughts on aging by completing the statement: ‘As I Age…’ on this chalkboard wall. “It is our hope that the ‘As I Age…’ art wall will engage our community in a conversation about how each of us would like to age. It is a place where voices can join together in expressing values and hopes about growing older.” Foss plans to keep the wall up through the summer.

Having served the community since 1929, Foss is a not-for-profit organization affiliated with the Lutheran Church. Foss’ services include assisted living, short term rehabilitation, long term nursing and memory care. Learn more at www.fosscare.org.

Foss Home and Village, 13023 Greenwood Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98133-7397.

Crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation will be replacing a curb ramp in the sidewalk on the southwest corner of 24th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 60th Street from June 1 to June 12, working from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. each day.

During this work, the sidewalk in this area will be closed and pedestrians will use the sidewalks across the street. Bicyclists will merge with general traffic. The southbound parking lane will be closed, and on-street parking will be restricted where needed.

SDOT installs curb ramps (also known as “wheelchair ramps”) at intersections to create a barrier-free environment for everyone when crossing streets that have curbs and sidewalks.

Thieves take beer, beat clerk with folded belt

Seattle Police are investigating a robbery and assault that took place at a convenience store on the 9000 block of Holman Road NW on May 25. The victim told police two male suspects – one white, one black – entered the store and split up. The number one suspect went to the back of the store and grabbed two cases of beer, valued at $40. He dashed out the door. The other suspect lagged behind. The store clerk followed the suspect into the parking lot and attempted to retrieve the beverages. There was a scuffle. The suspect took off his belt, folded it in half and struck the clerk on the head and body. He made off with the beer. The clerk tried to follow but fell, which caused some injuries. The second suspect ran during the scuffle. Police dispatched a K9 and the stolen goods were found behind the building. Police believe the suspects got in a waiting car and drove off. The clerk said he would be able to recognize the suspects if he saw them again. He declined medical treatment for scrapes and scuffs.

Burglar makes off with games and jewelry

By Amanda Knox

After reading Chris Robinson and Gavin Kovite’s debut novel, "War of the Encyclopeadists," I find myself wishing I could write about it in their narrative voice. I too want to be clever and sensually-aware and write lines like, ‘he drifted back to a sort of mental hand-wringing,’ and, ‘she moved in an invisible cloud of woman-smell.’ I too want to be as insightful and eloquent as the line, ‘life is just a string of ends, none of them simple, all of them seeds,’ suggests about these two young writers/friends.

Here’s another: ‘They had no real artistic talent, but they had a knack for carrying stupid jokes to their absurd conclusions.’ This is page one, and comes across as an explanation for each successive page to come, a challenge to the legitimacy of their own literature. Except that this is a novel about Halifax Corderoy and Mickey Montauk, who are and are not Chris Robinson and Gavin Kovite. What’s true? None of it. All of it. It might as well be.

The 3rd Annual Northwest Farmers Fighting Hunger Project during June dairy month provides cash/food donations to Food Lifeline food banks when demand for food increases as school breaks for the summer. More than half or 250,000 children in Western Washington lose school access to free/reduced breakfast/lunch, with less than 10 percent having access to summer meal programs. NW dairy farmers launchedwww.nwfarmersfightinghunger.org for online cash donations, and partnered with Fred Meyer and Quality Food Center stores in Washington and Oregon for food/cash donations in the two states.

Support the cash/food drive, meet local dairy farmers, Movin 92.5 radio personalities, and pick up a free shopping bag while they last at the Ballard Fred Meyer store, 915 NW 45th St., on Friday, June 5, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Coming to the West Seattle Eagles parking area on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9:30am till 1:30pm is a new food trailer called Nibbles offering Southwest fusion food.

Operated by Robert Breckenridge and Carmen Hernandez the couple say the trailer will provide a range of menu items all developed by Carmen who is originally from New Mexico. Their signature dish will be a smoky meatloaf sandwich served on a Macrina Bakery brioche bun for $9 with potato salad and a slider version of that too for $5. They will also offer a Salmon Chili, a Smoked Chicken Salad, homemade Apple Cake and Shortbread.

Iced tea, fresh water (no bottles) and sometimes lemonade will be offered.

Both of them are chefs but Robert was formerly in the event staffing industry. Carmen was a personal trainer at Fitness Together.

"We both have always wanted to open our own restaurant and opening a food truck was a lot more reasonable in terms of overhead. Plus, we get to move around when we want," said Carmen.

They will be in the Des Moines Farmer's Market and elsewhere in the area but in West Seattle they will be open for business starting Wednesday June 3.