July 2015

This guy purchased 4 tires from a local business. Once they were installed, he claimed he had to go to a cash machine to get money for the bill. An employee agreed to follow him to an ATM, but the suspect hit the gas and fled the area.

He is described as having salt and pepper hair, a pointy “Jay Leno” chin wearing blue worker coveralls with duct tape on his wrists. He was wearing a blue and black construction helmet. He was driving a 1997-2003 brown 2 door Ford F-150. The installed tires have “AT TOYO” in white lettering on the side walls.

We are sure someone will recognize him! Please share with your friends and help us send a message that crimes won’t be tolerated in Burien. Tips can be called into Officer Garske at (206) 477-6708 or by emailing her at erin.garske@kingcounty.gov. Thank you!

The annual White Center Jubilee Days kicked off with a bang on Wednesday, July 15, 2015. Hundreds of people packed into Steve Cox Memorial Park for the opening of the carnival and evening fireworks.

The event runs July 15-19 with a car show on the 18th and a parade on the 19th. Everything is free so bring down the kids and family for a fun day.

The schedule of events are listed below:

SATURDAY, JULY 18TH:

-11:00AM Car Show

-11:00 until 7:00PM
Street Fair with local food, craft and art vendors (vendors: set up is 6:30AM-9AM; vendors are open Saturday 10AM-8PM and Sunday 12PM-6PM)
Kids Center
Carnival 12PM-11PM
Beer Garden
Space Elevator Races by the High Tekerz robotics team

Main Stage Bands:
-12:00 DJ T-Top
-1:30 Tuck Foster and the Mossrites
-2:30 Highline Baseball Demonstration
- 4:45 The Black Chevy's The Black Chevys
-6:15 Martial Arts Demonstration
-6:30 Library Book Presentation
- 7:15 The Salaem Band (Sponsored by the Library)
- 8:30 The EriAm Sisters
- 9:30 Priest

Family Stage:
-11:00 Mr Mario
-12:00 Rob Stuverud
-1:00 Scott Sparling Giggleworks
-1:30 BT Rhythm
-2:00 Fred the Juggler

Mayor Ed Murray joined by SDOT Director Scott Kubly, Traffic Safety Coordinator Jim Curtin, City Traffic Engineer Dongho Chang, and others presented SDOT’s plan for changes to 35th SW in a meeting July 15, frequently interrupted by angry outbursts from people opposed to the plan. They were joined by City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen. The planned changes would affect the street from Roxbury SW to SW Avalon Way.

This was the fifth in a series of public meetings to address safety issues on the road that has come to be called “I-35” due to the speeds some drivers reach and the 128 traffic injuries from crashes and 2 deaths that have occurred along it in just the last 2 years. “If we were talking about assaults or homicides those numbers would be terrifying to us,” said Kubly.

The average daily traffic on 35th SW as reported by SDOT:
16,500 vehicles per day at SW Roxbury Street
24,600 vehicles per day at SW Alaska Street

Using the Swedish model of Vision Zero aimed at reducing crashes and increasing overall public Safety, Curtin outlined the plan that is a refinement of what has been discussed in the past as Option A.

Information provided by the Office of the Mayor

Today Mayor Ed Murray announced that his Mayor’s Youth Employment Initiative has created nearly 2,000 positions for young people across the city, from summer jobs through Seattle Parks and other City agencies, to internships at private-sector employers. Financial support from private donors generated twice as many opportunities for Seattle youth as last year.

“In this year’s State of the City, I called for double the number of positions for Seattle youth,” said Seattle Mayor Ed Murray. “Our private-sector leaders are expanding the youth employment program with new opportunities and energy. Through these partnerships, young people will develop new skills for success in the workplace, building toward a bright future.”

To support the effort, JPMorgan Chase awarded the City of Seattle $500,000 over two years to fund youth internships and deliver national best practices to increase employer engagement in the Mayor’s Youth Employment Initiative. Russell Investments and Russell Wilson’s Why Not You Foundation have pledged an additional $75,000 to fund internships.

Information provided by Seattle Department of Transportation

This year the City of Seattle will launch a new program, Seattle Summer Parkways, with an inaugural series of events that will turn more than 10 miles of city streets, for eight hours, on two days, into open-street zones for neighborhoods to use in creative, active ways.

These free, all-ages celebrations will create expansive, temporary open space on Seattle’s streets, where thousands of friends, families, and visitors can participate in dozens of community-based activities, from skateboard demos, to puppeteers, to art activities to food truck dining. Neighbors are encouraged to plan additional activities.

This year’s events will take place in the Central District and Ballard:

Central District: Saturday, September 12, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
· Three miles of streets closed to traffic and 46 blocks to explore

· Featured activities in four parks: Judkins Park, Pratt Park, Garfield Playfields and Powell Barnett Park

Ballard: Saturday, September 19: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

King County Council Chair (District 4), Larry Phillips, stopped into the Ballard Senior Center on July 10 as part of his annual Neighborhood Walk.

Phillips takes a day every year to visit parts of his district for a walking tour and to visit with community members. Phillips said he tries to come by the center at least once a year. This particular tour was Phillips last as he is retiring from office at the end of his term.

Attendees were having lunch when Phillips stopped by and spoke with him about pressing issues in their community and at the center.

One issue Phillips addressed was funding for the center. The Ballard Senior Center receives some funds from the city and county for operational needs.
However, the center must raise 75 percent of its operating budget. They serve almost 4,000 seniors and other individuals a year with nutritional meals, health and wellness services, classes, social work, exercise opportunities and other programs

Larry assured the senior that because of the County’s move to a 2-year budget cycle, the center will have funding support through 2016.

A meeting and presentation by the Seattle Department of Transportation to reveal and discuss changes planned for 35th Ave. SW is taking place tonight at Neighborhood House in Highpoint. The goal of SDOT was to develop strategies to enhance safety for everyone that uses 35th Avenue Southwest. Mayor Ed Murray, will be part of the meeting joined by community members, business owners and SDOT project staff.

Wednesday, July 15
7 to 9 p.m.
Neighborhood House – Room 207
6400 Sylvan Way Southwest

For more information, please see the webpage for the 35th Avenue SW Road Safety Corridor Project at http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/35thSW.htm.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

PORT ORCHARD--A 13-12 slugfest loss to Camas spelled the end of the season for West Seattle at the 2015 Washington State Intermediate Baseball State Tournament.

Monday night's all-star Little League loss was the second of the tournament for the Westsiders, coming on the heels of a 15-2 loss to Everett in their opener Sunday.

West Seattle had received a first round bye going in, but a long stay at the South Kitsap West complex in Port Orchard was not to be.

The Westsiders came in as the District 7 tournament champions after taking the title with three straight wins at the PacWest complex between Burien and SeaTac.

West Seattle was managed for the all-star tournaments by Rick Southhall, who was assisted by coaches Michael Murphy and Mike Messinger.

Players for the Westside team were Adam Chin, Konrad Gerhardt, Will Holmes, Eli Markham, Justin Murphy, Isaac Patchen, Dylan Pool, Cole Stephenson, John Summers, Dominic Taylor and Ben Trigg.

By Tim Clifford

Vicious Independence Day beating
A disagreement over fireworks safety ended with one man being taken to the hospital with multiple fractures to his face and needing a neck brace. The assault occurred in front of a concrete plant on West Marginal Way around 3:17 a.m. on July 5, while Fourth of July celebrations were still winding down.

According to the victim he and a friend were parked in front of the concrete plant watching the street races that sometimes occur in the late hours along West Marginal. A large group of Hispanic males who were nearby were shooting fireworks at the ground through a tube and dodging the sparks that lit near their feet. The victim approached the group and asked them to stop what they were doing and to act more responsibly before they hurt someone.