May 2016

(Olympia) May 23-Saving drivers lives is the focus of the “Click it or Ticket” campaign which launched this week. The nationwide campaign encourages everyone to wear their seat belt on every trip.

“The few second it takes to buckle up can mean the difference between life and death,” says Washington State Patrol (WSP) Chief John Batiste. “Collisions can occur anywhere and anytime so taking that extra step to put on your seatbelt can keep you safe.”

Extra patrols will run from May 23 to June 5, 2016. The WSP along with Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC), U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and CARE (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) are sponsoring the effort.

100% seatbelt compliance is part of Washington State’s Target Zero strategic highway safety plan. In 2015, 95 percent of Washington drivers wore seat belts according to WTSC 2015 annual seat belt survey.

Many people still think they’ll be safer if ejected during a crash. But in 2013, 79% of passenger vehicle occupants who were ejected from vehicles were killed. Each year in Washington, about 100 people who were not belted die in crashes.

A North Seattle couple known for making an old Dutch favorite is taking up shop on Seaview Avenue in Ballard.

Miri’s Snack Shack, located in the once ice cream RV-shack neighboring Un Bien and Surf Ballard at 6300 Seaview Ave. N.W., is holding their opening over the weekend and will be showing patrons their take on sweets, coffee and poffertjes? Yes, poffertjes.

Miri Plowman and Gabe Skoda started Miri’s Poffertjes last year, and since then they have been offering sumptuous sweet and savory topped Dutch pancakes to folks at Capital Hill Farmers Market and after this week Magnolia Farmers Market. They plan to offer the same sweet pancake at Mira’s Snack Shack.

Plowman has over ten years in the restaurant and catering industry, including working as a server at Bastille and Doe Bay Cafe. She also headed the menu for bed and breakfast on Orcas Island and started her own BBQ vending company.

Skoda has been working in kitchens in the area for the last ten years and worked at local spots such as Local 360 and Salish Lodge. He currently works with Foraged and Found Edibles, a wild edibles foraging company based in North Seattle.

The annual Taste of West Seattle on May 26 saw 500 plus visitors mob the Hall at Fauntleroy to chow down on offerings from West Seattle's best restaurants. Raising well north of $63,000 with more still being totaled from contributions made at the event, the funds go to help West Seattle Helpline.

List of vendors for Taste of West Seattle 2016

• Elliott Bay Brewing Co.
• Hotwire Online Coffeehouse
• Stuffed Cakes
• Chaco Canyon Organic Cafe
• The Bridge
• Baked.
• Duos Catering
• Freshy's
• Coral Wines
• The Westy
• Locöl Barley and Vine
• Cocoa Tantily
• Brookdale Admiral Heights / WS
• Metropolitan Market
• Dolcetta Artisan Sweets
• Harry's Chicken Joint
• Bakery Nouveau
• West 5
• Beveridge Place Pub
• Saltys on Alki
• Prost! West Seattle
• Mission
• Schooner EXACT Brewing Company
• Circa
• Dream Dinners, West Seattle
• Pizzeria 22
• Dukes
• West Seattle Cellars
• Menchie's Admiral

information from King County Sheriff

On May 25th, 2016, Federal Fugitive Edward Porta was arrested at a local motel by Deputies with the SeaTac Police Department. Over the past week, information about Porta was circulated by the local program, “Washington Most Wanted” on Q13Fox and their social media sites, after it was reported by Federal Marshals that he may be in the area. Shortly after the information was out to the public, tips came into the show and Crime Stoppers.

One of those tips led SeaTac Deputies to a hotel near the airport.

Once there, SeaTac Deputies were able to confirm with the front desk that a man, later identified as Porta, was indeed renting a room, but under a false name. Deputies, acting as the hotel front desk, then called Porta and asked him to come down and speak with them about a problem with the room he was in.

When Porta came out of his room, he was arrested without incident.


Porta was booked into the King County Jail late in the day on May 25th, 2016 and it is expected that Federal Marshals will take custody of him on May 26th, 2016.

information from Make-A-Wish Foundation

The average birthday celebration for Lou Cutler consists of more than just a piece of cake and a few gifts.

Before his big day approaches, he chooses to lace up his running shoes and work up a sweat to raise money for Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington, the local organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

In celebration of his birthday, Cutler invites students, parents, colleagues and community members to join him in running laps around the school to raise money for the local Make-A-Wish chapter. Each year, Lou finds the strength to add one more lap in celebration of one more year of life.

This year, Laps with Lou will take place on June 3 at 8:45 a.m. at Pathfinder K-8 School, located at 1901 SW Genesee, West Seattle 98106. Lou will run 65 laps which equates to about 10.8 miles.

Nearly 100 high school students will get a jump start on their careers this summer as part of the Port of Seattle’s summer high school internship program.  The Port of Seattle is looking for more businesses to take on interns, to teach them about the importance of maritime and manufacturing jobs, and the above-average wages they earn.
  Commissioner Tom Albro, State Representative Eric Pettigrew, Harley Marine Services, and Seattle Schools will outline efforts to help high school students into career opportunities in port-related businesses. The session will take place today, Thursday, May 26, 10:00 a.m. at Harley Marine Services, 910 SW Spokane St, Seattle, 98134.
 

A proposal to allow a 4-story, 9 unit townhouse structure at 3070 Avalon Way SW is now under streamlined design review with Seattle's Department of Planning and Development. Parking for 7 vehicles would be provided. Existing structures would be demolished. The project is being developed by Isola Homes located on 1st Ave. South who have built 17 homes, townhomes and apartments in West Seattle in the past.
The public has until June 8 to comment on the proposal.

It is project number 3023687.

OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT

The Director will accept written comments to assist in the preparation of the early design guidance through June 8, 2016. You are invited to offer comments regarding important site planning and design issues, which you believe, should be addressed in the design for this project. Please note that this is the only opportunity to comment on this proposal.

Comments should be submitted to PRC@seattle.gov or

City of Seattle, Seattle DCI, PRC
700 5th Avenue, Suite 2000

By Peggy Sturdivant

My editor Ken Robinson warned me I would have only half the usual column space this week. Unfortunate timing. I have a lot to share. Over 100 volunteers have neglected home and health documenting and assessing 7308 pre-1965 structures. We’re ready to reveal our findings and celebrate with a big party. But I’ve only got half as many words???

Just in case the editor cuts off my final sentences I’ll spit them out now. The Ballard Historical Society’s Department of Neighborhood’s funded project Mapping Historic Ballard: Shingletown to Tomorrow invites you to a community party on Saturday, June 4th at Sunset Hill Community Association Clubhouse at 6 p.m. There will be an exhibition gallery, refreshments, presentation findings, and awards for top structures and volunteers.

Seattle Police said a teenager in High Point was handling a gun when he accidentally shot himself and died Wednesday evening, May 25.

The incident took place in the 6000 block of High Point Drive SW.

When police arrived they found a male in his late teens already dead at the scene.

According to SPD others were in the house and even in the room when the shot was fired.

There is no word as to the origin or ownership of the gun.

The investigation is underway.

One of the reasons criminals get arrested is that they aren't very smart in the first place. Proof of that came this week when Seattle Police arrested three suspects at at Westwood Village Monday after they tried to sell a very expensive bike stolen days earlier from the REI store in downtown Seattle.

According to police on May 21, someone in a mask got into a fenced, gated area at the REI flagship store in the 200 block of Yale Avenue and stole a black and neon green Ghost Kato bike worth $2,700.

Keeping an eye out an alert REI staffer found an ad for a just such a bike on Craigslist. The ad listed the bike at $1,500, describing it as “brand new” and “ready to be picked up.” “Serious inquiries only!!!,” the seller wrote.

REI staff shared the ad with police, and Southwest Precinct Anti-Crime Team Officer Ernie Debelle contacted the seller setting up a Monday night meeting.