July 2016

Arrest for road rage on West Seattle Bridge

An extreme case of road rage did not go unpunished this week.

Witnesses called 911 around 2:15 p.m. on Wed., July 20, reporting that a group of armed men had stopped their vehicle on the westbound side of the West Seattle Bridge, pulled a motorist from his vehicle and assaulted him before fleeing.

The victim chased after the suspects in his own vehicle and also called 911 to provide information about the suspects. When officers caught up with the victim, they found him with a bloodied nose and immediately called for Seattle Fire Department medics to treat his injuries.

Police found the suspects’ red Ford Crown Victoria at a home on the 6000 block of High Point Drive S.W. After officers surrounded the residence, four suspects eventually surrendered and were taken into custody for assault.

Computers stolen from California Ave. business

Around 6 a.m. on Wed., July 13, officers were dispatched to the 5000 block of California Avenue S.W. The caller noticed a large window had been broken out.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

West Seattle waltzed past Walla Walla Valley by a 7-2 score to open the state Major Little League baseball all-star tournament Sunday.

The action for ages 10-12 is taking place at Hidden Valley in Bellevue, and West Seattle will return there for a 6 p.m. game Tuesday against Redmond North.

A win would advance the Westsiders to the winners bracket final scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The losers bracket final is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, with the provisional final at the same time Saturday to be followed immediately by any if-necessary game.

The state champion advances to Western Regional action in San Bernardino, Calif. next month.
West Seattle received a bye past Saturday's first round of the state tournament, jumping into the fray with Sunday's game.

PacWest splits at state

The PacWest age 10-11 team opened its state tournament in Clarkston on Saturday and took a 15-8 loss to Marysville, but bounced back to defeat Montesano by a 9-5 score on Sunday to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament.

The 2016 West Seattle Grand Parade Produced by the West Seattle Rotary Foundation on july 23 was full of fun and pageantry as always. Led by the Seattle Police and Vancouver Police motorcycle drill teams the event was Grand Marshalled by West Seattle's own Schmidt Family and announced by Alison Grande.

Here are this year's Parade Winners

Bands
1st                 Kennedy Catholic High School Marching Band

Drill Teams, Sr & Cheer Squads
1st           Electronettes Drill Team & Drum Squad     
2nd          The Lady’s of Elegance Drill Team     
3rd       Seattle Lutheran Cheer Squad   

Drill Teams, Jr
1st           Butterfly Electronettes Drill Team     
2nd         The Princesses of Elegance Drill Team      
3rd          Diva Upgrade Drill Team     

Performing Acts
1st        Joyas Mestizas – Seattle Mexican Folk Dance Youth
2nd      Pathfinder K-8 School Unicycle Team         
3rd       Seattle Seafair Clowns        

Cars & Antique Cars
1st             West Seattle Lions Club

The popular summertime Pianos in the Parks program came to close last Sunday, July 17 at Alki Beach Park. The program placed 10 artistically enhanced pianos for public play in area parks and open spaces. the first of these pianos found a new home at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon Street).

Following an 11 a.m. piano delivery, the Senior Center of West Seattle’s own Michael Harris hosted a sing-along with center members. Harris was ArtsWest’s Executive Director from 2000-2005 and was in the original cast of HAIR on Broadway in 1968.

This year’s Pianos in the Parks’ pianos were auctioned at pre-event kick-off event for partners and artists. Those in attendance could bid on the pianos for their homes – or for area nonprofit organizations in need of a piano. One of the benefiting organizations is Sound Generations (formerly Senior Services) for three of its Community Partner Sites – including Senior Center of West Seattle, Ballard NW Senior Center and Central Area Senior Center.

The 16th annual diaper drive by local social service agency WestSide Baby kicked off on Friday, July 22 with some people who only recently might have been wearing them. The campaign started at Alki Beach Academy with dozens of pre-k kids all carrying diapers out to the bus to be part of the drive.

From there the bus will head to the West Seattle Parade on July 23 and on July 24 park out in front of Homestreet Bank from 10am to 2pm where people are urged to stop by with their diaper donations.

Right now the agency needs
Diapers- Sizes 3, 4, and 6
Pull-ups Sizes 3T-4T and 4T-5T
Hygiene items- Wipes, Baby Shampoo, and Diaper Cream
They also accept open packages of diapers

Beyond the one day event at HomeStreet you can also drop your diaper donation at Les Schwab or any of the other HomeStreet Bank branches in the area.

Shelby's Bistro and Ice Creamery at 4752 California Ave SW only opened on July 19 and they are already at capacity with wait times for dinner of up to an hour, reports owner Shelby Varden. It's a great problem to have for any new restaurant and he's not complaining. Varden said he's already making some changes, "It's a work in progress," he said, "We're changing the ice cream line to make it faster and only offering food from the kitchen plus cones and cups of ice cream to go."

The new restaurant can seat 140 and employs 55 people right now. Dinner is a crush of people but lunch time is about 75% and through the afternoon are times when you have a better chance of getting a table right now.

The decor inside tells a kind of historical story from the very traditional ice cream bar as you enter to the back area with a 50's and 60's influenced argyle pattern on the wall to the north wall with its huge mural by Amanda Humann which contains elements of West Seattle History up to the present day.

The entire interior is bright yellow making the mood cheerful for everyone from guests to employees.

District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold's Source of Income Discrimination legislation was brought before a City Council committee on July 22 and unanimously voted to be brought before the full Council on Aug. 8.

Later in the day Herbold attended a meeting at Arrowhead Gardens, whose senior residents consider affordable housing a top priority.

Hebold's legislation protects tenants who pay rent with alternative sources of income, makes the screening practice fairer, adds eviction safeguards and bans Preferred Employer Programs.

“Today’s vote is a significant step towards increasing fair access to rental housing,” said Herbold. According to the Seattle’s Renting Crisis Report from the Washington Community Action Network, “48% of individuals who pay for rent with Social Security Disability Insurance or Social Security retirement income said that discrimination prevents them from having successful rental applications.”

information from King County

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer has proposed a solution to the current homeless encampment set up at the King County Administration building that would take advantage of nearby open space not far from the county facility.

In a letter to Seattle City Council President Bruce Harrell, von Reichbauer proposed using the former site of the city’s Public Safety Building, which has been vacant for over a decade, as a temporary homeless shelter. Recent reports indicate that proposals to develop the property have stalled, so the space will continue to sit vacant.

Now known as the “Civic Square project” the property is city-owned and is located between 3rd and 4th and Cherry and James Streets.

A streamlined design review has been approved by Seattle's Department of Planning and Development for a one mixed-use building containing 939 sq. ft. of commercial space with 2 apartment units above, and one, two-unit, four-story townhouse structure at 5452 Delridge Way SW. Surface parking would be provided for four vehicles. It is project number 3023906.

It's a companion project to one located at 5448 Delridge Way SW also a mixed-use building containing 939 sq. ft. of commercial space with 2 apartment units above, and one single-family residence. Surface parking would be provided for three vehicles. The existing structure would be demolished. It is project number 3023902.

Both projects are being developed by:
KEVIN SULLIVAN,
PIGEON POINT TOWNHOMES LLC
5242 CALIFORNIA AVE SW
SEATTLE, WA 98136

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer has proposed a solution to the current homeless encampment set up at the King County Administration building that would take advantage of nearby open space not far from the county facility.

In a letter to Seattle City Council President Bruce Harrell, von Reichbauer proposed using the former site of the city’s Public Safety Building, which has been vacant for over a decade, as a temporary homeless shelter. Recent reports indicate that proposals to develop the property have stalled, so the space will continue to sit vacant.

Now known as the “Civic Square project” the property is city-owned and is located between 3rd and 4th and Cherry and James Streets.