West Seattle, Washington
05 Thursday
4:26 PM: Just published on our partner site White Center Now: The King County Sheriff’s Office says a burglary attempt this past Sunday night might be linked to the attempted kidnapping two weeks ago. Both happened in the same block, 3rd/104th vicinity, and in both cases, fast-acting family members intervened. Here’s the newest story; here’s the previous story from early June. P.S. If you noticed helicopters in Arbor Heights/Shorewood/White Center this afternoon – those were TV choppers responding to this new information.
ADDED 5:39 PM: We asked KCSO Sgt. Cindi West if there was any more descriptive information about the suspect/s – unfortunately, she says, what’s in the story is everything they know.
We’ve received a few questions about a reported kidnapping attempt in unincorporated King County, with a mom telling deputies she wrestled her 3-year-old away from a stranger last night in her own backyard. We spoke with the King County Sheriff’s Office about the case earlier today, and the story’s on our partner site White Center Now.
Two major stops tomorrow in our area for Bike To Work Day – the customary station under the West Seattle Bridge, 6-9 am, will be hosted this year by West Seattle Bike Connections, whose website has details here. And if you head south – or ride from the south – downtown White Center, in front of Caffé Delia (9622 16th SW; WSB sponsor), is THE place to stop, also 6-9 am – here’s what they have going on. (And if you’re going through someplace besides WS/WC – check the map on the Cascade Bicycle Club website.)
(8/14 note: To check whether a business is still a current WSB sponsor, please go here)
This morning we welcome one of our newest WSB sponsors, Center Studio, which wants you to know:
Center Studio, in the heart of White Center, is an inclusive space where our community can connect – a one stop shop for holistic fitness for our bodies craving strength, sweat & stretch and our minds seeking balance, focus & peace. We offer all levels of Yoga classes as well as Prenatal, Kids & Family Yoga, private Thai Yoga Therapy, special workshops, and more! Our Pilates classes will ground your body and strengthen your inner core. Our Above the Barre classes combine ballet, yoga, pilates and strength to work your mind and body. To bring your wellness full circle, we have two intuitive and nurturing Massage Therapists who bring 14 years of experience to combine a variety of bodywork specialties including Massage Cupping – an ancient detoxifying healing modality – Swedish, Deep Tissue, Prenatal Massage, Aromatherapy and more.
Founded by West Seattle resident Lonjina Verdugo, a New Mexico transplant and Seattle resident of 15 years, Center Studio encompasses her vision of bringing together mindful movement, art and community. “After spending lots of quality time with my family in White Center I realized – *this* is the place. I launched Center Studio in Spring of 2012 and the response has been great. People always say to me ‘I’m so glad you opened the studio. We need this in White Center!’ It’s been an exciting journey so far and I can’t wait to see what happens next.” Through her own personal journey she has realized that mindful movement and its underlying lessons can change you from the inside-out as well as the outside-in.
Looking to rent a unique venue? When we are not using it for classes, Center Studio can be used for photography/video shoots, workshops, rehearsals, meetings, birthday parties you name it! The open, light-filled space is perfect for inspiration and celebration. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Center Studio is at 9611 16th Ave SW (in the heart of White Center). Please visit us at www.whitecenterstudio.com for more information on classes, massage, special workshops & events, and on Facebook for insights, updates and specials. (And here’s a WSB coupon!) Center Studio is a stop on the White Center Art Walk and welcomes artist inquiries.
We thank Center Studio for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
Two restaurant notes today:
MORE ROOM AT PROLETARIAT PIZZA: In case you didn’t catch the story on our partner site White Center Now, published late last night – Proletariat Pizza in White Center is taking over space next door (formerly Dzul Tattoo) to make more room. Still a work in progress when we stopped by Wednesday afternoon; you’ll see even more progress if you stop by tonight, when PP is taking part in Dining Out For Life. Full story here.
CASSIS UPDATE: More than four months have elapsed since word that Jef Fike, the proprietor of Cassis, a French restaurant that gained fame during a run on Capitol Hill, planned to bring it back – on Alki. Fike called recently to say it’s still in the works. The still-not-officially-announced location will soon undergo renovation, he said, and he’s hoping to be open by July 4th.
This Sunday, you can go rollerskating at Southgate Rink and not just have a good time, but also do a good deed. West Seattle resident Kathy Himes has organized the event to help her friend Pauline Hunt, a former professional mountain biker who now is living with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. They’re raising money for a Habitat for Humanity renovation for the home where Pauline and her family, including her two young daughters, live, so that it will be wheelchair-accessible. It’s a global effort – Pauline is in Canada and her friends around the world, including Kathy, are helping. So come skate 5-7 pm on Sunday, April 28, for $12, covering skate rental and a suggested donation. Kathy says there’ll be raffles too, thanks to donations from generous businesses including Zippy’s Giant Burgers, Full Tilt Ice Cream, and Meander’s Kitchen. (See the event flyer here.)
Meander’s Kitchen in White Center says it is canceling the plan to host a show by singer Michelle Shocked next month, because of Shocked’s reported homophobic remarks in San Francisco last night. Via Facebook, Meander’s proprietor Miranda Krone made the announcement about an hour ago. The concert had been set for April 26th. The online reports about Shocked’s show at a San Francisco club include this one reporting that she used a phrase best known as the slogan of an anti-gay fundamentalist church, “God hates f-gs” and that she said same-sex marriage puts the world at risk of Biblical-scale destruction. This report says venues elsewhere in the country have canceled her shows as a result. We have not, however, seen any day-after quotes from Shocked herself, so far.
TUESDAY NIGHT NOTE: Update from Miranda – she says Meander’s will host a cabaret benefit for queer youth that night, instead.
Since voters approved an initiative allowing charter schools in our state, a Charter School Commission had to be set up to oversee them, and appointees were announced this week. Among them: West Seattle resident Steve Sundquist, who served one term on the Seattle School Board before losing his re-election bid in 2011, and Technology Access Foundation head Trish Millines Dziko, a Vashon resident whose organization is headquartered at the new Bethaday Learning Space in White Center’s Lakewood Park. The official announcement of the appointments is here.
(Video from today’s council discussion)
Bottom line to today’s Seattle City Council briefing on possible annexations: While they’re planning to continue to pursue annexing two areas around South Park, now collectively known as “Sliver-Q,” council staffers suggest that even talking about the status of North Highline “Area Y” – including White Center – be put on hold till all that is settled, no sooner than late 2013. Just because Area Y said no to Burien doesn’t mean an automatic “yes” for Seattle, the councilmembers were reminded. Details are on our partner site White Center Now.
That’s one of two maps accompanying the last item on tomorrow morning’s Seattle City Council briefing agenda (9 am, City Hall downtown) – an update on possible annexations, as first reported on partner site White Center Now last week. Seattle leaders have a lot to talk about, since White Center and vicinity (“Area Y” on the map above) voters said no to Burien last November, and the Boundary Review Board rejected a bid for the Duwamish Triangle to be annexed by Tukwila. While it’s expected our city will pursue the Duwamish Triangle and the South Park “sliver by the river,” White Center and vicinity remains a wild card – the city has long had dibs on it but elected officials have repeatedly declared annexation unaffordable, and allowed Burien to pursue it first. There’s still an enticement dangling, but not for long – sales-tax credit to offset the cost of annexation, if it’s in the works by the start of 2015. Will the city pursue big, or small, or not at all? If you can’t be there tomorrow (note that it’s not a vote, just a briefing), you can watch live at 9 am via Seattle Channel (on-air or online).
Just got word that the Discount Smoke and Beverage armed robbery we covered two nights ago is indeed believed to be the work of the White Center serial robber first reported on partner site White Center Now – and that a suspect is now in custody in connection with the robbery spree, including both holdups at the 35th/Roxbury shop, and four in the unincorporated area. That’s the word from King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West, who says the 49-year-old man was arrested last night in a trailer in the 11000 block of 18th SW. Here’s the list of robberies in which he’s suspected:
January 11th, the White Center Mini Mart in the 1500 blk of SW Roxbury,
January 13th, the Zip Market in the 10600 blk of 16 Ave SW,
January 30th, the 76 Gas Station in the 2800 blk of SW Roxbury,
February 1st, the Rainbow Mini Mart in the 11400 blk of 16 Ave SW,
the Discount Smoke Shop in Seattle Wednesday night and on January 21st
Sgt. West says search warrants were served this morning at the suspect’s house and “on a relative’s house in the 9700 blk of 32 Ave SW February 1st, and his vehicle.”
Reporting for WCN, we first learned, and reported, January 31st that a serial robber was at work in the area, after KCSO said a holdup the night before at the 76 station/mini-mart on the county side of 30th/Roxbury was at least the third one by what they believed to be the same suspect:
The surveillance photos at the top of this story were released by KCSO last week.
P.S. Sgt. West says the suspect was caught through work done by detectives from south-end Precinct 4 who were determined to crack the case and staked out some area convenience stores, looking for a specific vehicle believed to be linked to the robberies. Once they had a plate, they had a name, and their work on Wednesday night right after the 35th/Roxbury holdup made the connection and led to the arrest.
7:44 PM UPDATE: Looked up some background on the suspect, who we won’t identify until and unless he is charged. He admitted to holdups in August 2005 in the same area – at the same 76 station he allegedly robbed recently, and at the nearby 28th/Roxbury Shell. He was sentenced to 50- and 45-month prison terms, but the documents don’t indicate if they were concurrent. We’ll check Tuesday (Monday’s a holiday) on when he got out of prison.
West Seattle’s Sheila Lengle is one of the artists showing and selling work right now at the “pop-up art gallery” event under way at the Technology Access Foundation’s center in White Center’s Lakewood Park. Last year, Sheila’s work was seen all over West Seattle after she won the WS Garden Tour’s poster contest. Also there, Jave Yoshimoto:
He’s exhibited internationally and is currently a teaching artist at West Seattle-based ArtsCorps.
Second from right in the photo above, that’s Vera Johnson, owner of Village Green Perennial Nursery, who’s showing photographs tonight. The event organized by Menrva Labs continues till 8 at 605 SW 108th.
Youth-sports signup season continues with an event today for Southwest Little League, whose area stretches southward from SW Juneau and westward from 1st Avenue S. From 11 am to 1 pm in the Log Cabin at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center (15th/102nd), they’ll sign up prospective players in person – so if you live within the aforementioned area, bring your child’s birth certificate, three proofs of residency, and the registration fee. Check out the residency requirements, fee details and more on the SWLL website.
Reported on our partner site White Center Now tonight: The area’s last remaining Blockbuster store is closing, with liquidation starting next week. The 16th/107th store in White Center is where customers were pointed when the two West Seattle stores closed more than a year ago.
As first reported here and on partner site White Center Now (plus this update) in the past week, a serial robber has been at work in the White Center area – and further north, with last Wednesday’s holdup at the 30th/Roxbury 76 station. Today, the King County Sheriff’s Office has just released surveillance photos, with this information:
SUSPECT DESCRIPTION:
*Black, 35- 40 years of age, 5’11” – 6’0”, medium build
*Had darker black patch of skin under left eye
*Long, narrow face, Deep voiceThe above-pictured suspect robbed four mini marts between January 11 and February 1, 2013.
His MO is to display a black semi-automatic handgun, possibly a Glock, and demand cash from the register. If you have information regarding the possible identity of the suspect, please contact the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311.
We are checking with KCSO to see if the photos are available in any higher resolution/size.
A brand-new shop just opened in downtown White Center – Rat City Records and Relics at 9632 16th SW – and it’s throwing a grand-opening party today/tonight. See our coverage on partner site White Center Now.
Some followup information on a weekend incident we covered, thanks to help from WSBeat reporter Megan Sheppard (look for her next roundup soon):
(Saturday night photo by WSB editor Tracy Record)
On Saturday night, we showed you the scene outside White Center Taco Time, where what Seattle Police described as a stolen car first spotted in West Seattle had crashed into a pole. No injuries; we saw police making one arrest.
Thanks to Megan’s research, we now know there were four people in the car; one fled, one was released at the scene, and two men were arrested and booked into jail. One, an Auburn resident, is being held in connection with a $5,000 warrant for failing to appear at a court hearing related to a South King County burglary case from 2010 and also, according to the jail register, for investigation of vehicle theft, with bail set at $100,000. The other is an Everett resident who had just gotten out of jail two and a half weeks ago in connection with another case involving a stolen car from Bellevue and a hit-run crash in Kent. This time, his bail is set at $125,000 for investigation of auto theft, and he’s also facing drug charges, after police say they found him in possession of meth on Saturday night. (The prior case has added $45,000 to that suspect’s bail, for a total of $170,000.) The report says the car that crashed Saturday night was stolen from unincorporated King County, but police had caught sight of it near 24th and Roxbury. We will check with the County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office tomorrow to see if charges are filed against either or both of these suspects.
Police say they started trying to pull over that car in West Seattle after discovering it was stolen – but it didn’t stop until it crashed into a pole outside the White Center Taco Time at 16th and 102nd. That’s all we know so far – we saw one person being arrested at the scene; scanner traffic suggested at least one other person had fled and was being sought. More info as we get it.
Early this morning, the hundreds of volunteers who fanned out for the annual One Night Count of homeless people in King County found five percent more without shelter than a year earlier, according to a news release just sent:
2,736 men, women and children had no shelter in King County last night, a small increase over those found without shelter last year. Last year, volunteers found 2,594 people surviving outside without shelter.
Teams of volunteers with trained leaders are dispatched from ten locations throughout the county to count every person they see outside overnight on one night in January. Approximately 800 volunteers counted people trying to survive in cars, tents, all night buses, hospital emergency rooms, or curled up in blankets under bridges or in doorways.
The Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness, an independent coalition of organizations and individuals that works on homelessness issues in our region, organizes the count, now in its 33rd year.
A breakdown of how many people were found in what circumstances – cars, doorways, etc. – is in the second half of this document. While West Seattle is not broken out separately from the city at large, White Center has its own column, with 51 people found unsheltered this time. P.S. We checked with organizers, and the count does include those found in “tent cities” such as the West Seattle encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville.”
(Seattle Derby Brats in action; photo by Frank Blau)
So almost everybody’s talking basketball today. But roller derby is making news too – not just because the Rat City Rollergirls‘ season is under way, but because of this big event coming to Southgate Roller Rink on Saturday. Manya shares the news on behalf of the Seattle Derby Brats:
On January 26th, at 5 pm, the Portland Rosebuds and the Seattle Derby Brats Galaxy Girls will bout at Southgate Roller Rink in White Center. They are two of the best junior roller-derby teams in the country, and they are also ranked #1 and #3 in the world.
The Seattle Derby Brats were started by a Rat City Rollergirl at Pathfinder School in West Seattle. The ‘brats’ now number 103 girls, ages 8 to 18, drawn from all areas of the Northwest.
The Galaxy Girls evolved as the competitive travel team that bouts other teams in the state and country. If you would like to read more on this sport, there’s a video at seattlederbybrats.com, the second part shows some of the girls in an actual bout.
If you enjoy great action and athleticism, come join us at Southgate Skate Center on Saturday night!
Southgate is at 9646 17th SW, less than a block south of Roxbury.
Thanks to the WSB reader who shared photos from the West Seattle Lions‘ mural dedication today at 17th and Roxbury – that’s artist Xavier Lopez Jr. above, signing his creation. Just last month, he was honored as a White Center Hero for his role in the mural art that’s popping up all around the area, including the work dedicated today.
(WS Lions president Jimie Martin with Mark Ufkes from the WC Chamber)
A map to all the White Center-area murals, including this one on the West Seattle side of Roxbury, can be found on the WS Chamber of Commerce‘s website.
First Zippy’s – then Meander’s – now, Aaron’s … Another business is moving from West Seattle to White Center. Just out of the WSB inbox, from Aaron’s Bicycle Repair proprietor Aaron Goss:
Aaron’s Bicycle Repair, Inc. says thank you and goodbye to Morgan Junction and West Seattle proper.
However, they are only moving 3 miles away to White Center!
This is very exciting news for White Center and we have been welcomed with open arms by the community.
For several years, Dubsea Bikes, a non-profit bicycle repair and ride group, has been lobbying for a bike shop in Rat City.
Starting February 1st, 2013 that will be a reality!
The bike shop will be located in the White Center Square, anchored by Hung Long Asian Market.
The new address is 9988 15th Ave. SW, Suite E.
Phone, e-mail and web will remain the same. Look for updates on the shop’s website soon. www.RideYourBike.com.
Manager Gregg Sundin said the economic downturn and increasing online sales forced the decision to downsize. The shop will re-focus on bicycle repair and service but will still sell bikes, parts and accessories.
Also offered will be community-building events like Full Moon rides, Free Flat Tuesdays and hosting Dubsea Bikes repair parties.
Here’s a map to the future Aaron’s location. The space the store is leaving was the Morgan Junction state liquor store until four years ago, when the state closed it, and the bike shop moved in from another space nearby.
Some restaurant news on this quiet post-holiday-transition Monday: Walking along 16th SW in downtown White Center this morning, we noticed a sign up in the window of TT’s Soul Kitchen, at the former site of Pho Lynna (southeast corner of 16th and Roxbury): It’s scheduled to open tomorrow at 11 am, with live jazz for the first official lunch crowd from noon-2 pm. The proprietors are a White Center couple, Tony and Trina – they were out when we stopped by, but a staffer told us they’ll be open 11 am till 10 pm Tuesdays through Sundays (we’ll doublecheck as soon as we hear back from them). There’s an image of their menu on Facebook – with lunch and dinner items including sandwiches, burgers, gumbo, fried chicken and fish, and more.
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