West Seattle, Washington
05 Thursday
21-year-old Tony Pham of West Seattle is the champ, after the first-ever Zippy’s Giant Burgers (WSB sponsor) burger-eating contest: 8 burgers in 8 minutes. He and his fellow competitors had a sizable audience:
Even Zippy himself (aka Blaine Cook) watched from the sidelines:
At the end, he had an expression of disbelief; second place was a five-way tie, six burgers in eight minutes:
Zippy’s planned to donate the $10 entry fees to the White Center Food Bank.
Finally got some information about the incident that brought the law-enforcement helicopter Guardian One to the Highland Park/White Center area early this morning – several people called, e-mailed and texted us about it in the 2 am hour, but we couldn’t find out at the time what was going on. Now we know that it involved a report of gunfire near 17th and 98th in White Center – first word of that came thanks to a comment on the WSB Facebook page, and it was confirmed by King County Sheriff’s Deputy BJ Myers, with whom we just talked at White Center Jubilee Days (where we’re tabling today on behalf of our partner site White Center Now). No proof of the reported gunfire, though – nobody hurt, no property damage, no shell casings found. A suspect was reported to have been seen running; deputies did make one arrest of a person who they say had a gun, but no one has identified him as having been involved with the alleged gunfire.
We’ve already previewed the Hi-Yu Community Breakfast till 11 (story here) … WestSide Baby‘s “Stuff the Bus” diaper drive 10 am-2 pm (story here) … but here’s even MORE happening in West Seattle and vicinity today:
ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR: At 4480 Fauntleroy Way in The Triangle, Diva Espresso is hosting an arts/crafts fair till 3 this afternoon – details here.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: As with every Sunday, you’ll find it at 44th/Alaska till 2 pm.
MEDITERRANEAN FANTASY FESTIVAL: Day 2 at Hiawatha Community Center! Entertainment on indoor and outdoor stages 11 am-5 pm … and vendors galore. Admission free. (Here’s our report from Saturday.)
WHITE CENTER JUBILEE DAYS STREET FAIR/PARADE: Today’s events start with the parade at 11:30 am and continue till the carnival closes at 9; you can find full schedule/event details on our partner site White Center Now.
ZIPPY’S BURGER-EATING CONTEST: Registration started at 10, contest is at 2 pm, at Zippy’s Giant Burgers (WSB sponsor), 9614 14th SW. (Entry fees donated to the White Center Food Bank, which also serves part of WS.)
34th DISTRICT DEMOCRATS PICNIC/SOFTBALL GAME: You never know who’s going to show up (check out our coverage from last year). Picnic starts 3:30 pm, first pitch 4:05 pm, E.C. Hughes Field (map/details in our calendar listing).
BIKRAM YOGA CLASS FOR WEST SEATTLE HELPLINE: 5 pm today, Bikram Yoga Seattle (WSB sponsor; 4747 California SW) is presenting a special class to raise money for West Seattle Helpline – details here.
Check the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar for today’s complete lineup …
1:35 PM: Earlier this week, we showed you a photo circulated by the King County Sheriff’s Office, showing the man they say robbed the White Center KeyBank last Friday (as reported here, right after a helicopter joined the search). Today he’s in jail, according to KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West. She says tips led to the arrest; he has not yet been charged, so we aren’t identifying him, but she says he is a 21-year-old Seattle resident. A decision on charges is expected next week.
2:15 PM UPDATE: Sgt. West has issued a news release with one more detail – that deputies “arrested the suspect late Wednesday evening near S 177 and 1st Ave S.”
Last Friday afternoon, multiple tips led us to report on a helicopter and ground search in Highland Park related to a bank robbery in White Center. Today, the King County Sheriff’s Office has gone public with a photo of the robber – so we’re sharing it here as well as on our WC site:
The King County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help identifying a man who robbed a bank last Friday afternoon in the White Center area.
The incident occurred at the Key Bank in the 9600 block of SW 17th around 4pm on July 13th. The suspect entered the bank and produced a note demanding money. The suspect fled on foot northbound towards Roxbury.
The suspect is described as a white man, 24-27, 5’ 6”- 5’8” with a skinny build. He was last seen wearing glasses, a dark zippered hoodie, a dark t-shirt, and gray knit cap.
If you have information about this crime please call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311
Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and charges in this case. You can remain anonymous. Call 1-800-222-TIPS.
**You must call Crime Stoppers with the tip in order to be eligible for the reward!**
A heads-up in case you hear them from West Seattle – or in case you want to go see them! Tomorrow (Wednesday) night is the official start of five days of White Center Jubilee Days festival fun, and that means a professional fireworks show at Steve Cox Memorial Park (just east of McLendon Hardware). Everyone’s invited to go see it – and to enjoy the carnival, complete with rides, that’ll be under way by the time the fireworks begin. The festival also includes a street fair Saturday-Sunday and parade on Sunday.
4:57 PM: Asked about the helicopter that seems to be searching in that area, Seattle Police here at Summer Fest told us there’s a bank robbery in White Center – so we’re trying to find out more from King County Sheriff’s Office.
5:03 PM: Sgt. Kathleen Larson with KCSO says the robbery happened less than an hour ago at the KeyBank on 17th SW in White Center. They’re looking for a man described as white, in his 20s, 5-5, wearing a beanie, gray sweatshirt, light blue jeans. He was last seen running out of the bank. No injuries reported.
1:48 PM: Big police and fire response in south West Seattle is headed to an “rescue/automobile” call in the 1700 block of SW Roxbury. We’ll be there shortly.
2:09 PM: Turns out the crash was not as serious as it looked – fire crews canceled fast – it was along the city/county line. King County Sheriff’s Office deputies at the scene told WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli (who sent the photo above) that nobody had to be taken to the hospital. Tow trucks are there already and traffic is getting back to normal.
Not only are we counting down to West Seattle Summer Fest this Friday/Saturday/Sunday (AND Summer Fest Eve on Thursday, featuring the West Seattle Art Walk) – we are also counting down to White Center Jubilee Days, which runs July 14-22, with a street fair those last two days. As announced, grandly, for the final afternoon of Jubilee Days, by Zippy’s Giant Burgers (WSB sponsor):
Sunday July 22nd at 2:00
Zippy’s Giant Burgers
Will be hosting their first annual
BURGER-EATING CONTEST
And throwback Sunday (special limited menu will be served all day)
Entry fee is $10
Registration begins at 10 am on the 22nd
And is limited to the first 20 contestants
18 years or older and must have valid ID and fill out a waiver form
What a perfect way to cap off your Jubilee Days Weekend!
Haven’t been there yet? Or, not since they moved from Highland Park to WC? Zippy’s is at 9614 14th SW.
5:36 PM: Receiving lots of calls/texts about a helicopter over White Center/Highland Park. Witnesses say it’s Channel 7 TV, which subsequently said via Twitter they were checking out an “unconfirmed” report of a possible drug bust in the area.
5:43 PM UPDATE: We checked with King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West, who says she’s working to get more information about a search warrant in WC.
From partner site White Center Now: A woman who’s been regularly patroling for litter and graffiti near her home in WC – where she moved two years ago, after seven years in North Delridge – is now turning her passion into a business. Lea Kuchan is launching her startup Neat Street, signing up business and property owners interested in having someone make regular visits to take care of problems from tagging to trash to window-washing. Read her story here!
From partner site White Center Now: The King County Sheriff’s Office will soon install two video-surveillance cameras in WC. Deputy BJ Myers, who announced them at last night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting, says he believes they’ll be the first “overt” cameras KCSO has installed – that means they’re not secret; their presence will be obvious, and that’s part of the point. As soon as a few weeks from now, they’ll be up at 98th/16th and 15th/Roxbury. Here’s the full story, on WCN.
Just received from the White Center Food Bank, which serves part of West Seattle too:
Volunteers Needed ASAP!
We are currently in need of volunteers that are available for daytime distribution hours including Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 am until 1 pm. Duties include: set-up of the distribution line and assisting clients with food selections. Groups and individuals are welcome. If available, please contact Audrey Zemke our Volunteer & Resource Coordinator at 206-762-2848 or email her at audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org. Thank you!
Besides the upcoming celestial events mentioned in the preceding WSB story, the Summer Solstice is approaching, too. It’s on Wednesday, June 20th, this year – but hold your celebrating a few days till Saturday, June 23rd, because THAT is the night of the White Center Food Bank-benefiting Summer Solstice Cocktail Party. Ann Kendall from WCFB says you can still get your ticket(s) if you haven’t already. It’s in West Seattle, at the Puget Sound view home of two longtime WC Food Bank supporters, Lynne Ingalls and Mike Wald; guests will include County Councilmember Joe McDermott as well as the West Seattle/White Center area’s entire legislative delegation, Sen. Sharon Nelson and Reps. Eileen Cody and Joe Fitzgibbon. Suggested donation $50 – which will help the WC Food Bank in what can be a slow time for donations, amid warm-weather distractions. Save your ticket by calling Ann at 206-762-2848 or 206-713-0031; via e=mail, ann@whitecenterfoodbank.org.
Today’s biggest Spring Clean event was in White Center, with hundreds of volunteers – many of whom gathered at the plaza in Greenbridge to celebrate afterward. We have more photos on our partner site White Center Now. Just a few miles north, in Highland Park, this was Spring Clean day too, with multiple locations – we photographed volunteer Craig at the SW Kenyon street end slope near 14th SW:
And north from there, on Puget Ridge, Tasha Mosher shares a photo, explaining, “Puget Ridge volunteers rocked the clean up today! Here is a picture from the clean up at the Myrtle Stairs. Ilah Mosher joined approximately 15 other volunteers to pick up garbage, clear storm drains, and prune back weeds and shrubs. Fun was had by all!”
Congratulations to everybody who joined forces today – and so many other days – to brighten up their neighborhoods.
The U.S. Supreme Court will uphold President Obama’s health-care plan, 6-3. That prediction today from U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott during a “Coffee with Your Congressman” Q/A session attended by more than 50 people at Dubsea Coffee in White Center’s Greenbridge neighborhood. Rep. McDermott wore a White Center Spring Clean T-shirt in honor of the big event that’s keeping hundreds of volunteers busy in WC right now, including some at Greenbridge Plaza right outside Dubsea. Other topics included the foreclosure crisis, the upcoming presidential election – the president “should be stronger,” Rep. McDermott said, while adding that he has in many aspects been “a very good president.” The congressmember is up for re-election this fall too. We’ll add more toplines plus video of the entire hourlong event later; he had a similar event at West Seattle’s C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) a year ago.
3:25 PM: Video added. Audio quality fluctuates since this event was in a busy working coffeehouse and Rep. McDermott roved a bit.
Just some of what’s happening (full calendar here) on a busy – and so far sunny! – Saturday:
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION HUBS’ DRILL: Two of West Seattle’s “hubs” are activated this morning for a drill in which volunteers are running through a scenario of dealing with the aftermath of a terrorism attack. We just took that photo as the Fauntleroy hub volunteers were gathering for their briefing. The drill, which includes amateur-radio operators as well as volunteers elsewhere in the city, is scheduled to continue till noon.
SPRING CLEAN! Puget Ridge, Highland Park, and White Center have Spring Clean events under way now through early afternoon. If you’re not volunteering – still time to get involved on Puget Ridge! – at least give ’em a thumbs-up as you pass by.
FURRY FACES FOUNDATION PLANT SALE: Buy plants, help animals! 3809 46th SW, 10 am-4 pm (continues tomorrow too, if you don’t make it to the sale today).
TIBBETTS CHURCH BOOK SALE: 10 am-1 pm at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) – go get your summer reading lined up!
COFFEE WITH YOUR CONGRESSMAN: One year ago, U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott came to C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) in West Seattle for an hour-long Q/A session with constituents. This morning he’s at Dubsea Coffee in White Center (8th about a block south of Roxbury), 10 am.
STUDENTS’ TOMATO-PLANT PROJECT: Remember that Arbor Heights classroom, growing tomato plants to give away and sell? Today’s their day at Roxbury Safeway, till about 1:30.
EUROPAKIDS OPEN HOUSE: EuropaKids International Preschool (WSB sponsor) is adding a new location this fall, but today’s open house, 10:30-noon, is at their current location, Southwest Teen Life Center/Neighborhood Service Center, 2801 SW Thistle.
REGISTER FOR TOMORROW’S WEST SEATTLE 5K: 1-4 pm today, you can sign up at West Seattle High School, whose PTSA organizes the walk/run.
WHAT ARE THE LINCOLN PARK OWLS UP TO THESE DAYS? Maybe in the mood for love, says naturalist Stewart Wechsler, who’s leading an owling walk through the park starting at 6:30 tonight.
SHOWCASE OF NEW PLAYS: Second of three nights at ArtsWest features works by five playwrights, 7 pm.
NORTHWEST CHORALE’S FOOD-BANK BENEFIT: 7:30 pm at Holy Rosary – enjoy classical vocal music, free, with free-will offering as a food-bank benefit.
Much more on the calendar!
Before we all go summer-crazed in another month or so, there are multiple chances to have fun while fun(draising). Three quick reminders tonight:
WHITE CENTER JUBILEE DAYS GALA AND AUCTION: The folks working hard to make this year’s WC Jubilee Days the liveliest ever are coming to West Seattle on Saturday night to celebrate and round up some $ toward their cause. Small plates, cash bar, music, and bidding! You are invited – 6:30 pm May 5th at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center; you can buy tickets online here.
WESTSIDE BABY BENEFIT – THE ‘SHAKE, RATTLE, AND ROLL’ COCKTAIL PARTY: Just two weeks till The Hall at Fauntleroy rocks for WestSide Baby, 7 pm May 18th – Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) sends award-winning cocktail creator Matt Johnson to do the drinks, The Mountain’s Marty Riemer is emcee, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering provides the appetizers, Not Dead Yet plays the music, and the auction items include a Walla Walla wine getaway and a Palm Desert spring break getaway. You have to buy tickets in advance – click TICKETS near the top of this page.
LAST CHANCE FOR WEST SEATTLE 5K EARLYBIRD DISCOUNT: Tonight’s your last chance to save $5 on signing up for the 4th annual West Seattle 5K, which is just two weeks away – Sunday, May 20th, along Alki, the kickoff to “car-free” Seattle Summer Streets as usual. The walk/run is a benefit for the West Seattle High School PTSA (and again this year, WSB is among the co-sponsors). Register online here.
GiveBIG TILL MIDNIGHT: If you’ve donated already, you’re part of a big philanthropic outpouring. Here’s the tally as of around 5 pm:
We’re thrilled to report that #GiveBIG has now seen more than $5 million raised for 1150 organizations! Nearly 23,000 donations in all!
— Seattle Foundation (@TheSeattleFdn) May 2, 2012
If you haven’t given yet, you still have time. This one-day donate-a-thon with participating organizations having a potential chance at some matching funds through the Seattle Foundation goes till midnight. You have to donate through a link on their site, but the money all goes to the nonprofit – we made a list early this morning of the West Seattle, White Center, and South Park participants, with their special donation links – see (and use) the list here. Speaking of WC:
‘DINE OUT FOR HUNGER’: In connection with this big day/night of giving, Proletariat Pizza and Zippy’s Giant Burgers are giving a share of tonight’s dinner proceeds to the White Center Food Bank. We found WCFB executive director Rick Jump at Zippy’s:
His organization went all-out today; Jump and others were at WC coffee shops 7 am-10 am to facilitate donations via laptops. By the way, Proletariat Pizza and Zippy’s are members of the new WSB sponsor we just welcomed this afternoon – the Rat City Business Association (meet the RCBA businesses here).
7:28 PM: On our way to check out a report that the King County Sheriff’s Office just shared with Seattle Police over the radio – an armed robbery reported at the Subway shop in the 10400 block of 16th SW. The description at this point does NOT seem to have anything in common with the one from the John’s Corner Deli holdup we covered seven-plus hours ago here in West Seattle – in this case, per the scanner, the description is “black male, around 19, bald, black sweater/red stripes, carrying a backpack” in which both a gun and knife were seen.
7:43 PM UPDATE: No deputies were at the shop, so we went in to ask about the robbery report. Store staffers say it happened closer to 7 pm; nobody was hurt.
We are at the King County Courthouse for two sentencings this afternoon. The first one has just been announced, in last year’s White Center murder of Sweetheart Failautusi: King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu sentenced Anthony Haroldlee Smith to 15 years, 4 months, as recommended after he agreed to plead guilty. More on partner site White Center Now (including video of the hearing to be added; the clip above is a short placeholder in which you see Smith being taken past the victim’s friends/family in the courtroom right after the sentencing).
We’ve spent the past 2 1/2 hours in Burien City Council chambers on behalf of partner site White Center Now – covering a big story: November has just been set as the date for White Center (and environs) residents to vote on whether to be annexed by Burien. We chronicled the meeting on WCN – as you can read here.
We had just been covering this on our partner site White Center Now, but have also received a few notes from West Seattleites who used to shop at the old WC Albertsons on 16th, so in case you are interested: The ownership change happened this week, and the signs have just gone up – the store is now Super Saver Foods, and it’s open during remodeling. More details on WCN.
| 3 COMMENTS