West Seattle, Washington
04 Wednesday
Among the stories we covered over the weekend – we learned from WSB’er “breanna43” via the WSB Forums that her mom, who lives on Alki, is the Metro bus driver hospitalized after being attacked on the job while her bus was stopped in Tukwila. Here’s our original story; we are following up this morning with safety concerns raised by her family. First in: King County Council chair Bob Ferguson sent a statement today:
I want to express my concern about the vicious attack on a County employee on Saturday. The County joins the employee’s family in hoping for her complete and speedy recovery.
As a regular bus commuter, I understand that safety aboard Metro buses is paramount. The County will investigate what additional precautions can be taken to ensure the well-being of drivers and riders alike. Bus drivers and their passengers are also grateful for the quick action of law enforcement in arresting the individuals responsible for the attack. No one should have to fear violence for simply doing their job.”
We have requested interviews with Metro/King County Department of Transportation to find out more about safety precautions and also about what will be done for this specific driver. Her daughter, meantime, tells us her mom is recovering physically but dealing with post-traumatic stress from what happened; she also has gone online and read the comments of support posted after our earlier story and elsewhere, and is “thankful that people are supportive,” her daughter says. The family’s doing some TV interviewing too; look for a followup story tonight on KING5. And we are checking with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office regarding the status of the 15-year-old arrested in connection with the attack.
1:35 PM UPDATE: Almost as soon as we hit “publish” on this story, we got a call back from Jim Jacobsen, Metro deputy general manager. He says they will be reviewing safety procedures because of this, though it’s been a while since the last time Metro checked into the possibility of enclosures for drivers; he says they’ll await results of the police investigation to see what else might be worth looking into. He says the system averages one incident each month that results in a driver injury. Drivers go through training to deal with difficult riders, he says, but in this case, their understanding is that it was unprovoked, and there was no time to go through any sort of “de-escalation.” We received early documents from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office that indicate the suspect became angered because the driver, in keeping with Metro policy, refused to open the bus’s rear door – it was after 7 pm, which means you’re supposed to exit through the front door. The suspect is identified in documents as a 15-year-old Renton High School ninth-grader; he is due for a detention review in Juvenile Court at 2:30 this afternoon.
Back to Metro – Jacobsen says, most of all, “We’re pretty concerned about the operator and her family want to make sure she gets the help she needs and makes a full recovery.”
ADDED 5:31 PM: King County Executive Dow Constantine has issued a statement about the attack and Metro security – read on for the full text:Read More
By Charla Mustard-Foote
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The U.S. Supreme Court decision to allow corporations (and unions) to make unlimited contributions on behalf of political campaigns has a direct effect on the efforts of a West Seattle political legend to organize against the idea of “corporate personhood: It pushed the issue to a front burner of local political discussion.
Six months ago, Georgie Bright Kunkel convened a group of West Seattleites to study the issue and to recruit and train speakers who could educate the community about the effects of a set of seemingly obscure court decisions that essentially gave corporations the same constitutional rights as individuals. And they’re getting ready to meet again.
You may have heard the story already today – a 56-year-old Metro bus driver beaten unconscious while on the job, driving her bus in Tukwila early today. In some reports, like this one from KING5, the assault was somewhat overshadowed by the fact two police cars crashed while rushing to help. Tonight in the WSB Forums, member “breanna43” says the driver is her mom, an Alki resident, and asks for prayers. A news release from King County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. John Urquhart says:
The incident occurred just after midnight this morning (January 23rd). The Route 124 bus stopped in Tukwila at S. 144th and International Blvd [map] to let passengers off. A group of seven or eight youths gathered at the back door but only two got off before the doors closed. At least some of the group went to the front of the bus and the driver was punched in the head several times, knocking her unconscious.
Meanwhile two suspects kicked and hit the rear door of the coach, breaking glass and bending the door frame. All suspects then ran off. A Tukwila K-9 dog tracked the group to a house in the 13700 block of 45th Ave South. Eight people were detained. Eventually witnesses from the bus identified three people who were directly involved in the altercation. They were arrested.
All three were booked into the Youth Center, including a 15 year-old boy from Renton for felony assault. Two males were booked for felony vandalism, ages 16 and 17, from Tukwila and Kent, respectively.
Neither of the officers whose cars collided – one KCSO, one Tukwila Police – was seriously hurt; one was treated at the scene, and the other was treated at a hospital and released. The bus driver is at Valley Medical Center. In her WSB Forums post, the driver’s daughter writes, “What would be so hard about building metal enclosures to keep our drivers (and relatives) safe from physical attacks?” In a followup e-mail exchange, she tells us her mom’s been with Metro for 7 years, adding, “I’d just like to say that she is a strong person and was just doing her job. I pray that King County will review its policies regarding Metro drivers’ safety. My mom was defenseless last night. I appreciate all well wishes, and she will too.”
When we reported earlier this week on tributes to Bear Silverstein, co-owner of West Seattle Cellars, we noted his memorial service was still being planned. Tom DiStefano from WSC just e-mailed to say that the information is now up on the family’s Caring Bridge webpage along with a full obituary. Service details:
A memorial service will be held at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 3050 California Ave SW, Sunday, January 31 at 2 pm with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances to honor Bear may be made to the Mission Folk Festival at Box 3125, Mission, BC, Canada, V2V 4J3 , and tax deductible donations for Anna’s education and Bear’s medical costs can be made through Anna’s church, Friends of the One, Bear Fund, P.O. Box 18646, Seattle, WA 98118.
Mr. Silverstein died last week at age 53.
Laura Bermes at Family Promise shares the photo and this report on another MLK Day of Service project earlier this week in West Seattle:
Thanks goes out to the University of Washington students who stepped up on Monday to help out at West Seattle’s only homeless shelter for families, Family Promise of Seattle (located at 3626 California Ave SW). The students worked alongside shelter guests, and Family Promise’s employee Mark Zimmerman, and Director Elizabeth Heath. The group cleared out the Day Center’s basement, leveled the floor, and put the basement back togehter again. The newly cleaned and organized space will benefit families by allowing them to store their personal belongings as they work their way through homelessness. For those in our West Seattle Community who would like to know more about how to help families going through homelessness, visit the Family Promise website, or give us a call at 937-2703.
We’ve featured Family Promise here before, including this closer look in October 2008.
The West Seattle Cellars website now includes a tribute to shop co-owner Bear Silverstein, who died last week. We’re still getting notes from people who are just finding out; we had a short report on Thursday and have since talked with WSC’s Tom DiStefano. The memorial display was up when we stopped by the shop to ask him about his favorite memory of Bear:
Bear died of complications from multiple strokes. The Caring Bridge website that pays tribute to him says details of a memorial are still being worked out; WSC, meantime, invites people to “raise a glass and make a toast” in his memory.
Thanks to Scott Durham from our fellow online-only community-collaborative news service Central District News for sharing that photo from the MLK Day Rally and March that’s under way in his neighborhood (that’s Garfield High School in the photo) – he spotted the contingent from West Seattle Neighbors for Peace and Justice. Go here to follow CDN coverage of the event.
(9/30/09 photo by Matt Durham from mattdurhamphotography.com)
Four months after residents of the homeless camp that called itself “Nickelsville” were ordered out of West Seattle’s T-107 Park, what’s happened to them? A camp still using that name is currently set up at a church southeast of downtown. But another group spun off after the uncertainty that followed the eviction – unable or unwilling, for a host of reasons, to join the others, but just as much in need of help. The spinoff group became part of an effort called People’s Place, co-created by a West Seattle activist, looking ahead to a fundraiser this Friday. Ahead, what they’re about, and how you can help:Read More
After getting a note from Laurie with word that West Seattle Cellars co-owner Bear Silverstein has died, we went to the store to confirm it in person a short time ago – and in the meantime received this note from Sue Winter:
The family has asked me to let you know that Bear Silverstein, owner of West Seattle Cellars, passed away this morning after a prolonged illness. A devoted husband and father, Bear was involved with many community organizations, including West Seattle Helpline and Westside School. His family has set up a website at CaringBridge.org: www.caringbridge.org/visit/cheersbear, with a guestbook for posting remembrances [here]. Plans for a memorial service are pending.
Mr. Silverstein and business partners Tom and Jan (shown on this page from the WS Cellars website) have owned the store for almost a decade.
Story and photos by Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Popular wisdom holds that it’s best not to combine monetary transactions with friendship. Diane Steele gives the lie to that one. Steele will spend her last day as a teller at the Junction Wells Fargo Bank tomorrow, retiring just a month shy of 27 years at that location.
She’s made so many friends of her customers during that time, one of them, Kayla Weiner, got in touch with us to make sure Steele received the tribute she deserved.
“She is an amazing person who knows the name of everyone,” Weiner told WSB. “She knows about them and their family. Last year she even made a donation for me when I did the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk. She is an institution, as those who know her can attest. I for one will really miss her.”
A visit to Steele’s branch confirms those sentiments. A huge card and message book are filling up with well wishes from devoted customers and coworkers. On Friday, customers and locals are invited to come in during business hours to help Steele celebrate (and grab a slice of cake while it lasts).
Steele is standing in the lobby when customer Andrew Carl enters the bank.
For those who have asked about the woman hurt when a car hit her as she walked across California SW at SW Dakota yesterday morning, friend Bob Carroll e-mailed this information:
As of this morning, her injuries include 2 broken legs (both may require surgery), fractures of the 4th and 5 th vertebrates, a broken clavicle, and a head injury. She had orthopedic surgery this morning, but I haven’t heard the outcome yet. She has been alert and talkative, and the informal feedback from nursing staff is that this is good sign.
This corresponds with information we obtained through the Fire Department, which transported the 53-year-old crash victim to the hospital. As we reported yesterday, it may be months before there is a decision on whether the 81-year-old driver will be cited.
On the left, the Helmstetlers, as in the Helmstetler Family Christmas Lights Extravaganza by the Charlestown water tower; at right, Jim Winder, the designer/programmer (see the lights/synched music videos here). We dropped in to talk with them for a moment (sorry about the pink/orange tone) while they presented tonight’s encore mentioned earlier for a family whose Christmas timing was off because of a loved one heading to Afghanistan. (Pouring rain kept that family viewing in their car, so we didn’t get to talk with them. We may get to see a video later with the special music Jim programmed for the occasion.) As you can hear in the brief interview, they’re already talking about next year! (Jim’s trying to expand his computer capabilities to handle more info next year.) But first – when the weather dries out, the lights finally come down.
A small amount of your time can make a big difference for local middle-schoolers. Here’s the challenge, just out of the WSB inbox from Romina at Neighborhood House (which built the new High Point Neighborhood Center):
WANTED: Mentors for Middle School Students
January is National Mentoring Month. To celebrate, Neighborhood House is launching the Recruit-A-Mentor Challenge. We’re trying to double the number of our CASASTART volunteer mentors for our middle school students.
Mentors are an important component of CASASTART. Each month, mentors join our students in various activities during after-school hours. These activities range from educational to simply hanging out. By being present each month, mentors become positive adult role models to our students which they may not otherwise have if it were not for the CASASTART program. The time commitment is two hours per month with the students plus some planning time with the other mentors. We ask that mentors commit at least six months to the program.
If you (or anyone you know) are interested in becoming a mentor, please e-mail RominaR@nhwa.org for more information on how to get started as a mentor.
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
“Congratulations! You have Breast Cancer…” is the headline of the first entry in Lisa Town’s online diary “The C Word,” which she started in September 2008.
Irreverence, combined with physical and mental strength and a strong network of support, has brought Lisa to where she is today — a place of well-being, health and optimism. And now her biggest supporter is taking a big step to help others get to the place she’s reached – a fundraising climb that can use your support.
But first, more of Lisa’s story: After a lifetime of health challenges, her diagnosis of breast cancer at the relatively young age of 43, followed by a double mastectomy in February of last year, seemed both “routine, yet surprising. I thought I was done with all that. I kept looking around for cameras, wondering if I was on a reality tv show.”
That WSB clip is from our coverage one year ago today, when hundreds gathered in West Seattle to celebrate the grand opening of the Duwamish Tribe‘s long-awaited Longhouse and Cultural Center. The longhouse is closed Sundays, so you can’t go offer an anniversary greeting in person today, but an official anniversary-celebration open house is now scheduled for January 30th, 11 am-5 pm (more on that, plus other upcoming events, is at the tribe’s website). Regular hours are Mondays-Saturdays, 10 am-5 pm. One other note – we’ve fielded a lot of questions in the WSB Forums lately about local venues available for rental; browsing the tribe’s website reminds us that the longhouse is available for rental too; rates and other info can be seen here.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Quite the crowd inside West Seattle Kids Salon in Morgan Junction this morning to watch three Sanislo Elementary School fourth-graders get their hair cut. Here’s the “before” shot:
What made their haircuts newsworthy – a KING5 photojournalist was there too – was the fact the hair’s going to Locks of Love, to make wigs for kids who need hair.
The extra twist, revealed in the “after” shot: All that shining long hair belonged to boys!
From left, that’s 9-year-old Baxter Knannlein, 9-year-old Levi Erdman, and 10-year-old Abraham Allen-White. And before we get to the haircutting, here’s the proud crowd who cheered them on (literally, as you’ll hear in the haircut clips):
The boys say they have been growing their hair since March 2008. (Abe and Baxter admit they might have had a bit of a trim along the way.) They’ve been friends since kindergarten. “Like the Three Musketeers,” noted Levi’s mom, Angie (they play soccer together, too). The lead musketeer on this project was Abe:
They know people who’ve been helped by Locks of Love, too. Baxter explained, “My great-auntie in Germany had chemotherapy.” Levi added, “My dad’s friend got alopecia.”
But finally the time for talking ended, and it was on with the haircuts; we heard one mom note she couldn’t remember the last time she saw her son’s neck. Since the whole hair-growing idea was Abe’s, he went first – that’s West Seattle Kids staffer Janet Powell with the scissors:
Then on the other side of the salon, West Seattle Kids owner Sophia Blackman carefully removed Levi’s ponytailed hair (the ponytail is important for packaging the donation):
Levi then moved on to talk with the KING photojournalist, offering a poignant explanation of how kids will be helped by this type of hair donation:
And then the action moved back to the salon chairs, where Baxter finally joined his friends in saying goodbye to the long hair (which he said he’d enjoyed having because it was “like a built-in scarf”):
Many photo-ops ensued, including Baxter with proud dad Matt Knannlein, who sent us first word of the haircutting plan last month:
So will the boys’ classmates and teachers be surprised when they go back to school Monday and show off their new hairstyles?
Probably, they acknowledge. But perhaps those classmates and teachers shouldn’t get used to it. At least two of the boys are thinking of growing their hair to donate again.
If you want to donate to Locks of Love – take note, adults can do it too, as long as you’ll have a ponytail or braid at least 10″ long when it’s cut. Lots of info here, including who LOL helps, and how to donate. Seldom does a haircut appointment turn into such a joyful occasion – we lost count of all the smiles we saw:
That clip we found on YouTube shows the crazy scene – what another YouTuber described as a “euphoric storming of the field” — after the University of Idaho Vandals’ one-point win over Bowling Green in the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise on Wednesday. This is notable for West Seattle, as pointed out in this note Allison sent this afternoon:
Former West Seattle High School standout, Aaron Grymes who now plays college football at University of Idaho, has won his first bowl game with the Vandals in the Humanitarian Bowl. They defeated Bowling Green St. 43-42.
Allison thought Westside supporters would want to hear this, if they hadn’t already. According to these game stats, he had two tackles in the game. (It was a year ago this month that Grymes changed his mind about college and decided to go to Idaho instead of UW.)
At right, that’s newborn Grace Weber, welcomed this morning by West Seattle residents Courtney and Dave Weber, according to Swedish Medical Center, which sent the photo with news that Grace is the first Swedish baby of 2010, born at 6:41 am today at the hospital’s First Hill Campus. Stats, according to the Swedish news release: 6 pounds, 15.6 ounces, 18.5 inches. Swedish quotes the proud parents as saying it was an unexpected blessing to have their first baby born so early in the new year, which is the centennial year for Swedish, where more than 200,000 babies have been born in that century since Dr. Nils Johanson founded the system. Since Grace is the first baby of the year, she and her family get a gift basket from the Swedish Auxiliary, a Swaddle Designs receiving blanket, and a ButterLondon manicure/pedicure set. (We’re checking on whether Grace was the 1st Seattle baby this year – so far we’ve heard of a 12:01 am baby in Bellevue.)
Jenny at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) asked to share this message of thanks, “letter to the editor” style:
The West Seattle and Fauntleroy YMCA would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our members and to the West Seattle community for supporting our 2009 Giving Tree program. Hundreds of wishes were thoughtfully and generously fulfilled for more than 90 families who struggle just to meet basic needs.
We have special gratitude for WJE (Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.), The Boeing Company’s Spirit of the Holidays Drive, and Windermere West Seattle for adopting entire YMCA families and making their holidays especially bright. Thank you to The Charlestown Street Café for hosting wish tags on their own tree and accepting donations on behalf of the YMCA.
At a time of great challenges, your generosity demonstrates the spirit of community continues to thrive.
Jenny Bradbury
Volunteer Giving Tree Coordinator
West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
You hear the words “running” and “streak” together and you think…well, you know what you think. However, the past twenty years have seen 33-year-old John Wallace III pursuing a rather different kind of running streak.
On December 30, 2009 – tomorrow – John will mark 20 years of running at least one mile every single day (including a four-month stretch in which he ran literally cross-country).
Tomorrow, he won’t be alone: his father, John Wallace, Jr.. of Michigan will celebrate the same 20-year anniversary.
Here’s how it started, how you can help him commemorate the occasion, and the big run he has planned for next fall:Read More
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
He’s West Seattle through and through: Schmitz Park Elementary, Madison Middle School, West Seattle High School, Seattle Lutheran High School, West Side Presbyterian Church. 
His mom and dad live in the same house they owned when he was born almost 26 years ago. He has grandparents living at The Kenney.
But instead of the neighborhood once dubbed New York Alki (by-and-by), home for Adam Cozens these days is the other New York – his home base for an intensive push to make a living by being funny, through standup comedy.
This isn’t a story about “local boy becomes famous” – not yet. But he’s working hard to try to get as far as he can. Right now, he’s on a holiday visit, home in West Seattle – not strictly a vacation, since he and friend Dartanion London are producing a show tomorrow (Wednesday) night at Comedy Underground in Pioneer Square – with other West Seattleites on the bill, including emcee Marty Riemer and fellow comedian Alex Meyer.
On one hand, this is one of more than 200 performances Adam’s doing this year, seeking out every opportunity imaginable to hone his humor.
As promised over the weekend, we checked today with Harborview Medical Center regarding the status of Jade West Cafe proprietor Wah Wong and his family, hurt two weeks ago when a suspected drunk driver crashed into them outside the family’s Beacon Hill home. WSB’er “Grr” — who put up a get-well card Saturday on the cafe’ door (photo) — reported the hospital told him Wah Wong was out, and indeed, that’s been confirmed, but 22-year-old son Jason Wong is still in the hospital, now listed in satisfactory condition; court documents filed in the case say his left leg was so badly damaged, it had to be amputated below the knee. Wah Wong’s wife Salina Wong was not admitted to Harborview, according to the media relations department, so we don’t know her status. The driver charged with vehicular assault for hitting them, 50-year-old Rodney James, remains in jail, his bail set at $250,000. From court documents, his history is described as follows:
The defendant is currently on a suspended sentence for an reckless driving (amended from driving under the influence) that was sentenced on 1/21/09 in King County District Court … his other known criminal and moving history includes NVOL (7/3/08), DWLS (5/9/03), and speeding (7/3/08). His currently known out-of-state history includes a Fresno, CA VUCSA (8/2/1990) and a Graterford, PA Escape-county prison (1/28/1981). Graterford is Pennsylvania’s largest maximum security prison.
NVOL is “no valid operator’s license”; DWLS is driving with a suspended license; VUCSA is a “controlled substance” (drugs) charge. Meantime, no new info yet on how long Jade West will stay closed.
ol’ time banjo – colabs – David Miles Huber / Allen Hart from 51bpm on Vimeo.
AWAITING GRAMMY NEWS, #1: Thanks to Mercedes for e-mailing WSB a to share the news that West Seattleite David Miles Huber received a Grammy Award nomination this month – the announcement happened in early December, but it’s news to us, so maybe it is to you too. His collaborative project Colabs is nominated for Best Surround Sound Album. See the nomination on the official Grammy Awards site (including a list of his collaborators, and the competition); You can find out more about his work at 51bpm.com.
AWAITING GRAMMY NEWS, #2: Looking for related links, we also learned (via Gene Stout‘s report from earlier this month) that another West Seattle-based musician is nominated too – one who happens to be among Huber’s collaborators on Colabs – Henta. Her “Laserium for the Soul” is up for the Best New Age Album Grammy. The awards are to be announced January 31st; along with Huber and Henta, one more West Seattle musician is in the mix as well, Eddie Vedder — Pearl Jam‘s “The Fixer” is nominated for Best Rock Song.
OUT OF THIS WORLD: West Seattle astro-expert Alice Enevoldsen announced it on Twitter late last night – she just got word she’s been chosen as a NASA Solar System Ambassador for the coming year. This webpage from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which sponsors the program, describes the ambassadors as 
“space enthusiasts from various walks of life who are interested in providing greater service and inspiration to the community at large” – that’s what Alice has been doing already (with events like the winter solstice and autumn equinox sunset watches/stargazes). And we have to mention it again before the snowiversary is completely past – Alice was a star volunteer during Snowmare ’08, taking WSBers’ road reports and mashing them up with official accounts to create invaluable maps during our coverage (then offering a Google Map-making seminar after the Big Melt – that’s where the photo you see above was from).
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