June 2010

Seattle Fire Investigators wrapped up their on-scene investigation into the fatal apartment fire that occurred June 12 at 334 N.W. 41st St. in Fremont.

Four children and one woman died in the tragic fire. The official cause of the fire is undetermined pending test results, but investigators said they have no reason to believe the fire is suspicious, according to the Seattle Fire Department.

The fire started on the main floor of a two-story apartment unit and quickly spread upstairs to the second floor.

Heavy smoke and flames were coming from the windows and doors of the apartment when the first firefighters arrived.

One woman and a 5-year old girl escaped the fire, but five other family members were trapped in an upstairs bathroom. They were unable to get out because of heavy fire, according to the Fire Department.

The apartment had a smoke alarm system, and investigators were told that the smoke alarm did go off.

A transmission problem with the first arriving fire engine caused a delay in firefighters’ ability to put water on the fire. The engine was towed to the city’s garage for fire mechanics to identify the problem.

The game ended in tie. It was a noisy, happy crowd of 40+ who watched the World Cup at the Tin Room Theatre. Owner Dan House, converted a lower level storage room, previously used for his Dan The Sausage Man business, into a comfortable and cozy theatre.

Dan will feature vintage black and white films like The African Queen, beginning next week.

Sporting events like the World Cup will be popular as well.

CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO PLAY SLIDESHOW.

Ballard High School is hosting is summer boys basketball camp July 20 through July 23 and again from Aug. 17 to Aug. 20. Both camps last from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The camps are open to boys entering second grade to those entering ninth grade and costs $175 for one camp or $310 for both.

The camps will be coached by Michael Johnson, member of the Ballard High School basketball hall of fame, Travis Duty and others from Hoopaholics.

The camp is designed to build individual and team skills in a fun and safe environment, according to a press release.

Campers are asked to bring a sack lunch or money. They will receive a basketball and a T-shirt.

Download the Ballard High School boys basketball camp application attached to this article.

Citing her ongoing legislative efforts to curb human trafficking, Seattle Against Slavery honored 36th District Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles with its Lincoln Freedom Award June 10.

“The legislative accomplishments we have made over the years would have never come about without the tireless work from advocates and community organizations,” Kohl-Welles said in a press release. “The fact that this award comes from them, makes it even more special.”

Kohl-Welles was nominated for her legislative efforts and accomplishments in preventing and halting human trafficking beginning in 2002 with the enactment of her bill regulating the mail-order bride industry and former Rep. Velma Veloria’s bill creating the first state anti-trafficking task force in the country.

Washington still leads the country in legislative accomplishments, according to the press release.

Most recently, Kohl-Welles sponsored Senate Bill 6330 which authorized the Washington State Department of Transportation to work with human trafficking advocates to place informational posters on trafficking at rest areas throughout the state.

Firefighters responded to a fatal fire at 334 N.W. 41st St. just after 10 a.m. on June 12.

Heavy black smoke was coming from a two-story apartment unit when firefighters arrived. There were initial reports of occupants inside the unit.

Firefighters found five deceased victims inside the apartment – a 21-year-old woman, a 14-year-old boy, a 7-year-old girl, a 5-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl, according to the Seattle Fire Department.

Another woman and a 5-year-old girl were able to escape from the apartment. They were transported to Harborview Medical Center along with several other family members but were not injured.

One firefighter was also transported to Harborview for a minor injury.

A mechanical problem with the first arriving engine caused a short delay in firefighters’ ability to put water on the fire, according to the Fire Department. The engine has been placed out of service.

Fire damage was confined to one apartment. The unit did have smoke alarms.

The fire investigation is being conducted by Seattle Fire Investigators and the Seattle Police Arson Bomb Unit.

Aided by nice weather and proximity to the weekly Farmer's Market the West Seattle Junction Health Fair saw 20 local health and wellness providers take part as a way to educate West Seattleites on the wide range of health services in multiple disciplines available to them without having to cross the bridge. Work on roads and highways that will affect access and ingress to West Seattle make these choices even more valuable. In addition to the array of physicians, dentists, massage therapists, fitness and yoga studios, pharmacies and vitamin stores, the Puget Sound Blood Bank was on hand to let people donate blood.

West Seattle is home to a broad range of health providers, from dermatologists, to dentists, urgent care walk-in clinics and compounding pharmacies, massage therapists to alternative medicine clinics. While West Seattleites use The Junction for dining out, arts and culture and boutique shopping, the West Seattle Junction Association wants to bring attention to the wellness services available to them without having to leave the West Seattle peninsula.

Exhibitors and Sponsors:

Bikram Yoga
8 Limbs Yoga
Snap Fitness
West Seattle Wellness

On what felt like the arrival of the first day of summer, the 5th Annual Morgan Junction Festival was held June 12, with 55 exhibitors and people enjoying the weather and live music provided by a strong line up of local musicians. Staged across the parking lot behind Zeeks Pizza, Feedback Lounge, the Beveridge Place Pub and into Morgan Junction Park, the festival turnout was light but steady.

Many people crowded into the Beveridge Place Pub to watch the World Cup and cheers would occasionally erupt from the crowd inside.

Deb Barker, President of the Morgan Community Association said, "You see we had a personal reservation for awesome weather. We got that in pretty early," she said laughing. It wouldn't be possible she said without "all the folks who have been meeting, and hustling and arranging and coercing and urging and begging."

"Morgan is so special, the whole community and we just love putting on this party and having them come out, especially out those dark gloomy skies and saying hello."

The Sustainable West Seattle Tool Library got a sustainable kick off with the cutting of a branch instead of the traditional ribbon on Saturday June 12.
The library, some 9 months in the making, is located at the north end of the South Seattle Community College property, adjacent to the Chinese Garden at 6000 16th Avenue SW.

Gary Lichtenstein Vice President of Sustainable West Seattle said, "We're creating a really valuable service for the community of West Seattle. Since it's from Sustainable West Seattle it's going be something that will be around and that people will be part of for a long time. This is our fervent hope. We worked well as a team, there were really no egos."

35 volunteers joined the Seattle Parks Department and the West Seattle Junction Association to get more than 800 plants in the ground at the new Junction Plaza Park on Saturday, June 12.

Gary Gibbons Project Manager for the Junction Plaza Park said, "We're about a week behind, but given such an outstanding volunteer turnout that's going to make up for it. It's phenomenal that so many people turned out for this. We've had a lot of activity over the last month or so and it's finally coming together." What remains to be done is some electrical work, some final work on the concrete finishes, and the addition of some electrical outlets. "It's wonderful feeling of accomplishment," Gibbons said, "and it's not so much how I feel about it, it's how the community feels about it. It has been the community's effort that has brought this project together."

Susan Melrose of the Junction Association, a gardener herself said, "It's just great to have a burst of green space in the heart of the junction so people can gather and enjoy it."

West Seattle Alex's Lemonade Stand and Yard Sale was all about raising money for research into pediatric cancer on Saturday June 12 at 49th Ave SW and Alaska Street.

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 charity that raises money and awareness for pediatric cancer causes, primarily research into new treatments and cures.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott (1996-2004).
When Alex, who was diagnosed with childhood cancer just before her first birthday, was four, she told her parents she wanted to set up a front-yard lemonade stand. Her plan: to give the money to doctors to help them find a cure. Her first “Alex’s Lemonade Stand” raised an astonishing $2,000 in one day. While bravely fighting her own cancer, Alex continued to set up lemonade stands every year. As news spread of the remarkable girl so dedicated to helping other sick children, people everywhere were inspired to start their own lemonade stands—donating the proceeds to her cause.