December 2011

West Seattle customers of Comcast digital phone service were experiencing problems with outgoing calls on Tuesday Dec. 13 .

Customer service acknowledged that the issue was real and that technicians were working on it but went on to say that resetting the telephone modem would likely solve the problem.

The modems supplied by Comcast have a reset button they are asking customers to press. If the issue is not resolved you are asked to contact the company at 1-800-Comcast, presumably from another phone.

Named among Seattle's Most Influential People of 2011 by Seattle Magazine, Chris Pardo, 32, and fiancée Laura Olson, 28, are working on building their own business empire. They opened three new Seattle restaurants and bars in 2010 and another four this year, with a presence in Capitol Hill and the University District.

Now, the power couple has set their sights on Ballard.

"We have five projects currently planned for Ballard," revealed Pardo, an entrepreneur and architect.

The first four projects are located in the 2014 NW Market Street Building, and include a Po Dog. With locations in the U District and Capitol Hill, Po Dog Ballard will be the third location of this popular gourmet hot dog joint and it should open any day now.

Recently featured in People Magazine and on the Today show, Po Dog offers twelve signature dogs, homemade deep fried pickles, and a selection of beers.

By Christina Gramling

Some crimes are down right heartless.

Just ask newlyweds Caty and Jack Parker from Des Moines.

During their wedding rehearsal on Nov. 25 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Des Moines, a female thief snuck in and stole Jack’s wedding ring, Caty’s purse and all its contents, bridesmaid jewelry and a family remembrance anniversary necklace.

Caty’s brother consoled the bride by reminding her, “It’s just stuff … you still have Jack.”

There are still no suspects in the church theft that occurred on Nov. 25 in Des Moines, said Sgt. Bob Bohl of the Des Moines Police Department.

The incident occurred during the couple’s wedding rehearsal around 5 p.m. The church is located at 2021 S 160th St., just one block west of Pacific Highway South.

Investigators have one break that is not common in most cases. The church has video surveillance.

Officers are currently following up on surveillance from the scene, as well as the locations in which the Parkers’ stolen credit cards were used.

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting Dec. 1 heard from Mike Martin, Burien City Manager regarding the city’s efforts to annex North Highline.

He has been in discussions with both the King County Executive's office and legislators in Olympia regarding the retention of the sales tax credit that Gov. Gregoire has proposed to reduce.

Martin has said previously that Burien would lose $50,000 annually under that proposal. As the law exists now, Burien will continue to receive the credit for the next eight years as part of the earlier annexation of Bourlevard Park.

"If we manage to keep it, it's not going to be enough," Martin said, "because now this cloud that would make us fear having it taken away every year has created such uncertainty that we can't just say OK...and we go ahead and annex and Olympia comes along and says no. I'm trying make that very clear to the people that make the decisions."

He spoke about creating a mechanism, that would fund the annexation and city operations for the long term. "I don't buy the argument that you hear down there that you can't bind future legislators," Martin said.

14-month-old boy sprayed with glass during drive by shooting
A white four-door Ford Explorer or pickup truck drove past a house in the 14200 block of 8th Ave. S. in Burien Sunday, Dec. 4th around 2 p.m. and opened fire. A 14-month-old boy inside the home was sprayed by pulverized glass during the drive by. He wasn't hospitalized, but his mother was left very shaken. She said she was spending a quiet day at home with her little boy and her mother when the bullets came blasting through the walls and windows. “We just heard pop-pop and I just grabbed my son and hit the floor."

Investigators don't believe the shooting was random because the vehicle had to drive down a dead end and turn around to reach the house. The boy's mother says she knows no one who would want to hurt her or her family," The vehicle had one distinctive characteristic, it was very low in the back as though it was carrying something very heavy. If anyone sees it, they are warned not to approach the vehicle and to call 911.

Theft ring sentencing

Parents’ Night Out at Lee’s Martial Arts Academy
3270 California Ave. S.W.
Friday, Dec. 16, 6-10 p.m. Get your holiday shopping done while your kids enjoy a pizza dinner, followed by taekwondo, games, a movie and popcorn. Space limited, reservations are required. $30 per child/$40 for 2 children. Contact 938-3375 or LMAWestSeattle@aol.com

Emilie’s Treasures Thrift Boutique
Providence Mount St. Vincent
4831 35th Ave S.W.
Extended holiday hours - Saturday, Dec. 17, 11-3 p.m. Regular weekly hours - Mon. - Fri., 10-3 p.m. We have a large selection of holiday clothes, decorations and gifts in addition to our usual wares of clothes, knick-knacks, collectables, etc. All proceeds support residents at the Mount.

West Seattle Junction Holiday Events
Hometown Holiday Thursday, Dec. 22 many Junction Merchants are open ‘till 9 p.m. Pair with happy hour and you’ve got a great time!

This word from reader Sue Scharff:
The West Seattle Eagles Auxiliary Madame President, Linda Crank, passed away unexpectedly over the weekend. She was a very kind and warm person, a friend, a sister, a great leader. She was a true asset to the Eagles.

Things will not be the same without her. R.I.P., Linda.

Mary Lou Wilkerson, Crank's friend and Eagle's sister said, "A friend of ours knows his brother and we will get some information from him this week. We will have a service for her next month. It's still hitting me. It's a shock, like oh my goodness."

"Linda was a very smart person. A lot of people thought we were sisters. She was very knowledgeable, she worked for lawyers. She loved charities and she was the State Chairperson for the Stan Murray Kidney Foundation for the Eagles, so that's going to hurt us all. As you know we do a lot for charities. She was a breast cancer survivor too."

Please see our story with memories of Linda offered by her fellow Eagle Brothers and Sisters.

Dear Editor,

I read "Ballard Big Picture: Battle for the Capitol with interest since I was there.
With so many people at the capitol building it was nothing short of, "reindeer luck" that allowed reporter Greg McMorkle to find anyone from Ballard. I thought the article was well written, and considering
the chaos, he did a good job of getting a story related to this area.
Unfortunately, with all that was going on, he only got one side of the controversy surrounding the
closures of the RHCs (Resident's Rehabitation Centers). Our state has people of many abilities, and varied talents. We have a spectrum from Bill Gates Jr., to a newborn child. Within that spectrum, we have people of varied abilities and talents within the Developmentally Delayed population. Kyle Matheson is obviously well
suited to speaking to his end of the issue. His arguments make sense for people like him, who fit into the community were well.

By Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson

First a local youth group leader, now a Penn State football coach. State Representative Mary Lou Dickerson says those in charge not only knew about the suspected sexual abuse, they essentially allowed it to happen. Dickerson explains her plan to strengthen the mandatory reporting laws designed to protect children.

It’s no secret that child predators target places that are known to attract kids. So it should come as no surprise that Timothy Dampier, who is accused of sexually abusing young boys, was actively involved in church youth groups and volunteered at a local Boys and Girls Club. Similarly, Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky is now charged with molesting children that he met through a charity for troubled youth.

What is surprising, even jaw dropping to some, is that adults reportedly witnessed the sexual assaults in Pennsylvania and chose to keep Sandusky’s secret to themselves. Dampier’s story is chillingly similar.

This year, Northwest Boychoir celebrates 33-years of holiday concerts with "Festival of Lessons & Carols", a holiday concert series that showcases the 90-member combined chorus of the Northwest Boychoir and Vocalpoint! Seattle.

Patterned after the Christmas Eve observance at King’s College in Cambridge, England, A Festival of Lessons & Carols has become a holiday tradition for thousands of families in the Puget Sound region. This classical performance consists of nine holiday readings, each followed by a traditional carol performed by the choir, and another carol sung by the choir and audience.

A Festival of Lessons & Carols concert will take place in Ballard on Sunday, Dec 18, at St. Alphonsus Church, 5816 15th Avenue NW. The performance begins at 7:00 p.m.

Concerts have reserved seating. Advance tickets are available through the Northwest Choirs at 206-524-3234 or online at http://www.nwchoirs.org.