March 2012

On Monday, March 12, Pastor Erik R. Wilson Weiberg of Ballard First Lutheran Church made a trip down to the state Capitol in Olympia to give the Washington State Senate prayer.

Pastor Weiberg gave thanks for the beauty of Washington and the natural resources it offers. He acknowledged the state's successful industries, health care facilities, Grand Coulee Dam, and "a Space Needle that points to the sky as a sign of hope for the future and a reminder of the creativity and ingenuity that prevail here".

He prayed for "a spirit of inventiveness" as the state strive to educate people, and bring industry, work, and a sense of purpose to the unemployed.

Letter from Sheriff Rahr on the transition:
Today, I have accepted a final offer from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) to become the Director. I plan to retire as Sheriff on March 31 and assume my new duties as Director of the academy on April 1.

I made the decision to leave the Sheriff’s Office before the end of my term for a number of reasons. First, and foremost, I have complete confidence in Chief Deputy Steve Strachan and the rest of the command staff to effectively lead the Sheriff’s Office and continue to protect and serve the citizens of King County. I would not and could not leave this post without that confidence. I believe this transition can be smooth with no impact on our service and no disruption of our workforce.

Press release:

During the week of March 19th, Des Moines residents with curbside garbage collection service can place an additional 3 cans or bags of garbage out on the curb on your collection day.

Please place bags or cans next to your cart. Maximum limit is 96 gallons.

Have extra yard waste? You can always put out additional material on your collection day at no additional cost. Maximum limit is 192 gallons.

For more information, visit CleanScapes’ Des Moines website at: http://www.cleanscapes.com/des_moines or call the Des Moines Customer Service line at (206) 762-4900. The customer service center is open 7-days a week from 8am-5pm.

Seattle Police reports that on March 11, at approximately 9:50 p.m., officers responded to a report of a male was trying to break into the King County Jail.

The man had climbed a fence into a secure area of the King County Jail, in the 500 block of 5th Avenue when police received the call.

While still outside, the suspect had managed to actually break into the jail complex. King County Jail staff stated that the male made several attempts to open a locked door, but was unsuccessful.

The male stated he knew where he was, but offered no explanation for climbing into the secure area. Officers booked the man into King County Jail for Criminal Trespass.

The Seattle Police Department and King County Sheriff’s detectives arrested a sex offender last week after he used social media to solicit nude photos from at least a half-dozen Seattle middle school students.

Detectives from the SPD’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force began investigating the 20-year-old man, who is also a level two sex offender, in February after a mother of a middle school student contacted police about a series of threatening messages her child had received.

The suspect, posing as a 15-year-old girl, contacted several victims on Facebook and through text messages, offered them sex, and asked the victims to send him nude photos. The suspect also asked at least one of the victims to put him into contact with other young students.

The suspect also told several of the victims he had a family member in law enforcement, who would arrest the victims if they did not send him nude photos.

Seattle police and King County detectives arrested the suspect and booked him into the King County Jail for investigation of communication with a minor for immoral purposes and sexual exploitation of a child.

press release:
The contractor working for the Seattle Department of Transportation on the Spokane Street Viaduct (the elevated roadway between the West Seattle Bridge and I-5) will close the viaduct to westbound traffic between I-5 and SR 99 on Thursday and Friday nights, March 15 and 16 from 10 p.m. each night until 5 a.m. the following morning. This will close direct access to West Seattle via the Spokane Street Viaduct from both northbound and southbound I-5. (Motorists traveling southbound on SR 99 will still be able to access the off-ramp to the West Seattle Bridge.)

Seattle Department of Transportation paving crews plan will begin installing curb ramps on the west side of 15th Avenue NW at NW 77th Street on March 20.

The crews will close the parking lane and will break out one portion of the sidewalk at a time to maintain sidewalk access. Work hours will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The crew chief estimates the work will take approximately three days.

press release:
Nature Consortium will host its annual brunch fundraiser on Sunday, April 1st at the Hall at Fauntleroy in West Seattle. The program will feature youth performances, a live band, and an awards ceremony recognizing key volunteers and community partners. Proceeds from the fundraiser will support Nature Consortium’s arts and environmental education programs in Seattle and King County.

As part of their mission to “connect people, arts, and nature,” Nature Consortium works with local volunteers to restore Seattle’s largest contiguous forest, the West Duwamish Greenbelt. Rebecca Saldana grew up near the greenbelt and spent many childhood summers playing in the woods.

“One day the city came and cut everything back,” she said in a recent interview. “I don’t know what their plan was, but the sticker bushes and everything that was invasive took over, and we were no longer able to access that space.”

Back in September of 2011 the West Seattle Herald introduced our readers to 11 Olives, a West Seattle-based company ran by proprietor Rick Martin.

After less than a year distributing organic olive oil and balsamic vinegars through local outlets like the West Seattle Produce Company, Martin said business is brisk and, as a result, 11 Olives landed a brick and mortar location at the Pacific Place Mall downtown.

They will open for business on Thursday, March 14.

Here is the word from Martin on store hours and a grand opening party:

11 Olives, West Seattle's local, artisan Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar company will be having their grand opening at their new, full service tasting bar located in downtown Seattle at Pacific Place Shopping center. The store will open on Thursday from 10am-8pm. On hand from 5-8 will be two local chefs using 11 Olives products in dishes for sampling and cooking inspiration.

Would you like to brighten a cancer patient’s day?
• In May 2011, I thought to myself “Life is good.” I was 25 years old. I had an amazing group of family and friends and a loving boyfriend. I was working at a job I loved and had just purchased a new condo.
• But in one doctor’s appointment, my life was turned upside down. I was diagnosed with stage IV Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
• I was terrified, but I was not alone. With the help of my family, friends, and complete strangers who reached out to me, I made it through 6 months of intense chemotherapy and kicked cancer’s butt!
• Today, I am in full remission, and my life is more joyful than ever. But my fight is not over. I have started the non-profit foundation Thrive Through Cancer. Working under the guidance or Northwest Hope & Healing, and in partnership with Swedish Medical Center Foundation, Thrive will surprise newly diagnosed cancer patients with “Hope Totes,” bags filled with comforting and encouraging items to bring them joy, hope and, above all, let them know they are not alone. We care about their survival.