March 2017

By Gwen Davis

Fresh fruits and vegetables, along with organic selections of food items needed for healthy home eating are always on the menu at West Seattle. Especially when they're from a local food-supplier.

Stan Philip Richards, a Junction resident and marketing director at Apartments Northwest, feels that the upgraded PCC Natural Markets grocery store -- aimed at opening on California Ave. in a redeveloped property -- is a perfect fit.

Richards and his family currently do most of their grocery shopping at QFC and the Metropolitan Market, due to the stores' high food quality.

“But we find that the store size and layout size at Met Mart feels very cramped, and t’s hard to maneuver around,” he said. "I think from the prospective of West Seattleites, they tend to welcome local, organic business and not outside business. There is a Whole Foods coming in right across the street the for me — they’ll even cook my steak for me — but again, that's more of an outsider business than PCC or Met Mart.”

Spring is in the air and so is the sweet-smelling aroma of Zoo Doo, Woodland Park Zoo’s exotic, highly coveted compost. The annual spring Fecal Fest kicks off Monday, March 6.

Zoo Doo is composed of species feces contributed by a variety of the zoo’s non-primate herbivores, such as hippos, giraffes, mountain goats, tapirs and more, and is perfect to grow veggies and annuals.

The Fecal Fests, held each spring and fall, attract local gardeners to enter a bid to purchase the exotic, highly-coveted Zoo Doo and Bedspread that Dr. Doo, aka the “Prince of Poo,” the “GM of BM” or the “Grand Poopah,” has been piling all winter.

Zoo Doo is available in 5, 10, 20 and 50 gallons, and by the truck load.

Bedspread, the zoo’s premium composted mulch, is available by the truck load. Bedspread is a combination of Zoo Doo, sawdust, and large amounts of wood chips and is used to cushion perennial beds and woody landscapes including rose beds, shrubs and pathways.

Information provided by Seattle Police Department

A 19-year-old lifeguard at the Ballard Pool was arrested Monday after staff discovered he had set up a cell phone to record video inside an employee locker room.

Police were called to the pool around 8:30 PM after two female employees found a cellphone set up to record video from underneath a pile of swimsuits in a staff locker room. Employees reviewed the video on the phone, which reportedly showed the 19-year-old suspect setting up the camera, and called 911.

Officers arrested the man at the pool and booked him into the King County Jail for voyeurism.
The lifeguard has worked part-time at the Ballard Pool for the past two years. He was not employed at any other city pool facility.

Sexual Assault Unit detectives are investigating the case.

BY GERARDO BOLONG
Contributing Sports Correspondent

TACOMA - The firm of Mancol and Royster concluded an excellent case for John F. Kennedy Catholic in a 53-35 first round destruction of Glacier Peak contested in a Wed., March 1, win of a first round game at the 2017 4A boys basketball Hardwood Classic held in the Tacoma Dome.

"We well with good rebounding and shut down their main scorers," said KC head coach Don Hoffman.

Lancer quickness led by Emilio Mancol's opening game 3-pointer added to a layup and free throw conversion accounted for nine of the KC 13 points as part of a 13-6 advantage over the Grizzlies after one quarter.

"We just played scrappy and gritty with great motivation," he said. "We took what was available and went with the team's offense. The shots were there and my teammates found me. I really good a good rhythm."
Mancols's rhythm led to 16 game points.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

West Seattle opened the Class 3A boys basketball tournament by posting a 62-54 victory over Wilson of Tacoma Thursday night.

The Wildcats entered at the quarterfinal level after receiving a bye, so Thursday's win automatically advanced them into a Friday night semifinal.

They will take on either Garfield or Rainier Beach at 9 p.m. in the Tacoma Dome.

They are seeking to reach the 5 p.m. Saturday championship.

Editor's Note: The following letter was intended to read at the funeral service for one of West Seattle's most well known and beloved residents Earl Cruzen, who died Jan. 23, 2017. It was written by the former Executive Director of the West Seattle Junction Merchants and was intended to be read at the service. A mixup and delays prevented from being read, so we present it here, in memory of and in tribute to Earl.

by Kay Knapton

West Seattle has lost one of its greatest supporters. Earl Cruzen grew up in the area, did business and lived in the community his whole life. But he did more than reside here. He actively worked to improve the area and enjoyed doing it.

Around 2:20am Thursday morning police received a call of a woman being beaten in the 9600 block of 15 Ave SW. A witness told police a man had been seen running from the area of the crime.

When police arrived they found the woman, 55, with severe injuries to her body and head. Evidence at the scene also indicated that she may have been sexually assaulted. Deputies canvassed the area and detained a suspect near SW 102nd and 16 Ave SW. The man had blood on his shoes and bloody footprints at the crime scene matched his shoes.

Medics transported the victim to Harborview Hospital where she is listed in critical condition. Police believe she may be transient or homeless.

The suspect, a 21 year old Tukwila man, was booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Assault 1, Rape and Indecent Liberties. It is unknown at this time if the suspect and victim knew each other.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

It was a long ways to go for one game, but it was at state and at least it was a close one.

The Seattle Lutheran boys basketball team journeyed all the way to Spokane for the Class 2B state tournament and took a 45-43 loss to St. George's in its Wednesday morning opener.

The Saints' season ended with the loss.

By Gerardo Bolong
Contributing Sports Correspondent

TACOMA - Opponent athleticism and strong rebounding mixed in with West Seattle errors enabled the Lincoln Lady Abes to fell the West Seattle Lady Wildcats 65-54 in the 9 a.m. girls basketball breakfast special on a loser-out, first round loss at the 2017 High School Class 3A Washington state tournament held at the Tacoma Dome on Wed., March 1. Lincoln moved on to a 9 a.m. quarterfinal match up against Stanwood on Thurs., March 2.
"We had early, unforced turnovers that made it hard to come back," said Lady Wildcats head coach Darnell Taylor about his young Westside group. "The defensive rebounding was also tough."

In the first quarter, the Wildcats stayed competitive to grab an 8-5 lead only to have Lincoln log five consecutive points to go on top 10-8 by the end of the quarter.

Turnovers and rebounding turned the close game into a Lady Abe dominance as the Lady Wildcats added turnovers into the mix.

If you've got someone in your family who loves hunting for eggs (and who doesn't?) you are going to have a lot of options coming up soon. The Seattle Parks and Recreation Department shared this list of upcoming egg infused events:

Spring Egg Hunts
What: Bring a bag or basket to hunt for eggs.
Ages: 10 and under
Locations: Hiawatha Community Center
Time: 10 a.m. sharp, arrive by 9:45 a.m., Rain or shine. Saturday, April 8

Spring Egg Hunt
What: Breakfast snacks and egg hunt.
Ages: 11 and under
Location: Alki Community Center
Time: 9-10:30 a.m. (Egg hunt begins at 10 a.m. sharp). Saturday, April 15

Spring Egg Hunt
What: Come gather eggs treats and fun prizes,
Ages: 12 and under
Location: Delridge Community Center
Time: 10 a.m. sharp. Saturday, April 15
Spring Egg Hunt
What: Easter egg hunt
Ages: All ages
Location: High Point Community Center
Time: 10 a.m. sharp. Saturday, April 15