Fauntleroy

Fighting for Depression dimes

jerry_robinson — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:00:00 +0000

jerry_robinson Mon, 02/02/2009 - 12:00am

Captain Morey Skaret, Fauntleroy resident, has been battling for truth and justice in his varied career as Coast Guard captain and Seattle Police captain. Plus that he has been farmer, logger, lifeguard and prizefighter among a myriad of other survival modes.

He is now 95 and still righteous and upright.

He used to dance every Tuesday night with his sweetheart Elsie, 92, till they closed the Corner Inn last year.

The picture is Morey holding a stool. It is not just any stool. It was not always orange. He painted it several years ago to hide the blood, sweat and tears.

He has another one just like it. He saved them as mementoes of his boyhood days when he fought for $7 at a boxing ring in White Center during the thirties.

The ring was built by Pop Brown and operated as a regular venue by Ely Caston, prizefight promoter. Pop Brown later turned it into the famous White Center Roller Rink. The maple floor was used as a practice spot for a team of roller derby girls who have since moved to Sand Point.

Today, Pop Brown's grandson owns the building and holds a popular Swap Meet there each weekend.

The building with a curved roofline still looks identical to when it was built, though there were no other buildings near it. It stood alone with the entrance on 16th SW,

The street behind it, 17th SW, was land where mostly swampy vacant lots, provided play grounds where the likes of the poet Richard Hugo, the Schual brothers of bakery fame and Elmer Matson hung out and played ball. And sometimes fought rough and tumble in the dirt.

I asked Morey to tell me about the Great Depression days in West Seattle and White Center. This is what he said:

"In the early thirties I was looking for any way to make a dime. We lived walking distance from White Center and boxing was very popular nationwide. Fighters like Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney were role models for kids my age. I started hanging around White Center's arena that was leased by a fight promoter named Ely Caston.

There were two local heavyweights--one was "Frisco" McGale", He was tall and well built and had a boxing ring on the top floor of the Bus Station on 8th and Stewart.

I paid to take boxing lessons from him. He taught me a lot. The other was "Society" Red Millet.

I started hanging around Ely's White Center ring and made a few cents as a sparring partner. Some of the fighters I remember were Swede Hanson, Shorty Kress and Red Russo.

I was 6-foot 2 and weighed 175 pounds. My body was lean and hard as nails from working in the woods as a faller and bucker.

There were a lot of trees and small mills out here in those days.

I joined the CCC in 1935 and boxed in Golden Gloves eliminations and did okay until I fought a guy named Tommy Murray. On the back of his robe he had his name and under his name were the words: 'From The Back of the Yards, ' which was known as the toughest neighborhood in all of Chicago.

He knocked me out in the second round, which ended my career in the national finals in the Golden Gloves.

After I finished my term with the CCC, I boxed a noted fighter from West Seattle's Alki area. He was the same weight and build as I was but he had a powerful left hand. He fought under the name of Go Go Greenfield and we had a hard fight ending in a draw.

I will always remember him. I liked Go Go. He was a good guy.

The last fight I had was with Cowboy Bill Hawks, The Pride of Utah. We fought an exciting battle and the crowd loved it and every once in awhile I bump into some old timer who remembers it."

Jim Cissell speaks for himself, and the Fortune 500

Guest — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Guest (not verified) Sun, 02/01/2009 - 12:00am

HE IS SPEAKING OUT. "VoiceGuy" Jim Cissell gives voice to a product he has been hired to promote for a future radio spot. He works from his basement home studio on the water in Fauntleroy.

Photo by Steve Shay

Lon Chaney may have been the man of a thousand faces, but West Seattle's Jim Cissell may be the guy with a thousand voices. The award-winning "VoiceGuy" as he calls himself can be heard narrating Disney trailers, promoting Levi's jeans, California avocados, and asks, "Did somebody say 'McDonald's?'"

Cissell, who has been working in Seattle since 1986, may be the city's least recognizable big-time celebrity, working for more than half the Fortune 500, as his voice and not his face is familiar to many. That said, he has appeared in front of the camera on some Boeing and other commercials, more so in the past.

"Less since these ears got bigger over the years," said the modest but successful, youthful 61 year-old as he practiced reading a script for a snowmobile ad in his basement home studio on the water in Fauntleroy.

"Let's see. This asks for a man, age 30, slightly aggressive, and manly," he said, scrutinizing the script. "OK. Here we go." He punched at the dialog like a boxer and flailed his arms as if speaking to a large audience at a recreational vehicle convention. Then he read the disclaimer real fast at the end.

"Speed reading is what you try to do with disclaimers," he explained. "You load up with a big breath and then cut down vowel sounds. Classically-trained actors resonate forever with each sound. Reading the disclaimer is the opposite. You bust through the vowel sound, getting right to the consonant. The consonant is what really shapes the word."

Recording from his basement offers him much control over the sounds exiting his mouth, but there are a few hazards to working out of the house. For instance, his grandfather clock rang loudly in the middle of his script-reading. And there are the natural disasters.

"The noise of the water out there gets in the way, and there's a bald eagle that squawks in my trees," he said without too much disappointment in his voice. But he was quick to add that he otherwise has great acoustics, and even installed a foam padded section in his ceiling over his microphone.

And those voices, from a dead-on Donald Duck to a "crotchety old woman," as he put it. "I can do women's voices, but only when they sound old and crotchety."

Cissell said he was inspired as a youngster watching, or rather listening, to Saturday morning cartoons.

"That's when I started messing with voice. I loved imitating Donald Duck and Goofy. In 1959 we got our first TV, a black-and-white. I was 12, and only allowed to watch one hour a week. I figured out that if I got up early before my parents I could watch three or four hours of cartoons, like Mr. Magoo, and Heckle and Jeckle."

His life took him to the Air Force, stationed in Thailand, and to law school, stationed at the University of Washington.

"I finished getting my degree and passed the bar, but practicing law was too tough, too nasty. This is much more fun."

His wife, Linda Kaye Johnson, is a semi-retired school teacher with the Shorecrest High School English and drama departments in Shoreline for 36 years. She "admitted" she shared her voice with her husband on a few commercial spots. "I think they were desperate," she smiled.

Son, Jamie, did not follow in Dad's footsteps, but instead became a North Highline firefighter at Station 19. Jim said Jamie is very content there.

And as for the VoiceGuy? He is pretty content, too. "It's great pay when you're working, and great fun," said Cissell. "Most workers punch in, do their job, and go home. In this business people compliment you for doing a good job."

To sample many of Cissell's on-air voices, check out: www.voiceguy.com

Whole Foods project delayed

admin — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +0000

admin Fri, 01/30/2009 - 12:00am

Rendering of the Whole Foods Market at Fauntleroy Place. The project has been delayed while the owners sell the project. BlueStar Management/Development

The Whole Foods Project at the new Fauntleroy Place has been delayed to open in October 2010, instead of early that same year.

The owners will sell much of the property, and that sale will delay the project. A new developer will be chosen to finish the planned 170-unit development at the corner of Fauntleroy Way Southwest and Southwest Alaska Street.

Also included in the project; 61,000 square feet of retail, four floors of underground parking and five stories of residential units (apartments).

Current developers of the project BlueStar Management/Development announced measures in Decemeber to reduce the total cost of the $65 million project.

At that time, BluStar spokseman Eric Radovich said the decision to conduct "value engineering" was made after the first phase of the project was completed at the end of November.

It's unclear how the sale will effect these plans, but it would have included rebidding on some existing materials and some structural redesign work.

"This gives us a great opportunity to bring the (overall) cost down and room to make money on this as apposed to a break even situation," he had said.

Radovich had also said with the current economy, they might not be able to get as much as anticipated from the project. The apartments will probably have to go for less than the expected $2.20 per square foot.

This story will be updated later today, Friday, Jan. 30.

Police Blotter: Unwelcome visitor

megan_sheppard — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +0000

megan_sheppard Wed, 01/28/2009 - 12:00am

After extensive effort, a 55-year-old man was arrested and forcibly removed from an Alki apartment that he had managed to move into without permission and without signing a rental contract. He had barricaded himself inside and had repeatedly ignored and rebuffed contact from the elderly owner. The man is suspected of having a history of fraudulent activity, as records of several court judgments against him were discovered. Later in the week he was suspected of squatting in yet another Alki apartment after expressing interest in renting it. Neighbors will be calling the police if the man appears in the area again.

A woman returned home from shopping at the West Seattle Farmer's Market and discovered that her pocket had been "picked."

Police nabbed a man running a juvenile prostitution ring after he brought two 15-year-old girls to meet with a "john" at a local motel. The john was, of course, an undercover officer. When officers stopped the suspect, he had a 16-year-old Tacoma runaway in his car as well. She was returned to her mother. The other girls, who were from Lynnwood and Tacoma, were booked into the Youth Service Center. The pimp—a 34-year-old south Seattle resident—was booked into King County Jail for investigation of promoting prostitution.

Flying high after a dose of meth, a man walked into a Harbor Avenue convenience store and began taking off his clothes. When he refused to get dressed and became abusive, the clerk called 911. Officers had the man taken to Harborview for an involuntary commitment.

At the intersection of 35th and Avalon, an officer watched as a woman in the far right-hand lane made a turn....to the left. She claimed to have had one glass of wine at a company party, yet she smelled heavily of intoxicants and the officer noted that she had trouble putting her shoes on and walking straight. The driver also had a previous DUI conviction. After undergoing sobriety tests she was given a ride home and will be facing charges.

Near 12th and Myrtle, two men suffered injuries after being pistol whipped, kicked, and struck with a baseball bat in a home invasion robbery. The suspects claimed to be after marijuana and money and left the house in shambles, with bloodstains visible on the floor and on furniture. Police heard about the incident only because staff at Harborview called to report that the victims had come in seeking treatment.

On 11th SW, officers were dispatched to a call about a "yelling female." Officers found the woman lying on the ground, shaking and mumbling. Her mood and subject of conversation changed rapidly. At first she wanted to go to the beach, but then changed her mind and wanted to go to Denver. She also noted that she didn't have a home and wanted to buy a car. She was transported to Highline Hospital for an involuntary mental health exam.

Burglaries/car prowls/break-ins by block: 3200 SW Avalon, 4100 28th SW, 3800 SW Orchard, 10400 39th SW, 3500 SW Cambridge, SW Alki at Bonair Drive, 4500 Fauntleroy Way, 7300 and 9000 35th SW, 6000 Atlas Pl. SW, 6300 Beach Drive SW, 9100 California Ave. SW, 1600 45th SW, 2800 SW Yancy, 4100 SW Hill, 4700 SW Edmunds, 3400 60th SW, Forest at Walnut, 4200 SW Hudson, 9600 37th SW, 9800 42nd SW, 4000 SW 104th, 1300 Sunset SW, 3400 SW Cambridge

Ferry plan 'unacceptable' to some Fauntleroy residents

Guest — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Guest (not verified) Mon, 01/26/2009 - 12:00am

The Washington State Department of Transportation Ferry Division held the last of 10 public hearings on its long-range draft plan at the Hall of Fauntleroy Wednesday (Jan. 21), where several of the more than 100 community members present expressed their discomfort with expanding capacity for the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth ferry route.

Most who spoke said repeatedly that widening the ferry dock or making other changes that would increase capacity was not appropriate for their residential neighborhood.

"This community really isn't a commuter community," said Fauntleroy resident Gary Dawson.

Several residents also said they were disappointed that a plan presented in 2005, which would have rerouted the ferry to skip Fauntleroy and head straight downtown from Southworth, was no longer on the table.

That route was expected to relieve demand for ferry service from Southworth to downtown due to increasing development in Kitsap County, particularly the south and central parts of Kitsap County that are growing fast.

Resident Susan Lance Day said increasing commuter traffic would further deteriorate the air quality in the neighborhood. Widening the ferry dock and adding an overhead ramp for passengers would also eliminate views of the Olympic Mountains from nearby homes, such as her own, Lance Day added.

"I don't find that at all acceptable. Fauntleroy is a residential neighborhood," she said. "It wasn't intended to be a busy transportation hub. Don't encourage growth on the peninsula at the expense of our neighborhood."

David Moseley, director of Washington State Ferries, introduced the 22-year draft plan, which was released Dec. 19. He explained that the 2007 State Legislature charged the division to come up with long-range planning options that would address a multi-billion dollar funding gap.

"The system isn't financially sustainable and has not been for some time," said Moseley.

The resulting plan consists of two separate "visions:" Plan A and Plan B.

Plan A keeps the current level of service but includes making some "improvements" to the ferry dock and operations. Plan B is much more "financially constrained" and involves cutting out several routes. But Moseley said Plan B still puts the division in the red.

While B would mean an overall funding gap of $1.4 billion, Plan A would mean a gap of $3.5 billion.

"That's what's facing the state," said aid Ray Deardorf the ferry system's planning director.

This comes from the ferry system's most pressing problem, said Deardorf, which is a lack of a dedicated capital funding stream to meet its ongoing investment needs. Currently there are capacity restraints on the Fauntleroy/Vashon route, which is expected to grow.

While Plan A calls for the replacement of vessels that retire with slightly larger boats to increase capacity, Plan B would not replace those vessels. That would mean in the next three to four years, the Fauntleroy route would be reduced from three to two boats.

Plan A includes some terminal improvements, such as adding lanes for holding areas and building an overhead ramp for passengers. This prompted several in the audience to shout out, "No way."

Plan B would includes some modifications to the dock, but it would not be widened and an overhead ramp would not be built.

The two plans have some elements in common.

Both propose the system to evolve into a no fee reservation system for vehicles, which is expected to cut down the amount of traffic waiting for ferries. Deardorf said each also seek to improve transit connections on both sides of the water, in hopes it would encourage more people to leave their cars behind.

Overtime, both options would increase the cost of vehicle travel on the ferry more than the gradual increase for walk-ons, which is about 2.5 percent a year.

One man wondered if the state planned to include funds to make improvements to the roads in the neighborhood and mitigate noise from the expected increase in traffic if moves to increase capacity were approved.

"This community will die," said Phil Sweetland, a 50 year resident of Fauntleroy. "We cannot afford to have that increased capacity."

Read the entire plan at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Ferries/Planning/DraftPlan.htm.

If you wish to comment on the long-range plan email wsfplanning@wsdot.wa.gov or write Washington State Ferries, Attn. Joy Goldenberg, 2901 3rd Ave., Seattle, WA, 98121.

Rebekah Schilperoort can be reached at 783-1244 or rebekahs@robinsonnews.com.

Fauntleroy Way to get 'road diet'

Guest — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Guest (not verified) Mon, 01/26/2009 - 12:00am

<b>Graphic courtesy of Seattle DOT</b>

The Seattle Department of Transportation announced today (Jan. 23) its decision to change Fauntleroy Way Southwest to one travel lane in each direction, including a center turn-lane and bike lanes, often called a "road diet."

Between California Avenue Southwest and Southwest Edmunds Street, Fauntleroy Way will be converted from two travel lanes in each direction to one lane in each direction, a center two-way left turn lane, a bicycle lane northbound and shared lane pavement markings, for motor vehicles and bicycles, traveling southbound.

"It's the right thing to do," said Aaron Goss, owner of Aaron's Bicycle just a block from Fauntleroy. "It's the flatest bike route through West Seattle and a lot of people already use it."

Marked crosswalks will be added at Southwest Brandon Street and 40th Avenue Southwest. Most on-street parking will remain with a few spaces replaced by bus zones.

The restriping has been designed to make Fauntleroy Way safer for both pedestrians and bicyclists by reducing vehicle speeds and collisions while still supporting the road's capacity, accoridng to the city, which cites national studies that have revealed that single-lanes in each direction calm traffic and create a safer environment for all road users.

Goss says the average driver goes much faster than Fauntleroy's 35 mile an hour speed limit. According to the city, the average speed is 41 miles-per-hour.

Eric Widstrand also explained that similar "road diets," where lanes are limited to improve safety, have been successful on Rainier Avenue South, Stone Way and 24th Avenue Northwest in Ballard.

Travel times for motorists will not increase, even for those traveling to and from the Fauntleroy Ferry docks, the city expects. As Widstrand explained, Fauntleroy will experience less turning conflict with a shared center lane.

Steve Sindiong, president of the Morgan Junction Community Association, said the association is pleased with the possibility of new bicycle lanes and decreased speeds on Fauntleroy Way, but hopes the city has considered the possibility of additional services being added to the Fauntleroy Ferry terminal.

The department's decision was guided by an analysis of current and future traffic conditions, Bicycle Master Plan recommendations, and input from the community.

The 1.3 mile stretch of Fauntleroy will be repaved and restriped between May and November 2009. The road will not be completely closed in either direction during construction.

Once construction is complete, the road will be analyzed and adjustments, including additional crosswalks, could be made as needed.

"We want to take a look and see if there are any change in traffic volumes and make sure its working as we anticipated," said Widstrand.

A similar project, called a "boulevard concept" was rejected by the local community in 1998 as a part of the Morgan Junction's original neighborhood plan.

For more information please contact Reiner Blanco, Arterial Operations supervisor, at 206-615-1911 or at reiner.blanco@seattle.gov or Jessica Murphy, Arterial Asphalt and Concrete Paving program manager, at 206-684-0178 or jessica.murphy@seattle.gov.

Bicyclists/Pedestrians

Emergency Preparedness/Safety

Robinson Papers

Upcoming Events and Announcements

admin — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +0000

admin Mon, 01/26/2009 - 12:00am

West Seattle Senior Center

West Seattle High

Chief Sealth High

South Seattle Community College

Local filmmaker covers 'ZZ Top'

Guest — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Guest (not verified) Mon, 01/26/2009 - 12:00am

SHARP DRESSED MEN. Sporting his trademark African cap and long beard, ZZ Top rocker Billy Gibbons joins West Seattle resident and filmmaker, Jamie Chamberlain for a photo on the road. With the tight-knit band's blessing, Chamberlain created a documentary about the legendary guitar player. A screening will take place Sunday, Jan. 25, 8pm, at West 5 Lounge at the Junction.

Photo from Jamie Chamberlain

Filmmaker Jamie Chamberlain spends half his time at his home in the Fauntleroy neighborhood, the other half at his Los Angeles digs. But that's only when he is home in the first place, because Chamberlain is one lucky guy. He makes his living hanging with the legendary rock group, ZZ Top, and film them in concert on tour in America, Spain, Portugal, and France. He has heard "Sharp Dressed Man," "Tush," and "Cheap Sunglasses" countless times, but who's complaining?

His film, "Rock and Roll Gearhead- 4 Days With Billy F. Gibbons," based on the ZZ Top guitar player who opened for Jimi Hendrix back in the day, was screened at West 5 Lounge Jan. 25.

Chamberlain continues to tour with the band while he works on a second documentary about the long-bearded, three-man phenomenon, which includes Dusty Hill and Frank Beard. Well, Frank Beard is the one without the beard. They have played together 40 years.

"Billy Gibbons is one of the truly legendary guitarists," said Chamberlain. "He is compared to Hendrix and Clapton by anyone who has ever picked up a guitar."

Chamberlain said that for his movie "Gearhead" he got to travel with Gibbons to press events, book signings, and was around when the guitarist got married. "I filmed what it was like to walk in his shoes," said Chamberlain, who was once a Belltown waiter saving up to attend Vancouver Film School. The two met while Chamberlain was producing rock segments for Fox-TV.

Chamberlain said Gibbons really likes West Seattle. "After their White River concert last August, I convinced Billy to stay in Seattle and let me drag him around. We hung around the Junction, went into West 5, and ate across the street at the Matador. Billy Gibbons and Mexican food are inseparable."

Check out: www.zztop.com for background on the classic band.

Fauntleroy

West Seattle

Robinson Papers

Ferries Division extends comment on long-range plan through Jan. 26

admin — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +0000

admin Sun, 01/25/2009 - 12:00am

The State Department of Transportation Ferry Division announced Jan. 22 it will extend public comment on its draft lon-range plan through Monday, Jan. 26.

The plan drew more than 100 Fauntleroy and West Seattle residents to a public hearing Wednesday. Most said they would not approve of a plan that would increase capacity to the Fauntleroy/Vashon route because the ferry was located in a residential neighborhood.

The public comment period first opened on Dec. 19, 2008. Since then, Washington State Ferries has received hundreds of comments and held 10 public hearings in ferry served communities.

"Due to the overwhelming response, I decided to extend the comment period five days," said David Moseley, Ferries Division Assistant Secretary. "I appreciate the time everyone took to share their perspective on the two options in the draft plan."

A revised draft plan, along with all of the public comments received, will be provided to the State Legislature on Saturday, Jan. 31.

The plan is intended to provide options for consideration during this Legislative session and will not be finalized until after it is reviewed and decisions are made by lawmakers.

The public may continue to provide comments in the following ways:

E-mail: wsfplanning@wsdot.wa.gov

Write: WSF, Attn. Joy Goldenberg, 2901 3rd Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98121

For more information visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/planning/ESHB2358.htm.

Fauntleroy

West Seattle

Robinson Papers

City to inspect 'all major streets'

admin — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +0000

admin Fri, 01/23/2009 - 12:00am

In the next phase of storm recovery operations, the Seattle Department of Transportation will inspect the city?s 1,531 lane miles of major streets for residual sand, potential drain blockages and worn striping, with special emphasis on bicycle routes.

Crews would then be dispatched to complete repairs, removing sand by hand if necessary.

Residents are encouraged to report sand on the roadways by calling 684-ROAD (7623).

As part of its comprehensive storm response, city traffic crews have completed an initial sweep of 1,531 lane miles, filled 594 potholes and repainted missing lane lines.

Since Jan. 14, crews have repainted missing lane markings on the West Seattle Bridge, the Aurora Bridge, Fauntleroy Way Southwest, 35th Avenue Southwest and in the north end of Seattle.

The city is aslo clearing bike lanes of storm sand this week.

Ten sweepers have been deployed to clean up more quickly from the storms of December and early January, nearly double the normal number used. Staff will be inspecting roadways throughout the city to assess where additional emphasis is needed.

Mechanical street cleaners and crews with hand sweepers will clear bike routes throughout the city.

The department has nearly completed its initial sweeping of sand from 1,531 lane miles of Seattle's main streets and will continue its cleaning work with additional runs along the same major streets and will focus aggressively over the next several days on bike lanes.

The public is asked to heed "No Parking" signs placed to support sweeping.