2011 proved to be a very memorable year with the return of Amanda Knox, who had been convicted of murder in Italy and dramatically released on appeal, amid an international media storm. She's back in West Seattle and her family is grateful that she is largely being allowed her privacy, especially by local media. The death of Jeremy Peck, while apparently from the end of 2010 was confirmed in January, 2011. The Alaskan Way Viaduct/ Deep Bore Tunnel issue finally came to a head with a final vote that set the project in motion. Denny International Middle School completed the Sealth/Denny joint campus construction and opened. But a lot more took place this year from business developments to changes all across our community. This is not a complete list of every single event but rather a sampling of highlights. Here's a look back.

Top Stories

Amanda Knox acquitted, and released (October)
The biggest West Seattle Herald story of 2011 was most likely the appeal trial, and acquittal, of Arbor Heights-raised Amanda Knox, in Perugia, Italy, facing a 26-year murder sentence. The jury set her free Oct. 3, the judge citing shoddy DNA collection techniques and unreliable witnesses brought forth by the prosecution. The judge and jury also did not buy the "staged break-in" scenario the prosecution argued.

After the verdict was read, she and her family went from the courtroom to her Capanne Prison cell, her home for four years, collected her things, spent the night in Rome, and flew back to Seattle the following morning.

Four years ago Knox was accused of stabbing her British college roommate, Meredith Kercher, to death, in what prosecutors described as a "drug-fueled rage" with her then boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, and career criminal Rudy Guede. Sollecito was also acquitted. Guede remains guilty, in prison, while Knox lives in Seattle, re-adjusting to a normal life. Sollecito plans to continue his studies, possibly in Vancouver, B.C.

Amanda Knox's mother, Edda Mellas, told the West Seattle Herald this week, "The Knox and Mellas family would like to thank everyone in our West Seattle community for supporting Amanda over the last four years. The welcome home signs posted in yards and businesses were truly wonderful to see.  Everyone has been so kind to all of us, and very respectful of our need for privacy as we go through this time of transition. Have a happy new year."

Jeremy Peck’s disappearance and death continues to haunt friends and family (yearlong)
Jeremy Peck disappeared on Christmas Eve, 2010 after going out for drinks with friends in West Seattle and almost a month later his body washed up along the shore of Bainbridge Island. One year later, Jeremy’s uncle (and de facto father) is struggling with his believe that Jeremy was murdered, and a close family friend may be involved. A search warrant affidavit was released and named two people of interest in the case with a substantial amount of circumstantial evidence pointing towards the friend John suspects. No arrests have been made in the case Seattle Police call “active and ongoing.”

Denny International Middle School opens (September)
More than 25 dignitaries cut a bright blue ribbon Sept. 6 to officially open Denny International Middle School, located behind Chief Sealth High School, within the same building. Principal Jeff Clark proudly wore bright blue. School started the next day.

"This is an exciting time to start the year," Dr. Susan Enfield, Interim School District Superintendent, told the West Seattle Herald. "We have these great facilities that we are opening, thanks to our voters. I think there is a real sense of positive momentum as we begin the school year and so we just need to keep that going. The building is fabulous. All this natural light and these high ceilings are just wonderful. It's such a tribute to how much this community values the education of its children that they would support something like this being built, so I'm grateful."
The original school was torn down to be replaced with athletic fields and tennis courts set to open in January.

Ironically, Enfield recently announced she is leaving the Seattle School District in June.

The Alaskan Way Viaduct/Deep Bore Tunnel project gets underway (October)
The aging and vulnerable Alaskan Way Viaduct's fate was finally sealed by a public vote in September that gave the go ahead to a tear down of the southern mile of the 60 year old roadway and the beginning of the Deep Bore Tunnel under downtown. The two week closure of the viaduct caused many to fear traffic tie ups but the 9 days of closure went smoother than expected.

Tensions were high for West Seattle commuters who depend on the viaduct for their daily commute in the days leading up to its closure from Oct. 21 to 31 - visions of gridlock and road rage dancing in their heads.  Leading up to the closure of the Viaduct’s southern mile, city and transportation officials said the sting of “viadoom” would depend on people’s ability to alter their regular commute – suggesting everything from using the Water Taxi to adjusting work schedules or simply working from home.

West Seattle Crime

Sentences come down in Steve Bushaw murder trial (yearlong)
Three men were sentenced to prison for the 2009 shooting death of Steve Bushaw in West Seattle. The murder was described as a revenge killing for the home invasion robbery of a drug dealer Bushaw’s killers thought he was behind (police never found evidence proving the connection). Bryce Huber, convicted as the mastermind of a plot to draw Bushaw out of Talarico’s in the Junction where two of Huber’s accomplices gunned the victim down, was sentenced to 32 years. Danny O’Neal Jr. and John Sylve admitted to shooting Bushaw and received 15 and 20 year sentences respectively. Jurors were unable to convict suspected getaway driver Brandon Chaney and prosecutors are currently considering a retrial.

The "Polite Robber "(February)
In early February Gregory P. Hess entered the Shell Gas Station at 2805 S.W. Roxbury and sheepishly robbed the clerk and owner, John Henry, using a handgun-style pellet gun. “I’m appreciate it and I really am sorry and if I ever get back on my feet again, sir, I’ll bring it back,” Hess told Henry as he drove off with $300. The surveillance footage of Hess’s polite demeanor during the robbery became a YouTube sensation. Hess later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 60 months in prison.

Entertainer Hokum Jeebs stabbed to death (February)
West Seattle resident and traveling vaudeville performer Hokum W. Jeebs (aka Robert Stabile), 60, was stabbed to death in his own home on Feb. 16. The suspect, 19-year-old Angelo Felice, was charged in the case and faces a first degree murder trial for stabbing Jeebs to death after plans to rob him went awry.

60-plus-year-old bank robbers arrested (October)
Two men, ages 64 and 65, were arrested in October for a string of Puget Sound bank robberies including the Washington Federal Bank in West Seattle on Oct. 20. The men wore Halloween masks of past presidents (Bill Clinton and George W. Bush) while threatening customers and employees with shotguns and handguns. In a Shoreline robbery one of the men nearly forgot his handgun, absent-mindedly leaving it on a counter before his co-robber reminded him to grab it.

South Park Killer sentenced to life in prison (August)
Isaiah Kalebu was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in August for the brutal attack and rape of two women in South Park in 2009. Teresa Butz was killed and her partner, Jennifer Hopper, barely escaped with her life. She was eventually able to provide damning testimony against Kalebu in his aggravated first degree murder trial. At his sentencing Hopper told Kalebu, “I do wish you peace and I do not hate you. I am sorry for whatever it is in your life that brought you to this, but I do say with every ounce of my being that I am glad that you will never be around to hurt me or anyone else again. And I wish I could say to you that I have not been broke … but pieces of me are and will always be.”

Fires

Arbor Heights home fire reveals insufficient water pressure (August)
A portable fire pit appeared to be sitting dormant in an Arbor Heights family’s garage, but hot August days ignited organic materials in the pit and the home caught fire. Responding firefighters quickly realized they couldn’t create enough water pressure with fire hydrants on the block, forcing them to connect a maze of engines and hoses over a five-block radius to combat the blaze. By that time, the home was a total loss. In December Seattle’s City Council sat down with Seattle Fire and Public Utilities officials to iron out what went wrong and what is being done to fix an archaic water supply system in Arbor Heights. By 2013, SPU said every home will be within 1000 feet of a hydrant that can push 1000 gallons of water per minute.

Development

The Hole sells for $32 million (July)
The infamous "Hole" at the northwest corner of Fauntleroy and Alaska sold in a foreclosure auction for $32 million to Madison Development out of Kirkland, WA. There aren’t any new details on what will become of the space that was supposed to become a mixed-use building with apartments and retail, but shortly after excavation started in 2008 the economy plummeted and the original developer had to put a halt to the project. It was once intended to be the site of a Whole Foods store.

The Alki Homestead question continues (yearlong)
The deteriorating Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge went through several rounds of review by the Architectural Review Committee of the Landmarks Preservation Board in 2011 as they and owner Tom Lin weighed the question of how to best carry out the restoration of the historic structure. The issue is likely going to move toward a clearer resolution in the coming year.

The Link Apartments open (March)
In the first move towards a renovated Fauntleroy Triangle, Link Apartments opened at end of March. Harbor Properties had previously built the Mural Apartments in 2009 and broke ground on yet another, the Nova Apartments near year end.

The Conner Project (year long)
In limbo for much of the year despite having permits in place, the biggest change in the complexion of the core of West Seattle took a turn in December when the massive project was sold to the largest apartment developer in the nation

Politics

Retired school teacher Marty McLaren, a Pigeon Point Co-Housing resident, became frustrated with the Seattle Public School math curriculum and ran for School Board against incumbent, board president Steve Sundquist, also of West Seattle. She won with 54 percent.

Parks

• Colman Pool in Lincoln Park celebrated its 70th anniversary on July 4th,
• The Seattle Chinese Garden opened its most significant structure to date with the Knowing the Spring Courtyard
• Seacrest Park saw Alki Crab and Fish lose out to Marination Mobile for the food vending service there. The change
• will take place officially next spring.
• The Delridge Skatepark opened, designed and built by West Seattle's own Grindline Skateparks
• Jack Block Park opened a public beach after a major environmental cleanup
• While not a park, the West Seattle Community Orchard opened next to the SSCC campus
• Myrtle Resevoir Park opened with new playground equipment near Highpoint
• Walt Hundley Playfield opened in High Point

Schools

Little West Seattleites and their parents showed up en masse for the official unveiling of the Admiral District’s Lafayette Elementary playground on Sept. 6 – just in time for school to start the next day.

West Seattle Elementary School was the beneficiary of a new library in November with 2000 new books plus new furniture and computer gear.

Other events

A gathering organized by the SW Seattle Historical Society at the Statue of Liberty on Alki Sept. 11 paid their respects to fallen police and firefighters who lost their lives 10 years ago while rescuing folks trapped in the Twin Towers and Pentagon. Many lit candles at 7:00 p.m. and sang patriotic songs.
A group of New York City transplants now living in the Seattle area clustered and told the West Seattle Herald "We knew we'd find each other" even though they'd never met.

The West Seattle Tool Library moved from South Seattle Community College to its new home at the northeast corner of the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center on Delridge Way.

Pastor for Hope Lutheran Church in West Seattle Keith Eilers retired from active ministry and a celebration of his ten years of service to the church and congregation was held Sun, June 12 at the Church and at Seattle Lutheran High School. More than 350 gathered to have lunch and pay tribute to him.

The Missile Defense Agency's Sea-Based X-band Radar (SBX) vessel arrived May 10 in Elliott Bay for repairs and upgrades at Vigor Shipyards (formerly Todd Pacific Shipyards). This work took about three months to complete.The SBX Radar is one of the sensors for our nation's missile defense system. Its mission is to identify ballistic missile threats and relay that information to the battle management, command, control and communications system for missile defense.

The SBX is a diesel vessel, 250-feet high and spends over 300 days a year at sea. It's maneuverable and has been all over the Pacific (…) The platform submerges over 70 feet when at sea. It generally has a crew of about 90.

A landing craft used to transport rocks for a beachside bulkhead sank just off Beach Drive in early October causing concern about pollution. It was raised and put on a barge the next day.

The Occupy Seattle protestors came to West Seattle to shut down Terminals 18 and 5 and managed to do so for a few hours before being forcibly removed by the Seattle Police Department.

The Junction Neighborhood Service Center closed June 30.

Businesses in West Seattle that opened or changed:

• The Grove Hotel opened, (remodeled and revitalized as West Seattle's only hotel)
• Charlestown Cafe closed after nearly three decades in businesss
• Windermere Real Estate closed their Fauntleroy office and consolidated in the junction.
• The Bridge Restaurant and bar opened
• A Terrible Beauty Irish Pub opened in the junction.
• Bang Bar Thai restaurant opened in the junction
• West Seattle Smoke Shop in the junction opened
• VAIN salon in the junction opened late in the year
• Admiral Safeway reopened after a 2 year closure for remodeling
• Menchies Frozen Yogurt in the Admiral District opened
• Pizzeria 22 in the Admiral District opened
• Mural Apartments opened in the West Seattle triangle
• On Safari foods moved to SODO
• Bright Horizons child care center opened in the triangle
• Chaco Canyon Organic Cafe opened in the triangle
• Breathe Hot Yoga opened in the triangle
• OutWest bar opened on California Ave.
• Juneau Street Market changed hands and was remodeled on Calif. Ave.
• Locöl Barley and Vine opened on 35th s.w.
• Petco moved from the junction to Alaska Street
• The Premium Liquor store moved to Alaska Street and opened but faces closure due to a change in state liquor sales
• The Train Shop moved out to Burien
• BioJunction Sports Therapy opened in the Charlestown Center
• Elliott Bay Brew Pub got a facelift
• Nova Development apartment complex broke ground
• La Vida Massage opened in Jefferson Square
• Umpqua Bank opened in the Admiral District
• El Chupacabra opened on Alki
• Spira Power Yoga opened in the Admiral District
• John's Corner Deli revamped their product offerings with healthy choices
• Porterhouse Restaurant closed
• Emerald Spiral Co-op closed on California Ave.
• Highline Medical Center Emergency Clinic opened
• Coco and Company salon opened on 35th
• West Seattle Fish Company opened on 35th
• Stuffed Cakes opened on 35th
• Mountain to Sound Outfitters expanded on Alaska Street
• West Seattle Fabrics opened in the Admiral District
• Mawadda Cafe opened in the Admiral District
• Pan Africa Grill opened on California Ave.
• Stockbox Grocers opened test store in a Delridge Apt. parking lot
• Beachside Cafe opened in old Alki Bakery location
• Be Pilates Studio opened on California Ave.
• Cafe Fiore opened in the Admiral District
• Atlas Chiropractic opened in the Admiral District
• Meanders restaurant expanded
• Jonny Boston sandwich shop was put up for sale
• West Seattle Produce moved across the street on Fauntleroy Way
• WestWood Town Center sold for $78 million by Wesbuild to Bentall Kennedy
• Desert Sun tanning salon opened in Westwood Village
• Hollywood Video closed in Westwood Village
• Game Stop opened in Westwood Village
• Target stores added fresh food in a major store reorganization

White Center

White Center saw plenty of news too, much of it crime related with the murder of Sweetheart Failatusi and the Department of Justice "Center of Attention" crime sweep and DEA marijuana raids.

White Center Crime

Sweetheart Failatusi murdered in White Center (August)
23-year-old Sweetheart Failautusi was shot to death in the streets of White Center on Aug. 16. Anthony Smith was arrested and charged in her murder, which allegedly stemmed from an argument between Sweetheart and Smith’s groups of friends over a cigarette. A makeshift tribute to Sweetheart was erected and maintained by the Samoan community she was a part of at the spot of her murder. “It is a very sad occasion when a young life has been ended by an act of violence,” Pastor Bob Moore said during her funeral service. “There are enough challenges with cancer, disease, accidents that we don’t need foolishness through violence. That’s the last thing we need. We don’t need to give death a better opportunity to deprive us of the joy of living.”

Operation Center of Attention targets gun and drug traffickers operating out of White Center (October)
On Oct. 20 a multi-agency law enforcement raid of several White Center businesses yielded 53 arrests along with the seizure of 68 guns, 51 pounds of methamphetamine, two pounds of crack cocaine and over ten pounds of powder cocaine. Dubbed “Operation Center of Attention” and headed by the ATF, the 90-day operation involved several undercover agents uncovering a network of White Center businesses operating as fronts for gun and drug traffickers. U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan vowed to help the White Center community move forward in cleaning up their streets and creating a vibrant business district. “I think the real story here is the breadth of what came off the streets in 90 days,” Durkan said. “I think these are staggering results, but also a sad commentary on how much this community suffered at the hands of these criminals. That will not happen again.” The community scored victories when Club Evo (an infamous nightclub known for attracting crime) was denied a business license to reopen in September and with the reinstatement of a storefront deputy, BJ Myers in November.

DEA raids medical marijuana dispensaries in West Seattle and White Center (November)
The Federal Drug Enforcement Agency raided several Western Washington medical marijuana businesses on Nov. 15, targeting establishments they believed were failing to comply with state law. West Seattle resident Brionne Corbray operated dispensaries in West Seattle and White Center – both were raided along with Corbray’s vehicle and home. No federal charges have been filed against Corbray as of yet and he has expressed frustration with the raid and proclaimed his innocence. After the raid, Corbray shut down his White Center dispensary with plans to reopen in a different location in Seattle. His West Seattle location (GAME Collective) is still in operation.

White Center Community Developments

Vera Johnson, owner of the Village Green Nursery, went up against Bank of America and managed to arrive at a mutually agreeable solution for her loan, after her case drew regional media attention.

The Annual White Center Christmas Tree lighting was started and expanded. 
A one year moratorium on a dance club openings was established
16th Ave. road and cross walk  improvements and re-paving from Barton in Seattle, all the way down 16th to 112th in Burien were completed
The Welcome to White Center Signs were installed
Veterans Triangle Park and Flag Pole were rededicated

The White Center Community Development Association noted:
WCCDA’s Spring Clean event attracted 600 volunteers this past May, doing projects in the business district, neighborhood, parks and schools
 
The CDA, with its partners, opened up Unity Village, the first affordable housing project (outside of Greenbridge) located near the business district. (30 units of new, quality housing)
 
The CDA’s Community Summit held Dec 3rd  was the 10th one- over 40 partners and 350 people attended to get engaged in the WC community
 
CDA with SWYFS and Highline Public Schools launched White Center Promise a new education initiative focused on WC families to help kids from “Cradle to Career”.

White Center business openings included:

• GAME Collective (which came and went after being busted)
• Herban Legend
• Delridge Grocery
• My Quang Video
• VN Market and Trading Company
• Cheap Smoke
• Southgate Skate Rink (now a bustling center)
• Zippy's Burgers (moved from Highland Park)
• Centro Familiar Cristiano
• Be's Crawfish Grill
• Minh Anh Gui Tien Le - Money Transfer
• Phnom Khiev Market
• White Center Market
• Boost Mobile
• Luso Food and Wine
• Ngoc-Minh's Jewlery & Gift
• Café Tao Ngo
• Oro & Gold
• Zapatas Para Mujer
• Elizabeth's Closet
• Pony Express closed after 32 years in White Center
• T-Mobile
• Taco Bell reopened after a tear down and rebuild
• Murphy's Paw dog washing business closed

 
We've inevitably left some news items, developments or businesses out of this story and we apologize in advance if that's the case. If you note a correction, please send it to WestSeattle@robinsonnews.com and we will add it to the list.

PHOTO INFORMATION:

Top Left- The demolition of the southern mile of the Alaskan Way Viaduct began (photo by David Rosen) but not before thousands came to walk it one last time (photo by Kimberly Robinson). Top Right - Amanda Knox was freed by an Italian court after being convicted and imprisoned for the murder of her roommate. The case drew international attention. Upper and Middle Left - Denny International Middle School opened, completing the $50 million remodel of the Sealth/Denny campus (ribbon button Photo by Steve Shay, school Photo by Patrick Robinson). Upper Middle Right -Jeremy Peck died under mysterious circumstances at the end of 2010 but his body was found in January and an affidavit was prepared but no charges have been filed. Entertainer Hokum Jeebs was murdered in his West Seattle home. The SBX radar dome was in dry dock for repairs in West Seattle on Harbor Island (Photo by Patrick Robinson). Middle Left - Carrie Ferrence launched a concept store, StockBox Grocers in a shipping container outfitted and put in a Delridge Apartment complex parking lot (Photo by Patrick Robinson). Vera Johnson, owner of Village Green Nursery drew a lot of attention in her battle with Bank of America (Photo by Patrick Robinson). Pastor Keith Eilers retired from Hope Lutheran Church (Photo by Patrick Robinson). The Link Apartments opened in March (Photo by Ty Swenson). The anniversary of the 9/11 attacks was observed at the Statue of Liberty on Alki (Photo by Steve Shay). Lower Left - Viadoom, the predicted traffic nightmare from the closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct never really happened (Photo by David Rosen), Lower Middle - The closure of the Charlestown Cafe brought many people to tears (Photo by Patrick Robinson) Bottom Middle - The opening of Unity Village Apartments in White Center was a hopeful sign for the troubled community (Photo by Patrick Robinson). The opening of a state owned Premium Wine and Liquor store on Alaska Street saw a short life as voters elected to get the state out of the liquor business (Photo by Patrick Robinson) Lower Right - A skater goes for big air at the opening of the new Delridge Skate Park (Photo by Patrick Robinson).