West Seattle Elementary’s lesson: ‘B(ee)’ is for breakfast
You can’t just call them “lunch ladies” (or gentlemen), since a big part of the job for workers like these two at West Seattle Elementary and other schools is to provide a nutritious breakfast, too. And breakfast was in the spotlight in a big way at WSES this morning, as Seattle Public Schools launched a monthlong campaign to convince students (and their families) of its importance. Helping get the message out: A district worker in a bumblebee suit:
Her name is Katie Busby (perfect!), and she told media crews that she’s been appearing as “Buzz, the Bee Healthy bee” for a few years now. She works with the district’s Nutrition Services Department, which says, “Children who eat breakfast daily do better on standardized tests, get better grades, are able to concentrate in school, can more easily complete complex tasks and are more able to maintain a healthy weight.” The monthlong “Go for Gold” campaign will offer prize drawings and other celebrity appearances to participating schools.
West Seattle Crime Watch: Three court-case updates
Notes tonight on three defendants whose cases we’re continuing to watch in the courts:
DUANE STARKENBURG: More than a year after this Gatewood resident was arrested and charged with attacking three women jogging in or near Lincoln Park, he is about to go on trial, but the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office tells WSB there’s likely to be a short delay. Starkenburg’s trial is on the books to start this Wednesday, but according to KCPAO spokesperson Dan Donohoe, the prosecutor assigned to the case is in another trial that may not be over till days after that. Starkenburg also is awaiting a separate trial in an unrelated, long-ago child-rape case.
LOVETT CHAMBERS: The Gatewood man charged with murdering (Michael) Travis Hood by Morgan Junction Park in January was scheduled to return to court last week; as is fairly typical at this stage of a murder case, a postponement was requested, as lawyers are still in the “discovery” process. His next hearing is now set for April 4th.
BRANDON CHANEY: The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office confirms they are planning to re-try Chaney, a South King County resident who is the only one of four men charged in the February 2009 Steve Bushaw murder whose case is not yet resolved. Last August, a King County Superior Court jury deadlocked on Chaney’s case, while convicting co-defendant Bryce Huber (the two “triggermen” in the case had already pleaded guilty). Chaney was back in court last Friday, at which time a tentative trial date of November 1st was set; he is expected back in court in three weeks, for a “status hearing.”
Highway 99 traffic alert: 6-week lane closure north of The Viaduct
Hadn’t mentioned this before, since it’s not the section of 99 that WSB covers closely – but Michelle e-mailed us about it today, saying it will affect her commute and she thought other West Seattleites would want to know too: Starting tomorrow, 99 southbound will narrow from three lanes to two between Republican and John Streets, just north of the Battery Street Tunnel – all part of preparations for tunnel construction. The closure is expected to last about six weeks. WSDOT has full details here.
More room for more restaurants to join Taste of West Seattle 2012
(Beverages from 2011 Taste of West Seattle – photobymike.com image provided by WS Helpline)
Good news for both participants and attendees at this year’s Taste of West Seattle, set for May 17th, benefiting West Seattle Helpline – executive director Tara Byrne says they’ll “have a tented area outside this year, and room for more restaurants.” So, while they’ve already invited past participants, they’re trying to get the word out to any and all area restaurants, if you want to participate, now’s the time to say so!
Calling all West Seattle restaurants: The 7th annual Taste of West Seattle is coming up Thursday, May 17th. Last year we had 40 West Seattle restaurants and more than 400 participants. If you are a West Seattle restaurant and would like to be a part of the action this year please e-mail Tara for more details at wshelpline@gmail.com.
Remember – Helpline needs to hear directly from the restaurateur(s), so if you have a suggestion, please make sure your favorite restaurant sees this! (If you need their contact info, consider checking our West Seattle Restaurant Guide.)
Short-term host families needed for young visitors from China
Can you spare some room and time for a short-term houseguest this summer?
Once again West Seattle will be hosting students from Chengdu, China, and we are looking for host families! The students will be between the ages of 10 and 12 with a variety of English language proficiency. Students will be here for a total of 9 days and will arrive the last week in June. Last year our host families had a wonderful time with their students and enjoyed many Seattle activities. If you are interested or have questions about hosting a student, contact Pathfinder K-8 School’s assistant principal, Lisa Clayton, at lclayton@seattleschools.org.
Here’s a Google Map showing Chengdu and Seattle – more than 9,000 miles apart!
West Seattle scene: Junction stump gets ‘yarn-bombed’
The tree stump on the KeyBank corner of the California-Alaska intersection (aka “Walk All Ways”) in The Junction has a new decoration. A tipster e-mailed us early today to say it had been “yarn-bombed” overnight. First one of those we’ve heard of/seen in a while. The tipster’s photo was too small to use, so we stopped by while in The Junction a little while ago to get this one.
Rummage sale countdown: Tibbetts UMC’s Friday-Saturday details
(WSB photo from 2010 Tibbetts sale)
It’s rummage-sale mania this Friday and Saturday, as two local churches . In our previous preview, we included some early details West Side Presbyterian had shared; now we have some highlights from Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor):
“A” is for Appliances, “B” is for Baby stuff, “C” is for Cookware, “D” is for Dresses, “E” is for EVERYTHING … you get the idea – it’s time for the Tibbetts Spring Rummage Sale!! Everything you could possibly want or need, all at prices “not of this century.” This wice-yearly event is coming right up and will feature the usual bargains galore! Furniture, bikes, barbecues and garden items outside, plenty of clothing for all ages, jewelry, toys, games and other great stuff inside. Please join us on Friday March 9th from 9 am – 4 pm and Saturday, March 10th from 9 am – 3 pm. Tibbetts UMC is located at 3940 41st Avenue SW in West Seattle. See you there!
P.S. Note that we’re just four weeks away from opening registration for this year’s West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (the big day is May 12th; signups will start April 2nd).
West Seattle Monday: Art; schools; stories; nightlife …
(Skunk cabbage in Fauntleroy Park, by Karen (“Old Desolate”) from the WSB Flickr group pool)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
TRAFFIC ALERT: Nighttime lane closures for the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project, as announced last week – if you’ll be driving the east stretch of the bridge late at night or early in the morning, check out the list.
2ND WEEK OF SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ OPEN ENROLLMENT: Friday is the last day – info here.
OPEN ART STUDIO: Theresa at Young At Art in The Junction says Mondays are “open studio” time 9:30-1:30 pm – kids 5 and up can be dropped off for up to 3 hours.
PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION: Lorrie at Little Pilgrim School in Fauntleroy says their fall registration opens today: “Completed application forms will be accepted in person or by mail, 9140 California SW. There are still spots available in most classes, am and pm, for children 2-5 years old. Questions? Contact (206) 932-5600 or lorrie@fauntleroyucc.org.”
FAMILY STORY TIME: High Point Library, 7 pm – details here.
MONDAY NIGHTLIFE: Trivia with Tom Hutyler at Christo’s on Alki, 7 pm … Karaoke with Kelli at Skylark Café and Club, 9 pm … Also at 9 pm, the “Flat Earth Society” weekly vinyl DJ’ing at West 5 … Talarico’s has karaoke @ 9:30 pm.
West Seattle Crime Watch: Bullets hit house, van
Via SPD Blotter, police have just confirmed what Brittany reported last night on the WSB Facebook page – shots were indeed fired outside High Point Community Center, with one hitting a nearby house. The SPD report says in part:
Responding Southwest Precinct officers located evidence of a shooting in the north lot of the High Point Community Center. A van that was parked in the lot (unoccupied) had been struck, as well as the exterior wall of a house across the street in the 3400 Block of SW Willow Street. The residents of the house heard the shots and the bullet hit the house, but it did not penetrate to the interior of the house, and there were no reported injuries. Officers were able to recover shell casings from the parking lot, and the rounds that struck the van and the house.
The SPD report doesn’t mention the types of vehicles seen leaving the area after the gunfire, but Brittany described them as “black newer Jeep Cherokee and red Pontiac Firebird.”
Writing the World Through Food: Cookbook author’s workshop
Seems like almost everyone loves to talk about food. Many write about it – though it can be a challenge to summon descriptions beyond “delicious.” To help you tell your food stories, 
award-winning cookbook author Crescent Dragonwagon, who is also a novelist and children’s-book writer, is coming to West Seattle to lead a one-day food-writing workshop this Saturday. Its title – “Deep Feast: Writing the World Through Food,” and Dragonwagon promises it will include interactivity and writing as well as listening. It’s happening at Camp Long Lodge, starting at 10:30 Saturday morning, and there’s a huge helping of information, including how to register, on this page. This is the second annual edition of the workshop (Seattle cookbook author Greg Atkinson writes about last year’s version here) but this time around, Dragonwagon is in town with an extra mission, promoting her new book, titled “Bean By Bean: A Cookbook: More than 200 Recipes for Fresh Beans, Dried Beans, Cool Beans, Hot Beans, Savory Beans…Even Sweet Beans!”
The 
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