West Seattle Blog…

Holiday giving time: How you can help the White Center Food Bank

Nine days till Thanksgiving, and even fewer days till local food banks’ holiday food pickups – so now’s the time to figure out how to help. The White Center Food Bank, which also serves southern West Seattle, is looking for volunteer helpers as well as food and money – plus, note that there is a turkey-dropoff opportunity in West Seattle this weekend, if you can’t get to White Center:

Do you have time next week to pass out food to clients at the White Center Food Bank at .10829 8th Ave SW. We need volunteers on the following shifts:

Monday, November 19 (9:30 to 12:30)
Tuesday, November 20 (9:30-12:30, 12:30-3:30 & 3:30-6:30)
Wednesday, November 21 (12:30-3:30 & 4:00 to 8:00)
If you can help, contact Audrey Zemke at audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org or 206-762-2848. Families and kids welcome.

The Food Bank also needs donations of the following foods or money to buy them.

Turkeys
Canned Pumpkin
Canned Sweet Potatoes or Yams
Pickles
Cake Mixes
Crackers

Donations are accepted Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 to 5:00 at 10829 8th Ave SW [map].

WEST SEATTLE DROPOFF: Turkeys can be dropped off on Sunday, November 18, at Fauntleroy UCC [9140 California SW], starting at 11 am. We will be onsite with our refrigerated van to accept donations.

We are checking with the West Seattle Food Bank regarding their holiday needs, and will publish that when we get the info.

‘Pop-up coffee shop’ Caffé Delia: Birthday party Saturday!

(Matt, Delia, and Eric – photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

You could call Caffé Delia (WSB sponsor) our area’s first co-housed coffee shop.

Or, pop-up coffee shop, as its proprietors dubbed it.

It opened one year ago in the downtown White Center space that, by night, is Proletariat Pizza.

As with Proletariat, Caffé Delia’s proprietors are a married couple – Delia and Matt. And they say Proletariat’s Stefanie and Mike had the coffee-cohousing idea in the first place – stemming from a mutual-admiration society when Delia worked at Bird on a Wire Espresso and referred people to “the fun pizza place in White Center.”

We sat down with Delia and Matt to talk about their shop and its milestone anniversary, which will be marked with a party during Caffé Delia’s regular hours tomorrow (8 am-2 pm Saturday).

Click to read the rest of ‘Pop-up coffee shop’ Caffé Delia: Birthday party Saturday!…

West Seattle restaurants: Meander’s to close WS location

After a few “preview” weekends in White Center (photo above), Meander’s Kitchen proprietor Miranda has made her decision: The West Seattle location will close. She just made this announcement via Facebook:

Though we’d wanted to keep the West Seattle shop open through December, it’s become pretty darned clear that we need to focus our resources on the White Center shop. This past weekend was an amazing turnout; much more than we had thought, so our kitchen got backed up pretty significantly. In order to bring our best to you in the new space, we’ll be closing the West Seattle shop this week.

So, tomorrow will be our last day in West Seattle. Ed’s on the grill today, and I’ll be cooking tomorrow. Come say howdy…I’ll miss the West Seattle shop dearly, but I hope to see you all in White Center!

The WC address is 9635 16th SW, in the heart of the business district, same place you’ll find Caffe Delia (WSB sponsor), Proletariat Pizza, Full Tilt Ice Cream, Company Bar, Uncle Mike’s Superlicious Barbecue, 3.14 Bakery, and myriad other businesses.

West Seattle restaurants: Inside Meander’s new White Center space, with public previews ahead

(THURSDAY UPDATE: The first preview day has been changed to Saturday 10/27, 8 am)
Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog/White Center Now

About Meander’s in White Center (opening the next two weekends for sneak previews):

First things first: the ventilation is AMAZING. See for yourself:

(Miranda even turned on the vent so I could feel the rush of air into the hood.)

With her forthcoming opening in the former Papa’s Pub in White Center (here’s our original report from 6 weeks ago), owner and chef Miranda Krone continues the evolution of what has become a favorite diner of people on our fair peninsula and beyond: Meander’s — with breakfast served all the time except weekend nights, when it turns into a gourmet bistro.

With evolution comes change, and the first change you’ll notice is all the space:
Click to read the rest of West Seattle restaurants: Inside Meander’s new White Center space, with public previews ahead…

Soup’s on, and game on! 3rd annual Great Soup-Off announced

Soup weather has arrived. And so has news of a chance to show your soupiest stuff. Just out of the WSB inbox:

The 3rd Annual Great Soup-Off of West Seattle

Saturday, November 3rd at 6 pm
Big Al Brewing
9832 14th Ave SW

Prepare your finest soup for a friendly competition with friends, family & neighbors!

Please bring:
…a soup to serve 10
…your own serving and eating ware
…and a friend

Children/youth are welcome! RSVP to mikhaila.gonzales@gmail.com

West Seattle Crime Watch: Charges in Highland Park search/White Center pursuit case

Charges are now filed against 30-year-old Emanuel Kozma, who was fleeing King County Sheriff’s Deputies from White Center eight days ago when he crashed in Highland Park (WSB coverage here) and bolted, on the run till his arrest this past Monday night.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged him with second-degree assault and attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle.

Ahead – from the court documents, the story of why he was arrested the day before the chase/crash, what happened surrounding the chase/crash, and another incident – a shooting – that came to light along the way: Click to read the rest of West Seattle Crime Watch: Charges in Highland Park search/White Center pursuit case…

West Seattle/White Center traffic alert: 16th/Roxbury incident

11:11 AM: Crossposted from our daily traffic thread as well as our partner site White Center Now: Avoid 16th/Roxbury – only one lane, westbound, is open on Roxbury, and only northbound is open on 16th – a man is reported to have been hit by the bike rack of a Metro bus. (A Route 128 is stopped at the scene.) His injuries do not appear to be serious, according to the medic crews radioing in to the hospital; he’s being taken to a hospital.

11:41 AM UPDATE: Metro Route 120 is being routed off eastbound Roxbury, according to a Metro alert, because of the investigation.

1:24 PM UPDATE: As of about 1:15, investigators still had eastbound Roxbury blocked off from 15th to 17th. Westbound is open and 16th is fully open. The King County Sheriff’s Office is investigating, since it’s on their side of the line; spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West tells us the bus was southbound on Delridge turning left to go eastbound on Roxbury; the man who was hit, in his early 30s, was crossing Roxbury northbound southbound* in the crosswalk when the bus hit him.

*New information Wednesday from KCSO.

Followup: Subject of last week’s Highland Park search now in custody

(October 10th photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
Just in from King County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Cindi West:

30-year-old Emanuel Kozma was arrested tonight around 6:30 pm in the Denny’s parking lot at S170sth and Pacific Hwy in SeaTac. He was the subject that King County Sheriff detectives chased on the 10th in the White Center area.

Detectives said he will be booked for investigation of Eluding, Assault 1, and Unlawful Possession of Firearm. The case will be forwarded to the prosecutor’s office for review. He was caught due to persistent work from detectives!

Here’s our coverage from last Wednesday. Kozma had just gotten out of jail three hours before the chase/search, after a White Center drug arrest. Deputies started pursuing him in WC, and then he ran after the car he was driving flipped at 17th and Trenton.

Fight West Seattle, White Center hunger: WC Food Bank’s Harvest Dinner/Auction

It’s calendar-marking day. Something else you won’t want to miss – less than two weeks away! The official announcement:

The White Center Food Bank will host its 8th annual Harvest Dinner and Auction on October 20 at South Seattle Community College’s Brockey Center beginning at 5:30 pm. The event will feature a live and silent auction with items ranging from wine collections to weekend getaways at premier northwest locations. Tickets (pre-registration only) are $65 and available at whitecenterfoodbank.org or by calling our offices at 206-762-2848.

White Center Food Bank serves West Seattle from SW Myrtle Street through White Center to SW 140th in Burien, bordered by Highway 509 and Puget Sound. In 2012 we are on track to serve 60,000+ individuals, much like 2011. The need in our community remains high for food assistance as record numbers throughout our state face food insecurity – many for the first time in their lives. Seniors are particularly feeling the pinch and our outreach efforts are expanding to serve this special client group that often finds themselves unsure of how to ask for help, and where to get it. We place a special emphasis on fresh, healthy foods that promote and maintain health for all our clients, from babies to seniors, as well as providing shelf-stable pantry items.

Why there’s a helicopter over White Center/Westwood

5:47 PM: We’re en route to check out a report of a crash in White Center, and that’s apparently what’s brought the chopper that we’re getting questions about. More shortly.

5:58 PM UPDATE: Our original text tip had said the crash was at the 5-corners intersection at 16th/100th – but we’re not finding anything, yet.

Explore White Center, before you go: VisitWhiteCenter.com

With a thriving business district, White Center continues to draw visitors from this side of the city-limits line – and now you can check out what it has to offer, even before you go.

The White Center Chamber of Commerce‘s new website, VisitWhiteCenter.com, was officially announced today. (Here’s the news release, published on partner site White Center Now.) Its centerpiece is a business directory, which includes a White Center restaurant directory too. The site is designed by Noise Without Sound, led by Kathi “George” Wheeler.

SIDE NOTE: The rat did not make the final cut. But a mascot named Ratty lives on via the Rat City Business Association (WSB sponsor).

More food drives for White Center Food Bank: Village Green, Chico’s

Two more food drives for the White Center Food Bank (which serves south West Seattle too):

VILLAGE GREEN NEXT SATURDAY: Bring donations to Village Green Perennial Nursery till 4 pm today Saturday, September 29 – look for the barrel. 10223 26th SW.

CHICO’S NEXT FRIDAY/SATURDAY: Shop at Chico’s at Westwood Village next Friday and Saturday (September 28-29), and if you bring a nonperishable-food donation, you’ll get a 10 percent discount on your purchase.

United Way Day of Caring helps WestSide Baby, WC Food Bank

Several sites around West Seattle/White Center/South Park got an extra boost from volunteers today, during the United Way of King County “Day of Caring”:

At WestSide Baby‘s WC headquarters, the volunteers included former Mariners player Dan Wilson and wife Annie Wilson, photographed with WS Baby executive director Nancy Woodland. They are the chairs of UWKC’s campaign this year. WS Baby also welcomed dozens of volunteers from Virginia Mason. Full story – with video – is on our partner site White Center Now.

In West Seattle, volunteer sites included the Westwood Village QFC:

That’s where we photographed Judy Nash and Sukhvinder Singh Gulati, Microsoft employees there to help with a food drive to benefit the White Center Food Bank. Microsoft also shared some of its staff with the Nature Consortium‘s work party in the West Duwamish Greenbelt today. (Anyone else who worked on “Day of Caring” today – as a volunteer or a nonprofit host – let us know!)

Happening now: Proletariat Pizza anniversary/food bank benefit

Just stopped by Proletariat Pizza (9622 16th SW in downtown White Center) to catch Stefanie and Mike Albaeck and family for a quick photo to mark the popular pizzeria’s 3rd anniversary. (Here’s our 9/18/09 report on partner site White Center Now.) Busy night, which is also good news for the White Center Food Bank, to which Proletariat is donating 30 percent of the night. (WC Food Bank also serves south West Seattle, from SW Myrtle south.) They’re open till 9 pm.

Election 2012: King County Sheriff candidates’ forum

The King County Sheriff‘s race is a countywide vote, so when your ballot arrives next month, in advance of the November 6th election, you’ll have to choose between current Sheriff Steve Strachan – appointed when Sue Rahr resigned for a new job – and challenger John Urquhart. Their first joint appearance in this area was tonight in White Center, during the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council‘s quarterly Public Safety Forum, and it was an energetic hour-plus faceoff – all on video above. (That’s NHUAC’s Richard Miller introducing them, with Sheriff Strachan speaking first.)

Why helicopters are over White Center: Body found

We’ve received calls about helicopters over White Center, south of downtown WC. King County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating a body that Sgt. Cindi West has tweeted was found in the Mallard Lake area, near the Coronado Springs Apartments at 14th and 107th. We’ve gone to the scene and will have continuing coverage on partner site White Center Now.

Update: Man shot along Roxbury – accidentally self-inflicted, investigators say

7:54 PM: Just got a note about more than a dozen emergency vehicles on SW Roxbury. We believe this is related to the King County Sheriff’s Office reporting a possible shooting in the 9600 block of 11th SW. More when we get there.

8 PM UPDATE: KCSO Sgt. Cindi West updates that this apparently is an accidental shooting. She tells our crew that a man appears to have been walking with a gun in his pocket, and when he reached into his pocket, the gun went off. He shot himself in the leg; he’s been taken to the hospital. Traffic is still moving on Roxbury, and the scene will be wrapping up.

Happening now: White Center Food Bank open house, for the birds

Don’t be chicken! You too can make friends with the fabulous fowls of the White Center Food Bank. Both named Henrietta. That’s Linda, in our photo, with one of the Henriettas. They’re both meeting visitors right now during the WC Food Bank’s summer open house – and they’re the inspiration for a program that you can be part of, to provide fresh eggs to more of WCFB’s clients (who are in West Seattle as well as WC). Till 2 pm, you can meet the H’s, tour the demonstration gardens, and get to know some cool people, at 10829 8th SW.

Update: SPD joins search after White Center bank robbery; 1 arrested

(Photos by Patrick Sand for West Seattle Blog/White Center Now)
10:29 AM: Just getting word of a robbery reported at Chase Bank in White Center. Seattle Police are helping search. There’s word of a possible suspect found to the south, but the search will continue until and unless that is verified.

10:41 AM UPDATE: We were at the location where police took the possible suspect into custody, 19th and 104th – photos to come – checking with KCSO to see if they believe that’s the robber. (update) Sgt. Cindi West says yes, they do.

11:01 AM UPDATE: Sgt. West has just spoken with media at the bank. She says that deputies spotted the suspect “jogging” — reinforcements came in, they stopped him, and found a gun and a bag in his possession. She says that the robber did show a gun in the bank. We have her interview on video and arrest-scene photos to be added when our crew’s back at HQ.

11:33 AM UPDATE: Just added the above clip, with Sgt. West explaining what happened, and saying the suspect – first spotted by a sergeant – was being taken to jail.

Zippy’s Giant Burgers contest/food-bank benefit: The winner is…

21-year-old Tony Pham of West Seattle is the champ, after the first-ever Zippy’s Giant Burgers (WSB sponsor) burger-eating contest: 8 burgers in 8 minutes. He and his fellow competitors had a sizable audience:

Even Zippy himself (aka Blaine Cook) watched from the sidelines:

At the end, he had an expression of disbelief; second place was a five-way tie, six burgers in eight minutes:

Zippy’s planned to donate the $10 entry fees to the White Center Food Bank.

Why the helicopter was over Highland Park, White Center early today

Finally got some information about the incident that brought the law-enforcement helicopter Guardian One to the Highland Park/White Center area early this morning – several people called, e-mailed and texted us about it in the 2 am hour, but we couldn’t find out at the time what was going on. Now we know that it involved a report of gunfire near 17th and 98th in White Center – first word of that came thanks to a comment on the WSB Facebook page, and it was confirmed by King County Sheriff’s Deputy BJ Myers, with whom we just talked at White Center Jubilee Days (where we’re tabling today on behalf of our partner site White Center Now). No proof of the reported gunfire, though – nobody hurt, no property damage, no shell casings found. A suspect was reported to have been seen running; deputies did make one arrest of a person who they say had a gun, but no one has identified him as having been involved with the alleged gunfire.

West Seattle Sunday: Even more of what’s happening today…

We’ve already previewed the Hi-Yu Community Breakfast till 11 (story here) … WestSide Baby‘s “Stuff the Bus” diaper drive 10 am-2 pm (story here) … but here’s even MORE happening in West Seattle and vicinity today:

ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR: At 4480 Fauntleroy Way in The Triangle, Diva Espresso is hosting an arts/crafts fair till 3 this afternoon – details here.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: As with every Sunday, you’ll find it at 44th/Alaska till 2 pm.

MEDITERRANEAN FANTASY FESTIVAL: Day 2 at Hiawatha Community Center! Entertainment on indoor and outdoor stages 11 am-5 pm … and vendors galore. Admission free. (Here’s our report from Saturday.)

WHITE CENTER JUBILEE DAYS STREET FAIR/PARADE: Today’s events start with the parade at 11:30 am and continue till the carnival closes at 9; you can find full schedule/event details on our partner site White Center Now.

ZIPPY’S BURGER-EATING CONTEST: Registration started at 10, contest is at 2 pm, at Zippy’s Giant Burgers (WSB sponsor), 9614 14th SW. (Entry fees donated to the White Center Food Bank, which also serves part of WS.)

34th DISTRICT DEMOCRATS PICNIC/SOFTBALL GAME: You never know who’s going to show up (check out our coverage from last year). Picnic starts 3:30 pm, first pitch 4:05 pm, E.C. Hughes Field (map/details in our calendar listing).

BIKRAM YOGA CLASS FOR WEST SEATTLE HELPLINE: 5 pm today, Bikram Yoga Seattle (WSB sponsor; 4747 California SW) is presenting a special class to raise money for West Seattle Helpline – details here.

Check the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar for today’s complete lineup …

Followup: White Center bank-robbery suspect arrested

1:35 PM: Earlier this week, we showed you a photo circulated by the King County Sheriff’s Office, showing the man they say robbed the White Center KeyBank last Friday (as reported here, right after a helicopter joined the search). Today he’s in jail, according to KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West. She says tips led to the arrest; he has not yet been charged, so we aren’t identifying him, but she says he is a 21-year-old Seattle resident. A decision on charges is expected next week.

2:15 PM UPDATE: Sgt. West has issued a news release with one more detail – that deputies “arrested the suspect late Wednesday evening near S 177 and 1st Ave S.”

Followup: White Center bank robber photo – recognize him?

Last Friday afternoon, multiple tips led us to report on a helicopter and ground search in Highland Park related to a bank robbery in White Center. Today, the King County Sheriff’s Office has gone public with a photo of the robber – so we’re sharing it here as well as on our WC site:

The King County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help identifying a man who robbed a bank last Friday afternoon in the White Center area.

The incident occurred at the Key Bank in the 9600 block of SW 17th around 4pm on July 13th. The suspect entered the bank and produced a note demanding money. The suspect fled on foot northbound towards Roxbury.

The suspect is described as a white man, 24-27, 5’ 6”- 5’8” with a skinny build. He was last seen wearing glasses, a dark zippered hoodie, a dark t-shirt, and gray knit cap.

If you have information about this crime please call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311

Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and charges in this case. You can remain anonymous. Call 1-800-222-TIPS.

**You must call Crime Stoppers with the tip in order to be eligible for the reward!**

White Center Jubilee Days fireworks show tomorrow night

A heads-up in case you hear them from West Seattle – or in case you want to go see them! Tomorrow (Wednesday) night is the official start of five days of White Center Jubilee Days festival fun, and that means a professional fireworks show at Steve Cox Memorial Park (just east of McLendon Hardware). Everyone’s invited to go see it – and to enjoy the carnival, complete with rides, that’ll be under way by the time the fireworks begin. The festival also includes a street fair Saturday-Sunday and parade on Sunday.

Why the helicopter’s over South Delridge/White Center

4:57 PM: Asked about the helicopter that seems to be searching in that area, Seattle Police here at Summer Fest told us there’s a bank robbery in White Center – so we’re trying to find out more from King County Sheriff’s Office.

5:03 PM: Sgt. Kathleen Larson with KCSO says the robbery happened less than an hour ago at the KeyBank on 17th SW in White Center. They’re looking for a man described as white, in his 20s, 5-5, wearing a beanie, gray sweatshirt, light blue jeans. He was last seen running out of the bank. No injuries reported.

Update: Crash at 17th/Roxbury clearing, no major injuries

1:48 PM: Big police and fire response in south West Seattle is headed to an “rescue/automobile” call in the 1700 block of SW Roxbury. We’ll be there shortly.

2:09 PM: Turns out the crash was not as serious as it looked – fire crews canceled fast – it was along the city/county line. King County Sheriff’s Office deputies at the scene told WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli (who sent the photo above) that nobody had to be taken to the hospital. Tow trucks are there already and traffic is getting back to normal.