West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
Latest “forecast discussion” – in-depth analysis – suggests the possible Tuesday snow is more likely on the west side of the Sound than here. Here’s the link. Cliff Mass agrees. 2:55 AM UPDATE: On the other hand – it’s snowing in the south Snohomish/north King county area right now. Fairly seriously if you look at cameras like this one at 220th and this one at 175th. (Thanks to James for the tip via Facebook.) The Weather Service has just updated the forecast to reflect this “wet snow in the … convergence zone.”
We’ve received multiple reports of what residents say sounded like gunshots – keep in mind, that COULD mean fireworks – northwest of The Junction, including 45th/Dakota vicinity (map). One report, from LG, e-mailed at 8:26 pm:
We just heard 7-8 rapid sounds in the area and saw our neighbors up and down Dakota (between 44th & 45th) all go to their windows too. Don’t know how close they were, but could hear it over the Grammys.
Police are in the area searching for the source. More as we get it; please share any information you have. 9:21 PM UPDATE: Just wanted to let you know we are still listening, and checking, but no additional info. No aid calls anywhere in the vicinity, at least. 11:06 PM NOTE: We drove around the area while out on our gas-price check (story to come) travels in the past hour – no police seen. We should be able to find out tomorrow morning what (if anything) their investigation revealed, and we’ll post a separate update when we get that information.
Thanks to WSBers Mike and Amy for e-mailing to point out that Puget Sound Key and Lock has disappeared from its storefront in the 6000 block of California SW. Even if you haven’t used a locksmith in years, the name may be familiar; it’s the business gutted 11 months ago by a still-unsolved arson attack. The morning it happened, owner Mike Dein told us he had no insurance — “They just killed my life” was the quote in our headline — this photo showed him with the building landlord, surveying the damage:
Within hours, his plight moved WSB Forum members to action – they organized a fundraiser a month later to help him get back on his feet. Finally, on August 11th, he reopened the shop … but now, it’s gone. We reached Mike by phone this afternoon and asked what happened. “I just couldn’t make it,” he said. “The losses were too great.” He wanted to be sure everyone who helped him and offered support knows he remains grateful; he’s sold the mobile business to his former partner, who he says is using it exclusively to handle AAA contracts to help drivers. And he’s moving on to the next chapter in his life – half of which he says he has spent locksmithing, though he’s only 31.
That’s what Stacey Bushaw told us about an hour ago, looking around at what she called “the second wave” of people filling Talarico’s for this afternoon’s benefit, raising money for the family of her cousin Steve Bushaw, shot outside the Junction restaurant one week ago tonight. “Half the people here, I don’t even know!” Stacey marveled. In addition to the capacity crowd inside, some gathered outside — among them, two police officers, a reminder that Steve’s killers have not yet been caught. Near the back of the restaurants, photos and tributes – some originally created for the streetside memorial last Monday – were set up steps away from the stage:
Under that table, people had placed bouquets of flowers – and a soccer ball, in tribute to the sport in which Steve excelled:
Stacey told us that Talarico’s covered the cost of both the pizza and the music, so all proceeds for the afternoon – and what she described as many generous extra donations – would go toward the benefit. All in all, she said, it’s been a weekend full of people showing support and love – she said the private funeral at Forest Lawn yesterday also drew an overflow crowd, more than 400 people. A video tribute to her cousin was shown twice during this afternoon’s benefit, and a printed copy of the eulogy was posted in the memorial area by the stage:
Stacey explained that the video closed with a line also seen on the poster for the benefit – “Our circle of love will never be broken” – because of family significance: It was a line of solace on the printed memorial program when the cousins lost their grandmother several years back, and Stacey says Steve had it tattooed across his chest, with his surname on one arm, his mother’s maiden surname on the other. She remarked again about how grateful their large extended family was for this weekend’s outpouring from friends, relatives, and other community members: “All this, for my little cousin.” Meantime, we are checking daily with police for any word of a break in the case.
That’s Fauntleroy Church office manager Jackie Gould in the chair, with stylist Rita Golden, at Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor). Till 5 pm, it’s Illusions’ annual “Have a Heart Day,” with stylists donating their time and all proceeds going to Pencil Me In for Kids and West Seattle Helpline. Even if you didn’t make an appointment to be part of it, the Illusions team is taking donations for those two organizations (follow the links to read about them), and if you drop by before 5, those’ll go into the day’s tally. (Another reason to drop by – an art exhibit – they’re showing photos by Marybeth Coghill through the end of the month.)
This Thursday night, Seattle Great City Initiative‘s new campaign “Streets for People” (read about its mission here) kicks off with a rally/forum at the South Lake Union Armory at 5 pm Thursday. Stu Hennessey from Alki Bike and Board is leading a ride from West Seattle to the event; he says, “Anyone is welcome that can bicycle ride 25-30 miles at a moderate pace. We will attend the Streets for People kickoff rally and return. The ride will feature alternative routes through the city. Helmets and lights are required. Rain will not cancel.” Just meet the group at 3:30 pm Thursday at Alki Bike and Board (2606 California; here’s a map). ADDED SUNDAY NIGHT: Chas Redmond shares the bus directions he put together for anyone who’d rather use transit to get from various West Seattle spots to the Armory event:Read More
ORIGINAL REPORT: We haven’t verified this yet but it’s from a known source and given the time sensitivity, we’d rather pass it along sooner than later:
just rolled up to the 76 station at alaska and fauntleroy, which has apparently just been robbed, probably between 11 and 11:30 a.m.
there were two patrol cars on site, and i asked one officer if she had a description. her reply:
“asian male, 5′ or so, black jeans, black sweater.” she said she was in the area when the call came in, and he disappeared pretty quickly.
i know the description is vague, but anyone in the area who sees a man fitting the description should call 911.
We’ll head over to see what we can confirm.
12:06 PM UPDATE: What we found out at the scene: The above-described robber – NOT displaying a weapon – somehow got behind the store’s counter, grabbed a bunch of lottery scratch tickets, and bolted.
One week ago tonight, two men opened fire on 26-year-old Steve Bushaw outside Talarico’s in The Junction. They got away, described only as black men in a white car; Steve died at the hospital. This afternoon, Talarico’s will be the scene of a fundraiser for his family, organized by friends, to share and celebrate memories, and to help the family deal with expenses, hopefully even raise some reward money. Everyone’s invited, 1-5 pm, $10 cover at the door. Donations also are being accepted at US Bank branches; mention the Steve Bushaw memorial fund. Meantime, we continue to check with police daily regarding any progress in the investigation, but they’ve had no updates to announce since Monday; here’s our coverage from the night it happened, plus followups the next morning and afternoon, and a Wednesday report with more about today’s event.
Lots going on today, so we’re issuing reminders in installments: This morning, 8-noon, you can support youth basketball programs at Hiawatha Community Center by enjoying the 21st annual Hiawatha Pancake Breakfast. All the pancakes you can eat. Side dishes and beverages provided too. $5 for 13-64; $4 for older and (most) younger (under 5’s free). Need a map to Hiawatha? Here’s one.
Then, 10 am is opening time as always for the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, continuing till 2 pm. Here’s the link to this week’s Ripe and Ready fresh sheet; new offerings include cheese with a cocoa/chipotle-dusted rind!
That’s a look inside the new activity center at West Seattle Christian Church, dedicated a week ago and celebrated with an open house that drew visitors even during the Super Bowl (that’s when we dropped by). It’ll be the home of the West Seattle Movies on the Wall Winter Series (3/4, 3/11, 3/18; movies listed here) and it’s available for rentals for community events – you can call the church at 206-932-2098 and ask for Kelly to find out more. Meantime, there’s an open house at West Seattle Christian today, too – this time, for its preschool, 1-3 pm; if you can’t make it to the open house, the preschool has registration packets available to be picked up at the office (4400 42nd Ave SW; here’s a map) or by requesting one: preschool@westseattlechristian.org.
Didn’t know this till we read the Times obituary: Salty’s spokesperson Eileen Mintz died a week ago. We never got to meet her in person, but appreciated her swift responses to our Salty’s-related queries, including the one that resulted in this 1/08 update on a potential Salty’s hotel. In our correspondence at the time, she mentioned her fight against cancer, while cheerily declaring herself “too busy to die.” Ms. Mintz was 66; the eulogy given for her by TV reporter Herb Weisbaum can be read on the Salty’s site, where she had written monthly “Mintz Her Words” updates; a memorial website is set up here (screen grab at left).
Thanks to Troy for sharing that photo of tonight’s sunset via Facebook (where you’ll find us as WS Blog). It’s a view of West Seattle from the downtown waterfront, near Colman Dock ferry terminal and Ivar’s, which of course has a WS tie too, since founder Ivar Haglund was a West Seattleite. Speaking of sunsets, we swapped out the WSB header photo for the first time in more than a year – after featuring that photo recently, someone suggested doing that, so we’re giving it a whirl.
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