West Seattle

A group of about 12 people gathered at the Puerta Vallarta restaurant in the West Seattle Junction at 10:30 on Sunday morning to search for a friend. Jeremy Peck, 24, was last seen at approximately 1:15 am Christmas Eve near the Admiral Pub on California Ave. in West Seattle.

"A couple of people were at the pub and a couple of people were at the Yen Wor Village and then left him there and that was the last they saw of him," said his uncle John Peck. Jeremy lives with his uncle.

"He's not one to have run off," John said, "He's too hungry. He eats like a puppy."

Peck had been at the Rocksport earlier in the evening and then went to the Admiral District and the Admiral Pub and Yen Wor Village. A close friend Travis Gagner who was with Peck on Christmas Eve said,"Me and Julie left and he was still outside at the time talking to some people. That's when we left and I just figured it was a normal night like he was going to walk home."

A power outage that took place at approximately 5:45 am Sunday morning, Jan 9 has affected 2027 customers. City Light said "we estimate that additional momentary outages will be required as the problem is repaired. This may affect a larger number of homes and businesses. The approximate boundaries are: Alki Point on the north, SW Findlay Street on the south, 29TH Avenue SW on the east, and 53rd Avenue SW on the west."

A traffic accident at approximately 5:30 near s.w. Charlestown Street did impact some power poles and has been stated as the cause. Two people in their 20's were critically hurt and taken to Harborview Hospital.

Power has now been restored.

The Seattle Police Blotter posted the following:

On 1/9/11, at approximately 0531 a.m., a Black Buick Sedan was traveling W/B down a large hill on SW Charlestown St approaching 47 Ave SW, when the driver lost control of his vehicle and struck a Utility Pole.

The force of the impact cause the Utility Pole to be sheared off of its base causing a power outage in the area.

Drive past 5437 California Ave s.w. and nothing really catches the eye. An old sign for Lange and Peizer Commercial Real Estate still stands, although that company has moved to a different location. A closer look, however, reveals the space is still bustling with customers as G.A.M.E. Collective, a medical marijuana outlet owned by Brionne Corbray.

Once inside, medical marijuana patients are greeted with potent flowery aromatics in a simple, clean waiting area and a warm welcome from Diane Cook, the matriarch/day-to-day operator of the West Seattle store. Behind Cook are stained-wood cabinets stocked with 30 jars of different marijuana strains and a myriad of THC-infused tinctures, baked goods and candies. A hand-written menu above the cabinets details the current offerings, from ice cream at $20 a pint to Skywalker Kush marijuana bud running $10 a gram.

G.A.M.E. stands for Green Piece Alternative Medicine and Education, and Collective stands for the three outlets started by 46-year-old Corbray – one in West Seattle, one in Federal Way and another in North Seattle.

Trader Joes new West Seattle location at 4545 Fauntleroy Way s.w., the 17th store in the state is going to see some changes soon based on the latest Land Use Application for the site filed with the Department of Planning and Development. The new store will be 14,200 square feet in size so the parking lot revisions are required. The comment period for the application ends Jan. 9.

The application reads:

"Land Use Application to allow 29 parking stalls for a total of 53 parking stalls in an environmentally critical area. Project includes change of use from automotives sales and service to general retail sales and service (Trader Joes), modifications to front façade to create new entry and exit tower, elevator and stairwell. Related to Project #3011929.

Our original story about the store is here.

The full story from the company itself that the Herald told you about first is here.

Registration will start for West Seattle Little League Baseball on Tuesday, Jan 11 with a second chance offered the following week on the 18th.

First In-Person Registration
When: Tuesday January 11, 2011.
Where: West Seattle High School Library
Time: 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Second In-Person Registration
When: Tuesday January 18, 2011.
Where: West Seattle High School Library
Time: 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Please remember to bring a copy of your child's birth certificate along with copy of birth certificate and three proofs of residence.

Drivers License
Insurance Card
Voters Registration Card
Utility Bills (Only one counts towards the 3)
Cell Phone Bill
Property Taxes
Rent Receipt
Financial/Bank Statements

2011 Fees:
T-Ball & Coach Pitch: $120 per player
Minors – Big League: $140 per player
A $30.00 volunteer fee is included in the cost of registration. This $30.00 fee is refundable at the end of the season, upon your verification of at least 5 hours of volunteer work for the league. Scholarships are available.

On Dec. 31, the Herald ran a retrospective on crime in our area in 2010, covering the major crimes during the year and looking back at the best of the West Seattle Herald Police Blotter. Here is the link in case you missed it:

SLIDESHOW: The Year in Crime: 2010 saw major crimes in our area

The Herald asked Southwest Precinct Commander Captain Steve Paulsen to discuss crime in 2010 and challenges for the police and West Seattle community moving into 2011. Here is what Captain Paulsen had to say (his responses in italics):

Q: The major crimes of 2010 (as compiled by the Herald) include the beating and torture of Shane McClellan, the police shootout with Thomas J. Qualls, the Roxhill park murder of Bernard Martin and the Phan/Harm family shooting in White Center. You were away from the SW precinct for a while, but do you have any perspective on whether this year in West Seattle was more or less violent than in years past?

The new 7-Eleven at 9200 35th Ave. s.w. is open and a grand opening celebration is set for Jan. 7 from 10:00am to 2:00 pm.

To celebrate the grand opening, the store will offer complimentary sandwiches, grill items, drinks, chips, and desserts plus the 7-Eleven corporation will be giving away prizes for all visitors as well.

This is the second 7-Eleven store to be owned by Nirbhai Singh who purchased the store at 9041 Delridge Way s.w. 7 and a half years ago.

His motivation was, "Just to be a success. I enjoy it and it's a good company to work with."

He has hired his relatives to work there including his cousin Talwinder Singh and another cousin's son Jassi Singh.

The new store has a brand new coffee storage and dispensary system with each flavor or brew in its own hotpot, with each one being brewed fresh every two hours.

While many this time of year recall personal ups and downs in 2010, and hold renewed hopes for 2011, West Seattle's Hermine Berner, 91, believes her life is a miracle and, in recent history, each of her years has passed with much optimism.

"People ask me, 'What's your secret?' " said Berner, referring to her sharp and active mind and body. "Why do they ask? You think I look young? You think that's a secret?" she said with a sample of her sarcastic wit.

Berner, who lives near Alki, does have secret of another sort, one she speaks about when gently persuaded. She is a Holocaust survivor who was shipped to Auschwitz, the notorious concentration camp in German-occupied Poland, while visiting Budapest, Hungary with her father. Their home was in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

We could tell you that this was what we were trying for but we know our readers are smarter than that. The truth is that Alki was so crowded we went up on the hill to a typical West Seattle street, wires and streetlights included to watch the spectacular Space Needle fireworks display.

Even with a partially obscured view, and no beautiful reflections in the water, it was great.

Happy New Year West Seattle. Thanks everyone for all your support and readership throughout 2010.

Thank you to Siddharth Shah and family for sending their spectacular photos of the Space Needle show which you can see by clicking the image above.

Credit for those photos goes to Tarang, Tanvi, Amit and Sid Shah.

Just added more photos from David Rosen of SlickPix Photography whose photos are truly world class, just amazing captures.

Press Release:

Twelfth Night Productions, West Seattle's own community theatre is partnering up with Family Promise of Seattle this holiday season to change the lives of homeless children and their families. West Seattlites are
familiar with Twelfth Night's productions and reputation of putting on quality theatrical productions, giving opportunity for local community members to shine on stage. But, did you know that the the production
company regularly partners up with local non-profits and community groups to make a difference right here in West Seattle?

This year, Twelfth Night will once again bring the holiday opera, "Amahl and the Night Visitors," to the stage. Amahl is a touching story about a poor young shepherd and his mother who receive a visit from the Three Kings on their way to Bethlehem. This fully scored orchestrated production is a perfect way to cap off your holiday celebrations, and is appropriate for patrons of all ages! And while you attend the show,