Here’s this week’s Des Moines Police Department’s Police Blotter, with local crime news fed to us directly from our good friends at the DMPD.

This week’s crimes include “Robbery 1″ arrests, stolen bike recovered, and free anti-theft “Club” devices being given out to eligible Honda owners:

DES MOINES POLICE BLOTTER NEWS (May 21, 2010)

4 Suspects Charged with Robbery 1 and Bike Recovered: Arrests Made and Bike Recovered – The investigation of the robbery of the and assault of an 18 year old resident has led to “Robbery 1” charges being filed against each of the 4 suspects involved.  Detectives also recovered the victim’s bike that had been taken during the robbery.  Two of the suspects are 18 years old, one suspect is 16 and one is 15.   3 of the suspects are in custody and an arrest warrant has been issued for the suspect who is still at large.   The juvenile suspects in this case may possibly be charged as adults.

The Des Moines Police Department is Giving Away Vehicle “Anti Theft” Device to Eligible Honda Owners: In 2007, the Washington State Legislator created the Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority (WATPA) aiming to reduce vehicle thefts across the state.  The Des Moines Police Department, in partnership with the “Preventing Auto Theft Through Regional Operational Links” (PATROL) Task Force, has continued to see South King County and North Pierce County being plagued with the theft of older Honda Accords and Civics.

The Des Moines Police Department, as part of a WATPA state grant program, will offer “The Club” steering wheel locking devices for FREE to 1991-1998 Honda Accord and Honda Civic owners.  Utilization of “The Club” is a crime deterrent.  Though its use does not guarantee or ensure your vehicle will not be stolen, it creates an additional level of theft prevention.

Quantities are limited!  To obtain “The Club” you must come to the Des Moines Police Station Monday-Friday between the hours of 9am – 1pm with your current Department of Licensing vehicle registration.

For more information please contact CSO Tonya Seaberry at (206) 870-7619.

Our very Des Moines Police Department’s Police Blotter continues, with more local crime news fed to us directly from our good friends at the DMPD.

This week’s crimes include the arrest of a drive-by shooter, a woman being robbed in her car at a Taco Bell drive-thru, and two separate pharmacy forgeries at the same Walgreens.

Here’s the Blotter for the week ending Mar. 19, 2010:

DES MOINES POLICE BLOTTER NEWS (March 19, 2010)

Man Firing Weapon Being Investigated for “Drive by Shooting”:
A 27 year old man was arrested Saturday night, March 10th, at about 1:15 AM after discharging a firearm.

Des Moines Officers in the area of 7th Ave. South and S. 223rd heard the sound of a gunshot. One officer then saw a vehicle being driven recklessly from the parking lot of a local bar onto S. 223rd heading towards Marine View Drive South. Des Moines Officers stopped the vehicle and arrested the driver.

A gun was recovered from the vehicle.

An eyewitness identified the driver and stated the man had the weapon pointed up into the air at the time it was fired. The man was booked into jail on an outstanding warrant. Des Moines detectives are preparing felony filing documents for the King County Prosecutor’s Office.

This shooting does not appear to be related to the shooting incident from earlier in the week that happened in the same area.

Customer Robbed at Gunpoint in Restaurant Drive-Thru:
The Des Moines Police Department is asking for help in identifying a man who committed an armed robbery on March 16th at the Taco Bell located near S. 272nd and Pacific Highway South.

The incident occurred at 10:55 PM.

The man, wearing a mask and armed with a handgun, robbed a 26-year old female of cash while she was a passenger in a car in the drive-thru. The suspect went to the next car in line and tapped on the driver’s window with the gun demanding money.

The 59-year old female driver avoided the robbery by backing her vehicle out of the drive-thru.

The suspect fled northbound through a vacant lot.

A K9 from Federal Way PD conducted a track without success.

Prescription Forgery Arrests:
Des Moines Officers made two separate arrests on subjects attempting to obtain Oxycontin at the Walgreen’s on Pacific Hwy South.

A 26 year old man was arrested on March 15th at 5:30 PM and a 31 year old man was arrested on March 16th around 7:00 PM.

In both incidents pharmacy employees determined the prescriptions to be forgeries and called Des Moines PD.

Both subjects were booked into jail on forgery charges.

The National Weather Service has issued a “Special Weather Statement” alerting us all that, despite the recent sunny and mild weather, the rain is a-comin’ back, starting Tuesday (Oct. 13th), so be sure to take heed an move all that crap in your yard and driveway back inside.

Here’s the statement, which was published at 4:44pm Sunday Oct. 11th:

Statement as of 4:44 PM PDT on October 11, 2009

… A series of Pacific storms will affect western Washington this week…

Columbus day will be a transition day from the recent cool and dry spell to an active… wet pattern. Look for a series of Pacific storms to affect the area starting Tuesday. The Tuesday system is expected to bring windy conditions to the coast and Cascade foothills as well as precipitation to the entire area. Chilly…east winds in the Cascade passes will mean that the precipitation will begin as snow or a rain and snow mix. However… significant snowfall amounts are unlikely.

Unsettled… wet conditions will persist on Wednesday as the region remains under the influence of a large area of low pressure over
the eastern Pacific. A much wetter system may affect the area during the latter part of the week.

Monitor forecasts from the National Weather Service in Seattle for updates on these upcoming events.

(Photo by Michael Brunk)

by Jack Kniskern
Special to The Waterland Blog

The Concours d’Elegance Italian Car Show took place a few Sundays ago at the Des Moines Marina, and days prior I met a woman named Janie at The Reuben, where she was hanging a poster to advertise the event.  She shared that they prefer the Des Moines Marina to any venue they had previously tried in Seattle. Despite the rain, many attended and hope many more will again next year.

A flower merchant at the Des Moines Farmers’ Market shared that he sold more flowers in Des Moines than at the Seattle Pike Place Market. The market is growing in size and significance, and it is important that we the citizens of the Des Moines Community not only visit this lively community activity, but also patronize it with our purchases – so please make a point to come down every Saturday to the South Marina Park between 10am and 2pm, and remember that the final day is Halloween (Oct. 31st).

Above comments suggest that the Destination Des Moines concept is catching on. Wednesday night concerts in Des Moines Beach Park, and the Flute Quest held with workshops at Saltwater State Park and concerts at Highline Community College were great successes. Continuation and expansion of events such as these can have significant impact on the Des Moines Community.

The city of Des Moines is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The city and it’s citizens should also solidify common aspirations for the next 50 years. Here are three important topics suggested for serious deliberation,.policy making, and decision making:

• How to best save, preserve and operate the Mt Rainier Swimming Pool?
• How to determine and implement the best future use of the Des Moines Elementary School site and buildings?
• How to best contribute to the purification of th waters of Puget Sound?

Community Betterment Teamwork is suggested as the process for addressing community betterment issues. This writing is offered as a starting comment to the Waterlandblog. It is suggested that a hierarchy of communication can grow on the blog, in ways yet to be determined.

Finally, the Waterland Blog itself has great potential to grow as a community betterment tool, and help to feature and cultivate ASPIRATIONS FOR DES MOINES.

More thoughts to follow…

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Jack Kniskern is a retired Architect and longtime Des Moines Rotary Club member. He designed many buildings in Des Moines, such as the City Council Chamber Building and Auntie Irene’s. Jack also participates in the Rotary Dictionaries by the Dozens project which has given every third grade student in Des Moines a dictionary every year for the past five years. Jack got his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University off Washington and Master of Architecture degree from MIT. We are happy to have him as our latest Contributor to The Waterland Blog! Read more about Jack here.]

Courtesy Waterland Blog Contributor Duane Hobbs (of Andrews/Hobbs Design Company) comes this weekend’s handy-dandy interactive map of area garage and yard sales, from Des Moines to West Seattle, from Friday Sept. 4th through Sunday, Sept. 6th (since Monday is a holiday some may be going on then as well).

To utilize the map, simply click on any of the yellow push-pin styled icons, and a listing of that specific sale will pop up (HINT: if you feel like you’re “stuck” on one listing, just click on another icon):

View Area Sales (9/4-6) in a larger map

The city of Des Moines has closed the boardwalk at Redondo Beach to fishing, because “Casting is dangerous to pedestrians and vehicles.” There’s a big pink salmon run going on, and dozens of fisherpeople have been using the boardwalk to catch their share.

“A woman got a hook in her on Monday,” said City Manager Tony Piasecki. “And this is a safety issue…too many people have also been cleaning their fish on the wooden boardwalk, and fish blood and guts don’t make for a safe walkway.”

According to Piasecki, “50 to 60 people” were lined up the other day fishing from the boardwalk, and runners, walkers, families and others had trouble navigating around them. Combine that with the narrow roadway and cars and you can imagine the dangers.

Warning signs have been posted, and while the police are not yet enforcing them, if enough repeat offenders ignore them, citations will be issued.

“I’ve never seen a salmon run like this,” added Piasecki. “It’s very unusual also that they’re staying in so close to shore,” which only aggravates the desire to fish from the boardwalk.

People who want to fish there are encourage to either do so from the beach, or utilize the piers at both Redondo and the marina, which are still open.

UPDATE: Do NOT fish for salmon without a Washington State saltwater license – you can buy them online here.

[Photos courtesy Susan White]

Sometimes one can’t help but be self-indulgent, so please indulge us as we announce a new contest that may seem, well…very self-indulgent.

You see, recently Des Moines’ own Highline Community College contacted WLB Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer. No, he didn’t owe money on overdue library books (talk to his little sister about that one…), they found out that he once attended the college and wrote and took photos for The Thunderword, the student newspaper.

Well, HCC launched a new ad campaign on Metro buses this August, and now, apparently Scott’s face is plastered all over them with photos taken by our own Michael Brunk (we send out our sincerest apologies to all passengers – not for the excellent photo, but for the subject of said photo…).

The problem is, Scott hasn’t yet seen any buses with his, um, interesting face on them (not that he’s skeptical, but…), which looks like this:

Here are the details of the contest:

WHAT: Take photos of the HCC/BTB Ads on a Metro bus (please get a shot of both of them – one is on the exterior and the other inside)

WHERE: Metro bus(es) with the ads on them – this is where you have to do some work.

WHEN: Deadline for the contest is 5pm on Tuesday, Sept. 1st.

PRIZE: One $50 gift certificate to The Mark Restaurant & Bar, located at 918 SW 152nd Street in Olde Burien.

INFO: Please email a higher-res version of the photos to us at editor@waterlandblog.com by 5pm on 9/1/09! Winner will be selected by Scott, based on the quality of the photo(s) as well as creativity (meaning, perhaps you could submit a “mash-up” gag photo along with a decent one? Hmmm…we may regret that suggestion…)

by Mark Neuman

We had the pleasure of sitting down recently with Carmen Scott, long time Des Moines resident, and member of the City Council.

Carmen holds Position Three on the Council, and has announced her re-election bid for the seat. She is completing her second four-year term.

Carmen faces one competitor, Melissa Ponder. Because only two candidates filed, neither Melissa’s name nor Carmen’s will appear on the August 18 primary ballot.

Both will appear, head-to-head, on the November general election ballot.

Carmen grew up just north of Des Moines, and has lived here for over 45 years. She attended Sunnyvale Elementary and Highline High School.

She and husband, LeLant, have been married since 1973.

“We need to make our downtown healthier,” Carmen told us. ”We need to make the Pacific Ridge a vibrant part of Des Moines. And the city needs to develop a basis of supporting itself without relying too heavily on property taxes.

“We right now are very focused on resolving the issues that have hindered healthy development of our downtown.”

Carmen is also concerned about the progress of an 89-acre business park near Sea Tac airport.

“The business park will come into play when economic conditions begin to resolve themselves,” she said. “We are working towards an eventual solution to the business park proposal which is currently hindered by the economy.

“Right now our transportation planning includes looking at the appropriate road improvements to serve the traffic that will be part of commercial development in that area. We want to see that any develpment does not negatively impact residential traffic on South 216th.

“And we need to get word out to tourists and our neighbors in surrounding communities that we have a jewel of a city right here in Des Moines,” Carmen said.

Carmen is a skilled photographer and has devoted her talents with the camera to fundraising for the benefit of Des Moines and its citizens.

Carmen is a board member of the Des Moines Historical Society and has long been involved with the Des Moines Legacy Foundation which was created a decade ago to support Des Moines parks, recreation, and senior services programs.

She is busy preparing the Foundation’s 2010 Calendar featuring many of her pictures.

For more information on the Legacy Foundation, here is their website: www.desmoineslegacy.org

To contact Carmen regarding her reelection bid, here is her mailing address:

Friends of Carmen Scott
PO Box 98514
Des Moines, WA 98198

Email: carmenscott2@msn.com

Tukwila company American Electronics Recycling Corporation is holding a FREE “E-Cycling” event this weekend (Aug. 7th, 8th, and 9th from 9am – 3:30pm) as part of the state’s “E-Cycle” law that allows for convenient and environmentally-responsible recycling of computers, monitors, laptops and televisions.

Drop-offs are being accepted at American Electronics Recycling Corporation offices, located at 18435 Olympic Ave. South in the South Center South Industrial Park in Tukwila (see map below). There will be signs directing traffic off of West Valley Highway.

Here are the details:

WHAT: FREE e-cycling event

WHEN: Friday, Aug. 7th, Saturday, Aug. 8th and Sunday, Aug. 9th, from 9am-3:30pm

WHERE: American Electronics Recycling Corporation offices, located at 18435 Olympic Ave. South in the South Center South Industrial Park in Tukwila (see map below)

INFO: They will be collecting a long list of electronic items, including all TVs, Laptops, PCs, and Monitors for free. AER is registered with the WA State Dept. of Ecology, as part of the E-Cycle WA program. More info on our company, and a list of the items they will be accepting can be found at http://www.aercorprecycler.com.

Here’s more info from the State of Washington E-Cycle website:

Who can use the program?
Households, small businesses, schools & school districts, small governments, special purpose districts, and charities can recycle electronic products free of charge in this program.

What can I recycle for free?

• Televisions
• Computers
• Computer monitors
• Portable or laptop computers

Please note that computer peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and printers are not included in this program.

Why recycle electronics?
Many electronics, especially TVs and computers, contain toxic materials such as lead, cadmium and mercury. Reusing and recycling electronics keeps these toxic materials out of our landfills and incinerators and also recovers valuable resources. The electronic equipment this program collects will be taken apart and separated into materials such as glass, plastic, metal and toxic chemicals. All recycling will follow performance standards set up by the Department of Ecology.

To find other drop-off points near you, visit this website.

View Larger Map

With the summer months comes heat, late sunsets and of course…an awakened Mother Nature, including predators like coyotes.

WLB Reader Cindy sent us the following email:

Could some type of notification be sent to Des Moines residents that there are coyotes in the area?

I’ve seen them (and heard pups) in the greenbelt between 15 Ave S & 13 Ave S. I’ve seen several people looking for their cats & some have posted fliers. I’ve heard cats screaming at night. I’m sure coyotes and raccoons are getting some, if not all, of them.

Marine View Vet told my neighbors that a cat they found had been attacked by coyotes – it had to be euthanized when it was discovered to also have feline aids.

There’s a clearing south of 22633 15th Ave S where children sometimes play, people walk their dogs & they also pick blackberries. The coyotes and pups have been heard howling just on the edge of the clearing (on the edge of the greenbelt), just feet and maybe inches from where these people have been observed.

I’m afraid someone is going to get hurt if something isn’t done. Please advise.

Thank you,
Cindy

The last known coyote scare in the area that we know of was last August, when fliers were posted in the North Hill neighborhood about missing pets and sightings of these creatures (read the post here on our sister site The B-Town Blog).

Here’s a video from last September of a coyote spotted in Seattle:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apuKlq-v2iE[/youtube]

And here’s one of a trucker in British Columbia feeding a coyote his leftover sandwich:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09eb88XgZDk[/youtube]

Have you seen a coyote? Think they’re a danger to Des Moines? Please take our poll or Comment below…

The City of Des Moines Monday opened a free “Cooling Center” for all residents at the Activity (Senior) Center, located at 2045 South 216th Street, through Thursday from 11am to 9pm.

The shelter accommodations are minimal (but we believe there’s air conditioning). Water will be provided at the shelters but no food will be available. Small pets in carriers will be allowed but the owner is responsible to provide food, water and bowls for the animals.

There are other numerous places around with air conditioning that you can take advantage of; here’s a list (more listed at the King County website):

DES MOINES:

• City Cooling Shelter at the Activity Center (Senior Center)
  2045 S. 216th Street, Des Moines
  Open for Des Moines and Normandy Park residents, Monday-Thursday this week from 11:00am to 9:00pm. The shelter accommodations are minimal, water will be provided at the shelters but no food will be available. Small pets in carriers will be allowed but the owner is responsible to provide food, water and bowls for the animals. Pets will be required to remain in their carriers will inside the shelter. An information phone number with recorded information has been set up at (206) 870-6719.
• King County Library – Des Moines branch
  21620 11th Avenue South
  Des Moines 98198
  Phone: 206-824-6066
• King County Library – Woodmont branch
  26809 Pacific Highway South
  Des Moines 98198
  Phone: 253-839-0121
• Beaches! Puget Sound!
  Nothing beats the heat better than being in the cold natural waters around us. Just use common sense, and be aware that the waters are still cold enough to cause hypothermia. We recommend just wading or dipping ones toes in whilst eating an ice cream cone.
• Mt. Rainier Pool
  22722 19th Ave South
  Des Moines 98198
  Phone: (206) 824-4722
  Fees are $3.25 per hour (seniors) and up

BURIEN:

• King County Library branch on SW 152nd and 4th SW (as well as any KCLS branch in the area)
• Any bar/restaurant/coffee shop that doesn’t have its windows open (your first clue to A/C use)
• Stores – stay cool by going from store to store around town!
• The myriad of beaches around town, especially Seahurst Park Beach

TUKWILA:

• Tukwila Community Center
  12424 42nd Avenue South
  6:15am. – 9pm (Monday – Thursday)
  Phone: 206-768-2822
• Tukwila Aquatic Playground
  12424 42nd Ave South
  Tukwila, WA 98168
  Website: http://www.ci.tukwila.wa.us/recreation/recbrochure.html
• Southcenter, where “it’s always a beautiful day” (and a cool one this week)
• Tukwila Pond (go ahead and jump in, it’s not just a swamp…)

SEATAC:

• SeaTac Community Center
  13735 24th Avenue South
  SeaTac, Washington 98168
  Phone: 206.973.4680
• Angle Lake
  Pacific Hwy South at S. 195yh
  Free swimming in a real lake!

FEDERAL WAY:

• Federal Way Community Center
  876 S. 333rd Street
  5:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. (weekdays)
  7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Saturday)
  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Sunday)
  Phone: 253-832-6900
• Wild Waves Water Park (cost involved)
  36201 Enchanted Pkwy
  Federal Way
  Phone: (253) 925-8000

AUBURN:

• Auburn Senior Center
  808 9th Street SE
  8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Thursday
  Crated/caged pets welcome.Some pet cages available for those who don’t have them.
  Phone: 253-931-3016

• Auburn Library
  1102 Auburn Way S
  10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Monday – Thursday)
  Phone: 253-931-3018

• Auburn City Hall
  25 W Main
  8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Thursday
  Crated/caged pets welcome. Some pet cages available for those who don’t have them.
  Phone: (253) 931-3033

For all you weather nerds out there, here’s a link to a new UW website called “probcast.com” that will do customized forecasts based on zip codes; we did one for 98198, and the predicted high for Wed. is now 103!

An Excessive Heat Warning will remain in effect until 6pm Thursday, July 30th; this means that a period of dangerously hot temperatures is expected which can lead to heat related illnesses. Anyone can be overcome by extreme heat, but some people are at higher risk than others. They include the elderly, the very young, and people with mental illness and chronic diseases

Signs and symptoms of heat related illness may vary but can include:

• heavy sweating
• paleness
• muscle cramps
• tiredness
• weakness
• dizziness
• headache
• nausea or vomiting
• fainting

Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which can cause death or permanent disability unless treated immediately. Symptoms of heat stroke include an extremely high body temperature (above 103°F); red, hot, and dry skin; rapid, strong pulse; nausea, confusion and unconsciousness.

Public Health – Seattle & King County is urging people to take precautions and monitor themselves and others for signs and symptoms of heat related illness and call for medical aid as necessary.

Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and stay in air-conditioned buildings such as public libraries and community centers, malls and movie theaters. Check on relatives and neighbors, particularly those with health issues. Never leave children or pets unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows rolled down.

More hot weather safety tips are available at www.kingcounty.gov/health/BeatTheHeat

Click to View Carmen Scott’s Photo Slideshow

by Pat Nardo

It’s true – without a doubt and intolerably accurate, is the age old adage of Murphy!

Now it has to be pondered, did Murphy ever really exist and was he endowed with a wisdom that, to this day, can be seen in any event planned by man? Murphy’s Law is pretty simple and straightforward:

“If something can go wrong, it will.”

Murphy be damned; full parade ahead!

Our 50th Birthday Parade, commemorating that many years since Des Moines became a city, was not exempt from the Law of Murphy, it seems. We got off to a late start and, as luck would have it, some of the units scheduled to appear in the parade, did not. Our good friend and script writer, Earline Byers, was able to overcome another obstacle of units appearing out of the anticipated order that she had listed. Even with this handicap, Earline bravely and accurately fed our announcer the best information she had as each element came marching or riding past the reviewing stand. Quick action on the part of Steve Geogebeur, our announcer, allowed his reporting to go on as if there was not a hitch. His smooth delivery made the parade even more attractive to the crowd down Marine View Drive.

In a normal parade sequence, each unit is expected to halt before the reviewing stand, perform for some 45 seconds and move on to make room for the successor. This happened, only due to experience of seasoned paradees, about four times. Judging, while the parade took on an accelerated pace, was impeded and not much time could be allocated to evaluate all of the criteria for each unit. Still the judges worked feverishly and swiftly to apply scores as fairly as time permitted. At parade ending there was a short period dedicated to a “huddle” and some adjustments to awards and scores. It was not an easy task because there were so many worthy entries and we only had 24 trophies to present to winners.

Now, to the parade itself; a success in any way you could look at it! Anna and BJ Bjorneby, along with Fran Woodard, caused this whole 50th Birthday celebration to be a spectacular event that will live on in memory of the many residents who witnessed it for many years. They and a handful of volunteers caused an eruption of civic pride and, sadly, there is no trophy or award for them other than our thanks for a job well done.

Murphy’s ugly head, much like the mythical dragon of old was met by Anna and BJ Bjorneby with swords drawn and hearts and wallets open. Our city did not have sufficient funds to run a parade, though t hey wanted to. Give our city credit though, they provided us with the best security and traffic control available anywhere. Thank you, Chief Roger Baker! So it was to be that a group of volunteers and dollars made it happen. We gave of time, money and other resources to honor a birthday worthy of our homage.

To avoid the unhappiness that comes with being “second place’, “runner up”, etc; we devised an all encompassing phrase without gradients. It was: “PEOPLES CHOICE AWARD” and was engraved, proudly on each of our 24 trophies. Who are the winners? To be truthful, we thought all in the parade should have gotten a trophy but reality played its hand and we did choose the following units for the trophies, well earned:

• Kennedy High School Band
• West Seattle Hi Yu
• Seattle Seafair Pirates
• Best in Show Pet Salon
• Seattle Lutheran High School
• Kent Cornucopia Days
• Evergreen H/S Lutheran
• Sumner H/S Band
• Life Savers at Mt. Rainier
• Super Steppers
• Seafair Clowns
• Peruvian Community
• Judson Park Pirates
• Des Moines Lions Club
• Pete’s Towing Service
• Harold Hancock (Antique Car)
• Des Moines Farmer’s Market
• Keystone Kops
• Melanie’s Dance Unlimited
• Ron Kinney (Antique Car)
• Des Moines Masonic Lodge
• Elbert Hill (Horse drawn wagon without rider)
• Highline School District
• Friend to Friend

The parade ended and we were all tired and happy to see and share the joy of the crowd. On my way out of the reviewing stand, my judging tour of duty over, I looked up and down Marine View Drive and guess what?

I saw no sign of Murphy!

Join your friends and neighbors this evening (Wed., July 22nd and continuing through Aug. 19th) at the Des Moines Wednesday Farmers Market from 3pm – 7pm at the South Marina Park.

You never know who you’ll meet…

Like maybe the gals and guy from “Team Breast Friends Need Lifesavers” – although they won’t be back until Aug. 22nd, but in the meantime, they wanted WLB readers to know about them and their important mission.

Last Saturday at DMFM, “Team Breast Friends” had a hot pink booth right next to our Waterland Blog booth. They had games and prizes and things for sale (I bought two pink duckies for my granddaughter’s bathtime) to help raise funds for the Susan G. Komen Three Day Walk for Breast Cancer. Most of the items were courtesy of Des Moines Drug and Hallmark.

“They’ve been very generous to us,” stated Linda Stanley, who’s been a pharmacy tech there for the last 10 years.

“Ask me why I walk,” said Linda. Before I could ask, she told me that she has lost six friends to breast cancer since last September. “And that’s why I walk.” Last year her team of seven raised $26,000. This year her personal goal is to raise $6,000.

Other participants in this walk and the booth include Becky Pachek, who is part of the crew that provides water and encouragement along the walk and Milt Lathan. Last year he was part of the crew and in ’07 he walked. He found walking easier than crewing. So this year he’s walking!

“Team Breast Friends” will be walking from Shoreline Community College to Memorial Stadium on Sept 11-13. Last year the walk raised $8.6 million.

If you’d like to help Linda reach her goal, you can stop by Des Moines Drug Store, or stop by the market on Saturday, Aug. 22, and spin her wheel for prizes.

The Des Moines Activity Center will be hosting the 4th Annual Trash to Treasure Sale on Saturday, Aug. 1st, from 9am to 3pm at its location at 2045 S. 216th Street.

This annual sale includes over 80 booths of rummage sale, crafts, furniture and more to benefit the city’s senior programs and services. Food sales hosted by Jobs Daughters.

There will be FREE shuttle service from the Des Moines Farmers Market at the Marina to their big sale as well as parking lot sales at Wesley Gardens and the Masonic Lodge on 223rd.

Public parking is also available at Steven J. Underwood Memorial Park just behind the Des Moines Post Office on 216th Street and 20th Avenue South.

For more information, please call 206-878-1642.

Saturday, July 18th was a picture-perfect day for the myriad of amazing activities celebrating Des Moines’ 50th Birthday, and here are some picture-perfect pictures from Photographer Michael Brunk that captures:

• The strongman/woman competition
• Professor Humbug’s Flea Circus
• Rotary Club’s “Pop & Drop” fundraising contest
• “Elvis” at the Classic Car Show
• Tall ships at the Marina

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

The City of Des Moines has released the list of road closures (download PDF file here) for Saturday’s 50th Birthday/Waterland Parade, and here’s the scoop:

50th Anniversary Parade – NOTICE OF ROAD CLOSURE
Saturday, July 18, 2009 – 3:30PM to 8:00PM:

Marine View Drive South and South 240th Street in Des Moines will be closed on Saturday, July 18, from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., for the Waterland Grand Parade – a Seafair event celebrating the city’s 50th anniversary.

The street closures will be on Marine View Drive from South 216th Street to South 240th Street, and on South 240th Street from Marine View Drive to 16th Avenue South.

Traffic will be detoured on 16th Avenue South, Kent-Des Moines Road, and 24th Avenue South.

For more information, contact City of Des Moines Public Works at 206-870-6522.

The City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department announced Monday morning (July 13th) that the 50th Birthday Run & Walk has been canceled due to low registration.

As we previously reported, the 2.5-mile Fun Run/Walk was scheduled to wind through Des Moines along the parade route right before the big birthday parade on Saturday, July 18th. The race was scheduled to start at Highline Community College, and was to end on Marine View Drive in front of the QFC grocery store.

Here’s the notice we received by email from Shelby Borden:

I have breaking news from the City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department.

We are sad to report that the Des Moines 50th Birthday Run & Walk has been CANCELED!! The reason for cancellation is because of low enrollment!

We do apologize and if there are any questions please call: (206) 870-6527.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: To see Photos from the 2009 50th Birthday/Waterland Parade, click here. To read our firsthand account and see photos of what it was like for us to be in the parade (then hang out with the Seafair Pirates, click here.]

by Pat Nardo

With less than 30 days until our 50th Anniversary celebration and Grand Parade, volunteers are scurrying about, not unlike the “Three Blind Mice” trying to pull together all the loose ends that have a tendency to reveal themselves at the least opportune moment.

We are having our parade meetings every Wednesday evening at 6pm at the Bjorneby’s CARSTAR office on 220th and Pacific Highway. Applications are still being accepted although a good number of units for the parade have signed on. This is a Seafair Sanctioned event and the Seafair Commodores will play a large role in our success. Part of our excitement, hardly contained, is the honor of having the Seafair Pirates presenting their playful, threatening antics to an always pleased crowd. The booming cannon and swords slashing the air amid loud “har hars” always gets the kids in the crowd animated.

There will be three marching bands and a few floats, at least three children’s units will begin the march through town on Marine View Drive. Our budget, though small, we are able to come up with appropriate trophies, provided by our own EC Computer owner and Des Moines supporter, Patricio Mendoza. Engraving may cost us but that too is in negotiations. There will be badges for all who are working on the parade, including staff and honored guests. At Landmark on the Sound there is a reception planned with mostly “finger food” and from The Reuben New York Eatery a generous sampling of their famous, delicious brownies! Remember the slogan, “Betcha can’t eat just one”? Enough said!

Our friends at Butler’s Bar & Grill plan a beer garden and a “blues band” to be in the front of their business to invite spectators, residents, and anyone else to join the festivity provided after our parade. Mike Collello is hosting this part of our celebration. Our parade poster is being distributed all over town and the excitement is beginning to build up as we proceed with, what we hope, will be a very memorable event.

Applications are still accepting for participation in our parade, but time is limited now, so if you need assistance with this, you may call Anna Bjorneby at (206) 244-8080 or BJ Bjorneby at the same number. Remember, we are at the time when applications need to be in around July 1st, so don’t hesitate, vacillate or procrastinate. I am not sure what these words really mean but I found them in my thesaurus.

The Junior Parade will start at 5:30pm, and the Main parade at 6pm.

We are now at 30 days and counting for a magnificent parade so plan to be here as part of your “staycation”!

On Monday (June 15th), students from Des Moines’ Aviation High School’s senior class, along with members of the school’s Airline Career Experience (ACE) Club hitched a ride on the delivery flight of a brand new Boeing 737-800 thanks to Alaska Airlines.

The flight took students from Boeing Field north to circle the peak of Mount Baker before heading south for a landing at Sea-Tac International Airport.

Alaska Airlines is a primary sponsor of Aviation High School. About 50 Alaska employees serve as mentors to AHS students. Dennis Hamel, Alaska’s Vice President for Human Resources and Labor Relations, serves on the AHS board of directors.

Aviation High School’s slogan is “Where the sky is not the limit,” and is administered by Highline Public Schools. It is open to students across the Puget Sound region, and serves as a model science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) school. The curriculum is college preparatory, and all subjects are taught in the context of aviation and aerospace.

As we reported on March 26th, Aviation High recently received a $4 million grant from James Raisbeck. It will be re-named Raisbeck Aviation High School, and will move to the Museum of Flight in Seattle; construction is expected to begin in March of 2010.

The annual Highline Relay For Life cancer fundraiser began at 3pm Saturday, June 13th and continued all night until 8am Sunday at Highline Stadium in Burien.

Here’s a slideshow by Photographer Michael Brunk:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

by Pat Nardo

Hard times are upon us and it seems we are just beginning to come out from under the pall of gloomy economical news, heading into a new era of, we hope, prosperity.

Gloom and doom notwithstanding, we are frantically and loyally making preparations to celebrate the great event of our city’s 50th anniversary. Des Moines will be 50 years old in July and a staunch cadre of volunteers, city, parks department workers, marina employees and staffs, small businesses and, yes, individual citizens like me are doing our best to make this a truly memorable event.

A major obstacle confronts us that must be overcome, that of finance. Money we just don’t have, or very little to do all that might be done. Donations are sorely needed for so many items that constitute the cost and preparations for city wide events including our parade and time is not on our side with only just over one month to begin “showing our stuff” to all who will witness our civic pride.

The small businesses in our town, even though they are, mostly, not doing as well as they would in normal times, have given enormous support.

Of the “big businesses” within our boundaries, two of our banks are to be commended for allowing the prominent display of our 50th anniversary poster on their premises, while the other two…well, they claim “corporate policy” prevents the posting of advertising except “in their back room”.

As I leave each of these two banks with undelivered 50th anniversary posters, I wonder, “Why would a large corporation establish itself in our community without caring or supporting a golden anniversary?” It also occurs to me that they could use a little public relations expertise. Our good friends at both the Key Bank and Bank of America, however, gladly accepted and quickly placed our proud posters where customers could see and know these banks cared a good deal for Des Moines. When you visit either bank, let them know we appreciate having them in our city.

Back to the generosity of our smaller merchants; EC Computers owner, Patricio Mendoza, has offered to provide the much needed trophies for our parade awards. The Print Place has given us help in reducing printing costs of leaflets and handouts to advertise our celebration. Jerry and Cathy Reece are providing a “surprise” float and it will be part of our parade as well. Our most important, local sponsors and benefactors are:

• Bjorneby’s CARSTAR on Hwy 99 and 220th, who also are parade developers
• Hertz Auto Rental
• Our good friend Gary Peterson of Pete’s Towing

In addition, Anna Bjorneby is our CEO for the parade and she has a good grasp of all that is needed and Fran Woodard is our chief whip. “BJ” Bjorneby calmly oversees the progress and occasionally adds to the strength of the crew.

Without these two, there might not be a parade!

Most of the applications for parade participation are in and we will soon know the number of units and their classification. As judging chairman, I have a competent staff and forms for scoring just about all categorizes that we anticipate and one that is designated as “OTHER”, just in case we can’t identify its species.

On Wednesday, June 17th, life-sized free-standing photo cutouts depicting some of Des Moines’ most important and influential citizens will be peppered around town to help celebrate the city’s official 50th birthday (Des Moines officially incorporated on June 17, 1959).

The photo project is part of an Open House & Historical display which will also include artifacts, vignettes of life in the area in the 1950s, and videos commemorating local history.

Photo cutouts will feature local citizens, from Herman “Daddy” Draper and his wife Annie “Mother” Draper who adopted scores of orphaned children and started one of the only self-supporting children’s homes in history, to Rilda Martin Moses, who became the city’s first kindergarten teacher in 1918, to Jobby Neal, who operated the Des Moines-Seattle Stage Company – a bus line that ran between Des Moines and Seattle at a time when roads were primitive at best.

These and more stories will be shared at the event, which is part of a summer-long series of 50th birthday events. The Open House and Historical Display will take place on June 17th at the Odd Fellows Hall in Des Moines from 3-8 p.m. Mayor Bob Sheckler and other noted guests will be present and the museum, located above the open house, will also be open to visitors.

Some of Des Moines most famous citizens include:

HERMAN “DADDY” DRAPER
Herman “Daddy” Draper and his wife, Annie “Mother” Draper are two of Des Moines’ most inspiring and heartening examples of dedicated service to children, society and humanity. They established the Des Moines Children’s Industrial Home and Training School in 1908, and for nearly twenty years, took in and taught music and trades to hundreds of orphaned, homeless or abandoned children. They founded and operated the Children’s Home with the purpose to give love and a sense of belonging to their adopted children, and to give them the tools and skills that would help sustain them as adults and productive members of the community.

A 28-room Hiatt Hotel at South 220th and 6th Avenue South was purchased and transformed into the original Children’s Home. The Des Moines Children’s Industrial Home was one of the only self-supporting children’s homes in history. The Draper “family” supported itself with a variety of enterprises, including the “Jolly Entertainers” made up of children from the home who played instruments and sang, touring as many as 38 states and parts of Canada, as well as holding concerts in a barn next to the home, which had been adapted into an “Opera House.” They also ran a printing press, published a monthly newsletter, and operated a campground on the site of Des Moines Beach Park.

ANNIE “MOTHER” DRAPER
Annie “Mother” Draper and her husband Herman “Daddy” are two of Des Moines’ most inspiring and heartening examples of dedicated service to children, society and humanity. They established the Des Moines Children’s Industrial Home and Training School in 1908, and for nearly twenty years, took in and taught music and trades to hundreds of homeless, orphaned or abandoned children. They founded and operated the Children’s Home with the purpose to give love and a sense of belonging to their adopted children, and to give them the tools and skills that would help sustain them as adults and productive members of the community. The children attended local public schools, in addition to the education they received at the Children’s Home.

A 28-room Hiatt Hotel at South 220th and 6th Avenue South was purchased and transformed into the original Children’s Home. The Des Moines Children’s Industrial Home was one of the only self-supporting children’s homes in history. The Draper “family” supported itself with a variety of enterprises, including the “Jolly Entertainers” made up of children from the home who played instruments and sang, touring as many as 38 states and parts of Canada, as well as holding concerts in a barn next to the home, which had been converted into an “Opera House.” They also ran a printing press, published a monthly newsletter, and operated a campground on the site of Des Moines Beach Park.

NATHAN E. MUNGER
Civil War veteran, Nathan E. Munger was an early resident of the Zenith neighborhood in Des Moines. The Munger family grew flowers to sell on the 5 acre property they owned. Captain Commons, another civil war veteran, lived across the street from Nathan and it was said that the two men continued to fight the war for as long as they lived, by moving the boundary road marker continuously. Each man insisted the other had his fence too far out in the road. Nathan and his wife Clara were members of the Des Moines Grange No. 471.

MYRTLE JONES ELSEY
Myrtle Jones Elsey was an enterprising resident of early Des Moines who operated the town’s first beauty shop. Her original business was in her father-in-laws’ house, on 6th Avenue between South 222nd and South 223rd streets. Myrtle and her husband, Everett Elsey later built a new house with a shop in front at 11th Avenue South and South 220th Street. As a young woman in 1909, Myrtle was on the Des Moines Woman’s Basketball Team with her sister, Margaret Elsey and friend, Rilda Martin Moses. Mrytle Jones Elsey’s husband, Everett was the grandson of one of Des Moines’ early settlers, David S. Elsey who homesteaded and farmed 40 acres in Sunnydale. Everett’s father, John C. Elsey operated a sawmill in Des Moines, and platted and sold the remaining parts of the town site of Des Moines in 1896. Everett was the half-brother of Rilda Martin Moses.

GAHAIL CASE
Gahail Case was one of four children in the family of Rollin A. Case Sr., a former representative of the territorial legislature from Asotin, who moved to Des Moines in 1896 and became a popular real estate agent who helped popularize the area. Gahail and his family lived on the property, which is now occupied by the Des Moines Yacht Club, where his father also had his real estate business. Gahail and his brother Rollin Jr. were members of the Des Moines Baseball Team in the early 1900′s playing many successful seasons, competing throughout the region.

“JOBBY” NEAL
“Jobby” Neal was one of the entrepreneurial Neal brothers, from Nova Scotia, Canada who moved to the Des Moines area around 1913. He and his brothers helped start the Des Moines Rural Telephone Company, and also operated The Des Moines-Seattle Stage Company – a bus line that ran between Des Moines and Seattle at a time when roads were primitive at best. In 1915, the Neal brothers bought an unfinished sawmill on the beach in front of Des Moines Creek and finished it as a Dance Hall, called Neal’s Pavilion. They operated it until the Swedish Covenant Church bought it in 1932. Jobby’s brother Melward was the first local resident to serve in the Sate of Washington Legislature. Mel was instrumental in helping get the Des Moines Field House built between 1939-1940.

AGNES MARSHALL
From 1947 to 1963, Agnes Marshall served as the Head Librarian for the City of Des Moines. She was the Head Librarian when the city was incorporated. The library got its start at Grist’s General Store, when citizens would borrow books discarded from the Seattle Public Library. They were told if they returned the books, more would be obtained. Eventually the library made its home at the Des Moines School, until it burned down in 1925. By the time Agnes became Head Librarian, it had been moved into a small room at the Des Moines Field House that held 9,594 books! Agnes and her husband made their home and raised their family on Marine View Drive. Their original home still stands and is occupied by an assortment of small businesses.

CHILDREN FROM THE DES MOINES CHILDREN’S INDUSTRIAL HOME & TRANING SCHOOL
The children who spent their youth at the Des Moines Children’s Home, were adopted by Herman “Daddy” Draper and his wife Annie “Mother” Draper. The Drapers began taking in abandoned, orphaned or homeless children in the late 1800′s in Michigan, and brought their “original” children with them when they decided to start their Children’s Home in Washington State. They taught the children instrumental and vocal music, as well as a variety of trades, such as running a printing press, publishing a monthly newsletter and learning to sew and knit. The Children’s Home was said to be the first and only self-supporting children’s home in history. By performing both band and orchestral music with the “Jolly Entertainers” the children helped pay for the expenses of the Home, and put rural Des Moines on the map. In a barn that had been converted into an “opera house”, they gave musical and dramatic performances. They also toured in a large bus and became regional entertainment favorites. In their last tour, the Jolly Entertainers toured 38 states and parts of Canada. The children also attended the local public school, and with the dedication of the Drapers, went on to become contributing members of the community and society.  The Children’s Home was located in what was originally a 28-room Hiatt Hotel at South 220th and 6th Avenue South.

PASTOR FRITZ HJELM
Reverend Hjelm (pronounced “yelm”) served as pastor of the Covenant Church Camp from about 1931 to 1939. The Covenant Beach Church Camp, was located at what is now known as Des Moines Beach Park. Reverend Hjelm was in charge of the Young People’s evening fireside services in front of the fireplace in the Auxiliary Hall in 1934 and was one of the speakers at the new Covenant Bible Camp’s first Annual Conference in 1932 – giving both lectures and sermons. In 1937, he was President of the North Pacific Missionary Conference, and presided as the platform chairman at the annual conference. Pastor Hjelm was also an editor for the Tabernacel Klockan, a noteworthy and widely read church newspaper, initially published in Swedish.

RILAD MARTIN MOSES
Rilda Martin came to Washington State from Wisconsin with her parents in 1904. She was a popular resident who served as president of her 1911 graduating class in Des Moines. After attending and graduating from Bellingham Normal School (now Western Washington University), she taught school in Neah Bay. In 1918, she married Otto Moses and soon after, moved back to Des Moines where she became Des Moines’ first kindergarten teacher. She taught classes in the basement of the Des Moines United Methodist Church until 1966, instructing over 1,200 children in her years as teacher. Rilda was a very active citizen who made her home, raised her family, worked, socialized and prayed in Des Moines, until her death in 1988, at the age of 95. She was one of our true pioneers.

Are you working with a local community group or non-profit and want to get your information out to the public? Then apply for a FREE booth at the Saturday Farmers Market!

The Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market reserves one booth free of charge for non-profit community groups. All that’s required is that your group provide two volunteers for set up at the market at 8:30am and two volunteers for take down at 2:00pm. In the meantime, your volunteers can meet and talk to up to 1,000 local shoppers. Volunteers must be able to lift and carry 50lbs.

For more information, please contact Market@dmfm.org or go to www.DMFM.org.

Jeffrey C. Sullivan, US Attorney for the Western District of Washington announced Friday (June 5th) that five people have been arrested in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme that allegedly cheated area banks and property sellers out of more than $18 million.

The five arrested include:

• HUMBERTO A. REYES-RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a Tony Reyes, 42, of Federal Way, Washington
• ALEXIS IKILIKYAN, a/k/a Haikanush Ikilikyan, 29, of Auburn, Washington
• WILLIAM S. POFF, 37, of Marshall, Michigan
• MICKI S. THOMPSON, 54, of Tacoma, Washington
• MARIO A. MARROQUIN, 38, of Kent, Washington

All have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Commit Bank and Wire Fraud and Money Laundering. The conspirators obtained financing from banks and, in some cases, also from sellers who were convinced to extend private loans for a portion of the purchase price. These private loans, which were not disclosed to the banks, as well as a web of fictitious rental companies, allowed the conspirators to obtain loan proceeds far beyond the value of the assets securing those loans, and beyond their ability to pay.

“This complex investigation uncovered a group of real estate professionals who manipulated home sales for pure profit while some of the properties went into foreclosure and innocent private citizens were defrauded,” said Leigh Winchell, Special Agent in Charge of ICE’s Office of Investigations. ICE will continue to use its unique investigative authority to uncover illegal financial transactions in an effort to stop this type of fraudulent activity.”

According to the detailed indictment, both REYES-RODRIGUEZ and ALEXIS IKILIKYAN worked as both licensed real estate agents and mortgage loan originators. ALEXIS IKILIKYAN’s ex-husband, WILLIAM S. POFF was a licensed notary and worked as a loan originator.

MICKI S. THOMPSON was an employee of Great American Escrow who acted as the closing officer for many of the fraudulent sales. Between 2005 and 2008, the conspirators used straw buyers to purchase and resell properties, obtaining more than 80 loans totaling more than $18 million. The conspirators submitted a variety of false information to the banks such as employment, income, citizenship status, assets and liabilities. The conspirators also submitted false appraisals and created fictitious companies that were allegedly doing repair work on the properties. Money at closing would go to these entities that, in reality, had done no work on the property. Defendant MARIO A. MARROQUIN headed fictitious repair companies and acted as a straw buyer.

In this scheme, the conspirators did not just damage banks and financial institutions. Innocent sellers were harmed when they agreed to loan the buyer a portion of the purchase price, to be paid back over time. The sellers did not know that the conspirators had already obtained 100 percent financing from commercial lenders. When payments were not made and properties fell into foreclosure, and then were sold for less than the total of all loans secured by the property, the sellers holding private notes were left with nothing.

The indictment alleges there were fraudulent mortgage transactions in communities across the Puget Sound region:

• Des Moines
• Tacoma
• Seattle
• Puyallup
• Spanaway
• SeaTac
• Auburn
• Bellevue
• Renton
• Lakewood
• Fircrest
• Kent
• Pacific
• Issaquah

Those arrested in the Seattle area were scheduled to make their initial appearances in federal court Friday afternoon at 2:30pm.

The conspiracy and money laundering charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Vogel and Darwin Roberts.

More information available at the DOJ website here.