An Banh witnessed Wednesday afternoon's shooting of a woman in Burien.

UPDATE 6/1/11 5 p.m.: BTB Reporter Mark Neuman was able to track down and interview an eye (or ‘ear’) witness to Wednesday’s shooting of a woman in her 20s who was shot by a man at the intersection of SW 136th and Ambaum Blvd. SW.

Local businessman An Banh heard the shooting just outside of his business, An’s Auto Care, located kitty-corner from where the shooting took place. He heard “about five shots” then ran to look, and saw a “skinny African American man” in his mid-20s to mid-30s running south on Ambaum for about a block. The man then cut to his right and ran westbound near an apartment complex and out of sight. An said the man wore light gray “sweats and jogging pants.”

Here’s Mark’s exclusive audio interview with An:

Mark Neuman interviews shooting witness An Banh 6/1/11.

As we reported earlier, the victim was shot while sitting in her car at that intersection. Seriously injured, she managed to drive herself to the recently re-opened 7-11/Shell gas station at SW 146th and First Ave South. Medics took her from there to Harborview Medical Center, where she was listed in serious condition.

Ambaum was closed off for a while between SW 142nd and SW 136th as police scoured the area searching for the shooter, according to Neuman. It re-opened in both directions as of 2:30 p.m. No word yet on an official description, or if the suspect has been found.

Neuman spoke with Burien Police Sgt. Henry McLauchlan at the scene, who told him that the suspect, a male, fired into the woman’s car, then fled. Some people may have caught ‘fleeting glimpses’ of the man as he left, according to McLauchlan.

It appears also that this is not a random shooting event.

Here are some new photos taken by Neuman at the crime scene:

PREVIOUSLY:

UPDATE 2;20 p.m. 6/1/11: A woman in her 20s, apparently driving a gray Ford car, was shot in the chest near the intersection of SW 136th and Ambaum Blvd. SW in Burien Wednesday afternoon at around 12:20 p.m.

Seriously injured, the victim managed to drive herself to the recently re-opened 7-11/Shell gas station at SW 146th and First Ave South. Medics took her from there to Harborview Medical Center.

Ambaum was closed off for a while between SW 142nd and SW 136th as police scoured the area searching for the shooter, according to BTB Reporter Mark Neuman. It apparently re-opened in both directions as of 2:30 p.m. No word yet on a description, or if the suspect has been found.

Neuman spoke with Burien Police Sgt. Henry McLauchlan at the scene, who told him that the suspect, a male, fired into the woman’s car, then fled. Some people may have caught ‘fleeting glimpses’ of the man as he left, according to McLauchlan.

It appears also that this is not a random shooting event.

Deputies and Burien Police are apparently still searching for the suspect in the area where the shooting occurred.

Neuman also took the following photos at the scene around 1:30 p.m. as police investigated:

The recently remodeled 7-11 on First Ave South at SW 146th is now taped off as a crime scene.

This late 1990s Ford is apparently the vehicle in which the woman, already shot in the chest, drove herself to the 7-11 Wednesday around 12:20 p.m.

PREVIOUSLY:

The King County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that a woman has been found, shot in the chest, in Burien Wednesday afternoon (June 1) at the Shell gas station on First Ave South and SW 146th.

Reports are that the victim was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Her condition is unknown at this time.

The shooting occurred around 12:15 p.m., near the intersection of SW 136th and Ambaum Bvld. SW, according to police.

Choppers are hovering over the area, police have been seen with big rifles and K-9s, and it’s not yet known if there is a shooter at large, or the circumstances behind the shooting.

Mark Neuman called from the scene, and told us that Ambaum is closed northbound from around 142nd Ave SW.

As we get more information, we’ll update this post, so stay tuned.

We’re not quite to the point of voting over the internet, but last week, King County Elections announced that it is now offering audio versions of its voters’ pamphlet at its website, meaning you can now rock out to ballot descriptions on your iPod.

Voters can now download the King County voters’ pamphlet as a FREE MP3 file or do air guitar to to it online. King County Elections has provided a limited number of audio recordings of voters’ pamphlets in the past, but now this feature is available for everyone, 24/7/365 at their website.

“We’re trying to improve services to voters who need them in order to vote privately and independently,” said Sandy McConnell, Elections Operations Manager. “This new service also provides convenience to many voters who prefer to listen to an audio version of their pamphlet.”

The audio voters’ pamphlets, along with the text versions, are located on the Elections website here. Audio ballots are also available to support voting at all three accessible voting centers.

Here are direct links to the rockin’ MP3s, with pertinent ones boldfaced:

• A Letter from the Director
• Ballot drop boxes and accessible voting centers
• Voter information
• Reading your voters’ pamphlet
• City of Renton Proposition No. 1
• King County Rural Library District, Proposition No. 1
• Seattle School District No. 1, Proposition No. 1
• Seattle School District No. 1, Proposition No. 2
• Federal Way School District No. 210, Proposition No. 1
• Vashon Island School District No. 402, Proposition No. 1
• Tukwila School District No. 406, Proposition No. 1

Election Day is Tuesday, Feb. 9th.

The Seattle band Sonando will be grooving their jazzy latin rhythms live at Dottie Harper Park this Sat. Sun. Aug. 10th, from 4-6pm, for FREE!

Here’s a bio from their website:

Sonando was founded in 1990 by Fred Hoadley and Lary Barilleau to explore new directions in the blending of Afro-Cuban rhythms and Jazz.

For over a decade, Sonando has performed original Latin Jazz at festivals, clubs & concerts throughout the Northwest.

Our first two recordings, Sonando (1995) & La Rumba Esta Buena (1998), received airplay and critical acclaim throughout the country. Our third, Sonando Tres, was released May 16, 2006 on the Origin Arts label, and is currently being aired around the country.

Sonando‘s repertoire includes traditional & modern interpretations of Afro-Cuban styles such as Son, Changui, Bata & Rumba, as well as our signature Latin Jazz. We perform on folkloric instruments such as bata, marimbula, tres, congas, & shekere, as well as modern jazz instruments including flute, sax, trombone, piano, bass, & drumset.

And here’s a taste of what kind of music to expect (for fun, after listening to each song on its own, try playing them all at once!):

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For those who missed it, here is a the full MP3 Podcast of the Monday “Placeblogging” edition of KUOW’s “Weekday” where we were a call-in guest (our short blabbering comments can be heard around minutes 38:02 and 47:45:

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Tomorrow at 10am, the gates open for the Burien Strawberry Festival (where we’ll have a booth so be sure to drop by and say hi), and here’s another sneak peek at something (or someone) a bit different you might see there:

Say hello to the “Trash Apes”, who will be strolling around the Fest, picking up (you guessed it…) trash.

In ape suits.

I guess you could call it “Helpful Gorilla Performance Art”?

Full Strawberry Festival schedule is here.

Only two more days until this weekend’s Burien Strawberry Festival (where we’ll have a booth so be sure to drop by and say hi), and here’s another sneak peek music sample of a featured band.

Today’s band is Amber Tide, who play the Kids Stage at 1:30pm Saturday June 28th, and describe themselves as:

Soaring vocals, 12 string jazz, upbeat blues, wild stories, rowdy harmonica, folk gospel, solo trombone, soulful ballads, the relentless bando-fluke, awful jokes, mariachi swing, the world’s smallest trap set and thirty years of wedded bliss.

Today’s track is “Cheek to Cheek,” a classic old swingin’ and scattin’ song:

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Full Strawberry Festival schedule is here.

Only three more days until this weekend’s Burien Strawberry Festival (where we’ll have a booth so be sure to drop by and say hi), and here’s another sneak peek music sample of a featured band.

Today’s featured band is Mariachi Fiesta Mexicana, who will be strolling through the Festival playing their authentico Mexican mariachi music (and tell me, who doesn’t love a live mariachi band?); here’s a sample video:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Full Strawberry Festival schedule is here.

Only four more days until this weekend’s Burien Strawberry Festival (where we’ll have a booth so be sure to drop by and say hi), and here’s another sneak peek music sample of a featured band.

Today’s track is “Slowdown (The 12th St. Blues)” by the Staxx Brothers, who play the Main Stage at 2:45pm Sunday June 29th, and are described as:

A Blind Black Rapper, a ½ Puerto Rican Jagger, and Gypsy-walk out of a bar with one of the seminal Rock & Roll Records of the past decade. Backed by Seattle Jazz & Rock heavyweights Joe Doria, Dave Carter, Andy Coe and RL Heyer, The Staxx Brothers have created a living document that uncovers Seattle’s lost identity as an urban crossroad for classic R & B, Hip Hop and Hard ASS Soul.

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Full Strawberry Festival schedule is here.

In order to help all our B-Town area neighbors decide on what to do and see at this coming weekend’s Burien Strawberry Festival (where we’ll have a booth so be sure to drop by and say hi) we will be releasing one sneak peek music or video track per day leading up to it.

Today’s track is “Johnny Can’t Dance” by Captain Leroy and the Zydeco Locals, who will be on the Main Stage on Sturday June 28th  at 4:30pm:

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Full Strawberry Festival schedule is here.

Less than a week to go until the Burien Strawberry Festival (where we’ll have a booth so be sure to drop by and say hi), and here’s a sneak peek music sample of a featured band.

Today’s featured band is Caela and the Dangerous Flares, an all-woman R&B Seattle band that specializes in sultry R&B vocals, and have been described as:

From the sultry pipes of their lead vocalist, Caela, to the smooth harmonics and seductive looks of the fiery babes, you will be smitten. The exciting singing and dancing of Caela and her backup singers has thrilled and entertained…rhythm and blues meets comedy/Varietè.

They will play the Main Stage next Sunday June 29th at 4pm, and for a taste of their music, listen to this track, called “I Couldn’t Be Rude”:

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Full Strawberry Festival schedule is here.