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Redmond massage therapist found dead at Bellevue condo BY JOSH SUMAN and ANDY NYSTROM REPORTER NEWSPAPERS
Nataliya Vabishchevich, 35, was found dead in the entry way of her condominium in the 12700 block of Northeast 10th Place on Monday, and Bellevue Police say the death is a result of foul play. A co-worker who was concerned the victim did not show up for work or call in, arrived at her residence and found her dead in the entry way with the door left open, according to Bellevue Police public information officer Carla Iafrate. The call to 9-1-1 came in just before noon on Monday, but Iafrate said it was still uncertain when the woman died. Vabishchevich, a massage therapist at Eastside Life Chiropractic in Redmond
and Pure Chiropractic Center in Bellevue, was a native of Belarus and lived with her 10-year-old son. "She was the sweetest person you'd ever want to meet. She always had a smile on her face and always had something nice to say," said Dr. Eric Hansen, owner of the Redmond business where Vabishchevich worked two days a week for the last four years. She worked at the Bellevue business for two days a week, as well. Hansen added that Vabishchevich "literally had a following" of customers who were pleased with her massage work. According to the Eastside Life Chiropractic website, she was passionate about helping people achieve and maintain wellness through the art of massage. She was experienced in caring for all ages, from kids
to adults including top athletes, pregnant mothers and injury victims. The incident appears to be an isolated one, Iafrate said, with no immediate threat to the neighbors or the community. The road, which is located just off Northeast Eighth Street, is also home to a business park and Russian language school. Police have not released any further information about cause of death, but are asking anyone who witnessed or has any information regarding this incident to phone the tip line at 425-452-2564 or contact pdtipline@bellevuewa.gov.
Homeless Dave BY CELINA KAREIVA BELLEVUE REPORTER
At the beginning of the month, when he receives his disability check for $570, he indulges by driving a ways outside of the city to buy a campsite for a couple of days. CELINA KAREIVA, Bellevue Reporter been homeless and stationed outside BAM for many years, though he is quick to point out this hasn’t always been his life. “I worked for 27 years,” Dave proudly recalls. “This ain’t my life. I worked my butt off. I worked at the same company for 18 and a half years, and then started my own business, until I couldn’t do it anymore.” Dave now lives off a meager disabil-
ity check and the kindness of others. “I play my music and sports scores out here,” he says. “I try to give something back. If my batteries are dead, I have people who go out and bring me batteries. ‘We can’t have you without music,’ they say. ‘It ain’t right.’ The way I look at it, I’ve lasted longer than
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Fire causes extensive damage to popular restaurant
Man finds a life on a downtown street
“Have a great weekend, boss,” says Dave from his post outside the Bellevue Art Museum (BAM), nodding every time somebody passes the busy walkway. A sign reads “Homeless Anything Helps,” and then a line below, Angels v. Mariners, nine rows demarcated for each inning in Friday night’s game at Safeco Field. Dave’s radio blares with sports news. Dave is something of an iconic figure in downtown Bellevue. He knows the well-dressed businessmen, the sales people, shoppers and countless others who either work or live in the downtown corridor. If he doesn’t, he’ll wave anyway. By his own account, he’s lived on the Eastside much of his life and has
Two Bellevue Police officers talk near the entrance to a condominium development where a woman was found dead. JOSH
Josh Suman: 425-453-5045 jsuman@bellevuereporter.com Andy Nystrom: 425-867-0353 anystrom@redmond-reporter.com
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Fire crews from Bellevue, Mercer Island, and Eastside Fire & Rescue battled a kitchen fire June 13 at Lil' Jon restaurant in the Eastgate area. The fire, reported at 1:39 a.m., sent a visible column of black smoke from the roof of the restaurant, a longtime local eatery. The initial call came from a janitor on scene. A language barrier made it difficult for dispatchers to decipher the exact nature of the situation so a single engine company was sent to investigate. Upon their arrival five minutes later, the initial reporting fire officer, seeing heavy smoke and flames from the roof, upgraded the call to a full response. By the time the fire was deemed under control 30 minutes later, the entire kitchen was heavily damaged by smoke, fire and the water used to extinguish it. Firefighters began attacking the fire from inside the building, isolating the kitchen area. Fire continued up the hood and duct exhaust system. Two 1 3/4 inch hose lines were needed to mitigate the flame spread. Ladder companies provided needed ventilation for the interior operations to continue. A total of 40 fire personnel were utilized at the scene. The building, in the 3000 block of 148 Avenue Southeast, has been at the location for many years. It is a popular place known for its breakfasts and meeting areas for groups, families and friends. There is no estimate of when it can return to business operations due to the extensive kitchen damage.The final damage estimate will likely be approximately $475,000. There were no injuries from either fire crews or civilians.
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