West Seattle Blog…

West Seattle Saturday: ‘Super String’ event; School of Rock grand opening; Fauntleroy chili cookoff; more!

Thanks to Long Bach Nguyen for two more awesome photos of the beauty that rolled in along with Friday’s fog (above and a few paragraphs below). Now on to what’s up for today/tonight:

BENEFIT HAIRCUTS: Final Saturday for Delridge Community Center-benefit haircuts – look for the Airstream on the southeast side of DCC, with Rudy’s Barbershop stylists, 8:30 am-3:30 pm. (4501 Delridge Way SW)

GIVE A LIFE-SAVING GIFT: If you can donate blood, Westwood Village is hosting the Bloodmobile today, 9:30-noon and 1-3:30 pm, walk-up donors welcome, details here. (2600 SW Barton)

SUPER STRING SATURDAY! The Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra-presented event, 10 am-1 pm, includes a mini-concert by the SYSO and more, plus West Seattle Community Orchestras say they’ll be on hand with their “instrument petting zoo” 9:30 am-11:30 am. It’s all happening at Chief Sealth International High School. (2600 SW Thistle)

NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS FOR CSO PROJECTS: 10:30 am-noon at SE corner of Delridge/Orchard, 1-2:30 pm on the west side of Barton Place/Henderson, neighbors are invited to come learn about the Seattle Public Utilities combined-sewer-overflow projects that are scheduled to get going soon – more (including maps) in our preview.

SCHOOL OF ROCK-WEST SEATTLE – GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION! 1-6 pm today, check out the brand-new School of Rock-West Seattle (WSB sponsor). Live music, door prizes, food truck selling gourmet grilled-cheese sandwiches, registration deals – here’s the schedule. (4701 41st SW)

Then, as the evening continues…

FAUNTLEROY CHILI COOKOFF: 6 pm, chili and cornbread at Fauntleroy UCC Church – $7 gets you food and votes, to help decide whose chili wins! Meat and vegetarian options. (9140 California SW)

TOE TAG @ EASY STREET: 7 pm, longtime Northwest punk-rockers (including a well-known food dude) celebrate a new record release (“Hide the Knives”) with a live show in-store at Easy Street Records, free.

WESLEY WOO @ C & P: 7-9 pm, award-winning musician live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) with roots in Motown, blues, alt-rock, free. (5612 California SW)

MORE MUSIC, PLUS THEATER, AND … see for yourself on the calendar.

Friday night basketball, report #2: West Seattle HS hosts Garfield

At West Seattle High School on Friday night, the Wildcats played host to the Bulldogs. First, the girls-varsity team with yet another win:

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
That’s junior Lexi Ioane, who led with 18 points and 10 rebounds in WSHS’s 55-39 win over Garfield. Senior Emily Fiso was next with 15 points:

Junior Gabby Sarver, who led in assists with 6, was third in scoring, at 8 points:

In the nightcap, the boys-varsity team lost to Garfield, 82-58. Sophomore Nate Pryor topped the Wildcats’ scoring with 20:

Senior Andre Moore was next with 18:

The regular season wraps up with home games next Friday against Franklin – girls varsity at 6:30, boys at 8.

P.S. A “Blue Friday” sighting among the band:

Friday night basketball, report #1: Chief Sealth hosts Roosevelt

Another busy Friday night of home games around the peninsula. First, at Chief Sealth International High School:

We caught up with the cheer squad for the first time in a while. They rallied the crowd through a nailbiter in the nightcap, as the Sealth boys-varsity team beat Roosevelt, coming back for a 54-51 victory, after being down 29-22 at halftime. Top scorer: Senior Ahmed Mohamed with 14, followed by Alloney Burris, also a senior, with 12.

Earlier, in the girls-varsity game:

That’s junior Allison Hadaway, who led scoring with 18 points, half the Seahawks’ total as they fell to the Rough Riders, 56-36.

The regular season ends next Friday night with Sealth hosting Eastside Catholic – girls varsity at 6:30, boys at 8.

‘How do I get to ‘yes’?’ prospective Alki Homestead purchaser asks Landmarks Board committee at first review

(2012 WSB photo of Alki Homestead, with part of parking lot visible at left)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

If you own a city landmark, what you do with it is subject to a set of rules that can delve into details as minute as window trim.

And you usually have to go before the city Landmarks Preservation Board to get approval before renovations/changes. If they’re significant enough, before you ever get to the full board, you’ll need to deal first with a subset of the board, its Architectural Review Committee.

This morning on the 40th floor of the city Municipal Tower downtown, that committee met with someone who isn’t even a landmark owner yet: Prospective Alki Homestead (Fir Lodge) purchaser Dennis Schilling, who, as reported here earlier this week, has to decide soon whether to go ahead with a deal to buy the 111-year-old log structure, vacant since an electrical fire six years ago. He made it clear he is seeking reassurance that he won’t be buying himself a long-drawn-out process; toward the end of the discussion, he asked flat out, “How do I get to ‘yes’?”

He didn’t get a specific answer on that, but he did get positive feedback on the part of the proposal that had to be evaluated first:

Click to read the rest of ‘How do I get to ‘yes’?’ prospective Alki Homestead purchaser asks Landmarks Board committee at first review…

West Seattle sunset scenes: Foggy Friday’s finale

Sunset splendor tonight, with the fog. Thanks for sharing photos! This one’s from Jeff:

From Cam:

From Mike, looking toward West Seattle from downtown:

And from Clay:

More fog in the forecast for tomorrow – but it’s expected to accompany clouds, no sun sightings, with rain to follow on Super Bowl Sunday.

Highway 99 tunnel: Repair-pit digging’s done, says WSDOT

(At 3:39, WSDOT’s video shows excavation on its final day, today)
Just in from WSDOT, the latest Highway 99 tunnel news: The pit being dug to lift out the tunneling machine’s damaged cutterhead has reached the desired depth, 120 feet.

… Approximately 20,000 cubic yards of material was removed from the ground over the course of excavation, which began in mid-October. With excavation complete, crews can begin construction of the concrete cradle at the bottom of the pit. The cradle will support the machine after it moves through the pit’s southern wall, which is about 20 feet thick.

STP plans to tunnel through the concrete wall. The length of time it takes Bertha to reach the pit will depend largely on her ability to mine through and digest the concrete. If she’s unable to mine through the wall, STP will create an opening from within the pit to give her an unobstructed path forward. Once inside the pit, crews will use the massive red gantry crane … to hoist the front end of the machine to the surface for repairs.

Today’s update also says, “Settlement levels near the pit remain stable.”

(WSDOT photo)
Meantime, for more info on that giant crane – which you’ve likely noticed right next to the Viaduct downtown – check out Seattle Times (WSB partner) transportation reporter Mike Lindblom‘s story from two weeks ago.

About the police/fire response at California/Admiral

(WSB photo)
Lot of questions came in about a police/fire response at California/Admiral a little while ago. We got there as it was breaking up, and here’s what police told us: They were called about a man who was yelling unintelligibly. But he didn’t commit a crime, and wasn’t in need of medical attention, so they all wound up leaving, as did he.

See where encampments might be allowed in West Seattle under mayor’s new proposal

The recent “One Night Count” showed 2,800 people sleeping on the streets of Seattle. City leaders agree there has to be someplace for them to go, and Mayor Murray is pursuing a proposal to allow more encampments. Under the zoning-related rules in his proposed ordinance, they could be allowed in The Junction, at Westwood Village, even, ironically, on the site long home to the encampment calling itself “Nickelsville” until the city evicted its residents more than a year ago. The agenda made public today for a City Council committee meeting next week includes the map you see above, showing the areas of the city where Mayor Murray’s new proposed policy would allow up to 3 “transitional encampments” at any one time. Click the image to see the full PDF version, which you can use to zoom all the way in to specific streets and blocks. It’s in essence a zoning map, as the gist of his proposal is to allow them in “Industrial, NC2, NC3, Commercial (C),Downtown (except DMR, PSM and IDR), and Seattle Mixed Zones.” But this wouldn’t just mean someone can show up, set up a tent and start an encampment – there are a variety of other rules in the proposal, about how they would be managed, how close encampments could be to each other, and more – see documents here and here. While those documents are for a briefing at 2 pm next Tuesday during a meeting of the Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee, the committee’s public hearing isn’t scheduled until 5:30 pm February 26th – here’s the official notice. P.S. Here’s the list of currently authorized encampments in Seattle.

Rallying ’round: 2nd annual pre-Super Bowl Delridge/Andover flag-raising

The actual raising of the 1,500-square-foot “12″ flag at Delridge/Andover was only one of the attractions during today’s midday rally, second year in a row, co-presented by two companies with their corporate headquarters in West Seattle’s biggest office building, Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) and Bartell Drugs. The crowd yielded sights such as the 12th Dude:

The 12th Buzzcut:

And of course, many variations of Skittles:

The flag made its debut last year, just before the Seahawks’ first Super Bowl win. Here’s hoping it’s a 1,500-square-foot good-luck charm helping them “Re-Pete.”

West Seattle Blue Friday: South Seattle College says ‘Go, Hawks!’

Here’s the photo op we mentioned earlier – South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) students and staff gathered this morning to show their Seahawk-fan spirit! That’s our photo above; the college says its own “official” version will be on the SSC Facebook page later this afternoon. While there, our photographer put 2-year-old Mia on the WSB Instagram feed:

ADDED 2:26 PM: More photos:

We’re continuing to collect West Seattle Seahawk-spirit notes – including where to watch on Sunday – here.

West Seattle Super Bowl spirit: State ferries’ Seahawk names

(M/V Tillikum with Seahawks-fan flags in September 2013; photo by Paul Brannan)
Just like last year, Washington State Ferries is giving its vessels honorary temporary names on Sunday, as a show of support for the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. Here are the three that sail out of Fauntleroy:

M/V Issaquah: “M/V Russell Okung”
M/V Tillikum: “M/V Kevin Williams”
M/V Evergreen State: “M/V Byron Maxwell”

Same names as last year except for the Tillikum; see this year’s full system-wide list here.

West Seattle Chamber of Commerce: 2014 review, 2015 vision

It was time for the changing of the guard at the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s annual meeting Thursday at The Sanctuary at Admiral – in our top photo, with Chamber CEO Lynn Dennis (center) are outgoing board chair Nancy Woodland of WestSide Baby and incoming board chair Hamilton Gardiner of Holmquist & Gardiner, PLLC. 2014 achievements reviewed at the meeting include a 10 percent increase in membership, to 165; more than 20 events presented, including lunch meetings featuring topics from business strategy to transportation issues (with guests from Metro, Sound Transit, and the Port of Seattle) to networking; and even a community cleanup, in the Walking on Logs area alongside the southwest side of the West Seattle Bridge. After lunch, attendees brainstormed for the year ahead:

Chamber leaders say members have made it clear that business networking and mutual support is the major reason they join and participate, so that’ll be an increasing focus for 2015. If you’re a local business owner/supporter and interested in membership, find info – and the schedule for upcoming Chamber events, including the monthly “After Hours” mixers at local businesses – at wschamber.com.

P.S. Other Chamber board officers for 2015 are vice chair Elizabeth Pluhta from South Seattle College (WSB sponsor); treasurer Ryan Letson from Jackson, Morgan & Hunt, PLLC (WSB sponsor); and recording secretary Paul Prentice from Prentice Design.

West Seattle whale-watching: Orcas headed this way

11:07 AM: Thanks to Trileigh for sounding the alert that Orca Network tipsters are reporting orcas headed north in Colvos Passage on the west side of Vashon – which means they might be visible from here at some point soon. The fog is of course complicating things, and even without fog, the whales might stay along the western shore of the sound, but we wanted to make sure you knew.

2:11 PM: The whales have gone into Rich Passage, which leads to Bremerton, as of the newest comments on the same Orca Network post we’ve linked above.

West Seattle Friday: Seahawks spirit; theater; music; sports; more!

(Foggy view from Alki Beach this morning – photo by Don Brubeck)
It’s not ALL about the Super Bowl countdown today/tonight – but close! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FULL SEAHAWK-SPIRIT LINEUP: See our full list of West Seattle events/notes, covering today through Sunday, published last night.

SPEAKING OF SPORTS – WSLL DEADLINE: West Seattle Little League reminds you to sign up by today to avoid a late-registration fee – details are in our previous report.

GIVE A LIFE-SAVING GIFT: If you can donate blood, consider stopping by the Bloodmobile at PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor), 10 am-noon and 1 pm-4 pm today. (California/Stevens)

‘THE BEATLES AND ME ON TOUR’: 7 pm at Easy Street Records in The Junction, meet author Ivor Davis as he signs his new book about covering The Beatles during their first US tour. (California/Alaska)

SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE 12TH FAN PIC: 11:15 am, students/faculty/staff/etc. at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) are invited to be part of a big “Go, Hawks!” photo outside the library. (6000 16th SW)

12TH FLAG RALLY: Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) and Bartell Drugs present the second annual pre-Super Bowl rally at their corporate HQ in West Seattle, 11 am- 1 pm, with the 1,500-square-foot “12th flag” scheduled to go up at 12:12 pm. (Delridge/Andover)

DAVE HOLO TRIO: 5 pm, live music at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor). (1936 Harbor SW)

HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Big slate of home games again tonight – girls’ and boys’ varsity, for both West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth International High School. WSHS hosts Garfield; CSIHS hosts Roosevelt. Identical schedules at both gyms – girls’ junior varsity at 3:30, boys’ JV at 5, girls’ varsity at 6:30, boys’ varsity at 8.

BOBCAT BOB: C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) features a fave tonight, 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

’4000 MILES’: 7:30 pm, the Pulitzer-nominated dramatic comedy directed by Mathew Wright is onstage at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) – tickets available here. (4711 California SW)

BLUES AT KENYON HALL: Johnson, Miller, and Dermody, 7:30 pm at historic Kenyon Hall. (7904 35th SW)

CHRISTINA SHINKLE AND FRIENDS: 7:30 pm, live music at Admiral Bird. (California/Admiral)

WEST COAST BUMP BAND: Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) presents this danceable band and its Motown-and-more grooves, kicking off a BIG party weekend. (6451 California SW)

THE SLAGS: Local favorites, rocking the Poggie Tavern tonight, 9 pm. (4717 California SW)

AS USUAL, THERE’S MORE … so we invite you to browse the full calendar, for today/tonight and beyond.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Updates for a foggy Friday

(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:03 AM: Traffic’s OK so far, according to every place we’ve been watching, but fog is a factor, as you can see on the cameras right now. One more reminder – no classes at Seattle Public Schools today for the “day between semesters.”

7:46 AM: We’re heading for the bridge because of a story downtown. On Fauntleroy Way, the fog shows up just north of Morgan Junction. (minutes later) Fog’s still thick, heading onto the bridge, where the daily backup isn’t starting until just past the Admiral/Avalon onramp.

7:54 AM: Even the 4th Avenue offramp is all but empty.

West Seattle Super Bowl spirit: What’s up, now through The Game

(12th fish! Fauntleroy Schoolhouse shared the photo taken out front)
Miscellaneous West Seattle Super Bowl spirit – some of which we’ve mentioned before, some of which we hadn’t, but it’s time now to collect it all in one place and just add to it if more comes in before the game:

FRIDAY

BIG PICTURE: South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) is taking an all-campus photo at 11:15 am Friday, outside the library, by the statue. If you have any involvement with the college, be there, in gear (or at least in blue and/or green)!

12TH FLAG RALLY: As previewed here earlier this week, the official pre-Super Bowl raising of the 1,500-square-foot “12″ flag at Delridge/Andover is set for 12:12 pm Friday, during an 11 am-1 pm rally.

PARTY SUPPLIES? Alki Party Treasures (WSB sponsor) is offering a 10 percent discount and next-day delivery on football-themed items for your party – as long as you order by 11 am Friday. Use the code SUPERBOWL.

FREE TEMP TATTOOS: West Coast Entertainment in The Admiral District continues giving away Skittles to West Seattle Segway tour-takers this week, and on Friday you can stop by WCE HQ (2705 California SW) 9 am-5 pm for “your FREE Seahawks airbrush tattoos. There will even be FREE popcorn while you wait!”

HOMESTREET BANK (WSB sponsor) 11:02 am update – now out of piggy banks!

SUNDAY AND SOONER

MARINATION MA KAI: This WSB sponsor is closing early on Sunday, 3 pm. But you can order food for your party, and more:

Spicy Garlic Chicken Wings! (Only available Feb. 1st) $12 gets you 12 chicken wings and a pretty tasty bite for during the big game!!! Wings can be pre-ordered by calling 206-328-8226 any time this week.

12th Man Taco or Slider packs! Get 12 tacos or sliders for only $30 bucks, walk-in only.

*Lastly, we are offering a 12% food discount to those wearing Seahawk gear all week long! Go Hawks!*

At Seacrest Pier. (1660 Harbor SW)

HOTWIRE ONLINE COFFEEHOUSE: This WSB sponsor is closing at 3 pm on Sunday and serving up a menu including special Seahawk-themed drinks in the meantime. (4410 California SW)

‘UNITED IN BLUE’ FOOD DRIVE: Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) continues collecting food as part of a coast-to-coast challenge vs. New England churches – here’s how to donate. (3940 41st SW)

‘SOUPER BOWL’ FOOD DRIVE: Peace Lutheran Church in Gatewood will take your dropoffs at the Thistle St. doors any time through Sunday, or inside the church at 8:30 am-1 pm on Game Day:

The church is at 39th/Thistle.

(added) AGAIN AND AGAIN KIDS’ CONSIGNMENT: Sale until kickoff – at least 12 percent off. (4832 California SW)

SUNDAY

HARRY’S CHICKEN JOINT: This WSB sponsor is open 11 am-3 pm on Super Bowl Sunday. (6032 California SW)

*HIGHLAND PARK IMPROVEMENT CLUB: All-ages potluck tailgating; doors open 2 pm. (12th/Holden)

FEEDBACK LOUNGE (WSB sponsor): Click through to their website to see both versions of their Seahawks/Super Bowl poster, including the one NOT involving the colors blue and/or green. Open 11:30 am on Sundays, Super Bowl and otherwise.

PEEL AND PRESS: From proprietor Dan, “We will be opening on Sunday and having a Seahawks viewing party starting at 1 pm and going until 8 pm. We will have a menu limited to pizza and appetizers for the day but will have full bar, take-out and growler fills available during those times.” (6503 California SW)

SKYLARK CAFE: “We’ll be showing the game on all 3 screens, including our giant 112″ screen above the stage. Brunch service is from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., then we switch to the dinner menu for gametime!” No reservations so get there early. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

SUPER BOWL PIZZA: Zeeks Pizza (WSB sponsor) opens at 11 am as usual. Pagliacci starts delivery at 2.

(added) SUPER BOWL AT THE BRIDGE: Via e-mail, “We are so excited to be a part of this crazy energy for the second year in a row!! For Super Bowl we are opening up at 9 am, offering brunch from 9 am-2 pm and selling Bridge Super Bowl T-shirts for $12, includes a Bridge glass and Skittles. Available while they last.” (California/Graham)

ADMIRAL BIRD: First coffee shop we’ve heard to be hosting a Super Bowl party. (California/Admiral)

TRINITY WEST SEATTLE: First church we’ve heard to be hosting a Super Bowl party, as announced: “… with three huge HD screens and a pretty epic sound system. Last year we had a great turnout from our neighborhood and wanted to open it up for folks that might not have a party to attend or place to watch the big game. We’ll have food and drinks around 2:30 and kickoff is at 3:30 this Sunday.” (35th/Ida)

SUNDAY ALTERNATIVE – FAMILY SWIM: From Southwest Pool, “Not a football fan? Bring your family to a specially priced Family Swim for only $2 per person. Children must be accompanied into the water by an adult.” 2-3 pm. (2801 SW Thistle)

P.S. Thanks to the tipster who shared this link – KING 5 went to Providence St. Joseph’s to talk with the “12th Nuns.”

P.P.S. Anything to add? editor@westseattleblog.com – ASAP – thanks! Go, Hawks!

About the helicopter in Lincoln Park/Morgan Junction area

Thanks for the texts/other messages about Guardian One circling for a few minutes in the north Lincoln Park/Morgan Junction area a short time ago. Mystery to us until G-1 tweeted:

They’ve since moved on.

West Seattle coyotes: 2 more Upper Morgan/Gatewood sightings

Don’t know if it’s the same coyote, but two people reported sightings in the same general area of Gatewood/Upper Morgan (map) this afternoon. The photo is from John, who e-mailed to say: “Just took this pic this afternoon on Willow, between 39th and 38th. I was walking my dog and this coyote ran out in front of us, crossing the street into the backyard in the alley.” We also got a phone call from someone who reported seeing a coyote on SW Frontenac between 39th and 40th, headed east, around 4 pm. Our most recent round of sighting reports was Gatewood-centric, too. Remember that as advised by wildlife experts, best thing to do if you see one is to try your hardest to scare it away.

Update: Fire response in 1500 block Alki

(WSB photo)
6:15 PM: Seattle Fire is arriving at a 6-story apartment building in the 1500 block of Alki to check out a possible fire. More to come.

6:21 PM: Not a full-blown fire; some SFD units have already been dismissed.

6:30 PM: SFD tells us at the scene, just a fireplace fire gone a bit out of control with smoke and embers. Everyone’s OK and this is wrapping up.

Update: Driver hurt after car-flip crash in Morgan Junction

(Photo courtesy Edgar Riebe)
4:03 PM: On SW Morgan between 41st and 42nd, just east of West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), police and fire are dealing with the flipped car you see above. Thanks to everybody who’s texted, called, sent photos. Metro says Route 128 is re-routed as a result – use the stop on Morgan east of 38th. More to come.

(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
4:09 PM: Added another photo. Our crew at the scene tells us the driver of the flipped car was taken to the hospital; she hit a parked car that’s also seriously damaged.

Tow crews are at the scene now.

4:46 PM: The road is open again – Metro just texted that Route 128 is back to normal routing.

Fire stations on the move: Updates on interim sites for 29, 32

Updates on two West Seattle fire stations that will soon be on the move, temporarily:

INTERIM ADMIRAL FIRE STATION 29: Fencing went up today at the SDOT-owned triangle that will house Station 29 while its permanent home a block away is undergoing renovations and upgrades. This is the site where neighbors didn’t find out until the last minute that the planned site had changed. After more than a week of concerns, they had a meeting two Saturdays ago, organized by Councilmember Tom Rasmussen:

(January 17th photo courtesy Ted Johnson)
Neighbors’ safety concerns weren’t fully resolved – they’re still worried about blindspots on 44th, especially at SW Hill and Ferry, even with the city saying that parking won’t be allowed on the east side of 44th. That’s another impact that concerns them, as they’ve been told 12 street parking spots will be removed around the site, in all. Regarding the trees, they were given permission for a neighbor to rescue one of the existing trees, a gingko, and they have been promised tree restoration once the interim fire station is gone. Neighbors did not get a commitment for street improvements post-fire station but vow to keep pressing the point and hope to work with the Admiral Neighborhood Association on that. As for what’s next at the site, just as we were finishing this story, we heard back from Julie Moore at the city:

We had been waiting for a signed work order from the contractor, the street use permit from SDOT and for SPU to move its water testing equipment. All of that fell into place over last week and the beginning of this week. As such, some activity has begun, including installation of no-parking signs, the Honey Bucket, and temporary fencing. Over the coming weeks, additional work will occur, including grading of the site, preparation for utilities and ultimately delivery of the temporary trailer and assembly of the tent that will house the fire engine. Because preparation for and installation of the temporary facility involves various components that require the work of different trades and inspections, some of the work will be spaced out, so there may be days without visible activity.

Meantime, in The Junction:

INTERIM JUNCTION FIRE STATION 32: Temporary buildings are now in place on the 40th SW site between Alaska and Edmunds that will house Station 32 for more than a year; this site just north of the 4745 40th SW mixed-use development will eventually become a city park. The latest status report says construction is scheduled to start any day now at the 37th/Alaska home of Station 32, which will be torn down and replaced by a brand-new station on the same site.

4:43 PM UPDATE: For this one, Julie Moore from the city says, site work will actually start closer to late February, but crews will start to move out sooner: “The tentative move schedule shows the medics from FS 32 temporarily moving to FS 37 on Feb. 9, the other crews from FS 32 moving to temporary FS 32 at 4731 40th Ave. SW on Feb. 10, and the Battalion Chief from FS 29 moving to the temporary FS 32 on Feb. 17.”

West Seattle Crime Watch: Another student robbed; see the letter sent to families

(Delridge/Holden stairway where robbery is reported to have happened)
We had asked Seattle Police to confirm a report of another student robbery today. Now, we have details. Parents from Denny International Middle School are getting robocalls, and this has just appeared on SPD Blotter:

An armed robber pulled a gun on a teen and stole her backpack as she walked to school in West Seattle this morning.

The 13-year-old victim was walking down a staircase near 20th Avenue SW and SW Holden Street when a man approached her on the staircase, pulled out a gun, and told her to “give me everything you’ve got.”

The suspect patted the teen down looking for a cellphone and money. When he found neither, he snatched her backpack and fled. The teen walked the rest of the way to school and reported the incident. She described the suspect as a black male in his late 20s, muscular, wearing a purple bandana over his face, a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants. Officers searched near the scene of the robbery, but were unable to find the suspect or the victim’s bag.

Police are working with Seattle Public Schools officials to ensure the safety of students on their way to and from school. If you have any information about this case, please call 911.

This comes two weeks after the first in a recent string of West Seattle robberies, though police have said they haven’t found a connection between any of the cases except for the two in Admiral. The first one was January 15th near Myrtle Reservoir, in which a 14-year-old was robbed of his backpack while heading to a bus stop near 35th/Myrtle.

1:48 PM: Denny IMS principal Jeff Clark has sent us the letter that has gone out to Denny and Sealth families. Note that the location is described a bit differently, and this one is the same that we heard in a bit of police-radio discussion:

Dear Denny and Sealth Scholars and Families,

We want to share with you information right away regarding a crime that occurred in our community this morning.

At approximately 7:15am this morning an eighth-grade Denny scholar was walking down the staircase at Delridge Way SW and SW Holden St. When she arrived at the stair landing, an African American male who appeared to be in his late 20’s came into view. He pointed a gun at her, patted her down, robbed her, and then let her go. When the scholar arrived at school, she did the right thing by reporting this to school staff right away. Denny staff immediately notified the Seattle Police Department, who are actively investigating.

The safety of our scholars is our top priority. After school today and before and after school on Monday, the Police, Seattle Public Schools Safety and Security, and school staff will be in that area.

You can help your children stay safe by talking to them about personal safety. Tips to discuss are:
• walking in pairs or groups and being aware of their surroundings at all times
• report anything suspicious to a trusted adult (school staff and family member)

More tips and information can be found on the Seattle Police Department website: seattle.gov/police/prevention/child/default.htm.

The letter is signed by Denny principal Clark and Sealth principal Aida Fraser-Hammer. We have more safety information in our report on this week’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting, at which police talked about the robberies as well as how to best try to protect yourself.

P.S. Reminder that Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole is coming to West Seattle next Tuesday for her first “community conversation” here, 7 pm February 3rd at the SW Precinct (Webster/Delridge, just a block from where today’s robbery happened).

FRIDAY MORNING NOTE: We checked with precinct leadership and they don’t know yet if this one was connected to any of the others. Capt. Steve Wilske did say in a note to neighborhood-council leaders, “We will be focusing a significant number of on duty and off duty resources toward this issue starting Monday morning, and for the foreseeable future until we either make some arrests or see the incidents stop.”

Former ArtsWest artistic director Christopher Zinovitch dies at 43

(April 2013 WSB photo by Nick Adams)
A Facebook post by ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery (WSB sponsor) confirms what we had just heard from a reader via e-mail: Former ArtsWest artistic director Christopher Zinovitch has died at just 43 years old. According to ArtsWest, “a short battle with cancer” took Mr. Zinovitch’s life. He left AW in summer 2013, after a year and a half as artistic director, following a decade in other roles with the organization, which remembers him today by saying that “during that time, we were blessed with an incredible body of work that he brought to our stage, his unrelenting passion for hard work and theater, and for the many lives he touched as he nurtured new artists.” Mr. Zinovitch had most recently been working as artistic director of Dakota Stage Ltd. in Bismarck, North Dakota. No memorial information yet but we’ll add it if/when we get it.

West Seattle High School girls’ basketball wins again

The West Seattle High School girls-varsity basketball continues to be one of the top teams in the state, 14-2 after winning again last night, though head varsity coach Sonya Elliott reports it was close:

We beat Bishop Blanchet 51-48. It was a battle. We were up by 3 going into the half and then came out of the locker room blazing, ending third quarter up by 11. Blanchet fought back in the fourth and we pulled off the 51-48 victory. Scoring: Lydia Giomi 13, Lexi Ioane 10, Emily Fiso 10, Charli Elliott 9, Gabby Sarver 9. We play Garfield at West Seattle High School this Friday, January 30th, in a Quad game with the boys:

High School Basketball – West Seattle vs Garfield @ WSHS tomorrow:
3:30 – JV Girls
5:00 – JV Boys
6:30 – Varsity Girls
8:00 – Varsity Boys

The WSHS gym is right off the south end of the school’s parking lot at 3000 California SW.

West Seattle Thursday: School open houses; Whale Trail volunteering; poker @ Feedback….

Thanks to Gary Jones for the series of bald-eagle photos (mature and juvenile) from Alki (taken in this past Monday’s sunshine) – we’re mingling them with highlights for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 1:30-3 pm, Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School‘s having an open house for prospective parents. (20th/Roxbury)

KINDERGARTEN TOURS AT LAFAYETTE: If you don’t have a reservation, call fast! 1:45 pm today. RSVP info’s in our listing. (California/Lander)

VOLUNTEER NIGHT FOR THE WHALE TRAIL: 6:30 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), come see what you can do to help, in the weeks and months ahead – details here. (5612 California SW)

SEATTLE LUTHERAN HS OPEN HOUSE: 7 pm tonight, visit Seattle Lutheran High School (WSB sponsor) and find out what J-Term is all about, among other things. Here’s our preview. (41st/Genesee)

CARD NIGHT: 7 pm (signups earlier), 2nd week for Seattle Poker Open (must be a member or buy a pass) at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction – details in our listing. (6451 California SW)

ALL OF THE ABOVE IS JUST THE BEGINNING … options and opportunities for tonight, tomorrow, and beyond, are browsable right now on our calendar.

@ West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network: Taking care of 35th/Morgan; personal-safety advice you can use anywhere…

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Lessons on staying safe and updates on crime/safety concerns were offered at the first West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting of the year on Tuesday night.

More than two dozen people were at the meeting, not counting WSBWCN leaders Deb Greer and Karen Berge and four Seattle Police reps including precinct commander Capt. Steve Wilske, Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon, and Community Police Team Officers Jon Flores and Erin Nicholson.

Click to read the rest of @ West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network: Taking care of 35th/Morgan; personal-safety advice you can use anywhere……

Seattle Lutheran High School: Open House tonight @ new sponsor

We’re welcoming Seattle Lutheran High School as a new WSB sponsor, and sharing their invitation for families to visit the school during its Open House tonight at 7 pm. SLHS executive director Dave Meyer says they’ll be highlighting a unique feature of Seattle Lutheran’s curriculum:

The J-Term Experience at Seattle Lutheran High School has transformed the learning experience. The environment is focused on students and their ability to build confidence, instill hope, develop integrity and find their passion. The January-term or J-term experience is one that allows all of these to come alive in the student leaders who attend Seattle Lutheran High School. The course selection and guest speakers bring education alive. We are a school of leaders, each young adult in our building is viewed as a leader. I am proud to guide them as we lead this transformation in the learning experience.

You’re invited to tonight’s Open House to learn more about J-Term, to see the students work, and to “hear more about the innovative approach to education offered right here in West Seattle at Seattle Lutheran High School.” The school is at 4100 SW Genesee just north of The Junction, and online at seattlelutheran.org.