day : 27/10/2010 13 results

Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Almost 100 people packed the clubhouse Wednesday night for the third community meeting about the West Seattle Golf Course’s future driving range, as the project team unveiled a refined design they say was developed in response to numerous “environmental concerns, golf concerns, and neighborhood concerns” raised in the previous two meetings.

According to project architect Todd Schroeder, the new design (pictured above, full PDF version here) boasts a 300-yard full-size “double-loaded” driving range with 50 stalls, and a short-game practice facility and learning center. To accommodate it, some changes would be necessary to the surrounding holes — #1 would get a new green (otherwise largely unchanged), #8 would be converted to a “mammoth par 5” (570+ yards in length at the white tees, playable up to 655 yards for special events), and an entirely new #9 would be constructed adjacent to Camp Long.

Schroeder noted that the new #9 hole would be a downhill par 3 with an “amazing view of downtown Seattle from the teebox,” and that the tops of the driving range’s tall net poles (previously considered to be a major community concern) would still be “below the grade” of 35th Ave SW even at their highest point (120 feet).

Reaction to the new proposal was mixed, with some audience members lauding the project team for a “fantastic job” and a “world-class design,” but many others saying the project “isn’t worth it” and “should just go away” primarily because it does include changes to the 70-year-old golf course. One attendee called the proposal a “bait-and-switch” because such changes to the holes themselves weren’t considered to be part of the original plan as envisioned in the city’s Golf Master Plan (which indicated that the #1 golf priority city-wide was a “high-quality driving range in West Seattle,” according to the project team.)

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West Seattle Halloween: Yet more pumpkins on parade

October 27, 2010 10:26 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Busy news night tonight, so we’ll just show two West Seattle jack-o-lanterns for you to admire – Karen shared the “friendly vampire” in the top photo – and this spider came in anonymously (is it yours?):

Browse our “Holidays” archive to see the pumpkins we’ve shown the past few nights; if you have one to show off, please share a photo – e-mail address (etc.) here! And if you’re looking for West Seattle Halloween activities, there are dozens in the next five (yes, even Nov. 1) days/nights – full list on the WSB Halloween page.

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West Seattle traffic alert: Overnight closure now under way

October 27, 2010 9:58 pm

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| Spokane St. Viaduct project | Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

The westbound Spokane Street Viaduct closure that SDOT announced days ago for tonight into tomorrow morning has kicked in a bit early, according to a Facebook note from Heather – she says the southbound I-5 exit to the West Seattle Bridge was blocked off as of 9:30. That exit and the entire stretch of the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct from I-5 to Highway 99 will be closed until about 5 am because of construction work (part of the SSV Widening Project).

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Family that lost 4 members in West Seattle shooting needs help

October 27, 2010 4:30 pm

| 67 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news

Just received from Cara Kroenke at Southwest Youth and Family Services, a little over one month after the quadruple murder-suicide in West Seattle:

I’d like to share with you an experience that I just had. At 11:00 this morning, I met with the surviving members of the family that was massacred in West Seattle. … To summarize, the grandmother of the Phan/Harm family, who lived through the genocidal Khmer Rouge attacks of Cambodia PTSD, went off of her medication that helped her deal with her PTSD and fatally shot five members of her family in West Seattle. Her youngest grandchild, Nivia, age 7, was home from school day with a 101 degree fever and witnessed the killings of her father, two sisters(one of whom was pregnant) and the shooting of her mother,Thyda. Grandmother then tried to shoot Nivia, but she ran out of bullets and while she was reloading, Nivia’s 17 year old brother, Kevin, grabbed Nivia and threw her out the window, he then fled himself. As this was happening, grandfather was coming home and heard the final shots as he opened the door, he saw the grandmother take her own life.

They were here at the agency today because they need help. They need counseling, community, love and financial support.

Please join me in contributing what you can; the family is in desperate need of $1800 to pay for the repairs that their landlord is charging them for the damages. Because most of their furniture was bloodstained, or worse, they need furniture and mattresses. The missed shots destroyed many household items as well, so glasses, pots, pillows, etc. would be greatly appreciated too.

The mother is still healing from her gunshot wounds and cannot work. The surviving family is in great need of emotional support, which they will receive from counselors at SWYFS, but they need the basics taken care of, including the $1800 debt, in order to start the healing process, so please if you can donate any money, do. If you would rather support the family with a Safeway or Albertson’s gift card, they greatly need money for food as well. Or, if you have any gently used household items, they would be appreciated as well.

The Phan/Harm family are currently living in temporary housing, but we are working with them to find permanent housing near the children’s schools.

I was able to spend time with Nivia today and we were able to talk about some of her favorite things; stuffed animals, Barbie, movies and books. She would very much like to read the The Magic Treehouse series and is going to be a cat for Halloween. I looked into her eyes and saw joy there; she is very resilient. She was even able to laugh a bit, but told me she can not sleep because she has nightmares; and wasn’t at school today because when she is able to sleep it is on the floor and that that is very uncomfortable and her mother wanted her to get her rest today.

Please keep her and her family in your prayers or thoughts.

Below is a link where you can make a donation. My goal is to raise/have pledges for the whole $1800 by end of day tomorrow. Please work with me so that this can happen for the family. Feel free to call me with questions, or come by the agency to drop off any donations. If you would like to send in a check, a gift card to the grocery store or a letter of encouragement/support, please mail it to:

SWYFS
Attention: Phan/Harm family support
4555 Delridge Way SW
Seattle, WA 98106
Many thanks for rallying with us for the Phan/Harm Family.
For your records, our tax ID # is:911-17862
Donate here link: http://swyfs.org/support_us/

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 vehicles to watch for, plus a car prowl

October 27, 2010 4:27 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports to share – two vehicle thefts from today (and a request to be on the lookout for the stolen vehicles), and a car prowl from earlier. The reports are after the jump:Read More

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West Seattle coyotes: A “surreal .. symphony of sound”

October 27, 2010 4:05 pm

| Comments Off on West Seattle coyotes: A “surreal .. symphony of sound”

| Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Usually, we hear about sightings. This one’s more like a hear-ing. From John and Joyce Loftus:

Last night at about 9:30 as my wife and I were getting home to our residence on Alki, we heard the unearthly sound of a pack of coyotes yipping and howling in unison in the greenbelt above our house — possible College Street Ravine. This is a symphony of sound that’s amazing to hear in a wilderness setting. It borders on the absolutely surreal when heard in the city. Of course, it heightens our concern for people’s pets.

As noted here over and over again, you can reduce the chance of coyote confrontations by reading and following the advice in this “coexisting with coyotes” info. And you can check out our archive of coyote sightings – some with photos – by going here.

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West Seattle school news: Congrats to Madison & Seattle Lutheran

October 27, 2010 3:10 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Two quick notes about good news from two West Seattle schools today: First, Madison Middle School has just learned that it’s been recognized as a School of Distinction for the third consecutive year – one of only 12 schools in the state to have achieved that; it honors an ongoing pattern of academic improvement. Second, Seattle Lutheran High School shares word that it was presented today with its official Notice of Accreditation by the National Lutheran School Accreditation Association and Northwest Association of Accredited Schools.

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Best of Western Washington: West Seattle winners rolling out

October 27, 2010 12:58 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

During weeks of voting, the KING 5 “Best of Western Washington“ contest was all the buzz … and this week they’re rolling out the winners. No list yet that we know of, since they’re parceling out some of the announcements on “Evening Magazine” this week – but they’ve featured a couple West Seattleites already – among them, about a minute and a half into the top video clip, you’ll find Morgan Junction’s own Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) celebrated for “Best Cocktails”! Next clip is all about West Seattle radio/Web personalitiies Marty Riemer and Jodi Brothers, who took 2nd place in “best radio” – even though they now broadcast from Marty’s basement, almost a year after getting the boot from their last full-time radio gig:

We have it on good authority there are at least a few more West Seattle/White Center winners yet to come – next edition of “Evening Magazine” is 7 pm tonight, Channel 5 (and the list should be on best.king5.com starting Friday).

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West Seattle bicycling: Admiral Way restriping; new bus racks

October 27, 2010 11:19 am

| 49 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

(Photo added 3:19 pm; SDOT crew at the top of the hill)
We’ve just heard from two people that the Admiral Way restriping (officially announced in early September) has begun. One of our area’s leading bicycle advocates, Stu Hennessey of Alki Bike and Board and Sustainable West Seattle, sends word, along with a suggestion:

The Admiral Way bike lane restriping has begun. The project will have partial lane closures in both directions from SW Olga St. to Avalon Pl. SW in both directions from Oct. 27th to Nov. 10th according to the no parking signs. This would be a great time to practice non-aggressive driving within the speed limit for the safety of the workers out there. … One bicycle “climbing lane” will be designated from the West Seattle Freeway offramp to Admiral and the Belvedere View Point. The right hand lane going downhill will have sharrows for bicycle designation. Hopefully we can convert that into a HOV, Bus and bicycle lane to keep the aggressive drivers from using the right lane to pass all the cooperative drivers and cut in at the bottom of the hill.

By the way, for bicyclists – Stu’s shop has been offering access to a bike rack that’s the same new style of bike rack you’ll find on Metro buses, so that bicyclists can practice with it if they decide to use the bus and haven’t tried it yet. While we stopped by his shop last week (as part of a TV story you might see tonight at 7 pm on channel 5, more on that later), Alki Bike and Board staffer “Apples” agreed to demonstrate it:

You can find the bike rack outside ABB at 2606 California SW. As for the Admiral Way restriping work, the official city project-info page is here. ADDED 1:16 PM: As M pointed out in comments, there’s a bit more advice about how to load the bus – and you can read the whole how-to on the Metro website (they have a non-embeddable video you can watch as well). And better yet, you can drop by Alki Bike and Board and practice in person.

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Bring back the graffiti officer, and other proposals from new group

October 27, 2010 10:03 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

A new citywide group has formed to try to get the city’s public-safety plans aligned with community priorities. The group is called Community Leaders for Public Safety, and one of its founding members, West Seattle’s Pete Spalding, shared its proposal with WSB. On the list – a strategy to fight graffiti vandalism, including bringing back the Seattle Police graffiti detective position.Here’s the full list of the CLPS priorities – remember, these are citywide, but many are certainly applicable to West Seattle:

Seattle Public Safety Initiative

Facilities
* Find a suitable alternative for Rainier Beach Community Center during the two-year closure, such as Rainier Beach High School, with a seamless transition to ensure continuity for critical programs.
* Fund the North Precinct facility. If existing building cannot be fixed, the precinct should move to a site like the Seattle School District facility on Wilson and Pacific. Parking for employees and the public must factor into the decision.
* Re-examine neighborhood substations and drop-in centers.

Community Policing
* Prioritize community policing in training programs and best police practices.
* Develop neighborhood engagement strategies so officers understand a place and its people. Reimplement Neighborhood Action Teams. Ensure that the City’s neighborhood plans reflect public safety principles, and that the City of Seattle honors the neighborhood plans.
* Fund current Crime Prevention Coordinator and Park Ranger programs, and re-examine using Community Safety Officers.

Community Programs
* Youth Initiatives: Build on current programs, with community-based advisory panels, emphasizing a long-term generational model. Support activities at playfields, schools, and community centers. Seek corporate funding and partnerships.
* Nightlife Initiative: Prioritize a socially responsible, vibrant nightlife, with clubs funding solutions to problems that originate in clubs.
* Public Alcoholism: Support successful models to house chronic street inebriates. Working with the Washington State Liquor Control Board, create an Alcohol Impact Area for Beacon Hill.
* Gangs and Graffiti: Implement a city-wide strategy to address gang-related crime, including prostitution, and a coordinated graffiti plan that reinstates the SPD graffiti detective.
* Social Services: Distribute facilities equitably throughout Seattle, with a moratorium on subsidized housing for neighborhoods that have reached capacity.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
* Apply CPTED principles in public playfields, parks, and other green spaces, and to DPD building permits, neighborhood zoning, and landscape decisions, and the Urban Forest Management Plan.
* Work with the Washington State Department of Transportation to incorporate CPTED principles into state road development and maintenance projects.

Cooperation
* Leverage existing assets and interagency taskforces to address specific issues, and establish a public safety adviser in the Mayor’s office to lead interagency coordination and policy development.
* Schedule SDOT projects to allow for public safety response and more efficient emergency access.
* Fund programs that use Washington State DOC work crews and Seattle Community Court and Pretrial Diversion service workers, to support street cleanups, environmental restoration, vacant lot mitigation, playfield safety, and graffiti removal.

Policy
* Enforce the no trespassing ordinance, nuisance housing ordinance, and encampment protocols.
* Ensure citizen oversight, a comment period for proposed policy changes, and public notice of meetings by committees working on public safety-related policies.
* Establish a quarterly meeting between the Mayor and Community Leaders for Public Safety

Spalding says many of the founding members are from Precinct Advisory Councils (he chairs the one for West Seattle’s Southwest Precinct) or crime-prevention groups. They’ve already sent this proposal to Mayor McGinn, CIty Council members, City Attorney Pete Holmes, and Police Chief John Diaz; the cover letter, which you can see here, summarizes, “We believe the return on investment in community programs – that address the needs of youth, that counter gangs and graffiti, that encourage service and safe housing for homeless people and others at risk – will make a sustainable difference in the quality of life for all Seattle residents.” We’ll keep you updated on where this goes from here.

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West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network: How/why to call 911

October 27, 2010 8:01 am

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| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

From last night’s meeting of the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network: Advice you can use even if you’re not a Block Watch captain – how and why to call 911. The advice came from an expert: Southwest Precinct Community Police Team Officer Jonathan Kiehn. His explanation included the best thing you can do once the dispatcher answers the phone. Read on:Read More

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West Seattle Wednesday: Traffic alert; schools; driving range; more

October 27, 2010 6:19 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Danny McMillin – recent Alki sunset, but reminded us of the promise of sunrise)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

TRAFFIC ALERT: Westbound Spokane Street Viaduct closed tonight, 10 pm-5 am.

EARLY DISMISSAL DAY FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Two hours early; here’s the district’s list of important dates with reminders on this and other upcoming schedule changes. P.S. One special activity today because of the early dismissal – High Point Library offers “Game On for Teens,” 3-5 pm.

SPEAKING OF SCHOOLS: West Seattle’s school board rep Steve Sundquist is at Delridge Library, 11 am-12:30 pm, for one of his periodic community chats; the West Seattle High School PTSA meets at 7 pm tonight in the school library.

MAJOR COMMUNITY MEETINGS TONIGHT: At the top of the list, community meeting #3 for the West Seattle Golf Course Driving Range. Meeting #1 (August report) proposed a site with so many drawbacks, it was scrapped by meeting #2 (September report), which stirred anger from some golfers because the new potential site might require changes to the current course. What will be proposed tonight? Be at the golf course clubhouse, 7 pm … Right before that meeting, the West Seattle Triangle Advisory Group of local community and business leaders meets at 5:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle – they’ll look at the “right-of-way design concepts” that project architects presented to the Seattle Design Commission 2 weeks ago … The agenda for Highland Park Action Committee‘s monthly meeting (7 pm, HP Improvement Club) includes a Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition rep (big news for the river lately, as we reported in coverage of the recent Sustainable West Seattle forum) and discussion of a possible new name for the group.

DIALOGUE ON PUBLIC TRUST: CityClub’s Community Matters Campaign comes to West Seattle for a discussion about public trust – what does it mean? why does it matter? 6:30 pm, Peace Lutheran Church (39th/Thistle). Register online here.

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From the police files: Blue-light special, and more

October 27, 2010 4:32 am

| 26 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth weekly installment of this new WSB feature – if you missed the explanation/introduction with which we prefaced the first one, you can see it here.

By Megan Sheppard
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:

*A Westwood-area resident had lots of rationales for why his black BMW had a set of blue lights on the top portion of windshield—lights that looked suspiciously like those that might be used in an undercover police car. (An officer had pulled the man over after seeing the lights activated.) The officer told him that although he was not writing a citation, he was writing a report with the driver’s name and license plate in case there are problems or cases of “mistaken identity” in the future.

*Early Friday, 911 operators received noise complaints about three vehicles loaded with people in the 4400 block of 26th SW. Four people in two vehicles were identified and released. In the third vehicle, two of the three people inside refused to identify themselves and became hostile with officers. It might be because the two were wanted on warrants: The driver was wanted on a $500 King County warrant for hit and run and was turned over to the custody of Renton police. His passenger had two warrants —$1,100 from Renton and $1,500 from Des Moines — for failure to appear on charges of driving with a suspended license. He was booked into King County Jail.

7 more reports ahead:Read More

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