West Seattle Crime Watch: Can you solve this hit-and-run?
“Concerned Neighbor” says a hit-run driver smacked into her car in the Admiral District last night, near California/Walker, leaving behind pieces like the one above. She’s telling her story in hopes you can help close the case:
I just wanted to write a note to share my unfortunate experience, I hope to maybe find the person who did this to me and hold them accountable for their actions and to make our neighborhood streets safer.
I’ve been a member of this community for nearly four years. I work at two local small businesses, and I own a small condo here. About eight months ago, I went to leave for work only to find that someone had attempted to steal my car, rendering it undrivable and valueless in the process. The car couldn’t be repaired and I couldn’t claim it on my insurance because due to numerous hit and run accidents over the years while my car was parked, I could no longer insure it for anything but liability. After a month of getting around without a vehicle, I withdrew my entire savings, secured a loan and purchased my first brand new car. A month later I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
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West Seattle Little League: 2012 registration about to begin
An early sign of spring! One week from tonight, it’s the first in-person registration session of the year for West Seattle Little League. 6-8:30 pm Thursday, January 12, at the West Seattle High School library. That’s also where you’ll find the second session, 6-8:30 pm Tuesday, January 24th. You’re asked to fill out the registration form ahead of time and bring it along; WSLL says you’ll find it online, here. What else to bring: A copy of the prospective player’s birth certificate; 3 proof-of-residence items (that same weblink will show you what qualifies); and registration-fee payment. This year’s fees are the same as last year, says WSLL, whose website has more on that and other info for families.
Followup: City explains change in approved number of units for DESC Delridge project
Next Monday, when the North Delridge Neighborhood Council meets (agenda/time/location here), the Downtown Emergency Service Center‘s proposed “supportive housing” project will be on the agenda again, as it’s been for most meetings since news of the plan broke at NDNC’s meeting last June. The group also is helping recruit members for the community advisory group about the project, the Delridge Alliance (here’s how to apply). And tonight, we have more information about the major development we first reported two days ago – the city’s decision to cut the number of units allowed in the project, from 75 to 66. We finally heard from DESC, which had no comment aside from confirming the new unit count that we found in documents filed with the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, which will review the agency’s application for key Low-Income Housing Tax Credits financing. DESC executive director Bill Hobson referred us to the city Office of Housing for the explanation. WSHFC provided us with a copy of the internal city memo that spells it out.
We don’t have a scanner handy, so we’re transcribing it. It’s dated December 12, to Office of Housing director Rick Hooper from staffer Maureen Kostyack, who attended the second of two private-home meetings where neighborhood concerns about the project were discussed. The subject is “Siting Policy Waiver for DESC Delridge Supportive Housing” and it’s on OH letterhead. (It also reveals that the roots of this project go back as early as 2010.):Read More
West Seattle businesses: Sound Advice finds a new home
Now that construction for the just-sold California/Alaska/42nd site seems inevitable, the business moves are coming fast and furious. Here’s the latest: mobile retailer Sound Advice is moving a block north next month. Thanks to Brian Presser from TouchTech Systems for spotting and photographing the flyer on the door. The listed street number listed for the new location didn’t look right, so we called Sound Advice, and though they’re checking on the new street number, they confirmed, it IS the space adjacent to (south of) West Seattle Coins, on the street level of the Senior Center of West Seattle building. As the sign says, they expect to open there next month. Just yesterday, we finally made contact with the California/Alaska/42nd site’s new owner, Chicago-based Equity Residential, whose spokesperson (as we reported here) said they expect to break ground before the year’s out on the same 190-plus-apartment project that previous owner Charlie Conner and partners got approved before selling the site (for $11.4 million, as we reported December 22nd). Other businesses that have recently moved from the site to new West Seattle locations include Classic Barber Shop, SIMA Martial Arts, and Limber Yoga (all of whom have new locations); The Beer Junction expects to move later this winter to its new spot in the California SW building where the liquor store and train store used to be, but remains open at its original location (4707 42nd SW) till then.
The Wash Dog: Welcoming a new West Seattle Blog sponsor
In 2012, we’re continuing the WSB tradition of welcoming new sponsors by offering them the chance to introduce themselves. Today, meet one of our newest sponsors – The Wash Dog. Here’s what they’d like you to know:
The Wash Dog has been a business fixture in West Seattle for more than 10 years, providing canine bathing and grooming services. New owners, longtime West Seattle residents Thyra DeHaven and Merry Myers, have been hard at work this past year, upgrading the staff and facility to meet the bathing and grooming needs of West Seattle’s dogs. Two examples: An on-demand hot water system was installed to lessen power usage and insure an endless supply of warm water; and the self-service shampoo was upgraded to a top-notch, environmentally friendly oatmeal shampoo produced by a local Seattle company.
At The Wash Dog there’s a grooming service for every need:
*Self-Service Dog Wash Rooms – just walk in
*Professional Bathing Service – by appointment
*Professional Grooming – by appointment
Customers can also walk in for a quick nail trim or drop by with their dog just to say “hi” and pick up a treat. We love interacting with dogs of all sorts and sizes and take great pride in providing an exceptionally friendly, clean and healthy facility. We have three professional, skilled dog groomers/stylists on staff at The Wash Dog: Laura, Kayla, and Tammy, who you might know from other West Seattle establishments. We also have two part-time experienced bathers. The combined experience of our staff exceeds 35 years, so customers can rest assured their pets are being cared for by professionals who really know and love dogs.
The Wash Dog is located at 6400 California SW, on the north side of Morgan Street Junction. Hours are Monday–Friday, 10 am to 7:30 pm, and Saturday – Sunday, 9 am to 5:30 pm. Holiday hours are always posted online at thewashdog.com or on The Wash Dog’s Facebook page.
We thank The Wash Dog for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
Street trees, bridge project, more @ Southwest District Council
Toplines from last night’s Southwest District Council meeting – with a wide-ranging agenda from street trees to bridge work to development, and beyond:
STREET-TREE ORDINANCE: Lots of discussion after we covered last month’s West Seattle community meeting about proposed changes to the city rules, which haven’t changed in half a century. City arborist Nolan Rundquist stressed that they are looking for as much comment and opinion as possible – here’s how – before this gets to the City Council. His summary: The proposed rule will better define who’s responsible for which trees, public or private, and a “no-fee permit process” will be put into place to deal with removal, pruning, replacement, etc., as well as who is allowed to handle such tasks. But he says “small work” – such as pruning branches that aren’t bigger than two inches in diameter – won’t require a permit.
FAUNTLEROY EXPRESSWAY: The council had invited project communications consultant Josh Stepherson back to provide an update once the intensive phase of the earthquake-safety work, with some overnight closures (next ones Jan. 9-12), got under way on the west end of the West Seattle Bridge. Morgan Community Association rep Chas Redmond asked about an anomaly he’d spotted (which we have noticed too, in late-night drives):Read More
West Seattle biznotes: Freebies, biscuits, and new locations
(Photo courtesy Mountain to Sound Outfitters)
FREEBIE #1 – FOR SKIERS AND SNOWBOARDERS: Mountain to Sound Outfitters in The Triangle is offering a free clinic this Sunday “to help you learn the basics of ski maintenance, as well as some of the finer points of waxing and in home tuning. Come down to learn about caring for your edges, creating a the best side and edge bevel, basics on structure, and how to hotwax your gear. Experienced ski and snowboard technicians will be providing this free workshop and will be on hand to answer specific questions after the presentation.” It’s at 5 pm at M2SO, 3602 SW Alaska, but you can’t just show up – space is limited, so they’re asking for an RSVP ASAP – e-mail info@m2soutfitters or call 206-935-7669.
FREEBIE #2 – YOGA: Longtime WSB sponsor SoundYoga (5639 California SW) has just announced the date for its next Free Yoga session. This time it’s on January 28th, 10:30 am.
NEW FARMERS’ MARKET VENDOR: Starting this Sunday, Honest Biscuits joins the lineup at West Seattle Farmers’ Market (yes, it’s back, 10 am-2 pm, 44th/Alaska, after Christmas/New Year’s off), after a stint at the Broadway Farmers’ Market on Capitol Hill.
(Photo courtesy Honest Biscuits)
Proprietor Art Stone has worked as a lawyer and judge but says his heart “belongs to biscuits now.” He says they’re “made fresh from local ingredients, the primary ingredient being Washington’s Shepherd’s Grain flour,” with added ingredients “such as Theo Chocolate, Beecher’s Cheese, and Tonnemaker apples.” More on his website.
SKIN BUTIK MOVES: Aesthetician Sara Lowe sent word that she has moved her business from Harbor Avenue to new digs at California/Graham – the one, she says with a “dazzling chandelier hanging in the entryway” – and is having an open house 5-7:30 pm on January 26th.
IN THE SAME BUILDING – NORTHWEST INSURANCE: That same new live/work building is also home now to longtime WSB sponsor John Moore‘s Northwest Insurance Group (6055 California SW), which represents more than a dozen insurance providers. Online, you’ll also now find NW Insurance Group on Facebook.
The Atlantic profiles Super Deli Mart: ‘Postmodern Elks Club’
Thanks to Forest for the tip on this: Readers across America (and likely beyond) who check out The Atlantic‘s website today have the opportunity to read about West Seattle’s Super Deli Mart. The article by Christopher Solomon is headlined “A Postmodern Elks Club Serving Some of the World’s Best Beer” but talks about the 35th/Barton store as a community gathering place as well as a beverage retailer. Read the story here. (Added 1:13 pm – The Atlantic’s story didn’t include a photo of proprietor Min Chung, so we dropped by to get one to add here!)
West Seattle coyotes: 1st report of the year, and a holdover
The first coyote report of the New Year – at least, the first one we’ve heard about. From Cara about an hour ago:
My husband just reported that there was a coyote in our yard (40th between Hanford and Hinds) [map]. The coyote walked down the street (south on 40th) and is heading that way.
We are asked on occasion why we publish these reports, and our response is usually “until we stop hearing from people who weren’t previously aware that coyotes are IN the city.” Latest example ahead:Read More
West Seattle Thursday: Stories, drinks, tunes, and revolution
(Seen from Luna/Anchor Park this past Tuesday)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
ALASKAN WAY S. DETOUR: 1st of 2 traffic alerts for today. If you use Alaskan Way, read this – it starts this morning.
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 11:15 am at Delridge Library – more story-time info on the full list, here.
CURIOUS ABOUT ‘OCCUPY’?: 6 pm meeting at West Seattle (Admiral) Library with info for those curious about Occupy Seattle – details here.
FEEDBACK LOUNGE’S NEW COCKTAIL MENU: When you’ve won “Best of Western Washington” two years in a row, runner-up another year, and that’s every year you’ve been around – your cocktails are hot stuff. And so tonight, it’s An Event as Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) debuts Matt Johnson’s latest drink creations, 6 pm.
READ THE KORAN IN FOUR WEEKS: At the First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, 935-6530, the first of four sessions is scheduled for the course Pastor Ron Marshall has led four times a year since 2003. The official announcement asks: “Have you wanted to know for yourself what the Koran says in a world where Islam is mentioned nearly every day in the news?” and adds, “The $50 registration fee includes an authorized translation of the Koran for your keeping. Worksheets and other background handouts from Islamic scholars will be provided for each class session the week before.” Call ASAP to see if there’s room.
LIVE MUSIC: At Skylark Café and Club featuring: Arkansas and the River Bandits, Relentless Rhythm Machine, Lights From Space. $5 cover, 9 pm, Facebook event page here.
ANOTHER SCHEDULED FAUNTLEROY EXPRESSWAY CLOSURE: The seismic work continues, and another overnight closure of the west end of the West Seattle Bridge is scheduled.
ADDED – MEMORIAL FOR MARCELYN SHADOW: Thanks to those who e-mailed with mention of this: A memorial for West Seattle resident Marcelyn Shadow, who taught students in Seattle Public Schools‘ APP program for more than 30 years (mostly at Washington Middle School), is planned for 3:30 pm today at Peace Lutheran Church (39th/Thistle). There’s more information on the Hamilton website.
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