day : 22/01/2015 11 results

Four people want your vote in their quest to become the first City Councilmember for District 1, representing West Seattle and South Park (listed this time in first-name reverse-alphabetical order):

*Tom Rasmussen
*George Capestany
*Chas Redmond
*Amanda Kay Helmick

Though voting in the first-ever district elections (explained here) is six months away (August 4th primary), now’s the time to start finding out what the contenders are all about. And so, two weeks from tonight, WSB invites you to get your first look at them side by side as we present “District 1: First Look,” the first candidates’ forum in the race. Hope to see you at Highland Park Improvement Club on Thursday night, February 5th – doors open 6:30, forum at 7, admission and refreshments free, bring the question(s) you want to be sure get answered!

ADDED 10:35 AM FRIDAY: As noted in comments, Rasmussen has just left the race, leaving Redmond, Helmick, and Capestany. If anyone else files before the forum, they’ll be invited to participate.

Share This

Update: South Delridge vigil draws brief police, helicopter attention

January 22, 2015 7:44 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle news

(Added 8:11 pm: WSB photo)
7:44 PM: We were headed toward South Delridge to check out reports of a large gathering, possibly a vigil, when we started getting texts about Guardian One in the same area. They’ve just tweeted that they “assisted Seattle PD with a large crowd disturbance north of White Center.” That’s all we know so far – trying to find out more.

ADDED 7:46 PM: We’ve found the gathering, at 17th/Henderson. It’s a vigil for someone who died – not in West Seattle – within the past few days; apparently his family lives in the area.

8:11 PM: Still can’t find more information about the subject of the vigil, but we did reach Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams to ask why police were there. He said that they had a report of a large crowd with a fight breaking out, but: “When officers arrived they found no disturbance and no one in the crowd reported that there had been one.”

Share This

Super Bowl challenge where everybody wins: Seattle vs. New England food drive! Tibbetts UMC is in – are you?

January 22, 2015 7:03 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| How to help | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(Photo courtesy Tibbetts UMC)
With a week and a half until the Super Bowl, Seattle vs. New England team-spirit contests abound. Here’s one you can join while not only showing your love for the Seahawks, but also your love for your down-and-out neighbors. From Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), here’s how you can get involved in a Seattle vs. New England food drive!

Since the Seahawks are repeating a trip to the Super Bowl, the Seattle-area United Methodist Churches are repeating a challenge to a food drive contest – this year to New England. Tibbetts UMC is a drop-off site and food will go to the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks.

Whoever has the highest number of donations of dry goods or money at midnight on Super Bowl Sunday will be declared the winner. In this contest, EVERYONE wins, since our spirited competition supports local people in need. All food & money will be donated to local food banks. For details on how/where to donate, go here.

You can also donate online at unitedinblue.org (where you’ll also find out about participating churches in other areas). Once again we expect that many churches in Washington will participate since our Seahawks have such a huge fan base! Monetary donations made online will count towards the contest, with donations going to Northwest Harvest. We’ll beat New England in football AND in generosity!

P.S. Food items that are needed most: Whole-grain cereal; fruit in water or juice; meat (canned in water when possible); vegetables, low or no sodium; beans (dry or canned); 100% fruit juice; powdered or shelf-stable milk; pasta sauce; peanut butter; soup; canned meals; Mac & Cheese & other boxed meals; whole-wheat pasta, rice, or other whole grains.

Tibbetts UMC is at 3940 41st SW.

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: 4 reader reports, and other notes

January 22, 2015 5:06 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

While we’re covering the street-robberies investigation separately (newest update here), we have reader reports on several other crimes you should know about:

OFFICE BREAK-IN: Between 7 pm last night and 10 am today, a health-care office in the 5400 block of California SW was broken into. Laptops and a filing cabinet were taken; the latter had some checks and cash, as well as client files.

CAR THEFT: Kristine in North Delridge hopes you’ll help look for her 1998 dark green Honda Civic LX (license plate AMR5059): “It was parked on the street in front of my house (2800 block of SW Nevada St.) and taken sometime between 11 pm and 7:30 am.” Call 911 if you see it.

CAR BREAK-INS: Both happened Wednesday evening. From Charise: “My black Lexus was broken into … in the rear lot behind the West Seattle YMCA on Alaska. My daughter’s backpack is all that was stolen. It’s pretty obvious people are canvassing the area for cars with bags left in them.” Not far away, this reader report: “Between 4:00 and 5:30 pm (Wednesday), someone smashed the rear passenger window of my car while parked in the back parking lot near Oregon Street and 44th Avenue SW. They grabbed (stole) my light green backpack. A brazen theft in daylight hours in a popular area.” Any information, please contact police.

REMINDER – NEXT CRIMEFIGHTING MEETINGS: Two chances to talk with police as well as your West Seattle neighbors – 6:30 pm Tuesday (January 27), the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network; 6:30 pm Tuesday, February 3rd, a community conversation with SPD Chief Kathleen O’Toole. Both at the SW Precinct (Delridge/Webster), both open to all.

SIDE NOTE – CRIME STATS: SPD has gone public with the full 2014 stats. Here’s the overview.

Share This

Also tonight: Benefit for Jasmin; opening night at ArtsWest

January 22, 2015 3:24 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| How to help | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

The trajectory of today’s coverage kept us from our usual preview of various events, so as we arrive at mid-afternoon, here are two more to mention, both happening in The Junction:

BENEFIT FOR JASMIN: In November and December, we mentioned benefits for Jasmin Egan, who grew up in West Seattle and is fighting leukemia. Friends at Brunette Mix (longtime WSB sponsor) in The Junction are organizing another benefit tonight, 5-8 pm, just around the corner at Lika Love Fashion Boutique (4447 California SW) – a sip-and-shop event, with a percentage of tonight’s sales proceeds going to help Jasmin and her family with mounting medical bills. You can even stop in while on your way to …

OPENING NIGHT FOR ‘4000 MILES’: Be among the first to see the new production at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), the Northwest premiere of “4000 Miles“:

(ArtsWest photo by Michael Brunk; cast, L-R, Adria LaMorticella, Adam Standley, Susan Corzatte, Sara Porkalob)
Amy Herzog was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for writing “4000 Miles,” a dramatic comedy telling the story of a 91-year-old grandmother and her 21-year-old grandson, and who really needs who and why. ArtsWest’s artistic director Mathew Wright directs. Curtain time tonight is 7:30 pm; tickets are available online here. “4000 Miles” will run through February 15th.

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch followup: Street-robberies investigation update; precinct commander says possible connection in 2 of 5 cases

January 22, 2015 12:35 pm

| 39 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

(Wednesday night WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
As we work to follow up on the five street-robbery incidents in West Seattle we’ve covered in the past week, there’s new information from the Southwest Precinct. This update from precinct commander Capt. Steve Wilske has just been sent to community groups:

I wanted to update everyone on a series of incidents we have had occur here in the last week, as I have had a lot of folks express concerns, as well as the desire to keep everyone up on significant events.

We have had a total of 5 theft/strong arm robberies since January 15th, most targeting younger victims that range in age from @14 to 18. The items taken are personal electronics, either laptops, pads or cell phones. The two most recent happened along California Ave SW, with the others in the areas of 6500 42nd SW, 36th SW and Myrtle, and 26th SW and Thistle.

Based on what we currently know about the incidents, there may be a connection between two of the cases. Several of the others appear to be stand-alone incidents that have not been repeated in the area.

We have distributed what info we have to the patrol officers so they can be aware of the incidents and suspect descriptions, and they are spending the time they can in the areas most commonly used by students as they travel to and from school. The precinct detectives are working the cases, and they will have access to any and all resources of the precinct, and we will draw in more department resources if they need them.

I will update you as things progress, but wanted you to know that we are aware of this and working on it as a priority. I have cc’ed Mark Solomon on this email, and he will also be sending out some safety information.

Mark Solomon is the SW and South Precincts’ Crime Prevention Coordinator, and his forward of this note included that safety information. We’ll attach it shortly, along with other information we’ve been working on today. First – here are our links to WSB coverage of the incidents mentioned in Capt. Wilske’s note, newest-to-oldest:

*Wednesday evening robbery in North Admiral, with coverage including info about Tuesday incident
*West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting coverage, including discussion of incidents
*Followup report on Saturday morning Morgan Junction robbery
*Same-day coverage of Saturday morning Morgan Junction robbery/carjack attempt
*Coverage of Friday robbery in Westwood
*Coverage of Thursday robbery in Gatewood

ADDED 12:49 PM: Here’s the safety information mentioned above:

(If you can’t see the embed – we hear it’s glitching for some – here’s the PDF.)

ADDED 1:57 PM: The West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network has just announced that Capt. Wilske will be at the WSBWCN meeting next Tuesday (January 27) to talk about this, 6:30 pm at the precinct, all welcome.

Meantime, from the police report on the Tuesday incident, how it unfolded: The victim was at Admiral Safeway with friends at about 2:50 pm and about to leave to head home when the two would-be robbers came up to him. One asked if he could use the victim’s phone, and said he didn’t need to hold it, but just asked the victim to hold up the phone and dial a certain number. The number didn’t connect. The victim left the store and crossed the street; the two confronted him on the northwest corner of California/Lander (by Lafayette Elementary). The report says one stood behind the victim while the other “grabbed his belt loop and tried to reach into his pocket where (he) had put his phone.” That’s when other teens, described as West Seattle HS students, “pulled (the would-be robbers) off” the victim, who they told to go home, which he did. The victim’s father told us that kids should specifically be warned to NEVER let anyone they don’t know use their phone – he says these two were apparently approaching others in the Safeway area first, and then, when his son left the store alone, went after him.

Share This

TONIGHT: West Seattle Transportation Coalition meets – new night

January 22, 2015 12:05 pm

| Comments Off on TONIGHT: West Seattle Transportation Coalition meets – new night

| Transportation | West Seattle news

Tonight’s the first meeting of the West Seattle Transportation Coalition on its new night – to reduce conflicts with the standing neighborhood-council meetings on second Tuesdays, it’s now meeting on fourth Thursdays. Same start time – 6:30 pm – and location, Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way SW). Tonight’s agenda:

6:45-7:30: Proposed By-Law Changes:

· Create a Legislative Agenda Committee. The committee’s function will be to develop the WSTC’s “Legislative Agenda” as a policy and lobbying actions guide. This Committee will also maintain changes to the Agenda as goals are achieved and broadened.

· Review and amend function and by-law language of standing Committees.

Existing Committees and Language:

a) Outreach Committee: Engagement with businesses, community groups, special interest groups and individuals for recruiting into the coalition, education, and to collect feedback for the coalition to act upon.

b) Communications Committee: Manages the WSTC’s online presences; conducting annual/bi-annual Issues Surveys; writing press releases; managing and facilitating communications between other advocacy groups.

c) Research & Solutions Committee: Develops and adjusts the West Seattle Peninsula Transportation Master Plan by receiving and disseminating research info from Outreach, Communications & Meetings. Works directly with various governmental and private agencies for research on technical, planning, and transportation solutions.

d) Action Committee: Meets with officials (elected and otherwise); agencies; goes to and holds rallies; engages directly with whomever is required for the West Seattle Peninsula to get commitments for solutions.

7:30-8:30: Review City of Seattle responses to our September 2014 “Five items” list; Discuss potential ST 3; Discuss Seats on the West Seattle Transportation Corridor and Seattle Transit Oversight Committee; Discuss end of Viaduct mitigation money as of June 2015.

Some of the “five items” responses were included in this WSB report last week.

Share This

Update: County says no power-outage-triggered overflow after all

January 22, 2015 10:10 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| Environment | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL REPORT, 10:10 AM THURSDAY: As relatively brief as this morning’s Fauntleroy/Arbor Heights/vicinity power outage was, it still had environmental effects, the county just disclosed:

King County sewer utility crews quickly stopped an overflow at the Murray Pump Station that was caused by an early-morning power failure in West Seattle.

The overflow lasted about 3-5 minutes, spilling an estimated 19,000 gallons of wastewater into Puget Sound near Lowman Beach Park. Crews engaged a mobile generator currently staged at the site and quickly restored normal operation.

King County notified health and regulatory agencies about the overflow, took water quality samples, and posted signs warning people to avoid contact with the water.

King County is currently investing $26 million to upgrade Murray Pump Station as part of a long-term project to control overflows of stormwater and sewage that occur during heavy rains. Improvements include the installation of a permanent back-up electrical system to provide power during outages and other emergencies.

The aforementioned project is separate from, but being done in conjunction with, the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project million-gallon-tank construction across the street.

UPDATE, 5:27 PM FRIDAY: From King County spokesperson Annie Kolb-Nelson:

I just want to offer some updated information about the Murray overflow we reported yesterday. After additional investigation, our operations staff concluded that we did NOT experience an overflow from the pump station.

The operations crews first took data from a sensor that initially indicated that water level in the pump station overflowed the weir, but a sensor further down the system in an outfall pipe and visual inspections indicated that no wastewater left the pump station.

Share This

West Seattle scenes: Denny/Sealth bands’ winter concerts

January 22, 2015 9:41 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle scenes: Denny/Sealth bands’ winter concerts

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports | WS culture/arts

(Denny IMS Senior Band)
Thanks to Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark for sharing photos from last night’s concert by bands from his school and Chief Sealth International High School next door:

Congratulations to all of the Denny and Sealth band and jazz band musicians on an outstanding concert last night! Thank you to our terrific teachers, Mr. Pimpleton and Ms. Chutich, for all of their amazing efforts with our scholars. Thank you also to the Denny Sealth Performing Arts volunteers and to all of our families for supporting great music in our pathway! Go Dolphins and Seahawks!

(Chief Sealth IHS Symphonic Band)
P.S. If your school – public or private, anywhere on the age spectrum from pre through college – has a concert/performance/other public event coming up, please let us know in advance, both so we can include it in our calendar, and so we can consider it in our coverage plans – thanks! editor@westseattleblog.com any time …

Share This

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates/alerts

January 22, 2015 6:35 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates/alerts

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
So far, no trouble on the routes through/from West Seattle. Ice shouldn’t be a problem anywhere this morning, with temperatures 10 degrees above freezing.

Share This

Update: ‘Underground cable failure’ blamed for early-morning power outage in Arbor Heights/Fauntleroy

January 22, 2015 6:24 am

| 8 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

6:24 AM: We’ll be asking Seattle City Light this morning about the hourlong early-morning power outage that affected about 4,700 customers in southwest West Seattle. Our apologies for missing it in real time; looks unofficially like it started sometime after 3 am, and ended by 4:20 am, and it appears to have been in what was the primary area of the windstorm outage last weekend (see the screengrab in this tweet from @kjkjal). Whatever we learn from SCL, we’ll add here.

8:44 AM: Though the power was back relatively quickly, SCL’s Scott Thomsen tells WSB, crews are still working on it: “The first thing they did was to isolate the area where they believe the problem exists and re-route power from other circuits. That put all our customers back in service. The crews are still patrolling the line to find out what caused the outage and make repairs.”

5:16 PM: We checked back with Thomsen to see what the crews had found. He replied: “Crews determined that the outage was caused by an underground cable failure. This underground cable is near the substation and feeds the overhead lines in the area that experienced the outage. The damaged area has been isolated and power continues to be routed into the area from an alternate path until permanent repairs can be made.”

Share This