STYLE ’17: Got your ticket? Northwest Hope and Healing benefit fashion show April 6th
Just a week and a half until West Seattleite-founded-and-led Northwest Hope and Healing stages its annual fun fashion show to raise money to help cancer patients! NWHH executive director Kristina Dahl explains STYLE ’17, coming up April 6th:
NW Hope and Healing was founded by a West Seattle resident, Christine Smith, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and learned that many low-income women in treatment go without meeting their basic needs during treatment, and she decided to start NW Hope & Healing to help out. We give grants of up to $500 per patient to women currently in treatment for breast or gynecologic cancer at Swedish Cancer Institute. The need for our grants rises every year, and we strive to help more women in 2017 than ever before. The most frequently requested grant is for utilities payments: all too often, women need to make horrific decisions about whether to pay their utilities or purchase medicine for treatment, and NWHH is here to help.
The fashion show is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we count on it to raise the funds to help the women that we serve. The show is high-energy and a great night out, and this year we’re excited to announce that we have a beautiful new Belltown venue, Block41. This year for the first time we’re also hosting a VIP reception for our VIP ticket holders, with food, drink, and entertainment – it’s a can’t-miss party! The show itself is beautiful and inspirational: all of our models are breast or gynecologic cancer survivors, some of whom are still in treatment. The fashions are provided by local boutiques, including West Seattle’s own Carmilia’s and Coastal.
STYLE regularly sells out, so buy your ticket(s) now – just go here.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 2 reader reports and a followup
The latest West Seattle Crime Watch notes:
VANDALISM: Suzanne says this happened overnight Friday into Saturday in the underground garage by the Admiral Bartell store:
Several cars that have monthly parking there had windows broken by a fire extinguisher. My housemate’s old Z car had windows broken & the spray of the Fire Extinguisher all over the interior of his car which is powdery. This is just ridiculous!! He has had both his vehicles vandalized before, his truck stolen, etc…
CAR PROWL: From Sierra:
My car was broken into for the second time in 5 months within less than a block of the Spruce apartments sometime between Monday evening and Wednesday evening. It was parked on 40th Ave SW just past Jiffy Lube. They sat in the car and went through everything and stole air freshener (weird), items from my roadside emergency kit (zip ties, tape, possibly for drug use) as well as my green iPod nano (engraved with my name Sierra S——-) and my Coach sunglasses (gold frames, Coach logo with green inside on the arms). I would appreciate an help keeping an eye out for these items or people in the area to stay mindful of suspicious activity since this happens frequently within a few feet of homes and apartments.
FOLLOWUP: The 44-year-old man pulled from the Duwamish River after an alleged burglary and assault at a nearby marina just got out of jail tonight. Prosecutors told us charges have not yet been filed against the suspect, who had an Admiral address listed on probable-cause documents. The documents say the suspect was found eating food from a refrigerator in a boathouse; he pepper-sprayed the person who found him and then started to punch him. After that, police say, he jumped into the water under the boathouse and refused to come out for an hour. The narrative concludes, “Suspect came very close to drowning.” His bail was set last week at $50,000 but tonight the jail register says that, after his second appearance, it was a “conditional release.”
TOMORROW – WEST SEATTLE BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS NETWORK: Our area’s next crime/safety-related community meeting is Tuesday night, 6:30 pm, at the Southwest Precinct, when all are welcome at the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network‘s monthly meeting. You’ll get a briefing from the Southwest Precinct; WSBWCN leadership is awaiting confirmation of a guest speaker from the 911 Center. The precinct is at 2300 SW Webster.
VIDEO: Navigation Team out along Spokane Street bike path before this week’s tent clearing, trash cleaning
Last Friday, hours after we first reported that a woman riding her bicycle from her West Seattle job to her Georgetown home had been attacked near Spokane and East Marginal, the city promised action this week – including clearing campers encroaching on the bicycle path in the area.
We’re following up on those promises, and to start with, we met up this afternoon with the Seattle Police sergeant who leads the Navigation Team (explained here), a team of officers and outreach workers.
Sgt. Eric Zerr tells us that the “hazard” clearance does not require the 72-hour notice called for in other areas, but they have been out talking to the people in the area, so they have been warned. He said an area on the north side of Spokane with about 10 “structures” will be cleared, but is not sure if they are all currently occupied. Here’s our five-minute interview recorded in that area this afternoon:
The Navigation Team is a citywide squad. Enforcement and patroling of the area is separate, handled by local officers (this area is in the South Precinct’s jurisdiction, not the West Seattle-based Southwest Precinct). While the RV camp to the south is not being cleared, as Sgt. Zerr reiterated and as the city Human Services Department explained on Friday, a major trash cleanup is planned in the area too later this week – starting on Wednesday. We’ll be following up tomorrow on specifics of those plans.
TRAFFIC ALERT UPDATE: Sideways truck cleared from West Seattle Bridge’s 4th Avenue offramp after 5 hours
4:06 PM: That’s an SDOT-camera image of a semi-truck that’s gone onto its side on the 4th Avenue offramp from the eastbound West Seattle Bridge – so if you’re headed that way, you won’t be able to use that ramp for a while. To check the status, use the live-video feature at the lower right of the SDOT “travelers’ map” – choose Greater Duwamish on the pulldown, and then the 4th Avenue S./Spokane St. Viaduct camera, which is currently pointed at the scene.
4:59 PM: Camera shows a tow truck is now on the scene, though the truck has not yet been righted.
5:55 PM: Two tow trucks are there working on it, per the webcam view.
7:52 PM: Four hours and not upright yet – ramp still closed.
8:03 PM: If you watch the live video feed as explained above (not directly linkable, or we’d be doing that), the trailer’s now close to upright.
9 PM: As of a short time ago, SDOT says, the truck’s gone and the ramp’s open again.
SCAM ALERT: Fake ‘City Light’ callers at it again
Thanks to Lisa at CAPERS in The Junction for the heads-up after getting a scam call:
I just had someone call saying they were from Seattle City Light and that if I didn’t pay my bill in 20 minutes they would shut off my service. They also asked for a credit card to satisfy the bill.
She didn’t fall for it because she knew that’s NOT how City Light works – this is a phone scam that’s been going on for years, but it’s worth another reminder, since they’re obviously still getting some victims, or else they wouldn’t keep trying. Here’s the City Light webpage dedicated to stopping the scammers – with this advice:
If you suspect a scam attack or have questions regarding your bill, call our Customer Care Center at 206.684.3000 as well as the Seattle Police Department at 206.625.5011.
Speaking of restaurants … ‘South’ wins Dick’s Drive-In poll
So busy with other news this morning, we forgot to check in on the midmorning announcement from Dick’s Drive-Ins about their South vs. East new-location poll, until Matt mentioned it on Twitter. The winner … South, potentially including West Seattle. Now they’re taking suggestions for specific locations … but given the criteria, might be hard to find a spot in West Seattle:
Anyone who would like to share a specific location in the South region should e-mail newlocation@ddir.com. Dick’s Drive-In is interested in purchasing a parcel that is approximately one acre in size, close to high schools, colleges, nightlife and busy highways.
Dick’s says it received 177,645 votes plus 4,000+ e-mails “suggesting everything from a city preference to a specific address.”
West Seattle restaurants: Sushi Samurai coming to Alki
ORIGINAL REPORT, 11:41 AM MONDAY: We had just noticed a few days ago that the “for lease” sign was gone at the former Subway site that closed last November at 2758 Alki Ave. SW. No hint at the time and nothing in public records – but this morning we found the windows papered and decorated with this:
Sushi Samurai has a Queen Anne location, according to the website on the flyer. We’ll be contacting them shortly to find out more. While the window flyers only say “coming soon,” we just found a social-media post that suggests they’re hoping to open May 1st.
UPDATE, 11:20 AM TUESDAY: Just got a reply to our e-mail inquiry, from proprietors Amanda and Ray Maranon:
If all goes to plan, permits, Liquor board, and all of the inspections, then yes we do plan on opening on May 1st. We are still planning our menu and our hours of operation.
We will be offering sit down, takeout and delivery. Our challenge is to provide 100% sustainable sushi in a fast casual setting. Our restaurant is going to be family-friendly and will have a fun atmosphere.
Our menu will be changing every season and we strive to use high-quality organic ingredients and sustainable seafood, and we also look forward to being part of the community.
Our family is very excited.
4 for your West Seattle Monday
(From the WSB Flickr group: Vashon water taxi M/V Sally Fox passing Alki, photographed by Raul Baron)
Good morning and welcome to a new week! Four highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for the rest of your Monday:
BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUP: New moms, this free monthly drop-in group is for you and your baby, 10:30-noon at Neighborhood House‘s High Point Center. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
FREE TAX HELP: The deadline is getting closer, and if you need help, you might qualify for the ongoing free tax-prep help offered at various locations around the area. Today’s drop-in session is 2-7 pm at Delridge Library. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
COMMUNITY ORCHARD OF WEST SEATTLE: You’re invited to stop by for the weekly Monday work party – bring gloves and water – 3-5 pm. North end of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. (6000 16th SW)
TRIANGLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE’S LAST SCHEDULED MEETING: 4:30-7 pm today, it’s the last scheduled meeting of the citizens’ advisory group that’s been working on some “quick fixes” for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry route-related problems. Here’s the agenda. All welcome to attend; meeting’s in the Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall. (9140 California SW)
Looking ahead … does your business/church/organization have an Easter/Passover/spring-festival/etc. event coming up in West Seattle/White Center? (Including restaurants with special brunch/dinner plans.) We’re working on our special seasonal event page and would love to get the info on what you’re planning, ASAP – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Last Monday of March
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:37 AM: Welcome to the last workweek of the month – April starts next Saturday. But first, we’re watching traffic and transit for Monday, March 27th. No incidents in/from West Seattle so far.
TRIANGLE IMPROVEMENT TASK FORCE: Today brings the last scheduled meeting of the citizens’ committee working with Washington State Ferries on improvements along the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route. 4:30 pm-7 pm, Fauntleroy Church‘s Fellowship Hall (9140 California SW), all welcome.
9:04 AM: Quiet commute wrapping up. One note: We are now two weeks away from the start of the West Seattle Water Taxi’s seven-days-a-week spring/summer schedule – April 10th. You can preview it by scrolling down the main WSWT page.
UPDATE: ‘Several prospects interested’ for what was to be Whole Foods’ West Seattle store, says Weingarten
(UPDATED 10:12 AM with Weingarten statement, 12:40 PM with Whole Foods statement)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 2:25 AM: Back in January, you might recall, we reported that Whole Foods had decided to delay its West Seattle opening in The Whittaker (WSB sponsor) until summer 2018. That was a delay from what the company told us last June, when it said the West Seattle WF would open “in the second half of 2017.” And that in turn was two years later than the original plan – when we reported in November 2012 that WF would anchor the 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW mixed-use project, the announcement projected the store would open in 2015. (A bitter battle over the project’s “alley vacation” – lots of backstory here – figured into some delays.)
Since our January report of the latest WF delay, rumors have continued to circulate that – as eventually turned out to be the case with its previously planned WS location across SW Alaska – Whole Foods might be icing the plan all together. But there were signs of life in city permit files as recent as last month, with an application and permit for sign installation.
This morning, there’s a new report – the Daily Journal of Commerce says in its Monday edition that Whole Foods has “decided to indefinitely delay its plans” for West Seattle. Note that most of the story is behind a paywall, so if you’re not a subscriber, you won’t be able to read it. We have already sent a followup inquiry to WF and will update when we get a direct update.
10:12 AM UPDATE: Our first reply of the morning is from Carrie Murray with Weingarten Realty, which owns The Whittaker’s retail space:
Weingarten Realty is actively working with Whole Foods to find a replacement for the space Whole Foods leased at The Whittaker. We currently have several prospects interested but we cannot make an announcement at this time.
12:40 PM UPDATE: Whole Foods spokesperson Beth Krauss‘s statement in response to our inquiry does not elaborate further:
As part of a careful evaluation of our growth strategy, Whole Foods Market has decided to delay indefinitely the opening of our West Seattle store. We look forward to continuing to serve Seattle with our three other area locations: Interbay, Roosevelt Square, and South Lake Union.
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