CAMP SECOND CHANCE: Transition to new operator ‘not very smooth sailing,’ advisory committee told
(WSB photo from Sunday: From left, Josh Castle & Sharon Lee of LIHI, advisory committee members Grace Stiller & Aaron Garcia)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Big concerns about a big change at city-sanctioned Camp Second Chance were voiced at this month’s meeting of its Community Advisory Committee.
While the last meeting, in August, had filled the meeting room at Arrowhead Gardens, just a few blocks north of the camp, Sunday’s meeting barely cracked double digits – counting the three committee members who were in attendance (Willow Fulton, an area resident; Aaron Garcia, from the White Center Community Development Association; Grace Stiller, who works with environmental nonprofits).
The city was represented by Tom Van Bronkhorst from the Department of Neighborhoods.
Early in the meeting, Stiller offered kudos to the city for the fencing placed on the east side of Myers Way to protect wetlands as well as those walking in the area, particularly to and from the transit center at Arrowhead Gardens; Van Bronkhorst went into some background on the fencing, and said that trash pickups are also continuing on the east side of Myers, where RVs have recently been swept.
The big change for Camp Second Chance itself since last meeting: The Low-Income Housing Institute (LIHI) is now the camp operator, as of September, with executive director Sharon Lee and staffer Josh Castle arriving mid-meeting after a conflicting engagement elsewhere.
Before their arrival, Rebecca, a camp resident, told the advisory committee that the transition had not gone well.
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UPDATE: Police search along Harbor SW, with helicopter
9:01 PM: If you are seeing/hearing a helicopter – per scanner, Guardian One is helping look for someone who fled after a car crash near Harbor/Florida. The car is believed to have been stolen in a carjacking elsewhere in the city earlier today.
9:31 PM: The search continues, with SPD K-9 on the ground. A commenter reports Harbor is closed in the area.
9:43 PM: Search isn’t over but Guardian One has moved on.
10:26 PM: Northbound Harbor will remain closed a while because City Light has to deal with a damaged pole and the crashed car has to be towed for impounding. We haven’t found yet where the carjacking was but will be requesting the incident report for this in the morning.
TICKET TIME: Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s 2017 Champagne Gala Brunch
Everybody loves a discount. If you buy your ticket(s) for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Champagne Gala Brunch before Thursday night (October 5th), you save more than 25 percent … $95 now, $125 starting Friday. This year’s brunch is at 11 am Saturday, November 4th, at Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor SW; WSB sponsor). The theme is “The Power of Community” and along with the live auction, golden-ticket drawing, and more, the event will feature one West Seattle legend – broadcast journalist Connie Thompson – in conversation with another – Husky Deli proprietor Jack Miller. This celebration is always sold out before the event day arrives, so you get a guaranteed seat along with a discount if you buy now – you can do that online, here.
16 applicants for temporary City Council vacancy to make their case to councilmembers tomorrow night
Tomorrow night, each of the 16 applicants for the temporary Seattle City Council Position 8 vacancy – the one Tim Burgess left to become temporary Mayor – gets 3 minutes to make their case to the current councilmembers, at a City Hall hearing. Then members of the public get their chance to comment. It’s a key part of the process leading up to the councilmembers’ decision this Friday, as explained here. Application materials with the applicants’ backgrounds is now available online. The list:
Ray Armitstead
Richard Baron
Tiniell Cato
Kirsten Harris-Talley
Lewis Jones
Brendan Kolding
Nick Licata
Kaylee McClure
Brianna McDonald
Doug Nellis
ChrisTiana ObeySumner
Abel Pacheco Jr.
Jennifer Perevodchikov
Robert Radford
Alex Tsimerman
David Tygerson
Browsing the background info – which, for each candidate, is linked toward the bottom of this page – we see at least one West Seattleite; that’s Brendan Kolding, who has run for office before. The application materials posted online don’t specifically include a spot for candidates to mention their neighborhoods, so if anyone else on the list is from West Seattle, let us know! The City Council seat is at-large (citywide), so applications were accepted from people anywhere in the city. The person appointed Friday by the current council will have the job until the November election results are certified – Burgess wasn’t running for re-election, so the permanent councilmember will be either Teresa Mosqueda or Jon Grant, the top two vote-getters in the August primary. In the meantime, if you don’t want to speak at tomorrow night’s 5 pm public hearing, you can also send your thoughts to the council by e-mailing council@seattle.gov.
BIZNOTE: West Seattle CityMD urgent-care center opens at The Whittaker
(Photo courtesy CityMD)
Another business has opened along the Fauntleroy Way side of The Whittaker (WSB sponsor).
It’s an urgent-care center operated by CHI Franciscan Health and CityMD (also WSB sponsors), the fourth center to open in two years in the Puget Sound area. We first reported in August 2016 that CityMD was on the way. The announcement explains:
This state-of-the-art center meets the growing need for convenient, cost-effective, high-quality medical care for local residents. Each location is staffed primarily by board-certified emergency medicine doctors. Together with key clinical support staff, such as X-ray technicians and medical assistants, they have the ability to handle a wide spectrum of common urgent-care needs for the West Seattle community.
(You can read more about CityMD’s backstory here.) No appointment needed – just walk in. The center’s website shows an estimated wait time, if you want to check before you go. It’s open at 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW 8 am-8 pm weekdays, 8 am-5 pm Saturdays, 8 am-3 pm Sundays.
HELP NEEDED, URGENTLY: Volunteer tutors for Roxhill Elementary students
(Photo courtesy Invest in Youth)
The nonprofit Invest in Youth just sent this, saying it’s urgent:
Looking for a way to give back to your community?
Invest in Youth is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that provides free tutoring to local elementary students across the city.
Become a tutor this fall! We are looking to pair volunteers with struggling learners in the community. We have a very high need for volunteer tutors at Roxhill Elementary, here in West Seattle.
Tutoring begins in late October, runs through May, and takes place once every week at each school.
Each tutor is matched with the same student for the whole school year, and the pair works together on things like playing math games, reading stories or working on homework, for one hour each week. Educational materials and activities, training and support, and heartfelt appreciation are provided at every session.
For more information or to apply to be a tutor, please contact Alison Allen at aallen@investinyouth.org or visit our website: investinyouth.org
Can’t commit to the full school year? Become a substitute tutor or share this with your friends who might be interested.
BIZNOTE: Happy 7th anniversary, West Seattle Autoworks!
Congratulations to West Seattle Autoworks (7501 35th SW; WSB sponsor) on seven years in business! We stopped by this morning for a photo – co-proprietor Todd Ainsworth is at center, with Sam Smith and Jesse Coffin. Todd and Chris Christensen opened WS Autoworks in October 2010, and have a gift for customers to celebrate the anniversary:
It’s been a pleasure and an honor to make our homes and our business in West Seattle and we’d like to thank you for your support!
If you make an appointment with us online during the month of October, receive a free travel mug, cup, or T-shirt! It’s just one small thing we can do to say “Thank You”!
With longtime West Seattleites at the helm, WS Autoworks supports the community – among other efforts, they co-present the annual West Seattle Car Show, which is a benefit for the South Seattle College Automotive Technology Program.
West Seattle Tuesday: Ferries, schools, safety, stories, more…
(Sanderlings, photographed at Constellation Park last weekend by Mark Wangerin)
Here are highlights of what’s ahead for your West Seattle (and vicinity) Tuesday:
WEST SEATTLE BOOSTER CLUB FUNDRAISER: 4-8 pm at Chipotle in The Junction, it’s a dine-out benefit for the West Seattle Booster Club, which helps WSHS students – details in our calendar listing, including the flyer you will need to show (either printed, or on your phone) to be sure your purchase goes to the cause. (4730 California SW)
TRIANGLE ROUTE TASK FORCE: Two weeks after a big showdown on Vashon Island (WSB coverage here) over backups and delays on the Washington State Ferries Triangle Route – Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth – the advisory task force working on route issues meets again today. 4:30-7 pm at the Fauntleroy Church fellowship hall. (9140 California SW)
CONCORD ADVOCACY: As previewed here last Friday, the PTA for Concord International (Elementary) School in South Park has organized an advocacy meeting tonight to air concerns about changes in the dual-language (Spanish/English) immersion program. This is the only public elementary school in our area with this program, so it’s a West Seattle issue too. The meeting is at the South Park Neighborhood Center, starting at 6 pm. (8201 10th Ave. S.)
CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE WALKWAY-IMPROVEMENT PLAN: 6:15 pm at Southwest Library, the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Coalition‘s monthly meeting includes the push to get the city to keep its original commitment to improve a walkway between Chief Sealth International High School and Westwood Village – the same area where two students were approached inappropriately just yesterday. (9010 35th SW)
LEARN TO DANCE: Swing and waltz dance classes start tonight at the Senior Center of West Seattle – 7 pm and 8:15 pm respectively. More info, including how to register, in our calendar listing. (4217 SW Oregon)
FAMILY STORY TIME: 7 pm at Delridge Library, for families with kids of all ages. Free as always. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
BEYOND WHAT YOU SEE ABOVE … there’s more on our complete-calendar page!
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gift shop Alair burglarized
9:27 AM: The West Seattle gift shop Alair won’t be open regular hours today, its manager tells us, because they are dealing with damage done by burglar(s) and have to do repairs. The break-in happened around 5:45 am today. Alair has been open 10 months at 3280 California SW. If you have any information for police, you can refer to incident number 17-367299.
11:41 AM: Alair proprietor Shandon Graybeal says the burglar(s) “took a lot” – including jewelry, purses, and her register – but she is now open for the day, until 6 pm. We’re also adding, above, a security-camera image from the burglary (though the burglar’s face is covered, maybe you’ll recognize the clothing, or …).
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday watch
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:06 AM: Good morning – so far, no incidents reported in/from West Seattle.
The big reminder all week is that the Alaskan Way Viaduct will close next weekend – northbound is set to be closed all weekend, late Friday night to early Monday morning, while southbound is scheduled for 5 am-6 pm closures Saturday and Sunday.
7:36 AM Metro has sent an alert saying the 7;48 am Route 116 from Brace Point/Wildwood won’t be running today.
9:04 AM: Uneventful commute today but if you spot trouble any time day or night, especially on major routes, let us know (when you can call/text safely/legally) – 206-293-6302 – thank you!
9:21 AM: Spoke too soon. There’s a crash at California and Admiral. One Seattle Fire unit responded – no medic unit, so apparently injuries, if any, are not major.
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