day : 14/02/2018 11 results

BASKETBALL: Seattle Lutheran girls host district-playoff game

(Photos by Max Westerman for WSB. Above, SLHS #14, junior Madison Jensen)

A must-win game is up next for another local team that’s still going in the postseason – the Seattle Lutheran High School girls. Tonight in the SLHS gym, they lost a hard-fought game to Friday Harbor, 33-13. All but two of those points were scored by #24, senior Izzy Jones:

The other two were contributed by #21, freshman Melina Menashe:

The Saints will play 5:45 pm Friday at Sedro-Woolley High School, vs. the winner of tonight’s Orcas Island/La Conner districts game.

CRIME WATCH UPDATE: Phone-grab robbery, inside Delridge store

(WSB photo)

8:39 PM: The Seattle Police/Fire response in the 5200 block of Delridge Way SW is for a person who reported being hit by four people who then took off with the victim’s phone. So far, the robbers have been described over police radio only as four black males in their early 20s, all wearing dark hooded sweatshirts and blue jeans. No further information yet.

8:53 PM: A police officer still at the scene tells us the victim was an “adult male,” taken to the hospital by private (AMR) ambulance to be checked out. No additional details about the circumstances or the robbers; no one in custody so far.

UPDATED THURSDAY AFTERNOON: Just obtained the narrative from police. The robbery actually happened inside the mini-mart. We can’t tell because of redaction, though, whether the victim was an employee or customer. The narrative says the victimm told police that the four robbers – description the same as what we reported last night – “had walked in the store and began demanding his phone … there was a struggle between him and one of the males … the males began to hit him in the chest with their fists … one … then grabbed his cellphone, which was in his left hand, and ripped it out of his hand.” That, the victim told police, broke his left pinky finger and injured his left ring finger. The victim told police he continued struggling with the robbers and they threw him against the store’s front door, then left, got into a gold Toyota Camry, and left southbound on Delridge. They might also have stolen some grocery items, he said.

THE WHEEL THING: Rainier Roller Girls’ next bout rolls into Southgate on Saturday

(Photo by Steve Messerer)

Southgate Roller Rink – right next door in White Center – has made our area a hotspot for roller derby, for all ages, not just spectators, but skaters. It’s where the Rainier Roller Girls‘ new season is under way, with monthly “high-energy, all-ages-themed bouts” at Southgate. And they want to make sure you know what they’re all about. Rainier Roller Girls “are an all-female flat-track roller-derby league … a small competitive travel team made of 20-plus active skaters, retired skaters, and volunteers. We believe all is possible with a little elbow grease, an amazing support system, and loyal fans.” They launched in 2011 and are a “skater-owned league” that’s focused “on fitness, mental game, and fun for both the skaters and fans.”

(Courtesy THM Photo)

This year’s lineup of bouts continues Saturday (February 17th) with “Flashback to the ’80s,” continuing March 24th with “Mortal Kom-bout,” April 21st with “Heathers vs. Mean Girls,” May 19th with “Superheroes vs. Villains,” and June 15th with “Adults-only Rocky Horror.” They add: “Spectators are strongly encouraged to dress for the theme!” You can buy your ticket in advance here. And bring $ for the bake sale! P.S. – Rainier Roller Girls are recruiting, too:

Are you a veteran skater thinking about moving leagues, or a newer skater ready to league up? A referee or non-skating official looking for more experience or to share your love of derby? Rainier Roller Girls is always looking for new skaters, refs, and officials to join our ranks. Email info@rainierrollergirls.com to get in touch with us and for more information.

DEVELOPMENT: 4 California SW notes

West Seattle development notes, all from along California SW:

SO LONG, EX-SPANKY’S: Last August, we reported that a demolition permit was being sought for the site we photographed today, 3276 California SW, a small, long-vacant commercial building to be replaced by live-work/townhouse units. Commenters noted that it was the former adult shop Spanky’s. (Our archives include a 2007 open letter from that shop’s former owner.) Today we noticed the teardown has happened since last we looked a couple days ago.

WORK ALSO HAS BEGUN … at 7002 California SW, where six rowhouse units are going up on the corner lot that previously held a century-plus-old house.

JUST UP THE BLOCK … the “design packet” for 7111 California SW is now available. As noted here last fall, instead of what was proposed when we wrote about it months earlier, it’s now going into Streamlined Design Review (no meetings required, but comments are accepted) with a three-story, five-unit, four-offstreet-parking-space plan. The design packet is linked from this Design Review page.

NORTH OF MORGAN JUNCTION … an early-stage eight-townhouse proposal is now in the system for an old apartment building at 5917 California SW that city files show has been the subject of numerous complaints.

Mission Cantina: Welcome, new West Seattle Blog sponsor!

Today we welcome Mission Cantina as a new WSB sponsor. Here’s what they would like you to know about who they are and what they do:

Mission Cantina: Celebrating Mexican food and culture in West Seattle’s Admiral District since 2005. West Seattle-owned and -operated, proudly including woman and minority partners.

Located a few steps from the historic Admiral Theater, Mission Cantina serves authentic Mexican fare and offers something for everyone, including Cochinita Pibil, Sweet Potato Enchiladas, and Tacos de Pescado on house-made masa tortillas. Our extensive collection of tequila, mezcal, sotol and craft cocktails will inspire you to try something new. 39 hours of Happy Hour every week, with late-night bites like our famous Nachos and soon-to-be-famous Mission Tijuana Dog. Not enough Nachos in your life? Get ’em during our Weekend Brunch alongside 15 flavors of Bottomless Mimosas!

Peter Morse, an original owner and manager of the restaurant previously known as Mission Latin Lounge, teamed up with new partners, husband-and-wife team Shawn and Tina Padilla, in August 2016, and they now operate under the name of Mission Cantina. This was the first ownership change for the West Seattle restaurant since it opened in 2005.

Peter has worked in the restaurant industry throughout his high school, college, and adult life. His appreciation for great Mexican food, spirits, and restaurants started when he was employed at El Camino restaurant in Fremont for 8 years. In 2001 he packed up his pickup truck and surfboards and headed south, stopping along the way to live and work in several countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. While exploring Central America he fell in love with Latin culture and cuisine. Peter keeps Mission Cantina progressive, fun, and exciting for the restaurant regulars and new customers by returning to Mexico with his son Gus and daughter Edith as often as he can, picking up new food, cocktail, and design ideas on his travels.

Shawn’s goal is to share his passion for all things agave with his West Seattle neighbors and the greater Seattle community. Shawn is dedicated to promoting Mexican spirits, food, and culture with all who visit Mission Cantina. Shawn polished his palate for 12 years while living in San Diego, before retiring from the U.S. Army Military Police and relocating to Seattle in 2011 to be closer to family. Known to his 6 grandchildren as Papa and friends as Shawn Pedro, his global travels have focused on Mexico in search of the best tequilas and mezcals. During Shawn’s explorations he has had the good fortune to meet leading master distillers and learn tequila production in their distilleries, savoring every sip of the agave art that results.

Tina joins the family of Mission Cantina partners to share her appreciation for unique and flavorful mezcal, sotol, and bacanora. As a college student in San Diego, Tina’s introduction to tequila was similar to many others: served alongside a bucket of beer and not worthy of sipping. Many years later, a sip of mezcal proved that the world of agave has much more to offer. The various and sometimes rare expressions of mezcal offer an enchanting variety of flavor characteristics, from smoky to fresh-cut grass, caramel to brine. Tina hopes to help others explore the fascinating world of agave-based spirits in search of their favorite.

Mission Cantina is at 2325 California SW, open 4 pm to 2 am daily, plus 10 am-4 pm weekend brunch on Saturdays and Sundays; Happy Hours are 4-6 pm weekdays, 10 am-6 pm weekends.

We thank Mission Cantina for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

What’s ahead at 59th/Admiral? SDOT rep @ Alki Community Council tomorrow

(59th/Admiral, December 2017)

Some changes made … some promised … some requested. There’s been a lot of back-and-forth about the intersection of 59th Avenue SW and Admiral Way SW in recent months. So what’s next? An SDOT representative is on the agenda for the Alki Community Council‘s meeting tomorrow night (7 pm Thursday, Alki UCC, 6115 SW Hinds), so if you’re interested, you might want to be there. The scheduling is a followup to discussion at last month’s ACC meeting.

Water Taxi fares rise on March 1st: Here’s what you’ll pay starting then

(WSB photo, July 2017)

A reminder from the King County Department of Transportation today – Water Taxi fares are going up March 1st. From the announcement:

For adults paying with ORCA, the one-way fare will be $5 per rider on the West Seattle route and $5.75 per rider on the Vashon Island route.

Adults paying with cash will pay $5.75 for West Seattle and $6.75 for Vashon Island.

Seniors and riders with disabilities will pay $2.50 for West Seattle and $3 for Vashon Island, a 25-cent increase over current fares.

Youth ORCA users and ORCA LIFT riders will now pay $3.75 a ride for West Seattle (25 cents more per ride) and $4.50 (50 cents more per ride) for Vashon Island. Children 5 years old and under can still ride the Water Taxi for free. To view all fare changes scheduled for March 1, visit our website and choose a route.

The fare policy was established when the Water Taxi operated under the King County Ferry District and was then adopted by King County. Fare increases have taken place every two years since 2012. Fare revenue helps King County meet fare box recovery targets and keep pace with rising costs to deliver safe, reliable and efficient Water Taxi service.

The King County Water Taxi continues to grow in popularity, providing riders with a congestion-free commute into downtown Seattle. In 2017, the Water Taxi carried nearly 600,000 riders combined on the West Seattle and Vashon Island routes. These two routes combined for more than 13,300 annual trip segments with over a 99-percent reliability rating.

Two more Water Taxi notes: The 5-day-a-week winter schedule runs through the end of March; and as noted in our morning commute coverage, remember that the Water Taxi will not be in service next Monday (Presidents Day).

ADDED 2:54 PM: We confirmed with KCDOT’s Brent Champaco that the spring/summer Water Taxi schedule really is starting on a Thursday (March 29th), different from years past. He explains that the date was chosen because it’s the Mariners’ home opener.

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Officers find car-prowl loot after arresting burglary suspect

11:55 AM: Just in from Seattle Police – word of a burglary suspect arrested at a for-sale house, where officers also found items stolen in recent local car prowls:

Shortly before 6:00 pm (Tuesday), officers responded to a reported burglary in the 6300 block of 36th Avenue SW. The homeowner had gone to the house, which was unoccupied but staged for sale, and discovered drug paraphernalia inside. The homeowner immediately left the house and called 911. Officers searched the home and arrested a 36-year-old man inside. The suspect was in possession of a number of identification cards, personal checks, a laptop and other apparent stolen property. Some of the items located inside the house were taken in recent vehicle prowls in West Seattle. Officers were able to return those items to their rightful owners.

The suspect was interviewed by Major Crimes Task Force detectives before he was booked into the King County Jail for investigation of burglary and several counts of possession of stolen property.

ADDED 12:05 PM: Just looked up the suspect on the jail register. It’s the fourth time he’s been in jail since the start of the year – the register shows an arrest earlier this month for investigation of vehicle theft, an arrest in mid-January for investigation of possession of stolen property, and an arrest in early January for investigation of vehicle theft. It does not appear, checking court records, that prosecutors have yet charged him in any of those cases, nor does he appear to have a prior felony record in this state.

West Seattle Wednesday: Events you might love, on this Valentine’s day/night

Happy Valentine’s Day! And thanks to Mary for the photo of a neighbor’s work at the 17th/Cloverdale traffic circle. Now on to WSB West Seattle Event Calendar highlights for the rest of your Wednesday:

DAY OF REMEMBRANCE: Day of Remembrance Presentation by UW professor Dr. Gail Nomura, noon-1 pm at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) in the Olympic Hall Theater on the south end of campus.

This year is the 30th anniversary of the passing of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which provided redress for Japanese Americans forcibly removed and incarcerated in WW II. Dr. Nomura will reflect on the injustices and hardships of the incarceration and discuss how it relates to our society today. She will also highlight individuals who challenged the incarceration—including Gordon Hirabayashi who is featured in “Ancestry Is Not a Crime,” a photo exhibit on display in our library for the month of February. The exhibit is on loan from the Seattle University Law Library.

Admission is free and open to all. (6000 16th SW)

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AT THE MOVIES: 1 pm matinée at the Senior Center of West Seattle. This week, it’s 1945’s “The Southerner.” More info here. (4217 SW Oregon)

TINKERLAB DROP-IN: Robots are starring in this afternoon’s drop-in Tinkerlab session at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 2:30-4 pm. All ages welcome. (2306 42nd SW)

BASKETBALL: Seattle Lutheran High School‘s girls are in the playoffs and hosting Friday Harbor at the SLHS gym this afternoon, 4:45 pm. (4100 SW Genesee)

FERRY CEREMONY: If you want to get way into the Valentine’s Day mood, be on the 5:10 pm state ferry from Fauntleroy to Vashon and Southworth – we’re told a couple that’s been married five years will be renewing their vows, with the help of a radio DJ, and everyone’s invited to the ceremony. Free treats, too.

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: Our area’s largest political organization meets at 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy. The agenda – which you can see in full in the latest newsletter (PDF) – includes discussions of the homelessness crisis and “safe injection sites.” (9131 California SW)

POETRYBRIDGE: Get poetic tonight, 7 pm, with the monthly PoetryBridge event at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). Michael Hickey and Michael Butz are this month’s featured readers. (5612 California SW)

MURDER MYSTERY DINNER: 7 pm cocktails, 7:30 pm dinner/performance of “Death at the Disco” – something unusual for your Valentine’s Day dinner. Check to see if any tickets remain. At The Sanctuary at Admiral. (42nd/Lander)

JUST THE START! See more highlights for today, tonight, beyond, by going here.

YOUR VOICE, YOUR CHOICE: City gets 1,000 more park/street grant ideas; here’s how to help narrow down the list

February 14, 2018 9:33 am
|    Comments Off on YOUR VOICE, YOUR CHOICE: City gets 1,000 more park/street grant ideas; here’s how to help narrow down the list
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

For the second year, the city invited park/street grant ideas through what it calls “Your Voice, Your Choice” – and citywide, it’s just been announced, 1,000 new ideas came in, in addition to almost 400 ideas getting rolled over from last year. Next up, you’re invited to “project development” meetings to help narrow the list down (which is also being done right now through city staff’s feasibility reviewing). Here’s where and when the meetings are in District 1 (West Seattle/South Park):

February 26, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
South Seattle College, Chan Education Center, Rm 202 – 6000 16th Ave SW

February 27, 6 – 8 pm
South Park Community Center – 8319 8th Ave S

March 12, 10 am – 12 pm
Southwest Youth and Family Services – 4555 Delridge Way SW

March 14, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
West Seattle Branch Library – 2306 42nd Ave SW

March 26, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Southwest Branch Library – 9010 35th Ave SW

The “project development” process is explained here. After that, there’ll be a list you can vote on, so stay tuned for that in June-July. The citywide fund this year for all projects totals $3 million.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch

February 14, 2018 6:50 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

6:50 AM: Good morning! Just checked around – no incidents reported in/from West Seattle.

Note that next Monday (February 19th) is Presidents Day; no Water Taxi, and Metro will be on “reduced weekday” service. It’s also the start of a week off – mid-winter break – for Seattle Public Schools.

7:32 AM: From SDOT: “Stalled vehicle on West Seattle Bridge EB at Delridge Way SW blocking left lane.”

7:55 AM: Cleared.