day : 18/06/2018 13 results

Three notes in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:

SCHOOL ARREST: Thanks to the Madison Middle School parent who forwarded the audio of a robocall sent to families by principal Dr. Robert Gary this evening. No accompanying e-mail so far as we’ve heard, so here’s our transcription from the audio:

At approximately 3:55 pm today, in the front of the school, near the bus area, a student was taken into custody by the Seattle Police Department. The situation that the person was taken into custody for was unrelated to any school situation that occurred at Madison. At this time, we don’t have any more information to share. This is a police matter.

After inviting parents to contact him if they have questions, Dr. Gary continued, “Once again, Madison was safe the entire day; the student that was taken into custody was taken into custody by Seattle Police, and it was a situation unrelated to Madison Middle School.” Police online incident lists don’t show anything with Madison’s address so far tonight, so we have no cross-reference on the incident, but will be following up tomorrow. (TUESDAY UPDATE: SPD tells us the case stemmed from a dispute between juveniles. We are still trying to find out more.)

Speaking of followups:

SUNDAY MORNING BURGLARY ATTEMPT: We were tracking multiple incidents early Sunday; one of them was a burglary dispatch to South Delridge/Highland Park. When we looked at the log this morning, we found only one potentially matching incident, and requested the report narrative, which SPD provided as follows:

We responded to a possible occupied burglary call at 90XX 11 Av SW. I contacted the victim, V/XXXXX, at the front door. She said she was asleep in her bedroom. The bedroom is on the N/E corner of the house. XXXXX had her bedroom window (north side) open a few inches.. The window has a lock to prevent it from opening further. XXXXX woke up to a light shining into her bedroom. She looked up and saw a hand reaching through her open window. The hand was moving the curtains a little to the side. XXXXX screamed to her daughter, XXXXX, to call 911. The male moved away from the window and walked out the front gate. He left in a S/B direction. XXXXX did not get a good look at him but described the suspect as a B/M wearing all black. Other units conducted an area search but did not find anyone in the area. We checked the window for fingerprints but did not find any.

This evening, Tweets by Beat – which is catching up from having been down much of the weekend – shows there was another “occupied burglary” call in the 9400 block of 13th SW a little later Sunday morning; we’ll have to pursue that report tomorrow.

And finally:

GREGORY THOMPSON UPDATE: We reported last Friday on the arrest of 28-year-old Gregory L. Thompson on Puget Ridge; police said they recovered stolen fish while seeking Thompson in an unrelated case. No information on that case was available Friday but we’ve obtained the documents from his weekend bail hearing, which explain why he is being held for investigation of tampering. Police allege that last Thursday morning, he shot out the window of a truck he is charged with stealing, “in an apparent attempt to dissuade the victim from testifying.” His bail is currently set at $275,000 – $100,000 for the tampering investigation, the rest related to various cases in which he already is charged. Nothing related to the fish case so far.

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FOLLOWUP: Quieter Alki soon? New standard for vehicle-noise enforcement gets City Council OK

June 18, 2018 9:18 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(SPD’s mobile precinct, seen on Alki this evening)

Will a new standard for excessive vehicle noise – distance instead of decibels – eventually lead to more police enforcement and a quieter Alki (and elsewhere)? The changes proposed by West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold – who explained them at length earlier this month – won final council approval this afternoon. Discussion and voting started 35 minutes into today’s Full Council meeting:

You can find the full legislation here, along with one approved amendment – sponsored by citywide Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, asking for quarterly reports on how the law is being implemented, so they could track any concerns or “unintended consequences.” That passed unanimously; the bill itself had one “no” vote, Councilmember Kshama Sawant, who expressed concerns that the change to a subjective enforcement standard could take an unintended toll on people driving noisy old cars, for example, because that’s all they can afford, though she said she agrees that people have a “right to peace and quiet.” So how long until this facilitates enforcement? Herbold said SPD had committed to a “robust” outreach/information campaign before starting. If you have questions, your next chance to ask police will be at tomorrow (Tuesday) night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).

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Families, Education, Preschool, Promise Levy headed for November ballot

June 18, 2018 7:40 pm

| 50 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

An expanded version of two expiring Seattle levies will be on your ballot this November. From the announcement of today’s unanimous City Council vote:

The Seattle City Council voted 9-0 to approve Mayor Jenny Durkan’s Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise plan to significantly increase the children in preschool, increase investments in K-12, and expand access to college for Seattle public school graduates through the Seattle Promise College Tuition Program.

With both the 2011 Families & Education Levy and 2014 Seattle Preschool Program Levy set to expire this year, Mayor Durkan proposed that the City renew and combine them through a new Families, Education, Preschool and Promise plan. Homeowners of a median-assessed-value property ($665,000 in 2019) would pay approximately $20 each month. For the first time, qualified low-income seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans with a service-connected disability will be eligible for an exemption. Following Mayor Durkan’s signature, the plan will be placed on the ballot for Seattle voters’ consideration in November 2018. …

… As proposed by Mayor Durkan and amended by the City Council, Mayor Durkan’s plan would make seven years of investments to:

Continue the pilot of the Seattle Preschool program and substantially increase the number of children in quality preschool from 1,500 in 2018-19 to 2,500 in 2025-26;

Increase K-12 and community investments in closing the opportunity gap, increasing teacher diversity, providing support services for students experiencing homelessness, and helping students most at risk of dropping out of school;

Continue our strong support for school-based health programs; and

Expand access to college for Seattle public school graduates through support for the Seattle Promise College Tuition Program, which would serve approximately 1,350 high school students participating in college prep and 875 Seattle Promise college students each year.

As of this fall, pre-levy vote, West Seattle High School joins Chief Sealth International High School and four other schools in what started as the 13th Year Promise program, a free year at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor). If the levy passes, all graduating public-high-school seniors in Seattle would be eligible for two free years at any of the Seattle Colleges, not just SSC. Meantime, for a comparison of the levy cost to taxpayers vs. what they’re paying now, it’s $9.36 more a month for that “median homeowner,” according to Councilmember Lorena González.

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COUNTDOWN: West Seattle Junction reuse, recycling, shredding event less than 2 weeks away

June 18, 2018 7:04 pm

| Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: West Seattle Junction reuse, recycling, shredding event less than 2 weeks away

| Environment | West Seattle news

If you have stuff to turn in for reuse/recycling – and/or documents to shred – here’s your less-than-two-weeks-away warning for the West Seattle Junction’s big event, coming up 9 am-1 pm on Saturday, June 30th. Toplines of what will and won’t be accepted are here and here. The West Seattle Junction Association is teaming up with the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Seattle Public Utilities, Waste Management, and Windermere to present this – free – just bring your recyclables and shreddables!

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Crash on westbound West Seattle Bridge

June 18, 2018 5:58 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Thanks to Bill and Katja for the tips via Twitter – there’s a backup on the westbound West Seattle Bridge because of a crash. Bill says a motorcycle went down but it doesn’t look like any serious injuries; to underscore that, no SFD medical callout. No SDOT traffic alert yet so we’re not exactly sure where on the bridge this happened.

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DEVELOPMENT: New proposal for 7617 35th SW

June 18, 2018 4:16 pm

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| Development | Gatewood | West Seattle news

The future of the auto-shop site at 7617 35th SW [map] has long been in play – we noted a real-estate listing five years ago, and it was finally sold in 2016. Now there’s a new redevelopment proposal: A 4-story mixed-use building. Documents in city files say it’s proposed for 6,000 square feet of commercial space, plus 50 apartments and 20 offstreet-parking spaces. LDG Architects is designing the project. It will have to go through the Design Review process, though there’s no date set yet for the first hearing.

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Wondering when West Seattle wading pools open? Here’s the plan!

June 18, 2018 3:01 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(WSB photo)

That’s the wading pool at EC Hughes Playground, which will soon be full of water and happily splashing kids. Not soon enough for the extra-warm weather we’re having early this week, but soon! Here’s where the pools are and when they open:

Lincoln Park North Play Area (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), first day June 23rd, open daily 11 am-8 pm

Delridge Community Center Park (4501 Delridge Way SW), first day June 25th, open Mondays, Tuesdays, Sundays 12 pm-6:30 pm

EC Hughes Playground (2805 SW Holden), first day June 27th, open Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 12 pm-7 pm

Hiawatha Playfield (2700 California SW), first day June 27th, open Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays 12 pm-6:30 pm

Until then (and beyond), Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) continues to be open daily, 11 am-8 pm. You can see the citywide Seattle Parks schedule for wading pools and sprayparks here.

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TIME TO VOTE: 11 Your Voice, Your Choice projects in District 1

June 18, 2018 1:36 pm

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| Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Voting has begun for this year’s Your Voice, Your Choice park and street projects. Voting is broken up by City Council districts, so you’ll be choosing between 11 community-proposed projects in District 1 (West Seattle/South Park). Asterisks, as assigned by the city, denote “projects that are in Equity and Environment Initiative Focus Areas and eligible for an additional $1 million in citywide funding”:

1A. Project # 18-161: Pedestrian Lighting Improvements at SW Morgan St bus stop near South Seattle College

1B. Project # 17-014: Intersection Improvements at Dallas Ave S, 12th Ave S, and Thistle St*

1C. Project # 18-149: Walkway Improvements on S Cloverdale St under SR-99 overpass*

1D. Project # 17-187: Signage Improvements at S Henderson St & 12th Ave S*

1E. Project # 17-125: Improvements between 21st Ave SW and 23rd Ave SW at SW Brandon St

1F. Project # 17-174: Crossing Improvements on California Ave SW and SW College St

1G. Project # 18-167: Improvements on Fauntleroy Way SW & SW Findlay St/SW Brandon St

1H. Project # 17-177: Improvements to basketball courts at Delridge Community Center

1I. Project # 18-1045: Equipment Refurbishment at Puget Boulevard Commons

1J. Project # 18-1043: Benches in Lincoln Park

1K. Project # 17-006: Trail Improvements at Roxhill Park*

(Find the projects on a map here.) To vote online, go here. You’ll be asked for a cell-phone number for a verification code (there are alternate ways to vote if you don’t have one or don’t want to give yours – you can go to a Seattle Public Library branch, for example), and then your name and e-mail address. Voting is open through July 16th.

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From the ‘dumped and likely stolen’ file: Bicycle, swim bag

June 18, 2018 12:08 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two items that seem to be more candidates for the “dumped and likely stolen” rather than our “lost/found/non-pets” section:

BICYCLE FOUND ON ALKI: From Mark:

A 19″ Raleigh C40 hybrid road/mountain bike was recovered along Alki (Saturday). Probably stolen. Respond with bike ID number and color scheme to alkiblockwatch@gmail.com.

SWIM BAG FOUND: From Todd:

We found this swim bag on our front lawn this morning. It’s sitting next to our front door for the owner. Our address: 4000 38th Ave SW

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7 notes for your West Seattle Monday

June 18, 2018 10:40 am

| Comments Off on 7 notes for your West Seattle Monday

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Pigeon Guillemot, photographed in Fauntleroy by Mark Wangerin)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

ALKI COMMUNITY CENTER CLOSURE: Just a reminder, this weeklong closure starts today. (5817 SW Stevens)

DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER: Summer parade season wouldn’t be the same without the All-City Band, directed by Denny International Middle School assistant principal Dr. Marcus Pimpleton. Today/tonight you can support the band by dining at West Seattle MOD Pizza and showing the flyer that’s linked in our calendar listing, 10:30 am-10 pm. (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW)

COLMAN POOL GOES 7 DAYS A WEEK: The short but glorious 7-day-a-week schedule for outdoor, saltwater Colman Pool in Lincoln Park starts today, noon-7 pm. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

ADMISSIONS WORKSHOP: Planning to, or thinking about, attending South Seattle College (WSB sponsor)? You’re invited to a 2-3:30 pm admissions workshop on campus – details in our calendar listing. (6000 16th SW)

DUWAMISH RIVER AUTOMATA: 4-7 pm at Delridge Library:

Be inspired by the past and present stories of people who care for this amazing river by making fun and playful cardboard mechanical toys. Makers will be able to understand simple mechanisms by building cardboard automata, exploring levers, cams, and other mechanisms, as a means to make their mechanical toy work. Presented by Makers of South Seattle. For families with kids ages 8 and up.

(5423 Delridge Way SW)

FREE FAMILY CARNIVAL: The fifth- and sixth-graders of White Center Heights Elementary invite you to come enjoy the school carnival they’ve planned, with a variety of fun STEAM activities! All welcome, 4:30-6:30 pm – more info in our calendar listing. (10015 6th SW)

MADISON CONCERT: 7 pm end-of-year concert by Madison Middle School‘s band, in the school commons. (3429 45th SW)

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Need to catch up? Summer school in West Seattle, free, for all high-school students who need it

June 18, 2018 9:44 am

| Comments Off on Need to catch up? Summer school in West Seattle, free, for all high-school students who need it

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The announcement is from Sandi Whiton, academic dean and summer school administrator at West Seattle High School, but she stresses that ALL high-school students in West Seattle – not just WSHS – are eligible:

West Seattle High School has received a $92,000 grant to fund credit recovery at summer school for high school students in West Seattle for 2 years, for a total of $184,000. This was a competitive grant and is funded by the City of Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning, so we’re proud to have been awarded it to help all the high school students in our area. Historically, students have had to travel to either Cleveland or Roosevelt to access credit recovery, so this is a wonderful thing for all West Seattle students, regardless of their home high school.

Our goals are to help the students of West Seattle catch up on their credits, improve their GPAs through credit replacement, and to create a fresh start for themselves by getting caught up on their grades and mastering the academic skills they will need to finish high school strong and perform well in college and beyond. It’s only for 3 ½ weeks, so all you have to do is commit to that, come, and learn! You’ll still have all of August free to enjoy the rest of your summer, and you’ll start next year ON TIME to graduate!

I wrote the article/information below to share with all of West Seattle. I’m super proud to have gotten this grant for ALL West Seattle students! Please post it if you can. Thanks so much! Sandi Whiton, Academic Dean and Summer School Administrator, West Seattle High School.

West Seattle High School has received at $92,000 grant to fund credit recovery at summer school for high school students in West Seattle for 2 years, for a total of $184,000. This was a competitive grant and is funded by the City of Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning, so we’re proud to have been awarded it to help all the high school students in our area. Historically, students have had to travel to either Cleveland or Roosevelt to access credit recovery, so this is a wonderful thing for all West Seattle students, regardless of their home high school.

Our goals are to help the students of West Seattle catch up on their credits, improve their GPAs through credit replacement, and to create a fresh start for themselves by getting caught up on their grades and mastering the academic skills they will need to finish high school strong and perform well in college and beyond. It’s only for 3 ½ weeks, so all you have to do is commit to that, come, and learn! You’ll still have all of August free to enjoy the rest of your summer, and you’ll start next year ON TIME to graduate!

Here are the details:

Dates: July 9-31
Cost: Free to all students, both online and classes
Classes: M-Th 11-12:15 and 1-4
Tutoring: M-Th 10-11 and F 10-12

Classes Offered:

Algebra 1 and 2, both semesters
Geometry
Chemistry
Biology (online)
LA 9, 10, 11, and 12, both semesters
WH 1, 2, and 3
American History A and B
Government
WA state history
Intro to Programming
PE (online)
Health (online)
SAT Prep

Other information:

We can also offer ELL and modified classes with some guidance from the case managers and counselors.
If a student needs a class that we’re not able to offer, we can try to get them online. They would need to send an email to sswhiton@seattleschools.org to check on the availability.
Attendance is mandatory. You will be allowed 3 absences, but you must make them up at either morning or Friday tutorial. If not, you will not receive a grade for your class.
Students will receive Orca Cards to help with transportation.
Students can enroll in 3 classes to get up to a 3.0 in credit recovery.

This is open to all high school students in West Seattle until it’s full. We’ll accommodate all that we can.

All work is project-based and in class with little to no homework, so be prepared for an AWESOME time!

We’re excited to offer this to our West Seattle students! Please check with your counselor to make sure you know which classes you need, then complete and return the registration sheet to the West Seattle High School office by June 26th for priority scheduling. If you have any additional questions, please email Sandi Whiton, Program Administrator, at sswhiton@seattleschools.org or Amy Doll, Program Manager at asdoll@seattleschools.org

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday watch

June 18, 2018 7:02 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

7:02 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far.

ROAD WORK REMINDERS: The Harbor/Spokane project continues, and detours for those biking/walking on the Alki Trail start today, as reported here … Also scheduled to start today, a closure of a section of Marine View Drive because of a City Light project.

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West Seattle weekend scene: C & P Coffee party pours a cup of gratitude

June 18, 2018 12:29 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Pete and Cameron Moores, proprietors of C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), presided over a party Sunday – to say “thank you.”

Signs like that one in the shop invited customers to celebrate the coffee house’s future, secured back in March when the couple bought it from their longtime landlords, who had put it on the market in January, promoted as a “terrific development opportunity.” Crowdfunding and more ensued, culminating in the $1,265,000 purchase. Sunday’s celebration included cake, the Marination food truck, and even a poem:

That was a collaboration between poets who have participated in PoetryBridge readings, among the many regular events at C & P (you can see their calendar here). We stopped by late in the party, so we asked Cameron if we’d missed any big announcements; no, she said, it was just all about the gratitude

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