West Seattle, Washington
17 Friday
7:27 PM: Quick West Seattle Crime Watch reader report – somebody just stole a statue of Buddha out of a front yard in Upper Fauntleroy, put it in a car and drove away. The statue’s owner has already called police and says it was a blonde-haired man in his 20s, driving a blue Subaru Legacy or Outback, last seen headed southbound on 40th SW.
7:54 PM: Statue photo added.
Love wine? Love sidewalks? Love solar power? Support all of the above – and then some – by attending and/or sponsoring Highland Park Uncorked. It’s happening three weeks from tonight (Saturday, May 16th) at Highland Park Improvement Club. Here’s how it works:
Each person brings a bottle of their favorite wine, priced at $15 or less. You are assigned a table. The bottle is placed in a brown paper bag, given a number and eventually placed somewhere on your assigned table. You don’t worry about that, as you relax with the wines from the award-winning Northwest Wine Academy, mingle with your neighbors, and munch on a wonderful spread of food prepared by our talented gastronomes.
When the tasting starts, you will go to your assigned table and your table captain will walk you through the process. Everybody tastes the wines that each person at their table brought and end up voting for the best. The winning wine from your table progresses to the finals where they are all tasted and the top three are chosen. There is still lots of wine at your table to further “examine” and enjoy with your tablemates.
Raffles too, and something new – the “Wine Aroma Challenge“! Find more details about Highland Park Uncorked here. Oh, and about the sidewalks? HPIC is raising money not just to support its ongoing operations as a community hub and event venue, but also to help with grounds improvements for its almost-century-old site at 12th/Holden. It’s received grants and donations for raingardens, a cistern, a courtyard, and future solar panels – but it’s also (as explained and shown here) had to spend more than $15,000 to fix broken sections of sidewalk and to replace part of its roof. Every bit of fundraising helps, HPIC says. So:
*Want to be a sponsor? (WSB is signed up to co-sponsor again this year.) Go here.
*Just want to save a spot at the table? Go here – HP Uncorked has sold out in advance in previous years, so don’t gamble on just showing up at the door.
Interested in golf? The West Seattle Women’s Golf Club is getting the word out that they “welcome women of all abilities for fun, camaraderie, and friendly competition.” The photo above is from earlier this month, when a team from the club traveled (with club pro Colin Gants) to Bellevue Golf Course for a competition, described as “a fun day and a close match.” If you’re interested in joining the club, e-mail Corinne Burr at CBurr@johnlscott.com to find out more.
We can just about guarantee that the West Seattle Rock and Gem Show is the only place in town you’ll find working clothespins made from rocks. Another unique feature: If you’ve already checked out some of the earlier events and are looking for something continuing into the late afternoon, here you go, free and fun until 5 pm (and again tomorrow, 10 till 5). Along with displays, you’ll find demonstrations, and people happy to explain what they do:
Lots of parking, too, if you’re driving – the West Seattle Rock Club (WSB sponsor) is presenting the show at the Alki Masonic Center at 40th and Edmunds.
(UPDATED SUNDAY NIGHT with confirmation car was stolen)
Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch today:
BEE GARDEN VANDALISM: When volunteers arrived for today’s work party at the West Seattle Bee Garden, they discovered that mosaic sign made by students at West Seattle Elementary had been vandalized overnight. Christine sent the photo and says someone threw a brick into the sign; it’s been reported to police, and, “We hope someone saw something or heard something.” They also are hoping someone will offer to help repair it. We’ll be following up on this; if you can help with repairs, westseattlebeegarden@gmail.com
STOLEN CAR? A resident who e-mailed recently about ongoing problems in the (updated) 8600 block of 25th SW has a new report today – a suspected stolen car left nearby this morning, after two stolen cars were recovered there recently.
“Police were called and agree it’s probably stolen but not reported yet. … Plate AQC4102, 4-door light blue older model Honda with a red disabled plaque hanging from mirror.” Also, the resident reports, a battery was stolen out of a neighbor’s van. (Sunday night update – we found SPD tweet from an hour after we published this, confirming this was a stolen car. Also added photo sent Sunday by resident who spotted it.)
BURGLARY ATTEMPT: From an Arbor Heights resident:
My home (located on 35th SW, near 100th) got broken into on Wed, 4/22. I came home from work to find the glass of the patio sliding door shuttered and the security alarm going off. I called 911 and the police officers came and searched the premises. Looked like nothing had been stolen. I am pretty certain that the sound of the alarm scared off the would be intruder and they fled without taking anything.
Getting the home security system installed turned out to be the best investment I have made to the house!
Not having a door overnight and then dealing with the subsequent repair work the next day to install a brand new set of sliding doors (it turned out, the doors were not standard size so lots of adjustments had to be made around the opening) in pouring rain was pretty annoying but my house was okay and so was I.
The place to go if you’re looking for kid stuff today – the West Seattle Co-op Preschools‘ benefit consignment sale, raising money for the schools’ scholarship fund. If you haven’t already been, you have until 1 pm, at the VFW Hall (3601 SW Alaska), to find clothes, toys, and more, big and small:
Find out more about the Co-op Preschools program, which serves kids from infancy through kindergarten, by going here.
The West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) is looking to its future, with the upcoming expansion, so it’s no surprise we found an “astronaut” there as Healthy Kids Day got going this morning. Even the dunk tank has gone high tech:
That’s Josh Sutton from the Y, who’s wearing a GoPro camera to capture the dunk-tank action this time around. Healthy Kids Day is on for another hour, until 1 pm, and along with a long list of free, fun activities, you can meet some local business folks like the West Seattle School of Rock (also a WSB sponsor):
The Y’s at 36th SW and SW Snoqualmie in The Triangle.
(Photo by Yuri Levchenko, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
So much happening today/tonight!
POST-EARTH DAY CLEANUP AT HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY: 9 am-noon, come help Highland Park Elementary School in honor of Earth Day. Meet on the blacktop behind the school; coffee and treats provided. (1012 SW Trenton)
HEALTHY KIDS’ DAY: 10 am-1 pm, the annual fun fest at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) – see the list of activities here – all free. (36th/Snoqualmie)
WESTSIDE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-noon, come find out more about Westside School (WSB sponsor) *at its current campus* (but questions about its new one are welcome). More info on the school website. (7740 34th SW)
HELP OUT AT THE BEE GARDEN: Just three weeks until this year’s West Seattle Bee Festival. At the WS Bee Garden at High Point Commons Park today:
Lavender, Lilies, Currants and more! Come help us put them in the ground at the Bee Garden Work Party!! 10 am-2 pm. Snacks, drinks, tools, and gloves provided! Go Bees!
(31st/Graham)
ROCK AND GEM SHOW: First of two days for the annual show presented by the West Seattle Rock Club (WSB sponsor) – 10 am-5 pm at the Alki Masonic Center, free admission/parking, displays, activities, more! (40th/Edmunds)
KID-STUFF CONSIGNMENT SALE: 9 am-1 pm, big benefit sale for the West Seattle Co-op Preschools‘ scholarship fund – as previewed here on Friday, more than 4,529 items are up for grabs at the VFW Hall – admission is a $1 donation to the scholarship fund. (3601 SW Alaska)
FAMILY SCAVENGER HUNT/FOREST HIKE: 10 am-noon, presented by the Nature Consortium, at Pigeon Point Park – explained here. (1901 SW Genesee)
PEONY AND BAMBOO FESTIVAL: 10 am-4 pm today and tomorrow at the Seattle Chinese Garden – you’re advised to get there early! (6000 16th SW)
CAMBODIAN NEW YEAR STREET FESTIVAL: 10:30 am-5 pm in White Center – music, dance, other performances, games, contests, free fun. (SW 98th between 15th and 16th SW)
EARTH MONTH BAKE SALE: 11 am-3 pm today and tomorrow at Shanti Salon and Spa in North Admiral. (2138 California SW)
BUY MARINERS TICKETS, HELP WSHS BASEBALL: Noon until ?, West Seattle High School baseball players will be at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) selling tickets for the June 22nd Mariners-Royals game – it’s linked to their annual appearance in the High School Baseball Classic at Safeco Field, as explained here. (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan/42nd)
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AGING/DEMENTIA: 2-3:30 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library – caring for an aging loved one? Get guidance on important topics, as explained in our calendar listing. Free. (2306 42nd SW)
‘CINDERELLA’: Seattle Lutheran High School presents the musical “Cinderella,” in the Menashe Family Gym, 7:30 pm – more info on the school website; tickets at the door. (41st/Genesee)
OWL HOOT: 7:30 pm at Camp Long Environmental Learning Center – but you need to pre-register, so do that ASAP! (5200 35th SW)
‘ANGRY HOUSEWIVES,’ NIGHT 3: 7:30 pm at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor); tickets available online – just a few as of early this am, so hurry! (4711 California SW)
‘PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE’: Twelfth Night Productions presents “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” by Steve Martin, an “Off-Broadway absurdist comedy,” 7:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Tickets are available online. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SIDE GLORY: 8 pm doors, 9 pm show at the Skylark – West Seattle’s queer variety show is back! 21+ only. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
FEEDBACK LOUNGE TURNS 6: Happy anniversary, Feedback Lounge! 9 pm, Unplugged Led Zeppelin tribute as part of the festivities. (6451 California SW)
EVEN MORE HAPPENING TODAY/TONIGHT … see for yourself on our calendar.
2:12 AM: If you’ve heard all the sirens – a car is reported to have flipped under the bridge at Klickitat and Spokane, and that brought out a “heavy rescue” response, though it’s now reported that everyone got out of the car after all.
2:20 AM: One person is being taken to the hospital – by private ambulance, so the injuries are not life-threatening. The car is reported to be on a set of tracks, so they’re contacting BNSF to make sure no train traffic comes through the area while this is being handled.
Baseball rematch at Hiawatha on Friday afternoon for West Seattle High School and Bainbridge Island High School. Thanks to Caryn Johnson for the photos and report:
Friday afternoon was the rematch of the two teams that met on Wednesday, West Seattle vs Bainbridge Island,. Freshman Anthony Coats [top photo] started on the mound for WS. The Bainbridge Island bats came out firing and in the first inning had three hits including a three-run home run, but West Seattle would answer back in the bottom of the 1st with an RBI single by senior Jordan Sagmoen. After the first inning, Anthony would settle down and pitch another two innings, only giving up one more run.
In the bottom of the 5th inning, West Seattle would get two more runs off a deep home run hit by Morgan McCullough [photo above]. This would put the score at the end of the 5th inning at 4-3, Bainbridge up. But that would be as close as it would get. Bainbridge Island (ranked #9 in Washington State) would open it up and end up winning 16-3.
Next game is the matchup of the local schools, West Seattle vs Chief Sealth, Monday at 4:00 at Southwest Athletic Complex.
P.S. Around noon today (Saturday), you’ll find some of the WSHS players at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) selling tickets for the June 22nd Mariners-Royals game – it’s related to their annual appearance in the High School Baseball Classic at Safeco Field, as explained here. If you want tickets but can’t make it to the store, e-mail wshsmarinerstickets@gmail.com and they’ll make it happen.
Taking a late-night look at the official city webpage listing who’s campaigning and who’s not … we see another candidate has left the District 1 City Council race: David Ishii. No public statement that we’ve seen, so we don’t know why. Ishii, a West Seattle resident, filed last fall for an intended District 1 run, then moved to an at-large race, then moved over to District 1 (West Seattle/South Park) in March, but didn’t participate in either of the two candidate forums held since then.
Three weeks remain for anyone interested in filing to be on the August primary ballot – May 15th is the deadline. With the departures of Ishii on Friday and Tom Koch on Thursday, the current slate of candidates:
CURRENT D-1 CANDIDATES: Pavel Goberman (declared 3/5/2015), , Lisa Herbold (declared 2/11/15), Shannon Braddock (declared 2/11/15), Brianna Thomas (declared 2/11/15), Phillip Tavel (declared 2/4/15), George Capestany (declared 11/11/14), Amanda Kay Helmick (declared 10/20/14), Chas Redmond (declared 12/20/13). Filing deadline is May 15th; primary election is August 4th. Along with voting on the D-1 position, West Seattle/South Park also will vote on the two “at-large” spots, Positions 8 and 9.
Saturday, May 9th, will be the 11th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day and the biggest one ever. 
By the time registration closed late last night, more than 320 sales had signed up! All sizes, from individual homes to organizations/schools/businesses and multi-seller sites (including WSB sponsors Hotwire Online Coffeehouse and C & P Coffee Company), to block sales around the peninsula. WSB has coordinated WSCGSD since its fourth year (2008); here’s our update on what happens now:
*We are finalizing the list so we can make the map, which debuts on May 2nd so shoppers have a week to plan ahead – the clickable and printable/downloadable versions will be featured here on WSB and on westseattlegaragesale.com.
*If you’re a seller, please check that you got both receipts, the confirmation from us AND the registration-fee receipt from PayPal (which would be via our LLC name, A Drink of Water and a Story Interactive). If you had problems paying, please e-mail us at garagesale@westseattleblog.com if you don’t hear from us first.
*We’ll be mailing (e- or postal- depending on what you marked on the registration form) info packets to sellers, including the “official participant” sign you are welcome to use with your signage.
*If you need to cancel your sale, please call us – 206-293-6302 – by May 1st so we can take you off the map. After that, last-minute cancellations can be taken off the online map, but not the printable/downloadable version.
*In sale updates over the next week-plus, we’ll have a poster file available for anybody who wants to put one up at their school, workplace, wherever – we promote WSCGSD regionally, and have heard of shoppers coming from hours away, but your help in spreading the word will be awesome. The easiest web address to share is westseattlegaragesale.com, though the map will be here too (and will have a special “tab” under the sunset header).
*If you’re a prospective shopper – watch for the map starting May 2nd, and whether you’re just going to walk around your neighborhood and see who’s selling what, or planning a wider expedition, get ready for a great day. Note that some sellers might start earlier or end later than the 9 am-3 pm window on May 9th – if they provided that information, it’ll be in their “ad” info accompanying the map.
One more note: In years past, we’ve published info from nonprofits making special arrangements for sellers to donate leftovers, and/or inviting people to shop for potential donations of certain items the nonprofit needs, so that WSCGSD can have great community ripple effects beyond the fun of buying/selling. Any org thinking about either of these, please e-mail garagesale@westseattleblog.com ASAP so we can discuss. Thanks!
One week from today, it’s May 1st, the start of Seattle Bike Month (which includes Bike To Work Day on May 15th). If you’re curious what it’s like to commute by bike from West Seattle – or to add it to your transportation options some other way – Monday night (April 27th) at Delridge Branch Library, it’s your chance to find out more. West Seattle Bike Connections is hosting a workshop, 6-7:30 pm. No charge, and no registration required – just show up, 5423 Delridge Way SW.
8:19 PM: The Morgan Junction Starbucks is usually open until 9 pm on Fridays, but not tonight – it’s closed early, and the sign cites “technical difficulties.” It’s one of more than 8,000 stores caught up in an apparent computer glitch of some sort that left their registers inoperable as of a couple hours ago. The company said the stores would close early if they weren’t already closed by the time this hit. No word yet on whether it’ll be fixed for tomorrow. (Thanks to the tipster who indirectly let us know about this by texting to ask why a TV crew was at the Fauntleroy/Avalon Starbucks drive-through. 206-293-6302, text or voice, any time!)
9:40 PM: Starbucks published an update on its website minutes ago saying the problem is “resolved” and they expect stores “to open normally” tomorrow.
In case you forgot about your ballot after it arrived a few weeks ago, now’s the time to vote on its lone measure: The levy to raise money to replace the area’s aged emergency-radio system. It’s a nine-year levy starting with 7 cents for every thousand dollars of property valuation. You can mail your ballot by Tuesday night as long as you use a stamp; if you want to turn it in for free, ballot drop-off vans will be at West Seattle Stadium and White Center’s Greenbridge Library, 10 am-5 pm tomorrow and Monday, 10 am-8 pm on Tuesday.
A revised version of the Transportation Levy to Move Seattle will go to the mayor next Wednesday, according to the report prepared for SDOT director Scott Kubly‘s City Council Transportation Committee briefing a day earlier. The report adds, “Outreach metrics to date include 4,700 survey respondents and over 1,500 people talked to in person through meetings, briefings, and outreach at events like farmers markets.” And in fact, SDOT is scheduled to be at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market again this Sunday (10 am-2 pm, 44th/Alaska), if you have something to say. (Or take the survey ASAP!)
Kubly’s report also includes these notes of West Seattle relevance:
*35th Avenue SW Road Safety Corridor Project: “Final recommendations for 35th will be presented to the community in late May/early June”
*SW Roxbury Street Road Safety Corridor Project: “Staff hosted a lightly attended drop-in session on April 16 … Implementation scheduled to occur starting August 17”
*In a grid laying out upcoming paving work around the city, the only West Seattle spots on the list are two curb-ramp sites on Alki Avenue, scheduled for early May: 1500 and 1700 blocks.
The most detailed West Seattle-related section of the report:
SW Admiral Way (California Ave SW to 63rd Ave SW)
*SDOT staff attended the Admiral Neighborhood Association (ANA) /West Seattle Bike Connections meeting on April 14th*Plan will accommodate existing maximum on-street parking occupancy
*The community briefing was very well attended and set record ANA attendance.
*Community feedback was mixed:
—-Most of the controversy was about the loss of half the on-street parking between 57th and 60th Ave SW and the number of vehicle run-off collisions with parked cars
—-Some people also expressed support for the project because it will provide a safer, calmer connection between Alki and the California Ave SW business district
*Next steps:
—-SDOT staff will repeat the parking occupancy study when the weather is nice to better capture Alki Beach spillover parking
—-SDOT staff will brief the SW District Council on May 6
—-SDOT staff will host a community open house on May 21
—-Installation planned for August 2015
You can see Kubly’s report in its entirety here (PDF). The presentation is scheduled toward the end of the City Council Transportation Committee meeting at 9:30 am next Tuesday (April 28) and will be live on Seattle Channel (online or on cable).
We’re welcoming a brand-new West Seattle business as a new WSB sponsor today. Glow [natural aesthetics] Medispa invites you to its upcoming grand opening!
Glow [natural aesthetics] Medispa and Katherine Dee, MD, are proud to announce the grand opening of West Seattle’s first physician-run medical spa. We provide proven professional medical treatments, non-surgical procedures, and clinical skin-care products to optimize your natural glow. Dr. Dee works with each patient to design a personalized skin plan to enhance your natural beauty, preserve healthy skin and prevent premature aging.
Kate attended Yale for college and medical school, and training at UW and UCSF. She spent the past 16 years as a breast-cancer specialist, receiving Top Doc honors each year since 2011. Kate found her way to aesthetic medicine as a result of 2 intersecting passions: Science and beauty. In her 40s, she found her skin had finally caught up to her age. Active all her life and wanting to stay looking and feeling young, Kate began a dedicated education in aesthetic medicine. Armed with the skills and the knowledge, she decided to help others use the science for themselves. A board-certified physician, she is a member of the GSBA and the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine. Kate and her family have been a part of the West Seattle community for 15 years; she has long desired to practice in the area and is thrilled to be working in and with her community.
What Glow [natural aesthetics] Medispa hears most from our patients is that they want to “age gracefully.” They don’t want to look like they’ve had anything done, but they don’t want to look old! Our clients look refreshed, rested and rejuvenated, as if they have just returned from a relaxing vacation. We can successfully treat fine lines and wrinkles, sagginess, sun damage and pigment problems, spider veins and cherry angiomas, and skin tags. We do this with a range of tools: the right skin-care regimen, botulinum toxin treatment, dermal fillers, microdermabrasion, peels, radiofrequency treatment, microneedling, and PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) – this popular treatment has natural powerful growth factors that stimulate skin cells. Consultations are free!
Please join us for our big open house and to meet Kate (Dr. Dee) in person – there will be refreshments and opportunities to win raffle prizes! Saturday, May 2, 4-7 pm – 5400 California Ave SW.
We thank Glow [natural aesthetics] Medispa 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.
(Looking southward toward the new Westside School campus)
Story by Tracy Record
Photos by Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers
Two and a half years in the planning … seven weeks to “substantial completion” … one year after groundbreaking.
Westside School (WSB sponsor) moves into its new home in Arbor Heights this fall and is now showing off how it’s taken shape.
We toured the construction/renovation site this week with Westside’s head of school Kate Mulligan (above) and assistant head of school Don Cunningham, who has been the “owner’s rep” on the project. (They’re getting ready for an open house tomorrow at Westside’s current location – more on that later.)
First, some backstory: We first reported in November 2012 that Westside was planning to buy what was at the time Hillcrest Presbyterian Church, at 34th SW and SW 104th (map).
Westside, founded in 1981, has been leasing the former EC Hughes Elementary in Sunrise Heights from Seattle Public Schools since 2010, moving there from a former Highline Public Schools building just east of Arbor Heights. So in many ways, this is, as Westside has dubbed the journey of building and moving, “Heading Home” (a theme that figured into its groundbreaking celebration almost exactly a year ago).
The process of transforming the former church – via Sundberg Kennedy Ly-Au Young Architects and general contractor Kirtley-Cole Associates LLC – brought unique opportunities. This wasn’t a teardown project – it’s a remodel and expansion, as is particularly notable from the outside of the former sanctuary, with “pop-out” added space like this:
“We’re excited to repurpose an under-utilized old building,” Mulligan enthuses. “Because (of that), we get a lot of elements a pre-K-8 school doesn’t usually get.”
That includes a gym – already part of the site – and a performing-arts center, which is on what was the choir-loft level and is now a full third level.
The transformation begins outside, where the project includes new sidewalks lining 104th and 34th.
Traffic will enter on 104th and route through the site southbound onto 34th. Queueing will happen on campus, not on the street. The campus has parking as well as an agreement with the New Apostolic Church to the south for overflow use when needed.
34th, on the west side of the campus – where dropoff and pickup will happen – is the street onto which Westside’s grand entrance and lobby are fronting.
Mulligan points out that everyone will come through that entrance.
It’s the season for sales! Early reminder about a big one on Saturday in The Triangle:
Tomorrow the West Seattle Co-op Preschool system will be hosting a spring/summer kids’ consignment sale on April 25 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the West Seattle VFW Hall, 3601 SW Alaska St., to help fund scholarships for families in need.
This sale will be a great way for families to purchase gently used baby/kids gear, spring/summer clothing, toys and books for terrific prices. Currently, 4,529 items are registered for consignment for a total value of $19,732! It’s going to be a sale you won’t want to miss! All proceeds from the sale benefit the scholarship program, helping local needy families send their children to preschool.
More info on the official sale website, and sneak peeks on its Facebook page.
(Barrow’s goldeneyes, photographed at Lowman Beach by Trileigh Tucker)
Great day and night ahead! Here are some reasons why:
WEST SEATTLE GARDEN CLUB: 10 am-2 pm meeting at Daystar building #3, starting with registration (first program begins at 10:30), bring your lunch – details in our listing. (2615 SW Barton)
GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE: If you can donate blood, consider stopping by PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) 10 am-4 pm today (except for the noon-1 break closure) – look for the bus in the parking lot. (California/Stevens)
FREE LUNCH: 11:30 am-1:30 pm, join Seaview United Methodist Church for the free soup-and-sandwich lunch offered every fourth Friday. (4620 SW Graham)
‘ART FOR FOOD’ FOR WC FOOD BANK: 6-8 pm, an art show at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center to benefit the White Center Food Bank, with wine and cheese, and live music by The Ellis Brothers. Tickets online, here. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
FASHION SHOW @ WEST SEATTLE RUNNER: 7-8:30 pm, styles from Oiselle – a Seattle-owned company! – are on the runway at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor). Discounts, bites, more.
REEL PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL: 7 pm, Mountain to Sound Outfitters presents the film festival’s West Seattle stop at Pershing Hall – details in our preview. (37th/Alaska)
‘BOBCAT BOB’: Live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
CAMP FUNDRAISER WITH WEST SEATTLE BIG BAND: 7 pm at Shorewood Christian Church, the West Seattle Big Band is performing at a summer-camp fundraiser – the night starts with dance lessons at 6 pm. Details in our calendar listing. (10300 28th SW)
‘ANGRY HOUSEWIVES,’ NIGHT 2: 7:30 pm at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), your second chance to see the new production of this “feverishly rompy rock-musical.” (4711 California SW)
‘PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE,’ WEEKEND 2: Twelfth Night Productions presents “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” by Steve Martin, an “Off-Broadway absurdist comedy (that) places Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso in a Parisian cafe in 1904,” 7:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Tickets are available online. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
LOOK INTO THE FUTURE … via our calendar, with more for today/tonight and beyond.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning and happy Friday! We start with project notes:
47TH/ADMIRAL SIGNAL: Concrete pouring could start on the south side of the intersection today, for new curbs and sidewalk, if the weather doesn’t interfere. The detailed update is here.
DELRIDGE/ORCHARD PROJECT UPDATE: In case you missed it – we published an update from Seattle Public Utilities, including added traffic effects at Myrtle next week.
And a transportation-news note:
LIGHT RAIL FOR WEST SEATTLE? After its Thursday board meeting, Sound Transit explained what’s next (“major public-involvement effort”) for its work toward the next ballot measure.
9:59 AM: If you’re headed toward 1st through SODO, you might try 4th instead, because of this:
Northbound 1st Ave S is currently blocked after S Lander St by a @SeattleFire response. Use alt routes &expect delays pic.twitter.com/p2w6qBPYTo
— seattledot (@seattledot) April 24, 2015
4:33 PM NOTE: SPU has e-mailed to say the Delridge/Orchard/Myrtle work mentioned earlier has been moved up: “The lane restriction on SW Myrtle St. at 24th Ave. SW has been rescheduled to Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday, April 29 (as opposed to 4/29 and 4/30, as previously announced).”
2:14 AM: Police, including a K-9 team, are searching right now in the Highland Park Elementary vicinity (and beyond). We don’t know what preceded the search but they’re looking for someone who has an arrest warrant on record.
2:49 AM: Sounds like it started with circumstances including a car, a report of a fight, and two people fleeing, including the car’s owner.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Rather than starting with numbers and trends, this afternoon’s affordable-housing forum at the Senior Center of West Seattle cut directly to the heart of the crisis, with two women telling their stories.
They were introduced by the center’s social worker Holly McNeill: “I’ve had an incredible increase in the number of people coming to me each week telling me they’re homeless, or their apartments are being torn down, or they’re being priced out by the landlord or manager in order to upgrade the apartments and turn them around at twice the amount they’re currently being rented at … it’s just happening to so many people.”
First, Nancy:
Nancy got two months notice her studio was going up from 650 to 1590 a month. Had to leave. pic.twitter.com/4JdRIlLHF7
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) April 23, 2015
“I lived in a 9-unit mom-and-pop-type apartment complex.” She thought it would “be there forever.” They told her they were selling the building but “selling it to people just like us” – then, “the new owners who came in and bought the building raised the rents anywhere from 130 to 140 percent – “In a studio apartment, my rent went from $650 to $1500 a month” – the audience groans – “Each unit was going to be responsible for the common area utilities like electric and water,” which was another 93/month. They got two months’ notice. “My first reaction was to go into research mode – my kids always say, mom’s on a mission, get out of her way.” She worked to find out, “is this legal … what are our rights … to no avail, really.” She had had surgeries recently, ended up having to take early retirement. “I don’t really have wiggle room to go from $650 to $1590, that’s even more than I make per month.” So she started “an arduous process” to find someplace else to live – “day and night I was on the computer looking for a place to live.” She finally found somewhere, “not my ultimate, ‘isn’t this great,’ but I accomplished my goal. I had to be out on the 28th of February, or else pay $1590 on the first of March for rent. ”
They were going to make some changes, “lipstick on a pig,” she said, but not until the new rent kicked in. She found a two bedroom, one bath apartment with “some guy I don’t know” – she had “a pit in the bottom of my stomach … I took a leap of faith, and moved in, and I’ve been there two months and he decided this month not to pay his rent, and I just found that out two days ago, and I’m going to be homeless again …”
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