West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
(Thanks to Don Brubeck for sharing the photo of girders for ongoing Highway 99 work; no closures this weekend, but the Viaduct shuts down NEXT weekend, 5/18 and 5/19)
Happy Friday and welcome to what is forecast as nonstop sunshine, including for all of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (presented by WSB) tomorrow – here are the calendar highlights:
SEN. MURRAY VISITS SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE: It’s “Civics Week” on campus, and today that’s highlighted by a visit from U.S. Senator Patty Murray, who will speak at 11 am at the clock-tower plaza, at a rally for the Student Loan Interest Act.
ALSO AT SSCC: The Northwest Wine Academy’s having a pre-Mother’s Day wine event, noon-5 pm, including Mother’s Day-suitable gift baskets.
TRUNK SHOWS AND WINE IN THE JUNCTION: Several reasons to go shopping this afternoon/evening, including a trunk shows/refreshments event at CAPERS 3-7 pm and this week’s tasting at Bin 41, with winemaker Justin Neufeld of JB Neufeld, 6-7:30 pm.
‘THE REHEARSAL ROOM’ AT SEALTH: Opening night for Chief Sealth International High School‘s first student musical since moving back into its renovated campus fall before last – with its auditorium as a centerpiece. Tonight through Sunday, you’re invited to see and hear “The Rehearsal Room,” 7:30 tonight and tomorrow, with a Sunday 2 pm matinee. It’s an original script, with songs old and new that you’ll recognize. Tickets are available online.
‘BYE BYE BIRDIE’ AT WSHS: It’s the second night for West Seattle High School‘s spring musical, which runs two weekends, 7:30 tonight and 8 pm tomorrow (the Saturday show can be seen either separate from or as part of the “Westside Taste of the Arts” special benefit event – full schedule, ticket information, and more, all on the Westside Drama website.
HOUSE CONCERT ON PUGET RIDGE: Emily and Al Cantrell, with storyteller Auntmama, headline a house concert at Puget Ridge Cohousing, 7:30 pm – details here.
BELLS OF THE SOUND AT TIBBETTS: The handbell choir’s “All That Jazz” choir is tonight at 8 at Tibbetts United Methodist Church; details in the event-calender listing.
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE DAY EVE: Tomorrow, enjoy the sunshine by exploring the 245 mapped sales around the peninsula – go see what’s in your neighborhood, go explore neighborhoods you haven’t been to before, go to the multi-seller sites at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse and C & P Coffee Company (both WSB sellers), visit the many benefit sales (all listed on the maps, but we’ll have a breakout list later today) … so many ways to enjoy the event, 9 am-3 pm Saturday. You’ll find the online and printable maps here (the former is updated with three last-minute cancellations, so if there are specific sales that interest you, please cross-check the number with the list on the right side of the online map).
Preview the rest of the weekend via the calendar!
The WSB Forums have been talking about an event this Sunday at the encampment that calls itself Nickelsville – a double wedding. Early this morning, we received a news release about not only the wedding, but also an open community invitation to what will be the camp’s anniversary celebration – since Sunday will mark exactly one year since the encampment moved back to the vacant publicly owned parcel where it had started in fall of 2008:Read More
At one stop on Thursday night’s monthly edition of West Seattle Art Walk, all eyes were not only on the featured art, but also on an event that’s still two months away – the West Seattle Garden Tour. At Windermere West Seattle in The Junction, WSGT organizers/volunteers gathered to present a $500 check to poster-art contest Sheila Lengle, who, along with her winning creation “Ode to Picasso,” posed with graphic designer and art-show planner Michelle Drewien:
Along with Sheila’s winning work, the creations of 13 runners-up – Megan Thorberg, Lida Enche, Nancy Coleman, Marilyn Van Cleave, Jeffrey Corson, Janet Ramble, Marti Lyttle, Alisa Lahti, Arlys Pederson, Sally Parker-Henderson, Christine Kapet, Mark Levin, and Ann Kendall – are on display at Windermere. The Garden Tour is on July 15th this year (with WSB among the co-sponsors); find out about the featured gardens on the WSGT site.
Over at Wallflower Custom Framing (WSB sponsor) on the ground floor of Mural, facing 42nd SW across from the Safeway end of Jefferson Square, RobRoy Chalmers‘ “The Sporozoan” opened during the Art Walk:
He explains his work here.
And back to California SW, if you didn’t catch her last night, plan on the June Art Walk (June 14th) to go meet paper-cutting artist Hannah Viano at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor):
You can see samples of her work, and find out more, on the Click! website. And our monthly reminder: As is the case with Click!, many Art Walk venues keep the art up all month (and then some!) so you can still take your own “Art Walk” through local businesses – read about highlighted artists/venues on the WSAW website.
SOFTBALL: In 3:30 pm games today, Sealth is scheduled to face Blanchet and West Seattle is scheduled to play Nathan Hale. In Thursday games, according to our partners at the Seattle Times, Sealth fell to Holy Names, 19-1, while West Seattle beat Seattle Prep, 9-6.
BASEBALL: West Seattle and Chief Sealth both had games at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center. The Seahawks came away with a win:
(Photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
They edged Ingraham, 3-2 (here are the stats); the Wildcats shut out Nathan Hale 10-0:
Both play again today – West Seattle vs. Prep (at 4 pm – just verified that with the school), and Sealth vs. O’Dea.
The Chief Sealth International High School boys-varsity soccer team is in the state tournament, after shutting out Bishop Blanchet in conference-tournament play at Interbay on Thursday, 3-0. That’s another shutout for keeper Kristian Nilssen; here’s the rest of the game summary from our partners at the Seattle Times.
9:49 AM UPDATE: According to Sealth athletic director Sam Reed, Sealth’s first state-tournament game will be on Tuesday – details TBA.
Students from Fauntleroy’s Little Pilgrim School are the latest to release salmon fry into Fauntleroy Creek, where volunteer Dennis Hinton says about 1,000 of the little coho have been released since May 1st (we covered the season’s first student release that day, with Westside School (WSB sponsor) visiting – here’s the story). Dennis reports that about 260 students have been to the creek for releases so far, and there will be more through the end of the month:
The program is coordinated by volunteer creek stewards. Most of these fry have been raised in the classrooms since January. Creek stewards have also been monitoring the number of coho smolt. These are fish the kids released in the creek last May, have survived for about a year, and are now headed downstream to the saltwater. As of today
115 smolt had been counted. The smolt count will also wind up May 30.
Here’s a look at some of those smolt:
After a year in the creek, Dennis says, they are generally three to five inches long. In the fall, volunteers watch again for returning fish; you can find out more about Fauntleroy Creek here.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports this evening:
Sometime last night after 5 pm and before 6 am today, my mom’s car was stolen. It’s a 1989 Toyota Camry black 4 door Front passenger hub cap missing. Parked (legally) on the street in the 6300 block of 42nd Ave SW. Impound has been checked and police report made. She just wants it back. Unemployed and just enough insurance to not get a ticket!
From Walt:
I would like to pass on some car prowls that happened on our block. 2 vehicles were broken into in the block of 42nd & 102nd, Arbor Heights neighborhood. Apparently early morning 5-9-12.
P.S. The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets next Tuesday (May 15th) at the Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster), 7 pm, with a victims’-rights advocate as special guest.
OK, we can’t guarantee it’s a bargain – perhaps in the garage-sale tradition, they’ll negotiate – but it IS a boat and it’s one of the most unusual items listed for sale in the short “ads” that accompany the map for this Saturday’s 245+-sale West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – Nicholas, sale #194 at 4036 SW Henderson in Fauntleroy, e-mailed the photo, writing, ‘Among the interesting items left behind by the former owners of our house was this model of a Chris Craft(?) boat. It’s all hand-crafted from wood and probably dates from the 1950s or 1960s.” Other sellers have been posting photos of slightly less unusual items on the WSCGSD Facebook page; check the page, check the maps (find the clickable/zoomable and printable versions both here), and if you’re not among the sellers, get ready for a shop-a-thon all over the peninsula 9 am-3 pm Saturday. Keep tabs on that page and/or the official WSCGSD website (westseattlegaragesale.com) tomorrow and Saturday, for map pages, special announcements, you just never know. The weather still looks GREAT!
Congratulations to West Seattle resident, city adviser, retired judge, former deputy mayor (among many other achievements) Anne Levinson, just announced as the first recipient of the Nancy Nordhoff Civic Leadership Award. CityClub will present the award at its 30th anniversary gala next month; the award’s namesake is a co-founder of CityClub, whose executive director Diane Douglas says in the news release announcing the award, “CityClub is pleased to recognize Anne Levinson with this first award. Anne works tirelessly for justice and equity. She is wise and generous. She leads by example and inspires others. She shares so many qualities exemplified by Nancy Nordhoff.” You can read the full announcement on CityClub’s site.
2:03 PM: One man is in the hospital and one person in custody after a stabbing at a home in the 7500 block of 21st SW. Seattle Police say the 911 call came from a woman saying her 18 and 20-year-old sons were arguing – it somehow got out of hand and a third person, a 29-year-old man, ended up with a stab wound to his “upper back area.” One person was arrested; seven people were in the house at the time of the incident, we are told, and police are still sorting it all out.
ADDED 3:18 PM: Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore says the victim was in serious condition when taken to the hospital.
Thanks to David DeSiga for that view of Air Force One touching down at Boeing Field this past hour (see more of his photos on the WSB Facebook page). Half an hour ago, President Obama’s motorcade headed eastward on 520 for his first of two major fundraising stops, a private event. WSDOT caught this screengrab of the motorcade on the otherwise-empty northbound I-5 deck:
Later in the afternoon, the president heads to downtown Seattle for a fundraising event at the Paramount. Remember that there are some downtown bus and street effects as a result. He’s scheduled to leave Boeing Field in the 4 pm hour, off to Southern California. If there are any additional advisories or unexpected problems, we’ll update this story.
10:30 PM: All went smoothly, by the accounts we’ve seen; he left shortly after 4 pm. We have a few more photos to add, first from Doug B:
You can see more of Doug’s work via Flickr. Then, as Air Force One soared over West Seattle, Mike Russell caught this view:
And back at Boeing Field, Leann photographed this vehicle:
Our partners at the Seattle Times have a wrapup of what the president said and did today, while NOT at the airport.
Much of the time, you don’t find out much about an initiative till signature gatherers show up on corners and outside businesses, asking you to take a look and consider signing. The group behind proposed Seattle Initiative 103 – meant as a counter to the so-called “corporate personhood” ruling – is organizing meetups in neighborhoods around the city, and sent word of one set for May 21st in West Seattle – read on:Read More
One more reminder, since our letter carrier just delivered our special blue bag for “Stamp Out Hunger” on Saturday, and we’ve got it filled up and ready to go (at right, it’s posed in the not-so-high-tech WSB HQ kitchen-counter equipment-charging center) … Besides being West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (maps here!), Saturday is also the National Association of Letter Carriers‘ huge one-day-only nationwide food drive, and all you have to do is load up the blue bag (OR a regular grocery bag if you don’t get the special one) and, this Saturday morning, leave it by your mailbox, or your door if that’s where you get mail delivered. This is the 20th year for Stamp Out Hunger – read more about it here, and make this really simple good deed part of what promises to be a spectacular Saturday (May 12th).
(WSB photo from April 22nd)
It was high noon on a sunny Sunday last month when a man walked into John’s Corner Deli at 35th/Webster, robbed the store, and got away. Now, two and a half weeks later, there’s news of an arrest – from SPD Blotter:
… Detectives received information from Yakima possibly identifying the suspect. The suspect was already in the Yakima County Jail on a different matter. A robbery detective showed the victim a photo lineup and the suspect was positively identified. The detective travelled to Yakima and took custody of the 39 year old suspect. He was brought back to Seattle where he was interviewed and then booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Robbery. The Robbery Unit will continue to investigate this case.
Read the full SPD Blotter report here.
(WSB video of entire hearing, added 10:57 am)
ORIGINAL 8:49 AM REPORT: We are in the courtroom of King County Superior Court Judge Joan DuBuque, where Brandon Chaney has been brought in, in jailhouse orange-red, to be sentenced. He is the last of four defendants to be sentenced in the February 2009 murder of 
lifelong West Seattleite Steve Bushaw (right). Chaney was the getaway driver the night two men shot and killed Mr. Bushaw in The Junction on Super Bowl Sunday night in 2009, in retribution for another crime in which it was “mistakenly believed,” as prosecutors put it, “that (the victim) was involved.” As first reported here one week ago, Chaney, whose case ended in a mistrial last summer, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and “felony rendering of criminal assistance.” and We will publish updates as this unfolds.
8:50 AM UPDATE: Prosecutor Jeff Baird is recapping the longrunning case, briefly, noting that the other defendants were sent to prison for murder in this “senseless and tragic,” as he describes it, case. Members of Mr. Bushaw’s family are here, and his mother will address the court, Baird says. Prosecutors are recommending the high end of the ranges for the two charges – 34 months and 14 months, to be served concurrently, plus a 36-month penalty because a gun was involved, 70 months total. Chaney would get credit for time served; arrests were made in late 2009, 10 months after the murder.
8:55 AM UPDATE: “My son was just paving his way in the world – his whole life was ahead of him,” Meg Bushaw has begun her remarks to the court, saying her life “was forever changed by this tragedy,” as has been that of her family. “Let justice be served… Only Brandon really knows how involved he was with this, and I hope he lives with this the rest of their life. I hope he knows who did the home invasion, because everyone in this courtroom knows it wasn’t our son. May he know the depth of our sorrow for the rest of his life. I hope he learns what is right and wrong … Finally today my family and I will have closure to this nightmare.”
8:57 AM UPDATE: The lead detective in the case, James Cooper, is now speaking. “We know what led to the death of Steve Bushaw,” he said, going on to say that Chaney was solely responsible for choices he made in this case, and saying that he wants him to at least get the high end. “I speak for the ones who can’t… I speak today for Steve Bushaw.” Cooper thinks Chaney should be sentenced to 120 months – 10 years – far beyond the high end of the “range.” He was followed by Chaney’s current lawyer, not the same one who represented him during the trial last year. He said neither Chaney nor any of the other three “had ‘killer’ stamped all over them,” and that in everything he read of the case’s background, it simply made no sense that this happened. Chaney spoke briefly, after his lawyer read an excerpt from a letter of apology that he wrote.
9:01 AM UPDATE: Judge DuBuque is speaking now, about the “lives shattered … a tragedy of unmeasurable proportions, the effect that this has had on the community.” She is sentencing him to the 34 months recommended for manslaughter, the 14 months recommended for criminal assistance, and the 36-month firearm enhancement, so with the first two served concurrently, that is the 70-month sentence requested by prosecutors, followed by 18 months of community custody (probation).
9:05 AM UPDATE: And after just a bit more than 15 minutes, the hearing is over, and deputies have put Chaney back in handcuffs and led him out of the courtroom. He had family members here, the judge was told, but none spoke. The other three defendants were all sentenced last year – Bryce Huber, who planned the shooting, was tried with Chaney, and found guilty of first-degree murder, sentenced to 32 years; triggermen John Sylve and Danny O’Neal, who both pleaded guilty to second-degree murder without going to trial, were sentenced to 20 and 15 years respectively. We recorded today’s hearing on video and will add it to this story after uploading it back at headquarters.
Good morning and welcome to a big day/big night!
PRESIDENTIAL VISIT: Though President Obama is not scheduled to visit West Seattle, he won’t be far, so we’re publishing the reminders here – Air Force One is expected at Boeing Field before noon, leaving sometime after 4 pm, and the president’s fundraising stops inbetween include an event at the Paramount downtown, which means closures at a Metro station and on part of Pine Street, as detailed here.
RED DAY AT RIVER CITY: West Seattle’s Keller Williams Realty has its annual “RED Day” volunteer event today, and this time they’ll be working at River City Skate Park in South Park, 735 S. Cloverdale, and all are invited to join in, 9 am-4 pm.
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: Click the image for your full-size walking map for where to go tonight, 6-9 pm, all over the peninsula, FREE! You’ll not only see art on display, at many venues you’ll meet the artists, and/or enjoy refreshments. Art Walk organizers have updated the official WSAW website with highlighted venues/exhibitions. The WSB West Seattle Events Calendar has a few highlights too – including the latest installment of artist RobRoy Chalmers‘ “Sporozoan” at Wallflower Custom Framing (WSB sponsor) on the ground floor of Mural, on 42nd SW across from Jefferson Square. Also, Sheila Lengle‘s winning entry from the West Seattle Garden Tour poster-art contest will be on display, along with runner-up works, at Windermere in The Junction.
K-5 STEM AT BOREN DESIGN TEAM: Here’s the draft agenda for their meeting at 6:15 pm tonight at Madison Middle School.
MURRAY CSO PROJECT DESIGN ADVISORY GROUP: The community advisory group reviewing the sewer-overflow-control project across from Lowman Beach Park meets tonight, 6:30 pm, at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) – info and agenda links here.
YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS: Twelfth Night Productions will celebrate them at Kenyon Hall tonight, 7 pm.
‘BYE BYE BIRDIE’ PREMIERE AT WSHS: Tonight’s the first night of the West Seattle High School spring musical, 7:30 pm in the school theater. Ticket info and more, on the Westside Drama website.
FINAL WEEK FOR ‘EXIT, PURSUED BY A BEAR’: The latest production at ArtsWest is down to its last few performances, including tonight at 7:30 pm.
High-school spring sports are now into postseason play – and here’s some of what’s happened so far (thanks to our partners at the Seattle Times for some of the scores):
(Photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
SOFTBALL: Chief Sealth and West Seattle both played on Wednesday in the Metro League tournament. Sealth won its game against Seattle Prep, 11-4 (photo above), while WSHS lost to Holy Names, 8-7. Both teams play again today – swapping opponents, essentially; their 3:30 pm games are Sealth vs. Holy Names and WSHS vs. Prep.
Meantime, at Interbay:
SOCCER: A hard-fought game on Wednesday between Chief Sealth’s standout team and Bainbridge Island, which just two weeks earlier had been the first team to beat the Seahawks all season.
It took extra time, but Bainbridge defeated Sealth again – this time 1-0. Sealth is scheduled for a game today against Bishop Blanchet.
BASEBALL: There’s a doubleheader at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center today – at 4 pm West Seattle vs. Nathan Hale, followed by Chief Sealth vs Ingraham at 7 pm. Meantime, Seattle Lutheran is scheduled to play Concrete this Saturday, after a big win on Tuesday:
The Saints shut out La Conner in that game, 10-0.
Though we’re still three months away from the primary election, six months away from the general, it was endorsement time tonight at the monthly meeting of the 34th District Democrats, our area’s biggest political group. We recorded the meeting on video and will add that here later, for those interested; if you just want to cut to the chase, read on for the list of who won what, including the group’s vote not to endorse the only West Seattleite running for statewide office:Read More
At Arbor Heights Elementary, a first-grade class isn’t just talking and learning about healthy food – they’re growing it, too, and ready to share their plants with you. Parent Krista Withers shares the news of a plant sale continuing through the end of the week, and a giveaway planned for weekend after next!
All year long our teacher, Marcia Ingerslev, has been focusing on building healthy habits for lifelong nutrition and good health. In addition to cooking in the classroom each Friday, the children from room 16 have been planting, potting, repotting, watering, and caring for many tomato plants.
These plants will be for sale (by donation) after school at the Arbor Heights Playground this week.
Mrs.Ingerslev explains how this will benefit the class, the school and our community here:
“In the cold days of February, the students of room 16 at Arbor Heights planted two flats of tomatoes. With 400 or more sprouts I figured we would get a couple hundred plants.
We are currently at 400 tomato plants, which confirms what I have always known, anything planted and nurtured by a child grows better than when planted by an adult. Some of the plants have been transplanted several times, others are still waiting for a larger home. We will be selling plants until none remain. On May 19th some of my students are going to be at Safeway on Roxbury to share what they have learned about nutrition. They will have a hundred tomato plants to give away. We want families to be able to eat healthy food. This is our small contribution to that end.
If you can’t wait until then or are interested in purchasing (for a donation) more tomato plants, please contact me at mmingerslev@seattleschools.org. 100% of the proceeds go to fund a native-plant garden and our school and to run Room 16’s nutrition program. All of the seeds, pots, and soil were donated. Manpower was provided by first-grade students.”
After-school sales this week are running from about 3:10-4:05 pm. On Saturday, May 19th, Krista tells us, the students’ visit to Roxbury Safeway (Roxbury/26th) will be from 9:30 am-1:30 pm.
In hopes of more context on where the BEX-IV levy plan stands, we went to the School Board work session at district HQ in SODO, following up on the new “draft” $734 million proposal spotlighted here this morning. It has just wrapped up after two hours (half an hour longer than it was scheduled to run) – here are the main points we found noteworthy:Read More
Thanks to the WSB’ers who sent word of these two passings, both announced in the obituaries section of our partners at the Seattle Times:
BOB OCHSNER, 1920-2012: The funeral Mass for Mr. Ochsner is planned for this Friday morning, according to the Times obituary, which you can read in its entirety here. He grew up in West Seattle, graduating from WSHS, and owned Bob Ochsner Cars for 55 years at locations including WS, and was active in organizations including the Rotary Club of West Seattle. His surviving family members include his wife of 59 years. The Friday morning Mass is at 11 am at Our Lady of Fatima, 3218 W. Barrett. You can sign the online memorial guestbook here.
GARY PUTMAN, 1954-2012: It’s been about a year since Mr. Putman’s fight against cancer led to the closure of his West Side Import Repair in The Triangle. Now, this week, comes word that he passed away. According to his Times obituary, Mr. Putman moved to Seattle in 1978 and worked at West Side for 33 years, starting as a mechanic before taking over the business. No memorial service is mentioned; instead, “a gift to your favorite charity or to cancer research” is suggested.
Just in from SDOT:
Overnight closures of the westbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct from SR 99, previously announced for tonight, Wednesday, May 9, and tomorrow, Thursday May 10, have been cancelled. The contractor was able to complete planned work during closures Monday and Tuesday nights.
Other overnight closures of the same westbound lanes are likely next week. Information will be released once details have been finalized.
Just received two traffic alerts – one involving downtown effects of tomorrow’s Seattle visit by President Obama (who made big news today by saying he supports marriage equality), another an update on the Beach Drive road repairs reported here yesterday – read on for both (2:02 PM UPDATE – Metro has changed some of its info – so we’ve updated too):Read More
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