West Seattle, Washington
08 Monday
(WSB file photo)
This Thursday night, you have a chance to find out all about Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in the historic Frank B. Cooper School building, courtesy of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly “After-Hours” event, which this month is open to everyone, not just Chamber members. The announcement:
Typically, After Hours is a members-and-their-guests-only event. However, in August, the event is open to non-members interested in learning more about the WSCC. Join us for drinks and appetizers and find out what all the buzz is about at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
Founded by the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (DNDA) in 2006, the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center is an inclusive, contemporary multi-arts space that incubates and inspires new arts participants, art-makers and organizations from our multicultural, intergenerational communities to engage in civic dialogue and meaningful community transformation.
Youngstown is home to groundbreaking arts education and is a hub of cultural vibrancy in Delridge. Youngstown provides office space for seven outstanding nonprofit organizations (Arts Corps, Nature Consortium, the Service Board, Reel Grrls, Totem Star, Twelfth Night Productions, and the West Seattle Tool Library) as well as a second-chance alternative public high school serving some of Seattle’s highest-need students. DNDA partners with Youngstown tenant organizations and others to drive forward collaborative programming for local youth and adults.
Rentable spaces at Youngstown include the Theater, Movement Studio, Kitchen, Recording Studio, and Classroom spaces, perfect for corporate events, weddings, performances, workshops and meetings. Rentals directly support programming. 36 affordable housing lofts for artists occupy the facility’s top three floors. The building is in the national register of historic spaces and hosts more than 30,000 participants annually.
The event is 5:30-7:30 pm on Thursday (August 27th); Youngstown is at 4408 Delridge Way SW.
(UPDATED WEDNESDAY MORNING with new information from police)
FIRST REPORT, 10:53 PM TUESDAY: An “assault with weapons” response is on the way to 25th/Findlay – and we’re hearing from several people who say they heard multiple gunshots. Per scanner, a male victim has a gunshot wound in his upper leg. Police say they’re finding shell casings. More to come.
11:09 PM: We’ve just arrived at Delridge and Findlay – while most of the SFD response has been dismissed, a private ambulance is here. We hope to find out more from police about scanner traffic suggesting this might be related to a robbery at Hamilton Viewpoint Park in Admiral.
11:28 PM: Police are still trying to sort out what exactly happened and why it all wound up here after starting at the park in Admiral. No one is in custody so far. The victim’s been taken to the hospital and his injuries are not life-threatening. The car he was in is here at Delridge/Findlay and police are talking to possible witnesses.
11:52 PM: As pointed out in comments, there are shell casings on 25th near Puget.
Police are here too and crime tape is up (so if you’re out driving or riding at this hour, 25th is blocked).
12:46 AM: We went by Hamilton Viewpoint Park – no police cruisers with lights on, but there appeared to be an officer with a flashlight; gates were closed and not close enough for us to reach safely, so we’ll have to verify in the morning what if anything was found there, as well as whatever other details police have determined.
SIDE NOTE: While there have been other incidents involving gunfire, this is the first time someone has been shot in West Seattle since this incident near 35th and Morgan more than four months ago. One person was “grazed” in the June road-rage incident that started under the bridge.
ADDED 10:52 AM WEDNESDAY: A few additional details are in what police just posted to SPD Blotter, including the victim’s age and confirmation that shots were fired at Hamilton Viewpoint as well as in North Delridge:
Police are investigating a robbery with shots fired that took place at Hamilton Viewpoint Park in West Seattle last night.
Two men arrived at the park at 10:45 PM to meet with some friends. One of the victims got out of his car and was immediately confronted by a suspect armed with a handgun. The suspect demanded the victim’s backpack and he complied. But when the suspect demanded the victim’s belt, the victim refused. As he started walking back to his car to leave the suspect fired several shots in his direction.
The suspect then ran to a silver or bronze BMW, that was being driven by another male, and drove off southbound from the park. The victims took off after the suspect vehicle and followed them until the 5000 block of 25 Avenue SW where the suspects fired more shots at the victims’ vehicle.
One of the victims, a 19-year-old man, was struck in the leg by a bullet. Medics responded to the scene and he was transported to Harborview Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
(WSB photo of police examining ‘the victim vehicle’)
The victim vehicle also sustained damage from multiple bullets.Officers flooded the area but were unable to locate the suspect vehicle.
The Robbery Unit responded and processed the scene for evidence. Detectives are still working to gather more details about the suspects—the victim described them only as a Samoan male and a white or Hispanic male both in their early 20s. Police are also investigating the nature of the meeting between the suspects and victim.
11:29 AM: Sunbreaks and a pleasant breeze are gracing the opening hour of this year’s Delridge Day festival, presented by VIEWS (Visualizing Increased Engagement in West Seattle). Come join hundreds of your neighbors at Delridge Community Center Park and enjoy live music …
That’s Quarter Past 8, first of today’s four bands. The stage is next to the community center, where you’ll also find two food trucks in the driveway:
Two food trucks at Delridge Day – @314PIESeattle and Yummy Box pic.twitter.com/TpVdlNiiCA
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) August 8, 2015
More to come!
NOON: Hour 2! The skating competition is back this year, and from our booth, we can hear the cheers from the skatepark a few yards away – if you’re not competing, go watch, and cheer!
You can also find out more about a variety of community organizations and projects – for starters, you can talk with city reps about the Delridge Action Plan and the upcoming Find It/Fix It Walk:
Don't miss the @CityofSeattle booth at Delridge Day, including info on 10/3 Find It Fix It walk pic.twitter.com/GswxRpswUB
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) August 8, 2015
You can also come sign up for an ORCA or ORCA LIFT card, find out about becoming a member of the Delridge Grocery Coop (WSB sponsor), and talk with organizations including South Seattle Co-op Preschools (next to our booth), West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network, West Seattle Be Prepared, West Seattle Food Bank (buy a raffle ticket), 34th District Democrats, West Seattle Democratic Women, West Seattle Timebank, and that’s just one row – we have to wander over to take a look at row 2 soon!
12:28 PM: Current Delridge Day visitors include Mayor Murray and Police Chief O’Toole:
And the music continues:
Back over at the Community Center, if someone in your family needs a backpack for school – just go inside! A backpack giveaway is on until 3 pm.
1:30 PM: Time is flying here at the festival – so many cool people. Here are two of them – Seattle Police Explorers, and twin sisters, Christina and Rebecca:
One more reminder that the police “Picnic at the Precinct” is part of Delridge Day again this year and is over on the 26th SW side of the park, including free ice cream, so don’t miss the chance.
(At right, Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith, pitching in with ice-cream operations.) Also here: Straight Blast Gym (WSB sponsor), which is headquartered here in North Delridge – we recorded a quick Instagram clip of the demonstration under way at SBG’s booth:
Straight Blast has classes and programs for all ages. Speaking of spanning age groups – West Seattle Community Orchestras are all about that too, and they also are here:
WSCO’s new season will start in the fall – watch for information on how to join.
2:01 PM: Last hour already! Still time to come down and check things out. More skating!
And more music.
3 PM: The festival’s wrapping up. We have lots more photos – will either add them here after we get back to HQ, or possibly a second report. Thanks to everybody who came by and said hi!
ADDED 12:44 AM: Our additional photos made more sense as part of this report, so they’re added throughout, including, below, a few more of the people who stopped by – first, we always photograph candidates who stop by our booth at festivals, and today there were two – City Council District 1 candidate Shannon Braddock:
And School Board Position 6 candidate Leslie Harris:
Patricia London, a new WSB sponsor via her Independent Living Skills/Etiquette Factory classes, also stopped by:
So did Southwest Precinct Captain Pierre Davis, seen below with Deb Greer and Karen Berge of the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network:
WSB was among the sponsors of today’s festival. Presenting organization VIEWS plans to donate a portion of festival fees to the scholarship fund at Delridge CC.
Six and a half years after the Delridge Grocery Cooperative was launched as the Delridge Produce Cooperative, it’s at a key point in its growth toward making its store a reality. You can help by talking with DGC volunteers about becoming a member when you see them at their pop-up farm stand during tomorrow’s Delridge Day festival (11 am-3 pm Saturday in Delridge Community Center Park). According to the community e-mail update they’ve sent this week, they’re looking for a “substantial surge in membership” as Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund reviews their application for the loan they need to get the store open; the potential build-out money set aside by DESC, owner of the Cottage Grove Commons building in which the store would be located, is contingent on that loan. DGC says, “The next two weeks are critical. … When we get our loan, permitting and buildout can begin immediately. We’ve come so far and just need a few more members to secure final funding. Become a member now, or ask a friend to join the co-op.” The update continues:
Co-op members can vote on important co-op decisions, run for a seat on the board, and share in profits. Most importantly, members help bring healthy food to the Delridge neighborhood.
Co-op memberships can be paid in installments starting at $5, paying as you can. A full lifetime membership costs $100. We ask members to pay the full $100 if they are able, however, no members are turned away for lack of funds and any amount helps us reach our goal.
Join (or make an installment payment on your balance) online here or by mailing a check to: Delridge Grocery, PO Box 16792, Seattle, WA 98116.
We’ve been chronicling the group since its launch in February 2009. The name changed to Delridge Grocery Cooperative in 2013 to reflect the focus on opening the store. (DGC is also a member of the WSB sponsor team.)
The 10th annual Delridge Day festival is less than 24 hours away. VIEWS, the organization presenting the festival again this year, shares more about what you’ll find during the 11 am-3 pm festival at Delridge Community Center Park/Skatepark. From the final pre-festival announcement:
*A large vendor area, food trucks where you can grab a bite to eat [awaiting names], kid- and family-friendly field games, bouncy houses, the wading pool …
(WSB photo from Delridge Day 2013)
*Alki Bike & Board-hosted competition at the Skatepark: Registration starts 9:45 am; cash/product prizes. “At 11 am – 12 and under will begin the skate competition, followed by men’s 13 and over at noon, then at 1 pm women’s 13 and under will take center stage. At 2 pm get ready for the pro/am main event, and at 3 pm the awards and all-star best trick competition will begin.”
(WSB photo from Delridge Day 2014)
*”With the continuing support of The Seattle Police Foundation, the Southwest Precinct Picnic will be back for the third consecutive year. The Seattle Police Department plans to make many officers and units available. Last year, they brought cars, a canine police officer, mounted patrol, a Bomb Squad robot offering candy, and free ice cream and popcorn.”
*Music (as previewed earlier this week):
11:00 am – Quarter Past 8 – rock
Noon – Ellis Brothers – jazz
1:00 pm – Yesod – psychedelic world music
2:00 pm – Oldies But Goodies – classic Rock/R&B
Again, Delridge Day is 11 am-3 pm tomorrow in the Delridge Community Center’s park at Delridge/Genesee – WSB is among the sponsors and we look forward to seeing you there again this year.
Is there a preschooler or toddler in your family? Has s/he ever seen a firefighter up close, in full gear? Heard the household smoke alarm? Been told what to do in case of fire?
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
While this morning’s Firefighter Storytime at Delridge Library looked and sounded like fun … at the heart of it was a life-and-death lesson: Teaching small children what to do in case of fire. With the help of Junction-based Engine 32’s crew members, Fire Chief Harold Scoggins was the guest reader:
He read the same book that’s usually read at Firefighter Storytimes … “No Dragons for Tea,” Jean E. Pendziwol‘s book about a visit from a friendly dragon who sneezes and accidentally sets a house on fire. What follows in the story helps kids understand what to do and what not to do. After the reading, the kids got to see Firefighter Jeff from Engine 32 suit up into full gear, including the rebreather that, as Chief Scoggins noted, made him sound like Darth Vader. Then he got down on the ground to demonstrate getting below the smoke in a smoke-filled room and crawling to safety:
Chief Scoggins also got down onto the floor for some prizes and high-fives:
The storytime audience got to go outside and see the fire engine:
They also learned that firefighters go to many different types of incidents, including medical calls, so you might see them even if nothing is burning. The hope of course is that they’ll never need to put the lessons into action, nor have to see the firefighters at work, but one boy said he had: “Grandma started a fire,” he said. Uh-oh.
P.S. Chief Scoggins assigned “homework,” including asking the grownups to show the kids what the smoke alarm sounds like, and making a plan about how to get out of the house and where to go. All important stuff you can and should do with your family even if you don’t get the lesson directly from SFD. But if you’d like to check out Firefighter Storytime firsthand – next one isn’t too far away, a week from today (August 12th) at 11:15 am at South Park Library (8th Ave. S./Cloverdale).
(Photo courtesy VIEWS)
The banner is up and the final-week countdown is on – Saturday, August 8th, you’re invited to Delridge Community Center/Park/Skatepark for the Delridge Day festival, presented by VIEWS. It’s a full day of excitement packed into four hours, 11 am-3 pm. For the first time in a few years, this year’s festival will include a skate competition, presented by Alki Bike and Board; whether you want to skate or just watch, that’ll be high-energy fun. Field games, a bouncy house, community groups, vendors … plus the Seattle Police Foundation is again sponsoring “Picnic at the Precinct” as part of the festival, with visiting police officers and vehicles, and free ice cream. The park’s at Delridge/Genesee – see you there!
P.S. On Delridge Day eve, Friday, August 7th, at 7:30 pm, you’re invited to a free outdoor screening of “Big Hero 6” in the park, presented by Delridge Community Center and Southwest Youth and Family Services.
(City photo from Find It, Fix It walk last July in the Central District)
More than one year after the city launched a series of “Find It, Fix It” walks, one is finally scheduled for West Seattle. According to the Department of Neighborhoods‘ “West Seattle News You Can Use” newsletter, it’ll happen in North Delridge on October 3rd. Months away, but you can get ready:
Save the date! On Saturday, October 3, 2015, Mayor Murray’s Find-It/Fix-It Community Walk is coming to Delridge! The proposed walk route will include areas in and around the SW Brandon Street node.
In 2014, Mayor Ed Murray initiated Find It, Fix It Community Walks, a series of Mayor-led walks that help improve neighborhoods one block at a time. During these walks, neighbors, police, and City officials walk together to identify physical elements in the neighborhood that make it feel unsafe or poorly maintained. Examples include overgrown trees, graffiti, street light outages, and litter. Once the elements are identified, the City and community work together to fix the problems.
To date, nine Community Walks have been held throughout the city, resulting in hundreds of infrastructure improvements – from new trash and recycle bins to upgraded street lights.
– See more (here).INTRODUCING COMMUNITY PROJECT GRANTS
This year’s walks come with an added bonus. In partnership with Cities of Service – a national nonprofit that works with mayors to implement high-impact volunteering strategies – up to $5,000 in Community Project Grants will support community-led revitalization projects in each walk neighborhood ($25,000 total). …The goal of Community Project Grants is to support the volunteer efforts of community members who are working together to improve the appearance and safety of their neighborhoods. The community engagement from this process builds unity and a common purpose that strengthens neighborhoods. For more on last year’s walks head HERE.
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
All are welcome to participate in the walk on October 3rd, but there are other ways to get involved as well. You and your community group can apply for grant funds to do an small improvement project, or you can serve on the Community Walk Action Team. For more information, contact the Mayor’s Find-It/Fix-It Team or contact Kerry Wade (Neighborhood District Coordinator) at kerry.wade@seattle.gov or via phone at 206-733-9091.
(WSB photo from Thursday)
As first reported here on Thursday, SWAT officers served a drug warrant at 9200 16th SW, which had a business license through last December as an auto-repair business. “Drug warrant” is all police would tell us about the raid – until now:
Police began investigating a West Seattle auto body shop after receiving dozens of complaints of blatant drug-trafficking. What they found was more than 15 rifles, 6 shotguns, 20 handguns, over $60,000 in cash, and almost 3 pounds of marijuana.
Narcotics detectives could tell the extent of the operation after counting 400 customers a day in and out of the auto body shop — very few with car trouble, it seemed. Detectives conducted an extensive investigation including surveillance of the business and undercover buys confirming the illegal sale of marijuana inside a cargo container around the back of the property.
Detectives developed probable cause for several suspects in the operation and obtained search warrants for the auto body shop, as well as the body shop owner’s residence, and the owner’s father’s residence.
(SPD photo)
At the auto body shop in the 9200 block of 16 Ave SW, police seized 1276 grams of marijuana, 459 marijuana edibles, 18 grams of Shatter (solid hash oil), 5 handguns, and $7325.00.
(SPD photo)
Police seized 15 rifles, 6 shotguns, 5 handguns, and $1576.00 at the owner’s residence in the 8600 block of 35 Ave SW. Two of the seized guns were reported stolen.
The owner’s father, who is allegedly the second in charge of the drug operation, lives in Burien and had 10 firearms and $54,000 in cash seized from his residence.
Four arrests were made on Thursday and the suspects were all interviewed and released from the scene.
The photos were published with an update on SPD Blotter. We’ll be following up to check on whether charges are filed.
Thanks for the texted tips about Seattle Police SWAT officers at 9200 16th SW. Unlike last week’s West Seattle sighting, this was NOT training – this is for real. They’re carrying out a search warrant, police said at the scene. Too soon for details, they said, but they described it as a “drug-related warrant.”
City records show an auto-repair business licensed at the site through the end of last year.
(Photos courtesy Delridge Grocery Cooperative)
The Delridge Grocery Cooperative is bringing back its weekly farmstand – different day, different location. You can help make it a success. Here’s the announcement with info for everyone from prospective shoppers to would-be volunteers:
The Delridge Grocery Cooperative will launch a ten-week summer farmstand this Thursday, July 16th. The farmstand will feature local, sustainably-grown fruits and vegetables in a festive setting from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Thursdays for the rest of the summer. This year (its second), the farmstand will have a new location in the parking lot of the Super 24 Food Store, at 5455 Delridge Way SW, thanks to the generosity of the Singh brothers who own the Super 24. The Little Red Hen Project has partnered with the Delridge Grocery to co-sponsor the farmstand.
Along with produce, shoppers will enjoy music from local musicians including Squirrel Butter, WB Reid & Bonnie Zahnow, Tim Wetmiller + friends, and Thaddeus Spae. The farmstand will also offer cooking demonstrations, kids’ activities, community organization tables, and possibly prepared food (organizers are still looking for a food truck to vend at the farmstand – food trucks should feel welcome to get in contact if interested!).
“Delridge Grocery will be opening soon, but, in the meantime, we’re bringing back fresh and affordable food to our Delridge community at our Summer Farmstand,” said Delridge Grocery President Andrea Wilmot. “So come shop, bring a friend, and sign up to volunteer.”
The farmstand is seeking a few more volunteers to assist with running the stand. Volunteers receive on-the-job training and free produce. A sign-up form is online here. Musicians and community organizations who would like to table are also welcome to sign up online. Volunteers can also help with outreach following our public meeting this Wednesday, July 15th, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at SW Youth and Family Services, 4555 Delridge Way SW. RSVP for the meeting on Facebook.
The Delridge Grocery Cooperative has always prioritized making healthy local food affordable to all Delridge residents. The mixed-demographic neighborhood is designated by the USDA as a food desert because of its lack of grocery stores, and many residents lack access to healthy food. Support from the City of Seattle has helped enable the co-op to keep farmstand prices low. This summer, clients of the West Seattle Food Bank will be able to spend their Market Bucks on produce at the farmstand. Farmstand organizers also hope to be able to accept EBT (electronic benefit transfer; the modern version of food stamps), although it seems unlikely this will be available by the first day. Until the farmstand is able to accept EBT, EBT users will receive a 10% discount on produce at the farmstand. Leftover produce will be donated to the West Seattle Food Bank and to Cottage Grove Commons, and donations for the food bank will be accepted at the farmstand: bring non-perishable food, or buy extra food at the farmstand to donate.
Potential vendors and others with questions can contact farmstand manager and Delridge Grocery board member Ariana Taylor-Stanley at taylorstanley@gmail.com or 206.660.8958.
The full-scale co-op is projected to open within six months. Permitting for construction of the store interior will begin once our bank loan application is approved. Meanwhile, more members are needed. New members can join on the co-op’s website.
If you walk, drive, or ride on Delridge Way SW … if you live and/or work on Delridge Way SW or nearby … SDOT wants to hear from you as part of its Multimodal Corridor Program, and time’s running out for its online survey and interactive mapping tool. Here’s the request:
Tell us and show us:
* How do you currently use this street?
* What works?
* What are your ideas for future improvements?
For more information on this program and to find links to both the online survey and interactive mapping tool, go here.
You have until July 18th to join in on this.
9:34 PM: Police and fire are rushing to the Delridge Playfield/Community Center park area to investigate a report of a possible shooting. They haven’t yet found the reported victim, though. We’ll update as we get information.
9:39 PM: Still no evidence of a shooting or victim, so the SFD response has been canceled.
(Thanks to Andy for the photo)
11:18 PM: A multiple-vehicle crash in the 6500 block of Delridge Way SW (map) is drawing a sizable police/fire response right now. One of the cars is reported to have rolled over.
11:27 PM: Police are diverting traffic on Delridge at the scene. No serious injuries reported, so far.
11:41 PM: Thanks to Merissa for this photo:
Meantime, WSB’s Christopher Boffoli is at the scene now and sent this:
(This photo and next two are by WSB’s Christopher Boffoli)
Christopher reports police are taking one person into custody, the driver of the flipped CR-V, who hit the parked white pickup that you see in Christopher’s photo.
11:49 PM: Police tell Christopher the driver is in custody for investigation of DUI.
He was alone in his vehicle and unhurt.
Meantime, a tow truck arrived quickly and got the CR-V right-side-up. The scene likely will be cleared before too long.
1:28 AM: The crash was captured on the dashcam of a car whose driver was headed in the opposite direction – southbound – when it happened. That driver, Paul Hamaker, uploaded the video to YouTube and sent us the link. It is briefly in view – mostly the CR-V rolling, debris flying onto the street – about 2:20 into the three-minute clip he posted from the dashcam he says he bought less than a week ago. The clip ends after he pulls over, so we asked what happened next; he said he “stayed at the scene for about 10 minutes and talked to the driver and a few witnesses, glad that everyone is OK. Was quite startling to see that happen in front of me.” He also said, “It was great to see many folks come out of their houses and run to the scene to help.”
(WSB photo from June 19th)
Two weeks ago today, a woman riding her bicycle southbound on Delridge at Dakota was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after, according to witnesses, a driver in a Nissan sedan hit her. Many have asked how she’s doing, but although we’ve continued trying to follow up, official information remains scant; then, overnight, we received this reader report via text message:
Cyclist injured on Delridge/Dakota has progressed to trauma rehabilitation. She suffered multiple injuries but her body is intact and she has a good chance of significant physical recovery. Full recovery from brain injury and neck ligaments will be determined in the months ahead but the medical staff have been great and with the cyclist are working hard. Thanks for the concern, the medics/police/public for helping at the scene, and the witness accounts in the blog.
SPD’s Traffic Collision Investigation Squad was sent to the scene of the crash, as is customary when someone suffers life-threatening injuries (or worse). Results of its investigations usually aren’t available for weeks or even months, but we will continue checking with SPD periodically.
Teens in the RecTech Youth Media Institute program led by Leslie Howle at Delridge Community Center are among the collaborators in that animated-poem video, which scored big in this year’s international Adobe Youth Voices competition, landing second place in the Animation category. The news comes from Seattle Parks’ Parkways website. The poem is written and spoken by Seattle artist Hollis Wong-Wear (who herself has West Seattle ties, including past work at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center). It’s about growing up – something we never quite seem to complete, no matter how “old” we’re lucky enough to live to be. Take a few minutes to look and listen, above.
P.S. We last featured RecTech in our coverage of the Delridge Projects Workshop a month ago – and we see via their website that the Delridge-focused mini-doc they screened there is available for online viewing, with a longer version in the works to be shown at the Delridge Day festival August 8th.
Sorry we didn’t mention this in real time, but we’ve received a few questions, so we’re mentioning it now: The big Seattle Fire response in the 6900 block of Delridge Way SW just after 10 am turned out to be a small kitchen fire, according to SFD – most units dismissed quickly, no injuries reported.
Thanks to the person who just texted with word that a crash is blocking the north end of Delridge, right by the ramp to the eastbound West Seattle Bridge. Everyone headed that way is being diverted onto the bridge, according to our tipster. So if you’re trying to get to West Marginal or the low bridge – try another route for a while.
We’ve been talking about the new pedestrian-safety beacons at local crosswalks – recently installed at California/Dakota, in the process of installation at 11th/Holden, and in the works for the 5900 block of Delridge Way by the front entrance to the Boren Building, home to K-5 STEM and interim home to Arbor Heights Elementary. This afternoon, SDOT announced the timeline for installation of the latter, along with the promised crosswalk and curb ramps, and curb bulbs: “Crews plan to begin work on Monday, July 6, with construction expected to last approximately two weeks. Crews will work weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. During this time, pedestrians will follow signed detours next to the school or into a temporary walkway using the parking lane.” The improvements, which the school community and other safety advocates have long sought, are funded by the Neighborhood Park and Street Fund and SDOT’s Safe Routes to School program. (The same area is also getting a speed-enforcement camera system, as reported here two weeks ago.)
7:13 AM: Big fire response right now to the (corrected address) 9200 block of 17th SW (map) in South Delridge. First crews on scene say it’s a brush fire in front of an apartment building.
7:16 AM: The fire is quickly pronounced “tapped,” and they’re canceling some of the units.
7:30 AM: According to our crew on the scene, SFD is saying that so far, this appears to have been started by cigarette(s) tossed into bushes, and that it scorched a deck of the 2-story building before being put out.
ADDED: Damage is estimated at $5,000.
(WSB photo)
11:55 AM: Seattle Fire is responding to a “fire in building” call in the 9400 block of 16th SW. First crews are seeing “light smoke.”
12:02 PM: Most units are being dismissed.
12:09 PM: Our crew talked with SFD at the scene. The fire started in some bags of items in an apartment area inside the mixed-use Rozella Building. They’re not sure yet what sparked the fire, but it’s out; no one was hurt.
(WSB photos)
5:29 PM: Thanks to those who texted to report a crash at Delridge and Dakota (map), blocking southbound Delridge, reportedly involving a bicycle and car. We’re en route to check.
5:43 PM: Police are still at the scene, toward the side of the southbound lane; traffic is getting through both ways. More on the people involved as soon as we talk with them.
5:55 PM: We’ve just confirmed with police at the scene that a woman was seriously injured and taken to the hospital. She was riding a bike that collided with a car whose driver is still in the car so far as we can tell.
The SPD unit that investigates major collisions is here.
6:15 PM: If you are approaching this part of Delridge any time in the next few hours, please go very slowly and carefully – while as we noted, traffic is currently going through in both directions, police have to do their work in the street, to take measurements and other assessments to figure out what happened. We have seen some southbound bicycle riders divert westbound on Dakota to get around the scene.
7:30 PM: Via the scanner, we’ve just heard that investigators have finished their work at the scene. No new information on the victim’s condition.
MONDAY AFTERNOON: We’re still trying to find out more information. We have learned a little from SFD, whose spokesperson Kyle Moore says the victim is in her 30s and was in critical condition when transported from the scene Friday – unconscious and not breathing when medics first found her, but she had a pulse, and Moore says they “assisted her with breathing.”
The #sead1 candidates here at Delridge forum – Tavel, Braddock, Robles, Herbold, Rushmer, Wirsing, Redmond pic.twitter.com/1y6XqZAV4x
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) June 18, 2015
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Last night’s Seattle City Council District 1 candidate forum at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center was a first even in this election year of many firsts – first one with audience-feedback clickers, first one specifically and pointedly insisting that candidates explain how they would outline and take action on particular priorities for Delridge, aka eastern West Seattle.
The forum was organized by, and held in the regular monthly meeting slot for, the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council, whose chair Mat McBride energetically emceed it over the course of almost two hours at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
There to answer the questions and goodnaturedly endure the feedback were seven of the nine D-1 candidates you’ll see on your August 4th ballot – left to right across the stage, Phillip Tavel, Shannon Braddock, Arturo Robles, Lisa Herbold, Jody Rushmer, Karl Wirsing, Chas Redmond. McBride explained that Brianna Thomas had RSVPd to participate as well but had to cancel at the last minute because of a family-health emergency.
Each person in attendance was offered a clicker-type device to be used after each candidate’s reply to a question, with four options for rating the reply, with the results then shown on the big screen behind the candidates. Here’s what the clicker (borrowed from the city Department of Neighborhoods, which uses them at certain types of meetings, according to district coordinator Kerry Wade) looked like:
Each of the seven participating candidates had randomly drawn a specific Delridge-priority question to answer in the first round, then got to choose which one of the priorities to address in round two, and finally, it was “talk about whatever you want” for round three. Our first clip has the introduction to the event plus the first round:
Ahead, highlights of the replies from our as-it-happened notes, plus video of the second and third rounds:
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