West Seattle, Washington

06 Sunday

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month : 03/2009 366 results

Delridge-area problem properties: A call for “quick demolition”
March 21, 2009 2:34 am
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Safety | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

We reported Thursday about a stirring of hope that some high-level city attention may finally be given to a problem that’s been plaguing the Delridge area in its redevelopment throes: Even as some of Delridge’s old homes make way for new construction – particularly townhouses – some houses sit abandoned for years, and become magnets for trouble — like the one above, which sits prominently over the northbound Delridge approach to The Bridge. While, as we reported last night, the city says it was cleared and “secured” a few weeks ago, the proprietor of nearby Skylark Club and Cafe (WSB sponsor) pointed out in a new e-mail discussion (including city councilmember Sally Clark, who promised to come tour the area) that it was also reportedly “secured” last year, too (after a small fire we reported here, attributed to transients). And North Delridge Neighborhood Council co-chair Mike Dady says he would like to see this lead to changes that can help areas beyond Delridge, too:

My hope is that we will see Council Member Clark and Diane Sugimura follow through and visit Delridge within the next couple weeks. But my greater hope is that we don’t just have a band-aid or quick-fix put on wound that is affecting not just Delridge, but many other parts of the city. These are properties that are in the hands of absentee property owners, speculators or developers who allow them to sit vacant, completely unattended or monitored, and looking like, well…..looking like a pile of you-know-what and attracting problems that are in some cases beyond the imagination.

It seems to me that the City Council and the Mayor’s Office needs to revise the Seattle Municipal Code to allow quick demolition and removal of problem prone structures as it is nearly impossible to keep trespassers out of vacant building, even if it is boarded up with plywood, lumber and lag bolts. Allowing houses without water service turned on and functional plumbing to become de facto shelters for transient or homeless people is not an acceptable solution to that very separate and difficult issue.

To allow these dilapidated properties to remain as is, for many, many years in some cases, creates a public safety problem, wastes citizen energy and is a drain on DPD, SPD, SFD and KC Public Health budgets and staff time.

Sincerely,
Mike Dady
North Delridge Neighborhood Council Co-Chair

It’s not just the vacant houses that he’s concerned about, but also the occupied ones that are literally trashed outdoors – like this junk pile spotted recently behind a multiplex in the 4800 block of Delridge (map):

The discussed city-involved tour of Delridge hasn’t been scheduled yet, to our knowledge, but we will continue to follow up. You can also bet this will be on the next NDNC agenda – the council meets the first Wednesday of each month, so that’s 6:30 pm April 1st, Delridge Library.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: A date for the tour is now set for early April, according to Mike Dady, and at least one citywide media outlet may be along, after reading about it here.

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West Side MOPS Spa Day: Big break for little ones’ moms
March 20, 2009 11:56 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Two words: Chocolate fountain.

That alone may have been enough to recommend the annual West Side MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers) Spa Day today at West Side Presbyterian Church. Any and all of the group’s 65 members were welcome to come indulge in free pleasures donated by local businesses – from that chocolate fountain and other treats, to chair massages …

… and hair help …

… and lots more. As event coordinator Leah Barham put it, if you have little kids (she has a 3-year-old and a first-grader) you don’t tend to take time to take care of yourself, so Spa Day gives MOPS moms a chance for a relaxing break. Without the kids – they were in another area of the WSPC building. That’s also how MOPS runs its meetings, 1st and 3rd Fridays, October through May – while the moms get together, the kids are having a good time in the MOPPETS program. Lots more about MOPS at the group’s website; meantime, read on for a list of the businesses that supported today’s event (Leah says they’re grateful for so much generosity even with the challenging economy):Read More

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Traffic alert: Tunnel closed now, Viaduct closing in the morning
March 20, 2009 11:19 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle traffic alerts

Reminder – It’s twice-yearly inspection time for the Battery Street Tunnel and Alaskan Way Viaduct; the tunnel was scheduled to close as of 11 pm tonight and stay closed till 5 am Monday; The Viaduct is to be closed 6 am-6 pm both Saturday and Sunday.

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Different kind of rescue on Alki tonight: Beached sonar device
March 20, 2009 7:56 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

That sonar-equipped, self-propelled seafloor-mapping device caused a stir along Alki Avenue this afternoon, then again tonight. Around midafternoon, its owners say, it failed a test; then someone apparently mistook it for an overturned kayak and rescuers briefly responded. It wound up on the beach in the 1300 block of Alki — where some passersby wondered if it were a “torpedo” — and there it stayed till a crane could be brought in a short time ago to retrieve it:

It couldn’t just be carried off the beach, its owners explained, because it weighs 1300 pounds. (Here’s a little more about it.) So they had to summon the crane (and police came out to be sure it could get close enough to the seawall, safely). 9:12 PM UPDATE: Adding video of the crane operation. (Note, the mapping device achieves liftoff about 49 seconds in.)

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Fire call on SW Trenton: Wood stove trouble
March 20, 2009 5:42 pm
|    Comments Off on Fire call on SW Trenton: Wood stove trouble
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

911 log just closed a “fire in single-family residence” call in the 1800 block of SW Trenton (map) — it wasn’t a fire after all. WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli checked it out and says: “Only one engine on the scene now – SFD told me there was a wood-burning stove with something left in it, and the smoke surprised the residents.”

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West Seattle-bound traffic alert: Southbound 99 “a parking lot”
March 20, 2009 4:29 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle-bound traffic alert: Southbound 99 “a parking lot”
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle traffic alerts

That’s according to Deborra, who has a good view of it from downtown. There was construction work south of the West Seattle exit, but it was supposed to be done by 3:30, so not entirely sure that’s it – just know that heading southbound on 99 will take you longer, if you’re leaving any time soon. 5:35 PM UPDATE: SDOT sends this advisory – it IS related to the road work:

SDOT is working to address traffic backups on southbound Highway 99 this afternoon.

A contractor making emergency repairs on East Marginal Way South (Highway 99) had his crews off the street before 3:30 p.m. as required by his city permit; however, two traffic lanes were left closed to allow pavement to cure, resulting in traffic backups through downtown Seattle.

One lane was opened at 5 p.m., and the third lane is to be opened before 6 p.m.

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West Seattle snow aftermath: Mayor requests ethics review
March 20, 2009 3:06 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics | West Seattle weather

(WSB photo taken in Admiral District, 12/21/2008)
Followup to the Seattle Times investigation of last December’s snow response and the suggestion that West Seattle got preferential treatment: The mayor’s office just sent a news release saying he’s asking for an ethics review of the Transportation Department – read on:Read More

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West Seattle Weekend Lineup: “Dynamite,” Water (Day), more
March 20, 2009 1:57 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Weekend Lineup: “Dynamite,” Water (Day), more
 |   Fun stuff to do | WS culture/arts | WS Weekend Lineup

“Napoleon Dynamite” wraps up the first-ever Indoor Winter Movies on the Wall (free!) series Saturday night in The Junction wswllicon3.pngwith “Napoleon Dynamite” — including a tater-tot contest! Before or after, you can check out the White Center Open Studio Art Tour – Saturday night’s also when Andre Feriante and friends perform a “Listening Room” concert at the Admiral Theater – Scouting for Food, Sanislo Elementary‘s auction, the Hi-Yu Spring Tea, World Water Day at Alki, and more, all among more than 40 events in this edition of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup (sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club):Read More

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I-5 traffic alerts for next week: Let there be (more) light
March 20, 2009 1:46 pm
|    Comments Off on I-5 traffic alerts for next week: Let there be (more) light
 |   West Seattle traffic alerts

Good news, the lighting at the I-5/West Seattle Bridge (Spokane Street) interchange is getting improvements. Semi-bad news in the short run, that means some ramp closures. They may not all affect you since some are from Columbian Way (the Beacon Hill end), but here’s the full list just in case:Read More

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Duwamish Tribe fundraiser tomorrow: “Fry Bread for Justice”
March 20, 2009 12:50 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle video | WS culture/arts

When the Duwamish Tribe dedicated its long-awaited longhouse on the eastern edge of West Seattle on January 3rd, lawyer Scott Wheat – seen in that WSB video clip from our coverage of the event – talked about the tribe’s legal fight for federal recognition. One thing they need: Money. So tomorrow – and two other dates in April and May – the tribe is holding all-day events under the title “Cecile’s Fry Bread for Justice” – Cecile is the tribe’s longtime elected chair Cecile Hansen, and we’ve heard that her fry bread is legendary. Other food, plus entertainment, and “surprises,” the tribe promises. (We also got a note this morning that they’re looking for volunteer help from people with food-handler permits.) 10 am-5 pm tomorrow at the longhouse, $20 donation at the door; more info here.

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West Seattle tech: Seattle Lutheran in robotics competition
March 20, 2009 11:16 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

West Seattle is a hotbed of high-tech learning, with robotics programs at several local schools — and one of them, Seattle Lutheran High School, is the only West Seattle participant in a competition next week at KeyArena, the FIRST Robotics Microsoft Seattle Regional. Bil Hood from SLHS tells WSB, “There will be teams from all over the US as far as Florida, as well as Canada and even Turkey at the event.” SLHS is one of four Seattle-area schools scheduled to compete (Evergreen, just south of here, is part of it too); Bil shares this link to video of the school’s current robot. The theme this year, he explains, is the Moon (here’s a national-level explanation of the competition) — Bil explains that it “tries to recreate lunar gravity for the robots while they try and pick up moon rocks to load onto competitors’ robots.” Competition happens next Thursday-Saturday; here’s the agenda.

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Delridge Produce Co-op updates: Potluck plan, & Galena’s story
March 20, 2009 9:46 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | How to help | West Seattle people

(From left, Delridge Produce Co-Op organizer Galena White, Nola [daughter of Jennifer Grant], board members Jennifer Grant and Ranette Iding, volunteer consultant Johnathan Oliver from Heart On My Sleeve)
The next big event for the volunteers working toward a Delridge Produce Cooperative is a community potluck (to which you’re invited!) one week from tomorrow, and they gathered to work on the plan last night at Pearls coffeehouse. Music, food, a raffle, and even a chili-making demonstration are planned for the event 11 am-2 pm (see the flyer on the Delridge Produce Cooperative home page) Saturday, March 28, at Youngstown Arts Center. Your role? Show up, with “healthy food” to share, and have fun. Meantime, co-op organizer Galena White recently wrote up a recap of how this all got started, in response to requests from other media looking into stories about the Delridge Produce Cooperative effort, and we want to share her story as an inspirational instance of one person who decided to stop “complaining” – and take action – see what she did, step by step:Read More

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First jobless, now homeless: Sherry can’t keep Moon any more
March 20, 2009 2:02 am
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | Pets | West Seattle people

That’s Moon the cat. Moon needs someplace to stay – short term or long term. His person, Sherry, lost her job, then got evicted this week, according to Delridge resident Paul Boyarin, who met Sherry at her recent yard sale. Now that she’s staying at an emergency shelter, she can’t keep Moon with her; the neighbor who’s watching him can’t keep him; Paul himself is maxed out with four foster cats; and local cat rescuers say they’re full to capacity right now. So Paul wonders if anyone in WSB-land would be interested in taking care of Moon, who’s about three years old, described as “very friendly and sweet” and “a well-loved indoor cat.” If you can help, here’s how to reach Paul: pzalic@yahoo.com

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What the bridge incident was all about
March 20, 2009 2:00 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news

Got texts and e-mail from folks who drove past a scene with police, fire, and a car that looked to be pointing the wrong way on the westbound side of The Bridge just before midnight. Lt. Ron Smith at the Southwest Precinct says officers got a call about someone driving erratically, and when they finally stopped the driver, they called in medics because the driver appeared to be having a medical problem/reaction of some sort. All’s clear now.

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Almost spring: Help the West Seattle Edible Garden Fair grow!
March 20, 2009 1:21 am
|    Comments Off on Almost spring: Help the West Seattle Edible Garden Fair grow!
 |   Gardening | How to help | West Seattle news

Not only will there be a West Seattle Edible Garden Tour again this year, there’ll also be a West Seattle Edible Garden Fair too. And you can help it grow – by spending an hour and half with organizers this Sunday afternoon. The Edible Garden Fair, involving Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle and the city Department of Neighborhoods, is set for May 23rd at South Seattle Community College, a day of “presentations and panel discussions about growing food,” according to the CHoSS website. But before it comes to fruition, it’s time for planning and strategizing – and that’ll happen at 1:30 this Sunday in the Common House at Duwamish Cohousing (6000 17th SW; here’s a map).

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Alki Community Council to take over Liberty plaza maintenance $
March 19, 2009 11:30 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Alki Statue of Liberty | How to help | West Seattle news

statue.jpgOne of the headlines from tonight’s Alki Community Council meeting: President Jule Sugarman announced that management of the maintenance fund for the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza will move from Urban Sparks, which financially sponsored the Plaza Project Committee, to the ACC, with the Parks Department‘s blessing. “This does NOT mean we are raising money,” Sugarman stressed; instead, the council is creating a new committee — chaired by Plaza Project Committee co-chair Libby Carr — to oversee the extra maintenance, for which a $60,000-plus fund is already in place. Carr says that maintenance will include cleaning and staining the wood benches twice a year and washing and waxing the Statue of Liberty replica and its pedestal. Those jobs would be professionally done, but the new committee might rustle up volunteers for occasional work parties to do other kinds of cleanup, and would likely have regular meetings only a few times a year. Meantime, the additional bricks to be installed at the plaza are likely to be put in this spring, Carr said — along with the new time capsule — and replacements are in the works for the existing bricks that have had some deterioration problems. (Photo above left by David Hutchinson)

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Welcoming a new WSB sponsor: Seattle 911 Driving School
March 19, 2009 10:00 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle online

Tonight we welcome a new WSB sponsor: Seattle 911 Driving School is about to start classes at Southwest Community Center in West Seattle. New WSB sponsors are always offered the chance to tell you about their business, and here’s what Seattle 911 Driving School wants you to know: Seattle 911 Driving School is the driver-training program where all instructors are police officers. We hire only the finest police officers with knowledge and expertise to prepare you for the great responsibility that comes with obtaining your driver’s license. The most important aspect of driver education is SAFETY, and the best safety feature you can add to your car is a well-trained driver. With police officers as instructors, our students get the most current real-world driving instruction. At 911 Driving School, instructors are highly trained in every aspect of controlling a vehicle and can teach the latest in defensive driving techniques and current traffic laws. Police officers see firsthand the devastation caused by poor driving. That’s why we take an active role in bringing back greater credibility to driver’s education. Our friendly team at the Seattle 911 Driving School is committed to excellence and knows that you’ll find our instruction to be fun, interactive, and comprehensive – the training cars are pretty cool, too. Classes are held on both weekday and weekend schedules to fit your needs and are available in both our main office at the corner of Northgate and Meridian and at Southwest Community Center in West Seattle, 2801 SW Thistle (map). Whether you are a first-time driver, in need of a refresher course, or a new resident to the US, we have the driver-education training you need. Enroll today – we look forward to serving you. You can call Seattle 911 Driving School at 206-366-9111 to find out more about upcoming classes; schedules and class descriptions also can be found online. Welcome to Seattle 911 Driving School; find all WSB sponsors listed on this page, along with information on how to join them!

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P.S. – it’s not the Elliott Bay Water Taxi any more
March 19, 2009 6:24 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   Elliott Bay Water Taxi | King County Water Taxi | Transportation

**NOTE – SINCE THE SERVICE’S NAME HAS CHANGED, STORIES NEWER THAN THIS ONE ARE CATALOGUED IN OUR “KING COUNTY WATER TAXI” CATEGORY, HERE**

Since our Water Taxi update this morning, its website has been updated with all of this year’s information, including schedules – and you’ll notice one big thing: It’s not the Elliott Bay Water Taxi any more; it’s the King County Water Taxi. Online info starts here; note that the KCWT will now run till late evening 7 nights a week, among other changes.

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Delridge District Council: Problem properties – finally some help?
March 19, 2009 5:36 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Delridge District Council | Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

That house is at the far north end of Delridge, across the busy, bridge-approaching street from Skylark Club and Cafe (WSB sponsor). When someone broke into Skylark last month, all eyes turned there. Technically, the house is vacant. In reality, it hasn’t been — it’s been used by squatters and partyers, and Skylark proprietor Jessie Summa-Kusiak says it’s been a sore spot for that area for quite some time. It’s part of a problem that North Delridge Neighborhood Council co-chair Mike Dady brought to last night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting, out of abject frustration. After trying for a long time to get something done, he says, the city needs to take stronger action about properties like this one – and tonight, there may be some progress – read on:Read More

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Thursday notes: No school; yes, hike; Culinary Communion closing
March 19, 2009 5:01 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | Fun stuff to do | West Seattle schools

NO SCHOOL TOMORROW … for Seattle Public Schools (and other institutions that follow its calendar, as well as nearby Vashon and Highline districts).

TAKE A HIKE TOMORROW AFTERNOON … with the Nature Consortium. Great timing, for the no-school day. 1 pm, meet at the 14th SW/SW Holly trailhead for a not-too-tough hike through part of West Seattle’s wonderful West Duwamish Greenbelt. RSVP to lisa@naturec.org

FORMER WEST SEATTLEITES’ FOOD BIZ CLOSING: It’s making its way around food-focused media today, and we also received a copy of the letter (thanks to Edgar) – former West Seattleites Gabriel Claycamp and Heidi Kenyon announced they are closing down Culinary Communion (which is on Beacon Hill), and selling off its equipment this Saturday. We first heard about it on Twitter this morning from former P-I food writer Rebekah Denn, so we’ll point you to her new site for the story, including the couple’s letter explaining their plans for another business, The Swinery.

One more note added @ 5:14 pm — WestSide Baby is having a “sorting frenzy” tonight – can you help? Time, info, and directions here.

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Street notes: Highland Park crash; Alki work; Viaduct reminder
March 19, 2009 3:50 pm
|    Comments Off on Street notes: Highland Park crash; Alki work; Viaduct reminder
 |   Highland Park | Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

We reported this in the WSB Twitter stream when it happened but just got a bit more info now: Two children were slightly hurt when their school bus was involved in a crash on westbound Highland Park Way just east of West Marginal Way (map) at midday today – the bus and a minivan both had front-end damage; still checking on circumstances of the crash. Fire Department spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen says the kids did NOT have to go to the hospital. Meantime, at Alki Point, the first week of work on the sidewalk-extension project now has an alert sign up at 63rd/Alki (by Cactus), noting the westbound road is for “local access only.”

The actual work is beginning at the Beach Drive/Alki Avenue end, with survey work for starters:

And of course, the biggest traffic alert of all – remember, the Alaskan Way Viaduct is scheduled to be closed 6 am-6 pm both Saturday and Sunday this weekend for its half-yearly inspection, and the Battery Street Tunnel is to be closed around the clock from Friday night till Monday morning. (Plus, if you see this before Thursday evening and plan to drive through Sodo/Pioneer Square, remember the huge crowd expected for the Seattle Sounders‘ debut rally/march/game.)

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 more cases of crooks vs. cars
March 19, 2009 2:03 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

At this rate, we may have to set up the subtopic West Seattle Car Crime Watch. First, from Susan:

Sometime last night all four wheels and tires were stolen off my (poor grad student) niece’s Honda Civic. The car was parked on the street in front of our home near the waterfront park on Beach Drive…it was left jacked up on a car jack and a brick. The car itself was not broken into.

Next, from Ashley:

My* foolish* boyfriend parked his car on Avalon Way and what he thought was a well-hidden snowboard in the backseat. Upon returning to his car this morning he found his GMC truck broken into and the snowboard stolen. It is a K2 Electra 167 snowboard that is brown with white bindings. If anyone has seen it or seen anyone attemping to sell it, I would highly appreciate it.

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City “statement” following Seattle Times snowstorm investigation
March 19, 2009 1:23 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle politics | West Seattle weather

(WSB photo from December 18, looking north on California from Thistle)
We and the rest of the world have pointed to today’s Seattle Times story, and this afternoon the city Transportation Department has sent its entire media list a “statement on snow response.” It doesn’t particularly rebut anything in reporter Susan Kelleher‘s story, though. Read on for the text, and some handwritten log sheets the city sent along:Read More

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