West Seattle, Washington
06 Monday
(Chair Dan Mullins leading tonight’s HPAC meeting)
Quick notes from tonight’s Highland Park Action Committee meeting – remember, they’ve moved to a new night, fourth Wednesday of each month:
LOW-FLYING PLANES: HPAC has started a committee to look at whether general-aviation planes headed to Boeing Field are flying too low over Highland Park. Some are concerned that suggested flight paths and FAA guidelines aren’t being followed. The committee will report next month on what it’s found.
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY: The HPAC committee looking at this is continuing to work on making it safer for people to cross SW Holden right by the Highland Park Improvement Club building where HPAC meets.
CRIME STATS: Officer Adonis Topacio brought his monthly update. He says illicit activity at Westcrest Park remains an ongoing concern. In the past four weeks, there’ve been 9 car prowls, 10 burglaries, and 5 auto thefts in the general Highland Park/South Delridge area. One attendee expressed concern about someone knocking on doors at midnight one night last week and wondered when it’s OK to call 911 (police’s answer is always, better safe than sorry, if it’s suspicious and it’s happening now, call). The unsolved South Park stabbings came up, with questions about burglarproofing your home; Officer Topacio reiterated that windows and doors should stay locked and closed.
HIGHLAND PARK WADING POOL: A question came up about why it hasn’t been opened yet this season. (As first reported here two months ago, the city decided 11 of the city’s 25 wading pools would not be put into use this year because the Parks Department hasn’t finished federally mandated drain-safety retrofits; the HP pool is one of the 11.)
JAIL SITE FIGHT: HPAC chair Dan Mullins says nothing’s going on but the long-running environmental-evaluation process. (It’s now been 14 months since Highland Park Action Committee has been fighting against the possible siting of a new municipal misdemeanor-offender jail in the area; check our coverage archive here.)
HPAC also heard a presentation about the mega-important Neighborhood Plan Status Check meeting coming up next Tuesday, July 28, 6 pm at Delridge Community Center (Highland Park is one of the five West Seattle neighborhoods with an official plan); more on that in our next story.
Bernice wonders if anybody else’s recycling bin has been stolen. A costlier crime than you might imagine – read on:Read More
Thanks to Jim Biava for sharing that photo. We’re not sure if it’s either grown-up Wollet or one of her/his parents (see previous coverage of the Lincoln Park owl family here), but it’s a great photo no matter what. (If you missed earlier discussions – these are barred owls – more info here, from Seattle Audubon.)
This Saturday, West Seattle Little League‘s 11-12 All-Stars begin play in the state tournament, 2:30 pm at Port Orchard’s Art Mikelson Field (map). Their manager, John MacKenzie, shared the photo above along with the intense tale of how they got there!
West Seattle won back-to-back games against South Highline National on Saturday July 12th at PacWest fields in Burien to win the District 7 Little League title. After West Seattle lost the first game against South Highline National they needed to win 6 games in a row to advance to the Little League 11-12 year old State Tournament. “It wasn’t how we planned it but we persevered and it actually benefited our team in the long run to have to fight through the losers’ bracket,” said Manager John MacKenzie. “We had no margin for error and had to play every day to advance, allowing the team to gel.”
The bright spot of the 7-3 game 1 loss was the play of lead-off batter McNeil Fulmore, who homered in the first and scored twice. It turned out to be the 1st of 23 homeruns by 10 different players in 7 games by the powerful West Seattle squad. “After Nutt (McNeil) hit a lead-off homer to tie the score in the first I thought we were off to the races” said a West Side fan, “but that didn’t happen.”
(Read on for the rest of the dramatic play by play!)Read More
Several people e-mailed and tweeted about a notable police presence at California/Myrtle (map) this afternoon. Here’s what we’ve found out: It was linked to the burglary case we reported here yesterday – a man breaking into an apartment at California/Raymond Tuesday morning, bolting when the apartment’s occupant screamed. Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen says evidence from that scene has led them to identify a suspect; they were hoping to arrest him at the California/Myrtle location today and they have a warrant, but he wasn’t there – Lt. Paulsen says, however, they’re confident they’ll arrest him soon, adding that this is someone with whom area officers are familiar because he’s been arrested multiple times before. Lt. Paulsen also reiterates that evidence in this case has further verified this suspect is NOT tied to the South Park stabbings (no new info in that case so far – here’s the suspect sketch again).
(WSB photo from last Friday afternoon)
A quick update from Holli Margell on behalf of the volunteers who built the new Delridge Community Center playground (WSB coverage here), which is one day away from its grand opening:
Tomorrow from 6:30-8:30 pm – Join us for live music, light refreshments and a new playground to play on! The playground just got a new ADA ramp poured today. Please DO NOT play on it until someone from the Parks Department removes the orange fencing and yellow construction tape. We know this is difficult, and appreciate everyone’s understanding.
That’s the view of a small section of the new California SW bike lane, as seen from one of the big chairs outside Caffe Ladro in Morgan Junction. Since we first told you about the new lane last Sunday, more work has been done, and one stretch of California SW just north of here (south of Fauntleroy Way) now has bike lanes on both sides of the street. We had sent an inquiry to SDOT after noting the bike lane wasn’t called for in the Bicycle Master Plan, which simply recommended “sharrows” in this area (they’ve been painted in the same area between the bike-lane-lined sections). Here’s the explanation we received today:
The recommendations for bicycle facilities in the Seattle Bicycle Master Plan were based on detailed field work and available data regarding traffic volumes, turning movements, speeds and other factors. However, the plan also recognized that “in most cases, the facilities and actions identified in the Plan will require additional traffic analysis….”
In this particular case, there is about 48′ from curb-to-curb on the stretch between Fauntleroy and Myrtle, yet the 2-way left-turn lane is only present between Fauntleroy and Willow. That provided some extra room on the section between Willow & Myrtle, so we were able to install bike lanes on both sides of the street for those 3 blocks. We also determined that there is enough roadway width (~40′) to upgrade to a climbing lane (bike lane going uphill, sharrows going down) between Myrtle and Ida. In general, we prefer to install bike lanes over sharrows if there is space available.
Also today, the city issued a midyear “Bridging the Gap update” news release regarding how much road work’s been done so far this year – read it here.
Another update just in from a spokesperson for the encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville,” currently set up on state-owned land along the eastern edge of West Seattle (2nd SW/Highland Park Way), and under orders to clear out by Thursday night:
Yesterday Attorneys Robert Siegel and Peggy Herman filed a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) in Federal District Court. Judge Richard Martinez said he will issue an order either today or tomorrow. He has decided not to hold a public hearing before issuing his decision.
If Judge Martinez grants the TRO request, Nickelsville will have up to 2 weeks before a second hearing. At a second hearing a permanent order might be granted. If Judge Martinez does not issue a Temporary Restraining Order, at 5:00 PM Thursday Nickelsville and arriving supporters will load-up vehicles and trucks, in which case Nickelsville has asked the State to allow up to 12 PM Friday for people who have chosen to leave to leave, and for people to be given the opportunity to move both their own and Nickelsville community property.
Nickelsville’s residents who commit to stay through the arrival of Police, should this happen, will not be verbally abusive or disrespectful to either those issuing the orders, or those carrying them out.
“It is our opinion that it is both wrong and illegal to remove this community from this permanent site without having another permanent site available. Contrary to some claims, no church or other property owner has offered Nickelsville a site to go to. It is true that a temporary site is not suitable for our community. Our goal is to survive and solve homelessness with this stable, functional alternative, and not suffer continual disruption.”
No details of the crash at this point but police are saying (scanner traffic) that they’ll need to close the southbound lanes of Delridge in the 9200 block (map) because of a crash they and firefighters are responding to.
They “don’t want to disappoint” by setting an opening date yet, but the people working to open the Porterhouse restaurant/bar in the former Blackbird space next to the Admiral Theater told us today during a quick sneak-peek tour that they are getting closer. For one, the new taps are in — “We added 21” (to the pre-existing 4), smiles co-owner Silas Reynolds, a West Seattle native, shown above with co-owner Linda Libby, posing with the 25-in-all taps in the background. That’s just one of the changes they’ve made to the space – they say they’ve made it more open, from the kitchen through the seating area: here’s a quick Flip-cam pan:
For two, they’re about to finalize the menu, which — as discussed in our earlier story about the Porterhouse — is described by Reynolds as “gastro-pub,” though he’s not a huge fan of the term – pub food but with a twist, yet “approachable” and, as Libby puts it, “affordable and tasty – our goal is to create a nice neighborhood restaurant for people who live here.” (Both Reynolds and Libby are chefs, but Porterhouse has its own chef – Katy Lauzon, who previously worked with the two in a Skagit County enterprise.) They’ve chosen their coffee – Vashon Coffee – and desserts will include Molly Moon‘s organic ice cream. They’ll be emphasizing “fresh, local, organic food as much as possible” and as little “processed food” as possible — they’re even hoping to make their own fries and onion rings. And many dishes, they say, will have a bit of a twist, like a tuna sandwich with pickled hopvines. (If we get a copy of the menu before the night’s out, we’ll add it to this story; otherwise we’ll publish a separate update.) Number three, they’re about to start hiring — next Monday (July 27), they’re inviting anybody who’s interested in working at the Porterhouse to come by between noon and 3 pm, and bring a resume. The restaurant hours will be 11 am-11 pm for starters, with the bar open later; they’ll probably add brunch in the not-too-distant future, and they’re working to add outside seating as well – for starters, they’re enhancing the space’s ties to the patio space on the south, with a new openable window added to that end of the bar. (Here’s our previous story about Porterhouse, explaining that the team runs a restaurant of the same name in Mount Vernon — see its website here, but take note that the West Seattle venue will be all-ages.)
It’s the little surprises that make life fun – like, when neighborhood heroes stop by your bake sale. Cori from Gatewood just e-mailed to share that photo (editor@westseattleblog.com) and explained, “Thanks to the firefighters of Station 37, who took time out to stop at a bake sale put on yesterday by some neighborhood kids. They were so great and it gave the kids such a thrill!” Inbetween fighting fires and crimes, local firefighters and police officers do spend a lot of time involved in community activities large and small – which reminds us that you probably need another reminder to sign up for your Night Out close-the-street block party August 4 – local public-safety personnel are known to make the rounds that night too. Sign up here before the July 31st deadline.
The cameraphone photo’s a bit fuzzy but you get the drift, so to speak – today’s low tide left a boat marooned on the Alki flats. Thanks to Stephanie for sending the photo; it reminded us of one we photographed last year – we looked it up and in fact, that one was in July 2008. Today’s low tide bottomed out before noon so here’s hoping today’s unlucky boater will be back afloat soon; there are minus tides for the next few days as well, but none as low as the past few days.
In West Seattle Helpline‘s “Clothesline” clothing bank (featured here in April) at Hillcrest Presbyterian Church in Arbor Heights, those two young volunteers were hard at work Tuesday morning helping brighten up the space. Other volunteers on hand during the work party were quick to point out that painting materials were donated by McLendon Hardware and TrueValue. Helpline executive director Anna Fern explains they’re painting one wall in the Clothesline space that same shade — “fruit punch.”
After the sprucing-up is done, Clothesline will reopen August 7, with an emphasis on getting kids the clothes they need for returning to school. And toward that end – Helpline’s big annual Backpack Drive is now under way. You can drop off a new backpack at Capers in The Junction – Mondays-Saturdays 10-6 and Sundays 11-5 – or at Helpline HQ in the resource center at 35th/Morgan, Mondays-Thursdays, 1-4 pm. Or donate $25 to Helpline and they will buy one on your behalf; 932-2746 is the number to call if you’d like to make a $ donation – or use the link atop the Helpline home page – also call to find out how/when to donate clothes for Clothesline.
Just announced for September at Fauntleroy Church, and promoters say they expect it to be a hot ticket:
Chicago singer-songwriter Susan Werner will make her only Seattle appearance this summer in West Seattle. Tickets have just gone on sale for her concert in the Fauntleroy Church sanctuary on Sunday, September 13, 7 PM, with reception to follow.
She is a defining artist of the folk music genre, with six albums to her credit, an active touring career, and a string of accolades from critics throughout the country, including The Washington Post and The New Yorker.
Her performance will also include jazz and pop, punctuated with sassy wit and Midwestern charm. Tickets ($20 to $30) are available at the church office (9140 California Ave. SW; 932-5600 – here’s a map); cash or check only, please. You may reserve tickets by phone but payment must follow within five days. For more information, e-mail Cryer at Bron@sirensongweb.com or call 206-255-4590
That’s the cover rendering for the revised design proposal for Golden Crest, the mixed-use (35 residential units, plus retail) building at 4532 42nd SW that’s been going through Design Review off and on since spring 2006. It’s the building at left – immediately south of Capco Plaza, which you see at right. The next Design Review meeting for Golden Crest could be its last if board members approve the latest version of the plan – the meeting’s at 6:30 pm tomorrow, Senior Center of West Seattle. You can see the full design proposal packet online here; the cover shot doesn’t appear much different from what was shown at the last meeting in April, but if you look very closely at the ground level, and read pages 3 and 4, you’ll see how the developer and architects believe they have addressed what was brought up at that meeting, including features to “emphasize the retail spaces.” (If the address still doesn’t jog your memory, this is the same site where the big old blue house – which had been a hospital long ago – was torn down in November.)
Two items from Highland Park: At 7 pm tonight, the Highland Park Action Committee debuts its new meeting night – the fourth Wednesday of the month. Agenda includes an update on the Westcrest Park mini-summit featured at last month’s meeting. HPAC gathers at the Highland Park Improvement Club‘s building, 12th/Holden (map).
Speaking of HPIC, they have two big events coming up this weekend – here’s the announcement:
2nd Annual HPIC Giant Group Rummage Sale! Come one, Come all …….
When: Sat., July 25, 2009 10 am-3 pm (setup 9 am)
Where: Highland Park Improvement Club parking lot (indoors if rainy)corner of 12th & Holden
“Recycle” those useful items cluttering up your life! Sell your Crafts Projects and Bake Sale items-help raise money for the club while cleaning out your basement! OR call Kay for info if you want to just donate sale items for the club to sell.Table Rental Fee (benefits the club 90th Anniversary)
$15 members/ $20 non-members
You keep all your sale proceeds!!
Questions or to reserve a table, contact Kay @ 206-762-2266Followed by our Summer Neighborhood Potluck BBQ & Kickball event
When: Sun., July 26, 2009 2 pm-6 pm
Where: Highland Park Playground
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
There were moments of humor and moments of tension as 14 of the 16 candidates running for four Seattle City Council seats fanned out across several tables at center stage in the ArtsWest theater this evening.
(iPhone shot courtesy Chas Redmond – taken before Nick Licata arrived)
First – it’s become clear that for many West Seattleites, transportation is the hottest issue of all. That was one of the first questions to the candidates – listen to this audio clip as they take up to 1 minute each to discuss it (the first voice is Council President Richard Conlin, the others are each identified in turn):
Now, as for what else was said – read on:Read More
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