Just got word tonight from Seattle Parks and Recreation that West Seattle’s Don Armeni Boat Ramp is going to close for several days for lot repaving, possibly as soon as next week. Parks’ Jason Frisk sent the above photo to show how badly the current asphalt has deteriorated; while Don Armeni is the city’s most-used boat ramp, Frisk says it hasn’t been paved in a quarter-century – since 1984. Parks will be working with Statewide Parking Lot Services to “apply an overlay over the entire asphalt area.” They expect the ramp will be off-limits for 3 to 5 business days, but they have to wait for good weather; optimally, Frisk says, they might be able to close on Wednesday and reopen on Friday. But right now, they just want to get the word out that the lot will close for this work on short notice – signs will be up at Don Armeni on Monday. According to Parks, alternate city-run salt-water boat-ramp access during the closure is at Eddie Vine Boat Ramp, 8001 Seaview Avenue NW (Golden Gardens; here’s a map).
My bike was stolen from my front porch last night in the area of 46th Ave SW and SW Maple Way [map]. Between 9 pm 2/25 and 8 am 2/26. I’d love to recover it (but don’t really expect to) but I am posting this on the blog as much to warn my neighbors as anything else.
That said, I’ve attached a picture and here is a description:
At Bellevue College in the Sea-King 3A district tournament, the Chief Sealth High School boys’ varsity basketball team played a tight first half, but their inability to hold onto the ball in the second half let the Sammamish Totems overtake them for a 46-39 win tonight – our clip is representative of how things went:
Throughout the first half, the game was tight, and the score was tied 22-all at halftime. But the second half saw the Seahawks score only nine points until late in the fourth quarter. Sammamish took advantage of Sealth’s spotty passing and rebounding to go on a 9-point run. High scorer for Sealth was Tomas Ogbaslassie with 14 points. Sealth gets one more chance, with a Tuesday game against whomever loses the game that followed theirs – Bellevue vs. Seattle Prep (it’s still in the 1st half; periodic updates at @seatimespreps).
Two years in the making, the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse purchase is complete, confirms the Fauntleroy Children’s Center, whom we’d contacted after getting this city news release at day’s end. As we’ve reported previously, it became a two-part purchase – first the schoolhouse and part of the site, then more of the site (as OK’d by Seattle Public Schools last month). Lauri from FCC tells WSB, “We will be toasting at our annual auction next weekend” – that’s the FCC annual auction on March 6 – and adds there’ll be a celebration scheduled at a later date. As the city news release notes, the money used for the purchase includes almost $2 million from the state and $1 million from the city; now the Fauntleroy Community Services Agency will have to raise millions more to fix up the building, which the school district had declared “surplus,” leading to it being put up for sale.
Anne from Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) first saw them walking along California SW in Gatewood and called to let us know: Teens from Shorewood Foursquare Church are in the midst of a big walk right now, as part of World Vision‘s 30-Hour Famine awareness-raising event. We caught up with them at the top of the hill, and they explained they’re walking to a store to buy water – “because in Africa, people often have to walk 6 miles to get water.” We had published an item about the 30-Hour Famine on our partner site White Center Now earlier today – Shorewood is inviting you to bring clothing and food donations to the church tomorrow morning – but it didn’t mention the teens’ big hike, so thanks again to Anne for the tip. At least two dozen are walking, carrying signs, so if you see them in southern West Seattle over the next few hours, you’ll know what it’s about.
Not only the last weekend of the month, but the final days of the month … and there’s a rumor we’ll see some sunshine before the weekend’s over. Highlights include rolling up your sleeves for Admiral’s Adopt-A-Street and numerous park/greenbelt work parties on Saturday morning, lots of live music (rock, blues, jazz, more), and did we mention Girl Scout Cookies? From tonight through Sunday, more than 40 events/activities on our list, sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food:Read More
Next step for the Delridge Skatepark project, scheduled to start construction this summer now that funding’s been finalized – the Seattle Design Commissionwill take a look at the plan next Thursday, according to the agenda just published. SDC meetings are in the Boards and Commissions Room at City Hall downtown and are open to the public; Delridge Skatepark is on the agenda at 1 pm Thursday.
According to Seattle Police via Twitter, there’s a multiple-car crash in the northbound Battery Street Tunnel, so the tunnel’s closed and drivers are being diverted off at Western Avenue, right before the tunnel. Also via Twitter, SDOT says a tow truck’s on site, so perhaps it won’t be closed too long. “No known injuries,” according to SPD. (Thanks to Nichole Taylor for the photo.)3:20 PM UPDATE: SDOT has tweeted that the situation is cleared up – but one commenter with a view says the BACKUP isn’t clear yet.
That’s one of the new “no parking” signs just put up along eastbound Admiral Way, in front of the businesses on both sides of the Admiral/California intersection. The city was “considering” parking removal as of last fall, back when we had repeated reports/discussions here about traffic troubles at the intersection. Then today, via Twitter, Revolution Coffee and Art reported, “The parking on Admiral in front of Revolution is officially gone now – please don’t park there.” The signs went up today, Revolution confirms.
On Saturday, March 6, South will host the 10th annual Boyd Coffee ProStart Invitational, in which teams of students from 22 Washington high schools compete in culinary and restaurant management skill contests. Over 200 students will participate in the all-day event that takes place in the Brockey Center (7 am – approx. 2 pm). Competitions include knife skills, preparation techniques, and presentation skills. The management teams will create an entire restaurant concept and design from start to finish.
The public is invited to come see tomorrow’s culinary stars in action. There is no admission charge.
The competition will be followed by Toasting the Finest – the 2010 The Washington Restaurant Industry Awards Banquet, featuring guest speaker (and competition judge) Robin Leventhal, a former Top Chef competitor. Tickets for the event are $30.
For more information, visit
http://www.wrahome.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=306
Please join the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle on Wednesday March 3rd at 11:00am at the Southwest Precinct, located at 2300 SW Webster St, for carrot cake, as the Kiwanis Club presents the Everyday Hero Award to Captain Joe Kessler on behalf of all the officers who serve the West Seattle Community.
The Kiwanis Everyday Hero Award honors folks who may go unnoticed or unappreciated for their work or commitment to the community. Kiwanis Club president West Niver says “We’ve seen a marked improvement in safety for the Delridge community since this precinct was established and appreciate all that they do for us”.
The West Seattle Kiwanis club is one of the first service clubs established in West Seattle, and was started in 1929. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time. The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle offers you the opportunity to share your experience, knowledge, and time in service to the community. This service is great fun and builds fellowship with other members. Excellent, diverse programs can be enjoyed at our weekly meetings. Membership is open to all men and women who possess a genuine interest in serving the community.
The club meets at 7am every 1st and 3rd Wednesday, and Noon every 2nd Wednesday, at Be’s Restaurant in the Junction, at 4509 California Ave SW. Park in rear lot and enter the rear door.
For more information, contact Warren Lawless at 206-938-8032 or ewl@westseattle.com
First, we’ll start by saying that WSB’s usual policy is not to identify suspects until/unless they are charged, but every story is evaluated on a case-by-case basis – as it was when we worked in “big media” – so sometimes we may digress from that policy. This is one such case: Ryan J. Cox is in jail again, as of about an hour and a half ago. He is the man arrested twice in the past 10 months in connection with serial graffiti vandalism around West Seattle that usually involved a three-word profane, anti-gay slur. Both times, the charges were dismissed because he was found incompetent to stand trial, and he was sent to Western State Hospital for evaluation for possible civil commitment. (We went toMental Health Courtfor the most recent hearing on January 20th – here’s our report.) Exactly what happened at Western State in both cases is not a matter of public record because of privacy laws; we had heard recently that Cox indeed might have gotten out fairly quickly after that January hearing, but could not confirm it. Then we received this reader Crime Watch report via e-mail this morning:
I want to remain anonymous, but my tire was slashed this morning by a mentally unstable male this morning on the 4200 block/Raymond St. at 6:40 this morning. The police collected the knife and the male after I did an ID of him. According to police he has a “record” here in West Seattle for malicious acts and graffiti. I had a brief encounter with him in my alley yesterday morning, and this morning at the same time he slashed my tire (he saw me get in my truck yesterday)…I am very concerned for the safety of myself and others. Am glad I wasn’t “on time” this morning. It is only considered and misdemeanor, and is circumstantial as I hear my tire go and looked out to see him walking away, but did not “see” him slash my tire, although it is completely flat, there is a slash and the knife was 10′ away in tall grass.
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Everything he wears is baggy, white jacket with blue stripes on sleeves, haven’t seen him with his hood down, gray baseball cap, blue jeans, tennis shoes, a backpack, dark blue, and what looks to be a medium-sized shoulder bag black. Blue umbrella..I would keep my eye on him. For everyone’s safety. he looks to be in his late 30’s and of Hispanic ethnicity. (medium colored skin, graying hair, short) about 5’9″.
I just wanted to let you know as I feel I should let someone know as I appreciate West Seattle, have lived here for a long time and feel our safety can only be helped in numbers and watching out for each other. I consider this person dangerous given the circumstances that I see him for the first time yesterday morning and the very next morning at the same time my tire is violently flattened…
Though the description didn’t sound exactly like Cox, the rest of the circumstances sounded similar enough that we started checking around – and have now verified, he was indeed arrested; the King County Jail Register shows him booked on a property-damage charge as of 9:11 this morning. What happens now? We will be checking with the City Attorney’s Office, with whom we spoke extensively in connection with the previous cases, and will add to this story as we find out more. (Side note: The challenges authorities face under current law in cases like this were well-detailed in this report last weekend from our citywide-news partners at the Seattle Times.)
Imagine driving through one of West Seattle’s gateway areas and thinking “Looks great, and I was part of it.” If you can spare a little time tomorrow morning, you get the right to feel that way about the Admiral District, by joining in the next Adopt-A-Street cleanup with the Admiral Neighborhood Association. No equipment or special clothing needed – just show up outside Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) at 9 am tomorrow (Saturday) – you’ll get city-supplied grabbers, bags, gloves and vests. ANA president Katy Walum says, “We will be covering the Admiral Junction business area on California Avenue SW, south to about Hanford and north to about Walker; and SW Admiral Way, east to about the Admiral viewpoint and west to about 47th SW.” Not a small-child-friendly event, she adds, given the traffic along those streets, “but older kids and teenagers are welcome.” You can also mark your calendar for the next 3 quarterly Adopt-A-Streets: June 5, August 28, December 4.
After a first-round bye, the Chief Sealth High School boys’ varsity basketball team (14-8) begins district-tournament play today. 4:45 pm at Bellevue College, they face Sammamish (15-9). Here’s a map if you can go cheer them on in person (this campus map shows the gym location); we’ll be there to cover the game, including in-progress updates at our live-events Twitter account, @wsblive. 6:16 PM UPDATE: Game’s over – Sammamish defeated Sealth, 46-39. But Sealth has one more chance. Full story, with video, coming up.
BIKE THEFT! REWARD!
Not only the last weekend of the month, but the final days of the month … and there’s a rumor we’ll see some sunshine before the weekend’s over. Highlights include rolling up your sleeves for Admiral’s Adopt-A-Street and numerous park/greenbelt work parties on Saturday morning, lots of live music (rock, blues, jazz, more), and did we mention Girl Scout Cookies? From tonight through Sunday, more than 40 events/activities on our list, sponsored by 
Next step for the 
First, we’ll start by saying that WSB’s usual policy is not to identify suspects until/unless they are charged, but every story is evaluated on a case-by-case basis – as it was when we worked in “big media” – so sometimes we may digress from that policy. This is one such case: Ryan J. Cox is in jail again, as of about an hour and a half ago. He is the man 
Imagine driving through one of West Seattle’s gateway areas and thinking “Looks great, and I was part of it.” If you can spare a little time tomorrow morning, you get the right to feel that way about the Admiral District, by joining in the next Adopt-A-Street cleanup with the
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