New design guidelines outlined @ Junction Neighborhood Org.
By Johnathon Fitzpatrick
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
During the Junction Neighborhood Organization (JuNO) meeting Tuesday night, attendees were given a walk-through of the new guidelines that the city plans to use for the construction of new multifamily and commercial development.
Despite a cooling in the building construction industry, developers continue to move through Seattle’s Design Review process, including a community input period and a hearing before a community Design Review Board. Engaged West Seattle Junction residents are wanting to learn how to get involved as the process evolve, so they can keep up with developers.
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Safer streets: Councilmember, police @ West Seattle Chamber
Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgess came to West Seattle today to promote his package of proposals to fight “street disorder.” He was one of three speakers during the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly lunch meeting – held this time at the Southwest Precinct. Before Burgess’s appearance, the 30-plus people in attendance heard from the precinct’s top two leaders: Its commander, Capt. Joe Kessler, and its operations lieutenant, Lt. Norm James. 
One big theme from Capt. Kessler, who’s about to mark his second anniversary as West Seattle’s top cop, and Lt. James: Report EVERY crime, no matter how small. They recounted cases in which officers recovered stolen property and wanted to return it to its owners – but the thefts had never been reported. (Be sure to have records of your valuable, and etching identifying info helps too.) He also noted a case of thefts from a business that each seemed tiny – and went unreported as a result – but eventually added up to something huge. Capt. Kessler also acknowledged that while there had been complaints in the past about callers getting brushed off when they called 911, leading people to question police advice about “call in ANYTHING suspicious,” the complaint level is down and service level is up.
Also up – police staffing; he discussed the citywide level, which is around 1,350 “and still hiring” – way up from a historic low of 1,000 some years back – and noted that while the SW Precinct has 13% of the city’s call load, it gets 14% of the staffing, because of some quirks caused by the fact the patrol area – West Seattle and South Park – is split into two “sectors” instead of three or more like other precincts. He noted that three members of the SW Precinct team are currently on military deployment overseas.
The “emphasis team for the business community,” two officers who spend most of their time in The Junction and environs, has been on that assignment for some months now, and Capt. Kessler said it’s going well – they often intervene or intercept trouble even before it’s officially reported. He says the third-watch team (which starts around 7 pm) will be increasing visibility for businesses that are open at night, such as restaurants and bars.
One such entrepreneur, Dave Montoure of West 5, commended precinct leadership for the new emphasis patrols and offered the observation that since the two officers had previously worked downtown, they recognized some Junction-area troublemakers as having come from downtown. That led Capt. Kessler to say police “strongly support” the new crackdown proposals by Councilmember Burgess, who picked up from there.
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West Seattle schools: 3 updates from Pathfinder K-8
#1 – HEALTH FAIR SEEKS BUSINESS PARTICIPANTS: Here’s the announcement:
What does being healthy mean to you? Pathfinder K-8 wants to know! Can you share your healthy living ideas with our community? If you are a business that promotes healthy food, fitness, environmental practices- we would love to hear from you. Pathfinder K-8 is looking for local business to share their scoop on healthy living in Seattle. April 29th the PTSA is sponsoring a health fair and we are looking for people to set up a spot in our cafeteria and share knowledge and/ or demos. For more information, please contact Lashanna Williams at lashannaw@gmail.com
#2 – EARTH DAY WORK PARTY AND FESTIVAL: On the next Duwamish Alive! day, this one on April 17th in honor of Earth Day, there’ll be a huge work party at and adjacent to Pathfinder K-8 grounds (map), 9:30 am-2 pm. Last year hundreds of volunteers worked at the site. After the work party, Pathfinder will host an Earth Day Festival 2-4 pm. If you can help with the work party, RSVP by e-mailing marisa@naturec.org or call 206-932-0853 (if you get voice mail, leave your name, phone number, and e-mail address).
#3, UPCOMING SCHOOL VISITS: Pathfinder is an option school and therefore among those that must specifically be chosen. The open enrollment period continues three more weeks, till the end of the month, and the school asked us to remind you of these chances to visit Pathfinder if you’re considering applying to go there:
K through 5th Grade Visits
8:45 am to 10:00 am
March 15th, 18th and 22nd
6th through 8th Grade Visits
8:45 am to 10:00 am
March 11th and 25th
Please call the school office if you need an alternate date/time to visit Pathfinder, (206) 252-9710
West Seattle Crime Watch: Junction police response explained
We got a tip around 1:40 this afternoon about a big police response by the US Bank branch in The Junction (42nd/Edmunds). Nothing there when we arrived – but we have since found out from police what was happening: Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James says a man “walked into First Mutual Bank looking like he was going to rob it.” He fled after an alarm was triggered; officers then spotted him by the US Bank branch, and discovered he was “armed with a BB gun,” Lt. James says. The man was detained and turned over to robbery detectives for questioning.
Tomorrow night: West Seattle Art Walk!
Just a quick reminder that we’re just a bit more than 24 hours away from the next edition of the monthly West Seattle Art Walk. Many of the venues – dozens around the peninsula – have information about their featured artist(s) on the official West Seattle Art Walk website; see it here, print out the walking map (here), then get ready to wander and enjoy, 6-9 pm tomorrow, from The Kenney in the south to Alki Bathhouse in the north. (We’ll also showcase some featured artists here tomorrow morning.)
2 North Delridge notes: Future demolition; future restaurant
FIRST NOTE: That photo shows the boarded-up, ramshackle house at 4801 23rd SW (map), on the day that then-North Delridge Neighborhood Council leader Mike Dady led a tour of neighbors, media, and city officials, visiting several neglected-to-say-the-least properties, as a plea for help with the trouble such “problem properties” have caused. 11 months have passed since the tour (WSB coverage here); Mike just sent word that a demolition permit’s been issued for 4801 23rd SW (here’s the city infopage). At least one other property visited that day (4117 Delridge) has already been torn down.
SECOND NOTE: A banner’s up (no photo yet, sorry) on the new two-story building that went up adjacent to Olympia Pizza on Delridge (map). It promises Vietnamese soup and sandwiches, coming soon. Haven’t found any other info so far but will keep checking.
Door-to-door “alert”: West Seattle Boy Scouts’ food drive ahead
Most of our door-to-door alerts are of the “beware” variety. These upcoming door-to-door visitors hope to be welcomed. It’s time again for West Seattle Boy Scouts‘ door-to-door food drive, with notices this Saturday and pickups a week later – Rick McMinn of Troop 282 provides the details:
Since 1910, the ideals of Scouting have guided young men to perform “service to others and to the community.” Responding to the plight of America’s poor and hungry is a traditional Scouting “good turn.” During World War I, Boy Scouts planted vegetable gardens to provide food for the hungry. President Roosevelt called on Scouts to collect food for the needy during the Great Depression. Planting Victory Gardens were the Scouting “good turns” organized during World War II.
Today, Boy Scouts continue their Good Turn efforts in community stewardship through Scouting for Food. Scouts from West Seattle will walk our neighborhoods delivering door hangers on Saturday, March 13. The following Saturday, March 20, Scouts will follow-up to collect non-perishable food item donations and deliver them to the West Seattle Food Bank. Emphasis is on food most needed for nutrition such as peanut butter, baby formula, packaged meals and canned goods, especially tuna, soups, stews, meats, fruits and vegetables.
Please help support the hungry in our community. Watch for a door hanger on your door and get your donations out early on March 20th, so you can join our Scouts in “Doing a Good Turn Daily.”
Food Items Needed for Pickup Sat March 20
Canned meats – Canned vegetables – Boxed cereal – Canned milk – Canned tuna fish – Baby formula – Instant potatoes – Macaroni – Peanut butter in jars – Canned soup (chunky style) – Canned fruit – Beef stew – Pasta – Other non-perishable foods
(The next door-to-door food drive we know about after this one is the “Stamp Out Hunger” postal carriers’ drive, this year on May 8, same day as West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day!)
Today/tonight: “Sunlight,” 34th Democrats, “Running” – & treats!
OPENING NIGHT FOR “SUNLIGHT”: This is a biggie for ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) – it’s the National New Play Network World Premiere of “Sunlight” by Sharr White, directed by Vanessa Miller, and tonight is Opening Night. As the ArtsWest website puts it, “the personal and political collide” in this drama. Through April 3, you can see it Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 3 pm (tickets are on sale online here).
GET BACK TO WORK! Creating jobs — that’s what the 34th District Democrats are inviting a panel of experts to talk about at tonight’s meeting, 7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW). See the agenda here.
“RUNNING THE SAHARA”: Tonight’s the big screening at Admiral Theater – and local fitness-related businesses like the forthcoming West Seattle Runner (here’s their Facebook page) and Stroller Strides are inviting friends and clients to come see the documentary with them. Whether you go with a group or alone, you have till this afternoon to buy a ticket online for $25, which is $10 less for the door price (everyone gets a DVD of the movie).
WHEAT-FREE AND GLUTEN-FREE TREATS: Today’s the day that Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) starts featuring wheat-free and gluten-free treats by two specialty bakeries, and you can either order some for pickup or buy single-serving items. To kick it off, Flying Apron will be at Hotwire for tastings starting at 8 am, and Wheatless in Seattle will be there around 11.
FREE MARTIAL-ARTS CLASS: Seattle Integrated Martial Arts (WSB sponsor) in The Junction is hosting a “Women’s Intro to Muay Thai Kickboxing” class 7:15-8:15 tonight, free.
Sea lion shootings: Update on January/February investigations
Last month, we reported the news that federal investigators were looking into the shootings of at least five sea lions, some found in West Seattle (like the one that was being checked out in the photo at left, shared by Will). West Seattle’s Seal Sitters received early word of some of those cases and have been tracking the investigations. Robin Lindsey from Seal Sitters has now posted an update on their site: She reports that authorities say, of 11 sea lions whose deaths they investigated in January and February, from Kingston in the north to Olympia in the south, 10 had been shot. Two were Steller sea lions, officially listed as “threatened”; eight were California sea lions. As Robin writes on the Seal Sitters site, these shootings are considered crimes, and there’s a 24-hour tipline. And if you spot a seal on the beach in West Seattle in any condition, call Seal Sitters at 206-905-SEAL.
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