West Seattle, Washington

16 Saturday

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month : 02/2011 317 results

Attention, Alki area: Anyone seen the Joy D. Smith Wildlife Raft?
February 24, 2011 12:55 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

We’ve featured it before – and it’s disappeared before, too – this time, Guy Smith hopes once more that someone’s found his family’s raft/buoy, missing from just east of Alki Point:

The big winds and waves last Saturday were too much for our buoy. A few days later it was gone and the Joy D. Smith wildlife raft went with it. We’re hoping someone will spot them and let us know at 206-937-8742.

You can see the raft in this WSB story.

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3 Spokane Street Viaduct closures in the next 5 nights
February 24, 2011 12:23 pm
|    Comments Off on 3 Spokane Street Viaduct closures in the next 5 nights
 |   Spokane St. Viaduct project | West Seattle news

You might have seen the portable warning sign on your approach to the West Seattle Bridge – we spotted one at the 35th/Fauntleroy eastbound entrance this morning – regarding these closures. The eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct (West Seattle Bridge between 99 and I-5) will be closed Friday night overnight; the westbound direction will be closed Sunday night and Monday night, both overnight. That affects some of the ramps to and from that section of the bridge. Read on for full details in the SDOT announcement we just received:Read More

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West Seattle Water Taxi adding more trips starting Monday
February 24, 2011 11:45 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

Out of the WSB inbox, news that the West Seattle Water Taxi will “offer an expanded sailing schedule” starting Monday – read on for more details:Read More

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West Seattle Thursday, besides the snow: Orca talk RESCHEDULED, The Bridge opens, more…
February 24, 2011 9:45 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Mushroom in the snow, photo by Machel Spence)
The weather’s expected to get colder but not much snowier (though it’s flurrying as we write this), which should mean all’s well in getting to at least some of the great things happening around here today/tonight, though we have one major postponement so far. Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

‘TUCKER AND THE ORCAS’ RESCHEDULED TO NEXT THURSDAY: Just got word from Donna Sandstrom at The Whale Trail that tonight’s talk at the Duwamish Longhouse is rescheduled to NEXT Thursday, March 3rd, 7 pm.

No other changes that we know of – but please call or e-mail if you know of something!

GRAND OPENING FOR ‘THE BRIDGE’: 4 pm, the new drinks/food place in the old Redline (etc.) opens its doors. Here’s our sneak-peek story from last week.

RON ANGELES CELEBRATION: 6-8 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, come wish the longtime district coordinator a happy “retirement” (though of course, he won’t be idle) – here’s the story we published last night about Ron’s thoughts looking back and looking ahead.

JEWISH KIDS IN THE KITCHEN: Challah Baking event, 3 pm at the West Seattle Torah Learning Center, ages 5-10. Call 206-852-6418 or gitifredman@gmail.com to see if there’s still room.

TALK TIME: New English conversation group for those learning English. It meets weekly on Thursdays at the High Point Library, free, call 206-684-7454 with questions.

‘THE CHANGING HOUSE’: Lidunn Øverdahl Cain at the Southwest Library, 6:30 pm, exploring the possibilities of modifying a home to meet your changing needs.

BURLESQUE AT SKYLARK CAFE AND CLUB: New monthly event – 9 pm!

More on the calendar; and check back for more weather updates and other news all day long.

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West Seattle snow: Thursday morning commute, school info
February 24, 2011 5:48 am
|      53 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(TOPLINES, UPDATED 8:41 AM: City says it’s getting crews out to handle icy Fauntleroy between Morgan & Triangle; some schools closed/starting late, see below)

(Refresh for latest pic from WS Bridge & 1st Ave. S. Bridge cams, more on the WSB Traffic page)
ROADS: No reports of major problems in our area so far. An overnight commenter says The Bridge was fine, even after the biggest round of snow. From SDOT:

Most city streets are bare and wet this morning. Crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation are treating major arterial streets to guard against the formation of ice in advance of the morning commute period. Snowfall last night was highly variable around the city. Beacon Hill, southern Rainier Valley, and higher parts of West Seattle appear to have had the most snow.

Via FB, though, we have one report “48th SW is a sheet of glass” in Admiral – so street conditions may vary. Via e-mail, SW Edmunds between California/Fauntleroy is reported to be treacherous. Fauntleroy Way between Morgan Junction and The Triangle also is reported to be icy and dangerous. (8:41 AM UPDATE – SDOT just told KING 5 they’re sending crews out to take care of that.) The arterials near WSB HQ, California/Thistle, are both bare, though the feeder side streets have some snow coverage – here’s a video look from just before 7 am:

Please let us know via comments (or e-mail) what it’s like where you are. Photos appreciate, too. (8:41 AM – Here’s one from Rebecca on Charlestown Hill heading down toward Alki:)

BUSES: Some Metro buses are on snow routes; here’s the current list.

SCHOOLS: (latest update 7:24 am)
South Seattle Community College is opening LATE at 10 am, according to schoolreport.org
Holy Rosary School is opening LATE at 10 am, per Twitter
Seattle Lutheran High School in West Seattle is CLOSED (update) per its Twitter feed
Our Lady of Guadalupe is CLOSED, per its website
Holy Family School is CLOSED
Hope Lutheran is CLOSED
EuropaKids preschool reported CLOSED
West Seattle Christian Preschool reported CLOSED
Kennedy HS in Burien CLOSED
Seattle Public Schools were already closed for midwinter break, but an SPS online note adds that West Seattle Elementary enrichment programs are closed today because of the weather.

GOVERNMENT SERVICES: Update from the City of Seattle, which just deactivated the Emergency Operations Center (8 am) but says SDOT is still on snow/ice patrol:

Seattle Parks and Recreation is following normal schedules and operations. Seattle Parks Child Care Winter Break Camps are operating today as scheduled. The Amy Yee Tennis Center is Open for business. Community Centers, Pools, and Environmental Learning Centers will open at their regularly scheduled times today.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Snowy early Thursday
February 24, 2011 1:51 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Weather Watch: Snowy early Thursday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

After that big late-night blast of snow (see the video toward the end of our earlier coverage), we have a couple inches on the ground here at WSB HQ in Upper Fauntleroy. Much of the rest of West Seattle got it too – the photo above is from Jennifer in Highland Park; below, from Taylor in Sunrise Heights (looking south on 35th):

That scene looks pastoral – but the roads can be treacherous – Sarel sends this view of Fauntleroy Way:

She notes at least one accident on that stretch. And we’ve just received an update from SDOT:

The Seattle Department of Transportation is concentrating snow response efforts tonight in the south end of the city where up to three inches of snow have fallen. Crews are plowing and treating major arterial streets. Continued snowfall is expected off and on through the early morning hours. Drivers are advised to use caution in areas even where there is little snow accumulation due to the possibility of ice.

And indeed, Christopher Boffoli verified the sub-freezing road-surface temperature on California SW in The Junction around midnight:

We’ll be updating frequently for the morning commute starting around 5 am, when schools make their decisions, and when the Seattle Emergency Operations Center is scheduled to reopen; in the meantime, for Metro‘s latest routing plans, check here. As for the forecast, snow showers are still possible, and very low temperatures are expected the next two nights. Meantime, thanks in advance for sharing photos – particularly showing conditions on major local roadways – and information!

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Admiral sinkhole followup: Now an ’emergency’ pipe replacement
February 23, 2011 10:38 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Safety | Utilities | West Seattle news

That big backhoe sits tonight atop what was the traffic circle at Fairmount and Forest in Admiral – which we last visited on Friday afternoon, as neighbors and passersby became increasingly worried about a growing sinkhole (first mentioned here a week ago):

(WSB photo from last Friday)
What was the traffic circle, and sinkhole, in the center of the intersection south of Fairmount Ravine is now the site of an emergency construction project to remove and replace 50 feet of “collapsed” sewer main under the street. That’s according to a notice posted at the site, which has even more heavy equipment standing by, beyond the backhoe atop the ex-circle:

One neighbor we spoke with this afternoon says the broken pipe and water from last week’s rain backed up under the street surface, and that led to the sinkhole problem. The Seattle Public Utilities notice says the emergency work will take about two weeks and may continue through weekends. In the meantime, what would have gone through the damaged pipe will be routed, says SPU’s notice, through a temporary line, so that service isn’t interrupted to nearby homes.

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About to retire, Delridge’s Ron Angeles looks back, and ahead
February 23, 2011 9:34 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Story and photo by Jack Mayne
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Tomorrow night is your chance to cheer and honor Ron Angeles, as he gets ready to retire from his City of Seattle work as a neighborhood district coordinator on March 15th.

Friends and colleagues have organized a community celebration 6-8 pm Thursday at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. But before that – time to look back, and look ahead.

Angeles is known best, and most recently, in West Seattle as the coordinator for the Delridge Neighborhoods District, before the Department of Neighborhoods‘ recent reorganization of district coordinators.

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‘Perfect snow day project’: WestSide Baby needs you!
February 23, 2011 8:02 pm
|    Comments Off on ‘Perfect snow day project’: WestSide Baby needs you!
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Just in from Nancy Woodland of WestSide Baby, which helps thousands of local families but can’t do it without you:

The PERFECT Snow Day project awaits you and your kids!

As you are searching for gloves and boots, many of the families we serve are in cramped living spaces with inadequate heat. Warm clothes are needed today! After filling orders this week for local children in need, WestSide Baby’s clothing shelves are extremely depleted. I hope you will consider a closet-clean out day with your kids to be a worthwhile, non-TV, do “something for other’s” way to fill a few hours if the snow or school holiday keeps you cooped up this week.

WestSide Baby provides essentials to local children (newborn to size 12) in need by collecting items from local families and distributing them through more than 90 local social service agency partners like food banks, public health and many more. Just in these 3 weeks of February, we have been unable to fill 17 Clothing Bags, 14 requests for shoes and many winter coats. We strive to meet the very real need and we need your help! In the next few days, we have existing orders to fill for many clothing articles including pants and shirts at 15 requests each. Even after a wonderfully discounted shopping spree today of larger size children’s clothes at Again and A Gain Consignment, one of our wonderful on-going sponsors, we were through those bags by day’s end.

A complete and detailed list of the clothing items we currently need can be found on our How to Give section of our website. Our facility is open for donations again on Saturday from 10-1 but we also have many drop-off locations throughout West Seattle and Burien if you can reach them easier. We also have many unfilled requests for items such as car seats, strollers, portable cribs and toddler beds (not twin) but we are slightly overstocked on toys. Feel free to leave the toy purge for another day!

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West Seattle snow: Late-night shower, despite downgraded alert
February 23, 2011 5:31 pm
|      63 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Refresh for latest pic from WS Bridge & 1st Ave. S. Bridge cams, more on the WSB Traffic page)
5:31 PM: We are in Admiral, heading south, and it’s snowing, though not too heavily. You?

6:02 PM: Back at HQ in Upper Fauntleroy, it’s very, very light. Moving the bridge cameras from our morning preview to this story for anyone who still has to hit the road(s).

6:18 PM: Steady, still not heavy. Meantime, an update from the city Emergency Operations Center just arrived in the WSB inbox, including:

19 plow trucks with salt spreaders are pre-positioned around Seattle. Snow routes have been pre-treated with magnesium chloride salt brine, emphasizing elevated structures. The department has been working 12-hour shifts for 24-hour operations since 9 a.m. this morning.

(We noticed pre-treatment marks on arterials including SW Thistle when we headed north pre-sunset.) The city also says that so far, Thursday is expected to be “a normal day for garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste collection,” so please have everything out by 7 am.

(Video added 6:53 pm)
7:38 PM: Bigger flakes. Meantime, the city reports it’s closed the EOC until 5 tomorrow morning, at which time it’ll monitor the morning commute.

8:18 PM: Cars are coated in snow up here in Upper Fauntleroy, after two-plus hours of steady snowfall. Yards/planting strips are frosted too. Not the street, so far, but temps are close to freezing. Note that while it’s not so bad around here, to the north and to the south, different story, so if you have to drive into Snohomish or South King County (among other areas) … be forewarned.

9:04 PM: Metro has now announced all its Southwest King County buses are on snow routes. Some of them go through White Center. West Seattle is mostly still on regular routes, though, but keep an eye on the Metro map/list.

9:51 PM: The weather experts are in with their late-night thoughts. About an hour ago, Cliff Mass warned “it’s not over yet.” But the National Weather Service has downgraded the “winter storm warning” to a “winter weather advisory” for Seattle. As you have likely seen elsewhere, there’s been major snow to the north, and to the south, but ours hasn’t amounted to much more than a hearty dusting.

10:43 PM: And suddenly we’re having the heaviest shower we’ve seen all day/night – with some sticking to the road. Perhaps Cliff Mass was right. (video added 10:59 pm)

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West Seattle Crime Watch: ‘Open letter,’ stolen car, 2 more reports
February 23, 2011 3:57 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

The latest West Seattle Crime Watch reports from the WSB inbox include an “open letter” from a theft victim to the thieves, whom she believes were at an unauthorized party at her house, asking that two items with keepsake value be returned; plus, a stolen car to watch for, and more:Read More

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Chief Sealth portrait now gracing his namesake school
February 23, 2011 2:13 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

After days of installation work (you’ve seen it in progress if you’ve driven SW Thistle this past week), the front of Chief Sealth International High School‘s auditorium is now graced by a portrait of its namesake, in the school colors, in a two-sided louvered style – red if you’re looking west, blue if you’re looking east.

Before it was repainted during the two-year renovation project, that section of the auditorium’s facade simply bore the lettering “Chief Sealth High School” – here’s the previous look, and here’s an even older view. (The story of Chief Sealth/Seattle himself is told here, at HistoryLink.org.)

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West Seattle Weather Watch update: Snow debuts, briefly
February 23, 2011 12:41 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

12:41 PM: Moving up from the south – we were just in White Center, where it started to snow; headed back toward West Seattle and now it’s a pretty good shower in Westwood.

12:53 PM: We’re in Highland Park and the snow shower has just stopped … no, wait, flurrying again … Speaking of Highland Park, if you didn’t see this in the WSB Forums, by the way, Zippy’s is closing at 2 pm just in case.

1:02 PM: Sunny in Fauntleroy! Seriously. So we’re moving on with the rest of the news and will bring snow coverage back to the top as warranted.

4:19 PM: Still no snow sightings since then, though the clouds have grow a bit darker.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Where’s the snow, you ask?
February 23, 2011 12:01 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

12:01 PM: Since the flake-free night gave way to a flake-free morning in West Seattle, we’re checking around to see what the weather folks are predicting for this afternoon. The popular weather analyst Cliff Mass published a “nowcast” this past hour on his website, acknowledging areas like ours have been in a shadow while other areas (like Snohomish County) have been walloped, but saying that pattern is now breaking down. However, he says in capital letters, “THIS WILL NOT BE LIKE NOV. 22ND.” As for the National Weather Service, its midmorning “forecast discussion” also acknowledges the “shadowing” but predicts for later today, “SHOWERS WILL INCREASE … AND AN INCH OR TWO OF SLUSHY SNOW WILL OCCUR MOST AREAS AWAY FROM WATER AND ABOVE 100-200 FT IN ELEVATION.” The broadcast translations of most of this are discussing mid-afternoon or later. The NWS warns that the “models” remain inconsistent, but tonight looks even potentially snowier. So don’t assume nothing’s happening because nothing’s happened yet – might, or might not. (Yes, we know, we’ve seen this all before.)

ADDED 12:06 PM: Just after we published our update, Metro sent theirs. No route changes yet, but they’re chaining up and warning they expect to move to snow routing later – info after the jump (and we’re watching for other transportation/transit agencies’ plans too; will add to this story as they come in):Read More

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2 more chances to tidy up West Seattle: Admiral, & Thistle stairs
February 23, 2011 11:35 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Want cleaner streets and sidewalks? Here are two more opportunities in addition to the March 5th “Clean Up Your Act” volunteer effort noted here. First, Admiral Neighborhood Association president Katy Walum posted a reminder about their Saturday Adopt-A-Street event (free breakfast AND lunch!) as a WSB comment:

… The Admiral Neighborhood Association will be having our quarterly Adopt-a-Street cleanup this Saturday, February 26th, from 9-11 am. Any interested volunteers are welcome to meet with us at 9 am at the Admiral Metropolitan Market, and spend an hour or so picking up litter in and around the Admiral business district. We will provide safety vests, gloves, bags, and trash grabbers. Metropolitan Market will provide volunteers with fresh coffee, fruit, and pastries, and a sack lunch after the cleanup to reward you for your efforts. Please e-mail me at katy.walum@gmail.com with any questions. Hope to see you litter-busters there!

And we also got word of a cleanup along West Seattle’s longest staircase, the SW Thistle Street stairs between Upper Fauntleroy and Lincoln Park. Neighbors and other stairway users will gather at its lower end at 10 am March 5th; more details in this Facebook event invitation.

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West Seattle Wednesday: Today/tonight’s scheduled highlights
February 23, 2011 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Wednesday: Today/tonight’s scheduled highlights
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Refresh for latest pic from WS Bridge & 1st Ave. S. Bridge cams, more on the WSB Traffic page)
You never know when those snowy forecasts WON’T come true, so since it was a snow-free night, we’re starting the day by looking ahead to what’s scheduled as if everything will go on as planned. (If bad weather does arrive and you cancel something – PLEASE let us know, and we’ll help get the word out!) Topping the list: Highland Park Action Committee‘s monthly meeting, 7 pm, Highland Park Improvement Club (12th/Holden) …In The Junction, West 5 – which just celebrated its own 8th anniversary – hosts the 8th anniversary party for Georgetown Brewing Company, starting at 6 pm (full details here) … PoetryBridge.net has its monthly night of poems and stories tonight at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW, with featured poets followed by open mike, 7 pm … Looking for work? Free job-search workshop at South Seattle Community College‘s WorkSource Center, 4:30 – 6 pm, focusing on “online job search basics” … Weekly “project knitting” class meets 7-9 pm at CAPERS (questions? 206-972-6945, Marguerite) … Two WSB sponsor notes: The Westside Professionals business-networking group meets at 8 am, The Kenney; and it’s the first day for the Northwest Flower and Garden Show (reading the list of exhibitors, so far we’ve found one from here – West Seattle Nursery is part of the Container Show) … Check in with us for weather/road updates and other news, all day long.

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Sustainable West Seattle explores where transportation’s going
February 23, 2011 5:58 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Sustainable West Seattle | West Seattle news

Timing was perfect for Sustainable West Seattle‘s transportation-focused community forum last night – this is another pivotal time for our region, trying to envision the future through a cloud of present-day problems, like budget cuts that threaten transit even as more people try to move away from cars.

The main room at the Senior Center of West Seattle held a sizable crowd for the forum – but in case you weren’t there, we recorded the entire forum on video, two hours broken into three pieces of about 40 minutes each, all included in this story. Top clip has SWS’s Brian Allen introducing the event before introductory remarks from each panelist: West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the council’s Transportation Committee, moderated the forum and answered questions, as did panelists Chris Arkills, the transportation expert on King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s team; Martin Duke from Seattle Transit Blog, Brice Maryman from SvR Design, and Peter Hahn, director of SDOT. (As you’ll hear Rasmussen joke, Hahn would’ve been excused if he had been fidgety, with his department having triggered its Snow/Ice Plan.) For the second 40 minutes, the panelists quizzed each other a while, then moved on to answering audience questions:

The clash of economic reality and transportation needs was a recurring theme – Arkills, for example, had dire warnings of looming Metro cuts, if “a sustainable funding base” is not found. And then there were those who just wanted help cutting through the thicket of information to find out what’s really happening with major projects right now:

You’ll have more opportunities ahead to speak out about transportation in our area – for example, as King County’s Arkills reminded attendees, Metro will start a new process this fall of opening the entirety of West Seattle’s bus-route network for discussion – looking ahead to the RapidRide era that’ll start in fall 2012, do other changes need to be made to serve the peninsula better? As for the city, Mayor McGinn mentions a West Seattle light-rail line now and then – will that turn up on the ballot sooner rather than later? And watch the City Council – SDOT’s Hahn said part of the Transit Master Plan will go to Rasmussen’s committee this Friday (watch here for that agenda). Also watch the community-association meeting announcements we feature here, since agencies like WSDOT, SDOT and Metro often make the rounds of those meetings with presentations on current and future topics.

(P.S. We don’t know yet how soon they’ll turn it around, but Seattle Channel was on hand recording last night’s forum on video, too.)

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Helicopter over southeastern West Seattle: Sheriff’s Office case
February 23, 2011 2:19 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news | Westwood

2:19 AM: We’re hearing a chopper in the distance, and via Facebook/e-mail, we have a few other reports, from Westwood to Highland Park. Checking on it. (If you are seeing ground police activity anywhere in that area, let us know – sometimes that’s the main clue.)

4:39 AM NOTE: The helicopter left shortly after we published this. As for what it was doing – no reply yet from police, but whenever we do finally get info later this morning, we’ll add it to this …

11:38 AM NOTE: Heard back this morning from Lt. Ron Rasmussen at the Southwest Precinct, who couldn’t find any evidence it was related to an SPD case. So now we’re checking with King County Sheriff’s Office, to whom the lone law-enforcement chopper in the area (Guardian One) belongs, in case it was a county case that just happened to spill over here.

4:23 PM NOTE: We finally got a bit of information, but not much. King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. John Urquhart says it was a KCSO case – but he hasn’t been able to rustle up the information on anything beyond, an arrest was being made. Not a big deal, he insists.

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West Seattleites in Olympia for ‘Focus Day’ school-funding support
February 23, 2011 1:36 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics | West Seattle schools

(Photo by Melissa Edwards)
Presidents Day was no holiday for some local families who traveled to Olympia to advocate for education funding – amid a continuing budget crunch. Schmitz Park Elementary PTA President Fiona Preedy shared a report:

West Seattleites were well represented at the PTA Focus Day held in Olympia on Presidents Day, with Gatewood, Schmitz Park, and Lafayette parents rallying to ask legislators to better fund K-12 education.

Thanks to all the families that gathered, chanted, and made the rounds of legislators. Gatewood families – Erika Schreder and Greg Peters with Hannelore and Sarah, and Grace Bennett with her son Henry and his friend Elias; Schmitz Park families – Emily Carlson with Oliver, Emily, and Oscar, Melissa Edwards with her son Keaton, Fiona Preedy with Rowan and Aidan; Lafayette’s Lisa Schubert and her daughter Mai Li.

We had a great time, learned a lot about how government works, and we hope that we had an impact on how Olympia views funding our children’s education.

If you’d like to know more – here’s the Washington State PTA page about budget advocacy. If you want to support the cause, here’s what Schmitz Park PTA legislative chair Naheed Nizam advises:

Contact Sen. Sharon Nelson, Rep. Eileen Cody and Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon and ask them not to impose any further cuts on K-12 funding. In addition … remind our legislators that “It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for education of all children residing within its borders, without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste, or sex” – Washington State Constitution, Article 9, Section 1.

Links to all three legislators’ pages – with their contact info – can be found here.

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West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network gets the 411 on 911
February 23, 2011 12:54 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

A lesson in how to call 911 – what to say, what not to say, when to call, when not to call – comprised the heart of Tuesday night’s West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network meeting at the Southwest Precinct.

Teaching the lesson, Kayreen Lum, a King County 911 program manager. We’ve heard this lesson before, from different presenters, before different groups, but every time there is something new to learn:Read More

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Remembering Ron Richardson: Standing-room-only memorial
February 22, 2011 10:45 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

About 250 people filled the biggest room at The Hall at Fauntleroy this afternoon to celebrate the life of Ron Richardson, the historian/retired teacher/political activist (and so much more) whose cancer battle ended earlier this month at age 75.

“Continue on,” he had exhorted his daughter Carrie Lynn Richardson in a recent note, she recalled. Continue on, life did – with every chair filled, and dozens standing around the edges of the room, even as snow fell intermittently outside, and orcas swam by just off the Fauntleroy shore. Ron’s son Dan Richardson looked out over the crowd from the front of the room as the memorial began, and marveled, “Unbelievable.”

The man known for honoring the fact that everyone had a story to tell was paid tribute with a multitude of stories, from not only family members, but also from former colleagues from his years as a schoolteacher and sports coach, and from his former fellow board member at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, Judy Bentley, who observed of Ron’s involvement with so many of its endeavors, from preservation campaigns to walking tours: “He just kept showing up.”

Ron’s own history yielded tales of all manner of achievements, from his multiple road trips during his son and daughter’s childhood – Carrie Lynn said she had been to all 48 continental states by the time she was 15, before she ever took a plane trip – to his 1970s work to get a school built in the jungles of Ecuador.

Speaking again at the end of the memorial’s formal program, her brother Dan recalled their father as a “hero” for keeping a positive attitude during his 16-month fight against the disease that ended his life. It was clearly not just a chin-up positive attitude, but one even with humor, as a Steve Goodman recording was played before those in attendance were invited to share food and stories with each other (and in composition books around the room), the classic “A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request.”

Then there was an unspoken tribute few might have noticed – revealed by the presence of this car in the parking lot behind The Hall:

We heard Spc. Dickison’s story from Ron the first time we met him, almost three years ago. The famous sign in his front yard (which we had first noticed a year earlier), charting the tolls of the ongoing war in the Middle East, picked up a new number, in honor of Pfc. Dickison, after his mother knocked on the front door one day. After meeting him, we published Ron’s story about that in May 2008.

To that point, a eulogizer today noted that Ron’s many qualities included embodiment of Joseph Campbell’s exhortation to “Participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world.” Those who gathered to remember him today, amid that particular sorrow, were invited to participate joyfully in the celebration as well.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: New snow warning; transit advisories
February 22, 2011 5:23 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(WEDNESDAY MORNING NOTE: The storm warning was slightly amended late last night but is still in effect; see the new version here.)

(Photo taken 6:25 pm, sleet/hail/ice pellets/etc. still on the ground outside Southwest Precinct)
5:23 PM: As another brief shower of sleet/hail/ice pellets/snow/etc. passes through, the major transportation agencies are ending the day with advisories to be ready for anything tomorrow. Here’s the Metro advisory; here’s the Sound Transit advisory. But at this point, those are mostly intended for tomorrow morning; we’re not expected to get major snow in West Seattle tonight (we’ll update, of course, if that changes, and thanks in advance for sharing news of what you’re seeing where you are). The National Weather Service has raised the alert level to “Winter Storm Warning,” though, with this declaration:

A DEEPENING UPPER LEVEL LOW COMBINED WITH ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE THAT WILL BE MOVING INTO THE AREA FROM THE NORTH WILL GIVE SNOW LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY TO ALL OF WESTERN WASHINGTON… INCLUDING THE LOWLANDS.

5:40 PM UPDATE: From the mayor’s office:

The latest weather forecasts call for snowfall of 2 to 6 inches beginning Wednesday afternoon, followed by freezing temperatures through the end of the week. That pattern is very similar to the snowstorm that hit Seattle during Thanksgiving week last year. While we learned a lot and made improvements following that storm, it’s impossible to predict exactly where and how this week’s storm will hit hardest.

With that in mind, we are activating the city’s snow and ice plan. The Seattle Department of Transportation began by pre-treating streets with anti-icing solution today. Crews will go to 24-hour work shifts beginning Wednesday morning. Because Wednesday afternoon’s commute is expected to be difficult, it may be a good day to work an alternate shift, telecommute or make other travel arrangements if possible.

5:48 PM UPDATE: And SDOT is out with its own statement, including snow-plan specifics:

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is gearing up for snow expected to arrive in the Seattle area on Wednesday, February 23. As of 4 a.m., ten snow plows will hit the streets in the north sector of Seattle and eight plows will move into action in the south sector. Starting at 9 a.m., SDOT will go into a full 24-hour response plan to keep roads open, buses moving and critical emergency services accessible.

The response plan calls for deploying 30 trucks with plows, which will be prepositioned throughout the city in key locations such as elevated structures and certain trouble spots on major arterials. The department starting pre-treating major roadways with salt brine this afternoon in preparation for the storm. Additional details concerning SDOT’s response will be forthcoming as more information about the impending storm becomes available.

Motorists are advised to use caution when driving in snow and ice, especially on Seattle’s many hills and bridges. For up-to-date information on the City’s response and roadway conditions, please visit: http://Seattle.gov/transportation/. Motorists can also check on current traffic conditions and roadway images on SDOT’s Traveler’s Map.

As a reminder, property owners are responsible for clearing sidewalks adjacent to their properties after a snowstorm. SDOT encourages residents and businesses to have snow shovels and materials on-hand to keep walkways clear and safe for pedestrians.

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Charges in West Seattle murder of entertainer Hokum W. Jeebs
February 22, 2011 4:01 pm
|      42 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(2/16/2011 photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has announced it has charged 19-year-old Angelo Felice with first-degree murder in last Wednesday’s stabbing death of the 60-year-old Fauntleroy entertainer best known as Professor Hokum W. Jeebs (birth name Robert Stabile). He is scheduled to return to court March 8th to answer the charge. (Update: His bail has been raised to $1 million.) The charging documents allege that Felice killed Jeebs “while committing and attempting to commit the crime of robbery.” They also say that blood found on Felice’s shirt and on a knife found on the back deck of the house matched Jeebs’s DNA. The story of how the two were acquainted with each other, and what allegedly preceded the murder, is a complicated one – we will transcribe the court documents, minus names that aren’t those of the suspect and victim.

4:14 PM UPDATE: We’re transcribing the documents and updating every paragraph or so, after the jump.

5:03 PM. Transcription is finished. (Be forewarned that the narrative is graphic in spots.):Read More

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