day : 12/08/2011 15 results

An update from the Seal Sitters’ “Blubberblog” – West Seattle’s first seal pup of the year, whom they nicknamed “Tiny” because it was a very small newborn, has died. But there probably wasn’t anything anyone could have done – seems an adult female seal found dead on a West Seattle beach this week was likely Tiny’s mom. Full story here.

Second time’s the charm? Sale ordered again, for ‘The Hole’

August 12, 2011 11:01 pm

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| Development | West Seattle news

(WSB photo of ‘The Hole,’ May 2011)
When we first reported back in June about a settlement ending the legal battle over “The Hole” — the excavated-then-stalled development site at 39th/Alaska, once known as Fauntleroy Place — we noted that the court case was technically kept open for one last matter to be overseen by Superior Court Judge Susan Craighead — the foreclosure sale of the property.

Today, court documents were filed to officially order that sale.

No date yet. Earlier this year, a sale date was briefly in place, till the entity that has hoped to take over the site – 3922 SW Alaska LLC, a spinoff of Madison Development – got the sale postponed by putting up a bond. In the meantime, the judge suggested mediation and that finally led to a settlement. Full details of that settlement have yet to publicly surface, but bits and pieces of it keep turning up in the online files. Here’s what we reported in June; since then, nothing much except an “order to disburse funds” in late July. We have been watching the files closely, and now we’ll be watching for a sale date. Results of that sale will determine what happens next with the site, once slated for a mixed-use development including residential units and a Whole Foods Market and Hancock Fabrics store.

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Video: ‘Elvis’ + classic cars = nostalgic night at The Mount

August 12, 2011 10:11 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Next Tuesday will mark 34 years since the death of “The King” – music and movie legend Elvis Presley. But Danny Vernon came to West Seattle’s Providence Mount St. Vincent (WSB sponsor) tonight not to mourn Elvis, but to celebrate him – which he’s been doing professionally for more than a few years. As you can see in the video, he enchanted the crowd. (added) He performs as later-stage Elvis, too, as Bill Bacon‘s photo (thank you!) shows:

Tonight was the second of this summer’s four free Friday night concerts at The Mount, and it was accompanied by a display of gas-powered nostalgia:

That’s Michael Emmick‘s Caddy, part of a classic car show that augmented tonight’s entertainment. For even more of a flashback – check out this Corvair:

And this ’56 Chevy:

Next Friday night, it’s Cheryl Serio – same schedule, food/drink available for purchase (optional) by 5:30, music starting at 6; details on the full series are here.

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This weekend’s citywide traffic advisory, with West Seattle events

August 12, 2011 7:33 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Almost forgot to share this weekend’s SDOT citywide traffic advisory, which includes two West Seattle events – the two-day Festival of India at Alki, and the Holy Rosary parish picnic. Read on for the full rundown:Read More

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Happening now: Russian ship Pallada leaving Seattle

August 12, 2011 6:02 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(Video added 7:45 pm, shot downtown as the ship started moving away)
You might be able to see it from West Seattle shores as it transits Elliott Bay – the Pallada, the Russian tall ship that’s been docked at Pier 66 the past few days (as previously reported here), has just sailed away, headed out of Seattle. Lots of horn-sounding and cheers that you might have heard all the way over to the Salty’s/Seacrest side! (7:45 pm note – It’s San Francisco-bound, per its track at MarineTraffic.com.)

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4 more weekend notes: Water/Spirit ride, Endolyne Joe’s pig roast, ‘Dog Days of Summer,’ Husky ice cream @ museum

August 12, 2011 5:04 pm

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| Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

Four more notes about one-time-only events this weekend:

WATER AND SPIRIT BIKE RIDE: Tomorrow’s the 4th annual Water and Spirit Ride, described by organizers as “a 40-mile bike ride with some of the most beautiful scenery in the Pacific Northwest, including three ferry crossings and a farmers market!” You can sign up till 9 tonight by going here, or sign up tomorrow morning at the start/finish line at Salty’s on Alki, starting at 6:15 am (cash/check only). You can depart from there at either 6:30 or 7:30 am (the first leg goes downtown to catch the first ferry of the ride route). Ride proceeds will benefit Family Promise of Seattle and Scholastic Journey.

ENDOLYNE JOE’S PIG ROAST: 5-8 pm Saturday, Endolyne Joe’s in Fauntleroy is having a pig roast – second year in a row. Here’s the full menu and pricing.

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER BEERFEST: Hot dogs and beer at West Seattle Nursery on Sunday afternoon, noon-4 pm, with donations benefiting Furry Faces Foundation. Adoptable pets will be there too, according to this post in the WSB Forums.

HUSKY DELI ICE CREAM @ LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: On Sunday afternoon, 1-3 pm, you’ll find Husky Deli’s Jack Miller serving up his famous ice cream for $2/scoop during an ice-cream social at the Log House Museum courtyard (61st/Stevens), celebrating the deli’s 79th anniversary. Live piano music by Verona Morgan Ryan, and coffee by White Center’s Dubsea Coffee.

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Congrats to SSCC’s Dean Michael Ryan, ‘Sustainability Hero’

August 12, 2011 3:39 pm

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| Environment | Sustainable West Seattle | West Seattle news

Second from left in the back row, photographed at South Seattle Community College‘s 2010 “Earth Day Every Day” event, is SSCC’s Dean Michael Ryan – who’s just been announced as Sustainable West Seattle‘s 2011 “Sustainability Hero.” SWS’s Patrick Dunn says Dean Ryan will be officially honored at the group’s annual community picnic next Monday at Lincoln Park, and you’re invited – full details here. Click ahead to read the details of Dean Ryan’s achievements and why SWS chose to honor him with this award:

Sustainable West Seattle enthusiastically recognizes Michael Ryan, Dean of Hospitality and Service Occupations at South Seattle Community College, as its 2011 Sustainable Hero of the Year. During his tenure with South, Michael Ryan has passionately pursued sustainability through the consistent development of programs and innovations, many of which would have been nearly impossible without his leadership and guidance.

Most notably, Dean Ryan was an essential supporter in the creation of successful programs such as SSCC’s Students for Sustainability, The West Seattle Tool Library, and The Community Orchard of West Seattle. All of these programs were able to find a home at South due to Dean Ryan’s commitment and passion not only for the environment but also for community building and sustainable innovations in the community college system.

In his work with the Culinary Arts Program at South, Dean Ryan helped to introduce sustainable practices into every aspect of their food service curriculum. Among other sustainable achievements, the program now composts their food waste and recycles paper, plastic, and canned goods. It also works with a local company to process its waste oil into biodiesel.

In light of all of these successful achievements and his commitment to carry on these pursuits, Sustainable West Seattle feels fortunate to be associated with the work of Dean Ryan. We’re proud to have him as a part of West Seattle’s sustainable community and we hope that sustainability at South Seattle Community College continues to thrive through his leadership and advocacy.

Dean Ryan will receive The Sustainable Hero Award during Sustainable West Seattle’s Annual Community Picnic at Lincoln Park on Monday, August 15th, 7-9 pm.

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Update: ‘Chemical reaction’ blamed for small fire @ Allstar

August 12, 2011 1:55 pm

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| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

1:55 PM: A big Seattle Fire Department callout in the past few minutes to Allstar Fitness in North Delridge (map) is mostly being canceled right now – per the scanner, “small fire, reported ‘out’ by occupant.” We’re still en route to check on the situation.

2:16 PM UPDATE: Adding a photo. Fire crews say there was a “very small fire” inside and that triggered the sprinkler system; patrons are being kept outside right now while the water from that is being cleaned up.

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB, added 3:49 pm)
5:13 PM UPDATE: We asked Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore about the cause: “We responded to a laundry room fire at the location. The caller said flames were visible. Someone extinguished the fire before Engine 27 arrived. Fire investigators determined the cause was accidental, a chemical reaction. Investigators estimate damage at $1000 to contents and $1000 to structure.”

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 4 reports, including ‘determined’ burglar

August 12, 2011 1:47 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Four West Seattle Crime Watch notes this afternoon: First, a WSB Forums post with details on stolen fishing gear, taken from someone who came here to join the big fishing rush at Lincoln Park – the friend who reported it hopes you might spot it on Craigslist or at a pawn shop and report it to police. Read the post here. Ahead, three reports including a burglary whose victim thought the culprit might have used a sledgehammer:Read More

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Update: County executive, county council make Metro/fee deal

August 12, 2011 10:41 am

| 63 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

(UPDATED BELOW with details of the just-announced plan)
10:41 AM: County Executive Dow Constantine and County Council members are briefing the media downtown right now on what was billed as “a major development (regarding) transportation funding.) According to the politics website PubliCola, the word is that the council now has the “supermajority” needed to put a $20/year car-tab fee in place, without sending it to voters. This comes as a deadline loomed: After postponing a decision two weeks ago, the King County Council was scheduled to decide next Monday whether to put the proposed $20 car-tab “save Metro” fee on the ballot, just make it happen with a supermajority vote in their own ranks, or take some other action to close the Metro budget gap that had threatened huge service cuts. West Seattle’s County Councilmember Joe McDermott says via Facebook, “Pleased that my colleagues and I have come to an agreement to save Metro transit!” More to come. Our partners at the Seattle Times are updating their story here; when we get the full text of the announcement, we’ll add it here.

11:51 AM: The full announcement has just arrived from the county executive’s office, explaining the five points in the plan, including phasing out the ride-free zone and providing bus tickets to car-tab renewers:Read More

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Admiral Safeway grand-opening postscript: ‘That’s Harry!’

August 12, 2011 10:22 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

A postscript on Thursday’s Admiral Safeway grand opening: If you saw our first story in the morning, you’ll remember the bench on the stairway landing in honor of 41-year employee Barb Fuda, lost to cancer while the new store was being built. The photo shown above is one of the many historic photos now hung around the new store, and it’s right by “Barb’s bench.” Safeway’s Sara Osborne says Ms. Fuda’s husband Bob came to the new store on Thursday afternoon: “… and he looked up at this photo that is hung RIGHT NEXT to her bench and he said, ‘That’s Harry.’ We asked, ‘Who’s Harry?’. He said, ‘Barb’s dad.’ He apparently worked as the Admiral Safeway’s meat manager for years. We had no idea when we chose or hung the photo.” (Bob left a comment about this, too.)

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West Seattle Friday: Car show/concert, ‘Oliver!’, ‘Starmites’…

August 12, 2011 9:53 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Baby “blood star,” photographed by Machel Spence – circumference of a quarter, she says)
Maybe you’ll see something like that if you walk the beach around low tide (-1.1, 10:37 am). Here are more of today/tonight’s highlights:

TRAFFIC ALERT: The road-rebuild work on SW Edmunds between California and 44th in The Junction is scheduled to continue till tonight, but the eastbound direction was to have reopened by now, leaving only the westbound side closed till they’re done. As the city’s original advisory points out, the westbound bus stop isn’t expected to reopen till tomorrow.

CAR SHOW AND CONCERT AT THE MOUNT: Classic car show tonight at Providence Mount St. Vincent (WSB sponsor) to accompany the outdoor concert featuring Danny Vernon‘s “Illusion of Elvis.” Dinner/beer/wine available starting at 5:30 pm, live music from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. 4831 35th SW.

LIVE COFFEEHOUSE MUSIC: This Volcanic Winter plays C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW, 6-8 pm.

PACKET PICKUP FOR TOMORROW’S ‘BREATHE DEEP SEATTLE’ 5K: Signed up for this first-ever lung-cancer awareness- and fund-raising 5K in Lincoln Park? Packets will be available for pickup at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) 4-8 pm today. Registration and race details here.

WINE FOR A CURE: At South Seattle Community College‘s Northwest Wine Academy, 5-8 pm – Wine for a Cure tasting to benefit Team Tracy‘s fundraising for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Race for the Cure. $10 donation at the door; samples of a special selection of academy wines will be available, as will light appetizers.

SKATING AT ALKI: Friday Night Skate at Alki Community Center, 6:45-8:45 pm, $3 per person (includes skates if you don’t bring your own).

OLIVER! WEEKEND #2: Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) presents “Oliver!” at West Seattle High School Theater (3000 California SW), 7:30 pm. Tickets available at the theater, $18/adults, $15 students/seniors.

STARMITES AT ARTSWEST: Through Sunday, it’s this year’s production by the teens and tweens in the ArtsWest Summer Musical Apprenticeship Program – 7:30 pm. (Details and ticket-buying link here.)

ZIPPY’S VACATION EVE: The area’s only independent burger joint goes on vacation for nine days starting tomorrow and posted on its Facebook page that tonight after 8 pm, they’ll have a “buy one/get one free” special (with caveats – read the post) till they run out.

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Coming up in Arbor Heights: Crime meeting and block party

August 12, 2011 6:03 am

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| Arbor Heights | Neighborhoods | Safety | West Seattle news

Arbor Heights Community Church sends word of two upcoming neighborhood events: A crime-prevention meeting with Seattle Police is planned for 7 pm Tuesday, August 30th, at the church (4113 SW 102nd). All AH residents are welcome, as is also the case with the annual block party, happening even sooner – official announcement ahead:Read More

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Bushaw murder trial: Medical details; defendant’s friend

August 12, 2011 3:08 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

By Katie Meyer
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

In King County Superior Court Judge Joan DuBuque‘s courtroom, the trial of 2 men charged in the February 2009 murder of Steve Bushaw is on break until next Wednesday. Two witnesses testified Thursday morning before the jury was dismissed till then.

Once defendants Bryce Huber and Brandon Chaney were brought in and seated at the defense table with their attorneys, the jurors filed in – after the bailiff’s “all rise” command, giving the jury the same sign of respect as the judge – and took their seats. Then the first witness of the day took the stand: Assistant county medical examiner Pamela Ulmer, who was working at the King County Medical Examiner’s office during the time Steve Bushaw was murdered.

With his first questions, prosecutor Jeff Baird established her training and qualification, which included her degree in chemistry, a medical degree, having completed a pathology residency program and additional certification in forensic pathology. Ulmer said that the mandate of a medical examiner is to examine or look for the cause of death if it’s not “an attended natural death.” An autopsy entails looking at the cause of death – “was it a disease, accident, injury,” facilitating the categorization of different causes into a specific cause. This enables the medical examiner to specify which of the five classified manners of death a case should be ruled as: natural, accident, suicide, homicide, or undetermined.

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From plaza to castle, Roxhill Skatespot/Playground projects’ 1st round of community discussion

August 12, 2011 2:04 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | Westwood

(Photo of Roxhill Park play structure, from Seattle Parks website)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“What’s wrong with the play structure we have now?”

The plaintive question came from a man in attendance at Wednesday night’s community meeting about the two upcoming projects at Roxhill Park – $450,000 playground renovation and $600,000 “skatespot.”

The answer from Seattle Parks staffers in a moment, but first: This was the first of three community meetings on the Roxhill projects. Project manager Kelly Davidson opened the meeting, noting both are funded by money from the 2008 voter-approved Parks and Green Spaces Levy (whose Oversight Committee chair, Pigeon Point resident Pete Spalding, was in attendance).

Davidson briefly mentioned the Rob Dyrdek Foundation donation for the skatespot that led to a “no-cost design” contract with California Skateparks. She said the skatespot and playground projects are intended to be worked on simultaneously, in hopes that’ll enable both to be handled in one construction contract. Design is to be complete next January, with construction expected to take place February through September of next year. Besides the three public meetings, there will be an additional skatespot-design review with the city Skate Park Advisory Committee (open to the public).

The skatepark (technically a “skatespot”) will be in the northwest quadrant of the park, near the corner of 29th/Barton, north of the playground, which is envisioned at its current site. Here’s a roughed-out map shown at the meeting:

Though discussion of both projects kept happening throughout the meeting, it started with playground design, led by Parks’ landscape architects Frank Robinson and Shwu-jen Hwang.

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