West Seattle, Washington
03 Thursday
More sports notes from the first weekend of the new year: First, congratulations to West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth High School swimmers for their achievements in the Friday meet with O’Dea and Holy Names Academy. Thanks to Katy for sending the list of results (see it here); for West Seattle HS, Luke Asatiani won the boys’ 200-yard IM and 100-yard breaststroke; for Chief Sealth, Kelsey Hastings led the girls’ 50-yard free and 100-yard fly, Morgan Montemayor took the boys’ 100-yard fly and 100-yard backstroke, the 500-yard free swims were won by Jennifer Faulkner and Michael Stewart, Brianna Phillips won the girls’ 100-yard backstroke, and Nicole Moro was victorious in the 100-yard breaststroke.
Saturday, meantime, was a busy day on the basketball courts. And even a soccer sighting – as Chief Sealth’s team held a bake-sale fundraiser during the school’s basketball games:
That’s Xahil and Dillon. (Thanks to the @SealthAthletics Twitter feed for the bake-sale tip!) Sealth and Seattle Lutheran both played basketball at home, so WSB was there, and summaries are ahead:Read More
(Friday photo of Alki-area bald eagle, by Gary Jones)
Looks like a decent day for some outdoor work or play. (ADDED: Minutes after we published this, a great sunrise photo came in, taken by Coleman Smith at EC Hughes Playground, AND the forecast added the words “partly sunny”:)
Here’s what’s on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET RETURNS: After two holiday Sundays off, it’s the return of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am – 2 pm, The Junction (44th/Alaska). Market management says the new year brings new vendors: Finnriver Artisan Hard Cider & Spirited Wine, with wine and cider sampling from 10-2 pm. From the vintners …”We will feature our artisan Black Currant, Pear and Dry Hopped sparkling ciders, crafted on the Olympic Peninsula, and our sumptuous fruit brandy wines.” Also – as noted here earlier this week – Honest Biscuits debuts, as does Maninis Gluten Free (selling “sweet and savories,” says WSFM). **UPDATE** As noted in comments, Honest Biscuits is not there today after all; they tweeted this morning that “serious illness” is keeping them away.
GET OUT AND TOSS: West Seattle Ultimate Family Frisbee, 11 am, Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle).
FOOD TRUCK: One weekly truck in West Seattle today – Snout and Co. 11 am-3 pm at 35th/Graham.
FREE BICYCLE REPAIR: Bike trouble? Expert volunteers’ work to get more bicycles on the road in White Center continues today with another Dubsea Bikes session, 2-4 pm at Full Tilt Ice Cream in downtown WC. (Map on our event calendar listing from partner site White Center Now.)
WEST SEATTLEITE ON ‘HOARDING’: Karen Pfeiffer Bush from LifeSpace tells WSB she is a guest Professional Organizer on TLC/The Discovery Channel’s show “Hoarding: Buried Alive,” episode 11 of Season 3, which airs at 9 pm Pacific tonight. Friends are gathering at Rocksport in The Junction for a viewing party starting at 7:30 pm. Karen says:
The role of the guest professional organizer is to help one of the people featured in an episode conquer their hoarding problem. Typically, there are 2 feature stories in the hour-long program. I worked hands-on with the woman who is described as having a daughter who is concerned about her mother’s health and safety. The LifeSpace team works with people with all sorts of organizing challenges. I specialize in working with people who struggle with hoarding and chronic disorganization.
NIGHTLIFE: Sidecaps and Psychedelephant play Skylark Café, all ages, 8 pm, $5 cover … The Bridge has karaoke on Sunday with Karaoke Kelli at 9:30 pm.
The new season for West Seattle Community Orchestras starts next Tuesday, with some changes from last season, according to the announcement we received tonight:
West Seattle Community Orchestras (WSCO) launch their Spring 2012 season next Tuesday, January 10 at Chief Sealth International High School with exciting changes in store for musicians and concertgoers. Registration is free to all students; $65 per season for adults. The season will culminate in concerts for all three orchestras in May 2012.
In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight – an update on the knifepoint robbery reported last night, plus a new report of street crime. First: Police went back today to the scene where a woman was held up at knifepoint last night by a robber who took her iPhone. They didn’t find the phone (a black iPhone 4S) but they did find the knife, described as a “dagger-style” weapon. We also have learned more about the arrest made in the case. After the victim reported the holdup in the 3400 block of SW 106th – where she was walking after getting off a Metro bus – Officer Scott Luckie (of “tweetalong” and burglary-arrests fame) was “working the area,” according to an SPD summary, and “spotted the suspect in the 9200 block of 35th … The suspect tried to hide from Officer Luckie, but Luckie was able to relocate him and detain him …” The summary identifies the suspect as a boy who turns 17 next month and is “on probation for robbery.” Since he is a juvenile, online records don’t show whether he is still in custody tonight, nor do they show full details of his record, but we did find partial information on a case in which he appears to have been charged with third-degree assault last August and pleaded guilty in late October.
Second – a robbery attempt last night in the Genesee area. The victim is a visitor from out of the country, and the people he’s staying with say it’s the second time he’s been victimized:Read More
Thanks to Gary Jones for sharing photos of sailboats in the Three Tree Point Yacht Club‘s Duwamish Head Race passing West Seattle shores today (as previewed in our morning roundup) along a 30.8-nautical-mile course that started in Des Moines.
Race results aren’t online yet, but you can watch for the link to turn up here. In three weeks, you can watch for the club again in local waters, with the Blake Island Race scheduled January 28th.
Three weeks ago, we published the tale of Amy the West Seattleite and Arlene the one-eyed cat. Amy had contacted us to add Arlene – the name she had given her – to the WSB Lost/Found Pets page, explaining she had found the cat a month earlier, in bad shape. After Arlene healed, Amy thought she had better do due diligence to see if the original owner was out there somewhere. We checked back to see how that went:
So far, Amy has not heard from Arlene’s previous owner, nor anyone with even a lead. She said, “I got TONS of e-mails back from people, all supportive and loving, and I did get some donations via pay-pal (which were very much appreciated!) But no one has said anything about recognizing Arlene or knowing who she belonged to. I must say, I’m relieved.” (Amy hadn’t asked for donations, but in the comment section following the first story, folks asked how they could help, since it was clear Arlene’s medical bills had cost a chunk of change.) Arlene has her own Facebook page, by the way; see it here.
Just got word that West Seattle author/artist Joseph Aprile is reading tonight from his two most recent books, “The Life and Times of Jeremy Sykes” and “Voices for Peace and Social Justice,” 6 pm tonight at C and P Coffee Company.
You have one more hour to get over to the Alki Masonic Hall parking lot – which is actually in The Junction, at 40th/Edmunds – with that Christmas tree you just didn’t quite get out with this week’s yard waste – the West Seattle Rainbow Girls will be there till 2 pm, taking trees for a suggested $5 donation. We photographed Crystal, Zoe, and Darian just as the truck from Branching Out Tree Service arrived to start turning the recycled trees into wood chips/mulch. This is the fifth year the Rainbow Girls have had a treecycling fundraiser (and it’s two locations this time around – part of the group is over at Southgate Masonic Hall in Burien).
(WSB photo from June 2011 Relay for Life coverage)
It’s not too soon to think about June. That’s when the annual Relay for Life of West Seattle raises money to fight cancer. It’s an all-night team event and generally not something you sign up for at the last minute, so the annual kickoff happens months ahead o time – and Jilyan Perry invites you to be part of it, one week from Wednesday, even if you’re not certain yet that you’ll join in:
We have our first event coming up on January 18th. This is our annual Kick-Off Party. The Kick-Off will be held from 6-8 pm at Sugar Rush Baking Company. In an open-house style, we will have complimentary food, wine and cupcakes. This is the community’s chance to learn everything they could want to know about Relay for Life – the American Cancer Society’s highest grossing fundraising event. The registration fee is waived until Kick-Off, and there will be plenty of computers on site and volunteers available to guide people through the process.
Sugar Rush is at 4531 California SW in The Junction.
(Spotted by Christopher Boffoli while watching for the orcas who visited on Friday)
From a variety of school-related events this morning, to the Time Warp after midnight, here are highlights from today’s entries in the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
YES, THAT’S A SAILBOAT RACE: You’ll see them off West Seattle shores as the Three Tree Point Yacht Club presents its annual Duwamish Head Race today.
LINCOLN PARK NEEDS YOU: From Friends of Lincoln Park: For 2012, resolve to improve your fitness and save the planet (one tree at a time)! Join the Friends of Lincoln Park restoring the beautiful forests of our West Seattle gem. 9 am to noon. Meet at the kiosk in the north parking lot (Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Rose St). Dress in layers for warmth and dryness, with sturdy shoes. Bring garden gloves and hand clippers, or we’ll have extras.
PRESCHOOL PREVIEW: Meet reps from schools around the area at the West Seattle Preschool Preview, 9 am -noon at South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center, Details here.
NEW PROJECTS FOR THE NEW YEAR? Remember the West Seattle Tool Library is open 9 am-2 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
STORY TIME: At Kol HaNeshamah, 6115 SW Hinds, 9:30 am: The PJ Library Storytime at Kol HaNeshamah Congregation. Erik Lawson is guest musician, with PJ Library manager Amy Paquette as the storyteller.
WESTSIDE OPEN HOUSE: All-school open house at Westside School (WSB sponsor), 10 am-noon.
TALK WITH YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: Marty McLaren‘s first community-conversation meeting, 10 am-noon at Southwest Library (35th/Henderson).
STILL NEED TO TREE-CYCLE? The West Seattle Rainbow Girls‘ 5th annual Christmas-tree-recycle fundraiser is 10 am-2 pm today at the Alki Masonic Hall (4736 40th SW) and also at the Southgate Masonic Hall (1004 SW 152nd in Burien). Suggested donation $5. No flocked trees.
FOOD TRUCKS: Marination Mobile returns to West Seattle (35th/Graham, 11-2) after holiday break; three trucks are due at Highland Park Improvement Club (see the right sidebar on this page); Skillet‘s chicken/waffles truck expected at Uptown/Junction; and Beloved Mexico‘s first weekend across Fauntleroy at West Seattle Produce‘s new location.
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER:: It’s the building on SW Orchard north of Home Depot, with the big statue in back, and you’re welcome to visit today since it’s open to the public Saturdays, noon-3 pm.
TRY THE TANGO: Argentine Tango classes In West Seattle at Allstar Fitness, 2629 SW Andover. Saturdays from 1-3 PM, $7 . Series classes are going to be available starting in January, with registration currently open; more info here. Contact Layton: 360.250.2066.
YOU’VE SEEN THEM IN PHOTOS, NOW SEE THEM IN PERSON: Owl Prowl – From the announcement: “Join enthusiastic and knowledgeable naturalist Stewart Wechsler on an owling adventure at Seattle’s Lincoln Park! Will the Barred Owls be hooting it up as courtship season approaches? We think they might be. In addition to looking and listening for owls, we’ll be treated to an evening tour of the park. We’ll see and smell some of the park’s plants, a few of which are already showing signs of spring. We’ll also peek under a few logs to see if any invertebrates or vertebrates are home. Stewart will demonstrate his impressive hoots (even though the owls already know his voice and no longer respond as well as they once did!) The suggested donation to Stewart’s Stewardship cause $1 to $20 – your choice. 4 pm, meet by the kiosk in the middle of the north parking lot (across from SW Rose). Dress for the weather, bring a flashlight, and pack binoculars if you have them. You don’t have to RSVP, but if you have questions, call Stewart at (206) 932-7225 or e-mail co-organizer Lauren – lauren@nwtripfinder.com
BENEFIT FOR HURRICANE SURVIVORS: As previewed here, tonight’s the benefit concert Chief Sealth International High School student Kathryn Purcell has organized for a Nicaraguan town hard-hit by a recent hurricane, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 7:30 pm.
NIGHTLIFE: Elizabeth Dawson plays jazz at Salty’s on Alki with pianist Hans Brehmer, from 8 to 10 pm in the Cafe Bar … Bloomer and The Disco Cowboys at Skylark Café and Club, 9 pm, $5 cover. .. Tony B with DJ’ing and karaoke @ 10 pm, Rocksport Bar & Grill.
ROCKY HORROR AT MIDNIGHT: The monthly event, shadow cast and all, at the historic Admiral Theater.
In this first weekend since school resumed following the winter break, the high-school basketball season is intensifying. Last night, Chief Sealth International High School hosted Cleveland HS, with Sealth winning the boys’ varsity game but not the girls’ matchup. Notes from both, ahead:Read More
(Taken at 17th/Cambridge. We have blurred the face of one person who did not appear to be SPD.)
Two cases tonight: We don’t have official details on the one that’s still happening, but in South Delridge, police are out right now dealing with a report that was described on the scanner as an armed robbery, apparently at a business, possibly on 17th SW. We checked out the scene and saw what appeared to be a search, but it wasn’t clear exactly where the investigation was centered, so we’ll be checking back with SPD later.
There also was some scanner traffic about a strong-arm street robbery earlier – and we have received a note from the victim, a longtime WSB’er who says she was held up at knifepoint in Arbor Heights around 5:30 pm by someone who stole her iPhone 4S. She says police made an arrest but did not find the phone, so she is asking people in the area to be on the lookout for it. (We have a followup question out to ask where in AH this happened.) She says the data on it “has been wiped,” but she has its serial number from its original packaging.
ADDED 12:14 AM: The victim says it happened near 35th/106th, and that the suspect was found around the 9700-9900 block of 35th. The missing phone is a black iPhone 4S, 32GB, “in a black Marware flip case at the time.”
If you’re not among the Trader Joe’s fan base … just skip right over this one. Nothing earthshaking, but it’s a semi-goofy little Friday night tidbit:
Every so often – despite the ongoing construction (which we updated here the day after Christmas) – someone e-mails us to ask, with skepticism, “Well, how come Trader Joe’s doesn’t list West Seattle on its page of ‘coming soon’ stores?” We always reply by explaining that we have watched their website a LONG time while covering all this, and TJ’s doesn’t seem to add future stores to the list till they’re almost ready to open. Having said that, we checked their website tonight for the first time in a week or so and noticed West Seattle is finally on the list:
So for anyone STILL skeptical, there you go. (If you missed our recent update, the opening is currently projected for early spring.)
Received this late today from Southwest Precinct operations Lt. Pierre Davis:
A group of very humbled officers came to me earlier today and told me of an act of kindness that is indicative of the kind of people we serve here in West Seattle.
They stated that they were finishing their lunch at the Circa restaurant located at California & Admiral and needed to pay their bill but was told by the waitress that an anonymous citizen had taken care of their tab, stating that their service to the community and city was very much appreciated. The officers, after acknowledging the gesture, left the restaurant and reported what had occurred. Needless to say the officers were touched that their West Seattle Community would once again show that their officers remain cherished and in high regard. So on behalf of your West Seattle officers we would like to say “thank you” to our West Seattle Community for continuously making the extra effort to strengthen the community/police partnership.
Again today, news of a new location for another one of the businesses that will be displaced when work begins on the California/Alaska/42nd site just bought by megadeveloper Equity Residential. Today, we have confirmed that Super Supplements has chosen its new West Seattle location – the Morgan Junction storefront that Blockbuster Video is vacating, at 6451 Fauntleroy Way SW. Super Supplements says it’s expecting to make the move this summer, probably in July. It’s been on the southeast corner of California/Alaska for more than five years (we reported its impending arrival in April 2006). Just yesterday, we confirmed that Sound Advice, a few doors south of Super Supplements, will move to a new home a block north. Equity hasn’t set a date yet for starting construction on the two-building, 190+-apartment project approved for the site, but told WSB on Wednesday that they expect work to begin this year.
With the hot topic of “capacity management” – how to relieve school overcrowding – heading toward a decision for short-term action, West Seattle’s new representative on the Seattle Public Schools board, Marty McLaren, has just scheduled three community meetings to talk with anyone interested in this or other district matters:
*Tomorrow, Saturday, January 7th, Southwest Library, 10 am-noon
*Monday, January 9th, at West Seattle Library, 10 am-noon
*Saturday, January 14th, Delridge Library, 11 am-1 pm
As we reported here Wednesday night, McLaren says she will propose an amendment to the district’s short-term capacity-management proposal that would cancel the plan to open the former Louisa May Boren Junior High School on Delridge as an “option” elementary school focused on STEM (science/technology/engineering/math). District officials speaking at the Wednesday board meeting said they did not expect the new school to initially pull enough students to avoid plans for adding portables to the most-crowded elementaries.
After a hiatus, a reopening, and then what was described as a permanent shutdown, the homeless-family-sheltering program Family Promise of Seattle may give it another go. So says board member Lynne Downs, announcing a gathering next Monday night for “former and present Board members, church coordinators, supporters, interested agency personnel and a representative from National Family Promise, Claas Ehlers.”
Lynne explains that she and four other board members, along with many members of local churches that took turns housing/feeding Family Promise clients, “don’t want to see this mission die … we just don’t want to ‘give up the ship’ yet.” The board members, she explains, “have been on a fact-finding quest with interested agencies in perhaps supporting, partnering or even ultimately continuing our program.” And that’s what they’ll talk about at 7 pm Monday, at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor; 3940 41st SW); anyone interested in supporting the “quest” is welcome.
(Added — photo by Trileigh Tucker)
9:55 AM: Just got that word from Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales – ferry-dock area. We’re off to check; let us know if you see ’em!
11:22 AM: Too far for photos but we were watching for a while with Jeff and with Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail, from south of Alki Point. They say it’s J-Pod – including the new baby. (Added – photo by Gary Jones, who thinks the smaller whale was likely the calf)
They were last seen headed back north, but Jeff also mentioned a short time ago that there was a secondhand report of more whales headed this way from the Three Tree Point area, so if you have a water view, keep checking!
(Photo by Gary Jones – note the orca’s fluke, at left)
1:21 PM: We’re adding photos received from WSB’ers who were out watching the whales.
2:22 PM: KING 5‘s aerial video – already linked in the comments – is now embedded above.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
As of yesterday, the city-owned facility at 2800 SW Thistle that was Southwest Community Center is officially Southwest Teen Life Center and the future Southwest Neighborhood Service Center.
Four months after the planned change was announced by city leaders during a West Seattle media briefing, the new budget mandating the changeover is officially in effect, so we asked the city about the transition process.
We’ve subsequently learned the dates and plans for closing the Delridge Neighborhood Service Center and opening its replacement at Southwest, and also some things you need to know about what’s NOT changing at the Southwest building:
Tomorrow is the first of three regional public meetings about the future of the Seattle Public Library – from its programs to its funding, with a levy likely to go before voters later this year. Though none of the three meetings will be in West Seattle, library reps want to make sure you know about them and about other chances to have a say, as part of their planning process. For starters, the public meetings are at the Central Library downtown tomorrow, the Beacon Hill branch a week later, and in Ballard on January 18th. 
(That same night, a library presentation is planned at the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting, 7 pm January 18th at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, public welcome.) Besides the funding issue, SPL wants your thoughts on four aspects of library operations: Hours, books and materials, computers and online resources, and building maintenance. You can comment on any of them, and see the currently proposed options, via this webpage on the SPL site. (Photos, clockwise from top left, are SPL website images of the branches in this area – West Seattle, Delridge, Southwest, High Point)
“Concerned Neighbor” says a hit-run driver smacked into her car in the Admiral District last night, near California/Walker, leaving behind pieces like the one above. She’s telling her story in hopes you can help close the case:
I just wanted to write a note to share my unfortunate experience, I hope to maybe find the person who did this to me and hold them accountable for their actions and to make our neighborhood streets safer.
I’ve been a member of this community for nearly four years. I work at two local small businesses, and I own a small condo here. About eight months ago, I went to leave for work only to find that someone had attempted to steal my car, rendering it undrivable and valueless in the process. The car couldn’t be repaired and I couldn’t claim it on my insurance because due to numerous hit and run accidents over the years while my car was parked, I could no longer insure it for anything but liability. After a month of getting around without a vehicle, I withdrew my entire savings, secured a loan and purchased my first brand new car. A month later I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
An early sign of spring! One week from tonight, it’s the first in-person registration session of the year for West Seattle Little League. 6-8:30 pm Thursday, January 12, at the West Seattle High School library. That’s also where you’ll find the second session, 6-8:30 pm Tuesday, January 24th. You’re asked to fill out the registration form ahead of time and bring it along; WSLL says you’ll find it online, here. What else to bring: A copy of the prospective player’s birth certificate; 3 proof-of-residence items (that same weblink will show you what qualifies); and registration-fee payment. This year’s fees are the same as last year, says WSLL, whose website has more on that and other info for families.
Next Monday, when the North Delridge Neighborhood Council meets (agenda/time/location here), the Downtown Emergency Service Center‘s proposed “supportive housing” project will be on the agenda again, as it’s been for most meetings since news of the plan broke at NDNC’s meeting last June. The group also is helping recruit members for the community advisory group about the project, the Delridge Alliance (here’s how to apply). And tonight, we have more information about the major development we first reported two days ago – the city’s decision to cut the number of units allowed in the project, from 75 to 66. We finally heard from DESC, which had no comment aside from confirming the new unit count that we found in documents filed with the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, which will review the agency’s application for key Low-Income Housing Tax Credits financing. DESC executive director Bill Hobson referred us to the city Office of Housing for the explanation. WSHFC provided us with a copy of the internal city memo that spells it out.
We don’t have a scanner handy, so we’re transcribing it. It’s dated December 12, to Office of Housing director Rick Hooper from staffer Maureen Kostyack, who attended the second of two private-home meetings where neighborhood concerns about the project were discussed. The subject is “Siting Policy Waiver for DESC Delridge Supportive Housing” and it’s on OH letterhead. (It also reveals that the roots of this project go back as early as 2010.):Read More
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