West Seattle, Washington
13 Saturday
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents of note that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block (whenever)?”:
*A 40-year-old south Seattle man was drunk, disorderly, and yelling at dogs behind a fence in the 3700 block of SW Grayson on around noon on July 20th. It turns out he was wanted on a felony warrant from the California Department of Corrections. He was booked into King County Jail.
More warrants, a concern-sparking customer, and more, ahead:Read More
Longtime West Seattle photographer Joanne Murray mentioned this on the WSB Facebook page, and we asked if it would be OK to share here too:
Murray’s Studio, since 1965 … How many of you were photographed by Jay Murray & Joanne Murray for senior portraits, weddings, and church directory or school pictures? The negatives are for sale, including the previews or slides if there are any in the files; contact us soon if you want them before they are history. 206-932-6064
Many parents’, grandparents’, and siblings’ portraits are archived with the wedding files.
Murray’s Studio started on SW Oregon St., then moved to California Ave. SW from 1981 until 2010. Pass the word to friends & relatives before it’s too late.
She says they just can’t keep all these files any more: “It would be a real shame to destroy all of these historical photos, but we just have to. I hope we can pass them on to the families.”
Police are asking for help tonight – they are looking for a stolen Ford Explorer, dark green with Washington license 886VBR, which they say is linked to a burglary and car prowl. They’ve arrested a suspect, but need to find the vehicle, which may be in the Genesee area or could be elsewhere in the north West Seattle area. It’s likely parked, with stolen items possibly inside, according to police, who ask that you call 911 if you see it.
We’ve been reporting a lot recently about big development proposals – like the one we mentioned the other day, the early-stage proposal for a site including the former Huling Chevrolet showroom at 4755 Fauntleroy Way, and Junction plans including the soon-to-start Equity Residential two-building project at California/Alaska/42nd. But smaller development – such as what we dubbed “teardowns-to-townhomes” back in the 2007-2008 boom – is intensifying too. Case in point, two three-story 5-unit townhome projects starting soon in two of West Seattle’s “junctions.” The demolition permit has just been granted for one site, the house above at 4503 SW Oregon in The Junction (city project page here); the other one, on the current site of a 60-year-old brick duplex at California/Myrtle in south Morgan Junction, is a few months out:
We talked to the developer of both, a company called Isola Homes. We had actually only asked about the Morgan Junction site, which is fairly high-profile since it’s right across from the Caffé Ladro (etc.) business pod, but when Isola vice president Tim O’Shea answered our e-mail inquiry with a phone call, he told us about the other one too:
Just got word from Seattle Parks that you can’t go swimming at Lincoln Park’s outdoor pool right now. From Dewey Potter:
Colman Pool is closed because all the lavatories are backed up. Our plumbers have been there since 1:30 p.m. working to fix them. I’ll let you know if the pool opens by 5:30 p.m. We sincerely apologize to the pool-going public; please know our crew is working hard to solve the problem and get people into the water!
4:18 PM UPDATE: It’ll be closed for the rest of the day:
Update: Public swim is canceled; the plumbers have found that the clog is so far down that they haven’t reached it yet, even with multiple extensions on the snake. The staff will have to clean and disinfect the locker rooms once the drain has been unclogged.
The staff are using this time for staff training on rescues, always a useful exercise.
ADDED: The problem’s fixed and the pool will reopen Friday at noon, on schedule, says Parks.
Thursday is when SDOT and WSDOT are usually out with construction-related traffic alerts for the next week – and for starters, we just got the plan for the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project, in its final weeks. Some overnight, one-direction closures are coming up – read on for the full list:Read More
While we’ve been covering the ongoing departures and closures of businesses on the future Equity Residential development site in The Junction, we just got word of another effect: Nonprofit theater/gallery ArtsWest is losing affordable storage space and needs to replace it ASAP. From Heather:
With the imminent tear-down of the stores across the street from us in the Alaska Junction, ArtsWest will soon lose its storage space (located under the Super Supplements store). We’ve been very fortunate to have storage for our large props, furniture, and sets all of these years for free, and are now looking for 1000 feet of storage space in the West Seattle area!
Heather notes that the current storage space used to be a morgue (and you probably already know that the street-level site was once part of West Seattle Hospital). You can contact Heather at 206-938-0963, extension 107, or heatherp@artswest.org.
They have paint, brushes, shovels, wheelbarrows, even a DJ at this morning’s Roxhill Elementary makeover work party featuring hundreds of volunteers from T-Mobile. And Roxhill’s outgoing principal, the district’s new Executive Director of Schools for this region, Carmela Dellino, is there too:
Back in May, Dellino led a meeting at which the school community talked about the campus’s physical challenges – poorly maintained, dilapidated buildings, portables with safety and noise problems – and while this won’t solve them all, it’ll certainly help:
The play-equipment area and nearby garden are getting some TLC too:
Work is going on indoors as well as outdoors:
T-Mobile’s “Huddle Up” community-outreach/employee-volunteerism program is behind all this, and a news release says this is one of 10 “extreme makeovers” the program’s tackling this year, in addition to more than 60 already complete around the country. In addition to painting, cleanup, and playground/garden work (among other things happening there right now), the volunteers’ efforts also will result in “a customized afterschool space stocked with furniture, school supplies, books, and games” to be dubbed the T-Mobile Huddle Up Zone.
Thanks to everyone who sent word of this film crew working on Alki this morning, wondering what they’re up to. We just went over to check. A crew member told us it’s a commercial for the loan company Moneytree. They were still setting up when we stopped, west of 58th/Alki, with an equipment truck by Pioneer Coffee and a wardrobe RV across the street from Coastal:
They expected to be there till lunchtime. Lending/banking commercials are finding our area increasingly attractive, it seems – including Sterling Bank, which filmed a spot starring Beveridge Place Pub in Morgan Junction (see it here). And Columbia Bank shot one of its “Blue Couch” commercials here this past spring.
Thanks to Toni T. for the photo of the West Seattle Water Taxi emerging from the fog. The rest of West Seattle will be out of the clouds later, the forecast assures us … which is a good thing, because there’s much to do!
RECYCLING/YARD WASTE/GARBAGE STRIKE UPDATES: As noted in our first story of the morning, Waste Management says there’ll be no pickup today (including for those whose pickups were missed yesterday). We’ll continue to keep the newest update on the strike linked atop the BIG STORIES headline list on the WSB sidebar, for as long as this lasts.
VIADUCT CLOSURES – TONIGHT AND THIS WEEKEND: The top of the BIG STORIES list on the sidebar is also where you will always find the latest info on major road closures. In addition to another overnight closure of the SOUTHBOUND 99/Viaduct tonight, 9 pm-5 am, remember that there will be a NORTHBOUND closure this weekend, 5:30 pm Saturday till first thing Monday morning. (This incorporates the Seafair Torchlight Run closure – see this story from last week for complete details.)
ROXHILL MAKEOVER: All day today at Roxhill Elementary – as per this note in our calendar – hundreds of volunteers from T-Mobile are working to give Roxhill Elementary a makeover as part of a one-day mega-work party.
SCAM- AND FRAUD-FIGHTING TIPS: Special free presentation at noon today at the Senior Center of West Seattle – details here.
SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: The first of six Thursday night concerts is tonight. The Local Strangers perform on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center at 6:30 pm, emceed by Marty Riemer. BYO blanket/chair. Free! Presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association (with co-sponsors including WSB).
SHOP LATE THURSDAY IN THE JUNCTION: Every Thursday this summer, till 9 pm, dozens of shops are keeping the doors open later than usual so you can come browse and buy. Tonight, Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) and Twilight Artist Collective have special events – they’re both doing tastings (Finnriver Cider at Click! and Joia Soda at TwAC) – read about it here.
SPEAKING OF TASTINGS: It’s the weekly free-tasting night at West Seattle Cellars – Argentina wines from Detour Imports, 5:30-8 pm.
SOMETHING I CAN DO: VOICES FROM OCCUPY SEATTLE: Free performance at Puget Ridge Co-Housing (7020 18th SW), 6:30 pm. Details in the calendar listing.
SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: The first of Greenstage‘s free West Seattle performances this summer is tonight at Lincoln Park – “Henry VIII” at 7 pm.
Even MORE on the calendar – check out the list here (and browse ahead days, weeks, months! expand any entry by clicking the “plus” on the right side – then click “read more” for additional details, including maps).
(UPDATED 11:13 AM with city statement)
FIRST REPORT, 7:32 AM: Today’s first update on the recycling/yard waste/garbage truck drivers’ walkout: Waste Management says, no service today. (According to this map we used during the 2010 strike, there’s no Thursday pickup zone in West Seattle – let us know if that’s inaccurate.) This is the statement the company e-mailed early this morning:
Service Disruption Today
Thursday, July 26th, 2012If today is your collection day, please see information below.
Due to a work stoppage that began on Wednesday, July 25th, we will not be able to provide your regularly scheduled service today. Waste Management does not know how long the work stoppage will be.
Residential Customers: We will collect up to twice your regular amount of missed services on your next regular service day at no additional charge.
Commercial Customers: We will pick up extra garbage, recycling and/or yard and food waste on your next scheduled service day at no additional charge. If the work stoppage goes beyond a few days, accounts affecting public health and the environment, such as hospitals, day care centers and nursing homes will be our first priority.
As reported here yesterday (story here), the recycling and yard-waste truck drivers went on strike after working without a contract since May 31st (and taking a strike-authorization vote June 2nd). The statement by their union, Teamsters Local 117, is here.
For each day the strike lasts, we will have a story with that day’s updates, adding to it as that day goes on, linked atop the “BIG STORIES” list on the right sidebar so you can easily find the newest information.
ADDED 11:13 AM: Here’s the Seattle Public Utilities statement for the day:
As a strike by Teamster Union Local 117 continues, Waste Management is reporting that none of their regular business and residential garbage, recycling and yard waste will be collected today in Seattle.
There is also potential for continuing disruptions in solid waste collections tomorrow, Friday, July 27.
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) asks customers who were missed for collection today to put out their garbage, recycling and yard waste next Thursday, Aug. 2. There will be no charge for additional items placed at the curb.
Friday customers should put their garbage, recycling and yard waste out before 7 a.m. tomorrow.
The strike could affect about 60 percent of the city, in Northwest and South Seattle (see attached map). Teamster Local 117’s contract with Waste Management expired May 31. In Seattle, Local 117 represents only recycling drivers, and other drivers are covered by separate labor agreements. However, Waste Management is reporting that yard waste and garbage drivers are also not collecting today.
Collections by CleanScapes, which covers about 40 percent of the city (see map) are not impacted by the strike.
SPU Director Ray Hoffman said that although the City of Seattle is not part of the negotiations between Waste Management and the Teamsters, he expects the two parties to continue to engage in good faith negotiations toward a speedy and successful outcome.
Under its contract with the city, Waste Management is required to continue services in the event of any disruption. Specifically, any missed collections due to any labor complications must be collected later in the week, or the following week. Waste Management will not be paid for any non-service.
The contract allows the city to deduct approximately $4,500 per day in payments to Waste Management for any services that are not completed the next day. For any interruptions that continue more than a week, contractors can also be fined substantially for service failure, up to $250,000 per day.
“Protecting public health and safety will continue to be the city’s top priority throughout this collection disruption,” Hoffman said.
SPU will provide updates as needed. Customers with solid waste service issues or concerns may call the Call Center at (206) 684-3000.
Customers with labor/union questions or concerns should contact Waste Management or Teamsters Local 117.
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