West Seattle, Washington
25 Wednesday
(Photo added 4:23 pm – back side of the golf course, just off 26th)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 4:07 PM: Thanks to those who called/texted about a police search in North Delridge. Here’s what we know so far: Police got a call about “suspicious activity” before 3 pm. The call originated around 26th and Hudson; the search for the person who was the subject of the call – who apparently has a felony warrant out for his arrest – has taken police, including K-9 officers, through the greenbelt, toward the golf course, and along other streets including 23rd SW. The last reported sighting was in the 4900 block of Delridge Way. Police apparently know who he is – he’s described as a white man about 50 years old, 5’4″, 140, shaved head, black hooded sweatshirt, facial hair, sunglasses. If you see someone resembling that description, don’t do anything yourself – call 911.
12:01 AM UPDATE: Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams confirms that the suspect’s now in jail: “Officers tracked him down at an address in the 9700 block of 33rd SW and took him into custody.” (Thanks to the commenter who posted that tip!)
When last we photographed Aaron Shepherd, he was busy fixing up his restaurant-to-be at 2329 California SW in The Admiral District. Today – the Copper Coin is officially open for the first full day of lunch/dinner/bar business (after a “soft open” night for dinner back on Monday).
As noted in our original August story, not only was Shepherd already a successful restaurateur in Shoreline, he also is from the family that runs Red Mill Burgers. And you’ll see a hint of that on the menu (note the description of the onion rings). Beer is a big deal at Copper Coin too – our friends at Washington Beer Blog tapped into that part of the story (and the first-night food). CC hours for starters are 11:30-11:00 Sunday-Thursday, 11:30-12:00 Friday-Saturday. And yes, the new restaurant/bar has a page in the WSB West Seattle Restaurant Guide.
(Parent volunteer working with student at end of AH’s long hallway connecting portables)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
In less than an hour, Arbor Heights Elementary supporters plan to rally outside School District headquarters in SODO – in advance of the School Board’s next meeting.
At that meeting (4:15 pm start for board business, 5 pm for public comment), the Board is scheduled to consider the formal introduction of the latest draft of the BEX IV levy, a project list totaling almost $700 million.
It includes a plan to use levy money to build a replacement for AH Elementary – more than 60 years old and falling apart – but not until 2018 (moved up one year from the previous draft, as reported here yesterday), while the district is using levy money to open other new schools as early as 2015.
This morning, School Board president Michael DeBell visited Arbor Heights to see its dilapidation firsthand and listen to the eleventh-hour plea from second-year principal Christy Collins and two members of the Arbor Heights parent community.
He agreed that Arbor Heights’ condition is a “critical situation,” but made no commitments to change where it stands on the BEX list. Ahead, see some of what he saw, in a tour that began at the stairs from SW 104th to Arbor Heights’ front entrance.
Add another party to your fall schedule! The West Seattle Community Orchestras (WSB sponsor) are seeking your support as they provide an opportunity for musicians young and not-as-young to learn, grow, and entertain. Here’s the announcement of their upcoming benefit:
A gorgeous trombone quartet tribute for Japan in early 2012; a world-premiere woodwind composition in 2011. The West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ Fall Gala on November 10 is sure to present a musical surprise that engages and highlights the contributions and talents of local musicians. Celebrate and support local music November 10th at the Highland Park Improvement Club beginning at 5:30 pm with a silent and live auction and of course, performances by members of all three of WSCO’s orchestras. Food by local chef Rose Zhu and a cash bar will round out the evening. Tickets now available via WSCOrchestras.org, $25 adults and $10 children 12 and under.
WSCO operates three orchestras for musicians of all ages and abilities, each group meeting weekly for rehearsals with two concerts yearly. Students through grade 12 receive free membership in any of the orchestras which includes coaching, mentoring and of course performance opportunities. WSCO believes the intergenerational nature of the orchestras offer great musical experiences for all participants, providing opportunities to learn and grow together. To purchase tickets and view auction items: WSCOrchestras.org – To donate auction items: WSCOauction@gmail.com
Again this year, in addition to the regular 24/7/365 WSB West Seattle Events Calendar, we have a special page that lists West Seattle Halloween events, from Halloween-themed Rainbow Bingo this Friday, to the new Junction Harvest Festival, to bar parties, and beyond. With two weeks to go till The Big Night, it’s now live at westseattleblog.com/halloween. Some events are just a few days away, so take a look – it’s in the header (every one of those tabs takes you to another section of the site), with the word “Halloween” in pumpkin orange. And while we do our best both to publish all the listings we receive, and to look around online to see what has NOT come in yet, we’re still probably missing something – here’s how to get us the info. We’ll continue to update the Halloween page when there’s something to add or update. Thanks! (Jack-o-lanterns photo from Heidi & Daniel, Halloween 2007)
Earlier this month, community sleuthing traced the source of at least one version of the pervasive noise problem that’s become known as “The Hum” to an offloading operation at CalPortland on the Duwamish River, just east of Highland Park. The sound we captured in this report – heard as far away as Gatewood – was a clear match to the sound community members were hearing (and recording, as included in an earlier report). Highland Park Action Committee co-chairs Carolyn and Billy Stauffer met with managers at the facility, who said they were committed to take action to stop the sound; Carolyn delivered the report at last month’s HPAC meeting.
Now, they have followed up on what’s happened at the plant since then. WSB covered the Stauffers’ visited to CalPortland yesterday for a progress report on what’s been done:Read More
Today’s the day King County Elections is mailing ballots for the November 6th election, which includes the first presidential vote since the county switched to voting by mail, so you might be able to vote as soon as tomorrow. You might already have received a state Voters’ Pamphlet (ours arrived yesterday) – that’s one of two guides you’ll be getting. And if you would rather not put your ballot in the mail, the dropoff van will be back at West Seattle Stadium November 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th. More details on all of the above – and other important voting details – in the county news release ahead:Read More
(Thanks to Holli for sharing the photo taken along Longfellow Creek)
From the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar for today/tonight:
FIREFIGHTER STORY TIME: Local firefighters will help local preschoolers learn about fire safety with this special appearance at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 2306 42nd SW, 10:30 am.
BEX IV LEVY ENTERS FINAL SCHOOL BOARD STAGES: As reported here on Tuesday, the newest draft of the Seattle Public Schools BEX IV levy is to be formally introduced at tonight’s School Board meeting – one of two final steps before it goes to voters. The new draft moves the Arbor Heights Elementary rebuild up one year to 2018. Advocates from around West Seattle – and some beyond – say it should be at the head of the list. They’re planning to rally around 3:45 pm outside the district’s SODO headquarters, where the board meeting starts at 4:15 (with the public-comment period at 5).
OKTOBERFEST AT MERRILL GARDENS WEST SEATTLE: 5-7 pm tonight, 4611 35th SW, just call for reservations! Full details in the calendar listing.
SEALTH OPEN HOUSE: The fall open house for Chief Sealth International High School families to come meet teachers and find out more about what’s happening this year is tonight at 6 pm.
MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: The quarterly meeting’s agenda – 7 pm, The Kenney (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW; WSB sponsor) – includes an update on the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow storage-tank project at Lowman Beach and the city’s proposed purchase of a site just north of Morgan Junction Park, to expand it.
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: The monthly meeting of reps from organizations around eastern West Seattle is at 7 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW). The agenda includes a county update on the Barton Combined Sewer Overflow reduction project, following last weekend’s open house regarding changes in the plan for “green stormwater infrastructure” in Sunrise Heights and Westwood, with 19 bioswales now planned instead of 31.
These are just a few of the highlights – MUCH more on the calendar!
That 3-minute time-lapse video is shared by West Seattle environmental advocate Laura “Diver Laura” James, to tell the story of last Sunday’s rainstorm from underwater – the outfall off Alki where some of West Seattle’s runoff goes. (Be sure to watch at least the first half.) Want to make it less dramatic next time? The campaign against the Tox-Ick Monster will show you how. And you can discuss clean water – Puget Sound and beyond – with Laura and other Northwest advocates, journalists, and experts, in a live online chat at 11 this morning, presented by EarthFix – here’s the link.
(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
No trouble reported in the early going (after a busy Tuesday!) on the main routes from/to/through West Seattle, though if you happen to be headed this way from the south, take note there’s a crash around mid-Boeing Field that’s “partially blocking two lanes,” according to WSDOT.
9:26 AM: Thanks to commenters for tracking some late-in-the-commute bridge trouble. There was an eastbound crash, and a reported westbound slowdown, though we are not sure what caused the latter.
(Click image for larger view)
We showcased one beautiful photo looking west across the water this morning … to bookend the day, here’s one looking east. Thanks to Don Brubeck for taking it while bicycling home from work, and then sharing it. Still some clear sky tonight – we’ve seen stars. Tomorrow, some sun remains in the forecast, before what’s projected to be another series of cloudy/showery days.
(Photos courtesy of Seattle Fire Department Public Information Officer Kyle Moore)
Seattle firefighters are touring library branches for Firefighter Story Times, teaching preschoolers fire safety. Today, Fire Chief Gregory Dean (above) led the team at the High Point branch. Firefighters from nearby Station 37 impressed the kids too:
And if you missed today’s event …
… you have another chance tomorrow, with a different crew of firefighters coming to the West Seattle (Admiral) Library at 10:30 am.
(‘Slip 4’ Duwamish cleanup area, photographed in 2010 by Christopher Boffoli)
Even if you’ve toured the Duwamish River – you’ve probably never toured it THIS way. The annual Halloween-time tour is coming up in less than two weeks – 1 pm Sunday, October 28th, according to word we received tonight from Alberto Rodriguez at the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition:
It is about time for this year’s Halloween Haunted History Toxic Terrors Tour! This year we will have four speakers that will talk about:
*History of the Duwamish River and the Superfund site
*Native American supernatural legends
*Ghost stories of Georgetown and South Park
*”Scary” stories of the pollutants in the riverThe tour will be 2 hours long and is $25 for adults and $15 for children. Find more information here.
That link is also where you can register for the tour.
Tomorrow night, the final draft – not necessarily the final wording – of Seattle Public Schools‘ BEX IV levy is scheduled for formal introduction to the School Board. We’ve just checked the agenda, and it includes an “edited” list that has the Arbor Heights Elementary rebuild now scheduled for completion in 2018, one year earlier than the last draft. Fairmount Park Elementary is still scheduled for reopening in 2014, and a rebuilt Schmitz Park Elementary on the current (closed) Genesee Hill campus is still scheduled to open in 2015.
Meantime, we’re told this afternoon by Arbor Heights parents and other supporters – who say their dilapidated school needs to be rebuilt ASAP and should be the first project on the BEX list – that they plan a rally before the board meeting tomorrow, around 3:45 pm at district HQ in SODO. The school board meeting itself starts at 4:15 pm; the public-comment period starts at 5; the scheduled introduction (and potential discussion) of BEX IV is after that. They’re hopeful for as much community support as they can get, so if you would like to stand with them for a “soon as possible” rebuild, be there tomorrow.
Lousy way to get welcomed to a new neighborhood. Brand-new West Seattleite Rebecca hopes you’ll be on the lookout for her car:
My husband and I moved to West Seattle two days ago and our car was stolen last night from in front of our house in Highland Park! It is a green, 4-door Honda CRV, license plate 780-WYL. The year is 2000.
Just a week and a half ago, two vehicles reported here as stolen were found, so here’s hoping the same for Rebecca.
11:11 AM: Crossposted from our daily traffic thread as well as our partner site White Center Now: Avoid 16th/Roxbury – only one lane, westbound, is open on Roxbury, and only northbound is open on 16th – a man is reported to have been hit by the bike rack of a Metro bus. (A Route 128 is stopped at the scene.) His injuries do not appear to be serious, according to the medic crews radioing in to the hospital; he’s being taken to a hospital.
11:41 AM UPDATE: Metro Route 120 is being routed off eastbound Roxbury, according to a Metro alert, because of the investigation.
1:24 PM UPDATE: As of about 1:15, investigators still had eastbound Roxbury blocked off from 15th to 17th. Westbound is open and 16th is fully open. The King County Sheriff’s Office is investigating, since it’s on their side of the line; spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West tells us the bus was southbound on Delridge turning left to go eastbound on Roxbury; the man who was hit, in his early 30s, was crossing Roxbury northbound southbound* in the crosswalk when the bus hit him.
*New information Wednesday from KCSO.
Exciting morning at Roxhill Elementary, as principal Sahnica Washington (photo below), her staff, and scholars welcomed VIPs including Superintendent José Banda and Mayor Mike McGinn for this year’s “Be Here, Get There” launch this morning.
Also partnering in the citywide campaign this year: The YMCA (WSB sponsor), whose Greater Seattle CEO Bob Gilbertson was on hand, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, whose Pacific Northwest Initiative director David Bley was, too. And Roxhill 4th-graders got to be in the spotlight (that’s who is on the stage in our top photo) because they’ve had 97 percent attendance already this year – attendance is what “Be Here, Get There” is all about, and participating schools will be eligible for incentives throughout the year.
Here’s the official city news release with details.
ADDED 5:13 PM: Video from today’s event:
You can track Be Here, Get There developments via Facebook.
(Click image for larger view)
The storm left behind a bit of snow on the Olympics! WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams photographed them this morning. And now … it’s sunny (new forecast!), at least as we bring you these highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar for the rest of today/tonight:
‘BE HERE, GET THERE’ AT ROXHILL: It’s not a public event but will bring a lot of excitement this morning to Roxhill Elementary as Mayor McGinn and Superintendent José Banda launch this year’s edition of the “Be Here, Get There” attendance-incentives campaign at 10 am; watch for coverage here later.
TRANSPORTATION TALK AT WEST SEATTLE ROTARY: Mike Lindblom, transportation reporter for The Seattle Times (WSB partner), is the featured speaker at today’s Rotary Club of West Seattle lunch, noon at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor). With the Metro changes, Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project, Alaskan Way Viaduct/tunnel, and more, he’s got a lot to cover, and to talk about, so come listen and bring questions.
FIREFIGHTER STORY TIME WITH THE CHIEF: Seattle Fire Chief Gregory Dean will be the guest reader at Firefighter Story Time for preschoolers at High Point Library (35th/Raymond), 1:30 pm.
OPEN HOUSE AT EXPLORER WEST: Families considering Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) are invited to tonight’s open house, 6:30-8 pm (program starts in the gym @ 6:30 pm).
HEAR THE PROSECUTORS’ SIDE OF THE STORY: Tonight’s monthly West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting features not only your chance to bring neighborhood concerns to local police, but also a guest appearance by Ian Goodhew from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. 7 pm, Southwest Precinct meeting room (lobby entrance from the parking lot on the Webster side of the building, just west of Delridge Way).
FOOD DRIVE REMINDER: Halfway through the month of October – and the group food drive by local physical-therapy clinics continues; even if you’re not a patient, you’re welcome to drop a donation off at a participating clinic. Here’s our original story with the list.
MANY more events on the calendar, including classes, story times, and nightlife – take a look here.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 7:57 AM: The big fire/police response is for a crash reported at 48th and Spokane, which is between Madison and Schmitz Park. More shortly.
8:27 AM UPDATE: From the scene and from police: Three vehicles were involved. Our crew saw two – including one on its side. (Added – here’s the other one:)
Tow trucks were already there as of about 10 minutes ago, so the scene will be clear soon if it’s not already. One person was taken to the hospital by private ambulance – which means the injuries were not believed to be major.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
West Seattle’s most populous grade school, Lafayette Elementary, is not allowing student costumes on Halloween this year, principal Shauna Heath confirms to WSB this morning.
Several upset parents e-mailed us about this over the weekend; we called and e-mailed Heath yesterday to ask for confirmation/comment. She told us yesterday afternoon, “The staff is still discussing the issue and we will have an answer for you (Tuesday).”
Early this morning, the principal e-mailed us the promised update:
This decision was made by the entire staff after two deep and detailed discussions. The initial conversation was initiated by staff members who suggested that since Halloween falls this year on a half day of school, we not allow costumes. It takes students a while to change into their costumes, and students are distracted taking away from the already limited instructional time.
The Lafayette Staff met again on Monday, revisiting and recommitting to their decision of no costumes so that we can focus on academics during the limited time we have available. The staff has committed to continuing the conversation throughout the year before deciding on what we will do in the future about Halloween celebrations.
The parents who contacted WSB (and other media) said they had heard the decision was based on concerns about cultural sensitivity; so, we asked Heath on followup this morning, since her reply did not mention that issue, was that an inaccurate perception? Her reply: “We made the decision due to instructional time. There was a thoughtful conversation about cultural as well as equity issues that we want to discuss as a staff further, but the reason for the final decision about costumes was instructional time.”
According to the Seattle Public Schools calendar, October 31st is a “two-hour early-dismissal day,” one of several that the district has through the year, usually for teachers’ professional-development time. As for Halloween costumes, district policy has historically been that the decision has been up to each school. We don’t know the policies of West Seattle’s seven other public elementaries and one public K-8, but plan to ask, and will add the answers as we get them.
(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:38 AM: As forecast, the wind calmed down overnight. No early reports of trouble on the main routes from/to/through West Seattle. Let us know how it’s going for you.
8:05 AM UPDATE: Big backup on the bridge, and we’re hearing that it’s slower than usual getting to the bridge too. Only major call we know of is a car fire on northbound I-5 at Mercer. Let us know if you see something else. In West Seattle, there is a heavy-rescue call for a crash at 48th/Spokane, which is near both Madison and Schmitz Park schools – we are on the way to find out what’s going on.
9:17 AM UPDATE: Here’s our full report on that 48th/Spokane crash, which has cleared. Still don’t know exactly what the problem was with Avalon. There’s a report being checked out right now of a possible semitruck stalled at West Marginal/Highland Park Way, so if you head that way and encounter trouble, let us know. Sometimes we’ll hear dispatches on the scanner to possible problems – and not always hear the upshot.
10:01 AM UPDATE: From Washington State Ferries – the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth run is down a boat:
The Klahowya will be temporarily out of service for necessary repairs to the vessel. This cancels the following sailings: 9:30 a.m. Vashon>Southworth, 9:50 a.m. SW>Vashon, 10:10 a.m. Vason>Fauntleroy, and 10:40 a.m. Fauntleroy>Vashon. Updates will occur when more information becomes available.
11:04 AM UPDATE: If you’re driving through the White Center area, note that there is an incident at 16th/Delridge/Roxbury right now – a man reportedly hit by a bus. We’re there checking it out and our coverage is on our partner site White Center Now.
11:43 AM UPDATE: Route 120 is being routed off eastbound Roxbury because of the aforementioned incident, according to a Metro text alert. Meantime, Terminal 5 tech problems are still slowing truck traffic there, per an SDOT alert and a comment on this thread. Thanks again to everybody for getting in the spirit of this and providing ongoing updates!
ORIGINAL REPORT, 11:46 PM MONDAY: While we upload video and put together the full story, we did want to share a few toplines from tonight’s well-attended Sustainable West Seattle Community Forum, focused on transportation.
We estimate around 60 people filled the upstairs hall at the Senior Center of West Seattle, surprising one panelist, City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who had brought only 20 copies of a handout he wanted to circulate. Though the panel was prepared to discuss a wide range of transportation topics, the Metro changes/RapidRide C Line debut dominated, and when one attendee asked everyone from Arbor Heights to stand up, that covered about half the room. Metro planner Victor Obeso acknowledged the transition had been rocky and when asked by one attendee to apologize, did so. Later he also confirmed they expect to make some changes to address problems like Arbor Heights’ dramatic reduction in service, and that they are trying to get the RapidRide service to the promised 10-minute spacing, rather than multiple buses in a row after longer gaps. The forum ran the full two hours, and we have it all on video:
ADDED 6:57 AM TUESDAY: Video added. Text to come later this morning today.
ADDED 6:40 PM: Our full story, after the jump:
(October 10th photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
Just in from King County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Cindi West:
30-year-old Emanuel Kozma was arrested tonight around 6:30 pm in the Denny’s parking lot at S170sth and Pacific Hwy in SeaTac. He was the subject that King County Sheriff detectives chased on the 10th in the White Center area.
Detectives said he will be booked for investigation of Eluding, Assault 1, and Unlawful Possession of Firearm. The case will be forwarded to the prosecutor’s office for review. He was caught due to persistent work from detectives!
Here’s our coverage from last Wednesday. Kozma had just gotten out of jail three hours before the chase/search, after a White Center drug arrest. Deputies started pursuing him in WC, and then he ran after the car he was driving flipped at 17th and Trenton.
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