106 years old and going strong: Happy birthday, Doris Torgerson!
Story and photos by Katie Meyer
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
West Seattleite Doris Torgerson celebrated her 106th birthday today at The Kenney (WSB sponsor). As several staff members and other friends stopped by her room to deliver good wishes, cards, laughter and gentle hugs, she joked with her guests, thanked them and kept keen track of the latest updates from one and all.
The afternoon culminated in a birthday cake and the singing of Happy Birthday, seen in the photos below.
Her guests Reverend John Van Lierop (former chaplain at The Kenney for 17 years) and his son John, Jr. (music teacher) were among those visiting with Doris today. Lierop, Jr. noted she is “just the best person” and like family to him. When his mother was a resident at The Kenney, Doris provided him with daily updates between visits, and “helped a lot.”
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Water-main break in Gatewood closes road
Residents in the 37th/Elmgrove area of Gatewood say their water’s just come back on after a while without it tonight. Mark Ahlness tells WSB that city crews explained “it was a broken 8-inch water main on SW Elmgrove,” and that crews have “replaced the broken portion.” Elmgrove has been closed between 35th and 37th for the work. A WSB crew also has just stopped by the scene, and we’re told the road should reopen within a few hours, once the hole dug for the pipe fix has been re-filled.
Artist sought for work at West Seattle’s Fire Station 32
Another public-art project is in the works for a West Seattle fire station. This time, it’s Station 32 in The Triangle (38th and Alaska), which has a $15 million rebuild coming up in a few years. The city has just put out an invitation for artists to apply for what would be a $90,000 commission, including the design and construction of the artwork. See the full details here; the application deadline is February 22nd.
Development notes: Smart Growth Seattle group launches; 33-lot Puget Park-area site for sale
As noted last week in coverage of a neighborhood’s concern about a one-home lot potentially soon to be divided so it can house three, single-family-home development is an increasingly hot topic these days. Two notes today:
NEW ADVOCACY GROUP: After the aforementioned story last week , a reader e-mailed us to point out this Publicola story about a new group called Smart Growth Seattle. Its primary sponsor is the housing-funding group co-founded by West Seattle-residing developer Dan Duffus, Blueprint Capital, whose members include the two companies involved with the project in last week’s report. Today, Smart Growth Seattle officially announced its launch, with this news release. The group seeks to change the city rules regarding development in single-family neighborhoods, including a change in minimum lot sizes – relative to the existing lot sizes in any given neighborhood – as outlined on this page of its website.
33-HOME CONSTRUCTION SITE FOR SALE: Back in 2009, we reported on a proposed subdivision east of Puget Park at 4741 15th SW (map) and an appeal of a city ruling regarding the site,. The site hasn’t been built on, but the land-use permit for a 33-home development was issued in 2010. Today, a reader forwarded this a marketing e-mail she had received, announcing that the site’s up for sale, asking $1,848,000. “Why start from scratch? We’ve already done the work,” declares the e-mail, noting that the price breaks down to $56,000 per lot.
Also from the in-case-you-wondered file: Crashed car in Gatewood
If you’ve driven up or down the California SW hill through Gatewood today and noticed that wrecked car in the 7300 block … so did Lawrence, who sent the photo. It’s from an incident just before 6 am today involving something of a double crash. Seattle Police spokesperson Det. Renée Witt says first two vehicles collided and while the drivers were exchanging information, another car came along and hit one of them. The police records note – as you are probably well aware – roads were icy at the time. Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore says they responded to what originally was called in as a car versus a pedestrian, with a 26-year-old woman hurt; she had “minor pain and a few lacerations” and didn’t need to be taken to the hospital, he said.
8:21 PM UPDATE: Commenter Kira says that contrary to what SFD told us, two people were hurt and did go to the hospital, along with sharing some additional clarifications – see Kira’s comment here.
West Seattle weather update: No more burn ban
The burn ban has just been lifted for King County – so that means you can use your fireplace (etc.) again, even if it’s not your main source of heating. It also means beach fires are OK again in the Alki Beach fire rings, so Seattle Parks spokesperson Dewey Potter says they’re planning to remove the no-fire signage. The weather forecast still hasn’t changed much, but “light wind” is now predicted, which means relief for the air-stagnation problem.
West Seattle High School PTSA to examine enrollment equity
For the second time this week, a big-picture issue is at centerstage for a local PT(S)A: Tomorrow night, the West Seattle High School PTSA is examining “Student Assignment, Enrollment, and How It Impacts WSHS.” Here’s the announcement:
Make plans now to attend the next PTSA meeting, Thursday, January 17th at 7 pm in the West Seattle High School Library. West Seattle’s School Board member Marty McLaren and Carmela Dellino, Executive Director of West Seattle Schools for the school district, will be our main guest speakers. The PTSA will be highlighting issues that the current student assignment plan raises for West Seattle High School. The current school boundaries mean our enrollment base is significantly smaller than other high schools. More enrollment means more resources to the school, so how can we impact a more equitable distribution of students? Come and learn about this and other important issues facing the School District.
The enrollment-equity issue has been simmering since the Student Assignment Plan was created more than three years ago; community members had warned at the time that the boundaries drawn then were likely to leave Chief Sealth International High School overflowing and WSHS with extra room – and so far, that’s what’s happened.
West Seattle Crime Watch: Mail theft; car vandalism; Crime Prevention Council toplines
Before we get to the toplines from last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, two crime reports.
First, two reader reports about open mailboxes in Arbor Heights. Paula reports:
All of the mailboxes on 37th place between 102nd SW and 104th SW (map) were open this morning when I was leaving for work. They were like this Monday morning as well.
Jeff also e-mailed about this – saying he noticed it at 37th Pl/102nd at 6:45 am – and points out that SPD’s auto-tweets include a “suspicious vehicle” reported in that general area around 2:45 am.
Second, a car-vandalism report from Jamie:
I just wanted to give a heads-up to residents of Highland Park. Sometime between 7 PM Monday and 7 AM Tuesday (1/15) both my car and my husband’s were “paintballed”. No real damage to report – just clean-up needed. I’ve already reported it to the police, but thought neighbors should be aware.
And third – the WSCPC meeting. It was a wide-ranging West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting – from crime trends to cannabis.
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Want a city tech, neighborhood grant? WS workshop tomorrow
Thanks to Mat McBride, who chairs the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council (which meets tonight, as noted in our West Seattle Wednesday preview), for reminding us about this city announcement, with a workshop TOMORROW night (January 17):
We are offering workshops and now accepting applications from community and neighborhood groups for the 2013 Technology Matching Fund. Applications are due March 4. Attend a workshop and learn more about the program and how to apply for a grant. First-time applicants are encouraged to attend. These grants provide up to $20,000 for projects that increase technology literacy and access or projects which use information technology to build community and diverse participation online. Applicant organizations must be non-profits or ad-hoc, be in Seattle and applying for projects focused on reaching Seattle communities.
Workshops to learn more:
Joint workshop for both the Technology Matching Fund and the Neighborhood Matching Fund
This Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center at 4408 Delridge Way SW
http://www.seattle.gov/tech/calendar/default.htm#/?i=1
West Seattle Wednesday: WSHS student-led production; Morgan, Delridge District Council meetings; more
(Frost in the greenspace by Pathfinder K-8, by Flickr member Chroni, shared via WSB Flickr group)
Five highlights for tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (for traffic alerts, see our daily roundup):
WINE TASTING AT THE CASK: 6-9 pm with Yakima Valley winemaker Mark Wysling. (2350 California SW)
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: Busy agenda for DNDC, 7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), including an update on the Delridge repaving project as its first week concludes, an update on the Bicycle Master Plan, and presentations about contenders for Neighborhood Street Fund grants, seeking endorsements from the district council. Full agenda is in the calendar listing. All welcome.
MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Also a busy agenda for the quarterly meeting of Morgan Junction’s community council, 7 pm, lower-level meeting room at The Kenney (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW; WSB sponsor). Topics include the Bicycle Master Plan (you’ll recall a plan for a bike lane on Morgan was tabled last year), an update on the Lowman Beach sewer-overflow-control project, and a lot more – see the highlights in our calendar listing. All welcome.
SPACE-CLEARING WORKSHOP: Free 7 pm workshop at Alki Arts (2820 Alki SW) with Robyn M. Fritz from Alchemy West – details here.
STUDENT-DIRECTED PLAY AT WSHS: “A Bad Year for Tomatoes” is this year’s student-directed play at West Seattle High School, and tonight is opening night, 7:30 pm in the WSHS Theater, directed by Jo Clark. Details in our calendar listing and on the Westside Drama website.
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