West Seattle, Washington
13 Friday
(Photos courtesy SWSHS executive director Clay Eals)
The sun came out for the Colman Estate tour presented Sunday afternoon by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and Historic Seattle. Also out: 135 visitors!
Thanks to SWSHS executive director Clay Eals for sharing photos – see half a dozen more, ahead:
Read More
We start tonight’s West Seattle Crime Watch with a found bicycle that seems to have been abandoned in much the way previously stolen bicycles have been:
Tim says the red Schwinn BMX bike turned up in their West Seattle yard last Sunday (April 21), adding, “These are some things (markings, etc.) on the bike that we can ask any respondents to help make sure it really is theirs.” Call 206-218-7886.
Meantime, another bike has just been stolen – from an Arbor Heights resident who doesn’t want to be identified, but found a purse, possibly left by the thief/thieves:
Arbor Heights, 10600 block of 32nd Ave SW: Sad to say, after a neighbor’s car was stolen from their driveway Thursday night, yesterday/night our bicycle was stolen from our (fenced/gated) carport. The bike couldn’t be seen from the yard or the street, and the person(s) would have had to walk up the driveway to the chest-high chain-link fence gate (complete with privacy slats) and open the gate to find the bike, so clearly someone had been scoping out the area. Icky. They even closed the gate upon leaving, likely so as not to be looked for right away. Yes, the police were notified. The officer even took the little purse that appeared when the bike was stolen. Possibly a coincidence, but since nobody here has a purse, nor do the neighbors (it was left between our two houses), one would think that it was perhaps left behind when the bike was leaving.
The bike is a 2013 black (“black/white” according to the manufacturer) Specialized RockHopper Comp, with 29″ wheels and a 19″ frame. Yeah, for a long-legged person! I’m hoping that, since this is not an average size, someone will spot it on craigslist or such, and it can come home. There is a lock on its crossbar.
Did they take the bike with a flat tire or the rickety lawnmower? Nooooo, they took the nifty, new, specialty bike. Turkeys, go save up for years and get your own bike like we did!
Here is a pic of the purse; officer looked in it, but it was empty:
If you’re missing one like this, please contact the Southwest Precinct– the officer has put the purse into evidence. Sigh, it seems like the turkeys are starting to win.
P.S.: Next crime-prevention meeting in our area is in White Center, but city residents might find the information helpful too – guests include King County Sheriff John Urquhart. The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council is presenting it as one in a series of public-safety forums – 7 pm Thursday, May 2nd, at North Highline Fire District HQ, 1243 SW 112th (flyer here).
(April 2011 photo of Crystal Symphony passing Luna/Anchor Park, shared by CL)
A note for Elliott Bay marine-traffic watchers: Cruise-ship season starts this Wednesday (May 1st), with a stop by luxury line Crystal Cruises‘ Crystal Symphony at Pier 66 downtown. After that, the routine of weekly arrivals and departures starts next Sunday, with Holland-America Line‘s Oosterdam at Magnolia’s Pier 91, and the full weekly lineup beginning the second weekend in May. According to the Port of Seattle’s 2013 cruise-season fact sheet, this year’s stops and total passenger count are down – the projected 188 vessel visits is the lowest number since 2004, and the expected passenger total, 852,000, is the lowest since 2007. As for the changes you’ll notice, if you watch the bay and/or docks, two ships are making their Seattle debut Oceania is joining Seattle’s summer fleet, with the mid-sized Regatta docking at Pier 66. Celebrity Cruises, meantime, moves to Pier 91, with the Seattle debut of Celebrity Solstice, described last year as one of the largest ships to ever sail from here, able to handle almost 3,000 passengers. See this year’s full Seattle cruise schedule by going here.
A year and a half after the departure of Rev. Peter DeVeau, West Seattle’s St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church has a new spiritual leader. Here’s the announcement we received today:
Saint John the Baptist Episcopal Church in West Seattle announces the appointment of the Reverend Jerry D. (JD) Godwin as spiritual leader of the parish. Rev. Godwin will serve as Priest-in-Charge beginning April 30, 2013 and deliver his first sermon in that capacity on Sunday, May 5, 2013 during services at 8 and 10:15 am. The appointment was made by the Right Reverend Gregory Rickel, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia (Province VIII), following selection by the vestry of Saint John the Baptist.
Rev. Godwin has been Rector of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Dallas, Texas since 2000, where he led a parish of nearly 2,000 members. As Priest-in-Charge, he will provide spiritual leadership for the congregation and prepare the parish for the process of calling a permanent Rector in three to five years. “What an exciting time we have ahead of us as we join hands in ministry – to discover, more and more, how God is calling us, in the power of the Spirit, to carry on the mission of his Son in our world,†says Rev. Godwin.
The community is invited to meet Rev. Godwin at two special welcoming events:
· Sunday May 5, 2013 – Eucharist at 8 and 10:15 am with luncheon reception following 10:15 service
· Sunday May 19, 2013 – Bishop’s visitation at 8 and 10:15 am with luncheon reception following the 10:15 service.
The church is on the northeast corner of California/Hanford in South Admiral.
If you’re still making up your mind in this year’s race for Seattle mayor – plenty of time, since the primary’s not until August – tomorrow’s your first chance to see all the candidates together. West Seattle’s 34th District Democrats say all Seattle mayoral candidates (listed on the right side of the city-elections page) are confirmed for the Super South Seattle Mayor’s Forum that they’re presenting Monday night with two other Democratic groups, first announced two months ago. Tomorrow night’s event is at the Georgetown campus (6737 Corson Ave. S.; here’s a map) of South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor), starting with social time at 6 pm, and the forum at 6:30. (Want to send in a question in advance? You can do that here.)
Seattle city rules provide for hearings on certain types of developments – while other types only get internal reviews by planners. Then, there are situations in which hearings can be requested. That’s what’s happening with the Alki-area development site shown above, where four 3-story “rowhouses” containing 11 residential units are proposed for 2414 55th SW, a short distance inland from the beach, on a site that’s already gone through a “boundary adjustment.” Neighbor Marie McKinsey says that while she and other neighbors were doing research, they found out that the city MIGHT set a hearing if at least 50 people petition for it. So they’re collecting names right now – Alki residents interested in signing can contact her at marie.mckinsey@gmail.com. Ahead, the concerns she shared with the city:
The West Seattle Rock Club is presenting a Rock and Gem Show for all ages again this year – not just all ages of visitors, but those exhibiting and demonstrating span a wide age range too. Above, behind one of the demonstration tables, that’s Oz; next, trying out the grab bag while visiting, is August:
Displays created by collectors young and not-as-young include rocks, gems, even petrified wood:
Vendors have a few tables, too, if you’re interested in buying for your own collection – or even gifts (lots of jewelry):
Admission’s free – and there are drawings for door prizes! Just get to the Masonic Temple (40th and Edmunds) before the annual show’s second and final day wraps up at 5 pm.
As today’s Fauntleroy Church Recycle Roundup got going, their recycling partner 1 Green Planet (a nonprofit) had three trucks on standby, knowing that West Seattleites are ready to fill them up, as they have in past editions. The one in our photo above was rapidly filling with old TV sets of all ages (we’ll probably pitch in some day, having not joined the flat-screen revolution just yet). They’re there until 3 pm – free (though the church’s Green Committee, which organizes this twice a year, is glad to accept a token $ donation from anyone who offers) – look for the signs outside the church parking lot at 9140 California SW:
The list of what they’re accepting is here.
10:11 AM: Saturday saw big delays on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry route after M/V Klahowya had to go in for repairs. But it’s fixed now, and WSF says it will be back in service just after noon.
11:04 AM UPDATE: Never mind – now WSF has posted another update saying Klahowya is NOT ready to go back into service.
2:39 PM UPDATE: WSF now says Klahowya won’t be back before Monday night. On the F/V/S run currently, according to the latest alert, “There is currently a one-hour wait for drivers departing the north Vashon terminal due to reduced capacity from operating on a tw- boat schedule, and heavy vehicle traffic waiting to board the vessel.”
(Another aerial angle of West Seattle photographed this past week by Long Bach Nguyen)
If you can communicate your love for West Seattle through art, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society is looking for you. The announcement from executive director Clay Eals explains:
Calling local artists for our first annual design to celebrate West Seattle!
Are you a local artist with a passion for the Duwamish peninsula? The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is planning a project right up your alley.
The historical society is looking for a design that will celebrate West Seattle in all its glory in 2013. The theme could be history, nature, wildlife, individuality or attitude. The only limitation is that somehow it must “say” West Seattle.
“However you see this unique corner of the world in which we have the good fortune to spend time, we would love to see your version of that and perhaps select it to use on a limited-edition piece – a poster, bag, whatever – that would be offered for sale through our Log House Museum,” says volunteer Amanda Gilbert.
The vision is for this to become an annual undertaking, with a different design featured each year.
Interested? Here’s where to start.
(Side note: The SWSHS’s Log House Museum is hosting one of the 280+ sales that’ll be on the map for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on May 11th!)
(Trailer for “Clutch”)
West Seattle’s historic Admiral Theater (whose future plans were reported here earlier this week) hosts special events from time to time – like this: On June 29th, a movie titled “Clutch” will have its official public premiere at The Admiral – of special significance because its writer/director/star, Jay Rowlands, grew up in West Seattle and still lives here.
“Clutch” is billed as a “dramatic action film that tells the story of a struggling small-town racer who finds out there are no shortcuts to victory lane.” The filmmaker knows firsthand about the lack of shortcuts; he’s been working on the film for more than a decade. Along with a “100 percent Northwest cast and crew,” the film includes a lineup likely to rev classic-car lovers’ motors, as described in media materials:
Over 150 vehicles were selected for filming in CLUTCH. More than half were highly coveted muscle cars, including “car stars†a 1967 Camaro Z/28 SCCA road race car, a 1969 Camaro RS/ Z/28 and a 1972 Oldsmobille Cutlass, driven by Rowlands’ co-star. A 1969 Charger, a 1966 Ford GT40, Shelby Cobras, Mustangs and many others made appearances. The vehicles, ranging from a $750,000 1969 Penske Camaro road-race car to an $8,000 1968 Camaro stunt car, total more than $5.5 million.
Tickets for the premiere are already on sale on the movie’s official website – clutchthemovie.com. And next weekend, 9 am Saturday and Sunday (May 4-5), watch for Jay on the SPIKE (channel 57 on Comcast cable) network show PowerBlock TV next Friday and Saturday (May 4-5), talking about “Clutch.”
(Photo by Flickr member old desolate, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Today’s low tide is even lower than yesterday: -2.7, at 1:30 pm, and that’s the inspiration for one of the activities on today’s list of highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
RECYCLE ROUNDUP! 9 am-3 pm, the Fauntleroy Church Green Committee‘s twice-yearly event gives you the chance to recycle many items you just can’t put out for regular curbside pickup. Here’s the list; the dropoff with 1 Green Planet is, as usual, in the church parking lot. (9140 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE ROCK CLUB’S ROCK & GEM SHOW, DAY 2: If you were too busy to get to this annual extravaganza on Saturday, good news – it continues today! The official poster/flyer has the details – not just displays of rocks and gems, but also free activities, especially fun for kids. At the Alki Masonic Temple, 10 am-5 pm. (40th/Edmunds)
FAMILY BEACH SAFARI: On the Beach Drive shore across from Me-Kwa-Mooks, volunteer beach naturalists will guide you through a shore exploration during the aforementioned low-low tide, noon-2 pm. (4500 block of Beach Drive)
COOKING CLUB GOES ITALIAN: Cook up your favorite Italian recipe and bring it to share – that’s all you need to do to check out the West Seattle Cooking Club‘s 3 pm meeting today, Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW).
‘HOME FOR THE HUNTS’ SKATING BENEFIT: 5-7 pm, skate at Southgate Roller Rink as part of what you could call an international fundraiser to help a family; raffles too! (9646 17th SW)
AND A TRAFFIC REMINDER: The Delridge/Thistle intersection remains closed for repaving throughout the weekend, but should reopen by tomorrow morning.
Another big event at Lincoln Park today – the celebration following the first annual Denny-Lincoln Family Bike-Riding Classic. Denny parent Theresa Beaulieu shares photos and a report on the event:
Students, parents, and teachers all rode their bikes from the school to Lincoln Park. Students learned how to check their bikes prior to starting the ride, which included station A for Air, B for Brakes, and C for Chain/Cables, and how to ride safely on city streets. They also learned how much they love being on their bikes. We heard many of the kids say they want to ride more often. At the park we were greeted by Denny Community Learning Center lead Will King, who was ready to give out BBQ’d hot dogs and drinks. The kids all joined in a few races and won great prizes donated by Redline bikes. Each student also went home with a reusable Redline bag full of goodies. We all had a great time!
Theresa adds that the group got a sendoff from Denny principal Jeff Clark before heading to the park:
He voiced hopes that more Denny students will bicycle to school in the years ahead, and thanked Theresa for leading the volunteer effort to make it happen, Will for organizing the finish-line celebration, and “the students, parents, teachers, and West Seattle Bike Connections for their participation and support.”
P.S. May is Bike to School Month – just days away!
Thanks to Emily for sharing the photo from Friday night’s “Jumpin’ Jive” fundraiser: “It was a fun evening filled with LOTS of jazz music, swing dancing, and good food and fun ….all at West Seattle’s Madison Middle School!” Musicians included the West Seattle Big Band (onstage in the photo) as well as Madison’s Senior Band, Orchestra, and Jazz Bands.
Two major updates and a new case have come in since our earlier West Seattle Crime Watch roundup, so we’re starting a new one.
First, Lonjina‘s stolen truck is back, and might offer clues for other crime victims:
Was found by a friend of ours at 122nd and Ambaum in the Forest View Apt Complex parking lot. Full of possibly stolen gardening tools. We believe they were not done with the truck! Let readers know if they had their garage or gardening tools missing last night to contact the Burien Police Dept.
Updating the other incident in our earlier roundup – from Al’s wife Christine:
On Friday 4/26 at approximately 4:30 PM a suspicious vehicle was witnessed stopped in front of a home at 10XXX 37th Avenue in Arbor Heights. He was witnessed taking photos of the same car burglarized at the same location on Wednesday 4/24 between 11 PM and 6:45 AM. He sped off toward 102nd when confronted by a neighbor. The prowler’s vehicle was later spotted in the Arbor Heights area.
Vehicle Description: Mid 90s, Dark Green, Chevy S-10 pickup truck
As of Friday this vehicle was making a very loud rumbling engine sound as though it was out of oil.
Suspect Description: White man with an odd long face. Between the ages of 20 and 30. He is believed to be tall due to how he sat in the cab of the truck.
We have overwhelming evidence leading us to believe that this man is prowling the neighborhood with a radio frequency scanning device that allows him to “hack” into smart cars.
Be vigilant and watch out for this truck or suspects pointing tech devices (phones, laptops, etc.) toward cars and houses. Call the Seattle Police Department if you see the truck.
And Carolyn in Fauntleroy reports car vandalism, possibly a prowling attempt:
Just wanted to let you know that the passenger door window in my car was bashed overnight. The person didn’t hit the driver’s side, which was closest to the alley, but had to walked around my car and stand between the fence and my car to take out the window. My car was loaded for a community event but nothing was taken. In the past, someone has rifled through my car but not taken anything on the few occasions that I’ve forgotten to lock it. I’m in 8600 block of Fauntleroy Way SW.
Some who live near 63rd/Beach Drive might lose power for a while later today when repairs are made to that pole following a small fire. That’s according to the Seattle City Light staffer who was keeping watch on the area until the repair crew arrived. He says loose wiring sparked the fire. You’ll note in our photo, this is the same pole that houses one of the Seattle Police surveillance cameras (no activation decision for the system yet; here’s our coverage archive).
(WSB photo from Friday)
Following up on the water-heater problem that brought a fire crew to Alki restaurant Phoenecia early yesterday (WSB coverage here) – they ARE back open tonight, and for a few more days, but then a longer closure looms for repairs, Nadia Khazaal tells WSB:
We have got the place dried out, and for the most part put back together. We will be open today, Sunday, and Monday. Tuesday we will be closed for a private party.
We unfortunately will have to be closed for about two weeks, possibly longer, starting sometime next week. We don’t know exactly when yet but I’m thinking it will probably be Wednesday. There was more water damage then we initially thought and parts of the walls need to be cut out, dried out, and then repaired. So we are looking at being closed anywhere between 2-4 weeks.
So today, Sunday, and Monday will be everyone’s last chance to get their Phoenecia fix in before we close for a couple weeks.
For those who come into the restaurant these next couple days, we apologize in advance for the appearance of our walls. Our baseboards have been torn up already and so our walls are not as pretty as they used to be.
We’ll keep in touch for updates. You can also watch Phoenecia’s page on Facebook.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes, both from Arbor Heights. First, from Lonjina:
Our silver 2007 Dodge Dakota was stolen from in front of our house between 1 am and 7 am this morning. We live in the Arbor Heights neighborhood on 105th St. behind AH Elementary. It is a 4-door with a rack and a large toolbox. Unfortunately it was stuffed with tools and fishing gear in preparation for a family outing today. License plate B18349G. Please keep an eye out for it!
And Al reports this incident from Wednesday night:
A UPS package was ripped open — the contents stolen — and the box was thrown on the front lawn of our home on the 10000th block of 37th Ave SW in Arbor Heights. In addition, the criminal burglarized our car and stole a jacket, a case of non-persishable food to be donated to a local school, personal items, and keys.
You have about another hour to go explore and “Celebrate Lincoln Park” with the help of naturalists like Noelle, as well as artists, writers, and local volunteers like these Seal Sitters:
Events from nature walks to kids’ art projects proceeded as scheduled despite the weather’s decision to turn gray and breezy.
The Fauntleroy Community Association organized CLP as a two-part event, with today’s outdoor fun following last Tuesday’s presentations about the park’s history, wildlife, status, and more (our Tuesday coverage includes as-it-happened video of those presentations – find it here). It’s on till 2:30, at multiple locations toward the south end of the park.
Big win for the division-leading Chief Sealth International HS Seahawks softball team at Riverview Playfield in Highland Park on Friday afternoon – 11-2 over West Seattle High School. Next game for Sealth is 4 pm Monday, hosting Bainbridge at Southwest Athletic Complex; next game for the Wildcats is also at 4 pm Monday, vs. Bishop Blanchet at Riverview.
The chillier, cloudier weather did NOT mean a break from dunk-tank duty for Josh Sutton from the West Seattle and Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor), but as usual, he was smiling anyway. The rain isn’t expected in till later, so the bouncy toys and other outdoor activities remained available too:
Indoor fun, too! If you see this right after we publish it, you have till 1 pm to get over to the Y’s main location in The Triangle; one component of HK Day – no joining fees for new memberships – does continue all weekend.
Got shreddables? You have till 1 pm to get over to C & P Coffee (5612 California SW) for the free shredding event presented by IHeartWestSeattle.com (which like C & P is a WSB sponsor). Above, the monitor you can watch while the shredding truck is reducing your paperwork to, well, shreds. Next photo, your hosts – Lannon Garcia from Recall Shredding, Dale Wampler and Roger Steiner from IHWS, and Hans Illingworth from Cobalt Mortgage, which co-sponsored the event:
They say today’s event was a big hit from the start!
11:44 AM: WSB’er JayDee asked about a long ferry-wait line near Lincoln Park – from Washington State Ferries, here’s the reason why:
The Klahowya is out of service due to necessary repairs to the vessel. The 11:10 am sailing from Fauntleroy is cancelled. The next two departures from Fauntleroy to Vashon and Southworth are 11:45am and 12:20pm. Customers should expect delays. We apologize for the inconvenience. Updates will be posted when more information becomes available.
1:25 PM UPDATE: WSF has some cancellations, too – if you’re headed that way, ask about the ongoing schedule changes when you arrive at the dock.
| 3 COMMENTS