West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
In case you don’t get the twice-weekly Land Use Information Bulletin from the city, two projects of note in today’s edition:
4447 41st SW: This four-townhouse project is going through “streamlined design review,” which means no meeting, but you can still comment. Here’s the notice, which explains how.
4745 40th SW: The second Early Design Guidance meeting for this 150-apartment project (across from the Masonic Lodge and its parking lot on 40th) is now set for 6:30 pm July 11th at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon) – here’s the official notice.
Thanks to Kate Kaemerle from Sustainable West Seattle for sharing Kimberly Leeper‘s photo from last Monday night’s SWS walk along Longfellow Creek and through its watershed. Kate says, “One of the takeaways from the walk is how Seattle residents’ everyday activities impact the natural environment at home, at work and in urban planning and what we can do to keep our urban watersheds healthy in their own backyards, and what you can do to help preserve the health of our urban watersheds.” We often feature SWS events in the WSB calendar, from which today’s highlights are as follows:
4755 FAUNTLEROY AT DESIGN COMMISSION: 9 am, the Seattle Design Commission takes its fourth look at the 4755 Fauntleroy Way (the megaproject with Whole Foods, about 400 apartments, 600 parking spaces) development. Its role is related to the “alley vacation” the project is requesting, and today’s review looks at the “public benefit” that it’s offering for the right to buy and use the alley land. The public’s welcome; the commission meets at City Hall. (4th/Cherry)
TODDLER STORY TIME: One of the Seattle Public Library‘s regular local events (find ongoing listings like this one in our calendar – we don’t spotlight them here on the home page every day, but they’re there!), High Point Library, 11:30 am. (35th/Raymond)
HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY, FULL TILT ICE CREAM: The ice-cream shop that started the White Center business renaissance, among other things, is marking its fifth anniversary today. And if you go buy something at Full Tilt Ice Cream‘s original location in White Center, you’ll be contributing to a tradition – today’s anniversary-day profits from that store go to the White Center Food Bank. 2-10 pm; here’s our preview, a chat with FT’s Justin Cline. (9629 16th SW)
50+ AND SINGLE? Join tonight’s social-group meetup, 5 pm, through Lifelong Recreation. See our listing for contact info to find out the location.
FAUNTLEROY SCHOOLHOUSE ART SHOW: As previewed here yesterday, 6-8:30 pm, you’re invited to stop by the historic schoolhouse to see the art in its beautiful hallway. (9131 California SW)
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: Tonight’s agenda includes future development, Metro bus service, and exploration of RPZ parking restrictions. Alki UCC, 7 pm. (61st/Hinds)
TRY OUT FOR ‘SWEET, SWEET MUSIC’: Auditions for the next edition of the Fauntleroy Church music series are at 7 pm – details here.
SOLSTICE SUNSET WATCH: NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen of Alice’s Astro Info (and Skies Over West Seattle – look for the latest installment this morning, unless breaking news intrudes) will be at Solstice Park, across and upslope from northern Lincoln Park, for tonight’s sunset – even if it’s cloudy (though heavy rain is grounds for cancellation). Sunset’s around 9, and the exact moment of summer solstice is just an hour later, at 10:04 pm.
Even more on the calendar!
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Nothing reported so far with a significant effect on this morning’s commute. But again today, we’re reminding you of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon closures on Saturday, which will include NB 99, 5 am-3:30 pm.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch topics this morning – an update on a criminal case we’ve been following, and the brief notes from this month’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting.
ARBOR HEIGHTS ARREST CASE: Bail is now down to $2,500 for Alan Polevia, the repeat offender arrested after being found in the crawl space of an Arbor Heights home last week (WSB coverage here). As the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office had said would happen, Polevia went to court Wednesday to answer the charges on which he failed to appear back in March, burglary and theft charges related to a West Seattle case from last year. He pleaded not guilty, and the judge said he could be released on personal recognizance. Conditions of release include that he continue living at an apartment in the 11900 block of 16th South (map) for the duration of the case. We don’t have access to documents on the two other cases on which he was held, but the bottom line is that the jail register shows $2,500 bail still in effect related to one of them.
The Polevia case was brought up briefly by an attendee at Tuesday night’s WSCPC meeting. This time around, the meeting had no central topic, as there were no guests. Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Pierre Davis described Polevia as a “frequent flyer” whom they’ll be keeping an eye on if he gets out. Read on for other toplines:
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Justin Cline remembers back when, if he saw someone wearing something bearing the logo of his business, Full Tilt Ice Cream, “it was somebody I knew.”
Not any more, though, still, he says, “I see our shirts and stickers out there, and it blows me away. But – we make the ice cream the same way we did when I was making it all myself.”
The output’s too much for just Justin to handle these days – 2,200 gallons a week, he calculates, and then some.
Full Tilt marks its fifth anniversary tomorrow: June 20, 2008, Justin and wife Ann Magyar opened their doors in downtown White Center, in the same little hole-in-the-wall-ish spot where we talked with him this afternoon, after receiving a note letting us know FT-WC will donate its anniversary-day profits to the White Center Food Bank tomorrow, as usual.
White Center is the original store in a Full Tilt group that’s now grown to four, in addition to a partnership for Highscore Burgers, which opened on the eastside earlier this year, and a Full Tilt shop about to open on the campus of Microsoft, where Justin worked as a programmer 15 years ago.
That’s Ola Salon proprietor Rachel Karlin and Furry Faces Foundation‘s Teri Ensley at Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor SW; WSB sponsor), where you still have time to go join the benefit to help make up for what the Luna Park salon lost in last month’s burglary. Appetizers, soft drinks, a silent auction, and good company are part of the event, explained in detail on Salty’s website – lots of cool things on which you can bid.
The salon itself has been the host of countless benefits – less than two weeks before the burglary, in fact, Ola had hosted a benefit sale during West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, raising money for Transitional Resources, whose organization helping people with mental-health challenges is located just up Avalon Way. Get over to Salty’s by 9:30 pm to be part of this chance to give back.
Seattle Public Schools sends word that the School Board has just approved two versions of next year’s calendar – with one major difference: Version 1 includes three days with no classes because teachers are in professional-development activities; version 2 does not. Which will be used? Depends on what the state decides about those three days, which require the district to get a waiver from the mandatory 180 days of instruction. Both versions have the feature we mentioned last month – the return of a full week of mid-winter break, after a year without it. Read on for the full announcement:
When your grocery store is home to America’s Best Bagger, what do you do for an encore? Choose his successor for the next round of competition! That’s what happened this afternoon at Metropolitan Market-Admiral (WSB sponsor). National champ Andrew Borracchini emceed this afternoon’s in-store bagging competition; in our top photo, he’s with the winner, Isaac Rushing. Here’s our video from one of the heats:
Isaac doesn’t have an automatic ticket to the nationals – first, he has to go up against the bagging champs from each of Metropolitan Market’s other stores, to see who’ll be the chain-wide winner. The competition nationwide has been sponsored by the National Grocers’ Association for more than half a century.
4:27 PM: Trouble on the westbound bridge. The 911 log shows two incidents; the camera view above shows what is described as a medical call.
4:38 PM: One person who’s just gone through the area says it’s definitely very slow going getting onto the bridge, particularly from I-5. So if you use motorized transportation and can wait a while to head for home – that might be your best option.
4:43 PM: Via radio communications, police report “the high rise is clear.” The residual backup might take a while to ease, though.
(P.S. The live camera view also has been moved by WSDOT back to its regular angle at the I-5 interchange, but it showed the east side of the westbound high-rise approach while the incident was still unfolding.)
Last fall, city reps came to eastern West Seattle for three meetings on plans for reducing sewage overflows in Longfellow Creek, including potential raingardens and other types of “natural drainage.” The plans have evolved since then, Seattle Public Utilities is announcing this week, and they want your input on the next decisions that have to be made. For starters, SPU’s Susan Stoltzfus tells WSB, “further modeling and analysis” has shown the city that “the sewage overflows can be mostly controlled by making improvements to the existing storage tanks along Delridge Way and diverting some of the flow to King County’s system.”
That said, they are still pursuing “natural drainage” to help protect the creek “from polluted stormwater runoff which, even without sewage in it, can be more harmful to the health of the creek and the creatures that live in it.” And the new plan is for this to be installed along the route of a future greenway – a road improved for pedestrian/bicycle safety – that has yet to be chosen. If you live in the area – the city wants to hear from you.
(Click image for larger version you can zoom in on)
The map above shows the alternatives. SPU says everyone along the potential routes will get a survey in the mail asking what they think about the idea of a greenway and raingardens in their neighborhood – and a public meeting is planned, July 9th at Highland Park Improvement Club. (HP Action Committee has already announced that this meeting will be a substitute for what otherwise would have been its regular monthly meeting in late June.)
Information about the new proposals will be up on the city website within a few days, we’re told. In the meantime, if you live on one of the greenway routes, watch your mailbox – and if you have any interest in the project, plan to be at the July 9th meeting.
P.S. One greenway already is in the works, in North Delridge – SDOT published an update this week – and the city says it might be a candidate for after-the-fact natural-drainage projects.
Not that West Seattleites need incentive to recycle – just look at the success of local dropoff events – but if you join in an upcoming “competition,” you might just help our peninsula win bragging rights. The Seattle Public Library and Call2Recycle will have battery-collection boxes in place for five days at six libraries around the city, from June 22nd (this Saturday) through June 26th, including the West Seattle (Admiral) Branch at 2306 42nd SW. Two days after the collection period ends, Call2Recycle will weigh the six neighborhoods’ contributions, and declare the “winner” Seattle’s Greenest Neighborhood. Here’s what they’ll accept:
Drop off all types of household batteries (weighing up to 11 pounds each), including both single-use batteries and rechargeable batteries commonly found in laptops and digital cameras. Obsolete cellphones can also be dropped off at the libraries for recycling.
The recovered materials, according to Call2Recycle, will be “used to create new batteries, concrete additives and a variety of stainless steel products.” (The organization’s website says it’s a nonprofit “funded by battery and product manufacturers committed to responsible recycling.”) There’s even more info online here.
(WSB photo looking east toward 47th/Admiral, 2011)
City money for a full traffic signal at 47th/Admiral just advanced one step closer to reality, after the City Council’s Government Performance and Finance Committee voted to send a package of midyear budget changes to the full council. We reported Tuesday on the council’s decision to go for the full half-million-dollar signal, which neighborhood advocates have requested for years. No councilmembers voiced opposition.
Immediately after that signal was discussed, another six-digit West Seattle item popped up – another $200,000 for designing “Green Boulevard” changes for Fauntleroy Way through The Triangle.
(One of two “green boulevard” options shown by SDOT last year)
Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, long an advocate of the concept, described it as a “slowly progressing project” and yet one that’s needed as the area continues to develop as a residential/commercial area. The city’s 2012 budget, as reported here in 2011, included $250,000 to start design; if the additional $200,000 is finalized, that will get the design process to 60 percent. The “boulevard,” Rasmussen noted at today’s meeting, involves “primarily pedestrian improvements – sidewalks, curb bulbs, etc.” We’re checking for updated design documents, since it’s been almost a year since the last public discussion (see materials from that July 2012 open house here). Today’s committee meeting, meantime, was not a final vote on these and other spending proposals, so if you have something to say pro/con/otherwise, you can find contact information for councilmembers here.
Been to the historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse since it became a nonprofit community center? You’re invited to visit tomorrow night for the schoolhouse’s first art show, 6-8:30 pm. Local artists’ work will be hung in the schoolhouse’s hallways, including Linda McClamrock, June Olson, Gail Ann, and Pamela Coffey. The schoolhouse (at 9131 California SW) is in the final phase of a fundraising campaign to pay for long-needed improvements – stop by and see what’s been done already.
(Great blue heron photographed near West Marginal Way by Mike Scharer)
Five highlights for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FULL TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT 47TH/ADMIRAL? As reported here yesterday, the City Council is proposing full funding for the long-requested 47th/Admiral signal in its proposed midyear budget changes. Those changes come before the council’s Government Performance/Finance Committee at 9:30 this morning. (City Hall downtown; live on Seattle Channel, cable 21 or online)
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 10:30 am at the West Seattle (Admiral) Library – details here. (2306 42nd SW)
EARLY DAYS: Baby in the household? This weekly support group meets today and every Wednesday, noon-2 pm, in the classroom at Nurturing Expressions (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. (4746 44th SW)
OLA BENEFIT AT SALTY’S: As first reported here one month ago, burglars hit West Seattle’s Ola Salon. Tonight, 6:30 pm-9:30 pm at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), help Ola recover from what it lost – and what was lost from an ongoing charity campaign – by coming to this silent-auction fundraiser with appetizers and soft drinks included in the $45 ticket price (beer, wine, cocktails available for purchase). Details on the Salty’s website. (1936 Harbor SW)
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, reps from community organizations/institutions around eastern West Seattle gather for their monthly meeting – agenda highlights are here. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Second day of repaving work on California SW between Frontenac and Myrtle – with some work already done outside those boundaries. And once again, here’s the Saturday reminder: Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon closures that day will include NB 99.
Thanks to Laurie Rasmussen for one final report on the West Seattle Little League Dodgers:
WSLL Dodgers played in the Championship game (Monday) night at the District 7 Tournament of Champions in Normandy Park. They won their Friday night game against Southwest Little League with a score of 16-2, and the second game on Sunday against Seattle Central Little League, 10-3.
(Monday) night, they played South Highline American.
It was a hard-fought game, ending the regulation 6 innings tied 8-8. In the extra inning, SHA went ahead and closed out the Dodgers in the bottom of the 7th inning, score 14-8. Dodgers took home second place for their District. WSLL Dodgers won 19 games in a row and ended their season with a 20-2 record. We couldn’t be more proud of these boys.
Players: Nate Rasmussen, Dylan Mastroianni, Michael Schwartz, Connor Berry, Jake Goulet, Evan Johnson, Cole Kirkland, Robbie Foisy, Aaron Johnson, Alex Lindholm, Owen Caufield, Emmett Weber.
Congratulations on a great season!
Topping tonight’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup – a hit-and-run at 56th/Alki tonight. Marty says he saw it from the deck at Duke’s:
White 4-door, late-model Cadillac (didn’t see driver) hit maroon Dodge Durango (east side of street) about 9:33 p.m., slamming it up across the sidewalk to within inches of the food truck in the Alki Auto Repair parking lot. Luckily, no one injured. Cadillac turned east onto 56th, presumably squirreled around neighborhood before finding exit up Admiral. A small black car gave chase; no word on whether it caught up w/the perp. Best of luck to SPD finding Caddy & driver.
We’re checking. (Thanks also to Jonathan for a tip about the crash.)
Also from Alki, Darren‘s Kona men’s mountain bike was stolen sometime last night or very early today:
Last night between 9:30pm and 6:00am this morning, someone came down onto my porch and cut my bike lock and stole my bike.
Here’s a photo of Darren’s bike:
Darren’s building is in the 2200 block of Alki.
From Arbor Heights, Rick got a handwritten note from an apparent neighbor in the 10000 block of 35th, reading:
*WARNING* My house was broken into in the middle of the day on Friday (assume this means 6/14) probably around 11am-1pm. The thieves came in through a back window. They were probably on foot because they took things like all my jewelry, laptop, Xbox, etc. Nothing too big. BE CAREFUL & SAFE!
And Toby reports a car prowl in the 32nd/Barton vicinity:
Wanted to let everyone know and remind people to keep their doors locked and to not leave valuables in their car. Sadly we (re)learned the hard way. My girlfriend’s car was left unlocked last night and unfortunately she had forgotten her wallet in the glove box. It was gone this morning along with a Coach sun-glass case, some small bottles of perfume and a few other odds and ends. The wallet was also Coach, so if anyone happens to see any of the stuff (yeah right!), please let us know. Credit cards are cancelled, police have been notified. Overall not too terrible but there are better ways to start your day!
P.S. Our report on tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting will be up overnight. No big news, though, but a couple updates as well as discussions of ongoing issues/cases.
We’ve reported on it multiple times already this year, and questions are still coming in about the “red stuff in the water” off West Seattle shores. As the non-toxic “noctiluca” bloom continues to appear, we have aerial views tonight courtesy of West Seattle photographer/pilot Long Bach Nguyen. Above, the view looks south toward West Seattle’s north shore. Next, a closer view as a boat goes through a patch:
And north across Elliott Bay, looking at West Point west of Discovery Park and Magnolia:
The state has a webpage with lots of info about this type of bloom and others.
Tomorrow is scheduled to be the second day of repaving work on California SW south of Morgan Junction. While SDOT only announced work for the block between Frontenac and Myrtle, Ron A shares the photo and says the city crews have already done something extra:
Looks like we got a bonus — they filled in the slumps in the road to the north and south of Mills this morning! FYI, there are underground springs in those locations that slowly erode whatever material is under the roadbed. The section in the picture was patched about 5 years ago.
Meet Sophie. We found out about her from Michele at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor):
This is such a touching story that I wanted to share it with you.
This young lady’s name is Sophie in the photo attached. She and her mom Tami stopped by our BBQ for the West Seattle Food Bank on Saturday. On West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, Sophie had a lemonade stand that was for charity. She wished for her proceeds to help the food bank and donated them to us.
I remember when I was that age… $20 may as well be $100! I wanted to commend Sophie’s thoughtfulness and say thank you again.
It’s nice to see young people with such a good spirit – not to mention the parents that instill such good morals in ther kids. Good job, Tami!
The proud mom adds, “Sophie’s Girl Scout Troop #45180 is looking forward to doing great community service this year.”
SIDE NOTE: Thriftway has regular summertime Saturday barbecues raising money for charities – the Food Bank was last Saturday’s beneficiary; this Saturday, they’ll be raising money for the Morgan Community Association while MoCA presents its free annual Community Festival nearby. (Festival details here – see you there!)
Another followup to transportation news from Monday: After the city announced it’s giving the county money for extra Metro hours on certain routes, including 21 and 120 in/through West Seattle, we asked for any and all specifics, and this afternoon, we finally have them. If the current plans are finalized, the service changes on September 28th will include:
ROUTE 21: On Saturdays, extending 15-minute frequency until 8 pm outbound
ROUTE 120: Three additions –
*Weekdays – Extend 30-minute frequency until 11:04 p.m. inbound and 12:09 a.m. outbound
*Saturdays – Extend 15-minute frequency to operate from 7:12 a.m. to 6:49 p.m. inbound and 8:53 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. outbound; Extend 30-minute frequency until 10:48 p.m. inbound and 11:24 p.m. outbound
*Sundays – Extend 30-minute frequency from 6:32 a.m. to 10:18 p.m. northbound and 6:09 a.m. to 11:24 p.m. southbound
(Hat tip to Bruce at STB for sharing first word the specifics had become available, and thanks to Rochelle at KCDOT for tracking them down for us to share here.)
4:26 PM: Just published on our partner site White Center Now: The King County Sheriff’s Office says a burglary attempt this past Sunday night might be linked to the attempted kidnapping two weeks ago. Both happened in the same block, 3rd/104th vicinity, and in both cases, fast-acting family members intervened. Here’s the newest story; here’s the previous story from early June. P.S. If you noticed helicopters in Arbor Heights/Shorewood/White Center this afternoon – those were TV choppers responding to this new information.
ADDED 5:39 PM: We asked KCSO Sgt. Cindi West if there was any more descriptive information about the suspect/s – unfortunately, she says, what’s in the story is everything they know.
(WSB photo, November 2011)
Tomorrow morning, when the City Council’s Government Performance and Finance Committee considers mid-year budget changes/additions, they will include half a million dollars for a traffic signal long sought by the Admiral Neighborhood Association and other neighborhood advocates. The dangers of the top-of-hill, on-a-curve intersection got a tragedy-borne spotlight when 26-year-old Tatsuo Nakata was hit and killed in November 2006. Some safety improvements have been made, but getting a full signal has proven elusive – though the ANA has continued to push, including with the November 2011 demonstration shown above.
The new proposal is an major upgrade from just one month ago, when Mayor McGinn announced a plan for a “flashing pedestrian beacon” at the intersection, and the start of a technical study for a full signal, as part of a list of projects to be pursued with savings from the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project. Yesterday, the council issued its own announcement about a “re-alignment” of midyear transportation spending – including some changes from the mayor’s May proposal; most notably for West Seattle, the “full traffic signal” for 47th/Admiral.
We’ve been seeking additional details since then, and obtained them today from Councilmember Tom Rasmussen‘s office. While the documentation for tomorrow morning’s meeting is not finalized yet, we’ve seen a draft version of the 47th/Admiral proposal, which would explain that “Councilmember Rasmussen proposes to add $480,000 in additional funding (on top of $20,000 in the Mayor’s initial proposal) for SDOT’s more comprehensive approach of full signalization of the intersection, which would place each of the 10 entering side streets into full traffic control; possibly adding an additional crosswalk on Admiral …” As soon as the official document is available, we’ll share it. Tomorrow’s council committee meeting is at 9:30 am at City Hall.
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