West Seattle, Washington
22 Friday
The West Seattle High School cheer squad and their young protégés had a lot to cheer for last night, as both WSHS varsity teams won their home games against Ingraham.
It was a runaway win for the girls – West Seattle 61, Ingraham 26, game stats here, with four Wildcats in double-digit scoring – Lydia Giomi had 16 points, and 11 each are on the books for Charli Elliott, Lexi Ioane, and Gabby Sarver.
After a few intense days, crime reports have calmed a bit, so far as we can tell from the inbox and 911 map. But we do have two burglaries and two car prowls to report:
Stephen discovered Thursday night that his home in the 6000 block of Fauntleroy Way had been broken into while he was away at work – and that burglars had struck elsewhere on their block, leaving (besides fingerprints) a footprint that police told him resembled one found at the other scene. He says the burglar/s entered by tearing a basement window out of its frame; they stole jewelry and an iPad, but left other electronics behind. He also says police mentioned “a band of about 5 people” are believed to be responsible for many of the West Seattle burglaries happening right now.
Car prowls: Betsy says her car was broken into early Thursday morning in the 6400 block of 36th SW, but “nothing of value in the car, so nothing stolen.” Then Friday between 9:30 am and 1 pm, Beth‘s Civic was broken into near 35th and 100th in Arbor Heights. She’s hoping her brown-leather purse was dumped somewhere by the thief/thieves – let police know if you spot one.
Last but not least – if you have a “nuisance property” in your neighborhood, the newest newsletter sent by Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon includes LOTS of information on what you can do about it, compiled, he writes, with the assistance of precinct liaison Melissa Chin from the City Attorney’s Office. See it here.
P.S. As noted here earlier, the next crimefighting meeting is the West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network, 6:30 pm Tuesday at the precinct (Webster/Delridge).
The first of two West Seattle elementary schools to be built/rebuilt if Seattle Public Schools‘ BEX IV levy passes next month is already in the design phase. That’s because the new Schmitz Park Elementary at Genesee Hill (not its official name; that’s not decided yet) is expected to open in fall 2015. The project team has design concepts/options ready to show the community, and they along with SP principal Gerrit Kischner are inviting you to a presentation next Tuesday (January 22), 7 pm, at SP Elementary’s cafeteria (5000 SW Spokane). Meantime, ballots are expected to be mailed within days for the 2-levy vote on February 12th. (The rebuild to be funded by BEX IV, Arbor Heights Elementary, is slated to open in fall 2018 but the district is hoping to use “bridge funding” to move that up.)
The visibility might not be much in our foggy weather – but if you’re down at eye level with the flora and fauna, as photographer Machel Spence so often is, that’s not a problem. She reports that the freezing fog did not keep the Duwamish Greenbelt bunnies from emerging – and shared the photo as proof.
That crosscountry-via-iPad musical collaboration between Admiral Theater manager/entertainment director Dinah Brein and South Carolina resident Jon Michaels has made the list of three finalists in the nationwide TV contest for a Today Show “jingle.” Brein is a veteran songwriter/producer whose work has been recorded for TV and film use as well as by recording artists, and while working in Nashville years ago, collaborated previously with Michaels, who called her during the holidays to ask if she wanted to work on the jingle. “He lives in South Carolina and I’m up here in Seattle so we got together on Face time on our iPads and churned it out,” she explained, adding: “Being able to use an ipad was great plus he got to meet my husband and 3 dogs, one of which was always trying to get me to use the word dog in the song.” The rules called for an original song, less than 2 minutes long, and if possible, mentions of the anchors’ names. Brein says they decided to take a “historic perpective in presenting (the show’s) longevity of 60 years and (its) family-like approach to the news.” Michaels will sing the song live with the other two finalists on January 29th. Brein’s not sure what they get if the jingle wins, “but as they say at the Oscars, it’s an honor to be nominated.”
The off-and-on burn ban is BACK ON as of 4 pm today: Stage 1 burn ban for King County (see for yourself here). That means:
No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled.
No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.
Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.
It is OK to use natural gas, propane, pellet and EPA certified wood stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.
Just out of the WSB mailbox:
WSHS 1st Annual Big Band Dance:
The West Seattle High School Music Department invites you to dust off your dancing shoes and join us for a night of live music and dancing on Friday, February 1st in the WSHS Commons. There will be a swing dance lesson with a local instructor from 6:30 to 7 pm. The dance is from 7:00 to 9:00 pm with music by the West Seattle High School Jazz Ensemble and the West Seattle Big Band. Light refreshments will be available for sale.
Tickets are available: $12 in advance or $15 at the door and can be purchased from students in the Music Department or by sending an email to: wshsmusicdept@gmail.com. See you there!
(West Seattle 5K 2012 photo by Debra Salazar Herbst)
Just four months from tomorrow – the morning of May 19th – the fifth annual West Seattle 5K will hit the street on Alki Avenue Southwest. Organizers are already signing up both runners/walkers and sponsors. (WSB has been a sponsor each year since the start, and we’re proud to be signing on again this year.) For runners/walkers, there are two incentives to sign up early: First, there’s a discount. Second, the first 100 people to register will qualify for a drawing to win a new pair of running shoes. The West Seattle 5K is a benefit for the West Seattle High School PTSA; registration and sponsorship information is all online at WestSeattle5K.com.
Traffic has been decidedly difficult at times since the Barton Pump Station upgrade project started north of the Fauntleroy ferry terminal, with closures including one toll booth and a dock lane at times. But north of the dock, the usual rules still apply, as Washington State Ferries reminded drivers with this advisory:
Customers lining up at Fauntleroy should note that the ferry queue continues along Fauntleroy Way at the gas station at the north end of Lincoln Park; it does not go down 47th Ave. SW toward the beach. Please also note that line cutting is against state law and subject to a fine of up to $124. We ask that customers be respectful of others waiting in the queue. You can report line-cutters by calling 877-764-HERO. All violators are logged and receive a warning letter. Multiple violations result in further action.
Interested in surveillance cameras to deter crime or record it if it happens? That’s a major topic of next Tuesday’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting – and you don’t have to be a BW captain (or even part of a BW) to attend. Also on the agenda, new Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Joe Kessler is expected to drop in for a (re-)introduction (here’s our recent story on his return to the precinct). The meeting’s at 6:30 pm Tuesday (January 22nd) in the precinct meeting room, which is right off the parking lot on SW Webster at Delridge – full details on the Blockwatch Captains Network website.
Gary Jones‘ Alki Point photos (see two more in the series, further down in this report) remind us there is a sun out there somewhere. Might reappear later – or tomorrow. Meantime, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more of what’s up today/tonight):
SCANNING YOUR PHOTOS: 9 am class at Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon) this morning – call 206-932-4044 to see if there’s still room.
WEST SIDE MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers): The group in its 25th year meets 1st and 3rd Fridays at West Side Presbyterian Church, 9:30 pm; details in our calendar listing.
INFORMAL GATHERING TO REMEMBER JERRY CEIS: First of at least three gatherings planned by friends – this one’s at 5:30 pm at Christo’s on Alki. (The other two, so far, are at 3 pm January 27th at the Chelan Café and then another at Christo’s at 6:30 pm February 5th.)
‘BOBCAT BOB’ AT C & P: Tonight’s live music around West Seattle starts with Bob “Bobcat Bob” Rice, 6-8 pm at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor; 5612 California SW).
RESTORATIVE YOGA: Milo Minnis leads Restorative Yoga at 6:30 pm to get you ready for the weekend (and you don’t have to be a yoga expert, Milo notes), Sound Yoga (WSB sponsor; 5639 California SW).
SKATE NIGHT AT ALKI COMMUNITY CENTER: 6:45 pm, the weekly tradition continues. Details here.
BAD YEAR FOR TOMATOES: Last night for the student-directed production at West Seattle High School, 7:30 pm (details here).
(Thanks again to Gary Jones for the three wonderful eagle-vs.-the-world photos from Alki Point)
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Another day starts with fog and freezing temperatures – this time with a “dense fog advisory” in effect until noon.
WEEKEND TRAFFIC ALERT: The I-5/Spokane St. Interchange Bridge Repair project closure tonight through Monday morning only affects traffic from Beacon Hill – you won’t be able to use the Columbian Way ramps to the West Seattle Bridge, 6th Avenue, and I-5 southbound.
7:51 AM: Via Twitter, Stacey reports what looks like a crash affecting traffic on northbound Delridge Way near Youngstown and Delridge Community Center. Nothing on SFD 911 so far.
This year’s winter concert for the Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School student ensembles has been spread across three Thursdays. We stopped in last night, during the second of the three free concerts in the Sealth auditorium. Above, the Denny Junior Orchestra; below, the Sealth Choir.
In both of our clips, the students were conducted by Heather Shaffer. The final concert of the series is next Thursday, with the Denny International Concert Band and the Chief Sealth International Concert Band, 7 pm.
P.S. Also coming up, another youth-music opportunity at Sealth – more than just a concert – also a chance for interested students and families to explore – Southwest Super String Saturday on January 26th:
The community is invited to hear the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra (SYSO) perform excerpts from last Sunday’s Benaroya Hall concert at a free mini-concert on January 26th at 10:30 a.m. at Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium.
After the mini-concert, Seattle Youth Symphony musicians will mentor younger musicians who participate in the SYSO in the Schools program at Arbor Heights, Concord, Gatewood, Roxhill, Sanislo, Highland Park and West Seattle Elementary schools as well as at Denny International Middle School. These student musicians will have the opportunity to participate in master classes, chamber ensemble demonstrations, and play side-by-side with Seattle Youth Symphony. SYSO thanks media sponsors West Seattle Blog and Classical KING-FM for their support of Southwest Seattle Super String Saturday. For more information about the event, contact Kathleen Allen, SYSO Director of Education, Communication and Partnerships at kathleen@syso.org or 206.362.2300.
Big community participation at the first Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting of the year, with more than two dozen people crowding into a cozy conference room at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center last night. The agenda was weighted toward transportation topics — including the Bicycle Master Plan Update, community proposals for Bridging the Gap levy-funded grant money, and, kicking off the meeting, the latest on the Delridge repaving project:
(WSB photo from today – Delridge project pieces including manhole components have arrived)
DELRIDGE REPAVING, AFTER WEEK 1: Communications lead LeAnne Nelson and SDOT’s new paving-program manager Sue Byers opened with a quick update on the project, just finishing its first week. Nelson mentioned the changes made early on, including the 4-way stop at Barton/25th and the turn restrictions at Delridge/Trenton. She says it’s tentatively planned that the 2nd and 3rd weekends in February are when the two intersections (Delridge/Trenton and Delridge/Henderson) will be closed in both directions for work. Taking questions from those in attendance, the SDOT duo were asked about the Delridge/Trenton signal and why it hasn’t just been switched to 4-way flashing given the restrictions; they said they would have an engineer check on it. Cement grinding is now starting, the SDOT team noted, and this phase, they say, is still on track for completion around the end of February. (Updated detour map and other info is on this page of the city website.)
We took that photo two hours ago, looking toward Hiawatha Playfield from the West Seattle High School parking lot – and the fog’s intensified since then. So much, that the National Weather Service has issued a “dense fog advisory” (read it here), warning of low visibility through tomorrow morning. Slick roads, too, we can verify firsthand.
Live and/or work in the Morgan Junction area? Here’s what your community council – the Morgan Community Association – is up to, as discussed at MoCA’s quarterly meeting last night at The Kenney (WSB sponsor):
SEWER-OVERFLOW-CONTROL FACILITY AT LOWMAN BEACH: Doug Marsano from the King County Wastewater Treatment Division brought an update on the Murray (Lowman Beach) combined-sewer-overflow-control storage-tank facility planned across the street from Lowman Beach Park. As shown in our photo above, he brought renderings from the final design – which made the deadline to be submitted to the state by the end of 2012 – which includes some additional view spots for the public related to the wall (as shown in the materials from the December 11th community advisory group meeting). Regarding the timetable – by the time MoCA meets again in April, Marsano said, the buildings on the site will be gone. In the meantime, the county will go to bid soon for the major work on the project, which is expected to be completed by mid-to-late 2016.
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
Romance idol Fabio is in the nutrition business these days – and that’s what brought him to West Seattle this afternoon. He arrived early at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) and has already been delighting fans and enlightening wellness-seekers, as well as drawing regional-media attention (at least one TV crew). He’s there on behalf of his Healthy Planet Nutrition business, which offers protein products and other types of supplements (read about them here). Fabio’s original claim to fame was modeling for the covers of romance novels, and he branched out to various parts of the entertainment business – including writing romance novels himself.
(Photo shared by Jackie)
You can catch up with him at the Metropolitan Market demonstration till about 7 tonight – or, if you miss him there, the tour schedule on his website says he’ll be at five other Metropolitan Markets in the region over the next three days, before heading to Southern California.
Two notes that came in after this morning’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup – First, watch for Amber‘s car, stolen overnight near 18th/Thistle, a black 2-door Nissan 200SX, with a cracked bumper and Obama sticker, plate AGE7999. Amber says, “I have a club and just happened to not put it on the car last night.” We’ve also heard from Kristen, who says the stolen car she reported here two weeks ago is back, “found by a SPD officer running license plates about a mile and a half away when he noticed the window was down. Other than some water to clean up and some odd things being taken (the faceplate to the stereo but not the stereo), the car was completely intact!”
(WSB photo from first week of RapidRide last October)
Three and a half months after Metro launched RapidRide C Line to and from West Seattle and “restructured” most of the rest of the bus system in West Seattle, it’s gone public with results of a rider survey. Metro says 499 people took the survey online, and about 200 people talked with their reps in person. An overview is up now on their Metro Matters site, and the detailed official summary is here. From the overview:
Riders told us they want us to focus on three key things:
*Relieve overcrowding.
*Make buses show up on time.
*Get more and sustainable funding to expand or increase service.The good news is that we want what you want: excellent and reliable transit service. But some things are within Metro’s control and some aren’t, and we have to balance the need to be cost-effective with the need to serve the most riders, including those who most need public transit.
No promises are made in either document. But on page 5 of the full summary, Metro does reiterate the recent announcement that it will have a printed schedule for “most of” RapidRide next month.
You might have seen citywide media coverage – including this story from our partners at The Seattle Times – about Garfield High School teachers revolting against the district testing known as MAP (Measures of Academic Progress). A source has sent word of the first organized West Seattle concern about the test, saying Sanislo Elementary teachers are sending this letter to district Superintendent José Banda – note, however, it does NOT say that Sanislo teachers will boycott the test, only that they support the Garfield teachers’ decision:
We the staff at Sanislo Elementary, by a unanimous vote, write to express our support for Garfield High School’s decision to not administer the MAP test. We share many of their same concerns, including the impact on a struggling student’s esteem and the lack of usability of the results when given the current text adoptions. We similarly decry the loss of instructional time, the loss of computer lab access and the loss of instructional assistants who are used as test proctors, in addition to the financial costs of the subscription itself and the tech support for implementing it.
Garfield and all high school teachers find themselves in a Kafkaesque situation in which their employment (including career ladder and termination) will be determined by a test which district officials told them is invalid, since the margin of error can exceed the expected growth score. The collective bargaining agreement allows teachers to be put on ‘improvement plans’ if their test scores are low on two different tests. However, if one test is faulty, then in all fairness, this portion of the contract cannot be implemented.
Elementary teachers are approaching a similar situation, where the MAP test is not correlated with the standards we are required to teach. Common core standards are now taught in the classrooms so how reliable are this year’s MAP results and how useful will they be to elementary teachers since the test questions are not aligned with these new standards? Further, this misalignment will result in a false reading of student growth and those lower test scores will put elementary teachers in a Garfield-type predicament where a solid teacher could feel threatened due to faulty test results.
For these reasons, we urge you to recognize the Garfield teachers’ stance as an opportunity to correct an injustice initiated under a former administration and to publicly announce that no teacher will be put on plans of improvement as the result of test scores until such time as a statistically-reliable (and more humane) second measure of student growth is in place.
With Respect,
The Sanislo Elementary School Staff
In a response to the Garfield boycott, the superintendent said the district is reviewing MAP but expects the tests to be administered this winter as planned.
(August 2011 photo by Craig Savey, taken from Harbor Island)
We love to watch orcas – now go beyond orca-watching, and take advantage of a chance for orca learning! Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail just sent word TWT is starting a winter series of speakers/meetings, with local orca researcher Mark Sears speaking at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor; 5612 California SW) one week from tonight, 7 pm Thursday, January 24th (doors open at 6:30).
Mark has been studying and documenting whales in this area for over 30 years. He’ll present highlights from and history of his research, including updates on recent orca sightings. Join us for this fun and informal evening – learn about orcas and support The Whale Trail, too!
When you see a small research boat out close to the orcas, he’s usually on board; he’s also a West Seattleite. Advance tickets are available, since C&P space is finite; $5 suggested donation for adults, kids free, go to brownpapertickets.com. Donna adds that as a bonus, Seal Sitters and “Diver Laura” James (on behalf of tox-ick.org) will be there too.
Two burglaries discovered one block apart last night top this West Seattle Crime Watch update. First we heard from Jim, who reported via Twitter that his neighbors’ home in the 7300 block of 27th SW had been broken into; the burglar(s) smashed the windows with “large rocks.” Then we heard from Kevin:
Came home to a robbed and ransacked house at (7300 block of) 28th Ave SW. Broke through the back door and broke in the garage door too. Happened between 8:20 am and 5:20 pm. Electronics, jewelry, credit cards, passports among other things. Every single cabinet drawer and closet gone through and thrown on the floor.
One other burglary was reported last night, according to the SPD map – and it too was in the 7300 block, but this time the street was 36th SW.
Car prowlers continue to show up all over the peninsula. The latest reports, and new information about this week’s Arbor Heights mail theft, after the jump:Read More
(Water Taxi this morning, and the invisible skyline – by Lise Thivierge)
Seven highlights for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LITTLE PEPPERS: 10 am at West Seattle Bright Horizons, the winter session starts. Little Peppers is for families with two children under 3 years of age – as explained in the calendar listing.
FABIO AT METROPOLITAN MARKET: The iconic model is now in the wellness business, and will be at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) in Admiral 4-7 pm today to demonstrate his Healthy Planet Nutrition products. Find out more in our calendar listing.
FREE WINE TASTING: 5:30-8 pm, this week’s free tasting at West Seattle Cellars features Italian wines. (6026 California SW)
SCHOOL-LEVIES BRIEFING: The Arbor Heights Elementary PTSA will hear tonight from a Schools First rep about the levies on next month’s ballot, including BEX IV, which includes the money to build a brand-new AH school. 6 pm, AH Elementary cafeteria (37th/104th).
BALANCING HIGH-SCHOOL ENROLLMENT: Tonight West Seattle High School‘s PTSA talks with district officials about enrollment equity – how to fix the policies that have left their school with room for hundreds, while others overflow. 7 pm, WSHS library (3000 California SW).
ALSO AT WSHS – ‘A BAD YEAR FOR TOMATOES’: This year’s student-directed play will be performed again tonight in the WSHS Theater, 7:30 pm, directed by Jo Clark. Details in our calendar listing and on the Westside Drama website.
DENNY/SEALTH ORCHESTRA/CHORUS CONCERT: The adjacent schools’ orchestral and choral musicians perform their free winter concert tonight at 7 in the Chief Sealth International High School auditorium (2600 SW Thistle).
Check the calendar for even more of what’s happening today/tonight!
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