West Seattle, Washington
13 Saturday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
After 3 1/2 four-day weeks on the case, the jury in the Morgan Junction murder trial is hearing from what’s expected to be the prosecution’s final witness.
Seattle Police Homicide Unit Detective Tim DeVore has been seated at the prosecution’s table for most of the trial, until now. On Thursday afternoon, he got up and crossed the courtroom to sit in the chair that constitutes “the witness stand.” Monday morning, he will be there again.
But first, Thursday began with more discussion of blood-alcohol levels, followed by an analyst’s report on defendant Lovett “Cid” Chambers‘s gun and ammunition – how it was tested and what she believed it showed.
(Click image for larger view)
That’s an aerial view of the Barton Pump Station upgrade project north of the Fauntleroy ferry dock, photographed this week by Long B. Nguyen. It’s a project of the King County Wastewater Treatment District, and they’re one of dozens of participants slated for the big annual membership meeting of the Fauntleroy Community Association this coming Tuesday (March 18th).
The meeting at The Hall at Fauntleroy is part info fair; at last Tuesday’s FCA board meeting, we were told confirmed participants include, besides KCWTD, Washington State Ferries, the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse Community Center, Fauntleroy Church, “Diver Laura” James with Tox-Ick.org, The Whale Trail, Seal Sitters, The Kenney (WSB sponsor), ArtsWest, the Fauntleroy Y (WSB sponsor), Morgan Community Association, and the Southwest Branch Library.
It’s also a chance for Fauntleroy residents to pay their annual FCA membership dues and vote for the board; and local bites are offered as an incentive – including The Hall’s own Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering, nearby Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor), Bird on a Wire Espresso, The Original Bakery, and Stuffed Cakes. It all starts at 6 pm; The Hall is on the south side of the historic schoolhouse at 9131 California SW.
(School-zone beacon near Boren, now fully operational; photo courtesy Robin Graham)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Next school year, the former Louisa May Boren Junior High School on Delridge will be home to two schools – ongoing permanent home to K-5 (future K-8) STEM, and starting its two-year status as temporary home to Arbor Heights Elementary while AH is rebuilt.
That’s 800 or so students filling the campus, plus their teachers and other staffers.
Space in the building is not much at issue. Safety is – specifically, safely getting all those students to and from school, which fronts one of West Seattle’s main arterials, Delridge Way, a much-used route to and from the two bridges across the Duwamish River connecting the peninsula with downtown.
Though this is the second year K-5 STEM has occupied the building, it is only now getting something as simple as flashing beacons to catch drivers’ attention in the 20-mph zone. The beacons just began operation, and SDOT’s Brian Dougherty says that when Arbor Heights moves in this fall, the lights will be programmed to reflect the staggered times both schools will be in session on the campus.
The lights are welcome, but nowhere near a full solution.
3:28 PM: Big Seattle Fire callout to the 2900 block of SW Florida. 911 log calls it a haz-mat response. More to come.
3:31 PM: Scanner says an unknown substance sprayed on a worker at Terminal 5.
3:48 PM: “Cutting fluid” is what’s suspected to be involved. Via Twitter, SFD says the worker’s “symptoms are minor.”
5:07 PM: No additional official info, but after an hour and a half, the incident is now closed.
We’ll confess we weren’t able to make it downtown for today’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, but thanks to King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, we are able to show you a bit of the West Seattle High School Marching Band‘s performance as they marched along the parade route on 4th Avenue.
As noted here on Thursday, the Denny International Middle School Marching Band was scheduled to be in the parade too – any pics/video of them (and/or other participants from West Seattle), please consider sending – editor@westseattleblog.com – so we can add!
5:43 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark for sharing photos of his school’s band in the parade:
As with WSHS, it was a repeat performance.
P.S. One week from tonight you can hear musicians from Denny and adjacent Chief Sealth International High School at their Big Band Dinner Dance fundraiser, also featuring the esteemed West Seattle Big Band – all the details are in our recently published preview.
P.P.S. Today’s parade included the Highland Park-based Seattle Police Mounted Patrol, who just published photos via Facebook – including this one.
Yes, we know, that’s a SUNRISE (photo courtesy of Karen, this past Thursday) and Alice Enevoldsen‘s events are SUNSET gatherings. But we didn’t want the attention-getting beauty to go to waste. Get ready to celebrate spring, which arrives a few hours after sunrise on Thursday (March 20th) – just before 10 am. Then you’ll want to come to Solstice Park east of Lincoln Park for sunset, which is a few minutes past 7, but you’re advised to arrive around 6:45. Alice has just published the official invitation on her Alice’s Astro Info website; it’s an all-ages event, fun and educational. (Alice will also be happy to talk with you about the new discoveries out in space.)
Student leaders at West Seattle High School are working on a service project to help homeless people, but they’re not just asking for donations – they’re offering you a chance to leave your kid(s) with them and go have a fun night out this coming Friday (March 21st). Here’s what they’re offering and how to sign up:
We will provide dinner, snacks, and beverages for your children, and then we will be playing games and movies in our theater and gym!
Minimum Donation: $20 per kid with $10 for each additional child in family
Time: 5 – 10:30 PM
Dinner: Pizza, snacks, and veggies!
Sorry, but no diapers!
We will be having experienced students and teachers there at all times. Please RSVP at wshsparentsnightout@gmail.com
To RSVP please include: parent’s first and last name, child’s name and age.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
This edition of The WSBeat contains summaries written from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers – generally cases that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?” Or on the bridge, or the beach, or …
*Around 8:30 a.m. on the 7th, in the 9200 block of 17th SW (map), someone repeatedly rang the doorbell at an apartment. When the resident didn’t answer, a loud “BOOM” shook the building as the would-be visitor tried to kick the door in. Video shows a slim, light-skinned black male wearing a beige hoodie jumping over a gate and into the victim’s side yard. He remains at large.
Four more summaries ahead (it’s been quieter lately) including a followup on an arson case reported here earlier this week: Read More
If young volunteer Woodrow can do it, you can too. The Fairmount Ravine cleanup is under way and if you happen to see this before 11:30 or so, extra hands are still very welcome – their trash pickup is scheduled at noon (so bags aren’t blocking the sides of the not-so-wide road used by many on foot and on wheels) and the more that gets bagged by then, the better.
The ravine runs under the Admiral Way Bridge – you can get there via the south end just east of Hiawatha or the north end at Harbor Avenue.
(Morning light along the Longfellow Creek Trail; photo by Flickr member “wsLaura,” via the WSB Flickr group)
Morning through late night, we have options for your West Seattle Saturday, from the calendar (where you’ll find even more):
FAIRMOUNT RAVINE CLEANUP: 8:30 am, meet just east of Hiawatha – to be part of the 22nd annual Fairmount Ravine cleanup, pulling invasives to help the greenbelt survive, as well as picking up thrown-out and dumped items. More info in our Friday preview. Refreshments/snacks! (Fairmount/Forest)
TIBBETTS SALE: Day two of the twice-annual rummage sale at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), 9 am-3 pm – details in our calendar listing. (41st/Andover)
WEST SIDE PRESBYTERIAN SALE: It’s also day two of the “gigantic garage sale” at West Side Presbyterian Church, 9 am-2 pm – details in our calendar listing. (3601 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE GEAR SWAP: First day of this weekend’s West Seattle Gear Swap, presented by Mountain to Sound Outfitters 10 am-6 pm (one last chance to drop off gear for sale during the first two hours). Sale is at American Legion Post 160 just down the block from M2SO. (3618 SW Alaska)
SCOUTING FOR FOOD: Cub Scout Pack 793 reminds us that they and other local Scouts (including Troop 282, mentioned here earlier this week) will be out this morning to place door-hangers for the Scouting For Food door-to-door food drive. They’ll be back next Saturday (March 22nd) to pick up donations left on doorsteps – and if you are missed, they’ll also be collecting food at their gathering spot 9 am-11 am that day (44th/Hill grassy triangle) – we’ll remind you again! Scouting for Food is nationwide and dates back to 1988.
TEA EXTRAVAGANZA: 10 am-1 pm, explore teas at PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor), with baked-goods samples too – details in our calendar listing. (California/Stevens)
HAPPY 6TH, ATOMIC BOYS: As mentioned in the biznotes published here Friday, Atomic Boys in The Admiral District invites you to stop by to help celebrate the toys/candy/more store’s sixth anniversary today, 10 am-6 pm. (4311 SW Admiral Way)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPENS WITH NEW EXHIBIT: After two weeks of setup for the next chapter of “Telling Our Westside Stories,” the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Log House Museum reopens at noon. You’ll be greeted by videos, SWSHS executive director Clay Eals explains, like this one with Bob Washburn‘s memorable story:
Eals says that’s “a good example of the interviews done by Madison Middle School students with still photos edited together to make videos that museum visitors will see when they come in the door.” More info on the LHM website; the museum is open noon-4 pm Thursdays-Sundays. (61st/Stevens)
WEST SEATTLEITES IN ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE DOWNTOWN: If you’re going to the 12:30 pm parade downtown, our report from Thursday mentions West Seattle participants (and if we missed any, please let us know!) and has links to other parade info, including the route. (On 4th Ave., northward from Jefferson)
SALAMANDER SEARCH: 3 pm at Camp Long, for ages 6 and up (all children must be accompanied by an adult) – details in our calendar listing. (5200 35th SW)
MADISON ‘CASINO NIGHT’ FUNDRAISER: The Madison Middle School PTSA‘s biggest fundraiser of the year starts at 6 pm at Brockey Center on the South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) campus: “There will be some terrific auction items up for bid, including: a mountain-cabin weekend for 6, a distillery tour & tastings for 12, 6 hours of architectural services, dinner for 4 at Zippy’s, 5th Avenue Theater tickets …” Buffet dinner too. No ticket yet? Go here. (6000 16th SW)
OWLS AND OTHER ORGANISMS: 6:30 pm guided nature walk at Lincoln Park with naturalist Stewart Wechsler – details in our calendar listing. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
‘THIRD’: Curtain time for ArtsWest‘s production of the Wendy Wasserstein play is 7:30 pm. (4711 California SW)
NORTHWEST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IN WEST SEATTLE: The orchestra’s third concert of the season, “Music for the Soul,” is at 8 pm at Holy Rosary Church, featuring Bruckner’s 8th Symphony and “Motet” by Northwest composer Clement Reid. Ticket information is in our calendar listing. (42nd/Genesee)
LIVE MUSIC AT THE CASK: Acoustic set with Gary Benson, who specializes in singing the music of “James Taylor and other artists of that era.” 8-10 pm at The Cask. (2350 California SW)
CHLOROFORMULA AT FEEDBACK LOUNGE: 9:30 pm – be there. (6451 California SW)
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