West Seattle, Washington
28 Friday
(WSB photo: June 3rd raid at 28th/Yancy)
Six months after police raided an indoor marijuana farm in North Delridge, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged its owner with three felonies. This was originally reported in a Seattle Times (WSB partner) story that a WSB reader pointed out to us; we have since obtained the court documents.
After the June 3rd raid at the building alongside Longfellow Creek at 28th/SW Yancy, we spoke by phone with owner Matthew Segal, who told us in that interview that he had been growing 2,500 plants, of which police allowed him to keep 45. At the time, he owned two medical-marijuana dispensaries under the Rain City name, and told us he had been growing at the North Delridge site for three years (records showed he had bought it for a million dollars last March). Police said they also raided two houses, one in the Morgan Junction area.
The charges filed Wednesday against Segal and four others, all described as having no criminal history, allege violations of the state’s Uniform Controlled Substances Act – three charges against Segal, one each against four people alleged to have been working for him, “paid to maintain the marijuana grows, receiving salaries and a share of profit from the sales.”
One week has now gone by since WSDOT disclosed new “settling” of, and near, the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the hole being dug to reach the Highway 99 tunneling machine for repairs.
After the ensuing week of various updates, discoveries, and concerns, today’s update is out, and in it, WSDOT says “to date, no significant settlement has been observed beyond the initial settlement we reported publicly on Dec. 5. The viaduct remains safe for travel.” The update also says that so far, ground-based radar hasn’t shown any “voids” under the crack scrutinized on King St. in Pioneer Square on Thursday. (E-mail from WSDOT to reporters adds, “The crack in the middle of King Street has been there for some time, as seen in a Google Maps picture from 2011. Given the absence of prior settlement data on this particular street, it may take a while to fully understand what may have caused pavement to shift.)
Meantime, the City Council‘s agenda for next Monday morning has been revised to start with WSDOT execs’ updating the council on the “settling” at 9:30 am, followed by a 9:50 am discussion with state and city officials about what would happen if the Viaduct had to be closed, short term or long term. The agenda section for the latter item includes this existing document that discusses closure in the context of an earthquake.
HomeStreet Bank is celebrating its 1st anniversary at 40th/Alaska in The Junction, and Santa was the star of the party (pictured above, manager Melodie Van Houten with “Santa Al”). They’re just wrapping up three hours of free photos, photographed by longtime local pro Gail Ann. A decoration on the tree caught our attention:
We’re told that little Seahawks “piggy bank” is available if you stop by and show a ticket to a Seahawks home game – if you hadn’t already figured out from Melodie’s jersey (it is “Blue Friday,” after all), the ‘Hawks are big at HomeStreet – you can also get team-themed checks and cards.
P.S. Next place to see “Santa Al” – JF Henry Cooking & Dining (4445 California SW; WSB sponsor) 10 am-1 pm tomorrow (Saturday, December 13th), bring your own camera, or $5 without one.
(WSB photo from Thursday – part of the tank pit’s new slab)
The big pour is over, but two more notable pours are on the way for the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project million-gallon-storage-tank site across from Lowman Beach. The 17-foot-thick slab that will hold the tank is now in place; the county’s update today says two smaller pours are set for December 23rd and 29th, with 10 trucks an hour, half the volume of the three-day slab pour last Friday and this past Tuesday and Wednesday. The county also wants people in the area to know that there will be Saturday work on December 20th, for rebar installation and form-building to shape the bottom of the tank. The project will be idle on Christmas and New Year’s Day, according to the calendar on its main webpage. The project continues to have a 24-hour hotline for problems/concerns: 206-205-9186.
Today, we welcome the Endolyne Children’s Choir to the WSB sponsor team. It’s a busy season for the choir, which performed at last Saturday’s West Seattle Junction Tree Lighting and will sing at the Alki Christmas Ship celebration tomorrow (plus a morning concert). They’re welcoming new members, too! Here’s what the choir wants you to know:
The Endolyne Children’s Choir is a non-audition community choir, serving the greater West Seattle area since 2003. Our choristers will learn fundamentals of music theory and vocal training. They enjoy multiple performance opportunities throughout the year, including our spring musical.
Under the direction of Amy Bokanev, ECC provides a fun environment that promotes music appreciation and confidence through performing. All boys and girls grades K-10 who like to sing are welcome. Our Mission: Teaching the joy of singing in a community setting that fosters self-confidence, teamwork, and a lifelong appreciation of music.
Interested members are invited to observe a rehearsal at any time. Stop in on a Tuesday night. Visit our website for rehearsal times and location: endolynechoir.org
We thank the Endolyne Children’s Choir for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
12:19 PM: SDOT is “shelving” its unpopular proposal to reroute Metro‘s RapidRide C Line onto California between Alaska and Edmunds. That’s the word from City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, with whom we just spoke. He says he asked the department to stop pursuing the plan, and that SDOT agreed, which he says is “a real win for the community.” While SDOT had said one minute would be saved each trip by moving the buses onto that block, instead of jogging westward from Edmunds to 44th and then eastward on Alaska, we’ve covered two public discussions at which multiple concerns were raised, with alternative time-savings suggested. The most recent discussion was this past Tuesday at the West Seattle Transportation Coalition‘s monthly meeting (WSB coverage here), during which opponents of the proposal said a lot more could be done by fulfilling the longtime promise to get transit-signal prioritization along the route.
We first reported the reroute proposal four months ago; its first public airing was at November’s meeting of the Southwest District Council (WSB coverage here), where commenters also voiced a host of concerns.
ADDED 2:03 PM: An official statement from Rasmussen was sent from City Hall, including:
“I appreciate that the Department is working to improve reliability of busses through West Seattle. However, it is important that transit efficiencies not have a negative effect on our business districts or major pedestrian areas such as the Junction. Improved bus service will be coming to West Seattle in June because of the passage of Proposition 1 without changing the C Line route as has been proposed by SDOT.”
(Rendering by SMR Architects, looking at project from the southwest)
New on the Southwest Design Review Board calendar: 4106 Delridge Way SW, a project that went on hold after its first SWDRB review six years ago. It’s set to go before the board on January 15th, still described as:
… a five-story structure containing 4,000 sq. ft. of retail at ground level and 36 residential units above in an environmentally critical area. Parking for 39 vehicles to be located within the structure.
The site is vacant land at Delridge/Dakota, zoned NC1-40. We covered its October 2008 design review in the second half of this report. It’s changed architects in the interim; SMR Architects is the firm that put together the packet for the upcoming meeting, and it’s already online:
The January 15th meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (Oregon/California).
(©2014 – Eric Shalit, www.boxturtledesign.com – taken 5:30 pm Thursday)
Our spotlight photo today is from “the calm before the storm,” but as we look ahead, the weather’s calmed down and we’re headed into another big holiday weekend. Most of what’s below is from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – which lists what’s up through New Year’s – but we also have highlights from our regular ongoing calendar:
LITTLE PILGRIM SCHOOL TOY DRIVE: The Holiday Guide features a growing list of giving opportunities, but some are in their final days, like this one. Today is the final day of the Little Pilgrim preschoolers’ collection of toys to donate to the Salvation Army – you are invited to help by dropping off toys at Fauntleroy Church. (9140 California SW)
FREE PROFESSIONAL SANTA PHOTOS AND MORE @ HOMESTREET: HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) celebrates its one-year anniversary in West Seattle today, 3-6 pm, featuring free professional photos (courtesy of Gail Ann Photography) with Santa Al, a hot cocoa bar, warm apple cider, holiday treats and more! Please bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the West Seattle Food Bank. (41st/Alaska)
LAFAYETTE CRAFT FAIR: Tonight, a unique chance to shop for student-made gifts and decorations – it’s the Lafayette Elementary Craft Fair – and the community is invited!
(Some of the creations you’ll find available for purchase – photo courtesy Edgar Riebe)
The fair is on from 5-8 pm. (California/Lander)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL, WSHS VS. SEALTH: 6:30 pm at West Seattle High School, it’s the only scheduled matchup this season between the WSHS and Chief Sealth International High School girls-varsity basketball teams. Fill the gym to cheer them on! (3000 California SW)
DENNY POSADA: Posada Navideña at 6:30 pm at Denny International Middle School, as tweeted:
Don't forget to join us this Friday 12/12 at 6:30pm for the annual Denny Posada @westseattleblog @seapubschools pic.twitter.com/eGKexbt9MX
— Patricia J Rangel (@dennydolphinap) December 9, 2014
(2601 SW Kenyon)
‘THE CHRISTMAS POST’: All are welcome at the annual dessert-theater show at Westwood Christian Community. 7 pm. Admission free, as are the desserts. (9252 16th SW)
BELLS OF THE SOUND: Come see and hear Puget Sound’s premier handbell ensemble, Bells of the Sound, at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), 7:30 pm. This year’s holiday concert is themed “A Winter’s Night.” Find show and ticket details here. (3940 41st SW)
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS: 7:30 pm, “Celebrate!” is West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ first of two seasonal concerts – WSCO Symphony Orchestra and Wind Symphony at Chief Sealth International High School auditorium – program details in our calendar listing. (2600 SW Thistle)
‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’: Join Twelfth Night Productions this holiday season for “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.”
(Photo courtesy Twelfth Night Productions)
Showtime tonight is 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall. Buy your ticket(s) online at brownpapertickets.com/event/917572 or an hour before showtime at the venue box office. (7904 35th SW)
P.S. If you’re shopping tonight/this weekend for your Christmas tree, locations are listed in the Holiday Guide, including this one with just a few days to go:
HOLY ROSARY TREE LOT’S FINAL WEEKEND: Until 9 pm tonight, the last Friday night for the Holy Rosary Tree Lot (WSB sponsor), north of the school. Part of this lot’s proceeds benefit West Seattle Helpline, Hickman House (domestic-violence shelter), and West Seattle Food Bank. (41st/Dakota)
MORE FOR TONIGHT AND BEYOND … on our calendar!
9:52 AM: So far we haven’t heard of any major damage in West Seattle resulting from last night’s wind, but we did find out this morning about another tree that came down – this one behind C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). Barista George tells us it fell around closing time last night; no one was hurt. We’ll be checking back later on their removal plans; C & P has an arts-and-crafts fair scheduled both days this weekend – indoors, but take note you might only be able to enter from the front door.
11:28 AM UPDATE: Just checked back – cleanup is actually proceeding quickly. Proprietors Cameron and Pete have chainsaw-and-pickup-equipped friends helping:
They’re feeling lucky the tree fell northward, missing nearby structures, including the classic Craftsman that houses their shop.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
No major problems lingering in West Seattle from last night’s wind, and nothing major on the routes through/from here either, so far.
WEEKEND ALERT FOR 35TH SW: One more reminder that you’ll want to avoid 35th SW between Avalon and Alaska tomorrow and at least part of Sunday – the road is scheduled to be closed for tower-crane installation. From the contractor:
We are approved by the City of Seattle to close all 4 lanes on 35th AVE SW adjacent our jobsite (4435 35th Ave) to erect our tower crane. The plan is to roll on site at 5:30 am Saturday with our mobile crane so we can start work by 8:00 am. Weather permitting, we’ll have the crane put together on Saturday and come back Sunday to remove our mobile crane. Though we are permitted to work until 10 PM with the lane closures, we are confident (weather permitting) we will be out of there by noon. Again, we apologize in advance for any inconveniences this may cause to your weekend commutes.
This means Saturday/Sunday reroutes for Metro Route 21, Route 50, and RapidRide C Line – details here.
12:57 AM: A big Seattle Fire response is arriving at the 3900 block of SW Holden in Gatewood (map). It was described as a suspected roof fire; first units arriving aren’t seeing anything.
1 AM: They’re checking the attic, but report that it might just be “an overheated light fixture.” Some of the arriving units are being canceled.
1:09 AM: They’re now checking to be sure there’s not a smoldering fire in the ceiling.
1:11 AM: Minutes later, that’s what they’ve found, a small “smoldering fire in insulation … knob and tube wiring.”
1:19 AM: They’ve re-assessed the fire at 3′ x 3′ and declared it “under control.”
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