West Seattle, Washington
10 Tuesday
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand; above, WSHS’s Emily Fiso)
9:59 PM: The West Seattle High School girls have won again. In a district-tournament basketball game at the Chief Sealth International High School gym, the Wildcats beat Bishop Blanchet, 55-45. Photos and more to come.
PHOTOS ADDED 12:42 AM: Though Blanchet got out to a fast start, WSHS regrouped after a timeout.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
9:47 PM: At home tonight, another postseason basketball win for the Seattle Lutheran High School boys – 65-52 over Providence Classical Christian. Photos and more to come.
PHOTOS ADDED, 11:52 PM: Junior Xavier Turner led the Saints’ scoring with 23 points, including the late-game dunk below:
Roberto Duenaz was next with 13, followed by Isaiah Dowding-Albrecht and Josh Meyer (below) with 12 each.
Head coach Brett Kapels and the SLHS boys next face Lummi Nation, 8:15 pm Thursday at Mount Vernon Christian.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The Southwest Precinct‘s commander says extra staffing to protect students – “double the staff on first watch” – will continue “for the foreseeable future.”
That was part of what Capt. Steve Wilske had to say at tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting. Other measures taken to try to stop the string of robbery/grabbing incidents include instant alerts that he is getting in the case of any crime in which the victim is a juvenile. Updates in the meeting included not only the recent incidents but also last weekend’s South Park homicide plus overall local crime trends:
Thanks for tonight’s sunset views – the one above is courtesy of MM, and we’ll add a few more – as Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) concludes colorfully.
(Added above – photo by Lynn Hall.) Forecast now suggests the rain won’t return until Thursday.
Another candidate has just joined the race for the new City Council District 1 (West Seattle/South Park) seat – local entrepreneur Dave Montoure, co-owner of West 5 in The Junction. In his announcement, Montoure says, “We need to end the cycle of career politicians. The peninsula voted to have a districted City Council, signaling a desire to have a city representative who knows the local community from the ground-up. I grew up in West Seattle, live in West Seattle, own a small business in West Seattle, and have served my community in the peninsula.”
Montoure served three terms as chair of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce board, and as noted in his announcement, “has also served on several Boards including the West Seattle Trusteed Properties (retaining free parking in the Junction), the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and the Capital Campaign Committee of the West Seattle Family YMCA.” He says his first actions would be “to create needed commercial and office space for job growth in the peninsula,” to get West Seattle “a 24-7 emergency medical facility,” “to solve chronic transportation issues that negatively impact all users” as well as to “continue my fight with King County to preserve free parking in the Junction in support of our small, independent businesses.” He plans a campaign kickoff event at 6:30 pm February 24th at Easy Street Records/Café.
IN THE DISTRICT 1 RACE NOW: Dave Montoure (declared 2/17/15), Lisa Herbold (declared 2/11/15), Shannon Braddock (declared 2/11/15), Brianna Thomas (declared 2/11/15), Phillip Tavel (declared 2/4/15), George Capestany (declared 11/11/14), Amanda Kay Helmick (declared 10/20/14), Chas Redmond (declared 12/20/13). Filing deadline is May 15th; primary election is August 4th. Along with voting on the D-1 position, West Seattle/South Park also will vote on the two “at-large” spots, Positions 8 and 9.
(WSB photo)
3:34 PM: Rescuers are headed to 63rd/Beach Drive to look for a report of two people on a raft that might be having trouble getting back to shore. More to come.
3:38 PM UPDATE: Via scanner, we’re hearing that the scene is a bit further south, by the Harbor West condos-on-pilings, and that Harbor Patrol has made contact with the two people, “neither in need of medical attention, all persons accounted for,” so most of the rescue response will be canceled.
This afternoon, three votes (by the City Council meeting as itself and as the Transportation Benefit District board, and by the County Council) comprised final approval to the first list of bus routes that will get more service from the money raised by the recent transit-funding measure. In West Seattle, they are:
C Line
21
21EX
37
55
56
57
60
120
125
The full list of specific increases in service is here. “This is a huge boost to public transportation in Seattle,” declared West Seattle-residing Tom Rasmussen as the TBD meeting wrapped up a few minutes ago.
Meantime, if you’re wondering when we start paying for it – as reiterated when the council met as the Transportation Benefit District Board, the 1/10th of a percent sales-tax increase starts April 1st, and the $60 car-tab fee starts with June renewals.
A brand-new update on SPD Blotter reveals new details of the robbery-case arrest reported here over the weekend after an update was sent to local community-group leaders. Posted this afternoon by SPD Blotter’s Jonah Spangenthal-Lee:
Detectives say a 15-year-old student tried to rob two teens, stole a package from a West Seattle home, and then climbed out of the wreck of a stolen getaway car before rushing back to his high school earlier this month.
Police arrested the teen Friday evening for the string of West Seattle crimes on February 2nd. Around 9 AM, the suspect stepped out of a silver minivan in the 6900 block of 34th Ave SW and began following two 17-year-olds on the street. The suspect repeatedly demanded the pair of victims hand over their cellphones. When the teens refused to give up their phones, the suspect punched both boys in the face. The victims ran away and reported the incident to police.
About four hours after the attack, detectives believe the suspect stole a package of luggage off the porch in the 7100 block of 28th Ave SW, just a few blocks from the scene of the suspect’s attempted robbery. Witnesses described seeing the suspects speeding away from the scene of the theft in a silver minivan. Officers later found the empty minivan crashed into a parked car.
Police impounded the van and contacted the owner, who had reported it stolen. Detectives later searched the van and found cellphones and the luggage stolen from the 7100 block of 28th Avenue.
Detectives were able to tie one of the phones to the 15-year-old, and his 17-year-old victims were able to pick him out of a photo lineup. While police were at the suspect’s school investigating the case, security staff said they had seen the suspect running back onto campus shortly after police had found the crashed minivan nearby.
We’ve had big conversations in recent days (here and here) about businesses coming to the new developments in The Junction. Today, our biznote is about a new enterprise getting ready to open in an existing building just north of The Junction: West Seattle Art Nest. Its proprietor Karen Crane is hoping to be open at 4138 California SW by the first week of March.
(WS Art Nest proprietors’ kids “helping with the paint job” – photo courtesy Karen Crane)
West Seattle Art Nest will be the first drop-in art studio for children since Young at Art closed last June in Fairmount Springs (where it moved after its original location made way for the Junction 47 project), and Crane says Young at Art’s proprietor Theresa Anderson will be part of the new studio, “bringing her creativity and art expertise to WS Art Nest, as Art Facilitator Extrordinaire.” WS Art Nest will offer “drop-in-studio-style art, after-school art, specialty classes, camps, birthday parties … a paint splatter room, play area for the little ones, recycle crafting, and much more.” The website isn’t done yet but you can check this Facebook page for updates.
In this edition of West Seattle Crime Watch – a reader report and five incidents from recent police reports.
STOLEN BIKE: From Tyler:
Between 6am and 6pm, Monday the 16th, my blue Trek 1500 SLR Road Bike was stolen from a secured garage in my condo complex off California Ave near The Junction.
This bike was the first large purchase I made after saving up at a terrible job back in high school and has immense sentimental value. A police report has been filed. See attached flyer for a picture of me with my bike after STP.
If anyone in WS sees the bike (now with all white handlebars) with anyone but me in control of it, please email trunner1221@gmail.com…
… and contact police.
We’ve also read through a variety of recently obtained police reports, from a streetside-parking hit-and-run arrest, to a phone call that tipped its recipient to identity theft:
(Monday sunrise by Robert Spears – shared via WSB Flickr group; see full-size version there)
LIBRARY STORYTIMES: Four on our calendar, for today and tonight – find the listings here.
CHINESE NEW YEAR LUNCHEON: 11:45 am at Senior Center of West Seattle – details here, including how to call to see if there’s still space. (Oregon/California)
WSHS GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFF GAME: 6:30 pm at Chief Sealth International High School, the West Seattle High School girls – Metro League champs as of last Friday (WSB coverage here) – play Bishop Blanchet in the district tournament. (2600 SW Thistle)
(added) JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION: 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, with agenda including briefing on West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) expansion. (Oregon/California)
QUESTIONS/CONCERNS TO BRING TO LOCAL POLICE? 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct, the monthly West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting is the place to bring them, and to hear updates on local cases/trends. (Webster/Delridge)
SLHS BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFF GAME: 7:30 pm at Seattle Lutheran High School, the boys’ basketball team plays a district-tournament game against Providence Classical Christian. More info here. (4100 SW Genesee)
LORI HARDMAN BAND @ BLUES TO DO: Podcast at 6 pm and the Lori Hardman Band‘s show at 8 pm, it’s the weekly celebration of the blues @ Feedback Lounge, presented by Thunder Road Guitars (both WSB sponsors), more info on the Feedblog. (6451 California SW)
MORE NIGHTLIFE and other happenings … please take a look at the full calendar.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Traffic might still be a bit lighter today because it’s the final day of a four-day weekend for Seattle Public Schools (though many independent schools are back in session). Otherwise, transit services are back to normal. Speaking of transit:
BUS BUCKS: At its afternoon meeting today, the City Council is scheduled to vote on the plan for what extra bus service will be bought with the transit funding approved by voters last year. It’s spelled out here, including local routes 21, 21X, 55, 56, 57, 60, 120, 125, C Line. Find out even more about it at the West Seattle Transportation Coalition‘s next meeting February 26th.
8:01 AM: Still nothing unusual reported on outbound routes. So here’s a check of travel times from 35th SW just before the bridge, via the SDOT map:
1st Ave Offramp 4 min.
4th Ave Offramp 5 min.
Ballard 29 min.
Crown Hill 34 min.
Greenlake via SR-99 27 min.
I-5 NB/SB 6 min.
Lower Queen Anne 24 min.
Shoreline via SR-99 36 min.
South Lake Union 20 min.
SR-99 Offramp 4 min.
Stadiums via 1st Ave 11 min.
Stadiums via 4th Ave 9 min.
8:07 AM: Transit note – We checked out a tip about police at the bus stop by Roxhill Park across from Westwood Village. All gone by the time we arrived (and we’re not far) except for one transit officer who would say only that it was a “minor” incident, “over fast.”
12:01 PM: Via Twitter:
@westseattleblog Stalled truck on crown of WSB in right shoulder heading west. Sticking out a bit into traffic lane so use caution.
— mjs1980 (@mjs1980) February 17, 2015
Late-night extra – another peek beneath the surface, courtesy of “Diver Laura” James. This is likely the first in a series of glimpses into the undersea world beyond the most-popular dive spots near Seacrest; in this short video, she shows you around at Cormorant Cove, the city park off Beach Drive by the Harbor West condos-on-pilings.
P.S. While you won’t see them because they were tucked away in crevices, Laura says “some surviving Ochre Sea Stars (the purple ones) and some young Mottled Stars (the orange ones)” were in view. She also calls our attention to South Sound U.S. Rep. Denny Heck‘s reintroduction of a bill to provide federal help to try to solve marine-disease emergencies like sea-star wasting syndrome – read about it here.
Three daytime coyote sightings have been reported in the past day and a half, starting with the one texted with that photo along SW Rose in Gatewood. Then this afternoon, in the span of half an hour, Vanessa e-mailed word of one in an alley between 36th and 37th and Findlay – “thin, scared-looking,” she said – followed by Christine‘s note, saying, “Just wanted to let you know that there have been two coyote sightings in our neighborhood (38th and Morgan) on Saturday, Feb. 14th and today, Monday, Feb. 16th. Both sightings occurred around 1:30 pm.” It’s mating season for coyotes, and experts say that tends to increase their daytime activity. Find out more about coyote behavior – and how to help ensure they and we keep our distance from each other – via this state Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage; if you don’t have time to read through it, short version – if one gets too close, scare it away. And don’t leave food out.
(Photo by Chris Frankovich)
6:19 PM: Today’s temperature set a record (59 at Sea-Tac) – and as we hope you got to see firsthand, was followed by sunset beauty. We’ll be adding a few more photos soon – thanks for sharing!
ADDED 7:19 PM: Thanks to Megan Jasper for this one:
And from JayDee:
One more sunny day tomorrow, and even warmer, says the forecast.
One of the most-frequently asked questions we’re getting these days is, “What’s going into the commercial space in the new Junction buildings?” While the developers aren’t making formal announcements yet, we’re continuing to find the answers, one by one. For the second week in a row, we’ve discovered permit applications suggesting a major national chain has snagged one of the new spaces. Last week, it was Chipotle Mexican Grill in the files for almost-complete 4730 California; today, we’ve found documents in the city files naming Starbucks as a tenant for Junction 47 (the two-building project at California/Alaska/42nd). Screengrab:
In addition to that mention, a “site plan” in the city files shows this roughed out as a 1,734-square-foot store set for the prime California/Alaska corner, with a covered patio on the California side. Starbucks already has stands in the Junction QFC and Safeway stores, and had a standalone store in Jefferson Square for one year (2007-2008). Online listings suggest this is one of three commercial spaces in Equity Residential-owned Junction 47 with deals in the works, so we’ll keep watching to see what else is on the way.
City Hearing Examiner Sue Tanner has made her ruling on the third appeal filed against decisions relating to the Arbor Heights Elementary School rebuild. The appeal was filed by the Committee to Save Seattle Schools and three area residents; we covered the hearing downtown on February 2nd. Tanner promised a written ruling within two weeks; we found it in the city files today, dated February 9th. Read it in its entirety below (or here, as a PDF):
Toplines: While the appellants had argued that aspects of the decisions allowing the project, including four zoning exceptions, were “clearly erroneous,” Tanner found that was not the case. Her decision notes that two points of contention in the appeal, filed last November, had already been remedied by the district before the case was argued – the matter of two large Douglas firs on the northeast side of the site, which at one point were to be moved, will be left in place, and the issue of contacting the Duwamish Tribe before excavation work starts at the site; district testimony indicated that the Duwamish and four other tribes will be advised and invited to observe the work, in case of “inadvertent discovery” of cultural relics. But Tanner did decide to modify the conditions of the zoning exceptions’ approval, including the possibility of a four-way stop sign at 35th/104th – an intersection which will by fall of 2016 lie between the rebuilt AHES and the new home of Westside School (WSB sponsor) – provided SDOT approves. She also ordered a provision requiring any mitigation ordered for the project’s removal of what was considered an “exceptional” madrone tree.
BACKSTORY: We also covered the previous two appeals, both of which were argued and decided last year – May 2014 WSB coverage here; August 2014 WSB coverage here. The new AHES is being built in two phases, with the first – demolition and site clearing – now complete, and the second to start this spring; it’s still scheduled to open in fall 2016.
Two notes on the ongoing contract-talks stalemate between West Coast port-terminal operators and longshore workers:
(Northeastward view over ships anchored off Manchester; photo by Long Bach Nguyen)
TERMINALS CLOSED AGAIN TODAY: Today is the fourth day (of the past five) that terminals remain closed to ship offloading by order of the Pacific Maritime Association, the umbrella organization for terminal operators on the West Coast. So far, they’re expected to reopen tomorrow; that could mean major truck traffic on roads to local terminals, such as lower Spokane St. and East Marginal, which backed up last Friday when terminals reopened after the first day of closure. Nine cargo ships are anchored off Seattle and Manchester today, as shown on MarineTraffic.com (and in the photos with this story)
(Bulk-cargo ships anchored off Magnolia, seen from West Seattle; photo by Chris Panarello; [added Tuesday] note – commenter points out the grain terminal is not part of the current situation)
LABOR SECRETARY IN SAN FRANCISCO TOMORROW: There’s an update today on the plan for U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez to intervene by talking with the PMA and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union: The Bay Area’s NBC station reports via Twitter that Perez will meet with both sides in San Francisco tomorrow. No details yet.
(UPDATED TUESDAY with Starbucks reply on what’ll change at the Alki store)
3 food/drink notes:
TEMPORARY CLOSURE FOR ALKI STARBUCKS: Jackie tipped us that a remodeling closure was ahead for the Alki Beach Starbucks. We tried to find out more from Starbucks corporate, which didn’t respond to our inquiry. But a WSB Forums post pointed out Sunday that the closure has begun, and we verified that by checking the sign on its door. It says “see you in March.” No online hints at whether the remodel will include anything dramatic, but looks like furniture replacement is included – a city-required form related to recycling/reuse says Starbucks will send interior furniture from this store to “other stores in need.” **TUESDAY UPDATE** Finally heard back – a company spokesperson replies:
We can confirm that the Starbucks on Alki Ave is currently closed for renovation, and will reopen in March. The renovations will focus on updates to the interior furnishings and an updated bathroom and also will include a Clover Brewing System. In addition to our core coffees, this store will offer Starbucks Reserve(r), a special collection of rare, exquisite coffees which are selected from small farms all over the world by our experienced coffee team. It is delivered each week from the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room to ensure maximum freshness and flavor, available for limited times at select stores. We are excited to share that customers at this store will be able to order these Starbucks Reserve(r) coffees brewed on The Clover(r) Brewing System, which lets customers discover new layers and dimensions within a coffee’s familiar aroma, flavor, body and acidity, brewed fresh by the cup.
Additionally, store partners (employees) will be handing out free coffee outside of the store on Friday mornings during the renovation. We’re proud to be a part of the Alki neighborhood and we will continue to serve the community in this way during the store’s closure.
RED STAR PIZZA GONE FOR GOOD: After months of irregular hours and then a declaration of semi-new ownership, Red Star Pizza (7514 35th SW) is now apparently permanently closed, several readers have pointed out, with evidence including equipment being moved out, a sign saying in part “Thank you, W. Sea,” and the disappearance of its website and Twitter accounts. The site has been slated since last year to be demolished when the new Clearview Eye Clinic is built, but the owners had been saying they’d find a new location.
TAKE OUT WITHOUT THROWING OUT: Yes, many restaurants offer takeout food in compostable containers. But Elliott Bay Brewing in The Junction (4720 California SW) has gone one step beyond. You can pay a one-time $5 charge to get into its reusable takeout container program – then every time you pick up an order, bring it back, clean or not.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
It’s Presidents Day, so we have some notes to start:
*Water Taxis are not in service today
*Metro is on regular weekday schedule (plus “no UW”)
*Sound Transit Route 560 is on a regular schedule
*School’s out today and tomorrow for Seattle Public Schools
With the tax deadline just weeks away, the pace of scam calls is picking up. Two to warn you about:
REPORTED TO POLICE: According to a report filed with Seattle Police, early last Thursday morning, someone in the Admiral area reported getting scammed by a caller claiming to be from the IRS and “coerc(ing) her into purchasing Re-Load It cards and giving (the caller) the number over the phone. The suspect said this was to stop legal action for unpaid back taxes. (The victim) said she realized it was a scam after talking with her adult son. She immediately called the card company but was unable to stop the payment.”
READER REPORT: From Garry in Westwood, who recently found this voicemail via his land-line phone:
“Hello, we have been trying to reach you. This call is officially a final notice from IRS Internal Revenue Service … the reason of this call is to inform you that the IRS is filing a lawsuit against you to get more information about this case file. Please call immediately on our department number 360-362-4719. I repeat 360-362-4719. Thank you.”
I looked up the phone number on the web and it has numerous complaints relating to a variety of scams associated with government agencies and law enforcement, all with a similar “urgent” message. Wanted to pass this on to let others in West Seattle know they might be getting the same type of phone message.
HOW TO REPORT A SCAM, OR VERIFY A CALL: Lots of good info on this IRS webpage.
(WSB photo)
Thanks to everyone who tipped us about the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter that appeared to be searching off Alki. We went over to check, and got the photo above, but no information from land, and no city public-safety responders in view; a USCG spokesperson we subsequently reached by phone confirms that it’s indeed a search – starting with “an unconfirmed report of a swimmer struggling in the water.” The person who reported this lost sight of the apparent swimmer, according to the USCG, but they are searching from the air and water until they are sure they’ve done as much looking as they can. No other information so far.
Though by nature and zoning it hasn’t drawn triple-digit-unit developments, Delridge Way has seen plenty of building the past few years, and we have two more notes from city files:
MIXED USE AT 5414 DELRIDGE: A few doors north of DESC’s Cottage Grove Commons, 5414 Delridge Way has an early-stage proposal for a mixed-use building to replace the 85-year-old cottage in this photo:
Four stories, 7 residential units and 1,000 square feet for retail/office. A “site plan” just filed last Thursday shows the ownership as Christianson Development, same as the townhouses-over-office space units that start one door down; architect for this project is listed as Nicholson Kovalchick. According to the DPD website, this will go through Design Review.
4150 DELRIDGE: This not-previously-developed site north of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, last mentioned here in fall 2013, has a new configuration.
The newest proposal is for four 2-unit, 4-story rowhouses. Ownership is a Burien company; architect, David Neiman.
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