West Seattle, Washington
10 Wednesday
9:18 PM: Auto thieves have hit one family in Gatewood twice in the past three days. The vehicles taken from their driveway/carport are a taupe 2006 Volvo XC70, license plate AMR4548, stolen Friday morning, and a silver 2006 Nissan Frontier 4-door pickup, license plate B31289L, gone since early today. The vehicles’ owners say there was nothing about the first theft that facilitated the second – no key left in either car, for example. If you see either vehicle, please call 911.
9 AM MONDAY: The vehicles’ owner says they both were found in an apartment-building parking lot in the 6500 block of 35th SW, less than a mile away from where they were stolen: “Someone in the apartments called to report the Volvo as a suspicious vehicle. When we arrived, we saw the truck parked in another stall. The Volvo was driven more than 150 miles and contained a lot of drug and DNA evidence. Unfortunately, there were no clean prints. The truck had more of the same drug evidence, it wasn’t driven more than 20+ miles.”
(West side of Myrtle Reservoir site, where work is likely to be staged)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Nine months after Seattle Public Utilities discussed the earthquake-resistance retrofit needed for West Seattle Reservoir in Highland Park, we know what’s in store for our area’s other underground water facility, Myrtle Reservoir.
Myrtle was covered in 2008, West Seattle in 2010. Then in 2012, their designer, MWH, told the city about “possible seismic deficiencies” in their work – not potentially catastrophic, but not something that could be ignored, either. Analysis and testing ensued, and in June of last year, we reported on the retrofit/strengthening plan for WS Reservoir, interviewing reps from SPU and its consultants.
At the time, they didn’t know exactly what would need to be done to Myrtle Reservoir, a relatively small reservoir (5 million gallons) at the city’s highest point on the east side of the Gatewood neighborhood. Now they do.
For everyone who’s asked if any free shredding events are coming up in West Seattle – we FINALLY have word of one: 1-4 pm Sunday, April 19th, at High Point Branch Library (35th/ Raymond) – details here. Then, to recycle what you can’t put at curbside, it’s Fauntleroy Church‘s spring Recycle Roundup – 9 am-3 pm Sunday, April 26th; yes/no list here.
Thanks to West Seattle High School teacher Rebecka McKinney for sharing photos and info on a big event this past week – the biggest-ever Diversity Dinner organized by the WSHS Diversity Club, with more than 200 people attending, the largest turnout ever, and performances including members of the wider community as well as students:
The night started at 6 p.m. with a wide variety of cultural food that people brought to share. There were many cultures represented with a variety of dishes that included pad Thai, injera, lasagna, pupusas, pan dulce, rice and beans, lumpia and many more.
“It was a great turnout, even more than I expected,” said senior Diversity Club co-president Emily Fiso. “It was a great atmosphere, seeing different cultures interact with each other.”
After everyone got food, the entertainment began with the WSHS Latino Club.
They performed the punta dance. This group included WSHS seniors Shaneen Walter-Edwards, Brian Silva and Maaza Tsegai.
“It meant a lot to me to be able to perform because there’s not very many Hondurans in Seattle,” said Walter-Edwards. “I was happy to share my culture.”
Next was an Eritrean dance group that performed a Tigrinya dance.
This group included three WSHS students as well.
After the Eritrean dance, the WSHS Chinese class performed a traditional Lion Dance.
Chinese teacher, Su-Chun King, put this performance together.
Mahelet Wondie from Chief Sealth High School followed this with a spoken word piece on Africans and Americanization.
WSHS senior Kate Longabaugh followed that with a traditional Irish dance piece:
Next up was a local mariachi band that was made up of students and adults, some of who attend Chief Sealth:
The Mt. Rainier and Kennedy High School Pacific Islander Club followed this up with two Samoan dances and one Hawaiian dance.
“It was nice to be able to see my own culture represented,” said Fiso, a Samoan student who invited the club to perform. “I like how they brought a different energy to the crowd and everyone was involved.”
The final group of the night was the Northwest Tap Connection African class performing the kuku. This group included performers from age 5-17, led by Ms. Lakema Bell.
“I thought it was really nice that the African dance class could incorporate that type of dancing with people of all ages,” said senior attendee Shaheeda Kariko.
The night ended with a cultural fashion show that represented many of the cultures of WSHS.
This included Irish, Filipino, Somalian, Ethiopian, Yakima Nation, Samoan, Nigerian, Namibian, Eritrean, Moroccan, and Mexican.
“I was really happy to help bring different communities together,” said junior Diversity Club co-president Meron Mulu. “This was the first year we reached out to connections our students had outside of West Seattle. It’s not only important to celebrate culture, but it’s fun.”
See a list of WSHS’s many cultural, service, and interest groups/clubs on the school website.
As previewed in today’s calendar highlights – West Seattle’s newest Little Free Library is officially open for book stocking and borrowing. Thanks to Gunner for the photo of this LFL’s builder/host Robbie at this afternoon’s reception in the 7700 block of 12th SW, also featured on this neighborhood FB group page. The official LFL site says more than 20,000 LFLs are open for book-sharing, in 70+ countries.
1:19 PM SUNDAY: Finally just confirmed some information about a shooting on Alki early today. Usually, a shooting leads to an “assault with weapons” Seattle Fire callout and that’s our first hint; this one didn’t, and no texts had come in (206-293-6302 any time!), so we’ve been trying to reach police for info, after a couple of e-mail questions came in later in the morning. It happened around 1:30 am in the Alki SW/Marine vicinity. People heard gunfire, multiple shots, including uphill in Admiral. No victim was found at the scene – but hours later, we just confirmed with Seattle Police, they were notified by Everett Police that a victim had shown up at an Everett hospital with a leg wound. No other details of circumstances, so far.
11 AM MONDAY: SPD Blotter has just published an item about this. We have received video of the incident from a witness and will be publishing that shortly in a separate followup.
Long-time West Seattle resident Jeff Hays will be remembered and celebrated at a service this Friday. Here’s the remembrance his family is sharing today:
Beloved husband, friend, and partner of 45 years, Jeffrey Allen Hays passed away suddenly on March 20, 2015. You know the answer to the Great Secret now, My Love. Go in Peace, taking my heart with you.
Born October 20, 1949, in Albuquerque, Jeff is survived by his wife, Janet, a West Seattle native; his brother and sister-in-law, Jonathan and Jenny Hays of Henderson, Nevada; five nieces, two nephews, two grandnieces, two grandnephews, and friends too numerous to count – we all love and miss you, Jeff.
Memorial Service takes place on Friday, March 27, 2015, from 1-4 p.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery and Funeral Home, 6701 30th Avenue SW. All are welcome who knew and appreciated this wry, suave, romantic gentleman. He could dance, too!
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
(Northern Flicker males are “starting up their laughter-like calling and persistent drumming,” says Mark Wangerin, who took the photo)
Good morning and happy Sunday. Here’s what’s on the highlights list for today (from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, which you can browse any time to look ahead):
FERRY SCHEDULE CHANGE: The spring schedule is now in effect for Washington State Ferries. That includes the return of the three-boat weekend schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: If you saw our recent report that it’s moving into the street – keep in mind that’s not until mid-June. Today, and every Sunday through June 7th, it’s 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska.
WEST SEATTLE FABRIC COMPANY LIQUIDATION SALE: As reported here a week ago, West Seattle Fabric Company is taking its retail business online and focusing its in-person business on services at a new location. At its current location, this weekend’s liquidation sale is ramping up to 50 percent discounts today, according to proprietor Monica. 10 am-4 pm. (2210 California SW)
GARDEN PLANNING/SEED STARTING: Noon-3 pm event as the St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church gardens’ transformation continues with the help of Seattle Farm School, as explained here. (3050 California SW)
SOCCER-BALL-JUGGLING CHALLENGE: Noon-3:30 pm event at West Seattle Zaw, open to everyone under 18, as part of an ongoing regional partnership/promotion with Seattle Sounders FC 2 – judges will be on hand to see how many times they can juggle a soccer ball, with bag-tag prizes and free mini bake-at-home pizzas. (4151 Fauntleroy Way SW)
HIGHLAND PARK LITTLE FREE LIBRARY EVENT: 1 pm, neighbors are invited to a “stock the library/reception” event for a new Little Free Library in Highland Park. Cookies and punch! Robbie, the builder and host of the LFL, says, “Come by, bring a book and take a book. Happy reading and looking forward to meeting my fellow readers and neighbors!!” (7700 block of 12th SW)
‘CHINGLISH’: Second-to-last weekend for the comedy now onstage at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) – today’s show is a 3 pm matinee. (4711 California SW)
ADMIRAL BENBOW’S FINAL NIGHT: 3:30 pm-12:30 am, a long list of musical acts is set for the Admiral Benbow’s closing night – see that list via the Benbow’s Facebook page. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
KNITTING MEETUP: Bring what you’re working on! C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 5:30 pm. (5612 California SW)
8:49 AM: Some are asking, so here’s all we know: Heard the helicopter long before we saw it, to the south of where we are (Upper Fauntleroy/Gatewood). Sounded military. We stood outside waiting for a glimpse, finally got it as it passed, eastbound, to the south of us, over Arbor Heights. Hard to tell on a gray morning but it looked private, not military. (If you got a clearer look, let us know!)
9:50 PM: After much discussion in comments throughout the day/evening, we’ve learned that it was most likely the King County Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit‘s second helicopter, Guardian Two, headed back in from the South Sound. It’s a UH-1H military surplus helicopter, which would explain the loudness.
Know a 7-to-11-year-old interested in rugby? A local coach just arranged to form a “West Seattle practice squad” for the Seattle Vikings Youth Rugby Club, and is hoping to add more participants. They’ve just started practicing, 4:30-6 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays in West Seattle. Coach Skylar Pond notes: “No experience necessary, low cost, (players will) learn safe ‘Seahawks’ tackling technique.” They’re planning “either tackle or two-hand-touch matches every weekend from the end of March through the end of May” – more info in this flyer. You can reach Coach Pond at skylarponddc@gmail.com or 206-552-5750.
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