West Seattle, Washington
23 Tuesday
ORIGINAL REPORT, 10:07 PM THURSDAY: City parks will be no-smoking zones if the Board of Park Commissioners‘ recommendation becomes final. That’s according to our partners at The Seattle Times, who report that the board voted tonight to back the ban. As we noted when the proposed ban came to light in March, it’s been five years since Seattle Parks mulled a ban and then decided on restrictions instead. What commissioners voted for tonight is a revised plan explained in this briefing paper – no citation or fine for violators, who would instead be “educated” and warned.
1:58 PM: Parks has announced that Acting Superintendent Christopher Williams decided today to implement the ban, which will take effect in a month. Here’s the news release:
Read More
A big party just wrapped up in the Galleria at Denny International Middle School tonight – the annual Multicultural Potluck and Talent Show. Above and in our quick clip below, two of the groups who performed:
As for the potluck, a bountiful dinner for the hundreds in attendance:
That included Denny staff, of course, as well as students and families. Principal Jeff Clark wore his legendary Denny Dolphins-blue suit:
With the principal, Nollen and Hajib. Along with the potluck and performances, tonight’s event also served as a welcome to new Denny families, as the end of the school year approaches – less than three weeks – and thoughts turn to next year.
Thanks to the tipster who sent the photo and word of another local athlete celebrating a big honor. From the West Seattle High School baseball team, with head coach Velko Vitalich, is junior infielder Morgan McCullough, the only local player named to The Seattle Times‘ regional spring-sports all-star teams, and the only player honored for two consecutive years. His batting average this season, The Times notes – an amazing .552. Congratulations!
If you haven’t already … can you help with this?
Do you live between the Arroyos and Morgan Street? Travel through or do business in Fauntleroy? The Fauntleroy Community Association (FCA) wants to hear from you! The FCA has a new community survey to identify and rank local issues. The anonymous survey can be accessed through fauntleroy.net and then clicking on “FCA Survey.” The survey takes just a few minutes, and will provide guidance to the FCA Board on where to focus their efforts during the next two years.The results from the 2013 survey led to the FCA organizing community meetings with city officials to address crime and traffic issues, and helped our group define plans of action. The current survey will be available online through Sunday (June 1st). Take the survey and help to shape the future of your community!
(Dennis Schilling, Alki Homestead owner, shows the logs he has just transported to its parking lot)
Two and a half months after Dennis Schilling bought the Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge, there are visible signs of its upcoming restoration. Thanks to Clay Eals, Southwest Seattle Historical Society executive director, for the photo and update:
Fifteen fir logs arrived in the Alki Homestead parking lot this afternoon, awaiting use in replacing damaged logs in the southeast corner of the building.
The logs are stored in a trailer that owner Dennis Schilling drove from Mountain Log Homes in Kalama, north of Portland. Each log is about 16 1/2 feet long.
Schilling said work will begin soon on shoring up the interior of the southeast corner of the Homestead to allow eventual replacement of damaged logs that have been marked for several months with blue tape.
In preparation for this work, Schilling’s crew installed anchor fence to surround the front entrance of the Homestead as a protective measure.
There is no set schedule for the log replacement, but some of the work may begin by the time of a group photo to be taken of 900 students from Alki and Schmitz Park elementary schools the morning of Friday, June 5, 2015. As part of the brief event, speakers will include King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle City Council member Tom Rasmussen.
Schilling has been consulting with a structural engineer, and his crew has installed temporary power and begun cleaning out non-landmarked, fire-damaged materials from the kitchen. Soon his crew will measure roof angles in preparation for repair, along with eventual restoration of the iconic Alki Homestead sign.
More backstory on this page of the SWSHS website – and going even further back, in our archive of WSB Alki Homestead coverage, including the January 2009 fire that has left it vacant for more than six years.
Two notes in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
(WSB photo from Wednesday afternoon)
SCOOTER-THEFT FOLLOWUP: We know more this afternoon about the Morgan Junction arrest we reported Wednesday after police recovered a stolen scooter. Just published by SPD Blotter‘s Jonah Spangenthal-Lee:
Just 30 hours after walking out of the King County Jail – where he’d spent the last 11 days for a probation violation – a 49-year-old man crossed paths with the law once again Wednesday, when officers spotted him riding a stolen motor scooter through West Seattle.
Officers first noticed the man around 5:15 PM when they saw him pushing a black motor scooter down the sidewalk near 42nd Ave SW and SW Morgan.
Police checked the plate on the scooter and learned it was stolen, just as the man hopped on it and began driving away.
Officers pulled him over and found that not only was the scooter stolen, but its license plate had also been pilfered from another vehicle. Police impounded the scooter and booked the man into the King County Jail for investigation of auto theft.
NORTH ADMIRAL INCIDENTS: Thanks to Sherry for a reader report on two recent incidents in North Admiral – on Wednesday, “Attempted break-in between 7 am and 8 am through a rear patio door on 45th street. House was alarmed and went off when the door was open. Must have scared intruder off. Last week: Attempted break-in through a side patio door on Atlantic St. Homeowner was home so intruder left immediately but left the patio door open.”
(Something to report for Crime Watch? Police first – then, when you can, editor@westseattleblog.com. If it’s breaking news, text or call 206-293-6302. Thanks!)
Another big outdoor event coming up in our next few days of sunny, warm weather: Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor) is presenting its annual Fly Fest and Guide Gourmet Cookoff on Saturday at Lincoln Park, 10 am-4 pm, with:
*Free fly-casting instruction all day long from EWA’s certified instructors
*Fly-fishing equipment available to test/demo all day long
*10:30 am and 2 pm seminars on local fly-fishing opportunities/techniques
*Noon-1 pm cookoff, with free food for the public: “Come and taste the best shore lunches our guides have to offer, which will be judged by a panel of local chefs and food lovers.”
EWA says you’ll find the event (bring the family!) at Picnic Shelter 5 in the upper north end of Lincoln Park, and signs will point you that way from the main parking lot.
We stopped by West Seattle High School this afternoon to catch a photo of the softball team and Coach Trevor Leopold as they left for Lacey, where they’ll open state tournament play at 9 am tomorrow, against North Central High School from Spokane. This is only the second time in WSHS history that the softball team has gone to state; earlier this week, the Metro League bestowed big honors on the coach and many of his players. They’ll play two games tomorrow, as the bracket shows. Best of luck!
1:56 PM: Seeing the “No Parking” signs in The Junction a little while ago reminded us to remind you: Tomorrow’s the day for West Seattle’s victory party in KEXP‘s “Hood-To-Hood Challenge” – the prize for being the neighborhood that donated the most in a fundraising drive last summer – and even if you’re not joining the celebration, you need to know that California SW will be off-limits to vehicles between Alaska and Oregon. SDOT says the closure hours will be 6 am to 9 pm. Metro has a reroute advisory up for Route 22 – see it here.
Now the fun part: KEXP has many more details up on its website, beyond what we’d reported earlier. The live broadcast in The Junction, with band performances, runs noon-6 pm – first show at 1 pm, per the published schedule. 6-9 pm, nine venues feature KEXP DJs as they “Take Over West Seattle” (all listed on that same page); and live-music showcases start at 9 pm with West Seattle-residing DJs Kevin Cole @ Feedback Lounge and Troy Nelson @ The Skylark.
ADDED 7:11 PM: Thanks to Kathy for mentioning in the comment section that West Seattle Bike Connections will be part of the street party, too. Don from WSBC has since sent this preview:
Noon-4 pm, West Seattle Bike Connections will put on a bike rodeo for young riders to have fun learning skills and road safety, during the KEXP Block Party at the West Seattle Junction. Kids, bring your bike! Fun and prizes. Helmet fitting. Bike checks by West Seattle Cyclery. Support from Cascade Bicycle Club. On California Ave SW at SW Oregon St.
In the history-making first-ever City Council District 1 campaign – three things to share today:
‘SOUTH PARK SHOWS UP’: Our video clip above is the heart of last night’s community-organized candidate forum in South Park. You’ll find full coverage, including the start of the forum – testing the candidates on what they know about SP – on our partner site The South Park News.
SEVEN QUESTIONS: The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce asked the candidates to answer seven questions. Six sent replies, and they are all now published on the Chamber’s website – scroll down the main page for a link to each question and how those six candidates replied.
VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS: Shortly after we got a news release from King County Elections about brand-new voter-registration cards, ours arrived via postal mail. The “card” (paper, not plastic) includes your voter ID number, precinct info, and the numbers of the districts in which you elect representatives – with City Council District 1 brand new on the list.
Got something to get rid of? Your next chance is in The Junction on Saturday. Thanks to SBK Recycling for the reminder – they’re part of a free electronics recycling/shredding event, 10 am-1 pm in Saturday in the West Seattle Junction Association parking lot off 42nd SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska. SBK’s website has the list of what they’ll accept.
Thanks to Tamsen for the photo from Lincoln Park, and also to Linda for a sighting report from the nearby Lowman Beach area: As has been happening every year for a while, warm weather and long days are bringing reddish water to the West Seattle shores, and today marks the first report we’ve received this year. It’s almost always a NONTOXIC bloom called noctiluca – you can see earlier photos in our first report from last year and from 2013 (both of those were in May, too). Here’s a state webpage with more information, plus a way to report sightings, which they’re interested in studying.
(Photo tweeted Wednesday evening by Michele Smith)
Between now and what’s likely to be another stunning sunset … here are highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: 11:30 am lunch meeting at West Seattle Golf Course – see the WSDW website for agenda details. (4470 35th SW)
FUN & GAMES FOR TEENS: 4-6 pm at High Point Community Center – here’s a sample of what they’re playing. (6920 34th SW)
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, with the agenda including board elections, Seattle 2035, and two at-large City Council candidates’ proposal for “neighborhood rail.” (6400 Sylvan Way)
DENNY’S MULTICULTURAL POTLUCK AND TALENT SHOW: 6:30 pm at Denny International Middle School, everybody’s welcome to bring food and have fun – details here. (2601 SW Kenyon)
PUNDAMONIUM! How punny are YOU? 7 pm signup, 8-10 pm show at The Skylark – details here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
‘ANGRY HOUSEWIVES’: Haven’t seen the hit ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) musical yet? Finally, seats available! Buy yours online here. 7:30 pm curtain tonight; extended run ends Sunday. (4711 California SW)
Bonus photo – from Don Brubeck, fog-shrouded West Seattle, seen from downtown around 8 this morning:
THE FORECAST … highs in the 70s every day through Sunday!
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:43 AM: The major outbound routes are quiet so far in the early going.
METRO CHANGES AHEAD: In case you missed our Wednesday story, here’s how the first major round of bus service addition/restoration will play out in West Seattle starting June 6th, as announced by Metro. (The second round is in September.)
8:06 AM: Still quiet. A reminder for tonight – West Seattle Transportation Coalition meets, 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way), all welcome, and the agenda will include at-large City Council candidates John Roderick (Position 8) and West Seattle resident Alon Bassok (Position 9) talking about their newly announced “neighborhood rail” proposal.
8:42 AM: Belatedly, we did find a Traffic Throwback Thursday photo in the Seattle Municipal Archives. From 1957:
That’s described as “24th Ave. SW facing north from Delridge Way. [Petition of property owners for vacation of portion of 24th SW].” Click the image to go to the archive page with a much-bigger version – including details on the billboards at right.
9:26 AM: If you’re headed toward southbound I-5 – DON’T. There’s a major crash at mid-Boeing Field and WSP is advising avoiding the area.
6:33 AM: Thanks to the tipster who texted about a Seattle Fire response in the 9200 block of 12th SW. The initial call went out about 15 minutes ago as a possible house fire; no indication so far of anything major, but we’re checking.
6:43 AM: Verifying it wasn’t anything major, the call has now fully closed (meaning all SFD units have left).
| 34 COMMENTS