day : 04/06/2015 10 results

Heads up if you use the West Seattle (Admiral) Branch of the Seattle Public Library – it’ll have some work going on throughout the summer, with a two-week closure in September. Here’s the SPL announcement of what’s going to happen:

Exterior construction work to improve access to the West Seattle Branch, 2306 42nd Ave. SW, is scheduled to start Monday, June 15 and continue for about 14 weeks. The branch will be open during most of the project.

The parking stalls on the north end of the lot will close Monday, June 15 and be unavailable throughout the project. One stall on the south end will be designated for use by people with disabilities and a temporary ramp will be installed from the lot to the main entrance. The ramp to the lower-level meeting room will be unavailable from Saturday, July 4 through Friday, July 17 while it is being replaced.

The branch and the book drop are expected to close for about two weeks in early to mid-September while the front steps are being replaced. A specific closure date for the branch and book drop will be set after construction is underway. …

Improvements include:

· Redo the ramp from the rear parking lot to the main front entrance
· Redo the ramp from the rear parking lot to the lower-level meeting room
· Resurface parking stalls on the north end of the lot
· Rebuild the front steps
· Add lighted handrails to the ramp and steps

The project is expected to be completed in late September.

The library, more than a century old, is a city landmark.

Share This

‘All we can promise you is effort’: Neighbors, police, other city reps talk South Delridge troubles @ WWRHAH

June 4, 2015 7:26 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Crime | Delridge | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

It’s the neighborhood where West Seattle’s most-recent murder happened, the still-unsolved shooting death of Stephen Jeffries Jr. on New Year’s Eve 2013:

(WSB photo from April 2014 vigil)
It’s the neighborhood where drive-by gunfire hit at least one car during a rampage two months ago:

(WSB reader photo from April 2015)
And – as a result of those cases and more – South Delridge is a neighborhood where people are pleading for more police presence.

Residents from South Delridge made their case face-to-face with Southwest Precinct police on Tuesday night at this month’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting. While they’re not in the boundaries that semi-new council has been serving, that was part of the point – since they are not affiliated with an existing community group, their area doesn’t have its own “micro-policing plan” … yet, though WWRHAH co-chair Amanda Kay Helmick pointed out she had added it as a priority in theirs.

More than two dozen people were in the upstairs meeting room at Southwest Library as neighbors told their stories and heard what police and other city representatives can and can’t do.

(From left, CPT Officers Kiehn and Flores, City Attorney’s Office liaison York, CPT Officer Nicholson)
SPD had four reps, including Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis and three of his four Community Police Team members, Officers Jon Flores, Jonathan Kiehn, and Erin Nicholson. Also there: Matthew York, SW and South Precincts’ liaison from the City Attorney’s Office, plus a representative from the city Department of Planning and Development.

Helmick opened by introducing a resident who brought a list of eight properties that he described as problematic for the neighborhood, with problems from squatters to drug use, and worse.

Share This

West Seattle rezoning: South Morgan Junction, Pier 1 potentially back in play

June 4, 2015 4:11 pm

| 16 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

From the city files, two potential West Seattle rezones, both on sites where rezone proposals have come up before but not gone through for various reasons:

7001 CALIFORNIA AVENUE SW: City records show an early-stage proposal for rezoning this almost-one-block business district in south Morgan Junction in 2008 was eventually canceled. Now we’ve found a new early-stage proposal in online files. This time they’re looking at rezoning from LR2-NC (lowrise 2/neighborhood commercial, explained here) – to NC3-30 (neighborhood commercial, explained here). No formal application yet, but the property owners have met with the city. If they do apply for and get the rezone, the documents say, the owner would pursue an unspecified plan involving “green building and affordability.” Rezones need City Council approval, so if this goes ahead, watch for commenting opportunities; the land Use file to watch is 3020646.

PIER 1 ‘COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT’: This is actually a potential prelude to rezoning, and it’s a retry, having been rejected by councilmembers last year. The owners of an industrial-zoned strip of land between Salty’s (WSB sponsor) and Jack Block Park, whose future has long been in play, say it’s a “hole in the continuity of the business and residential environment along Harbor Avenue” and want to change its designation in the city’s Future Land Use Map. The proposal is one of eight Comprehensive Plan amendments that the City Council will consider for next year. From the notice in today’s Land Use Information Bulletin:

Proposal from AnMarCo to amend the FLUM to remove an area waterward of Harbor Avenue Southwest and south of SW Bronson Way known as Pier 1 from the Duwamish Manufacturing/ Industrial Center and to change the designation of that area from industrial to commercial/mixed-use.

You can read the full document about the proposal here. Rezoning the land would be a two-part process; the comprehensive plan would have to be amended, and then a rezone could be sought.

As a first step, the council’s Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee will have a formal public hearing on this and seven other CP amendments (none from West Seattle) at 2 pm July 7th, City Hall downtown. If you can’t be there, today’s notice explains how to send a written comment. More backstory on the site is in this WSB story from 2012.

Share This

Morgan Junction Community Festival: Dog parade, contests back!

June 4, 2015 2:43 pm

| Comments Off on Morgan Junction Community Festival: Dog parade, contests back!

| Pets | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy MoCA, from last year’s Bark of Morgan)
If you weren’t already planning to come to the 10th annual Morgan Junction Community Festival at and around Morgan Junction Park on Saturday, June 20th – here’s some motivation: You have multiple chances to show off your dog(s)! The official announcement:

The Morgan Community Association (MoCA) is pleased to announce the return of the “Bark of Morgan” Dog Show at the June 20, 2015 Morgan Junction Community Festival. This is the 10th year of the popular Community Festival held at the intersection of California Ave SW and Fauntleroy Way SW in West Seattle.

The “Bark of Morgan” starts with the Parade of Pooches through the Festival Grounds. Costumes are encouraged. Canine contests are held after the Parade. There are six categories this year, with judging by audience applause. Here are the details:

1:30 pm – Pooch Parade: Leashed dogs and their human should line up by 1:30 pm north of Morgan Junction Park in SW Eddy Street. The parade will go through the Festival Grounds back to Eddy Street.

1:45 pm – Canine Contests: In SW Eddy Street after the Parade. Categories are:

* Cutest Puppy (under one year)
* Loudest Bark
* Smallest Dog
* Best Trick
* Best Costume
* Best Owner/Dog Look Alike

Contest winners are based on the ‘audience applause meter’ as monitored by the MC.

The “Bark of Morgan” will occur rain or shine!

WSB is a festival co-sponsor. See you there on June 20th, two weeks from Saturday!

Share This

Graduation season! Congratulations, MCHS HP grads; plus, dates for WSHS, SLHS, CSIHS ceremonies

June 4, 2015 1:13 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

June is graduation season, and one of West Seattle’s four high schools celebrated last night:

MIDDLE COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL AT HIGH POINT: Thanks to teacher Alonzo Ybarra for permission to use a photo from the report on the website for MCHS – HP, which, as we’ve reported here and here, is facing closure. The celebration was last night at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, where the school’s held classes for three years.

Three more graduations ahead in West Seattle – here are the dates/times/locations:

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL: 6 pm Tuesday, June 9th, Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) P.S. We’ve been asked to mention that leis are available for WSHS grads as part of a music-program fundraiser – full details here.

SEATTLE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL: 7:30 pm Thursday, June 11th, Menashe Family Gym on campus (4100 SW Genesee)

CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL: 2 pm Saturday, June 13th, Southwest Athletic Complex

Share This

From wine to workouts, 4 highlights for your West Seattle Thursday

June 4, 2015 12:01 pm

| Comments Off on From wine to workouts, 4 highlights for your West Seattle Thursday

| West Seattle news

Last weekend, while walking in Jack Block Park, we noticed several simple and nicely done chalk drawings of sea life, including that one. Don’t know whose work it was, but in case you missed it when we shared it on Instagram, we’re featuring it today. Speaking of sea life – the second-lowest tide of the month tops our look ahead to the rest of your Thursday:

TODAY’S LOW TIDE, 12:47 PM: It’ll be out to -2.4 feet. Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are already out at Constellation and Lincoln Park beaches, and will be there until 2 pm.

SPRING WINE RELEASE: The Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a three-day celebration of the spring wine release, starting today. 3-8 pm, north end of campus. (6000 16th SW)

HELP PLAN ‘FITNESS ZONE’ AT HIAWATHA: A new “Fitness Zone” free-to-use outdoor gym is coming to Hiawatha Community Center – and, as previewed here, you can help plan where it goes, among other aspects of the installation. Bring your ideas to Hiawatha at 6:30 tonight. (2700 California SW)

NEW THURSDAY NIGHT BOOT CAMP: New WSB sponsor Fitness for Vitality is launching a new series at 7 pm tonight at Jack Block Park – get the details and sign up online here.

FIND EVEN MORE … on the calendar (including how to get your event listed)!

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Anybody missing this car? Plus, burglary & scam call

June 4, 2015 11:36 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports this morning:

ANYBODY MISSING THAT CAR? M says it was abandoned “in the alley between 32nd & 34th St SW and Henderson and Barton. Black 4-door Toyota… I’ve reported it etc, but in case anyone is missing their car and reading the blog…”

BREAK-IN REPORTED: Taylor says this happened sometime between 8:30 pm and 11 pm on Tuesday night near 45th and Dakota. When a resident came home, the front door was “wide open and our living room trashed … (a) bedroom door had been kicked in, clothes thrown everywhere, jewelry boxes on the floor empty change jars thrown around.” Police took two items for prints but found no sign of forced entry; later, Taylor found spots of “bent and messed up” grass in the yard, suggesting three suspects, and then “footprints in our garden windows,” and a 3-prong garden tool turned up on a bed. The burglars did not steal any electronics but did know the difference between costume and real jewelry and left the former behind, too. Taylor concludes, “I just felt like we should inform you that these people are in our neighborhood and that they are dangerous and to look out for any suspicious people and keep the kids and all others safe.”

SCAM CALL: The “IRS lawsuit” scam call continues making the rounds. David is the latest to report it: “Just a quick note to inform you that I got the ‘IRS Lawsuit’ phone scam call this morning at 6:15am. It was a robocall instructing me to phone an area code 360 number. Unfortunately, I did not get the entire number.” It was also reported in the WSB Forums earlier this week. Here’s the official IRS scam-info page, with alerts and advice.

Share This

Flourish Dance Project: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor

June 4, 2015 10:03 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Today, we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Flourish Dance Project, which envisions a neighborhood where children and youth of diverse background, skill, and ability can experience dance in an environment that cultivates their growth as artists and young minds. Here’s what else they’d like you to know:

Beginning this September, we are excited to offer after-school dance classes to preschool through high-school-age students at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, one of the neighborhood’s liveliest arts hubs. Our classes vary in style and draw from classical and urban influences, including ballet, creative movement, modern and street jazz. We understand that youth thrive when given the opportunity to express themselves artistically, experience a sense of belonging, and engage in physical activity. Accordingly, our instruction emphasizes more than technique. We strive to expose youth to dance in a relevant, thoughtful, and dynamic manner that nurtures their development as both dancers and vital members of our community.

The Flourish Dance Project staff, accomplished Seattle-area dancers who bring extensive and varied teaching and performance experience, believe that dance instruction should point kids toward something greater than pretty, pointed toes. It can nurture joy, artistry and community. It is with this value in mind that Flourish Dance Project distinguishes itself from other dance offerings. We seek to engage dancers in the creative process, embrace a flexible dress code, and have attempted to set our tuition dues equitably to encourage participation.

Flourish Dance Project desires to share dance in a way that inspires a lasting sense of creativity, strength, and confidence in our students’ lives. The Grow Girl workshop embodies this mission and is a dynamic extension of our Modern dance class offerings. Dancers ages 11 and older who participate in Grow Girl will have the opportunity to explore and confront some of the unique issues young women face – media, academics, relationships, body image, and more – through dance. Classes will follow a typical Modern dance class structure, but will also include community-building activities and extended opportunities for students to develop original choreography.

Although classes begin in September, dancers are signing up now! You may enroll in classes online at: flourishdanceproject.com/enroll or by contacting Flourish Dance Project Founder/Director Megan Snow at: flourishdanceproject@gmail.com. Additionally, Megan will be at Youngstown every Tuesday afternoon from 4-5 pm between now and August to meet with families who are interested in getting to know more.

Megan spent much of the first two decades of her life gliding, leaping, and grooving across dance floors. As a student herself, and then later as a teacher and choreographer working with a variety of dance organizations in the Seattle area and Bellingham, she developed a lifelong reverence for the art form. She temporarily tucked away her dance shoes to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in English and Master in Teaching, dedicating the next handful of years to working with children, youth and families primarily in public education and ministry settings, which included teaching for a year at Chief Sealth International High School. With a specialization in supporting academically and social-emotionally at-risk students, she was continually reminded of how the arts — dance specifically — could contribute to students’ thriving. Flourish Dance Project was conceptualized in response to the complex needs youth have and a love for this city. Believing that dance instruction can support the whole child and positively impact the community, Megan is honored to serve West Seattle, the neighborhood she calls home, through this work.

We thank Flourish Dance Project 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.

Share This

Local swimmer Andrew Malinak hoping to become 2nd person to swim between Tacoma and West Seattle

June 4, 2015 9:04 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

You’ve probably seen him in the water off Alki – and this Saturday, you’ll see Andrew Malinak off Lincoln Park (and points south) if he’s successful in the swim he’s just announced:

On Saturday, 6 June 2015, Seattle resident Andrew Malinak will attempt to swim from Tacoma to West Seattle. This swim, between Old Town Dock and Lincoln Park, covers over 18.8 miles and will follow Marathon Swimming Federation rules for unassisted swims (no wetsuit or outside assistance). The swim is expected to take between seven and nine hours with water temperatures between 52F and 55F.

Tacoma native Bert Thomas swam from West Seattle to Tacoma in 1956, and remains the only person to have ever done so. A year prior, Thomas was the first person to successfully swim the Strait of Juan de Fuca, a swim Malinak attempted in 2013 and will attempt again later this year. The reverse of Thomas’s original route has not been attempted before.

To prepare for the cold water and long distance, Malinak has been training at Alki Beach, West Seattle throughout the winter and spring. He has previously completed a circumnavigation of Manhattan (2012, 28.5 miles), a crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar (2010, 10 miles), and most recently 8 Bridges, a seven-stage swim down the Hudson River in New York (2014, 120 miles). He will be supported on this swim by Peter Ray, local swimmers Wendy Van De Sompele, Melissa Nordquist, Dan Robinson, and Erika Norris, Boston marathon swimmer Elaine Howley, and Citizens for a Healthy Bay of Tacoma.

If all goes according to plan, Malinak expects to arrive at Lincoln Park around 4:30; Twitter updates are planned at twitter.com/andrewswims.

(Photo courtesy Andrew Malinak)

Share This

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday on the roads, trails, seas…

June 4, 2015 6:21 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Two reminders as we start this morning’s watch:

IF YOU’RE BICYCLING TODAY … take a few minutes to stop at the weekly West Seattle Cyclery Tent just west of the low bridge, where you’ll find not only Brad from WSC with coffee and support but also Mike from AAA (WSB sponsor) with info about the American Lung Association-benefiting Ride Around the Sound, 6:30-9:30 am.

IF YOU USE METRO … a reminder that big changes kick in on Saturday; here’s our breakdown of how West Seattle routes will be affected.

Share This