West Seattle, Washington
12 Saturday
Share your life with one or more dogs? You might want to put this first-of-its-kind celebration on your calendar. We received the announcement this afternoon:
Join the Westcrest Off-Leash Area community as we celebrate our favorite (and only) West Seattle Dog Park!
Saturday July 18th, 10 am – 2 pm, Westcrest Off-Leash Area, 9000 8th Ave SW
Free gift bags for the first 250 attendees
$10 off pet licensing for 15 dogs – first come, first servedEach visitor will receive a free raffle ticket for a chance to win:
A dog-friendly vacation to the coast
An Invisible Fence
Dog food for a year
A pet adoption from Seattle Animal Shelter plus a pet store gift card
Professional pet photography session
Veterinarian care
Grooming
…and more!Free family-friendly events include:
A frisbee competition starting at 11 am
Costume contest starting at 12 pm
A talent show at 1 pm
Private photo sessions on site throughout the day!
Four West Seattle biznotes this afternoon:
THUNDER ROAD GUITARS SETS THE DATE: Last month, Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor) announced its plan to move to 4736 California SW in The Junction. Today, Michael shared that photo of the signage being painted on the new storefront, and TRG proprietor Frank Gross confirms they now have the moving schedule:
We will be open at our current location (3916 California) through this Saturday. We will be closed next Monday – Friday as we will be moving and we will be open for business at the new location on Saturday, June 27th, at 10 am. Also, our hours will change slightly. Our new hours will be Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm, Sunday 11 am – 4 pm, and closed Monday.
The storefront became available when The Sneakery decided to consolidate back into its original Ballard location. Even before then, TRG had put out the call for help finding bigger digs.
STARBOOZE? Several people pointed out the liquor-license application posted at Junction 47, where, as we’ve reported, Starbucks is opening a shop. Company spokesperson Haley Nieman answered our inquiry by saying, “The liquor license application is the first of many steps we take in considering if the Starbucks Evenings menu is the right fit for any market, including West Seattle. We’re so excited that the Junction store is being considered for the Starbucks Evenings menu, though we don’t have any details to share on when that may happen. If you’re not familiar, the Starbucks Evenings program offers customers a new occasion to gather with each other over an expanded menu of shareable, warm and savory small plates that are paired with our coffee, tea and a selection of craft beer and wines.” Here’s where the company does that now.
IAN FITNESS EXPANDING TO WEST SEATTLE: Noticed activity at the former Morgan Junction Crossfit at California/Juneau? Following the weblink on a banner hung outside the building, we discovered it will be home to the fifth location of Ian Fitness, which offers boot camps in Magnolia, Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, and Laurelhurst.
THE GENERAL STORE SEATTLE’S FATHER’S DAY EVENT: Claire E. Jones of The General Store Seattle (3400 Harbor SW; WSB sponsor) is giving away a Father’s Day T-shirt to the 10th customer this weekend (the counter starts ticking both in the store and online 10 am Saturday). Never been? Stop by!
42nd SW will be closed to through traffic north of SW Alaska for the next two days, SDOT just announced:
Crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation will restore pavement at 42th Avenue SW and SW Alaska Street following work on underground utilities at that location. They plan to start work at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Friday) and to complete the work by 4 p.m. on Saturday.
During this work the crews will close 42nd Avenue SW north of SW Alaska Street. Local access will be permitted on the north end 42nd at SW Oregon Street. Also, the bus lane will be closed westbound on SW Alaska Street approaching 42nd Ave Southwest and just through the Intersection.
That “local” access will be primarily so you can get to businesses, including QFC, we verified with SDOT.
When you go to the Morgan Junction Community Festival this weekend, you might wonder about the status of the Morgan Junction Park expansion. It’s been a year since the city bought the quarter-acre parcel to the north for $1.9 million in Parks and Green Spaces Levy Acquisition Fund money, after two years of negotiations. And at the last quarterly meeting of the Morgan Community Association, it was reported that the businesses on the site might be vacating this spring. No sign of that so when we noticed a demolition-permit application in city files, we asked the Parks Department about the status. Spokesperson Karen O’Connor tells WSB they’re not likely to be demolishing the commercial building that’s on the site until next year, because the current tenants are looking for new locations:
The businesses are involved in a relocation process which will involve identifying new space that will possibly undergo tenant improvements. The process will take several months. The timetable is based on landlord negotiations at the new site, the scope of the tenant improvements, permitting, etc. In the meantime, tenants are continuing their operations at the Morgan Junction site.
Once the building’s gone, remediation will have to be done, including, according to O’Connor, “soil removal and disposal, importation of clean soil.” Before the city purchase, the site had been up for sale as a potential redevelopment site.
The #sead1 candidates here at Delridge forum – Tavel, Braddock, Robles, Herbold, Rushmer, Wirsing, Redmond pic.twitter.com/1y6XqZAV4x
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) June 18, 2015
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Last night’s Seattle City Council District 1 candidate forum at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center was a first even in this election year of many firsts – first one with audience-feedback clickers, first one specifically and pointedly insisting that candidates explain how they would outline and take action on particular priorities for Delridge, aka eastern West Seattle.
The forum was organized by, and held in the regular monthly meeting slot for, the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council, whose chair Mat McBride energetically emceed it over the course of almost two hours at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
There to answer the questions and goodnaturedly endure the feedback were seven of the nine D-1 candidates you’ll see on your August 4th ballot – left to right across the stage, Phillip Tavel, Shannon Braddock, Arturo Robles, Lisa Herbold, Jody Rushmer, Karl Wirsing, Chas Redmond. McBride explained that Brianna Thomas had RSVPd to participate as well but had to cancel at the last minute because of a family-health emergency.
Each person in attendance was offered a clicker-type device to be used after each candidate’s reply to a question, with four options for rating the reply, with the results then shown on the big screen behind the candidates. Here’s what the clicker (borrowed from the city Department of Neighborhoods, which uses them at certain types of meetings, according to district coordinator Kerry Wade) looked like:
Each of the seven participating candidates had randomly drawn a specific Delridge-priority question to answer in the first round, then got to choose which one of the priorities to address in round two, and finally, it was “talk about whatever you want” for round three. Our first clip has the introduction to the event plus the first round:
Ahead, highlights of the replies from our as-it-happened notes, plus video of the second and third rounds:
Read More
Two quick West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
DUMPED? The photo was texted to us from 38th and Juneau, where that trashed BMW turned up about an hour and a half ago. The texter says no plate or VIN were in view. Police have been notified.
KEYED AND TAUNTED: From Andrew:
Our car was keyed (last) night near the West Seattle Health Club between 5:50 & 7:30 pm. It was parked on the right side of SW Yancy St. on the opposite side of the street from the club. To make this incident worse, this person left a printed card with the slogan “Hey… You parked like a total a–hole, stop doing that.” Hope this doesn’t happen to anyone else as it is super sad that people waste their time with acts like this.
Seattle’s city-run community centers have gone through a lot of changes in recent years – particularly dating back to major cuts announced here in 2011. Now, Seattle Parks and Recreation is taking a big-picture look at what’s next, and asking for your thoughts as the department works on a Community Center Strategic Plan. This Saturday, they’re having a citywide community meeting, 10 am-noon at Seattle Center. Since that’s a busy day (two festivals here in West Seattle alone), we asked if this event would be followed up by neighborhood-specific conversations; answer, no. But if you can’t make it to the downtown event (or even if you can!), Parks’ policy manager Susan Golub tells WSB, you can have your say via an online survey that’s open right now – just go here. Its goal, says Golub: To “collect information on what services/ programs people would like to see at community centers, what barriers there are to using centers and much more.”
One more look at that showstopper sunset from Wednesday night – courtesy of David Hutchinson. (Here’s our gallery of photos shared last night – thank you again to everyone who shares photos, from sunsets to breaking news and more!) Between now and tonight’s sunset, whatever it brings, here are the spotlight events from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TODDLER STORY TIME: 11:30 am at High Point Library – stories, rhymes, songs, and fun! (35th/Raymond)
BUSINESS NETWORKING: Join the West Seattle chapter of I Take The Lead for a networking event tonight at 6 pm at Pizzeria 22 – details in our calendar listing. (4213 SW College)
JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION: This month’s rescheduled meeting is tonight at 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle. From JuNO director René Commons:
Lezlie Jane, West Seattle artist, will engage our community with a presentation for two art installations she is creating for Junction 47 – the new building on California & Alaska, kitty-corner from Easy Street Records. There are 11 small glass sculptures and 10 historical bronze panels planned for exterior niches around the building. JuNO has been involved with the WS Community group working with the City behind the scenes for five years to seek amenities like wider sidewalks, underground utilities and artwork for our community. We will discuss concepts for 10 historical panels and glass sculptures.
Please join us if you can to provide community input!
All are welcome. (Oregon/California)
SEATTLE FOLLOWUP TO POPE’S ENVIRONMENTAL ENCYCLICAL: Pope Francis has declared climate change to be “one of the principal challenges facing humanity.” Now what? As previewed here, all are welcome at Our Lady of Guadalupe tonight at 7 pm for an event reacting to and exploring the Pope’s declaration and how to live more sustainably. (35th/Myrtle)
OPEN MICROPHONE AT C & P: Monthly “Unplugged!” open-microphone event at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7 pm; details in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)
DUWAMISH REVEALED: Just across the river tonight at 7, it’s the next event in this all-along-the-river ongoing art project:
An evening of folkloric song and dance along the river, at The Estuary:
The Lonely Coast (Valerie Holt & Anne Mathews) perform close-harmony duets of folk and traditional music from Europe and the Americas.
Ballet Folklorico Angeles de Mexico shares Mexican culture in a welcoming environment where people from 5 to 105 can have fun and experience traditions from all over Mexico. Founder and director Aurelia Ramos has over 30 years of folkloric dancing experience. As part of Duwamish Revealed, she and her dance partner Jose Antonio Malagon Garcia “Pepe” will be teaching a 12-week series of free folkloric dance workshops, ending with a performance at the Duwamish Water Festival on Sunday, Aug. 16th. All are welcome. Workshops May 16 – August 8 on Saturdays, 2-6 pm at the South Park Neighborhood Center (8201 10th Ave S); and Tuesdays, 6:30-10 pm at Holy Family School (9622 20th Ave SW).
The address for tonight’s event is 4651 Diagonal Ave. S. (just off East Marginal Way)
BEYOND WHAT YOU SEE ABOVE … browse our calendar, right now or any time.
Two days away from the Morgan Junction Community Festival (presented by the Morgan Community Association, with co-sponsors including WSB), this Saturday in and around Morgan Junction Park, 10:30 am-6 pm. In this preview – the music lineup, as announced by festival organizers:
10 am – Allison Preisinger – Folk Rock, Singer/Songwriter
10:45 am – Baker James – Acoustic Folk and a bit of Rock
(11:30 am, music breaks for the Bubbleman performance)
1 pm – Ellis Brothers – Jazz Trio
2 pm – McKenzie’s Folly – Celtic Music Group
3 pm – Tongan Choir – Pacific Islander Songs and Dances
4:15 pm – Alan Ehrlich – Varied Song Genres
5:15 pm – Acoustic set
6 pm – Festival ends
The stage is in Morgan Junction Park; the festival is on both sides of California SW north of Fauntleroy Way SW – in the park, behind Zeeks Pizza (WSB sponsor) / Feedback Lounge, and alongside Washington Federal. Previous previews:
*Kids’ activities
*Pet parade & contests
*Meet local authors
*Food
See you there on Saturday!
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing unusual reported so far in today’s outbound commute.
CITYWIDE WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Now that we’re moving into summer-event season, SDOT takes its weekly look at what’s ahead around the city; this edition includes Saturday’s Morgan Junction Community Festival, though no street closures are involved. If you’ve been away or mega-busy, by the way, remember on Sunday that the West Seattle Farmers’ Market is now on California SW between Alaska and Oregon and that block is off-limits to vehicles 7 am-4 pm Sundays. (The debut drew more than three times as many people as usually attend, market management says!)
5 PM: Alki traffic alert – thanks to Suzanne for info on the crash, and the photo:
Access bus collides w/car trying to pass it, per witness who sent this photo (1300 block Alki). No @seattlefire call. pic.twitter.com/hNHlscglkg
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) June 18, 2015
By Alice Enevoldsen
Special to West Seattle Blog
Venus. Venus, Venus, Venus, Venus, Venus. Oh, and also Jupiter and then Regulus, but mostly Venus. That’s what we’ve been seeing every night gleaming in the West, so bright I keep thinking it must be an airplane.
(Click image to see it full-size: Looking west from West Seattle at 10:30 pm in mid-June 2015)
Venus will continue to brighten until July 12th before slowly beginning to get dimmer. I highly recommend the article about the difference between Venus’s greatest elongation, greatest illuminated extent, and maximum brightness by Guy Ottewell. As with many things in astronomy and observing there are a number of “best” or “most” moments, and his article clearly illustrates the ones applicable to Venus this month. It continues to be a wonderful observing target for the rest of the month and next month.
EVENTS
(WSB photos)
10:27 PM: Police are blocking off SW Thistle at 34th because of a crash just to the east, at 32nd and Thistle. Multiple cars involved; our crew is still trying to find out more at the scene.
10:33 PM: At least two people are hurt; one is being taken to the hospital, and the other is still being evaluated at the scene. Three cars are involved.
10:37 PM: Police at the scene tell us TCIS is not being called out – no life-threatening injuries – so this scene will clear after tow trucks arrive to move the vehicles. SFD has tweeted that it’s taking a 33-year-old man “in stable condition” to Harborview Medical Center.
11:59 PM: Just got a chance to go check the area to be sure the scene is clear … it is.
9:23 PM: Thanks to Jissy for being the first to send a photo of the truly spectacular sunset that’s gracing the northwestern sky right now. We’ll add more if we get them! (editor@westseattleblog.com)
9:41 PM: Thanks to those who’ve tweeted …
Shades of scarlet conquering! #WestSeattle
#sunset. @westseattleblog WOW!! pic.twitter.com/Rvm1SRjXbW
— David Nyro (@DavidNyro) June 18, 2015
… and to those who’ve e-mailed. From Chris Frankovich:
From Darren Pilon, the sunset over the Arbor Heights Elementary construction site:
From Greg Snyder:
From Lynn Hall:
10:14 PM: Still adding – this one came in via text (remember we don’t see names with texts and don’t generally know your phone number on sight, so please mention your name so we can credit you!):
From Don Brubeck via e-mail:
And from Kristin Widman, taken at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor):
Adding a few more when we get back to the keyboard in a bit – been dealing with breaking news.
12:37 AM: And two from beach level – this is from Paula G:
And from Jeremiah:
P.S. Speaking of sunsets … Saturday night, it’s Solstice Sunset Watch with Alice Enevoldsen, 8:45 pm at Solstice Park.
(WSB reader photo from Tuesday crash, courtesy Raquel)
The man who flipped his car on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge Tuesday afternoon is a repeat drunk driver who is in jail right now, bail set at $100,000. He and his 1-year-old daughter, who was in the back seat, escaped injury, as did the people in the three other cars involved, according to Seattle Fire. But police soon discovered that he was wanted on a warrant, which is why we’re identifying him as 32-year-old Christopher T. Martin of Renton.
According to the documents from his bail hearing this afternoon, Martin first told police the crash happened because he was passing a snack to his daughter, then later said he wasn’t sure why he crashed. Police also say he first told them he had been driving a gray Honda, when in reality he had been driving a red Ford. Police said he smelled of alcohol, and that he told them he had consumed one alcoholic drink 5 or 6 hours earlier, and also smoked “a bowl” of marijuana. They discovered Martin had a warrant for failing to appear in connection with a drunk-driving case that happened downtown three years ago; we looked up that case and found he had taken a breath test that showed him at three times the legal drunkenness level, and that his record at that time showed two DUI arrests in 2010 and two in 2003. Prosecutors wrote at that time that Martin “either cannot or will not refrain from driving impaired and is a grave danger to the community.” The case remains unresolved because of his failure to appear, for which an arrest warrant was issued in September 2012. (He had been allowed out on work release weeks after his May 2012 arrest.)
The new court documents also say he was driving despite a suspended driver license. According to Seattle Fire, neither Martin nor his toddler were hurt in the crash. King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Dan Donohoe says a judge found probable cause to hold Martin for investigation of reckless driving, reckless endangerment, and negligent driving while prosecutors review the case for potential charges; he’s due back in court on Friday.
(WSB photo from June 1st @ Denny)
Two weeks after Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole visited Denny International Middle School and heard students request more help from police in staying safe (WSB coverage here), members of her department followed up to start making good on that promise. Southwest/South Precincts Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon shares these notes of what happened when they visited the Denny/Sealth campus this past Monday, one day before the last day of school, particularly to lay the groundwork for a safer start next fall:
* SPD Reps met up with students and staff at 12:40 at classroom
* Walked SW Kenyon Street between 2600 Block and Delridge SW
* Walked from Kenyon & Delridge to Holden & Delridge; observed Holden Stairs; returned to Denny via same route
* Mark drove routes between Denny/Sealth Campus and Westwood Village to observe areas about which students expressed concerns.
* SPD Officers spoke with students about ways to minimize their chances for victimization (Robbery/Assault)
* Discussed the possibility of SPD officers getting together with students at the beginning of the school year to discuss safety measures; being proactive and focus on prevention vs. being reactionary.
Measures in Progress
* Mark will work with Youth Ambassadors and Denny Staff through the summer to engage surrounding neighbors to form Block Watch groups with have Denny/Sealth student safety as a prime focus.
* Mark will facilitate communication between the Youth Ambassadors Program and The Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative regarding the Safe Passages Program (a group of adult volunteers who provide a presence in the Rainier Beach community between the 1400-1800 hrs on school days to deter youth violence and disorder). The goal is to try to implement this program for the Denny/Sealth campus area by the fall of 2015.
Recommendations
* Raise tree canopy on SW Kenyon Street Between 2400 – 2600 Blocks. Tree canopy should be no lower than 8′ to ensure good lines of sight for pedestrians transiting SW Kenyon ST.
* Request SDOT conduct additional vegetation clearing at dead end of SW Kenyon ST & 24th Ave SW.
* Request SDOT conduct vegetation clearing along trail/walkway/bridge over creek between Delridge WY SW & 24th Ave SW along SW Kenyon Street (Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail).
* Request additional vegetation clearing be done on the Holden Stairs, between Delridge WY SY & 20th Ave SW. (possible return of the goat herd?)
* Request vegetation clearing along the non-through streets of 26th Ave SW, 25th Ave SW and the North/South Alley that runs parallel between those two streets, between SW Thistle Street and SW Trenton ST. Students use these corridors to transit anyway; let’s open them up to reduce cover and concealment.
* SPD conduct student safety assembly at the beginning of the 2015-16 school year.
Three West Seattle development notes this afternoon:
REVISED CVS STORE DESIGN: One week from tomorrow – at 6:30 pm Thursday, June 25th – the Southwest Design Review Board will again take an “early design guidance” look at the planned CVS drugstore at 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW, and the “design packet” with the revised proposal is now available online – see it here. Board members’ first look at potential size/shape options in March ended with a “try again” directive (WSB coverage here); this project’s big challenge is seen as the the owners from whom CVS is leasing the land will not allow a mixed-use project, though the site is zoned for it, so the project team is expected to design it in a way that will still fit with a densifying neighborhood drawing increased foot traffic, and the new “preferred plan” is described as one with a “pocket park” feel – take a look at the packet and see for yourself. Public comment is welcome at the June 25th meeting, which will be at the board’s usual meeting place, the Senior Center of West Seattle.
The CVS is planned right across the street from the biggest project under construction in West Seattle, for which we also have an update:
(Recent photo by Long Bach Nguyen; Whittaker site is in lower-center)
THE WHITTAKER’S SECOND CRANE: One crane has been up at the south end of The Whittaker‘s Edmunds/Fauntleroy/Alaska site for almost two months, and now the second is on the way. The second crane’s base is up and a project-team spokesperson tells WSB its installation is expected on Monday, June 29th.
SOUTH DELRIDGE PROJECT: Last week, we had first word of a South Delridge site, 9021 17th SW, where a 31-apartment building is proposed. Today, city files have turned up a new early-stage plan on the next block to the west – one house to be demolished on a 4,400-square-foot lot at 9043 18th SW, with eight townhouses to subsequently be built on that lot and the vacant site (already subdivided into four parcels) to the south of it.
Tomorrow, worldwide news will be made by a major statement expected from Pope Francis, about the environment and climate change (some of it’s already been leaked). Then tomorrow night, Seattle-area Catholics will follow it up with an event here in West Seattle. The announcement:
Pope Francis’ much anticipated encyclical on the environment will be celebrated at a 7 p.m. service Thursday, June 18, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 7100 35th Ave. SW.
All are invited to the 7 p.m. service to gather with local Catholic, ecumenical, and environmental leaders to honor Pope Francis’ call to protect the Earth. Speakers include:
· Fr. Jack Walmesley, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Parish
· Dr. Catherine Punsalan-Manlimos, director of the Institute of Catholic Thought and Culture at Seattle University
· Dan and Robyn Campbell, parishioners at Our Lady of Guadalupe
· Jessie Dye, program & outreach director of Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light
There will also be the opportunity for a tour of the parish grounds, which feature solar panels, a children’s solar kiosk, a rain garden, a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat peace garden, green buildings, and other energy-saving measures that have made the parish a leader in environmental sustainability.
Background: On the morning of June 18 in Rome, the Vatican will release the first comprehensive Catholic moral statement on caring for creation in the face of climate change. The pope’s encyclical, titled “Praised Be” (or Laudato Sii in Latin), is expected to make three key points: 1) Catholic teaching calls for protecting God’s creation; 2) humans cause climate change, which is a serious moral issue; and 3) the time to act is now – specific personal and public policy measures are needed to address global warming.
The encyclical will explicitly name climate change as one of the greatest threats to life on Earth, which poses particular challenges here in the Pacific Northwest where glaciers are melting, drought and forest fires are intensifying, and fossil fuel projects threaten Native American and other communities.
“’Praised Be,’ a call from Pope Francis to inspire us to care for creation, will resonate with Catholics throughout the region,” predicts Father Jack Walmesley, Our Lady of Guadalupe pastor.
All are invited to the event at OLG – more info here.
The reader reports in this West Seattle Crime Watch report include some good news. But first, a new theft:
STOLEN BIKE: That bicycle was stolen from a garage in the 4500 block of SW Henderson (map) on Tuesday morning between 6:30 and 7:30 am. A police report is filed; please call 911 if you see it.
FOUND TRUCK: Last Friday, we published this reader report about a stolen red pickup truck. That helped its owners get it back, and they e-mailed this update late last night:
We couldn’t be more excited to report that our Red Ford F-150 XLT pick up was recovered late (Tuesday) afternoon in West Seattle.
Further, we directly attribute the successful return of our vehicle to two things:
1. The West Seattle Blog – The SPD officers specifically called out the West Seattle Blog, how they had remembered seeing the photo of our truck and description on the blog. We feel so fortunate that the blog, its staff, and the community responded so quickly and got the word out. It is so awesome to have such an incredible resource, for all types of information, in West Seattle.
2. SPD – West Seattle – We couldn’t be more proud to have met a handful of these guys today. After talking with them for over an hour, we certainly feel we’re lucky to have these guys looking out for us. And they do, every day, even when when they’re off the clock. They have our deepest appreciation and heartfelt thanks.
Johnny and Kalynn
STOLEN PURSE RETURNED: We also published word last Friday of a purse theft, and have an update from the purse’s owner: “it was returned anonymously; the ID and important papers were all in it.”
THEFT/TRESPASSING: Another reader report details an incident that started with a man parking on the street by her residence in the 2100 block of SW Holden on Monday and emptying items of “his very packed car onto my parking strip. It’s clear he is living in the vehicle. When I got home from work around 6 pm my housemate informed me that he saw some of my possessions in his car. The man had gone onto my property and stolen metal yard art from my flower garden. I called 911 while my housemate and neighbor confronted the man. He admitted to trespassing and stealing and explained it was an accident and after some time returned one item. I suspect he had more items, but I felt too intimidated to confront him further and didn’t want to spend time outside inventorying because he proceeded to shout and scream he would shoot anyone who messed with his family. He then took the paper items strewn about and shoved them into the grill and wheel wells of a Car2Go vehicle across the street. He settled down around 9:30 pm.” She says police finally came to check it out Tuesday morning; as of Tuesday afternoon, the man and his car were still there, and she wanted to alert people in the area to call 911 if they see an intruder on their property.
(Photographed at Alki last weekend by Joe Szilagyi)
That dog looks like a potential “Bark of Morgan“ candidate … but the festival’s not until Saturday. Right now, we’re looking ahead to the rest of today/tonight – five highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LEAVE YOUR HOME (OR COFFEE SHOP) OFFICE … at noon today, to go meet others working nontraditionally in West Seattle, during the free weekly meetup at West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor), this area’s only coworking center. (6040 California SW)
LOOKING AHEAD TO COLLEGE: Don’t wait to learn the hard way that it’s never too soon to start planning. Check out this free workshop for youth looking ahead, at High Point Community Center, 4-5 pm – details here. (6940 34th SW)
KIDS’ NIGHT @ WORDSWEST LITERARY SERIES: 6 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), this month’s event is “Kids’ Night at WordsWest - Build a Summer Reading List! with Sundee Frazier and Charles & Elisheba Johnson” – details here. And Leslie Sumida from the West Seattle Library is the featured “favorite poem” reader. (5612 California SW)
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES? Tonight’s 7 pm forum presented by the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council includes a chance for you to give instant feedback (it’ll be explained as the forum begins). The format:
Round 1 – Each candidate draws a Delridge Priority from a special hat and allotted five minutes to address the priority.
Round 2 – Each candidate will present on the Delridge Priority of their choice. Two minutes allotted.
Round 3 – (time permitting) – Freestyle! Candidates will share (what) they would like. One or more minutes allotted, depending on time available.
Come early for dinner – the Spice on Curve Indian-food truck will be on site starting at 6 pm. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
FUNNY @ THE FEEDBACK: 8 pm comedy at Feedback Lounge in Morgan Junction – see the lineup here. (6451 California SW)
The first-ever West Seattle Wildlife Calendar featuring photos by Mark Wangerin, who kindly has shared so many here on WSB, was a hit – sold out, raising money for students at Chief Sealth International High School, where Mark taught for so long.
Now the small independent local publisher that printed his calendar, Mark House Publishing (which donated ALL proceeds from it), is getting ready for a 2016 West Seattle Wildlife Calendar. Mark and Mark House are hoping for a little help, so the calendar sales can yield even more for the students: They’re crowdfunding to raise money to help cover the print run of 500. Laura Robb of Mark House explains:
Just like last year, the calendar sales will benefit Chief Sealth International High School environmental programs. Last year the sales netted Chief Sealth $1200 and helped them host the WAGIN leadership conference for 200+ students at Sealth in March.
With double the run of calendars this year, our goal is $2500. However, if we can crowdfund the printing costs, the donation could rise to $5000. We need people to contribute just $10 to the campaign. $10 will print 2 calendars and net the students over $20. For contributors of $50 or more, we are offering an autographed print of Mark’s bald eagle photo from the cover of the 2016 calendar, as seen above. Here’s how to contribute.
The calendar will go on sale in September; if you’re interested in pre-ordering it, e-mail markhousepublish@gmail.com.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Quiet commute so far. Two alerts to mention:
ALKI SW RAMP WORK: SDOT announced yesterday that you’ll see work crews installing two curb ramps at crossings on Alki Ave. SW over the span of about a week and a half, starting today.
47TH/ADMIRAL/WAITE SIGNAL & CROSSWALKS: If you’re traveling through this area, you might have to pause as the final phase of work intensifies, as noted here on Tuesday.
9:09 AM: Traffic still sludgingly slow, per commenters … no incidents on the 911 log or scanner.
Another day closer to the Morgan Junction Community Festival (presented by the Morgan Community Association, with co-sponsors including WSB), this Saturday in and around Morgan Junction Park, 10:30 am-6 pm. In this preview – the food you’ll find! From festival organizers:
Food Trucks
This year the returning Hungry Me and the newly launched Nibbles, as well as Sweet Bumpas Ice Cream, will be in the Washington Federal parking lot at the northeast corner of Fauntleroy and California from 11:00 to 6:00. Hungry Me offers Asian fusion dishes, such as their signature “Kao Man Gai” (poached chicken and rice) and vegetarian, gluten-free “Peanut Sauce Curry.” Nibbles specializes in Southwest fusion dishes. Their “Smoky Meatloaf Sandwich” and “Grandma GG’s Shortcake” menu items sound tempting. This month, Nibble has been in the West Seattle Eagles parking lot and at the Des Moines Farmers Market opening day. Sweet Bumpas Ice Cream, meantime, promises “boldly flavored ice cream and treats from our cart.”
West Seattle Thriftway special promotion for the Festival
Thriftway will be holding a fundraiser BBQ again for the festival! This is much appreciated and is essential to our fundraising. This year, they will be grilling burgers and the suggested donation of $7 will also get you a bag of chips and a drink. Best deal around!
Plus: Beveridge Place Pub will again have a hot dog cart in their parking lot.
Bite of Morgan
Last but not least is the Bite of Morgan sampling, which starts at participating venues at 11:30 and goes until supplies run out. Six of our fabulous food businesses will provide free small samples in exchange for tickets issued at the MoCA booth in the park. Participants this year are:
Caffé Ladro – Mini-scone and a cold beverage (don’t miss this, it’s worth the couple blocks’ walk south of park)
Peel and Press – Pizza rollup
Zeeks Pizza – Pizza slice
The Bridge – Chocolate-covered strawberry
Domino’s Pizza – Breadstick
Pet Elements – Dog treat
Previous previews:
*Kids’ activities
*Pet parade & contests
*Meet local authors
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
School’s out – and some are looking ahead to the next stage of their education, like the seven students to whom the Rotary Club of West Seattle awarded scholarships today – Student of the Month and Gambriell scholarships totaling $15,500. We stopped by the Rotary lunch meeting to photograph the students who were there to accept them – from left, Julia Nark (Career Link), Tin Vo (West Seattle High School), Caprice Villeza (West Seattle HS), Naeem Ghodsian (Career Link), and Joey Werlech (now a Central Washington University student); recipients not pictured are Brisa Mendez-Alvarez (Chief Sealth International High School) and Carolina Sayuri Sasai (Seattle Lutheran). The club explains, “The Students of the Month program honors outstanding students in West Seattle (area) high-school programs selected by their school counselors. Each year all Students of the Month are encouraged to apply for the available scholarships. Also every year, the club awards two or three Gambriell Scholarships based on financial need and academic merit to graduating West Seattle-area seniors who apply and might not otherwise be able to attend college.”
A Rotarian with extra reason to smile about all this is Len Burton-Hardin:
Starting next month, he’ll be in charge of the club’s vocational/educational outreach.
P.S. The next big West Seattle Rotary-sponsored event, the WS Grand Parade, is now just one month away – Saturday, July 18th!
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