West Seattle, Washington
03 Thursday
(WSB photos)
When two rounds of voting were over at tonight’s West Seattle Hi-Yu meeting – two proposed designs for this year’s parade float were tied. In a subsequent vote, it was decided that the two designs – both with marine elements – will be combined, with the wording of the official theme/slogan to be worked out later.
The two winning themes were proposed by the two current Hi-Yu queens – Senior Court Queen Lorelei McFadden sketched out a float celebrating local nature and sustainability – even featuring one of Puget Sound’s iconic orcas:
Toward the point of “sustainability,” she pitched the fact that the theme could reuse much of the basic decor from last year’s float. In the spirit of a “Save Our Sound” type of theme, it will be incorporated with elements of Junior Court Queen Emily Cain‘s design, which was anchored by a ferryboat:
Other designs proposed tonight by royalty past and present included a day at Alki Beach, a night at the movies, tropical rainforests, Seattle landmarks including Pike Place Market and the International District, and flowers.
Turning the design into reality is an all-volunteer effort that happens between now and late spring, when the float hits the road for a tour of parades starting in Sequim. Hi-Yu’s new president Jay Murray suggested tonight that Hi-Yu might even be able to make it into the Daffodil Parade in Pierce County this year – an event that moves between four communities over the course of one day in April – by bringing back the 2014 design (an Alice in Wonderland Tea Party theme that also highlighted Hi-Yu’s 80th anniversary).
The float is seen here in its home neighborhood every year during the Rotary Club of West Seattle-sponsored Grand Parade, which is on the Hi-Yu master 2015 schedule – reviewed tonight – for July 18th (though the date isn’t final until parade organizers officially announce it later in the year).
Hi-Yu is also hoping this year to bring back what used to be a summertime tradition, the All-West Seattle Picnic in Lincoln Park. That would likely be in August, sometime after the Hi-Yu float’s biggest appearance of the summer, the Seafair Torchlight Parade (July 25th this year, according to the Hi-Yu schedule grid).
More than 20 people attended tonight’s meeting, from current and past organization leaders to new members, and Hi-Yu is hopeful of more volunteer help. They’re also hoping to raise money via sponsorships from local service clubs who would be showcased on a covered-trailer for the float, which itself needs replacement, as a much-repaired ’60s-era vehicle that is said to go through “a gallon of transmission fluid” per parade. And they’ll soon finalize a full slate of new officers; longtime photographer Joanne Murray has been filling in with extra duties in the meantime. She also spoke tonight about Hi-Yu’s plan for more community outreach, participating in events beyond the ones traditionally on their schedule; last month, for example, Hi-Yu joined in a West Seattle Art Walk event, and hopes to do so again as soon as next month.
Keep an eye on the website at westseattlehiyu.com for events and ways to join in, including the monthly meetings – next one 7 pm February 2nd at the regular meeting location, Admiral Congregational Church (4320 SW Hill).
Another expansion for West Seattle-headquartered Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate (WSB sponsor): CEO Mike Gain will formally announce tomorrow that BHHSNW is expanding into Pierce County by acquiring Puyallup-based Prudential Contact Corporation, REALTORS. It’s a full-service brokerage founded in 1982. The acquisition means BHHSNW now has eight offices in the region, and is looking to expand further. Its West Seattle HQ is in the office building on the north side of Jefferson Square.
Thanks to everyone who messaged us about a sizable police response this past hour near 39th and Morgan. Police had a report of what they described as a troubled person with a knife inside a house, and someone was concerned enough to call 911. In the end, police say the situation was defused and the person was taken into custody without anyone having been hurt.
The agenda’s out for the year’s first meeting of the Southwest District Council, and the headline guest is Bernie Matsuno, who is about to start her fifth year as director of the Department of Neighborhoods. SWDC members, who are from community councils and other key organizations around western West Seattle, might well have some pointed questions, given, for one, the recently scrapped recommendations to change how some city matching funds are handled. All are welcome at the meeting, 6:30 pm Wednesday (January 7th) at the Senior Center of West Seattle (Oregon/California). It will also be the first meeting for new co-chairs David Whiting (Admiral Neighborhood Association) and Eric Iwamoto (Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council).
Less than 24 hours after our last development roundup, we have more to tell you about. First, another example of the premise for our headline on Sunday’s story: Thanks to Jonathan French for the photo of today’s teardown, the 72-year-old multiplexes on the northwest corner of California/Andover. We’ve written about them before, most recently last July, when the demolition-permit application turned up; the city’s online files indicate they are to be replaced with a 4-unit rowhouse, 2-unit townhouse, and 3 single-family homes.
ALSO ON CALIFORNIA SW: As formally announced in today’s city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin, “streamlined design review” is ahead for two smaller-scale projects to replace 60+-year-old commercial buildings on the west side of the “upzoned” block of California SW between Hanford and Hinds. This means public comment is allowed but there won’t be public meetings. The first notice is for a “4-story building with 2 live/work units and 4 residential units [2, 2-unit townhouses] with 4 parking spaces” at 3219 California SW; the second notice, for 3221 California SW next door, is for “2, 4-story buildings, 1 containing 2 live/work units and 2 residential townhouse units and the other structure containing 4 residential townhouse units. Parking for 4 vehicles to be provided at grade.” Deadline for comments on either or both: January 18th.
LOT-SPLIT PROPOSED IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: This also is from the LUIB – 10030 31st SW is proposed to be split into two lots, with the city notation that the existing house will remain.
HOUSE PLANNED BY THISTLE STAIRWAY: A sloping lot on the south side of the top of the fabled SW Thistle stairway – second-longest in the city – has a new development proposal for a single-family house.
The plan for 4355 SW Thistle just emerged in the city system over the past week, with site photos added today. Those who exercise on the stairway might find it a busy spot at some point this year, since, as reported here back in October, there’s also a proposal right across the street to tear down one house and build two at 4316 SW Thistle, both with “accessory dwelling units.”
City files show the lot split enabling that proposal was approved a month ago. (Thistle photos added 4 pm)
NEXT PHASE FOR THE WHITTAKER: A quick note on West Seattle’s biggest development project – a spokesperson for The Whittaker says “mass excavation and drilling for the shoring piles will begin” at the 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW site this week.
2015 is here, and its elections (August 4th primary/November 3rd general) will bring Seattle voters’ first chance to choose 7 of 9 City Councilmembers by district. The field of candidates for District 1 (West Seattle/South Park) has remained at four for some weeks now – in reverse-alphabetical order this time, they are:
*Chas Redmond
*Tom Rasmussen
*Amanda Kay Helmick
*George Capestany
Today, we’re exactly one month away from what will likely be your first chance to see and hear from all four in one place. As announced last month, WSB is presenting the campaign season’s first announced District 1 Candidates Forum, on Thursday, February 5th (6:30 pm mingle/7 pm forum), at Highland Park Improvement Club. We hope you’ll be there, and we’re hoping you’ll participate in the preparation too. For starters: Which issue(s) do you think matter most in this race? Comment here when you have a moment, or e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
(WSB file photo: Portable bound for West Seattle Elementary in 2012)
The Seattle Public Schools board is set to consider the next round of “capacity management” measures at its meeting this Wednesday, and that includes more portable classrooms at crowded schools, including three schools in West Seattle. According to this attachment from the board-meeting agenda, Pathfinder K-8 on Pigeon Point is slated to get a new portable this month. West Seattle Elementary in High Point will get two portables this summer, which is also the time frame for adding three more to Schmitz Park Elementary, where portables already number in the double digits. Other local capacity-management plans mentioned in the document include dividing a room at Alki Elementary.
(Peregrine falcon, photographed by Gary Jones)
Highlights for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
OUT WITH THE TREE: Through next Sunday (January 11th), Christmas-tree recycling (composting) is still free – here are the city rules.
STATION 32 ON COUNCIL AGENDA: This afternoon’s 2 pm City Council meeting includes a final vote on approvals/exceptions required before the new Station 32 can be built (at the site of the current one) in The Junction. Here’s the agenda. (City Hall downtown)
MARTY McLAREN’S COMMUNITY CONVERSATION: School’s back in session and it’s also your first chance in 2015 to talk with and hear from the West Seattle/South Park rep on the Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors, Marty McLaren. 6 pm, Delridge Library – more in our calendar listing. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
FAMILY STORY TIME: 6:30 pm at High Point Branch Library – get there early! (35th/Raymond)
WEST SEATTLE HI-YU: 7 pm tonight at Admiral Congregational Church, you can help the all-volunteer West Seattle Hi-Yu organization get on the road to summer fun, choosing this year’s theme and more – as noted in our preview. (4320 SW Hill)
MONDAY NIGHTLIFE: Exercise your mind (trivia/quiz) and/or your voice (karaoke!) – see where and when in our regular listings.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:16 AM: If you’re just getting going after holiday travel and/or vacationing, welcome back! The transit services are back to normal today; schools are back in session; and the wet, wintry weather is likely to be with us all day.
P.S. to early drivers/riders: Yes, those bridge lights are still out, but Seattle City Light hopes to fix them this week.
7:46 AM: Per the 911 log, there’s a crash at 17th/Roxbury. Not a major callout so far, but if you are heading that way, be aware.
7:51 AM: Two more problems – the Battery Street Tunnel is closed northbound (thanks for the text!) and there’s a crash on West Marginal Way SW near the bridge that’s blocking part of the road.
8:04 AM: SDOT says one lane of the BSTunnel has reopened but backups remain.
8:40 AM: Tow truck reported on scene in the northbound tunnel as of a few minutes ago, so if it’s not fully open yet, it should be shortly. (Confirmed two minutes later: Open.)
10:45 AM: As pointed out in comments (thank you!), there’s a crash at the east end of Roxbury (3rd/Olsen). Also, new trouble on northbound 99 at Western/Battery St. Tunnel.
Crazy backup on Hwy 99 North through Downtown Seattle @westseattleblog @seattledot http://t.co/YeVpKZAdAd
— Clayton P. Graham (@SeaDirtLawyer) January 5, 2015
12:40 PM: All the earlier problems are “closed” on the 911 log now – keep us posted if you see anything new. Meantime, we’ve added (above this update) a view of 99, and beyond, during the most recent BSTunnel problem.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Arbor Heights already has two school-construction projects under way – and might soon have a third.
Reviewing city permit application files today, we discovered a just-filed early-stage proposal to remodel and add to what is currently the Jesus Center/Freedom Church building at 35th/Roxbury, in the name of Los Angeles-based Pacific Charter School Development.
The one document publicly visible in the Department of Planning and Development system so far, dated December 31st, is a roughed-out site plan, showing the addition primarily along the Roxbury side of the 2 1/3-acre site.
In addition to the land-use permit filing, we’ve also found a one-month-old LLC filing listing the site’s official address – 9601 35th SW – and listing PCSD’s Washington branch, Washington Charter School Development, as the sole member. The company’s website says it works with charter-school management organizations, so it may not necessarily be the potential operator.
We can’t find any record of a past application for a charter school at this site, or anywhere else in West Seattle, but the next application period is just a month away, opening in mid-February, according to the Washington Charter School Commission website. Of the 10 charter schools approved since a statewide vote legalized them two years ago, the list includes approval for a charter-management organization called Green Dot to open one at an undetermined “South Seattle” site in fall 2016 (added: Green Dot had an informational event in West Seattle last summer). And a charter middle school called Rainier Prep, says it is planning to open in the Highline area this fall, but has no location finalized yet, according to its online FAQ.
Freedom Church bought the site, a former supermarket, for $2.8 million in 2008, according to county records. The 2 1/3-acre site is zoned NC3-40, meaning it could be developed up to four stories, though this proposal mentions only the two-story addition, and renovation of the one-story existing building.
We’ll be following up on this tomorrow, seeking answers to a variety of questions.
SIDE NOTE: The site has four current/future schools within less than a mile – Roxhill Elementary at 30th/Roxbury, the Arbor Heights Elementary rebuild on 104th west of 35th (opening fall 2016), the starting-this-fall campus of Westside School (WSB sponsor) at 37th/104th, and Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) on 28th south of Roxbury.
With demolition expected soon at already-approved project sites such as the block-long 3210 California SW and numerous smaller projects, this is likely to be the Year of the Busy Backhoes in West Seattle development, more than another Year of the Crane. Here are recent filings we found in the city permit system:
MORGAN JUNCTION TEARDOWN: 6715 California SW (photo above; map), 97-year-old house. To be demolished and replaced by three single-family houses.
ALKI TEARDOWN: 3054 Alki SW (map), 94-year-old house. To be demolished and replaced by duplex and single-family house.
CHARLESTOWN COURT TEARDOWN: After two rejected landmark nominations, it looks like Charlestown Court, the brick fourplex at 3811 California SW (map), is coming down this time at age 88. To be demolished and replaced by four 2-unit townhouses.
NOT FAR SOUTH OF THERE, ANOTHER CALIFORNIA SW TEARDOWN: 4031 California SW (map), 97-year-old house. One 4-unit rowhouse, one 2-unit townhouse, and one single-family house are planned to replace it after demolition, per the city files, following a lot-boundary adjustment.
BEACH DRIVE TEARDOWN: 6021 Beach Drive SW (map), 89-year-old house. To be demolished and replaced with new single-family house, following recent lot-boundary adjustment that turned three parcels into two.
FAUNTLEROY WAY TEARDOWN: 5008 Fauntleroy Way SW (map), 73-year-old house. We’ve written about this before – but the demolition permit hadn’t been formally applied for at the time. To be demolished and replaced with what’s described as a rowhouse proposal, though only two units are mentioned; this one also follows a lot-boundary adjustment.
NORTH DELRIDGE TEARDOWN: 2838 SW Genesee (map), 35-year-old duplex. To be demolished and replaced by three new houses.
HIGHLAND PARK TEARDOWN: 7621 8th SW (map), 96-year-old house. To be demolished and replaced by a new house.
SIDE NOTE: One teardown of note just outside West Seattle – the eight-years-vacant ex-Wendy’s/ex-Ezell’s/ex-El Chalan on 16th SW south of the White Center business district was demolished on Friday; a 42-unit apartment building is planned for the site.
(WSB photo: Some of the many SFD units that staged on SW Webster alongside the precinct)
3:19 PM: If you’ve seen the fire units rushing by – it’s a hazardous-materials (hazmat) response to 2300 SW Webster, which happens to be the Seattle Police Southwest Precinct. Updates to come.
3:29 PM: From our crew at the scene as well as scanner traffic: This will all be clearing soon – no hazmat, nobody sick/injured. Someone dropped off an unknown substance at the precinct; turned out, apparently, to be a solvent and/or paint thinner (or something similar), according to early assessment.
P.S. We don’t know the exact circumstances of how/why the substance was brought to the precinct, but if you have “household hazardous waste,” here’s info on how to dispose of it safely.
A truck just stolen in Gatewood tops this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup:
STOLEN TRUCK: Within the past hour or so, a black 2001 Ford Ranger, single cab, Washington plate B74060R, was taken from 37th/Thistle (map) in Gatewood. Its owner says police have already been there to take a report. If you see it, call 911 ASAP.
STOLEN/FOUND CAR: That wasn’t the only daytime car theft this weekend – Rob e-mailed us Saturday mid-afternoon about a blue 1993 Honda Civic taken from in front of his house in the 3300 block of SW 100th (map) in Arbor Heights, and just 20 minutes after his note, before we could even publish an item about it, he e-mailed again to say it had been found (he didn’t say where) and that they were off to retrieve it.
CAR CASING: Around 10:45 am Friday morning, a neighbor on 44th SW between Dakota and Andover (map) saw “three young teenage boys walking down 44th Avenue SW between Dakota and Andover checking all the car/vehicles’ doors. I opened my front door and hollered, ‘I’ve taken your picture,’ and they ran north on 44th.”
(WSB photo, July 2013: Hi-Yu float work behind the scenes – it’s not just about parade waves!)
The arrival of January puts us midway between the last round of summer fun and the next one. Festivals, parades, concerts … none of it happens without a lot of planning and preparation, most if not all thanks to volunteers who are busy all year long. If you haven’t jumped in to help yet – maybe this is your year. One of the first opportunities comes tomorrow night, as all-volunteer West Seattle Hi-Yu meets for the first time in 2015, with a big agenda item: Choosing this year’s theme, the one you’ll see on the parade float and benefit buttons. All are welcome, 7 pm at Admiral Congregational Church (4320 SW Hill, just west of California SW), and the announcement from new Hi-Yu president Jay Murray notes, “The new officers are excited with the possibilities of having wonderful events throughout the year for the community. Your participation will help to make it possible.”
Two other/additional ways to get involved as the new year begins:
MEMBERSHIP: Support Hi-Yu by becoming a member, $20/year. (You can even pay online.) Money raised by the nonprofit organization not only supports the events it presents, but also scholarships for the Junior Court (just chosen!) and Senior Court (see below) who serve as its youth ambassadors each year.
SENIOR COURT APPLICATIONS: Students ages 17-22 will be able to apply soon, as applications will be made available for starters via local high schools and South Seattle College (WSB sponsor).
(WSB photo from 2014 West Seattle Grand Parade)
And a P.S. about the float, from Hi-Yu: “The budget for this upcoming year includes a covered trailer for the float. It will be possible to purchase one with the help of the West Seattle Service Clubs as sponsors with their logo printed on the sides of the trailer. This will allow our Hi-Yu float to be able to travel to parades more safely and with less set-up and take-down work for the parades, and advertise the service clubs.” Thanks to Hi-Yu, West Seattle is the last city neighborhood with its own float. Last year (above), the theme honored Hi-Yu’s 80th anniversary; in 2013 (top photo), it was “Alki Deep”; in 2012, “Secret Garden“; in 2011, “Sparkling Seattle“; in 2010, “Dreams Do Come True.” This year? Be there tomorrow night!
Though right now it just looks like nothing-out-of-the-ordinary rain, the National Weather Service has a “special weather statement” in effect for our area and much of the region, warning that this could bring two to four inches of rain to the lowlands today and tomorrow. Despite the recent dry spell, the NWS warns, “the predicted rainfall by itself will be enough to raise the landslide risk to ‘moderate’.”
P.S. Think you’re totally slide-savvy? Check this city info-sheet, which includes maps of the 8.4 percent of Seattle that is slide-prone, as well as factoids (January is the month with the highest slide risk). The image at left is taken from that map – the dots show the locations of past slides, while the salmon-shaded areas show what are considered to be “potential slide areas.”
(Delridge Skatepark after the rain, December photo by Laura Goodrich, shared via WSB Flickr group)
Good morning! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY SOCCER: Rain, shine, frost, fog, whatever the conditions, this pickup game hits the field, 7:30 am at Delridge Playfield. Check the FB page for updates. (Delridge/Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: First Sunday of the year, last Sunday of the year, and all the Sundays inbetween, you’ll find the market open 10 am-2 pm. WSFM says today’s new items will include another egg vendor, spot prawns, and sauerkraut. (44th/Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE ULTIMATE FAMILY FRISBEE: 11 am is the scheduled weekly game at Walt Hundley Playfield – check here in case of changes. (34th/Myrtle)
SEATTLE GREEN SPACES COALITION: 3 pm at High Point Branch Library, you’re invited to find out what’s going on – maybe even help, if you are so moved – with the grassroots campaign to preserve greenspaces around the city, particularly surplus substations. Details in our preview. (35th/Raymond)
WEST SEATTLE YULETIDE FINALE: Tonight is the last scheduled night for the synched-to-music West Seattle Yuletide holiday-lights show, ~5-10 pm. (38th SW between Genesee and Dakota)
NIGHTLIFE: Trivia, live music, karaoke – see who and where, here.
fWe’ve been asked about King County Sheriff’s Office sightings at the Fauntleroy ferry dock tonight – not unusual for KCSO personnel to take the ferry, since theirs is the law-enforcement agency for Vashon Island, but the numbers are out of the ordinary. It’s related to a search that is still under way on the island, seeking a driver who rammed the patrol car of a deputy who subsequently opened fire, according to tweets from KCSO spokesperson Sgt. DB Gates.
RE:Vashon incident.Call 911 if you see a 1976 red Ford pickup (no tailgate). Has no rear plate. Possible rear end damage. Don't approach it.
— KingcosoPIO (@kingcosoPIO) January 4, 2015
No injuries known/reported at this point, and there’s no indication the suspect has left the island, but the search, which has included the Guardian One helicopter, continues.
8:55 AM UPDATE: Thanks to Michael and Maggie for noting in comments that KCSO reports the suspect is in custody. (added) Here’s the news release from Sgt. Gates:
Just before 6 PM on Saturday January 3rd, deputies responded to a residence for a domestic violence call between a mother and her adult son. Shortly after this first call we received several more from other citizens reporting different incidents with the same male as from the domestic violence case. These calls included a road rage incident, threats, and a vandalism.
At 6:45 PM a deputy located the suspect in the above incidents driving his pickup and there was a short pursuit . The suspect refused to stop and instead rammed the patrol car several times. In the 9800 block of SW Windmill Road the deputy fired several shots, but the suspect was not hit. The patrol car was disabled from the ramming and the suspect fled in his pickup.
Resident deputies that live on the island were called out to assist in the search for the suspect and patrol resources from the Burien and White Center areas also were sent to the island.
This morning around 4:30 the suspect was located by patrol deputies in the 24600 block of Dockton Road SW where he had broken into an unoccupied house. He attempted to run on foot, a Taser was deployed, and he was taken into custody.
There were no injuries to anyone and detectives are investigating the deputy-involved shooting as well as the other crimes committed by the suspect. The deputy who fired the shots has been placed on administrative leave per our policy.
The suspect will be booked into King County Jail for investigation of felony assault, attempting to elude, and burglary.
(WSB photo of Dakota substation site last month, as cleanup was beginning)
West Seattle’s first community-group meeting of 2015 is tomorrow, as the Seattle Green Spaces Coalition continues strategizing how to preserve some if not all of the greenspaces currently known as surplus substations. All are welcome at 3 pm Sunday at High Point Branch Library (35th/Raymond). The coalition started out focusing on the surplus substations in West Seattle, whose future has been on the line for more than a year now, and then expanded to a citywide focus, with a lengthening list of sites of concern so far, including at least 10 ex-substations from Ballard to Delridge. As a result of their efforts, the city is studying the possibility of an “Open Space Opportunity Fund,” but that might not come soon enough; the announcement of tomorrow’s meeting says, “We have a short window for action and really need your help!”
(Photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
5:50 PM: Scores are in from two home basketball games for Seattle Lutheran High School this afternoon – both teams played Shoreline Christian, with the boys winning 73-24, the girls losing, 57-42.
We tweeted from both games via @wsblive.
ADDED 11:34 PM: Photos, and toplines: In the boys’ game, the Saints outlasted Shoreline thanks to a deeper bench and numerous 3-pointers, mostly by freshman Josh Meyer (top photo) and junior Xavier Turner (#11, below), who was the night’s top scorer with 31 points.
In the girls’ game, Shoreline had advantages in both speed and height. The Saints were led by junior Abbi Sanders (below) with 24 points, including four 3-pointers.
Next up for SeaLu, according to the school calendar – both teams have games at Christian Faith School in Federal Way next Tuesday night (January 6).
Family and friends are paying tribute to Judy Lyn Sweetland, who died on New Year’s Eve at age 75. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with the community:
Judy Lyn (Crosslin) Sweetland
Judy Lyn Sweetland passed away on December 31, 2014 after a long battle with an autoimmune disease.
Judy was born in Yuma, Arizona, on September 16, 1939 to Marvin Thomas Crosslin and Theopa LeVal Piester. She spent her childhood in Yuma, Arizona; Brownfield & Fort Worth, Texas; and Yakima, Washington. In 1960, she graduated from St. Elizabeth School of Nursing as a registered nurse; got married; and moved to Seattle. After raising her children, she moved back to Arizona, longing to have more sunshine in her life (1987). Finally, she would return to Seattle to be closer to family (1995).
Her years in Arizona brought great personal growth. She lived in Wickenburg, Arizona, and worked at The Meadows, a residential treatment center for addictions; and at Rancho del los Caballeros, a guest ranch. While working at The Meadows, she wrote a self-help book for depression, The Sun Always Rises. It was written in response to patients’ requests for something in writing to support what they were learning during their recovery. While in Arizona, she learned the Krieger-Kunz model of Therapeutic Touch. Therapeutic Touch would then become her focus for the remainder of her life. She would treat, teach, and lead workshops, and lead meditations on spirituality and the energy connections to all that is around us.
Friends and family would describe Judy as: reflective, spiritual, loving, kind, caretaker, loyal friend, independent, connected, followed her calling as both a nurse and healer. She drew her energy from nature and loved to hike. Friends, family, and personal connections were extremely important to her.
Early in her nursing career, she was given the assignment to sit with a dying patient and his wife through the night. It was a very long night. She rotated holding each of their hands, while pondering how this was nursing. In the morning, the wife told her, “Thank you for sitting with me.” At that moment, she understood the power of providing compassionate support. She would then do that the rest of her life.
Judy was one of five siblings. She is survived by her brother Ken Crosslin (his two children Don and Thomas) and wife Dorothy; sister Carole Wimer (her husband Vern and their children Trever, Tracy, and Trisha); her two children Carl and John; Carl’s wife Debbie; and two grandchildren, Daphne and Sam. Both sons reside in West Seattle.
Private service will be held. Memorial donations to Indralaya (Eastsound, WA) in her remembrance are welcomed.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
The banner at 7551 35th SW announces the new name of what had been Mars Hill Church-West Seattle since fall 2006 – Trinity West Seattle, officially launching with services tomorrow morning. It’s been just two months since Mars Hill announced it would disband, leaving its churches to close or go independent. It appears they’re making the transition with familiar faces/voices, including Pastors David Fairchild and Cliff Ellis, who are on the new website’s list of “elders and staff” (the former preached last Sunday, the church’s last as MH-WS). Pastor Ellis was among the signatories on this August letter calling for MH’s controversial founder Pastor Mark Driscoll to permanently step down, which he did in October, not long before the entire church announced it would disband. The new Trinity West Seattle website says the church will launch with a seven-week series of sermons under the title, “Long Story Short: Finding Ourselves in the Biblical Drama,” described in part as “a particularly good series for both seekers and skeptics while shaping and forming our church to embody the biblical story.”
Sure, you have multiple ways to recycle your Christmas tree. But the Rainbow Girls‘ annual benefit has a few one-of-a-kind aspects, including: Nonprofit fundraiser; only place in West Seattle to drop off your tree (if you don’t want it sitting out on the curb until your next pickup day); no need to cut the tree into pieces (but no flocking or tinsel, please). Just take your tree to the Alki Masonic Center parking lot in The Junction (40th/Edmunds, newly repaved and regraded) until 3 pm today; they’re accepting cash donations for the service. They’re also selling handmade Seahawks-theme scarves, we noted while there to photograph (above, L-R) Destiney, Darian, and Zoë.
Update from Puget Sound Clean Air Agency:
Effective immediately, all burn bans are being lifted in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, as well as Darrington. With the help of rain and wind, air pollution levels everywhere dropped to GOOD or lower Moderate last night.
While agency forecasters do expect only light winds during the day today and into tonight, an approaching weather system should increase winds and rain late tonight and into Sunday. This will again help disperse our air pollution and keep levels low for the next 2-3 days.
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency would like to thank everyone who switched to alternative sources of heat instead of burning wood during these bans. Children, the elderly, and people with chronic respiratory health problems especially appreciate your efforts.
The now-over burn ban had been in effect for two days.
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