West Seattle, Washington
14 Thursday
10:44 AM: Just went to Roxhill Park to check on the work to ready the “castle” play structure for the return of its turret – and discovered the turret had just been brought in and set in place! It was a handcrafted add-on to the community project but was removed in 2014 for fear the 2013-built “castle” couldn’t support it. After reinforcement work, it’s back, and a Seattle Parks manager at the site told us the play area could reopen later today.
3:22 PM: Just went back to check. It’s open!
(Photo by Danny McMillin, from the WSB Flickr group – click image for larger view)
Scanning the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today/tonight, we see:
DRINKING LIBERALLY: Want to talk Iowa caucuses? New Hampshire primary? Upcoming Washington caucuses? Or? First Tuesday of the month, 6 pm, is the regular night for this sip-and-talk group to meet at Pizzeria 22. (4213 SW College)
WESTWOOD-ROXHILL-ARBOR HEIGHTS COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 6:15 pm in the upstairs meeting room at Southwest Library, WWRHAH talks about the future, both of the Westwood/Highland Park Urban Village and potential White Center annexation. More in our preview. (35th SW/SW Henderson)
HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY KINDERGARTEN TOUR: Tonight between 6:30 and 8:30 pm, Highland Park Elementary principal Chris Cronas hosts tours for prospective kindergarten families. (1012 SW Trenton)
LINCOLN PARK NORTH PLAY AREA RENOVATION: 6:30 pm, be at Gatewood Elementary see the schematic designs and talk about what’s next for the project. (4320 SW Myrtle)
WEST SEATTLE BIKE CONNECTIONS: Topics for the monthly meeting at 6:30 pm at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) include the Delridge-Highland Park Neighborhood Greenway‘s status – find out more on the WSBC website. (41st SW/SW Alaska)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: All three local schools have home games tonight – Seattle Lutheran hosts Crosspoint, girls at 6 – with a special tribute to longtime coach Bruce Carlson expected around 7 pm – and boys at 7:30 pm (4100 SW Genesee); the West Seattle boys host Seattle Prep at 7:30 pm (3000 California SW); the Chief Sealth boys host O’Dea at 7:30 pm (2600 SW Thistle).
WEST SEATTLE CROCHET AND KNIT SOCIAL CIRCLE: This group asked to be added to our ongoing calendar to make sure you know about it, if you don’t already – all are welcome, 7-9 pm at Uptown Espresso in The Junction, whether you’re new or experienced enough to help others or somewhere inbetween. (California/Edmunds/Erskine)
OF COURSE THERE’S MORE … if you take a few minutes to browse the calendar.
First you have to get in … then you have to pay up. It’s the time of year when college plans are top of mind for many, whether you’re awaiting acceptance or finding financing. No matter where you – or your family member – will be going, South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) sends a reminder of an event tomorrow aimed at helping: “College Goal Washington,” 10 am-7 pm Wednesday, February 3rd, in rooms 217 and 219 at the SSC Library. Drop in for one-on-one help from SSC’s Financial Aid staff “to answer questions about scholarships, how to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), the WAFSA (Washington State Application for State Financial Aid) and more, in a one-on-one setting.” No charge, all welcome; more here. SSC is on Puget Ridge, at 6000 16th SW.
(Click any view for a close-up)
6:58 AM: Good morning – no incidents in/from West Seattle reported so far.
7:36 AM: If you take NB 509, note there’s a stalled semitruck blocking a lane at Cloverdale.
8:43 AM: That’s finally clear.
8:58 AM: The overnight work that’s scheduled to close SW Alaska at Fauntleroy again nightly in the 8 pm-6 am vicinity for a week or so has been delayed, we just found out; it was expected to start last night. We’ll update when we get word it’s going to begin.
Police have been searching in the California/Charlestown area after a reported armed robbery at an address that checks to the 7-11. According to scanner traffic, this is reported to have happened around 2:30 am. A K-9 unit was called to help search. The robber, last seen westbound on Charlestown, is reported to have had a dark bandana over his face, 5’8″, black jacket, blue jeans, sawed-off shotgun that may have been fired during the holdup. No injury reported.
Last night, we reported on vandalism in Gatewood, a car window apparently shot out by BBs. Since then, via comments and e-mail, we’ve heard of more window vandalism. For one, Aaron sent the photo at right, from the 4000 block of 21st SW on Pigeon Point:
He said, “Sometime between 8 and 10 (Sunday) three windows on the driver’s side of my truck (including canopy) were shot out by a BB gun. They also did quite a bit of body and paint damage to the side of the truck, I think they hit it about 15 times. Just wanted people to be on the lookout for idiots driving around with a BB gun wrecking other people’s stuff.”
Commenters reported incidents in areas including:
-7700 block 32nd SW
-Genesee (house window)
-4000 block 26th SW
-5600 block 26th SW
Via e-mail, Joellie reported that the rear glass was broken out of her purple PT Cruiser between 2 pm and 7 pm today in the 7300 block of 35th SW [map]. She says it’s the second time in a year it’s happened to her vehicle.
And just as we were finishing this, Sean left a comment on last night’s story, saying someone shot at their window in Seaview, 45th and Findlay, about two hours ago. If you see or hear anything potentially related, please call 911 right away – and get as good a description as you can.
(Click image for larger view)
That’s one rendering (by the architecture firm GGLO) from the new 42-page “packet” for this Thursday’s review of 4700 SW Admiral Way, the assisted-living center that Aegis Living plans to build where the old Life Care Center of West Seattle awaits teardown, three years after its closure, two years after Aegis bought the site.
The project is currently described as a 3-story, 80-unit complex with 36 offstreet vehicle-parking spaces and 20 bicycle spaces; 48 of the units are expected to offer assisted living, with the remaining 32 providing memory care. The packet notes, “The proposed project aims to use a stucco facade in keeping with the client’s vision of a Mediterranean oasis.” At 6:30 pm Thursday, the Southwest Design Review Board will take its second and possibly final look at the project, with the meeting including a public-comment period. The project’s first review was last July; here’s the official city report. This Thursday, it’s the only project the board will review, 6:30 pm upstairs at the Sisson Building (West Seattle Senior Center), California/Oregon.
(WSB photo from 2015 Neighbor Appreciation Day open house @ Station 37)
Announced today by the Seattle Fire Department – Station 37 in Sunrise Heights will have an open house again this year for Neighbor Appreciation Day. Set your calendar for 11 am-1 pm Saturday, February 13th. It’s the only West Seattle fire station participating this year. Station 37 is at 35th SW and SW Holden and is only five years old; it’s currently home to Engine 37 and Medic 32, the only SFD medic unit based in West Seattle fulltime.
(WSB photo, 35th SW between Graham and Morgan)
5:03 PM: Two traffic alerts as the heart of the evening commute approaches – one, a crash reported at 35th and Morgan; second (thanks to Roxy for the tip), police activity has closed 4th Avenue South by the I-90 ramp. More as we get it.
5:24 PM: The crash on 35th is blocking southbound lanes just south of Graham, which is where police are diverting traffic westbound on Graham – 36th SW, south of Graham, southbound, is jammed as a result. No serious injuries in the crash, SPD tells us. Meantime, the 4th Ave. S. situation continues – not a crash, but some kind of police activity – and is backing up alternate routes including 2nd, says SDOT.
5:47 PM: And here’s what SPD says the 4th Avenue S. situation is about:
Three teenaged suspects in custody near 4th Ave S in connection with 1/26 greenbelt homicides and shootings. More details to come.
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) February 2, 2016
SPD says they’re 13, 16, and 17 years old.
5:49 PM: And now there’s a crash at Highland Park Way and Holden. (added) Reported to be “3 or 4 vehicles.”
6:04 PM: Texter says the crash is stopping traffic headed uphill; SPD says Holden is subject to closure until it’s cleared.
6:22 PM: We are at the HP scene.
(photo added) 2 people have been taken to the hospital, police tell us. Uphill traffic has to go right onto westbound Holden.
6:48 PM: On our way back from HP Way, we doublechecked 35th/Graham; that scene is clear, and SDOT says two lanes have reopened on 4th Avenue S. at the earlier arrest scene. As for the current West Seattle incident – please let us know if you go through HP Way/Holden and it’s clear, as we won’t be able to get back there to check any time soon – thank you.
7:28 AM: Thanks to Sage K. for reporting in comments that HP Way is now clear too.
(UPDATED 8:01 PM with information about 2011 personal-expenses benefit)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The Puget Sound Susan G. Komen Foundation says it is confident that all the money raised for its breast-cancer-fighting efforts in the name of West Seattleite Tracy Dart and her local associates went to the foundation.
We inquired with Komen today after receiving numerous inquiries over the weekend about this report by the West Seattle Herald quoting an unidentified source as saying Dart may have fabricated some part or all of her reported three-time, seven-plus-year cancer fight.
Senior public-relations manager Christi Ball Loso told WSB via e-mail:
Komen was notified of the situation last week and has been in contact with Tracy’s family. We have not been contacted by law enforcement.
Our records show that Tracy personally raised $28,541 for Komen starting in 2006, and that her Seattle and California teams raised more than $414,000 since 2006. This money has been used as intended – for Komen’s research and community health programs. And, we can assure the community that Tracy did not receive any funds from Komen. The organizations that receive Komen funding go through significant vetting to assess their program impact.
The biggest question people asked us: Is the fabrication allegation true?
As we told those who contacted us in various messaging channels this weekend, that question so far has not been answered on the record by anyone. But today, the Komen Foundation discussed the fundraising questions on the record.
(WSB photo)
1:18 PM: Police are converging on Westwood to look for a black 4-door Mercedes sedan reported to possibly have an armed person inside making threats about shooting someone. There is no report of anyone having been hurt, or actual gunfire, so far, but if you are seeing an increased police presence in the area, that’s what it’s about. The car may have up to six people inside; the person with a gun was described as a black man in his late teens or early 20s, and was last reported to have been seen near 26th SW and SW Barton. We’ll update with anything more we find out about.
1:37 PM: We’ve talked to police at the scene. So far, their investigation indicates this started as a dispute in the McDonald’s parking lot, with the threat stemming over jealousy related to a romantic relationship. They’re still looking for the car and suspect(s).
If you need a haircut soon – heads up:
Next week brings the 23rd annual “Have a Heart Day” at Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor) – Saturday, February 13th.
This is the annual day when Illusions opens for haircuts – at reduced prices for women’s and men’s cuts (teens/kids at full price) – with every cent of the proceeds benefiting local nonprofits.
Proprietor Sue Lindblom (left) says this year’s edition will help the West Seattle Helpline – which provides emergency assistance to people in need – and Pencil Me In For Kids, which provides school supplies to local public-elementary-school students in need.
“Everyone donates their time,” Sue explained when we sat down for a quick chat in Illusions’ lobby at 5619 California SW. She had already been in business for 16 years when she came up with the idea in 1994. “We thought, gosh, we wanted to give something back to the community, so we’ve been doing this (and other community-benefit campaigns) ever since, because that’s what makes you part of the community.”
Sue is part of the West Seattle community through and through – even “born in The Junction,” half a mile from her salon, she points out.
“Have a Heart Day” isn’t just a chance to do a good deed while getting a good haircut. It’s also something of a party. “We’ll have some treats for the customers who come in, and it’s just kind of fun – several of us will be hanging around.” You’ll get a chance to learn about the beneficiary nonprofits, too, and “you just walk away with a real good feeling,” as Sue puts it. It’s fun for them too – “we meet a lot of nice people we’ve never met before.”
But they have a limited number of appointments that day, so call Illusions ASAP – 206-938-3675 – if you want to “Have a Heart” on this special day.
Next school year is seven months away but decision time is now, and more school tours are ahead this week, including:
TUESDAY – HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY KINDERGARTEN TOUR: Tomorrow night, Highland Park Elementary principal Chris Cronas hosts tours for prospective kindergarten families. (1012 SW Trenton)
WEDNESDAY – ARBOR HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY TOUR: 9 am, with principal Christy Collins. Please RSVP – our calendar listing explains how. While AHES moves into a new building on its permanent location this fall, the tour will be at its current location at the Boren Building. (5950 Delridge Way SW)
WEDNESDAY – WEST SEATTLE ELEMENTARY TOUR: 9 am – please RSVP – the school website explains how. (6760 34th SW)
WEDNESDAY – SANISLO TOURS: 10 am and 6 pm tours of Sanislo Elementary with principal Bruce Rhodes. (1812 SW Myrtle)
THURSDAY – MADISON TOUR FOR STUDENTS/PARENTS: 8:30-10 am, prospective students and families are welcome to tour Madison Middle School, no RSVP required. (45th SW/SW Spokane)
THURSDAY – LAFAYETTE KINDERGARTEN TOUR: 1:15 pm, for prospective Lafayette Elementary parents. (California SW/SW Lander)
THURSDAY – DENNY OPEN HOUSE: 6:30 pm, prospective families are welcome to come find out more about Denny International Middle School. (2601 SW Kenyon)
Find more tours/open houses on our calendar – and if yours isn’t there, please send info ASAP (editor@westseattleblog.com) so we can add it – thank you!
(Great Blue Heron, photographed by Mark Wangerin – click image for larger view)
Happy February! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today/tonight:
FAMILY STORY TIME: 6:30 pm, bring the kids to High Point Library for a fun way to wrap up the day. (35th SW/SW Raymond)
WEST SEATTLE HI-YU: Get involved with the volunteers behind the city’s last traveling community parade float and other events – come to this month’s West Seattle Hi-Yu meeting, 7 pm at Admiral Congregational Church. Also note applications are being accepted now for the Youth Ambassador program and Senior Court! (California SW/SW Hill)
TRIVIA NIGHT: 7:15 pm on Mondays is trivia night, with prizes, at Christo’s on Alki, hosted by Emerson. (2508 Alki SW)
ALL-AGES QUIZ NIGHT: Monday nights at The Skylark, it’s all-ages quiz night, free, with cash prizes. 7:30 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
PUB QUIZ NIGHT: Monday is also quiz night at Shadowland, starting at 8 pm. (California SW/SW Oregon)
LOOK INTO THE FUTURE … via our complete calendar, with events listed days, weeks, even months ahead. Something to list? Please e-mail the info – editor@westseattleblog.com – the earlier the better so we have time to get it into the calendar, and it has time to be seen – thank you!
(Click any view for a close-up)
6:25 AM: Welcome to February! We start with a road-work note looking ahead to tonight:
NIGHTTIME CLOSURE IN THE JUNCTION: If you’re driving in The Junction tonight or any night this week, approximately 8 pm to 6 am, be aware that road work related to the new crossing coming in with The Whittaker will close a block of SW Alaska west of Fauntleroy Way, same thing that happened multiple nights last month.
8:01 AM: WSDOT says a shortlived stall that was backing things up on the ramp to NB I-5 has cleared.
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