West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Story and photos by Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
It’s an almost-sacred trust: You turn or pull a handle to open a faucet in your home, and you expect clear, clean water to flow.
Unlike many areas of the world – as is being amply pointed out today, World Water Day – if you have lived here all or most of your life, it’s something you might not think twice about.
That’s why, for those who experienced “brown water” in recent months – as reported here repeatedly, starting when Myrtle Reservoir was offline for work but continuing intermittently even after it went back online – it was so startling, even when reassured that the water’s safe to use. Compounding the concerns is news from elsewhere, particularly the crisis in Flint, Michigan.
So that led some readers to ask, who’s routinely watching the water here, and how?
In response to that question, Seattle Public Utilities offered us a visit to its Water Quality Laboratory in SODO.
There, not only does SPU monitor and test samples from around its service area (the entire city and a few areas beyond) through a variety of lab procedures, it also convenes a twice-monthly gathering of taste testers. (To be precise – they test flavor, not taste. More on that shortly.)
(WSB photo)
By Randall Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The notice for a liquor-license application in the front window of the Admiral District’s Mawadda Café has caught the attention recently of visitors seeking a taste of the Mediterranean eatery’s notoriously delicious falafel.
Cafe owner Rami Al-Jabori confirms to WSB that he has interest from a new ownership entity behind listed applicant “Irashai” (the Japanese word for “welcome”), but says he’s still talking to multiple potential buyers of his current space at 2352 California Avenue SW and has yet to commit to a sale.
“We’re still negotiating,” Al-Jebori told WSB. “The deal is not closed.”
Even so, Al-Jebori says he is seeking to shutter his West Seattle location after failing to find a consistent audience over the last four-plus years.
“We thought it was a big opportunity four years ago, but we’ve not been able to break even,” says Al-Jebori, who acknowledges he is actively looking to sell in order to close the West Seattle location while continuing to operate successful eateries in the Rainier Valley and Burien under the “Mawadda” name, which means “beloved” in Urdu.
For now, Al-Jebori says the Admiral location will continue to operate at its normal hours.
Bellevue business advisers SHK Group, who own the phone number listed on Irashai’s liquor license application, were unable to comment on their client’s plans. Efforts to contact the client have been fruitless so far.
(Juvenile bald eagle drying out at Alki Point, photographed by Gary Jones)
First – thanks for all the great photos! We’re featuring four here this morning (one of them ours), interspersed with today/tonight’s list, and more are in queue. On to the calendar highlights:
BABY STORY TIME: 10:30 am at Southwest Library – bring your baby, up to one year old, for a fun, free half-hour. (35th SW/SW Henderson)
(Lincoln Park, photographed last week by 14-year-old Conor)
COUNCILMEMBER, SPD AT BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS’ NETWORK: All welcome to hear from, and bring questions/concerns to, City Councilmember Lisa Herbold and Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis at tonight’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting – you don’t even have to be in a Block Watch. 6:30 pm at the precinct meeting room, right off the parking lot. (2300 SW Webster)
(Along Alki Avenue on Monday afternoon: WSB photo)
TUESDAY TUNE-UP FOR FULL LIFE CARE: Music, awareness, fun, and fundraising at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) 6:30-8:30 pm tonight, as the Tuesday Tune-Up with pianist Victor Janusz and friends benefits Full Life Care – explained here. No cover, but donations gratefully accepted. (1936 Harbor SW)
CROCHET, KNIT, SOCIALIZE … with the circle that meets 7-9 pm Tuesdays at Uptown Espresso in The Junction. All skill levels welcome. (California/Edmunds/Erskine)
BILLY JOE & THE RC’S: Rocking the Parliament Tavern, 7-9 pm, no cover. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
(Monday’s peek sunset, photographed by James Bratsanos)
HEY! THAT’S NOT EVERYTHING! The one place to find all our listings – for today/tonight/beyond – is the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar.
Two sightings your West Seattle neighbors wanted to share:
NEAR MORGAN JUNCTION: Brandon just e-mailed this:
Just wanted to report that I ran into a coyote this morning while walking the dogs, in case it is news. It came out of the alley between Mills and Willow, headed across Fauntleroy and headed down Willow [map] toward Pelly Place. It was around 7:30 this morning. My wife thought that cat owners would like to know.
MID-DELRIDGE: Sunday night, a texter reported a “coyote sighting at 24th and Myrtle [map] – our first sighting in 2 years living here.”
Just because you haven’t seen one doesn’t mean they’re not around – scroll through our archives for years of sightings (many with photos). We share them to be sure everyone’s aware they share our city (among others). Most important thing you can do if you see one is to scare it away – coexistence requires a healthy distance – lots more info on that can be found in this state-produced one-sheet.
(ADDED: WSB photos)
6:23 AM: A Seattle Fire response is arriving at 9421 18th SW, describing a small fire in a rug on a cabinet at this former church site which now houses the Hope Academy school and other facilities.
6:32 AM: The fire is reported to be under control; per scanner (our crew is almost there), firefighters are trying to determine whether its source was electrical.
6:38 AM: We’ve talked to SFD at the scene and they have confirmed it was an electrical fire, now out.
6:50 AM: The damage is minimal, we’re told, confined to a single outlet in the “main sanctuary” area, and shouldn’t affect use of the building. Fire crews are starting to leave.
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:12 AM: Good morning and welcome to Tuesday – no travel trouble spots reported in or from our area right now.
METRO SERVICE CHANGE SATURDAY: Time for daily reminders that Saturday is Metro’s next “service change,” and this is the one with a big change for RapidRide – the C and D Lines separate, with the C Line route going to South Lake Union. All the Metro info is here.
‘EARLY RELEASE DAY’ WEDNESDAY: Also of note – tomorrow is the next “early release day” for Seattle Public Schools, two hours earlier than usual.
6:19 AM: There’s a fire response at 9421 18th SW – we’ll be covering separately.
7 AM: The fire response is clearing. One other reminder for today – presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is in the area, for afternoon/evening events in Everett, Medina, and Rainier Beach.
In West Seattle Crime Watch, the newest reader reports start with a stolen classic car:
STOLEN 240Z: The 45-year-old car at right has been stolen. Nick says it’s “a dark blue 1971 Datsun 240z, pretty hard to miss. It was last seen at Dere automotive at 9201 35th Ave SW. It disappeared sometime last night before dawn. I appreciate any leads I can get, and any info should be reported to SPD, it is in the system.” The car has “collector plates,” #35707.
ANOTHER CAR WINDOW: We had two Crime Watch reports over the weekend with more than a few car-window-vandalism incidents (here and here – and see the comments for more reports). We’ve since received two more reports – first, from Brian:
Just a heads up for those in Gatewood. On Saturday night/early Sunday morning, someone broke the driver’s side window of our neighbors’ vehicle on California Ave at Holden [map]. It was an older Ford Explorer.
And from Elizabeth, also in Gatewood, noticed today: “Car window smashed on Thistle Street between 37th and 39th. [map] No theft, looks like window just smashed.”
FOLLOWUP – WHAT VANDALISM CAN COST: And if you think window-breaking sounds like a petty crime, consider the note we received from the first person to report his window and car were hit more than a month ago (yet another Gatewood victim): “We finally got the car back from the body shop and the repairs were about $3600 and three weeks with a rental car, so the total cost is approaching $5,000. Did the police ever find the person responsible for this?” Not so far as we’ve heard; we have an inquiry out to the precinct, too, but haven’t yet received a reply.
BURGLARY: Artur e-mailed us today about a burglary at his home last week, 7100 block of 34th SW [map]:
I had left my door unlocked and woke up to my dog barking at somebody who had opened my door and was standing at the doorway. By the time the cops came (10 mins), the man had left. Reminder to keep doors locked even if you’re at home.
CAR PROWL: Jenny reports spotting a car prowler in progress at 36th and Brandon [map] early today. Police responded but the suspect had fled in this case, too.
NEXT CRIME/SAFETY MEETING: As previewed here earlier today, the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meets tomorrow (Tuesday) night at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster), 6:30 pm. All welcome – hear from (and bring your questions/concerns to) precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis and special guest City Councilmember Lisa Herbold.
A big baseball win for West Seattle High School this afternoon – thanks to Caryn Johnson for the photos and report:
The weather cooperated for baseball players and fans this afternoon. West Seattle took on powerhouse O’Dea at Bannerwood Ballpark in Bellevue. The game didn’t look like it was going to get off as it was raining right up until the 1st pitch.
Westside jumped out fast with two back to back hits by Jack Page (#9, photo above) and Morgan McCullough (#3). Anthony Coats (#4) then came up and drove in the first run of the game.
Key hits also came in the 5th inning with bases loaded, Jamie Maples (#6, photo above) hit a double into center field to drive in two more runs. Jamie also took to the mound for West Seattle. He would keep the O’Dea bats quiet until the 5th inning where they would try to start up a rally, but the West Seattle defense backed up their pitcher and only gave up one run. Jamie would go on to pitch a complete game, striking out 7, walking 2, and only giving up 5 hits. In the end, the Wildcats came out victorious against O’Dea 3-1.
Next game is Wednesday against Cleveland at Hiawatha, first pitch 3:30 pm.
Another win for the undefeated Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks – 9-1 today over Franklin HS. Thanks again to head coach Ernest Policarpio for the box score: Sealth pitcher Isaac Hamilton got the win, with 3 strikeouts in five innings; offensive stars included Jackson Chilcott, who went 1-1 with a triple-RBI hit, 2 walks, hit-by-pitch, and 2 runs scored, and David Johnson, who had 2 RBIs, going 2 for 4. Sealth next plays Lakeside, 3:30 pm Wednesday at Magnuson Park.
Thanks to Sam for the tip – we just stopped by the Short Stop convenience store in Morgan Junction and confirmed that tomorrow is its final day of operation. It’s found a new location – in the Pierce County town of Milton.
Since the dry cleaner next store is already closed, this will clear the way for Seattle Parks to demolish the 6311 California SW building that’s on the site of the quarter-acre it purchased for $1.9 million in 2014 to expand Morgan Junction Park. But the demolition equipment won’t be showing up any time soon. Though the teardown permit was issued more than four months ago, there’s some other work to do first, we found out from Lise Ward with Seattle Parks. She tells WSB that once the building’s vacant, they’ll call in environmental specialists to test for hazardous materials and determine what kind of abatement will be required before teardown. They’ll also take steps to seal it off until demolition, Ward says, which they’ll do as soon as they can. She says they’re thankful to the community for their patience.
The original purchase was to “landbank” the site for future park development. Money to plan and design it is on the Seattle Park District levy’s funding list for this year.
(Photo provided by WSFB)
Maybe “everybody’s got a hungry heart,” as Bruce Springsteen sings, but no one HAS to have a hungry belly, if we all help each other. And with that in mind, Judi Yazzolino from the West Seattle Food Bank shares the news that Springsteen’s helping the WSFB while in town this week, as he has before:
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band are bringing their “River Tour” to KeyArena, this Thursday, March 24th. While in town, they’ve chosen the West Seattle Food Bank as their partner charity.
If you are lucky enough to have tickets to Bruce’s sold-out show, please look for the West Seattle Food Bank volunteers with the signs in the arena, say Hi and give generously to help the adults and children in our community that are in need of nutritious food and other services.
What do you want your City Councilmember to know about safety/crime in your neighborhood? The West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network has just announced that Councilmember Lisa Herbold will be their guest tomorrow (Tuesday) night, 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct. She’s already addressed a variety of public-safety topics – you can scroll through her blog-format website to see – but this is your chance to hear from her, and ask her questions, firsthand. You don’t have to be part of a Block Watch to attend – all welcome; the precinct is at 2300 SW Webster, and the meeting room is right off the parking lot.
Saturday, May 14th, is the date for this year’s West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – one day, many sales of many sizes, all over the peninsula! We’re mentioning it again today because we are now two weeks away from the start of registration – we’ll open signups on April 4th, early as usual so that there’s (a) plenty of time for people to register and (b) plenty of time for us to make the map/listings packet that’s available a week before sale day.
Since our last mention, we also have confirmation from Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) that they’ll again open their courtyard and the one to the east at Ginomai (both just south of the California/Genesee corner) for individual sellers who don’t have enough room for a sale, or just have a bit of stuff to offer. If you’re interested, watch for word of signups there and anywhere else that offers a group spot; meantime, set the 5/14 reminder for shopping and/or selling, and the 4/4 reminder for open registration!
West Seattle once had two Irish pubs; now, it has none. The Celtic Swell on Alki has changed its name to Alki Beach Pub. Its ownership changed sometime back, but the name stayed through St. Patrick’s Day. The old name has been removed on the awning and the new one is on a blackboard by the door (as shown in our photo), noting also that it has a new menu and is “family-friendly until 8 pm, last minors served at 7:15.”
(Bushtit – a really tiny bird! – photographed by Mark Wangerin)
The final full week of March is the first full week of spring. Here are the highlights, most from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
HOLY WEEK AND MORE: Our special page with events and services for this week includes Tibbetts UMC (WSB sponsor) labyrinth-walking 9 am-2 pm and 6 pm-9 pm today/tonight. (3940 41st SW)
EARLY DAYS: Every Monday, 10:30 am-noon, this parenting-support group meets at Nurturing Expressions (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. (4746 44th SW, Suite 201)
COMMUNITY ORCHARD MEETUP/WORK PARTY: 4-6 pm, you’re invited to the Community Orchard of West Seattle on the north side of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus to find out more about COWS and see how to help. (6000 16th SW)
HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY PTA: Monthly meeting tonight, 6 pm. From PTA president Holly Briscoe: “We will continue our Vision, Mission, and Core Values work, hear from Ms. S, our counselor, and learn about upcoming events (Hint, hint, Earth Day Cleanup). There will be snacks, child care, and a Spanish interpreter. All are welcome!” (1012 SW Trenton)
‘BUILD OUR MOVEMENT’ MEETUP: 6 pm political meetup at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center with State Sen. and congressional candidate Pramila Jayapal. Details here. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
Q&A FOR FUN, #1: 7:30 pm, it’s trivia/quiz time at The Skylark in North Delridge, all ages. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Q&A FOR FUN, #2: 8 pm, it’s pub-quiz night at Shadowland in The Junction. 21+ (California SW/SW Oregon)
(SCROLL DOWN for updates on traffic effects of Vice Presidential visit)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:07 AM: Good morning! The first Monday of spring is under way (and rainy). Notes for today:
WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES: The system is now on its spring schedule, which began Sunday.
VICE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT: VP Joe Biden is coming to Seattle today for an event with Sen. Patty Murray as well as a visit to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Since that means potential traffic effects when he’s in transit – for times, the Boeing Field VIP advisory is usually the best source; it cites a window of roughly 10:30 am-3:40 pm, “subject to change.”
10:24 AM: Preps are under way as the Vice President’s arrival nears. Remember that the West Seattle Bridge exits by/to I-5 close for the motorcade. WSDOT is providing updates via Twitter:
Some significant traffic impacts are expected within the next hour when @VP lands in #Seattle – if possible, delay non-essential trips.
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) March 21, 2016
We’ll update once we hear he’s on the ground and on the move.
11:18 AM: Regional media says he’s arrived.
11:45 AM: Northbound Battery Street Tunnel is closed because of a crash – not related to the VP’s visit; he’s reported to have now arrived downtown, via I-5.
3:02 PM: VP Biden is at Fred Hutch – arriving later than planned, so we don’t know what that means to the rest of his schedule – but that means the next leg of his journey will be to Boeing Field.
At @fredhutch, @vp joins @PattyMurray for tour and to hear about treating cancer through immunotherapy pic.twitter.com/rIi5nvBOz9
— Meghan Dubyak (@Dubyak44) March 21, 2016
Be mindful of freeway ramp closures from the West Seattle Bridge, again.
4:50 PM: The VP’s late-starting Fred Hutch visit is reported to be wrapping up.
5:20 PM: WSDOT is reporting I-5 closures – so the motorcade is or will shortly be on the move.
(WSB photos)
If you didn’t get to High Point Library on Sunday afternoon for the first-ever edition of SouthWest Stories, with Rob Ketcherside telling the tale of the Morgan Street Drive-Up Market, stand by for video – we weren’t able to record it but as always, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society did, and will publish it when ready (that’s their camera in our photo). The library’s meeting room had a full house for the event, in which Ketcherside explained the Morgan Street Market’s place in the short-lived trend of California-style “drive-in markets” in Seattle.
It was at 4201 SW Morgan, exactly where you will find West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) now. Ketcherside wrote an in-depth story about these types of markets, built in the late 1920s and early 1930s – read it here.
The second SouthWest Stories presentation (co-sponsored by SWSHS and the Seattle Public Library) will be at 2 pm April 17th, Delridge Library, featuring vibraphonist and West Seattle High Hall-of-Famer Tom Collier, on “Across the Bridge: West Seattle Heritage in Jazz.” Free!
In case you heard what sounded like possible gunshots just after 8 pm – police have been investigating but so far, no victim and no word of any gunfire evidence found. We’ve heard from people in North Delridge and Puget Ridge who called 911 to report what they heard (police have said again at recent community meetings, that’s what they want you to do, even if you’re not sure what you heard or which direction you’ve heard it from). Just mentioning it in case you heard it and were wondering.
(WSB photo: Milwaukee in green, Denver in white)
This weekend’s National Wheelchair Basketball Association women’s championship tournament at West Seattle High School ended with new champions – the Milwaukee Lady Bucks! In the finals at midday today, they beat last year’s champs, the Denver Lady Rolling Nuggets, 66-36. The game was streamed live; you can watch the playback on YouTube here.
As we reported on Friday and Saturday, eight teams competed, including the local Seattle Storm; Seattle Adaptive Sports co-hosted the tournament.
(UPDATED 7:36 PM with video and more photos; earlier 5:53 pm update with revised total: $600,000+)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“These kids are our kids.”
Interconnection was at the heart of what brought more than 600 people together this afternoon – not just theirs, but their interconnection with the people they were there to help via WestSide Baby, which now serves families in need all over King County.
The White Center-headquartered nonprofit got a sizable show of support this afternoon – (5:53 pm update) $600,000+ is the revised total – during its 15th annual CommuniTea, held once again at the Hilton conference center by Sea-Tac Airport, following what was hailed as a “record-setting year.”
The fundraising total grew (from $315,000 last year), as did the number of children served by WS Baby this year – 31,325, up from 331 in its first year – said executive director Nancy Woodland, who also noted other numbers:
For example, tea attendance was more than 600, almost 8 times the first benefit tea not long after Donna Pierce founded WS Baby in 2001. The organization has “stayed true to its mission,” Woodland said, of providing diapers, car seats, and other vital items to children in need.
With the tea reaching the 15-year milestone, a special spotlight shone on people who had long been involved with WS Baby; they reminisced about the milestones it hit over the years.
Madison Jumpin’ Jive Swing Dance & Auction 2016 from Captive Eye Media on Vimeo.
What’s cool at school? That seems to be our theme this afternoon – and we’re glad to be able to share this too: Highlights from Friday night’s Madison Middle School Jumpin’ Jive Swing Dance and Auction. Enjoy the music of Madison musicians (who shared the bill with the West Seattle Big Band), thanks to Edgar Riebe of West Seattle-headquartered Captive Eye Media.
FIRST REPORT, 1:42 PM: Though it’s not a school day, hundreds of students are busy at the Denny International MS/Chief Sealth International HS campus today. It’s the scene of the fourth annual Washington State Chinese Language and Talent Competition, explained here. The categories in which students are competing include:
Group Poetry Recitation 團體詩詞朗誦
Individual Poetry Recitation 個人詩詞朗誦
Group Talent Show 團體才藝競賽
Individual Talent Show 個人才藝競賽
Group Chinese Singing 團體歌唱比賽
Individual Chinese Singing 個人歌唱比賽
Language Art 口语才艺竟赛
Story Telling 說故事
Public Speaking 演講
Drawing 繪畫比賽
Chinese Chess 象棋
China Knowledge Bowl 中國常識競答
When we dropped by, the performances and competitions were in a break, but organizations were holding court in the Sealth hallway.
And art was on display:
The event concludes with a 2 pm awards ceremony.
ADDED 6:58 PM: Thanks to Denny principal Jeff Clark for an added report with photos:
At Denny and Chief Sealth, we are proud to have hundreds of scholars learning the Chinese language. Today, 32 of them used their Chinese language skills at the 2016 Washington Chinese Language and Talent Competition held here on our campus. Thanks to the dedication of our four Chinese teachers, Ms. Lin, Mr. Teddy, Ms. Wang, and Ms. Gong, and the hard work of our scholars, they won many awards, competing against schools from all over the Puget Sound area. Congratulations to all of them and to all of the scholars learning Chinese!
Ms. Fraser-Hammer presented awards to middle school students, including Denny scholar Aaron Burnham!
Chief Sealth 9th grader Khaim Vasser Fontenot demonstrated his Chinese proficiency as an emcee at the award ceremony:
OSPI Deputy Superintendent for K-12 Education Gil Mendoza celebrated with elementary school-age award winners:
All of us at Denny and Chief Sealth would also like to recognize and thank our partners, Wenqiu Wang from the Confucius Institute of the State of Washington, and Michele Aoki, International Education Administrator from Seattle Public Schools, for all of their support. Thank you! Go, Dolphins and Seahawks!
Students in the resurgent mariachi program at Chief Sealth International High School have new inspiration after a big festival trip. The story and photos are shared by Sealth teacher Noah Zeichner:
On Friday, 12 students from Chief Sealth’s mariachi program participated in the 18th annual Mariachi Northwest Festival in Wenatchee.
They spent the day in workshops, learning from members of Mariachi Divas, a Grammy-winning all-female mariachi group from Los Angeles.
In the evening, they attended a gala concert. Mariachi Huenachi, Wenatchee High School’s award-winning mariachi group, performed with Mariachi Divas, Bailadores de Bronce (Seattle’s premier Mexican folkloric dance group), and trick ropers Los Hermanos Escamilla. The trip was supported by El Centro de la Raza, who provided transportation to Wenatchee and meals during the festival.
Chief Sealth’s mariachi program began nearly 20 years ago and was incorporated into the music department in the early 2000s. The mariachi class disappeared from 2011-2014 due to budget cuts, but as a result of student organizing and community support, it returned last year. There are currently about 20 students in the mariachi class.
Mariachi serves as a cultural bridge to school for many Latino students, but the group welcomes students from all backgrounds. Mariachi is also an academic intervention and leadership development program. Wenatchee High School has documented the success of their mariachi program, celebrating a 100% graduation rate (only 40% of the students in the program graduated ten years ago). To learn more about Wenatchee’s program, watch this recent 25-minute TVW documentary.
In the coming weeks, with the support of the Creative Advantage fund, after-school mariachi programs will start at both Denny IMS and Chief Sealth IHS. The program also hopes to expand in future years to feeder elementary schools with the goal of exposing students to mariachi music at a younger age.
More than 450 musicians from around the region were part of the festival.
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