day : 25/09/2016 11 results

Driver damages day-care doors in Highland Park

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Thanks to the texter who tipped us to this: What looked on the 911 log like a relatively routine car-crash call earlier tonight was something more – a driver ran into the doors of one of the two buildings that Ages in Stages has at 9th and Trenton in Highland Park. But the doors are all that was damaged, the owners told us when we went over a little while ago, and they will be open tomorrow – this happened at the building on the northwest corner of the intersection, while their building on the northeast corner is unharmed. The driver, meantime, was taken to a hospital by private ambulance.

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VIDEO: West Seattle’s Tibbetts UMC among 300+ venues for Concert to End Gun Violence in America

September 25, 2016 8:59 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

“It’s been a rough week,” began singer Lady A, going on to urge people to show kindness to each other, before she sang “I Know I’ve Been Changed,” a cappella, to open the Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) event this afternoon that was part of the nationwide Concert to End Gun Violence in America. (Our apologies for the lack of tripod.) Tibbetts’ choir, directed by Elizabeth Nye, followed by singing the 23rd Psalm:

Tibbetts’ pastor Rev. Joanne Carlson Brown opened with a blessing acknowledging that the issue is experienced in many different ways.

The Seattle Flash Choir, Victor Puentes Jr., and Christy McWilson & The West Seattle 2 also performed at the Tibbetts concert, organized by Cindy Jacobs, one of more than 300 concerts across the nation today. The biggest was in New York City, headlined by music stars including West Seattleite Eddie Vedder.

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UPDATE: Fireworks lead to SFD callout in 8800 block 13th SW

September 25, 2016 7:02 pm

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| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

7:02 PM: Big SFD call for a possible house fire on 13th SW near Trenton [map]. We are on the way.

7:20 PM: SFD’s call closed before we got there but here’s what we learned from neighbors and police on the scene: Some people drove up and set off a box of fireworks that went off, with sparks and smoke, in multiple directions. That’s what led to the fire call. Multiple small fires were sparked but put out quickly by neighbors.

7:34 PM: Added above – our photo of the fireworks tossed from a car. The neighbors say the cap was left behind too.

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UPDATE: West Seattle presidential-debate watching parties

September 25, 2016 6:42 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

6:42 PM: If you know of an open-to-the-public viewing party for the first presidential debate tomorrow, we’d love to hear about it – we’ve been asked multiple times today! Bar, restaurant, political group, whomever/wherever, as long as it’s in West Seattle, White Center, or South Park. E-mail us at editor@westseattleblog.com or comment below – thank you.

9:40 PM: Here’s what we have so far:

Admiral Bird (California/Admiral)

The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), pre-trivia

House party in North Admiral that is also a campaign fundraiser for Secretary of State candidate Tina Podlodowski and Lands Commissioner candidate Hilary Franz, suggested donation $100/person – if interested, e-mail katherine@katherinebobman.com for details/RSVP

9:57 PM: Another one just in:

Parliament Tavern (4210 SW Admiral Way): “We’ll have the two parties represented on the big screen, but the REAL party falls smack during happy hour, which will carry through the end of the debate! $4 draft micros! $4 wells! $2.50 Rainier’s and PBR tallboys!”

ADDED MONDAY MORNING: OutWest Bar (California/Brandon) too.

Anyplace else? We’ll keep adding whatever comes in. (The debate is set for 6-7:30 pm Monday, our time, by the way.)

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen pickup truck; hit-and-run; car prowl

September 25, 2016 4:00 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch today:

STOLEN PICKUP TRUCK: Keep watch for Caleb‘s truck:

Stolen from south side of West Seattle Corporate Center lot (Delridge/Andover)
2011 Red Dodge Ram 2500
Black wheels
Has a leveling kit
Black Top Bed Cover
5th wheel hitch
IBEW Sticker on the back window

Call 911 if you see it.

HIT & RUN IN ALKI: 56th and Lander is where Julie reports this happened: “Between 6:30 am and 8 am Sunday 9/25 morning, our blue 4-door pickup was hit while parked on the street. If you have any information, we would greatly appreciate your help. Police report filed.”

CAR PROWL IN MORGAN JUNCTION: From Gina:

I just wanted to let everyone know our car got broken into last night or this morning. We live in an apartment complex with a covered carport on California Ave in Morgan Junction and we came to our car with the contents of our glovebox strewn about. Luckily, we had no valuables in the car and there was no property damage. We’re grateful they left our national parks pass and discovery pass. However, I wanted to let my neighbors to keep their eyes out! Even though we didn’t lose anything, we are reporting it to the police.

REMINDER – WEST SEATTLE BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS NETWORK ON TUESDAY: You don’t have to be a Block Watch Captain or even a Block Watch member to attend the WSBWCN meeting 6:30 pm Tuesday (September 27th) at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster). A special guest from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will talk about her work including prosecution of repeat property-crime offenders.

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HAPPENING NOW: Playing in the street (and preparing for disaster) during Seattle Summer Parkways on Alki

September 25, 2016 12:51 pm

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| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

12:51 PM: So far during Seattle Summer Parkways on Alki, which continues until 4 pm, we’ve seen a shark and a whale …

The rendering of the 39-foot humpback whale that stranded and died in Fauntleroy two months ago is part of the marine-mammal chalk art outside the Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network‘s booth in the 61st/Alki activity zone; the shark was a decoration on one of the cargo/family bicycles that headed out at 11 am for the Seattle Disaster Relief Trials, a fun combination of preparedness exercise and bicycle ride.

Participants are practicing skills that might be needed in case of catastrophe – earthquake, for example. “Cars can’t get through, we can,” was the scenario offered by organizer Morgan as she took the stage to launch the ride. Participants headed off to spots as far away as White Center, visiting up to four of West Seattle’s Emergency Communication Hubs along the way. Thanks to Jon for this photo from the Ercolini Park hub west of The Junction, where the “shark” bike was checking in:

Toting items (even containers of water) was part of the exercise. (added) And via Twitter, here’s another hub stop for that distinctive bike and rider:

Riders pick up 20# food bags @ Delridge P-Patch. #Disasterbikes aren't boring! #seattledrt2016 #whenallelsefails @seattleacs @familybikesea pic.twitter.com/riRw5unSk1

— Seattle ACS (@SeattleACS) September 25, 2016

Meantime, back at the beach, City Councilmember Lisa Herbold and SDOT director Scott Kubly were there to help launch today’s event (the mayor canceled a few days ago) but decided against speeches since, as she put it, things were proceeding relatively casually:

Also at the 61st/Alki hub, Seattle Public Library‘s two-wheeled branch:

Not pictured – a mini-tent where little ones can sit and read. Meantime, a short distance east on Alki, the Seattle Humane MaxMobile arrived with adoptable pets including kittens (who did NOT want to pose, so we have the wide view of the van):

That’s about as far as we got before having to leave Alki for a bit – but we’re headed back now to explore the rest of the route. Again, if you’ve missed all the advance alerts, Alki SW is open to walking/biking and other non-motorized transportation, both ways between 56th and 63rd, and east of 56th to Don Armeni, the inland lane is open to cars (etc.) one way westbound, while the water-side lane is for other forms of transportation, until 4 pm.

ADDED 1:38 PM: Just stopped by Don Armeni for another marine-mammal sighting – Mike the inflatable Southern Resident Killer Whale, is now ready for visitors. He’s with The Whale Trail team.

ADDED 2:19 PM: If you’re here and you haven’t stopped by City Scoop yet, to answer some questions and get free ice cream, you have until 3 pm. The tents are right by Alki Bathhouse – here’s the view from the second floor at Spud across the street:

Or maybe you are torn between hanging out in the sunshine and watching the Seahawks/49ers game on TV. Guess what – you can do both!

Alki resident Guy Olson set up the “living room in the street” – TV and all – between Marine and 59th. Meantime, at 58th SW, Seattle Parks has a play zone for kids including a bouncy obstacle course:

Also, face painting and chalk art! And that’s near Coastal, the Alki boutique, which has a lemonade stand out front, raising money for Camp Korey.

2:45 PM: Music at Summer Parkways – the Barrelhouse Jive Band onstage at 61st/Alki:

The Barrelhouse Jive Cats play Seattle Summer Parkways pic.twitter.com/kreLDgwbqQ

— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) September 25, 2016

The clip is from WSB contributing photographer Leda Costa – our second report on Summer Parkways will include her views from today. Again, this is on until 4 pm … most activities between 56th and 63rd on Alki, but an “activity hub” remains at Don Armeni, too.

3:40 PM: Twenty more minutes to get out and play in the street along Alki. You can of course ride your bike at the beach any time, but today has been extra fun with cool people like these:

Since they were running a bike "rodeo" @SeattleParkways, @DonBrubeck & Kathy Dunn @WSeaBikeConnect dressed up in Western garb. pic.twitter.com/Oe4Qs8ERui

— Seattle Greenways (@SNGreenways) September 25, 2016

As mentioned above, we’ll have a second report with scenes of the day, later on. And we’ll update here when we get word Alki/Harbor Aves. are back to all traffic both ways – the official posted closure is until 5 pm, so there’s time for breakdown and cleanup.

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HAPPENING NOW: Fauntleroy ‘Recycle Roundup,’ until 3 pm

September 25, 2016 12:05 pm

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| Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

Just stopped by Fauntleroy Church to see how the fall Recycle Roundup is going. You have until 3 pm to drop off recyclables for free – provided they’re on this (long) list of what 1 Green Planet is taking this time. Most memorable item we spotted during a quick look – a vintage copper “Combination” GE refrigerator/freezer.

The church is at 9140 California SW (you can’t get there directly from the main stretch of California – if you head west on Barton from 35th, the road becomes California for a short stretch before the Endolyne business district). It’s busy right now (a few minutes past noon) but they have enough help to keep everyone moving through quickly.

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Admiral Theater renovations: See what they’re uncovering

September 25, 2016 11:02 am

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| Admiral Theater | West Seattle news

(Photos courtesy Admiral Theater/Southwest Seattle Historical Society)

One week into the renovation work at the Admiral Theater, here’s the first look inside, courtesy of theater staff and the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. The photos above and below show parts of a mural that had been hidden since the theater was split into two auditoriums decades ago.

See and read more on the SWSHS website. When the work’s all done, the Admiral will have four screens. Right now, it has one – the western auditorium is open while work goes on next door.

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HAPPENING NOW: Orca Half runners headed for Lincoln Park

September 25, 2016 10:00 am

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

10 AM: The first-ever Orca Half (as in half-marathon) is happening right now, as the kickoff to today’s Seattle Summer Parkways “car-free” event on Alki. More than 400 runners are headed outbound to Lincoln Park and back to Don Armeni Boat Ramp, where they started in two groups shortly after 9:30.

This means the road changes are on, too. Our photo is from Harbor Avenue at the bottom of the California Way hill, by Seacrest – if you are westbound on Harbor, you will be diverted uphill, because that’s where the water-side biking/running/walking-only lane begins. And once you get to 56th/Alki, the entire road is off-limits to cars (etc.) until 63rd. We’ll have as-it-happens coverage from Alki once everything gets going there around 11 am.

ADDED 10:37 AM: At least one runner had a mini-cheering section:

These are the finishers’ medals, waiting back at the start/finish line:

You’ll also see The Whale Trail – beneficiary of the run – there, with Mike the inflatable orca (who was still getting deployed when we left).

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West Seattle Sunday: Summer Parkways on Alki; Recycle Roundup in Fauntleroy; more…

September 25, 2016 7:48 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by David Hutchinson – two California sea lions whose barking entertained onlookers at Duwamish Head)

Good morning and welcome to a big Sunday!

TRAFFIC ALERTS: 8 am-5 pm, traffic and parking restrictions along Alki and Harbor Avenues because of Seattle Summer Parkways (activity info below); from 56th SW east to Don Armeni, the inland lane will remain open to motorized traffic so residents can get to and from their homes; from 56th to 63rd, the road is open to people walking, running, biking … Also remember that Harbor Island detours continue, so if you’re headed to the Seahawks game or any place else across the bay, you will want to use the high bridge (or the Water Taxi!), not the low bridge.

Now, what’s happening:

RECYCLE ROUNDUP: 9 am-3 pm, Fauntleroy Church‘s Green Committee hosts 1 Green Planet in the church parking lot, so you can drop off recyclables that you just can’t put out at curbside. Be sure they are on this list of what’s accepted (which includes some reminders of what’s not), however. And please go as early as you can – the last hour tends to get stacked up. (9140 California SW)

ORCA HALF: 9:30 am, the first-ever running of this half-marathon will start from Don Armeni Boat Ramp, as an early kickoff to Seattle Summer Parkways. Runners will head toward Lincoln Park, and back. (1222 Harbor SW)

SEATTLE SUMMER PARKWAYS ON ALKI: 11 am-4 pm, the newest edition of the city-organized “car-free day” event invites you to come walk, ride your bike, dance, play games, enjoy music, participate in dozens of activities – the newest list is in our preview from last night. (Alki/Harbor Aves. from 63rd SW to Don Armeni)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in The Junction, see what’s fresh for this first weekend of fall! (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)

DISASTER RELIEF CARGO BIKE TRIALS: 11 am, departing from Summer Parkways, it’s a bicycle ride and a disaster-preparedness exercise all in one. Four of West Seattle’s Emergency Communication Hubs will be “activated” for the event – Alki, Morgan Junction, Ercolini Park, North Delridge – as explained here. (61st/Alki and beyond)

CITY SCOOP: Free ice cream while you share your thoughts with the city, 1-3 pm during Seattle Summer Parkways – look for the tent near the main stage. (61st/Alki)

‘HANSEL AND GRETEL’ PREVIEW: 2 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, a free preview lecture looks ahead to the Seattle Opera production of “Hansel and Gretel.” (2306 42nd SW)

CONCERT TO END GUN VIOLENCE: 3 pm at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), you are invited to one of the 300+ concerts across the country united in the cause of ending gun violence. Details in our calendar listing. Free; donations accepted for Everytown. (3940 41st SW)

CHORO TOCANDO: Live Brazilian music at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)

ALL-AGES OPEN MIC: Last Sunday of the month brings the free all-ages open-microphone event at The Skylark, signup at 3, music 4-7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

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Hate-Free Delridge party, report #2: So many showed up, they ran out of name tags

September 25, 2016 1:46 am

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| Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

By Linda Ball
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

The organizers of Hate Free Delridge ran out of name tags after 200 were handed out, and the people kept coming for the group’s first big event Saturday at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.

They all came out to stand up against hate, meet new neighbors, make new friends, and share food, music, and art together.

Hate Free Delridge is a grass-roots organization that evolved as a result of July’s hate crime targeting a Pigeon Point family with mixed-race children. Saturday’s crowd was diverse not only in ethnicities but also geographically – while HFD organizers are primarily from Puget Ridge and Pigeon Point, people showed up from other West Seattle neighborhoods too.

Erica Moore lives in The Admiral District, where she saw a flyer for the event at Alki Bike and Board, owned by Stu Hennessey, one of the founders of Hate Free Delridge. Moore, who is African-American, said she has dealt with discrimination herself, but she has learned to handle it with goodness and grace. She echoed Pavan Vangipuram’s opening words that the way to fight fire is with water.

Vangipuram, who is with OneAmerica, and is also a founder of Hate Free Delridge, opened the program with a recap of what led to HFD’s formation.

He encouraged everyone to talk to someone they don’t know during the evening. Hennessey was the MC of the program, keeping things moving along. He had everyone stand up and meet someone they’ve never met in their life, which worked so well that the conversations around the room drowned him out.

Martha Ortiz, of Mexican heritage, said she was at the event to support the Black Lives Matter movement and all oppressed people. Her daughter Rebecca Garcia was also there with her children. “I have two kids, too,” Garcia said. “It could have been my family – they’re mixed.” Her daughter Laura Garcia, 11, was busy making balloon animals for anyone who wanted one:

The entire family lives in the Puget Ridge neighborhood. With them was Sandra Aguilar, originally from Mexico, now residing in Yakima. Aguilar has been in the U.S. for 20 years.

“In Yakima, we’re addressing these issues, too, about privilege and hate,” she said. “I’m faced with the fact of more separation of cultures in Yakima, but there are a lot of people working to change that.” She came to support the group, and to perform with Garcia. Together, they are a musical group called Once Minutos (11 minutes), performing in Seattle, Wenatchee and Yakima.

Reba Schneider, who lives near Westwood Village, grew up in the Leschi area, which she described as having been in transition at the time, from being a mostly Jewish community to an African-American neighborhood. She said that laid the groundwork for her interest in and value of diversity. Her great-grandparents had lived in West Seattle, so that was what drew her to this area later.

Attendees dined on an absolutely incredible free dinner of homemade tapas, followed by dessert. Most of the food was donated, and then prepared by a small army of volunteer kitchen wizards.

The music flowed:

Also, children had their faces painted, and everyone had the chance to sign a large banner or write a Haiku poem based on the theme “My Stand Against Hate.”

Among those penning poems, City Councilmember Lisa Herbold:

Who knew that a nasty note could lead to all of this community goodness? Next up for Hate Free Delridge will be a vigil to stand up against hate, 6 pm October 15th at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza.

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