West Seattle, Washington
12 Monday
It’s been a bit quiet on the crime beat – but we do have one recent pre-snow car-prowl report, from Tracy:
Heard vehicle alarm go off at about 5:20 am on 2/5/2017. Went out to check, turned alarm off. Did not see anyone flee nor any vehicle leaving, but the motion light had been activated. Opened driver side door and discovered a small, metal nail puller sitting on driver seat. No damage to vehicle so I’m assuming I left it unlocked, but the alarm must have set. I did notice the top tray of the console was missing. Miscellaneous items were in it, but nothing important. Searched alley trash cans and area with a flashlight, but nothing. Access to the vehicle was made from the alley. Once there was daylight, a neighbor searched the alleyway and sidewalk around 44th and Hinds. A long, skinny screwdriver was found in the alley and my console tray with nearly everything in it was discarded along the sidewalk.
Reported this to the police online; received phone call afterward to set up a time to meet an officer and provide him with the prowlers’s tools which were recovered.
P.S. Calendar reminder – next West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting is in 2 weeks, 7 pm Tuesday, February 21st, at the Southwest Precinct.
(WSB photos. Above, head coach Darnell Taylor)
9:08 PM: Tonight’s second postseason basketball game at West Seattle High School brought the WSHS girls-varsity team another win, 72-52 over Cleveland. The Wildcats’ next opponent: Rainier Beach, 3:30 pm tomorrow (Wednesday) at the University of Washington.
9:40 PM: Photos and scoring info added. Above, WSHS’s top scorer of the night with 18 points, #20 Grace Sarver (with #34 Anissa Babitu); below right, second leading scorer, #32, Meghan Fiso, 16 points:
#4 Kelsey Lenzie was third top scorer with 11:
West Seattle last faced Rainier Beach on January 27th; the Vikings took that game 73-63.
(WSB photos. Center, head coach Keffrey Fazio)
7:14 PM: Tomorrow night at 5:30, the West Seattle High School boys will face undefeated Nathan Hale at the University of Washington after a come-from-behind win against Seattle Prep tonight. The Wildcats beat Prep 53-49 at home, rallying after being down 32-23 at halftime.
ADDED 10:39 PM: Added photos and top-scorer info. Above, #1 Nate Pryor led the Wildcats with 19 points tonight. The next highest point total was contributed by #5 Abdullahi Mohamed with 8:
The Wildcats and their next opponents the Raiders last met December 2nd, when Hale won 82-59.
By Saturday, the leftover snow is likely to be just a memory, and you’ll want to get out and enjoy the start of the weekend. Saturday happens to be Neighbor Day, with a lot going on – and you can start the day by letting somebody else make a pancake breakfast for you and your family at Delridge Community Center. 10 am-noon, $6/person, $10/couple, $20/max per family, and it all goes to help make sure more people can enjoy the programs at DCC, which is at 4501 Delridge Way SW.
The photo and video are from WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli,who reports that demolition has started at the long-vacant commercial storefronts at 3215 California SW. Here’s an aerial view:
This is south of The Swinery (which is not part of the project) and across the street from Springline Apartments (WSB sponsor); while an apartment building was once proposed on this side of the street too, the plan changed to a mix of townhouses, live-works and single-family houses. This is happening almost exactly a year after demolition to the south, where redevelopment has taken a similar pattern. It’s all in the Hanford-to-Hinds block that was upzoned in 2010.
3:12 PM: In case you saw/heard the big response for a potential house fire in the 8400 block of 20th SW (thanks to Alan for the tip), most of the units were canceled quickly, but we’re on the way to see what we can find out.
3:21 PM: At the scene, firefighters tell us this was a small kitchen fire. No major damage, nobody hurt, and the remaining crews are working on clearing out the smoke right now.
(WSB photos)
It’s a big day at West Seattle Food Bank headquarters at 35th/Morgan in High Point – the first day its clients are using the brand-new “shopping” model of distribution. We told you about it back in December; thanks to community generosity, everything’s installed, and the new system is up and running, almost tripling the distribution hours each week. We just visited for a quick tour. And indeed, just like a grocery store, the food available for distribution is now set out on shelves, in bins, and in coolers, so clients can go aisle to aisle to “shop” rather than just line up and pick up.
The signs over each section have color-coding to correspond to how many of each type of food item is available to a client, depending on how many people in her/his household.
The donations making this possible come not only from individual community members but also from local businesses – for example, Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) donated shopping carts:
And West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) joined forces with WSFB for a big food purchase at what WSFB executive director Fran Yeatts says was an excellent discount. What’s in stock comes from a variety of sources – what they buy and what’s donated through a variety of programs including gleaned produce and federally provided “emergency food” items.
New distribution hours are 9 am-1 pm Tuesdays, noon-7 pm Wednesdays, 9 am-2 pm Thursdays, 10 am-2 pm Fridays. The Baby/Child Corner hours are still 4-7 pm Wednesdays and 10 am-1 pm Thursdays. Speaking of kids – they’re still accepting donations of these popular non-food items available to families:
Other ways you can help the West Seattle Food Bank: Monetary donations are the most helpful, because they have extra purchasing power beyond even what the general public can get at discount stores; and your volunteering time is priceless – some shifts are still unfilled, and right now they’re also leaning heavily on volunteers to help explain the new system to clients.
P.S. (added Wednesday) – The WS Food Bank is having an open house 3-6 pm March 25th, so you can come see this firsthand. “Beverages and appetizers will be served. Bring your children, bring a friend, everyone is welcome!”
(Photo provided by West Seattle Helpline)
One of the ways the West Seattle Helpline assists neighbors in need is via its clothing bank The Clothesline. And now, according to this announcement from Helpline executive director Chris Langeler, there’s a new and bigger home in the works for it:
We are SO EXCITED to announce that after five years of searching, we have found a new home for our free clothing store, The Clothesline!
Through a partnership with the West Seattle Christian Church, we will be moving into the first floor of what has been known as the Ginomai Building in the West Seattle Junction. The space is four times the size of our current location and will allow us to dramatically expand our services. It is also more accessible via public transit, has dedicated parking, and will result in an open, welcoming store environment for our clients and volunteers.
When the West Seattle Helpline first opened its doors in 1989, we had only a small clothing closet in our office. In 1995, the closet grew into a full-scale clothing bank called “The Clothesline,” the only free clothing store of its kind in West Seattle. Ever since, it has been a critical community resource for our neighbors in need; last year, more than 2000 adults and children recovering from hardship received more than $130,000 in clothing at no cost from The Clothesline. Whether it’s a warm coat for a child to wear to school or professional attire for a job interview, this program ensures all of our friends and neighbors don’t go without the basic necessity of safe, comfortable clothing.
We anticipate that the new Clothesline will open in late March. Details about the new Clothesline schedule, volunteer opportunities, and other ways to get involved are coming soon.
The Ginomai building is across from West Seattle Christian, on the southwest corner of 42nd and Genesee.
FIRST REPORT, 11:53 AM: New information just in from Seattle Public Utilities about their plan for the rest of this week.
The big change for our area: If you are a Monday pickup customer, you will **NOT** get pickup today after all – nobody “south of I-90” will – here’s what SPU says today:
Commercial garbage, recycling or food/yard waste pickup resumed today across Seattle.
Collections for residential customers partially resumed today on a revised schedule based on the solid waste contractors’ assessment of neighborhood road conditions:
· Monday residential customers, north of I-90 will be collected today (Tuesday).
· Monday residential customers, south of I-90: Due to continued icy conditions, there is no residential garbage, recycling or food/yard waste pickup in these areas again today. Customers should put out materials on their next regularly scheduled pickup day (next Monday), as described below.
· Tuesday residential customers will be collected tomorrow (Wednesday), weather and road conditions permitting.
· Wednesday, Thursday and Friday services will all be delayed one day this week.
For Monday residential customers south of I-90 or other customers not serviced this week due to icy roads, please put containers out on your next regularly scheduled pickup day. Customers missed this week will be allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling and yard waste at no additional charge, on their next scheduled collection day. Please use extra bags or boxes for the additional materials. For service updates, please check seattle.gov/util. Follow SPU on Twitter.
(Photo credit: WSB files)
ADDED 4:43 PM: Commenters were wondering if this means they can put out the recycling again next Monday, or if they would have to wait another week until scheduled pickup for recycling. Marieke Rake of SPU replied to our inquiry:
For West Seattle residential customers with Monday pickup, please put out containers on your next regularly scheduled pickup day. This includes recycling even if next Monday isn’t your regular recycling day. Customers missed this week will be allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling and yard waste at no additional charge, on their next scheduled collection day. Please use extra bags or boxes for the additional materials.
(Bewick’s Wren in the snow, photographed Monday by Mark Wangerin)
Though the snow has long stopped, its icy remnants are causing some trouble today. If you have a cancellation or change, please let us know – text 206-293-6302 or e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com – and we’ll add to this list, which starts with one cancellation, before getting to events that are still on, so far as we know:
CANCELED – MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL TOURS: Though school is on, today’s tours are off.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT HELP, BY APPOINTMENT: 3-6 pm, it’s the first session of appointments available at the Delridge Library with a librarian trained in business/market research. Pre-registration required! Full details in our calendar listing. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
RESCHEDULED BASKETBALL: Games postponed last night because of the snow – at West Seattle High School (3000 California SW), boys 5 pm, girls 7 pm; at Seattle Lutheran High School (4100 SW Genesee), boys at 6 pm.
DINE OUT FOR LAFAYETTE: Part of tonight’s proceeds at Cactus on Alki go to Lafayette Elementary, 5-10 pm. (2820 Alki SW)
DINE OUT FOR DENNY: Part of the proceeds at Marination Ma Kai go to Denny International Middle School, 6-8 pm – please mention you’re there for Denny! (1660 Harbor SW)
NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND WORKSHOP: Find out more about the changes in the city’s Neighborhood Matching Fund by attending a free workshop at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, 6 pm tonight. (6400 Sylvan Way)
WESTWOOD-ROXHILL-ARBOR HEIGHTS COMMUNITY COUNCIL – NEW NIGHT: WWRHAH is now meeting on first Tuesdays, 6:15 pm at Southwest Library. (35th SW/SW Henderson)
ALKI ELEMENTARY OPEN HOUSE: 6:30 pm open house for prospective Alki Elementary families. No RSVP necessary. (3010 59th SW)
WEST SEATTLE BIKE CONNECTIONS: 6:30 pm monthly meeting at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. From the announcement:
Come join us for presentation by SDOT of Fauntleroy Boulevard Project. Also on agenda: New “Your Voice, Your Choice” process for small city grants; Bike Master Plan update; Delridge and East Marginal Way muliti-modal corridor projects; open source sidewalk mapping.
(41st SW/SW Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE BOOSTER CLUB: 7 pm at the West Seattle High School library. Meet the new WSHS athletic director at tonight’s meeting. (3000 California SW)
JARED MITCHELL & THE WING TIPS: 8 pm at Parliament Tavern. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
SEE MORE … on our complete-calendar page.
(QUICK LINKS: School delays here … Metro bus info here … SDOT winter-weather map map here … More traffic cams/links here)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
5 AM: Good morning. No changes this morning from what was announced last night – most schools are on a delayed start today, including Seattle Public Schools (2 hours late) – here’s our list.
Metro says most of its buses are on regular routes (check here).
The temperature is just above freezing, with lots of slush left on non-arterials and sidewalks, so caution is in order. No new weather alerts.
After skipping pickups Monday, Seattle Public Utilities‘ trash/recycling schedule is delayed one day all week, SPU says – so if you are a Monday customer, have your carts out today.
7:42 AM: Relatively quiet morning so far. Hilly streets, not surprisingly, are the trouble spots. Evan reports via Twitter, “30th between Juneau & Brandon is icy! Multiple cars stuck.”
7:56 AM: Even if you’re not on/near a hill, give yourself time to go slowly. Our side street, which was slushy when we last drove it yesterday evening, sounds crunchy with each car going by this morning. And as commenters are discussing, sidewalks might be your biggest challenge, whatever your ultimate mode of transportation.
8:11 AM: Metro says Routes 131 (which serves Highland Park) and 132 (South Park) are back on regular routes. But we also have anecdotes in comments and via text of unannounced bus no-shows or changes in various spots, FYI.
8:22 AM: Josh reports that Delridge/Kenyon light is flashing red (this is one of the lights affected by yesterday’s power outage). Please remember … an out, or flashing, signal = all-ways stop.”
8:38 AM: From the scanner – police are being dispatched to Avalon and Genesee for a report of a jackknifed semitruck. Don’t know whether it’s blocking one, both, or neither, but we’ll head out shortly to look.
8:50 AM: Before we could even suit up to get out the door, Matt Collins sent that photo (thank you!), which shows the location as well as the situation – on the Genesee slope between 30th and Avalon. Could take a while to clear. (Added) Here’s the view from the other side, looking east over Avalon and down Genesee, from a texter (thanks!):
9:19 AM: Update via text: Genesee is cleared.
Meantime, two school notes – Our Lady of Guadalupe has now changed the plan and will be CLOSED today due to “extreme icy conditions” (OLG is at the highest elevation in the city); Madison Middle School says its tours are canceled.
12:07 PM: As just published in a separate story, SPU is now saying it will NOT get to Monday customers in this area until next week.
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