West Seattle, Washington

19 Wednesday

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month : 03/2017 339 results

FOLLOWUP: Demolition underway for burned building at Delridge’s Lam-Bow Apartments
March 21, 2017 3:01 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle fires | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news


(WSB photo)

Six months after the three-alarm fire at the Lam-Bow Apartments complex (6955 Delridge Way SW), the building left “unsalvageable” (as the Seattle Housing Authority deemed it) is being demolished. We just went by for a look, after two reader tips (thank you!). SHA spokesperson Kerry Coughlin had told us in January that they were waiting for permits so they could tear it down, and now the work is under way. The September 27th fire displaced more than 40 residents; no one was hurt, and investigators never determined the cause, just that the fire started on the building’s exterior. Coughlin told us this afternoon: “Rebuilding will not start immediately and we don’t have any plans or details. We had to get the damaged structure down as soon as possible but need due diligence time to make sure we maximize the opportunity to replace.”

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Woman robbed while watching TV at home
March 21, 2017 1:34 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Just got information about the reason for a police search northwest of The Junction this morning – which included containment units at spots including the one in our photo above. Scanner traffic at the time talked about burglary – but now police say it was as a home-invasion robbery. Just published via SPD Blotter:

Robbery detectives are searching for a man who broke into a West Seattle home this morning and robbed a woman as she was watching TV.

The victim was watching television at her home in the 4400 block of 47th Avenue Southwest around 8:45 AM when she realized there was an unfamiliar man standing in her room. The man told the woman he wouldn’t hurt her, and said he only wanted cash. The woman pointed the suspect towards her purse beside the bed.

The suspect removed the cash and walked out of the home.

Officers searched the area, even employing a K-9 unit, but were unable to locate the suspect. The woman described the suspect as white, 5’8″ with a medium build, and sandy blonde hair. Police believe (he) entered the woman’s home after kicking in the back door. Robbery detectives are investigating. …

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HOUSE ON THE MOVE: Barging away from Beach Drive
March 21, 2017 12:01 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle housing | West Seattle news


(First two photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)

12:01 PM: Nickel Bros is getting ready to rescue another West Seattle house. This one is a 1912-built Craftsman in the 7000 block of Beach Drive SW, between Lowman Beach and the north shore of Lincoln Park, on a site where a new house is set to be built.

The house-moving firm was originally scheduled to be barging the house away right about now, but the tides will be more conducive late tonight, so they’ve rescheduled for 11 pm.


(Photo by Lynn Hall)

The twist here: The house does not have a new owner, yet, but Nickel Bros decided to take a chance on it, and it will be taken to a storage yard. You can see inside the house via its listing on the Nickel Bros site.

P.S. Nickel Bros tells us they’re working with six moving-or-movable West Seattle houses right now. We’ve already told you about this one at California/Findlay. Listings on their site include three from the Alki area – here, here, and here.

ADDED 8:22 PM: If you have a late-night eye on the water – you might see the house go by, as the storage spot it’s going to is on the Duwamish River. We also wanted to say thanks to local journalist Jenny Cunningham (with whom we worked long ago in local TV news) for the original tip on this; she’ll be covering it for KCTS and we’ll let you know when the story is set for broadcast.

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Vandals damage West Seattle Little League fields, facilities on eve of new season
March 21, 2017 10:03 am
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | How to help | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Last weekend, a huge volunteer turnout worked at West Seattle Little League‘s home field, Bar-S Playfields on Alki Point, to get it ready for the start of the season next weekend.

They put in hundreds of volunteer hours, league spokesperson Kathy Powers says.

Then Monday, the league’s field maintenance director went to Bar-S – and discovered vandals had struck, in a big, heart-sickening way.


(Photos courtesy WSLL. We don’t show tags in their entirety, so the photo is cropped)

Buildings were broken into, and facilities were tagged.

Also, Powers says, “The infields, already in rough shape from all the rain, were trashed by a vehicle. Most frustrating was the damage done to the newly rebuilt pitchers’ mounds and batters’ boxes.”

They’re working to fix the damage – only part of which is shown in the photos – and you can help – in two ways.

For one, Powers says, “We hope the entire West Seattle community will join us in keeping watch and reporting behavior that tries to steal our kids’ opportunity to play baseball.” (Call 911 whenever, wherever you see a crime or possible crime in progress and it’s happening now, or has just happened.)

For two, you can join in one or both work parties planned to clean up and fix up at Bar-S:

*Thursday night (March 23), 5:30-7:30 pm

*Friday night (March 24), 5:30-7:30 pm

The fields and facilities are off SW Admiral Way a short distance west of 63rd SW [map].

P.S. Yes, the vandalism has been reported to police.

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Morning to night, what’s up for your West Seattle Tuesday
March 21, 2017 9:09 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous


(Northern Flicker woodpecker, photographed in Fauntleroy Park by Mark Wangerin)

Busy day and night ahead!

WHITE CENTER SHELTER JOB FAIR: The new family shelter in the old King County Public Health building in White Center opens today. Mary’s Place, which is operating it, is first having a job fair, 10 am-11:30 am – more info here. (8th SW/SW 108th)

CANNABIS EDUCATION FOR SENIORS: 1-2 pm at the Senior Center. (4217 SW Oregon)

DIY BIKES: You bring the bike, and a willingness to learn how to fix and maintain it! 5-7:30 pm at the West Seattle Tool Library. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

YOUR VOICE, YOUR CHOICE – HELP REVIEW PROJECTS! 5:30-7:30 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club, it’s the third of four meetings – previous attendance NOT required – to take a look at park/street projects proposed by your West Seattle/South Park neighbors, and see which ones could be put up for a community vote in June. Backstory here. (12th SW/SW Holden)

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND FOOD FEST: 6 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, it’s the annual membership meeting for the Fauntleroy Community Association, dubbed “Food Fest” because local eateries provide bites for attendees. Free but FCA hopes you will renew/launch your $25/year membership while there. (9131 California SW)

JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION: 6:30 pm meeting at the Senior Center/Sisson Building, with topics from upzoning to parking, and more, as previewed here. (4217 SW Oregon)

WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct – this is your monthly chance to bring neighborhood crime/safety concerns/questions directly to local police, face to face, and to hear their updates on local crime trends. (2300 SW Webster)

GLOBAL READING CHALLENGE: Good luck to the Literature Lions of Genesee Hill Elementary School, the only West Seattle team in the finals of the Seattle Public Library Global Reading Challenge, as previewed here – 7 pm in the auditorium at the Central Library downtown – spectators welcome! (1000 4th Ave.)

PEACEFUL PARENT, HAPPY KIDS: Parenting lecture at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Brockey Center, 7 pm, with Dr. Laura Markham – details and ticket info in our calendar listing. (6000 16th SW)

UNPLUGGED – A MUSICAL GATHERING: Open-microphone event for acoustic musicians at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7 pm. (5612 California SW)

THE PISTOL SISTERS: Live music at Parliament Tavern, 8-11 pm. No cover. 21+ (4210 SW Admiral Way)

MORE AS ALWAYS … just check out our complete-calendar page!

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SITE NOTE: Comment editing returns
March 21, 2017 8:10 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Since our technical overhaul last year, some have lamented the loss of the comment-editing function. As noted in responses to those laments, the software “plug-in” we were able to use in the old format is no longer supported by its developers, so we weren’t able to bring it along. But we’ve finally been able to install something similar. If you write a comment, after you send it, you should see a line appear in the window with the invitation “click to edit” and a 4-minute countdown during which you can do that. If you click that line, it should show your comment above while opening a window in which you can make changes and then save, delete, or cancel. It’s an optional function – if there’s nothing you want to fix/change, you can ignore it. Please let us know if you have any trouble (editor@westseattleblog.com – please include what device/browser you’re using). Thanks for your patience.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday watch
March 21, 2017 7:24 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

7:24 AM: Good morning! An earlier crash on the West Seattle Bridge has cleared to the shoulder, per SDOT, but the backup remains, so it’s slow going.

Also, you may see SFD vehicles headed eastbound on the bridge, being dispatched to a fire call at the VA Hospital complex on Beacon Hill.

DELRIDGE RAPIDRIDE: Again this morning, through 9 am, SDOT reps are scheduled to be at bus stops along Delridge Way to talk with people about the planning process under way for converting Route 120 to RapidRide H Line.

WEDNESDAY NOTE: Tomorrow, Seattle Public Schools get out 2 hours early.

8:12 AM: The aforementioned Beacon Hill fire call is closed.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUPS: Stabbing, gunfire cases
March 20, 2017 11:56 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

As promised, followups on two cases from the past few days:

FAUNTLEROY/ALASKA STABBING: When we reported on this attack Saturday night, we didn’t know whether the person being questioned by police had been arrested. Tonight, we know the suspect, a 49-year-old Tukwila man, did get arrested and was jailed for investigation of assault. This afternoon, a judge set his bail at $100,000. The probable-cause documents say the suspect attacked two people that night – both strangers – first punching a man who was walking out of the Junction QFC at 42nd/Alaska. That victim’s wife yelled at him to stop; the documents say he did, and left the area. A few minutes later, the suspect turned up in the mini-mart at the Fauntleroy/Alaska Shell station, where, police say, he attacked a man paying for a purchase at the counter – stabbing him several times with a screwdriver. The suspect then ran from the store to a nearby bus stop, according to court documents; the store clerk ran after him, and police arrived shortly thereafter, taking the suspect into custody. The victim was treated at the scene but did not need hospitalization. The suspect is due back in court Wednesday.

JUNCTION GUNFIRE: We also asked the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office today about the two 17-year-olds arrested early Friday after a nearby police officer heard/saw gunfire and stopped them at 40th/Alaska, finding a gun in their car. KCPAO spokesperson Dan Donohoe tells us they had a detention-review hearing later that day; the 17-year-old boy, who police say already has a felony conviction, was ordered to stay in detention, while the 17-year-old girl was released to her father (whose 2008 Dodge Avenger she was driving). Both suspects are listed in court documents as living in Tacoma. The report does not mention ownership of the gun found in the car, described as a black Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun; it says four 9mm casings were found at the northeast corner of 40th/Edmunds. Charges could be filed as soon as tomorrow (Tuesday).

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SPORTS: Another baseball win for Chief Sealth International High School
March 20, 2017 11:39 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Chief Sealth International High School‘s varsity baseball team is 4-1 on the season so far after another win this afternoon – 5-3 over visiting Franklin HS. The Seahawks outhit the Quakers 11-2. Pitcher Albert Roque got the win, with three strikeouts in four innings. Hitting star of the day was Evan Moe, going 3-4 with a double and triple, scoring two runs. Next up for Sealth, a road game at Ingraham, 4 pm Wednesday. (Their full season schedule is here.)

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WELCOME, SPRING 2017! Slightly soggy sunset watch with Alice
March 20, 2017 10:41 pm
|    Comments Off on WELCOME, SPRING 2017! Slightly soggy sunset watch with Alice
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather


(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)

Instead of a colorful sunset, colorful umbrellas were in view during Alice Enevoldsen‘s 32nd quarterly change-of-seasons sunset watch at Solstice Park tonight. Light rain had begun, but it takes a downpour to cancel, so as Alice put it on Twitter afterward, “It was cold, and the sun was a no-show, but we had fun and discussed the summer eclipse.” (That’s coming up on August 21st.)


(Photo by Scott Scowcroft)

Maybe the sun will show up for summer solstice – exactly three months away! (9:24 pm our time Tuesday, June 20th.)

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TUESDAY: Junction Neighborhood Organization talks HALA, RPZ, Fauntleroy Boulevard, more
March 20, 2017 8:17 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

What’s up with the HALA Mandatory Housing Affordability rezoning proposal right now – besides doorhangers in urban villages? That’s one of the topics set for tomorrow night’s Junction Neighborhood Organization meeting, 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon). JuNO director René Commons says other topics will include an update on the SDOT review of a Restricted Parking Zone application filed by a Junction resident, as well as updates on the Fauntleroy Boulevard project (now that the walking tours are past), a “Greenspace Park/Library/Community Center Plan for the West Seattle Junction,” and the future of the Avalon Substation site.

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SIDEWALKS ON THE WAY: 3 projects in West Seattle this year
March 20, 2017 5:16 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | Delridge | Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

Three stretches of West Seattle streets are due for new sidewalks this year, as shown on the map above, made public as Mayor Murray spotlighted the city’s updated Pedestrian Master Plan today.

*35th SW in Arbor Heights between 100th and 106th adds to the sidewalks built north of there 5 years ago

*Arbor Heights also will get a block of sidewalk along SW 104th between 35th and 36th, just east of AH Elementary

*In Delridge, sidewalks are on the way to SW Orchard between Myrtle and Dumar

Today’s full announcement says the mayor is sending the plan to City Council later this week. If you’d like to look into the future to see where future work might be focused, the “priority investment network” map for our area starts on page 60 of the full Pedestrian Master Plan.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH UPDATE: Police arrest package-theft suspect
March 20, 2017 4:11 pm
|      59 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(UPDATED Monday evening with arrest, Tuesday morning with status)

4:11 PM: Just got this from Megan – and if you compare the photos to the person shown in the video in this package-theft story, there’s a definite resemblance (assuming he doesn’t have an identical twin) – and she’s reporting a theft from this afternoon:

This individual has now stolen 3 of my packages since January. All have been reported to SPD. Since I caught it real time today, they said they were going to look for him. I know he must be hitting all the houses nearby as well. Just wanted to share in case anyone else has been having packages go missing, or has a better picture of this guy to share with police.

I live off Fauntleroy Way, near Morgan Junction. This happened around 2:30 pm.

We don’t have Megan’s incident/report number yet, but the one in the case from the reader report published here Saturday is 2017-902386.

7:30 PM: As discussed in comments, there’s an active search under way, thanks to people’s tips, so if you see/hear anything/anyone suspicious, please call 911. Also, we have the incident/report number for Megan’s case – 2017-98442.

8:46 PM: As noted in comments, just got word from SPD that they have made an arrest. This followed an intensive search, K-9 team included, following tips called in to 911. We photographed police in the Seaview/North Morgan Junction area, where they had been searching:

We’ll of course follow the case through the system.

7:51 AM: The suspect, 35, was booked into King County Jail late last night. His bail currently is $1,000, as he’s being held for investigation of theft, a misdemeanor. He’s scheduled for a hearing today and we’ll have a followup after that.

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CONGRATULATIONS! Louisa Boren STEM K-8 robotics team headed to world championships
March 20, 2017 3:26 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Delridge | How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools


>(L-R: Ryan Colby, Sampson Lee, Zaid Bezzaz interviewubg with judges at 2017 Washington State VEX IQ Challenge Championships)

Robotics students from Louisa Boren STEM K-8 in North Delridge are going to the VEX IQ Challenge World Championships next month! This is just the second year for the robotics program at the school, launched by technology teacher Julie Schmick last year, and the STEM students are the only team from a Seattle school to make it to worlds. Here’s the announcement:

A team of fifth-grade students from Louisa Boren STEM K-8 is headed to Louisville, Kentucky to represent the school at the VEX Robotics World Championship. Four robots from STEM competed in the Washington State VEX IQ Challenge Championships in Ellensburg, Washington on March 11th. Two robots made it to the final matches, and a third took home the competition’s top honor, qualifying the team for the world championships April 23-25, 2017.

The Excellence Award, the highest honor at a VEX robotics competition, was presented to the drivers of Robot 10966C, Zaid Bezzaz, Ryan Colby, and Sampson Lee. The award goes to a team that exemplifies overall excellence in building a high-quality VEX robotics program, taking into consideration a team’s behavior, sportsmanship, and professionalism at the event, in addition to robot design, driving skills, and performance in tournament matches.  The approach demonstrated by the STEM K-8 teams in working on their robots and participating in competitions is representative of the school’s project-based learning curriculum, as is the student engineers’ ability to clearly articulate the work they put into designing and building their robots.

In VEX competitions, teams of students are tasked with designing and building a robot to play against other teams in game-based engineering challenges. The VEX IQ Crossover Challenge provides elementary and middle school students with exciting, open-ended robotics and research projects that enhance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills through hands-on, student-centered learning. Two robots compete as an alliance in 60-second teamwork matches, working collaboratively to score points. Additional points are earned through skill tests, documentation reviews, and team member interviews.

Thanks to parent Lisa Dawson for first word on this, and for the photos, including this one of all the students who competed at the state championships:

In all, more than a thousand teams from around the world will be competing at worlds – but the STEM students are the only ones at elementary level from a Seattle school. Robotics is a before-/after-school enrichment program at STEM, whose PTA is covering the event-registration fees for the students, while their families must cover the cost of traveling to Louisville. They’re crowdfunding for help with that – if you’re interested in helping, here’s the YouCaring page.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire heard, evidence found
March 20, 2017 1:57 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news

Sometimes what sounds like gunfire turns out to be fireworks – or something else – unless evidence is found, such as casings and/or property damage. What you see above is evidence. A neighbor shared the photo and this report from Highland Park:

Last night at around 9:45 pm, we heard load gunshots near our house on 10th and Elmgrove [map] and a car speeding away. We called 911 as did some of our neighbors. This morning my husband found bullet casings in the intersection, underneath the 10th and Elmgrove sign. He called the police again; they came out, collected the bullets, and took his statement.

We are feeling very rattled today. Even though we live near some dangerous spots like 16th and Holden, we’ve never had gunshots this close to our home. This street (10th Ave SW) is home to lots of kids and Highland Park Elementary.

If you saw something related to this and haven’t reported it – you can call police at 206-625-5011 and refer to incident 17-097562. And if you hear what you think is gunfire anywhere, even if you’re not sure where it’s coming from, call 911 to report it ASAP – the more calls they get, the better the chances of finding evidence, a suspect, and/or … if there is one … a victim. (Consider then letting us know for Crime Watch, as this neighbor did.)

P.S. SPD’s SeaStat data reviews track “shots fired” around the city to look for trends; the last page of this slide deck from the most-recent briefing shows that confirmed gunfire incidents are up slightly citywide so far this year, compared to last.

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Proposed Alki development, downsized, gets date for Design Review
March 20, 2017 12:16 pm
|    Comments Off on Proposed Alki development, downsized, gets date for Design Review
 |   Development | West Seattle news

The development proposal for 1250 Alki SW – once proposed for more than 100 apartments – has been downsized. Though the previous version made it through the first round of Design Review on its second try in January 2016 (WSB coverage here), it never went to the second round, and when we checked in with developers SolTerra a few months ago, they said they were still considering their options. Now, city files indicate they have a new plan. 1250 Alki is penciled onto the city schedule to go to the Southwest Design Review Board on May 4th as “a 6-story structure with approximately 44 residential units” and 66 underground parking spaces. (1.5 spaces per unit is mandated by what’s known as the Alki Parking Overlay.) No new site plan or design packet in the system yet; we have messages out to SolTerra seeking comment on the change.

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West Seattle Monday: Ways to start spring
March 20, 2017 10:40 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous


(The Olympics’ snowy peaks turned pink from spring’s first sunrise – photo by James Bratsanos)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox, what’s ahead for the first day and night of spring 2017:

DELRIDGE RAPIDRIDE CONVERSATIONS: 11 am-1 pm, SDOT reps are scheduled to be out at unspecified “bus stops along Delridge” to talk with riders about the plan to turn Route 120 into the RapidRide H Line. Go here for more on the questions they’re asking, and how to comment even if you don’t find yourself at a bus-stop meetup.

CROSSTOWN RIVALRY SOFTBALL: 4 pm at Southwest Athletic Complex, West Seattle HS and Chief Sealth IHS play each other in softball. (2801 SW Thistle)

FAMILY STORY TIME: Bring kids of all ages to High Point Library 6:30-7 pm for tonight’s free and fun family story time. (35th SW/SW Raymond)

SPRING-EQUINOX SUNSET WATCH WITH ALICE: 6:45 pm-7:15 pm, be at Solstice Park (uphill from the tennis courts) to watch the first sunset of spring with NASA Solar System Ambassador (aka volunteer astronomy educator) Alice Enevoldsen. Learn about the seasons, the planets, and what the equinox really is, and means. Informal, fun, free. (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW)

ILLUMINATED SCULPTURE: The West Seattle Junction Association says tonight’s the first night you’ll see the Junction Plaza Park sculpture Transpose – dedicated four months ago – illuminated. (42nd SW/SW Alaska)

TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING … please go to our complete-calendar page!

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SPRING 2017 RECYCLE ROUNDUP: See what you’ll be able to drop off this time
March 20, 2017 9:46 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

On the first day of spring, if you’re thinking “spring cleaning” … we have some information that might help. Just in, the list of what will and won’t be accepted at the spring edition of the always-popular Fauntleroy Church Recycle Roundup – see it here (PDF). The free-dropoff event is set for 9 am-3 pm Sunday, April 23rd (9140 California SW).

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: First day of spring edition
March 20, 2017 6:56 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: First day of spring edition
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

6:56 AM: Good morning and welcome to spring 2017.

No incidents outbound from West Seattle right now, but if your commute takes you southbound TOWARD West Seattle, there’s a lane-blocking crash on Southbound I-5 just before (north of) the West Seattle Bridge.

7:26 AM: The SB I-5 crash is reported to have cleared.

9:49 AM: If you’re out at a bus stop on Delridge 11 am-1 pm, you might see the second wave of SDOT outreach on the conversion of Route 120 to RapidRide H Line in 2020. (Let us know if you do!)

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Prefab shelters by Pallet displayed in demo at Camp Second Chance
March 20, 2017 1:51 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Myers Way | West Seattle news

Camp Second Chance – the newly city-sanctioned, but not new, encampment on the west side of Myers Way S. on the southeastern edge of West Seattle – is now officially on the road to expansion.

Its first city referral happened this week, and as of Saturday, the camp had 17 residents, according to operator Polly Trout of Patacara Community Services. The city envisions up to 70 residents. We talked with her at CSC this weekend after a demonstration watched by campers and visitors, related to a key question: Will camp residents have anything more than tents to sleep in?

The demonstration was by Pallet, a sideline of Square Peg Development. They’re making prefab shelters that can sleep four – and can be assembled in minutes, starting with a pile of components as shown in our photo above.

That’s a short segment of what turned out to be an almost 9-minute assembly time. The shelters are aluminum framed, made from a honeycombed, light “yet very strong” material, and can be assembled, disassembled, and reassembled repeatedly with no sign of wear and tear.

Each one costs almost $5,000. There’s no official city RFP or other process to fund these (or any other structures) for Camp Second Chance, so for the encampment to get some would be a matter of private fundraising, separate from the services the city is providing. (One person with city ties was there to observe, though – Councilmember Lisa Herbold.)

Still, the price tag is a challenge. Trout mentioned after the demo that the camp has a donor who will be picking up the tab for 15 Costco pre-fab structures that go for $1500. Pallet, meantime, says it’s working on a proposal to provide some shelters for Seattle’s forthcoming Navigation Center low-barrier shelter. They’re also working on a double-size version of the shelter that would have a bathroom and kitchen.
Pallet is currently having these built by state Department of Corrections inmates (at Stafford Creek). The company also says its parent company hires people who are rebuilding lives on the outside – those who are formerly incarcerated or in recovery, for example.

Meantime, we asked Camp Second Chance leadership more about what’s happening there, now that they’re sanctioned. A potable-water cistern is due soon. They’ve also applied to get an electric hookup. And they’re hoping for a portable toilet – to replace the Honey Bucket type – and shower. Trash service already has begun. The city, meantime, promises a third community meeting soon.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Car prowlers leave the change; sleeping suspect jailed…
March 19, 2017 9:22 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three notes in Crime Watch tonight:

CAR PROWL: The latest one for which we received a reader report is this one from Anne, who’s west of California/Graham:

We had a break-in of our car last night, sometime between 11 pm and 7 am this morning. I think they were just looking for anything valuable to take; took the $20 from the glove box but left the change on the floor. The car has a steering-wheel lock so they couldn’t take the car.

Anne says car prowlers have hit them a few other times in the past 10 years.

CAR PROWL FOLLOWUP: A 40-year-old man remains in jail tonight, in lieu of $2,500 bail, after being arrested in the Alki area early Friday. SPD Blotter reports that officers responding to a call of a suspicious person lurking near a pickup truck at 61st/Admiral found the suspect asleep inside the truck. They say he told them he had permission to be there; the truck’s owner, whose home was steps away, said he did not. Officers “arrested the suspect and found he was carrying someone else’s tax forms, which had been stolen in another car prowl earlier that morning,” per the SPD Blotter report. The suspect is being held for investigation of criminal trespass and receiving stolen property. The jail register shows that he spent a day there a week earlier in connection with a failure-to-appear warrant in a drug case.

PACKAGE-THEFT VIDEO FOLLOWUP: Last night, we published Roger‘s very clear security-cam video of a package theft that happened March 9th. Since then, we’ve heard from multiple tipsters who believe they recognize the man in the video and are talking to police.

P.S. Another reminder that you can bring your neighborhood crime/safety concerns/questions to police on Tuesday night, 7 pm, at the monthly West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting (Southwest Precinct, 2300 SW Webster).

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West Seattle weekend scene: Last sunset of winter
March 19, 2017 8:30 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle weekend scene: Last sunset of winter
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to Chris Frankovich for that view of winter’s last sunset. Spring arrives in seven hours – 3:29 am our time – and we might just have another colorful view for Alice Enevoldsen‘s spring-equinox sunset watch tomorrow night.

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Celebration of Life next Saturday for Clara J. Haba, 1928-2017
March 19, 2017 5:52 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

A Celebration of Life for Clara J. Haba, 88, is planned in West Seattle next Saturday (March 25th). Here’s the remembrance her family is sharing:

Clara Josephine Haba passed away February 8, 2017, at Keiro Northwest in Seattle.

Born June 29, 1928, the second of six children, to Joseph and Eva Fitterer in New England, ND. The family moved to Yakima, WA, in 1946.

Clara met and married Henry J. Haba on July 3, 1948. Henry and Clara moved to Anchorage, AK, driving their brand-new 1949 Pontiac. She drove in the snow to get her driver’s license.

Clara had many jobs throughout her life. She worked as a waitress, cannery worker, Christmas help at the West Seattle Post Office, retouching photo negatives, modeling clothes from Louise North Apparel at Spencer’s Restaurant in West Seattle. Finally deciding on a career choice, she obtained her GED, then enrolled at the Cosmetology College in West Seattle, graduating at the top of her class in 1966. She then went to work for several major downtown Seattle department stores. Clara had many regular and loyal customers while working at Macy’s, where she retired after 20 years. Always wanting to keep busy, she then worked an additional nine years as the retired nuns’ beautician at the St. Joseph Residence (Providence Mt. St. Vincent). Her own hair seemed to grow upward and a hurricane couldn’t move it.

The family spent early years ice skating at the Civic Ice Arena. Clara was also a sunbather. Then came water-skiing in their 14’ ski boat, mostly at Lake Sammamish. The whole family also learned to snow ski and went on several ski vacations. The whole family in the same ski class should never happen. Only Clara could ski down a hill at such a slow speed and then crash into the lift line. They also traveled throughout the U.S., visiting 25 states and internationally covering 10 countries and seven times to Mexico.

The family lived in 10 different residences, half of which Henry built himself. This is where Clara used her talent for decorating and interior painting. You could come home and find the living room a different color. You would never forget what you look like as there was a mirror in every room. Entertaining, she loved and held many Halloween, Christmas and birthday parties. She was also an accomplished seamstress using her 1952 Singer, sewing everything from a boy’s suit, doll clothes, drapes, to her favorite, tableware and pillows. She was also obsessed with trim, lace and fringe. We all enjoyed listening to her play the piano (by ear). She was known for her stylish wardrobe, high heels and “can’t leave home without lipstick”; a store-bought item would soon be altered with a different look. She had the most beautiful smile.

Clara kept a clean and organized house, making all family meals and “sack” lunches, also famous for her homemade pies and cakes. They belonged to a dance group, which Clara loved. It being potluck, all demanded she bring her baked beans or cabbage rolls.

Clara is preceded in death by her parents (Joe & Eva), son (Eugene), brother (Louis), and sister (Matilda). She is survived by her husband of almost 69 years, Henry, and her daughter, Charlene, both of West Seattle. Also by sister (Viola) of Redmond, WA; brother (Frank & Sharon) of Yakima, WA; and brother (Donald & Pat) of Atlanta, GA; survived by over 30 nieces & nephews and great ones.

Donations in Clara’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Special thanks to Keiro Northwest for the professional and gentle care given to Clara. A Celebration of Life will be held on March 25, 2017, from 2-6 pm at the West Seattle Eagles, 4426 California Ave SW, Seattle. Go to Dignity at forestlawnseattle.com.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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