day : 15/06/2017 14 results

Thanks to John for the tip: This Alki house that just went on the market – so new a listing, it didn’t even have a shingle up when we went by tonight – isn’t a landmark, but it has history. 3045 64th SW is listed in King County files as having been built in 1900 but multiple accounts say it dates to the late 1800s – like this one with a historic photo. In 1993, Seattle Times columnist Erik Lacitis declared it Seattle’s “oldest surviving house.” His story says it’s believed to have been built for “Doc” Maynard (yes, the West Seattle Water Taxi vessel’s namesake) on another Alki site, from which it was moved to its current location – and that it was later owned by another legendary West Seattleite, Ivar Haglund. It’s listed at $630,000 and on almost 5,000 square feet of land with single-family zoning.

NEXT MAYORAL FORUM: Next Thursday @ West Seattle Democratic Women

June 15, 2017 9:31 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Missed last night’s mayoral candidates’ forum at the 34th District Democrats (WSB coverage here)? The next one in West Seattle is just a week away – next Thursday, June 22nd, 11:45 am, at the general meeting of the West Seattle Democratic Women. WSDW chair Rachel Glass says they’re expecting at least five of the 21 candidates – RSVPs are still coming in: “This is a chance to get up close and personal with the people who are seeking to be the next Executive leader of our city.” The group meets at 11:45 am at the West Seattle Golf Course, following, she adds, “an optional pre-meeting group discussion led by Theresa McCormick at 10:30 am. You may order lunch ($13.50 for members; $15 for non-members, or if you don’t want lunch, a room charge of $5.00 includes coffee/tea and dessert). The length of the event would be about 90 minutes.” If you want to reserve a spot, RSVP to Rachel ASAP at werdachel@aol.com and let her know if you plan to have lunch, since they need to order in advance.

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VIDEO: Jessyn Farrell wins ‘mayoral showdown’ @ 34th District Democrats

June 15, 2017 7:29 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(WSB photos and video by Patrick Sand. **Recognize the candidates? IDs at end of story)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Nine candidates showed up for the 34th District Democrats‘ mayoral showdown.

By night’s end, there was a showdown winner – but not an endorsee, as the group decided not to take a formal vote (yet, anyway).

Like most epic events, it began with the national anthem:

That’s tenor José Iñiguez. (The meeting usually starts with the Pledge of Allegiance.)

Some other business ensued before the mayoral forum that began with nine and was whittled to one – the candidates had to get here from another forum across town. But we’ll get to those other items later.

MAYORAL FORUM: 34th Dems chair David Ginsberg prefaced it with, “When we planned the agenda for the spring, we didn’t expect the mayor’s race to be hotly contested” – no one could have foreseen Mayor Ed Murray dropping out; they thought City Council Position 8 would be the real battle. Ginsberg reiterated that all 21 candidates were welcome to participate at least at the start of the event. .

The 34th’s Chris Porter moderated. First, each of the nine got to give an introduction:

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HAPPENING NOW: See the Delridge Wetlands Project design possibilities

June 15, 2017 6:34 pm

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| Delridge | Environment | West Seattle news

We’re at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, where an open house continues until 9 pm, first public review of the design alternatives for the Delridge Wetlands Project. If you can get here by 7 pm, project leader Willard Brown tells us, you’ll see the official presentation by the Pomegranate Center designers who are presenting three alternatives. This project involves a site at 23rd SW and SW Findlay that includes a former City Light substation; the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association and its Nature Consortium affiliate are partnering to turn it into a park and educational site, which it’s already been for students from nearby Louisa Boren STEM K-8:

Even if you can’t get here for the presentation, stop by before 9, have a look at the designs, share your thoughts on what’s meant to be a community resource. The open house is in the south classroom on the ground floor at Youngstown, which is at 4408 Delridge Way SW.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Police search in Fauntleroy

June 15, 2017 4:18 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

4:18 PM: Thanks for the tips. The police activity in the south end of Fauntleroy, including the Endolyne business zone, is because of a reported home burglary. We have few details but we did confirm that police have just taken one person into custody at 44th and Wildwood and are expected to search the house soon to be sure no one else is inside.

4:29 PM: Police have searched the home and found no one inside, so the incident is winding down. They tell us the original call, a burglary in progress, came from the homeowner.

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Seattle Public Schools schedules finalized for next year; here’s how they’re changing

June 15, 2017 3:26 pm

| 16 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

One day after that 15-minute meeting in which Seattle City Councilmembers approved giving Seattle Public Schools $2.3 million to help with transportation costs, the district has finalized next year’s schedules. They’ll be in two “tiers,” down from three previously, which means dramatically earlier starts for some schools that had been in the third tier, including two in our area.

The school days also will be 20 minutes longer for all students, the district says, and every Wednesday (except the first day of the school year) will be an early-release day (explained here).

Now published on the district website, the 2017-2018 elementary schedules are here; the K-8 schedules are here; the middle-school schedules are here; the high-school schedules are here.

We compared them to this year’s bell times, and here are the schools whose start times are changing:

Chief Sealth International High School starts 8:55 am, ten minutes later
Concord International (Elementary) starts 8:55 am, forty minutes earlier
Louisa Boren STEM K-8 starts 8:55 am, forty minutes earlier
Madison Middle School starts 8:55 am, ten minutes later
Pathfinder K-8 starts 8:55 am, ten minutes later

The district says anyone with questions can ask at their child(ren)’s school(s), or e-mail arrivaltimes@seattleschools.org.

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Whales and ships, sharing the Salish Sea safely: ECHO program presentation next week

June 15, 2017 3:00 pm

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| West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Photo by Joan Lopez)

One week from tonight, you have the chance to learn about the ECHO (Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation) Program with The Whale Trail, which explains that this is “a Vancouver Fraser Port Authority-led initiative aimed at better understanding and managing the impact of shipping activities on at-risk whales throughout the Salish Sea.” The presentation is at 7 pm next Thursday, June 22nd, at the Dakota Place Building (California/Dakota). From the announcement:

Krista Trounce, the ECHO Program Project Manager, will present how the ECHO Program is working with national and international collaborators to develop mitigation measures that will lead to a quantifiable reduction in potential threats to whales as a result of shipping activities.

Learn about the projects the ECHO Program has completed and is currently working on: Strait of Georgia Underwater Listening Station to measure vessel noise levels, regional monitoring of ambient noise in the Salish Sea, a Mariner’s Guide to Whales in the Pacific Northwest, large whale strike risk assessment, a trial slowdown of commercial vessels, and others. Hear how the ECHO Program and our collaborators are educating mariners, industry partners and the public about the impacts of underwater noise on marine mammals.

Krista will speak to the ECHO Program long term goals, and how the Salish Sea will benefit from their research and initiatives. Buy tickets now at bpt.me/2974083 to reserve your seat. And hurry! This will likely sell out.

This talk is the third of four Celebrate Springer events, commemorating the 15th anniversary of the successful rescue, rehabilitation and release of Springer (A73) the orphaned orca, and the transboundary partnerships that made it possible.

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HIGHWAY 99/VIADUCT CLOSURE: Sunday marathon reminder

June 15, 2017 1:12 pm

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| Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

In case you missed the alert in our daily traffic coverage – here’s another reminder, just in from WSDOT, about this Sunday’s NB Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct closure:

The 2017 Seattle Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon will close northbound SR 99 through downtown Seattle on Sunday, June 18. Northbound SR 99 will be closed from South Hudson Street to Halladay Street between approximately 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Although the marathon is scheduled to last until 3 p.m., the Seattle Department of Transportation is planning to reopen SR 99 and the Alaskan Way Viaduct as early as possible once the runners have passed this part of the course. Please refer to the event website for more specific information on other road closures and parking restrictions related to the event.

Here’s a map showing the closure zone, from south of West Seattle to north of downtown.

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WEST SEATTLE POWER OUTAGE: 2,000+ customers affected in WS, South Park, White Center

June 15, 2017 11:28 am

| 15 COMMENTS

| South Park | Utilities | West Seattle news | White Center

11:28 AM: Thanks for the tips – we heard from two people in Highland Park/Riverview before this big power outage even appeared on the Seattle City Light map. More than 2,000 customers (homes/businesses) are out.

11:37 AM: As the map shows, the outage also stretches into parts of White Center and South Park. The SCL map now has a restoration-time “guesstimate” of 2:31 pm – but keep in mind, could be sooner, could be later. We haven’t yet heard what caused it – if you’re seeing SCL trucks, please let us know, since that’s usually a clue. // And remember that dark traffic signals = all-way stops. Someone just messaged us to say there’s already been a crash at 8th/Roxbury.

12:07 PM: West Marginal/Highland Park Way is another major intersection with the lights out, and people “driving recklessly” as a dispatcher relayed a little while ago (monitored via scanner). SCL says a crash is what caused this and they’re still hopeful of having the power back on by 2:30ish.

12:38 PM: Added two photos from 8th/Roxbury – above, SPD is helping with traffic there (there’s a crash and a stalled vehicle); below, SDOT working with the signal box (and a generator).

12:43 PM: At least part of the area has the power back, per comment and texts, after about an hour and a half.

12:54 PM: The SCL map has updated and says the outage is about two-thirds of its original size – now 1,300+ customers, mostly south/east of West Seattle.

1:08 PM: Now down to 560+ customers out.

1:35 PM: And now just a handful.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Playtime becomes prowl time @ Lincoln, Westcrest Parks

June 15, 2017 11:26 am

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| Crime | West Seattle news

The two newest West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports are from victims of car prowls while taking their kids to play at two local parks:

AT LINCOLN PARK: From Victoria:

Was hoping you could put something on the blog to alert people to being extra cautious with their belongings when they park their cars at Lincoln Park and similar places in West Seattle.

My car was parked at Lincoln Park yesterday afternoon while I was at the playground with my daughter and walking our dog. I had hidden my purse underneath my daughter’s backpack, lunchbox, and my coat, but the criminal still found it, broke my window and snatched it. They spent $4000 in less than 45 minutes on my cards at two nearby Targets and a Walgreens.

If you could alert others to this incident and encourage them not to leave anything valuable behind I’d appreciate it. I hope this doesn’t happen to anyone else.

The advice from police is to not leave anything in a vehicle, valuable or not. As our next reader report demonstrates, thieves will and do take just about anything, on spec.

AT WESTCREST PARK: From Vanessa:

Just wanted to let you know that my car was broken into (Wednesday) at Westcrest Park between 3:30 and 4:30 pm while my son and I were at the playground. My window was smashed and my diaper bag was stolen. There was nothing of any value in it and I’d tried to hide it but apparently hadn’t done a good job. Luckily the police were doing a routine drive through the lot just as I discovered the break – in and were able to take my report.

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West Seattle Thursday: Delridge Wetlands; cooking @ the Y; Alki Community Council…

June 15, 2017 10:45 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today/tonight:

CHEF-IN-RESIDENCE: Best-selling cookbook author Kim O’Donnel is the new West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) chef in residence and starting this week, on Growing Washington CSA produce pickup day at the Y, she’ll “be cooking from a farm box, Iron Chef style, around 4:30 pm … Public invited – not required to be signed up for farm box to stop by and have a taste of what I’ve cooked up.” (36th SW/SW Snoqualmie)

SEE, DISCUSS THE DESIGN FOR DELRIDGE WETLANDS: You’re invited to Youngstown Cultural Arts Center 6-9 pm tonight for an open house focused on the proposed design for the Delridge Wetlands project. See it and comment on it! In the South Classroom. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

WEST SEATTLE TIMEBANK: Members and guests are welcome at the Senior Center of West Seattle, 6-8 pm. Details in our calendar listing. (4217 SW Oregon)

(Photo by Steve White)

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL CONCERT: The photo above is from the end of West Seattle High School Jazz Band‘s recent trip to New York City – the recording session that concluded the trip. The jazz musicians and other WSHS ensembles will perform for you tonight at 7 pm in their end-of-school-year concert. Free. (3000 California SW)

ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm at Alki UCC. Topics include an SPD update, a noise survey, and the ongoing Your Voice/Your Choice park/street project vote. (6115 SW Hinds)

BELLY DANCING: The monthly Alauda showcase at The Skylark is at 7:30 tonight. Free, all ages. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

SETH ALEXANDER QUINTET AND BAD LUCK: 8-11 pm at Parliament Tavern, “modern original jazz.” No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

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@ Admiral Neighborhood Association: From concerts to cleanup

June 15, 2017 9:13 am

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| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

The Admiral Neighborhood Association should be ready to announce the lineup for this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha within a week or so.

That’s one of the toplines from the June ANA meeting this past Tuesday night at The Sanctuary @ Admiral.

(WSB file photo)

SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: As announced earlier this year, the ANA-presented free concert series is set for six Thursday nights as usual, starting July 20th, 6:30 pm on the east lawn of Hiawatha Community Center – this year new volunteer organizers, Stephanie Jordan and Josephine Davis, are planning it and they told the meeting they’re close to finalizing the lineup.

4TH OF JULY KIDS’ PARADE: While ANA doesn’t coordinate the West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade in North Admiral, it supports the event and participates in the Hamilton Viewpoint Park event that follows, with concession sales, and that was discussed too. FIT4MOM is presenting the parade this year and as noted here last week, a crowdfunding campaign is on to cover the increasing costs of permits – you can donate here. As it does every year, the parade starts at 10 am July 4th (a Tuesday this year) from 44th SW/Sunset (map); no preregistration necessary – kids and their families can just show up and be part of it.

PUBLIC SAFETY: Following up on concerns heightened since last month’s as-yet-unsolved deadly shooting at Alki, ANA and the Alki Community Council are looking at a joint public meeting about public-safety issues. Alex Clardy from Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s office was at the meeting and offered to help coordinate, as Herbold had suggested a community meeting even before that flashpoint incident.

HALA REZONING: An early draft of an official ANA comment letter was circulated and discussed, but final action won’t be taken until next month’s meeting, which is still within the comment timeline for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement that the city published a week ago. Also under consideration, an ANA-led walking tour of Admiral to point out key issues.

ADOPT-A-STREET CLEANUP: The rescheduled quarterly community cleanup is this Saturday (June 17th) – be at Metropolitan Market (41st/42nd/Admiral; WSB sponsor) at 9 am; snacks and equipment are provided.

The Admiral Neighborhood Association meets second Tuesdays most months, 7 pm at The Sanctuary; next meeting will be July 11th, then no meeting in August.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch

June 15, 2017 6:52 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

6:52 AM: Good morning. The rain has returned. But so far, none of the morning’s incidents are in West Seattle or on the outbound routes from here.

CAMERA NOTE: SDOT traffic cams are having some outages, so we just have the high-bridge cams to start with today.

8:38 AM: Commenter MrsL says the signal is in flashing-red mode at Avalon/Harbor/Spokane.

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LOWMAN BEACH SEAWALL: Talk about it @ Morgan Junction Community Festival

June 15, 2017 1:41 am

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| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

As first shown during a community meeting two weeks ago (WSB coverage here), those are the three alternatives the city is considering for the north shore of Lowman Beach Park, where the seawall is failing. This Saturday, you have another chance to find out more about the problem and the city’s proposed solutions, during the Morgan Junction Community Festival this Saturday at Morgan Junction Park (west side of California SW, half-block north of Fauntleroy Way). Organizers tell us that Seattle Parks‘ point person on the project, David Graves, will be at the festival around 12:30 pm-1:30 pm to talk with festivalgoers and hear their thoughts on the Lowman Beach possibilities. More background is on the park’s website.

P.S. As for the rest of the festival, which runs 10 am-5 pm Saturday, here’s the program – and we’ll have another preview with new info later today (Thursday).

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