West Seattle, Washington
23 Tuesday
Three Admiral biznotes tonight:
WEST SEATTLE COMPUTERS MOVING: This shop is moving from The Junction to Admiral, effective next Monday (October 30th), when it will open at 2735 California SW (across the street from Hiawatha Playfield, next to Freshy’s Coffee). Along with providing “a full range of technology services including PC and Mac repair, data recovery and virus removal,” the announcement says WSC is “beefing up our Help Desk, business support, and express services.”
COPPER COIN ANNIVERSARY: This Thursday (October 26th), Copper Coin (2329 California SW) celebrates its fifth anniversary by offering this deal, according to general manager Gregg Graham: “Our classic house Deluxe Burger or our new brunch sneak-peek Brioche Breakfast Sandwich for only 5 bucks all day long! We’ll also be pouring an assortment of delicious seasonal draft beverages, with plenty of fresh hop selections from the likes of Bale Breaker, Goodlife, 10 Barrel, Mt. Tabor, Double Mountain, et. al., plus some pumpkin ales too!”
PIZZERIA 22 CHANGES: Cary Kemp e-mailed this update:
I recently bought out my partner at Pizzeria 22 and am now the sole proprietor! We are very grateful for the support we received from our former partner and are excited to implement some new additions to our private dining space, our menu and events, like a late=night happy hour starting in November.
We also recently acquired the bust of a water buffalo we call “Wilma” and she is now hanging above our oven at Pizzeria 22. We import fresh D.O.C. bufala mozzarella and our customers have really enjoyed its rich, creamy texture and bold flavor.
Pizzeria 22 is in its seventh year at 4213 SW College.
P.S. Reminder that the Admiral District merchants’ trick-or-treat day is Halloween this year – Tuesday, October 31st, 3-6 pm, as previewed here.
6:26 PM MONDAY: If you’ve seen the racist graffiti vandalism at Delridge Skatepark – you’ll probably be glad to hear that Seattle Parks will have a cleanup crew out tomorrow morning. That’s according to Parks spokesperson Rachel Schulkin. Several people called our attention to the graffiti (shown in this tweet), which refers to President Trump as the “great white chief” (albeit, with several misspellings). We pointed them to the Seattle Parks graffiti hotline, 206-684-7587. One person who e-mailed us expressed concern that the hotline has a recording saying it might take two weeks to get graffiti handled, so we asked for a timeline, and that’s how we got the response that “crews are planning to deal with it first thing tomorrow.” Parks also stresses that if you see graffiti vandalism (or any other crime) as it happens, call 911.
ADDED 9:13 AM TUESDAY: Thanks to the texter who just sent this photo of the cleanup crew at the skatepark:
(South Operations Center rendering, from city website)
We most recently reported back in July on Seattle Public Utilities‘ plan to turn the bus yard at 4500 West Marginal Way SW [map] into its Drainage and Wastewater South Operations Center.
Today’s city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin includes official notice of the city’s land-use-permit application for the project. That opens a comment period through November 6th – here’s how to comment.
If you have questions about the project, or just want to see/hear more about it, you’ll want to be at Wednesday night’s Highland Park Action Committee meeting – 7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club (1116 SW Holden) – because SPU is on the agenda with a presentation about it.
Just before the end of last school year, we reported on Louisa Boren STEM K-8 parents’ concern that the district was looking at moving their school.
(WSB photo, June 1st meeting at Louisa Boren STEM K-8)
This culminated in an at-times-testy meeting June 1st (WSB coverage here) in which the district refused to rule out moving STEM K-8 out of Boren so the building could be used again as an “interim site” for other schools during rebuilds/remodels.
Last time we checked with the district to see where the situation stands, we were told they would come back to the community with an update “in August or September.” We’ve learned belatedly and indirectly – no district announcement was sent to the media nor to the wider community, and the meeting’s not on the district or school calendars – that this update will happen tomorrow night (Tuesday, October 24th), 6 pm at the school (5950 Delridge Way SW). We confirmed today with district spokesperson Tom Redman that the meeting is open to the public – anyone interested, regardless of whether you are a STEM K-8 family member or staffer.
(WSB photo, October 9th, looking west from south side of 59th/Admiral)
Two weeks after our first report on Alki Elementary School parents contending that SDOT changes at 59th/Admiral made it unsafe rather than safer, they’ve launched an online petition so other concerned community members can show support.
They say they’re continuing to see near-collisions every morning, including this one last week, detailed by parent Merkys Gomez, one of the founders of the school’s Traffic Safety Task Force:
Another parent and I with our block school bus were standing on the intersection of 59th and Admiral on the south side ready to cross. Jeanne, the crossing guard, normally has us wait there until she’s standing in the middle of Admiral waving her flag for us to cross. She was about to step into the intersection. There was a line of cars on Admiral heading eastbound. A driver in a black Audi decided that he didn’t want to wait. He crossed the double-yellow line, floored it through the turning lane and across the intersection as the first car heading eastbound was getting ready to cross the intersection, and nearly missed a Metro bus heading westbound. You could hear his wheels spinning in the rain. The trajectory if he would’ve hit the bus would’ve sent the car our way. … We were all stunned, and none of us wanted to enter the intersection, not even Jeanne. We just stood. The children were clutching our arms. The crossing guard has been told that she must get a license plate number to get anything to happen. That’s impossible when we’re holding flags and kids’ hands and someone hauls across the intersection. SDOT needs to capture this data of near-misses.
Meantime, the extra stop sign recently placed in the center lane a half-block east of the intersection is gone – last seen in pieces on the planting strip. And the parents say they’re still waiting for a formal response from SDOT: “While we wait, we plan to continue our efforts to do outreach to the community regarding our proposed solution, which includes an all-way traffic signal that is pedestrian and vehicle activated. We want all users of the intersection, whether crossing Admiral on foot or turning onto Admiral from within a car, to feel safe.” They also have taken their concerns to City Councilmembers, including West Seattle/South Park’s Lisa Herbold, and citywide (but West Seattle-residing) Lorena González. SDOT said on October 11th that it will “accelerate” stop-sign relocation, painting of a crosswalk across 59th, and addition of painted curb extensions – by year’s end. The parents’ task force ultimately wants to see a full signal at this intersection, and that’s what their petition requests.
In West Seattle Crime Watch this morning:
3 BURGLARIES IN 1 WEEK @ CANNABIS SHOP: Police are investigating early-morning burglaries today, Sunday, and last Monday at Canna West Seattle (5435 California SW). After hearing from neighbors about the break-ins in the past two days, we requested the reports from SPD, and one report mentions another break-in a week ago. This morning’s full report isn’t available yet but media relations Det. Mark Jamieson tells WSB, “It happened about 3:18 am and was reported by a neighbor. The caller stated that 3 black males in their 20s were observed running northbound from the business carrying bags. Officers arrived within minutes of the call along with a K9. The K9 team did a track, but it appears that the suspects got into a car.” As for the Sunday break-in, the report narrative says police got the call at 3:50 am, with a neighbor reporting “three males in front of the store breaking into the front glass door with axes.” K-9 tracking in this case also suggested that the burglars departed in a vehicle. And this report says police were met at the business Sunday morning by the owner, who told them the store had been broken into last Monday (October 16th) in the same way, by three people with axes. The report says there’s surveillance video and that, in the Sunday burglary, it shows that the burglars – who wore masks and gloves – were in the store for just two minutes, breaking the door at 3:37 am and fleeing with merchandise at 3:39 am.
Also, two reader reports about overnight car prowls:
IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: From Maria:
We wanted to let everyone know that there are car prowlers in Arbor Heights. My husband was loading up his car this morning between 5 and 6 (making several trips), and someone took multiple items from his car. They stole his work computer and everything from his console. They also left a women’s purse and a trail of garbage from our house toward Fauntleroy Park. We live near 39th and 97th aves. [map] It is particularly upsetting because the car was parked at the end of our driveway (closest to the house) and was essentially right outside our back door. We were all inside (my husband, myself, our toddler and infant) about 20 feet away. The car is also parked under a security light and they had to walk down our driveway past my car to get to it. Given this, it was particularly bold, brazen and unsettling. We were wondering if people were watching and waiting, or if it was just dumb luck. Apparently leaving your car unlocked, in your driveway, outside your back door for about 30 minutes in the morning is just not safe any more.
IN GATEWOOD: From T:
Our older-model Highlander was prowled sometime last night (Sunday). Car was mistakenly left unlocked – no broken windows. Nothing of value taken but would love to have back the car records, etc. that were in a small zipper binder in the glove box if someone finds it randomly dumped. Car was parked in vicinity of 41st and Austin. Lock your car at all times and leave nothing inside.
P.S. Another reminder that the next local crime/safety-related meeting is tomorrow, Tuesday (October 24th), the West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network, with special guest Councilmember Lisa Herbold – 6:30 pm, Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).
Thanks to West Seattle photographer/pilot Long Bach Nguyen for aerial views of fall colors at High Point, above and below – as we start the week with some excellent weather for fall activities. Today’s highlights start with an event from the WSB Halloween (Etc.) Guide, which is full of fun happening now through November 1st:
PUMPKIN JUNCTION: The Beer Junction‘s annual celebration of pumpkin beers, ciders, and meads continues through Halloween – go here to see what’s on today’s list. (4511 California SW)
Got a Halloween/harvest/pumpkin/etc. event that’s NOT in our guide? Please send us info ASAP – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you! Meantime, from our year-round WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TINKERLAB AT DELRIDGE LIBRARY: STEM-based activities for all ages – today, 3-D Printing, 4-5:30 pm. Free. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
DELRIDGE BUSINESS SURVEY RESULTS RELEASE & MIXER: Help Delridge businesses grow! Come to Ounces to meet local businesspeople and find out what the recent business survey revealed. 5:30 pm mixer, 6 pm results presentation. (3809 Delridge Way SW)
RON GALLO LIVE IN-STORE @ EASY STREET: 7 pm at Easy Street Records, you’ll see and hear Ron Gallo perform – free, all ages. (California/Alaska)
MONDAY MEDITATION: Tonight’s theme is “Developing Patience.” 7-8:30 pm at SoundYoga (WSB sponsor) – more info in our calendar listing. (5639 California SW)
This year’s Chief Sealth International High School auction celebrates the school’s 60-year anniversary. If you or someone in your family spent time at the school during those 60 years, maybe you can help with this request:
Are you a Sealth Alumni? Do you know one? We are looking for MEMORABILIA throughout the ages. The Sealth Auction Committee is looking for items to use for decorations at the 9th Annual Auction for Sealth, PTSA, DSPA and Athletics. Do you have old Letterman jackets, pictures, annuals? Old uniforms? We’ll borrow or take whatever you’ve got. Maybe ask your neighbor that’s lived in the area for a long time. We are celebrating 60 years of Sealth, 1957-2017!
The auction is on November 18th at the Brockey Center. We’d love any help the community can offer us in locating these items. We are especially looking for the years late ’50s, ’60s & ’70s! Please contact Kristin Arvidson at chiefsealthptsa@gmail.com
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning. So far this Monday, no incidents reported in/from West Seattle.
WATER TAXI NOTE: This is the final week of this year’s 7-day-a-week, all-day schedule for the West Seattle Water Taxi – as of one week from today (Monday, October 30th) it’ll be on the five-day fall/winter schedule, which you can preview here.
8:50 AM: Still quiet! But we cover major traffic incidents the rest of the day/night too, if/when they happen – tips appreciated (when you can safely/legally text/call) at 206-293-6302.
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