West Seattle, Washington
17 Saturday
(Frank B. Cooper School, 1930s – Seattle Public Schools photo)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Your next chance to celebrate West Seattle’s history – with an eye toward the future – is Sunday, at Youngstown 100, the party in honor of the centennial of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, the historic former school building at 4408 Delridge Way SW.
What was Youngstown School in 1917 and became Cooper School in 1939 is by no means a relic from the past. Today, it pulses with creativity and promise, from the artist live/work studios up top, to the classrooms, performance areas, and offices below.
But its future was in doubt, not so long ago.
Youngstown is owned and managed by the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association. So for a look back at this part of the historic schoolhouse’s history, as the 100th-birthday party approaches, we sat down for a conversation with DNDA co-founder Paul Fischburg.
We start tonight’s Crime Watch roundup with updates on three high-profile defendants (all of whom remain in jail):
ANNA KASPAROVA, ABEL LINARES-MONTEJO: Another set of dates was scheduled today for the co-defendants in the September murder of Edixon Velasquez outside his Westwood home – they are both due back in court for a trial-readiness hearing on January 12th, and depending on how that goes, a trial date of January 23rd. Both are charged with first-degree murder.
KIERRA WARD: The woman charged with first-degree assault after the October knife attack on an Admiral woman walking with her baby was back in court Wednesday. It was a routine hearing, with the only result the decision that she’ll be back in court December 14th for another check on where things stand.
And one reader report tonight:
MAIL THEFT: From Ryan:
I had mail stolen from my front porch at 4 AM this morning on 50th in North Admiral. My camera got some videos of the person walking back and forth (the one of it actually happening is below), but obviously not the perp’s face.
Already filed a police report.
(Initial number T17014275.)
Dental offices with art in every room. That’s what you’ll find at the new offices of Healthy Smiles by Dr. Saturay, as we discovered at their open house tonight.
When we introduced Dr. Kathleen Saturay (above, with the mural that’s in the lobby) and her team as new WSB sponsors two weeks ago, we mentioned they were moving and expanding in December. Tonight they showed off the new offices in Springline, at 3222 California SW. And there’s a lot to see!
The move wasn’t far in distance – right across the street from where Dr. Saturay’s practice used to be.
(Added: Texted photo – Spirit of Kingston at Seacrest tonight)
Thanks to the person who texted about a delay in the West Seattle Water Taxi’s departure from downtown around 5 pm. We hadn’t found the reason until this alert just came in:
The West Seattle and Vashon routes of the Water Taxi could be delayed at least 10-15 minutes tonight as all route departures will use the north side of the Pier 52 dock. The Doc Maynard has been taken out of service due to mechanical issues. West Seattle will resume service with the 5:25 pm departure from Pier 52 on the Spirit of Kingston.
Thanks to Gary Jones for this afternoon’s view from Alki Point of the U.S. Coast Guard heavy icebreaker Polar Star, which is based on the downtown waterfront but, with tugs, is currently headed toward Manchester, according to MarineTraffic.com. The Polar Star is in its 45th year of service and is supposed to go out of service next decade, though it may not have a successor, and, per reports like this, badly needs one.
(Photo from twitter.com/mayorjenny – signing ceremony @ Elliott Bay Book Company)
After two West Seattle visits in two days, new Mayor Jenny Durkan went to Capitol Hill today to sign her latest executive order. But given how many small businesses we have here, it’s worth noting: She’s ordered the creation of a Small Business Advisory Council to be sure that “small businesses have a role in informing policies and programs as well as access to resources (and to) provide input on impact of City decisions, make policy recommendations, and help increase access to tools and resources available to small businesses.” The order (read it here in full) says the mayor will appoint the group’s members, and that its charter will be set by February, with its first meeting by March. The announcement notes that the city “has about 36,500 businesses with fewer than 50 employees that employ nearly 200,000 people in Seattle.”
If you have books you don’t need any more – for kids or adults – here’s how to get them to people who will read them!
The West Seattle Food Bank Bookcase is running extremely low on a number of categories of books for this holiday season especially children’s picture books and easy readers, as well as teen books, and adult fiction and non-fiction. Donations are accepted Monday-Friday 9 am – 3 pm and Wednesday until 7pm at 3419 SW Morgan St. at the corner of 35th & Morgan. Have a wonderful holiday season.
WSFB is on the southeast corner of 35th and Morgan. We’re adding this to the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide‘s “how to help” section, too – if you have a donation drive, fundraiser, volunteer need, etc. this season, please let us know!
We just stopped in to verify that this really is Reopening Day at Alki Spud Fish and Chips. What was expected to be a month-long maintenance/repair closure stretched to a month and a half, but today the refreshed restaurant with 82 years of history is back open for business at 2666 Alki SW. Some remodeling upstairs too:
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Seattle Parks and Recreation hadn’t been planning an overhaul of Lincoln Park‘s South Play Area so soon after revamping the park’s North Play Area.
Termites forced their hand.
That’s what was revealed last night as the cause of the damage that led Parks to suddenly shut down the south play structure, and to remove it shortly thereafter. In addition, the discovery led to an inspection of other similar structures citywide – and accelerated plans to replace some, including one in West Seattle; more on that later. First – what last night’s meeting was all about: Gathering opinions on what the new play area should include.
The meeting at The Kenney was sparsely attended, but the team from Parks was excited to already have received 250 responses to this online survey, which you can reply to if you haven’t already. (Here’s how responses are going so far.)
Parks manager Susanne Rockwell and landscape architect Pamela Alspaugh led last night’s meeting (with the project construction manager observing), which revealed some basics about the project’s scope and timeline as well as options for what could be installed.
(Red-tailed hawk, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Last day of November – here are highlights for the rest of today and tonight:
FAMILY STORY TIME: 10:30 am, for kids of all ages, at Southwest Library. (9010 35th SW)
‘REVEALING TODAY’S NORTHWEST COASTAL PEOPLES: NATIVE CULTURAL GATHERINGS’: 3:30-6:30 pm artist-recognition event with demos and panel discussion at the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Art Gallery. The gallery’s in Brockey Center toward the south end of campus. Everyone’s invited! (6000 16th SW)
HEALTHY SMILES OPEN HOUSE: See the new location of Healthy Smiles by Dr. Saturay (WSB sponsor) during an open house, 4-8 pm. (3222 California SW)
WINTER BAKING DEMONSTRATION: ‘Tis the season to … bake! Chef/cookbook author Kim O’Donnel demos seasonal recipes at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) in The Triangle, 4:30-5:30 pm. (36th SW/SW Snoqualmie)
BOOKFAIR BENEFITING HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY! Tonight, 6-7:30 pm at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village, and online for five days:
Everybody is invited to a fun family night of storytelling, a holiday sing-along, and a scavenger hunt!
If you make any purchases, Barnes & Noble will donate a percentage of your sale to the Highland Park Elementary PTA (make sure to mention our bookfair!). Funds will go toward events and enrichment programs that support our students and their families.
If you can’t attend the bookfair, you can still participate in the fundraiser by entering Bookfair ID 12233862 during checkout in the store or online at BN.COM/bookfairs from 11/30/17 to 12/04/17.
(2600 SW Barton)
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 8th grader planning to go to WSHS next year? Tonight’s the chance to tour the school and find out more about it, 6:30-8 pm open house. (3000 California SW)
FERRIES & WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL … are the main topics at tonight’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting, with guests from Washington State Ferries and Sound Transit, as previewed here. 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House High Point. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
THE SLAGS: 9 pm at Poggie Tavern. No cover. 21+. (4717 California SW)
PREVIEW A BIG HOLIDAY WEEKEND: Nothing unique in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide for today/tonight but the next big wave of events starts tomorrow, so if you get some time, preview this BIG holiday weekend by browsing through it!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:51 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported so far in/from West Seattle.
NOTES: The school-bus strike IS over, as promised, and full service is expected today … The stadium zone will be busy tonight, with Sounders FC hosting Houston at 7:30 pm at CenturyLink Field.
7:20 AM: SDOT reports a crash at 36th and Barton.
9:04 AM: The heart of the morning commute has concluded without anything else of note. Thanks as always for 24/7 tips – traffic and other breaking news – via our hotline, 206-293-6302.
One year ago, the West Seattle High School girls-basketball team’s district-championship season began with a game against Bothell HS, as this season just did. Last year, Bothell took the win, but not this time. In Wednesday night’s game, the Wildcats were dominant right from the tipoff, scoring 17 unanswered points in the first four and a half minutes before the Cougars finally got on the boards with a basket. WSHS looked as good as they had, maybe better than, last season, with their starting stars back, including #11 Jasmine Gayles:
Gayles had the first four points of the night, on her way to the second-leading scoring total, 15, as well as numerous assists. Top scoring honors belonged to #20 Grace Sarver (top photo), with 18. #4 Kelsey Lenzie was in double digits too, at 11. And #10 Jenna McPhee had 8.
… as did #32 Meghan Fiso:
Smothering defense and aggressive pursuit of the ball – both via rebounds and forced turnovers – marked the West Seattle play, too, even once they’d built a big lead. The gap did allow reserves to get significant time, including #34 Anissa Babitu:
At the end of the first quarter, WSHS was already up 23-4; at halftime, it was 35-11.
The second half opened in showy style – starting with Lenzie sinking a three-pointer on an assist from Gayles; a few seconds later, Sarver netted two, soon followed by a Gayles basket, and a three for McPhee on a Sarver assist, all of this happening in the half’s first minute and a half. The Wildcats’ lead soon opened to forty points and then some. Everybody had a share of it; midway through the final quarter, Babitu had a three-pointer, and a few baskets later, the buzzer sounded with WSHS getting the 69-20 win. They’re home again Friday night, vs. Nathan Hale at 7 pm.
COACHING NOTE: The Wildcats were coached tonight by JV coach Mike Gutierrez, whose reminders about rebounding and other exhortations carried across the court:
He filled in for third-year head coach Darnell Taylor, who is suspended for the first two games of the year because of a rule violation toward the end of last year – one WSHS caught and reported itself – it played one game more than permitted, as explained in this Seattle Times report from last May.
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