West Seattle, Washington
15 Thursday
Three West Seattle Crime Watch cases:
BUSINESS BURGLARY: A customer of West Seattle Nursery told us they were burglarized overnight, and we subsequently requested and obtained the police-report narrative. It says the break-in was discovered by an employee arriving early this morning. “Several areas of the nursery had been ransacked,” police wrote in the report, with the burglar(s) gaining entry to the buildings by drilling out/otherwise removing the locks. They left behind a mess, the report says, mentioning “several file cabinets and drawers had been tossed around the offices.” If you have any information for police, the case number is 19-231377.
And two reader reports of vandalized cars:
ADMIRAL: Kevin reports this happened last night:
Frustrated! While eating at Pizzeria 22 (California and College) with the car parked on the street nearby, we got keyed. Deep gouges in front quarter panel. Note on window from a kind witness: “Your car was keyed by blue Subaru YUX—-.” Why do people do this? SPD online report filed….and Mr Subaru— we’re looking for you!
NEAR LINCOLN PARK: Marie reported this last weekend: “The rear window on our SUV that was parked on Faumtleroy near Kenyon was smashed for no apparent reason (besides meanness!) on Sat night or Sunday morning. Car was locked…nothing of value inside…wasn’t even rifled through. Someone just got their jollies by destroying the window (and costing us $ and aggravation).”
Two weeks ago, we reported that a restaurant/bar called Lady Jaye would be taking over the West Seattle Junction space that’s been home to Pecado Bueno for six years. Tonight, we have word of PB’s closing date. The company’s marketing director Tim Larson tells WSB that this Sunday, June 30th, will be the final day of operation at 4523 California SW. He adds, “No news yet on a new location. All our team there will be transferring to other locations.”
(WSB photo from February)
Surrounded by fencing, windows boarded up, the little stone-studded house at 1123 Harbor SW awaits its future – or lack of one. As we first reported in February, its site has been sold. But local preservation advocates and historians hope to save the hand-decorated Depression-era house and move it. One of their first public presentations was at last week’s meeting of the Alki Community Council, which voted to support the effort. As outlined by Mike Shaughnessy, here’s what’s being proposed:
A volunteeer advisory group called the Alki Beach Rock House Association has been formed, led by local entrepreneur and historic-preservation advocate John Bennett, who’s long been restoring old buildings, from West Seattle to Georgetown to South Park. They would like to move the house from its current location to city Parks land – ideally near the Alki Bathhouse – where it could become a visitor/interpretive center. As the infosheet he circulated at the meeting describes it:
The (center) would be staffed and operated by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and offer a “gateway” location to the Log House Museum down the street. All relocation and construction-related costs will be provided by the Rock House Association and an “Operations and Maintenance” endowment will be established to release SPR of any incurred costs.
They envision putting it on a raised foundation and including a small space where an SWSHS volunteer could answer visitor questions and direct people to the nearby museum. The building could also be used to display interpretive information about the Duwamish people, the Denny Party landing, the nearby Statue of Liberty Plaza, Seattle Parks, and more.
There’s a precedent for a community-initiated project to become part of Alki Beach Park – a decade ago, that’s how the miniature Statue of Liberty, which originally was on a relatively nondescript base surrounded by asphalt, got its own plaza. (Though the original organizers and proponents of that plan have long since moved on, the ACC has remained caretakers of its originally endowed maintenance fund.)
The Rock House Association has had some preliminary talks with Parks. At last week’s meeting, the ACC voted to send the city a letter of support and also offered some advice on people to consult. Meantime, no redevelopment plan for the site is filed – yet.
A vigil tomorrow and Memorial Mass on Thursday are planned for Ronald H. Maes. Here’s the remembrance being shared with the community:
Ronald Henry Maes
Born in Seattle to George Maes & Clara VanCoulie.Ron worked in the grocery business for forty years, and loved bowling and working in his yard. His real love was doing things with his family. His Grandchildren kept him very busy in his retirement. It was filled with sports of all kinds. He and his wife of 58 years travelled extensively.
He is survived by his wife, Carole, their children, Caroline (Danny) Curtis, Terrie (Keith) Guthrie, Debbie (Mike) Dephelps, Randy (Eilisa) Maes, & Lori (Brian) Bress, seventeen Grandchildren, two Great-grandchildren, and two Granddaughters-in-law, his sister, Georgette, and many nieces & nephews.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents George & Clara, his twin brother Don, and infant daughter Tammy.
Memorial Services in his loving memory will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church of West Seattle.
A Vigil will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at 7 pm, and a Memorial Mass on Thursday, June 27, 2019 at 11 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMA) or Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.
To share your fond memories of Ron with his Family & Friends forever, please visit his Tribute Wall.
Care & Arrangements entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
Thanks to the nearby resident who just sent that photo of another Highland Park Way/Holden crash this past hour. No injuries reported, so no Seattle Fire dispatch. The next phase of safety improvements at this problematic intersection isn’t clear; as reported here in May, SDOT told the Highland Park Action Committee that the cost of a long-proposed roundabout has jumped to $7 million, and even “just” a signal would cost $3 million. No funding has been identified for either.
(SIDE NOTE: HPAC’s next meeting – with crime, safety, and transportation on the agenda – is tomorrow night, 7 pm, at Highland Park Improvement Club.)
The advocacy group Seattle Subway suggests it’s time to start thinking ST4, three years after voters passed ST3. Here’s the map of possibilities they’re circulating:
Again, this is a volunteer group, not formally affiliated with Sound Transit or any other government agecy, but the prospect of where light rail goes next has been raised many times as the West Seattle extension is planned, so we’re publishing their pitch:
In 2016 Seattle took a bold step toward carbon-neutrality by voting to expand the Link rail system—acting in the face of a climate crisis that chokes our blue summer skies with wildfire smoke, combined with a growing influx of new residents to our city.
Planning and building rail extensions takes decades, however, and a completed ST3 system will still leave frustrating gaps in Seattle’s densest neighborhoods, like Belltown and First Hill. That is why we must start working on ST4 now to expand Link service and move toward a vision of Seattle that is fully connected by high-quality transit.
Our next rail expansion vote on ST4 should come in 2024. More people than ever will be riding Link in 2024 as major stations open in Northgate, Bellevue, Redmond, Federal Way, and Lynnwood. Critically, we will still have a window to design major ST3 stations and infrastructure for transfers and future expansion, since they must be planned that way from the start. The only way to avoid short-changing the potential of our investments in ST3, including a brand-new downtown subway tunnel, is to plan ahead with a Seattle-focused ST4 plan.
“Seattle is growing fast and started out decades behind on rapid transit,” said Keith Kyle, executive director of Seattle Subway. “When projects can take dozens of years to deliver, we don’t have time to wait around on getting started. We need to leverage the investments we’re already making to create a true Seattle Subway.”
Seattle residents should have the option to catch a train in Georgetown, Wallingford, or White Center and enjoy a smooth ride to Lake City, Crown Hill, or Fremont. We live in one of the most beautiful cities on the planet but spend far too much time stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, spewing carbon emissions from our vehicles.
“Improving Seattle’s public transit system serves everyone,” said Seattle Subway political director Ken Anderson. “Growing our Link network brings environmental, economic, mobility, and quality of life benefits to every person who doesn’t drive or is sick of wasting their time stuck in gridlocked traffic.”
To pay for this expansion, we have identified two existing funding sources with strong potential: The City Transportation Authority (CTA) and the Seattle Transit Benefit District (TBD). The CTA can be used in its current form, but can be greatly improved with state action. Please join us in urging your state legislators to improve the CTA.
“Seattle residents have a chance to make an impact on national and global issues like inequality and climate change by voting locally to expand transit access,” said Kjersti Egerdahl, board member of Seattle Subway. “Seattle can show leadership by developing a strong ST4 ballot measure.”
To make this vision of ST4 a reality, Seattle Subway is working alongside a coalition of partners to build grassroots support, talking to local elected officials, lobbying for small changes in state law, and preparing to run a ballot measure in 2024.
“The more stations Sound Transit builds, the more Seattle votes with our feet,” said Ben Broesamle of Seattle Subway’s Board of Directors. “As we continue to build today, we need to stay focused on the future and create more connections for everyone in the region.”
We stand at a crossroads to determine the future of rapid, low-carbon transit in Seattle and across the region. If you share our goal for transportation progress, come join Seattle Subway. Help us write our upcoming series explaining why each new ST4 line needs to be built. Help us connect with people at farmers markets and community events around Seattle to grow this movement. Help us by calling, emailing, and writing your elected representatives and Sound Transit officials to let them know you want more rail expansion.
Traffic is over, if you want it. Today, we invite you to join the ST4 movement— for the environment, for generations of Seattleites to come, and for yourself.
Seattle Subway is an all-volunteer nonprofit advocating for high quality rapid transit.
Just in case you haven’t been paying attention – ST3, approved by voters in the three-county Sound Transit district, includes extending light rail to the West Seattle Junction, opening in 2030. The planning process has moved into the environmental-studies phase, with a draft Environmental Impact Report due out for public comment late next year.
(Baby Steller’s Jay, photographed by Robin Sinner, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Highlights of the hours ahead:
BRING DIAPERS! Help WestSide Baby “stuff the bus” with diapers by bringing some to its White Center hub for tonight’s diaper-drive culmination celebration, 5-7 pm. (10002 14th SW)
SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS: That’s what the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network is all about, and even if you’re not (yet) involved with a BW, you’re invited to tonight’s meeting, 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct. Hear from/ask questions of local police, plus a special Emergency Management guest. (2300 SW Webster)
FAMILY STORY TIME: 7 pm at Delridge Library, for kids of all ages. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
CANDIDATE MEET-AND-GREET: City Council District 1 candidate Brendan Kolding will be speaking/answering questions at Admiral Church, 7 pm. (4320 SW Hill)
PUNK/JAZZ: That’s what to expect at Parliament Tavern tonight at 9 with the Suffering F-Heads. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
MORE! See the full lineup on our complete calendar.
As noted here back in April, the West Seattle Junction Association is lining the heart of The Junction with Pride flags this weekend. They’ve all been “adopted” by donors. Volunteers will be putting them up Saturday morning, taking them down Saturday night, putting them up again Sunday morning, and taking them down again. You’re welcome to help at the beginning or end of the weekend – meet Saturday morning at 8 am or Sunday at 5 pm; meet at Cupcake Royale on the northeast corner of California/Alaska.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:02 AM: Good morning! No alerts or incidents reported so far.
Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network and friends hope you will join them on Saturday:
This coming Saturday morning, June 29th, from 9:30 AM – noon, Seal Sitters, along with Sno-King Marine Mammal Response and SR3, will be sponsoring our annual beach cleanup at Alki. We will be meeting at the Alki Statue of Liberty (61st Ave SW & Alki Ave SW) [ Map ]. There will be a brief introduction by Kate Melges, highlighting her work with Greenpeace on ocean plastics and microfibers.
Supplies will be provided by Seattle Parks & Recreation and Puget Soundkeeper Alliance. For additional details, check this announcement on Seal Sitters’ Blubberblog: Sentinels of the Sound beach cleanup.
While we are requesting an RSVP to ensure we have enough supplies, please feel free to drop by to visit our display tables and help out. RSVP to SealSitters.Outreach (at) msn (dot) com
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