West Seattle, Washington
19 Friday
Margie Haywood called it the kind of gathering her Jefferson Square business Work and Play Lounge “was created for … to bring people together.” This morning, the people brought together at Work and Play Lounge included the mayor of Seattle, a Tacoma city councilmember, the leaders of two regional Chambers of Commerce, the city of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development director, and executives from Comcast – whose small-business-grant program Comcast RISE is what the event was all about.
The grants are for small businesses owned by women and/or people of color. Haywood’s business – whose opening we covered last year – was one of 100 regionally receiving $10,000 each in the last round, and now it’s almost time for a new round of applications. That was explained in a series of speeches, including Haywood’s account of how the no-strings-attached grant may have saved her business, which is now about to expand and add a Queen Anne location.
Haywood also spoke of overcoming “outrageous barriers” and described the joy she felt at news of the grant, “the first money I ever received from any institution.” OED director Markham McIntyre (at right in group photo) noted that “access to capital” is a top concern for entrepreneurs. Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce CEO Rachel Smith (left in photo) said women- and POC-owned businesses had been hit particularly hard during the pandemic, so grants like this can be a lifeline. Tacoma Councilmember Keith Blocker (third from left in photo) agreed, “Our shared goal is to help these businesses.”
Comcast vice president for external affairs Marianne Bichsel (third from right) concluded with details on the application process for the next round of grants: They’ll accept applications October 3rd (next Monday) through October 16th. You can find eligibility and application info here. This is one of five metro areas around the country where Comcast is offering the RISE program, which also offers a by-application marketing/tech-resources program. For their purposes, “Seattle” includes King and Pierce counties, which is why Councilmember Blocker and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber CEO Andrea Reay (second from left) were there too.
That’s a quick clip with the two stars of the season-starting play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor), “Swimming While Drowning,” which opens this week – there’s a pay-what-you-can preview on Wednesday, and the official opening night is Thursday. The play by Emilio Rodriguez is described as “a story of love, poetry, and new beginnings”; read more about it here. Roy Arauz directs; Brodrick Ryans and Gabriel FitzPatrick are the actors. After Wednesday’s 7:30 pm preview, “Swimming While Drowning” will be presented Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 3 pm through October 23rd. Tickets are available online here.
(WSB photo, July 29: ‘Ghost bike’ silhouetted during Critical Mass gathering)
More than two months have passed since the hit-run crash east of the low bridge that killed Robb Mason, a West Seattle massage therapist riding home to Magnolia. No arrest reported in the case yet. Critical Mass Seattle paid tribute to Mr. Mason with a memorial ride two weeks after his death, and now Seattle Neighborhood Greenways will do the same this Friday (September 30th). The group is inviting people to either ride with them from downtown or meet them at the collision scene. From the announcement:
Robb Mason was killed while biking home to his wife Claudia in July. He was a loving husband, a caring friend, and gentle soul.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Last year was the deadliest year on Seattle’s streets since 2006, with 30 lives lost. This year is shaping up to be just as tragic.
As we laid out in an open letter to the mayor this summer, these deaths are preventable with proven solutions that his administration can implement now.
Join fellow safe street advocates, the new SDOT Director Greg Spotts, a representative from the Mayor’s office, and Claudia Mason and family and friends in a memorial ride on September 30th to honor Robb Mason’s memory, and raise awareness of the need to invest in traffic safety improvements on the streets of Seattle.
Those riding from downtown are asked to meet up by 5:30 pm Friday at City Hall Plaza, 600 4th Avenue. RSVP requested but not required – go here.
Local students got an assist again this year from the volunteers and donors of the Pencil Me In For Kids program. Here’s the recap from the Rotary Club of West Seattle:
The beginning of school year 2022-23 may have been delayed, but the West Seattle Rotary Pencil Me in for Kids (PMIFK) program was able to deliver almost all of the requested supplies before September 7th. This is the 27th year for the PMIFK program.
Rotarian Sue Lindblom of the now retired Illusions Hair Design and her team there began the program in her business. After a few years, it was taken-in by West Seattle Rotary as an annual project. The goal has always been to provide local area public elementary schools with the specific school supplies they know their students will need in the Fall. Each school is different and so no two “Wish Lists” are the same. Twelve schools were contacted and nine chose to participate.
There was considerable support these past few years from the Fauntleroy United Church of Christ members, and also this year from businesses in their area. With the on-going support of Staples at Westwood Village, thanks to Assistant Manager Robert, Rotary received 1,000 school kits along with very deep discounts on all the other items purchased. West Seattle Rotarians were all smiles when delivery days finally arrived and they knew those supplies were going to help local kids through this upcoming school year.
Over two days, the PMIFK Team picked-up most of the supplies at the Westwood Village Staples, delivered them to American Legion Post 160 in West Seattle for sorting into nine school groups, and then delivered eight grouped supplies to Louisa Boren STEM K-8 as a pick-up point for that school and seven other schools (the exception being one delivery directly to Roxhill). Pictured at Boren are (l-r) Andrew Coghill and Rotarians Keith Hughes, John Enger, Martha Sidlo, and Tom Nychay.
For more information on Pencil Me In For Kids or the Rotary Club of West Seattle, go to westseattlerotary.org or send email to pencilkids53@gmail.com.
Five reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STORE CLERK INJURED: A reader asked us about this incident and we obtained the report today. A clerk was injured trying to stop a would-be shoplifter around 10 am Sunday at Delridge Deli Mart. Police say the victim tried to chase the would-be shoplifter out of the store, when he pushed her to the ground. She was lying on the floor by the register, reporting hip, leg, and wrist pain, when responders arrived; they were told she was assaulted outside the store, managed to get up and go inside, but was hurting so badly she had to lie down again. She was taken to a hospital by AMR ambulance. The attacker was described in the narrative only as a “Black male,” but police were working to get the store security video. If you have any information, the incident # is 2022-256634.
From the weekend’s brief SPD summaries, three other local incidents, starting with another case in which a store employee tried to stop a thief:
SHOPLIFT TURNED ROBBERY: Just after 5:30 pm Sunday, police were called to the South Delridge 7-11. A store employee told them a person had left the store without paying for merchandise; they followed the thief out and were subsequently assaulted by a second person wielding a knife. The clerk “armed himself with his own stick,” the summary says, “at which time the second suspect pointed a firearm at the clerk. The suspects fled in a vehicle. No injuries were reported.” This incident number is 2022-257011.
DON ARMENI ASSAULT: At 8:44 pm Saturday, police were flagged down about a “fight” of some kind at Don Armeni Boat Ramp. Here’s the summary:
Two intoxicated involved parties were located and interviewed about their roles in the incident. Both displayed injuries to their faces and hands and were treated on scene by Seattle Fire. These subjects reported being assaulted by a group of twenty 18-20 year-old males in an unprovoked attack. The subjects further reported that no words were exchanged with the suspects before or after the assault, leaving them unsure of any possible motive. The suspects fled the scene in vehicles prior to police arrival and no further specifics were provided by the remaining subjects. One of the subjects reported that his cell phone and wallet had been taken at some point during the incident, but it was unknown by which of the twenty suspects.
Radio exchanges on Saturday night described the attackers as “Asian males.” If you have any information, the report # is 2022-256152.
BUSINESS BURGLARY: Just before 1 am Saturday, officers responded to a report of a burglary at Westwood Village’s MOD Pizza. They found the back door open, with some kind of key in the lock, and the cash register was missing. The call was recent enough when they responded that they called in a K9, but they had no luck tracking the burglar. This incident number is 2022-255362.
FROM THE DUMPED-LIKELY-STOLEN FILE: Ian found these car bike parts dumped at a bus station on Avalon:
Got a Crime Watch report? Once you’ve reported it to police, send it to us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The behavioral-health system in our area is desperately short on capacity for crisis care, says King County Executive Dow Constantine. Example: The entire county has one 46-bed behavioral health crisis facility. To start fixing the problem, Constantine is proposing a property-tax levy. He announced the nine-year proposal today, saying that between 2024 and 2032 it would generate $1.25 billion “to stabilize and strengthen King County’s behavioral health crisis care system.” Here’s the announcement; here are the four things the levy would be aimed at accomplishing:
1. Create five new regional crisis care centers: Distributed geographically across the county, the centers will provide walk-in access and the potential for short-term stays to help people stabilize, depending on needs, with one center specifically serving youth.
2. Preserve and restore the dramatic loss of residential treatment beds: In 2018, 355 beds providing community-based residential care for people with mental health residential needs existed in King County. Today, only 244 of these beds are available.
3. Grow the behavioral health workforce pipeline: The proposal will create career pathways through apprenticeship programming and access to higher education, credentialing, training, and wrap-around supports. It will also invest in equitable wages for the workforce at crisis care centers.
4. Provide immediate services while centers are being constructed: The proposal will also use initial proceeds to quickly create mobile or site-based crisis behavioral health services that can operate until the first crisis care centers open. This bridge strategy will complement recent state and federally-funded-mobile crisis teams.
This would cost the current “median-price” homeowner $121 a year in the levy’s first year. If the County Council approves sending this to voters, it’s likely to be on a special-election ballot in April of 2023.
Thanks to John for the photo. That’s a juvenile Brown Pelican – average 6+-foot wingspan! – not commonly seen around here, although we’ve heard of some sightings in recent months. John explains, “Saw a bunch of seagulls chasing a large bird and assumed it was an eagle. Not unusual here along Beach drive. But looking at the chase with binoculars, I was surprised to see a long beak. After the chase broke off, the bird landed on the water and swam close to shore right in front of our home.” Historically they’re most often seen along the ocean coast, though we see they’ve been visiting other parts of Puget Sound too.
Thanks to Richard for the tip. He noticed the big WE’RE MOVING sign on the door of Pet Pros at Westwood Village, which says the pet-supply shop is moving to West Seattle’s other major shopping center, Jefferson Square. We followed up this morning and the staff tells us that tomorrow (Tuesday, September 27th) is their last day at WWV. Their new location is the lone remaining vacant spot at J-Square, next to what’s now Z Optic, and they expect to open there on Thursday (September 29th). Pet Pros has been in WWV since 2007; the center has another pet store opening this fall, a local franchise of the national chain Pet Supplies Plus, opening next to Ulta Beauty, as first reported here last year.
(Thanks to everyone who sent sunrise photos! This one’s from Susanna Moore of WSB sponsor Niederberger Contracting)
Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BLOCK DROP: Today’s location to find, and return, DIY cleanup equipment is Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW), until 6 pm.
LAST DAY: Today is the final day the Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy store in The Junction (4707 California SW) is scheduled to be open, as reported here.
SPORTS: Chief Sealth International High School plays Cleveland in slow-pitch softball, 4 pm at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
CRAFTING AND CREATIVITY NIGHT: 6-10 pm at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), explained in our calendar listing.
MEDITATION: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation event at the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm.
PLAY TRIVIA! Three scheduled options tonight for trivia players – 7 pm at Best of Hands (35th/Webster), 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Have something for our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
With the new school year now well under way, school-support groups are launching fundraisers. Friends of Roxhill Elementary is asking you to help, if you can, with field trips and classroom extras. Here’s the announcement they sent:
Back-to-School – Field Trips & Classroom Fund
Help us kick off the new school year by giving to the Roxhill Field Trip and Classroom Fund! Did you know schools and families cover the cost of field trips? This creates a disparity between field trip experiences across schools in our district. With your generous donations, Friends of Roxhill provides each teacher at our Title I school with money for field trips and to equip their classroom with much-needed supplies, like educational games, toys, and books. Last year, each teacher received ~$15 per student. We’d like to increase that amount to ~$20 per student this year! All funds donated go directly to teachers to benefit our RoxStars.
Here’s the fundraiser link. Friends of Roxhill is a registered non-profit. If you would prefer to donate by check, please mail it to the school at 7740 34th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98126. Thank you for being a friend!
P.S. Friends of Roxhill also has a dine-out fundraiser at MOD Pizza in Westwood Village this Wednesday.
9:43 AM: Avoid the South Park Bridge -it’s malfunctioning.
10:01 AM: Working again.
Earlier
6:00 AM: Good morning. It’s Monday, September 26th.
WEATHER
Here’s the forecast – sunny with morning haze and “patchy smoke,” high near 80.
TRANSIT INFO
Metro buses are on their regular schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations/reroute alerts.
No changes in ferries (check here for alerts/updates) or West Seattle Water Taxi service (which will continue at all-day/every-day levels through fall and winter).
ROAD WORK
-As soon as today, Seattle Public Utilities will close Sylvan Way between Home Depot’s eastern access and SW Orchard, as SPU works on a “natural drainage” project that will take about two weeks. This notice explains.
-Just south of the city-limit line, King County is scheduled to continue repaving Myers Way between 99th and 108th.
BRIDGES
High Bridge – here’s the lone reactivated camera atop the span.
Low Bridge: Open to anyone who wants to use it.
1st Ave. S. Bridge: For those still finding it more convenient.
Highway 99: Whichever bridge you’re using to get to it, here’s a look at northbound traffic on 99 at Lander.
All currently functional city traffic cams can be seen here, many with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page … Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
If you see trouble on the roads/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
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