By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Stephen Brown is the newest candidate for the District 1 City Council seat. He’s also new to the district, having just moved to West Seattle six months ago.

Brown is the fifth candidate to sit down with us for our initial series of Candidate Chats, video-recorded conversations intended to give you an early look at the candidates who have officially announced campaigns for the council seat Lisa Herbold is leaving after two terms. He is founder of Eltana Bagels, with an eclectic resumé before that, including a staff position with the short-lived Seattle Monorail Project. We talked with Brown at West Seattle Coworking in The Junction last Wednesday; here’s our unedited half-hour conversation:

If you can’t, or don’t want to, take the time to watch/listen, here’s our summary of key points:

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On eve of cleanup, 3-vehicle fire at encampment by 1st Avenue South Bridge

March 19, 2023 8:57 pm

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| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

As we reported last week, the city plans to start a cleanup tomorrow at the sprawling encampment on the West Seattle side of the 1st Avenue Bridge. This past hour, SFD responded to what’s been described as a 3-vehicle fire there – two cars and one RV. No report of injuries. Police are investigating. How many people remain at the encampment is unclear; state and regional homelessness-response spokespersons told us last week that 30 people have been placed in shelter/housing.

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BIZNOTE: Yen Wor Village plans to close at month’s end

March 19, 2023 7:29 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

One year ago, we reported on a fundraising campaign to try to keep Yen Wor Village, the restaurant/bar at 2300 California SW in The Admiral District, from closing. As noted at the time, the Wong family, owners of Yen Wor for more than 30 years, has been struggling with both financial and health challenges. They’ve made it through another year but now have announced a plan to close. The restaurant says it’ll close at the end of the month. No special events in the works to mark the end of an era, so far, but we’re told that could change. The crowdfunding campaign launched last year is still active – a poster for it is still displayed in the Yen Wor’s window:

But there’s no indication that a rescue is possible now. If you want to support the restaurant by dining/drinking there in the meantime, before the March 31st closure, they’re open seven nights a week.

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UPDATE: Missing teen found safe.

March 19, 2023 5:03 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: The missing teen’s mom says he has been found and is safe.

Earlier:

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Camp Second Chance updates, as new managers meet with Community Action Committee for the first time

March 19, 2023 3:56 pm

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| Myers Way | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

West Seattle’s only tiny-house encampment is under new management. Camp Second Chance is still operated by LIHI, which has the contract to run it on city-owned land at 9701 Myers Way South, but in recent months, its on-site managers have changed. The new managers met with the CSC Community Advisory Committee for the first time this past Tuesday night. The online meeting was the first in a few months because of logistics challenges that resulted in previous cancellations.

The new managers who talked with committee members are Daniel Weiss, the LIHI program manager accountable for four tiny-house encampments including CSC, on-site manager Michelle Yellow Robe, and case manager Ashley Freeman.

Currently, the site has 64 tiny houses, six of which are empty and undergoing maintenance, and 65 people, including some couples sharing a tiny house, plus 10 pets (seven dogs and three cats). Freeman is the lone case manager at the moment, with an open position for a second one; the task of assisting more than 60 people with needs including housing and job searches “can be overwhelming at times,” she acknowledged. But people continue to be placed in housing, she said, some to LIHI apartment buildings, but others to a variety of housing options all the way down to “rooms for rent.” LIHI can assist in placement of clients by paying their first/last months’ rent and deposit.

Weiss said the new managers have been stressing that “we want to help them keep moving along and get into permanent housing.” Yellow Robe added, “It’s a program, a stepping stone, not just a place to stay (indefinitely).”

That understanding isn’t shared by all, they said, particularly police whose help they have sought with removing problematic people from CSC. This issue surfaced last fall, as we reported in coverage of October’s Community Advisory Committee meeting. LIHI’s Josh Castle said CSC had required some police responses recently after a client assaulted a staffer, punching them in the face. He said police refused to remove the client from the site, insisting it was a landlord/tenant issue and that they couldn’t “evict” someone. When we followed up on the previous issue last fall, city homelessness-response spokesperson Linda Robson told us, “Legally, for purposes regarding evictions, tiny houses are considered emergency shelter, not housing.” But Castle said SPD has refused to help them in situations like this, at other LIHI tiny-house encampments as well as at CSC. In this situation, Castle said, an arrest would have been most appropriate, but “we just want them to leave the village.” Yellow Robe added that beyond the safety risk of having this person remain at CSC, it sets a bad example for others staying there – “The other clients are watching this and they think it’s a free for all.” One committee member suggested LIHI take the issue to the City Attorney’s Office.

The city did apparently take action on another problem, RVs and junk – not associated with CSC, accumulated along Myers Way adjacent to it. Weiss said he had filed a Find It Fix It report and cleanup/dispersal followed. Meantime, the camp is working on a new gate/fence in front to improve security. Committee members asked if the camp had any specific needs at the moment with which the community could assist; Freeman said she was looking into planning some activities such as an Easter dinner and egg hunt. Weiss said in general they are looking to bring in “more community partners” to provide services.

The Camp Second Chance Community Action Committee‘s monthly meetings are usually on second Tuesdays at 6 pm, online, open to all; email Josh Castle at LIHI to get on the announcement list – – and/or watch for the meeting info in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar.

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About the smoke column behind Home Depot

March 19, 2023 1:57 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

Thanks to the texter who sent that photo. The smoke was from a fire, quickly extinguished by SFD Engine 11 minutes ago, in the greenbelt behind Home Depot. Firefighters described what was on fire as a “makeshift structure” and the call is logged as “encampment fire.” No word of any injuries. Most of the greenbelt along Sylvan Way northwest of the store is city-owned land.

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DATE SET: Celebration of life April 1 for Gregor Terjung

March 19, 2023 1:41 pm

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| Obituaries | West Seattle news

When the family of longtime West Seattle Junction gift-shop owner Gregor Terjung announced his death in January, the date wasn’t yet set for his celebration of life. Now it is, and they want the community to know that the memorial is planned for Saturday, April 1st, 11 am at West Seattle Christian Church (4400 42nd SW). Online tributes are also still welcome at emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Gregor-Terjung. Mr. Terjung owned and operated Terjung’s Studio of Gifts for half a century until closing the shop and retiring at age 89.

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MONDAY: Spring equinox sunset watch with Alice at Solstice Park

March 19, 2023 11:14 am

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| Skies Over West Seattle | West Seattle news

(December 2022 photo by Jason A.G. Enevoldsen)

Snow was on the ground when educator/expert skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen led her change-of-seasons sunset watch for winter three months ago at West Seattle’s Solstice Park. Now the days are warmer and longer and it’s time to welcome spring. The equinox moment is at 2:24 pm tomorrow (Monday, March 20th) and a few hours later, Alice welcomes you to the park (uphill from the tennis courts at 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW) to learn about what “equinox” really means, and to see how the sunset lines up with the precisely placed rocks at the park. She’ll be there 6:30 pm-7:30 pm; whether it’s in view or not, the sun will set behind the Olympics around 7 pm (usually 10 minutes or so before the “official” sunset time). All ages welcome; serious rain cancels.

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WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY: 17 notes!

March 19, 2023 6:30 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Blossoming tree near Don Armeni Boat Ramp, via Chi K Photography)

Here’s what to know about as we go into the second half of winter’s last weekend, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

TRAFFIC ALERT: Road work just east of the low bridge is expected to continue today, 7 am-3 pm.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: Last day for in-person cookie sales. You can look up all the “cookie booths” – locations, dates, times – by going here.

BENEFIT BOOKFAIR: Today’s also the last day you can help Alki Co-op Preschool raise money by shopping with Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW) – details are in our calendar listing.

ONLINE RELIGIOUS SERVICES: We’re continuing to update these – see today’s lineup here.

EASTER BUNNY PHOTOS: First of three days with photo sessions at My Three Little Birds (4736 California SW) in The Junction. Our calendar listing has info and the signup link.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market offers almost-spring produce as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, more. Here’s today’s vendor list. (California SW between Oregon and Alaska)

WINTER CLEARANCE SALE: Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) is offering end-of-season deals at its Winter Clearance Sale – details here. Open today 10 am-5 pm.

OPEN HOUSE: New bar Revelry Room – in the speakeasy space behind the storefront at 4547 California SW – is having an open house today, 10 am-2 pm.

DONATION DRIVE: Before winter ends, here’s one more chance to donate warm clothing and/or food and/or hygiene items at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), 11 am-3 pm.

FREE COVID VACCINATIONS: Available for children and adults, no appointment needed, noon-4 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s Walmesley Center (35th/Myrtle).

SEATTLE BADGERS BENEFIT: 2-8 pm, Lady Jaye (4523 California SW) is donating part of today’s proceeds to the Seattle Badgers softball team – details in our calendar listing.

MUSIC AT C & P: 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), music with Jean Mann, Alicia Healey, Deb Seymour. No cover.

MAGICAL STRINGS AT KENYON HALL: Doors at 3 pm, show at 3:30 pm, Celtic music and dance – more info and ticket link in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)

YOGA, MEDITATION, GONG BATH: Presented by Inner Alchemy, 7 pm at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska), $35.

SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.

LATIN SUNDAYS: DJ at The Benbow Room (4210 SW Admiral Way), starting at 9 pm.

SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 9 pm to 1:30 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).

Have an event to add to our calendar? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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