day : 13/04/2023 13 results

Eleven extra reasons to explore the West Seattle Art Walk tonight – mini-concerts at 11 venues as part of the second Muse Fest: The Power of Women’s Voices music festival. Above is Carly Ann Calbero, who performed at West Seattle Grounds in North Admiral; below is jean mann at Verity Credit Union (WSB sponsor) in The Junction:

Tonight’s venues stretched southward to Morgan Junction, where WSB contributor Jason Grotelueschen photographed the performers – first, Sue Quigley – who co-coordinated Muse Fest – at Beveridge Place Pub:

And almost-next-door at Zeeks Pizza, Katrina Kope:

Co-coordinator John Redenbaugh, who also produces The Art of Music, says those performances will be back on second Thursday Art Walk nights this June through December

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FOLLOWUP: Ex-Pegasus Pizza space up for lease

April 13, 2023 10:23 pm

| 27 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Four months after Pegasus Pizza was evicted from 2768 Alki Avenue SW, the space is being offered for lease. We’ve been keeping an eye out for this ever since the eviction and closure, and noticed tonight that the sign had gone up since our last pass through the area a few days earlier. At year’s end, we noted that a court filing indicated the eviction ruling would be appealed. but in March, the appeals court closed the case, saying followup documents due in January had never been filed. The space is listed for lease by Alki Property Management, the building owners who have their offices next to the ex-pizzeria.

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CRIME WATCH: North Seattle murder suspect arrested in West Seattle

April 13, 2023 9:15 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Crime | Myers Way | West Seattle news

When the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office sends documents in major cases to its media list, we usually skim the non-West Seattle ones too, just in case there’s a local tie. And when we read the charging papers for the suspect in a recent North Seattle murder, we found one. 19-year-old Kajali A. Camara is charged with second-degree murder for the shooting death of 27-year-old Anthoni Orozco last week on the campus of Nathan Hale High School. The charging documents say Camara was arrested last Friday night – two nights after the murder – leaving the tiny-house encampment Camp Second Chance (9701 Myers Way S.). The documents don’t say why Camara was there, but police apparently had advance knowledge, as the narrative says SWAT officers were there and “observed Camara walk out of the property,” subsequently taking him into custody and removing an unloaded gun, described as a “Taurus 9mm semiautomatic pistol,” from his pants pocket. Police say it matched a photo provided by a witness to the murder, which prosecutors link to a confrontation with someone he had been dating. The gun had been reported stolen in Renton. Since the charging documents don’t explain what Camara was doing at Camp Second Chance or how police knew he was there, we took several questions to LIHI, the nonprofit that operates CSC and Seattle’s other tiny-house encampments. We got replies tonight from LIHI spokesperson Josh Castle:

Due to client confidentiality, we are not able to confirm or deny if this was a program participant at Camp Second Chance or any details about their specific situation. However, I can share a couple things about our policies and how we enforce them. CSC continues to have a no-visitors policy. LIHI also strictly prohibits firearms and other weapons on the premises, as it is obviously a danger to the community, and we strictly enforce these policies. If a client is discovered with a firearm, it is a common practice that they will be immediately exited from the village and program and also a common practice that village staff will call 911 and hope that police will arrive and assist our staff with the exiting process. Both of those rules are outlined in our Code of Conduct that clients agree to as a condition of staying at CSC. If a client does have a warrant on their record, and the police arrive to enforce the warrant, we will cooperate with the police.

Court documents list the murder suspect’s “last known address” as state-operated Naselle Youth Camp, but its website says the camp has been closed since last fall. Meantime, Camara remains in jail, bail set at $2 million.

SIDE NOTE: If you have questions about the Camp Second Chance arrest or anything else about CSC, its Community Advisory Committee meets online next Tuesday (April 18th) at 6 pm, and connection/call-in information will be in our daily event list that day.

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VIDEO: Washington Tree Equity Collaborative launched with Roxhill Park event

April 13, 2023 6:44 pm

| 21 COMMENTS

| Environment | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

17 years ago, Seattle’s then-mayor Greg Nickels announced a tree-planting plan to keep the city from losing more of its tree canopy.

Several mayors later, the city is still struggling with stopping canopy loss.

The city is working on a new tree policy. Separate from that – and yet an offshoot of sorts – Mayor Bruce Harrell was among a group of officials and advocates who gathered at West Seattle’s Roxhill Park this morning to announce a new statewide tree initiative: The Washington Tree Equity Collaborative.

This one is a “statewide effort to create tree equity in Washington,” as described by Jad Daley of American Forests, who emceed the event. Daley said his group has studied canopy cover in neighborhoods nationwide – creating this “scoring” tool as a result – and found less of it in neighborhoods where a majority of residents are low-income and/or BIPOC. “This is not just scenery we’re talking about – this is critical green infrastructure,” Daley declared. Before our summary continues, here’s video of the five speakers:

Daley said that getting every neighborhood in the state to even a 75 tree-equity score would take 2.6 million more trees. An even more ambitious goal, getting to 100, would take 13 million trees.

Right now, though, said state Public-Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz, the state’s trees are declining in number and health: “Washington is known as the Evergreen State, yet our trees are truly in trouble. … Access to greenspace and shade should be a fundamental right.” Less tree canopy means more heat, and that’s the weather extreme that’s deadlier than catastrophic storms, Franz said. “The answer is so simple – plant more trees and plant them in the right places.” That costs money, she noted, mentioning an $8 million request before the Legislature, and $6 million already secured from the federal government.

Then it was on to the city’s role. Seattle’s Office of Sustainability and Environment director Jessyn Farrell acknowledged that the most recent canopy assessment showed Seattle had lost 255 acres of trees, 1.7% of its canopy, since the previous assessment six years earlier. And relevant to today’s topic, the loss is happening inequitably. She added that addressing the problem means not just planting trees but taking better care of the existing ones.

Speaking next, Mayor Harrell acknowledged that the latest tree-canopy assessment showed that canopy loss on public property is a major problem, noting that he’s ordered that every tree lost on city land be replaced by three new ones.

Bringing it home to the specific piece of public property on which everyone was gathered this morning, Delridge community advocate Willard Brown (above with the mayor) pointed out the plight of Roxhill Park’s bog, a historic wetland that’s been drying out. The area’s status as Longfellow Creek‘s headwaters is priceless, he said – “it’s vital that the creek remains healthy.” Some work is planned later this year, Brown said. He also gently dinged the city for big talk and no followthrough on another West Seattle site, the Myers Way Parcels, which the city promised X years ago would be transferred to Seattle Parks – which has yet to happen.

After the speeches, one question was asked: Local greenspace activist and arborist Michael Oxman asked how the talk of increasing canopy matches with what’s happening in Olympia, with legislators approving upzoning for much of the state, opening the door to more densification. Farrell – a former state legislator – tackled the question, declaring, “There is no conflict between increasing tree canopy and increasing housing.” She said the biggest trouble spots even now are public lands and “neighborhood residential” (formerly “single-family”) zoning, “not so much because of development as because of age and health.” Franz echoed that “we have to address both our housing crisis and our tree crisis,” also contending they aren’t in conflict.

Then it was off to a photo op, mulching trees in the park’s southwest corner. The mayor had moved on by then but Farrell dug in:

P.S. You can check your neighborhood’s Tree Equity Score via the American Forests map here. You can read the Memorandum of Understanding that’s at the heart of the new collaborative by going here.

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FERRIES: Return of three-boat Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth service not expected before May

April 13, 2023 5:15 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

(Triangle Route ferry photographed from Lincoln Park by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Thanks to Tom for the tip via this comment. Washington State Ferries now says they don’t expect to restore three-boat service on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run before next month. That’s a change from what WSF said when they announced M/V Cathlamet was returning to service, and also from the Service Restoration Plan‘s projection of trial 3-boat service in early April. The problem, says WSF spokesperson Ian Sterling, remains staffing: “We’re still too short-handed to reliably go to three-boat service. However, we anticipate that by May, the staffing situation will have improved enough to allow us to trial full service, thankfully.”

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UPDATE: Water outage southwest of West Seattle Junction

April 13, 2023 3:23 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

3:23 PM: Thanks for the tips. Seattle Public Utilities is working on emergency repairs for an outage described as centered in the 5200 block of 49th SW, affecting at least three dozen customers. One texter says they’re affected in an area north of what’s on the SPU map. We’re checking with SPU to find. out more about the problem.

5:01 PM: We have yet to hear back from SPU, but the map shows the outage resolved. (If your water’s not back, call 206-386-1218 to be sure they’re aware.)

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One month away from West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, and two more weeks to register

April 13, 2023 2:37 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2023 is exactly one month away! Saturday, May 13th, is this year’s big day – always the second Saturday in May since WSCGSD’s inception in 2005 – and so far 180 sales are registered. As usual, participants are all around the peninsula – north-south from North Admiral to Seola Beach, east-west from Highland Park to Fauntleroy, In the listings we’ve checked so far, sellers are promising something for everyone – clothing, furniture, kitchenware, music gear, tools, even an outboard motor and swamp cooler – and that’s just what we’ve seen in the first 40 or so to sign up. A few sellers say they’ll be open Friday as well as Saturday. Basic WSCGSD hours are 9 am to 3 pm; you’re welcome to start earlier and/or end later – if you plan to do that, be sure to include it in your sale description on the registration form. Deadline to sign up to be on the map/list is 11 pm Thursday, April 27th (two weeks from tonight). When you’re ready to register, here’s where to do it!

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PROTECTING ORCAS: State House passes buffer bill to keep boaters further away from endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales

April 13, 2023 1:09 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics | Whales

(J44 [Moby] and J53 [Kiki] – photo by Mark Sears, permit #21348)

Back in January, we reported on legislation to require that endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales be given more space. Now, a milestone on the journey to becoming law – here’s what Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail, who worked on the governor’s orca task force, reports a key bill is almost all the way through the Legislature:

Good news! The bill to establish a 1,000-yard buffer around the southern residents passed the House yesterday (read the House announcement here.) It won’t take effect until January 2025, which was a disappointment, but it will be mandatory for all boaters – a big win for the whales.

The bill also requires Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to establish a working group focused on boater solutions, so recreational boaters have the tools they need to know when southern residents are in the area, and how to estimate 1,000 yards at sea.

SB 5371 implemented a recommendation from WDFW in a recent adaptive management report, and is based on best available science showing that vessel approaches closer than 1000 yards significantly reduce the whales’ ability to find and catch their prey. The harmful impacts of noise and disturbance are more pronounced on females: female southern resident orcas abandon hunts when vessels approach closer than 400 yards.

Even though the distance requirement won’t be mandatory until 2025, there’s no reason to wait to give the whales the space they need. Boaters can take the voluntary pledge at givethemspace.org, to 1,000 yards away. Download the free app Whale Alert and learn when southern residents are in the area, so you can watch them from shore, or avoid them at sea.

Special thanks to House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon and Senator Joe Nguyen, who supported this bill every step of the way. Also to other legislative champions, WDFW, our fellow organizers in the Give them Space campaign, and the many people and organizations who stepped up for the orcas this session. A sea change is underway, against great odds.

This bill is the outcome of public process that began on the Governor’s Task Force. On the long road to recover the orcas, this is a big next step. We can’t wait to tell J pod!

Donna adds that the bill isn’t final yet – there’s one more “step in the Legislative process before the bill achieves final passage. Because the House bill is different than the bill that passed the Senate, representatives from both bodies will meet to reconcile the difference, a process known as concurrence.”

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen green CR-V; car prowler

April 13, 2023 12:28 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch so far today:

STOLEN GREEN CR-V: Sent by Louis:

Our family vehicle (1999 Honda CR-V, Green, #AND2976) was stolen last night on 40th Ave SW between SW Dakota St and SW Genesee St. I found out the car was missing on my way to work this morning at 6:30 am. We have reported the theft to SPD and have a report number: 2023-99460.

This additional photo shows various stickers on the left rear window.

CAR PROWLER: From an anonymous reader: “Wanted to alert you to attempted car prowl/car theft at my house last night (car in the driveway!). The prowler(s) were unsuccessful but would be good to have more people alerted to be watchful. I can’t pin the exact time – but I was not in view of my car between 9 pm on 4/12/23 and 4:45 am on 4/13/23. I’m at Upper Fauntleroy neighborhood (40th Ave SW).”

REMINDER: Questions for local police, about a specific incident, trend, or … ? Your next chance to ask is tonight at 6 pm during the rescheduled Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council meeting, at the precinct (2300 SW Webster). If you want to attend by video or phone, we’ve now added that info to our calendar listing.

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FOLLOWUP: New date set for ‘Friends Across the Wires’ in West Seattle

April 13, 2023 11:52 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Last week’s scheduled one-time performance of “Friends Across the Wires” at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center had to be called off at the last minute for COVID concerns. Now producer Tamara Bunnell tells WSB a new date is set – one week from tonight, 7:30 pm Thursday, April 20th. It’s a free performance, presented by the Seattle Historical Theatre Project, of a play telling the story of Japanese American incarceration during World War II through the prism of young people’s experiences. No tickets or RSVP required – just show up next Thursday night. The venue is at 4408 Delridge Way SW. (Here’s our original preview.)

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West Seattle Art Walk, Muse Fest, Fly Fishing Film Tour, Crime Prevention Council, Southwest Stories, more for your Thursday

April 13, 2023 9:49 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Art Walk, Muse Fest, Fly Fishing Film Tour, Crime Prevention Council, Southwest Stories, more for your Thursday

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Big Thursday in West Seattle! First – art and music combined:

WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: That’s the venue list for tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk, at venues all over the peninsula, 5 pm “until late.” Some have art, some have artist receptions too, some offer food/drink specials. Preview many of the artists via the Art Walk website.

MUSE FEST: As previewed here, tonight’s Art Walk is highlighted by the second Muse Fest, a series of concurrent free mini-concerts by women musicians, this time at 11 venues, 6-7:45 pm – see the performer/venue lineup here.

Also today/tonight:

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: At the West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW), 10:30 am.

WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayers@gmail.com to see where they’re playing today.

FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: 2-6-year-olds welcome 3:30-5 pm at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW).

THURSDAY FOOD-TRUCK POP-UP: 4-8 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), the Paparepas truck will be visiting.

WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at The Good Society (California/Lander) at 6 pm for a 3-mile run – more in our calendar listing.

SW PRECINCT CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Rescheduled night for this meeting with local police and special guests, 6 pm at the precinct (2300 SW Webster). You can also attend online – we’ll add that link here by afternoon.

WORDS, WRITERS, SOUTHWEST STORIES: Online presentation by Jennifer Sherman on “Dividing Paradise: Rural Inequality and the Diminishing American Dream.” 6 pm. Our calendar listing has info on registering to attend.

HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Meet up at Highland Park Corner Store at 6:30 pm Thursdays for a ~3-mile run.

FLY FISHING FILM TOUR: As previewed here, Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor) hosts this stop of the tour, 7 pm at Admiral Theater (2343 California SW). You’re invited to stop at the EWA shop (4502 42nd SW) on the way there for preshow activities. Ticket link is in our calendar listing.

LIVE AT EASY STREET: Dave Hause performs free in-store concert at 7 pm (4559 California SW).

If you have something to add to our calendar, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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Remembering James C. Huntley, 1948-2023

April 13, 2023 9:04 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are remembering Jim Huntley and sharing this remembrance with the community:

James C. Huntley
February 29, 1948 – March 29, 2023

Jim was born in Seattle on February 29, leap year day, in 1948. He was the second-born child of Charles and Virginia Huntley. Jim was raised in West Seattle and attended Alki Elementary, James Madison Junior High School, and graduated from West Seattle High School in 1966. After graduation, he went to work with his father at Huntley Machine and Tool. Jim worked at the family machine and fabrication business until it closed in the late 1990s.

Jim loved to be on the water and over the years enjoyed all kinds of boating. He belonged to the Roche Harbor Yacht club and spent many days exploring Puget Sound in his boat “Jambo.” Jim was also a motorcycle enthusiast and was part of a club called the Jolly Rogers Motorcycle Club. Jim made many friends throughout his lifetime and treasured all of those friendships.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, his best friend and loving wife Michele, and his daughter Kimberly A Ferkingstad. He is survived by his son, Kameron Huntley, his granddaughters Anna and Sonja Ferkingstad, and his sister Donna Holsman.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Thursday watch

April 13, 2023 6:00 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Thursday watch

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, April 13th. second-to-last weekday of spring break for Seattle Public Schools and others.

WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

The forecast for today: Cloudy, chance of showers, high in the low 50s. Sunrise 6:24 am, sunset 7:56 pm.

TRANSIT

Metro – Regular schedule, but trip cancellations are still happening, so watch for alerts (if you’re not signed up to receive them, check channels like this).

Water Taxi – Regular schedule. Reminder: Late-night Friday/Saturday trips resume April 21; to get ready, there will be no WSWT service this weekend (Saturday-Sunday, April 15-16).

Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on the 2-boat schedule; check here for alerts/updates and see Vessel Watch for boats’ locations.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.

High Bridge – the camera at the top:

High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):

Low Bridge – looking southwestward toward it:

1st Ave. S. Bridge – another route across the river:

Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

BRIDGE INFO: Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed to see if the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.

If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities). Thank you!

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