West Seattle, Washington
27 Saturday
Family and friends are remembering Jon Jameson and sharing this remembrance with the community:
Jon Jameson, a West Seattle son, passed away on January 8, 2023. Jon was born October 9, 1966 to Helen and Paul Jameson. Jon grew up in Fauntlee hills, not far from the Fauntleroy YMCA and the deep woods around Fauntleroy Creek, where he had many adventures as a youngster. He first attended Fauntleroy Elementary School and later Our Lady of Guadalupe and John F. Kennedy High School (now Kennedy Catholic). Jon played youth sports and was a stellar catcher for Ebberts Aerialist baseball and tackle for West Seattle youth football. He graduated from Kennedy in 1984, earning a Merit Scholarship.
Jon attended Seattle University, ultimately receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. While attending Seattle U., Jon worked in Loss Prevention at the Sears and Roebucks on 1st and Lander (now Starbucks headquarters), where he made many friends. Jon always knew he wanted to help the less fortunate and started out volunteering at residential shelters and transitional housing for the unhoused community and those with substance abuse and mental-health challenges. He was later hired on by Community Psychiatric Clinic and Catholic Community Services, where he met, fell in love and married his co-worker, Mary McDonough. Jon and Mary welcomed their daughter Emily in 2000. The family moved to Ireland in 2002 to be closer to Mary’s extended family.
Jon continued his work with the homeless in Dublin and later in Sligo. Jon was a voracious reader, and loved politics and current world events. He loved playing guitar, listening to the Rolling Stones, fishing for trout and salmon, and was a wonderful cook. He had many dear and loyal friends who shared in the adventures and hilarious stories of his younger years. Jon put up a courageous, 18-month fight against cancer and died peacefully surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by loving wife Mary, adoring daughter Emily and several half brothers and sisters in other parts of the U.S. He leaves a legacy of kindness and caring for the many people he touched and was able to help during his nearly 30-year career. Jon will be missed greatly by all, leaving us heartbroken without him and yet grateful that he was a part of our lives and giggling when we recall those stories. Godspeed, Jon. You live on in our hearts.
(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)
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, April 28th.
WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Warm forecast for today: Sunny, high in the low 70s. Sunrise was at 5:57 am; sunset will be at 8:17 pm.
UTILITY WORK ALERT
Harbor Avenue has extensive no-parking signage for City Light work today and tomorrow. (We’re checking with SCL to see what the work’s about.)
TRANSIT
Metro – Regular schedule, but trip cancellations are still happening, so watch for alerts (if you’re not signed up to get them, check channels like this).
Water Taxi – Now on the spring/summer schedule, which means this is the second week of added Friday/Saturday night runs.
Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on the 2-boat schedule but with the chance of sailing cancellations, so 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 – east-end vicinity:
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 trouble 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!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The biggest news at last night’s meeting of HPAC – the community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge – was from another organization, HPIC.
While there’s been a fair amount of post-session grousing about what the State Legislature did and didn’t do this season, for the Highland Park Improvement Club, there’s pure delight in news that almost a million dollars in state grant money is on the way. HPIC is raising about $3 million to rebuild after its historic building at 12th/Holden was gutted by fire in 2021, and HPIC’s Rhonda Smith told HPAC last night that legislators gave final approval for a previously mentioned $400,000 grant plus another for $500,000.
We’re expecting to hear more from HPIC about this soon, but in the meantime, Smith exulted, “Not only can we break ground, but we can also do some construction,” even as they continue raising the rest of what’s needed. “When you keep pushing and pushing, your voice gets heard.”
The main guests at the HPAC meeting, held online, were there to talk about a different construction project – the West Duwamish Wet Weather Storage Facility, centered on a 1.25 million-gallon underground storage tank meant to keep combined wastewater and stormwater from polluting the Duwamish River during heavy rains. Demmelash Adera from the project team led the briefing. They’re well into design, he said, adding that they incorporated community concerns and suggestions voiced in a survey last year. Greenspace around the facility near the 1st Avenue South bridge, at 2nd/Michigan, is important, Adera said.
They plan a solar installation to supply some of the power to run the facility, he added. Much of the rest of the briefing focused on what they’re doing to be sure people in West Seattle and South Park neighborhoods know about the project. Visiting meetings like HPAC is just part of the plan – they’ll also be out at summer events like the Duwamish River Festival, and they’ll be sending mailers to 6,000 addresses. They’re also working with community connectors like a group of South Park women known as Mujeres Conectoras.
Next milestone for the project – they’ll announce two artists next month. Construction is still expected to start in 2025. And yes, the planning and design is taking climate change into consideration, KCWTD’s Maud de Bel assured the attendee who asked about it: “This size should be good enough for a long, long time.”
Another meeting guest was the Southwest Precinct‘s night-shift commander Lt. Nathan Shopay. Asked about last weekend’s home-invasion robbery near 14th/Henderson (WSB coverage here), Lt. Shopay said he didn’t have anything to divulge, but detectives have it “under full investigation” and are very interested in community tips and information. That goes for all crimes or suspected crimes, he said. They’re particularly interested right now in anything that can help stop the escalating trend of auto thefts; Lt. Shopay said they’re beginning to suspect it might be the work of an organized theft ring rather than a large number of one-offs.
He was followed by Michelle McClendon of LEAD, who said the work to clean up the situation at South Delridge’s Rozella Building was continuing to progress. She said its owner is looking at seeking historic-landmark status for the building. She added that outreach workers are continuing to meet with tent and RV campers along sections of SW Holden.
HPAC meets fourth Wednesdays of most months, 7 pm, online for now – watch hpacws.org for updates.
As part of National Poetry Month, today was Poem in Your Pocket Day – and West Seattle’s Tilden School (WSB sponsor) celebrated! Just in from Tilden’s Laura Wood:
Tilden celebrated a beloved tradition, Poem in Your Pocket Day, today. Adults and children in all grades celebrated, bringing poems to share with each other. Throughout the day, poems were pulled from pockets and shared in the hall, in classrooms, and on the playground.
We encourage everyone to join us in celebrating poetry. Stuff a poem in your pocket, and share it: today, or any day!
P.S. Another National Poetry Month celebration in West Seattle is happening at C & P Coffee (also a WSB sponsor) Saturday afternoon.
In West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
EARLY MORNING THIEF: Kristina sent the security-camera image and report from a neighborhood east of Lincoln Park:
This person came onto our property at 4:06 am today and stole an OUTGOING package from our mailbox. They then used a flashlight to go through the back of our truck parked in our driveway. We have heard from several neighbors that their vehicles were broken into as well. We are on 46th Ave SW, between Austin and Kenyon Streets.
This was reported to police; the preliminary tracking number is T23008999.
PREVENTION ADVICE: Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner has sent a newsletter with advice on deterring two types of crime that are particularly prevalent in our area right now – auto theft and commercial burglaries. Read it here.
The 17th almost-annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day is officially the biggest one ever – 375 sales registered as of moments ago. If you’re having a sale too but haven’t signed up yet, the clock is running out – registration closes at 11:30 pm tonight, after three and a half weeks. Then at 11:31 pm, we start work on organizing the map and list that will be available one week before the Saturday, May 13, sale day. If you’re NOT having a sale, set some time aside on May 13th to at least go say hi to your nearest neighbors who are – those are always our favorite WSCGSD vignettes – during the biggest person-to-person recycling day of the year. Here’s where to register!
Got documents to dispose of? Saturday’s your chance to get them shredded – it’s the day that John L. Scott Real Estate – Westwood (WSB sponsor) is offering free shredding in the northwest parking lot at Westwood Village. The event is set for 2 pm-5 pm Saturday (April 29th). If you can, bring nonperishable food (or a $ donation) for the White Center Food Bank.
46 students from Roxhill Elementary were the first to visit Fauntleroy Creek as this year’s Salmon In The Schools releases begin.
Volunteer creek stewards help school students and staff release the fry they’ve been raising at school, a process that starts with volunteers delivering eggs from hatcheries. Over the next five weeks, 17 releases are planned at Fauntleroy Creek, one of Seattle’s few remaining salmon-bearing creeks.
The annual salmon life cycle continues in the creek with coho spawners’ return in fall – last year volunteers counted 254, one of the highest totals since creek restoration a quarter-century ago.
That’s the sign at The Spot West Seattle in the Luna Park neighborhood. We went over after Public Health – Seattle & King County announced this morning that it had closed The Spot yesterday for “inadequate refrigeration capacity to safely store foods (and) repeat critical food safety violations including cold holding, cooling, and lack of thermometers to monitor food temperatures.” We also emailed proprietor Philip Sudore, who tells WSB, “Our refrigerator system went out and we are working as fast as we can to fix or replace the units. This will be a quick remedy. We look to be serving our community again no later than next week. We have always maintained an excellent rating with the health department. Quality, health standards and service is at the top of our list in terms of core values. We look forward to the upgrades and will be back soon better than ever.” (You can search the PHSKC database for this or any other King County establishment by going here.)
FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Sudore tells WSB, “Our refrigerators are fixed and we have been re-inspected and cleared to open tomorrow for normal business hours.”
Thanks to Karen for the photo and report:
What a way to finish the regular season and celebrate Senior Night! 14 innings – an almost four-hour battle against Lakeside. Nine seniors plus student staff celebrated with family, friends, and team members.
Final score at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex last night was Sealth 7, Lakeside 6. The Seahawks finish the regular season 13-8 and are scheduled to open the playoffs at NCSWAC at 7 pm next Wednesday (May 3rd) vs. Ballard.
(This morning’s pre-6 am sunrise, photographed by Doug Eglington)
Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you can look further into the future):
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayers@gmail.com to see where they’re playing today.
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Tasting room on the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus is open 1-6 pm Thursdays.
SPORTS: Track meet at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) this afternoon; West Seattle HS boys’ soccer vs. Rainier Beach, 4 pm at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle).
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 Thai-U-Up will be visiting.
SOUP-MAKING CLASS: 5 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon) – contact SCWS ASAP to see if there’s still room.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at The Good Society (California/Lander) at 6 pm for a 3-mile run – more in our calendar listing.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Meet up at Highland Park Corner Store at 6:30 pm Thursdays for a ~3-mile run.
COMEDY: West Seattle’s Cozy Comedy is now presenting shows at another venue, Princess & Bear in west South Park (309 S. Cloverdale). Tonight’s show stars headliner Susan Rice, 7 pm. Ticket info is in our calendar listing.
If you have something to add to our calendar, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Less than two months before graduation, the West Seattle High School Class of 2023 is looking for a little community help. Sophia from the ASB emailed us to explain, “As the class of 2023 is wrapping up our senior year, we’ve made a way for members of the community to help donate to and support the different activities and events we want to be able to put on for our classmates. These include prom, senior sunset, graduation, and several others!” Here’s the link to use if you’re interested in donating; on that page, the ASB adds, “Our class was unable to fundraise for all of our sophomore year and half of our junior year due to Covid restrictions, so we really appreciate the generous contributions of parents and community members towards making the end of our time together in high school as wonderful as it can possibly be!”
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, April 27th.
WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
The forecast for today: Clouds making way for sun, high in the low 60s. Sunrise was at 5:59 am – first pre-6 am sunrise of the season – and sunset will be at 8:16 pm.
BRIDGE WORK ALERT
SDOT says its crews are scheduled be on the westbound bridge 7 am-2 pm again today as they continue an on-site inspection. (On Wednesday, they were on the inside shoulder toward the crest.)
TRANSIT
Metro – Regular schedule, but trip cancellations are still happening, so watch for alerts (if you’re not signed up to get them, check channels like this).
Water Taxi – Now on the spring/summer schedule, which adds Friday/Saturday night runs.
Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on the 2-boat schedule but with the chance of sailing cancellations, so 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 – east-end vicinity:
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 trouble 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!
3:12 AM: Seattle Fire has a “full response” in the 9400 block of 24th SW. It’s described by arriving units as a “fully involved RV fire” in the “front yard” of a house. They’ve also mentioned danger from “exploding projectiles” from the RV.
3:15 AM: Firefighters told dispatch they’ve “knocked down” the RV fire. They were checking the house and garage to be sure it hadn’t spread. No sign that it had, so they’re downsizing the response.
11:26 AM: The photo above shows what’s left of the burned RV (which our photographer says looked more like a trailer than self-contained RV). We’re checking with SFD to see if a cause was determined.
As the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce throws a party Thursday night to celebrate its first century, it’s looking for a new executive director to lead it into its second. After two years, Whitney Moore will be departing – but not until July 31st, after she sees the organization through upcoming events and initiatives, also including the Westside Awards breakfast on May 16th. Announcing her resignation to the membership earlier this month, the Chamber board said in part:
She pulled us through such challenging times between the pandemic and extended closure of the West Seattle Bridge. Through her leadership, we have expanded the reach of the Chamber, added meaningful programming opportunities for our membership, and improved the structure of our organization in so many different ways.
The announcement also noted that Moore’s post-Chamber plans include completion of a children’s book.The job description for her successor is not yet posted on the Chamber’s site.
8:55 PM: Big emergency response on the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge right now – originally dispatched as a “rescue extrication” but now being downsized. The traffic alert says this involves a collision toward the north end of the bridge. If you were headed that way, wait a while or try another route across the river.
9:04 PM: WSDOT says traffic is being diverted off the northbound bridge at Michigan, as the collision is just north of that exit. This was initially dispatched as a two-vehicle collision, with one reported to have flipped.
9:19 PM: We’ll follow up with SFD later but so far at least one person is reported injured, a woman believed to be in her 20s.
UPDATE FROM SFD: Four people were treated for injuries, according to SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo: A 26-year-old man, 44-year-old man, 60-year-old man, 20-year-old woman (who asked to be taken to a hospital), all stable.
(SPD photo)
ADDED THURSDAY AFTERNOON: SPD says today that the 26-year-old man – driver of the vehicle that flipped – was booked into jail for unlawful gun possession, after one was found in his car and he turned out to be a convicted felon.
Another quick reminder about West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day registration – it’s been open now for 3 1/2 weeks and closes tomorrow night (Thursday, April 27) at 11:30 pm. So far 330 sales are registered, all sizes, all neighborhoods, all kinds of stuff! Once registration ends, mapmaking begins, so that we can make the map and sale list available here on WSB and via westseattlegaragesale.com on May 6th, one week before sale day, which is Saturday, May 13th. (9 am-3 pm, though as you’ll see on the list, some are starting early, some are ending late, some are even adding extra days.) If you’re planning a WSCGSD sale but have procrastinated on signing up, hurry – 28 hours left! Here’s where to register.
6:01 PM: SPD is looking for information on what it says were four early-morning West Seattle business burglaries in the past three days. All involved burglars cutting open the businesses’ safes. Around 6 am today, an alarm brought officers to Taco Time (SPD photo at right), where they “found a smashed window (and a) safe … (that) had been cut open, and staff confirmed money stored in the safe had been taken.” The other three burglaries are listed as all happening Sunday morning (April 23rd):
4:30 a.m. in the 4200 block of SW Morgan Street
5:00 a.m. in the 4700 block of Fauntleroy Way SW
6:00 a.m. in the 2600 block of SW Barton Street
SPD says that in all three cases, “the safes had been accessed with some sort of saw as well.” If you have any information, SPD’s tipline is 206-233-5000.
6:24 PM: SPD’s report didn’t include business names; we are going back through archived dispatch audio. First ID: The 4200 block of SW Morgan burglary was at Ezell’s Famous Chicken. (added) So far we haven’t heard any more specific information on the other two locations except that they were businesses at The Whittaker and Westwood Village.
The second count is in for the one-issue special election, a nine-year King County property-tax levy to raise $1.25 billion for addressing behavioral health, primarily by building five crisis-care centers. “Approve” picked up a bit of ground after this count – the totals now round to 55 percent approving, 45 percent rejecting. This represents 24 percent of all registered voters, with KCE having received 30 percent of all voters’ ballots so far. They’ll continue releasing daily counts until the results are certified next month.
Fundraiser season continues, and here’s one you can jump into right now if you have a few minutes – the Arbor Heights Elementary PTSA auction. Online bidding is open to all until Saturday night (when the PTSA hosts its in-person auction gala). The PTSA says money they raise “supports Arbor Heights Elementary students and staff through PTSA funding of classroom supplies, teacher trainings, school assembly funding, music instruction for all students, arts enrichment, literacy programs, IDEA STEM lab equipment, transportation for field trips and much more.” You can browse what’s up for bidding – including food, beverages, getaways, art, music, more – by going here.=
12:29 PM: Thanks for the tips. We asked SPD why the Chief Sealth/Denny campus was sheltering in place. Det. Judinna Gulpan replied, “Police responded for an assault investigation in the 2700 block of SW Trenton ST. It appears the potential suspects fled onto the school grounds. Officers located the suspects and are with staff investigating the incident. No further information to share at this time.” We’ll add anything more we find out.
1:16 PM: Seattle Public Schools spokesperson Tim Robinson says the shelter-in-place lasted about 45 minutes and was lifted at 12:35 pm.
1:21 PM: Though police did not provide details of the assault, as commenters note, there was a report of someone getting their “finger cut off” at Westwood Village. Archived dispatch audio says the victim was reported to be a 15-year-old boy.
(Massing rendering of Option 3 for 5252 California SW, by Ankrom Moisan)
The Aegis Living plan for 5252 California SW is midway through the Design Review process, after “early design guidance” approval three months ago (WSB coverage here). The project is proposed to include 100 units – one-third memory care, the rest assisted living – plus 750 sf of commercial space, and offstreet parking for 40 cars. The project site currently holds three commercial buildings that were vacated several years ago while previous ownership pursued other plans for the property. Neighbors with questions are organizing an informational meeting with project-team members next week, and they’re inviting everyone in the community who wants to find out more. Here’s the announcement sent to us:
Aegis & Architect re: 5252 California Ave SW
May 4 @ 7:00 – 8:00 pmIf you live near 5252 California Ave SW (corner of Brandon and California) or are just interested in the development of this large, senior living complex — please join Aegis, its Architect, and neighbors to discuss this project and its impact on the neighborhood.
Location: West Seattle Senior Center (Nucor Room), 4217 SW Oregon
The organizers also have set up a website with project information. Meantime, the second and potentially final Southwest Design Review Board meeting about the project is not yet on the schedule. Aegis Living has more than three dozen locations in three states, including one in Admiral.
11:02 AM: Thanks to the texter who reported brown water in upper Gatewood. Nothing of note on the Seattle Public Utilities map so far. If your water is discolored – now or any other time – be sure to report it to SPU’s hotline, 206-386-1800. The discoloration is usually from “sediment” – mostly rust – being stirred up in the lines by anything from a water-main break to nearby hydrant testing.
4:09 PM: Another texter says this just started at their residence, and sent a photo (added above). SPU told them hydrant testing was the likely culprit, and that the discoloration might persist until tomorrow morning.
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