West Seattle, Washington
08 Sunday
(Added: Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
We have received several questions about a Seattle Fire response that’s been blocking the southbound lanes of California near Hinds. They were originally called there for a suspected gas leak. They couldn’t find evidence of a leak but with Puget Sound Energy‘s help have finally traced the concern to a problem with a meter, which PSE has shut down. The SFD crews will be departing shortly, firefighters just told dispatch.
The Sound Transit Board is still months away from finalizing the light-rail route into West Seattle – that will happen after the final Environmental Impact Statement is made public. 
In the meantime, the agency, working with the city, is continuing to plan the four stations (Junction, Avalon, Delridge, SODO) – based on the locations that are so far considered the “preferred alternative.” Tuesday night, the agency returns to West Seattle for an open-house-style meeting following up on the one held four months ago. They promise that the meeting will be “an opportunity to see how your feedback informs ongoing station area designs” – feedback from a survey last fall as well as from the October meeting. (Additional station-planning info was shown at a subsequent meeting of the West Seattle Transportation Coalition.) “Station area designs” is a reference to not only the stations themselves but also how other transportation – buses, bicycles, etc. – will be routed for arrivals and transfers, and also what will happen to station-adjacent sites that will be used for construction staging. Some are envisioned as “transit-oriented development.” The Tuesday meeting is set for 5:30-7:30 pm “with a short presentation at 6 pm,” at Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds, lower-level entrance off the parking lot). The projected launch date for the $4 billion light-rail extension remains late 2032.
Two notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:
POLICE DETAIN ALKI BURGLARY SUSPECTS: This is happening right now. Someone called 911 to report a suspected burglary at Il Nido (the Italian restaurant in the former Alki Homestead) after seeing/hearing people inside on a night when it’s usually closed; police have detained two suspects, one caught while running a block west, the other, after running into a nearby business. We don’t know yet what they’ve confirmed about the burglary – they’re trying to reach the restaurant’s owners – but in case you’re on Alki and wondering about the police activity, that’s what’s happening. MONDAY UPDATE: We followed up with SPD, which tells WSB, “Officers found two juveniles, both males, ages 13 and 14. They were arrested for burglary and property destruction, identified and released.” They are accused of breaking into an under-construction area of the historic building.
ATTEMPTED TRUCK THEFT: Emailed by a reader in North Admiral:
Wednesday morning, about 1 – 2 a.m., car thieves attempted to steal my husband’s red Dodge Ram pickup. 45th Ave just north of Hill St. Luckily, a neighbor’s nephew was driving down Hill Street and noticed a van with its lights off parked in the middle of the street. He stopped his car and when they noticed him, a couple of people jumped out of the truck, into the van and took off. The truck’s passenger side lock was damaged, and they attempted to jam a screw driver into the ignition. The tip of the screw driver broke off in the ignition. This is the second auto theft, although ours was only attempted, in our neighborhood in a couple of weeks. The last auto was recovered by the owner using a tracker in their vehicle. They were able to find it in Georgetown and recovered it. Our Neighborhood Watch Captain will be putting an alert out to all the neighbors in this area for those who are not yet aware. Please post so others are aware.
Moving on to college? Going back to college? Thinking about a career change? South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) likely has something for you. As part of “Discover Seattle Colleges” events these next two weeks, you have multiple opportunities to learn about the possibilities. First, four online events this week will explore academic programs and career pathways offered by SSC and its sibling campuses (North and Central):
Health and Medical / Education and Human Services: Monday, March 4, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Business and Accounting / Science, Engineering and Technology: Tuesday, March 5, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Culinary, Hospitality and Wine / Skilled Trades and Technical Training: Wednesday, March 6, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Arts, Design and Graphics / Social Sciences, Humanities and Languages: Thursday, March 7, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
RSVP to get the links for any or all of those online events – go here.
Then next week, the Seattle Colleges campuses all have in-person open houses where you can meet faculty, take tours, get admission/resources information, and more. (Even if you’re not considering enrollment, community members are welcome to visit and learn more about the colleges too!) Here are the two for SSC:
Georgetown Apprenticeship & Education Center, South Seattle College: Monday, March 11, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
South Seattle College Main Campus (in West Seattle): Tuesday, March 12, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
To RSVP for either or both, and to get info about open houses at the other colleges, go here. (And if you’re ready to enroll, you can do that now too, for spring-quarter classes starting April 1st.)
(WSB/WCN photo of Justin and family last year as Full Tilt marked 15 years)
Two weeks ago, we reported on community crowdfunding to help the family of Justin Cline, White Center community advocate and founder of Full Tilt Ice Cream, after he suffered a heart attack. Today, we just heard from a Full Tilt staffer announcing on behalf of the family that Justin has died, at age 49. Here’s the announcement published on the original GoFundMe page:
It is with absolutely broken hearts that we share that our beloved friend Justin has moved on to the great ice cream shop in the sky.
Justin died around 6:00 am on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024 at Valley Medical Center. At every step along the way, Valley staff did an incredible job monitoring and managing his ever-changing condition, and taking every possible step to give him excellent care.
Ann, Moss and Ruby, their family and friends, and the entire staff and community of Full Tilt are grieving this loss. Justin will be missed by so many, because he touched so very many people in his life. The number of stories of connections and care that we have heard this past month has been incredible. We have loved hearing all the large and small ways that Justin’s open, giving nature has positively impacted the community as a whole and hundreds of individual lives.
Right now Ann and the kids are understandably distraught and overwhelmed with this tragedy. We understand that everyone wants to connect with Ann, share their memories and stories of Justin, and offer love and comfort. However, the community Justin built around himself is so large and deeply connected that we imagine the outpouring of love could become overwhelming for Ann.
We have created a list of ways that the community can support Ann, Moss and Ruby in this time.
* Continue giving to the GoFundMe to support Justin’s family during this time. Ann’s financial needs will only increase as she navigates this shift to single-parenting and keeping Full Tilt afloat.
* Send your memories, stories, artworks, and photos of or inspired by Justin to justininmemoriam at gmail.com. We will be compiling the stories, photos, memories, artworks into a book for Ann and the kids. If possible, title your email “contribution” to help us manage the inbox.
* Email justininmemoriam at gmail.com to offer any practical support you would like – either with your ideas for support you’d like to offer or an open offer for whatever Ann may need. Ann’s friends will be monitoring this inbox and will connect with Ann to see what kinds of supports are needed as time goes on. If possible, please title your email “support” to help us manage the inbox.
* Continue to visit Full Tilt when you can. Every scoop you enjoy, every round of pinball, and every beer you share with a friend helps keep Justin’s family and employees going.
* Hug your people and tell them you love them.
* Consider ways you can support your community. Justin’s store, his heart, and his time were open for those who needed him. Our communities are better when we are community builders.
* Get CPR certified. Ann was able to save Justin’s life the night of his heart attack because she knew how to perform CPR. A couple of hours of your time could save a life. cpr.heart.org/en or redcross.orgWe will share more information as services are planned and needs are realized.
Thank you all for your love and support, for all you’ve done this past month and all you will continue to do to help hold Justin’s family, friends, Full Tilt family and community close. We all wish Justin were here to hug each and every one of you.
Toward the request for people to “continue visiting Full Tilt” – which opened in downtown White Center in 2008 – they’re open today.
Family and friends are remembering Lorraine Presley, and sharing this remembrance with her community:
Lorraine Rachelle Chevalier Presley, October 21, 1941-January 30, 2024
Born in Victoria, BC to Marie and Edgar Chevalier. Raised in Mornville, Alberta, Canada. As a teen, the family moved to St. Petersburg, FL, where Lorraine graduated from high school. She wanted to go to college and become a doctor; however, her father would not allow it, because “she was a girl, and girls do not become doctors.” In 1962, while attending nursing school at a junior college, she noticed an advertisement for a stewardess job with United Air Lines and applied. She was the only woman of twenty-five applicants chosen for the job. She flew out of Chicago before transferring to Seattle in 1963. She settled in West Seattle and traveled the world – meeting politicians, celebrities, influential businesspeople and even an occasional mafioso! She shared many stories of her adventures in a world that was certainly a different era.
Lorraine met William (David) Presley, and they married in 1968. She had to leave her job due to regulations at the time requiring stewardesses resign once married. They made their home in West Seattle to raise their children Kari and Michael. In 1977 she chose to return to college, earning her RN degree then working at Swedish Hospital. In early 1980, she joined a class-action lawsuit against the airline for its regulation forcing stewardesses to resign upon marriage. The women won the case, and she gained her job back as a flight attendant with United. This gave her the freedom not only for herself to travel again, but her family were also able to travel. On occasion (for a change of scenery) she flew and lived out of Narita, Japan and London, England. She also flew out of San Francisco. Lorraine retired in September 2001.
In 1997 she and David moved to Grants Pass, OR. In 2008 she returned to West Seattle to be near her daughter and son. At age 65 she took an intensive three-month course to renew her Washington State RN license, working at Northwest Kidney Center. Lorraine returned to Grants Pass in 2019 to care for her husband. In January 2023 she was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. After a year bravely fighting cancer, Lorraine passed peacefully, quickly and without pain, her family by her side.
Among her talents, Lorraine possessed the highest standard of entertaining, cooking, presentation, and caregiving. She was an excellent seamstress. Making everyday clothing, one-of-a-kind Halloween costumes, and designer-worthy formal wear. Her cakes were beautifully decorated and tasted amazing. In retirement, she volunteered at soup kitchens and medical expeditions in Louisiana, Chicago, Grants Pass, and Seattle.
Lorraine was a strong, smart, creative, caring woman who gave so much of herself to all
who met her and will be greatly missed, never forgotten. She is survived by her husband David, children Kari and Michael, her sister Colleen and husband (Russ), their daughters (Dory, Michelle), sister-in-law Sue Soderstrom, her nieces (Joy, Janet, Debbie, Michelle, Susan, Diane) and nephews (Kevin, Tom). Per her request, there will be no memorial service. Her ashes are to be scattered over Puget Sound and Paris, France.The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please consider a monetary donation in her spirit to any of her favorite organizations: Remote Area Medical (ramusa.com), Planned Parenthood, and Habitat for Humanity.
(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)
(Bufflehead starting a dive, photographed by James Tilley)
Here’s what to know about today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
DOWNTOWN (ETC.) TRAFFIC ALERT: If you’re going downtown or points north this morning, you might encounter the Hot Chocolate Run, which has 5K/10K/15K routes – here’s the map.
MINI-POLAR PLUNGE: 9 am every Sunday, you’re welcome to join a group plunge into Puget Sound off Alki – meet at Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki).
GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: Third day of cookie booths at various locations – some starting as early as 9 am. Search here for your nearest locations.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at 9 am at rotating locations – today it’s C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
HELP OUT AT THE BEE GARDEN: Lots of work – planting, transplanting, compost-moving – 10 am-1 pm at the West Seattle Bee Garden (Lanham/Graham).
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market is open as usual between SW Alaska and SW Oregon on California, offering winter vegetables and fruit plus cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from cider to kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, candy, more! Here’s today’s vendor list.
WHILE YOU’RE AT THE MARKET … go check-out the Small Business Pop-Up Market inside Jet City Labs (4527 California SW), with vendors and music! 10 am-2 pm.
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need to borrow something for a home project? Visit the WSTL 11 am-4 pm. (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center)
ART EXHIBITION: First weekend for Lucha Libre-themed show at Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery (9414 Delridge Way SW). Open today noon-4 pm.
TOY SWAP: 2-4 pm at Fit4Mom Studio (2707 California SW) – details in our preview.
FREE FAMILY-HISTORY RESEARCH HELP: Get expert help for free, 2:30 pm-4:30 pm at West Seattle Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (4001 44th SW).
MUSICIANS FOR THE WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK: Good music, good cause! 3 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
DRAG BINGO: 5:30 pm at The Locöl Kitchen & Bar (7902 35th SW), 21+.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: See and hear the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8-10 pm.
Planning something that should be on our community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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