day : 27/11/2024 13 results

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Police arrest suspect shortly after Westwood McDonald’s robbery reported

8:18 PM: Police are at 27th/Roxbury, where they’ve just taken into custody a suspect in a robbery reported a short time ago at the Westwood Village McDonald’s. An employee told them the robber threatened to kill them with a screwdriver while making off with a “cash box.” The employee chased the suspect and police caught up with both the victim and suspect.

8:27 PM: According to police-radio exchanges, the suspect is 36 and has an arrest warrant in an ID theft case. Police are still searching the vicinity, looking for cash from the robbery.

TRAFFIC ALERT UPDATE: West Seattle low-bridge trouble resolved

7:43 PM: Thanks for the tips. The West Seattle low bridge is malfunctioning again, SDOT confirms – blaming “technical issues” – so avoid it for now.

7:48 PM: An SDOT truck with an illuminated “ROAD CLOSED” message just pulled into the view from the live camera.

8:52 PM: Per live camera, still closed to traffic.

9:42 PM: Reopened.

WEST SEATTLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Yours up yet?

Four weeks until Christmas, so it’s time we started showcasing West Seattle’s holiday lights. Above is an in-progress photo we caught earlier this week as the Menashe Family and friends continued working on their legendary Beach Drive lights (due to “officially” launch this Sunday, December 1). But you don’t have to have THAT many for a memorable display. Out on a short drive this evening, we noticed more than a few locations that took advantage of today’s sunshine to get their displays in place. So as we do every year here on WSB, we’re welcoming photos of your lights – or lights that catch your attention – so we can show your neighbors around the peninsula. You don’t have to include the exact address – just the block is fine (xx00 block of xx SW, for example) – as long as that’s enough info for light-sightseers to find it. Please send photos/info to westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302 – thank you! (Scroll through this archive to see what we’ve featured in past years!)

Restoring Schmitz Preserve Park Creek: Next step! And you’re invited

(Schmitz Preserve Park is the forest in the center of pilot/photographer Long Bach Nguyen‘s 2012 image)

Back in May, a new community-led effort to restore Schmitz Preserve Park‘s creek debuted at a memorable gathering on which we reported. Now Seattle Parks is joining forces with community advocates and UW students “to explore the unique identity of landscapes, fostering designs that celebrate and revive the wild within Seattle’s urban fabric.” A two-part open house is planned: First, on Friday, December 6, meet the design team at Alki Bathhouse (2701 Alki SW). Then, on Saturday, December 7, they’re offering “self-guided explorations.”

The backstory here is that Seattle-based landscape architect Paul Peters, a principal at Hood Design Studio and UW lecturer, “is leading graduate UW students in “an in-depth exploration of Schmitz Park’s ecological, historical, and cultural narratives … to develop designs that restore the connection between Schmitz Park’s 53-acre old-growth forest and Alki Beach.” Right now, the Schmitz Preserve Park creek goes underground before getting to Elliott Bay, but the students are envisioning “restoring the creek’s natural flow, creating a continuous ‘wild corridor’.” To learn what’s possible here, you’re invited to the bathhouse one or both days of the open house:

To showcase the students’ work and engage with the community, the UW Studio, Schmitz Park Creek Restore, and Seattle Parks and Recreation will host an open house at the Alki Bathhouse in West Seattle. Join us on December 6th, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, for discussions with the project team, or visit on December 7th, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM for a self-guided experience. This event will offer the public an opportunity to explore the students’ designs and understand the possibilities for restoring Schmitz Creek’s natural flow.

Restoration, of course, will cost money, so, Parks says, the project “plans a public fundraising initiative in 2025 to support Seattle Parks and Seattle Public Utilities in advancing restoration efforts. Additionally, a significant capital campaign titled “53 for 53” will seek to establish a $53 million endowment, providing one million dollars per acre of Schmitz Park to preserve its wild landscape for future generations.” Find out more about the project here; learn more about Schmitz Preserve Park’s history here.

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen 4Runner

Sent by Brooke:

My 1989 Toyota 4Runner Truck was stolen sometime between 1:00-4:00 AM Tuesday, November 26 from the corner of Othello and 31st

Please call 911 if you see it – there has been a police report filed. Or call me at 907-229-6819.

We’ll add the police report and plate numbers when we get them.

Atelier Drome: Welcome, new West Seattle Blog sponsor!

Today we welcome Atelier Drome, our newest WSB sponsor. When businesses join the sponsor team, they get the opportunity to tell you about what they do – so, meet Atelier Drome!

Atelier Drome is a woman-owned, multi-disciplinary design firm specializing in architecture, interior design, and branding. While our office is located in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square, we consider West Seattle our second home as the place where we’ve completed a variety of residential, commercial, and multi-family projects. Several of our team members, including one of our principals and long-time resident, Shannon Wing, live in West Seattle. Shannon herself has recently navigated a home remodel to accommodate her growing family.

Founded in 2012, our firm is known for its client-centered, collaborative approach. We attract clients who seek design professionals dedicated to understanding their needs and expressing them through exceptional, personalized design. Our approach is simple and client-focused: we listen intently, making every effort to realize your vision while ensuring the process is approachable and engaging.

New to the area and wondering why choose us? Our clients appreciate our dedication to truly understanding and enhancing their vision, whether it’s for their home, their business, or their brand. They value the attentive, personalized service that transforms their spaces and, by extension, their lives.

Our residential work in West Seattle in particular, showcases a range of successful remodels and additions. Each project tells a story of transformation, creating spaces that fuse functionality with joy. From expanding kitchens for family gatherings to adding additional stories or reconfiguring layouts for open, flowing interiors, we tailor each design to reflect the homeowner’s dreams.

Clients return to Atelier Drome and refer us to others because of the meaningful connections formed during the design process. They appreciate our ability to guide them from concept to completion, enjoying the journey as much as the final product. Our ability to transform complex challenges into elegantly simple solutions keeps them engaged and in love with the final product.

Whether it’s a home remodel, a new café, or a dynamic office space, our commitment is to deliver designs that not only meet but enrich the lives of our clients. We create spaces and brands that are functional and beautifully aligned with each client’s unique needs.

Website: www.atelierdrome.com
Email: info@atelierdrome.com
Phone: 206-395-4392
Address: 119 South Main Street, Suite 310, Seattle, 98177
Instagram: instagram.com/atelierdrome
Facebook: facebook.com/atelierdrome
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/atelierdrome

We thank Atelier Drome for supporting community-collaborative news by advertising on WSB! Call 206-293-6302 if you’re interested in learning how.

‘We did a disservice to the community’: West Seattle’s school-board rep Gina Topp talks with constituents after official vote to cancel closures

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

West Seattle/South Park school-board director Gina Topp observed when we walked into the basement meeting room at West Seattle Library last night that there might be more media people in attendance at her community-conversation meeting than constituents. But the initial single-digit attendance – not counting the multiple TV crews – grew as more people trickled in.

The regional media was looking for reaction to what had happened just an hour earlier – the full School Board had officially voted to both accept superintendent Dr. Brent Jones‘s withdrawal of his school-closure recommendations, and to withdraw the direction that had led to his recommendations, while clarifying that this all doesn’t mean they’ll never consider closures again. (The motion, voted on remotely, passed unanimously.)

Topp began her gathering by inviting everyone to introduce themselves, while noting she recognized many of them from her previous community-conversation meetings – even Maryanne Wood, Topp’s opponent in last year’s election for the board position.

Some of the attendees were Sanislo Elementary supporters who, while relieved the possible closure of their school is off the table for next school year, wanted to know about the “next steps” to address the district’s nine-digit budget shortfall. (Other school connections mentioned by attendees included Alki Elementary, Pathfinder K-8, West Seattle High School – “we’re a bit overenrolled,” that parent noted – and Chief Sealth International High School.)

After introductions, Topp opened the floor to questions/comments. A Sanislo advocate noted that while last week’s board meeting – precursor to the closure-plan cancellation – was welcome, they were concerned about the lack of written materials regarding what was in the update Jones was planning to deliver before instead announcing he was considering withdrawing the closure recommendations. Topp said she wasn’t sure; the parent said it’s still relevant, because Dr. Jones is still in charge of what happens next. Topp said the next board meeting should bring information on other areas from which budget cuts could be made. They’re also expecting longer-term budget stabilization info by next June. “We still have a LOT of work to do – where this $100 million is going to come from – plus a loan we took from ourselves … that we have to pay. … Over the years we’ve taken the low-hanging fruit (regarding cuts) … ” Topp said she had been willing to consider school closures if they could have factored into long-term stabilization.

A Sanislo advocate mentioned a parent’s online analysis saying the closures wouldn’t have saved nearly as much as suggested. She said that there are several other parents/writers who had suggestions for alternatives to closing schools.

“Sounds like a perfect member of the (future) task force!” exclaimed Topp, who agreed “there’s so much knowledge in our community, and innovation … how do we take that information and use it?” She then explained that the task force referred to something that the board sought to create as part of the school-closure plan; there was a lot of discussion about whether that would go on. She said that in December they’ll need to “add language” to ensure that a task force regarding the budget – not just possible closures – is created.

Another parent suggested that Sanislo had been “negatively impacted” by the large schools built/renovated in West Seattle – Arbor Heights and Genesee Hill, for example – over the past decade without much consideration as to how that would affect enrollment at schools like Sanislo. She pointed out the little school’s strengths, like its environmental-learning program. And possibilities, like a Montessori program. She suggested that big schools “don’t work for every kid.”

Topp said she ‘understood the concept of bigger schools” but feels “we did a disservice to our commmunity … going through this process,” so she wants to learn from it for “better decisions” in the future.

An Alki Elementary parent then brought up the potential three-bell schedule, saying it’s back on the agenda but “no one’s talking about it,” and saying some of the possible schedules – like schools with a 9:30 am start – would not work for some families/students.” Topp agreed that the three-bell schedule is indeed being explored as part of budget considerations.

Next parent said one frustration was that the now-scrapped closure plan including Sanislo “was the only (plan) presented to everybody. … It feels like there were no alternatives presented to the community, we just had to fight school closures.” She talked about a school (not in West Seattle) that had to move “four times” and lost much of its population. “I don’t think it was good for the community.”

Manuela Slye, who’s on the Seattle Council PTSA, said the process had underscored the importance of engagement – and that not everyone has access to standard aspects of the process, like social-media discussion or news articles. The information is often not provided in languages other than English. She said authentic, inclusive engagement is vital, as is having information provided in amply accessible ways.

Topp had words of praise for Sanislo’s recent community-organized outdoor meeting (WSB coverage here) – with interpretation, child care, snacks, “It was an example of a really well-done community meeting.” She also offered more regret that “if we had started by saying ‘we have a $100 million budget deficit, so how do we solve that?’ we’d be in a different place right now.”

Another attendee: As the district figures out how to address the budget deficit, where will the information come from? How will the community be informed? Topp said those questions are yet to be answered.

Another attendee noted that school-board meetings’ important info seems to all be stuffed into the “consent agenda.” Further discussing how the board works, Topp then tried to explain “student-outcome-focused government,” which the board is supposed to be embracing, saying it had to do with goals and direction, rather than micromanaging – it’s important “that we are trying to achieve the same thing,” she said. She added that no one on the board is against SOFG as far as she knows.

Another attendee thought the now-scrapped school-closure plan was a result of everything going awry in a “very strange sequence of events” resulting in “the school board running in fear” once there was a community uprising against the plan. “The school board never seemed to be corrupt,” he observed.

“Just dysfunctional,” another person added quietly.

Another attendee agreed that some parents might not understand how the board works, or is supposed to.

“That’s the case for a lot of things about parenting,” observed another attendee.

Yet another attendee agreed that there’s a lot of confusion, different groups speaking out, “and it’s just kind of hard to have facts that people can digest in a really understandable way.”

What people are asking for is more information, distilled Topp. And engagement.

A Sanislo advocate amplified that by recalling that back when there were just rumors of possible closures, “we didn’t even know there’d be a way to fight it. … There was a lack of information about it.” Topp agreed that there needed to be a way “to harness all the information.”

A school employee observed that there’s a big question about who gets to be heard during “engagement” – and again recalled the Sanislo playground meeting, which sought to reach out to everyone.” She also had a point that Slye had made, that the diverse community wasn’t necessarily reflected in PTSA groups, for example.

Topp said it was imperative to be intentional about how you “set up” conversations and moments.

A Sanislo advocate said she had promised to bring a school librarian’s perspective, after hearing that all librarians would be cut to halftime positions – “you can’t even manage en elementary school library on halftime,” and listed all the ways that the librarian she was quoting strives to help their students – beyond “just” helping with reading. Well-funded library programs help turn out kids who are more poised for success,, she noted.

Topp noted she has memories of most of her school librarians from her days as a student. But she brought the discussion back around to money, reminding attendees, “none of this is going to be easy … so how do we make decisions with the best information possible?” She recalled a recent meeting with school board directors from around the state, saying so many of them are also grappling with budgeting.

A Sanislo parent said she’s “deeply disappointed” that the school-funding situation has been going downhill for 30 years and hasn’t been fully fixed yet. She and another speaker agreed that state leaders have failed them. “They shouldn’t keep their job” if they can’t properly fund education,” the other attendee declared. “It’s not the Legislature, it’s very specific people IN the Legislature who have let us down.”

Many other levels of government are hurting financially too, others pointed out. The Legislature has “tools in their toolbox” to fix their own financial situation, though, Topp observed.

“Preventive maintenance” would work better than “fire-drill mode,” Sanislo dad Ken observed. “If you can get ahead of as many problems as possible …” then you’ll make progress. That goes for knowing how to be involved, finding the information, disseminating it … How do we get ahead of problems rather than responding to them all the time? … This is a human system – we made it – we can deal with it.”

“I am concerned that the school district has lost the trust of the community,” one of the Sanislo advocates declared.

Topp agreed and said the district must work on rebuilding that trust.

A school employee said the district should acknowledge that, and ask for feedback. That led to praise for Topp for having community-conversation meetings – something other directors aren’t doing. The school board’s unpaid status came up at that point – “what other job are you in charge of a $1 billion budget and unpaid?” asked Topp.

One more comment from Sanislo parent Ken – he said he was frustrated at the district’s meeting there to hear some district reps say that Sanislo wasn’t how a school was meant to look. “It’s about the people,” he said, not the physical surroundings. Also, regarding the meeting format itself: “It wasn’t authentic engagement – it was them going through a script,” observed another Sanislo advocate.

At that point, Topp had to wrap up because the library was closing. She’ll have another meeting in December; we’ll announce the date and time as soon as we get word.

WHALES: Transient orcas in the area

Just in via text (206-293-6302 is our 24/7 number) from Kersti Muul, transient orcas heading north from the south end of Blake Island. She says they’re the T37a’s ad the T99s. Let us know if you see them!

WEST SEATTLE GIVING SPIRIT: Southwest Seattle Historical Society focused on future as well as past

The past and the future are in view today as our West Seattle Giving Spirit spotlights on local nonprofits continue. Three times a week through year’s end, WSB is bringing you this special holiday-season opportunity to learn more about, and support, about some of our area’s hardworking nonprofits, in partnership with the Learning Communities Foundation. Today – you’ll see why the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and Log House Museum aren’t just looking back:

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society promotes inclusive, local history through education, preservation, and advocacy. The organization owns and operates the Log House Museum, a City of Seattle Historic Landmark, located one block from Alki Beach, known to Coast Salish people as sbaqʷabqs, or Prairie Point.

SWSHS has big plans for 2025 and beyond, including a major overhaul of the Log House Museum’s exhibitions. Keep an eye out for exciting developments on this project in 2025 and donate today to help advance SWSHS’s vision to transform how visitors experience the Log House Museum.

Today, SWSHS welcomes museum visitors to the Log House Museum (its current exhibition, Seattle’s Forest: The West Duwamish Greenbelt, highlights the geologic, indigenous, and political history of the city’s largest contiguous forest), provides tours to hundreds of local students a year, and hosts public programming, like Alki History Walking Tours

The SWSHS also presents Words, Writers, Southwest Stories, a popular monthly speaker series. (A recent program featured artist and author Bradi Jones and music historian Peder Nelson to discuss Jones’s grunge-era coloring book and the intersection of art and music in Seattle’s grunge scene.

Next month’s program features David Peterson, a historic resource consultant, who will discuss the landmarking of West Seattle’s Cettolin House, which was recently in the path of the West Seattle light rail extension plan. Information and registration at our website.

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society also cares for a Native Plant Garden as well as a unique collection of more than 10,000 artifacts, many of which are now viewable online or at the Log House Museum, including the original Alki Beach Lady Liberty and a fragment of the original West Seattle Bridge, permanently closed after the freighter Antonio Chavez, piloted by the infamous Rolf Neslund, collided with the bridge in 1978.

This year, SWSHS began a multi-year interpretive planning project supported by an inaugural and competitive grant from the newly established Maritime Washington National Heritage Area. The planning will result in a permanent, interactive exhibit at the Log House Museum that will highlight the historical and cultural significance of Alki Beach, prioritize interactive museum experiences and the display of historical society artifacts, share diverse stories from across the Duwamish Peninsula, and extend to the exterior of the Log House Museum.

Planning for this exhibit is well underway and has included participation from dozens of community partners, heritage and museum professionals, and the Duwamish Tribe. The project is rooted in SWSHS’s 2024-2026 Strategic Plan and inspired from a Peninsula-wide community survey conducted by SWSHS in 2023.

SWSHS is supported by a 12-member board of trustees, advisory committees, including a DEAI Committee, volunteers, members, and many community partners. SWSHS employs a full-time programs and outreach director. Here’s how your West Seattle Giving Spirit can support the SWSHS:

Donate here
Volunteer. Get Involved here
Plan a Visit or Tour
Questions? museum@loghousemuseum.org

Scroll through our archive of West Seattle Giving Spirit spotlights here, and watch for the next one on Friday!

FOLLOWUP: Camp Long reopening today, 2+ weeks post-fire

(WSB photo, last Saturday)

Just announced by Seattle Parks, two weeks and two days after flames blamed on an arsonist tore through the Camp Long lodge, the park reopens today:

oday, Wednesday, November 27, Camp Long reopens to the public. The lodge remains closed & fenced off but the park is open. The bathrooms are currently offline because their waterline is connected to the lodge, & there are porta-a-potties on site. The park hours are Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 am-6 pm.

We’re continuing to check with Parks about decisions regarding the lodge’s future. Damage to the lodge and two cabins vandalized the same night was estimated at $1.2 million.

Here’s what’s up for your pre-holiday West Seattle Wednesday

(Photo by Steve Bender)

Yes, we know today’s big activities are shopping and possibly advance cooking/baking … but if you’re interested in something else, here’s our list of what’s happening, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:

DONATION DRIVES: Our Holiday Guide has a growing list of ways you can share your bounty this season – especially by dropping off new, unwrapped toys at Toys for Tots and other collection locations around West Seattle.

WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Meet at 47th/Fauntleroy at 10 am. Details in our calendar listing.

TODDLER READING TIME AT PAPER BOAT: 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).

REJUVENATE YOGA: Weekly class at Viva Arts, 1:30 pm. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)

TODDLER STORY TIME: At Southwest Library, 3 pm, for kids ages 1-3. (9010 35th SW)

HOMEWORK HELP: No library Homework Help on the SPL calendar today.

FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Fix it, don’t toss it! Weekly event, free (donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).

TRIVIA x 4: Four Wednesday trivia options: At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers triviaLarry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night begins at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).

FREE GROUP RUN: All runners, all levels, are welcome to join the weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) group run – meet at the shop by 6:15 pm.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)

MUSIC BINGO X 2: One night, two games! Play at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm … At Three 9 Lounge (39th/Oregon), you can play MINGO music bingo, hosted by Mingo Maniac, at 7:30 pm Wednesdays.

‘SNOWED IN (AGAIN)’: Bonus Wednesday performance of the ArtsWest holiday show! 7:30 pm – our calendar listing has the link for tickets. (4711 California SW)

SKYLARK OPEN MIC: Your turn to shine! 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

Planning an open house, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, show, meeting, presentation, etc., that’s open to the community? Please send us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – and if it’s a holiday event, send it for the Holiday Guide – thank you!

Be part of the West Seattle Art Walk! First-quarter business signups open now

Every second Thursday, the West Seattle Art Walk brings hundreds of people out to see the work of local artists and explore local businesses, some of which host artist receptions, some of which offer food/drink specials, some of which host music, some of which do all of the above! If you’re a business owner and interested in being part of it, first-quarter registration is open now, for the January, February, and March Art Walks. It’s easy to jump in – start here. (WSB is a longtime community co-sponsor of the West Seattle Art Walk.)

TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Thanksgiving Eve Wednesday + holiday info

6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wednesday, November 27, Thanksgiving Eve. (See our West Seattle Holiday Guide for all the info about Thanksgiving – open restaurants and coffee shops, supermarket hours, free dinners …)

SCHOOLS

No classes at Seattle Public Schools elementaries and K-8s again today, since it’s conference time, but middle and high schools ARE in session (added – thanks to commenter – no classes at Denny IMS); all schools are closed Thursday and Friday.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Mostly cloudy, slight chance of showers, high in the mid-40s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:32 am, while sunset will be at 4:21 pm.

TRANSIT, INFO FOR TODAY + HOLIDAY

Water Taxi todayRegular service today, no service Thursday, service on Friday.

Washington State Ferries today – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route with M/V Sealth as the “ghost boat.” Check here for last-minute changes. Triangle Route will run the weekend schedule on Thanksgiving Day.

Metro buses todayRegular schedule today, Sunday schedule on Thursday, weekday schedule Friday. (Here’s all the Metro holiday info.)

ROAD WORK

*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project continues; the south half of the bridge is closed, with one lane each way on the north side. Fairmount Avenue remains closed beneath the bridge.

*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:

Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:

Low Bridge – Looking west:

1st Avenue South Bridge:

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!