Just got an update from Annie Kolb-Nelson at King County Wastewater Treatment Division, who we talked with following the news release they sent around yesterday afternoon about pump-station problems following a tidal surge: She says environmental-lab team members have verified NO sewage went into the water at Murray (Lowman; county file photo at left): “Our water quality samples confirm extremely low levels of fecal coliform in the water off both Lowman Beach and Lincoln Park, indicating no sewage went into the environment, so we’re very happy about that.” When we published their news release yesterday, we mentioned a large dark patch in the water reported to us by a resident uphill and east from Morgan Junction; Kolb-Nelson says the high tides led to “a tremendous number of logs and debris in Puget Sound,” reported firsthand by a boat that had to maneuver through them, and that’s what the resident likely saw.
(Design rendering from last November – note that the design is still being finalized)
The Parks Department says it’s hoping to break ground for the Delridge Skatepark in late spring – and the latest move to enable that, happened minutes ago – the City Council’s Parks Committee (with only its new chair, Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, in attendance) just gave its approval to the $750,000 funding plan for the project. That sets up a vote, likely next week, before the full council. Before voting, Bagshaw heard from supporters including North Delridge resident Nancy Folsom and West Seattle-residing Skatepark Advisory Committee member Matthew Lee Johnston. Both talked about the Delridge community’s strong support for the project, which accelerated after a proposal for a smaller skateboarding facility at the future Myrtle Reservoir Parkdrew opposition from neighbors. The funding for Delridge is coming from what was earmarked for Myrtle and from money saved on other Parks projects with bids that came in under budget. The site is the northeastern corner of the parkland adjacent to Delridge Community Center.
So are you in for this Sunday’s Special Olympics of Washington Polar Plunge at Alki (with WSB among the co-sponsors)? Among those who already are – the man who leads the Seattle Police Department‘s Southwest Precinct here in West Seattle, Capt. Joe Kessler. We were there for the photo op at Alki this morning as he tested the waters, so to speak, for a last-minute promotional push. You can join Captain Kessler and hundreds of others on Sunday morning – 9 am registration (if you haven’t signed up online), 11 am Polar Plunge, festivities afterward. There’s a special connection for law enforcers and Special Olympic – the Law Enforcement Torch Run – so you’ll see other members of the law-enforcement community braving Elliott Bay on Sunday too. So how was the water today, you might ask?
Laura Bermes at Family Promise shares the photo and this report on another MLK Day of Service project earlier this week in West Seattle:
Thanks goes out to the University of Washington students who stepped up on Monday to help out at West Seattle’s only homeless shelter for families, Family Promise of Seattle (located at 3626 California Ave SW). The students worked alongside shelter guests, and Family Promise’s employee Mark Zimmerman, and Director Elizabeth Heath. The group cleared out the Day Center’s basement, leveled the floor, and put the basement back togehter again. The newly cleaned and organized space will benefit families by allowing them to store their personal belongings as they work their way through homelessness. For those in our West Seattle Community who would like to know more about how to help families going through homelessness, visit the Family Promise website, or give us a call at 937-2703.
DELRIDGE SKATEPARK $: As discussed at last week’s citywide Skatepark Advisory Committee meeting (WSB coverage here), the City Council’s Parks Committee – now led by new Councilmember Sally Bagshaw – takes up a measure this morning that would finalize funding for the long-awaited project. 9:30 am at City Hall downtown; committee members had suggested an in-person show of support might be helpful, but if you can’t be there, it’ll be live via Seattle Channel — online here or cable Channel 21.
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: If you live in the Alki/Beach Drive area, join your official community group tonight at its new meeting location, Alki UCC (map). Agenda items include a special presentation on Alki Point Lighthouse history and an opportunity to meet the ACC’s new webmaster/Alki News Beacon editor, Glynnis Vaughan. (The newsletter’s info-packed new edition is online here (PDF) and on its way to ACC members’ mailboxes.) Meeting starts 7 pm.
OPEN HOUSE (AND MORE) @ CHIEF SEALTH: Tonight’s event at Chief Sealth High School for prospective students and their families has a packed agenda – it will include an update on the Sealth renovations that are to be complete in time for the school to move back to its permanent location this summer, for reopening this fall, plus student cultural performances, and more (detailed here). 6 pm, Sealth at Boren (map). The full list of citywide Seattle Public Schools open houses is here.
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL WINTER CONCERT: 8 pm, WSHS Theater, admission free (donations accepted and appreciated, as the school’s Daily Bulletin notes).
THE KENNEY: From last night’s Morgan Community Association meeting (full report to come) – A West Seattle consultant working on the retirement center’s redevelopment project says they’re working toward having its next Design Review meeting in early March (no date formally set yet). The latest comment period for the proposal is open until Feb. 3; the consultant says the project team is looking at all the comments as they come in – “We just went (downtown) and picked up another batch (Wednesday), 16 more.” He says traffic and parking concerns are generating the most comments right now.
Story, video and photos by Randall G. Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Brianne Goulet and Anna Hobby combined for 39 of the Wildcats’ 51 points to lead their team to victory over the rival Chief Sealth Seahawks, earning West Seattle (1-7, 3-10) their first Metro Conference victory of the season Wednesday night at West Seattle High School.
“I wish we could have had a simpler transition,” Seattle School Board President Michael DeBell said, just before the board’s vote about half an hour ago on the transition plan assembled for the new Student Assignment Plan. (And as of this writing, the meeting – almost six hours long – isn’t over yet!) Read on for some of the major West Seattle (and elsewhere) effects – including program changes for several schools:Read More
From tonight’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center: The dates are set for two big Delridge events later this year — Delridge Day is scheduled for June 5th at Delridge Community Center (11 am-3 pm), Gathering of Neighbors is set for November 6th. Planning meetings are under way, first Wednesday each month at Youngstown – they’re talking Delridge Day at 4:30, GON at 5:30. Also at tonight’s DNDC meeting – Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association‘s strategic focus, a presentation about the upcoming U.S. Census, and more – ahead:Read More
Thanks to the texter who let us know about a sizable police response on the east side of The Junction – at the commercial building (check-cashing, car maintenance) at 40th/Alaska. Went over to check, at which time Ladder 11 joined the police, helping officers get up on the roof. Police told us multiple alarms had gone off in the building so they were searching – but hadn’t found anything/anyone yet. (We’ll check back.)
SEATTLE SYMPHONY AT DENNY INTERNATIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL: Denny principal Jeff Clark shares the photo tonight with news that the symphony – fresh off its Friday night concert hosted by West Seattle Kiwanis – was there today: “Our partnership with the symphony is a part of the ACCESS project (Artistic and Cultural Community Engagement with Seattle Symphony). The orchestra program at Denny has grown substantially in recent years — today’s performance gave our students something to aspire to musically.”
LAFAYETTE ELEMENTARY PLAYGROUND PLANNING: From Janine Bostock:
The Lafayette PTA is in the planning stages for a renovation to our school’s Playground. We want to notify the community of several meetings and events that may be of interest. Our next community outreach and design meeting will be on Saturday, January 23rd, at 10 AM at the playground to meet with the architect. Anyone is welcome to attend. We will be discussing design expectations for the new toy and surrounding areas with the commissioned landscape architect. Several fundraising events will be announced specifically for the playground improvement project in the coming year. One will be a Ski and Sports Equipment swap in April. We will be selling all kinds of kid’s sports equipment including, soccer cleats, ballet slippers, jogging strollers, bikes and more. Items can be donated or sold for a small commission that will go towards funding the playground improvement project. Anyone can attend the swap or bring items to sell or donate. More details will be coming on that event soon. For more information or to get involved please contact Janine Bostock janine@avadesignbuild.com
Please come to West Seattle High School’s OPEN HOUSE, scheduled for February 11th from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm, to meet exceptional staff, to see quality student work, and to learn about college-ready programs and course offerings.
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS: West Seattle Montessori School(WSB sponsor) has a Parent Education Night tomorrow, 7 pm, with John Chattin-McNichols speaking on “Why Montessori?”; then it’s the first of two WSMS open houses on Saturday, 1-3 pm. … Cometa Playschool (also a WSB sponsor) has an open house Saturday too, 10 am-noon … Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School sends word of its open house, 9 am-1 pm January 31st.
We’ve been reporting on this for more than a year and a half, and now it’s about to intensify – day after tomorrow, a ramp and road closure kick in for the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project. The city’s sent out a reminder tonight as well as the detour map above – read on for the news release:Read More
Several notes we would have passed along sooner if not for the site trouble (again, sorry, seems to be fixed now):
*9:30 tonight, it’s Karaoke Joe’s fundraiser for Officer Jason McKissack (backstory here) during karaoke at Yen Wor in the Admiral District. This is one of two karaoke benefits in the works – West Seattle’s Willie Murderface hosts karaoke at Goldie’s in Georgetown and plans to collect donations this Saturday night, 9 pm, for the injured officer’s medical fund. (You can donate directly too – go here for the latest.)
*Another concert benefit for Haiti was announced today. West Seattle-based filmmaker Jamie Chamberlin put together Rock4Relief, January 28 at the Showbox SODO. Here’s the lineup he sent us:
Rock4Relief
HAITIAN benefit SHOW
The Fixers-
Seattle’s all star Humble Pie cover band. http://www.myspace.com/fixers
Andrew McKeag- vox/guitar (Presidents of the United States of America)
Ron Heathman- guitar/vox (Supersuckers)
Kurt Bloch- bass/vox (The Fastbacks)
Scott Giampino- drums (Cash Money)
Dusty 45’s-
THE DUSTY 45’S were originally formed in 1997. For over a decade, singer/songwriter Billy Joe Huels ande The Dusty 45’s have gained critical praise and delivered countless exciting live performances. Wrapping up the excitement with Billy’s infamous flaming trumpet, leaving the audience in awe and complete satisfaction. The Dusty 45’s which include some of Seattle’s top roots/rockabilly musicians, were voted Best of Seattle by Seattle Weekly readers 3 years in a row. Huels contines to branch out, most recently starring at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre as Buddy Holly. www.dusty45s.com www.myspace.com/billyjoeandthedusty45s
Thee Sgt. Major III www.myspace.com/theesgtmajoriii
Featuring
Kurt Bloch from the Fastbacks
Mike Musburger from Love Battery and The Posies
Gunn and the Damage Done- www.myspace.com/gunnandthedamagedone
The music of GUNN AND THE DAMAGE DONE encompass the true emotions of life. Gritty and honest. Not always smooth and pretty, but always pure.
We’ve been doing some upgrades to the underpinnings of the site lately, including moving to a more powerful server, but this afternoon something is going wrong that’s rendered the site inaccessible off and on this past hour. Just wanted to say, we apologize, and wanted to let you know that fine talented technical experts are working on it. If there were major news and WSB itself was down, we would use these other channels to get the news out: Facebook – facebook.com/westseattleblog Twitter – twitter.com/westseattleblog
Backup site (not a mirror of WSB, but something we can post longer stories on if necessary): westseattleblog.wordpress.com
Also worth noting, our partner site White Center Now runs off different servers in a different location so would not generally be having trouble if this site is: whitecenternow.com
Tonight when Morgan Community Association meets at 7 pm at The Kenney, the agenda includes an update on the area pump stations operated by King County Wastewater Treatment. That’s been planned for quite some time – but there’s something new to talk about, after this news release sent out by the county today, regarding trouble with a “tidal surge” – read on:Read More
That’s WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli‘s video from the Beach Drive slide scene, where city crews were back working today. Though SDOT had said the road would be closed, commenter Peter (on our earlier report) and Christopher both report that it’s been allowed through one lane at a time, with flagger help. SDOT had said they expected today’s work on the slope – which first slid last week – to be done by 4 pm, and that they would be monitoring the site daily TFN while evaluating what else to do. We’ll be heading toward the area soon to check on its status. 4:30 PM UPDATE: From Marybeth Turner at SDOT:
To aid with traffic, SDOT’s Street Maintenance crews made modifications on site that allowed one lane of Beach Drive SW to remain open. They were able to clear away the debris from the roadway while using flaggers to let traffic by. Our urban forestry crews also removed trees that might otherwise fall onto the roadway or power lines. SDOT crews finished earlier this afternoon and then left the street as it was before, with one lane open and drivers taking turns. We will continue to monitor this site.
We are at Seattle Municipal Court, where a brief hearing for 31-year-old Ryan Joshua Cox, arrested twice last year for serial vandalism in West Seattle – graffiti that usually included a three-word anti-gay slur – has just concluded. The goal of the hearing was to determine if he was competent to stand trial on the 10 counts of property destruction with which he was charged after his December arrest. After Cox’s first arrest last year, similar charges were dropped because he was found not competent, and the case was not determined to be one in which authorities might consider trying to “restore competency” through forced medication. This time, there was discussion that might be possible. But what just happened is that Cox was brought into the courtroom – thin and trembling in a brick-red jail jumpsuit – and asked if he knew why he was here; here is our transcription of what followed:
Cox: “I was being harassed by my relatives … to strike back at them (I did) anti-gay graffiti.”
Judge Edsonya Charles: “How does that strike back at them?”
Cox: “(unintelligible) The goal of the cult is to force me to commit suicide or turn gay, so I strike back by discriminating against all gay people.”
It was subsequently pronounced that he was determined — through his behavior in court as well as a report that was presented to the court — to be incompetent to stand trial. The city attorney who is here told the judge they believed “restoration is not possible in the time we have” (we are waiting for her to become available after other cases, to explain what that means). So the charges are to be dismissed and Cox will be referred to Western State Hospital for “possible civil commitment.” Asked if he understood what that meant, Cox replied, “I could use the 40 bucks.” Judge Charles said, “I don’t know what that means, but …” Cox replied, “That’s the walking money they give you … when I was dismissed before.” And with that, officers led him back out of the courtroom. ADDED 3:06 PM: Per the city attorney’s rep – In a misdemeanor case, they are only given three weeks to try restoring competency; for felonies, the time frame is longer. The evaluation in this case suggested doctors saw little chance that Cox would respond to treatment in that time. So now instead, he will be referred for civil commitment, which we had discussed before with Mike Finkle, the city attorney’s office Mental Health Court expert. He explained that the hospital has 3 days for an evaluation and then the state can file a petition to have him involuntarily committed for 2 weeks inpatient or 90 days outpatient, after which the state can petition for a full hearing that could result in another 90 days of commitment and so on, up to, potentially, six months at a time. “Every six months, they either file a new petition, or release you,” it was explained.
Pam e-mailed to say, “I walked out of my house at 47th and Lander [map] around 12:30 pm today and saw a coyote running north on 47th. Any other sightings reported?” As previously discussed, coyote sightings aren’t all that rare, but not everyone is aware of the coexistence advice in stories like this one we published last weekend. Here’s our archived coyote coverage.
For the first time in almost a year, there’s a construction crane in the Junction/Triangle area. Last one to leave was at Capco Plaza (here’s our February 2009 report). Before that, the crane for Harbor Properties’ Mural (WSB sponsor) left in November 2008. And today, the crane’s going up for Harbor’s next project – Link, along 38th between Fauntleroy and Alaska. WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli spotted it a little while ago, and got some information from the crew: The base will be set around 11, with its bottom “probably at least 30 feet below grade. So it will probably take them a couple of hours to get enough pieces of crane in place so that it stands out over the other buildings.” And he asked the big (literally) question: How tall will this crane be? 118 feet. More numbers: Link will have 200 apartments and 14,000 square feet of retail space; its construction began in November, with demolition of the auto and school buildings that were on the site.12:38 PM UPDATE: Checked with Emi Baldowin at Harbor. They are putting up the crane base today but the rest of the crane is scheduled to go up on January 28th.
That’s our video from last July, as West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival Queen Georgia Mitchell and Princesses Kelly Nealson and Veronica Pupava were coronated. Who will get the crowns at the next coronation? The process has begun, now that applications are being accepted. Coordinator Shirley Enebrad forwarded two important forms for anyone interested; the application (here) and the accompanying letter (here). The application form fully describes qualifications and expectations – but here are the key points:
Applicant must be a female 17 years of age and not have reached her 23rd birthday by August 1st. Applicant can never have been married and must be single (not engaged) at the time of coronation. These limits are based on the Seafair rules, since the Hi-Yu Queen will be participating in the Seafair Scholarship Program the following year. She must be attending high school or a high school graduate; attending school, working in, or a resident of West Seattle. The West Seattle area includes the Alki Peninsula to the Burien City limits. This is a varied border, within the following zip codes: 98106, 98116, 98126, 98136, 98146. If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact the organization by e-mail: misswestseattle@hiyu.com
Prizes include scholarship $. The deadline to enter is March 31st.
Reminder of the road closure reported here last night – SDOT plans to work most of the day at the scene of last week’s slide in the 6000 block of Beach Drive (map), and will close the road there till approximately 4 pm, with a detour planned to its south, Atlas to 49th to Canada (map).
MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Everyone with an interest in the greater Morgan Junction area is invited to MoCA’s quarterly meeting tonight at 7, The Kenney (map). Agenda items listed at morganjunction.org – note MoCA plans to discuss the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project, which is about to move to a new phase with road/ramp closures taking effect later this week.
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm tonight, Youngstown Arts Center (map) – reps from key groups and organizations in eastern West Seattle gather for updates and discussions.
SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD: 6 pm tonight at district HQ in SODO, with the agenda including votes on the new Student Assignment Plan and the $1.1 million sale of more Fauntleroy Schoolhouse property to the Fauntleroy Community Service Agency. If you can’t be there, you can watch live on cable channel 26, or online.
Thanks to the staff at West Seattle Elementary in High Point for sharing the invitation to their big event tonight:
West Seattle Elementary School Resource Fair and Open House will be held January 20, 2010 from 5:30-7:30 pm. We invite all our WSE families, our targeted families in FSW, Family Partnership Grant and CLC families. ALL families are welcome and encouraged to come.
5:30 – 7:00
OPEN HOUSE: for families in the High Point Community and new attendance area.
– Current families interested in hearing our school information are welcome.
– Classroom teachers and Bilingual classrooms, and special education classroom will be open and available for curious families to see what classes look and feel like at WSE.
6:30 – 7:30 CLASSROOMS OPEN FOR VISITORS
6:30 – 6:50 – School Vision, Focus and addressing concerns – Gayle Everly, Principal and Erin Tillman, Head Teacher
– Math and Reading Instruction Focus Presentation – Dan Rosson and Marian Fink
7:10 – 7:30 – School Vision, Focus and addressing concerns – Ms. Everly and Ms. Tillman
7:30 – 8:30 – CLASSROOMS CLOSED, MS. EVERLY HERE TO WELCOME AND VISIT WITH LATE ARRIVALS.
Just got an update from Annie Kolb-Nelson at King County Wastewater Treatment Division, who we talked with following 
DELRIDGE SKATEPARK $: As discussed at last week’s citywide Skatepark Advisory Committee meeting (
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: If you live in the Alki/Beach Drive area, join your official community group tonight at its new meeting location, Alki UCC (
THE KENNEY: From last night’s 
From tonight’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center: The dates are set for two big Delridge events later this year — Delridge Day is scheduled for June 5th at 
We are at 
| Comments Off on Followup: Pump-station problem did NOT result in an overflow