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Congratulations, Global Reading Challenge finalists from West Seattle and Lafayette Elementary Schools
March 16, 2015 10:45 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

We’ve been watching the Seattle Public Library‘s page for the Global Reading Challenge – the “Battle of the Books” for 4th and 5th graders – awaiting word of any local teams who made it to the GRC finals one week from tomorrow – and finally the list is up: Congratulations to the Reading Warriors from West Seattle Elementary in High Point and the Rad Radical Hyperactive Jellyfish from Lafayette Elementary in Admiral! They and seven other teams from non-WS schools will be in the final round at 7 pm March 24th at the Central Library downtown. Here, by the way, are the books in the GRC this year.

ADDED 11:47 AM MONDAY: Thanks to Laura Bermes from WSES for the photo added above and more info on their team: “This is West Seattle Elementary’s 2nd year participating … Congratulations to our team: Merichle, Dan, Jimmy, Nelson, Leyla, Jordan & Amer!”

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Tonight’s sunset, plus a reminder about equinox evening with Alice
March 16, 2015 8:35 pm
|    Comments Off on Tonight’s sunset, plus a reminder about equinox evening with Alice
 |   Skies Over West Seattle | West Seattle news

Thanks to James Bratsanos for capturing tonight’s sunset colors. His photo reminded us to mention to you that the spring equinox arrives this Friday (3:45 pm on March 20th), which means it’s season-change sunset-watch time Friday night with Alice Enevoldsen of Skies Over West Seattle, Alice’s Astro Info, and more. As she wrote in this month’s SoWS roundup of reasons to look up at night: “6:55 pm-7:55 pm — Come and watch the Spring Equinox sunset with me at Solstice Park across from Lincoln Park. The sunset itself will be around 7:10 pm. Bring your children and your parents.” (Forecast looks iffy now, but check back as it gets closer.)

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Highland Park Elementary shows off for visiting educators
March 16, 2015 7:46 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

4th-grade PE students had an audience at Highland Park Elementary School this morning.

Physical-education professionals are gathered in Seattle for the SHAPE (Society of Health and Physical Educators) America national convention this week, and today dozens of them visited several SPS campuses to check out unique programs, such as flag football that’s played at HPES as part of an NFL collaboration:

Teacher Kevin Schmidt leads this program at Highland Park.

What the kids showed off today are drills they do after their teacher explains the objective, as the students write it down:

Once they have grasped the goal, it’s on with the drill. Highland Park Elementary, by the way, was the only West Seattle stop for the visitors from the conference, and it was the first school they visited on their all-day citywide tour.

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West Seattle traffic alert: Resurfacing for California SW in Fauntleroy
March 16, 2015 4:24 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle traffic alert: Resurfacing for California SW in Fauntleroy
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Just in from SDOT:

Paving crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation will resurface a block of California Avenue Southwest, between Southwest Brace Point Drive and California Drive Southwest on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 24 and 25. The crews will resurface the street pavement, working from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The street will be open to traffic on Tuesday, March 24, but there may be a wait of up to 15 minutes for equipment to clear the roadway. On Wednesday, March 24, the street will be closed to through traffic and pedestrians and driveways on this block will not be accessible. On-street parking will be restricted in the work area.

That block is in Fauntleroy – here’s a map.

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How much transit = no need for parking? Mayor says he’ll vet new proposed ‘Director’s Rule’
March 16, 2015 3:36 pm
|      47 COMMENTS
 |   Development | Transportation | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Mayor Murray promised today that his office will review the proposed development-rule change regarding transit availability and offstreet-parking requirements, formally known as Department of Planning and Development Director’s Rule 6-2015, before it takes effect.

We wrote about this week before last, before the comment period closed. First, here’s the proposed rule:

We asked the mayor about this during a wide-ranging conversation at City Hall today, his first in a series of planned meetings with “neighborhood press” (the invitation was sent widely; along with WSB, journalists from CapitolHillSeattle.com and the Capitol Hill Times were there – photo above – we’ll have a full report on the entire event tonight).

The West Seattle-based group SeattleNERD. (Neighbors Encouraging Reasonable Development) contends the proposed rule runs counter to what city Hearing Examiner Sue Tanner said in her ruling last year on their appeal related to an on-the-drawing-board development at 3078 Avalon Way SW. SeattleNERD’s official comment is in this letter:

Note Tanner’s observation (see section 15 in her conclusions) that the distinction would have to be changed by legislation – in other words, by a new action the City Council. But Director’s Rules don’t go through the Council; the mayor noted in our conversation this morning, however, that the buck stops with him, since departments such as the DPD report to him, and so that’s why it won’t go forward without mayoral review.

This also is becoming a campaign issue; City Council District 1 (West Seattle/South Park) candidate Lisa Herbold sent a news release saying she also has sent a letter to the DPD, saying in part:

I believe that the City Council did not intend for the DPD to interpret the Land Use Code in this way, and that the department should instead follow the Hearing Examiner’s December 1, 2014 decision. Further, the proposed rule will unnecessarily and unjustifiably reduce parking availability as West Seattle moves towards finding ways to make transit service more reliable, frequent, and consistent.

Read her letter in full here:

That is the point many have made here – while the ultimate goal of less car use and more transit use is supported by most, this area does not currently have the volume and range of transit, even with what Proposition 1 funding is about to pay for, to enable car users to renounce private-vehicle use en masse and eliminate the need for new parking to accompany new residential units.

So what are the next steps on deciding all this? We asked DPD that on Friday, and spokesperson Wendy Shark replied, “We will take the range of comments we received into consideration as we make final edits to the Director’s Rule. Then the Director will sign the final rule, it will be published on our website, and filed with the City Clerk.” (As for a timeline – we’re still waiting for the answer to our followup question about that.)

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Voting time for Seal Sitters co-founders’ book ‘Leopard & Silkie’
March 16, 2015 1:57 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle books | West Seattle news

Last year came word of the nomination … now, finally, it’s time to vote on a local book nominated for a national award.

The announcement:

“Leopard & Silkie: One Boy’s Quest to Save the Seal Pups” has been nominated for the prestigious Beverly Cleary Children’s Choice Award for best book.

Written by Brenda Peterson with photos by Robin Lindsey (co-founders of Seal Sitters), the book weaves a tale based on the true story of the friendship of two West Seattle seal pups in 2007 – and the young volunteers who protected them.

There are 5 nominees for the award, and children must read or listen to at least two of the books in order to vote for a winner. Voting must be completed online between March 15 and April 10, 2015. All elementary-school-age children are eligible to vote.

The highly respected Beverly Cleary Award will help bring even more national attention to the book. This award will help protect seal pups and inspire children to reap the rewards of volunteerism and environmental stewardship.

While Leopard & Silkie has garnered much praise from critics (including 2013 Outstanding Science Trade Books K-12 by National Science Teachers Assoc), the best award of all would be from the children we so hope to influence!

Wondering how to vote? Details are in this post on the Seal Sitters’ Blubberblog.

P.S. – WANT TO BE A SEAL SITTER? TRAINING NEXT SUNDAY! We’re told space remains at this Sunday’s training session for potential Seal Sitters volunteers of (almost) all ages – if you’re interested, it’s a rare chance to get the training and get involved. Go here to get details, including the mandatory RSVP link.

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‘Urban villages,’ 20 years later: Encore presentation in West Seattle tomorrow night
March 16, 2015 12:45 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Development | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

The “urban villages” neighborhood-planning strategy from the ’90s paved the way for much of the development you see today. As part of the city’s process to map the next 20 years, former City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck and his consulting firm presented a study in January looking at how the plans have played out, closely examining some of the designated urban villages around the city, including The Junction and vicinity, as well as Westwood-Highland Park. If you couldn’t make it to the downtown presentation but are interested in the topic, tomorrow night you get a chance to find out about it without leaving West Seattle, as Steinbrueck is a guest at the Junction Neighborhood Organization meeting – 6:30 pm Tuesday at the Senior Center of West Seattle (Oregon/California), all welcome.

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You can help! Denny PTSA raising $ to set up and equip special Block Watch to keep students safe
March 16, 2015 10:03 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

When PTAs and PTSAs raise money for their schools, it’s usually for academic and enrichment necessities that just can’t be covered by the school budget. Right now at Denny International Middle School, the PTA finds itself raising money to keep kids safe, in the wake of the recent robberies/assaults against students in their area (and elsewhere in West Seattle).

Denny PTA co-president Catherine Irby Arnold tells WSB that after meeting with police to find out what more could be done, they’re setting up a Block Watch as soon as they can – what’s above is *part* of their roughed-out map showing the coverage area – and are raising money via their Direct Drive to train volunteers, since they need at least 20. Also, she adds, the money will cover buying security vests, flashlights, and Denny sweatshirts for the volunteers. “We will kick this off as soon as possible. We are all fed up with the rash of security issues around our school. Safety of our scholars is our highest priority.”

If you’d like to help, you can donate online – scroll down this page and click the golden button.

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West Seattle Monday: Creating; reading; answering…
March 16, 2015 9:04 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Monday: Creating; reading; answering…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous


(Looking toward Alki Point: Photo by James Bratsanos; click image for larger view)

It’s the calm after the (2.2 inches of rain!) storm. Calendar notes for today/tonight:

FREE ART ACTIVITIES … for toddlers and preschoolers, 11 am-12:30 pm at the Family Center in Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. Details here. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP: 2 pm at Southwest Branch Library, all are welcome for this month’s afternoon book group, reading “The Forgotten Garden” by Kate Morton. (35th/Henderson)

GOT ALL THE ANSWERS? Then maybe you’ll want to join trivia at Christo’s on Alki (7:15 pm, 2508 Alki SW), or trivia at OutWest Bar (7:30 pm, California/Brandon), or pub quiz at Shadowland (8 pm, California/Oregon).

MONDAY MEDITATION: 7:30 pm Buddhist-meditation class at Sound Yoga (WSB sponsor), whose weekly schedule is here. (5639 California SW)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Final Monday of winter
March 16, 2015 6:12 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Final Monday of winter
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Winter, what we’ve had of it, is in its final days – spring officially arrives Friday afternoon. This morning, we’re dealing with the aftermath of Sunday’s deluge; please let us know, when you can, if you encounter any trouble spots (here’s what was happening last night).

Also, one alert to start the week – those overnight closures of the South Park Bridge are scheduled to start tonight.

8:23 AM: Still a relatively quiet commute. And weatherwise, we’re seeing some blue sky.

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West Seattle weather: Slide blocks part of Fairmount Avenue; water woes on West Marginal
March 15, 2015 8:36 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle weather: Slide blocks part of Fairmount Avenue; water woes on West Marginal
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

8:36 PM: Thanks to Ramona (who also sent the photo) and Matt for the tip – a slide is covering part of Fairmount Avenue, near SW Hill (toward the north end of Fairmount; here’s a map). We’re hearing Seattle Fire crews heading to check out a slide report in that area right now – not sure if it’s the same one, since as you can tell from the photo, this slide happened before nightfall.

9:22 PM: The SFD response closed fairly quickly. Slides are causing trouble elsewhere in the region, too, blocking rail travel between Seattle and Everett, and also blocking part of a road in the Southworth area, on the other side of the ferry route from Fauntleroy. The rain is expected to ease overnight.

10:59 PM: New problem (via scanner): Vehicles reported to be stalled in water across West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way – frequent trouble spot in heavy rain, with runoff down the HP Way hill and from the West Duwamish Greenbelt. Police are on the way.

11:07 PM: Police are also at another flooded section of West Marginal, 6300 block (map), and closing it in both directions.

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Update: Seattle Fire response in The Junction; no fire
March 15, 2015 8:20 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Thanks to Aleda for sharing the photo)
8:20 PM: Seattle Fire crews are checking out a possible fire at 4700 42nd SW (the Jefferson Square office building). Nothing reported to have been found so far; they’re checking floor by floor.

8:24 PM: Still nothing found; much of the response is being dismissed.

8:58 PM: The call is now completely closed, meaning all SFD crews have left the scene.

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Biznote: West Seattle Fabric Company changing focus, moving
March 15, 2015 6:45 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Another storefront in Admiral will be vacant soon – but the business that’s leaving it is NOT shutting down. Monica Skov of West Seattle Fabric Company announced late today that their focus is shifting, recognizing how the retail world is changing. From the message sent to the WSFC mailing list:

We are making a big shift to our business, and although it is a bittersweet decision, let’s celebrate together. As a retail storefront, we have had the beautiful benefit of getting to know all of the people in our community. We feel so thankful to have made connections and friendships that we would have never encountered. Inspiring a community of new sewing enthusiasts fills us with so much happiness. And I cannot tell you the joy I feel every time a customer comes in and says ~ I come here to be inspired. But the days of dense neighborhood shopping districts & bustling storefront commerce are evolving into online shopping and home delivery. Honestly, we’ve seen a shift from increased online sales and less storefront traffic. Shopping online has become much more convenient and in order to grow in an ever-changing economy we are going to transition our fabrics to an online-only fabric shop.

But, she continues, that’s just part of the change:

Seeing this trend for some time, we’ve been turning our focus toward the one thing you can’t get online – Services. The thing that we love about being small-business owners isn’t selling new collections or decorating a shop (although that is fun). We truly love helping our community. Our team has taught hundreds of customers to sew & quilt, we’ve been a resource for all sorts of sewing related questions and advice, and we’ve already completed a large number of customers’ quilts in the past couple of months. In addition to all of our other services, the ultimate way that we can help our community is Repairing and Servicing Sewing Machines, which we will now be offering.

So next month, West Seattle Fabric Company will move to a smaller space on Harbor Avenue in the ActivSpace [WSB sponsor] building, not retailing fabric, but focusing on services and education – classes, repairs, quilt finishing, plus, in relation to the online merchandise, “FREE local pick-up for our local online shoppers …” First, the shop (at 2210 California SW, where it opened in December 2010) plans a liquidation sale starting at 10 am Friday (March 20th), 30 percent off everything in the store, and “incentives for buying in bulk.” You can read the entire announcement here.

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VIDEO: See Art Wolfe’s special West Seattle presentation
March 15, 2015 4:45 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS culture/arts

Award-winning West Seattle-based environmental/cultural photographer Art Wolfe has published more than 80 books and taken more than 2 million images in his storied career, according to his website. While he travels much of the year to seek and photograph what’s beautiful in our world, on occasion he is able to stop down for a presentation – like the one shown in these two video clips, a recent gathering with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s top supporters. While there wasn’t enough room at the venue to open this event to the public, SWSHS executive director Clay Eals explains, Wolfe agreed to allow it to be recorded on video so it could be shared, and that’s what we’re doing here. His presentation included his most famous images as well as West Seattle photos from his early days.

Wolfe is a lifelong West Seattleite; his main gallery is in Pioneer Square. And, checking his website, we note he has a presentation coming up one month from today at Benaroya Hall downtown (April 15th) – find out more here.

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New Vashon Water Taxi arrives in Seattle, 2 weeks before dedication
March 15, 2015 2:16 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

According to MarineTraffic.com, the first of two new King County Water Taxis, M/V Sally Fox, is now docked in Seattle. Before the vessel left All American Marine to head south, the Bellingham Herald put together this video with a look inside:

The Sally Fox will serve the Seattle-Vashon run, but the Bellingham Herald’s sneak peek is a de-facto preview of what the new West Seattle Water Taxi, M/V Doc Maynard, also will look like, since it’s a twin being built by AAM, expected to arrive in October. First: For an in-person look at M/V Sally Fox, make plans to be at the north Vashon Island dock on March 28th – we’ve mentioned that date before, but now King County has published a schedule of events for the 1-4 pm dedication celebration that day.

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Time for high-school soccer – and for Sealth soccer summer camp signups, grades 3-9
March 15, 2015 12:55 pm
|    Comments Off on Time for high-school soccer – and for Sealth soccer summer camp signups, grades 3-9
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

It’s time for high-school soccer to resume, with the boys’ spring season starting (girls play in fall). The varsity teams from Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School have a match scheduled for Tuesday (March 17th), 3:30 pm at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point.

It’s also time to sign up for Sealth’s popular summer Soccer Skills Camp for girls and boys going into grades 3 through 9 this fall, all skill levels. The camp is under the direction of CSIHS’s award-winning head soccer coach Ron Johnson and will be led by current and past Sealth boys and girls soccer players. The camp is not until July 27-31, but spots fill fast. Here’s the flyer/application form.

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Notorious North Delridge site, 3804 23rd SW, sold at tax auction
March 15, 2015 11:12 am
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news

(King County Assessor photo)

The issue of blighted properties got a little attention citywide this week with an action by the city in North Seattle.

While we haven’t heard of anything similar in our area just yet, we did discover recently that one of West Seattle’s most visible blighted properties has new ownership.

It’s the house above, 3804 23rd SW, isolated and deteriorating on the slope along the Delridge onramp to the West Seattle Bridge.

Vandalism and squatter trouble has ravaged it for years. In 2009, it was a stop on a tour organized by then-North Delridge Neighborhood Council chair Mike Dady, who invited City Councilmembers and department heads to come see several blighted ND sites firsthand. (You’ll see a photo in one of our reports from that tour.) It came up again during a 2012 walking tour organized by later NDNC leadership, with a suggestion the city acquire the site, then listed at $79,000. And city acquisition was suggested again in passing at a recent community meeting.

Checking subsequently to figure out the property’s status, we found it had changed hands recently – at a foreclosure sale. County documents showed its longtime owner hadn’t paid its property taxes since at least 2008, and that piled up to more than $25,000 owed. So the house wound up on a long list of properties the county sold on December 12th to cover tax liens. Its new owner is the Eastside-based Wayne Seminoff Company‘s Money Purchase Pension Plan (WSCO MPPP); While county websites don’t show the purchase price, we obtained it from the KC Treasury Department: $68,000. (Its previous sale was in 1989, for $50,000.)

For its $68,000, the WSCO MPPP got the 66-year-old house and its 7,700-square-foot site, which is platted as four lots, zoned LR (lowrise) 1, meaning multifamily development such as rowhouses/townhouses would be allowable. No reply so far to our inquiry about the company’s plans for the site; nothing’s on file with the city (at least in terms of development or remodeling), so far.

–WSB editor Tracy Record

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You can help! 2015 Fairmount Ravine cleanup on March 28th
March 15, 2015 10:11 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB photo of young volunteer Woodrow at 2014 Fairmount Ravine cleanup)
Early alert for one of our area’s most challenging community cleanups – the annual Fairmount Ravine cleanup is now less than 2 weeks away, set for Saturday, March 28th. Neighbors tackle the roadside slopes once a year to pick up trash and cut tree-threatening invasives off trunks, but would appreciate more help. The official announcement, if you haven’t already seen it in our calendar:

Fairmount Ravine Preservation Group will sponsor the 23rd Annual Spring Cleanup and Reforestation of Fairmount Ravine, Saturday, March 28h at 8:30. Meet at top of ravine (Forest St. and Fairmount Ave.). Wear boots and gloves. Bring a pruning saw or large loppers if interested in removing ivy from trees. Delicious beverages and food from our local merchants will be provided. We extend a special invitation to those who use the ravine to access the waterfront; please donate an hour of your time to keep this greenbelt healthy and pristine. More info – call John at 206-932-5151.

If you’re not familiar with the ravine, it’s along Fairmount Avenue between Harbor and Forest (map), running under the Admiral Way Bridge east of the business district, used by drivers, riders, walkers, and runners, usually as a route between Admiral and Alki.

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West Seattle Sunday: Seed swap; library lunch; benefit bowling…
March 15, 2015 8:41 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Blooms on the Alki Trail, from Flickr member alextutu1821, shared via the WSB Flickr group)

Good morning and happy Sunday! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, rain or shine. Here’s the latest Ripe ‘n’ Ready Report. (44th/Alaska)

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES, LAST CHANCE: Final day of the selling season, we’re reminded. If you can’t find cookie sellers, use the online lookup.

THE GENERAL STORE SEATTLE GIVE-BACK SALE: 10 am-7 pm, second and final day of this unique sale at new WSB sponsor The General Store Seattle – 5 percent of your purchase will be donated. (3400 Harbor SW)

INTERNATIONAL MOTHERING SUNDAY LUNCHEON: Noon at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, food from around the world will be served at a by-donation International Mothering Sunday lunch benefiting a high-school library in Kenya – details in our calendar listing. (3050 California SW)

MUSIC AND COFFEE: Jamtime is live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) starting at 1 pm. (5612 California SW)

BOWLING FOR EQUALITY: Two benefit bowling sessions for the Human Rights Campaign, 1-3 pm and 4-6 pm, at West Seattle Bowl – the HRC website says tickets are still available at the door. (39th/Oregon)

THE GREAT SEATTLE SEED SWAP: Seattle Farm School is presenting this first-ever event this afternoon, 2-4 pm, at the West Seattle (Admiral) Branch Library. From SFS’s Katie Stemp:

Bring seeds to swap, and take home new and familiar kinds of seeds! We guarantee lots of fun along with seeds for fruit, flowers & vegetables, Library books & DVDs, and the chance to talk with fellow gardeners and make new friends!! We will also be accepting donations for the brand new West Seattle Seed Library! Don’t miss the Seed Saving talk at 3 pm with Caitlin Moore of the King County Seed Lending Library.

Free; all welcome. (2306 42nd SW)

ARTSWEST MATINEE: Haven’t seen “Chinglish” yet? 3 pm curtain at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) today – find out more about the play here.

LAST CALL FOR NOMINATIONS! As noted earlier this week, today’s the deadline for nominations in the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce-presented Westside Awards – info here.

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You can help! Refs, 6th-12th-grade players needed for ‘206 Bangout’ 3-on-3 basketball tournament @ WSHS
March 14, 2015 11:22 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Know a middle- or high-school student who loves to play basketball? The Junior Class at West Seattle High School is hosting another 206 Bangout tournament, and inviting girls and boys in 6th through 12th grades from all over the area. Two more weeks for players to register, and they’re looking for referees too. Class of 2016 event coordinator Jaimie Bell says the tournament is three weeks from today, with the signup deadline a few days earlier:

The West Seattle High School Junior class is hosting a 3 x 3 Basketball tournament “206 BANG OUT” on Saturday, April 4th. This event is for 6th – 12th grade kids, with open divisions for all skill levels, from 9-3 pm in the WSHS Gym. Cost is $20 dollars per team. A team of 4, with 1 sub and 3 players.

To sign up, please contact: 206bangoutrsvp@gmail.com or pick up a registration packet outside the Activity Center inside WSHS. Entry deadline is April 1st.

We are also looking for experienced people who would like to help with refereeing at this event.

Bring your friends, bring your family, and take it to the hoops!

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglary; mail-theft suspect; found loot?
March 14, 2015 9:09 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three notes and a reminder tonight:

BURGLARY: From Liz in Arbor Heights:

Our house at 100th and California Ave SW was burglarized this past Tuesday, March 10th, sometime between 7 and 10am. A Good Samaritan on Marine View Drive called SPD when she spotted the burglar tossing keys (stolen from a dresser in our home) into some shrubbery. SPD then traced the keys back to my husband.

We returned home from work to discover our house a mess, and that our laptops, iPads, and other miscellaneous items were stolen. The thief had climbed our fence and tossed a rock through a bedroom window to gain entry.

We have reported the incident to SPD, along with the description of a suspicious person we noticed that morning. Just a day and a half after this occurred, our next-door neighbor reported that someone had broken into her car!

Neighbors, please be on the alert. We are new to Arbor Heights (just bought our home 6 months ago) and have been very dismayed at this recent rash of issues across the neighborhood.

MISSING MAIL? From Dotti tonight:

Just wanting to let you know we just spotted a man trying to get into our bank of mailboxes on 25th between Findlay and Juneau. I reported it and do have a description if anyone is missing their mail today.

STOLEN? OR LOST? Christine spotted these items by the 37th/Findlay staircase and shared a photo, wondering if perhaps they were stolen and dumped:

If you find something of value, you can always notify police, who can store it in evidence (maybe there’ll even be a “reunion”).

WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Your monthly chance to hear from and talk with local police is during the WSCPC‘s monthly meeting next Tuesday (March 17th), 7 pm, Southwest Precinct (Webster/Delridge).

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West Seattle traffic-alert update: California/Myrtle open again after 5-vehicle crash
March 14, 2015 6:20 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WSB photo)
6:20 PM: A crash involving as many as five vehicles is blocking southbound traffic at California/Myrtle, just south of the south Morgan Junction business district.

6:32 PM: Our crew reports that no one is seriously hurt, and no one will have to go to the hospital. That also means the scene will be cleared sooner rather than later, since no serious injuries means the major investigation team won’t be needed. Police are on scene and trying to sort out exactly what happened. Traffic remains down to one lane for both directions, so if you can avoid California between Frontenac and Myrtle for a while, do so.

6:37 PM: Update (via scanner) – now California is closed both ways until the crash is cleared. Photo added (two vehicles out of the frame).

7:38 PM: Just announced (via scanner) – scene’s clear and road has reopened both ways.

8:00 PM: Added photo shared by Sean, above, with a wider view of the scene, from earlier.

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VIDEO: What’s next, and ahead, for Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge, now that it has a new owner
March 14, 2015 1:17 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Alki Homestead | West Seattle news

(WSB photo: New owner Dennis Schilling looks at SWSHS’s Clay Eals holding historic photo of Fir Lodge)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“Is this a dream?”

That’s what City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen said was the reaction he couldn’t shake, when he learned that the Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge has a new owner and that its restoration is on a path to reality, six years after the fire that left the landmark closed, vacant, and deteriorating.

He was among those speaking this morning on the steps of the Fir Lodge’s former carriage house, now the Log House Museum, at a media briefing to formally announce the historic log building has a new owner, as first reported here last night. That new owner, Mercer Island builder/investor Dennis Schilling, also was there along with former Homestead owner Tom Lin and historic-preservation advocates including Southwest Seattle Historical Society executive director Clay Eals. (Added) Full video:

In his prepared speech, Eals declared, “Our theme this morning is gratitude, and in our book, everyone involved is a hero.”

SWSHS board president Marcy Johnsen enthused during her turn at the podium, “I can’t tell you how excited I am.”

The historical society’s interest in the Homestead/Fir Lodge included an easement granting parking rights for the LHM, and its agreement to give up some of that made this possible, as Schilling hopes to fund the renovation by building a small apartment building in that lot. He expressed gratitude that SWSHS was “giving up some of the parking so I can afford to pay for the remodel … I’m doing this to try to restore the building … it’s pretty exceptional.”

Schilling also had warm words for Lin, as they worked to make the deal happen. Lin said, “We had many (prospective) buyers along the way, and I turned down many buyers because I didn’t think they were appropriate … when I first met Dennis, I knew he had a track record (from restoring the Shoremont) … It took us six years to find the right buyer.”

Expressing relief as much as excitement were advocates from what Eals described as the “Homestead coalition,” the regional organizations who have been working on this. One of them, Chris Moore from the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, recalled the Homestead being included in the “Most Endangered Historic Properties” list six years ago. “As we all know, preservation does not happen overnight … it has been a long history … we preserve buildings because … ultimately we love what they represent, their stories. What is wonderful about this event is that … all of you are now part of the Homestead and part of that story.”

Michael Herschensohn from Historic Seattle says this building is “critical to the fabric of (the city’s history).”

Also speaking, Flo Lentz from 4Culture, and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce CEO Lynn Dennis, who said she’s thankful that in addition to all the memories people have shared, that there will be future chances to make new memories.

Councilmember Rasmussen was the final speaker: “All of us have been hoping for this day and weren’t sure we would see this day. … I hope the (new owner) realizes we’re pulling for you, we want to see you succeed … If you should hit a few bumps along the way, call me at any time, and I’ll be there to help you.” He says he has always had a staff person assigned to the project.

Eals concluded by holding up the iconic This Place Matters photo from the event five years ago urging restoration of the Homestead, noting that many of those on the porch this morning were here when almost 200 people were gathered in the street in front of the Homestead for a group shot on July 4, 2010. This was our view that morning:

Eals said other events are ahead, including another advocacy rally on July 4, 2015 – “This Place STILL Matters.” Then he invited questions.

We asked what had been asked in comments on last night’s story – will the day come when people will be back inside the Homestead for fried-chicken dinners? Schilling replied: “I hope so, I don’t know exactly what the commercial business will be on the first floor, I hope it will be a restaurant, I don’t know anything about operating restaurants,” but he would hope to find someone to lease it to to make it a restaurant. By the way, if you never got a chance to go there in its heyday as a restaurant – here’s a video published to YouTube by SWSHS, courtesy of Schilling:

Someone asked about the potential 6-unit apartment building proposed for the parking lot next to the Homestead. “Is anybody speaking for the neighbors regarding ‘giving away’ the last potential open space (on the block)?” Eals addressed that, saying the “prize” is restoration of the Homestead, which will be expensive; the SWSHS had an easement for use of the parking lot and has been involved because of that. “This issue of restoring the Homestead has been before us for six years, and it’s a huge financial undertaking. … There is not a day that goes by that I don’t hear, what’s going to happen to the Homestead?”

What’s next for the restoration? Schilling was asked. He talked about the complicated city process involving the Landmarks Review Board and its Architectural Review Committee, so regarding the timeline, “Your guess is as good as mine.” (We reported in January on his first public meeting with the ARC.)

Eals wrapped up by saying he loved that it was raining because “the best things in Seattle happen in the rain.”

Here’s the official news release:

You can also read it on the SWSHS website. Meantime, we recorded the entire briefing on video that we’ll add to the story when it’s processed later today/tonight. We’ll also continue covering the Homestead’s road to restoration; we have an ongoing coverage archive, in reverse chronological order, here.

9:36 PM: The video of this morning’s event is now embedded in the story, between paragraphs 3 and 4.

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