West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Note from Samantha Bowes at the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor):
The Fauntleroy YMCA (9140 California Ave SW) will be closed for the rest of the day today due to a major water issue; we anticipate being able to open on time tomorrow morning. Fauntleroy members are welcome to use our West Seattle facility (4515 36th Ave SW) in the meantime.
Some residents near the Fauntleroy ferry dock say the overnight electrical work by Seattle City Light has been keeping them sleepless, to the breaking point. The utility first issued a warning early this month; then last week, neighbors said it got really loud, as noted here – one commenter called it “the most obscenely loud jackhammer ever.” SCL’s Scott Thomsen responded by saying the jackhammering is done. But there’s word from City Light that tonight might be noisy again, so neighbors are bracing themselves. One is even putting out an open call for a lawyer who they could consult; Chuck Sawyer (ecccsawyer [at] q.com). He and others say they are concerned not even so much about this work, which is scheduled to run another two weeks, but a precedent it might set for other future work in the area, including the Barton Pump Station adjacent to the dock.
ADDED 3:27 PM: Chuck’s video with the jackhammering from last week.
A few residents near the Fauntleroy ferry dock have e-mailed/called, wondering about late night/early morning construction work that’s under way this week. We doublechecked; it’s part of the electrical upgrades mentioned here a week and a half ago, for the nearby Barton pump station (prelude to this), for construction of a RapidRide bus stop, and for an electric-vehicle-charging station. The official Seattle City Light notice (see it here) did warn that the work hours would shift to 7 pm-4 am this week when the project moved to the immediate vicinity of the ferry terminal, to avoid conflicts with traffic during the busiest hours for ferry use. The project is scheduled to last at least two more weeks.
Just in from Seattle City Light – electrical work in the Fauntleroy ferry terminal area starting Monday – details ahead:Read More
(One tile names members of a family that influenced Fauntleroy into the 1980s. Photo courtesy Phil Sweetland)
Your name – or some other inscription – can be etched into Fauntleroy history! From Judy Pickens:
What do a state legislator, sculptor, and school office manager have in common? Their names get walked on by more than a thousand people every week in the Fauntleroy Church/YMCA lobby.
That’s because each contributed in an important way to what Fauntleroy is today. Bill Leckenby was a conscientious voice in Olympia for district residents, Frank Evans made fine art as well as very popular “Thora-ware,” and Betty Bogardus Colman greeted children every day at Fauntleroy School.
These names and several dozen others with a past or present in Fauntleroy have graced the church/Y lobby since 1996, when the church initiated the buy-a-tile project. During the building remodel last year, the lobby grew, as did the number of blank 8″ X 8″ tiles. Now 200 are available to capture more of the neighborhood’s flavor for decades to come.
The tax-deductible cost is $100 per tile for up to two lines of lettering, and pretty much anything related to Fauntleroy goes. Buyers might choose to
§ commemorate grandparents
§ honor a special Y coach
§ mark a wedding or baptism
§ list family members
§ recognize a neighborly business
§ credit an influential residentDeadline to purchase tiles is Nov. 1. Proceeds benefit the church’s Fund for the Future. Order forms are available in the lobby, church office, or at www.fauntleroyucc.org.
Because of state budget cuts, state troopers/cadets will no longer be helping direct traffic at the Fauntleroy ferry terminal as of this Sunday, according to a news release that just arrived. Read on for the details:Read More
While remodeling an area of the old Fauntleroy Schoolhouse to serve as a Pilates studio, Pamela Phillips-Blevins discovered a bit of history, a blackboard that appears to have been frozen in time – in 1939.
Way over on the right side of the blackboard, a few names for a “list” (gotta wonder what “list” that was):
Pamela says they found this blackboard under a newer one. Hers is one of several new businesses in the old schoolhouse, now nonprofit-owned (after a deal was completed last year). Fauntleroy Schoolhouse is 93 years old, according to this thumbnail history from Seattle Public Schools, which closed it in 1981.
Politics can have its moments of levity. Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and West Seattle political activist Chris Porter had one Wednesday night during the candidates’ reception/mixer at The Hall at Fauntleroy co-sponsored by the Greater Seattle Business Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. It’s the first of two pre-election events with which the Chamber is involved this month – the next one is the tunnel-related Referendum 1 forum that it’s presenting a week from tonight (6 pm July 21st, West Seattle High School, two reps from each side, with your editor here as moderator). More photos after the jump:Read More
(Photos by Rebecca Orton)
Before the next round of serious news rushes in, anybody up for a wildlife break? Rebecca Orton shared photos of a river otter (yes, the ones in Puget Sound are “river otters,” not “sea otters”) catching and enjoying its dinner:
Sunday evening, Mr. Otter was visiting our backyard and lounging under and on the deck. I rarely get to see the otters in the day time so I quickly ran for my camera and zoom lens.
Leaving his lounge area, he made his way to the water, so I followed him down to the beach where he quickly found himself a flounder. He devoured it at the water’s edge, heartily crunching through fish bones he had his flounder finished in 4 minutes flat. Then off he went for another one. His fishing skills proved expert as he came up in no time with another juicy flounder. This one, he apparently intended to gorge on in the back yard and began making his way up toward the house. Though I hadn’t moved a muscle, he finally caught sight or wind of me and stopped dead in his tracks, did a quick double take, then turned tail and ran to the water swimming away with his dinner. We both had a treat, dinner for him and wildlife-watching for me!
This reminds us of a note received recently reminding people to drive carefully near the water – including Fauntleroy, as well as Beach Drive and Harbor and Alki Avenues – otters like these spend time inland, and have to cross busy streets to get there.
Karen‘s report of a burglary last weekend will explain that photo (and two more ahead):
My sister and her family had their home broken into on Saturday, 6/25. They live in the 9200-block of Fauntleroy, south of the ferry terminal. The break-in occurred midday, around 12:30. The burglar(s) seemed brazen in that several neighbors were home at the time and noticed one of them. The burglar even asked a nonsensical question of one of the neighbors after she spotted him on their deck. Consequently, the police have a good description: white male, clean cut with brown hair, height approx 5’10” with slender build, 20-30 years old. Also, the “getaway car” was parked in such a way that a different neighbor had to maneuver around it to get out of her driveway.
Among the items that were stolen are some sentimental items, including some gifts from our relatives in Norway.
(Amaya, Morgan, and Sam got to see how much the fish they released into Fauntleroy Creek last spring had grown. The large fish in the bucket is a coho smolt, on its way to saltwater, and the small fish are fry the Little Pilgrim School students released this year.)
By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog
May was an especially busy salmon-release season on Fauntleroy Creek. A record 641 students – most from West Seattle – came to Fauntleroy Park as part of 17 field trips,and released just shy of 2,000 coho fry into the creek.
Just over 80 percent of the youngsters, preschool – fifth-grade, had reared their fish from eggs as part of the Salmon in the Schools program. The other 20 percent released fry reared by watershed volunteers for students to have a “salmon-lite” experience.
As those fish were getting used to running water, coho smolts were heading for nearshore habitat in Fauntleroy Cove after a year in the creek. For the first time, volunteers documented smolts in a soft trap as they left the park and as they passed through the fish ladder downstream near the beach.
A surprising 147 smolts left the park between late March and the end of May, showing that tributaries in the park provided healthy habitat for more than 7 percent of the fish released there. (Survival in the wild is estimated at 1 – 2 percent.)
Only 36 of those smolts, however, reached the lower trap. That number is typical since trapping in the lower creek began in 2003. The watershed council is working with state and city partner agencies to pinpoint the cause of such high attrition.
After many years at Seaview Methodist Church, Lincoln Park Cooperative Preschool decided to seek a new home – and has just announced it has found one for next school year: The Fauntleroy Schoolhouse. The schoolhouse at 9131 California SW, you’ll recall, is in its first year of a new life as a nonprofit-owned-and-operated community facility, and is continuing to add new tenants; this is the latest one. Lincoln Park is part of the South Seattle Community College cooperative-preschool family, with a format that includes parents working in the classroom one day a week. It offers classes for ages 1-5, and has a few openings – e-mail Judy at jkatalki@aol.com.
From a Fauntleroy resident who doesn’t want to be identified:
I wanted to report that someone shot at our front picture window in the 9400 block of 45th Avenue SW (Wednesday) evening around 8 pm. Southwest Precinct responded and is investigating. We aren’t clear what was shot, since it’s at least 30-40′ from the street to our window. But our own research shows that BBs can’t shoot more than 15′. We have a double pane picture window, and only the outer pane was pierced, with a tiny dent on the inside of the inner pane.
Needless to say, we are distressed and frustrated. And our kids are spooked. Thanks, just wanted to let our neighbors know.
From tonight’s Fauntleroy Community Association board meeting at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse:
‘OUTDOOR SENIOR WELLNESS FACILITY’: Did you know that, among the city’s neighborhoods, West Seattle has the second-highest percentage of over-60 residents? (25 percent, topped only by downtown/First Hill.) 
So said Irene Stewart, briefing the FCA board on a concept she is circulating for an “outdoor senior-wellness facility,” or, put another way, a playground for older adults. She brought a four-page document outlining the proposal – FCA is the first group with which she has discussed it, but many more are on her list. Stewart said the idea is already in action in parts of Canada, Asia, and Europe, with areas set aside for elders to exercise outdoors – a benefit for health, longevity, and fitness. Because of its older population and large number of retirement centers, Stewart said, West Seattle might be just the place to try this. Potential sites are plentiful, both public and private (FCA board members suggested the north end of Lincoln Park, and Stewart said that has potential, also considering The Kenney is nearby). But she can’t serve as the project coordinator, since she works on senior issues for the city – she’s just trying to launch the idea. We’ll be following up on this, to find out more about how you can get involved, if you’re interested.
BREAK-IN UPTICK: The FCA board heard from Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon, who says there’s been more burglaries than usual in the Fauntleroy area lately. Most had something in common, Solomon noted – the burglar(s) got in by using a tool to pry open a back door or sliding-glass door. Then, during our rare bouts of warm weather, there were the crimes of opportunism – getting in through an open window, door, or garage. How to fight back? Besides preventing those opportunities, Solomon said, make sure you know your neighbors, and that you are watching out for each other. He also reminded the FCA board that Night Out is coming up August 2nd (you can register your block party here).
The Fauntleroy Community Association board meets the second Tuesday of the month, 7 pm, at the schoolhouse, 9131 California SW.
(Sanislo Elementary salmon-releasing visit** to Fauntleroy Creek last week; photo by Lisa Keith)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
This week, Fauntleroy residents Judy Pickens and Phil Sweetland will finish a busy schedule of assisting hundreds of local schoolchildren with salmon releases into Fauntleroy Creek, which runs steps away from their home.
But there’s no time to rest, if they are going to be back at creekside, doing it again next year.
One day before their schedule of salmon releases ends, the gavel is scheduled to fall on the special session of the State Legislature. And with that gavel, it will be official: No state money for the program that has facilitated the releases over the years, Salmon in the Classroom.
From left, Fauntleroy Church pastor Rev. David Kratz, Kim Petram, and Phil Sweetland are among the Fauntleroy community supporters we found at Endolyne Joe’s in the early going of tonight’s dine-out fundraiser: Eat at Joe’s (as its famous sign exhorts) before midnight, and half the proceeds go to the Fauntleroy Fall Festival (set for October 16th this year). This is a major fundraiser for the festival, which has grown each year but is still free – and FFF organizers want to keep it that way. The pastor’s in shades and holding a mike because he’s emceeing tonight, by the way – and the basket? Part of a raffle (2 tickets for $5). Endolyne Joe’s is at 9261 45th SW, a few blocks southeast of the Fauntleroy ferry terminal.
TOMORROW NIGHT: From 5 till midnight tomorrow (Tuesday), dine at Endolyne Joe’s and half the proceeds go to the Fauntleroy Fall Festival (set this year for October 16th). You’ll also be able to enter drawings for gift baskets to raise extra money – two tickets for $5. The FFF has been a fun free event every year (here’s our coverage from last year) thanks to fundraisers like this one. (Endolyne Joe’s is at 9261 45th SW – menu’s online here.)
WORLD MS DAY SEATTLE UPDATE: We reported last Tuesday on the citywide event West Seattleite William Khazaal is organizing for a week from this Wednesday, a chance to dine out and shop to help raise money for kids with multiple sclerosis, a disease William himself is battling. Tonight a quick update – more than 50 businesses are now signed up (30 from West Seattle or White Center); you can see the latest list on Facebook. And there’s still room for more! Got a business? Be part of it by e-mailing william@mschildrensbook.com.
4:12 PM: After a few notes and calls, we checked out major police activity this past hour near the Fauntleroy ferry dock. According to police on the scene as well as scanner traffic, a possible burglary in progress was reported. However, police say, no burglary after all – but they were still trying to find the people who had been seen possibly trying to break into a house; the only description we heard was white, male, early 20s, one in a red hat, last seen possibly eastbound on SW Director (which is the street that’s just north of the Fauntleroy Creek overlook across from the dock). 4:28 PM UPDATE: There’s a new call of a possible prowler, maybe related, just a bit east/uphill. Meantime, we’ve added a photo from the earlier search. 4:50 PM UPDATE: Scanner traffic indicates a possible suspect has been detained. We’ll be checking for more information on whether that led to an arrest.
5:53 PM UPDATE: Just talked with Brian, the nearby resident whose tip appears to have led police to the suspect. Brian lives near Fauntleroy Creek and was startled to look out a window and see “this guy walking through the back yard.” After seeing the guy walk on to open the gate, Brian went out and asked the man what he was doing. The man claimed to have been lost in the woods. Brian went back in the house and called 911 to ask if they were looking for anyone in Fauntleroy; and of course, they were. He then called some neighbors to alert them – and the neighbors told him a whole bunch of police had just rolled up, and found the suspect. (Brian says he was told they were going to detain the suspect on warrants that were out for his arrest; we’re still working on getting official information.) “I was impressed,” Brian told us. “From the time I saw him walking through the back yard, it was maybe five minutes (till they arrived) – they were right on top of it. There’s no reason for anybody to be in my back yard!”
7:26 PM UPDATE: Police confirm this all started with someone reporting “2 suspicious males attempting to enter a residence in the 9100 block of Fauntleroy Way SW.” Police talked with one suspect shortly after that 3 pm report, according to Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen, who says it all wound up with one arrest. Since no actual burglary happened, that arrest was for criminal trespass plus “miscellaneous warrants” including one for escape. Capt. Paulsen adds:
The Southwest Precinct would like to thank all of the citizens who called 911 when they observed the suspicious behavior at the residence as well as calling 911 after observing one of the subjects running through yards. It was your watchful eye and knowledge of your neighborhood that helps keep West Seattle as one of the safest places to live.
A similar sentiment from Lt. Alan Williams: “Once again, the Community-Police partnership has made life difficult for criminals in our area!”
ADDED 11:30 PM: From area resident Natascha:
I wanted to respond to your story and also provide my feedback and strong support for the Seattle police department. I had left my patio door open while working in my home office. After my dogs did not stop barking for quite some time, I left my conference call to find 6 police officers surronding my house and asking if they could search the premises for the suspect who was seen in my backyard. I was very impressed with the action of the police officers and response to the calls from the neighbors. Nice to know that everyone takes prowlers seriously and want to keep our amazing neighborhood safe. Having relocated from LA this is definitely refreshing!
A busy season of “Salmon in the Classroom” releases at Fauntleroy Creek started today – if you’ve been to a local school and seen a tank of baby salmon, this is usually the next step. Above, students from Pathfinder K-8 were the first to join creek steward Judy Pickens to learn about the little fish before setting them loose into the world. Here’s how the fish arrived:
Here’s how the students arrived – that’s Judy leading the way into Fauntleroy Park:
Just a few hours after Washington State Ferries sent a news release announcing that its new Todd (Vigor) Shipyards-built Salish is out on sea trials, before joining its sibling Chetzemoka on the Port Townsend run, it’s been spotted off Fauntleroy. Dan Jessup shared photos and this report:
The new ferry Salish just sped by the Fauntleroy area quite close to shore. The picture (with the crow) shows how fast the Salish was moving as it passed close in front of the ferry Sealth, which was approaching the Fauntleroy ferry dock. The second picture of the Salish was a few minutes later as it had passed Brace Point into the Endolyne area. This occurred about 13:05 today.
The third ferry in the Salish and Chetzemoka’s Kwa-di Tabil class, Kennewick, is under construction at Todd/Vigor right now.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes this morning. First one is a followup to an incident we mentioned on Twitter overnight – the screams that brought multiple 911 calls from a Fauntleroy neighborhood and led to an arrest; second, a “beloved” bike stolen this weekend, with its owner’s spouse asking that you keep an eye out – details on both, ahead:Read More
Two followups tonight on weekend collection efforts in West Seattle that both proved highly successful:
(WSB photo from Saturday)
On Saturday, we reported on the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle food drive “as it happened.” It was part of the global volunteer-action Kiwanis ONE Day. Tonight, the Kiwanians report that they collected more than 7,000 pounds of food and almost $1,000 in cash at five West Seattle grocery stores Saturday – all going to the West Seattle Food Bank (and remember, this is the time of year when food-bank donations count extra). The club says, “Special thanks goes out to all the members of the community who generously donated to support this worthy cause.” They’re also glad to have had Key Club members join them (note the teens in our photo). West Seattle Kiwanis also wants to remind you that they meet 1st, 3rd, 4th Wednesdays for breakfast, 7 am, and lunch (noon) on the 3rd Wednesday at Be’s Restaurant in The Junction (4509 California SW)
Another event we covered “as it happened” – on Sunday, the Fauntleroy Church Green Committee invited the community to another Recycle Roundup:
(WSB photo from Sunday)
Judy Pickens reports that 1 Green Planet filled its trucks with “an estimated 12 to 14 tons of just about everything for free recycling.” The church did accept donations from anyone interested in showing their appreciation – and took in almost $1,000. She says the company’s crew chief Michael Szanyi told them that the “strong support has made Fauntleroy Church one of 1 Green Planet’s favorite places to go!”
Last time they were here, they recycled 20 tons of unwanted items – and you can help them aim for a new West Seattle record today. The trucks from 1 Green Planet are back in the Fauntleroy Church parking lot at 9140 California SW (map) till 3 pm. The church’s Green Committee has a flyer showing what they’ll accept – you can see it here (PDF).
FAUNTLEROY CHURCH SIDE NOTE: The next “Sweet, Sweet Music” show is this Friday night, April 8th – 7:30 pm in the church sanctuary, with a focus on choral music, opening with the church’s chancel choir and closing with the Chief Sealth International High School Honor Choir (still accepting donations to cover its Easter trip to sing at Carnegie Hall). Full details on the church website!
| 1 COMMENT