West Seattle, Washington
18 Thursday
Now that he’s had two weeks to settle in, new Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Kevin Grossman is making the rounds of community meetings. This past Tuesday night, he introduced himself to the Fauntleroy Community Association.
After sharing some of his background – which we reported here last month – he outlined his three top priorities for the precinct:
1. Violent crime (though he acknowledged it’s relatively low in West Seattle). That includes pre-emptive action – he said he tells his officers, if you can legally take a gun from someone who shouldn’t have it, do that. He also promised that shots-fired calls will be investigated thoroughly.
2. Auto theft – the city is in the top 25 nationwide for this crime, and though local numbers aren’t horrible, he wants to reduce them, as it’s a “very impactful” crime. He has a crime-analysis detective mapping for preventive action.
3. Burglaries – Also not high here but this is another “impactful” crime. So if there are hot spots, he wants to get resources on top of that..
West Seattle’s crime trends right now: Overall, 16 percent down from this time last year, “no other part of the city is looking as good as West Seattle right now” – and of course he acknowledges COVID-19 and the bridge closure are major factors. Violent crime is down 15 percent, auto theft down 5 percent, burglaries are down 22 percent. For Fauntleroy in particular, violent crime is almost non-existent, burglaries are down 38 percent, but auto theft is up 18 percent over this time last year.
Capt. Grossman said he hopes to focus on prevention efforts – such as making free “Club” type devices available, which he had done as South Precinct commander, via a Seattle Police Foundation grant.
In Q&A, he was asked who’s doing all the car-stealing. Mostly people who use the cars to commit other crimes, such as mail theft. He was also asked about the current political battle between the mayor and council over “defunding” SPD (the council discussed this further at its Wednesday budget meeting but has not yet voted on anything). He said he has spent several days reassuring officers at roll calls who are “wondering if they’re going to get a pink slip any day now,” while also hearing older officers wondering “how soon can I get out.” He’s hoping “the rhetoric calms down a bit” – he agrees that there’s an overreliance on 911 to solve our society’s problems, and acknowledges that police have traditionally ben asked to do a lot of things they shouldn’t do. “There’s room for a bigger conversation about what police should be doing, shouldn’t be doing.” but he hopes there’s room for a rational conversation, though he says 50 percent would be too big a cut – “a cut like that would be devastating and would seriously affect the level of service we would provide.” As for specific types of change, Grossman offered support for the CAHOOTS model. “That would take a lot of work away from us – that’s all right, but that’s not in place yet. … Would probably save the city a bunch of money and might turn out better than some of our calls.”
One other question – about the whereabouts of Steve Strand, since Grossman has a new second-in-command, Operations Lt. Sina Ebinger (the position Strand previously held). He noted that Strand has been promoted to captain and is now one of three citywide night captains.
Capt. Grossman is scheduled to be a guest at tonight’s Alki Community Council meeting, as noted in our morning preview.
Also discussed at the FCA meeting – the recent Washington State Ferries online community meeting (here’s our report), the recent District 1 Community Network meeting (here’s our report), and planning for the next annual community survey to be conducted by FCA.
The Fauntleroy Community Association will next meet in September; watch fauntleroy.net for updates.
(Fauntleroy ferries inbound and outbound: WSB file photo)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The pandemic has hit Washington State Ferries hard, and that’s likely to affect service for a long time to come.
So warned WSF executives including assistant transportation secretary Amy Scarton in tonight’s systemwide online meeting.
But before we get to that – some news about the Fauntleroy ferry terminal.
Just in via text:
Right now! Father’s Day fundraiser Lemonade stand. Proceeds go to Black Lives Matter. Hosted by 8 & 6 year old siblings. Fauntlee Hills. 41st/SW Trenton.
They’ll be there until 6 pm.
(Photo courtesy Fauntleroy UCC)
By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog
New public-health requirements have dealt a body blow to a venerated West Seattle institution – Little Pilgrim School.
In a letter yesterday to parents, the leaders of Fauntleroy Church announced that the United Church of Christ congregation was closing its 68-year-old preschool.
“The programmatic, financial, staffing, and health and safety gaps between what we are able to do and what we would have to do to begin preschool this fall are great and accompanied by many significant unknowns,” the letter said.
Even if the school were to open in the fall with full enrollment, overwhelming changes would have been needed to meet COVID-19 guidelines, the letter continued. They included cutting class size in half, shortening the day to allow for extra cleaning, and greatly reducing the cooperative play that is central to how young children learn.
Parents initiated Little Pilgrim as a ministry of the church in 1952 to serve families with children whose birth dates kept them from starting public kindergarten at age five. The following year it shifted to a preschool program for four-year-olds and later added classes for twos and threes.
Over the years, Little Pilgrim enrolled an estimated 3,700 children, including some second generation. When the school transitioned to online learning in March because of COVID-19, Director Jenny Romischer was leading a staff of four teachers and an aide serving 60 students.
“The legacy of love they have given the children and families of this community over the years is something for which our church will always be thankful,” the letter said.
The church is processing tuition refunds and, in due time, will look at options for using the former classrooms in a different way to serve the community.
(WSB photo from Saturday)
12:07 PM: Two days after Saturday’s huge demonstration in the West Seattle Junction, protests against racism, for justice and equity, continue around the city, region, and nation. For everyone asking what else s ahead, we have word of two more this week.
TONIGHT: ‘Take a Knee for Justice’ is something you are invited to do at 8 pm outside yuur own home – or, outside Alki UCC, which just sent this announcement:
Alki United Church of Christ invites you to a vigil tonight, June 8, to “Take a Knee for Justice,” part of the worldwide peaceful demonstration of support for people of color who have sustained systemic injustice for far too long.
At 7:50 pm, we gather at outside at 6115 SW Hinds in West Seattle; the church bells will be rung promptly at 8:00 and 8:08 pm.
For those who choose not to kneel, bring a lawn chair to sit on, or stand by/sit in your vehicle. Please maintain social distancing and wear face masks. Questions/information: office@alkiucc.org
ADDED 3:45 PM: Two more churches have let us know they are participating: Tibbetts UMC (3940 41st SW; WSB sponsor) is gathering outside at 7:45, kneeling at 8. Also Fauntleroy UCC Church (9140 California SW): “Park in the church lot and be sure to wear a mask. We’ll social distance along the sidewalk. Bring a folding chair if you cannot kneel or simply stand in support of a bias-free society.” (One more addition: Per comments, Admiral Church, 4320 SW Hill.)
UPDATED 4:04 PM – 2 ON WEDNESDAY: At noon, a family rally outside Louisa Boren STEM K-8 (5950 Delridge Way SW), “to proclaim that Black Lives Matter.” You’re asked to wear masks and spread out along the sidewalk.
Also Wednesday, the Community March for Black Lives is planned, starting at Greenbridge Plaza:
People of White Center, we stand together in solidarity to fight for justice for our black brothers and sisters.
-We will gather at Greenbridge Plaza at 4 pm
-Hear from community members and leaders
-Begin Peaceful March towards 16th AVE at 5 pm .Please bring your face mask.
The plaza is on 8th SW just south of SW Roxbury.
Anything else coming up in West Seattle, White Center, South Park this week? Please let us know so we can add it to the list – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Thanks for the tips/photos. The El Camion food truck has been missing from its longtime spot in Fauntleroy for two nights, with this sign left in its place:
We’ll working to follow up both with the truck operators and police.
Just in from Washington State Ferries:
Until further notice, all state ferries will operate on their current reduced schedules with the option for phased service changes based on the COVID-19 recovery and several other factors.
Any changes in service to Washington State Ferries’ current COVID Response Service Plan will be based on four metrics, all of which will be considered before any modifications are made on any route:
· Ridership – Recent system-wide numbers remain down more than 60% compared to this time last year.
· Crew availability – More than 150 crewmembers are either people who are at higher risk for severe illness or unavailable due to the pandemic.
· Vessel availability – There is a lack of boats available for service due to the maintenance shutdown earlier this year, combined with a continued reduction of U.S. Coast Guard inspection capacity.
· Funding – Washington State Department of Transportation is currently losing millions in revenue from the gas tax, state ferry farebox recovery, etc.
“Given the constraints associated with our four pillars of service, we unfortunately cannot increase our number of sailings based on ridership alone,” said Amy Scarton, head of WSF. “As we enter what is normally our peak season, our priority as always is to provide service based on the safety of our passengers and crews.”
Big installation project at historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse today – new energy-efficient windows for The Hall at Fauntleroy, at the schoolhouse’s south end!
A crane was needed to install the windows – we recorded some video:
Here’s what one of the new windows looks like:
The Hall is a popular venue for events and meetings – this was a perfect time to get the work done since those aren’t allowed to resume yet. (Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering, which operates The Hall, is offering weekly family meals for pickup, though – more info here.)
Thanks for the tips and pic! One month after we reported that The Original Bakery in Fauntleroy was gearing up to reopen, it’s happened. Today was the first day back for the beloved bakery, now equipped with a take-out window. The announcement:
This week we will be open for takeout with a limited menu of donuts and pastries. We will not be serving coffee or espresso yet. Our hours are from 9 am-3 pm Thursday through Saturday. Sorry, no telephone or online orders. We will operate similarly to a food truck to start, first come, first serve. When we sell out of items, we will be out for the day. We appreciate your patience as this process will move a bit slower than our regular service. We will take orders and contactless payment (credit card only) at the walk-up window. There will be a pick-up table at the far end door when your name is called.
The Original Bakery is at 9253 45th SW. (And of course we’re updating our ongoing restaurants/food/beverage-businesses list.)
Huge surprise this afternoon for physician and researcher Stephen Plymate, MD, as he returned to his home near Lincoln Park after a walk. Family and friends surprised him with a classic coronavirus-era celebration – a drive-by parade in honor of a national award he’s just won.
Dr. Plymate, who has worked at the UW and the Puget Sound VA for about 20 years, is the 2020 recipient of the Middleton Award, granted annually to a VA scientist for “outstanding scientific contributions and achievements in the areas of biomedical and bio-behavioral research relevant to the health care of Veterans.” As his wife Dr. Lisa Plymate explains, he “is the 4th physician to be granted this award from the Puget Sound VA in the 58 years it has been given out. He’s the first, however, to have his awards ceremony, usually held in D.C. with great fanfare, thwarted by a virus.” But family and friends weren’t going to let the virus preclude a parade, which we recorded on video:
The pandemic has kept Lisa Plymate on the east coast, so, she explains, “Steve’s Tacoma daughter Corinne worked hard to organize this surprise. She contacted his lab and colleagues plus family and friends.”
Along with his work for the Veterans Administration, Stephen Plymate is also a veteran himself, a retired U.S. Army Colonel. A local veterans’ advocate, Seattle Police Lt. Steve Strand, led today’s parade, in his dress uniform:
Pre-parade, as he walked unsuspectingly up the street, Dr. Plymate was serenaded by one of his neighbors, tenor José Iñiguez from Encanto Arts – we caught a bit of that on video too:
More about Dr. Plymate’s accomplishments, from his wife: He “is professor of endocrinology in the Department of Medicine and director of Prostate Cancer Endocrinology as well as a founding member of the Institute for Prostate Cancer Research at the UW and Fred Hutchison. His work has focused on prostate cancer and its treatment for over 25 years. He has over 300 publications in peer-reviewed journals and is internationally known for his work,” which she says he continues to do about “80 hours per week” in addition to remaining “an avid skier and bicyclist.”
Lisa Plymate adds, “Steve’s 12-year-old granddaughter Liora compiled a montage of congratulatory videos sent by family members and colleagues from around the world. This is also a surprise he will be able to watch after the parade. The entire Plymate clan thanks all the scientists, friends, and neighbors who have helped us put this together in his honor. And they’re grateful for this bit of excitement during our stay-at-home era!”
(Taproot School students created flags at home to brighten the release bridge where teachers released their fry. Photo by Michelle Taylor)
By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog
When school closures started in March, most of the 72 teachers leading Salmon in the Schools projects across the city immediately released their tiny fish into the wild on the chance that some might survive. In West Seattle, however, most salmon teachers found ways to keep growing their fish and to share releases electronically with their students.
Arbor Heights Elementary‘s tank tender Kristin Waitt Hutchinson spun into action as soon as the closure notice came. She quickly got a freshwater tank ready in her garage for the 150 coho fry she had been helping teacher Angie Nall care for at the school. Two months later, she brought the robust fish to Fauntleroy Park, where Angie shared the release as it happened with her students on Zoom. Read More
That security video shows the thief who took Ariana‘s red 2014 BMW x3 from her Fauntleroy driveway. Note the accomplice moving solid-waste containers at upper left. Here’s the plate:
If you see it, call 911.
As previewed here Monday, the Fauntleroy Community Association held its annual meeting online last night; it ran less than half an hour, as shown in the archived video above. Big change from last year, when 200 people attended the annual meeting (aka Fauntleroy Food Fest) at The Hall at Fauntleroy, but they expressed hope they’ll be able to return to that format next year. Tuesday night, they started by recapping the organization’s 2019 priorities and accomplishments, from events like the Fauntleroy Fall Festival to environmental achievements like the beach creosote cleanup.
Elected as officers – Mike Dey, President; Alexis Zolner, Treasurer; Frank Immel, Secretary; Kimberly Terry, Membership Secretary; Bill Wellington; Marty Westerman; Nils von Veh; Alan Grainger; Catherine Bailey; Susan Lantz-Dey; Sydney Hammerquist; Kris Ilgenfritz; David Haggerty; and Bruce Butterfield.
Mentioned along the way: The Endolyne Triangle planter project welcomes volunteers – fcaforall@gmail.com.
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE LETTER: One of the many issues mentioned briefly as a priority for FCA – as it is for just about every organization on the peninsula – was the West Seattle Bridge closure. Fauntleroy has a unique view, as the community through which traffic to/from Vashon Island and the Kitsap Peninsula flows via Washington State Ferries. FCA sent this letter to City Councilmember Lisa Herbold:
The FCA board has monthly business meetings, usually at 7 pm on second Tuesdays, so the next one will be June 9th. Watch fauntleroy.net for updates.
From Washington State Ferries:
Due to necessary repairs, the 90-car Sealth will replace 124-car Cathlamet as the F/V/SW #2 vessel beginning with the (updated) 4:35 p.m. Fauntleroy to Vashon sailing. This will cancel the 3:55 p.m. Southworth departure
In pre-pandemic times, the Fauntleroy Community Association‘s annual membership meeting was held in conjunction with a big community gathering, the Fauntleroy Food Fest. This year’s FFF was set for March 17th – and then, like so many other events this spring, had to be canceled. But FCA is still having an annual meeting, 7 pm tomorrow (Tuesday, May 12th), via Zoom, and community members are invited. Details and the registration link are here.
4:28 PM: Thanks to Dane Salle for the photos. SW Barton is blocked at 41st SW in Fauntleroy after a driver hit a pole that then fell onto the roadway. The driver was described via radio communication as “alert and conscious” when SFD got there.
5:58 PM: Just went by. Traffic is getting through now; the pole is coned off on the downhill side of the road.
10:58 AM: Thanks for the tip. Washington State Ferries has just confirmed there’s a problem at the Fauntleroy dock – the transfer span is currently “out of service,” with an electrician on the way. That means a scheduled departure is on hold, and the Cathlamet, which was on its way to land, is waiting offshore. Updates as we get them.
11:09 AM: Vessel Watch shows both ferries now headed to Vashon, and the WSF cam (screengrab above) shows vehicles waiting on the Fauntleroy dock are being turned around.
12:01 PM: The Fauntleroy dock is still out of service.
1:36 PM: WSF just announced that repairs are complete and service is resuming with the 1:40 pm Vashon departure to Fauntleroy.
This time of year, Salmon in the Schools volunteers would be hosting hundreds of students at Fauntleroy Creek as they release salmon fry they’d been raising at school. This year, though, school closures brought an abrupt end to that project. As reported here in mid-March, teachers and volunteers scrambled to save the salmon fry. And part of that effort led to what happened at the creek on Friday. Louisa Boren STEM K-8 teacher Christina Massimino sent the video, photos, and report:
Salmon releases looked a little different this year.
Two local schools released their salmon fry today in Fauntleroy Creek. Students from Louisa Boren STEM sent in “well wishes” for the fry and they were read out loud as the fry were released. This was live streamed on Zoom so families could join in the experience. Arbor Heights had several people in attendance for their release as well and is putting together a movie for families. STEM released at 10 and Arbor Heights at 12:00.
Local volunteers Dennis and Pete were there to help.
Some schools released their salmon early due to schools being closed. Arbor Heights and STEM had teachers who brought the salmon home and have been taking care of them until they could be safely released on schedule.
As the one-year anniversary of its mysterious appearance nears, The West Seattle Turkey is back in the neighborhood where those early sightings happened.
WSB commenter “1994” texted that photo from north Arbor Heights tonight. Earlier, Emily K. photographed it in Upper Fauntleroy, near 36th/Cambridge:
Steve also reported a sighting there, while a texter saw TWST at 36th/Cloverdale: “I have always wanted to see her on a walk and then she appears right outside our yard! So cool!” The day began with Amy‘s sighting in Seaview:
TWST has covered a lot of ground in the past few weeks – south to Fauntleroy, then north to North Admiral, and now all the way south to Arbor Heights. BirdWeb says of the wild turkey, “They typically get around by walking although they can fly and often roost overnight in tall trees.”
(WSB photo, Fauntleroy WSF terminal, last month)
From Washington State Ferries:
The last sailing from Fauntleroy to Vashon and Southworth will be cancelled tonight due to needed terminal maintenance. Cancelling the 1 a.m. sailing out of Fauntleroy will allow crews to complete necessary repairs to the terminal’s transfer span.
Listed below are the final sailings for the day for each destination:
Fauntleroy
The 11:45 p.m. sailing to Vashon/Southworth will be final departure for the day.
Vashon
The 10:50 p.m. to Fauntleroy will be the last sailing to West Seattle.
The 1:25 a.m. sailing will be the last trip from Vashon to Southworth.Southworth
The 11:10 p.m. sailing to Fauntleroy will be the last sailing to West Seattle.
The 12:30 a.m. departure from Southworth to Vashon/Fauntleroy will only go to Vashon.
The Triangle Route is already operating on a reduced schedule,
While neither of these is directly related to Camp Second Chance, both bits of information emerged during this afternoon’s meeting (by videoconferencing/phone) of the CSC Community Advisory Committee (full report later): 2 elements of COVID-19 response that are dropped or on hold because the West Seattle Bridge closure has suddenly rendered our area a lot less accessible.
One is the plan for the Southwest Teen Life Center to be used as an additional shelter space for up to 50 people, so that existing shelters in the city could be made less dense. Shawn Neal of the city Human Services Department said that site is on the back burner now because transportation logistics between here and, for example, downtown services are a lot more complex without the bridge. Also, Rev. Leah Atkinson Bilinski of Fauntleroy UCC (now the camp’s sponsor) said a plan for the co-housed Fauntleroy YMCA to be used as a child-care space for medical personnel/first responders hit the same snag – suddenly it’s a lot harder to get to/from WS – so the church is now exploring “other (interim) uses” for its building.
(WSB photo)
Washington State Ferries will reduce service on some routes – including Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth – starting Sunday, and continuing for at least a month. WSF says the “Triangle Route” will reduce sailings by about a third, moving to a two-boat schedule. WSF says the temporary schedule will also suspend these early-morning sailings:.
· 1:25 a.m. Vashon to Fauntleroy
· 1:45 a.m. Southworth to Fauntleroy
· 2:20 a.m. Fauntleroy to Vashon
· 2:45 a.m. Vashon to Southworth
WSF explains:
These service reductions and the earlier announced extension of the winter sailing schedule prepares WSF for the ongoing effects of COVID-19 disrupting service, including:
· A continued decrease in ridership due to public health recommendations
· Availability of sufficient crew personnel to meet federal requirements
In the announcement, WSF head Amy Scarton is quoted as waning, “Further suspensions and adjustments are possible depending on ridership trends.” Systemwide ridership is down 60 percent compared to a month ago – 80+ percent fewer walk-ons, almost 50 percent fewer vehicles.
(Phil Sweetland checks that coho fry from West Seattle and Gatewood elementaries, now in his carport because of school closures, are eating. Photo by Judy Pickens)
Special to West Seattle Blog
From the Fauntleroy Watershed Council
Last week, when schools began closing for COVID-19, teachers and volunteers had to scramble to save lives – the lives of nearly 2,000 coho salmon being reared by students in 13 West Seattle schools.
Knowing that their fish were too small to survive in the wild, all sought to keep school tanks going until May releases in Fauntleroy Creek. Most teachers turned to school custodians to feed the fish and provide access for someone trained to maintain healthy water chemistry.
For Arbor Heights and Gatewood elementaries, the solution was to move their fish immediately off site, one to the home of a tank volunteer and the other to Phil Sweetland‘s carport. He and his wife, Judy Pickens, help guide the Salmon in the Schools program for 73 schools throughout the city and provide particular support to participating schools in West Seattle.
When the governor extended school closures by several weeks, Roxhill Elementary and Louisa Boren STEM K-8 also relocated their fish and Phil added West Seattle Elementary‘s fish to his carport.
Teacher Andy Darring soon concluded, however, that he had to release Pathfinder K-8‘s fry five weeks earlier than planned. “It was a difficult decision to let the fish go but it was the only real choice, given the situation,” he said.
“Release dates for all other West Seattle schools remain on the calendar so students can still have that experience,” Judy said. “If classes don’t resume by late April, fry will be big enough for likely survival in the wild.”
Teachers who find they need to relocate their fish should contact Phil at 206-938-4203.
Creek no place for dogs, children
Pathfinder’s small fry will have a tough enough time surviving without having dogs in their water. Last year, experts pointed to off-leash dogs in the creek as a reason that only a handful of the coho released in Fauntleroy Park did not survive to migrate to central Puget Sound.
“Juveniles can stay for weeks near the big bridge, where students released them,” said Dennis Hinton, long-time release volunteer. “One dog thrashing in the water there can kill dozens of fry in just a few minutes.”
For habitat protection, Seattle Parks and Recreation requires dogs to be on leash at all times in the park. Also, with kids home from school, parents may be tempted to let their children pad in the water on a warm spring afternoon.
“The creek is always teeming with life, whether you see it or not,” Dennis emphasized. “It’s no place for a dog or a child.”
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