West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports to share – two vehicle thefts from today (and a request to be on the lookout for the stolen vehicles), and a car prowl from earlier. The reports are after the jump:Read More
Usually, we hear about sightings. This one’s more like a hear-ing. From John and Joyce Loftus:
Last night at about 9:30 as my wife and I were getting home to our residence on Alki, we heard the unearthly sound of a pack of coyotes yipping and howling in unison in the greenbelt above our house — possible College Street Ravine. This is a symphony of sound that’s amazing to hear in a wilderness setting. It borders on the absolutely surreal when heard in the city. Of course, it heightens our concern for people’s pets.
As noted here over and over again, you can reduce the chance of coyote confrontations by reading and following the advice in this “coexisting with coyotes” info. And you can check out our archive of coyote sightings – some with photos – by going here.
Two quick notes about good news from two West Seattle schools today: First, Madison Middle School has just learned that it’s been recognized as a School of Distinction for the third consecutive year – one of only 12 schools in the state to have achieved that; it honors an ongoing pattern of academic improvement. Second, Seattle Lutheran High School shares word that it was presented today with its official Notice of Accreditation by the National Lutheran School Accreditation Association and Northwest Association of Accredited Schools.
During weeks of voting, the KING 5 “Best of Western Washington“ contest was all the buzz … and this week they’re rolling out the winners. No list yet that we know of, since they’re parceling out some of the announcements on “Evening Magazine” this week – but they’ve featured a couple West Seattleites already – among them, about a minute and a half into the top video clip, you’ll find Morgan Junction’s own Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) celebrated for “Best Cocktails”! Next clip is all about West Seattle radio/Web personalitiies Marty Riemer and Jodi Brothers, who took 2nd place in “best radio” – even though they now broadcast from Marty’s basement, almost a year after getting the boot from their last full-time radio gig:
We have it on good authority there are at least a few more West Seattle/White Center winners yet to come – next edition of “Evening Magazine” is 7 pm tonight, Channel 5 (and the list should be on best.king5.com starting Friday).
(Photo added 3:19 pm; SDOT crew at the top of the hill)
We’ve just heard from two people that the Admiral Way restriping (officially announced in early September) has begun. One of our area’s leading bicycle advocates, Stu Hennessey of Alki Bike and Board and Sustainable West Seattle, sends word, along with a suggestion:
The Admiral Way bike lane restriping has begun. The project will have partial lane closures in both directions from SW Olga St. to Avalon Pl. SW in both directions from Oct. 27th to Nov. 10th according to the no parking signs. This would be a great time to practice non-aggressive driving within the speed limit for the safety of the workers out there. … One bicycle “climbing lane” will be designated from the West Seattle Freeway offramp to Admiral and the Belvedere View Point. The right hand lane going downhill will have sharrows for bicycle designation. Hopefully we can convert that into a HOV, Bus and bicycle lane to keep the aggressive drivers from using the right lane to pass all the cooperative drivers and cut in at the bottom of the hill.
By the way, for bicyclists – Stu’s shop has been offering access to a bike rack that’s the same new style of bike rack you’ll find on Metro buses, so that bicyclists can practice with it if they decide to use the bus and haven’t tried it yet. While we stopped by his shop last week (as part of a TV story you might see tonight at 7 pm on channel 5, more on that later), Alki Bike and Board staffer “Apples” agreed to demonstrate it:
You can find the bike rack outside ABB at 2606 California SW. As for the Admiral Way restriping work, the official city project-info page is here. ADDED 1:16 PM: As M pointed out in comments, there’s a bit more advice about how to load the bus – and you can read the whole how-to on the Metro website (they have a non-embeddable video you can watch as well). And better yet, you can drop by Alki Bike and Board and practice in person.
A new citywide group has formed to try to get the city’s public-safety plans aligned with community priorities. The group is called Community Leaders for Public Safety, and one of its founding members, West Seattle’s Pete Spalding, shared its proposal with WSB. On the list – a strategy to fight graffiti vandalism, including bringing back the Seattle Police graffiti detective position.Here’s the full list of the CLPS priorities – remember, these are citywide, but many are certainly applicable to West Seattle:
Seattle Public Safety Initiative
Facilities
* Find a suitable alternative for Rainier Beach Community Center during the two-year closure, such as Rainier Beach High School, with a seamless transition to ensure continuity for critical programs.
* Fund the North Precinct facility. If existing building cannot be fixed, the precinct should move to a site like the Seattle School District facility on Wilson and Pacific. Parking for employees and the public must factor into the decision.
* Re-examine neighborhood substations and drop-in centers.Community Policing
* Prioritize community policing in training programs and best police practices.
* Develop neighborhood engagement strategies so officers understand a place and its people. Reimplement Neighborhood Action Teams. Ensure that the City’s neighborhood plans reflect public safety principles, and that the City of Seattle honors the neighborhood plans.
* Fund current Crime Prevention Coordinator and Park Ranger programs, and re-examine using Community Safety Officers.Community Programs
* Youth Initiatives: Build on current programs, with community-based advisory panels, emphasizing a long-term generational model. Support activities at playfields, schools, and community centers. Seek corporate funding and partnerships.
* Nightlife Initiative: Prioritize a socially responsible, vibrant nightlife, with clubs funding solutions to problems that originate in clubs.
* Public Alcoholism: Support successful models to house chronic street inebriates. Working with the Washington State Liquor Control Board, create an Alcohol Impact Area for Beacon Hill.
* Gangs and Graffiti: Implement a city-wide strategy to address gang-related crime, including prostitution, and a coordinated graffiti plan that reinstates the SPD graffiti detective.
* Social Services: Distribute facilities equitably throughout Seattle, with a moratorium on subsidized housing for neighborhoods that have reached capacity.Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
* Apply CPTED principles in public playfields, parks, and other green spaces, and to DPD building permits, neighborhood zoning, and landscape decisions, and the Urban Forest Management Plan.
* Work with the Washington State Department of Transportation to incorporate CPTED principles into state road development and maintenance projects.Cooperation
* Leverage existing assets and interagency taskforces to address specific issues, and establish a public safety adviser in the Mayor’s office to lead interagency coordination and policy development.
* Schedule SDOT projects to allow for public safety response and more efficient emergency access.
* Fund programs that use Washington State DOC work crews and Seattle Community Court and Pretrial Diversion service workers, to support street cleanups, environmental restoration, vacant lot mitigation, playfield safety, and graffiti removal.Policy
* Enforce the no trespassing ordinance, nuisance housing ordinance, and encampment protocols.
* Ensure citizen oversight, a comment period for proposed policy changes, and public notice of meetings by committees working on public safety-related policies.
* Establish a quarterly meeting between the Mayor and Community Leaders for Public Safety
Spalding says many of the founding members are from Precinct Advisory Councils (he chairs the one for West Seattle’s Southwest Precinct) or crime-prevention groups. They’ve already sent this proposal to Mayor McGinn, CIty Council members, City Attorney Pete Holmes, and Police Chief John Diaz; the cover letter, which you can see here, summarizes, “We believe the return on investment in community programs – that address the needs of youth, that counter gangs and graffiti, that encourage service and safe housing for homeless people and others at risk – will make a sustainable difference in the quality of life for all Seattle residents.” We’ll keep you updated on where this goes from here.
From last night’s meeting of the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network: Advice you can use even if you’re not a Block Watch captain – how and why to call 911. The advice came from an expert: Southwest Precinct Community Police Team Officer Jonathan Kiehn. His explanation included the best thing you can do once the dispatcher answers the phone. Read on:Read More
(Photo by Danny McMillin – recent Alki sunset, but reminded us of the promise of sunrise)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
TRAFFIC ALERT: Westbound Spokane Street Viaduct closed tonight, 10 pm-5 am.
EARLY DISMISSAL DAY FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Two hours early; here’s the district’s list of important dates with reminders on this and other upcoming schedule changes. P.S. One special activity today because of the early dismissal – High Point Library offers “Game On for Teens,” 3-5 pm.
SPEAKING OF SCHOOLS: West Seattle’s school board rep Steve Sundquist is at Delridge Library, 11 am-12:30 pm, for one of his periodic community chats; the West Seattle High School PTSA meets at 7 pm tonight in the school library.
MAJOR COMMUNITY MEETINGS TONIGHT: At the top of the list, community meeting #3 for the West Seattle Golf Course Driving Range. Meeting #1 (August report) proposed a site with so many drawbacks, it was scrapped by meeting #2 (September report), which stirred anger from some golfers because the new potential site might require changes to the current course. What will be proposed tonight? Be at the golf course clubhouse, 7 pm … Right before that meeting, the West Seattle Triangle Advisory Group of local community and business leaders meets at 5:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle – they’ll look at the “right-of-way design concepts” that project architects presented to the Seattle Design Commission 2 weeks ago … The agenda for Highland Park Action Committee‘s monthly meeting (7 pm, HP Improvement Club) includes a Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition rep (big news for the river lately, as we reported in coverage of the recent Sustainable West Seattle forum) and discussion of a possible new name for the group.
DIALOGUE ON PUBLIC TRUST: CityClub’s Community Matters Campaign comes to West Seattle for a discussion about public trust – what does it mean? why does it matter? 6:30 pm, Peace Lutheran Church (39th/Thistle). Register online here.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth weekly installment of this new WSB feature – if you missed the explanation/introduction with which we prefaced the first one, you can see it here.
By Megan Sheppard
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*A Westwood-area resident had lots of rationales for why his black BMW had a set of blue lights on the top portion of windshield—lights that looked suspiciously like those that might be used in an undercover police car. (An officer had pulled the man over after seeing the lights activated.) The officer told him that although he was not writing a citation, he was writing a report with the driver’s name and license plate in case there are problems or cases of “mistaken identity” in the future.
*Early Friday, 911 operators received noise complaints about three vehicles loaded with people in the 4400 block of 26th SW. Four people in two vehicles were identified and released. In the third vehicle, two of the three people inside refused to identify themselves and became hostile with officers. It might be because the two were wanted on warrants: The driver was wanted on a $500 King County warrant for hit and run and was turned over to the custody of Renton police. His passenger had two warrants —$1,100 from Renton and $1,500 from Des Moines — for failure to appear on charges of driving with a suspended license. He was booked into King County Jail.
7 more reports ahead:Read More
“Stella and her pumpkin from Tony’s,” is how Justin captioned that before sending it in, as our pumpkin-photo-share-a-thon continues. (By the way, we asked Tony’s last weekend about the impending seasonal break – they told us they’ll be closing after Halloween, till reopening for Christmas trees.) Then we have Andrew‘s pumpkin, which looks a little spooked:
With a classic literature theme, the Mahrt family pumpkins – they note they have a child who’s dressing up as “Thing One” this year:
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” spawned Kimi‘s pumpkin:
Share yours – here’s how.
David Hutchinson shares that photo – taken from a distance with a telephoto lens, mind you – of a pup who turned out to be quite the success story. Read all about it on the Seal Sitters‘ “blubberblog.”
At Chief Sealth International High School today, Ugandan visitor James Okullu taught a lesson you just can’t get from a book. He and Robert Anywar visited the school today as part of Invisible Children, a nonprofit that has worked for peace in Uganda and education for the children who for years had been kidnapped and forced to fight. James is 19 and recently graduated from Anaka Secondary School, still a rare feat; he spoke to hundreds of Sealth students during the day at an assembly, but also delivered a more personal message to Leeann Olson‘s second-period class:
They also talked with the class, studying world affairs, about the root of the long-running war, and how northern Uganda has become more peaceful. Today’s visit came in conjunction with Sealth launching a club as part of Invisible Children’s Schools for Schools campaign, raising money to rebuild schools damaged or destroyed in the Ugandan war – including the one from which James graduated.
From our partners at the Seattle Times: Mayor McGinn’s staff has proposed a list of seven sites under consideration for a permanent homeless encampment. The two sites are described as 35th and Edmunds (map), in the Camp Long vicinity, and the Delridge substation site at 5601 SW 23rd (map). West Seattle has of course been the site of homeless encampments both large – Nickelsville – and small – informal encampments repeatedly cleared in a multitude of areas, including Camp Long. The list of proposed sites was given to a citizens’ panel for review; the encampment would be 100-150 people. The citizens’ panel was formed back in August; here’s who’s in the group. More to come…
WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE: We don’t have the document listing the exact sites yet but we do have two documents, thanks to the mayor’s office’s response to our request, including this one outlining what the encampment recommendations are all about. Once we have yet more information, hopefully later in the day, we’ll have a separate followup.
By the measure of Mural Apartments (WSB sponsor) and Fresh Bistro (on Mural’s street level), that’s the biggest pumpkin in West Seattle (imported from the champion-pumpkin-growing grounds of Puyallup) – more than 400 pounds. Instead of turning it into West Seattle’s biggest jack-o-lantern, they’re turning it into a tourist attraction for the Trick-or-Treat in The Junction event this Saturday. 1-3 pm, you can get a pro photo taken with the pumpkin (first 50 participants are free), and enjoy treats beyond candy – hot mulled cider, mini caramel apples, pumpkin soup, and Spooky Savory Snacks. And even before you join in Saturday’s Giant Pumpkin Celebration, you’re invited to visit Fresh Bistro‘s Facebook page and suggest a name for the super-size squash.
(October 12 photo courtesy Jon)
After the stuck-truck incident shown above closed a West Seattle road for hours, some suggested it’s time for signage warning drivers well in advance, since this wasn’t the first such incident along some of the tight turns in eastern West Seattle. Michelle took the concerns to the city and shares the reply she received from SDOT‘s Christopher Eaves.
Thank you for writing and expressing your concerns about the freight vehicle that recently became stuck on 16th Avenue SW. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) shares your concerns about this roadway and the desire to avoid a repeat of this event.
Freight vehicles normally remain on large arterials and established delivery routes, and signage exists at major intersections to direct unfamiliar drivers to the preferred routes. SDOT works to place the smallest number of signs or restrictions on the roadway to keep maintenance costs down and to provide the greatest network flexibility. During normal daily operation, the minimal arterial signage is appropriate.
However, in circumstances where primary routes are not available, drivers will attempt to locate alternate routes. Some locations, such as the turn on 16th Avenue SW, cannot reasonably support the largest types of freight vehicles, and additional steps should be taken to alert drivers to the roadway conditions.
Full truck restrictions are not possible at this location since the South Seattle Community College Campus is located on 16th Avenue SW, but it is important to provide drivers with the proper information to choose the best route for their needs. To this end, SDOT has dispatched crews to review both the Delridge Way SW/23rd Ave SW intersection and the 16th Ave SW/ Delmar Way SW intersection to determine the best locations for additional Truck Route and limitation signs to provide the best guidance for freight vehicles.
(Knit cactus sold by BriAnna at last year’s Southwest CC holiday bazaar)
Two more holiday bazaars are now putting out the call for vendors: First, Southwest Community Center‘s bazaar is set for 10 am-4 pm on Saturday, November 13th. Table space is $15 if you sign up in advance; call 206-684-7438. Second, a holiday bazaar is planned for November 27th at the Highland Park Improvement Club. The table/booth fee for this one is $20; save a spot by e-mailing Tiffany at highlandparksundaymarket@gmail.com. (As for planning your shopping – we’re adding the bazaar dates to the WSB West Seattle Events calendar page as we get them.)
FIRST REPORT, 11:02 AM: Getting multiple notes about a helicopter over the Schmitz Park/Genesee Hill area. Checking right now.
11:16 AM UPDATE: It was definitely Guardian One, the King County Sheriff’s Office helicopter that assists with other agencies when needed/available, but KCSO spokesperson Sgt. John Urquhart says it’s NOT an active crime scene: He says it was looking for a car involved in an “earlier incident in Burien.”
They’re the unsung heroes who make our community the wonderful place it is – and now it’s time to sing their praises. Twice a year, WSB teams up with the Southwest District Council and Delridge Neighborhoods District Council to present the West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Awards. The nomination period for the next round opened today and will continue through November 15. There are four categories: 3 individual volunteers in community, environment, or youth work; the fourth is a group award; winners will be honored December 5th during the Hometown Holidays festivities in The Junction. Here’s the quick ‘n’ easy form you can use:
(If for any reason that form didn’t work for you, you can go here to send a nomination. Keep in mind that the judging – which is done by volunteers from the two district councils – is based entirely on what’s written in the nomination, so be sure you fully represent the activities/attributes that make your nominee so terrific! (And if you’ve nominated someone in the past who hasn’t won, you’re welcome to nominate them again!)
Thanks to Cheryl for catching the Monday rainbow on camera, mixed with a bit of fall colors. By this morning, the windiest and rainiest weather of this storm system is supposed to be behind us, but it’ll still be showery and breezy for much of the day, according to the current outlook. (If this first bout of semi-storminess has put you in the mood to make sure you’re ready for whatever the winter will bring, check out the info on the Take Winter By Storm site.)
(L-R: SW Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen and Blockwatch Captains Network leaders Deb Greer, Deanie Schwarz, Karen Berge at Oct. 14th awards ceremony)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: 2 weeks after receiving a Community Builder Award from the Seattle Neighborhood Group, the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network meets again – Community Police Team Officer Jon Kiehn will be the guest; agenda highlights here. Check WSBCN out on Facebook here, on the Web here, and at the Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster) at 6:30 pm … Toddler Open Gym is a new Tuesday morning feature (9 am-11 am) at Limber Yoga in The Junction … Classic-film fan? Merrill Gardens at West Seattle (WSB sponsor; 4611 35th SW) screens “The Maltese Falcon” in the on-site theater at 1 pm, free … Sweet Pea Cottage Preschool for the Arts has its grand-opening celebration tonight, as previewed here last weekend, 5:30-7 pm at the new WSUU church (7141 California SW) … Still Life Painting at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm, bring your own materials, all skill levels welcome … Rock trivia at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) has a bonus tonight (the calendar explains) … Want to tell the City Council something in person regarding the city budget? Tonight’s your last chance – the public hearing’s at City Hall downtown, 5:30 pm (signups at 5) … And even more, on the calendar!
Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe Johnson brought her “community coffee” conversation tour to West Seattle Elementary School Monday night. The number of community members who attended was almost matched by the number of district staffers on hand, but those who came brought up some challenging issues – primarily class size and closed schools. Most of the discussion centered on elementary-level class sizes; if classes hold 28 or more, Dr. Goodloe-Johnson said, it’s up to the school’s principal to work with teachers and find solutions. School population in general is an issue as well; crowded elementary schools in West Seattle were mentioned, particularly Schmitz Park Elementary, which is now over 400 students – some parents asked when the district would open closed schools to relieve some of the crowding. The superintendent said her staff is currently reviewing the latest enrollment numbers (keep in mind, this is the first year of the new Student Assignment Plan). While schools have been reopened in other parts of the city, Dr. Goodloe-Johnson didn’t commit to doing that in West Seattle (which currently has two closed and not-in-use elementary buildings, Fairmount Park and Genesee Hill). Other topics included the school levy that’s on next week’s ballot and the district’s response to criticisms contained in a state-conducted audit (she noted they’re addressed on the district website). The superintendent has two more “coffee chats” elsewhere in the city (full list here), but if you want to discuss West Seattle SPS issues sooner, local school board rep Steve Sundquist has his next community chat 11 am Wednesday at Delridge Library.
And the pumpkins keep rolling in … Last night we published some of the pumpkin photos shared by WSB’ers (see them here), plus one in a pre-Halloween update earlier today, and now, tonight’s official showcase: The top trio is from Sara, Lisa and Terra; these next three were shared by Shelley:
Anthony and Kelly Perez shared the next pumpkin pair:
And Lisa L sent this photo taken after a carving party last weekend:
We’ll be showing more between now and Halloween – so keep ’em coming! Meanwhile, in case you missed it earlier – the Southwest Precinct is interested in showing off West Seattle kids’ pumpkins – so if you’ve got a jack-o-lantern to share there, check out the info here (last part of the story).
The night started with a full house, and then some, at Miller Community Center on Capitol Hill, full of people supporting one (or more) of the 15 projects that made the list of finalists for Parks and Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund money – and a few that didn’t (the committee is free to change the list before making its final recommendations). Listening to the pitches: The levy’s Oversight Committee, citizen volunteers including three West Seattleites: Bruce Bentley, Pete Spalding of Pigeon Point, who as vice chairman is running the hearing (he’s in the white hat), and Cindi Barker of Morgan Junction:
The first West Seattle representatives to speak as part of the hearing included five speakers supporting Puget Ridge Edible Park – part of a delegation that appeared to number about a dozen – seeking a little over half a million dollars to acquire a “homestead” property in northeastern West Seattle, telling the committee about the neighborhood’s involvement and determination. One of the strong community voices for PREP, Stu Hennessey, talked about its ties to the watershed for Puget Creek and the Duwamish River, and how it would cleanse water bound for those waterways, also promising, “We will be producing a lot of food on this land.” Also noted: The project’s proximity to South Seattle Community College, which is starting a permaculture program, and would use PREP as a “demonstration park” for students and other community members. (video added later) Steve Richmond also talked about an envisioned partnership for PREP:
Later in the hearing, the committee heard from Carolyn Stauffer of Highland Park, on behalf of the HP Spray Park proposal that she spearheaded: (video added later)
As she told the committee – with an entourage of supporters surrounding her – this is already a “named project” for Parks and Green Spaces Levy money, but as a bare-bones spray feature (replacing the existing HP wading pool) – if the half-million-dollar request is granted, not only will the park be more fun, but it will save more than 2 million gallons of water per year. (She is one of two people who have spoken about it so far.)
The committee also has heard from passionate supporters of projects around the city – perhaps the biggest contingent represented Friends of Lewis Park on Beacon Hill, all armed with little yellow signs; one group advocated for Jimi Hendrix Park, while others talked about a project proposed for the neighborhood of the iconic Fremont Troll.
If you weren’t able to make it to this hearing (which looks to have at least another half-hour to go – we have some video to add when we get back to HQ), you can still comment on the projects until November 17th; the committee is scheduled to make its final recommendations to Parks leadership on December 6.
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