West Seattle, Washington
11 Tuesday
(WSB photos)
Last home game on the regular-season schedule tonight for Chief Sealth International High School‘s boys-varsity basketball team. The visitors from Seattle Prep went home with the win, 64-48. #14 Sadique Calloway led scoring for the Seahawks with 14 points; #11 Keandre Young was next with 9, and both #22 Elijah Jackson and Javaun Jones scored 7. Calloway, Jackson, and Jones also were among the players honored tonight for Senior Night.
Head coach Colin Slingsby‘s team plays at Roosevelt Friday night.
ADDED EARLY WEDNESDAY: Thanks to Melanie for the photo of the senior boys and cheerleaders who were honored:
The players are, L-R, #1 Euan Canoy, #3 Musa Leigh, #33 Javaun Jones, #14 Sadique Calloway, #22 Elijah Jackson. Cheerleaders are, L-R, Daizha Espiritu, Madeline Fillis, Alyssa Forsell, Charolin Alberto, Mitzi Olivera, Samra Tino, Karyna Garcia, Karolyna Garcia.
(Corner where mural will go – photo courtesy Friends of Roxhill)
EC Hughes Elementary is reopening this fall, as the new home for the students and staff currently at Roxhill Elementary, and while the district is doing some renovation work on the city-landmark building, that doesn’t cover everything. We’ve told you before about the project to upgrade its playground; Friends of Roxhill Elementary also have grant money for a mural. Here’s their announcement:
Call for Artists
Request for Proposals for Mural Design at the corner of 32nd Ave SW and SW Holden St in West Seattle
The Project
Friends of Roxhill Elementary has received a Neighborhood Matching Fund grant from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods that includes funding for a mural. We are seeking an artist to create an original small mural at the corner of Holden and 32nd Ave SW, with potential to extend southward along the wall that runs the length of the property on 32nd. This opportunity is open to established artists living in the Seattle/Northwest area. The application deadline is March 1, 2018, with interviews to follow and the final artist selected by April 1, 2018. The selected artist is to complete the mural in summer of 2018. This will be a community-partnered project working with students and community members for inspiration, with installation to take place (also with community assistance) when the weather is suitable.
Roxhill Elementary is moving in fall 2018 to a renovated E.C. Hughes building at 32nd and Kenyon in Southwestern West Seattle. We are using the bulk of the grant to add a playground.
The Award
A maximum of $10,000 Commission for the artist selected to realize his/her work, which must include materials and permits, if required.
Project Intent
The neighborhood near E.C. Hughes — specifically along 35th Ave SW between Webster and Kenyon – is changing. It’s becoming more of a connected, human-scale neighborhood, with multimodal transportation that goes beyond people riding along in cars. Activating the space along Holden as it nears the intersection with 35th, as this project would do, can help create an open, inviting sense of identity. Roxhill is a multi-cultural school and community and the artist must reflect that aspect in his/her work.
Through this project, we also want to build a long-range vision for all our kids’ successes. Working together to create a mural that reflects our hopes, dreams and visions for the future can help connect each of us to each other. We will build relationships both within our school and outside our school through connections with our new E.C. Hughes neighbors and other PTAs and collaborative organizations, as well as through coalition building with West Seattle neighborhood groups and media. It is imperative the selected artist view the project as a collaborative one, and focus on building connections in the way the mural is planned and painted. It will be a very public showpiece that reflects and celebrates our multicultural school and community at large.
The announcement continues with information about the site, eligibility, and how to apply – see it on the Friends of Roxhill site. The deadline for applications is March 1st.
5:55 PM: Thanks for the tips – multiple trouble spots out there right now. A crash on the West Seattle Bridge that looked like it might clear quickly is now blocking two lanes on the westbound high rise, we’re told. There’s also a crash at 17th and Roxbury that is rerouting buses, according to a Metro alert. We’re also told of deep water on the exit from SB 99 to the bridge, as well as on the bridge itself.
6:29 PM: Metro says SW Roxbury bus routing has returned to normal.
7:17 PM: Now SFD and SPD are headed to a crash at Delridge and Trenton.
Four reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch today:
BUILDING BURGLARY: From DS:
Wanted to make my neighbors aware that we’ve had further issues at our walk-up apartment building at 2420 54th PL SW. This morning I found that one of two basement storage rooms had been broken into and most of the latches to appx. a dozen individual storage units have been cut or pried open. I’m guessing the break in occurred last night or early this morning.
On January 1 of this year, my wife posted to the WSB that someone had cut a heavy cable bike lock and stolen her nice 29’er bike from three feet outside of our front door.
Our apartment complex is owned by Cornell & Associates; I’ve attempted to let our building manager and the company HQ know but haven’t heard back from either. It’s obvious that we have a security issue—I just wanted to let our neighbors know that they need to be careful.
ALSO ON ALKI: From Kelsey in the 3000 block of 61st SW:
On Sunday morning at 3 am a man attempted to break into my home while I was home. I want to make sure that my neighbors are aware of the situation and on the look out for suspicious activity.
The police came to my home right away and searched the area for the man that had opened both my front and back gate and attempted to enter the house while I was home. He ran when I came upstairs with my dog, but I was able to get a good description of him as he was across the street under a street lamp once I got to the window. He had stolen a package from my neighbor on the street behind me, and left the empty box on my property.
The police followed up with me last night in person to let me know that another officer was called out to Beach Drive early Monday morning because of a report of a man throwing bottles and rocks into the water. He fit the exact description that I had given, and was given a warning. He has had multiple run ins with these sorts of issues according to the officer.
The officer let me know that they may try and connect him with my incident, and to make sure to let my neighborhood know what is going on.
He is a man in his late 20s, early 30s, transient, white with dark hair and wears a dark firefighter jacket with a reflective stripe across the shoulders.
(Added) Police incident # is 2018-024988.
CAR PROWLER IN ADMIRAL: Just after 11 pm last night, Conrad reported a car prowler to the police, in the 45th SW/SW Stevens area – a “male in a dark black or green SUV with no tail lights and one brake light … driving around trying car doors with his window down. I saw him open one door to a neighbor’s car. Be alert and lock your car doors!”
POSSIBLY SCAMMED BY A SKIMMER: From Maggie, who has filed a police report:
I found my debit card number and pin to be stolen. I think it happened at the Shell gas station on the corner of Alaska and Fauntleroy on Thursday night. Someone tried to use it in Florida today and luckily fraud prevention picked it up. Tried to call the gas station to tell them but the number is disconnected. Wanted to warn other people so it doesn’t happen to them. Found out by having a $2.50 charge for “Atm inquiry out of network” charge on both my checking and savings account. No other place I shopped could have had this.
This crime has been on the rise nationwide, according to this online story that also includes tips on how to try to detect skimmers, though experts warn there’s no foolproof way.
Thanks for the tip about a crane visible from North Admiral, looking toward the water. We went over and discovered it’s a tower crane going up for what you might know best as the project on the ex-Alki Tavern site. This is blocking the inland lane of the 1300 block of Harbor Avenue SW, and some staging is under way across the street at Don Armeni Boat Ramp.
This will be the third tower crane up in West Seattle right now – the first has been at the Upton Flats project (35th/Graham) since last February, the second went up two and a half weeks ago at the site of The Foundry (northeast corner of Fauntleroy and Edmunds, on the ex-pawn shop site).
Work started at this site last summer, more than four years after the tavern and other buildings were vacated. It’s planned as a 6-story mixed-use building with 15 residential units, office and “light manufacturing” space, ground-floor retail/commercial, and a public hillclimb/breezeway between California Way and Harbor SW.
After that early-morning 7.9-magnitude Gulf of Alaska earthquake, we want to remind you about the West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs – shown on the map above (and here – plus there’s a list under the map on this page, as well as printable files). Memorize the location of the one nearest your home, and be sure your loved ones know about it too. Each is a spot, maintained by volunteers, that would be set up for neighborhood communication in case of catastrophe (a big earthquake is the most likely, in our region). Government leaders have long been warning that resources will be overwhelmed if something major happens, so neighbors have to be ready to help each other – and these are the places where that help will be coordinated. If you’re not near one, here’s how to get one going in your area.
A group of neighbors gathered last night to talk about what they could do to find solutions to recurring problems.
The area at issue is between 24th and 26th SW, and SW Hudson to SW Graham – part of the Cottage Grove area. Organizer Patrick Baer circulated an invitation saying:
The 5400 block of Delridge Way and surrounding community is having ongoing public safe issues including rampant drug activity, drinking in public, panhandling, and littering (needles). Despite the City of Seattle being fully aware of these issues, they are void of solutions or willingness to address them.
He made it clear at the start of the meeting at Delridge Library – which is in that area – that it wasn’t time to be spent listing complaints, but to brainstorm and plan action.
(Band-tailed Pigeon, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Here’s what’s up in West Seattle for the rest of your Tuesday, as featured on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
PRESCHOOL ENRICHMENT: The Seattle Art Museum presents a program geared to 3-to-5-year-olds at Neighborhood House High Point, 10:30 am, free – info in our calendar listing. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
RENTER PROTECTIONS: Want to learn about them? The City Council’s Human Services, Equitable Development, and Renter Rights Committee gets a presentation today at its 2 pm meeting – you can see the slide deck here. The meeting’s at City Hall and live on Seattle Channel. (600 4th Ave.)
PARENT POWER TOOLS WORKSHOP: Free workshop to help Seattle Public Schools parents learn more about how to use The Source and Schoology – 6 to 7:30 pm at High Point Library. (3411 SW Raymond)
BASKETBALL: Home games tonight – Seattle Lutheran hosts Auburn Adventist, and it’s Senior Night – 6 pm girls, 7:30 boys (4100 SW Genesee) … West Seattle High School boys’ varsity hosts Roosevelt, 7:30 pm (3000 California SW) … Chief Sealth International High School boys’ varsity hosts Seattle Prep, 7:30 pm (2600 SW Thistle).
NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME/SAFETY: The West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network has its first meeting of the new year tonight, 6:30 pm. You’ll hear from police and also from a special panel of people who have been touched by the opioid crisis. Block Watch captainship NOT required for attendance – all are welcome. (2300 SW Webster)
FAMILY STORY TIME: 7 pm at Delridge Library. Free and fun as always. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
Thanks to Seattle Schools Community Forum for spotlighting this: One of four meetings around the city to talk about changes in high-school-science education is happening this Thursday in West Seattle. It’s of particular interest to parents/guardians of this year’s freshmen and middle schoolers – among the changes, more science credits are required, starting with the Class of 2021, and a new science exam is planned for future juniors. The local meeting is Thursday (January 25th) at the Chief Sealth International High School library (2600 SW Thistle), 7-8:30 pm.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:52 AM: Good morning! Just checked around, and there are no incidents so far this morning in West Seattle or on the outbound routes.
7:22 AM If you are headed for NB I-5 – a stalled dump truck is blocking the right center lane by the I-90 exit.
7:49 AM: Cleared!
(August 2017 WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
A new development in the case of Ryan Cox, the 39-year-old repeat offender charged with stabbing a man in Gatewood last August: The results are in from the pretrial mental-health evaluation ordered last month for Cox, and court documents say he has been found incompetent to stand trial. As a result, a judge ordered him sent to Western State Hospital for up to 90 days of treatment to attempt to restore competency; at the end of that time; if he is found competent sooner, he’ll be sent back to the King County Jail, where he’s been since the August 8th attack.
Cox has been through this process (which is explained here) in at least one previous case, five years ago, when he was sent to Western State for an attempt at restoring competency when he faced hate-crime charges for a homophobia-motivated attack (WSB coverage here). As we reported seven months later, Cox subsequently was found to be competent, and pleaded guilty, which resulted in his first and so far only felony conviction. Prior to his August arrest, the last time he was charged with a crime was two years earlier, resulting in a misdemeanor trespassing conviction involving for Safeco Field after he was ordered to stay out. In the current case, he is charged with second-degree assault.
(WSCO photo: Wind Symphony in concert, December 2014)
The West Seattle Community Orchestras have this invitation for you:
West Seattle Community Orchestras (WSCO) officially started the spring session (last week), leading up to performances planned for March and May. All musicians are welcome!
There are still openings in the following groups:
· Student Strings: Open to students through grade 12. Taught by a professional coach. FREE!
· Adult Beginning Strings: Also taught by a professional coach. Nominal fee. Haven’t you always wanted to play the viola? How about string bass??
· Wind Symphony: Think advanced concert band. There are spots for all instruments, but especially welcome are trumpets, trumpets trumpets! Student musicians FREE of charge; adults nominal fee.
· Debut, Intermediate, and Symphony Orchestras: Openings for strings and various other instruments especially including percussion.
For more info, please check out our website, or contact WSCOrchestras@gmail.com.
(Reader photo, texted)
Thanks for the tips on an emergency response at 15th/Holden in Highland Park. The scene cleared shortly after we arrived a few minutes ago, but for anyone who was wondering – police tell us a pedestrian was hit. Her injuries were not major, and a private ambulance was called to take her to the hospital to be checked out.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch items this afternoon, plus a reminder:
STOLEN CAR: From Jake:
Our silver 2013 Subaru Outback was stolen out of our driveway last night at the corner of Barton and Director st in the Fauntleroy neighborhood. Plate #BBY1565. It is our only vehicle and contained our car seats and garage door opener.
If you see it, call 911. Police report # is 2018-026262.
STREET ROBBERY FOLLOWUP: On Saturday night, we reported on a street robbery in Morgan Junction, at the northbound C Line stop on California north of Fauntleroy. At the time, we heard only that the victim’s phone had been taken; a friend who provided additional information said the victim’s wallet was taken too. We obtained the police-report narrative today, and it confirms that. The report says the two robbers demanded his phone and wallet – “no physical contact, no weapons seen” – and ran into the nearby parking lot (alongside Cal-Mor Circle). They were not found. The descriptions are close to the ones we published that night – “a white male, approximately 20-30 years old, 5’8″, wearing a gray hoodie with the hood up and covering his face, and red or plaid pajama type pants. The second suspect was described as a black male, 20-40 years old, approximately 6 ft tall, wearing an unknown colored golf style hat, (dark)-colored jacket, and blue jeans.” If you have any information, the police report # is 2018-024745.
REMINDER: Your next chance to hear, and ask, about crime trends in West Seattle is tomorrow night – 6:30 pm, WS Blockwatch Captains’ Network, at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster). You don’t have to be a captain – or even part of a block watch – to attend. This month’s meeting – as previewed here – also includes a panel discussion of the opioid epidemic, from people whose lives have been directly touched by it.
Another impending business closure to report today. Tap Station proprietor Jeremy Martin just sent us this open letter to the community, with the announcement:
To our Neighbors and Friends;
There is no easy way to say this, but the time has come to say goodbye. We’ve spent 4 years at the corner of Kenyon and 35th getting to know many of you and your wonderful families. Each of you has influenced us to try and turn Tap Station into the family-friendly, community gathering place you deserve … but it’s time for a change. All of us will take great memories with us as we move on to new adventures and opportunities. Thank you so much for attending our events and for sharing your wonderful community with us.
Please stop in and say “Hi” one last time, as we will be closing the doors at the end of the day on Sunday, January 28th. While you’re here, feel free to stock up on all of your favorite beers, wines, and ciders, and don’t miss our very last Trivia night on Friday, January 26th at 7 pm.
THANK YOU again for all you have done for us; we will miss you all.
Goodbye for now,
Your friends at Tap Station
It was summer 2013 when we reported that Tap Station was moving into the ex-flower shop on the southeast corner of 35th/Kenyon. It started as a beverage store and added restaurant operations a little more than a year ago.
For the second time in less than a year, a Subway sandwich shop is closing in West Seattle. After a tip from Rebekah (thank you!), we went to the Jefferson Square Subway to confirm the closure. As the note on the door says, tomorrow is the shop’s last day. This will be the second Subway in West Seattle to close in less than a year and a half; the one at 2758 Alki SW lasted three years. Remaining Subways in West Seattle are at 3829 Delridge Way SW in North Delridge, 6515 California SW in Morgan Junction, and 6760 W. Marginal Way SW in Highland Park, all shown in the city business-license database as having different franchisees. The chain has been reported to be having some rocky times nationwide.
(WSB photo)
10:53 AM: Big Seattle Fire response sent for a possible water-rescue situation off Alki. The dispatch says someone has spotted an overturned kayak “a quarter-mile north of 61st/Alki.” Units also are being sent to the Seacrest/Don Armeni area because if a victim is found, that’s where they would be taken.
11:04 AM: Rescuers are still trying to pinpoint the exact location of the kayak – no word yet of anyone being spotted with it.
11:08 AM: Added photo of Engine 32, at 61st SW/Alki SW, trying to spot the possible kayak. Via scanner, we’ve heard them report that “a local” saw a log floating offshore earlier that might have “fit the description.” Fireboat crews say the log looks orange, and the possible overturned kayak was reported to be that color.
11:19 AM: After searching from sea and shore, SFD hasn’t found anything or anyone beyond the aforementioned debris, and is demobilizing.
(Sunday storm clouds behind downtown, photographed by David Hutchinson through Luna Girls on Alki)
Thanks to everyone who sent photos of the wild weather on Sunday – we didn’t get to use them in real time but are featuring them as part of this highlight list. More going on today/tonight than many Mondays, including some one-time-only events! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOUTHWEST SEATTLE YOUTH ALLIANCE: This group focused on wellness and substance-abuse prevention meets at noon at Neighborhood House High Point. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
(Storm approaching shore on Sunday, photographed by Chris Frankovich)
ART CLASSES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN: A new series starts today at Sweet Pea Cottage in Gatewood, 2 pm – details in our calendar listing. (7141 California SW)
(Rainbow photographed from Alki on Sunday by James Tilley)
COTTAGE GROVE COMMUNITY SAFETY MEETING: Neighbor-organized meeting “to identify community-focused solutions and demand action,” as explained in our calendar listing. 6:30 pm at Delridge Library. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
IMMIGRATION POLICY: A series of talks at Fauntleroy Church begins tonight, with “Living in the Shadows: The Human Toll of Current Immigration Policy” – details in our calendar listing. 6:30 pm dinner (free-will donation), 7 pm talk. (9140 California SW)
RAISING SELF-RELIANT CHILDREN: What can you learn from German parenting styles? An American mom who lived in Germany for years and learned “the art of raising self-reliant children” will tell you tonight in a Town Hall Seattle presentation at Westside School (WSB sponsor), 7:30 pm – our calendar listing has more information and a link for ($5) tickets. (10404 34th SW)
(Sunday sunset, photographed by Chris Frankovich)
DRUNKEN OWL THEATER: Two original works at Parliament Tavern, starting at 8 pm – details in our calendar listing. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
All but one of the units sent to a South Delridge apartment building are being dismissed – turns out to have been a kitchen fire inside one unit of the building at 9203 17th SW, and someone in the apartment has already extinguished it. No injuries reported.
(Photo added – e-mailed by Andrea)
9:21 AM: Thanks for the photos – that car fire is causing trouble on Fauntleroy Way SW at SW Rose, by Lincoln Park. Anne from Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) tells us it’s blocking northbound traffic. Metro just sent an alert about transit delays in the area, too.
(Texted photo, from Kera)
No injuries reported.
9:42 AM: One more photo added – the SDOT crew called to clean up so the road could be reopened. Police at the scene verify that no one was hurt; the road has reopened.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:02 AM: Good morning and welcome to the brand-new week! Checking around, we find no incidents in/from West Seattle so far this morning.
TRANSPORTATION HEADLINES: Want to have a big role in the next year of planning West Seattle-to-Ballard light rail? Today’s the deadline for applying to be on the “stakeholder group” – info here … Big decisions are even closer for the RapidRide H Line along Delridge – take a look and speak up before everything from stop locations to road changes are finalized … Roadbuilding continues inside the Highway 99 tunnel, which might be open by year’s end – see an update and time-lapse video here.
Those are – still – key points of Delridge concern about the upcoming conversion of Metro Route 120 into the RapidRide H Line. The points were made during the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council discussion last Wednesday night that wrapped up a weeklong round of in-person feedback about the plan, including the introduction of a proposed package of stops and road changes labeled “Option 3“:
(You’ll note that this includes rechannelization in some areas, which would include the removal of 270 on-street parking spaces in what are labeled as Sections C and E. SDOT says its studies showed 10 percent to 50 percent utilization of those spaces now.)
If you didn’t make it to any of the three recent events (a week before Delridge, Metro and SDOT held drop-in sessions in Burien and White Center), you might also want to scroll through the maps/renderings (below) that show how the stops would change along the route, plus specific changes proposed for Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Henderson:
(You can see the full-screen PDF version of those maps/renderings as pages 4-9 here.) The DNDC discussion of the Delridge plans followed the third SDOT/Metro open house of the week. We recorded the discussion on video:
Metro and SDOT reps were on hand for this as well. But it was far from the first time that neighborhood advocates including DNDC reps had spelled out the same concerns – including stop location/spacing – since the 120 is point-to-point transportation for many in the Delridge corridor, not just a way to get to and from downtown. The frustration was voiced at one point by DNDC’s Pete Spalding of Pigeon Point, who said this was at least the fifth time in three years that the group had listed its concerns. Michael Taylor-Judd of North Delridge wanted to be sure the project team was talking with groups including seniors who would be especially affected by an increase in stop spacing – while the third-of-a-mile spacing proposal is closer than RapidRide’s usual half-mile-apart spacing, it’s still a tenth-of-a-mile increase over the average on Delridge now.
YOUR FEEDBACK: If you have something to say about what’s currently under consideration for the Route 120/H Line conversion – where the stops are, how they’re spaced, and/or changes on Delridge – this is the time to say it, before the project team finalizes a recommended design, which will happen in the months ahead. RapidRide@seattle.gov is the address for project comments (though the county runs Metro, this is a joint project with SDOT, not only because of the road changes, but also because the city contributes funding for bus service). Design is to be completed this year, with construction of the stops and road changes starting in 2019 and continuing in 2020, when the H Line is to be launched.
5:55 PM: Just a reminder – as first noted here on Wednesday, a commercial-production film crew is working in The Junction tonight, and traffic is being stopped intermittently on California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska as a result. We just arrived for a firsthand look and also noted that the traffic stops also involve SW Alaska at California (photo above). As the production scout had told us, the crew (from locally based StraightEIGHT) is “filming a car” being driven on that block – repeatedly. That’s what we’ve seen so far; we’re also checking to see how long they plan to work (the permit runs until 11 pm).
6 PM: Just talked to the scout who had first contacted us, Dave Drummond, who’s on site with the crew, answering bystanders’ questions, etc. – he says they’ll likely be done between 9 and 10 pm. (And while they’re filming a car, it’s not a new car – (added) see photo above – and not a car commercial.)
Again, this is not a continuous traffic stop – and the road has reopened for long stretches between shooting sequences – but if you’re Junction-bound in the next few hours, just be aware you might encounter one of the stops.
10:08 PM: Just went back to The Junction to check; the crew is indeed packing up.
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