West Seattle, Washington
19 Sunday
1:03 PM: Two weeks after a coalition of groups from around the city filed an appeal of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for proposed HALA Mandatory Housing Affordability upzoning, the hearing dates are set. Deb Barker from the Morgan Community Association was one of those in attendance at a pre-hearing conference this morning with the city Hearing Examiner, who will hear and rule on the appeal. (MoCA is one of three West Seattle groups among the 20+ citywide who are appealing; MoCA also has filed its own appeal, as has one of the other local groups, the Junction Neighborhood Organization.) Barker tells WSB the HE dates for the hearing are set for April 16-20, April 25-27, April 30, and May 1. The process is expected to proceed in parallel with the City Council‘s consideration of upcoming legislation for the proposed upzoning; the city has pre-decision open houses and hearings scheduled into June. (We have asked Mayor Durkan’s office when she is expecting to send the MHA legislation to the council.)
5:45 PM: It’s since been pointed out to us that a HALA e-mail-list update from the Office of Planning and Community Development last week included a brief announcement that the legislation had been transmitted to the council. You can read the 368-page proposed bill here.
11:42 AM: Seattle City Light is investigating a power outage that started about 15 minutes ago in Delridge – the map shows two spots, one on SW Holden just west of Delridge, with most of the 140+ affected customers in what appears to be the West Ridge Park complex at Delridge/Kenyon. No word yet how it started; the current restoration estimate is mid-afternoon.
12:07 PM: Ken points out in a comment that a crash appears to be to blame – the SFD 911 log does show a “wires down” call a short time earlier in the 2200 block of SW Holden – and also says the Westhaven Apartments are affected.
2:42 PM: Just checked; outage continues, and restoration is now projected for after 7 pm.
10:27 PM: Debbie reports in comments that power was restored about half an hour ago. The SCL map still shows a few customers out.
11:22 AM: Just in from Washington State Ferries:
The Issaquah has been taken out of service to repair a water pump seal leak in the #1 engine. Repairs have been scheduled between the morning and afternoon commutes to minimize impact to our customers. Two-boat service will continue on the regular schedule with the Cathlamet and the Sealth until repairs to the Issaquah are completed. The Cathlamet departed Vashon for Southworth at 10:45 am and the Sealth departed Vashon for Fauntleroy at 10:15 am to begin temporary service modifications.
We’ll update when this changes.
2:44 PM: Repairs aren’t done yet; WSF continues 2-boat service with Cathlamet and Sealth: “The Cathlamet runs the #1 position with the following departure schedule … 2:50pm SW-Va-Fa, 3:35pm Fa-SW, 4:05pm SW-Fa. The Sealth remains in the #2 position with the following departure schedule … 3:00pm Fa-Va-SW, 3:45pm SW-FA.”
3:24 PM: Back to three boats – details here.
(Common loon in winter plumage, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Lots of good cheer – and some community involvement too – in our highlights for the rest of today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar:
COCOA CRIS CRINGLE: 4-8 pm photo sessions at Easy Street Records, raising money and collecting food for West Seattle Food Bank. More info here. (California/Alaska)
FERRIES’ TRIANGLE TASK FORCE: The advisory committee looking at various issues with the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route meets today, 4:30-7 pm at Fauntleroy Church‘s Fellowship Hall. Here’s the agenda. (9140 California SW)
LOCAL SCHOOLS CONSIDERED FOR LEVY $: As previewed here earlier this morning, a work session at Seattle Public Schools headquarters tonight includes an update on what’s under consideration for the BEX V levy. Six West Seattle schools are now on the “potential project list.” The work session starts at 4:30, with the BEX discussion expected to start around 6:30. (3rd Ave. S./S. Lander)
SANTA ON ALKI: Final night for Santa Photos at Pegasus Pizza on Alki, 5 to 9 pm. Free photos with any purchase. (2768 Alki SW)
HANUKKAH, NIGHT 2: No public events tonight but here’s our listing for Kol HaNeshamah‘s Friday party.
DROP-IN WRITING CIRCLE: Writers are welcome to drop in 6-7:30 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library for inspiration with writers from Hugo House, as part of the Seattle Writes series. (2306 42nd SW)
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: Tonight’s meeting is the organization’s holiday party – potluck dinner, dessert, wine, and bring food for the West Seattle Food Bank to get a raffle ticket. 6:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy. (9131 California SW)
TRAILS MEETING: If you use the trails in city parks, the city’s draft plan for managing soft-surface trails needs your feedback. Meet with Seattle Parks at 7 pm tonight at Camp Long. Our calendar listing includes a link to the proposed plan as well as feedback opportunities if you can’t go tonight. (5200 35th SW)
CHIEF SEALTH IHS AND DENNY IMS BANDS: Student musicians in concert, 7 pm in the Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium. (2600 SW Thistle)
SOUNDS OF WINTER CONCERT: At Hope School, with groups from Hope and Seattle Lutheran HS – Concert Band, Chapel Band/Choir, Handbell Choir, Glee Club, SLHS Band. 7 pm. (4456 42nd SW)
Something for our calendar/Holiday Guide (which includes listings through New Year’s!) – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
A work-session meeting of the Seattle School Board tonight will include an update on planning for the district’s next every-six-years BEX (Building Excellence) levy, BEX V.
Of local note: The agenda document (here are the 145 pages in PDF) has an updated list of schools under consideration for major BEX projects (see pages 27 and 28 in that document), and the list now includes six West Seattle schools, two added since the last work session in September.
The four local carryovers on the “potential project list” are Alki, Lafayette, Roxhill, and Schmitz Park elementaries – and now Boren STEM K-8 and Madison Middle School have been added. Being on the “potential” list doesn’t guarantee making it into the final measure to go to voters (likely in early 2019) – the district is reviewing far more schools than it could ask voters for money to rebuild/remodel. The addition of Boren isn’t too surprising as BEX planning took up a major portion of the meeting there back in October (WSB coverage here) when the district told them that it was no longer looking at moving STEM K-8 to another building.
The agenda document also contains a trove of data, including enrollment projections for schools around the district, which is part of what drove the changes to the list. Overall, the district expects “the largest enrollment growth in the next 10 years is projected in grades 9-12.” The public is welcome at tonight’s work session, which starts at 4:30 pm at district HQ in SODO and is expected to get to BEX around 6:30, but there’s no public comment, and no vote planned – more reviews and work sessions are ahead before levy language is finalized next year.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:11 AM: Good morning. No incidents in/from West Seattle so far this morning. One transportation-news note:
FERRIES’ TRIANGLE TASK FORCE MEETS TODAY: The advisory committee looking at various issues with the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route meets 4:30-7 pm at Fauntleroy Church‘s Fellowship Hall. (9140 California SW)
8:54 AM: Another routine commute so far. Thanks again for alerts when something does happen – 206-293-6302 is our 24/7 hotline, text or voice.
More than 100 Chief Sealth International High School students are new members of the National Honor Society – 3.5 GPAs or higher – and many celebrated at tonight’s induction ceremony in the school Galleria. Proud family members were there to cheer:
Featured speaker was teacher Luke Azinger, who said that the students experiencing this success are those who are willing to seek out different perspectives and different ideas. He encouraged them to not only challenge themselves to learn, but to also stay close to schoolmates who aren’t there yet – that they have perspectives from which we all can learn.
Other faculty members were also there to honor the new NHS members, including advisor Katie Hubert, and the new members were introduced by this year’s NHS officers – co-presidents Tony Tran and Zhen Williams, vice president Kimseam Chou, secretary Rumi Conley, and treasurer Chandra Burnham.
P.S. Thanks to the CSIHS parent who e-mailed to let us know this event was happening tonight, so we could cover it!
(WSB photos. Santa and Frosty are the highlight at this house)
With just under two weeks until Christmas, it’s time we start showcasing more lights, so we photographed a few displays on 16th SW tonight after getting this note from Meredith – the subject line, “Love the lights in Highland Park”:
Just wanted send some love out to my neighbors. I live in Highland Park near the fire station. I have to drive down 16th to Burien everyday for work. I just ADORE all the winter holiday lights everyone has put up on the stretch between Holden and Barton on 16th. It literally brightens my day and warms my spirit. Thanks and don’t stop!
We traveled the stretch at dusk and photographed a few displays. Nothing really big and flashy … just enough to warm the heart. This one is just south of Holden:
Next to that, lights are shining on DutchBoy Coffee:
Let us know where you’re seeing lights – we hope to feature some nightly through Christmas – e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com (photo if you have one, if not, just let us know where to look and we’ll go get one ourselves).
Weekend before last, more than 100 homes in The Arroyos and South Arbor Heights lost power. The unrelated but concurrent Trader Joe’s outage overshadowed it in our headlines, but it’s not the first time an equipment problem took out the power for southwesternmost West Seattle, and so Seattle City Light is having a community meeting Thursday to answer questions and explain “future electrical infrastructure upgrades” in that area. Bring your questions/concerns to the meeting at 6:30 pm Thursday (December 14th) at Westside School (10404 34th SW; WSB sponsor).
Another business hit by thieves – this time, Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska in The Triangle) reports:
We had 2 Thule Cargo Boxes stolen from in front of the shop last night. A Thule Force Large and a Thule Force XL. This is now the 3rd total that has been ripped off this year, and we want to let the community know to be on the lookout that local small businesses are being targeted.
If you have tips for the investigation, the SPD incident number is 17-457102.
A long meeting of the City Council committee chaired by West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold just concluded with a vote supporting a small but significant expansion of Schmitz Park.
We published the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s announcement of this on Sunday. (They’re a supporter, though not a party, to the matter.) 
Today the Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development, and Arts Committee heard from the 5,000-square-foot site’s owner Bruce Stotler (right) and from West Seattle-residing former Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who shepherded the proposed purchase until his term ended two years ago, and handed it over to Herbold.
Stotler said at today’s meeting that he wanted to make sure his parcel on the southeast edge of the forested preserve – donated by the Schmitz family more than a century ago – wouldn’t someday become a “megahouse with a five-foot yard.” Under terms of the deal with the city, he will sell it for $225,000 but retain a “reservation of life estate” interest so he can continue living there until he dies (or if he chooses to move), at which time the city takes full ownership and will demolish Stotler’s house. The money will come from the levy-funded Seattle Park District.
The city originally didn’t have the money for this, the committee was told, but Stotler didn’t give up. And, said Parks’ Chip Nevins, “It’s important to protect the edges of these parks from encroachment by development.” The site might also be part of a new pathway into the park someday, Herbold noted.
The two committee members in attendance, Herbold and Councilmember Mike O’Brien, both voted to approve the deal, and the full council will have the final vote sometime next month.
There’s a new mission for the space on the north side of the North Delridge building that’s home to Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) and The Skylark:
Mode Music and Performing Arts is a new nonprofit arts organization that introduced itself to the community with an open house this past Sunday – co-founded by Erin Rubin and Kristina Rowell.
Rubin is proprietor of Mode Music Studios, which is two doors south and will continue its core business of music instruction; Rowell is a veteran performing-arts instructor. MMPA will offer theater/performing-arts instruction for youth through classes, camps, and local schools. The first offerings are described in this brochure (PDF). The space also will be available for kids’ birthday parties centered on personalized drama workshops (info’s in the brochure) and event rentals – the space is 900 square feet.
(Photo by Susan Romaneghi)
Here are options for the rest of your Tuesday – first, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:
HANUKKAH: The eight-night Festival of Lights starts at sundown. No public events that we’ve heard of, but see the top of our guide for a community celebration Friday.
SANTA AT PEGASUS: Night 2 for Santa Photos at Pegasus Pizza on Alki, 5 to 9 pm. Photos are free with any purchase. (2768 Alki SW)
SANTA VISIT AND DIY PHOTOS: 2-5 pm at Main Street Play in White Center. (9988 15th SW)
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS: Come hear the WSCO Intermediate Orchestra and Wind Symphony: “December Celebration!” concert, 6:30 pm at Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium. Admission is FREE; donations appreciated! (2600 SW Thistle)
From our year-round Event Calendar:
SOUTH SEATTLE FIBER ARTS CLUB: 11 am-1 pm, all welcome – bring your project to this group gathering at Highland Park Improvement Club. (1116 SW Holden)
DINE OUT FOR DAKOTA HOMESTEAD: 5-8 pm at four restaurants – Mission, Great American Diner, Falafel Salam, Matador – part of the proceeds go to the Urban Homestead Foundation, working to buy the former Dakota Substation. More info here.
THE WHALE TRAIL’S WINTER GATHERING: As we type, orcas are passing West Seattle again. They are beautiful and endangered. What’s the latest on their present and future? Find out tonight with The Whale Trail, 6 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). Tickets $5, kids free, available online in advance. (5612 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ ENSEMBLE: All welcome at tonight’s 7 pm concert in the WSHS Theater. (3000 California SW)
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: 7 pm at The Sanctuary at Admiral. See the agenda highlights here. (42nd/Lander)
BASKETBALL: The West Seattle High School boys are back home tonight, 7:30 pm vs. Eastside Catholic. (3000 California SW)
LOTS MORE … on our complete calendar page!
(photo by Monica Zaborac)
9:25 AM: Last night people watched southbound resident orcas through sunset … now we are getting reports they are headed this way northbound, likely in view from Fauntleroy “soon.”
9:31 AM: At least one is already reported in view from Emma Schmitz Overlook.
10:08 AM: Thanks to commenters for updates, most recently Peter, who sees “About 6-8 orca heading northbound, mid-channel and spread out, between Blake Island marina and West Seattle.”
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:36 AM: Good morning. Clear but cold this morning. No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far.
(Added: WSB photos)
2:50 AM: Firefighters are at a house in the 3700 block of 59th SW [map], fighting what SFD calls a “small attic fire.”
3 AM: The fire has been declared “under control.” No injuries reported so far.
3:05 AM: And now the fire is pronounced “tapped.”
3:12 AM: Our crew has arrived and confirms the fire’s out, no one hurt. The cause is under investigation.
10:06 AM: We just checked back with SFD about the cause. Spokesperson Kristin Tinsley says, “Fire investigators ruled this fire as accidental … caused by heat from roof work earlier in the day, which ignited a smoldering fire in the eaves above the front door.” Damage/loss is estimated at $70,000.
9:25 PM: Thanks for the tips/questions about a police response in South Delridge. Police are investigating a report of an armed street robbery. We don’t know yet exactly where it happened – possibly near 9000 Delridge Way SW – but they’re seeking two suspects, described so far only as two Hispanic men 18-20 years old. Via scanner, we’ve heard police report finding a gun. There’s no medical dispatch, so – so far – it appears no one’s been hurt.
9:40 PM: A K-9 team is assisting with the search.
10:32 PM: Still searching. No new details – we will be seeking the report tomorrow.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes tonight:
STREET ROBBERY FOLLOWUP: Though the victim apparently still has not reported it directly, witnesses’ account of a street robbery in The Junction on Saturday afternoon resulted in a police report that we requested and obtained today. (Above is one witness’s photo of the three suspects running away, as originally published Saturday night.) It was classified as a “suspicious circumstance” since the victim was never found. Here’s our transcription of the report narrative by one of the first two officers dispatched at 4:38 pm, “called in by a third party”:
Upon our initial arrival in the area, no one (victim/witnesses) flagged us down in reference to the robbery. Multiple witnesses would continue to call 911 stating they observed three younger black males being chased by a female southbound from SW Edmunds St and California Av SW. (Six officers) did an extensive area check for the victim/suspects with negative results.
(The original two dispatched officers) were able to make contact with three witnesses on the corner of 44th Ave. SW and SW Edmunds St. (One witness) stated the following: She was in the parking lot on the southeast corner of 44 Av SW and SW Alaska St. She observed the three listed unidentified suspects loitering in the same parking lot. They appeared as if they were “plotting” something; possibly criminal. They then began to approach her. She had her child with her, and she stated to them “don’t even think about it.” The three suspects then turned around and walked toward the Metro bus stop on SW Alaska St. She then entered her vehicle and locked same. She then heard a woman screaming “They took my phone!” She looked up where the three suspects walked toward and observed the three suspects running southbound through the alleyway between California Av SW and 44 Av SW. She also observed a “Persian”-looking female wearing a white hooded sweatshirt and black framed glasses chasing them. She lost sight of all suspects where the alleyway meets SW Edmunds St.
(Another witness) stated the foI1owing: He observed three black male juveniles running eastbound on SW Edmunds St. from California Av SW. He then observed a male wearing an orange jacket chasing them. As the male wearing the orange jacket passed him, he stated to him “CaIl 911, they stole a purse!” He did not see a female chasing after them. He lost visual of the subjects running as they proceeded eastbound on SW Edmunds St.
(Third witness) stated the following: He observed three black male juveniles running southbound through the alleyway between California Av SW and 44 Av SW. He observed a female chasing after them. AlI subjects were running toward the intersection of SW Edmunds St and California Av SW. He lost visual of the subjects running after they cleared the alleyway and ran toward said intersection.
All witnesses described the three unidentified suspects as three black males, l2 to 13 years of dg€, and aI1 wearing black hooded sweatshirts. The female [victim] was described as olive skinned, has a foreign accent, wearing a white hooded sweatshirt, and black framed glasses. Officers could not locate either the suspects or the victim at this time. Nothing further.
The incident # is 17-454074.
STOLEN CAR FOUND: Five days ago, we published Linda‘s report about her niece’s Honda Accord getting stolen in mid-move. Early this morning, they got the call that police had found her car. Linda says it was in OK shape, with a flat tire, “only missing a backpack and a new little speaker. I say she got off lite! The gas tank was mostly still full! Maybe someone just needed a ride home :-). We are thankful and want to thank Seattle Police for finding her car so fast. Merry Christmas, everyone. Oh, by the way, we both have ‘the club’ on our steering wheels now.”
RECOGNIZE THIS PACKAGE THIEF’S CAR? Dee Dee shares a neighbor’s security video of a package stolen from her front porch last Wednesday afternoon:
The car has a distinctive look and sound so she wonders if you might recognize it. Dee Dee usually has packages delivered to her workplace “but I somehow missed this order.” The thief had a passenger, and yes, this has been reported to police. She adds, “The package was expensive but I’m sure they won’t be too interested in my candle-making supplies!”
While we’re talking local elected leadership – we should also note that the Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors rep for West Seattle/South Park, Leslie Harris, has just been elected board president. She is beginning her third year on the board. Her next community-conversation meeting, by the way, is 3-5 pm Saturday, December 23rd, at Delridge Library; that and her January and February meeting are listed here along with her contact info.
The City Council made its decisions today about who’s on which committee – in other words, who’s focused on which types of city business. West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold will continue chairing the Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development, and Arts Committee. Herbold also will be vice chair of the Governance, Equity, and Technology Committee, a member of the Planning, Land Use, and Zoning Committee, and an alternate member of the Housing, Health, Energy, and Workers’ Rights Committee. Here’s the rest of the list of which committee each councilmember is chairing; to see who has membership on which committees, read the resolution text here.
P.S. Councilmember Herbold’s next “district office hours” are this Friday (December 15th), 2-6 pm at South Park Community Center (8319 8th Ave. S.).
2:57 PM: Texters tipped us to Southern Resident Killer Whales heading this way, southbound – Orca Network‘s last report was that some of them were seen as close as West Point on the north side of the entrance to Elliott Bay, so we’re awaiting word of whether they’re visible from this area, and headed downhill with binoculars just in case. Let us know if you see them!
3:46 PM: ON has them off, and much closer to, Bainbridge. We are looking from Constellation Park & not seeing them. (4 mins later … just spotted two along S. Bainbridge!)
(Photo by Monica Zaborac)
4:03 PM: Still visible SB, from Constellation, as they approach north Blake Is. Among those here is Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail – her group’s winter gathering for orca updates is tomorrow night (see our calendar).
(Photo by Kersti Muul)
4:17 PM: We have to head back to HQ but as of a few minutes ago there were a few still in view off Blake, still southbound.
6:57 PM: While we were glad to be able to see the whales, we were there only with binoculars, not a camera (our photographer was busy elsewhere), so we are appreciative to receive two photos we’ve just added above.
(WSB photo: WSFB operations director Lester Yuh, in black jacket, with donation-delivery delegation)
The West Seattle Food Bank welcomed a giant holiday haul today – the annual visit by a delegation from the Nucor West Seattle steel mill to deliver food and money, courtesy of the company and its employees.
(This photo and next two are courtesy of WSFB)
This year, employees donated 4,740 pounds of food – more than two and a third tons! – and $751 in cash; the company’s match for all that totaled $10,982, and Nucor added $3,367 more in cash. Here’s WSFB development director Judi Yazzolino accepting the check from Nucor’s Stephanie Sanchez:
Another important component of the delivery – Omega Morgan donated the flatbed truck! Here are Todd Strobeck and Erik Tronvig from OM:
You can help the WSFB and its thousands of clients too … here’s how.
Family and friends will gather Saturday to remember Evelyn Coy, and are sharing this remembrance with the community:
Evelyn Louise Coy, beloved daughter of Oscar and Ester Nilson, was called home to her Lord on Saturday, November 4, 2017, at the age of 90, after a short illness.
She is preceded in death by her mom and dad, sister Gertrude Countryman (Roy), and husband Donald.
Born in Seattle in 1927, she grew up in West Seattle when there were few houses and Army Outposts along the ridge above Puget Sound. She attended West Seattle High School, graduating in 1946, and soon after, following in her Dad’s footsteps, went to work for the Sears Roebuck Company.
In 1948 she married her husband Donald, and began raising their family. They were lifelong members of the West Seattle Community. Evelyn was active in many activities including Boy and Girl Scouts, receiving the Silver Fawn award from the Boy Scouts of America honoring her tireless service to scouting; PTA at the local level, both with her own children and also with her grandchildren, receiving 2 Golden Acorn Awards for outstanding service above and beyond; and later was a King County voting assistant. Both Don and Evelyn were longtime members of First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, serving on many committees, as a Sunday school teacher, and on the church council. Evelyn was recently honored during a worship service for her 50 years of faithful of service on Altar Guild.
She is survived by her daughter Karin Van Sant (Wade), sons Stephen (Donna), Gary, Karl (Fran), Laura Coy, 7 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be Saturday, December 16, at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle at 11 am. In lieu of flowers; memorial gifts may be made to First Lutheran Church.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
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