West Seattle, Washington
12 Tuesday
(Part of the illegally cut site, photographed in spring 2016)
When we published this followup three weeks ago on the status of the East Admiral illegal-tree-cutting, one year after it first came to light, we noted that the city said the investigation remained active. And today, the city has announced that two of the three lawsuits it filed last fall have been settled, while the third is proceeding. Here’s the news release:
The City has settled one of two civil suits against West Seattle homeowners who the City alleged hired people to cut down a swath of a greenbelt in late 2015 or early 2016 to improve the homeowners’ views.
The unpermitted tree cutting near the 3200 block of 35th Ave. SW occurred in environmentally critical areas on a steep slope below the defendants’ homes. In its two lawsuits, the City alleges that two separate groups of people are responsible for cutting two distinct groups of City trees. Between the two groups, about 150 trees of varying sizes, including many big-leaf maples and Scouler’s willows, were felled and left crisscrossing the area.
According to the settlement, two couples – Stanley J. and Mary E. Harrelson and Marty and Karrie Riemer – will together pay the City $440,000 regarding one of the decimated areas. The City’s suit regarding the other area is ongoing, and unaffected by this settlement.
Today the City amended the complaint in that action, which previously named Kostas A. and Linda C. Kyrimis, to add the following defendants: Nancy Despain, Wendy Sweigart, Leroy Bernard, Joyce Bernard, Charles King, Shirley King and Bruce Gross. The Kyrimises were recently given criminal immunity for their statements in the lawsuit regarding the tree cutting by the City and King County in exchange for their full cooperation in discovery, including sharing the identities of their neighbors who are alleged to have shared the cost of tree-cutters with the Kyrimises.
With the first case resolved, the Parks and Recreation Department will use the settlement proceeds from the Harrelson/Riemer suit to begin remediating the slope.
“We have met our three goals – to recover damages and penalties that make the City whole financially and deter future cutting, to hold people accountable for the destruction, and to make the public aware that laying waste to public lands in whatever form will bring consequences,” City Attorney Pete Holmes said.
“All of Seattle was disappointed to learn that hundreds of trees were illegally cut down in West Seattle—this was a violation of code and Seattle’s values,” said Mayor Murray. “With today’s announcement, we can begin to turn this unfortunate event into an opportunity. The settlement will pay for the replanting of the trees and will provide resources for the City to hire youth from West Seattle to help restore the greenbelt, connecting them to the local environment and green jobs.”
“Today, we see that actions result in consequences,” said Councilmember Lisa Herbold (District 1, West Seattle & South Park). “I’m hopeful this settlement — 60% higher per tree than the 2003 case in Mount Baker — will deter future rogue clearcutting. In Seattle, those with financial means can’t count on small settlements to pave the way towards increased views and property values. Trees in our greenbelts are precious natural resources that maintain soil stability, thus lessening the risk of landslides, and maintain air quality by absorbing carbon. We must protect them.”
“I was absolutely outraged last year when I learned someone clearcut an entire hill in one of our public green spaces,” said Councilmember Debora Juarez (District 5, North Seattle), Chair of the Council’s Parks Committee. “I commend the City Attorney’s Office for its vigorous pursuit of just compensation. We will not tolerate the razing of City-owned trees for the sake of an improved view. Not only does the quality of our air depend on trees, but the structural stability of our hillsides does as well.”
“This settlement represents our reasonable, best efforts to hold those responsible for the illegal tree cutting accountable. As stewards of one of the largest parks and recreation systems in the country, our goal is to preserve and protect parkland,” Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jesús Aguirre said.
“Trees are not only nice to look at, but they play a crucial role in managing storm water, stabilizing slopes, providing habitat, reducing air pollution, and contributing to neighborhood character,” Aguirre said. “The funds from this settlement will be used to restore the lost trees and damaged land, as well as to support urban forestry restoration at Duwamish Head and programs that engage youth in forest restoration work in West Seattle. Since the beginning, we have been committed to securing the best outcome on behalf of Seattle park users and tax payers. This settlement offer demonstrates our strong commitment to protecting parkland from illegal acts of destruction.”
Parks expects to complete the majority of restoration work on the site in 2017, with work to begin in the next month or two. Holmes said the City appreciates that both sets of homeowners consistently expressed an interest in resolving the issue short of trial, and worked cooperatively with the City towards a fair resolution.
Had the Harrelsons and Riemers not been so cooperative, the City would have sought a greater recovery. On a per tree basis, this recovery is significantly higher than the amount recovered in the City v. Farris matter based on 2003 tree cutting. That case involved 120 trees and settled for $500,000, or $4,166 per tree. This case involved 66 trees, and the settlement amounts to $6,667 per tree.
“We accept responsibility for a portion of the cutting that took place in the area described as ‘Site A’ in the City’s Complaint for damages, as disclosed to the City in early 2016,” the Harrelsons said in a statement.
The Riemers said: “We have taken responsibility for our fraction of the tree cutting from the very beginning and are glad we were able to successfully resolve this with the City.”
As part of the Harrelson-Riemer settlement, the City will assign its rights to pursue the tree cutters, Forrest Bishop and John Russo, to the Riemers and Harrelsons. The tree-cutters hired by the Kyrimises and others remain unknown.
In the two complaints filed last fall, the City sought relief on several grounds, including timber trespass, damage to land, trespass, negligence, environmentally critical areas violations, violations of the parks code and violations of the city’s tree and vegetation management in public places code.
On its damages theories, the City generally alleged that the defendants and/or their agents cut down trees on City property without permission when they should have known better. The extensive tree cutting damaged the trees and the underlying land. On its code violation theories, because the cutting took place on City property and some occurred in City right of way, the cutters or their employers were required to obtain a number of permits before they cut any trees. No permits were issued to authorize the cutting.
We’ve also received documents from the city and will be adding those shortly.
ADDED 12:51 PM: Here they are:
Amended complaint against Kyrimises (and others)
Riemers’ settlement document
Harrelsons’ settlement document
He’s the man who literally wrote the book on West Seattle history, and for the past 4+ years, he has been the main cheerleader for appreciating, stewarding, celebrating, exploring, and recording it. Today,Clay Eals has announced he’ll be making way for someone else – not yet hired – to lead the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. Here’s the news release:
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society soon will seek a new executive director to succeed heritage advocate Clay Eals, who has resigned after four-and-a-quarter years in the position.
In a letter to the organization’s board, Eals wrote that his decision to step down stems from “a desire to spend more time focusing on other aspects of my life.”
His departure will be effective in mid-July. The board plans to begin advertising for the full-time position later this month and hopes to fill the position in time for the successor to overlap with Eals, who has been involved with the historical society since its founding in 1984.
Eals became the historical society’s first executive director in January 2013. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity, adding that he is confident that the organization’s mission, track record and board leadership will result in continued organizational success.
The author, historian and ex-journalist wrote in his resignation letter that the timing of the transition would be “as good as it gets” for the organization.
“We just finished a huge phase of our Junction landmark campaign, and between now and mid-July several manageable events (including the Sea View Hall home tour) can be pulled off while attention is devoted to a hiring process,” he wrote. “Most important is that there is enough time to get a new executive director on board to become immersed in the planning and execution of our 2017 Champagne Gala Brunch.”
As executive director, Eals has seen himself as a pied piper, bringing together members, volunteers, donors, sponsors and community leaders to achieve and monitor landmark status for iconic buildings, assemble Group Hug photo events featuring school children and others at key sites, champion programs and collections of the organization’s “Birthplace of Seattle” Log House Museum, deepen relations with the Duwamish Tribe, create and sustain two monthly speaker series, revive the historical society’s annual “If These Walls Could Talk” home tours, broaden the organization’s visibility, and deepen its financial viability.
Primary responsibilities of the position are fundraising, outreach, volunteer recruitment, staff supervision and overall management. In addition to the full-time position of executive director, the historical society has two paid part-time staff positions of curator and museum operations coordinator.
“We will so miss Clay in his departure from our organization,” says Karen Sisson, who became board president of the historical society in January.
“We have appreciated the guidance Clay has shown us,” she says. “Clay has left us in such a better place than when he came to the organization, so now we are able to take what he has given us, build on that solid ground and reach for the stars! We wish him well with his ventures and will welcome his involvement with us in the future as a seasoned volunteer.”
For more information on the search for a new executive director, please contact Karen Sisson at 206-579-0126 or karensisson12@gmail.com.
(Photo credit: Joanne Murray)
Despite the overnight gunfire spree hours earlier, turnout was low at last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, so we recorded highlights on video. Above is what precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis told attendees; below, special guest Officer James Ritter, talking about the SPD Safe Place program, which has now been adopted by more than 50 cities across the country.
Toplines: Capt. Davis said a multi-city/multi-agency task force is working on the gunfire situation, which has seen recent incidents in South Park as well as West Seattle (SP also is part of the SW Precinct’s jurisdiction). None of the WS incidents have resulted in injuries – so far; the precinct is working with special teams including the Gang Unit and SWAT and trying to get more officers out on patrol to try to get ahead of the problem. They are working to identify potential suspects who might be from out of the area – he mentioned Kent, Renton, Federal Way – but spending time with family in this area.
Also, as he has mentioned at other recent community meetings including the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce lunch last week (WSB coverage here), Capt. Davis said shoplifting is spiking and the Community Police Team is working with business owners (and, when necessary, contacting out-of-town corporate ownership) to help them prevent it.
And yes, they’re gearing up for the warm-weather crowds at Alki and elsewhere.
One more bit of news: Southwest/South Precinct Liaison city attorney Matthew York is leaving that job after almost three years – he’s just been appointed to an open judge position in King County District Court’s southeast division.
P.S. As mentioned again in today’s preview, if you’re on-peninsula and interested in talking with/hearing from police, you’re welcome at West Seattle’s first Coffee with a Cop event at the Junction Starbucks (SE corner of California/Alaska), 1-2:30 pm.
(Cooper’s Hawk, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Busy day/night ahead:
BABY STORY TIME: 11:30 am at High Point Library, bring your up-to-12-months-old little ones for fun! (35th SW/SW Raymond)
OFFICE JUNCTION TOUR & MEETUP: 11 am tour, noon-1:15 pm weekly community meetup at West Seattle’s only coworking center, WS Office Junction (WSB sponsor) – all invited to drop in. (6040 California SW)
COFFEE WITH A COP: Starbucks has partnered with police departments nationwide to host these conversations, and this is the first one in West Seattle, 1-2:30 pm at the Junction Starbucks. Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis told us at last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting (our report on that is coming up later today) that he’s planning to be there along with others from SPD. (California/Alaska)
BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP: 1-3 pm, monthly gathering at Uptown Espresso in The Junction – more info in our calendar listing. (California/Edmunds/Erskine)
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm at a new location – Neighborhood House High Point Center – the DNDC will get an update on West Seattle’s two recently approved Neighborhood Street Fund projects, Harbor/Avalon/Spokane/Manning and Chief Sealth IHS Walkways. SDOT‘s Natalie Graves will present the updates, as she did at the Southwest District Council meeting earlier this month (WSB coverage here). Other topics include the conversion of Metro Route 120 into Delridge’s RapidRide H Line. Here’s the full agenda (PDF).(6400 Sylvan Way SW)
MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm at The Kenney, Morgan Junction’s neighborhood council has another info-packed quarterly meeting including the neighborhood’s response to the proposed HALA Mandatory Housing Affordability upzoning – see the full agenda here (PDF). All welcome. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)
AWARD-WINNING POETS AT WORDSWEST: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), WordsWest Literary Series celebrates National Poetry Month with two national-award-winning poets, Terrance Hayes and Jane Wong, as previewed here. (5612 California SW)
FAUNTLEROY BOULEVARD PROJECT: 7:30 pm at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) Rotary Room, the second meeting of the Fauntleroy Way Neighborhood and Business Association to talk about the project; since our preview published here, it’s also been announced that city reps will be there, including SDOT and City Councilmember Lisa Herbold. (36th/Snoqualmie)
DEADGRASS: Grateful Dead/Jerry Garcia tunes at Parliament Tavern, 8-11 pm. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
MUCH MORE … on our complete-calendar page.
We’re two weeks into registration for the 13th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day! Here are three things you should know at this point:
SALE DAY: Saturday, May 13, 9 am-3 pm, all over West Seattle & a bit beyond (ranging so far from Alki in the north to North Shorewood in the south)
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Thursday, April 27, 11:30 pm – go here before then!
MAP/LISTINGS AVAILABLE: Saturday, May 6th, here and at westseattlegaragesale.com
As of this morning, 150 sales are registered! If you’re planning to shop, somebody will have what you’re looking for … if you’re selling, be sure your up-to-20-word listing mentions both popular and unique items you’ll have. Or other reasons to visit … one recent registrant says their tortoise might be on hand and accepting visitors, weather permitting. Some sellers promise lemonade and/or bake sales along with the WSCGSD merchandise. If you’re a gardener, multiple plant sales are on the list already, including a P-Patch, and some sellers have gardening gear; if you’re looking for furniture, lots of that, both antique and contemporary; if transportation is on your mind, look for listings mentioning bicycles, and at least one classic car! Boating stuff, motorcycle gear, camping gear … block sales, business sales, benefit sales … garage sales, yard sales, courtyard sales … Just 24 days to go!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:24 AM: Relatively quiet morning on area roads/paths so far – no incidents in/from West Seattle.
7:55 AM: Shortlived stall on the westbound bridge by Admiral, cleared quickly. Just mentioning in case you passed it going the other way and check here later wondering what that was.
8:05 AM: Meeting note for tonight – the Fauntleroy Way Association, a business/neighborhood coalition focused on the Fauntleroy Boulevard project, has its second meeting tonight, as announced a few weeks ago.
@westseattleblog we live in the prettiest place! The view from Alki moments ago! pic.twitter.com/TXAKG7EpeL
— Lindsay (@Lindsaylew03) April 19, 2017
Tuesday evening brought a mix of sun, rain, and rainbows. Many lovely photos were shared with us via Twitter … thought we would close out the night by re-posting this one here.
Here’s a simple way to help local students. From Roxhill Elementary PTA president Amanda Kay Helmick:
We know the West Seattle community is generous and wants to help! And here is an opportunity to do so. Roxhill Elementary started a school fundraiser today! What’s great is that you can look at all the items online. Roxhill is trying to raise money for field trips, classroom supplies, school community events, and playground equipment. It runs from today until May 2nd. If you know a Roxhill student, you can buy things under their name, or just buy items for the school at large.
If you don’t have a specific student to support at Roxhill you can put in SM4 as both the first and last name in order to support some of our higher-needs students. Roxhill has two classrooms that support students with autism, Down syndrome, and other capabilities. Some of these students might not be able to engage with neighbors and the community to sell fundraising items. But you can support them by putting in their class name so that their classroom earns prizes and participates in drawings. Thank you for your support of Roxhill and all of our students!
To enter a name (or SM4 SM4 as Amanda mentioned), use this link – or, you can go to the general Roxhill online storefront here.
Another abandoned (therefore likely stolen) bicycle found – this time, in the White Center area, reports Matt, who shared the photo of that Cilo Pacer, saying, “It’s a really cool old bike. Hope the owner gets it back.” Is it yours? Or likely that of someone you know? Let us know and we’ll point you at Matt.
(35th/108th crash – photo by Brent Lindblom)
3:32 PM: Big Seattle Fire “heavy rescue” response is on the way to 35th SW/SW 108th in Arbor Heights. More to come.
3:36 PM: Per scanner, the person in the vehicle is OK and the response is being downsized.
3:48 PM: SFD is also at the scene of another Arbor Heights crash, 39th/98th, and we’ll have our crew check on that one too.
4 PM: Thanks to Brent Lindblom for sending a photo from 35th/108th, added above. (He talked to the driver before authorities arrived and says, “He apparently had a dizzy spell and hit the light post.”) Our crew also has briefly stopped there and verified that the driver was not hurt; the road will be clear once the truck is towed. We’re on the way now to the other crash scene.
4:10 PM: Two cars collided at 39th/98th, and a woman had to be extricated from the Toyota in the photo above, we’ve been told at the scene. She was taken to a hospital by private ambulance.
The city’s latest Land Use Information Bulletin brings notice of one more approval for the port’s Terminal 5 modernization project – this time, from the state Department of Ecology, allowing installation of a sheet pile wall as part of the project. This comes two weeks after key city approvals for the project, and it means the clock is ticking for anyone interested in appealing these approvals – the latest notice says you have until May 4th, and explains how. The port, meantime, has not yet finalized how it will fund the project, but is expected to make that decision later this year.
(WSB photo)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 12:04 PM: Yes, the no-pets-on-the-beach law is enforced at Alki and other waterfront parks sometimes – and at least one citation recipient is unhappy about it. We took that photo this morning after someone called to tell us about the sign. A first-time violation will cost you $54, according to this list of city fines, which has the reminder that it’s “unlawful to permit any dog to run at large in any park, except in designated off-leash areas, OR unlawful to permit any dog to enter any public beach, swimming area or wading area, pond, fountain, stream, or organized athletic area.” We’re checking to see if Seattle Animal Shelter (aka “animal control”) has any stats on how many tickets it’s issued so far this year.
3:16 PM: Perhaps a coincidence, but while our information request to SAS has not yet been acknowledged, we received this news release from the city minutes ago:
Spring is blossoming and hatching in Seattle, and now is a particularly important time to ensure that immature wildlife have their best opportunity to flourish in the Northwest. Because of this, the Seattle Animal Shelter will be conducting emphasis patrols on all saltwater beaches in the city.
Dogs are not allowed on any of Seattle’s public saltwater beaches, whether leashed or unleashed. This law helps to protect the fragile ecosystem along our shorelines. Marine mammals, such as seal pups who are typically born in April, use the city’s beaches to rest and warm themselves. Shore birds also frequent our beaches. Wildlife that interact with dogs are less likely to reach adulthood.
Uniformed animal services officers will be patrolling city parks with a focus on saltwater beaches and may issue citations to violators.
If you would like to report Seattle beaches where dogs are frequently seen, please submit a service request here. You can also contact the shelter directly by calling 206-386-PETS (7387) or by visiting seattleanimalshelter.org.
3:44 PM: Our request for stats has been answered by Kara Main-Hester at Seattle Animal Shelter:
The Park District team started in 2016. Since the start of the program, they have written 905 violations and conducted 1002 patrols. (Data: 1/1/2016 – 3/31/2017). During that time, they wrote 29 citations at Alki parks (Alki Beach Park + Alki Playground) and 34 at Lincoln Park.
(Added 1:15 pm: Bullet holes visible in window of one residence reported to have been hit by overnight gunfire)
Many questions this morning about overnight gunfire incidents, so we asked SPD for report summaries first thing this morning, and here’s what we have so far. No injuries reported in any of these:
10 PM, 28TH/DAKOTA: “Officers met with victim who said he was sitting in his parked car when he heard his window break, but didn’t hear a gunshot. There appeared to be a hole in the rear passenger side window. Officers searched but did not locate any shell casings or bullet fragments.”
1 AM, 2100 BLOCK OF SW HOLDEN: “Just before 1:00 am. officers responded to report of several gunshots … Officers searched the area but did not locate anything, and there was only one caller reporting the shots. Shortly after 2:00 am, a homeowner about a half-block away called 911 to report that their house had been struck by gunfire. Officers located several .40 caliber shell casings in the street. Three vehicles were struck and the house had damage from three rounds.”
2:20 AM, 26TH/DAKOTA: “Officers found a parked car that had its rear driver’s-side window shot with either small caliber or pellet. This was two blocks away from an earlier call with similar damage. Officers did an area check but did not locate any suspects.”
4:25 AM, 4100 BLOCK DELRIDGE WAY SW: “911 received multiple calls of shots fired (and) reported property damage to homes. Officers responded and contacted the residents of one of the houses that had multiple bullet holes. The residents stated that they had no idea why their house was targeted. Officers located multiple spent shell casings of various calibers in the street. Those casings were photographed and collected for evidence. Fortunately there were no reported injuries. The Gang Unit has been notified and will be handling the followup investigation.”
We sent a crew to look for any obvious signs of damage, but didn’t see any; if any happened where you live, and you have a photo, editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks.
P.S. As mentioned in our daily preview, tonight happens to be the monthly West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster), 7 pm, and it always includes a chance to ask police about specific incidents and/or bring up neighborhood concerns.
(Crow harassing immature bald eagle over west slope of Gatewood Hill – photo by Mark Dale)
Highlights for today/tonight from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
JOB-SEARCH HELP: 2-4 pm at Neighborhood House High Point Center, drop in to “work one-on-one with a coach and get help searching for opportunities, filling out applications, creating a cover letter and resume, practicing interview skills, and more. You are also welcome to use our computer lab with free use of Wi-Fi, printing, fax, scanning, and copying.” Free weekly event, open to all. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
JUSTIN KAUSAL-HAYES: 5-8 pm, live music at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor). No cover/minimum; happy-hour specials available until 6 pm. (1936 Harbor SW)
’13TH’ SCREENING & POTLUCK DINNER: 6:30 pm at Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall, a “special screening of ‘13th‘ (trailer), an Oscar-nominated documentary exploring the history of race & criminal justice in America.” Free; bring a potluck dish to share. (9140 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct, it’s your monthly chance to hear about local crime/safety trends and ask police about your neighborhood concerns. (Like the early-morning gunfire in North Delridge – story to come.) Also a special guest who will discuss the SPD Safe Place program and the Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum. All welcome. (2300 SW Webster)
UNPLUGGED – A MUSICAL GATHERING: Acoustic instrumentalists and singers are welcome to come play at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
FAMILY STORY TIME: 7 pm at Delridge Library – bring the kids for stories, rhymes, and songs. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
MORE ON OUR COMPLETE CALENDAR … see it all here!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:39 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/outbound from West Seattle so far. Transportation-related notes:
SPRING BREAK … continues for most parochial schools and some other independent schools. That affects some of the school speed-limit zones, including Holy Family (20th/Roxbury) and Our Lady of Guadalupe (35th/Myrtle).
POTHOLE PATROL: If you see them in West Seattle today, let us know. SDOT told us they were in south and east Seattle yesterday; We spotted one crew pulled over by 35th/Alaska but don’t know if they did anything, as they were gone when we circled back around to check. SDOT has an official “kickoff” event later today with the mayor on Beacon Hill.
I-5 MAINTENANCE PROJECTS: WSDOT has announced that two sections of I-5 will have major maintenance work over the next 2 years, including some near the West Seattle Bridge, though the first project is in south King County.
7:33 AM: From the scanner – report of a vehicle blocking one lane on the eastbound bridge by the Delridge onramp. (Center lane, per subsequent SDOT tweet.)
7:50 AM: SDOT says SPD has cleared the stalled vehicle, and all lanes on the bridge are open again.
9:07 AM: Crash on southbound I-5 near the West Seattle Bridge exit – not sure yet if it’s affecting traffic from the exit but here’s your first heads-up.
In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
PACKAGE-THEFT ATTEMPT: From Jim:
We found a package half opened in our front yard today… looks like someone grabbed it from our porch and, when it turned out to be very light in spite of its large-ish size, half opened it and saw there was just a hat inside and dropped it… We’re on 20th SW just south of Barton. I think we got lucky, but wondered if anyone else might have been hit through here today.
SUSPICIOUS PERSON: From a Beach Drive resident:
I wanted to alert my neighbors in the Beach Drive/Seaview area about a man who has been casing my property multiple times this week; one time we noted him driving a 2010ish silver Toyota sedan. We activated our security camera and (Sunday) we caught him and a woman on camera walking around our front yard. We are hoping someone may recognize them and contact the police with additional information. This is our incident number with the SPD, 2017-132766.
TWO CHANCES TO TALK WITH POLICE: If you have questions or concerns – this week brings two public events where you can talk with local police. Tomorrow (Tuesday) night, 7 pm, at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster), it’s the monthly West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, including a guest who’ll talk about the SPD Safe Place program and Metropolitan Police Museum. Then Wednesday at 1 pm, it’s the first West Seattle Coffee with a Cop, at Starbucks in The Junction (California/Alaska).
6:33 PM: That’s the Seattle City Light map showing the extent of a power outage that started shortly after 6 pm in Brace Point and part of The Arroyos. SCL says 327 customers – homes/businesses – are affected, but no word yet on the outage’s cause. The estimated restoration time is ~9:28 pm but remember that’s just a guess – could be sooner, could be later. (Thanks for the tips, and let us know when the power’s back – 206-293-6302 text or voice – thanks!)
7:18 PM: About half those who originally lost power have it back – 159 are still out, per the map, which now attributes the outage to “equipment failure.”
12:11 AM: The map still shows those customers out after 6 hours, with the restoration estimate now moved back past 2 am. We’ll be asking City Light later today for more information on what failed.
5:30 AM: Around 3 am, the outage area on the SCL map reverted to the original 327 customers. There’s now a restoration estimate of ~8:26 am.
9:23 AM: Just talked to Tyson Lin of SCL. He says the problem is in an underground vault and it’s taking a long time because crews first had to be able to get into the vaults safely – which involved, among other things, pumping out water with vacuum trucks – and then had to test each cable individually to figure out where the problem is. They’re still in the testing phase, Lin says, which they hope to finish by 11 am, and then restoration and repair, assuming they are able to find the specific problem, could take until 3 pm. We also asked why the additional customers lost power again at 3 am; that was because a particular cable had to be deactivated so they could safely reach others for testing.
11:21 AM: Just checked the SCL map for the first time in about an hour and a half and it shows the outage has ended – if your power isn’t back, be sure to call 206-684-3000 to make sure they know.
Going to run/walk the 5K at Loop the ‘Lupe on June 4th? Get ready with a free “couch to dash” training program announced by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) – starting next week. From WSR’s Lori McConnell:
Description:
• A P3|Running RRCA Certified coach-led group run from West Seattle Runner on Wednesday evenings at 6:15 pm and Saturdays at 8 am. There will be a schedule for those who will use a run/walk program and one for those who are running the whole way
• Along with a 6-week training schedule, there will be a Running 101 clinic that will cover injury prevention, running form, shoes and gear 101, and mental training.
When:
• April 24th-June 4th
• The Program starts from West Seattle Runner on Wednesday, April 26th. Meet your fellow participants and others from the Seattle running community!
This is a free program as part of our dedication to community service. All we ask is that you register or donate for Loop the ‘Lupe, as it supports programs that many benefit from on their quest to stay active.
Questions: Email lori@westseattlerunner.com
To register for the training program: Email lori@westseattlerunner.com
To find out more about custom coaching programs, go here.
West Seattle Runner is in The Admiral District at 2743 California SW. The June 4th Loop the ‘Lupe events are at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th SW/SW Myrtle).
So you’ve probably heard by now that former Mayor Mike McGinn wants that title again. He announced it this morning with this tweet:
— Mike McGinn (@mayormcginn) April 17, 2017
… and then invited reporters to his Greenwood home at midmorning to find out more. (We were on the list but couldn’t go. Pick your favorite citywide source for details.)
Though citywide media has focused on just a few candidates, even before McGinn’s announcement, nine campaigns were registered with the city Ethics and Elections Commission. They are, in alphabetical order, with links to campaign websites when we could find them, so you can learn a bit about who they are and what they want to do:
Casey Carlisle
David Ishii
Mary Juanita Martin
Ed Murray (incumbent)
Nikkita Oliver
Jason Roberts
Andres Solomon
Alex Tsimerman
Keith Whiteman
None listed a West Seattle address with the city, at least for the campaign. The two who don’t seem to have websites, Ishii and Martin, also ran in 2013; Ishii dropped out before the primary, in which Martin received 1.06% of the vote, far behind Murray with 30% and McGinn with 29% (in the 2013 general, Murray won with 52% to McGinn’s 47%).
While those listed above have registered their campaigns, the official candidacy-filing period is still four weeks away – to get onto the August 1st primary ballot, candidates will have to file with King County during the week of May 15 through 19. Top two vote-getters in the primary advance to the November 7th general.
“It’s hard to think of an accolade that he doesn’t have.” That’s what Susan Rich, one of the curators of the monthly WordsWest Literary Series presentations, says about National Book Award-winning poet Terrance Hayes, who will be featured at WW this Wednesday night. Hayes and Jane Wong, a former student of his who also is an award-winning poet, headline “A National Poetry Month Celebration” at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7 pm Wednesday (April 19th). The WW announcement (see it in full here) says they will “read their work as a ‘living anthology’ — a distinctive WordsWest reading format that weaves the ideas and images of each poet’s work into a never-to-be-duplicated collaboration of echoes and connections. No admission charge (you can support the volunteer-run series here) – so get there early enough to ensure yourself a seat!
(WSB photo, November 2016: TEALS founder Kevin Wang and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray at left, visiting CSIHS)
The Technology Education And Literacy in Schools (TEALS) program at Chief Sealth International High School – which got a high-profile visit last fall (photo above) – is looking for volunteers to help next year. From Sealth principal Aida Fraser-Hammer:
Chief Sealth International High School is extremely excited to announce that we are entering our 3rd year of partnership with the TEALS program, which provides support to students who want to explore computer science in the classroom.
We are now planning for the 2017 – 2018 school year and as in years past, we are reaching out to the West Seattle community in search of software programmers or engineers willing to share their programming skills with our students. Volunteers are needed in the classroom as team-teachers 2 days per week for the next school year. No teaching experience is necessary; all training and additional supports will be provided by the TEALS program.
TEALS volunteers have enjoyed a successful partnership with Sealth by exposing students to challenging coursework which has been extremely successful in getting students hooked into computer programming and interested in pursuing higher education in the field of computer science. Volunteer training is provided during the summer and involvement in the classroom varies. Volunteers can team-teach or simply help out in the Computer Science classroom. They commit to two days per week during the 1st period of the day which allows them to maintain their regular work schedule.
Past volunteers have provided classroom support to students and have enjoyed helping teach CS in the classroom. Others have actually used the opportunity as a testing ground to explore a career in teaching. In fact, two-year Sealth volunteer Jon Fincher saw TEALS “as a chance to explore my interest in a more formal teaching role. It wasn’t long before I was fully stuck in. Within a few months, I knew teaching was going to be my post-tech career. I went back to school to get my CTE credentials to follow my passion.”
Although only a few TEALS volunteers explore teaching as a second career, all report, as Fincher does, “When I see a student ‘get it’, and see them take what they learned and do something I never thought of, I get as much satisfaction as they do.”
Sealth students started exploring Python 2nd semester this year, and although Python mastery is absolutely not a requirement for volunteers we would be particularly excited if any Python pros would like to help us for next year.
Interested CS professionals are encouraged to explore more at the volunteer section of the TEALS website or contact Sealth teacher John Wright (206-252-8550) for more information.
As family and friends remember Merrilee Hagen, this obituary provided by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society explains her legacy for the entire community:
The longtime West Seattle resident who sparked acquisition of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s “Birthplace of Seattle” Log House Museum on Alki has died.
Merrilee Ann Blackinton Hagen, a former board president of the historical society, a longtime real-estate broker and a prolific painter of local scenes, had been recovering from lymphoma when she died of a massive stroke on Sunday, April 9, 2017, in her home across from her alma mater, West Seattle High School. She was 73.
“Merrilee is one of the giants in our organizational history,” said Clay Eals, executive director of the historical society. “The impact of Merrilee on our organization was wide-ranging, but easily her most enduring contribution was her vision and action to acquire our museum.”
Merrilee served as board president in 1994 and 1995 when the organization was meeting and storing items at then-South Seattle Community College and was looking for a permanent headquarters of its own.
As a broker who “knew West Seattle like the back of her hand,” Eals said, she learned that the 1904 log home at 3003 61st Ave. SW was for sale and might be razed or moved. The building, one of the last three log structures on Alki, originally served as the carriage house for the nearby Fir Lodge, which became the Alki Homestead restaurant.
On behalf of the historical society, Merrilee immediately began to organize a campaign to purchase the building by securing a portion of mitigation funds offered by Metro as part of a West Seattle sewage-pipeline project. Volunteers worked the phones from her real-estate office, calling residents of Alki and Beach Drive, encouraging them to vote for the acquisition, which would be the first step in restoring and opening the building as a community-history museum.
The campaign was successful, and after extensive fundraising and exhibit preparation by Merrilee and other volunteers, the museum opened on Nov. 13, 1997, the 146th anniversary of the arrival of the Alki Landing Party. The museum will mark its 20th anniversary this fall.
Merrilee tells the museum acquisition story in this four-minute video from the Nov. 14, 2015, annual meeting of the historical society held at High Point Library:
In recent years, Merrilee regularly attended the historical society’s Champagne Gala Brunch and contributed her unique paintings of the Alki Lighthouse, the Alki Homestead and other icons as auction items. Her painting of the Historic Admiral Theater was part of an auction package at the 2016 Gala last Nov. 5 and was presented to the winners, Maryanne Tagney and David Jones, at the grand-reopening celebration of the theater one month ago on March 22.
A one-eighth member of the Samish Indian Nation, Merrilee was born to Chester and Shirley Blackinton on July 15, 1943, in Bellingham, the second child of four. She lived on Orcas Island until age 4, when her family moved to downtown Seattle then, one year later, to a West Seattle beach house at 59th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Carroll Street, across from the original one-room Alki schoolhouse.
She attended Alki Elementary School, and as a third-grader one of her highlights was attending the 1951 ceremonial celebration of the Alki pioneer landing. (In later years, she delighted in discovering her signature in the guest book at the Alki Lighthouse from when her Girl Scout troop visited there in 1953.)
After attending then-Madison Junior High School, she graduated from West Seattle High in 1961. In high-school years, she served as a “candy striper” volunteer, operating elevators at Seattle Hospital.
She briefly studied commercial art at Edison Art College downtown. In 1963 at age 19, she married Oscar Hagen Jr., a Navy veteran and Boeing office and computer worker, and they lived in the north Admiral and Seaview neighborhoods.
Merrilee gave birth to their only child, Melissa, in 1969, and her family welcomed long-term stays from relatives and friends in subsequent homes in the Highland Park and Arbor Heights neighborhoods.
After working briefly in the shipping department at Sears downtown, Merrilee was a full-time mom, busying herself with projects such as canning garden produce and painting the faces of Raggedy Ann dolls made by her grandmother.
Merrilee and Oscar divorced in 1982, and she moved to Marguerite Court on Alki. With her moves, she had developed an interest in real estate, starting a career in 1977 as a broker for Evan Carlson Realty on California Avenue and opening a realty business with Karis Malagon near 35th Avenue and SW Alaska Street.
She further developed interests in gardening and painting while transitioning to work for high-school classmate and West Seattle broker Rich Bianchi in the Junction and later for John L. Scott and moving to a succession of homes south of the Junction, in Burien, on Beach Drive, across from Lincoln Park, behind the Admiral Theater, and to a home west of the Junction to care for her mother.
Her watercolor, oil, and acrylic paintings filled every wall of her homes and hung in her real-estate offices, and her coordination of home tours for the historical society in the 1990s and early 2000s prompted her to create themed poster paintings for those events.
Merrilee retired as a broker in 2005 while battling Crohn’s disease. Following her mother’s death, she moved to lower Queen Anne and, two years ago, to the Island View apartment complex across from West Seattle High School.
Besides her devotion to West Seattle and the historical society, Merrilee was known for her keen memory and low-key sense of humor (one of her maxims was “Never pass up a good straight line”) and for staying in touch with and taking care of family and friends.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Melissa and Terry Cooper, of Highland Park; siblings Linda Blackinton, Daniel Blackinton, and Eileen Addison of Seattle; and ex-husband Oscar Hagen of SeaTac.
Her ashes will be scattered near the family home in the Guemes Channel north of Anacortes, and there will be no public memorial service. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society will host a time of remembrance for Merrilee during its annual Independence Day picnic from noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, 2017, in the museum courtyard.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
8:51 AM: A third drydock is in the works for Vigor‘s Harbor Island shipyard. The company announced this morning that it has “entered into an agreement to purchase a drydock from a Korean seller” and that it will be the largest drydock there, “640 feet long with a clear width of 116 feet.” Also from the news release announcing the plan:
“The purchase of another drydock in Seattle allows Vigor to better service valued customers like Washington State Ferries, the U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Navy,” notes Adam Beck, Vigor Executive Vice President of Ship Repair. “It also further strengthens our market position in commercial ship repair on the West Coast and supports our expansion into new markets.”…
Beck and his team had been actively looking for the right drydock at home and abroad for a number of months. The one selected happened to be in Korea. The team is working to finalize the transaction and have the dock operational in Seattle by late fall.
It’s been almost two years since Vigor moved a 528-foot drydock here from its Portland facilities, replacing one that had been decommissioned. We have asked a few followup questions and will add anything more we find out.
UPDATED 12:01 PM: While the timeline isn’t finalized yet, Vigor spokesperson Athena Maris tells WSB the new drydock is likely to arrive in November, under tow. In addition to the 528-foot Vigilant, mentioned above, the other existing drydock at Vigor – known just as #10 – is 552 feet.
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