West Seattle, Washington
05 Monday
(WSB photos/video)
The Learjet that just arrived in the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Aviation Maintenance Tech program hangar is a big deal in multiple ways.
For one – this program is the first in the state to get a plane like this.
For two – it’s a plane worth about $620,000 (original value $3.1 million), obtained by SSC for $10,000 (plus various one-timeexpenses, including hiring pilots to fly it here).
SSC showed off the C-21 Learjet 35A inside its Boeing Field hangar on Wednesday afternoon. Never been there? Here’s a quick look inside:
SSC is one of five schools in the state with Aviation Maintenance Tech programs, but the first to have a Learjet.
It’s government surplus that will now be put to use for hands-on training; Pat Prociv of the AMT faculty told us that they’ll be able to roll it out and run the engine.
The college explained in its acquisition announcement:
The plane was acquired from the Department of Enterprise Services that accounts for government surplus items. Formerly a plane for the Michigan State Police, the Learjet became available in 2014. Through a competitive selection process, South was selected to acquire the aircraft because of the number of potential mechanics it will serve. Each quarter the AMT program enrolls an average of 175 students.
The jet is 48 feet and 8 inches long, with a wingspan of 39 feet and 6 inches. Maximum speed, 471 knots (542 miles) per hour. As for the 8-quarter AMT program at SSC, read all about it here.
(Click image for zoomable view)
Though the City Council District 1 race isn’t officially settled yet, and won’t be until after the recount, now that the election is certified, precinct-by-precinct results are available, and that’s what you see in the map above. It was made by Ben Anderstone, a political consultant with Progressive Strategies NW, who granted our request for permission to republish it here. The tones are green for Shannon Braddock and red for Lisa Herbold, on a graded scale, so that the lightest of each is closest to the almost exactly 50-50 split that the election became on a raw numbers basis. In all, per the final results sheet from the county (page 45), 45 percent of the registered voters in District 1 – West Seattle and South Park – returned their ballots. That’s 27,757 ballots out of 60,991 registered voters; almost 10 percent of them – 2,714 of them did not include a vote in this particular race.
The season of light is about to begin, and nowhere in West Seattle does it shine more brightly than in the 5600 block of Beach Drive SW, where the famous Menashe Family Christmas Lights display is going up.
After seeing the work in progress, we stopped briefly late this afternoon to find out when the lights officially go on. Josh Menashe told us this Sunday (November 29th) is the night.
The box where you can drop off letters to Santa, as you can see, is back – and you’ll find Santa himself visiting on Saturday night, December 12th, 6-10 pm – bring a nonperishable food donation for the West Seattle Food Bank.
P.S. This is featured in our West Seattle Holiday Guide along with our area’s two synched-to-music light shows.
Chalk signs pointed the way when we stopped by to see how the pre-Thanksgiving “Lunches With Love” volunteers were doing this afternoon in South Park. Steps from that sign, a garage was already filling with an estimated 400 sack lunches:
Upstairs, in organizer Lashanna Williams‘s sun-splashed kitchen, the all-ages volunteer crew continued making sandwiches and filling bags to deliver around the Sound tonight:
This is the third year for this day and night of pre-holiday giving:
You can still help – lunch-making was scheduled to continue until 6 pm, and then delivery starts around 9 – see our preview for location and other info.
More local soccer success! Thanks to Dr. Bryan Wiebe for the photo and report:
The Mukilteo Turkey Shoot Tournament this last weekend had both West Seattle teams end up in the final (and a shootout after double overtime!). Silly ‘Staches (note the socks) won this tournament, and Neon Fire won the WSSC U-11 division. Both teams had RobRoy Chalmers as head coach. Both teams are Champions.
This year in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, we have three listings for a free community Thanksgiving meal. Organizers for all three stress that everyone is welcome – no prerequisites.
(WSB photo: T&TS crew preparing 2014 Thanksgiving dinner)
HALL OF FAUNTLEROY’S FREE DINNER: Again this year, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering will host a free, elegant Thanksgiving dinner for the community, noon-3 pm. Plenty of volunteers already are lined up but dessert donations are welcome, as noted in our preview – drop them off starting at 10 am on Thanksgiving. The Hall is on the south end of the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse. (9131 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE EAGLES’ FREE DINNER: Once again, the Eagles plan a free community Thanksgiving dinner on the holiday – follow the link for menu details. 2-5 pm. (4426 California SW)
FREE THANKSGIVING MEAL IN SOUTH PARK: The South Park Senior Center sent word that it is hosting a free Thanksgiving meal for anyone who would like to attend. It’s at the South Park Neighborhood Center, 11 am-2 pm. (8201 10th Ave S.)
(UPDATED with photo from Wednesday afternoon high tide)
(Tuesday night photo by David Hutchinson: Moonrise behind Columbia Center)
Tonight brings the official full moon – 4:50 pm moonrise (per the moon/sun times on the WSB West Seattle Weather page) – and about an hour and a half before that, another “king tide” at 3:22 pm, 12.2 feet, ALMOST as high as yesterday. Some north wind is in the forecast too. But as for whether we’ll see anything like this …
(Photo courtesy Liesbet)
… we’ll have to wait and see. We did stop by Alki this morning to see the aftermath of Tuesday’s wildness (here’s our video/photo gallery if you missed it):
That sand and driftwood at Statue of Liberty Plaza comprised most of what caught our eye, aside from a few puddles left on the promenade.
P.S. If you miss the king tides this month – next month brings three more, right around Christmas, and then there’s a round in mid-January with the highest of all. They’re all on this list.
ADDED WEDNESDAY EVENING: We did stop by the Alki promenade just after high tide, around 3:30. Some splashes, but nothing huge. Beautiful just the same:
Sunny again tomorrow, says the forecast; high tide will be at 4:04 pm.
(West Seattle Montessori & Academy [WSB sponsor] photo: What their students are thankful for)
On this day before Thanksgiving, you can give others a reason to be thankful too. From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, two Thanksgiving Eve-specific reminders:
TURKEYS FOR WCFB: The White Center Food Bank (which also serves part of WS) needs more turkeys, and welcomes dropoffs until 7 pm tonight. (They’re OK on volunteer help, and grateful to everyone who responded to that part of the most-recent request.) Just take them over to the food bank at 10829 8th SW.
‘LUNCHES WITH LOVE’: This annual community-powered effort to feed hungry people could use your help in several ways – drop off lunch supplies, make some sack lunches and take them over, help make sack lunches at LWL’s home-based HQ, help take the lunches around the area tonight to people who need them. Details are in our preview from Monday.
*************
We’re spotlighting other giving opportunities throughout the holiday season – you’ll find them in our guide, which also has holiday-specific information you might find useful tomorrow, including:
-Grocery-store hours
-Where to get coffee
-Restaurants that plan to be open
… and what happens AFTER Thanksgiving, too, from light shows to Santa visits to parties, concerts, special shopping events, and beyond. (We continue to update daily, so please keep sending info on your holiday events – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!)
Just a few minutes of your time can help student researchers. Last year, you answered the Gator-bots’ call; here’s what they’re up to this time:
We are the Gator-bots, a Lego Robotics team from Holy Rosary in West Seattle. Last year the West Seattle Community was extremely helpful as we researched ways to share new Technology. This led the team to come up with a creative way to share information. We used this research as part of a project that was then presented at a competition in December.
This year our challenge is to do research on TRASH! Our project focus is to choose a piece of trash and identify a problem with the way it is currently handled. We are looking for problems with the way we make, transport, store, or turn trash into something new. Then find out what is being done to solve the problem.
West Seattle is a very progressive community so we are looking for something new. As a team we discussed opportunities we each have and decided that Food Scrap management may be an opportunity. We found out that New York City developed a profitable project to reduce food scraps that were dumped into the garbage and turn that into a profit by selling it as compost. This required a lot of community work and awareness.
Our Survey is developed to find out more about our community and get some thoughts from all of you.
Thank you in advance,
The Gator-bots
(Six WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:38 AM: Cold but relatively calm out there. Transit reminders for tomorrow again: The West Seattle Water Taxi will be out of service both days; Metro buses will be on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving, “reduced weekday” on Friday; Sound Transit Route 560 will be on the “weekend” schedule on Thanksgiving, “weekday” on Friday; Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run, regular schedule.
ONE MORE FRIDAY REMINDER: The annual holiday parade in the morning and Westlake Center tree lighting in the evening bring street closures – details are in the SDOT weekend preview.
8:28 AM: And a reminder for today – school’s out one hour early (for the schools that are still in session – elementary/K-8 has been out all week for parent/teacher conferences) to get the four-day Thanksgiving break started.
Two court updates in recent West Seattle cases:
ARSON SUSPECT LOSES BAIL-CUT BID: When serial-arson suspect Jacob Kokko was arraigned on Monday, he pleaded not guilty and asked for a bail reduction. Both are fairly routine at this stage in a case. Judge Dean Lum said no to the bail-cut request, so Kokko remains held in lieu of $300,000 bail. Two weeks have passed since prosecutors charged the 22-year-old High Point resident in connection with three October fires.
ROBBERY SUSPECT NOT CHARGED: The $100,000 bail first set for an Arbor Heights man suspected in the recent holdup at the Westwood Village GameStop store is no longer in effect – prosecutors have not filed charges, saying the investigation is still ongoing. But he’s still in jail because of a $10,000 failure-to-appear warrant in a domestic-violence assault case.
Family and friends are mourning former Chief Sealth International High School principal Chris Kinsey, who died last weekend at just 43 years old. No details are available, and there’s no word yet of a memorial service. Mr. Kinsey was an assistant principal at Cleveland High School for three years before taking over at Sealth in the fall of 2011; he led CSIHS for two school years before announcing in June 2013 that he had decided not to return for a third year. He did not disclose his future plans at that time, and all Seattle Public Schools could tell us today was that he was not an SPS employee at the time of his death. According to biographical information from the district provided when he became Sealth’s interim principal in August 2011, Mr. Kinsey started his education career in 1999 as a teacher at Meany Middle School. (WSB photo, 2011)
(Seattle City Council photo, via Twitter)
Tonight, West Seattle resident Lorena González became the first Seattle City Councilmember to take the oath of office after the certification of the November election. As noted in the city announcement below, her election itself represented a long-overdue first:
Councilmember Lorena González received the Oath of Office, following certification of election results by King County Elections. Before her friends and colleagues and a packed-Council Chambers, González reflected on her election, plans for her forthcoming Council term, and shared what it means to be the first Latina/o to serve the Seattle City Council in a speech clocking-in at less than ten minutes.
(Added Wednesday: Seattle Channel video of ceremony and speech)
“Mayor Murray, Council President Burgess, friends and family, sisters and brothers, I stand before you today with sincere appreciation for the opportunity I have to represent our community in our state’s largest city as the first Latina sworn into the Seattle City Council.”Citing her experience as a civil rights attorney and community advocate, González also acknowledged her service as legal counsel to Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, and as a partner at Schroeter Goldmark & Bender, representing workers in wage theft and anti-discrimination cases and representing victims of police misconduct as formative experiences. She also recognized and thanked her parents for “…(believing) the American dream was achievable.”
Born and raised in Washington’s lower Yakima Valley to a Spanish-speaking migrant farmworker family, González – who earned her first paycheck at the age of 8 – reminded the audience “…I don’t have the background of a typical politician. Mine is a lived experience rooted in the reality of overcoming poverty and injustice. I am living proof that access to opportunity, coupled with hard work, is a recipe for success. I graduated high school in the face of overwhelming odds. I worked in a food plant, a bank, a retail store, a fast food chain, a day care, and a hotel.”
González conjured memories of picking cherries as a child, spending as many as three hours a day before the start of the school day, and “Often in an environment where I was sprayed with pesticides, or working without access to a bathroom or water…. it’s these formative moments and experiences that inspired me to want to be an advocate, a champion, for those people who I see myself in — even to this day — and especially for those who haven’t had a strong voice in government. They live in the shadows, and I did too – until I saw a path and climbed my way out.“
González went on to outline her intentions to draw on her extensive experience standing up for progressive values and the underrepresented to her work serving the people of Seattle as one of two at-large (citywide) representatives.
In her final moments in Chambers, González turned her attention to future Council colleagues. “My word is my deed,” said González. “I have dedicated my life’s work to defending workers’ rights and will continue this fight – in the name of wage theft on behalf of a cook, or defending men and women against retribution in all its forms. I’ll continue my quest to stand up for dignity in the workplace, and in my work here at city hall on behalf of workers…I will not back down from tackling tough issues or seeking solutions that build a stronger community.”
Born and raised in Central Washington in a Spanish-speaking migrant farmworker family, Councilmember González relied on need-based grants and scholarships to attend community college and later Washington State University. She moved to Seattle in 2002 to attend Seattle University Law School. González has served on various local, regional and national non-profit boards, including OneAmerica, OneAmerica Votes, National Council of La Raza, Northwest Area Foundation, and Washington State Association for Justice.
Councilmember González won the Position 9 race with 78 percent of the vote. If you’re downtown or able to get there, Councilmember González is having an open house in her new office at City Hall tomorrow morning, 9:30 am-11:30 am
One more day to make sure hundreds of local families can celebrate the holiday with a traditional meal … First, the White Center Food Bank needs more turkeys, and you can bring them by 8:30 am-7 pm on Wednesday. If you can spare some time, they also need help distributing food Wednesday afternoon/evening:
Volunteers needed Wednesday, 4:30-8 pm. It’s holiday distribution time again at the White Center Food Bank and we are currently short volunteers for the afternoon/evening of November 25 to pass out food to clients. We get set up at 4:30 pm. We distribute food from 5:00 to 7:30 pm and then clean up. Families welcome. If you can help, please call Audrey at 206-762-2848 or e-mail audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org
WCFB is at 10829 8th SW.
4:52 PM: The election is certified but the Seattle City Council District 1 race still isn’t settled. The “final” count has Lisa Herbold over Shannon Braddock by 39 votes, 12,459 to 12,420, and that’s close enough to require a recount by hand. King County Elections says that will start December 3rd and be completed December 7th.
ADDED 5:23 PM: KC Elections has clarified the recount process after announcing two start dates:
The recount process will begin on Monday, Nov. 30 and be completed on Monday, Dec. 7. The first few days of the recount process will involve staff and observer training and ballot sorting in order to obtain the votes specific to this District No. 1 race. Ballots are not stored by district. Actual counting of the ballots is scheduled to begin on Thursday, Dec. 3 and is expected to continue through Friday, Dec. 4 and possibly the morning of Monday, Dec. 7. After the manual hand count and reconciliation is complete the Canvassing Board will meet to certify the recount on Monday, Dec. 7 at 3:00 p.m. Final results will be announced by 4:30 p.m. that day.
(SCROLL DOWN for updates – including video, photos added late Tuesday night)
(Added 3:45 pm, WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 1:42 PM: Thanks to David Hutchinson for photos from Alki showing north-wind-fueled waves against the seawall well before the 2:40 pm high “king” tide (previewed here last night).
He also shows us that Alki Bathhouse has sandbags out just in case:
This isn’t even the highest “king tide” of winter – but of course, without the wind, higher tides can be far more sedate. Updates to come.
2:54 PM: Just back from the totally swamped Alki boardwalk – water over the walkway, and the Bathhouse certainly needs the sandbags. This :15 Instagram video clip is only a taste:
And we do mean “taste” – if you are anywhere within a block of the water, you’ll taste salt spray. Felt like stronger wind/waves than the corresponding “king tide” + north wind event last year. Downloading more images when everything dries out. (Also – We were live on Periscope for about four minutes until conditions shut down our phone; the archived video is visible for 24 hours at this link.)
3:39 PM UPDATE: The National Weather Service has a “coastal flood advisory” in effect through 5 pm because of the overflow in areas like Alki.
4:15 PM: The West Seattle Water Taxi run is “temporarily suspended” until this calms down, according to text/e-mail alerts.
4:42 PM: And if you use Marine View Drive, beware of a tree hanging over 46th SW, according to Meg, who says it’s been reported to 911.
4:55 PM: King County Water Taxi service is canceled for the rest of the night, per the newest alert.
ADDED 10:21 PM: Video from “Diver Laura” James, “up close and personal” with the waves, as she put it:
From Kersti Muul:
And from Long Bach Nguyen, the next three beautiful scenes as blustery day gave way to night:
” />
Another “king tide” tomorrow – but without the wind.
Local high-school gymnasts finally have a place to practice – but it has to be paid for – so a crowdfunding campaign is under way. From West Seattle High School athletic director Trevor Leopold:
The West Seattle High School gymnastics team lost their practice facility when West Side Gymnastics Academy closed its doors this year. Because of the closure, we had to purchase a Spring Floor so the team could practice at the high school. The cost of the Spring Floor is approximately $21,000 and we are trying our best to raise the money. Currently we have about $5000 but are ending up short at this time. West Seattle is also helping the Chief Sealth team by allowing them to come practice at WSHS and use the spring floor as well. This is something which was a must-purchase; we need help. This is the link for SNAP fundraising where people can donate and help the team.
(Gulls on Alki Bathhouse roof – photo courtesy anonymous first-time contributor)
We’ll be publishing the list in two sections all season, so first, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:
HOLIDAY GREENS – LAST DAY TO ORDER: Today’s the deadline to place your order for holiday greens benefiting Seattle Lutheran High School. They’ll be available for pickup Saturday, December 5, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, in the SLHS Gymnasium at 4100 SW Genesee.
And from our regular year-round calendar:
FIRST ‘KING TIDE’: As previewed here last night, 2:40 pm brings a high tide, and north wind is forecast, so it *might* get a bit wild along the Alki Beach promenade.
LORENA GONZALEZ SWEARING-IN: 5 pm at City Hall, swearing-in ceremony for West Seattle resident Lorena González, who makes history as the first Latina/Latino member of the Seattle City Council. If you can’t be there, you can watch live via Seattle Channel – online or cable 21. (600 4th Ave.)
TRIVIA: Parliament Tavern‘s the place to find it tonight, 8 pm. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
In West Seattle Crime Watch this morning – one stolen car and two possibly stolen, abandoned bicycles. First, just out of the WSB inbox, from Grace:
My blue 1997 Geo Prism was taken from in front of our house on 11th Ave SW in Highland Park in the last few hours. If anyone should see it around, much appreciate their contacting SPD (case # 15 410052) so I might be able to retrieve it. License plate ANC 4242. Thanks.
Two bicycles have turned up, abandoned and likely stolen. First, Gary found this one left outside his garage door – “Body is painted over in blue and black. No sign of brand name.”:
And Patrick says the next one was abandoned in the 3200 block of Benton Pl. SW sometime last week:
Something for Crime Watch? Once you’ve reported it to police, e-mail us – editor@westseattleblog.com – unless it’s breaking news, in which case, please text or call 206-293-6302 – thank you!
(Six WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:40 AM: No incidents through/from West Seattle so far this soggy morning.
7:56 AM: Since it’s quiet so far, we’ll take a moment to preview transit plans for Thursday-Friday – The West Seattle Water Taxi will be out of service both days; Metro buses will be on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving, “reduced weekday” on Friday; Sound Transit Route 560 will be on the “weekend” schedule on Thanksgiving, “weekday” on Friday; Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run, regular schedule.
8:23 AM: We’re at 50th/Alaska checking out a collision that involved a school bus and a car. Some kids were on board but no one was hurt and another bus has already picked them up to continue their trip to school (they won’t say what school, so we’ll have to check with SPS).
The (short) bus’s front end is a bit mashed up (photo added), as is the car’s right front end. (added) The district – for whom First Student is a contractor – says four students were on board, confirms none were hurt.
Thanks to James for sharing the news and the team photo:
The WS Red Bulls defeated the WS King Tigers 3-0, finishing up an unbeaten run through group play with a spotless championship game! We are very proud of our boys and look forward to making a run at the state championship! The WS Red Bulls move on to the next round of play to challenge the other 6 district champions for the Recreational Cup State Championship! We’ll keep you posted of our progress.
The WS Red Bull team consists of:
#2 Roman Centioli
#3 Jameson Yount
#4 Jack Nishimoto
#5 Charles Twombley
#6 Preston Ross
#7 Robbie Foisy
#8 Payton Kyle
#9 Dylan Roberts
#10 Kai Perala
#11 Aaron Johnson
#12 Jake Beardemphl
#13 PJ Barton
#14 Kaeden Quinn
#15 Chase Clifton
Head Coach Eric Beardemphl
Asst Coach Russell Nishimoto
Asst Coach Scott Roberts
Good luck to them in the next round!
(November 2014 photo by Long Bach Nguyen)
While the “s”(now) word has vanished from the city forecast, another force of nature is on the way: The first “king tide” of the season. The 2:40 pm high tide will be 12.3 feet, one of the highest of the season (here’s the full regional “king tide” chart for this month through January) – the state is again looking for photos of the tides’ effects. Tomorrow has a potential complication – wind from the north, 15-25 mph, which could bring the water over the seawall on the Alki promenade. Not likely anything resembling the famous December 2012 storm-surge-enhanced king tide – but depending on the wind, conditions could resemble what happened when high tide met gusty north wind a year ago.
Thanks to Scott for the photo and report:
Madison Middle School’s A team won the Seattle Public Schools A2 division (Saturday) night with a solid win over Jane Addams Middle School in the championship game at Ingraham High School Stadium. Madison made it to the final after beating the #1 seed Pathfinder in last weekend’s opening weekend of playoffs. Congratulations to the nine 8th graders and three 7th graders who played their hearts out … Go Bulldogs!
As a footnote, our B team took 3rd place in the B division playoffs with great wins over Hamilton Middle School and Eckstein Middle school after losing to eventual winner Southshore by one point in the earlier game. Congratulations to Madison kids for a great season.
| 5 COMMENTS