West Seattle, Washington
08 Friday
Reader report, just received this afternoon:
I was out for a run early this morning and at around 6:15 AM a man ran up behind me really fast and grabbed my butt with both his hands. When I started to turn around he ran away in the opposite direction. I never saw his face but he was about 5’9 to 5’10 and was wearing a dark blue hoodie with the hood up and black jeans. This happened as I was running north on 44th Ave SW right before the Charlestown Ave SW intersection. I just want to get the word out to other women who may be out running or walking in the early morning.
This is the first incident of this type we recall hearing about in some time.
SIDE NOTES: First, before you ask: Yes, the man convicted in similar attacks (and more) early this decade is still in prison.
Second: The description, scant as it is, is reminiscent of this 2013 incident south of The Junction which, to our knowledge, has never been solved.
(WSB photo from massive SFD response on January 26th)
Seven months ago, at a jobsite in West Seattle, 36-year-old Harold Felton became the first person killed in a trenching-related incident in our state in seven years. Today, the state Department of Labor and Industries announced it has cited the contractor for whom he was working, and is seeking $51,500 in fines. Here’s the announcement:
A Seattle contractor is facing more than $50,000 in fines for safety violations that led to the death of a construction worker last January. Harold Felton was killed when the dirt walls of the trench he was working in collapsed and buried him. Rescuers were unable to dig him out in time to save his life.
The state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has cited Alki Construction LLC for one willful violation, five serious and one general in connection with the incident last January. The fines total $51,500.
The company had dug trenches next to a Seattle home to replace a sewer line. The trench where the worker died was seven-feet deep and just under two-feet wide. There was no system in place to prevent all sides from caving in.
Excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous construction jobs. Cave-ins on these jobs kill two dozen or more workers each year in the U.S. One cubic yard of soil can weigh as much as a car and dirt walls can collapse suddenly without any warning, burying the victims instantly.
Cave-ins are far from rare. On May 3 in Boise, Idaho, two workers were killed in a trench collapse while working on a sewer project. On May 5 in Portland, Ore., a worker was killed while installing a sewer line in an 11-foot trench. There have been similar incidents in other states this summer.
Employers must ensure that adequate protections are in place to prevent cave-ins, and workers should never enter an unprotected trench, even for a quick task.
Alki Construction was cited for a “willful” violation with a penalty of $35,000 for not ensuring that trenches and excavations four-feet deep or more had a protective system in place to prevent the dirt sides from caving in.
The company was also cited for five serious violations:
*Alki Construction did not have a formal accident prevention program tailored to the needs of the operation and the type of hazards involved in trenching and excavation work ($3,500).
*There was no ladder, ramp or other safe means of exiting the excavated trench ($3,500).
*Sidewalks and structures that were undermined were not supported to protect employees from possible collapse ($3,000).
*Excavated dirt and other materials were placed less than two feet from the edge of the unprotected trench, where they could fall into the trench where employees were working ($3,000).
*There were no daily inspections of the excavations to monitor changing soil conditions ($3,500).
One general violation was cited for not ensuring walk-around safety inspections were documented.
A willful violation is one where L&I finds evidence of plain indifference or an intentional disregard to a hazard or rule. A serious violation is one where there is a substantial probability that worker death or serious physical harm could result from a hazardous condition.
As a result of the violations, Alki Construction LLC has been identified as a severe violator and is subject to follow-up inspections to determine if the conditions still exist.
The employer has 15 working days to appeal. Penalty money paid in connection with a citation is placed in the workers’ compensation supplemental pension fund, helping workers and families of those who have died on the job.
Visit L&I’s Trenching & Excavation topic page to learn more about trenching safety.
As reported here on January 26th, a major rescue response was called to the scene in the 3000 block of 36th SW before 11 am that day. By 11:30, though, it had shifted from a rescue attempt to a recovery operation. As we reported at the time, the contractor had no previous record of violations.
P.S. Following up with L&I, we’ve learned that although the news release about the citation was published (and is dated) today, the department actually issued the citation in July and delivered it August 20th, so the deadline for an appeal is September 12th.
(WSB file photo)
Summer-ish fun isn’t all over yet – some big events are yet to come, and today brings the official announcement of one of them: WestFest, 6-10 pm Friday, September 16th, and 10 am-10 pm Saturday, September 17th:
Please be a part of West Seattle’s ‘Carnival of Community’, brought to you by Holy Rosary School! Come experience great local music, eat delicious food, race up, around, or down the in atable rides, climb the rock wall, or spin until you’re dizzy! There is so much to do and see, including bingo, a cake walk with scrumptious prizes, a kids’ talent show and carnival-style games galore. There’s a beer garden for adults too — there is truly something for everyone at WestFest!
BLOW-OUT FUN WRISTBANDS
Take unlimited turns on our wide selection of rollicking rides on Friday (9/16) and Saturday (9/17) with an activity wristband.
Back by demand… Toddler Time from 10 am-12 pm on Saturday (9/17), where kids 4 and under get exclusive access to 3 rides for a reduced price, when purchasing a wristband.
Discount-priced wristbands will be available in advance at Holy Rosary’s Pancake Breakfast starting at 8 am on Sunday, September 11th. The prices (advance and day-of) are on the festival flyer. The festival is held on the school grounds, on 42nd SW north of SW Genesee.
(Photo courtesy Northwest Open Water Swimming Association)
Meet Erika Norris. The accomplished Seattle-residing swimmer is going to try this Sunday to become the second person to swim from Bremerton to Alki Point Lighthouse. Word of her plan comes from another area open-water swimmer, Andrew Malinak, who says the first person to do it was Amy Hiland in 1959. Erika, like Andrew, is a regular Alki Beach swimmer, “and is very familiar with the challenges posed by the cold water, weather, and currents in this part of Puget Sound,” he says, adding in his announcement that the plan for her attempt at the 10.4-mile crossing should go like this:
Erika will begin in Bremerton around 10 am, and expects to land at the low tide near 2 pm. She will be supported by two boats and a crew of four as she traverses the ferry lanes in Rich Passage and the main shipping channel off Alki Point. The swim will be sanctioned and recorded by the Northwest Open Water Swimming Association (NOWSA), a 501c3 non-profit promoting the sport of marathon swim in the Northwest.
NOWSA plans to track the swim here on Sunday. You can see the route here.
9:21 AM: We’re at South Park Community Center, where Mayor Ed Murray and Seattle Parks Superintendent Jesús Aguirre are about to announce what’s billed as “new investments to reduce barriers and increase access for residents to the City’s community center system … part of Mayor Murray’s proposed 2017 budget.”
It’s been five years now since Murray’s predecessor, Mike McGinn, came to High Point Community Center (WSB coverage here) to deliver news of big cuts and changes that left the community-center system reeling. Then in March 2014, Murray visited Hiawatha Community Center (WSB coverage here) to announce the Park District proposal, subsequently passed by voters. It included promises of funding for “Community Center rehabilitation and development.”
He begins, “I’m here to announce a series of proposals and changes that we will send to the City Council (as part of the budget process),” with funding from the Park District levy, “stabilizing our ability to fund our park system.” He says the proposals will add staff and/or hours to nine community centers, focused on “underserved” areas. Free programs and elimination of drop-in fees at certain centers will be part of the proposals. Here at South Park CC, “we propose to expand operating hour and explore innovative partnerships with the community … to develop culturally relevant programming … In the long term, Parks and Recreation will undertake a long-term planning process in 2017-2018 for the (entire system)” to find out how to “better serve” the people in the city. He also mentions performance measurement “so people can go online and be sure we are meeting the goals in the process.”
9:27 AM: The mayor then goes on to attack the “divisive rhetoric” heard from presidential candidate Donald Trump on Wednesday and says that Trump’s proposals “would bring our state’s economy to a halt,” among other things, “if we turn away immigrants.” He then turns the podium over to Parks Superintendent Aguirre, who mentions that he himself is an immigrant. He says he has seen the need for what the mayor is proposing. And he has warm words for the 100+ employees who work in the community centers around the city each day. “This plan at its core is about equity,” Aguirre adds. He says the elimination of fees for some drop-in programs may not seem big to some, but for many families, it will be a huge improvement in accessibility. He talks about scholarships provided for the first time this year for adults as well as children, and about the importance of partnerships. “We know that every community in Seattle is going to be excited when they see this plan.” (We’re still awaiting the document with details.) He next introduces South Park community advocate Paulina Lopez, who expresses gratitude about what a difference this will make for the community.
In media Q/A, we asked about what this means in the context of the cuts made five years ago. The mayor’s reply: “Our hope is to get back to a level of service that we saw prior to the Great Recession – but that doesn’t mean the exact same programs – the question is what are the programs that this (fast-changing city) needs? We’re seeing two things that are different from a generation ago – an increasein children, and in people who are choosing to retire her. So given that we have stabilized funding, what is the best place to invest that funding? Superintendent Aguirre has spent a year evaluating how we need to reorganize our department and is now going to evaluate how we spend this additional new money.”
Superintendent Aguirre, asked what this change means for South Park CC, said “standardizing hours … (which will become) 10-8 daily Monday-Fridays, representing an increase from 40 to 65 hours that the center will be open weekly. “We’re also adding more staff – making some that’s part time, full time, and we’ve added an additional staff member.” And he said that staff will be working more closely with community members to be tuned in to their needs.
9:43 AM: The event has wrapped up. Though citywide media is here too, there’s no hard-copy news release so far, and the full list but we’ve obtained the full document to see which West Seattle-area centers are involved. No West Seattle centers are proposed for increased hours, but both Alki and Delridge are proposed for increased staffing. We’ll have a few more details as we go through the document.
10:14 AM: Here’s the full document titled “Community Center Strategic Plan.” We’re searching it for other references to West Seattle’s community centers. For one, it explains that while High Point CC might have been eligible for the equity pilot program that is proposed for South Park and four other (non-WS) centers, it wasn’t chosen because HPCC “is currently piloting other promising equity-focused initiatives, with partners such as the Seattle Housing Authority and the UW School of Public Health.” Another mention of note is Hiawatha Community Center, proposed for $1.2 million in maintenance/renovation work, following its previously announced evaluation (along with seven other centers around the city).
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:06 AM: Good morning!
BACK-TO-SCHOOL REMINDERS: Today is the first day for Our Lady of Guadalupe, and also for Highline Public Schools in White Center and other points south. Already in session: Hope Lutheran School (42nd/Oregon), Holy Rosary, and Seattle Lutheran. Our full list of the “early” wave of school reopenings is here. … Seattle Public Schools start classes next Wednesday; school bus drivers are out this week rehearsing their routes.
LABOR DAY PREVIEW: Announced for next Monday – West Seattle Water Taxi will be on a Sunday schedule … Washington State Ferries’ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route will be on a Sunday schedule … Metro buses will be on Sunday schedules.
8:11 AM: In comments, Trickycoolj points out that the Highland Park Way SW repaving project was NOT done by day’s end yesterday as projected by SDOT, so be aware that it’s still a factor today. We’ll be checking the area around midmorning.
8:30 AM: Trouble on the 1st Avenue South Bridge, tweets SDOT:
A crash is blocking the center lane on the NB 1st Ave S Bridge @wsdot_traffic pic.twitter.com/XfjAospASc
— seattledot (@seattledot) September 1, 2016
9:17 AM: The 1st Avenue S. Bridge crash is clear, per SDOT.
Two incidents to report in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
GUNFIRE CONFIRMED: Police confirm that what sounded like gunshots along Marine View Drive early this morning *were* gunshots, even though the incident was only logged as a “disturbance.” Casings – we don’t yet know how many or what type – were recovered in the 10600 block of Marine View Drive (map), SPD confirmed to WSB, adding that no injuries or damage were reported.
BURGLARY ATTEMPT: From Joshua:
I just wanted to get the word out of an attempted burglary in the 46th Ave & Spokane St area. [map] My wife and I weren’t home at the time and it happened sometime between this past Saturday and yesterday morning. They tried getting into the back door of the house by prying the locks and then tried the same thing on the garage door and did a lot of damage to those locks. Luckily, they weren’t successful.
Thanks again for the Crime Watch reports – 206-293-6302 text or voice if it’s urgent (after you’ve called 911), editor@westseattleblog.com if it’s not.
(Photos courtesy Jane Taylor)
After 10 years and five tons of donated food, this is the last year that Jane Taylor and Kristen Parsons are able to lead the Lettuce Pray program. They’re looking for volunteer(s) to take it over so it doesn’t die on the vine, so to speak, at the end of this season. Here’s what’s involved, as explained by Jane:
Lettuce Pray is a summer food-bank collection program set up informally through many of the churches of West Seattle.
Five churches — Alki UCC, St. John the Baptist Episcopal, West Seattle Unitarian Universalist, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, and St. Bernadette’s Parish — are participating this year; in some years that has been as many as nine, depending on what other priorities the churches have. The churches mobilize their home gardeners to bring spare home-grown produce to church every Sunday morning during the harvest season (this year July 3 – October 2) and put it in specially marked Lettuce Pray boxes or baskets. We make the rounds, collect the produce, and put it in cold storage at the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks.
We have been doing this for ten years and have collected over 10,000 pounds of fresh produce. It can be done by one person, but we find it’s more fun when two people do it. It’s the easiest possible volunteer gig and allows so many people to make numerous small contributions that make a big, big impact.
Anyone who is interested is welcome to reach out to Jane Taylor – janeatay@msn.com. Our final collection will be October 2, and it would be great to bring a new volunteer on before we finish up so they can see what we do.
What you see in the top photo is what the average week’s haul takes – about 120 pounds of food, and it all fit into Jane’s Honda Insight hatchback. That’s Jane and Kristen in the second photo, by the way, with part of this week’s Lettuce Pray haul – “fresh corn and juicy plums.”
(UPDATED 9:36 PM WITH PHOTOS FROM TOUR TODAY)
(WSDOT image)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 4:26 PM: Since its last maintenance stop ended in mid-July, the Highway 99 tunneling machine has dug 1,000 feet. Another 500, and it will be at the official halfway mark. But right now, WSDOT says, the machine is stopped down “to inspect and replace some of the larger cutterhead tools on the front end … STP chose to check the tools – and change them as needed – because Bertha has moved from clay into a mixture of sand and gravel that will more quickly wear them down. Replacing the tools now will preserve the machine and ensure it continues to function well as it mines toward STP’s next planned maintenance stop.” You can read the full update here, and you can go here to see where the machine is now – that’s also the page that tracks its progress, currently listed as 4,135 feet along the planned 9,270-foot tunneling route.
ADDED 9:36 PM: A West Seattleite who has long represented our area on Viaduct/Tunnel advisory groups, Vlad Oustimovitch, is sharing photos tonight from a tunnel-project tour earlier today. First photo shows a used drilling tooth that was replaced today, as part of the work mentioned above:
Next, you’re looking at “giant rollers” that hold up the tunnel-building part of the machine:
Here are the pistons that push the machine forward once rings are in place:
Another view from inside the tunneling machine:
Here’s the control room:
And “the tail end” of the machine:
Back outside the machine, in the already-built 4,135 feet of tunnel, here’s a look at the upper deck:
Oustimovitch was one of “about eight” people on today’s tour.
Seven weeks have passed since the mayor’s abrupt announcement that the city would lurch away from the longstanding District Council system and look for new ways of “engagement.” As part of that, the Department of Neighborhoods has been running an online survey (with promotion including paid ads here on WSB and other places). The District Councils, including the two in West Seattle, are in the meantime about to resume their meetings after the traditional August break. And Delridge Neighborhoods District Council chair Mat McBride, who turned the group’s last meeting into a rally of sorts with reps from DCs around the city, has just issued an invitation in this open letter to City Councilmembers Lisa Herbold, Lorena González, Tim Burgess, and Rob Johnson, which we’re publishing with permission:
Esteemed City Council members (representing D1, At-Large, and Neighborhoods Committee),
I am requesting your presence at the September meeting of the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting on Wednesday, September 21. The DNDC is very interested in having a conversation with you regarding community, engagement, and the future of the District Council system within DoN (we’ll also be ranking NSF grants that evening, in case you wanted to observe a DC in action).
District Coordinator Kerry Wade will follow up with an agenda, including specific time and location once it’s finalized. Your RSVP is appreciated.
In Community,
Mat McBride
Chair, Delridge Neighborhoods District CouncilPS, in case you haven’t been following DoN’s Engage Seattle poll, it’s a good read. All responses and comments (predominantly by white middle-aged homeowners, which I suppose raises some ironic existential questions) are published. Recommended reading, and if you haven’t taken the poll, I suggest doing so.
Quite a few comments have been made in support of the District Council System (side note – good on you for making all responses transparent, even those that highlight flaws in this latest proposed revision of DoN). And they’re right to do so, the District Council System (DoN’s, not City Council’s) is vital.
Democracy has to be public. Not solely, and there’s a lot of good suggestions about how to enhance the process and increase engagement. But it’s the District Councils, through a relationship officially observed by the City, that provide this function. It is vital to have public discussion with City representatives and elected officials. It is vital to challenge assumptions. It is vital to provide a forum in which the public can champion or object to issues, initiatives, or proposals within a specific geography. Because at the end of the day, it comes down to people doing things. Not taking a poll, not reading a newsletter, not submitting a comment to a blog, but actual honest-to-goodness engagement. Communities are made of people that come together and unite over a common goal. Where technology can enhance and assist this process, it absolutely should. But without an established network and designated place for that to manifest, it’s meaningless. Community is local, friends, and you have to make local work.
So, how to accomplish this? The best solution is also the easiest – restore the DoN District Coordinator staff to pre-2008 levels.
When the cuts first came, and again when they continued, community leaders predicted the exact circumstance we find ourselves in today – the fraying of the social network to the extent that it struggles to provide its most basic functions. The District Coordinators served as the glue within each District, themselves clusters of communities. It’s a big job, and staffed appropriately, it works great – an individual with a comprehensive knowledge of the individuals and organizations operating within the District is able to coordinate and direct active and emerging civic engagement to promote or fulfill the goal of serving the community. The act of networking people is the single most successful way to disseminate information – we have never been able to improve on talking to each other (not that we should). Humans can consume a huge amount of data, and most of it is not registered as important. This is especially true of communication by local government to citizens. If you want your message communicated, you need peer-level discussions within the community. Since most City correspondence is dry and boring (on the surface, anyway), you need citizens who will consume it regardless, translate salient points as necessary to make it accessible, and explain why it’s important to care about. And then, you really need them to talk about it.
Good news! You’ve had that model in place for the last 28 years. By most assessments, it’s past the “Proof of Concept” phase. Success is built upon the enhancement and improvement of existing infrastructure. The dismantling of an established and proven institution, which is to be replaced by an untested concept, is – well, it’s a singularly terrible idea. Restore the District Councils, and commit to enhancing them through all the excellent suggestions for improvement that I’ve read from other respondents to this survey.
If you haven’t taken the survey yet – here’s the link. (And after you answer it – as mentioned above, the results so far can be seen here.)
As for the upcoming District Council meetings – everyone, as always, is invited. The Southwest District Council is expecting Parks Superintendent Jesús Aguirre at 6:30 pm Wednesday, September 7th, at the Sisson Building/Senior Center in The Junction (California/Oregon).
The Delridge Neighborhoods District Council mentioned above will be on Wednesday, September 21st – as Mat McBride wrote, time and location to be finalized, and we’ll publish an update when that happens.
Your Seattle Public Library branches offer more than reading, viewing, and listening material (as this WSB story reminds us) – they also offer free workshops and classes. And Sandra Sinner from the Delridge Library sends word that there’s still room in a two-day class this weekend teaching 3-D printing design to beginners: 1-5 Saturday (info) and 1-5 Sunday (info). Free, but you have to pre-register, so if you’re interested, do that ASAP by calling 206-733-9125.
Today, we are happy to share another story about a West Seattleite with an amazing achievement! Proud mom Shawnda Fukano explains what her son has just accomplished:
While most kids were enjoying one of the final weekends of the summer, Colton Fukano was clinching the Washington State BMX Championships in the 5 & under category.
A West Seattleite and soon to be kindergartener at Genesee Hill Elementary, Colton began racing BMX this past January and quickly showed that he wasn’t your average 4-year-old on a bike. After finishing several races on top, he was picked up by the Sonic BMX Team, coached by Jamie Stenson and sponsored by Sprocketts Recycled Bicycles in Magnolia and Potter Racing Products. He headed into the state finals this weekend with four State Cup 1st place finishes during the season, and his 1st place finish on Sunday earned him the State #1 Plate.
Colton’s dad, Casey Fukano, started taking him to the North Seatac BMX Track for fun when he was three years old. Colton loved it, asking, “Can we go to the Sandy Park today?” all the time. During this past winter, when the weather was too bad to ride in Seatac, they tried out a BMX clinic at the Peninsula Indoor BMX track in Port Orchard, an easy ferry ride from Fauntleroy. Colton loved it, and he’s been racing ever since.
Colton would like to say THANK YOU to his coach Jamie, his team sponsors Sprocketts and Potter Racing Products, and Nikko Teriyaki in Jefferson Square for his favorite race-day meal: chicken teriyaki! And, he’d love to see more kids get involved in the sport of BMX, which is an Olympic sport (US won a gold and silver medal this year). The Seatac track is just a 20-minute drive from the Alaska Junction, so head over and have some fun!
(Sunrise at Riverview Playfield – photographed by Michael Hobbs)
Five ways to spend the rest of your West Seattle Wednesday:
GET OUT OF THE HOME OFFICE … or away from the coffee-shop table, and instead, spend your noon hour at West Seattle’s only coworking center, WS Office Junction (WSB sponsor). This weekly free meetup welcomes work-at-home people, entrepreneurs, freelancers, coworkers, etc. Noon-1:15 pm, and you’re welcome to bring your lunch. (6040 California SW)
HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARMSTAND: Your weekly chance to buy West Seattle-grown produce, sold next to where it’s harvested! 4-7 pm – details in our calendar listing. (32nd SW/SW Juneau)
ULTIMATE AUTUMN FRISBEE: 6 pm at Fairmount Playfield, the weekly drop-in disc event has changed to a slightly earlier time in anticipation of fall – details here. (5400 Fauntleroy Way SW)
GROUP RUN: 6:15 pm group run from West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) with demos and raffles for Seattle Marathon entries – full details in our calendar listing. (2743 California SW)
IRISH SET DANCING: 6:30 pm lesson if you need it, 7 pm dancing, at Kenyon Hall. You don’t have to bring a partner. Donation of $5 per person/$10 family is requested. More info in our calendar listing.
SEE OUR CALENDAR FOR MORE … it’s here for you 24/7.
(WSB photo, taken today)
With the students and staff from Schmitz Park Elementary moving into the new Genesee Hill Elementary, many have wondered what would happen to the SPE campus. Bits and pieces of information have emerged unofficially, and we’ve continued to ask the district for comment. Finally, this morning, the plan is out, as part of this announcement:
Seattle Public Schools is excited to announce that starting in fall 2016-17 families will be supported with expanded child-care options in West Seattle. SPS, in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation, will be providing new child-care options in the Schmitz Park building as well as in the Genesee Hill and Lafayette Elementary buildings.
For many years, the need for child care has been growing across the City but reached a crisis level in West Seattle. Recognizing the growing need, former Lafayette Principal Robert Gallagher and Schmitz Park (now Genesee Hill) Principal Gerrit Kischner, along with Associate Superintendent of Capital and Facilities Dr. Flip Herndon and other central staff, Seattle School Board Director Leslie Harris, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, worked together and identified a solution to meet the needs of the district’s West Seattle families.
Details of the solution:
• Eighty child-care spots are planned for the new Genesee Hill Elementary school.
• The district has finalized a multi-year lease with the Associated Recreation Council (ARC), to provide additional child care at the Schmitz Park building. At least 100 new childcare spots are expected to be licensed and made available to waiting families.
• ARC staff will walk child-care students from Genesee Hill students the three blocks to the Schmitz Park building after school dismissal, just as they do currently in walking students between Lafayette and the Hiawatha Community Center. Once registration is complete, ARC will determine which students will remain at Genesee Hill for child care and which students will walk to Schmitz Park.
• Child-care registration and enrollment began on July 2 for the majority of waitlisted families.
• Additional child-care spots are also being added to Lafayette Elementary thanks to Hiawatha Community Center and Seattle Parks and Recreation.
The district wants to thank our community, Schmitz Park PTSA, and the City for supporting this solution for our shared families. We couldn’t have done it alone. While we haven’t been able to meet the needs of all our West Seattle families, we have made significant gains.
We also want to recognize the Schmitz family’s contribution to Seattle Public Schools and the West Seattle community. The Schmitz Park site opened as an annex to Genesee Hill Elementary in 1953 when Dietrich Schmitz served as President of the Seattle School Board and his brother, Henry, served as President of the University of Washington. In 1956, the assistant principal at Genesee Hill, Ms. Dorothy Jack, was appointed to open Schmitz Park School, and the current building was completed in 1962. With the start of the next school year, neighborhood students will return to Genesee Hill Elementary. SPS will retain the former school building in its inventory, and we are pleased it will remain open and serving families in West Seattle for the foreseeable future.
In keeping the building open, we not only meet the needs of our families but also reduce potential vandalism, ensuring SPS continues to be a good neighbor and steward of our resources.
Principal Kischner, who has been instrumental in development of the child-care plan, said, “This agreement shows what we can get done when we work together. I am especially pleased that this multi-year lease will allow families to plan ahead and commit themselves to the long-term viability of the Schmitz Park-Genesee Hill community. It demonstrates the kind of partnership that can make a difference to neighborhoods throughout the city.”
The SPS history of Schmitz Park Elementary is here. The school, at 5000 SW Spokane, is on land donated by the Schmitz family, which remained involved with the school for its decades of operation. They were part of the community celebration of the school that we covered back in June, and Vicki Schmitz Block and son Dietrich Schmitz represented the family as Grand Marshals in July’s West Seattle Grand Parade.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:30 AM: Good morning. Power has been restored to everyone affected by the overnight outage, so that shouldn’t be affecting travel this morning. No incidents reported in the area right now. If you travel through West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way, today is the second scheduled day of the repaving project.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL REMINDERS: Today is the first day of classes at Hope Lutheran School (42nd/Oregon), a short distance south of the two other West Seattle schools that are already back in session, Holy Rosary and Seattle Lutheran. Tomorrow (Thursday) is the first day for Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our full list of the “early” wave of school reopenings is here. … Seattle Public Schools start classes in exactly one week; you’ll see school buses out again today practicing routes.
(Map of outage area, from Seattle City Light website)
12:38 AM: Thanks for the texts: Seattle City Light‘s outage map says more than 3,500 homes/businesses have lost power, mostly in southeast West Seattle and White Center. No word yet on the cause.
12:53 AM: The map now has the “estimated restoration” time of 7 am, but we always add the reminder, that’s a guesstimate and it could be much sooner, or much later. SCL is still investigating the cause.
1:15 AM: Commenter SteveMG reports seeing SCL and emergency responders in the 8th/Roxbury vicinity.
1:18 AM: We’re getting some reports of power restored – mostly from South Delridge. No change in the outage-map total yet but sometimes it lags.
1:25 AM: Now the map’s caught up with the restoration reports – 294 customers (homes/businesses) still without power, in White Center. Here’s the updated map:
1:36 AM: Along with SteveMG, a commenter on our partner site White Center Now also mentions what seemed like an underground “explosion” at 8th/Roxbury. Here’s what SCL tweeted about the cause, without mentioning a specific location:
Crews have identified an equipment failure in an underground vault as the cause for the White Center-W. Seattle outage.
— Seattle City Light (@SEACityLight) August 31, 2016
6:27 AM: Power has since been fully restored.
All summer long, Seattle Public Library programs have kept kids and teens busy, learning, exploring. Not just through reading – the High Point branch celebrated two programs Monday evening, both of which produced creations you can enjoy. First, the song you can hear below:
That song is the work of the STYLE program – Songwriting Through Youth Literature Education. The students read Maya Angelou‘s poem “And Still I Rise,” talked about it, and wrote music inspired by it.
(WSB photos by Leda Costa)
STYLE, taught by education director Nate Bogopolsky and teen librarian Ken Gollersrud, was a collaborative program – as was the other one celebrated last night, the six-week game designing program Story ‘Hood. It was led by SPL digital media/learning program manager Juan Rubio and intern Tigh Bradley along with Gollersrud. They led ten tweens through the process of designing, coding, testing, and then playing a game. Last night, the gamemakers, with friends and family, walked from the library to High Point Commons Park to play the game, Storm Fighters:
The game is based on High Point-area history/information but ultimately about environmental consciousness, and photojournalist Leda Costa, covering the celebration for WSB, observed that awareness turning into action: “On our walk back to the library, some of the kids actually started picking up litter around the park and saying things like ‘Look! I picked up virtual litter and real litter!'”
The game is “their creation completely,” said Rubio. “They came up with the idea about falling trees, a storm that destroys the environment, they wrote all the text that you see in the game, they decided on the locations, so it’s about working together but it’s also about going through the design process and creating content/creating media.” The game integrates GPS.
You can play it at Commons Park with a smartphone or tablet – go to taleblazer.org and use the game code gsyiykb.
Four reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
EARLY MORNING BURGLARY ATTEMPT: From Richard, who lives near Gatewood Elementary:
Someone attempted to break in our house last night at approximately 12:23 AM. We captured the attempted break-in on our video surveillance system.
We called 911 after we realized this was not a false alarm from our video surveillance system.
Based on our video, he appeared to first climb over our patio railing (not an easy feat), then attempted to open our patio door (which leads to our kitchen). He then walked to our front door and attempted to open it. He then sat on our front yard for a minute and left just before the police arrived.
Seattle police arrived promptly, asked us a few questions, and looked around our yard and surrounding area. Very pleased with their response and handling of the situation.
If and when we get images from Richard’s surveillance video, we’ll add them.
CR-V STOLEN, FOUND, WITH LOOT FROM A CAR PROWL: From Rachel:
On Sunday 8/28, my 2000 Honda CR-V was stolen on SW Holden St / Delridge Way SW. I’ve also had my license plate taken twice in the past 6 months. Appears to be a commonly stolen vehicle in the area.
Vehicle was recovered yesterday, 8/29, in an apartment complex’s parking lot a block away from the theft location. The inside was coated by the thief with what appears to be WD-40. SPD officer said this is to prevent leaving fingerprints behind.
They took the few emergency supplies kept in the vehicle (fire extinguisher, cables, etc) and left behind a large tool box. Turns out the tool box belonged to my neighbor who had his work van broken into on 8/28 (also on SW Holden St).
Another car prowl victim is asking you to keep watch for some of the items she lost –
SEEN THESE STOLEN DOCUMENTS? Sarah M is hoping a few not-worth-anything-to-anyone-else items might turn up:
My 2004 Corolla was prowled sometime between Saturday night and Monday morning. It was parked in my lot, just SE of Fauntleroy Way SW & SW Edmunds.
I’m hoping someone will find some of the documents that were taken – mostly car-related info of no value to anyone but me. Including a red vinyl Toyota car care manual. I’ve already looked all over the nearby blocks, dumpsters, etc. Also taken, as you may notice this item and then the docs – the prowler carried everything away in a black bag with a bright “Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious” (from Sound of Music) printed on it in bright letters.
I don’t expect to get the “valuable” items (Bluetooth, etc.), but I’m asking if anyone finds docs with my name on it to let me know. Thanks!
FOUND BICYCLE, MOTORCYCLE HELMET: A Roxhill-area resident has found both of these items in recent weeks and think they were both stolen and dumped:
Please comment if you think either might be yours.
(Boeing photo, republished with permission)
Boeing has announced the passing of a legend, Joe Sutter, 95, who also happened to be a longtime West Seattle resident. Mr. Sutter is best known as “the father of the 747,” but the message from Boeing Commercial Airplanes president/CEO Ray Conner adds that he had accomplished much more:
This morning we lost one of the giants of aerospace and a beloved member of the Boeing family. … Joe lived an amazing life and was an inspiration – not just to those of us at Boeing, but to the entire aerospace industry. He personified the ingenuity and passion for excellence that made Boeing airplanes synonymous with quality the world over.
Early in Joe’s career, he had a hand in many iconic commercial airplane projects, including the Dash 80, its cousin the 707 and the 737. But it was the 747 – the world’s first jumbo jet – that secured his place in history.
Joe led the engineering team that developed the 747 in the mid-1960s, opening up affordable international travel and helping connect the world. His team, along with thousands of other Boeing employees involved in the project, became known as the Incredibles for producing what was then the world’s largest airplane in record time – 29 months from conception to rollout. It remains a staggering achievement and a testament to Joe’s “incredible” determination.
Long after he retired, Joe remained very active within the company. He continued to serve as a consultant on the Commercial Airplanes Senior Advisory Group, and he was still a familiar sight to many of us working here. By then his hair was white and he moved a little slower, but he always had a twinkle in his eye, a sharp mind and an unwavering devotion to aerospace innovation and The Boeing Company. Fittingly, he was on hand to celebrate our centennial at the Founders Day weekend. He was one of a kind.
Joe was loved. He made a difference in the world. He made a difference to us. We will miss him and cherish our time with him.
Here’s a biographical tribute video from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, which awarded Mr. Sutter its Lifetime Achievement trophy in 2013:
He also told the story of the first jumbo jet in a book published in 2007 and titled simply “747.”
ADDED 8:26 PM: The Seattle Times has added more information to its report on Mr. Sutter’s passing, including quoting his son as saying he had a bout with pneumonia just before his death.
You can help Gatewood Elementary get greener – by helping plan playground improvements and/or renovating the school garden. Here’s how:
Help us imagine and design a greener schoolyard at Gatewood Elementary!
We are applying for a Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) grant to design playground improvements to renovate active play spaces and provide more opportunities for connection with nature and outdoor learning. Think shade trees, natural play areas, wildlife habitat, etc.
We want your input and need your help to win the NMF grant, as we need to demonstrate community match/engagement through pledges of volunteer time. Could you attend any evening design meetings next spring (there will likely be three meetings, Jan-Apr 2017)? If you are a Gatewood family, neighbor, or interested community member, please join us! Children and teens are more than welcome.
To pledge your time, please email Sandy Lennon (sandylennon@comcast.net) with names (of all participating family members), address/zip, phone, email, and the amount of time you can offer. If you don’t want to share all contact info, an email or phone contact is fine.
We are also hoping to begin rejuvenation of our school garden to be an awesome learning garden, outdoor classroom, and permaculture demonstration project. If you’re interested in helping with this project, we’d also love to hear from you.
Early alert: If you’re not going out of the area for the Labor Day weekend, give a little volunteer labor to clean up our community! The Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s quarterly Adopt-a-Street cleanup is Saturday (September 3rd). From ANA president Larry Wymer:
WHERE: Metropolitan Market (2320 42nd SW) — Meet at the outdoor awning area across from the floral department
WHEN: Meet up between 8:45-9:00 am; clean up 9 am-noon
GOODIES FOR YOU: Coffee, doughnuts, brown-bag lunch (all provided by Metropolitan Market)
SUPPLIES FOR YOU: Garbage bags, gloves, grabber tools, safety vests, etc.
Even if you can’t stay for all three hours – a little help goes a long way.
Fall means back to school AND back to sports. West Seattle’s sports-consignment store, Second Gear Sports (WSB sponsor), has recently remodeled to add more retail space and new fixtures so that more of their items are easier to browse and discover. The new fixtures were obtained from three regional Sports Authority stores that shut down – it’s enabled SGS to get more merchandise up off the floor and higher up for visibility as well as accessibility.
Also, Second Gear Sports has launched pickup and delivery service for large items, via their new wrapped vehicle that you might have seen around town.
SGS is at 6529 California SW and will be celebrating its third anniversary this fall.
(Photo courtesy Tiny Trees – classroom-building work party at a non-WS site)
We’ve already reported on two of the schools opening this fall in West Seattle – the new Arbor Heights and Genesee Hill elementaries – and here’s one that’s opening WITHOUT a new building, without any building at all, in fact: Tiny Trees Preschool.
Tiny Trees got big attention last year for announcing its plan to launch outdoor preschools in Seattle city parks, and the list of parks now includes West Seattle’s Camp Long, where the nonprofit plans two classes starting next month. Teacher Anne Churchill, a West Seattleite, tells WSB that teachers and other staff will partner with parents later this week to set up the outdoor “classroom” areas they’ll be using at Camp Long “to make a quality education in reading, math and science affordable for families and to give children a joyful, nature rich childhood – one full of play, exploration and wonder.” They’re expecting the two classes at Camp Long to serve up to 64 children.
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