West Seattle, Washington
03 Sunday
The countdown continues – exactly six weeks until West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2016: Saturday, May 14th, 9 am-3 pm. This will be the 12th year for WSCGSD, and the ninth year that we here at WSB are coordinating it. That means we handle registration, the map/listings, and promoting it all over the region. If you’re new to West Seattle, or haven’t heard much about it before, the quick description is – one day, many sales, of many sizes, all around West Seattle. Many people have told us the best part is meeting neighbors who walk or ride around to the sales closest to where they live – although we also have heard about people coming from as far away as Eastern Washington to shop WSCGSD. If you’re planning to have a sale this year, check back here and/or at westseattlegaragesale.com on Monday – the registration form will be available by evening. As always, the map will be available a week before WSCGSD, and will be offered in clickable online and printable PDF formats.
P.S. If you’re interested in having a sale but don’t have the space, or don’t have that much stuff, sign up for free courtyard space at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (4410 California SW; WSB sponsor) ASAP!
(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
We’ve had a few questions about those helicopters, part of a larger group that flew over West Seattle twice this morning/midday. We don’t have the definitive answer (yet) as to why. We wondered if they might have been headed to/from the big 520 floating-bridge grand-opening celebration, but WSDOT tells us no, no helicopters involved aside from their aerial-video crew. One possibility: The Museum of Flight at nearby Boeing Field is celebrating U.S. Coast Guard Day today, and the advance info mentioned helicopters – possibly including MH-60 Jayhawks, which the helicopters in Christopher’s photo resemble.
Hour and a half remaining in this year’s Kiwanis Club of West Seattle donation drive to help the West Seattle Food Bank fight hunger – and you have two places to donate: West Seattle Thriftway (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan; WSB sponsor), where we found (from left, above) Sig, Johnny (from the Chief Sealth IHS Key Club), and Denis; and the Junction QFC (42nd/Alaska). If you’re going grocery-shopping while there, they can tell you the specific items that are most needed.
(WSB file photo)
This year’s Alki Art Fair is set for July 23rd and 24th, and, on behalf of the AAF, Diane Venti shares the news that local artists are invited to get involved right now in one or both of the following ways. First, the annual T-shirt art contest:
This year’s T-shirt design contest theme is “Around the Sound.” All entries will be considered. Winning design will be selected by the Board of Directors. Please send your entry to vendors@alkiartfair.org by June 7. Design entry is open to the public and should include ‘Alki Art Fair 2016’ in the design.
Second, if you are an artist interested in showing/selling your creations, there’s still time to apply to be part of the Alki Art Fair this year:
So far we have 64 spaces filled, and are striving to make this the biggest and best year yet!
Selling art on the beach July 23rd & 24th – Come on…you know this will be fun!!!
Find out how to apply by going to the official website.
(Photo by Kira B, a Madison Middle School student whose work is on Instagram, here)
Happy Saturday! Things you can do today/tonight in West Seattle (and nearby):
DONATE FOOD: 9 am-2 pm, the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is collecting food for the WS Food Bank at WS Thriftway (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan; WSB sponsor) and the Junction QFC (42nd/Alaska).
BUY BOOKS, HELP STUDENTS: 10 am-2 pm, it’s the annual Sanislo Elementary Book Sale (with a small “garage sale” too), raising money for 4th graders’ trip to Camp Sealth. More info here. (1812 SW Myrtle)
CELEBRATE ATOMIC BOYS’ ANNIVERSARY: The Admiral District retro-toys-and-candy shop Atomic Boys celebrates its 8th anniversary today, 10 am-6 pm. You’re invited to: “Stop by for drawings for great prizes, treats, and free balloons for kids.” (4311 SW Admiral Way)
SPRUCE UP THE BEE GARDEN: Looking ahead to next month’s festival, the West Seattle Bee Garden‘s pollination garden needs some TLC courtesy of helping hands like yours. 10 am-2 pm, come help prune, mulch, clean up, etc. Maybe even get a beekeeper-guided look at the bees! The garden is on the north side of High Point Commons Park. (SW Graham/Lanham)
SHOP THE SEATTLE MAKERS’ MARKET: Noon-4 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), meet local makers and browse/buy what they’ve created. (5612 California SW)
WINE TASTING: The Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) tasting room is open 2-7 pm today. (5910 California SW)
WATCH & DISCUSS, #1: “The Mask You Live In” will be screened at 3 pm (doors open 2:30 pm, 25 tickets still available) by the Coalition Ending Gender-Based Violence, at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. The film “follows boys and young men as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiating America’s narrow definition of masculinity.” (4408 Delridge Way SW)
CHEER FOR JUNIOR ROLLER DERBY SKATERS: Southside Revolution‘s fourth bout of the season at Southgate Roller Rink has an Indiana Jones theme. Doors open 5:15 pm, skating starts 5:35 pm, details here. (9646 17th SW)
WATCH & DISCUSS, #2: West Seattle Meaningful Movies will show two episodes of “A Force More Powerful,” focusing on nonviolent-resistance movements; discussion afterward includes West Seattleite Liz Spoerri talking about her involvement in the “Delta 5” case and next month’s Break Free from Fossil Fuels. Doors open at 6:30, film at 7, no charge but donations welcome. At Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. (6400 Sylvan Way)
LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC: Greg Spence Wolf sings and plays, 7-9 pm at C & P Coffee Company. (5612 California SW)
APPLAUD STUDENT PERFORMERS: Musical comedy “The Addams Family” is onstage again tonight at 7:30 at the West Seattle High School Theater, presented by the WSHS Drama Club and Music Department. Backstory in our listing.
(added) TAP YOUR TOES TO SPARKY AND RHONDA: 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall:
Sparky and Rhonda Rucker perform throughout the U.S. and overseas, singing songs and telling stories from the American folk tradition. Sparky has been performing for over forty years and is internationally recognized as a leading folklorist, musician, historian, storyteller, and author. He accompanies himself with fingerstyle picking and bottleneck blues guitar, banjo, and spoons. Rhonda Rucker is a musician, children’s author, storyteller, and songwriter. Her blues harmonica, piano, old-time banjo, and bones add musical versatility to their performances.
Sparky and Rhonda deliver an uplifting presentation of toe-tapping music spiced with humor, history, and tall tales. They’ll take us on an educational and emotional journey that ranges from poignant stories of slavery and war to an amusing rendition of a Brer Rabbit tale and witty commentaries on current events. Their music includes a variety of old-time blues, slave songs, Appalachian music, spirituals, ballads, work songs, Civil War music, railroad songs, and a few of their own original compositions.
Front reserved table seats are $14. Row seating is $12 general and $10 seniors. With a reservation, row seating is only $10 general and $8 seniors. Elementary, middle, & high school students are $5, and pre-school children are free.
To reserve, please e-mail kenyonhall@earthlink.net with your request; you’ll receive an e-mail confirming your reservation.
(7904 35th SW)
SEE ‘FROM SILENT TO SOUND’: The Olio Theatrical Troupe presents an evening of music, comedy, and dance – details here, including ticket info (16 and under are free) – 7:30 pm at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Gatewood. (7141 California SW)
LISTEN TO VINTAGE SOUL: The Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, “a unique 60s and 70s vintage soul trio with Hammond B3, tasty guitar lines and old school-style pocket drumming,” is live at Parliament Tavern, 9 pm. No cover. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The investigation of illegal tree-cutting in part of the Duwamish Head Greenbelt is in the Seattle Police Department‘s hands, the City Attorney’s Office told WSB today.
We have yet to get an incident number from SPD, though we requested it today.
City Attorney Pete Holmes, meantime, is expected to brief the City Council on the tree-cutting case behind closed doors on Monday.
That’s according to City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, with whom we spoke during a break in her second round of “district office hours” this afternoon in The Junction. The agenda for Monday’s weekly council “briefing” meeting ends with two separate items labeled only “executive session on pending or potential litigation” – executive session means it’s closed to the public.
Herbold also noted that she has called for a look at the current laws and penalties and whether they could be toughened, as has been called for in this citizen-initiated online petition.
Packed house tonight in the Galleria for the Denny International Middle School STEM Fair. Thanks to Denny principal Jeff Clark for photos:
Thank you to all of our families who came out to celebrate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math at our Annual STEM Fair!
It was great to a have a packed house to see the amazing projects made by our scholars. Congratulations to all of the Dolphin scientists on a job well done. We are proud of you!
A huge thank you to our awesome science teaching team: Mr. Evans, Ms. Choi, Ms. Sanchez, Mr. Shigenaka, Ms. Rody, Mr. Nelson, and Ms. Kelleher! Go Dolphins!
Seen Whitney’s car? Just out of the WSB inbox:
1994 Honda Accord stolen from Westcrest Park Off Leash Area. Around 6:00 pm April 1st. Light green, two door. Pima Medical Institute sticker up front on driver’s side corner. With broken passenger headlight. Green middle sticker on bottom back window. License plate number AUH9649. Please help me find this vehicle! If seen, message me at (970) 596-9574.
6:14 PM: Thanks to the texter who sent word (and photo) of a crash in the 1700 block of Alki Avenue [map]. Seattle Fire has sent a medic response; the texter says it appears a vehicle almost hit a house. We’re en route to try to find out more.
6:41 PM: Just arriving at the crash scene. Does indeed appear to be a close call. Police are still here. General traffic alert: Alki Avenue is jammed both ways – looks like a summer night down here.
6:45 PM: Police tell us the driver apparently had a medical problem that sent the car off the road. No one was seriously hurt otherwise. SFD is gone and the remaining SPD cars are not in the traffic lane, so the jam down here is not related.
Nine days after the last Highway 99 tunnel-machine update, WSDOT just published another one – but it still doesn’t answer the big question of when the Alaskan Way Viaduct will close so the machine can tunnel beneath it. The update goes into great detail about how crews are working in “hyperbaric” conditions, and includes this :34 video:
WSDOT has said it hopes to provide two weeks advance notice of the two-weeks-or-so closure, so at this point it would seem unlikely to start before mid-April. The state is continuing to add info to its special closure-info website at 99closure.org.
Today’s update also included a note that results of the March Viaduct inspection are available:
Survey crews measured approximately 5/16 of an inch of settlement near Seneca Street and between 1/8 and 1/4 inch of settlement at the Columbia Street on-ramp. Crews also observed upward movement of up to 1 inch at some locations at the south end of the structure. This upward movement is uniform in nature. No new cracking or structural damage was found.
That’s the entirety of the update published here.
(Photo added 5:16 pm)
5:04 PM: We’ve been getting questions about an Alaska Airlines jet flying over West Seattle, accompanied by a smaller plane. It’s a “photo flight,” we’re told via Twitter.
@westseattleblog @AlaskaAir 737-900 doing a photo flight in Elliot Bay at a low altitude in case enquiries happen. pic.twitter.com/L4hcND9W7X
— Woodys Aeroimages (@woody2190) April 1, 2016
5:16 PM: Added a photo texted by James Tilley, atop this story – thank you!
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
5:36 PM: And one more photo from James, above – plus, below, Woody’s Aeroimages gave us permission to republish its tweeted photo of the two planes’ takeoff:
@komonews @westseattleblog @KIRO7Seattle @KING5Seattle A picture of @AlaskaAir departing PAE with Photo Learjet pic.twitter.com/bxcFwq14Va
— Woodys Aeroimages (@woody2190) April 2, 2016
Alaska Airlines unveiled its updated look two months ago.
District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold is midway through her second session of office hours in the district. We just talked with her for a few minutes after her initial rush of visitors, who came from near and far (even someone from Wallingford!), with concerns ranging from roads to garbage rates to parks to bike racks. You don’t need an appointment – you’ll find her in the Senior Center (Oregon/California) cafe upstairs until 7 tonight.
(WSB photo – Jacob Kokko, defense lawyer, prosecutor in court)
1:10 PM: As first reported here last week, serial arsonist Jacob Kokko has pleaded guilty to three charges – one, reduced as part of a plea bargain – and is being sentenced today. We’re in the courtroom of King County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ramsdell and will chronicle the hearing live as it happens.
Kokko has been in jail since his arrest almost five months ago. The recommended sentence is for the time he has served – which is almost as long as the maximum possible penalty, given that he has no criminal record.
His lawyer told the judge, “He’s a good kid, you’re not going to see him again … He was crying for help, and he’s going to get the help that he needs.” His lawyer says Kokko will be responsible for getting that help.
He spoke briefly at the judge’s invitation and said this was a “turning point” in his life and that he is aware that this will affect the rest of his life. (We have his full statement on video and will add it when back at headquarters.) He said he would be going back to college, where he has two years’ credit and was majoring in psychology.
Judge Ramsdell is going along with the recommended sentencing so far, a suspended year – provided he stays out of trouble – in jail, plus as-yet-undetermined restitution, 50 hours of community service, and credit for jail time served otherwise (147 days total), meaning he will be going free shortly.
While details of the crimes were not discussed here in court, documents indicated Kokko, 22, had acknowledged setting four fires – outside the Senior Center and Hamm Building in The Junction on Halloween night, outside a house on his block in High Point earlier, and the 35th/Morgan bus-stop fire caught on the surveillance video that led to his arrest – but denied involvement in the others that were suspected to be part of the same spree.
1:26 PM: No one else has spoken at the hearing other than Kokko, the lawyers, and judge – no victims, no family members – and it’s now over (after many mostly silent moments of paperwork-signing), with the judge saying “Good luck to you, sir” and a deputy re-handcuffing Kokko to return to jail (processing for release usually takes at least a few hours).
You might have noticed that the temperature display in the WSB header has been insisting it’s zero degrees this morning. Might seem like a great April Fool’s joke … except it’s not; just a malfunction, first one for this feature since we added it in the January overhaul, and we’re troubleshooting it. Meantime, if you click the time/temp spot, you’ll get to the WSB West Seattle Weather page, which DOES have the accurate temperature (mid-to-upper 50s at last check). Sorry!
Thanks to Mark Wangerin for beautiful hummingbird images to grace this sunny, warm first day of April – rufous above, Anna’s below:
Now, highlights of what’s up for the rest of today/tonight:
TALK TO YOUR COUNCILMEMBER: Second session of in-the-district office hours for Councilmember Lisa Herbold today, noon-7 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle in The Junction. Appointment NOT required; just drop by. (4217 SW Oregon)
‘PULP FICTION’ @ WORDS, WRITERS, & WEST SEATTLE: Tonight, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society-presented meet-the-author event at Westwood Village Barnes & Noble features Greg Hatcher, “pulp fiction” genre writer, writing instructor for the Young Authors class at the West Seattle YMCA’s Community Learning Center, and comics/cartooning teacher (among other things):
Find out more about “new pulp movement.” More info in our listing – drop by between 5 and 7! (2800 SW Barton)
FREE ‘FAMILY NIGHT’ FUN: 6-8:25 pm, it’s another free, fun “Family Night” at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor), all welcome, whether you’re a member or not. Obstacle course, games, running, swimming – details in our listing. (4515 36th SW)
WEST SEATTLE DRAMA CLUB BENEFIT: Tonight, see “The Addams Family” at West Seattle High School as part of a special fundraiser, “Taste of the Arts“!
(Photo courtesy WSHS Drama Club)
7 pm dessert and more, 8 pm performance – details here (including how to get your ticket). The money raised goes for program needs including body microphones, a sound-effects library, theater lights, monitors for musicians and in the dressing room, replacements for the worn/torn curtains … You can help! Be at WSHS tonight. (3000 California SW)
BILL DAVIE: “Alternative singer-songwriter” performs tonight at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE BREWING COMEDY NIGHT: 8 pm at West Seattle Brewing, it’s comedy night with Cathy Sorbo – details in our listing. (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW)
AND THERE’S MORE … on our complete calendar!
From Erin, near 31st and Holly in High Point [map]:
We had a scary situation we wanted to report to you about an attempted intrusion to our home this morning in High Point.
My husband was downstairs in the kitchen at 4:45 am, when he noticed a man with a backpack walk up the alley (heading toward the street). Moments later our security panel chimed saying the garage (side) door had opened. My husband opened the side door to the house and found the guy he’d just seen with the backpack standing inside our garage!
The man claimed he and his friends thought our house was abandoned. After my husband informed him our house was not abandoned (nor were any of the houses on the street) the man left our property. We called the police this morning and filed a report.
The officer reminded us to always call the police immediately and not approach these guys because you never know if someone has a weapon or some other intention, and of course to lock all doors. Typically our garage is always locked but we had forgotten to do so after some extensive repair work and been done on it the previous day.
The man was African American, 5’11”, wearing a shiny gray wind pants, zip up hoodie, and square backpack.
Just a reminder to everyone to stay vigilant!
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:29 AM: Good morning and welcome to April. The day begins with a transit alert – a crash at 3rd/Seneca has Metro routing the C Line, 120, and 56 off Seneca between 1st and 3rd. SDOT says the crash is blocking one southbound lane.
6:31 AM: And just like that, Metro has now sent an alert saying those routes are all back to normal.
9:26 AM: Reminder for next week – the parochial schools that were out on break this week will be back to school; the Highline district just south of West Seattle will be on break. (Seattle and Vashon public schools are out the week of April 11th.)
The Japanese Club was onstage in the Galleria when we walked into Chief Sealth International High School‘s annual Multicultural Night, midway through a lineup of performances that had begun with the resurgent Mariachi program. While dancing and music continued, schoolmates, families, and other community members continued to mingle:
For some, it was a photo-op occasion:
Back onstage, Charlie Loper from the Sealth GSA presented a spoken-word performance – we caught part on video:
The Asian Culture Association followed:
Here’s a video excerpt:
The Sealth BSU had T-shirts to sell:
And the performances closed with a breakdancing quartet:
The party didn’t break up immediately. On the sidelines near the stage, a public invitation to prom, with signs, drew cheers and applause. The Galleria continued to pulse with energy as we headed toward the door, back out into the warm spring evening. Thanks to Sealth activities director Sarah Martin for the invitation, and to the students for sharing their talent and passion.
Just getting this on your radar for Saturday, if you’ll be out and about and able to donate – it’s the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle‘s annual donation drive for the West Seattle Food Bank. Volunteers and collection bins will be at West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor) and Junction QFC (42nd/Alaska). If you catch them as you go into the stores, you can get specific wish lists for the WSFB’s Home Delivery and Mobile Food Bank programs, which “deliver nutritious food to the homes of the homebound elderly and disabled neighbors unable to access the food bank.” And if you shop at Thriftway, give them your receipts, too, because the store will donate back 1 percent to WSFB. The drive is set for 9 am-2 pm this Saturday (April 2nd).
Three reports in tonight’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup:
CHURCH BURGLARY: Thanks for the tips. Another non-residential Junction break-in – what was on the Tweets by Beat log as a “commercial burglary” reported Tuesday morning in the 4100 block of 42nd SW was a break-in at Holy Rosary Church, according to police report details we were finally able to obtain today. The report says someone got in through a window and stole items including cash and credit cards, but left behind “evidence” that police have collected and are following up on.
TIRE SLASHING: John reports from North Delridge:
I just want to let you know that several cars including one of my own had their tires cut last night. All the cars were parked on 28th Ave SW across the street from The Dragonfly Pavilion Park Between Yancy and Nevada. I have heard this is a growing problem in West Seattle.
PROWLER ON VIDEO: From the Shorewood/Arbor Heights area:
I wanted to send you a video I caught (Tuesday) at my house of a prowler. We had numerous packages stolen last week and set up this camera.
Nothing was stolen (so far as) we can tell.
The area the man is seen walking into, and emerging from, leads to and from the house’s side yard and backyard. A police report is filed – #2016-108242 – if you have any information.
Thanks for the tips and reports – 206-293-6302 text/voice if urgent, editor@westseattleblog.com if not – as long as you have already called 911/SPD!
That slide deck is from the agenda for a City Council committee meeting tomorrow morning, and it’s the first time we’ve seen an all-in-one-place visual breakdown of a subject that comes up in discussion often – property taxes.
The 9:30 am meeting is actually the entire City Council meeting as the Select Committee on the 2016 Housing Levy, and one of its agenda items is a general discussion on property taxes in the city, as they consider the proposed levy, which is double the one that’s about to expire. If you scroll through the slide deck – or get it here as a PDF – you’ll see that it looks at the taxes on a “median”-valued home in the city (half are worth more, half worth less), valued at $480,000, paying $4,553 a year. As shown on page 5, a little less than a third of that – $1,472 – is from/for the city, and in turn, about half of that goes to 7 voter-approved levies, including the housing levy that is expiring:
*Transportation levy, $279
*Park district levy, $140
*Families/Education levy, $98
*Housing levy, $61
*Libraries, $51
*Preschool, $43
*Campaign financing, $9
If you want to hear how this is presented and discussed tomorrow morning, you can go to the meeting at City Hall or watch live via Seattle Channel, cable 21 or seattlechannel.org.
2:38 PM: A large Seattle Fire response is in the 1400 block of SW Cambridge for a “fire in building” call. We’re en route to see what’s happening.
2:45 PM: The call’s just closed, meaning SFD has left the scene. If we find out anything about the original reason, we’ll add it.
(Reader photo from a brown-water situation earlier this month)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
After months of intermittent but intense West Seattle brown-water incidents that we’ve been covering – going back to last fall – the city is making plans for a major operation to try to attack the underlying problem: Rust in the pipes.
The rust isn’t unusual and isn’t unhealthy, Seattle Public Utilities stresses – but there shouldn’t be this much of it stirred up when something happens such as a hydrant opening or pipe break, and it should clear faster (as commenters have pointed out, it often lingers longer than they were told it would).
So SPU is planning a “unidirectional flush” – something that utility managers say hasn’t been done anywhere in the city in more than a decade.
It’s not one big operation at one time but will play out over the course of months. We got an early briefing during a visit to the SPU Operations Control Center, following up on our recent behind-the-scenes look at how water safety and quality is monitored.
We met there with drinking water quality director Wylie Harper and other SPU water managers, including operations director Dave Muto. First, some context. Two-thirds of the 1,800 miles of pipeline in SPU territory is unlined cast iron – and this is the primary source of what discolors the water in certain circumstances:
| 3 COMMENTS