West Seattle, Washington
11 Saturday
(Photo by Carolyn Newman)
With three days to go until the ceremony dedicating West Seattle’s new Water Taxi, the M/V Doc Maynard, it’s already out and about testing the waters following its arrival in Elliott Bay at the end of last week. And the county says the entire Water Taxi fleet is or has already gone green:
What could be better than commuting across Puget Sound in a water taxi and bypassing all that traffic? Now there’s yet another reason to appreciate the ride – in addition to fighting congestion, these King County water taxis are doing their part to combat greenhouse gas emissions by switching to the use of biodiesel fuel.
“Using homegrown biodiesel, our water taxis have some of the cleanest-burning engines around,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “The use of biodiesel on the newest member of our fleet, the Sally Fox, will reduce particulates in the air and prevent more than 140 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year.”
In line with the biodiesel initiative, the County’s Marine Division has earned membership in the Passenger Vessel Association’s Green WATERS Program – a national volunteer effort that encourages environmental responsibility and action to reduce the environmental impacts of marine operations.
The Sally Fox, soon to be joined by a second new vessel, the Doc Maynard, has a host of green features that include:
· Operating on a locally-sourced 10 percent biodiesel blend, which reduces our dependence on fossil fuel.
· Engines that operate more cleanly and emit less particulate matter.
· The addition of high-efficiency heating systems, LED lights, and recycling stations to help reduce waste.
· Expanded capacity for bicycles. The new vessels can accommodate 26 bicycles on every trip.When the County’s third vessel, The Spirit of Kingston, has its annual maintenance this fall, fuel tanks will be cleaned readying the vessel to burn biodiesel.
ORIGINAL TUESDAY REPORT: Be on the lookout for two extinguishers like that – stolen from the Seattle Fire Department in West Seattle today, according to SFD Lt. Sue Stangl:
Fire Engine 32 from West Seattle’s largest fire station had two firefighting extinguishers stolen early this morning while they were on a medical incident near the intersection of Alaska and California. … It would be great to be able to retrieve them, not to mention that stealing from the people that are in place to help anyone in need is in poor taste.
Call 911 if you have any info. (Station 32, by the way, is in its interim location on 40th north of Edmunds while an all-new station is being built at its permanent site.)
FRIDAY NIGHT: We have word the fire extinguishers were returned – with a note of apology.
UPDATED 2:52 PM: *Four* items in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon – first, a stolen motorcycle:
VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE TAKEN IN GATEWOOD: From Jackie:
Last seen at 9 pm on 9/14/2015 in West Seattle on Myrtle and California SW. Police report made, but please contact us if you know of anything pertaining to this bike:
1974 Honda CB 550 Four
Original (faded) olive green tank
Original black frame
Chrome fenders, shocks and tailpipe
New custom light brown leather long, flat seat with diamond pattern stitching
Light brown leather grips with galvanized pipe looking caps
Gold/brass tail light, 3″
Black “bullet” style Rizoma turn signals
Call 911 if you see or have seen it. **WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE: Found, thanks to a watchful WSB reader! Thanks! Jackie reports tears of happiness.**
ARMED STREET ROBBERY: The SPD map indicates someone was held up in the 4800 block of Fauntleroy Way SW just before 11 last night. We have a request out for details from the report and will add them as soon as we get them. (added 3:31 pm) SPD says a man in his 40s reported being held up by three people, one of whom had a gun, near 40th and Edmunds just before 11 pm. They made off with several items including his bag, wallet, and phone. They were last seen fleeing westbound on Edmunds. The only description so far: All males, white or Hispanic, with dark bandanas over their faces, and dark clothing.
CAR PROWL FOLLOWUP, AND STOLEN CAR FOUND: We reported Betina‘s car break-in in Arbor Heights the other day. We’ve since received a followup about both the break-in AND a stolen car that turned up nearby. You’ll recall that whoever broke into Betina’s car left the hood partly open Turns out that the radiator hoses were taken (and they weren’t even new). Meantime:
… (Also) I called the police a couple of days ago to report an out-of-place vehicle in front of our house. It was missing the driver’s door and was getting soaked by one of our rare summer rain events. It turned out to be a stolen car. The owner arrived a couple of hours later grateful to have the car and its contents back (unfortunately, minus a door). It turns out that it was the green Honda that WSB reported missing on Sept. 4th.
P.S. – Final word of reminder – the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council resumes its monthly fall/winter/spring meeting schedule TONIGHT, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct meeting room (Delridge/Webster) – police updates, a discussion of self-defense devices, AND neighborhood Q/A if you bring it.
(ADDED 2:52 PM) STOLEN CAR: Just got word of this:
Our car was stolen this morning between 5:30am and 11:30am today from 12th Ave SW and Kenyon Ave. It is a green/blue 1997 Honda Accord, license plate WA 880YZC.
Call 911 if you see it.
(Harbor seal, photographed by Mark Wangerin during recent Elliott Bay fishing trip)
Quick look at highlights for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SKATER DEMO: Via Twitter, Grindline Skateparks announced a 5 pm demo by the HUF Team at Roxhill Skatepark. (30th SW & SW Barton)
JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION: 6:30 pm at the Sisson Building (home of the Senior Center) in The Junction. From director René Commons:
JuNO meetings are open to all. Our guest speaker will be Jennifer Burbridge, Seattle University Graduate Research Assistant, and a Seattle Police Dept. representative from the SW Precinct. Jennifer will lead the discussion identifying key objectives of Micro-Community Policing plan for the West Seattle Junction neighborhood.
What’s considered the boundaries for this Micro Community Policing Plan
45th Avenue SW – Western boundary
35th Ave SW – Eastern boundary
SW Charlestown St – Northern boundary
SW Findlay St- Southern boundaryALSO: Ellen West will be updating us with details on the West Seattle Junction Emergency Communication HUB.
(SW Oregon & California SW)
‘HUMOROUS SPEECH’ CONTEST: You’re invited to the Toastmasters 832 “Humorous Speech” contest tonight, 6:30 pm, at Brookdale of West Seattle – details in our calendar listing. (4611 35th SW)
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct meeting room, as previewed earlier this week – the WSCPC is back from summer recess. In addition to SPD crime/safety updates, tonight’s announced topic: Self-defense, and what works. (2300 SW Webster)
SILVERSUN PICKUPS, LIVE IN-STORE – BUT ‘SOLD OUT’: Easy Street Records presents Silversun Pickups‘ free, all-ages in-store acoustic performance, 7 pm. Details in our calendar listing. **UPDATE, 12:50 PM – Thanks to Evan for pointing out that pre-orders of the new SP album were required for admission, and ESR’s website says no more pre-orders are available. So in effect, though “free,” this is now “sold out.” (California SW & SW Alaska)
TWO DEADLINES TODAY: Want to go on the Port of Seattle‘s free “West Seattle Working Waterfront” tour this Saturday (Sept. 19th)? RSVP ASAP – info here. Also: Artists/crafters interested in being part of the Fauntleroy Fine Art and Gift Show in November must apply by today – info here.
AND THERE’S MORE … on our complete calendar!
(SCROLL DOWN for newest info)
7:43 AM: Just texted and tweeted by the union – “SEA reached a tentative contract agreement …” after negotiators pulled an all-nighter. Seattle Education Association members are being told to go to their picket sites at 8:30 am for more information. In its Facebook post, SEA added that while the bargainers have a tentative agreement, “the strike will continue until the SEA board and representative assembly review the agreement later today and decide whether to recommend approval to the SEA membership or continue striking.”
8:32 AM: Per the district, “goal is to start school Thursday.” Again, per the union, their recommendation is still pending review. We have just arrived at the Chief Sealth IHS picketing location (photo above) to see what educators there are hearing.
9 AM: No new details in the briefing for this group of strikers, but a reiteration that the strike continues for now:
That’s teacher Ian Golash. He said Denny and Sealth teachers (who you might recall marched to district HQ downtown yesterday afternoon) will be picketing together while they wait for news on whether leadership recommends suspending the strike and setting a vote. For the official bottom line from the district, its strike-info page currently begins, “SPS and SEA have reached a tentative agreement. Details have not yet been released. We do not yet know when school will resume.” (added) KIRO has posted unedited video of the district briefing here (held on very short notice so we couldn’t get downtown).
9:26 AM: District negotiators said at today’s briefing (per the aforementioned video, which we just watched) that the marathon negotiating session went from 11 am Monday until just before 7 am today. District spokesperson Stacy Howard reiterated that the district is working on logistics, which is why school might not be able to reopen before Thursday – primarily transportation and food – and that they’re also working on the calendar details, and that they will get information out to families as soon as they have it. She and the negotiators at the briefing said they could not discuss any details of the deal, “embargoed” while the union leadership reviews it.
10:19 AM: The most-recent text from the union to its membership reiterates that the union’s board will review the tentative agreement today, but the strike continues in the meantime. We’ve received these photos from Jennifer Hall (second from right in 2nd photo below) at West Seattle High School, with messages of gratitude for community support:
The downtown march that was scheduled days ago, if the strike had continued this long, is under way right now.
11:46 AM: SEA president Jonathan Knapp is talking with citywide media at union HQ. He’s quoted as saying it’s a three-year agreement.
1:50 PM: The district says school will start Thursday. The union hasn’t had its reps’ meeting yet, so we’re not sure what’s led to that declaration, but it’s what SPS says. As a commenter said here hours ago, the union meeting is at 2:30.
3:15 PM: The union reps’ meeting is at the Machinists’ Union Hall in South Park, and SEA says their announcement will happen there when it’s over, so we’ve just arrived there to join the rest of the staked-out media. According to SEA’s latest text, the Representatives’ Assembly (reps from the 97 schools in the district) is what’s happening now.
Staked out in @IAM751 hallway awaiting word. Closed-door meeting. Heard applause. #spsstrike pic.twitter.com/kTVeZS6ME8
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) September 15, 2015
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:19 AM: No incidents to report as the heart of Tuesday’s morning commute approaches.
SCHOOLS & SCHOOL ZONES: It’s day 5 of the Seattle Education Association strike, so Seattle Public Schools remain closed; the union says negotiators pulled an all-nighter and are still going. Independent/parochial schools remain open. School-zone beacons are still flashing in public-school zones, because, SDOT says, they’re pre-programmed, but if you get an automated-camera ticket from a strike day, SPD is not supposed to be enforcing those. (Unless it’s from the Holy Family School zone near 20th on Roxbury, where school IS in session.) **7:57 AM UPDATE** See our separate story for news of a tentative agreement.
(back to original 7:19 am report) Road-work notes:
ROXBURY/35TH: As reported here, work on both projects continued last night, so you’ll see changes in striping, for starters.
48TH & 49TH SW: The Seattle Public Utilities projects are getting under way. We added SPU’s update to yesterday’s traffic/transit report late in the day – in case you missed it:
The work on 49th Avenue SW at Edmunds was scheduled to begin the week of September 8. The contractor started light mobilization last week and began heavier construction (Monday) morning. Work on the sewer repair will take approximately one week.
* The work on 48th Ave SW between SW Juneau and SW Raymond Street will begin this week, with mobilization as early as Wednesday, and will also take approximately one week to complete.
FERRIES START FALL SCHEDULE SUNDAY: Washington State Ferries starts its fall schedule this Sunday (September 20th); for Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth, that means fewer weekend sailings.
8:39 AM: A portable classroom will be delivered to West Seattle Elementary this morning, we’ve just learned, around 11 am, on the 34th SW side.
Two tales of heroism on board local waterborne transit this weekend.
FAUNTLEROY FERRY CREW SAVES MAN: Just before 3:30 pm Sunday, a medical call brought emergency vehicles to the Fauntleroy ferry dock. Tonight, the Kitsap Sun, while telling the story of a variety of ferry-schedule interruptions, explains what it was about: An 84-year-old Vashon Island man was found unconscious in his car aboard the M/V Cathlamet after it docked at the island. Two deckhands started CPR and used a defibrillator. An ambulance was called to the boat, which continued on to Fauntleroy, where the man was rushed to a hospital.
WATER TAXI CREW RESCUES KAYAKER: Shared by King County Executive Dow Constantine via Twitter, a report from Paul Brodeur, director of the KC Department of Transportation’s Marine Division, about an incident Saturday evening: “We pulled a borderline hypothermic kayaker out of the water at Seacrest, brought him on board to warm up, called 911, fire department came, assessed him, took him into their care. We left on the 1800 run ten minutes late but made up the time. Kudos to G.W. and Scott for quick thinking and providing good care to the young man.”
(WSB photo, 2014 Harvest Festival)
It’s on! Fall’s biggest festival returns to The Junction in just six weeks. And it’s time now to jump in if you’re interested in providing an activity – and/or sponsorship – for this year’s Harvest Festival:
The Junction’s Harvest Festival will be Sunday, October 25 from 10 am till 2 pm. You’ll find the West Seattle Farmers Market in its new permanent location on California Ave, community groups and businesses offering kids’ projects, the costume parade at 11:30, and trick-or-treating starting at noon.
If your organization or business would like to help create a wonderful day for West Seattle families by offering a “Harvest Activity,” please visit the event’s announcement page for an application.
You also can support this beloved community event through sponsorship! Find it on the same page.
If you’d like to volunteer at the event, please email Junction Association Director Susan Melrose at susan@wsjunction.org
New here? Check out our coverage from last year – the 3rd annual Harvest Festival – or the year before.
You might have missed this if you don’t read the daily road-work alerts in the traffic/transit coverage we publish each weekday morning: SDOT crews are due back out on Roxbury and 35th tonight, as marking, restriping, and “hydroblasting” removal of the old striping continues in both projects. We saw this crew on 35th north of Thistle less than an hour ago:
As we showed in this morning’s traffic/transit notes, the Roxbury rechannelizing north of White Center was mostly finished overnight. That’s far from the entirety of the Roxbury project, which is detailed in this presentation first shown at the April meeting of the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council, and has been in the works for more than a year and a half:
Jim Curtin, managing both projects for SDOT, says, “Our crews will be out on Roxbury again tonight since there’s still some work left,” as well as working on 35th (plan below, as announced two months ago):
If it does rain Wednesday, that could delay some work, Curtin adds: “We can remove paint in the rain but re-painting is impossible.”
(SCROLL DOWN FOR UPDATES including district briefing, union updates, events Tuesday)
2 PM: Day 4 of the Seattle Education Association strike against Seattle Public Schools. The newest developments:
MARCHING TO SODO: Dozens of strikers left the Chief Sealth/Denny vicinity around 12:30 pm, marching to school district headquarters at the John Stanford Center in SODO.
(Mouse over that image to bring up “play” button for the Instagram video clip.) We caught up with them early on, as they headed northbound on Delridge from Thistle toward the bridge. (added) A moment after we published this, we heard scanner traffic indicating police are tracking the march, which has just crossed the “low bridge.”
@westseattleblog WS Schools march to SPS headquarters crosses Spokane St. Bridge #SPSstrike #SeattleEA #PicketPix pic.twitter.com/OzEocAXCIZ
— Laurence Graham (@la_graham) September 14, 2015
We had seen one car in the early blocks – near the Southwest Precinct at Delridge/Webster.
OTHER PICKETING: We took a quick look around after covering the start of the march.
Another group of picketers from multiple West Seattle schools is spread out among multiple corners at 35th and Thistle (above), a few blocks west of Sealth/Denny.
In The Admiral District, there are two groups – outside West Seattle High School (above), and outside Lafayette Elementary. (While all schools had picketers this morning, some consolidated for the afternoon events.)
CITY’S DROP-IN CHILD CARE: Thanks to helpful commenter MercyMoi, we have this link showing which programs still have room as of today – in this area, Delridge, High Point, and South Park. (We had asked Seattle Parks for updated info, too.)
NEGOTIATIONS RESUME; DISTRICT BRIEFING AT 3: In the late morning, the union announced that negotiations would resume this afternoon. The district, meantime, is having another 3 pm media briefing; we will be there and will update this report with as-it-happens toplines.
3:05 PM – FROM DISTRICT HQ BRIEFING: We’re at the 3 pm media briefing at district headquarters in SODO, which started a few minutes late while awaiting a crew that got stuck behind a train.
(Added: Unedited WSB video of briefing)
“Late last night, SEA presented a new idea to the district. The SPS bargaining team is studying this closely … and we expect a response back to SEA today.” NO SCHOOL TOMORROW, though. Because of the strike’s length, spokesperson Stacy Howard says, there’ll be some turnaround time whenever the strike finally ends (later, she elaborates that they don’t know how much time that would be, but “parents shouldn’t be surprised if we get word of a tentative agreement but we can’t restart just 12 hours later” – food service and other logistics are part of the reason for that). She is discussing a few other points such as special education – the topic of a demonstration here earlier in the day. As for “the strike impacts on the calendar” – the three snow days on the calendar will be used, for starters, one midyear, two at the end of the school year – “all additional makeup days” will be determined once the strike is over. Possible ideas: Saturdays, and/or part of the mid-winter break (which was scheduled for five days this year – alternating years have shorter breaks). Re: graduation days – Seniors are required to be in school 175 days before graduation, so graduation dates might have to change. SPORTS: As reported here yesterday, middle-school athletic events are postponed. High-school practices and games “continue to go on as usual – a lot of those employees are in different unions or not in unions at all,” says Howard. She says that by the time this news conference is over, the district expects to have a “timeline” posted online from negotiations to date. Asked how the strike is affecting other employees, she said, “Everybody’s in a holding pattern, and everyone’s being impacted …” district-wide. We asked exactly when negotiations had resumed today; Howard couldn’t say, only that the district team is “expect(ing) to respond to” the union’s offer. Meantime, apparently some union reps tried to attend press briefing and were told they couldn’t; the district has been saying for days that briefings required media credentials (which we have but have not to date been asked at door to show). Asked about this today, Howard cited reasons including security. (3:20 pm) Briefing is over; we’ll upload and add video, as usual, once back at HQ.
4:02 PM: Before leaving district HQ, we spoke briefly with union spokesperson Rich Wood outside, during what he said was the first picketing at John Stanford Center since the strike began:
Rich Wood of @seattleea tells us outside district HQ that the two sides ARE talking right now #spsstrike pic.twitter.com/gZdpeMeOJ1
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) September 14, 2015
That’s about all he could confirm. (added) By the way, here’s video of the picketers as they arrived – the marchers from Denny/Sealth:
Meanwhile, the district’s timeline of when proposals/counterproposals were made, mentioned by Howard in the briefing, is now online here.
5:48 PM: Someone asked in earlier coverage what Mayor Murray was doing about the strike. His office just sent this news release:
Today, Mayor Ed Murray released the following statement after meeting with Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Larry Nyland and Seattle Education Association President Jonathan Knapp to get an update on the latest surrounding negotiations:
“At my request, both Superintendent Nyland and SEA President Knapp agreed to meet with me separately today. In these conversations I reiterated my offer to help in any way possible. I urged all parties to continue negotiations in good faith to reach a fair agreement ending the strike and allowing the school year to begin as soon as possible.
“As I’ve said since the strike began, I stand ready to assist should my help be requested. I also asked that, should the strike continue, they again meet with me at the end of the week. In the meantime, the City remains committed to doing what it can to support families impacted by the strike.”
The mayor’s news release ended with a reiteration of the community-center drop-in programs, which we updated earlier in this report. Earlier in the day, the City Council passed a resolution designating this as Seattle Educators’ Week; it addresses both the strike and the state education-funding crisis.
7:57 PM: An e-mail update from the union to media a short time ago says negotiations are still under way: “It’s unknown how long negotiations will go tonight, but SEA bargainers are willing to work as long as it takes to get a tentative agreement.” We also have heard from a coalition of educators that they plan a “candlelight vigil” at West Seattle High School 7-9 pm tomorrow (Tuesday night) if this isn’t resolved by then. (added) We first mentioned this a few days ago – a message we received tonight says this support march downtown is still planned tomorrow morning, too.
TUESDAY, 7:10 AM: The union says talks went all night and are still going.
(Silkscreener Shino Mikami, right, was one of 15 West Seattle artists at last year’s Fauntleroy show)
The photo and final reminder are from Judy Pickens – please note, if you’re interested, that the deadline is TOMORROW:
September 15 is the deadline for West Seattle artists and creative crafters to apply for the eighth annual Fauntleroy Fine Art & Holiday Gift Show Nov. 6-8. Details and application form are at www.fauntleroyucc.org.
Any other shows/bazaars/etc. accepting vendor applications, please let us know so we can share your announcements too. We’re also already adding holiday-season events to the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – follow that link to see not only listings but also guidelines for sending information about announcements year-round … bottom line is always, the sooner the better!
We’ve just received confirmation that the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council WILL resume its monthly meeting schedule as planned, starting tomorrow night (Tuesday, September 15th), 7 pm, at the Southwest Precinct‘s community meeting room. If you have a neighborhood concern to bring up with SPD, and/or want to hear local crime trends firsthand, this is the one open, public, monthly chance to do that. Each meeting usually also has a featured topic and/or guest; this time around, it’s self-defense, discussing with SPD and attendees, according to WSCPC president Richard Miller, “(the) relative advantages and disadvantages of various personal protection/self defense devices (stun guns, tasers, pepper spray, handguns, etc.).” The precinct is at Delridge and Webster; the community-room entrance is off the parking lot on Webster.
At least once a day, someone asks us about a sewer-ish stink in the Beach Drive vicinity or upslope. While busy with other stories this past week-plus, we’ve been replying by pointing them to Beach Drive Blog‘s explanation – but it’s time, while we have a moment, to mention it here for anyone else who wondered but hasn’t inquired. BDB says it’s the rotting sea lettuce that turns up every so often, more notoriously a ways further south at Fauntleroy Cove. This isn’t unique to West Seattle, nor even to Washington, nor even to the U.S. – a Google search for the term “rotting sea lettuce” turns up reports from other nations including Canada, China, and the UK.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
No incidents in the area so far this morning. And still no school for Seattle Public Schools – this is the fourth weekday of the Seattle Education Association strike. (Non-public schools remain in session.) Road-work alerts:
SB 21ST BETWEEN ANDOVER & GENESEE: This section of 21st will be closed to through traffic for repair work as part of the Delridge-Highland Park Neighborhood Greenway project, as announced here.
ROXBURY/35TH RECHANNELIZATION: Nighttime work to restripe and remove the old stripes (via hydroblasting) is beginning – crews were seen out last night on Roxbury. Here’s the alert.
8:40 AM: Just checked out Roxbury. It is now officially rechannelized (one travel lane each way, center turn lane) from 35th to just west of 17th.
New configuration in place on SW Roxbury this morning. Old striping gone, 35th to 22nd. pic.twitter.com/fHCtZdiYAL
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) September 14, 2015
The old lane lines are mostly gone west of 22nd; still some work to do east of there.
9:04 AM: We also went again to see if the SPU sewer work on 48th/49th has begun. While we still haven’t found anything in the Seaview area, we did find crews on 49th north of Hudson, which is closed to through traffic. (This also might affect you on west-east routes – we initially went west on Hudson and had to turn into the alley because it was closed at Hudson.) We’re checking with SPU to get an update.
10:36 AM: Nothing to add to that yet but – a crash reported in the 7100 block of W. Marginal Way, blocking southbound lanes right now, per scanner traffic. No injuries reported so far.
4:49 PM: Here’s what SPU says about the road projects:
The work on 49th Avenue SW was scheduled to begin the week of September 8. The contractor started light mobilization last week and began heavier construction this morning, as you saw. Work on the sewer repair will take approximately one week.
* The other sewer repair project you mention is on 48th Ave SW. The work on 48th Ave SW between SW Juneau and SW Raymond Street will begin this week, with mobilization as early as Wednesday, and will also take approximately one week to complete.
Though other matters are holding the spotlight, the November election is just seven weeks away, and you’ll have a lot to decide. The coverage ramp-up has begun.
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 CANDIDATES DEBATE THURSDAY: The finalists for the City Council’s new West Seattle/South Park seat will debate in the district on Thursday (September 17th) for the first time since last month’s primary.
Shannon Braddock and Lisa Herbold will face off at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 7:30 pm Thursday. Your editor here is lead moderator, with community moderators including Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen. The debate is presented by Town Hall Seattle, whose website has full details – they’re also requesting you RSVP via that page (though admission is free).
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS’ ENDORSEMENTS: We’ve already reported on some of what happened at last Wednesday’s meeting of our area’s largest political organization, the 34th District Democrats – a resolution supporting the striking Seattle Education Association‘s contract proposals, and a speech plus Q/A with SEA’s lead bargainer. Also at the meeting Wednesday night, in addition to endorsements they made before the primary, a block of general-election endorsements was approved, including Courtney Gregoire for re-election to Port Commission Position 2, approval of Seattle I-122 “Honest Elections,” approval of King County Proposition 1 “Best Starts for Kids,” and rejection of State Initiative 1366. In separate votes, Fred Felleman was endorsed for Port Commission Position 5 and the Move Seattle transportation levy was endorsed. The full list of new 34th endorsements is here.
The group also heard from numerous candidates and candidate reps. One memorable point was made by County Elections Director candidate Zack Hudgins, who spoke disapprovingly of the 25 percent turnout for the primary and said action was needed because “to get better government we need better participation.” One of his ideas: More ballot boxes in the county. West Seattle, you might recall, doesn’t have a fixed dropoff box – the last one was removed five years ago.
(West Seattle’s last fixed-location ballot-dropoff box – WSB photo, 2009)
A ballot-dropoff van visits for three of the four days before the voting deadline. Otherwise, you have to pay postage and get your ballot into the mail, an idea that once was suggested as a turnout-booster, not reducer.
Next month’s 34th Dems meeting (7 pm October 14th, Hall at Fauntleroy) is scheduled to include a City Council candidates’ forum.
(SCROLL DOWN for newest updates)
3 PM: We’re at Seattle Public Schools headquarters in SODO, where district spokesperson Stacy Howard is briefing media – fourth time in five days they’ve held a mid-afternoon briefing.
Both sides confirmed they were negotiating today, but that’s all we’ve heard until now. “The district presented an offer to pay teachers for added instructional minutes,” Howard says, adding, “no time will be added to the instructional day.” She says ****no school on Monday****, though negotiations are still under way. She says the district is now to the place where they’ve run out of the three “snow days” that can be used to make up for the lost days, so they’ll have to be looking at other ways to get to the 180 state-mandated days – maybe looking at what’s scheduled as a full-week mid-winter break this year, for example. Still too soon to say how this might affect graduation dates, according to Howard.
As for what the district is currently proposing, “It’s not what we would like, but what we can afford.” We asked if they could characterize the talks as having made progress; Howard wouldn’t or couldn’t say. The briefing is over after 10 minutes (we recorded it on video as usual and will add that here when it’s uploaded *4:48 pm, it’s up). We’ll update this story if and when there are any other strike-related developments today.
5:13 PM: The union announced a 5 pm media briefing at the Neptune Theater in the U-District, where a concert is being held tonight to benefit striking educators; we didn’t see the announcement in time to get there, but tuned into the KIRO-TV stream in which a union member was telling them they didn’t have anything to say but were awaiting the bargaining team’s arrival.
6:07 PM: The union has just announced by text and tweet that its “Bargaining Team gave the Seattle School Board bargainers a new proposal today: Two-year contract, raises of 4.75% and 5%.” [added] Also, the SEA briefing that finally happened at the Neptune is viewable via Periscope video recorded by KING 5 reporter John Langeler – go here. The first speaker was SEA president Jonathan Knapp, who said it is the board and superintendent’s fault the teachers walked out, because they are not “offering a fair contract.” Lead bargainer Phyllis Campano, SEA vice president (and a former Pathfinder K-8 teacher), said the negotiations were still ongoing at the time of this briefing and that she was headed back immediately afterward. Campano said they have still not come to an agreement on issues she listed as “pay, fair evaluations, reasonable testing, student equity, lengthening the school day.”
6:43 PM: Thanks to the tipster who shared word of tomorrow’s plan: Individual school picketing in the morning, then gathering at “zone” locations in the afternoon. On the Fairmount Park Elementary PTA website, this link says that means FPE teachers will picket outside the school 8:30 am-noon, then joining other schools from their “zone” at West Seattle High School 1-3 pm. Still trying to find out what’s happening at other local schools – any info, please comment or e-mail us (editor@westseattleblog.com) – thank you.
8:51 PM: HPN in comments says what we suspected – the two “zone” locations for afternoon picketing in WS tomorrow will be WSHS and Chief Sealth IHS.
10:10 PM: Amanda in comments says Roxhill is planning to picket at its school all day, rather than going to join the “zone.” Meantime, a Madison MS teacher tells us via e-mail, “We’re picketing at Madison in the morning, then in the afternoon we’re walking over to West Seattle High School for demonstrations there.”
ADDED MONDAY MORNING: Most recent update we can find says negotiations were still under way as of 10:15 last night.
9:15 AM MONDAY: Just texted by SEA, “Negotiations are likely to continue today. No TA yet.” We will launch a new story later today but for now we’re updating this one.
12:20 PM: New update from the union – negotiations “will resume this afternoon.” And the district is again having what’s becoming its daily 3 pm briefing.
(UPDATED SUNDAY NIGHT with video/info from post-show awards – scroll down)
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
11:33 AM: That ’57 BMW Isetta is one of the more unusual cars you’ll see today at the eighth annual West Seattle Car Show, rebooted to a brand-new location in the north lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor). The cars span the decades – going back even further, here’s a 1947 Buick Super 8 convertible:
A 1972 Cadillac Eldorado:
Trophies will be announced and awarded at 3 pm – and if you come to the show by 2:30 pm, you can vote on the People’s Choice award:
Along with the cars, you’ll see trucks, bicycles, and this mini-hydroplane showing off a 1959 Mercury Mark motor:
The West Seattle-based Nibbles food truck is here with its “Southwest fusion” flavors:
(So far, the mini-donut truck is a no-show.) You’ll find beverages inside the Northwest Wine Academy – including some of their award-winning wines:
While the fog and clouds are starting to lift, it’s also a great day for hot beverages, and you’ll find coffee there too. Again this year, Swedish Automotive and West Seattle Autoworks (both WSB sponsors) organized the show. Come say hi – our booth is next to their table on the east side of the show, where you can buy a raffle ticket that will benefit the SSC Automotive Tech program as do proceeds from the registration fees. A DJ’s playing hits old and new, and the clouds are starting to lift – we see the sun starting to break through to the south. More to come!
1:02 PM: Yes, the sun did break through, and we’re seeing a couple spots of blue sky. A hula-hooping competition’s happening right now:
At 2 pm, a live band is going to play – the Disco Cowboys. More of the vehicles that are here:
That’s a 1967 bike with a 1960 sidecar. Here’s a 1963 Comet:
Don’t miss the interiors. This 1967 Pontiac GTO is particularly showy:
1:30 PM: One more hour to vote for the People’s Choice, an hour and a half until the awards – now that the Seahawks game is over, you have time to get here and see setups like this 1974 VW van and its accessories:
Someone who just stopped by the booth to say hi described the turnout as an “eclectic mix.”
That’s a 1957 Plymouth and its mini-counterpart. And we have the first full-on sunbreak of the day!
Sunbreak! West Seattle Car Show continues until 3 pm. pic.twitter.com/iI5SSxztuf
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) September 13, 2015
While you’re here wander over to the SSC Automotive areas on the southwest side of the lot – where you’ll see these trucks:
And you’ll find the occasional backstory like this one!
1:58 PM: Lots of spectators in Seahawks jerseys showing up now. Come on down – still time to see it all.
We’ll have coverage of the awards a bit later – but first, we have to do a little reconnoitering to get downtown for the Seattle Public Schools strike briefing at 3, but half the team will be back here at the show shortly.
ADDED: From the final hour, a bit of Disco Cowboys video:
They had an attentive fan up on his feet and dancing for just about the entire set:
Winners and a few more show scenes still to come.
ADDED SUNDAY NIGHT: First, the awards ceremony – the announcer was Todd Ainsworth from co-presenting West Seattle Autoworks (which is about to celebrate its 5th anniversary!), still in his outfit from the Disco Cowboys performance:
The list, transcribed from our video:
Best in Show and Best Muscle Car – 1971 Plymouth Road Runner Super Bird
People’s Choice – 1957 BMW Isetta (the little blue car shown at the top of this story)
Green Car/alternative fuel – Ford C-Max
Best Custom (5 or more modifications) – 1955 Chevy
Best Motorcycle (and the only motorcycle at the show) the 1971 Norton w/ sidecar
Best Import – 1955 MG
Best Modern Car (1990 or newer) – 2008 Corvette
Best Classic (1965-1989) 1968 Olds Cutlass
Best Pre-Antique (1964 or older) 1957 Caddy
A few more photos to come!
In the West Seattle Triangle, the headquarters of two organizations for veterans and active-duty servicemembers are almost directly across SW Alaska from each other: American Legion Post 160 (home of the West Seattle Veterans’ Center) and VFW Post 2713. On Saturday, volunteers of all ages gave both a boost with repairs and renovations via The Mission Continues.
TMC is an organization helping veterans readjust via new “missions” – as the slogan on the T-shirts says, “Reporting For Duty In Your Community.”
Both buildings needed lots of help – the indoor painting you see is at the VFW, which also had tangles of weeds to clean up.
Debris, trimmings, and old junk from both locations filled this trunk:
Volunteers from companies including Starbucks, Nordstrom, and Safeway joined in, we’re told. Also in the midst of it all, below: Kyle Geraghty from Post 160, with daughter Ana, and Joshua Arntson, national resource specialist from The Mission Continues:
Here’s how to get involved with TMC’s Seattle 1st Service Platoon.
The day’s off to a murky start but the forecast says it’s expected to clear off and become partly sunny. The big event:
WEST SEATTLE CAR SHOW: New location, with more to see and do!
(Added 8:46 am – WSB photo, one of the first arrivals)
10 am-3 pm on the north side of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, where you’ll find not only the cars and motorcycles who show up to show off, but also SSC’s Automotive Technology and Northwest Wine Academy programs, both open to visitors as will be the Seattle Chinese Garden immediately to the north (kids’ activities are planned there too). Food trucks too. Admission’s free for spectators. Info’s on the WSCS site, and we’ll be reporting live as we do every year. (6000 16th SW)
Also from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
HOLY FAMILY STREET FAIR: 9:30 am-4 pm, second and final day of this free street fair with vendors and entertainment.
(20th SW south of Roxbury, which is closed to motor vehicles for the fair)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET + ZUCCHINI 500: 10 am-2 pm, the market’s in the street in the heart of The Junction as always (three months now since the big change!) and today, you’ll also find the annual Zucchini 500 at the market from 11 am-1 pm – the prolifically produced late-summer veggies will be available for kids to turn into racing machines and a course to run them on. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
CAMP LONG MOUNTAIN FEST: 11 am-5 pm, celebrate all things climbing at Camp Long Environmental Learning Center, the home of Schurman Rock: Ropes course, workshops, speakers, mountain games, all free, for all ages and abilities. (5200 35th SW)
‘AMERICAN IDIOT’ MATINEE: 3 pm, first daytime performance of “Green Day’s American Idiot,” the new production at ArtsWest Playhouse. (4711 California SW)
11:43 PM: Don’t know yet what has brought Guardian One back to West Seattle tonight but it’s helping with a search in the Southwest Athletic Complex/Chief Sealth IHS vicinity. More as we figure it out.
12:00 AM: Guardian One left shortly after that update; scanner traffic indicated police had been searching for (at least) three suspects and found two.
12:30 AM: Tweets by Beat finally has the initial classification on the call – robbery. Notable considering there was a robbery about 24 hours earlier in Roxhill Park, as noted here; no helicopter for that one because it wasn’t reported until later, when the victim made it home a few miles away.
7:24 AM: Comments mention G-1 back in the area in the 2 am hour, this time further south. The helicopter crew subsequently tweeted: “Assisted KCSO Deputies on search for subject who ran from traffic stop and possible unreported stolen car.”
When Betina found her car had been prowled overnight, she noticed an odd detail:
My car was broken into last night/early morning between 2:00 and 7:00 AM (Saturday, 9-12-15) near the intersection of SW 104th Street and 32nd Ave. SW in Arbor Heights. The car was parked in the driveway.
I found that the rear passenger quarter glass window was smashed, the driver door was left open, and the hood was also left open (not left wide open, but they did not latch it closed after they were done peering into the engine compartment). Nothing of any significance was stolen and there was no damage to the car, except the window. It does not appear that the person/prowler/thief was very interested in any personal items in the car or they were very neat, because everything was still in the glove box, console, etc.
I find it interesting that the hood was open, but no attempt was made to steal the car itself (no steering column damage). Maybe this car did not fit their esteemed criteria.
Four biznotes to share:
LIKA LOVE’S LOCATION: After reverting to all-mobile for a while when its previous storefront in The Junction became Pagliacci Pizza‘s expansion zone, Lika Love Boutique has a new permanent bricks-and-mortar location, at 6031 California SW in Morgan Junction.
NOBLE BARTON ABOUT TO OPEN: The new bar/restaurant in downtown White Center opens tomorrow, our friends at nearby Caffé Delia report, tweeting these preview photos:
<The space was briefly Meander’s Kitchen‘s first WC location and, before that, Papa’s Pub, at 9635 16th SW. NB is planning to be open 10 am-11 pm tomorrow – a little earlier than usual so you can see the Seahawks game.
THUNDER ROAD GUITARS CLOSED SUNDAY: Your next chance to shop at Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor) in The Junction will be Tuesday – proprietor Frank Gross sends word TRG will be closed tomorrow (in addition to its regular Monday closure) for renovations. Some rearranging has to be done, he explains, for a new infusion of inventory in the bass department.
CAFE OSITA SUPPORT: As reported here earlier this week, the Sunrise Heights coffee shop has been hit by burglars, again. The shop reopened the next day but a patron wants to help beyond just encouraging everybody to give Cafe Osita a business boost – so Jason Sturgeon has set up this “buy Café Osita a cup of coffee” donation drive.
Just in, the first update of the day from either side in the Seattle Education Association / Seattle Public Schools negotiations, which resumed today for the first time since SEA went on strike Wednesday. This update is from the district:
The SPS and SEA bargaining teams resumed negotiations today.
The district presented a new offer today that added funds specifically designed to address the 20-minute addition in the student day (grades K-12).
Negotiations are scheduled to resume tomorrow.
The district continues to be ready to continue bargaining so that school can begin for our 53,000 students. The district will provide updates as they become available.
SEA has confirmed via text message that talks resume tomorrow. We had asked via e-mail if they had any further comment to characterize today’s talks; so far, they have not.
EARLIER: Four hours before this update, we published a recap roundup of where things stood going into today’s talk, plus various strike-related notes; see it here if you haven’t already.
SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE: The district is having a media briefing at 3 pm. So it’s a good bet we’ll hear then about the plan for tomorrow.
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