West Seattle, Washington
23 Saturday
Summer festival season is about to get into high gear. But community-powered events need community – even just a few hours, as per this request:
The Morgan Junction Community Festival, celebrating its 10th year anniversary on Saturday, June 20, 2015, is looking for volunteers to help out the day of the event. Setup help is needed at 7:30 am; teardown/cleanup tasks start at 6:00 pm when the festival ends. We also need people to work two-hour shifts from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm during the day for traffic/parking control, Bite of Morgan coordination, and information booth staffing. Contact Tod Rodman, volunteer coordinator, for more information and to sign up for a specific job. Tod can be reached at 425-445-1213, or todrodman@gmail.com.
The festival is presented by the Morgan Community Association, with sponsors including WSB.
(UPDATED WEDNESDAY MORNING with police report details)
8:15 PM: If you’re noticing Seattle Police heading toward/into Lincoln Park, here’s what’s happening, according to what we’ve heard via scanner so far: Someone called 911 to report a man tried to grab her in the park. The description made public so far is a “Hispanic male, about 18 … white T-shirt, blue gym shorts.” (added) Also: “Thin, about 5’6″, no facial hair.” If you saw anything or have any information, call 911.
8:59 PM: A parkgoer says in comments that the victim told her it happened “on the trail going up from the beach near the pool.”
ADDED 9:34 AM WEDNESDAY: Just obtained from SPD, the narrative from the report, with the victim’s name redacted by SPD (replaced by us with “she” or “her” or “the victim”):
At 2017 hours I responded to a report of an assault with a sexual motive at … Lincoln Park. (The victim) had called 911 to report that an unknown male had grabbed her “butt” while she was walking through the park.
I made contact with (her) on the western side of the park which runs along the Puget Sound. The park has two levels. The lower western side of the park runs along the Puget Sound; the higher eastern side of the park is accessible through several sets of trails and staircases along the interior of the park.
(She) said that she comes to the park every other day to exercise. Tonight,(she) entered the park near the southernmost parking lot. She began running and walking along the trails on the higher, eastern side of the park. (She) said that she had been alternating between running and walking along the trail near the ridge that separates the lower half of the park from the upper.
While (she) was walking along the trail an unknown male approached her from behind and grabbed her “butt” with his right hand. (She) said that she had never seen the male before today. She described the male as approximately 18 years old, Hispanic or possibly Pacific Islander. She said that he was wearing a white t-shirt and dark gym shorts. (She) said the suspect was thin, around 5’6″ in height. He did not have any facial hair that she could recall.
After the suspect grabbed her butt, (she) recoiled away from him. (She) said the suspect then apologized, saying something like, “Sorry, I’ve only got a month to live, I just had to do that”. (She) felt that the suspect did not understand what he did was wrong. She said that the suspect did not leave the area when she asked him what he was doing. After (she) told the suspect that she was going to call the police, he reiterated his apology.
(She) then tried to get a passerby to lend her a cell phone. She stopped a couple who was walking through the area and asked to borrow their phone to call 911. The couple refused and told (her) that she should just leave the area, and that she should not travel alone. (She) said that during this time the suspect left the area but she did not see which direction he went. (She) then walked down the hill into the lower section of the park. She was able to find someone who let her use her cell phone to call 911.
(She) was not certain but said that she might have seen the suspect in the park before he assaulted her. (The victim) believed that he might have been sitting on a bench along the path. (She) believed that he may have been following her through the park but she was not certain.
Multiple units responded to the park and searched the area in vehicles and on foot. King County Metro was notified with a description of the suspect but no one was located. Because (she) did not see the suspect enter or exit the park, his mode of transportation was not known. I provided (her) with an SPD business card with my name, serial number, and this incident number. I asked her to contact the department if she recalled any other details about the incident. I also provided (her) with a victim’s brochure and talked with her about counseling services available.
Officers working to locate missing Thus Nguyen, 81. Please call 911 if seen. pic.twitter.com/k3qgiKKZMc
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) May 27, 2015
7:30 PM: Have you seen 81-year-old Thus Nguyen? Since SPD sent that tweet, we have learned that she is missing from her home in High Point and has a serious medical condition; she might be in West Seattle or the International District. Please call 911 if you see her or know where she might be.
9:27 PM: Via scanner, we’ve learned that she turned up safe at Fire Station 37 and police confirmed it’s her.
(From the WSB semi-vintage radio collection; we know, KEXP is actually 90.3 FM and KUOW is 94.9 FM)
Thanks to Liesbet for the tip on this: Not only is KEXP broadcasting live from West Seattle on Friday, so is KUOW. In KEXP’s case, the Hood-To-Hood Day event will last most of the day and into the night, while KUOW’s just visiting for an hour, but it’s still a live broadcast, so in case you’re interested: The station is touring all seven of the new City Council districts, and the first stop is District 1. 10-11 am Friday, KUOW’s “Week in Review” will broadcast live from Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. The lone announced West Seattle guest: Former Mayor Greg Nickels. (The show is hosted by Bill Radke, with panelists Joni Balter and C.R. Douglas.)
(WSB photo: Coach Leopold and some of his players at SWAC last week)
As the West Seattle High School softball team looks ahead to its first state-tournament game on Friday, it’s celebrating a stack of Metro League honors! Just in from WSHS:
Metro Coach of the Year
Trevor Leopold1st Team All-Metro
Gabby Wenn – Pitcher
Annalisa Ursino – Outfield1st Team All-Division (Mountain)
Sam Hemmert – Catcher
Emma Atkinson – 1st Base
Lucy Mead – 2nd Base
Charli Elliott – Shortstop
Spritle Hirano – OutfieldHonorable Mention
Bryn Snodgrass – Outfield
Rachel DeVore – 3rd Base
Congratulations to all!
WEST SEATTLE BOOSTER CLUB FUNDRAISER FOR SOFTBALL TEAM: As was the case when the WSHS girls’ basketball team went to state, the softball team’s trip is expensive as well as exciting. The nonprofit West Seattle Booster Club is collecting donations to help them cover costs. From the letter they’re circulating in the community:
After taking second place in the Metro League Championship and making it through both Districts and Regionals, the team plays their first State Tournament game on Friday, May 29th at 9:00 am in Lacey, at the Regional Sports Complex.
They would love your support and to hear West Seattle fans loud and proud cheering them on. Additionally, since the team will be in Olympia May 28-30th for the tournament, they are seeking donations of any amount to assist with meals and lodging.
Donations are being accepted by us, the West Seattle Booster Club (WSBC). We are a nonprofit organization devoted to supporting ALL athletic programs at WSHS. Our goal is to further athletic programs and activities at the high school that the school budget cannot cover. We would love to have you join us in this particular case to help our girls with their amazing season.
Your tax-deductible donation, no matter the size, would be of great benefit to ease the financial burden on the school ,and on the girls and their families.
Easiest way to donate is online: westseattleboosterclub.org/donate
1:22 PM: Exactly two months after we reported on the potential sale of the Admiral District site where PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) has long been located, the sale has closed.
(WSB photo from March)
The buyer, as suggested by the documents we found in city files in March, is Madison Development Group, whose project Spruce (apartments and gym) just opened on the east edge of The Junction, three years after they completed Element 42 (also mixed-use) in The Admiral District. The purchase completion was confirmed today in this statement from a spokesperson for Madison:
Madison Development Group purchased the property located at 2741 California Ave SW on May 21, 2015 from its previous ownership, Development Services of America – a wholly-owned subsidiary of Services Group of America. We’re excited about this opportunity to expand our presence in West Seattle … We’ll begin exploring possible ideas for the site and don’t have immediate plans for any redevelopment.
The statement didn’t mention the price, but it’s shown on the county website as $5,750,000. The spokesperson confirmed that the purchase includes the parking lot, which is shown in county records as covering 29,000 square feet, while the store is 17,000 sf.
We have a request out to PCC for comment; no reply yet, but PCC CEO Cate Hardy (a West Seattle resident) had told us at the time of our March report that the store’s lease runs “through most of this decade” and that they had expected at the time to be introduced to and start talking with the site’s new ownership. It’s zoned NC2-40, which allows for mixed-use (residential/commercial) development with a four-story height maximum.
3:22 PM: A spokesperson for PCC says they have nothing more to say right now beyond what they told us in March.
(WSB photo: From left, Cyrus, Tessa, Makenzie, Ellen)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Not counting schools, West Seattle has more than a dozen public playgrounds.
None, however, is an “inclusive” playground.
Though years past playground age themselves, a group of 8th graders at Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) is hoping their work will change that.
And they hope someone reading this – maybe you? – can and will help make it happen.
(WSB photo: ‘Retired’ but not off the job yet, the M/V Evergreen State @ Fauntleroy dock)
Happy Tuesday! From the calendar:
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: In case you’ve been gone all weekend … the season started Saturday and West Seattle’s only spraypark is open daily, whatever the weather, 11 am-8 pm. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
DROP-IN CHESS: 4-5:30 pm at the High Point Library, kids/teens are invited to stop in for informal chess play. (35th SW & SW Raymond)
BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS’ NETWORK: 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct, it’s an “open discussion” edition of the monthly WSBWCN meeting. Come share your stories/concerns/ideas/questions about neighborhood safety and crime prevention! (Webster/Delridge)
FAMILY STORY TIME: 7 pm, bring the family for stories, songs, and rhymes with Miss Bea at the Delridge Library. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
BABY KETTEN KARAOKE: 9 pm, 21+, no cover, at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:31 AM: Back to work and school for most today; so far here in the early going, nothing unusual in, or outbound from, West Seattle.
ROAD WORK ALERTS: Seattle Public Utilities says the Monday-Saturday lane closure at Orchard/Delridge will continue into mid-June … Tomorrow (Wednesday), SDOT plans to inspect the Schmitz Park Bridge 9 am-3 pm.
9:09 AM – MORNING COMMUTE SUMMARY: Quiet. No “motor-vehicle incident” responses in or near WS. But we continue tracking it all around the clock, with your help … if you see or hear about something (and it’s safe/legal for you to call/text), please let us know, 206-293-6302. Thank you!
Made a decision yet on who you’re voting for in the first-ever City Council District 1 race? Still lots of time to decide, with primary ballots due August 4th, and your next two chances to see and hear the candidates are coming up within the next two weeks:
MAY 27 (THIS WEDNESDAY): “South Park Shows Up!” is not your standard candidate forum, South Park community members promise. They are planning a pop quiz on South Park facts, in fact. But West Seattleites are invited too – and kids’ activities are promised as well as food. 7 pm Wednesday at the SP Neighborhood Center, 8201 10th Avenue S.
JUNE 8 (2 WEEKS FROM TONIGHT): Most local neighborhood councils have had visits from several City Council candidates. The Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council is planning a full-fledged forum, 7 pm June 8th at Pathfinder K-8 (1901 SW Genesee), all welcome.
Any other D-1 forum dates locked in? Please let us know – editor@ westseattleblog.com – thanks!
(WSB video of speeches, closing poem, and song)
By Tracy Record and Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers
“Let us never lose focus on what Memorial Day really means.”
So said John Phillips from American Legion Post 160 during this afternoon’s short, moving ceremony at Forest Lawn Cemetery (WSB sponsor) east of High Point.
Standing-room-only attendance looked to us to be the biggest we’d seen in years of covering this event, people of all ages there to honor the heroes who had fought for the USA – the heroes who, as Phillips also said, “are not just statistics, but real people.”
(Post 160 adjutant Kyle Geraghty, a Marine Corps veteran, presenting the colors)
The ceremony was co-presented by Post 160 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2713, whose commander Nate Hemphill, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and U.S. Coast Guard reservist, called the holiday “a day of conflicting emotions for each of us,” a day to “look hard at who we are … and aspire to be the best we can be.”
He exhorted everyone present to care for America’s veterans, rather than forgetting about them “when the last troops come home.” The country’s determination and resilience were also in his exhortation: “Our destiny as free people is entirely up to us.”
Phillips (above), a Marine Corps veteran and U.S. Army reservist who works as a veterans-transition specialist at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), followed him, telling the story of two fallen heroes – U.S. Marine Corps Private Dale M. Hansen, whose actions in World War II led to a Medal of Honor, and U.S. Army intelligence officer Brittany Gordon, killed by a bomb in Afghanistan in 2012.
Also part of the ceremony, Pete Kirkman and Al Keith with echoing “Taps”:
Also, singer Ross Hauck with the national anthem and “God Bless America” (plus a reading of “In Flanders Fields“), and pre- and post-ceremony music from the Duwamish Jazz Band:
For the first time, the ceremony was followed by a reception at the West Seattle Veterans’ Center, co-housed with Post 160 in The Triangle. We went over with no idea of the presentation we would happen onto:
With Post 160’s Geraghty is Paul Chiarello, 92 years old, a paratrooper who landed
at Sainte-Mère-Église on D-Day. He came to present Post 160 with a photo from a memorial ceremony on the 55th anniversary of D-Day in 1999:
As Post 160’s Phillips had said earlier – “remembering once a year is not enough.”
Less than five months after we discovered the plan for what would be West Seattle’s first charter school, its prospective operator has officially submitted its application to the state.
California-based Summit Public Schools is asking the Washington State Charter School Commission for authorization to open what would eventually be a 6th-through-12th-grade campus at what’s now the Freedom Church/Jesus Center, a former supermarket site on the southwest corner of 35th SW and SW Roxbury. Summit says it would phase in the seven grade levels, starting in fall 2016 with 6th and 9th grades. (Charter schools are publicly funded but privately operated, as explained here.)
Summit has approval to open its first two schools in our state this fall, both high schools – one in the International District and one in Tacoma. Last week, when Seattle Public Schools were closed on May 19th, Summit brought members of the future first Seattle class over to the Roxbury/35th site to paint murals for the school opening in the ID this fall, which is still being remodeled.
They were advised by Native American artist Andrew Morrison, who also worked with young artists on the signal-box mini-murals along Delridge two summers ago:
But back to the Roxbury/35th plan. It’s making its way through the city system, with a site plan now on file showing more details than the one we first reported on at the start of the year:
In addition to renovating the main building – the former grocery store – two 2-story additions are planned along the Roxbury side of the property (shaded in the “site plan” sketch above), and a one-story addition to connect the one at the Roxbury/35th corner to the main building. The site-plan document says the additions will total more square footage – more than 27,000 – than the existing building (23,000+).
For parking, 65 motor-vehicle spaces and 52 bicycle spaces are proposeed. Though the document says the school could eventually bring 125 cars, the prospective school operators say they only will be required to have spaces for half that many because the site is close to frequent transit – the RapidRide line stops right across the street. The bicycle-space count is 22 more than the city requires.
HOW TO HAVE A SAY: The land-use-permit application is in the system as #3019454, if you’re interested in commenting. No public meeting is required, as this is not going through Design Review. Meantime, the process for approval of the charter school itself is outlined here; the Charter School Commission must set a date for a public forum on Summit’s application to open the school, but as far as we can tell from the commission’s calendar, it has yet to be announced. We don’t yet have the official application document for the proposed school, but hope to procure it later this week, and will publish another followup when we do.
You could call Westwood Village the epicenter of Starbucks in West Seattle, with a standalone shop, a stand inside the QFC supermarket, and Starbucks coffee featured in the Barnes & Noble bookstore café. If that isn’t enough for coffee-loving shoppers – city permit files show that another one is on the way: While digging through recent applications overnight, we found this project filing for 2800 SW Barton, carrying the notation: “Addition of a new Starbucks within existing food service footprint in existing Target store.” While that page doesn’t show an application date, the permit number suggests it was filed within the past week. Not a new concept, as the two chains have been working together for more than a decade, but we thought you’d want to know.
BY THE NUMBERS: This will boost the number of West Seattle Starbucks outlets, existing and planned, to 13, by our count: Along with the aforementioned four in Westwood, there’s Admiral Way, Admiral Safeway, Alki, Avalon, Jefferson Square Safeway, Junction QFC, Junction 47 (planned), Morgan Junction, Roxbury Safeway.
(WSB photo: Residential flag-flying along Alki Ave. SW on Duwamish Head)
Info you might find useful for Memorial Day 2015 in West Seattle:
TRANSPORTATION: Metro is on a Sunday schedule … The West Seattle Water Taxi too (no Vashon WT service) … Sound Transit Route 160 also is on a Sunday schedule … The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth state-ferry route is on a regular weekday schedule.
SCHOOLS: Seattle Public Schools and Highline Public Schools are closed, as is South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) and most if not all independent schools.
LIBRARIES: Seattle branches are closed, as are King County branches.
FREE CITY-STREET PARKING: Going to a neighborhood with city-operated pay stations/meters? No charge to park today.
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE HOLIDAY … according to the official USPS list.
CITY-RUN COMMUNITY CENTERS AND SOUTHWEST POOL … closed today.
COLMAN POOL AND HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK ARE OPEN! The outdoor pool on the Lincoln Park shore is open today at noon, as its first pre-season weekend concludes; the spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) continues daily operations, 11 am-8 pm.
MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY AT FOREST LAWN: 2 pm, all are welcome at Forest Lawn Cemetery (WSB sponsor) east of High Point for the traditional Memorial Day event with American Legion Post 160 and VFW Post 2713. (6701 30th SW)
P.S. No traffic cams this morning for obvious reasons, but if you need to check them … find them here.
That’s the “early design guidance” document for Áegis Living‘s planned retirement center at 4700 SW Admiral Way, providing the most details yet on what the Redmond-based company plans for the former Life Care Center site. We first reported in November 2013 that Áegis had bought the site, and subsequently reported more details about the project over ensuing months, including this February 2014 report. According to the project page on the city Department of Planning and Development website, no public meeting is planned for the project because it’s going through “administrative design review,” which means the review is done by city staff without involvement of the Design Review Board, though written public comment is solicited and accepted. The document now available online summarizes the project:
The proposed project will demolish the existing structure and construct a new Aegis community composed of approximately 48 Assisted Living apartments and 32 Memory Care apartments.
Both the Assisted Living and Memory Care units will be grouped into smaller neighborhoods that focus on community activities and dining as well as events with the other neighborhoods. These spaces will include dining, living rooms, activity rooms, and a cafe – all of which are distributed throughout the building which will activate various portions of the façade. Outdoor gardens and terraces will be provided, allowing residents to have access to the outdoors.
The proposed project will be a three-story wood structure over a one-story concrete parking level. The terracing of the building and the utilization of the natural site grade will present a facade more in line with a two- to three-story structure at the adjacent street levels on SW Waite and SW Admiral.
A covered drop-off area will be incorporated along the driveway on SW Admiral Way for resident use. The front entry will be in close proximity to both bus stops along SW Admiral. Visitor vehicle access and staff parking will be accessed off of SW Waite Street.
If you can’t see it in the full design document by architects GGLO, embedded above (which also can be accessed on the city website here), this is the massing (size/shape) option described as “preferred”:
Perhaps of more note than before, due to the Admiral Way Safety Project discussion, 36 offstreet parking spaces are proposed for the building – mostly in a garage, with its entry off SW Waite. Also of note from the design document: “The proposed project aims to use a stucco facade in keeping with the client’s vision of a Mediterranean oasis.” And: “For an urban neighborhood the site has an extensive tree canopy. On site there is a steep slope with a dense ravine of trees on the south corner. This large stand of trees will be preserved and there will be limited disturbance of the steep slope areas.”
HOW TO COMMENT: According to the city website, the official notice of this will go out on Thursday (May 28th), and that will start a two-week comment period, through June 10th. You can get a jump on that by e-mailing comments to the assigned planner, Holly Godard, at holly.godard@seattle.gov, referring to project 3017747, 4700 SW Admiral Way.
More state-championship news about local high-school athletes. First – from the update earlier this month on West Seattle High School track athletes who were headed for districts, WSHS athletic director Trevor Leopold has news of who qualified for state:
Cass Elliott (300 Meter Hurdles)
Chris Nunez (300 Meter Hurdles)
Chaaka Trahan (110 Meter Hurdles, Long Jump)
Natalie Fuller (Triple Jump)
Lexi Ioane (Shot Put)
Lani Taylor (100m, 200m, 400m)The State Track championships will be held at Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma starting Thursday May 28th – 30th
Leopold coaches the softball team, which as we’ve been reporting, is also state-bound, and he shares an update on the schedule:
Their first game is against North Central High School out of Spokane on Friday, May 29th, at 9:00am. The games take place at the Regional Athletic Complex (in Lacey).
And congratulations to the Westside Ultimate Coed team, which won its first League Championship and sent us the photo and update:
West Seattle High School’s ultimate frisbee team, Westside Ultimate, in its 3rd year of existence, wins its Disc NW divisional League Championship. Westside finished the season undefeated with wins over Garfield, Chief Sealth, Bainbridge Island and others and entered the season-ending tournament as the number 1 seed. With a win over Bainbridge Island 2 weeks ago and wins over Aviation and Mercer Island in the final 4 last Saturday, Westside Ultimate takes its first championship after losing close games in the finals the last 2 years. Westside also graduates 4 seniors; Shadid Baker, Devon Dascher, Greg Rosas, and Daniel Thomas.
Championship game:
Westside 15 – Mercer Island 7Final 4:
Westside 13 – Aviation 4
(Any updates on other schools’ athletes/teams headed to state? editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!)
The patio at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) is a nice place to be on a quiet Sunday afternoon … especially when you have the chance to do a good deed:
Those are some of the donated items up for silent-auction bids this afternoon in a fundraiser organized by Jilyan Perry, to help with earthquake relief through volunteer-run Changing Lives Nepal, as previewed here earlier this week. Stop by until 7 pm, have some coffee, beer or wine, enjoy some music. C & P is at 5612 California SW.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports to share today:
NORTH ADMIRAL PROWLER: From Sarah:
Just wanted to get the word out that sometime overnight (Saturday night into Sunday morning) someone entered our backyard through our alley gate and looked through our garden shed. They also tried to get into the garage. Nothing was taken, but it’s a little unnerving that someone was checking it out. They had removed our floodlight from the outside of the garage (probably fearing it would come on when they went in). They left lots of footprints in the soft dirt in our back yard. We live in the 2100 block of 47th Ave. SW.
On the SPD incident-report map, the only other burglary/attempted-burglary report in West Seattle so far in the past 24 hours was in the 5100 block
RECOGNIZE THIS SHOPLIFTER? A man was caught on video stealing at The Beer Junction and they asked if we’d share photos. He spent six minutes in the store on Thursday, May 14th, asking about a 750-milliliter bottle of Rogue Farms Savior, and eventually was caught on camera stuffing it in his pocket
(We don’t publish photos of not-charged suspects in circumstances like this unless photos/video show them clearly committing the crime; we’ve seen the store surveillance camera video of that actually happening, in this case, but are not publishing it because most of the frame shows people who weren’t involved.) Another image caught his face:
While that’s not a massive amount of shoplifting, TBJ proprietor Morgan Herzog notes, “We are hoping there’s someone out there that recognizes this individual. Shoplifting is costly for all of us, especially small business owners like ourselves. West Seattle is a wonderful place to live and work, and except in a very rare case like this, we are super lucky to have great customers who love beer as much as we do!” If you have any idea who the thief is, please contact Seattle Police and refer to incident number 15-164144.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
From this month’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting:
CRIME/SAFETY TRENDS: Capt. Pierre Davis of the Southwest Precinct said key categories of crime are seeing “steep drops” lately because of “some specific arrests.” He referred to the recent “robbery spike” (two last weekend on Alki; here’s our latest report), mentioning that it’s happening in the early-morning hours, saying they’re checking on specific “individuals … who have a propensity toward that type of thing.”
About Alki overall, Capt. Davis said a “comprehensive emphasis” is planned for summer, including bicycle officers. “If our plan is not working and you’re seeing something out of the ordinary … let us know … we can revamp our plans and take a closer look at your neighborhood.” One attendee asked for an update on what was the Bamboo Grill and is now Alki Huddle; Community Police Team Officer Jon Flores said the name is different, the ownership the same, butname but that they haven’t had serious problems for quite some time.
One attendee from North Admiral said that locking the Hamilton Viewpoint Park gate at night has helped cut down on nighttime trouble but there’s still some in the daytime.
Capt. Davis referred people to the SPD website to check specific crime-stat numbers and also encouraged people to keep vigilant and keep reporting what happens. And he said he’s hoping Assistant Chief Steve Wilske – his predecessor as SW Precinct commander – “will bless us with more resources.”
After his briefing, it was on to the featured guests at the meeting (held this past Tuesday night in the community room at the precinct):
FORMER GANG MEMBERS: WSCPC president Richard Miller brought four people, all self-identified as former gang members, to speak to and with the group. They were from a program affiliated with the Top Hat branch of Victory Outreach, a church with locations in more than 20 states, founded almost half a century ago.
One man said he’d spent 16 years in prison; he got involved in drugs, and that helped lead him onto the wrong road. He said Victory Outreach helped him find a better way, and he graduated from its program and became a minister. They go through White Center “reaching out to men to pull them off the streets,” he said, and are currently working with two dozen people.
He said the criminal-justice system helped him learn discipline. He also said “There’s a lot of gang activity” in the area of their church, and though they try their best to combat it, “there’s not enough of us” – they need help, and “more programs to help youth.” He and his wife “look after” 20 men who he says are on a “new path.” They do community service work while getting back into society, he said. “There is hope for those guys” who come out of gangs and drugs – “don’t give up on them,” he exhorted. He said their program has a 70 percent success rate.
How did he wind up in gangs in the first place? He said his siblings were gang members, his parents were heroin addicts, and “I thought that was life” – though that “life” had included being shot five times, he noted later, and many of his “old friends” are already dead.
Another man had a similar backstory, saying he had been “born into gangs … because my home was messed up, I decided to go get some training somewhere … six months ago, I was (at the) Salvation Army to satisfy the courts … I remembered where Victory Outreach was in Ballard, and walked from Rainier to Ballard, found out the house wasn’t there, then walked from Ballard to West Seattle, and they said ‘Come on in’. … If I’d had this chance when I was younger … there’s a lot that needs to be fixed within us.” In addition to spiritual assistance, he said he had addressed the source of anger within him. He said he’d been at VO for six months
The third speaker said he too had grown up in a dysfunctional family. “Next thing you know you’re doing things a real family wouldn’t do.” He said he was strung out on drugs and then “one day I was tired of being a loser … found myself on the phone with a guy who graduated (from the VO) program … and within 15 minutes talked me into going into the program.” He said it was “awkward at first” to have people caring about him so much, but then he found himself giving back.
And the fourth speaker said he too had grown up in a dysfunctional family with a rough upbringing and found himself looking “for love and fellowship on the streets,” and wound up involved in gangs, having “to fight other kids just to walk down my own block.” He said he too had been involved in drugs and through the church he’s now “saved” and making changes in his life.
How do they get the word out about the program? Word-of-mouth, said the minister, as well as doing odd jobs in the neighborhood like yard work – that, he said, is where some of their funding comes from, as well as car washes and house painting. And they also try to be a positive force in the neighborhood, including dealing with nearby trouble. They also talk to parole/probation officers to look for potential program members.
The program supervised by the minister is a first step, it was explained; in the second step, members have to get jobs, and VO works with local businesses to facilitate that – from metal-fabrication shops to sports organizations.
Did you have trouble with the gangs letting you leave? a meeting attendee asked.
You just disappear, said one man. The minister said he has a brother who’s still involved, and he counsels him as best he can. He added that they try to move participants around so that they’re not tempted or approached by people they knew.
Why do gang members tag? was another question. Reply: To announce their presence at a particular location, and/or give someone a warning.
Who’s not eligible for the program? Reply: Exclusions include anyone with a sex-crime or arson background.
If you’re interested in anything from referring someone to VO to donating – they said items are welcome from toiletries to clothing – you can reach the Top Hat location at 206-781-1655.
WSCPC NEEDS YOU: If you are interested in helping this group continue – it’s been limping along with little volunteer help, not even someone to update its bare-bones website – please contact Richard Miller, who’s been keeping it going despite serious health challenges. Come to the next meeting (June 16th, last one before summer break) and/or contact him via e-mail – westseattlecpc@gmail.com.
Looking ahead to next week, and a few weeks beyond: Seattle Public Utilities‘ Emily Reardon sent word going into the holiday weekend that its work at Delridge/Orchard isn’t over yet:
Quick update re. SPU’s ongoing sewer improvement project near Delridge Way SW and SW Orchard St. The daytime single lane restriction on SW Orchard Street (east of Delridge Way SW) will remain in place off-and-on through mid-June as crews complete sidewalk work and paving. The lane will remain closed Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., and will be opened to traffic during non-work hours. During the closure, all westbound traffic will be diverted to the eastbound lane with the assistance of a traffic flagger.
The project page for this site, upgrading the combined-sewer-overflow-reducing facilities, ” target=”_blank”>is here.
(Savannah Sparrow, photographed at Lowman Beach by Trileigh Tucker)
Day 2 of the long holiday weekend – here’s what’s up:
INFO MEETING FOR RUNNING PROGRAM: 8 am at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), find out more about the West Seattle Runner Distance Training Program Coached by P3 Running, with Michele from P3 and Lori from WSR. More info in our calendar listing. (2743 California SW)
GET YOUR MEMORIAL DAY POPPY: 8 am-4 pm, American Legion Post 160 and Auxiliary Unit 160 again will be distributing poppies, made by veterans to raise money to help veterans, at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction. (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm – see this week’s highlights here. (44th/Alaska)
SPRAYPARK AND COLMAN POOL, DAY TWO: Whether or not we see the sun today, it’s Day 2 for these Seattle Parks outdoor water facilities – Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), open 11 am-8 pm, and Colman Pool at Lincoln Park, with its preseason-weekend schedule starting at noon.
VISIT THE LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Noon-4 pm, the home of West Seattle’s history is open and awaiting your visit. (61st/Stevens)
TOUR THE ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE: As previewed on Saturday, it’s the first weekend of the season for free tours of this West Seattle icon – first tour at 1 pm, last at 3:40 pm. (3201 Alki SW)
SEE ‘ANGRY HOUSEWIVES’: 3 pm matinee at ArtsWest Playhouse (WSB sponsor) – a few seats left as of early this morning, and remember the run’s been extended through next week, so shop for those tickets now too. (4711 California SW)
HELP NEPAL EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS: 3-7 pm, a silent auction and more, to raise money for Nepal earthquake survivors, as previewed here. (5612 California SW)
It’s been a while since our last update on West Seattle’s “Archer Addy,” who’s been notching archery achievements for a long time despite her young age. Erik and Tracy Nachtrieb shared this news:
11-year-old Addison “Archer Addy” Nachtrieb, a Schmitz Park Elementary student, won the NFAA 3D National Archery Championship and she was awarded the highest-scoring female of all age groups for the second year in a row. This year she also set the NFAA National scoring record for her age division, the last record being held for 10 years.
After 21 total hours of shooting over 3 days, in 90F+ weather, and after shooting a 6-hour Pro-AM the day before the three day National Tournament, Addy held it together over miles of rugged terrain and hills along the shooting course to only drop 7 points! Addy shot 1533 out of a perfect score of 1540! An amazing feat for an 11-year-old.
Addy has been shooting for 3 years and logs over 18,000 practice arrows a year. She recently placed 3rd in the World Archery Festival, 4th in the US Indoor National Championships, has had a book written about her first year in archery, and has recently been brought on as Pro Staff for ArcherZUpshot.
(WSB photo from MCHS High Point’s 2014 graduation ceremony at The Hall @ Fauntleroy)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
With just a few weeks to go in the school year, Seattle Public Schools has abruptly announced that one of its high schools in West Seattle won’t reopen next year.
In a letter dated May 18th, the district told families that it’s closing alternative Middle College High School‘s High Point campus, also known as the School for Social Justice and Community Engagement, after almost 20 years, citing declining enrollment. (If you’re not familiar with the overall MCHS program, it’s explained here.)
A statement on MCHS’s staff-maintained website suggests they’re not going without a fight:
The faculty and staff at Middle College High Point are very disappointed with this decision and are working with our community supporters, parents and students to prepare an organized response to this decision and to challenge the justification for closure.
It’s only been three years since MCHS’s West Seattle program went through a major transition:
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