West Seattle, Washington
26 Wednesday
One month after we reported on an appeal hearing set for aspects of the Genesee Hill Elementary School project, the decision has just been made public: The appeal has been rejected. Appellants included a half-dozen area residents and school-district watchdog Chris Jackins, challenging/questioning project components including the zoning exception for the school’s height, where the bulk of its building will be placed on the site, plans for on-street school-bus loading, and the amount of on-site off-street parking. We were not able to cover the appeal hearing held downtown eight days ago, but its points and the Hearing Examiner’s findings are recapped in the decision document – see it here. Next, we’ll be checking with Seattle Public Schools regarding their timetable for starting work on the new school.
Mystery solved, regarding what has sounded to some like an almost-continuous alarm bell/siren-type noise these past few days. Tuesday, we received half a dozen messages from north West Seattle, mysterious because of an absence of any 911 reports of an ongoing alarm-type bell; then we developed the theory it might have been the “shot blasting” technique used to improve traction on two local hills – SW Charlestown yesterday, SW Genesee today – and as soon as we received a noise report from the Luna Park area today, that seemed to confirm it. We went over to the work zone on Genesee and while we couldn’t get it on video, we confirmed that the equipment was making a droning alarm/siren-type noise, somewhat reminiscent of the old “air-raid sirens” we remembered from weekly tests (and are blessed not to have known in any other context) decades ago.
One week into registration for this year’s West Seattle Car Show – one month from tomorrow, on Sunday, September 14th, 10 am-4 pm, in the heart of The Junction. 30 cars have signed up already, according to the new organizers at Swedish Automotive and West Seattle Autoworks (both WSB sponsors). If you missed the news last week, the show is now “open class,” a big change from previous years, so it’s not just for old cars – if you have any other reason to want to show off your vehicle, sign up! (That includes creatively decorated vehicles – anyone want to bring an “art car,” for example?) If you’re interested, go here to sign up now! First come, first served. If you don’t want to register online, you can get a form by e-mailing wscarshow@gmail.com or calling 206.938.8685. That’s also how to sign up as a sponsor if your business/organization didn’t already get a form; three sponsors are on board so far (including us here at WSB) and more are welcome.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 11:36 AM: Just in: King County Superior Court Judge Mariane Spearman has rejected Triangle Property Development‘s petition for a “writ of mandamus” which would basically have forced Seattle Police to arrest Jean and Byron Barton for trespassing, as they continue to occupy the Morgan Junction home from which they were evicted last month, three months after Triangle bought it at a foreclosure auction. The judge’s ruling comes five days after a hearing on the issue (WSB coverage here). Judge Spearman wrote that SPD has discretion on whether to make an arrest in a situation like this, and that an “extraordinary” move such as a writ of mandamus is not appropriate for compelling an action in which there is discretion. See the ruling in PDF, or embedded below:
We’re also contacting Triangle Development’s lawyer for comment; the company announced July 29th that it would take the city to court. That was 11 days after sheriff’s deputies – who enforce evictions in King County, whether within city limits or not – removed the Bartons from the house; later that day (July 18th), the couple re-entered it. SPD arrived at the house late in the day, but did not arrest them, and Mayor Murray issued a statement the following Monday saying he had told SPD to “stand by while the latest court proceedings unwind.”
ADDED 12:42 PM: A few other notes – The Bartons themselves were not a direct party in this particular legal action. It was taken by Triangle Development against Mayor Murray and Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole, and is unrelated to the Bartons’ ongoing lawsuit (read it here) alleging that the foreclosure was illegal. If you haven’t read today’s ruling yet, another reason cited by the judge was that Triangle has other options for getting control of the property – including getting the King County Sheriff’s Office to serve another order. Meantime, the mayor has posted a statement about the ruling, saying, among other things, “… the judge decided that SPD acted properly in exercising its discretion over the past three weeks.”
ADDED 4:46 PM: The advocacy group SAFE has sent a statement, which includes Jean Barton’s reaction to the city’s contention that she and her husband are ignoring/spurning housing-related services:
Read More
In the middle of the overnight downpour, we heard a bit of scanner traffic about car pieces in the street near 59th/Admiral. This morning, the inbox brought the rest of the story – Chris sent that photo and word that someone hit his car and his neighbors’ car in the 5700 block of Admiral (map) around 12:30 am: “Lots of damage. My car likely totaled. Cars were parked and no injuries though would not be surprised if driver injured. Looking for any witnesses.” If you have any information, contact police and refer to incident #14-267781.
(WSB photo added Wednesday afternoon)
Here’s what the Harbor Avenue no-parking signs were about – today is the second of three days of landscape work on the median, according to SDOT:
You may have seen crews at work along Harbor Avenue Southwest between Southwest Spokane Street and Southwest Florida Street. These Seattle Department of Transportation landscape crews began working on the street median yesterday, weeding and cutting back plant material. They will continue the work through tomorrow, keeping one lane open in each direction by shifting traffic into the parking lanes. The northbound lane is closed from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closure of the southbound lane is delayed until 9 a.m. to allow for morning commuter traffic.
https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/IMG_9854-e1407968377882.jpg
(Tidepool photo by Laura Goodrich, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
From puppets to produce, and beyond, four calendar highlights for today/tonight:
PUPPET SHOW: “Jack Chapeau Meets the Gill Man,” presented by Oregon Shadow Theatre, 2 pm at Southwest Library, free! Details in our calendar listing. (35th/Henderson)
HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN: Sixth of 12 Wednesdays this summer/fall when you can stop by the High Point Market Garden Farm Stand 4-7 pm to buy organic produce grown by local gardeners, steps away. (32nd/Juneau)
KARAOKE FOR THE CAUSE: Emeritus-Admiral Heights invites seniors from all around the West Seattle community to help it raise money for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. First event is at 5 pm tonight – Karaoke for the Cause. Details in our calendar listing. (2326 California SW)
MUSIC BINGO AT THE CASK: 7 pm at The Cask (WSB sponsor), guess the songs, play the game! Details here. (2350 California SW)
We’ve had some tropical weather this week – warm, muggy – and sunshine should return in time for a tropical-themed event Friday night: 
The 34th District Democrats‘ annual Garden Party dinner/auction. This year, it’s the “Luau at the Lake,” in honor of its new location: The Technology Access Foundation‘s new Bethaday Community Space in Lakewood Park (605 SW 108th). The 34th DDs are advertising the event on WSB for one last ticket-sales push. See “10 reasons to go” here. Auction items include a flotilla of vacation possibilities on which you’ll be able to bid, including one week on Maui or Kauai; if you’d like to stay closer to home, how about three nights at Long Beach, Washington, or a getaway to Whistler, or even a quick jaunt over to Vashon Island for lunch with local legislators? The party starts at 6 pm Friday (August 15th) and you can RSVP online by going here, or call Karen Chilcutt at 206-935-3216.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Hours of steady rain overnight has left some standing water out there, so drive carefully. One early alert: The county texted that mechanical trouble has affected the first run of the Route 775 shuttle from Seacrest toward Admiral.
ROAD WORK: If the overnight rain hasn’t affected the plan, today’s the day crews are supposed to work on traction improvement on SW Genesee between Avalon and Delridge.
10:51 AM: SDOT just sent formal notice of work that’s under way through tomorrow on Harbor Avenue.
(Screengrab from Seattle City Light map)
12:40 AM: First reports of a power outage came from 25th/107th area, shortly after major rain started to fall – and now the Seattle City Light outage map shows more than 4,200 homes/businesses are out of power, from the south end of West Seattle south and southeastward. So far, no cause listed – just that SCL is “investigating” – but the start came around the time a downpour began, and at least one tipster reports big lightning accompanied it.
1:26 AM: City Light says it’s restored power to about a third of the homes/businesses affected, but that still leaves about 2,600 without electricity.
1:57 AM: Down to fewer than 1,000.
6 AM: Still almost 600 customers out, in the South Park area per the SCL map.
3:09 PM UPDATE: Everybody was back as of earlier today. City Light’s Scott Thomsen tells WSB a “failed insulator” caused it.
Out of the WSB inbox, one last net-casting for Chief Sealth Class of 1984 alums – this weekend is 30-year reunion time, and three events are planned:
*Alumni Mixer – Friday; August 15th at 7:00 pm*
Maxi’s Lounge at the DoubleTree Hotel
18740 International Blvd; Seattle*Alumni Spouse/Partner Dinner – Saturday; August 16th at 6:00 pm*
Talarico’s Pizza – West Seattle Junction
4718 California Ave SW*Family Picnic – Sunday; August 17th at 12:00 noon*
Lincoln Park – Picnic Area near the south parking lot
That’s Radio Raheem, the self-described “hip hop/new wave/soul/disco superbot Seattle band” headed your way for Thursday night’s episode of Summer Concerts at Hiawatha (as in, Community Center, outdoors, east lawn, 2700 block Walnut), presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, with co-sponsors including WSB. Show’s free, 6:30 pm start, bring your own chair/blanket, rain or shine – too soon to tell what Thursday night’s going to be like, but this series has the Hiawatha gym as an indoor backup venue if necessary, steps away.
Cup-half-full version: West Seattle could have light rail as soon as 2026.
Cup-half-empty version: West Seattle won’t get light rail any sooner than 2026.
That was the bottom line of a briefing that was part of the City Council Transportation Committee‘s meeting this morning. Potential West Seattle light rail wasn’t the only topic – in fact, it was the last part of the Sound Transit guest appearance, which in turn was only part of a busy agenda (above is Seattle Channel‘s video of the entire meeting – the briefing starts 35 minutes in). The briefing followed the order of the slide deck. And however you view that potential date, it would depend on West Seattle being written into Sound Transit’s Long-Range Plan when it’s updated later this year; it didn’t make it into the plan previously, ST reiterated today, because of the since-scrapped plan for monorail service between West Seattle and downtown.
The slide deck itself didn’t contain the potential 2026 date – West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the committee, asked for a date, and all ST reps would give him was that 2016 would be the earliest a “Sound Transit 3” measure could go before voters. Perhaps a “board member” could speculate further, they said, with all eyes turning to Councilmember Mike O’Brien, a board member who happened to be right there at the table.
For so many people with so many recyclables that can’t be put out for curbside pickup, the twice-annual Fauntleroy Church “Recycle Roundup” dropoff events are highly popular. That’s why we’re sharing mega-early news of the date for the next one: 9 am-3 pm Sunday, September 21st, church parking lot @ 9140 California SW. See the newly updated “what they’ll accept” list here.
We might not see a rerun of last night’s sunset (thanks to Barry White for the photo), but here’s what 
IS on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
‘WALK-AND-TALK’ IN FUTURE RAINGARDEN ZONE: 6 pm, residents in the South Delridge “natural drainage” project zone are invited to meet with city reps for a walk-and-talk discussion about where it stands and what happens next. Details in our calendar listing (Starts at 17th/Elmgrove)
HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY MEETING: The Highland Park Elementary School PTA and HP Action Committee are co-hosting a meeting at HP Improvement Clubto talk about how the community can support the struggling school, 7 pm. (12th/Holden)
SCHMITZ PARK ELEMENTARY OUTDOOR MOVIE: We’ll update if there’s a change because of the weather; “Rio 2” is to be shown tonight at SPES as a fundraiser for the fourth-grade trip to Islandwood. Doors open 6:30; movie at 8:30; cost $3/person (kids under 3 free); concessions to include pizza, popcorn, candy, drinks. (5000 SW Spokane) Thanks to commenter “Mighty Moh” for word this is pushed back a week.
Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch today. First, a stolen car to watch for, taken from 18th SW in the Highland Park area:
We’d be grateful for any help the community may provide in locating the vehicle. It’s a black 2008 Mazda 3 4-door, license plate 863DWG (Oregon). There are some identifying stickers on the vehicle as well: a “Seattle U Law” sticker, and a “Boise State” sticker. It was stolen between the evening of Thursday 8/7 and the morning of 8/10, when we went out to look for it.
As noted in the SPD @getyourcarback tweet about it, call 911 if you see it.
Also keep watch for two bicycles stolen from Alki. From Ara:
Two bikes were locked to a bike rack at the east end of Alki on Saturday at about 5:15 PM. Bike racks on the water side of Alki Ave SW at 55th Ave SW. The lock was cut and the bikes were taken in broad daylight.
2010 Cannondale Synapse Road Bike – Blue Frame, Size 58:
2013 Cannondale Althea Hybrid Bike – Black Frame, Women’s size Tall:
The bikes have traveled with us from coast to coast. They are very loved and important to us. We would love to have them back. Reward and good karma available. Please contact andara13@hotmail.com with any information. Thank you.
Last but not least, a hit-run driver wound up in a yard in the 6300 block of 23rd SW early Sunday and damaged a “stock tank” planter that was growing lettuce and kale.
The planter’s owner says the car’s fender was left behind, “complete with blue-green paint.” It’s now with SPD as evidence, but if you know someone with a car or small SUV that suddenly showed up with a missing fender sometime Sunday (or later) … a police report has been filed.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
As we start a new day of traffic-watching, remember that two of this week’s road-work projects are scheduled for today: The first of two days of SW Roxbury repaving, 25th SW to 27th SW. Also, the first of two days of hill-traction work, starting today with SW Charlestown, 45th SW to 47th SW. (Tomorrow, the crews are scheduled to move on to SW Genesee between Avalon and Delridge.)
ALSO TODAY: 2 big items on the City Council Transportation Committee‘s agenda this morning at 9:30 am – the confirmation process starts for SDOT director nominee Scott Kubly, and another discussion of Sound Transit‘s Long-Range Plan Update, both previewed here. If you can’t be at City Hall, you can watch live at seattlechannel.org.
Next Sunday afternoon (August 17th) at West Seattle Golf Course, a memorial is planned for “Buck” Thompson, whose family shares this remembrance:
Clair Wallace “Buck” Thompson, 83, of Seattle, Washington, passed away on July 14, 2014.
Buck was born in Omaha, Nebraska to Clair and Ethel Thompson. He was a 1950 graduate of West Seattle High School. He went on to earn a degree at Washington State University in Business with a minor in Architectural Small Dwelling Construction graduating in 1954. In his early years, he worked in the hotel and restaurant management business, was a real estate agent selling recreational property in Eastern Washington, and later sold marine supply equipment with Obert Marine Supply. Buck belonged to the Society of Port Engineers of Puget Sound and held the position of President, Chairman of the Board, “Chicken of the Year,” and “Man of the Year”. He enjoyed travel, fishing, sports, and family.
Buck is preceded in death by his parents, Clair and Ethel, and his sister Judith Ann Campbell.
He is survived by his devoted wife Sharon Thompson; sons Paul (Kim) Thompson and Bryce (Eva) Thompson; daughter Dawn (Eric) Hodo; stepson Jamie (Beth) Trigg; stepdaughter Tracy (Mitch) Trotter; eleven grandchildren and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
A memorial for Buck will be held at the West Seattle Golf Course on Sunday, August 17, at 3:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Medic One, without whose help Buck would never have been able to receive the care he did: Medic One Fire Department, 301 Second Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98104.
(WSB publishes obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
(Photo by Christopher Frankovich)
9:18 PM: As predicted, thunderstorms have arrived – coming up from the south/southeast right now, and you might even have seen lightning over downtown already. This follows a record-setting high temperature today, 96 degrees (it was still 85 at 9 pm). The thunderstorms are expected to stay in the area through at least tomorrow.
10:42 PM UPDATE: Rain arrived with the most recent cell. Also a reminder … we had one short-lived lost pet report, a dog spooked by the thunder and lightning, so make sure your pet is extra-safe. Meantime, just received, and added, an excellent lightning photo from West Seattle photographer Christopher Frankovich – thanks!
11:04 PM NOTE: And in case you’ve noticed this too – yes, that’s aircraft heading westward, likely because of the weather, in a different pattern than usual this time of night.
1:24 AM: Thanks also to Doug B for sharing a view of a bolt spotted from Hamilton Viewpoint in North Admiral. Things have calmed down since our last update – the air traffic shifted away, no further thundershowers – but they remain in the forecast for today (Tuesday) as of a late-evening update.
You have likely heard by now that actor/comedian Robin Williams is gone too soon, at 63, found dead in his San Francisco Bay Area home this afternoon, believed to be a victim of suicide.
Two things we wanted to mention here:
(Photo courtesy WSFB, added Tuesday: Mr. Williams in 2004 with WSFB volunteers Aaron & Laurie and then-operations manager Gretchen)
First, Mr. Williams had at least one West Seattle connection – a history of generous gifts to the West Seattle Food Bank, most notably, more than $50,000 in proceeds from downtown performances in 2004, 2007, and 2008.
Second, we wanted to again share the local hotline number that offers help to anyone thinking about suicide (or experiencing other crisis situations), the Crisis Clinic – 206-461-3222. The CC website also recommends reading this.
Thanks to the tipsters who texted/e-mailed about police activity on Beach Drive this past hour. We checked with Seattle Police’s Det. Drew Fowler, who tells us that one “juvenile” suspect is in custody after a purse-snatching incident. Information is still preliminary, but the police log shows that a woman reported someone had stolen her purse and phone around Weather Watch Park (Beach Drive/Carroll; map), and she or someone else was in pursuit. One person was taken into custody.
At week’s end, King County Elections published the legislative-district-by-legislative-district breakdown of the first night’s results in the August 5th election. Though the citywide total has been in favor of Seattle Proposition 1 – creating a Park District with taxing authority for extra parks funding that has previously come via levy – parkland-rich West Seattle is in the “no” column. West Seattle has the bulk of in-city voters in the 34th Legislative District (map), and the district’s opening-night vote was 42 percent “approve,” 58 percent “reject.” That was the lowest “approve” percentage of any legislative district with some Seattle voters; next lowest was the 32nd District (map) in northwesternmost Seattle, at 43 percent “approve.” The strongest support, meantime, was 63 percent “approve” in the 43rd District (map), which includes downtown, Capitol Hill, and Green Lake.
If you’re interested in other King County races’ election-night district-by-district breakout, it’s all in this PDF. No precinct-by-precinct breakout yet; the final vote won’t be certified until next week. (And again, what’s reported above is from a breakdown of the first count, made public election night, and does not include ballots counted and reported since then. The “approve/reject” gap has widened a little citywide since that first round; as of Friday afternoon, “approve” was ahead with 53.2 percent, while on Election Night, it was at 52.4 percent.
When we published the call for West Seattle Outdoor Movies suggestions this year, 10 commenters – from Al to WSResident – nominated 1985’s “The Goonies.” As announced in May, it’s on the schedule for next Saturday (August 16th) on the big screen next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor). It’s free – just bring your own chair/blanket as moviegoers do every Saturday night of WSOM; here’s part of last week’s crowd:
Big turnouts this year and this Saturday is bound to bring the same, so don’t wait until the last minute; gates open at 6:30 pm. There’s plenty to do before the movie; this week’s pre-show band is Layered System, promising blues and jazz. Raffles and concessions benefit a local nonprofit each week, and this Saturday it’ll be Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (which is getting ready for its big mural unveiling two days before movie night). The screen’s in the courtyard at 4410 California SW – see you there! (P.S. “Goonies” is the second-to-last WSOM show of the year; the finale on August 23 is “Frozen.”)
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