West Seattle, Washington
10 Thursday
By this point in the school year – three weeks or less to go – it feels like a race to the finish. But that’s not why they were on the run at Alki Elementary this afternoon. It was the annual Alki-A-Thon – which, if you look closely at the next photo, you’ll notice coincided with Crazy Hair Day. The Alki PTA organized the annual event as a fundraiser, with kids collecting pledges for the laps they ran.
Parents joining the runners out in the bright sunshine got into the spirit too, some sporting “crazy hair” as well as the special Alki-A-Thon T-shirts – here are Christina, Amy, and Alexis:
We caught up later with Susan Gates, this year’s Alki-A-Thon chair, who told us she was especially grateful for so much volunteer help!
ADDED SATURDAY: Thanks to Lori for sharing a photo of her first-grader son Sammy, joyfully running with his schoolmates:
She reports Sammy accomplished 18 laps!
(“Preferred” massing – size and shape, not design – from early renderings filed with the city)
The Southwest Design Review Board only meets if there are projects to review – and its two-Thursdays-a-month schedule has been open since its last meeting almost a month ago. But now there’s a date on the horizon: July 10th is tentatively scheduled as the Design Review debut for a project we first told you about in early May: A three-story eye clinic planned for 7520 35th SW, currently the site of Red Star Pizza (which, as reported in our earlier story, has been looking for a new location), and a 32-space parking area. The July 10th meeting is set for 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle; since that’s six weeks away, there’s always a chance the date could change, and we’ll publish an update if that happens.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 7:00 PM: The police and helicopter in Highland Park/Riverview is because of a search for two possibly lost children, a 10-year-old girl and 5-year-old boy. Police are asking you to call 911 if you see them. They were last seen in the 12th/Myrtle area across from the playground. The girl has short brown hair, hot pink shirt, possibly a fur vest, cast on her right arm. The boy has blond hair, blue eyes, shirts and short. They might be in the greenbelt or walking nearby streets. More as we get it.
7:26 PM: We have confirmation they have been found safe nearby.
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
In the second of two back-to-back sentencings involving high-profile West Seattle cases, King County Superior Court Judge Catherine Shaffer has just sentenced 19-year-old Trevonnte Brown, whose robbery spree aboard a RapidRide bus in Morgan Junction last November ended when passengers grabbed and tackled him.
Brown was sentenced to the recommended 13 1/2 years total – 8 1/2 for the robberies, 5 mandatory years for using a gun – not only for the bus robberies that night but also for another robbery on board a Metro bus earlier that month (not in West Seattle). And prosecutor Alex Voorhees noted that the defendant had told police that he participated in “numerous” strong-arm robberies.
Over the objection of the defense lawyer, she played the video of the bus holdup for the judge, from the moment it showed Brown rising from his seat and pointing his gun at people to demand their phones, to the pileup that followed, restraining Brown and taking away his gun, after one of the victims, Casey Borgen, grabbed his arm. The video continued to roll as a woman called 911, with at least three men keeping Brown down, who could be heard yelling that they were hurting him. A shorter form of the video was shown on citywide TV last year, including this KING5.com clip:
The video continued rolling in court until the point where police entered the bus. They were heard to call the guys who restrained Brown as heroes; Voorhees pointed out that Brown continued acting “abusive(ly)” as he was taken away, including doing damage to a police car. (pleaded guilty last month.)
Voorhees mentioned that Brown had confessed but that she was struck “by the lack of remorse” shown by Brown, who she says told investigators he had been “committing robberies since high school … he acknowledged that these three incidents we have before the court today are by no means the first foray … (though perhaps) the most extreme” because he used a gun.
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
A year and a half after 38-year-old Amy Lynn O’Brien drove her car into two students across the street from Chief Sealth International High School, an emotional hearing has ended with King County Superior Court Judge Catherine Shaffer sentencing her to one year, twice the six-month recommendation prosecutors had made, and ordering that the sentence begin immediately.
We reported last month that O’Brien pleaded guilty to hit and run and second-degree assault, the charges originally filed against her.
(WSB photo from the aftermath of the incident in November 2012)
In November 2012, she was arrested for hitting the two girls after getting upset about the 17- and 18-year-old girls’ interaction with her unleashed dog Both girls were hospitalized with serious injuries; O’Brien turned herself in the next day and spent about a week in jail before being released on personal recognizance, remaining free until now.
Both victims, Jessica and Cassandra, were present in court for the sentencing and spoke to the judge, as did the defendant.
Lot-boundary-adjustment proposals are often first word of development plans on the way for a site, so we watch the city’s online files for early word of them. Two more West Seattle proposals have just appeared:
3917 CALIFORNIA SW: This two-lot, two-building, six-apartment site at California/Andover has been listed for sale for a while. Now there’s a proposal to change the lot boundaries/sizes. While the eventual development plan has not yet appeared online, the application says the 71-year-old, California-fronting four-plex is to be demolished, with the Andover-facing duplex to remain, for now. The site is currently split into two equal-sized rectangular parcels; the “adjustment” would result in two L-shaped lots, both with frontage on both California and Andover.
The site is zoned Lowrise 3.
4023 SW GRAHAM: This 7,500-square-foot site at 41st/Graham on the east edge of Morgan Junction is on the books as one 7,500 parcel but technically two lots, and is proposed to be “adjusted” into two 3,750-square-foot lots. The application says the 67-year-old house and slightly newer garage/carport currently on the parcel will be demolished; the future development plans are not yet on file. The site is zoned single-family 5,000, and a document in the file says 3,750 sf is the minimum allowable building-lot size.
(Looking west from The Triangle toward The Junction – photo by Long B. Nguyen)
If your Friday night’s not locked down yet – options abound:
RAINBOW BINGO: “Stars & Stripes” is the theme – doors open at 6 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle, but call fast to see if there’s still space available! (California/Oregon)
SING OUT! West Seattle Christian Church invites one and all to a Hymn Sing tonight at 7 pm. (4400 42nd SW)
ROCK, POP, PREMIERE! Tonight’s the night for the West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ final concert till fall – including the premiere of Rob Duisberg‘s new symphony (featured in our preview published earlier) as well as “rock and pop songs as you’ve never heard them.” Go see your neighbors making music. 7:30 pm, Chief Sealth International High School auditorium. (2600 SW Thistle)
MUSIC AT DUOS: The Triangular Jazztet with guest pianist Orin Sand, 7:30-10:30 pm at Duos Lounge (WSB sponsor), and check out the patio! (2940 SW Avalon Way)
WITCHBURN UNPLUGGED … with special guests, as part of the group’s video-premiere event @ Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm. (6451 California SW)
HAVE FUN, HELP KITTENS … and grown-up cats too. Tonight’s the night for the West Side Glory “Feline Groovy” benefit at Skylark Café and Club, helping the local shelter Kitty Harbor. 9 pm with an all-star lineup, as noted in our preview. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
EVEN MORE HAPPENING TONIGHT … browse our calendar to see what else is up!
(You don’t HAVE to have a bouncy toy, but Hillcrest does – 2010 WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Be part of the year’s biggest night of block parties, the 30th annual Night Out, on Tuesday, August 5th. Sounds like a long way away, but our area’s SPD Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon sends word that registration is open NOW. If you sign up, you can close your street to traffic that night (provided you’re not on an arterial and a few other caveats) – go here as soon as you’re ready. Early party-planning also offers the chance to apply for a Department of Neighborhoods matching-fund grant – the deadline is June 23rd; find out about it here. More than 1,400 neighborhoods around Seattle had block parties last year – this year, join ’em!
Congratulations to West Seattle High School athletic director Trevor Leopold for a big honor in his role as the school’s fastpitch (softball) coach – he has been chosen Metro League Coach of the Year. The Wildcats finished the season high atop the conference (here are the standings as published at SeattleTimes.com). WSHS players receiving all-league honors were pitcher Gabby Wenn and shortstop Annalisa Ursino; all-division honors, catcher Sam Hummert and infielder Emma Atkinson, with honorable mention to infielder Tina Lozeau. Congratulations to all!
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(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:41 AM: All’s well (relatively) so far on the major routes, as we head into the heart of the morning commute.
WEEKEND PREVIEW: Only major closure in the region this weekend is the 520 bridge. Around the city, some big events might affect traffic – they’re in the SDOT weekend-alert roundup.
8:44 AM: Matt reports traffic-signal trouble at Delridge/Kenyon. We’re headed that way for a look. (Update: OK by the time we arrived.)
(Photo courtesy West Seattle Totems)
More success for the West Seattle Totems, whose coach Joe Matter shares another of his periodic updates, with news of state and national championships:
The West Seattle Totems, the Junior Olympic Rifle Club located at the West Seattle Stadium, just finished its best season to date.
In the Washington State Indoor Championships, the Thunderbird Squad (Owen Yeasting, Casey Iwamoto, Corinne Blair and Alec Patajo) won the state team Championship. Alec won the individual state title.
In the Washington State Outdoor Championships, the Thunderbird Squad (Owen, Casey, and Corinne) won the state team title. The Chiefs squad (Katelynn Brown, Jack Ellis, and Emma Carey) finished as the 2nd place team. Alec won the Outdoor 3-Position state title. Owen won the Outdoor Prone state title. Alec won the overall Aggregate Title. Corinne won the Indoor&Outdoor Women’s Aggregate. Emma won the Outdoor Women’s Aggregate.
In the National Indoor Championships, the Totems brought home 44 national awards.
Three West Seattle food notes tonight:
GLUTEN-FREE CRUST AT ZEEKS: Starting Monday, a new option at Zeeks Pizza (WSB sponsor) – gluten-free crust. Our friends at Ravenna Blog broke the news on Twitter today:
Bonus: @zeekspizza locations in Seattle rolling out gluten-free crusts on Monday. We got sample slices. pic.twitter.com/Ah2b7HY2Ee
— Ravenna Blog (@RavennaBlog) May 29, 2014
The GF crusts are in partnership with Nuflours. You won’t see the option on the online menu immediately, but you’ll be able to order by phone – again, starting Monday – or while dining in.
FATHER’S DAY AT DUOS: A little over two weeks until Father’s Day, and Duos Lounge (WSB sponsor) in Luna Park is offering a special menu 11 am-4 pm, including barbecued ribs and fried chicken. See the menu here. Reservations suggested.
TAT’S TRUCK: A new food truck spinning off from the renowned Pioneer Square sandwich shop Tat’s Deli will be based out of West Seattle (as are more than a few trucks, you’ve probably noticed), its owners tell WSB. They’re planning a “soft open” on June 7th, West Seattle location TBA (watch here), and they’re hiring (here’s their CL ad – we’ll be pointing them to the free listings in the WSB Forums, too).
City leaders’ version of an ordinance eventually raising Seattle’s minimum wage to $15 goes to a final council vote next Monday. That’s after committee approval and amendments today, as reported by The Seattle Times (WSB partner), which notes that this proposal requires the businesses with the most workers to start paying $15 by 2017, with small businesses not getting there for seven years. See the full ordinance here, not yet updated with the amendments that passed from the long list proposed by councilmembers. Here’s what Councilmember Sally Clark, who chairs the income-inequality-focused committee, wrote after the vote. The 15Now organization, meantime, continues collecting signatures to get a faster-moving version on the November ballot, though its website declares “WE WON!” regarding today’s council vote.
6:52 PM: Two crashes on major roads right now – 35th/Juneau, the second crash in that area today (the first one was in early afternoon), this time reported to be a vehicle having hit a pole, with northbound lanes blocked by the SFD response; Fauntleroy/Cloverdale, near the ferry dock. Add that to what we hear was a very slow evening commute (even after Vice President Biden’s low-key visit ended) southbound from downtown and beyond, and it’s apparently still tough going almost everywhere out there.
7:19 PM: At least two people were taken to the hospital, by private ambulances, from the 35th/Juneau crash. Adding a photo; the red car, at left, hit a utility pole – the silver car, at center, had even more front-end damage, primarily on the passenger side. The southbound lanes remained open, as this was indeed in the northbound lanes, but avoid the area until it’s cleared – we’ll be checking back. (No additional information on Fauntleroy/Cloverdale – the SFD call has closed.)
(WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli)
Roxhill Elementary has had some high-profile visitors. But this afternoon’s surprise visitor might have topped them all – the most famous Seattleite on the music scene right now – Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist Macklemore. He came to Roxhill a little while ago for the presentation of a “buddy bench” (explained here).
ADDED: More photos, and we have video in the works. Here’s Macklemore on the bench with (left) fiancee Tricia Davis and (right) Roxhill principal Sahnica Washington:
He signed the bench, of course:
Though his appearance was a surprise in the classic sense of the word, but it’s not surprising, given his involvement in pro-acceptance and anti-bullying advocacy.
“Helping other people – that’s what life is all about,” you’ll hear him say in our video of the assembly; he first appears about 10 minutes in, after principal Washington explains the buddy bench. He then joined in a skit demonstrating it:
Roxhill’s Youth Ambassadors were the official assembly hosts. Macklemore (better known as Ben Haggerty in his own school days) said he and the YA program “go way back.”
**MORE AHEAD** Read More
Kitchen fires are the most common kind of fire in the U.S. – so do you know what to do in case of a fire in your kitchen? Take a few minutes and watch the demonstration we covered this morning at the Joint Training Facility on the southeast edge of West Seattle. That’s Seattle Fire Department Captain C.M. Yob. (For the abbreviated version, move the cursor ahead to 2 minutes in, when the flames appear.) Also on hand, Puget Sound Energy‘s Andy Wappler:
We photographed him showing off the elements of a disaster-preparedness starter kit that will be given away at Fred Meyer in Redondo (25250 Pacific Hwy S.) during an event on June 14th that’s part of the Safe in the Sound campaign involving PSE and the Red Cross, among others.
>(2:11 PM UPDATE: The owner has been found)
1:47 PM: If you have any idea whose dog this is – she has a tag reading “Lulu” – they need to know she’s at a local clinic, and that a lot of people worked hard to rescue her and are trying to find her people.
It started with Jennifer, who lives near the top of the hill at Highland Park Way and heard it happen around 1 am:
I looked out of my 3rd story window and saw the driver of an SUV (in the dark it looked like a silver Pathfinder or Infinity) get out and look under their vehicle. They said something to their passenger and got back in their car after a few seconds. They tried to drive off but whatever they hit was still blocking their way somewhat so they backed up a bit then went forward again. They paused slightly and then just drove down the big hill.
I could see through the branches of the tree between me and that part of the street something flopping and flailing about, it looked like a large dog. I then say a Border Collie run across Highland Park way from the west and it was obvious they were buddies. The Border Collie went to the other dog and stood there looking around as if for help. I decided to run down to help but by the time I got there all I saw was blood on the street. Almost starting to cry, I looked up the weird little street going Southeast, up kind of behind where I live and sure enough there was the big dog that had been hit, limping up the hill with the Border Collie encouraging its friend to get somewhere, probably home. I didn’t know what to do.
From there, the dogs both went to the side yard of a nearby house. Jennifer followed along and guessed it might be their home; the injured dog went into the back yard, while the border collie came back to her. She knocked on the door – no one came. She went back when it was light; the border collie turned up again, the other dog was still in the yard. She says, “(A young neighbor) saw the border collie wondering around and decided to take it for a walk. He was on Highland Park Way when a woman stopped her car, told the kid that was her dog and took off with it. She did not mention a second dog at all.” She found the owner of the house where the injured dog was still resting, and with the help of yet more neighbors, “we tried all sorts of things like calling vets, 911, friends, friends of friends, the animal shelter which was not taking calls until 9:15. Finally the kid, who happens to volunteer at the Burien shelter, called an officer there who out of the kindness of his heart came to put the dog on a stretcher, load the dog into his vehicle and transport the dog to Lien Animal Clinic. Incredible dedication!”
2:11 PM UPDATE: Nancy, another neighbor who was helping, says Lulu’s owner has been found.
One lane is blocked each way on 35th SW in the High Point area because of a crash – thanks to the person who texted to let us know. Police at the scene tell us no one was hurt, but it’s slow going in the area so avoid it there for a while if you can. In all, police confirm three cars were involved.
Also from today’s city Land Use Information Bulletin – another big proposal that is now ready for review and comments: The city’s draft Environmental Impact Statement for the plan to reduce combined-sewer overflows (aka “The Plan to Protect Seattle’s Waterways”). Here’s the formal notice. This is similar to, but NOT part of, the county CSO-reduction plan that has led to two major projects in our area (storage tank at Lowman Beach and roadside raingardens in Sunrise Heights and Westwood). The city is accountable for different areas, including, in West Seattle, Longfellow Creek and the Duwamish River, and is exploring alternatives including the possibility of more underground storage in the Delridge area. Lots of documents related to this – for the shortest version, the executive summary, go here. You’ll find an overview, and how to comment, by going here – June 30th is the commenting deadline, and there’s one public hearing planned (June 24th in North Seattle, details at that same link).
Just before noon, the low tide will be out to -1.9 feet – great for beach exploration. As we’ve been noting for the past few days, the Seattle Aquarium‘s volunteer beach naturalists are back on duty.
Part of the corps, John Smersh (who you might know from longtime WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits in The Junction), shared the photos from Constellation Park south of Alki Point. The naturalists are there and on the Lincoln Park beach by Colman Pool until 1 pm today; here’s their schedule for the rest of the week, and on into summer. In just two weeks, you’ll see some even lower tides, bottoming out at -3.3 feet on June 14th, lowest it’ll get this summer.
Very busy Land Use Information Bulletin from the city today; we’re working on several stories, but for starters – it’s officially comment time for proposed multi-family zoning changes dubbed the “low-rise code corrections.” They’re meant to be a response to neighborhood concerns that zoning changes back in 2010 enabled multi-family projects that were out of scale with some neighborhoods. The notice summarizes the key parts of the proposal (which you can see in full here):
Specific proposed development standard changes are:
*Eliminate a height allowance of up to an additional four feet above the base height limit for apartment housing type developments that include a partially below grade story.
*Eliminate a floor area exemption from the floor area ratio (FAR) calculation for the portion of buildings in a partially below grade story for apartment type developments.
*Add a new height control to limit the maximum street-facing façade height for development on sloping sites to 44 feet in a 40 foot maximum height Lowrise zone, and 34 feet in a 30 foot maximum height Lowrise zone.
*Place a 30 percent coverage limit on how much of a rooftop may be covered by clerestory architectural features.
*Require the area of unenclosed exterior stairs, hallways and breezeways to be included as chargeable floor area in FAR calculations.
*Include the floor area of loft spaces that are less than full ceiling heights in the FAR calculation.
*Add a side setback requirement for rowhouse developments that are next to other types of housing.
*Change the rounding up threshold for the density limits in Lowrise zones from 0.5 to 0.85.
*Add a density limit of one dwelling unit per 1,600 square feet of lot area for rowhouse development on small lots in the Lowrise 1 zone.
Not sure if there’s lowrise zoning near you? The city’s zoning maps are here. Today’s notice, meantime, includes a “determination of nonsignificance” – meaning the city doesn’t think these changes will have environmental (noise, traffic, etc.) ramifications; the comment period runs through June 12th – scroll to the bottom of the notice to see how to comment. The proposal requires City Council approval, and would not affect any projects currently in the pipeline.
Just announced: Free shredding and e-cycling this Saturday in The Junction, 10 am-1 pm May 31st, presented by the West Seattle Junction Association and Windermere West Seattle. It’ll be in the parking lot in the 4500 block of 42nd SW (between Oregon and Alaska). The e-cycling provider’s website lists what they’ll accept.
P.S. If you can’t get to this Saturday’s event but have documents to dispose of, free shredding will be offered a week later, 9 am-1 pm June 7th, at PBJ Textiles‘ new location in White Center – details here.
This year’s Seattle Works Day – volunteer work parties around the city – is set for June 7th, and open to participation by anyone who’s interested. After getting the announcement, we asked about specific West Seattle locations – here are three:
*Brandon Street Natural Area (SW Brandon/29th SW): Join Gorilla FC (described by SW as “the Sounders’ civically minded fan base”) in maintenance of newly planted areas.
*Westcrest Park (9000 8th SW): Forest restoration led by AmeriCorps.
*The Kenney (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW): Assisting the nonprofit retirement center’s gardener in garden weeding and mulching, plus stairwell sweeping
There’s a $30 registration fee to support Seattle Works, and it gets you into two after-parties 3:30-7:30 pm – details and signups here.
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