West Seattle, Washington
04 Monday
Prudential Northwest Realty, led by West Seattleite Mike Gain, now has something in common with household names such as Dairy Queen, See’s Candies, GEICO Insurance, and Fruit of the Loom: It is now owned by a company that belongs to Warren Buffett‘s Berkshire Hathaway. Ahead, the news release announcing that HomeServices of America is buying PNW Realty – which will not be changing its name, according to the announcement:Read More
In case you haven’t heard (we’ll admit, we hadn’t) – the Seattle School Board voted unanimously last night to NOT ask the state to waive two makeup days looming because of this winter’s snow. That means the last day of the school year will be June 22nd (one day was made up on January 27th).
P.S. Here’s the district news release sent around this morning.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes this morning:
THE CASE OF THE PEPPER-SPRAY-ARMED SHOPLIFTING SUSPECT: Seattle Police put this one on their SPD Blotter website this morning. Last night around 8:30 pm, they say, a shoplifting suspect at Admiral Safeway pepper-sprayed store security and a bystander, and then took off running. He allegedly tried to spray police too, when they caught up with him in a nearby alley, eventually using a Taser to stop him. All this, SPD Blotter says, over $32 in merchandise. You can read their full summary here.
BURGLARY INTERRUPTED: At last night’s Southwest District Council meeting (full report to come), SW Precinct operations Lt. Pierre Davis said burglaries, auto thefts, and car prowls are still down. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t happening at all – in the Fairmount Park area, Donny came home Monday evening to discover his home had been ransacked – he sent this photo as police investigated:
From Donny’s e-mail:
I arrived home near 37th and Findlay, interrupting a burglary. Two of my doors were severely damaged when pried open; every room in my home had been ransacked with many valuables missing.
He says it’s believed there were several burglars involved, including someone “acting as a lookout,” and his neighbors had noticed an “older, rose-colored long vehicle” in the area.
A holdover photo from Tuesday evening’s memorable rainbow sightings – Jessica caught the rainbow over the totem pole at West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park (35th/Alaska). Whatever today holds weather-wise, we do know some of what’s on the schedule. From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
ROAD WORK: No bridge closures scheduled tonight, but some ramp and surface changes around the bridge – detailed here. ***Updated at 4 pm, SDOT now says the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct WILL close overnight again tonight.*** And we’ll be checking on the progress for the paving work south of The Junction.
TODDLER EGGSTRAVAGANZA AT HIGH POINT COMMUNITY CENTER: Activities start at 10 am, with an egg hunt at 11 am (“sharp”!) – details on the event-calendar page. (6420 34th SW)
TOWN HALL AT SSCC ON TRAYVON MARTIN CASE: Noon-1 pm at Brockey Center on the south side of South Seattle Community College‘s campus, it’s a Town Hall on race and social-justice issues evoked by this nationally discussed Florida case, with “an open forum followed by small-group discussions.” (6000 16th SW)
WINE TASTING AT WEST SEATTLE CELLARS: Thursday is “free tasting” night at new WSB sponsor West Seattle Cellars, 5:30-8 pm. Tonight, Italian Wines from Vias Imports (details here), with Chris Zimmerman, who according to WS Cellars’ newsletter is bringing “food tidbits” to enhance the experience. (P.S. If you’re a first-time visitor to WS Cellars, check out this offer.)
BEX IV SCHOOL-LEVY COMMUNITY-INPUT MEETING: The first draft of possibilities for next February’s ballot levy – which could range from half a billion to more than three-quarters of a billion dollars – includes a proposal that would close Roxhill Elementary and “merge” its “program” into Arbor Heights Elementary, one and a half miles away. (Here’s our coverage of a Tuesday night meeting at AH.) Other West Seattle possibilities include building a new Schmitz Park Elementary at closed Genesee Hill, as well as reopening Hughes Elementary (now being leased by Westside School [WSB sponsor]), and possibly renovating and reopening Fairmount Park Elementary. One option also includes an addition to West Seattle Elementary. What do you think – about these ideas, or something you would rather see instead? The only West Seattle meeting about the first draft of district options is 6:30 pm tonight, Denny International Middle School. Preview the meeting materials with links on the right side of this district page. (2601 SW Kenyon)
MUNICIPAL LEAGUE CIVIC AWARDS HONOR KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND WSB: The 6:30 pm event’s happening in SODO – at West Seattleite-owned Herban Feast/SODO Park – but we’ll be there to represent because WSB is an honoree: The Municipal League of King County is presenting its 58th annual Civic Awards tonight. The big-name West Seattleite on the list is King County Executive Dow Constantine, who’s receiving the James R. Ellis Regional Leadership Award. We’re honored to accept the Government News Reporting of the Year Award, explained on the Muni League website as being for “comprehensive coverage, high-quality reporting and strong commitment to covering important local government issues.”
RELAY FOR LIFE WEST SEATTLE: From organizers, via the R4LWS Facebook page: “Our next team captain meeting is (tonight), April 5th, 7 pm at Bridge Park – ALL team captains, team members, and prospective participants are welcome. Come out and get your questions answered and learn more about relay, and help us plan the event of the year! Questions? please ask! Hope to see you all there!” The cancer-fighting-fundraising relay is June 15-16. (3204 SW Morgan)
MAUNDY THURSDAY: Holy Week services continue at many local churches; Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) sent us word of their Maundy Thursday service tonight, 7 pm (details on the event-calendar page; 3940 41st SW).
8:48 AM: You can’t miss it along busy SW Thistle outside Chief Sealth International High School right now – a bus wrapped with C-SPAN ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE cable-channel promotion. We stopped and went into the school office to ask why. No, not there to cover a candidate visit – the bus is there for social-studies students to tour today, as a lesson about the election process, as they approach (or reach! for many seniors) voting age.
11:41 AM UPDATE: After publishing this photo, we got word of a chance for anyone and everyone to tour it tomorrow in High Point:
Hi all, we are fortunate to have the C-SPAN bus at High Point Center tomorrow, April 6th, from 2:30 until 4:30pm. The bus is equipped with the latest interactive technology, including Touchsmart computer kiosks to access C-SPAN resources, a public affairs quiz, and equipment needed to create television programming and web content. We are excited to invite all youth to come tour the bus!
HP Center is at 6400 Sylvan Way SW.
This is the fifth spring that Alki photographer David Hutchinson has kindly shared his wonderful Canada geese images with WSB. This one, taken today along Harbor Avenue SW, arrived tonight, with the observation “Despite the cold blustery weather, spring must be just around the corner”; we checked back in the archives, and we’ve been lucky enough to have his gosling (and grownups) photos going all the way back to 2008 … scroll through this newest-to-oldest archive to see them (with a few other wildlife photos along the way).
The scene from the Arbor Heights Cooperative Preschool class of “Teacher Karen” may look like your everyday “kids dyeing Easter eggs” class – but there’s more than meets the eye. It starts with the story published here last week about Paul West and his request for people to give them their hard-boiled Easter eggs post-Easter so he could turn them into fertilizer for an “urban nitrogen project. That resonated with Karen, who explained via e-mail:
I have been wanting to dye eggs with my preschool class but I don’t want to “waste” the eggs, although they will not be edible after a day in a class full of three-year-olds. Then I read your story about Paul and gardening with urban nitrogen. I contacted Paul and talked to him about it. He very generously donated 5 dozen eggs to our class, and our class agreed to return at least double that many after we’d colored them.
So this morning, she invited us to drop by her classroom as the kids worked studiously on the task at hand.
P.S. If you’re interested in donating Easter eggs to the fertilizer project, Paul explains it on his website.
More than 20 sales of all sizes are already signed up for this year’s West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – the eighth annual edition (and the fifth one coordinated by us here at WSB), coming up 9 am-3 pm Saturday, May 12th. It’s become more than a shopping-frenzy kind of day – it’s become, with more than 200 sales all over the peninsula each of the past two WSCGSD’s meaning that most areas have a sale within walking distance (if you’re not hosting one yourself), a chance to get out and meet more of your neighbors. And it’s also a chance for yard-saling fans from around the region to come enjoy and explore West Seattle (including lunch and refreshment stops at local businesses). Plus, of course, it’s ultimately person-to-person recycling! If you’re considering being a seller this year, don’t procrastinate … sign up now. If you’re not sure, you do have time to make up your mind – registration will continue for three more weeks. It’s an all-online process – here’s the form!
Story and photos by Katie Meyer
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
It’s been two months since we first reported on the mysterious happenings inside the former Petco storefront at 4732 California SW – and now, the brand-new window-painting work has brought a new round of questions.
So we stopped by to see what’s up with Jason Rudolph, who told us back in February about his plans for the space – running his Sound Advertising Group and restoring some legendary animatronic characters.
First – Jason tells us he’ll open the space during the April West Seattle Art Walk next week – 6-9 pm Thursday, April 12th – to showcase work by Jason Sinclair Astorquia and host some live music by Willow & The Embers, so you’ll get to take a look inside for yourself.
While the restoration of the “Rock-afire Explosion” animatronic characters set up at the front of the space continues; Jason adds that most of his staff has moved their workstations from the company offices on 44th SW into this new space.
Painting over the windows with a mural – with just a few intentionally see-through spots – gives the the employees more privacy:
Once finished, the mural will be a colorful creative, original work hand-painted by Japhy Witte, known as “the Sign Savant.”
Petco vacated the space last November to move into its new spot in Capco Plaza at 41st/Alaska.
Every time the Fauntleroy Church Green Committee brings 
1 Green Planet to West Seattle for a “Recycle Roundup,” they head out with tons of stuff to be recycled rather than thrown away. So we’re giving you advance warning – another one is in the works for April 29th, 9 am-3 pm, and the church’s website already has posted the list of what you can drop off that day to be recycled – see it here. Last “Recycle Roundup” in October (WSB photo at left) set a Fauntleroy record – 14 tons of recycled items! (P.S. Yes, it’s free.)
Family and friends around West Seattle and beyond are mourning 48-year-old Lisa Mills, the motorcycle rider killed in the crash that closed southbound Highway 99 for hours last Sunday night. 
We are reporting her name now that the county Medical Examiner has finally formally released it. Ms. Mills, who lived in Sunrise Heights with her wife, was well-known as lead singer of Swamp Mama Johnson, a Northwest-based band that was popular in the ’90s (see a 1997 clip here).
She worked as a hypnotherapist and life coach, with her own business, Heliotrope Hypnosis Services. A friend shared the photo at left, showing Ms. Mills with her dog Ruby, who until Ruby’s recent death assisted her in volunteer therapy work, according to her website. Another friend of Ms. Mills tells us she also was studying to become a mixologist, adding, “Lisa lived life to the fullest and loved riding her motorcycle with her friends.” The preliminary report from Seattle Police says investigators think she “failed to negotiate a curve” at the Viaduct’s south end.
We have no information yet on a celebration of life or memorial fund, but have asked friends who contacted us to please let us know if and when those details become available, so that we can share it with the WSB community. (This mention on a news site in Bellingham, where Swamp Mama Johnson often played, says memorials will likely be held there and in Seattle.)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The principals of Arbor Heights and Roxhill Elementary Schools say the emergence of a proposal to merge the two into a rebuilt AH was as much a “big surprise” to them as it was to their schools’ communities.
That’s part of what they told a gathering of more than 50 people last night at a quickly organized community meeting, less than a week after the merger proposal debuted in the package of possibilities that district staff is circulating (as reported here) as the first round of community meetings begins about what should be in next February’s 4th edition of the every-six-years BEX (“Building Excellence”) levy.
The meeting, led by AH principal Christy Collins, with Roxhill principal Carmela Dellino speaking from the audience, unfolded while the first of those meetings played out across the city at Eckstein Middle School (West Seattle’s school-board director Marty McLaren had sent her regrets to AH and Roxhill, saying she had to be at that meeting instead of theirs). West Seattle’s version of the levy-input meeting is set for 6:30 pm Thursday at Denny International Middle School, and the meeting materials are now on the district website, if you’d like a preview – PowerPoint overview here and “the 3 options” here (which includes the merger proposal).
In addition to answering questions, the two principals sought to explain their side of how this idea might have sprung up, and Collins explained in a show-and-tell why it’s imperative that a new building replacing the 64-year-old AH becomes part of the levy, some way, some how.
An anonymous Fauntleroy photographer shares one more image from the Tuesday evening storm (and rainbows afterward – did you see our roundup of WSB’ers’ photos?) … since the National Weather Service says we could see thunderstorms later today, too. The weather may not keep a schedule, but some events do, and here are the highlights from the recently revitalized WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
ROAD WORK TRAFFIC ALERTS: Same ones as Tuesday: First, again tonight, the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct is scheduled to be closed 10 pm-5 am, so you won’t be able to exit to the West Seattle Bridge from I-5 or Beacon Hill during that time. Here’s the SDOT alert.. … Also, work will continue on the repaving of a block-plus of California SW from Hudson to Dawson, south of The Junction.
2 WEST SEATTLE WALKS FOR NATIONAL WALKING DAY: If you’d like to join with others in walking along Alki in honor of National Walking Day, one group is scheduled to meet at Statue of Liberty Plaza at 10 am, while another plans to meet at the Bathhouse at 5:30 pm. Details here. (2701 Alki Avenue SW)
BABY PEPPERS: A new session of this support group for parents with babies 5-12 months old (slightly older than those in PEPS) starts at 10:30 this morning at Bright Horizons-West Seattle. More details, including the registration link, here. (4530 38th SW)
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: Per the agenda we’ve added to the calendar-listing page, presentations about the downtown Waterfront/Seawall project and Community Power Works energy assessments/incentives program (WSB sponsor) will bring special guests to tonight’s monthly meeting of reps from community groups and organizations around western West Seattle. 7 pm at South Seattle Community College‘s board room (6000 16th SW).
Two notes about thirst-quenching events that are also charity benefits:
EVENT #1: Check out the all-star crew we photographed Tuesday night at Company Bar in White Center, previewing Hi-Yu Brü before it goes out to the masses this Friday night! Proprietors of establishments participating in the release of the next West Seattle/White Center benefit beer gathered tonight with friends at Company for a tasting of sorts. As of 6 pm this Friday, Company is one of the places – along with Shadowland, Feedback Lounge, West 5, The Feedback Lounge, Mission, Big Al Brewing (which makes Hi-Yu Brü), The Bridge, Locöl, and Beveridge Place Pub. Also in the photo, by the way – front and center, in the gray-green shirt, that’s Tian Richardson, who came up with the winning name.
EVENT #2: At Tian’s left in the dark shirt is The Feedback’s Matt Johnson, who figures prominently in this next announcement about a separate benefit event coming up next month: Feedback Lounge has signed on as cocktail sponsor for WestSide Baby‘s upcoming “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” cocktail party benefit at The Hall at Fauntleroy on May 18th. (We’re told Matt himself will be there as guest master mixologist.) Tickets are available now; read on for the announcement of what’s new with the party plan:Read More
ORIGINAL 9:09 PM REPORT: Thanks to everyone who’s been texting and calling about crashes – it’s been a dangerous night on local roads.
The latest is a crash in front of the opening-next-week Trader Joe’s in the 4500 block of Fauntleroy Way SW – and if you’re headed westbound on Fauntleroy, coming from the bridge, or 35th SW, you’ll be detoured onto a side street from Fauntleroy just before you get to the scene. Eastbound traffic toward 35th and the bridge is moving OK.
10:19 PM UPDATE: As pointed out in comments, westbound Fauntleroy is fully open again – we just checked it out in person, too.
Not related to the crash, but if you’re out driving tonight, remember the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct closure is now in effect till early am – we were just heading back from an errand on the other side of the bay, and the barricades were going up at 10 pm sharp.
11:28 PM NOTE: Another crash – this one, single vehicle, currently closing the 8100 block of Delridge Way SW. They’re calling an ambulance for a man in his 40s, though the injuries do not sound major at this point.
Sage shared that photo, saying: “Turns out 30th & Thistle is somewhere over the rainbow!” That rainbow, you probably know, followed an intense hail* shower about an hour ago. According to the National Weather Service’s latest “forecast discussion,” tomorrow will bring more scattered showers mixed with sunbreaks. Possibly related to the downpour, there’ve been at least two crashes in the past hour, including one at California/Charlestown that we’re told is still affecting traffic in the area. Matthew sent this photo from that scene:
Meantime, back to the rainbow – Mike Gerber shared this view of a double rainbow seen from Puget Ridge, on his property with the old orchard house mentioned here previously:
And from High Point, Wendy Hughes-Jelen shares this view:
If you missed the hail … here’s a view on the backyard bricks at WSB HQ in Upper Fauntleroy:
ADDED 9:25 PM: A few more photos – first, Don Brubeck captured the squall as it headed downtown:
And John Hinkey, northeast of The Junction, got an Alaska Airlines jet, rainbow-bound:
Probably another photo or two to add later .. but in the meantime, thanks again, everybody!
The biggest spring-sports success story so far in West Seattle this year is the Chief Sealth International High School boys’ varsity soccer team. They are undefeated after another win this afternoon, on the road against division rival Nathan Hale, 4-0. That puts their record at 7-0-1, and even before today’s big win, the Seattle Times ranked them 9th in the state. Their next scheduled game is Friday afternoon at home – 4 pm, hosting Rainier Beach at Southwest Athletic Complex (across SW Thistle from CSIHS).
About 5 months into construction, we have a few updates from the developers of Youngstown Flats – the almost-200-unit building going up at 26th/Dakota in North Delridge, the biggest project under construction in West Seattle right now. For one, their design for turning the “right of way” across 26th (newest version here) into a parklet of sorts won Seattle Design Commission approval, required because they need a Street Use Permit from the city. For two, the sculpture above has been chosen for installation along 26th near the building’s main-lobby entrance (it’s “Continuity” by Jan Hoy), and another RFP for more art is going out. Last but not least, if you’re interested in more info before they open in a year or so, the project finally has an official website.
Another first-of-its-kind event is on the West Seattle calendar this month – the first Delridge Unsung Heroes awards banquet on April 20th. Outreach co-chair Holli Margell has an update:
We were so impressed with the all of the 27 nominees to the “Delridge Unsung Heroes Banquet” that we’ve decided to change the format to a celebratory banquet. Instead of recognizing just the top 8, we’ll invite all 27 nominees to gather together for recognition and celebration.
One Outstanding Unsung Hero will be our nominee to the 2013 National Jefferson Awards. Every neighborhood within the Delridge District is represented, and this event will provide a unique opportunity for bringing the district together.
We know there are many who would like to help us celebrate these Unsung Heroes. One way we still need help is with providing the banquet portion of the event. We’re still accepting sponsorships. If you’d like to be a sponsor, please contact Mike Shilley at michael.j.shilley@q.com. We wish to thank everyone for sending in nominations!
This wasn’t in our morning roundup but in case it’s a subject about which you’re passionate – a reminder that the Seattle City Council‘s public hearing on the proposed Seattle Public Library levy is tonight, City Hall downtown, 5:30 pm (they’re taking signups starting at 5). Lots more info here. If finalized, the levy to raise $17 million a year would go to voters this August. If you can’t make it to the hearing, you’ll be able to watch it live via Seattle Channel, cable 21 or online.
West Seattle-based Transitional Resources recently put out the call for restaurants to join in its first Food for Art benefit: You dine, a portion of the proceeds goes to TR. Today, we have word that seven local restaurants have answered the call, and on Thursday, April 12th – in conjunction with that night’s West Seattle Art Walk night – they’ll partner with you, to help Transitional Resources, which shares this announcement:
Seven West Seattle restaurants will donate a generous percentage of proceeds to Transitional Resources’ art-therapy program on the evening of Thursday, April 12 as part of the first annual Food for Art event. Representatives from Transitional Resources will be at each restaurant, selling $5 raffle tickets for prizes donated by local artists and businesses, including event sponsor Ola Salon. All raffle proceeds will benefit the art therapy program at Transitional Resources, a West Seattle-based non-profit mental-health center serving people living with severe and persistent mental illness.
Food for Art diners are encouraged to let their servers know they support Food for Art. Details about each restaurant’s Food for Art promotion follows:
CIRCA will offer two Food For Art specials, donating 50% of the proceeds from those sales. Promotion runs 5-10 p.m. (2605 California SW)
FRESH BISTRO will donate 10% of proceeds from sales off their regular menu (not their Restaurant Week promotional menu) and strongly encourages reservations. Promotion runs 5-10 p.m. (4725 42nd SW)
HIGHSTRIKE GRILL will donate 25% of proceeds from all restaurant sales. Promotion runs 7-10 p.m. (4505 39th SW)
LOCOL BARLEY & VINE will donate 25% of proceeds from all restaurant sales. Promotion runs 6-10 p.m. (7902 35th SW)
LUNA PARK CAFE will donate 25% of proceeds from all restaurant sales. Promotion runs 6-10 p.m. (2918 SW Avalon Way)
WEST 5 will donate 25% of proceeds from all restaurant sales. Promotion runs 6-10 p.m. (4539 California SW)
ZATZ A BETTER BAGEL will donate 15% of proceeds from all restaurant sales. Promotion runs 6-9 p.m. (2348 California SW)
Transitional Resources’ commends these local restaurants for their philanthropic engagement. By contributing to Transitional Resources’ art therapy program, these businesses are helping men and women have access to a creative catalyst for healing. The process involved in expressing one’s self artistically can help people resolve issues, as well as develop and manage their behaviors and feelings, reduce stress, and improve awareness. Art therapy is one of many programs offered at Transitional Resources, which provides respectful, optimistic, and highly personalized care to those most in need.
Just received a reminder about Washington State Ferries‘ plan to raise fares in May. The new fares are listed in this brochure (PDF). Read on for the news release in its entirety:Read More
We really DID open registration as promised yesterday for the 8th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – but by the time we were ready, there was so much news to report here, we could only get the early word out in other channels – the WSCGSD website and the Facebook pages for WSCGSD (here) and WSB (here). NOW – we have a breaking-news-less moment to make the announcement here too!
The big day for sales all over West Seattle (more than 200, in recent years) is 9 am-3 pm Saturday, May 12, 2012. Here’s the link to the registration form (registration is online-only). Again this year, to further reduce paper use – it was a big hit last year – if you are OK with getting your “packet” via e-mail instead of postal mail (general info including the sign template and how to donate leftovers through Northwest Center if you choose), please click “yes” on the form.
New this year: We have been asked every year about West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day sponsorships. This year, we’re going to give it a try – 3 sponsorship spots. If your business is interested, please contact WSB co-publisher/business-development director Patrick Sand, patrick@wsbsales.com.
Backstory ahead, if you’re new or need a refresher: Read More
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