West Seattle, Washington
22 Saturday
Big event at Pathfinder K-8 this morning – PE teacher Lou Cutler‘s annual run to raise money for Make-A-Wish, for which he’s been volunteering for 16 years. Every year for 8 years, he’s been doing this to mark his birthday, running one lap for each year he’s been on the planet – 61 of them, this time around. The money goes to help Make-A-Wish make life-threateningly ill children’s wishes come true; last year, we interviewed Lou a few days before his run, and if you could hear him talk about some of the “wishes” he’s been involved in fulfilling … you’d want to be on the sidelines cheering him on today. Or maybe even running with him, as many of the Pathfinder students and staff will do during the course of the morning, once he gets going around 8:45 am. At the very least, you can donate to help him reach his goal – just go here. (WSB photo from June 2011)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Four days after what Seattle Police Deputy Chief Nick Metz called a “citywide crisis” – four murders in North Seattle, one on First Hill, and the killer’s suicide in West Seattle – we have three followups tonight.
First: We have learned more about what Ian Stawicki did in West Seattle between ditching his final victim’s car on Delridge before noon and shooting himself at 37th/Raymond about four hours later:
He bought a blueberry plant, and left it for someone as a gift.
West Seattle Nursery confirms to WSB that Stawicki made a purchase there about midway through his four hours in West Seattle on Wednesday afternoon, just before 2 pm (as mentioned in this WSB comment). We talked with WSN’s Galen Guffy this afternoon.
She says they didn’t realize he had been there and purchased a blueberry plant and “some seeds” until they heard a voicemail message the next day, from the person for whom Stawicki left the plant. (MONDAY UPDATE: WSN has clarified the timeline of who spoke to whom and when, per this comment.) That person said Stawicki left a note with the plant, And, of course, they also heard from a Seattle Police homicide detective.
The main thing, Guffy says, that the nursery staffer who helped Stawicki with the purchase remembers is that he was “creepy.” Not in the sense that gave any hint of what he had done just a few hours earlier, though (keep in mind, his photo was not distributed until more than an hour later, at which time police were still saying they believed the two shootings were separate, and while that photo was tied to the North End murders, SPD had said the car found in West Seattle was related to the First Hill killing).
You might recall that – as reported here Thursday – police said that Stawicki “contacted an old acquaintance in SW Seattle and roamed in very crowded areas for some time.” Now we know one of those “areas”; we will continue to seek more information from police regarding the others, as they have said the investigation will likely continue for weeks. Police apparently first spotted him at Fauntleroy and Raymond – roughly half a mile from the nursery – according to this audio clip they released.
(ANOTHER MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: The plant’s intended recipient, who identifies herself as a former teacher of Stawicki’s at a now-closed school elsewhere in the city, has issued a statement.)
SCHOOL SAFETY NOTE: Another followup tonight – one local principal says that while the district did not mention her campus as having taken precautions, they did. We’ve heard from West Seattle Elementary principal Vicki Sacco:
I just want to inform you of the steps we took at West Seattle Elementary during the crisis the other day. Upon learning there was a problem from parents calling the school, I made several calls to the police department to no avail. Taking matters into my own hands and to ensure everyone’s safety, I made the decision to put the building into a Shelter in Place. This required locking all doors and keeping students in the building. A letter went home with students (Thursday) informing parents of our actions. … I would like the West Seattle community wants to know that we make safety our top priority.
The school information that we reported during the unfolding events of Wednesday afternoon came from a variety of sources – the district, parents, and some school administrators (including several local private schools). Seattle Public Schools acting superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield also made a statement on Thursday about general policies.
Just an update for bay-watchers: While Shell’s Arctic-bound drill rigs Kulluk (left) and Noble Discoverer (right foreground) remain at Vigor on Harbor Island, there was some sign of possible movement earlier this evening – the Greenpeace Esperanza, anchored off Duwamish head earlier this week, is headed back this way after a few days in Lake Union, while Shell’s ice-cutter Aiviq left Vigor this evening:
At last check, it’s now over in Magnolia. Any day now, the Shell vessels are expected to head for the Arctic for a controversial round of exploration, as detailed in our earlier reports here and here. Please let us know if you see them on the move!
SIDE NOTE: **Not** related to any of this so far as we know, but the photo just came in from Danny McMillin – a submarine heading out:
They generally do NOT show up on MarineTraffic.com, nor bear visible-from-afar markings, so we’re not likely to be able to get its ID.
6:35 PM, FIRST REPORT: Just as King County gets ready to start a 2-year project to upgrade the Barton Pump Station north of the Fauntleroy ferry dock – with work to include a backup generator – we have word there’s been an overflow because of a power failure. County spokesperson Annie Kolb-Nelson says, “There was a power interruption that occurred around 4:30 p.m. and it caused the pumps to shut down, which led to an overflow that started about 20 minutes later.” She says crews are on scene but she is not sure the overflow has been “contained” yet, adding, “Our biggest priority is to protect public health. We’ve posted the boat access area near the pump station as closed, and we’re working with our Environmental Lab crews to determine tidal directions. Doug Marsano from our Community Services group is heading out to assist with public notification. We also notified health and regulatory agencies about the overflow and will monitor water quality over the next several days.” More as we get it.
7:54 PM UPDATE: Just back from checking out the scene at the station and neighboring Cove Park. Added photos – top photo is the “closed” sign posted at the beach; the one above this paragraph is the hatch to the pump-station operations area, from which a worker emerged and told us she’s working on it. That’s corroborated by both Kolb-Nelson via e-mail and Marsano, who was pulling up as we were walking away from the station. He says they’re hoping most if not all the overflow was contained to the outfall pipe and can be recovered via submersible pumps they’ve brought in. The overflow itself was stopped within just over an hour from its start; they’re still trying to find out what caused the power interruption.
Murals now grace the side of an otherwise-gritty Harbor Island warehouse, which local workers have turned into a spot with splashes of beauty, offering an oasis in the midst of an industrial zone. We first reported on the project two weeks ago – then, after the murals’ installation, it was celebrated at an event this past Friday afternoon. The murals were created by youth through Urban ArtWorks. Beneath them are container gardens with drought-tolerant plants – and cisterns to hold rainwater to irrigate them when needed:
During Friday afternoon’s ceremony, members of the self-described “grass-roots committee” that made this all happen, Harbor Island People for the Environment, spoke about what they’ve done, and also introduced most of the young artists. We got it all on video:
Also speaking at the ceremony, James Rasmussen, a longtime Duwamish Tribe leader who also works for the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition. He talked about not only the site’s history as Duwamish land – tideflats before they were filled – but also about the meaning of the site beautification/cleanup in view of Harbor Island’s environmental challenges:
HIPE members said they hope to liven up the space with food vendors and other things to create a gathering place for workers and visitors – and they plan on more projects in the future. Fittingly, one of the murals celebrates the idea of looking ahead:
You can find the site by heading toward Vigor Shipyards on the north end of Harbor Island, and looking for the blue warehouse at 13th SW/SW Florida (here’s a map).
Seen along local shores:
Scott Bessho shared photos of carvings on a driftwood log along Lincoln Park’s north beach. He said he spotted people working on it with professional-looking carving tools on Friday; when he went by again late Saturday, they were gone, but the carvings were clearly visible, what appears to be a whale, and a whorl – here’s a closer-up look at the latter:
We haven’t seen them in person ourselves, but since it would be quite the operation to move a log like that, we’re guessing they’re still there.
If you were out on any local beach at midday today, during the first of four mega-low tides continuing through Wednesday, wildlife was the big attraction:
From Lowman Beach, John Legge shared that photo of what he identifies as opalescent nudibranches – and a spotted one, too:
Then from Alki, Katy tweeted this photo, wondering what it was, since she had seen so many today:
We’re 99 percent sure it was made by a moon snail – let us know if we’re wrong! Meantime, tomorrow’s low tide is even lower, -3.7 at 11:19 am.
Tomorrow (Monday, June 4) is the last day for teens to apply for the RecTech summer Youth Media Internship program — you’ll find forms and info here. The program is increasingly more prestigious and accomplished, as some of its current and past members have just received major honors – adviser Leslie Howle shares the story (and photo!):
On Friday, May 11, eight high school students who participated in the RecTech Youth Media “24-Hour Film Challenge” at Delridge Community Center attended a Gala Awards Presentation event at the Museum of History and History, better known as MOHAI. Three of our film teams walked away with honors.
“History Is… Repetition,” created by Bryan Shickley, Thien Vo, and Liban Mohamud won the MOHAI History Award. Film makers Bryan and Liban were winter quarter students at the RecTech Youth Media Interns program located at Delridge Community Center. Thien is a current RecTech Youth Media intern who has been working with us since the beginning of this year. All three students signed on for the Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon 24-hour film challenge this spring and their team received the $1000 MOHAI History Award, which they split three ways.
Bryan Shickley is 16 and attends Big Picture High School. Liban Mohamud is 14 and attends Chief Sealth International High School. Thien Vo is 16 and attends Evergreen High School’s Technology, Engineering & Communications School. (They’re in the photo above.)
“History Is…Invention” took the Best Youth Group Project award, and Samira Hussein and Hibo Mohamad received a $500 prize which they split two ways. Samira has been working with the RecTech Youth Media program since January 2012. She is 17 years old and attends Chief Sealth International High School. Hibo Mohamed, a 17 year old student at West Seattle High School, was a first time RecTech Internship participant with the 24 hour film challenge.
“History Is…Basketball”, by Issa Mohamed, Evan Williams, and Sterling Espinoza, received an Honorable Mention. Issa is a 15 year old student at West Seattle High School. Evan Williams joined the Youth Media Interns for the first time to participate in the 24 Film Challenge. He is a student at Franklin High School. Sterling Espinoza is a 16 year old high school junior who has been with the RecTech Youth Media Internship for one year.
All of our winning interns came away with a great “swag bag” that included a SIFF short film festival weekend pass and a MOAHI membership. Congratulations to our RecTech Youth Media Filmmakers, and many thanks to our partners, SIFF and 911 Media Arts!
For more information and an application for this summer’s paid RecTech film-making internship being offered in partnership with SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival) Futurewave, go to rectech.seattle.gov and click on the internship tab.
While you’re in The Junction today – or some other day – check out the new location of Many Moons Trading Company, which describes itself as an “upscale thrift store for men and women.” The shop was long tucked away along a breezeway off the main streetfront, but is now right on the northwest corner of California and Oregon (vacated recently by Fleurt [WSB sponsor], the flower shop that moved to 4536 California). Not only is it a higher-visibility location for Many Moons, it’s also a family reunion of sorts – Many Moons owner Mary is mom of Angela, owner of Funky Jane’s Consignment, which is one door down. Via e-mail, Mary tells WSB, ““We are very happy with our new space! Of course we hope to see new customers, but we are very glad to present our loyal customers with a fresh and lovely shopping environment.”
(Barton P-Patch – designed as a “web”! Thanks to photographer/pilot Long Bach Nguyen for the view)
Just like Saturday, looks like the weather’s likely to get better as the day proceeds; here are some highlights for another almost-summer weekend day in West Seattle, from our calendar:
CURIOUS KIDSTUFF’S ANNIVERSARY SALE: 14th anniversary of the toy store in The Junction, with 25 percent off everything in the store – AND (as explained here earlier this morning) paying with cash/checks means an extra discount PLUS a nonprofit donation. Sale continues now till 5 pm today, 4740 California SW.
FURRY FACES FOUNDATION PLANT SALE: Hundreds of plants, with proceeds going to help animals through the work of F3. 3809 46th SW, 10 am-4 pm today.
AT THE MARKET – SIGN UP FOR THE KIWANIS CLUB’S MOTORCYCLE POKER RUN: Look for the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle at the WS Farmers’ Market 10 am-2 pm today (usually on the northeast corner) and get a free beverage if you sign up for the June 23rd Motorcycle Poker Run.
ORGANIC VEGGIE SALE: 10 am-1 pm, Marguerite Lynch and family are selling organic homegrown vegetables outside their North Admiral garden (44th/Hill), with part of the proceeds benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank.
LOW TIDE – WITH BEACH NATURALISTS AVAILABLE: 10:32 am, the first of four days’ low tides below -3 (which is REALLY low), and you can explore with the help of an expert, as Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are out at Constellation and Lincoln Parks.
SHARE YOUR HOME WITH A NEW FRIEND: Cat-adoption event today with Friends of the Animals Foundation at Next to Nature in The Junction, 11 am-3 pm.
TOUR THE ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE: Second day of 1-4 pm Saturday/Sunday public openings at the lighthouse (where Alki Avenue and Beach Drive meet) – as noted in our story about yesterday’s Seafair Admiral’s Tea.
GRAND OPENING: A member of the Rat City Business Association (WSB sponsor) is celebrating their grand opening today in downtown White Center – The Center Studio, with yoga, Pilates, massage, and dance. 3 pm-6 pm (9611 16th SW, map in our listing)
ACOUSTIC COUTI: 3-5 pm, live music at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW.
(Added 12:15 pm – the poker-chip jar at CKS, photographed around 11 am)
Today’s the day for the big 25-percent-off anniversary sale at Curious Kidstuff (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, 9 am-5 pm – and proprietor Ann is also kicking off a new plan that could mean extra savings for you AND money for a local nonprofit:
We think we have come up with a fantastic idea here at Curious Kidstuff. We will kick this off (today) during our 25% off 14th-year Anniversary Sale.
Our business’s credit-card fees are approximately $800.00 a month. Can you believe it? I believe that if we can get our community to embrace this great idea, we could give hundreds of that back each month.
Every time a customer purchases gifts with cash or checks, we will drop a poker chip into our jar. Each month we choose a local charity and give that money to them. First charity we have chosen is WestSide Baby. Simple, keep dollars in our community instead of passing it on to banks.
We hope to see you between 9:00 and 5:00. We will give an extra 1% off for all checks and cash. (License required with checks, please.)
Curious Kidstuff is at 4740 California SW.
If you hear someone say “Seafair” and “Alki” in the same sentence, you might think “Pirates.” This afternoon, however, those words went along with “royalty” – and “admiralty.” The Alki Point Lighthouse was the setting as this year’s candidates in the Seafair Scholarship Program for Women – along with the woman one of them will succeed, reigning Miss Seafair Veronica Quintero – enjoyed their first official group outing, the annual Admiral’s Tea reception. Above, that’s Veronica with U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Keith A. Taylor, the USCG’s 13th District commander, and U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Douglass T. Biesel, Navy Region Northwest commander. We also photographed her with West Seattle’s representative in this year’s Miss Seafair competition, last year’s Hi-Yu Senior Court Queen Kelsey Bills:
Other West Seattle ties: At the lighthouse, we talked with Ruthie Waid, a WS resident who’s a new member of the Scholarship Program committee (and mother of 2006 Miss Seafair Erin Waid), and met JoAnne Ludwig, the former West Seattleite who is longtime chair of the program. The next Miss Seafair will be crowned July 28th, right before the Seafair Torchlight Parade. One week before that, the candidates will be back in West Seattle, for the American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade down California SW on July 21st. (As for the Pirates – they land at Alki Beach on July 7th.)
P.S. One other big event today at the lighthouse – the first day in 2012 that it was open for the public to visit! June through August, it’s open Saturdays and Sundays, 1-4 pm.
Besides the upcoming celestial events mentioned in the preceding WSB story, the Summer Solstice is approaching, too. It’s on Wednesday, June 20th, this year – but hold your celebrating a few days till Saturday, June 23rd, because THAT is the night of the White Center Food Bank-benefiting Summer Solstice Cocktail Party. Ann Kendall from WCFB says you can still get your ticket(s) if you haven’t already. It’s in West Seattle, at the Puget Sound view home of two longtime WC Food Bank supporters, Lynne Ingalls and Mike Wald; guests will include County Councilmember Joe McDermott as well as the West Seattle/White Center area’s entire legislative delegation, Sen. Sharon Nelson and Reps. Eileen Cody and Joe Fitzgibbon. Suggested donation $50 – which will help the WC Food Bank in what can be a slow time for donations, amid warm-weather distractions. Save your ticket by calling Ann at 206-762-2848 or 206-713-0031; via e=mail, ann@whitecenterfoodbank.org.
LOW-LOW TIDES: Thanks to Lura for the tip: Another round of extra-low low tides has arrived. Each of the next four days will bring a low tide of more than -3 feet, which means many tidepools and other things to explore (carefully!). Here’s our favorite tide calendar with the specific times – or, you can use the WSB Events Calendar, where each of those days has an entry not only featuring the low-tide times, but also the hours that you’ll find Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists at 2 sites in West Seattle. Happy exploring!
IN THE SKY: Also in the next few days, you have the chance to see two phenomena, both, of course weather permitting. Early Monday, there’s a partial eclipse of the moon – and we do mean EARLY, as in 4 am our time. NASA explains it here. Then on Tuesday, it’s the Transit of Venus – with NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen as your guide at West Seattle’s Solstice Park. This is NOT something you can just go outside and check out. See Alice’s website for lots of information, including an event on Tuesday.
The presence of Greenpeace Esperanza off West Seattle shores earlier this week sparked some discussion following our report on the reason for its visit, the impending departure of two Shell rigs bound for Arctic oil drilling, so here’s a followup: The Esperanza moved to a Lake Union dock yesterday, and remains there, according to MarineTraffic.com tracking information. Today brought the arrival of another Shell-owned vessel that is expected to accompany the drilling rigs/ships Kulluk and Noble Discoverer (both at Vigor Shipyards) – it’s the blue-hulled boat you see in our photo above, the Aiviq. According to this Popular Mechanics report, it’s a new, Louisiana-built $200 million icebreaker. That’s twice the cost of the work that’s been done to the Kulluk at Vigor, according to this report from Petroleum News, which says Shell plans on “demonstrating its new well capping and containment system in Puget Sound within the next two to three weeks.”
2:33 PM: For the second time today, there’s a major Seattle Fire call on Delridge – though the first crews report the fire tapped. We’re en route.
2:47 PM: Only one unit left at the scene in the 4800 block of Delridge; the temporary traffic snarl at the scene is clearing since the other units have gone. Working to find out what the short-lived fire was attributed to. The fire’s blamed on some trash in the backyard, which is currently being hosed down. (The house isn’t visible in the photo – it’s tucked between townhomes.)
The sun arrived in West Seattle at mid-morning, just in time for Northwest gardening celebrity Ciscoe Morris‘s scheduled visit to West Seattle Nursery – the setting today for his live weekly two-hour KIRO-FM radio show. His first interviewees were from the WSN team. Before sitting down at the microphone, he mingled with shoppers:
If you missed today’s West Seattle-based Ciscoe-cast, keep an eye on this page, which should eventually have the archived audio files. This was Ciscoe’s second visit to this area this spring; on April 15th, he was at Village Green Perennial Nursery (WSB sponsor).
10:16 AM: Big initial response to a crash that just happened at Delridge and Willow, but most of the units have been turned back, since it wasn’t what was originally reported – a car hitting a building, which meant an initial “heavy rescue” call, since downgraded. Our crew’s on the way and we’ll update.
10:25 AM: An ambulance is being called for the driver, no major injuries reported. Our crew at the scene says this is at the Willow Court Apartments, where a chain-link fence stopped the car from crashing into a play structure. Traffic is still moving both ways on Delridge, but slowly. Photo to come added.
10:44 AM: Adding a second photo – this is looking north on Delridge, and at left, you can see part of the wooden fence the car went through before going down the slope shown in the top photo; also note a tree was taken out, too. The driver was sitting up, conscious, even before the ambulance arrived, according to our crew.
Though it was born of an unsolved murder, Friday night’s safety walk along Beach Drive was a relatively low-key event for West Seattle police, given what they – and the rest of the city – went through earlier this week.
Just 48 hours earlier, they were dealing with the aftermath of a multiple murderer’s suicide, ending a four-hour search (WSB coverage and 340+ community comments here) that found them swarming several areas of eastern West Seattle, guns drawn, responding to reports of possible sightings, until killer Ian Stawicki finally turned up in a hillside neighborhood two blocks west of the High Point Library. “We got our bad guy, and that tragedy ended,” operations Lt. Pierre Davis (top photo, left) noted before the safety walk.
Friday night, he and Community Police Team Officers Jon Kiehn, Ken Mazzuca, and Kevin McDaniel were back in the roles of coaching the community and listening to concerns, particularly surrounding issues at waterfront Emma Schmitz Overlook, where police believe 51-year-old Greggette Guy was murdered in March, and forested Me-Kwa-Mooks Park across the way.
(CPT officers, from left, Mazzuca, McDaniel, Kiehn)
Along with Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon and Seattle Parks manager Carol Baker, they answered questions, wrote down suggestions, and led a group of about 20 people – including Alki Community Council president Tony Fragada and vice president Randie Stone – along a fairly short distance – half a block to the north end of the viewpoint park, across Beach Drive, half a block to the sidewalk in front of the Me-Kwa-Mooks sign. Here’s the first half, including a few words along the way from Lt. Davis regarding what happened on Wednesday, plus comments from other SPD personnel plus Parks’ Baker (shown in the YouTube framegrab):
Solomon was particularly interested in the lighting issue, and told WSB later he’ll be pushing that point.
The issues changed, as the group crossed Beach Drive to the inland side, with Lt. Davis – a veteran of the Traffic Unit, in years before his Southwest Precinct stint – stopping traffic so everyone could cross safely:
On the Me-Kwa-Mooks side, Parks’ Baker pointed out that, as with the water side, some changes already had been made. Some of the shrubbery has been cleared (as it has on the water side); also, she pointed out, the porta-potty no longer has fencing around it, as you can see in the background of this photo:
One nearby resident mentioned a secluded area upslope in the park where people come to party, usually leaving beer cans behind, and often setting fires in an unauthorized “pit.” After the official end of the safety walk, we climbed the trail with him and two other participants to see it.
Lt. Davis promised to look into the issues of unauthorized park use, and, in wrapping up the on-the-move portion of the evening, reminded participants not only to look out for each other, including with the formation and use of Block Watches – but also to call 911 about suspicious people/activity – one person mentioned having seen it in Me-Kwa-Mooks, but not necessarily reporting it. (We’ll add that you also can bring concerns to police during the monthly West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting at the precinct; the next one is scheduled for June 19th, 7 pm.)
Even with summer still a few weeks away, it’s fall-registration season for West Seattle Soccer Club, and they’re asking everyone to register early – not just players, but also coaches and volunteers. Players who sign up by June 30th get “priority placement on their former teams,” per the WSSC announcement. Sign up online at westseattlesoccer.org. (And when you do, you get to buy the new WSSC scarf for $10 – more pics on the club’s Facebook page.)
(Walkway at Jack Block Park, photographed by Doug B, who you can also find on Flickr)
Welcome to the weekend! From the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar, some of the highlights for today/tonight:
LAST SUPr ENDURANCE EVENT: Under way right now at Alki Kayak Tours, “a daylong celebration promoting the up and coming sport of stand up paddleboarding (SUP). This event will feature an endurance event which will determine who can stand on the SUP the longest. There will be challenging aspects along the route which will test SUP participants’ skills. The rules are simple, you must only use your feet in this contest. Any other part of your body touching the board will disqualify you.” More info here. (Update – We checked in at AKT around 11 – this has been rescheduled in hopes of a day with better weather!)
GARAGE SALES GALORE: Three weeks after West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2012, our neighbors to the south are having their annual multiple-sale day – Shorewood on the Sound Streets of Sales, 9 am-4 pm today. Find the sales on this Google map.
WEST SEATTLE GARAGE SALES, TOO: Several for this weekend are listed in the WSB Forums‘ Freebies/Deals/Sales section, where you can list yours for free any time.
FURRY FACES FOUNDATION PLANT SALE: More than 1,500 plants to choose from, all types, 3809 46th SW (map), from 10 am-4 pm – it’s the second and final weekend of this popular plant sale to raise money for F3’s animal advocacy.
CISCOE AT WEST SEATTLE NURSERY: 10 am this morning, the gardener/broadcaster will do his radio show live from West Seattle Nursery (California/Brandon).
RECOVERY GARDEN CLEANUP: Volunteers will be at 26th and Brandon from 10 am to 1 pm to continue the work that last year’s volunteers (some of whom will be there to mentor them) started. All welcome to come help.
STUDENT’S SALE TO HELP A SOLDIER: We reported earlier this week on 7th-grader Kyle Joyce‘s announcement of a sale to help put together a care package for his former coach, who’s been deployed overseas. The sale is 11 am-4 pm today at 6001 SW Admiral Way.
KITTY HARBOR’S OPENING WEEKEND: You’re likely to see a line along Harbor Avenue SW just north of the bridge right before noon, which is when shelter/adoption center Kitty Harbor begins its first adoption weekend of the summer season.
LIVE MUSIC AT VILLAGE GREEN: As announced by Village Green Perennial Nursery proprietor Vera Johnson, “Shade Byron banjo player from ‘Bottom of the barrel’ and Jasmine Byron, fiddler and traveling musician, will be gathering up a crew of fun musicians to play some music … Visiting from Santa Cruz for a short time – we are happy to welcome them here!” 1 pm, 10224 26th SW.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM IDENTITY THEFT: Free workshop 1-3 pm today at Peace Lutheran Church (39th/Thistle), details here.
CARNIVAL IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: Big fun at Arbor Heights Elementary – as described in our calendar listing, 3-6 pm.
AARON DANIEL’S BENEFIT SHOW FOR AARF: A one-man band you have to see/hear to believe, Aaron Daniel, performs tonight at the Feedback Lounge (6451 California SW; WSB sponsor) as part of a benefit for Animal Aid and Rescue Foundation; silent auction too; 8 pm.
‘ROCKY HORROR’: First Saturday of the month ends with a toast, among other things, as the Admiral Theater opens its doors to “Rocky Horror Picture Show” fans for the monthly midnight showing.
Yet again tonight, police repeated the mantra of community watchfulness being the key to helping them catch criminals and solve crimes. While we’re finishing the story about the Beach Drive community-safety walk – during which that message was repeated – here are a few West Seattle Crime Watch notes from the WSB inbox:Read More
Here’s a chance for kids and tweens to be mentored for a day by high-school students: Children in grades K-5 are invited to the one-day Mini Cheer Camp that West Seattle High School cheerleaders are planning for Saturday, June 9th, 10 am-1 pm. They’ll learn cheers, make crafts, and get a chance to follow up the fun this fall by performing at a home football game as an honorary WSHS cheerleader. $30 for the day includes a T-shirt, and more; see the flyer here, and the registration form here. Contact Bev Corey at coreym_b@comcast.net if you have any questions.
Back in 2008, we got that vintage photo from Tom J, when the fate of the 1923-built Shoremont Apartments at 2464 Alki SW – the buildings seen behind Tom’s uncle and dad – was still in flux.
A year earlier, in 2007, the stately brick buildings were proposed for teardown, to be replaced by townhomes.
But then, the site was bought by architects known for their modern design projects, who proposed one instead of townhomes:
(2008 rendering)
The plan never came to pass, and eventually, the site became bank-owned. Exactly two years ago today, we reported a for-sale sign going up at the site.
Then came Dennis Schilling:
We photographed him at the Shoremont yesterday afternoon. But we first talked with him more than a year ago, after he bought the by-then-very-rundown buildings because he “liked” them; he told WSB at the time he planned to fix them up.
And he has made good on that promise. Most of the work is done, and two of the eight Shoremont Apartments are rented, more applications are in the works. Schilling gave us a tour:
Great beach view, from one of the lower units – note the original clear-grain fir floor. Upstairs, while he would have liked to have kept the flooring, noise rules meant they had to be carpeted:
The stairs are original:
And there are walk-in closets – including this one upstairs with a view!
The floor plans are close to the original layouts, says Schilling, adding that the work they had to do included some foundation improvements, especially for seismic reasons (including “shear walls”), plus all-new wiring. Out front, they had to build up the area in front of the main entrance door:
There had been something in front of that blank concrete wall for a bit, and therein lies a twist to this story – which Schilling e-mailed us (and King County Executive Dow Constantine) about on Wednesday:
During the construction process we have noticed that bus patrons did not have a place to sit while waiting for the bus at the stop in front of our property. We decided to make a gesture to the city and commission a custom bus bench at our expense.
While this bench was being constructed there must have been fifty people who expressed appreciation for the bench. Today a representative of the city approached us and told us to remove it or face daily fines. Apparently while the bench is not on any part of the sidewalk it does encroach on the City’s property.
The inspector did admit that there had been no complaints but that he was just driving by and doing his job. In order not to incur any fines we removed it while he waited. We just wanted to let people know that we were trying to do something nice for the city but have run afoul of bureaucracy.
The bench is now sitting on the west side of the Shoremont site:
We haven’t figured out yet which agency to ask about the bench beef, but plan to follow up. Meantime, if you’re interested in renting one of the Shoremont Apartments, you’ll have to go take a look at the postings on the windows at the site, which have more information.
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