West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
(Photos courtesy Maureen Gillis)
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
You’re a beginning runner — say, you’ve been jogging a few miles a few days a week for the past couple of months — and someone asks if you’d like to run a 27-mile marathon through Peruvian peaks to Machu Picchu (map) on one of the most challenging race trails in the world. Would you do it?
If you’re 26-year-old Maureen “Mo” Gillis, the answer is, absolutely!
(Alki Beach fire this chilly holiday weekend, photographed by Greg Wright)
The rainiest/windiest/coldest of this storm episode is past, according to the National Weather Service, which dangles the possibility of sunny, 70s-ish weather NEXT weekend in its newest forecast. There was a bit of trouble in the weekend turbulence, though – we heard from Mark in the 6700 block of Beach Drive (map); his 23-foot boat broke free from its buoy – and neighbors reported it as it blew past their homes – it finally stopped about a mile north, where they planned to retrieve it at high tide.
Before we get to the reports that have come in over the holiday weekend, the prevention info: In the photo, that’s Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Benjamin Kinlow. If you’re interested in setting up a Block Watch, or getting more information about prevention, he’s the guy you contact. We photographed him at a home in the southeastern corner of Gatewood last week; he was there at the request of neighbors who were concerned about burglaries in the area. He stressed that one powerful way to deter crime is for neighbors to know each other; being aware of what’s usual on your block helps you notice more quickly something that’s not. He also walked neighbors through making a map of their block with the names and addresses of residents clearly marked on the map. He said people need to give their neighbors permission to watch each others’ homes. You can contact him, to find out about Block Watch and/or neighborhood presentations, through the info on this page; you can also peruse prevention advice here. Meantime, we have reports of two car break-ins and a scooter theft, from three different West Seattle neighborhoods, ahead:Read More
Chilly or not, this is the final day of 2009 operations for Colman Pool on the shore in Lincoln Park. It’s on a “holiday” schedule – page 5 of the brochure – which means: Lap swim noon-1:30 pm, public swim 1:45-4:45 pm, half lap swim/half family swim 5-7 pm. (This was also supposed to be the final day of the season for city wading pools, but unlike swimming pools, they don’t open if the forecast doesn’t call for temperatures of at least 70 degrees; you can check the wading-pool hotline at 206-684-7796.)
(photo of Sunday afternoon rainbow, courtesy of Babs)
BUSES: Metro is on a Sunday schedule; Sound Transit is also on a Sunday schedule (same for ST light rail, but Sounder trains are NOT running)
KING COUNTY WATER TAXI: West Seattle-downtown route, and its land shuttles, are on a Saturday schedule
STATE FERRIES: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth is on a “holiday weekend” schedule
MAIL DELIVERY? No
TRASH/RECYCLING/YARD WASTE PICKUP? Regular schedule, if you are usually on Mondays
LIBRARIES: Not till tomorrow
LIQUOR STORES: Most are open 11 am-7 pm, including West Seattle and White Center
MOST GOVERNMENT AGENCIES: Closed
FREE STREET PARKING IN PAY STATION/METER ZONES? Yes
COFFEE: Labor Day doesn’t usually have as many closures as the winter holidays so we don’t have a complete list, but we can tell you that the two coffee providers on the WSB sponsor roster are both open: Hotwire Online Coffeehouse 7 am-6 pm, Coffee at the Heights 7 am-2 pm
(WSB photo from August 17)
The second-to-last day of the Delridge Produce Cooperative‘s four-week “Mobile Market” pilot project ended early today because of the stormy weather – but you can check out the (free!) produce stand’s grand finale tomorrow (Monday), south lawn of Youngstown Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way, where we took the photo you see above; here’s a map), 3:30-7:30 pm. After that, DPC founder Galena White hopes you will help plan an event to celebrate the progress so far and talk about what happens next:
The ‘Mobile Market’ team would like to plan a party at which we will give out the results of the survey, share stories of our experiences at the booth and celebrate the connections we made, and talk about the next step in building our community’s food infrastructure. Everyone and anyone is invited to the party, including the volunteers, produce contributors, people who visited the booth, and anyone who wanted to visit but didn’t get the chance. We need help planning the party and we need volunteers to help make it happen.
We’d like for anyone who wants to help to join us in planning the party this Tuesday, September 8th at Pearls, from 6-8 pm. We’ll make plans for where the party should be held, what kind of refreshments we should have, and what the program will be like; and then we’ll all choose which tasks we want to accomplish. Planning the party should be almost as much fun as the party itself, so we hope that a lot of people come!
Pearls is at 4800 Delridge Way; here’s a map.
If you aren’t so sure about braving the damp, cool breeziness – assuming tomorrow doesn’t surprise us all with calmer weather – here’s one indoor option: The Comerford School of Irish Dance is kicking off a new season of lessons at the VFW Hall (3601 SW Alaska; map). The official announcement says you can “get ready for holiday jigs and reels” with “instruction by three licensed teachers with World Championship experience and honors.” The class schedule for Mondays and Tuesdays, starting tomorrow, is here; for more info, celticartsnw@hotmail.com or 206-935-3225.
As noted yesterday, we’ve received several more great West Seattle aerial photos from Gatewood pilot – and photographer – Long Nguyen. This one looks at almost the entirety of the peninsula, looking northeast from the Vashon Island vicinity. You can see a larger version on his gallery website here. (P.S.: Thanks to commenter ZippyPinhead for pointing out after yesterday’s photo that Long was featured last month in the Seattle Times [WSB partner] because of his Civil Air Patrol work.)
WSB contributing photojournalist Matt Durham (from mattdurhamphotography.com) spotted Sofia Mabee and 4-year-old daughter Savannah refusing to let the rain keep them inside – which is what PDieter advises in a discussion under way now in the WSB Forums, regarding the joys of living here despite the sometimes-turbulent weather. Speaking of which – The National Weather Service‘s “special weather statement” (see it here) remains in effect, with “significant precipitation” and unseasonably chilly weather expected to continue tonight.
He’s contributed great stories here at West Seattle Blog and at partner site White Center Now, but you likely know Ron Richardson best for many other things – he’s a noted local historian, active with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, and community advocate, active on issues including public campaign financing and peace advocacy (which is how we first met him – because of the sign outside his home near Lincoln Park). Now he is in a fight to regain his health, after a sudden problem sent him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Fauntleroy’s Judy Pickens has spoken with Ron’s wife Sherry and says they don’t know yet whether it’s benign or malignant, but Ron is out of the hospital and back home as of a few days ago. Cards are welcome, she suggests, saying the Fauntleroy Community Association would be glad to get them to him: Send them to Ron Richardson care of FCA, P.O. Box 48343, Seattle, WA 98146-6343.
Checking on the aftermath of the fire in the Juneau Street Market building on the southwest corner of California/Juneau (map), covered here as it unfolded late last night/early this morning (here’s our report, with video) — Both the market and neighboring Ho-Win Restaurant are locked up, with no notes on the door when we checked. We did meet one of the residents who escaped the fire in the apartment over the store. He says they’re OK and staying in a hotel. As for the fire’s cause, Fire Department spokesperson Helen Fitzpatrick just told us it’s been determined the fire was accidental, sparked by an “overheated extension cord.” Damage is estimated at $300,000, and confined to the second story of the building
Rick sent photos after seeing what looked like four orcas heading northbound past Brace Point about 9:15 this morning – that’s the wide shot, with the Vashon ferry dock in the background; here’s a closer view:
There’ve been multiple South Sound sightings of orcas lately, as far south as the Olympia area; according to this Friday story from The Olympian, the ones seen there were “transients,” not belonging to the three orca pods considered “Southern Residents” usually seen around Puget Sound. 3:55 PM P.S. – We are remiss not to mention the Orca Network EVERY time we have an orca story – you can report sightings through their website, where you also can subscribe to their daily e-mail with a roundup of regional sightings and other whale-related news – go to orcanetwork.org. 9:36 PM UPDATE: Rick did report the sighting to the Orca Network, and got a note back saying his sighting helps them confirm that five orcas seen off South Whidbey later in the day were indeed the “transients” that had been hanging out in the Olympia area.
The White Center Food Bank (which serves part of southern West Seattle, too) has issued a unique “call for artists” – decorate a chair to be auctioned at WCFB’s upcoming Harvest Dinner/Auction. Think you might be able to help? Read on!Read More
(cameraphone photo added 11:23 pm)
ORIGINAL 11:10 PM REPORT: We’re on our way to check out the fire in building call at California/Juneau. According to the scanner, California’s about to be closed in both directions there (map).
11:15 PM: In comments, Colleen says it’s the minimart building at the southwest corner of California/Juneau. Police are closing traffic a block north and a block south of that intersection. Update – co-publisher Patrick is there now and confirms that’s the building, lots of smoke. Photo in a moment. Raining heavily, by the way.
11:21 PM: From the scene – Fire Department is focused on the second floor and has just busted through a door. According to scanner, they’re sending a public-info officer out (which is just mostly an acknowledgment it’s a big deal and there’s media interest). There are also traffic closures on side streets, so stay FAR away from that area.
11:23 PM: Via scanner, firefighters report “tapped fire on 2nd floor” – that doesn’t mean OUT but it’s progress. Update from Patrick: They’ve also busted in through the Ho-Win next door to the mini-mart. Less smoke coming through the roof. (We’ve just added a cameraphone photo.) Scanner confirms crews had to make “forced entry” to both the store and the restaurant.
11:28 PM: Scanner confirms fire was largely centered on the building’s residential second floor, “with some extension into the attic. No word of any injuries at this point. But more engines are being called in.
11:32 PM: From the scene – the smoke has largely subsided. From the scanner – no sign of fire in the attic. Also from the scene – there’s a medic unit there but no sign that they are using it for anyone, which is a good sign of no injuries, so far.
11:39 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Evan for this photo:
They’ve just dismissed a couple of units from the scene, so this is beginning to wind down a little bit. (The rain’s subsiding too.)
11:58 PM UPDATE: Police are going to open up NORTHBOUND traffic on California through the fire scene “in about 15-20 minutes” per the scanner. Meantime, we’re still on the scene monitoring things to see if there’s any new info about how this started. We of course also will be finding out what we can about how market and restaurant operations in the building will be affected.
12:05 AM: From the incident commander at the scene: 2 people in the apartment, both OK. Officially no injuries in the fire, period. Apartment’s extensively damaged, but no word yet on fire cause.
12:34 AM: Uploading some video. This is from the wind-down phase, as one set of firefighters were up on a ladder on the north side of the building, and another team took a ladder over toward Ho-Win to set it up:
12:47 AM: This clip starts with smoke pouring from the north side of the second story, then focuses on the firefighters trying to get into Juneau Street Market:
1:00 AM: We’re not expecting to get information on the fire’s cause till later today, but will keep checking and will publish it here when that info’s available. Meantime, one more photo to share, this one from Colleen, who provided important eyewitness information via comments – just an interesting sight; note all the reflective stripes from some of the many firefighters who rushed to the scene:
Some of the firefighters from this incident had to rush right off to a call on Harbor Island – a 38-year-old man was pulled out of the water near Todd Shipyard; no official word at this hour why he was in the water (scanner talk suggests a crime investigation of some sort was under way at the scene too), but it was a big rescue callout for a while including units from this side of the bridge. (He’s on the way to the hospital right now; per the scanner, he was in the water for about 20 minutes, and seems to be OK aside from “shivering violently.”)
(video added 1:33 am Sunday – Lucas Driscoll 33-yard pass to Conner Mullan)
All three high schools in West Seattle have now had their season-opening games – two last night (WSB coverage here) and one tonight – Seattle Lutheran High School hosted Darrington at West Seattle Stadium. Final score – Loggers 18, Saints 6. Our correspondent’s just back and we’ll add more here in a bit.
1:44 AM: Added video atop this report; meantime, more on the game, as promised: The Saints played penalty-free, but failed to overcome the Darrington running game. Darrington kept the ball on the ground for the better part of the night, controlling the clock, and the score. The Saints’ only score came on a four-play drive that saw starting quarterback Lucas Driscoll, a senior, replaced by freshman quarterback Trevor Forsell. Forsell handed off to senior Jake Lovely, who ran it 35 yards for the score. On the night, Lovely had seven carries for 62 yards and was the offensive stand out for he Saints. Next week, a road game — the Saints travel to Ocean Shores to play North Beach at 2 pm Saturday (9/12).
Emily sent that photo of the musicians at the Sunrise Heights dance, continuing till 9 pm, and reports a fun time’s being had by all:
Super fun and great turnout despite the weather! Live music and BBQ. 30th between Myrtle and Othello.
Here’s a map; here’s more info. If you’re in Sunrise Heights – between Westwood/Gatewood and High Point – you can find out more neighborhood happenings on the Sunrise Heights Neighborhood Association website.
If you haven’t heard this already – the National Weather Service has put out a “special weather statement” for most areas around Puget Sound, including ours, warning of “significant precipitation and unseasonably cool temperatures.” Time to check the storm drains! See the NWS “statement” here.
Thanks to Janell for pointing out that the Seattle Animal Shelter is planning a Cat Adopt-A-Thon in West Seattle next Saturday — noon-3 pm September 12, Southwest Community Center (2801 SW Thistle; map). And if you have room for two, they’ll offer a two-for-one deal, plus discounted fees for seniors and people with disabilities. Most if not all of the cats at this Adopt-A-Thon are currently in foster care – a volunteer service which enables many more animals to have a chance at finding their “forever homes” since space at shelter facilities is limited. The official WSB feline mascots (left) wholeheartedly endorse events like this, as both were adopted from shelters as adults, one of them from a city-sponsored foster-cat Adopt-A-Thon just like this one. Here’s the flyer (which also lists events in other Seattle neighborhoods later this fall).
The special event scheduled for tomorrow’s West Seattle Farmers’ Market – tomato tasting – has been rescheduled because of expected stormy weather, according to a note from Chris Curtis at the Neighborhood Farmers’ Market Alliance. It’s now scheduled to happen Sunday, September 20th.
A couple of non-neighborhood news sources inadvertently raised a little alarm by publishing a West Seattle land-use notice verbatim without any background explanation or context, and since several people e-mailed us to ask about it, here’s clarification. The events venue The Sanctuary at Admiral, which became a city landmark one month ago today (WSB coverage here) in its original identity as the former Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist, has applied for the official land-use permit to allow its business to continue. As explained in a profile of the facility and owner Dahli Bennett last month (story and photos here), they didn’t have all the permits they needed before, so in addition to seeking the landmark designation, they were applying to get them. The official classification in city land-use code for an events facility like this – “the only one the city could think of,” as Sanctuary “events mistress” Jennifer confirmed when we called to doublecheck on this – is “theater and spectator sports facility.” So that’s what the land-use application says and that’s what the official city signs outside the facility (42nd and Lander, immediately east of the back end of Admiral Safeway) say, and that’s what headlines like this one in the Daily Journal of Commerce said. But no, Jennifer assured us, they’re not planning any change in what they’ve been doing – “weddings, food events, that type of thing.” They’ll probably post a letter to add to the city signs outside to explain that, too. Here’s the official land-use application notice (which includes information on how to comment on it and how to contact city planners about it).
That’s another spectacular view of West Seattle from the sky (note Seacrest and Don Armeni toward right-center), shared by Gatewood pilot Long Nguyen, who took the two we published here. He actually sent three recent photos, and we’re planning to showcase one each day through Labor Day. Click here for a larger version of this one.
One week from today, West Seattle’s Twelfth Night Productions will hold auditions for six roles – all male, but ranging in age from teens to 60s – in its fall production “The Diviners.” They sent us the audition notice to share with you; read on for details:Read More
A week and a half after first mention of the new West Seattle clothing store Cherry Consignment, it welcomed shoppers to a grand-opening party tonight. West Seattle writer Mary Sheely covered it in her first assignment for WSB.
Story and photos by Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Nyla Bittermann (photo left) and Tracy Dart envisioned their new store, Cherry Consignment, as a place that would welcome the community. And that community includes all shapes, sizes, and price ranges. Tonight, the night of the store’s grand-opening party, prices ranged from $4-$75 and sizes from 0 to 28 (plus men’s and maternity clothing) could be spotted on the racks. And the customers came in for both.
“Nyla’s vision is to serve the fringes—those of us who can’t find stuff in a lot of consignment stores,” says shopper Jaime Untz, whom Bittermann calls “our PR person.”
“We should be able to go into a store and try stuff on and make a day of it and feel pampered,” Untz says.
Even more important to Dart and Bittermann than Cherry Consignment’s selection and prices is the new store’s atmosphere — and they’re not talking about the cherry art that decorates the walls.
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