West Seattle, Washington
19 Sunday
The Cooper School closure challenge isn’t the only big West Seattle case that’ll be argued in court next week. Wednesday is the date that lawyers for the city and for homeowner William Conner will be in the Court of Appeals to make oral arguments in Conner’s appeal of a city ruling against his proposal to build three homes on the front lawn of Beach Drive’s city-landmark Satterlee House:
We have covered the case extensively here, including the Hearing Examiner proceedings that upheld the Landmarks Board‘s rule (here’s our coverage of that decision in April 2008; then the Superior Court arguments last October, and the ruling later that month which Conner is challenging in the Court of Appeals. The city contends that the landmark status of the property — which gives the Landmarks Board the right to approve or deny development proposals, remodeling proposals, and more — includes the front lawn, and Conner’s arguments say it doesn’t, among many other points. The city’s case does not say Conner can’t build anything on the lawn, however, but that this particular proposal would be detrimental to the landmark. The case is getting national attention – the National Trust for Historic Preservation has filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the city; read about it here. (Side note, since some have asked in previous coverage: Satterlee House owner William Conner founded Conner Homes, which is developing property at California/Alaska/42nd in The Junction, but it is now run by his son Charlie Conner.)
Feels like July already, so it’s the perfect time for some West Seattle Summer Fest updates, since the three-day festival in The Junction is just five weeks away. We’re expecting even more updates later today but for starters, we actually got these last night, and wanted to share them now: First, that tent in the photo above is the Art Dive, which debuted at last year’s Summer Fest. The team at Twilight Art Collective is putting out the word now to get artists signed up:
CALLING ALL ARTISTS
Come ART DIVE @ Summer Fest July 10th, 11th and 12th!!
If you are a local artist interested in selling your goods at this year’s Summer Fest, ART DIVE is for you. Art Dive was hatched last year as a way of making participation in the festival affordable for YOU! For $125 you will be allotted an 8 x 2 foot table under one of the large tents that house Art Dive for the duration of our awesome 3-day community festival. You take home all proceeds! Twilight Artist Collective facilitates this portion of the festival but we do not curate it, what this means is EVERYONE making goods in the USA is welcome to be part of Art Dive, SO spread the word and get your spot in the tent!
APPLY HERE: www.twilightart.net/artdive.html
This morning’s other Summer Fest note: You got first word here last month about the impressive list of music acts that are signed up to perform, topped by legendary grungesters Mudhoney. But at the time, most of the dates/times for the performances hadn’t been firmed up. Now they have, according to this page on the Summer Fest site.
As reported here earlier this week, there’s a key hearing next week in the legal challenge to the impending closure of Cooper Elementary School in Pigeon Point: The closure opponents have made a motion for “summary judgment” (read it here) and this week, Seattle Public Schools filed its document opposing the motion. The district provided us with a copy; you can read the entire 27-page document here. One of the main points of contention in the legal challenge is that there was not a formal “closure hearing” at and for Cooper, because the district considered it a “program” instead of a school; the district’s rebuttal to that includes:
Appellants claim that not treating a programmatic change as a school closure resulted in impacted persons not getting notice or the opportunity to be heard. What Appellants fail to acknowledge to the Court is that they all actually provided testimony at public hearings and School Board meetings related to the decisions they are challenging.
Appellants had not only ample notice and opportunity to be heard, they were actually heard. However, the elected School Board, after consideration of thousands of pages of documents and the input of hundred of citizens, made a choice that the Appellants dislike. That is not the proper basis for a legal challenge, particularly when considering the substantial deference that must be afforded to the School Board in making administrative and policy decisions.
…With respect to the recommendation to close the Genesee Hill building for instructional purposes, a site-specific hearing was held at the Genesee Hill building on December 16, 2008. … Numerous speakers at this hearing identified themselves as being affiliated with Cooper. … In fact, all three of the Appellants in this case, Shelly Williams, Charity Dumas, and Joy Anderson actually provided testimony at the December 16, 2008 hearing.
Their challenge also takes on board votes to change policies enabling both the relatively rapid adoption of the school-closure proposal last January and enabling Cooper to be considered for closure; the district’s document contends “legislative bodies like the School Board are always free to amend their own polic(i)es and procedures …” The hearing is scheduled for 10:30 am Friday, June 12, before Judge Greg Canova in King County Superior Court. Meantime, Cooper is having a “closing celebration” at the school at 2 pm this Sunday.
Previewing today’s forecast gives us an excuse to use these two spectacular Wednesday night sunset photos – first one shared by David Hutchinson, next one by Dan E:
Now, as for that forecast: Wednesday’s official high was 88; today’s forecast predicts “highs around 90.” The official “heat advisory” remains in effect till 6 pm.
From Wednesday night’s Southwest District Council (WSB sponsor) meeting: 2 drafts, both with time running out for you to review them and have a say. First one is the city’s draft Pedestrian Master Plan — which you can see here – comment time running till June 15. SDOT‘s Barbara Gray was at the meeting to review its highlights and answer questions. One thing she was asked: Do too many advertising A-boards on sidewalks get in the way of pedestrians? Gray said the city used to have a staffer who worked on those types of enforcement issues, but the position was cut, so now neighborhood business groups need to work internally to handle any such issues. Next draft that comments are being taken on is a little wonkier – read on: Read More
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Park and playground updates filled most of the agenda at the North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting Wednesday night.
As we’ve been reporting, the anxiously awaited Delridge Skatepark is moving forward with a total of $750,000 virtually secured, and plans in the works for a 12,000-square- foot skate bowl with trimmings.
Some had hoped for a slightly larger skateboard park, maybe a little closer to 15,000 square feet, but there are also many advantages to the more compact counterpart:
From left, Paulson Kimani, Nat Livingston, Ned Sander and Raphael Jimenez are members of the sixth-grade Denny Middle School team that helped their school get the 1st-place overall school score today at Seattle Public Schools‘ middle-school Math Olympiad, according to Ned’s proud dad Jim Sander. He adds that it took place at the UW Hub ballroom, and the sixth graders took 2nd place in their division. He says the Denny teams were coached by math/science teacher Gary Lai.
Remember what happened to “Desperate College Student,” whose school items were stolen from her car? She did get some of them back. Now Kathleen is hoping her daughter also can recover some of what *she* just lost in a theft:
We live at 106th and Marine View Drive [map] and someone broke into our daughter’s car in the driveway. She’s home from college for a couple of weeks and her car was locked and in the driveway. This morning I heard someone outside and saw a man get out of a black Suburban-like car. He was walking towards our house. I think he had already robbed my daughter’s car and was walking towards my husband’s car in the driveway to see if they could take anything from it. They took a box from her car that contained art books (she’s an art history major) and sentimental items. If they dumped the box because it had no value to them, please contact us so our daughter can get the box back. Call 206 497 8665.
Friday night’s almost here, and with it the West Seattle gala celebrating the peninsula’s first-ever participation in the Seattle International Film Festival – with the Admiral Theater hosting 25 showings of SIFF films between Friday and the following Thursday. To kick it off — even if you are NOT going to the movie that follows! — YOU are invited to a free, fun open-house style party this Friday night. WSB is co-promoting the party with The Admiral, 5:30 pm-6:45 pm, before the opening-night showing of “The Admiral.” Special guests include SIFF director Carl Spence – who lives in West Seattle – and the Seafair Pirates; treats include a ship-shaped cake from Vertu Cakes and appetizers from Metropolitan Market, plus decorations include flowers and balloons from Sharon’s Westwood Florist. Haven’t been to the Admiral? Its interior has unique sights such as the mural behind the concession stand, and other classic decor. One more note: If you’re trying to find the full schedule of SIFF films at The Admiral, and how to buy tickets (you get them through SIFF, *not* the Admiral’s box office), start here, with the June 5 schedule, featuring Admiral showings on the left side of the grid.
Tom in Fauntleroy e-mailed to share news of an unsettling “visitor” early today – and half an hour later, we are adding to this story, with Charles‘s report of a suspicious sighting in Highland Park – read on for both:Read More
(video of pre-meeting protest in the board room, added at 6:28 pm)
We’re now at the John Stanford Center in Sodo, headquarters of Seattle Public Schools. Tonight’s school board meeting was preceded by a raucous protest against teacher layoffs, with more than a hundred people chanting in the parking lot on the building’s north side.
The protesters then proceeded inside and chanted for several minutes just before the meeting started; we’ll add video of that shortly. Many are holding up signs, such as “Cut from the top, NOT from teachers and students.” Public comment is under way now – you can watch live on cable TV – and the first to speak was Chief Sealth High School junior Duron Jones, talking about a student-run program, as part of a new initiative to have the first speaker at every board meeting be a local high-school student:
We’re expecting to hear more tonight – probably not until after 7 pm – about enrollment levels at local schools, looking ahead to fall.
6:25 PM: This is the rowdiest meeting we’ve been to since the school-closure process; chanting is breaking out between speakers: THEY SAY CUT BACK, WE SAY FIGHT BACK (as you can hear in the video just added atop this story) and THEY SAY LAYOFFS, WE SAY NO, GOODLOE-JOHNSON’S GOT TO GO. The president of the Seattle teachers’ union is speaking now (6:26 pm).
6:40 PM UPDATE: Jesse Hagopian, one of the Madison Middle School teachers who’s being laid off, has just addressed the board, with Madison students at his side holding protest signs. He said they’re asking nicely now that the decision be reversed – but hinted that more drastic action could follow if their concerns are not heard and acted on:
7:50 PM UPDATE: A district staffer is now updating the enrollment figures.
CLICK AHEAD TO SEE THE REST OF OUR AS-IT-HAPPENED COVERAGE:Read More
Yesterday, as a proud co-sponsor of the West Seattle Summer Outdoor Movies on the Wall choices, we shared the announcement of the first and last movies chosen for this year, via Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor)’s Lora Lewis … and today, as promised, we have two more, starting with movie #2 on July 25 – here’s one of its most famous scenes:
Yes, the original “King Kong” from 1933! Then one week later, on August 1st, it’s “Footloose“:
If you missed yesterday’s announcement – the series opener on July 18 will be “The Princess Bride,” and the series closer on August 22 will be “Cars.” Tomorrow – movies number 4 and 5 will be announced, to complete the slate! Thanks again to everyone who offered suggestions, here on WSB, on the official Movies on the Wall website, on Facebook, via e-mail, via Twitter. Mark your calendar for those six summer Saturday nights July 18-Aug. 22 – movies start at dusk in the courtyard between Dr. Wolff and Hotwire – be sure to bring money for concessions and cool raffle prizes benefiting local nonprofits.
We reported earlier this week on Denny Middle School‘s success at a music festival in Idaho last weekend – now, we have word from Madison Middle School music teacher Clark Bathum that Madison students’ trip to the same event was successful too:
Madison Middle School Music Department had a successful and fun-filled trip to the Music in the Parks Festival in Coeur D’Alene last weekend.
In the Middle School AA Division Madison Ensembles won:
String Orchestra: 1st place (Excellent Rating)
Jazz Band: 1st place (Superior Rating)
Concert Band: 2nd place (Excellent Rating)
Middle School/Jr High outstanding Jazz soloist Award: Patrick Gordon, Baritone Sax (this was the 7th straight year that the award went to a student from Madison)Madison was also very proud to receive the Esprit De Corps award, which is given to one school at the Festival that best demonstrates “personal integrity, quality character values, and a desire for excellence.”
Click ahead for three more photos shared from the trip:Read More
Editor’s note: We first reported in July 2007 that this historic Fauntleroy home was on the market for $5 million; thanks to Amy for the tip that it just sold for $3,850,000; thanks to Fauntleroy writer and historian Ron Richardson for tracking down the details and providing this report and photos:
By Ron Richardson
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
After being on the market for nearly two years, the Colman-Pierce home in the Laurentide section of Fauntleroy has new owners.
Dr. Jack Pierce has sold the home and 2.5-acre estate to Mr. David Jones and his wife Mary Ann of Preston. Dr. Pierce had received offers from developers but wanted to be sure that the property ended up with someone who appreciated the home, the gardens and would maintain its atmosphere and garden setting:
Fauntleroy neighbors are appreciative and relieved that Dr. Pierce found such a buyer. Mr. Jones was born in England, has been a Microsoft executive and currently lives on a ten-acre farm in Preston. According to Dr. Pierce, Mr. Jones likes the idea of having a home in the city with the serenity one finds at the Colman estate. And he likes gardens.
The home, called Laurentide, was built in 1922 by Laurence Colman and was designed by well-known Seattle architect Arthur Loveless. Seattle pioneer James Colman, an immigrant from Scotland, eventually settled Fauntleroy in 1906, along with fellow members of Seattle’s Plymouth Congregational Church. The Colman family over the years has built and maintained a spectacular garden with dozens of rhododendrons, including new species developed by the Colmans.
Dr. Pierce and his wife Leilia have moved to their other home at Horsehead Bay near Gig Harbor. Older Fauntleroy residents would remember being taken to summer camp at Horsehead Bay by Laurence Colman.
It seems a Fauntleroy and West Seattle historic property has been saved from ‘development’ and will retain its historic sense into the future, thanks to Dr. Jack Pierce and Mr. David Jones.
Read more Fauntleroy history in Ron Richardson’s HistoryLink.org essay.
That’s WSB video from last year’s West Seattle Kiddies’ Parade, presented by the Rotary Club of West Seattle right before the American Legion Grand Parade down California SW. Hard to believe it’s a little more than six weeks till parade day (Saturday, July 18) – but the Rotary has just sent its official invitation to local families to plan to be in the Kiddies’ Parade. It travels a shorter segment of the parade route, starting at Genesee/California [map]; full details, including who to call or e-mail with questions, are on this flyer.
Major events today/tonight, from the WSB Events calendar:
VIADUCT/TUNNEL “SOUTH PORTAL” WORKING GROUP: Third meeting of this group reviewing issues regarding how traffic will flow on the side of the Highway 99 corridor that’s closest to West Seattle. Three West Seattleites are members of the group (Jerome Cohen, Vlad Oustimovitch, Pete Spalding) but you are welcome too; 4 pm, Sound Transit board room at 401 South Jackson [map]. (P.S. Remember The Viaduct closes 6-11 am Sunday for Race for the Cure.)
TEACHER LAYOFF PROTEST AND SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: As mentioned here. The rally is at 5 pm, School Board meeting (with many other hot topics) at 6 pm, district HQ in Sodo [map].
NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: This neighborhood is jumping these days, with the playground and skatepark projects, among other things. NDNC meets at 6:30 pm, Delridge Library [map].
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL (WSB sponsor): Representatives of groups and organizations from all over the Southwest District section (as outlined by the city) of the peninsula will have their monthly meeting at 7 pm, South Seattle Community College board room [map], with agenda items including the city’s draft Pedestrian Master Plan.
FREE REMODELING/HOME-BUILDING WORKSHOP: Longtime WSB sponsor Ventana Construction offers its monthly free workshop tonight, 6:30 pm – just call to RSVP. Details on the workshop, and contact info, are here.
In addition to our Events calendar, be sure to check the new Announced page daily – with links to even more West Seattle news than we publish on the main page, particularly when first word comes in about non-immediate events (it’s evolving to include other stories too). And make sure to let us know when you have scheduled an event you want everyone in West Seattle to know about – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
You may have heard some of this before but it’s vital to hear again when we’re in a situation like today/tomorrow with near-record heat expected (here’s the latest forecast) – the Seattle Animal Shelter has sent out words of warning – not only is it the right thing to do, but it’s a crime if you DON’T protect your pet – read on (P.S. that’s WSB mascot Miles sunbathing at left):Read More
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Police have released more details this morning on the shooting that injured a man outside the Westwood Village McDonald’s late last night (original WSB coverage here).
On 06/02/09, at 1126 p.m., the suspect and victim met in a parking lot, located at 2600 SW Barton St. The suspect was angry about a vehicle he had purchased from victim because the victim could not come up with the vehicle’s title. After a heated argument the suspect pulled out a handgun and shot the victim in the leg. The suspect got into a Silver Honda Accord and drove away from the scene. The victim was treated at the scene by Seattle Fire Department and transported to HMC with serious (but not life-threatening injuries).
Police say the victim is 24, the suspect 23 (and still on the loose).
The newly updated forecast says we’re heading for “near-record heat” today and tomorrow, 90ish, so a “heat advisory” will be in effect starting at 2 pm. Last year on this date, the weather records remind us, the high was 58 degrees and we got half an inch of rain.
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Tuesday night was the time to shine for students in the West Seattle High School Class of 2009 – before their graduation a week from tomorrow.
Recognition and awards were given to dozens of students who excelled in academics, athletics, arts or have contributed in many ways to the high school community.
The ceremony was held in the WSHS Theater. Here are just some of the many highlights of the evening:
The big winners of the night were Sumeet Chadha and Maggie Oliver, each collecting multiple awards throughout the night. Sumeet was honored for his community service, school spirit and academics. He was one of the winners of the Gates Millennium full-ride college scholarships. Kaileah Baldwin was the other Gates scholarship winner. Maggie Oliver was honored as the World Languages student. She shared the prestigious Willard Shield – bestowed by the class in recognition of the highest standards of excellence – with Sumeet.
The “Service Above Self” award, which was given for the first time in 10 years, went to Jake Miller and Ross Monroe for numerous class contributions, including design and development of the new West Seattle High School website.
Brittney Dawson, Alex Ormsby and Sumeet Chadha were all recipients of the “Coke Roberts” award for leadership.
Teachers and advisors gave often effusive speeches recognizing outstanding students in their departments, including math-whiz Michelle Nguyen, Jordan Sewell for musical accomplishment, Liam Reed, Chris Morson and Karen Dean for drama, Marcus Hamlin for physical education — not only for his athletic accomplishment, but also for motivating others.
Technology kudos went to Trevor Lloyd, and to Victoria Kelly for family and consumer sciences.
Brittany Dawson was honored for achievement in business and marketing. Brittany took the lead in reopening the school store, which had been closed for several years.
Fashion designer Ellen Jensen and ceramic artist Jensen Perdue were honored for excelling in fine arts.
“Jensen has done things in ceramics that I have never seen before, large, elegant and complex,” said fine arts teacher Mike Gervais.
Brenden Peterson and Zak Hale were among the students recognized for academic achievement and other contributions. Brenden and Peterson have been friends since first grade and started their school careers at Schmitz Park Elementary.
Also: Here’s the list of students receiving scholarships; here’s the list of National Honor Society seniors.
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Editor’s note: Kathy Mulady is not only a veteran Seattle journalist, she also is proud mom to “Service Above Self” award winner Jake Miller.
(added 12:30 am, video of officers collecting evidence at the shooting scene)
ORIGINAL 11:30 PM REPORT: Police and fire are responding to an “assault with weapons” call in the Westwood Village vicinity. No details yet – monitoring the scanner. We did hear police arriving, saying they found “the victim.” The scanner indicates it was a shooting at the McDonald’s, and police are looking for a “silver Honda” with at least three people inside. We’re heading over to see what we can find out at the scene. 11:43 PM UPDATE: Scanner “be on the lookout” bulletin confirms – it’s a shooting at Westwood Village McDonald’s, “possible suspect vehicle” a silver Accord heading west, four people believed to be inside – described as “black male, Asian male, Hispanic male, Asian female.” No word yet on the victim. 11:54 PM UPDATE: From the scene – The medic unit just left with the shooting victim – IVs could be seen through the window but still no word on age, gender, severity of wounds. (photo by Christopher Boffoli, added later)
We believe we’ve spotted at least one Gang Unit officer at the scene (doesn’t mean it’s gangs for sure but means they’re looking into it – ironic, we were at the gang-violence forum downtown earlier tonight, have not yet written the story). TV crews are on site too. (photo of Gang Unit officer by Christopher Boffoli, added 1:02 am)
12:19 AM UPDATE: From Seattle Police spokesperson Officer Renee Witt: The victim is an adult male shot in the leg, taken to the hospital with “non-life-threatening injuries”; the suspect vehicle is now described as a “gray Honda” with four suspects, and she confirms the Gang Unit is among those on the scene investigating. Photos from the scene shortly.
1:04 AM UPDATE: Adding photos by WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli. This one shows the shell casing police found at the scene (Christopher says nearby residents reported hearing one shot):
4:35 AM NOTE: No word of any arrests so far; we will check again with police later in the morning.
More than 170 teachers in West Seattle and the rest of the district have been told their jobs will be cut after this school year ends. Tomorrow night, community members concerned about the teacher layoffs plan to rally before the school board’s scheduled 6 pm meeting at district HQ in Sodo (agenda here). We received a West Seattle-specific note about it today – read on:Read More
That’s how Roz refers to what she says has happened at her house – read on:Read More
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