West Seattle, Washington
05 Friday
Six chances ahead for you to dine while helping, and/or finding out about, more of the people who make West Seattle a better place – and there’s a deadline TODAY to sign up for one:
RESERVATION DEADLINE IS 5 PM TODAY, EVENT IS SATURDAY: The White Center Food Bank‘s Harvest Dinner and Auction is Saturday night – starting with the silent auction @ 5:30 pm, SSCC’s Brockey Center. Full details here; $60/person, 206/762-2848, or rick@whitecenterfoodbank.org. We just talked with Audrey at WCFB and she says they need reservations by 5 PM TODAY so they can get the catering order in. (Remember, as we often mention, WCFB serves a sizable chunk of West Seattle too.)
THURSDAY: Got an hour to spare before you go to work? Safe Futures invites you to a free breakfast to find out more about how they help local kids. It’s at their HQ, 6337 35th SW (map), 8 am. RSVP: 206/235-8892.
NOVEMBER 1: Hope Lutheran School Dinner and Auction, 5:30 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy. $50/person for early-bird bookings through tomorrow; full details here.
NOVEMBER 4: Endolyne Joe’s is donating part of today’s proceeds to Arbor Heights Elementary‘s fundraising efforts for replacing basketball hoops that had to be removed because of lead levels.
NOVEMBER 7: Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association‘s annual “Links to the Community” fundraising dinner, starts with 6 pm happy hour, SSCC’s Brockey Center. By donation, suggested $100/person.
NOVEMBER 22: Log House Museum: Preserving Heritage Gala and Silent Auction, SSCC’s Brockey Center, 5-9 pm: Live jazz trio with wine, appetizers, jewelry appraising, gourmet dinner, $75/person, call 206/938-5293 or e-mail loghousemuseum@comcast.net
And browse the WSB Events calendar to see what else is coming up – all the way through next spring; if you have something to add, please e-mail us!
While visiting Lowman Beach a few days ago to get photos for this ducky little WSB story, we were surprised to see its swing set had vanished, nothing left but the sand square. It’s the only piece of official play equipment at that park, and it’s been a favorite of ours for years of walking down to Lowman with Junior Member of the Team. So we asked the Parks Department what’s up, and heard back this morning from Carol Baker, who manages park maintenance for this section of the city. She says it’s an upgrade, and that a sign will be posted at the site to advise park users as follows: “The swing set has been removed. It will be replaced with a new swing set, curb, and new safety surfacing. The new swings will be open by November 2008, weather permitting.”
When we reported September 21st that demolition and construction permits had been issued for the site of the Shoremont Apartments at 57th/Alki, we heard in comments from James Ellison of Modern Dwelling, a division of the site’s new owner/developer Pb Elemental), who said new renderings were in the works for the project, described on the city project page as five townhouses and one single-family residence. Nothing’s happened on the site yet; then yesterday, Slog reported that Pb Elemental laid off a third of its staff. Though that report said Pb wasn’t commenting on the fate of specific projects, we e-mailed Ellison late last night to see if he could say anything about the Shoremont plan. Despite the hour, his response was fairly quick, albeit brief: “We are exploring options with the site but will be moving forward shortly.” (P.S. The Shoremont is featured in the latest post on Vintage Seattle, whose author lives in West Seattle.)
As promised, here are the details of Monday afternoon’s oral arguments in the case of Conner vs. Seattle — that’s William Conner, who founded Conner Homes and is now retired, challenging the city Hearing Examiner‘s decision upholding the city Landmarks Board‘s rejection of his proposal to build three 3,000-or-so-square-foot homes on the big lawn fronting the Satterlee House (4866 Beach Drive; map). That board has to turn thumbs up or down on changes proposed to official city landmarks, which require a “certificate of approval” before such changes can proceed to the next step in any development process. This case is unusual and potentially precedent-setting because, as was noted during the HE hearings we covered in the spring, Landmarks Board rulings are seldom appealed, and this one not only went to appeal, the ruling on that appeal is now being challenged in court. Here’s what happened in court Monday (expanding on our brief initial report published Monday afternoon):Read More
The news from tonight’s Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council meeting wasn’t just about/for Pigeon Point. For starters – a plaintive reminder, especially apropos on a rainy night early enough in fall that the leaves are still not all off the trees – KEEP YOUR DRAINS CLEAR! You want them to look more like this:
Even if a clogged drain doesn’t cause trouble for your home or street – it can divert water somewhere that trouble WILL be caused. Meantime, other topics at PPNC tonight included a jail-site update, Delridge Community Center/skatepark-project updates, Cooper Elementary School update, library funding, and the reason why PPNC suddenly needs a new leader – all ahead:Read More
Back from checking out a 4-car fender-bender at 35th/Kenyon (map). Fire/medics were able to pull out fairly quickly (no serious injuries reported) but police were trying to sort out exactly how it all happened.
There’s a “3 Red” call at Allstar Fitness – one patron texted us that everybody was asked to leave because of a “smell of smoke.” So far the call has not escalated beyond the three units originally dispatched (lower level than a “fire in building” call); we’ll let you know if/when we find out more. 7:53 PM UPDATE: Call is now officially closed.
Another mini-wave of reports has come in – this time, car break-ins, from two neighborhoods in eastern West Seattle: Read More
While at the county courthouse for the Satterlee House arguments (see previous report), 
we checked on the trial of the 18-year-old accused of second-degree murder in the 59th/Admiral shooting that happened exactly one year ago today. The judge’s staff told us that motions were heard today and jury selection is scheduled to begin Wednesday morning. The suspect contends that he was sexually abused for years by the man he is on trial for shooting dead in a car that day; his lawyer told WSB last month that he had no intention of plea-bargaining this case (as was done in West Seattle’s other two 2007 murder cases, the beating death of Benny Reside at Cal-Mor Circle and the fatal shooting of Dewayne West at 37th/Findlay). The 59th/Admiral suspect has been jailed, in lieu of $200,000 bail, since his surrender within a few days of last year’s shooting.
Just concluded in King County Superior Court Judge Suzanne Barnett‘s courtroom: Oral arguments for and against Satterlee House owner William Conner‘s challenge of the city rulings against his proposal to build three homes, averaging about 3,000 square feet each, on the expansive front lawn of the city landmark also known as “the Painted Lady of Beach Drive.” Conner’s lawyer Richard Hill and the city’s lawyer Judy Barbour each spoke to the judge for about 45 minutes, Hill presented a few minutes of rebuttal, and then Judge Barnett set October 24th as the date she will announce her ruling. Full details of today’s proceedings later; this report includes backstory on the case (which is a followup to city Hearing Examiner proceedings we covered earlier this year, as Conner challenged the city Landmarks Board’s denial of permission to proceed with the development application – the argument isn’t whether he can build anything on the lawn, which is on the record as three separate lots, but whether what he wants to build would harm the characteristics for which the site was designated a landmark).
Three short reader reports to share – if you live in the Seaview or Admiral areas in particular, you might want to be aware:Read More
That photo is courtesy Jim Flynn, taken before he and wife M.J. Benavente opened the doors to Snap Fitness in Jefferson Square (next to Subway, on the 42nd SW street side) just moments ago. We told you about their enterprise back in August (Jim’s a longtime WSB’er). From hereon out, he says, they’re open 24/7 to members; you can drop by for a tour 11 am-1 pm or 4-7 pm Monday-Thursday, 11 am-2 pm Friday, 10 am-3 pm Saturdays, or call 206/299-1597 if you want to arrange a tour for some other time. This is a “soft opening”; they’re planning an official “grand opening” celebration next month.
Four major neighborhood/community group meetings this week, and really, it’s a huge first step to helping your neighborhood when you just show up. We go to as many of these meetings as we can every month and that’s what the groups’ leaders are dying to see (they’re all volunteers, by the way) … the more people the merrier. And you’d be surprised what you find out. Here’s your chances this week: TONIGHT – The Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council is having what’s been billed as its “most important meeting of the year,” 6:30 pm, Cooper Elementary (map). TOMORROW (TUESDAY): Admiral Neighborhood Association, 7 pm, Admiral Church basement meeting room (map); Fauntleroy Community Association, 7 pm, The Hall @ Fauntleroy (in the old schoolhouse, which itself is on the agenda, after last week’s big news). WEDNESDAY: Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting, 7 pm, The Kenney; Delridge District Council (wireps from eastern West Seattle’s community groups and other organizations), 7 pm, Southwest Precinct meeting room. See our right sidebar, under WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY GROUPS, for a list of other neighborhood associations who’d be thrilled to see/hear from you. MONDAY AFTERNOON ADDENDUM: One more neighborhood event this week where you would be more than welcome – the Junction Neighborhood Organization‘s quarterly cleanup (free treats!) is this Saturday morning. Help get the streets in shape before winter barrels into us. E-mail JuNO prez Erica Karlovits – erica@wsjuno.com – if you can help (or have a Q). TUESDAY AFTERNOON ADDENDUM: JuNO’s cleanup has been postponed – but e-mail Erica to get you on the list for helping when it’s rescheduled!
Though we’ve posted the occasional spot price check here and there in the last several weeks, it’s been 2 1/2 months since our last Sunday night drive-by survey of posted regular and premium prices at all West Seattle stations. As prices start to fall faster, we thought this would be a good time to get back in the game; discovered in the process that many WS stations are now down about a buck from their June peak — and one station’s currently out of the gas biz. The full price list, lowest to highest, ahead:Read More
If you’ve ever walked to or from Lincoln Park via the south end of Beach Drive, you’ve probably seen a festively decorated garden featuring rubber ducks. Its owner contacted WSB some time back to let us know his legendary decorations were taking wing into a business. Sounded like a fun story rather than just a business blurb – so we asked the University of Washington News Lab, which offers help to small news organizations such as ours, whether one of its student journalists might be interested. Read on to see the results – the story behind the ducks, plus a message you can probably appreciate in these nerve-jangling times:Read More
Every little detail of the development process may not be your cup of tea; we chronicle it so the information’s there when you do want to find it (you never know when one of those big city signs might go up in your ‘hood). As you may know, for big projects in our city, the Design Review stage of the process is often the only time there’s a public meeting about a project (usually at least two) where you can show up and have a say. Each area of the city has its own board; the Southwest Design Review Board looks at West Seattle projects, usually the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, if there are projects requiring review (no meeting if there aren’t; this is usually decided several weeks in advance, and you can watch this page for word of upcoming meetings). Next SWDRB meeting is October 23rd at Madison Middle School, with 4106 Delridge reviewed at 6:30 pm, The Kenney‘s “reinvention” project (previous WSB coverage here and here) reviewed at 8 pm. Following up on the SWDRB’s last meeting this past Thursday, we have two things to report: first, details on a prominent board member’s hiatus; second, details on what led up to the decision to advance the 35th/Graham High Point project on to the next stage. Read on!Read More
We first reported September 30th that the city Parks Department is seeking proposals from private concerns that would be willing to make renovations at West Seattle Stadium — renovations the city estimates would cost at least $4 million and doesn’t have the money for — in exchange for an agreement to “operate and maintain the Stadium including the track and field areas, but not the parking areas … a multi-year contract that allows (the operator) to recoup its capital investment and support its own business.” Following up on that – this is scheduled for discussion at the Delridge District Council meeting this Wednesday, according to district neighborhood coordinator Ron Angeles (7 pm, Southwest Precinct meeting room, public invited). He also forwarded updates on how to formally comment on the stadium’s future and the forthcoming “request for proposals,” including the previously mentioned public hearing before the city Board of Park Commissioners on October 23rd, the board’s November vote, and various ways to send comments right now. Read on for full details, including a recap of the repairs the city wants the future stadium operator to make:Read More
We told you a few days ago about the no-parking signs up along a long stretch of Alki and Harbor Aves, all the way to the heart of the beach, to facilitate painting crews (sharrows and the lane lines to the right of them) this weekend. Just got this note of caution that Andrew wanted to share from the Alki/Bonair (map) vicinity:
I just wanted to give a heads up that the no parking signage is a bit misleading. Be very careful where you park on Alki today as I saw the Seattle Police patroling for cars parked in areas where the new parking lines hadn’t been painted yet. Looks like some of the signage is incorrect and says Monday – Friday when it actually applies today on Sunday. I checked with one of the Officers and he said I was ok, but just beware!
This may include the area that’s been off-limits to parking because of the pump-station work. How to know? Look to see if the lane near the curb has been painted already. If it has, you’re probably OK. If it hasn’t, don’t park there before late afternoon.
(left to right, Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, Carol Schultz, Cindi Barker, Kay Thode, Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher and Mayor Nickels)
With a snip of the giant ceremonial scissors, Orchard Street Ravine in Gatewood was officially dedicated this afternoon. But this was no ordinary park dedication — it came after years of volunteer work and controversy, among other things — and just a week after Parks Department managers unveiled a new plan for a controversial connection through the ravine (WSB coverage here). All photos/video in the in-depth report ahead are by its author, WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli:Read More
Two road notes tonight: First, Ian (who has an excellent Internet-marketing blog here, also included on the WSB Blogs page), sent us the link to that photo of a sign he spotted earlier today and wondered, “What genius put up this detour sign at the intersection of 35th and Fauntleroy, on the north side? 1. It sends you over the West Seattle Bridge. 2. It blocks people trying to get to Dakota, which IS open. 3. There’s a proper detour sign right after Dakota. If they don’t take it down soon I’m going to move it myself …” Meantime, today’s round of sharrow-and-stripe-painting is over on part of Alki/Harbor Aves; more is ahead for tomorrow (make sure you read those no-parking signs carefully – some were marked for 5 am-3 pm today, some for 5 am-3 pm tomorrow), so if you’re driving to Alki elsewhere, best to seek side-street parking during those hours.
As noted in comments on last night’s report about the West Seattle High School Wildcats‘ sixth-straight football win (photo left), their next game is Homecoming. This afternoon, we received an invitation to share with you, to come celebrate not just Homecoming, but also the great season WSHS is having so far: 4:30-5:30 pm Friday at the WSHS Commons, a good old-fashioned pep rally, free, community invited, hot dogs and hamburgers. See you there! (The actual game is 7 pm, SW Athletic Complex, vs. Rainier Beach.)
One week from tonight, at Brockey Center at South Seattle Community College, you can multitask in the best of ways: Have fun, and help a West Seattle/White Center nonprofit that’s busier than ever these days: 
The White Center Food Bank. Despite its name, it’s important to note, the White Center Food Bank serves a big chunk of West Seattle as well – food banks have service boundaries; if somebody shows up at a food bank but lives outside its service area, they’ll get some one-time emergency help and directions to the appropriate location. So to help fight hunger in West Seattle, it’s important to help the White Center Food Bank as well as the West Seattle Food Bank. Earlier this year, WSFB had great success with its “Instruments of Change” event, and now it’s the WCFB’s turn — the fourth annual Harvest Dinner and Auction starts with a silent auction at 5:30 pm next Saturday (10/18) and dinner at 7:15 pm. WCFB has taken out space on WSB this week to thank its major sponsors and remind you about the event. See the invitation here; for $60/person, you can enjoy a steak/salmon entree or pasta option; call or e-mail for reservations ASAP since the event is only a week away — 206/762-2848, or rick@whitecenterfoodbank.org.
Days after people of all ages gathered along 35th to call attention to safety concerns including speeding drivers, a fast-moving car took a furry friend from his Junction-area family. Fiori C posted her story in the West Seattle Blog Forums, and we asked her to send a photo so we could feature it here on the home page, including her plea:
Tragedy struck my family (Thursday) when our family dog escaped from our fenced yard close to the Alaska Junction, ran into the street and was immediately struck by a car traveling way too fast for the area. The car didn’t even stop. I’m not sure they even saw or felt what had happened.
All I can say is that it was an absolutely devastating experience for me and for our family that was visiting here from Des Moines, IA. We had had a perfectly lovely visit and our parents were packing the car, getting ready to head back home when Monte darted out the gate and was struck by a car coming up Edmunds by the True Value at about 40 miles per hour.
Monte was a Wire Fox Terrier that was more like a child to my Mother & Father-in-law than a dog. He was very special to all of us and will be greatly missed by the entire family.
I know the traffic police are doing their best right now to make people aware of certain areas (like 35th) that we need to slow down on but there are other areas of great concern like this corner of 44th & Edmunds. This has always been a bad intersection but lately, things have gotten completely out of hand. On the weekends, there is a constant stream of cars that don’t seem to be able to read the “DEAD END” sign on Rutan and come flying down that street only to find it end, then they back up at unsafe speed to get out. My fence has been knocked over, my cars have been scratched by those that turn around in our driveway. All things just completely inconsiderate of the fact that families are living here.
When we find ourselves complaining about the growth here in West Seattle, we should be thinking about what our contribution to that is. If we are driving fast, on our phone or just generally not aware, WE make that growth unpleasant. West Seattle is a wonderful place to raise a family. Let’s keep it that way and be considerate of our neighbors and SLOW DOWN A BIT FOR THE LOVE OF OUR FAMILIES!
~ IN MEMORY OF MONTE GRUVER ~
Loving Fox Terrier & Loyal Companion
Your life was taken too soon but our love for you will last forever….
During our e-mail exchange, Fiori added, “If you know of any community group that could use some help in organizing an effort to become more aware of this problem, please let me know as I would be willing to help/organize.” If you have any suggestions along that line, please leave a comment here, or e-mail us and we will put you in touch with Fiori.
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