West Seattle, Washington
25 Monday
Reminder if you missed earlier mentions (or haven’t seen Google‘s tribute) — Earth Hour is tonight, 8-9 pm, with many city-owned lights going dark by order of Mayor Nickels. If you look across the bay during Earth Hour, you’ll reportedly see such iconic illuminated structures as the Space Needle and Qwest Field participating too. Here’s worldwide backstory.
Shades of serval-mania! Steve in North Admiral e-mailed to say:
(Last night) we saw what looked like a very exotic cat moving rapidly through the backyards and greenbelt slope between Palm Ave SW and Ferry Ave SW in the 1700 block area. It was not so big–probably 10 – 15 pounds, but it had absolutely “african savannah cat” markings much like the larger serval cat that was seen and eventually captured a few months ago near PCC. Beautiful bold spotting on its body and black rings on its tail. I’ve never seen a cat move like this fellow–he/she was up on house roofs, back down to ground and darting around, etc. Never got close enough to get a picture.
We haven’t called animal control but probably will if we see it around again. It seemed highly stressed.
Here’s a map of the area. Here’s the last followup we had on the serval situation Steve mentioned. SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE: The situation is resolved (as per comments below) — the cat, a Savannah, found a way to get into and out of its house while its owners were away, but a friend just verified it’s back inside now – and sent this photo (so you’ll know, if you ever see it):
Just a few of the sailboats we saw off Alki earlier this morning, as they headed around Alki Point and southward — it’s the Corinthian Yacht Club‘s Pully Point Race (more info here including the list of participating vessels). And thanks to Hopey for sending a different view as the race headed past the Fauntleroy ferry dock:
ADDED 2:20 PM: Hopey caught the racers heading back northbound past Fauntleroy:
When we first told you 2 months ago about Basic Green Box moving out of its California SW storefront (right next to this project), Charlotte at BGB didn’t know yet where they would land. Now she’s just sent WSB the official announcement – they’re leaving WS:
After 3 years in our lovely West Seattle community, we are moving to a more accessible location with more parking (you talked, we listened!).
We are so thrilled to join forces with our friends at Year of the Monkey at 2915 1st Ave S (SODO) integrating our accessories with their impressive selection of antique and reproduction furniture.
Last days: We are only open Friday-Sunday for two more weekends (March 28, 29, 30) and April 4, 5, 6 (12 pm-5 pm each day). Hurry in for up to 50% off everything (we won’t move it all!) Our accessories will still be available at www.basicgreenbox.com and we hope to see you in our new location in May. Thank you for your continued support!
(keep scrolling down for updates and pix added to this post)
Big fluffy flakes now. Steady but still not cold enough out there to stick, even on cars. (37) 12:33 PM UPDATE: Kevin writes from Arbor Heights, 375-foot elevation, the snow’s “struggling to stick.” We’re around the same elevation here in Upper Fauntleroy and it’s finally starting to stick … walking out the door for a pic. Send yours if you get one. 12:44 PM UPDATE: OK, here’s our first one.
ADDED 12:54 PM: Thanks to JoB for this pic:
1:03 PM: Definitely sticking on the WSBmobile. May be enough for some snowball fights when school gets out this afternoon. (Spring break – ha! – is finishing for some of the private-school kids; Seattle Public Schools and some other private schools are out next week.)
1:10 PM: Some kids are out having fun already. Thanks to Karen for sending this next photo from Westwood. (P.S. We’ll let you know of any traffic troubles reported on the WS-bound commute this afternoon, of course; check cams any time here).
1:18 PM: Thanks to Sage K for these next 2 pics, from Delridge and Juneau, where it’s starting to stick. If you’re wondering about the forecast, seems this may not settle down till tomorrow.
1:33 PM: Thanks to “k” for sending this from Morgan Junction:
1:44 PM: From 51st/Hudson (map) comes this classic scene of spring vs. snow, thanks to Eileen:
2:04 PM: Snow’s lightened up in a big way, at least up here. Meantime, JenV sends this photo (thank you!) of frosty flowers, taken outside Buddha Ruksa (did you see the West Seattle 101 on WSB feature yet?) at lunch:
2:08 PM: Just in from Belvidere (or is it Belvedere? even the city has it both ways):
2:13 PM: Thanks to Trick in Arbor Heights for a new twist on the term “snow globe”:
2:18 PM: Snow’s stopped and the big melt has begun here – we can hear it through the rain gutters, and there’s serious drip action from the shrubbery. Some other West Seattle news has been stacking up in queue so we’ll get that going here shortly.
If you’ve driven by that new block wall along Harbor Avenue east of Salty’s and suspected it had something to do with the restaurant – it doesn’t. After a couple of reader e-mails asking about it, we doublechecked with Salty’s, which said no, it’s an unrelated industrial project. That sent us looking into the property records, which are a little convoluted for this parcel (#7666705250, owned by Anmarco), with multiple addresses, but finally we traced it to 2130 Harbor, which carries notes of a city DPD investigation: According to this page on the DPD website, the work was proceeding without permits, and the city posted a “stop-work order” — here’s the exact language:
Constructing a 400’+ long approx. 8′ tall retaining wall and grading in a designated shoreline environment requires permits. STOP WORK ORDER posted 3/5/08 by building inspector.
The DPD website shows two case numbers open for this investigation, here and here. Anmarco’s land in the area has quite a bit of history; this article goes back 11 years.
Just in from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce – the official announcement of its Business of the Year and Community Service award winners: Business of the Year goes to Tom Smith for Tom’s Automotive; Community Service goes to Warren Lawless. Both have worked in the West Seattle community for decades; according to the Chamber announcement, Tom’s has been in business for more than 37 years and — quoting the announcement regarding Warren Lawless — “Since 1938 he has been a constant force and a very active participant in numerous West Seattle organizations.” You can be on hand to honor them both when the WS C of C presents the awards during a breakfast event at Salty’s on Alki, 7:30 am April 9. The reservation deadline is next Thursday; go to the West Seattle Chamber website for more on that.
JoB sent that pastoral photo (thank you!) as snow flurries flitted through parts of West Seattle this afternoon (as discussed in this WSB Forum thread), hours after their cameo last night. More may be on the way. The forecast has the entire metro area under a “Snow Advisory” for 3 am-noon. If you want the technical-jargon version, here’s the “forecast discussion.” This wouldn’t be anywhere near the latest Seattle snowfall, though, according to this “Ask Steve (Pool)” page — which says April 17, 1972, holds that record. (Must have been weird weather times; that same month, a major tornado hit Vancouver, WA.)
This city news release today announced middle-school students from around the city chosen for the Mayor’s Scholar Awards; they had to write essays about how they contribute to their communities, and about what they would do with the $500 prize — here are the winners from West Seattle schools:
Mia Kaiser-Nielsen, Pathfinder K-8, 6th grade
Princess-Nyosha McWilliams, Pathfinder K-8, 8th grade
Adriana Tabile, Madison Middle School, 6th grade
Miranda Taylor, Denny Middle School, 8th grade
Amleset Tesfamariam, Madison Middle School, 8th grade
They and the other winners from around the city will be honored with a reception May 29. Meantime, reminder – if you’re ever looking for a comprehensive list of West Seattle schools, public and private, we have one with weblinks, addresses, and maplinks, on this page; we also have a section of the WSB Forums set aside for school-related discussion.
As we first showed you yesterday, that’s the banner inspired by the efforts of WSB Forum members who quickly and intensively launched a campaign to help Puget Sound Key and Lock rebuild from last Friday’s arson – and tonight, less than a week after the still-unsolved fire, following hours of collaboration and brainstorming plus lots of community help, they’ve set the date and place for a fundraising event: Saturday, April 19, Admiral Pub. Mark your calendar; more details to come. They’re also still soliciting auction items; please check out this forum thread if you can help with that. (Also, as the banner says, you can donate to the Puget Sound Key and Lock account at any Wells Fargo branch.)
We brought you news about sign-up season for West Seattle Little League and other area sports leagues some weeks back. Now – it’s game time! WSLL is celebrating its 50th anniversary, having started in 1958. And it’s got two major events in the next few days – here’s the official announcement:
TONIGHT: West Seattle Little League will hold our annual Parent Meeting this evening at 7pm at West Seattle High School Commons. The meeting will cover information and events for the upcoming season, including updates on plans for the $100,000 grant received this summer from Boeing and the Mariners. All families that are currently registered are encouraged to attend. Uniforms will be distributed to players. This is a great opportunity to meet your teammates and we will also hold a raffle for fun prizes!
SATURDAY: Please join West Seattle Little League’s season kickoff at our annual Jamboree! The event is held at Bar-S Field ( 6464 SW Admiral Way). Players are to arrive at 10 am. At 10:30 am, teams will be introduced with a ceremony following at 11 am. Exhibition games will begin at 11:30 am. To see the full schedule of games, tee ball through majors, go to www.westseattlelittleleague.com/jamboree.html. This event is open to the public. Our Snack Shack will offer full service throughout the day.
Sponsors are still needed for the 2008 Season. If you are interested in sponsoring a team, please contact us through our new and improved website: westseattlelittleleague.com.
PIZZA UPDATE: Further confirmation of the news we broke here two weeks ago — Olympia Pizza and Pasta is coming to the short-lived Pacino’s Coffee location at 5605 Delridge (map) — we drove by minutes ago and saw new yellow banners draped outside saying OLYMPIA PIZZA AND PASTA COMING SOON (didn’t have a camera along).
ROAD REPAIRS: The city Transportation Department says its crews are working on the shoulder of Delridge, 8100-8600 blocks, through Saturday afternoon, doing “utility repair work.”
Thanks to Matt for sending this alert circulated on a Gatewood list:
“We received two emails from folks around Heights Place SW & 41st Ave SW (2 blocks east of California; area shown on map at left) and both had cars broken into last night. One just rummaged through glove box but the other had a checkbook stolen. One also reported their neighbor had his SUV stolen last week.”
The results of last weekend’s inspection are out a day early. Here’s the full text of the news release from the state Department of Transportation – which says The Viaduct’s still sinking, good thing they’re shoring up columns (as featured in WSB video last month):Read More
Thanks to Sue for sending the link to the Seattle Condo Tour, with a “Downtown Seattle Tour” coming up April 5-6, and featuring … Sylvan Ridge Townhomes (High Point) and West Water (Morgan Junction) … and even Burien Town Square. Participants will shuttle from Fisher Plaza downtown.
The teardowns-to-townhouses complex going up in the 3400 block of California now has a name: Madison Heights, per the new sign shown above (which promises “luxury living”). This is what used to be there:
It’s one of the sites discussed in this “micropermitting” post that got citywide attention. P.S. Slightly north of this site, in case you were wondering, no decision yet in the Hinds-to-Hanford “upzoning” proposal.
They’re not ready to ask for your money yet – but they’re asking for ideas, and optimism. Board members of the Fauntleroy Community Services Agency convened a community meeting last night to lay out where things stand with Seattle Public Schools‘ decision to sell Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (one of five former schools now declared “surplus”) and FCSA’s hope of buying it — and it’s going to be a challenge, to say the least:Read More
First, a photo – this one from Mac, who asked this Seattle Police traffic officer for permission to take his picture – he obliged, then wished Mac a “good day” before zooming off to write a ticket. Not too much else happening in police-land according to our most recent review of reports at the Southwest Precinct:Read More
We told you March 10 about another round of city Parks Department public meetings heading this way to gather thoughts on the new Strategic Action Plan, developed after the first round of meetings (WSB coverage here) late last year. The draft plan is online (here), and that’s not all:Read More
With BlueStar‘s announcement today of Gateway Center (earlier WSB coverage here), seemed like a good excuse to put together a clickable map of what’s been announced in the area so far. Each spot on the map will click to a brief description of what’s happening there plus a link to our most recent report about it, if applicable. We added some of the real estate that’s up for sale in the area. Certainly more parcels than this are in play (lots more ex-Huling/Gee land, for example), but this is a start. We’ll add to it as it goes and find it a home of its own soon, but here’s version 1.0.
We broke the news here 2 1/2 weeks ago about the Homestead being up for sale (the business, not the building). Today while researching West Seattle development/real estate for an upcoming update on this morning’s Gateway Center announcement, we happened onto this: The Duke’s on Alki building, described as “10-year lease to Duke’s Chowder House on the main two floors plus unique penthouse,” listed at $3,950,000. Just left a message at Duke’s HQ to see if we can find out more. THURSDAY EVENING UPDATE: Got a message back from Duke Moscrip himself; he stresses, THE RESTAURANT IS NOT FOR SALE – just the building. Duke’s, he says, is expanding its “concept” to more locations elsewhere (and in fact, a liquor-license application has just been filed for the Southcenter location he mentioned) but is not selling the actual Alki restaurant, just the building.
“West Seattle 101” author Lori Hinton just saw one running down her Upper Fauntleroy street. “Right past a ‘Coyote Warning’ sign,” she adds. (By the way, we will add two more pages tomorrow to our new “West Seattle 101” section featuring selections from Lori’s book – including a spotlight on one of WSB readers’ favorite restaurants – look for the official announcement in the morning.)
As reported here Monday night, Puget Sound Key and Lock owner Michael Dein said at the fundraiser organizing meeting that he would affirm his rebuilding promise by putting up this banner – and today, we got the photographic proof. (If the text isn’t entirely clear on your browser, it says “Thank you, West Seattle, for your love and support/WE ARE REBUILDING/Donations can be made at Wells Fargo Bank to Puget Sound Key and Lock Fund.” That, of course, is the donation account set up by the WSB Forum members who are planning the fundraiser – date and place still being worked out – if you want to get involved, check out this forum thread – organizers also are looking for auction items. Meantime, still no word from police on arrests or big breaks in last Friday morning’s arson, but it’s a priority for the Arson and Bomb unit; if you have any information, call 911 or the arson hotline (800-55-ARSON).
| 1 COMMENT