West Seattle, Washington
09 Tuesday
Joe McDermott has made his decision: He’s in the race to succeed Jim McDermott.
Two weeks ago, after Congressmember McDermott announced he wasn’t running again, County Councilmember McDermott said he was thinking about it and would decide soon. This morning, he’s made the announcement via news release:
Third-generation resident of West Seattle, Chair of the King County Council and strong progressive Joe McDermott announced today his bid for Congress to represent Washington’s seventh congressional district (WA-07), which includes most of Seattle, Vashon Island, Burien, Normandy Park, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Mountlake Terrace, Woodway and Edmonds.
McDermott, who has the most experience of any candidate running for Congress, also announced his “Repeal Citizens United” pledge rejecting any dark money independent expenditure spending on his behalf.
“As the son of schoolteachers, I am running for Congress to ensure that middle class Washingtonians continue to have a strong voice in Washington, D.C. and that’s why overturning Citizens United and preventing dark money from destroying our politics will be my priority from my first day in office – so we can finally achieve the progressive results our families need.”
McDermott also pledged to make cracking down on gun violence a top priority. As Chair of the Seattle King County Board of Health, McDermott has led efforts to classify gun violence as a public health crisis – resulting in a program that has saved lives and has become a model for both state and federal governments.
“For too long, politicians in Washington DC have kowtowed to the National Rifle Association. It is past time that we pass tough background checks, ban military style assault weapons plaguing our communities and once and for all hold gun manufacturers liable for the over thirty thousand deaths they cause in our country every year,” said McDermott.
McDermott has served on the King County Council for the last five years and from 2001 through 2010, McDermott represented the 34th Legislative District in the Washington State Legislature.
Thanks to Don Brubeck for the view of the Duwamish from the Spokane Street fishing pier, photographed during what he describes as a “misty ride to work” today. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LAFAYETTE KINDERGARTEN TOURS: 9:30-10:10 am today. If you don’t see this until it’s too late, note that Lafayette Elementary is also having tours on February 4th, 1:15 pm-2:15 pm. (California/Lander)
LAST DAY FOR GENERAL STORE SEATTLE’S CLOSING SALE: 10 am-6 pm today, it’s the final day of the closing sale for the all-local-merchandise The General Store Seattle (WSB sponsor) – 40 percent off everything, both in-store and online. (3400 Harbor SW)
SWEET PEA COTTAGE OPEN HOUSE: 4-6 pm at Sweet Pea Cottage preschool/kindergarten; kids and parents welcome. (7141 California SW)
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: 4:15 pm at district HQ in SODO. Agenda includes vote to authorize possible closure of before-/after-school child-care programs around the district to make room for more school homerooms, as discussed at local board rep Leslie Harris‘s community-conversation meeting last weekend. (3rd S./S. Lander)
MoCA’S QUARTERLY MEETING: Special time, 6 pm, for the Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting, so it’ll be done in time for the HALA discussion to follow (see next item). Agenda details here. At The Kenney (WSB sponsor), lower-level meeting rooms. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)
ALL ABOUT HALA: The Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda is one of the biggest topics in the city right now and will be for a long time. What’s it really about, and what do you need to know? A West Seattle-wide briefing will be presented tonight after the Morgan Community Association‘s regular quarterly meeting. The HALA discussion starts at 7 pm – details here. At The Kenney. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)
CYBERBULLYING: Parents from all over West Seattle are invited to tonight’s special presentation by the Madison Middle School PTSA with important information for families, 7 pm, as previewed here. (45th/Spokane)
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Discussion topics are expected to include the newly announced plan for a “safe parking” lot in Highland Park for people who live in their vehicles, and a discussion about the city’s forthcoming People, Dogs, and Parks Plan, with Citizens for Off-Leash Areas (COLA) providing a guest. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
LOTS MORE … on our full calendar.
MoCA HALA
MADISON CYBERBULLYING
BALLOTS GO OUT
6:38 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from our area in the early going. Road-work notes:
*Lane closures on Highway 99 north of downtown continue. During the first full day, on Tuesday, most of the reported effects were in the southbound direction.
*Delridge/Highland Park Greenway work continues on multiple streets.
*If you’ve happened onto the nighttime closure of one block of Alaska west of Fauntleroy, here’s what it’s about.
8:12 AM: If you ride Sound Transit 560 – ST has just sent an alert that riders “should anticipate delays” on the route because of trouble on SB I-405.
(WSB photos – click to open larger view)
It was a basketball battle at West Seattle High School on Tuesday night as the WSHS boys-varsity team faced Rainier Beach. Though halftime arrived with a 30-30 tie, the second half did not go the Wildcats’ way, and they finished with a 75-59 loss. Scoring was led by #1, Nate Pryor, with 14 points:
Right behind, #22 Yusuf Mohamed with 13.
The WSHS boys play at Ballard on Friday night, 8 pm scheduled tipoff.
Thanks to Chief Sealth International High School social-studies teacher Noah Zeichner for the report and photos:
A group of 12 Brazilian high school students and 1 teacher visited Chief Sealth today for a few hours. They ate lunch in the cafeteria with ASB student leaders and went on campus tours. They attended my Global Leadership class where they worked in small groups with CSI students. They are here as part of the Youth Ambassadors Program for South America. Two Chief Sealth students and one teacher have participated in the program in past years and two CSI students have applied to travel to Brazil this summer.
The Youth Ambassadors (YA) Program is a three-week exchange for high school youth (ages 15-18) and adult educators focused on civic education, community service, and youth leadership development. Subthemes include human rights, multiculturalism, social justice, and social transformation.
Participants engage in a variety of activities such as workshops on leadership and service, community site visits, interactive training, presentations, visits to high schools, local cultural activities, homestays, civic education programming in Washington, D.C. or the capital city of the partner country, and more.
Follow-on activities with the participants are an integral part of the program, as the students apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired by planning service projects in their home communities.
Program Goals, as defined by the Department of State:
. Promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of South America;
. Prepare youth leaders to become responsible citizens and contributing members of their communities;
. Influence the attitudes of the leaders of a new generation; and
. Foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, racial, religious, and national groups and create hemispheric networks of youth leaders, both within the participating countries and internationally.
Read more about the program here.
We’re using that photo with permission of NOAA Fisheries–West Coast, which just reported late today that its researchers found another baby with J-Pod in Puget Sound: “Using photos taken by the researchers, the Center for Whale Research confirmed this is a new calf, designated J55. The calf was in close proximity to both J14 and J37, so we don’t know who the mother is just yet, and it may take a few encounters before we know. The calf seems to be just a few days old and in good condition.” NOAA had sad news too – what appeared to be a dead newborn calf spotted with J31, a 20-year-old female they say “has never successfully calved … It is estimated that at least 50% of calves do not reach their first birthday, so unfortunately this sad event is not unusual.” Before J55, the last orca-baby announcement was five weeks ago, when we got word of J54. This one is the ninth calf for the Southern Resident Killer Whales in a little more than a year.
Joe McDermott, who’s represented West Seattle and vicinity – from White Center to Vashon – in the King County Council since 2010, is now its chair. He spent a decade in the state Legislature before joining the council, to which he was re-elected without opposition last fall. Here’s the full news release. He hasn’t yet announced, though, if he’s still considering running to succeed the area’s “other” McDermott (U.S. House Rep. Jim).
4:19 PM: If you’re headed to or from Morgan Junction, the California/Fauntleroy intersection has trouble in just about every direction because of a crash. No word yet on injuries. More to come.
4:27 PM UPDATE: We’ve added a photo of one of the two cars involved – it’s still facing the wrong way in the northbound lanes and police tell us a tow truck might still be half an hour away. The other car is north of the bus stop. Vehicles are getting through in part by using the center lane.
WSDOT wants to be sure you know about emergency road work tonight on southbound I-5 right before the West Seattle Bridge exit. From 9 pm to 5 am tonight (Tuesday night into Wednesday morning), they’ll close up to three left lanes for expansion-joint-repair work. The exit lane for the bridge and one through lane will remain open, but you could find unexpected backups, so WSDOT is sounding the alarm.
1:35 PM: Just announced by Mayor Ed Murray: One of the “safe parking” lots that will be opened for RVs is the former site of the encampment that still, in other locations, calls itself “Nickelsville” – in Highland Park, at the West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way intersection.
We went down to check the site, where the parking lot – which appears to have been recently cleaned up – still holds signage from the last encampment closure, September 2013. In addition to our photo above, here’s an aerial photo from the city’s announcement:
We’d been working to confirm this since hearing that citywide reporters had mentioned this morning that a “Delridge” site would be announced, but without any information on the location. (The city refers to all of eastern West Seattle as the “Delridge” district.)
Unofficial RV parking zones have turned up in West Seattle recently – including the one mentioned here in mid-December, along SW Andover adjacent to the Nucor plant. But they haven’t generated the furor that had been reported in some north-end neighborhoods.
From the city’s news release, which says the lot is expected to be open within a month:
In response to the continued crisis of homelessness on the streets of Seattle, Mayor Ed Murray issued an emergency order to expedite the siting of two safe lots in Ballard and Delridge for homeless individuals and families living in recreational vehicles and cars.
“These are not long term solutions to end homelessness, but temporary locations that can be managed to provide a safer environment for those living on our streets and have less impact on our neighborhoods,” said Murray. “The City’s active case management services will reach out to those experiencing homelessness and living in their vehicles, with the goal to help move them to permanent housing as quickly as possible. These safe lots will also help reduce the public health issues currently impacting several of our neighborhoods.”
The new safe lots are part of the City’s overall actions under Mayor Murray’s Proclamation of Civil Emergency on homelessness that has spurred the opening and expansion of new shelters and authorized tent encampments, and increased investments in services and outreach. Opening the new safe lots will occur along with additional trash pickups in neighborhoods, as well as renewed enforcement of the City’s existing parking rules and addressing public safety issues that have arisen in recent months.
“When Mayor Murray declared the state of emergency, the direction given to us was to take significant steps to immediately help those in need living on our streets and address underlying causes of homelessness. Since then, Seattle has expanded outreach services, opened up space for nearly 300 individuals in new shelters or authorized tent encampments and we have invested more in prevention services. Today’s announcement of new safe lots is another part of this larger effort under the state of emergency to provide immediate, short term assistance,” said Catherine Lester, Director of Seattle’s Human Services Department. “In addition to the authority under the Mayor’s emergency orders, we will be able to stand up these safe lots quickly thanks to the fast work of our partners including local service providers, other City departments and WSDOT.”
To expedite the siting and permitting of the safe lots, Mayor Murray is exercising powers invoked under his Proclamation of Civil Emergency on homelessness issued on Nov. 2, 2015. The mayor will send the emergency order to the City Council today, where it can be approved, rejected or amended.
Expected to begin operations in 30 days, the two safe lots can hold up to an estimated 50 vehicles. Each site will have sanitation and garbage service, as well as case management assistance for those experiencing homelessness in order to build pathways to permanent housing. All residents must abide by a code of conduct policy that will prohibit drugs and violence, and require residents to be good neighbors.
The Ballard site, the Yankee Diner parking lot at Shilshole Ave. NW and 24th Ave. NW, is owned by Seattle Public Utilities. The Seattle Department of Transportation has been in negotiations with the Washington State Department of Transportation to acquire the Glass Yard lot at West Marginal Way and Highland Park Way SW for the Delridge site. The City and WSDOT are discussing the terms of the sale of the property and will likely require future legislation to finalize the purchase and sale agreement. But to accommodate the Mayor’s emergency order, WSDOT has agreed to allow the City to use the site as a safe lot in the intervening period during these negotiations. …
Read the entire news release here. We’ll continue to update, and we’re told this is expected to be on the agenda for the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting at 7 pm tomorrow (Wednesday) night at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
5:27 PM: The Highland Park Action Committee has confirmed that Councilmember Lisa Herbold – who led a council briefing about the city’s policy on encampment sweeps shortly before this announcement – will be at HPAC’s next meeting, 7 pm Wednesday, January 27th, at Highland Park Improvement Club (12th SW/SW Holden).
10:44 PM: Councilmember Herbold has written about the RV-lot decision, briefly, at the end of a report on her concerns about the recent sweeps and this morning’s briefing about them – read it in its entirety here.
(WSB photos)
12:49 PM: Thanks for the tips – a natural-gas leak in The Triangle is reported to have led to the evacuation of the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) – early word is that it’s not believed to be at the Y itself, but Seattle Fire is at the scene and making sure everybody’s safe. We’re en route and will have an update.
12:58 PM: Fire and police vehicles are blocking eastbound Avalon just west of 35th, so avoid the area.
1:11 PM: Seattle Fire is leaving. They tell us they’ve done some safety checks, and Puget Sound Energy is on the scene, and it’s been determined it’s safe for those evacuated to go back in. Per comments, Alki Lumber was among those evacuated, and firefighters tell us the Luna construction site was too – we saw hard-hat workers standing on the north side of Avalon. Josh Sutton from the Y says it’s reopening at 1:30 pm.
TWO STOLEN CARS: First report is from Jenica:
My car was stolen from in front of my house. It is a 1999 2-door white Honda Civic, it has Acura rims, a spoiler and a moon roof. License plate number ALF0062; there is some paint missing on the passenger side rear bumper. I’m a single mom with a really tiny income, I can’t afford to buy another car. The police said cars are often found within a few miles from the owner’s home. I need all the eyes I can get out there as I have no way to go out looking for it very far.
(update) That theft happened on Pigeon Point; we don’t yet have a location for the next theft, reported by Austin: “My car was stolen this past weekend and I would really appreciate it if people kept an eye out for it. Last I saw it didn’t have any bumper stickers or distinguishing marks other than a couple scrapes on the rear right bumper. Honda Accord LX 1991 – White. License Plate: 515-ZRH.”
BURGLARY: Jim says his neighbors’ home was broken into on Monday morning:
They are on the corner of Spokane and 56th. The burglar entered the home when no one was there, but (one resident) returned home while one person was still inside the house. They were looking for valuables and did get away with their daughter’s laptop. … There was a new white 4 door sedan parked across the street on 56th that must have been waiting. It drove up the dead end and down (Spokane), and the SPU driver (who was helping [the victim]) saw someone limp up 56th (southbound) the same direction the car went.
WATER-TOWER GRAFFITI VANDALISM: Two people messaged us about graffiti vandalism on the Charlestown water tower. We went over; it’s entirely obscene/vulgar and showing you a blurred photo wouldn’t do much, but we did contact Seattle Public Utilities to ask how soon they planned to remove it. Obscene/hate graffiti vandalism is priority for removal, spokesperson Andy Ryan says, and also reminds you of the ways to report graffiti vandalism as soon as you see it:
·Use the city’s “Find It, Fix It” smartphone app.
·Call Seattle’s Graffiti Report Line to report graffiti on public or private property, 206-684-7587—or use the online Graffiti Report Form.
·Call the Seattle Police Department at 206-625-5011 to file a police report when graffiti appears on your property.
·Call 911 to report graffiti in progress. (Graffiti vandals must be caught in the act to be prosecuted.)Private property with graffiti that has not been removed in a reasonable amount of time may be subject to fines under the Graffiti Nuisance Ordinance. Graffiti is typically removed:
·Within 10 business days for public property, within 45 to 60 days for private property.
And if you haven’t seen our earlier mentions – the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets tonight, all welcome, 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BLOOD DRIVE: Can you donate? Consider going to the Clock Tower at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), 10:30 am-4:30 pm, with a 12:30-1:30 pm break. (6000 16th SW)
ENCOURAGING BACKYARD COTTAGES: Not in West Seattle, but of interest: 6 pm at the Filipino Community Center, a city-presented gathering ” to get public input on potential land use code changes that would encourage greater production of backyard cottages (also called detached accessory dwelling units or DADUs).” More info here. (5740 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way S.)
LIVE MUSIC AT SALTY’S: 5-8 pm, Justin Kausal-Hayes performs at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) – more info here. (1936 Harbor SW)
EVENING BOOK GROUP: 6:30 pm at High Point Library; this month’s title is “Kindred” by Octavia Butler. All welcome. (35th SW/SW Raymond)
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Come hear from and talk with local police, and hear from an insurance-industry expert on the latest tactics used by car prowlers/thieves. 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct, all welcome. (2300 SW Webster)
TRIVIA NIGHT TO BENEFIT THE SENIOR CENTER: As previewed here on Monday, you’re invited to play trivia with host Phillip Tavel (the longtime Talarico’s trivia host) at, and to benefit, the Senior Center of West Seattle. Doors open at 7 pm, play starts at 7:30 pm. Here’s how to sign up in advance. (California SW & SW Oregon)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: 7:30 pm, the West Seattle HS boys-varsity team hosts Rainier Beach. (3000 California SW)
STARLIGHT SINGER/SONGWRITER NIGHT: 9-11 pm at Shadowland. (California/Oregon)
AND THERE’S MORE ... on our complete calendar!
If you’re inviting people to come see your school this winter as families make decisions about next school year – please let us know about your tours/open houses so we can include them in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and daily highlight lists! We’ve already heard from some schools, and would like to feature more. Just send the where/when/what basics to editor@westseattleblog.com – along with who (are the prospective students welcome too, or is this adults-only, etc.) – in the body of your e-mail, with as much advance notice as possible, as is our request for all potential calendar events. Thank you!
6 AM: Good morning! This is the first morning commute since the lane closures on Highway 99 began north of downtown, so we’ll see today how/whether they affect traffic. The basics:
*Median lanes close in both directions between the Aurora Bridge and just north of Mercer Street.
*An additional lane will close at night and during several weekends including Jan. 23-24.
*All traffic may use the southbound bus-only lane during the first phase of this work. Drivers should use caution since buses will travel – and stop – in the outside lane with other vehicle traffic.
We’ll be watching the traffic in and from West Seattle, of course, as always. If you see a problem we haven’t mentioned yet, and you are *not* driving, please text or call our hotline, 206-293-6302.
8:57 AM: So far this morning, regional traffic reports indicate that those north-of-downtown lane closures have backed up SB 99 more than NB 99. West Seattle and vicinity, meantime, has been incident-free this morning, at least according to everything we monitor.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
By the time the newly elected Seattle School Board director for West Seattle and South Park, Leslie Harris, wrapped up her first community-conversation meeting, about 30 people had spent at least part of two hours with her, broaching an intense array of issues.
By means of introduction, Harris gave a bit of a scene-setter after going around the room during the Saturday afternoon session at Southwest Library.
“(This is) not a position you make a lot of money at or make a lot of friends with.” She voiced respect for her predecessor, Marty McLaren, whom she ousted in a landslide – insisting “it (wasn’t) personal” to challenge her – but “being a change agent is in (her) DNA.” Harris is the parent of a 2015 Chief Sealth IHS/South Seattle College Running Start graduate who is now at the UW.
She repeatedly told those on hand that she’s a straight shooter and would tell them what they need to know, such as: “The simple fact is there is not enough money or space in our school district.” 52,000 kids, 99 schools, McCleary (state-education-funding fight), overmandates/underfunded, levies coming up – “If you think it’s bad now, if the Operations Levy [going to voters February 9th] does not pass, that’s 25 percent of the operating budget … terrifies me.” She explained that she’s on the board’s executive committee and audit/finance committee. And, fighting for issues, “I refuse to lose.” She’s been meeting with district leaders and “there are very few issues I have not gotten a response for. … After 45 days I’m pleasantly surprised that I’m being embraced.” She also offered a primer on how the board works, who’s leading, and how it works. “The real action is not the legislative meetings – (but) in the committee rooms where the staff gives you handouts as issues come up, the meetings that (are not public … where budget information comes out.”
Issues brought up included:
Family and friends of Donald K. Atwood, who died in November at 64, are gathering for an open-house event this Saturday, and sharing this remembrance now:
Don, a lifelong resident of West Seattle, passed away peacefully on November 24th, 2015, in Seattle.
After attending West Seattle High School, Don later went on to work for Frasier Boiler for many years. He would later leave Frasier Boiler to pursue the challenge and reward of owning his own business. A pioneer in the field, Emergency Preparedness Service would go on to meet the disaster-preparedness needs of numerous prominent governmental and private organizations for 26 years. For those who knew Don well, he navigated life with a comical sarcasm and simultaneously was an altogether decent man and fair and honest businessman.
Don, the son of Cliff “Bud” and Penny Atwood, loved the camping trips from his childhood and would later pass this legacy on to his children and subsequently his grandchildren. He always had the heart of an explorer, taking his family on incredible road trips across the Western US and throughout the northern plains. Don was often compelled to visit the roads that were literally “less traveled” to find the forgotten places and muse over the way things might have been for the early settlers of the west.
He married his wife Helga in 1972 and later raised two boys, Neil and Randy. He spent many of his last days thinking about his wife and family and trying to prepare his family for a life without him. In September of 2015, despite his failing health, Don, accompanied by his wife, sons, daughters in-law, and grandchildren would embark on his requiem road trip of sorts to Yellowstone. While there, he seemed to find a closure and began to write his final chapter in life. He was able to share a place he loved with those who loved him most. His short bout with cancer would end soon thereafter, but he left this present world with a late-blooming faith that would comfort him in his final days.
On Saturday, January 23rd, Helga and family will be hosting an open house at Don’s West Seattle home for family and friends to come by anytime between 1 pm and 5 pm. If you would like further information or directions, please contact the family at DonAtwoodMemorial@gmail.com.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
Four West Seattle food-and-drink notes tonight:
MAREE BISTRO AND BAR UPDATE: The successor to Cassis at 2820 Alki is getting closer to opening, reports a spokesperson. Signage is up:
The new restaurant is just awaiting its liquor license, and hoping that will come as soon as this week. As we reported last month, the husband-and-wife team of Chef Andy Dekle and Megan Hartz, both of whom were with Cassis throughout its two-year run, are opening the new restaurant with “seasonal, market inspired French cuisine with a Northwest flavor.” Hours will be 5-10 pm Wednesdays through Mondays, happy hour 5-6 pm, plus weekend brunch 10 am-3 pm.
CHICKEN AND ICE CREAM CHEF TEAM: Harry’s Chicken Joint proprietor Bruce Cougan tells WSB his restaurant will close for one night this Saturday (January 23rd) to be part of the annual Gifts From The Earth benefit at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor). He adds:
It’s an honor to be included as a guest chef and a privilege to give back to the school where I received such excellent training and support. This year I will be joined by local (West Seattle) chef, friend, and collaborator, Matt Bumpas of Sweet Bumpas Ice Cream. Matt spent time at Poppy working as a chef, and it’s primarily his menu, inspired by some of the dishes at Poppy, that will be served for this event:
*Fennel salad with blood orange, hazelnut, Moroccan olive & Ibores
*Fried mussels with preserved lemon aioli & pickled shallot
*Cauliflower almond soup w/ harissa yogurt
*Beef short rib tagine w/ celery root puree & apple slaw
*Thyme labneh panna cotta w/ urfa biber toffee & satsumaMatt is a graduate of Seattle Central’s culinary program. He is currently looking for a brick and mortar location here in West Seattle for his legendary ice cream. He has been very successful at local events and farmer’s markets and now it’s time for him to secure a storefront. His ice cream stand was a big hit last summer at the Morgan Junction Festival.
P.S. Tickets are still available for Gifts From The Earth, which usually sells out. Each table is assigned a chef from the all-star list of participants, and is served a custom five-course menu.
PECOS PIT PROGRESS: Banner signage now covers the old signs at what was Beni Hoshi Teriyaki and is being transformed into Pecos Pit BBQ, at 35th/Fauntleroy:
The restaurant is advertising in the WSB West Seattle Jobs Offered forum for a general manager. Last projection of an opening date was “spring.” Meantime, community members concerned about traffic into and out of the restaurant location, especially the drive-thru that will exit onto narrow SW Genesee, got a reply from the city, saying this is too small a project to trigger a full review, and that the curb cut for that exit, on the north side of the property, has been there a long time.
WESTWOOD’S 4TH STARBUCKS: Last May, we reported that a Starbucks stand was in the works for Target at Westwood Village – where it follows a standalone Starbucks store, a stand inside QFC, and a café inside Barnes and Noble. Longtime WSB’er MIWS reports that construction is now under way in the snack-bar corner by the store’s entrance.
As MLK Day 2016 winds down, more views to share:
DAY OF SERVICE AT DENNY: From principal Jeff Clark: “Thank you to Ms. Moland for organizing the Denny International Middle School Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service today! The scholars and volunteers did a great job cleaning up the school grounds as a way to serve our school community. Go Dolphins!”
DOWNTOWN MARCH: West Seattle photographer Vy Duong shared scenes from the downtown MLK Day March:
Marchers carried signs for a variety of issues, from racism to school funding to nuclear-weapons abolition to presidential campaigning. Police monitored from behind the march, including members of the West Seattle-based Mounted Patrol:
Any other MLK Day scenes? editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
ADDED 8:05 PM: Tim just shared this photo from the downtown march:
He explains, “Took two young ladies to the March today. They’ve been studying MLK at school and are aware of the history and why the march was important.”
Four cases in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
STREET ROBBERY REPORT: This is happening right now – a report of a citizen held up on the street near Delridge and Cloverdale, with the robber reportedly getting away southbound in an alley. The Guardian One helicopter might be called in for the search. No other details yet; we’re working on it. (3:22 pm update) The helicopter is indeed in the area. (3:38 pm update) The helicopter is gone; scanner mentioned someone detained – we haven’t been able to find an active scene on the ground, though, but will update if we do find out more.
BACK TO ORIGINAL REPORT: And from the WSB inbox:
UPPER FAUNTLEROY CAR BREAK-IN: Car prowler(s) smashed a window to get into Erin‘s VW Bug in Upper Fauntleroy overnight but made off with nothing but Hot Tamales candy (right). She says, “I’d be less angry if I left something obvious for them to take but there was nothing to take but candy in the cup holder. Jerks!”
About a mile to the north:
MORGAN JUNCTION CAR BREAK-IN: And it wasn’t the first time, reports Eva:
Another act of vandalism to report from the night of Saturday, January 16th into the morning of Sunday, January 17th. The driver side window of my vehicle (parked in the open garage of my apartment building at 6900 California Avenue SW) was smashed in. There were no valuables in the car and it appears nothing was taken. This is the second time my car has been broken into in the span of two months. In the previous attack the thief/thieves destroyed two locks on the car and stole an assortment of mundane items from inside.
And from there, a little more than a mile east:
HIGH POINT VANDALISM: Michelle sends the photo (we’ve cropped it so as not to show the entire outsized tag on the pavement in front of the bench), noting, “This is not common in this pretty park…happened (Saturday) night.”
You can report graffiti vandalism via the city’s Find It, Fix It app, too.
REMINDER – CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL TUESDAY NIGHT: If you have neighborhood concerns, questions about an ongoing situation or unsolved case, this is where you’ll find precinct leadership (and usually Community Police Team officers too) when the all-volunteer West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets, 7 pm Tuesday at the SW Precinct (2300 SW Webster). Special guest, an insurance-industry expert who’ll talk about the newest trends in how car prowlers/thieves are doing their illegal work, and which cars are currently most vulnerable. All welcome.
Southside Revolution Coed Junior Roller Derby skaters (and parents) are out volunteering on this MLK Day: They’re cleaning up at Roxhill Park/Skatepark (where we photographed the trio above) and then heading to the South Park Skatepark to do the same. They were planning to do some skating at both parks, too, before practice tonight at their home base, Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW). That’s also where you can see their second bout of Southside Revolution’s second season, in less than two weeks – 5:45 pm Saturday, January 30th; it’s a Harry Potter-themed bout against Spokane’s Cherry Bomb Brawlers. The evening will include a 50/50 raffle and bake sale to benefit Brawlers coach Ti “Smartass” Marchand in her own “brawl” against cancer. More info here!
Tomorrow night, you have an extra-special opportunity to play trivia hosted by longtime Talarico’s trivia host Phillip Tavel, while helping the Senior Center of West Seattle! Doors open Tuesday at 7, with trivia starting at 7:30, at the Senior Center (in the Sisson Building, California/Oregon). $12/person if you sign up in advance, at sc-ws.org or by phone at 206-932-4044, extension 1; $15/person at the door. The Senior Center needs an extra boost this year because of a funding cut, as reported here last month. No-host bar and snacks will be available. Go show what you know!
(WSB photo from M/V Doc Maynard’s first morning on the West Seattle run, last week)
King County Water Taxi fares are going up on March 1st. We just found the new fares posted on the Water Taxi website – most fares on the West Seattle-to-downtown run are going up 50 cents each way, and most remain discounted if you use an ORCA card to pay:
When the system’s first-ever “strategic plan” was published a little more than a year ago, it pointed out that while “farebox recovery” was rising, the system was still operating unsustainably, and more had to be done to increase revenue. The county is also studying adding more routes – as noted in the newest Water Taxi newsletter, two on Lake Washington and one from downtown to Ballard are under discussion. Ridership on both existing routes – West Seattle and Vashon Island – set a record last year, surpassing half a million passengers.
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