West Seattle, Washington
04 Friday
If you’re thinking about a beach walk late today or tonight now that the rain’s lifted – you don’t have to worry about contaminated water along Alki Point.
Four days after the sewage-pipe leak that brought emergency repairs and beach closure south of Alki and beyond, the King County Wastewater Treatment District reports the water quality has “returned to normal” near the leak site, and that while health authorities closed Alki Beach Park itself to swimming as a precaution, its water tested at normal levels all along.
According to county spokesperson Doug Williams, the county estimates 14,200 gallons of wastewater/sewage spilled before they started work to stop and fix the leak last Friday near 63rd SW/Beach Drive SW. It was caused by a failed joint seal. After they fixed the pipe, it was buried in concrete, and now they’re restoring the landscaping by the south end of Constellation Park (a crew was still there when we went by an hour ago). The sewer line there, almost 4 feet across, pipes West Seattle wastewater to the West Point treatment plant across Elliott Bay.
2:37 PM: Two eighth-grader girls from Denny International Middle School say older boys/men “grabbed and pushed” them on Monday. That’s according to this letter just sent to Denny and Chief Sealth International High School families by Denny principal Jeff Clark (who shared it with WSB) and Sealth principal Aida Fraser-Hammer:
Dear Denny and Chief Sealth Scholars and Families,
This morning, two of our 8th grade female scholars reported to us that they were approached by two males on their walk home yesterday near SW Trenton St. and 22nd Ave SW. They reported that the males followed them and then grabbed and pushed them towards a yard.
Our scholars did a great job by screaming, getting away, and running off. Our scholars believed that the males were in their late teens and approximately 5’7”. Both of the males had their jackets zipped up partially blocking their faces and had hoods on, so we have a limited description.
Our scholars did the right thing by screaming, getting away, and telling an adult at home and at school. The families reported the incident to the Seattle Police Department last night and they are investigating today. The Seattle Police and Seattle Public Schools staff will both be providing extra presence in that area.
As a pre-caution, we are reminding our scholars this afternoon about safety tips for walking to and from school. We would appreciate your help by having a similar conversation at home. The walking safety advice includes:
GENERAL SAFETY TIPS
• Pay close attention to your surroundings, avoid “automatic pilot.”
• Walk with a purpose; project an assertive, business-like image.
• Use common sense; plan your route to avoid uninhabited parks, parking lots, garages and alleyways.
• Stick to well-lit areas.
• Develop a plan before you see trouble. Crossing a street or entering a store may get you out of a potentially bad situation.
• If a car follows you or beckons you while you are walking, do not approach it. Instead, turn and quickly walk the opposite direction.
• Consider wearing clothing and shoes that you can move freely and quickly in, especially when walking or waiting for the bus.
• Carry minimal items; overloading yourself can make you appear vulnerable.
• Always plan your route and stay alert to your surroundings. Avoid shortcuts. Walk confidently. Scan your surroundings and make eye contact with people.
• Avoid walking alone at night. As much as possible, walk or travel with a friend, even during the daytime.As always, thank you for your help and partnership!
P.S. If you didn’t see it in the comments earlier – here’s the SPD Blotter writeup about the incident – same basic information.
Another death under investigation right now in West Seattle – under the West Seattle Bridge, apparently someone who died by suicide. Police were still in the right lane on the eastbound bridge as of a few minutes ago, with a vehicle believed to have been related to the incident.
That’s all we know right now but as we always mention in relation to cases of suicide, if you or someone you know is considering self-harm, the Crisis Clinic is one of the resources available to help 24/7 – 206-461-3222.
(SCROLL DOWN for newest information)
10:52 AM: A big Seattle Fire response is headed to a “trench rescue” call in the 3000 block of 36th SW (map). More to come.
(Added 1:08 pm, WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli, unless otherwise credited)
10:56 AM: From the scanner – first crews on scene say this is a person “buried up to his head” in an 8-foot deep, 3-foot wide hole. They’re working to dig him out. We won’t know until our crew arrives if it is related, but city files show a side-sewer repair permit for the address listed on the 911 log.
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
11:09 AM: If you’re in the area, you’ll see specialized SFD vehicles heading that way – technical rescue equipment. (The heavy-rescue vehicle, shown above, is already on scene.) We’re awaiting an update from our crew.
11:16 AM: They’ve confirmed this happened during sewer-repair work. SFD’s public-information officer is on scene and gathering information from the SFD crews, more of which are still arriving. There’s also at least one TV helicopter in the area.
11:21 AM: Just announced via radio communications – “this is now a recovery operation, not a rescue operation.”
11:52 AM: Also just announced – state Labor and Industries, which investigates workplace incidents, is on the way. Seattle Police will investigate the incident for starters, according to SFD, whose spokesperson Corey Orvold has just briefed us and other media at the scene (update: here’s the video):
They say the soil was too dense for them to get to the victim in time – there was no real way to make a path for air.
They’re still using vacuum equipment to try to clear it. 36th SW remains closed between Hanford and Stevens and likely will be for a while.
2:21 PM: Some crews remain at the scene. We’ll be checking back there within the hour. No additional investigation information so far. A few lines above, we’ve added the video of the early briefing SFD gave media at the scene.
4:25 PM: Only TV crews left at the scene. Meantime, we just talked with Elaine Fischer at Labor and Industries. She says this was the first trenching fatality in our state since 2008. And she confirms what our search of online records indicated – there was no history of safety investigations for the company doing the work, Alki Construction LLC of Burien. L&I doesn’t have any information about the person who was killed – that would come from the Medical Examiner, likely no sooner than tomorrow. No additional information from SPD, who SFD had indicated would be doing some investigation too.
ADDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: The King County Medical Examiner has identified the victim as 36-year-old Harold Felton. We have a message out to L&I to find out if there’s anything new in the investigation.
In West Seattle Crime Watch today – a reader report from Kyle:
My family’s home was burglarized (Monday) afternoon.
I came home from work to find my back door kicked in and two Apple computers stolen as well as an XBOX one, Samsung sound bar, etc. The bad thing is the iMac that was stolen had our entire 7-year-old’s life of pics and movies on it! We have most saved on an external hard drive but it still hurts.
We live in the Westwood area and just wanted to spread a warning that people who don’t care about other humans are on the prowl. If you see an older iMac or MacBook Pro with a dent in the top, please let us know. Thanks!
And one more reminder that a briefing on local crime trends is on the agenda for tonight’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting – all welcome, block-watch captain or not – 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct, 2300 SW Webster.
(Photo by Jim Clark – goat out for a walk at Lincoln Park last weekend!)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TODDLER STORY TIME: 10:30 am at West Seattle (Admiral) Library – bring your toddler for free fun. (2306 42nd SW)
WATERCOLOR PAINTING: New class series at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) with Jennifer Carrasco starts at 6 tonight, as previewed here on Monday. Learn to paint, or work on advancing your technique. (5612 California SW)
HEART HEALTH: Free class at High Point Library with Miranda Taylor – 6:15 pm, healthy snacks and mingling; class starts at 6:30 pm. Details in our calendar listing. (35th SW/SW Raymond)
WEST SEATTLE BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS MEETING: As previewed here last night, WSBWCN resumes its monthly meetings tonight, 6:30 pm, at the Southwest Precinct. You’ll meet SPD’s new local Community Police Team officers and hear about crime trends from precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis. All welcome – you don’t have to be a block-watch captain or even member! (2300 SW Webster)
FAMILY STORY TIME: For ages 1-5, at Delridge Library – details in our calendar listing. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
MAYOR’S SPEECH ON THE HOMELESSNESS EMERGENCY: As previewed here last night, Mayor Murray plans a 7:30 pm speech to be broadcast/webcast via Seattle Channel (cable 21 or seattlechannel.org), aimed at a citywide audience.
BABY KETTEN KARAOKE: 9 pm at The Skylark – sing it! (3803 Delridge Way SW)
SOMETHING FOR OUR CALENDAR? Please send it to editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
(Click any view for a close-up)
6:29 AM: No incidents in or from West Seattle so far this morning. Rainy, though.
7:48 AM: Texter reports a crash on the eastbound bridge near Nucor. No fire callout on the 911 log, so apparently no major injuries.
8 AM: Just had the dispatch for that. Right lane blocked; no injuries reported but “one vehicle is not drivable” so it’s not going to clear quickly.
8:25 AM: Now another dispatch for a crash on the eastbound bridge, this one described as closer to the 99 exit. So if you’re headed toward the bridge – beware. Consider waiting a while if you can.
8:31 AM: That one has cleared, but the other one is still blocking, further west, as SDOT tweeted:
UPDATE: Collision: Eastbound W Seattle Bridge west of Delridge Way SW, left lane remains blocked. Expect delays pic.twitter.com/WI6X1QeYEU
— seattledot (@seattledot) January 26, 2016
8:42 AM: SDOT says that crash is now clear too – so the bridge should be getting back to something resembling normal.
10:05 AM: … but not for long. Now, yet another crash on the eastbound bridge, this time reported to be under the 99 overpass.
9:59 PM: Two events of note over the next two nights:
JUST ANNOUNCED – MAYOR’S SPEECH ON HOMELESSNESS: Mayor Ed Murray‘s office just announced that he’ll speak live to the city Tuesday night at 7:30 pm via Seattle Channel (cable 21, or seattlechannel.org), with an update on what’s been done since he declared homelessness an emergency two months ago. He’ll be speaking from Mary’s Place Family Center in North Seattle, which is a shelter for women and families that opened last summer in a City-owned building.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT – DEPUTY MAYOR AT HPAC: Related to the emergency, the mayor announced last week that he would open two “safe lots” for people living in RVs and other vehicles, one of them in Highland Park, a paved lot adjacent to the former unauthorized encampment at West Marginal Way SW and Highland Park Way SW. The community council for that area, the Highland Park Action Committee, meets Wednesday night, and says city reps who are confirmed so far include Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim and District 1 Councilmember Lisa Herbold. The meeting’s at 7 at the Highland Park Improvement Club (12th SW/SW Holden).
10:53 PM P.S. Just published on SPD Blotter, a roundup of cases the department cites as proof it’s “committed to addressing criminal behavior associated with car campers.” No West Seattle cases are mentioned, but several were in SODO.
Youth around the city have the chance to decide how $700,000 of the city budget will be spent, via the Participatory Budgeting Initiative, and the next step will include seven gatherings, one in West Seattle. The city’s announcement:
Youth Voice, Youth Choice, the City’s new Participatory Budgeting (PB) Initiative for youth, kicks off this week with the first of seven idea assemblies to be held across the city. This is the first stage of the program which gives youth the opportunity to decide how to spend $700,000 of the City’s budget.
The idea assemblies are where the public can brainstorm ideas for projects they would like to see in their communities. Anyone can attend and participate. The dates and times are:
· January 28 from 4 – 6 p.m. at Meridian Center for Health
· February 3 from 3 – 5 p.m. at UW Ethnic Cultural Center, Unity Room
· February 4 from 4 – 6 p.m. at Greenwood Library
· February 9 from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. at Douglass Truth Library
· February 10 from 4 – 6 p.m. at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
· February 18 from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. at New Holly Gathering Hall
· February 23 from 5 – 7 p.m. at Seattle Center Armory, Loft Room #2Once the public assemblies are completed, the next stage involves youth volunteers who will turn the ideas into concrete proposals with help from Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and City staff. Seattle youth will then get to vote for the projects they would like to see implemented. Once the projects are decided, City staff and local agencies will implement the projects.
Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process where community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. This initiative began here last July when Seattle Mayor Murray and former Councilmember Nick Licata announced the launch of a citywide youth PB process. Youth Voice, Youth Choice is managed by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON) with the goal of empowering youth to make decisions on how to spend a portion of the budget.
Need more info? The city’s youth engagement strategic adviser Rahwa Habte is at 206-615-2008.
After eight years of keeping the only all-West Seattle online clearinghouse for lost-and-found pets, we’ve been asked often if WSB has any place to post lost-and-found items that AREN’T dogs, cats, chickens, etc. With our recent changes, we’ve been able to add a lost-and-found NON-pet section to the WSB Forums – see it here. Among the listings there already are two posted today – money found on California SW, and family-heirloom jewelry lost at Westcrest Dog Park. Maybe you can help!
They’re the police officers you go to about neighborhood nuisances and other persistent problems – not the “happening NOW” emergencies, though their work can mean less of the latter: The Community Police Team, or CPT. The Southwest Precinct has two new CPT officers, John O’Neil and Clayton Powell, after losing two to reassignments and promotions; you can meet them at tomorrow night’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network meeting. You don’t have to be a captain, or even part of a block watch, to be there – WSBWCN welcomes everybody. The meeting also will include a crime-trend update from precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis. It starts at 6:30 pm Tuesday at the precinct, 2300 SW Webster.
(WSB photo)
Thanks to Bill for the tip: Almost two years after the City Council approved the purchase of 5,750 square feet of land to expand Dakota Place Park, a milestone for the project has finally happened – the demolition of old structures to clear most of the site.
When councilmembers approved the $715,000 purchase in March 2014 – using money from the Parks and Green Spaces Levy – Parks had said it would demolish the three 1927-built houses, plus a garage and shed, “as soon as possible” but that the California-fronting commercial building would stay for now.
We talked today with Donald Harris from Parks. He says the tenants in the commercial building could be there for up to five more years, under terms of the lease they had worked out with the property’s previous owner, so “you’re not going to see any full redevelopment of the property for a while.” (He says there’s a chance the building’s tenant might be interested in leaving sooner.)
They’re talking with neighbors about what they’ll be doing in the meantime with the area that’s now being cleared – Harris says they’ll likely “plant some grass, do a little landscaping, make it usable, at least.” Before anything more is done with it, money would have to be found and a design process would follow. It’s not in the budget right now, not even with the Park District funding approved by voters – “this addition occurred after the work program was in place,” Harris told WSB.
Dakota Place Park itself, centered on a city-landmark substation building, opened in 2009.
(Photo courtesy Mel)
12:00 PM: Thanks to the texter who sent the photo from a car fire that Seattle Fire crews are currently fighting in the 9000 block of 14th SW. It’s a fire with potential exposure to the adjacent house, and that’s why the response is larger. Updates to come.
(Photo courtesy DRW)
12:06 PM: SFD says it was a motor-home fire in a driveway (reader photo added). It’s out, and the cause is under investigation.
12:40 PM: Just went by. The investigator is still on scene. We confirmed that no one was hurt.
4:34 PM: SFD spokesperson Corey Orvold tells WSB the cause hasn’t been determined yet, but damage to the vehicle and its contents totaled $1,200.
ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: We received the clip above via text. We’ll be checking again Tuesday on whether SFD figured out how the fire started.
(WSB photo of under-construction school, earlier this month)
The construction of both new West Seattle elementary campuses – for Schmitz Park at Genesee Hill (above) and Arbor Heights – is on schedule for their planned openings this fall, Seattle Public Schools tells us. And if you will have a kindergartener going into Schmitz Park this fall, principal Gerrit Kischner invites you to their upcoming tours – 9 am tomorrow (Tuesday, January 26th) and Wednesday, February 10th:
We are still hosting tours this year because we want families to start getting excited about our program. Next year, it will be the same great teachers and the same great community in a brand new, beautiful space! We will showcase our five Kindergarten classrooms, give parents an opportunity to observe upper-grade classrooms as well, and share pictures and ideas for how our program will maximize the advantages of our new space. Whether families choose to tour or not, please remember that Kindergarten registration is now open for attendance-area schools, and the sooner families register their youngsters, the better we will be equipped to plan for their coming!
Kischner adds that the new school’s name hasn’t been finalized yet but so far they’re calling it “Schmitz Park at Genesee Hill.” But be sure you go to the CURRENT campus for the upcoming tours – 50th SW/SW Spokane.
(File photo, courtesy C & P Coffee)
Not only is C & P Coffee Company (longtime WSB sponsor) a hub for coffee and conversation, live music, and events – classes are taught there too. Co-proprietor Cameron calls our attention to a series starting tomorrow night – watercolor painting. The instructor is well-known local artist Jennifer Carrasco, who teaches a six-week series of evening classes, 6-8 pm Tuesdays, both for those learning to paint and those who want to refine their technique. E-mail the instructor – jennifer@carrascostudio.com – for more info and to sign up.
(Sharp-shinned hawk hunting, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Here’s what’s happening as the week begins – mostly highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LAST WEEK FOR FREE TREE-CYCLING: If your Christmas tree hasn’t been sent off for composting yet – this is the last week you can do it for free with curbside pickup or South Transfer Station dropoff. After January 31, you will have to cut it up and dispose of it with your yard waste.
GATEWOOD ELEMENTARY KINDERGARTEN TOUR: 9 am, meet in the school library. If you didn’t see this in time or hear about it otherwise – 9 am February 11th is your next chance. (4320 SW Myrtle)
AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP: 2 pm at Southwest Library. This month, they’re reading “Exit Ghost” by Philip Roth. (35th SW & SW Henderson)
SANISLO SCHOOL TOURS: 6 pm, prospective parents are invited to tour Sanislo Elementary with principal Bruce Rhodes. (1812 SW Myrtle)
UNDERSTANDING THE SCHOOL BUDGET PROCESS: From Seattle Public Schools: “Have you ever wondered how school funding, staffing and budgets are determined, but never knew who to ask? The Seattle Public Schools finance team is excited to present an evening dedicated to understanding the school budget process.” Your new school-board rep Leslie Harris flagged us on this to get the word out. 6 pm at district HQ. More info here. (3rd S. & S. Lander)
GAME NIGHT AT MEEPLES, BENEFITING SHELTERBOX: We’ve reported here before about ShelterBox – which brings needed shelter and supplies to disaster and crisis spots around the world. 6:15 pm-8:30 pm, tonight’s game night at Meeples Games (WSB sponsor) benefits ShelterBox, and brings you a chance to learn about their work, too. (3727 California SW)
(Click any view for a close-up)
6:07 AM: Welcome to the new week – and the last Monday in January. Notes to begin with:
FERRIES BACK TO FULL STRENGTH: As of last night, the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is back to full capacity, with M/V Issaquah replacing M/V Tillikum.
HIGHWAY 99 LANE CLOSURES CONTINUE: Today starts the second week of closures north of downtown. So far, they haven’t affected the northbound commute from here.
21ST AVENUE SW: Delridge-Highland Park Greenway work continues between 22nd and Dawson, according to the newest update.
RESTORATION WORK AT CONSTELLATION PARK: The emergency sewer-pipe-repair work wrapped up on Saturday but crews are expected back, possibly soon as today, to wrap up work where they were digging at 63rd SW/Beach Drive SW.
SOUND TRANSIT FARE INCREASE: We’ve already mentioned the Water Taxi‘s fare increase coming up March 1st. Also raising fares on that date: Sound Transit, including Express buses like 560, which serves our area and will see a 25-cent increase. A special new fare for low-income adults will take effect March 1st. See all the new fares here.
8:34 AM: Seattle Fire medical response has been taking up one lane at 21st and Roxbury, near Holy Family, but not for much longer, and eastbound traffic has been getting around by using the center lane. We went over to check; they were helping a person with a medical issue – no crash involved.
That section of Beach Drive by Weather Watch Park and La Rustica is one of the inspirations behind a petition that’s being circulated by Jim Unland. He’s seeking signatures to ask the city to repave the half-mile stretch between 61st SW and SW Genesee (map). He explains, “This section of roadway has received numerous ‘pothole repairs’ but the condition of this stretch of Beach Dr. SW has deteriorated to the point that spot repairs are no longer sufficient. This roadway is frequently used by bicycle riders and the condition of the road poses many hazards to the them and liability to the City of Seattle.”
Unland says that petition signatures are set up to cc District 1 Councilmember Lisa Herbold and at-large Councilmembers Lorena González and Tim Burgess as well as SDOT’s paving manager Sue Byers. You can sign electronically by going here.
The self-storage project proposed for 3310 Harbor SW – first reported here last March – is moving ahead. That’s what the Alki Community Council heard at this month’s meeting, from an executive of the company pursuing it, West Coast Self-Storage.
They’ll be seeking a street vacation for part of what would be 29th SW (map), and they’re still putting together the documentation for that, so they don’t expect to be having formal hearings with the city before fall.
The company says West Seattle is underserved in terms of storage space, and that this industrial-zoned site is a place to provide some. The proposal is now envisioned for the area that currently holds a warehouse building and the now-vacated GT Towing lot.
In West Seattle (and vicinity) Crime Watch:
THANKS FOR THE TIPS: Received a few about a sizable law-enforcement presence at 15th and Roxbury this past hour. Headed that way and found King County Sheriff’s Office deputies had converged on the gas station at the southwest corner of the intersection. They were searching what one deputy told us was a stolen car; we’ll be following up on our partner site White Center Now.
ADMIRAL BURGLARY: Tyler e-mailed this weekend to share the word about this:
On Wednesday at exactly 12:44 am we had a person enter our property at 53rd and Admiral and break into our garage, stealing wire and several small tools. They then moved a camera out of the way and tried to gain access to a small basement window. They were on site for over 20 minutes.
The house is being sold, so there was no one home and only various tools on site. Police report filed Thursday.
Suspect was wearing black jeans and hooded sweatshirt also in black. He knew there were cameras as face was covered. Had a distinctive large rectangle style back back with straps.
MORE HIGHLAND PARK MAIL THEFT: Shirley in Highland Park wants her neighbors in the 11th/12th/Barton vicinity to “please be aware that there is a lot of mail being taken and thrown on the ground and or put in other mailboxes. On my dog walk this am I found some of my neighbor’s mail in my paper box. This afternoon walking the dog, I found another neighbor’s mail in the alley … Also noticed several mailboxes open along the way.”
STOLEN MAIL FOUND IN SEAVIEW: A reader “found someone’s mail from Ballard (Friday morning) dumped at the corner of 44th SW and SW Graham.” They planned to take it back to the Post Office but added, “I just wanted to let people know to be watchful for thieves using our neighborhood like this.”
In case you haven’t already seen it in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – we’re now exactly two weeks from your chance to hear and see photo historian Paul Dorpat tell “Fish Tales” about West Seattle character and entrepreneur Ivar Haglund, linked to the exhibit at the Log House Museum, but happening at a local Seattle Public Library branch. Here are all the details, from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society:
Is there anyone better than Paul Dorpat at “keeping clam” about Seattle legend and West Seattle native Ivar Haglund?
Dorpat — the city’s pre-eminent photo historian, who has entered his 34th year of weekly “Now and Then” columns in the Seattle Times — for more than a decade also has been researching and writing a massive biography of Haglund, the iconic restaurateur, folk musician, Port of Seattle commissioner, and goofy promotional wizard.
Sponsored by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and The Seattle Public Library, the genial Dorpat will present “Fish Tales,” a talk accompanied by scores of rare photos of Haglund, at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, February 7th, in the basement meeting room of the West Seattle Branch of The Seattle Public Library, 2306 42nd Ave. SW in The Admiral District.
The FREE presentation will end about 3 p.m., after which those attending can stop in down the hill at the historical society’s “Birthplace of Seattle” Log House Museum to see its latest exhibit, on loan from the Nordic Heritage Museum, called “Keep Clam and Carry On: The Ivar Haglund Story.”
Dorpat’s talk will emphasize the deep West Seattle roots of Haglund (1905-1985), the grandson of Hans Hanson, who for many years posted a lantern at Alki Point that predated the 1913 construction of the Alki Lighthouse. Haglund’s maternal grandparents purchased the Alki Point land in 1869 from Seattle pioneer David “Doc” Maynard.
All of this and much more will be covered by Dorpat, who also will be available at the museum exhibit after his talk. The exhibit features display panels, vintage TV footage and radio recordings, along with a “clam gun” and one of the clam outfits used to promote Ivar’s restaurants in Seattle parades and commercials. To see the exhibit, stop in during regular open hours, noon to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays.
Ivar died in
Thanks to Eric Shalit for sharing the photos as a tribute to Ralph’s Barber Shop, behind the Chelan Café at 2302 SW Spokane. The shop closed when Ralph retired earlier this month. Eric says, “I believe the shop was in that location since the WS high bridge was built and in a slightly different location prior to the high bridge being built. Ralph’s father had the business before him. It’s been a hangout for longshoreman, steel workers, railyard workers, and many old-timers. This is a real piece of old WS that is now gone. It was well-known for the enormous collection of caps (hats) on the wall.”
Eric says he’d been going to the shop for about 10 years and got one of Ralph’s last haircuts.
P.S. (in response to a comment) No relation to Ralph’s in Admiral, which is open!
(WSB photos)
Food, wine, and history last night at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) – the latter courtesy of the 300-plus guests at the food-and-wine fundraiser Gifts From The Earth, which brought in the most money ever for the SSC Foundation: Almost $222,000. That wasn’t the only record:
The 16 guest chefs who planned and prepared custom menus for groups of guests included a record number of seven who trained at the college’s much-lauded culinary program. They and their support crews – including SSC culinary, wine, and hospitality students – filled prep rooms at the college’s Brockey Center before the guests took their seats, plating their tasty creations – take a look:
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