West Seattle, Washington
11 Wednesday
(Mid-January photo of Arbor Heights site, courtesy Mike R.)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The hearing’s over, and now a written decision is awaited in the third appeal filed against the Arbor Heights Elementary rebuild project.
Testimony heard this afternoon before city Hearing Examiner Sue Tanner on the 40th floor of the Municipal Tower downtown included one new wrinkle: A question about traffic effects to potentially be compounded by the charter school proposed at 35th/Roxbury, a plan that just surfaced a month ago, which is why it was not a factor at the time of the two appeals decided last year (May 2014 WSB coverage here; August 2014 WSB coverage here).
APPELLANTS’ CASE: District watchdog Chris Jackins presented the appeal case, though he is not the lone appellant; several nearby residents are listed too.
We’ve included reminders in almost every West Seattle Crime Watch report since the original announcement two weeks ago, but in case you’ve missed them – Tomorrow’s the night that Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole comes to West Seattle for her first community conversation. It’s co-sponsored by the Southwest Precinct Advisory Committee, and the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network, which published this reminder earlier today. 6:30 pm Tuesday in the precinct meeting room (off its public parking lot along Webster, just west of Delridge). No presentation – just your questions and her answers, promise organizers.
From our latest check of the city Department of Planning and Development files:
THREE HOUSES ON ADMIRAL WAY HILL: An undeveloped 12,350-square-foot parcel between the east side of Admiral Way and the west side of 31st SW, north of the bridge, is proposed for three 3-story houses. The proposal is on file with the address 3116 SW Admiral Way.
SW HOLDEN SUBDIVISION: While the 18-house subdivision between Holden and Webster has already received key approvals, three parcels still have to be split into 18 for the individual houses that are planned, and the comment period has opened for that application – here’s the official notice from today’s Land Use Information Bulletin.
CHANGE OF USE: Also from today’s LUIB, comments are open on a proposal to change the use of a house at 9248 25th SW to a “community center.” The notice doesn’t specify what that means, but in a document in the online files, the applicants list religious uses as their plans for the building. The notice includes information on how to comment.
DEMOLITION PLANS: A 61-year-old house at 11825 Seola Beach Drive would be demolished as part of a new-construction approval that also was announced in today’s LUIB; also, at 8443 12th SW, a house is proposed to be demolished, with at least one new one to be built (there’s also a lot-split proposal at the address).
LOT-SPLIT: Early-stage application to split one parcel at 3617 SW Holden into two.
(Salmonberry blossom at Lincoln Park – photo by Mark Ahlness, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SANISLO ELEMENTARY TOURS TODAY & TONIGHT: You’re welcome to tour the school 10-11 am or tonight at 6:30 pm, reservations not required. (1812 SW Myrtle)
FREE TAX HELP: Trained volunteers will be on hand to help you with your taxes – first-come, first-served – 3-7 pm at Delridge Branch Library. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
FAMILY STORY TIME: 6:30 pm, bring child(ren) of all ages to High Point Branch Library for stories and rhymes. Free; no registration required. (35th/Raymond)
WEST SEATTLE HI-YU: As previewed here on Sunday, Hi-Yu members will review and vote on community proposals for this year’s button design – the theme is “Sound Respect.” All are welcome, 7 pm in the lower-level meeting room at Admiral Congregational Church. (California/Hill)
SEE INTO THE FUTURE! Just browse our calendar – tomorrow and beyond. (Use the handy drop-down at upper right to just choose the categories of events that interest you.)
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! No alerts for today, but one transit-related note – if you use the streetcar downtown, fare changes are in the works, with a public meeting tonight and other ways to comment – all the info’s here.
6:51 AM: Just got a call reporting a stalled vehicle on the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct, left lane. Meantime, fairly heavy rain.
7:04 AM: No further updates; traffic appears to be moving fairly normally, on the high-rise too.
February brings a new phase of work at the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project across from Lowman Beach Park. The county’s announcement:
King County contractors recently finished the base of the underground storage tank, completing the last large concrete pour for the project. Crews are now preparing for smaller concrete pours to construct the outer wall of the tank.
Concrete pours for the outer wall are weather dependent and will occur on Thursdays in February and March. In order to keep the project on schedule, the contractor will be working on some Saturdays. Work hours on Saturdays are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Up to 20 trucks a day will deliver concrete to the site on pour days— about as many trucks as were previously on site each hour for the tank-base pours. Pours will occur between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Work will continue past 6 p.m. if necessary to complete the pour. One concrete pump truck on the east side of the 7000 block of Beach Dr. SW will pump concrete into the hole. Local and emergency access to Beach Drive SW and Lincoln Park Way SW will be maintained at all times. Expect traffic delays and congestion on pour days.
The county will have flaggers assisting with traffic. Questions/concerns? The project’s 24-hour hotline is 206-205-9186.
Roundabout (above) or signal, to ease the traffic woes at Highland Park Way and Holden? Not that the city has money for either, yet, but the concepts have been roughed out and we were there as SDOT’s neighborhood-traffic guru Jim Curtin talked about them at this week’s Highland Park Action Committee meeting:
More local fans! Starting with the ultimate pre-game rally, in Upper Alki:
Thanks to Barb for inviting us to her neighborhood, where members of the Seahawks’ drumline Blue Thunder played for a pregame rally a short time ago!
Yes, part of the group did go to Arizona. But others who stayed home had a few gigs like this one.
As for the neighbors – it’s not every Super Bowl Sunday you get to make some great memories BEFORE the game.
Elsewhere in West Seattle:
From the inbox, two more sets of young fans – from Manuela:
From Deborah:
Now, a case of fan creativity: Ian sent “a photo of West Seattle’s own Michelle Heck‘s snackadium. Note the iPhone jumbotron!”
And we just found this on Instagram – @Webcami’s photo from Alki:
Go, Hawks!
Oh so close to game time! Two more scenes of spirit – above, Lynn Hall spotted Seattle Fire crews in a photo-op moment at Don Armeni late this morning; below, another stunning view-above-the-clouds from Gatewood photographer/pilot Long Bach Nguyen:
editor@westseattleblog.com if you have something to share!
1:18 PM: Thanks to Janna for the heads-up: A crash on southbound I-5 just past the West Seattle Bridge is slowing down not only I-5 itself, but also the ramp from the bridge. If you are heading south, consider alternatives. P.S. If you want to check the status before leaving, the city’s Travelers’ Information Map has live video – go here, click “live traffic video” from the lower right, choose “Greater Duwamish” on the dropdown, and then choose the 4th/Spokane view.
1:41 PM UPDATE: The live-video feed shows the offramp and freeway moving at what looks like normal pace now.
Thanks to Heather for tweeting the photo and the news of two West Seattle entrepreneurs tying the knot – in the Super Bowl teams’ jerseys, no less: Naomi Gonzalez and Fran Dunaway, the West Seattleites who founded clothing company Tomboy Exchange in 2013, are newlyweds. Their Saturday wedding, according to a note on the Tomboy X website, was a surprise: “Everyone thought they were coming to play flag football but at halftime they sprung a surprise ceremony amongst their friends and family in Seattle.” Heather adds via Twitter that the game resumed after the wedding, and ended in a 27-27 tie.
Even the reader reports include a Super Bowl “theme” …
ANOTHER FLAG THEFT: We had one in the Saturday roundup, one in a comment, and then this came in today via text, with the photo above:
A warning for neighbors – someone just stole my husband’s 12th-man flag out of our front yard :-( We were home and heard the dog barking, but didn’t check because she also barks at cats a lot. To get the flag, this person had to climb up our porch and take it off the roof in a highly visible yard. Took it all, including the rusty flagpole we use for our Seafair pirate flag. Particularly sad after we spent most of yesterday afternoon trying to find one in a store. Anyway, just a reminder to others that nothing is sacred, even on Super Bowl Sunday. Watch your stuff.
FOUND ITEMS: Melanie didn’t mention where these turned up, but if you have had any of the following stolen recently, check with police:
Some items were left on the parking strip between my house and my neighbor’s house. A report has been made to the police, and the police will come by and pick up the items: … Shoes, bowling bag (no ball), trophy (broken), black shirt, baseball-type cap (with golf logo).
If any more Crime Watch reports come in today, we’ll add them to this roundup, so check back later!
ADDED SUNDAY NIGHT: Almost missed this one from Brenda, sent Saturday night:
At 8 this morning went out and my CRV wasn’t in its usual parking place. Instead,
it was a little ways down the street, parked at an angle with the engine running. The front windshield was cracked by my club which they tried to remove. Car completely gone through with stuff everywhere. I don’t keep any valuables in the car and it appears as if nothing was stolen. They also opened my mailbox but nothing in it for them to take. Police notified and report taken. This was on the 9900 block of 33rd Ave., SW.
Inspired by those two proposed float designs (backstory here), West Seattle Hi-Yu‘s 2015 theme is “Sound Respect” – as in, respecting and caring for Puget Sound – and the next step is choosing a button design. Like the float, it’ll be chosen from community-generated designs brought to tomorrow night’s Hi-Yu meeting:
The button design does not have to include any or all of the elements. Use your imagination. Draw several ideas, with color, in a circle that is the size of a Hi-Yu button (2″ across the center of a round button) … After the button design is selected, a graphic designer will make the necessary adjustments to refine it for the button to be printed and the buttons will then be made for the 2015 Hi-Yu Festival.
Hi-Yu buttons are sold at events throughout the summer as a fundraiser for the all-volunteer nonprofit. Tomorrow night’s meeting is at 7 pm in the lower-level meeting room of Admiral Congregational Church (California/Hill).
Big snack spread planned for The Big Game? In honor of that abundance, here’s something more you can do in the next few hours: Score a touchdown against hunger by contributing to one or both of two local churches’ Super Bowl-linked food drives. Before 1 pm or so, take a nonperishable item or two or three or … to Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW; WSB sponsor; backstory here) and/or Peace Lutheran Church (39th/Thistle; backstory here).
P.S. The food drives are part of our West Seattle Super Bowl Spirit list – see it in full here.
They’re on the run again for a Super Bowl Sunday tradition – the West Seattle Fat Ass 25K/50K, billed as “a no-fee, no-shirt, no-aid, no-whining type event,” the most hard-core fun run of the year. It’s also “no roads closed,” so you’ll see the ~200 runners – including the group who sent the photo – along sidewalks and paths in the next few hours, one round-trip to/from Lincoln Park for the 25K, two for the 50K, scheduled to have started around 8 am.
Easy Street Records rocked tonight. Hard. Loud. Local. The band: Toe Tag. Our camera could only handle about half a minute:
They’re longtime musicians, but not fulltime – the lead singer has a day job you might know him from.
That’s Lord Zippy Blaine. Yes, THAT Zippy. But on this Saturday night, he and bandmates Steve (bass), Alex (guitar), and Chris (drums) were all about the music:
The occasion: New 11″ from Toe Tag, “Hide the Knives.”
If you didn’t catch Toe Tag at Easy Street tonight, they’re on the bill at the Benbow at 9 pm next Saturday.
Game Day is just hours away, and Seahawks spirit is everywhere. The Friday night fog couldn’t even stop it, as Craig Young‘s photo above shows – and the photo Mike Russell tweeted:
Sunset #fog from #WestSeattle was cool, but nighttime fog, well… #Seattle @space_needle @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/CIeEKuazwC
— Mike Russell (@mikerussellfoto) January 31, 2015
This next photo was sent earlier today by the West Seattle Trader Joe’s crew:
And James shared this image of two young 12s in his household:
(added) Spirit at Denny International Middle School – assistant principal Patricia Rangel tweeted photos with the Lunch Ladies:
Cheering on @Seahawks with Denny Lunch Ladies. #GoHawks #SB49 @seapubschools @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/iUBahcEwOx
— Patricia J Rangel (@dennydolphinap) January 31, 2015
Anything to add? editor@westseattleblog.com – meantime, here’s our list of notes, including where to watch. It’s not all-inclusive, so be aware that if you try to go anywhere after about 2:30 pm tomorrow, particularly restaurants that you wouldn’t expect to have the game on, you just might find them closed. It is a bit of a holiday, after all.
Last night at the West Seattle High School gym, we spotted that familiar-but-not-seen-for-a-while smile in the stands, someone especially familiar to those involved with local neighborhood groups – former longtime Neighborhood District Coordinator Stan Lock. Four years ago, in a round of Department of Neighborhoods changes/cuts, Stan was moved to the Central Area; earlier this month, a DoN rep told the Morgan Community Association (as reported here) that Stan had just retired. Last night, he confirmed it, saying he has no plans right now except to enjoy his first grandchild – a girl born to his daughter on New Year’s Eve. Stan told us he misses everybody he knew and worked with in West Seattle. He was at the game with his brother, a Garfield fan.
They’ve got rhythm! Our quick Instagram clip shows kids getting a demo drumming lesson from teacher Daisy at the grand-opening party for School of Rock-West Seattle (WSB sponsor).
Other demos and live performances are planned, along with door prizes and enrollment discounts, as the party continues through 6 pm at 4701 41st SW (outer east side of Jefferson Square, just south of SW Alaska).
P.S. If you’re a food-truck fan, the Cheese Wizards truck is there until 4.
The most recent reader reports – if you have information on these or any other cases, call 911:
STOLEN CAR: Federico‘s black Dodge Caliber, ANK8969, was taken overnight near California/Brandon.
(added) POSSIBLY STOLEN CAR, FOUND: Nicole reported it to police, but wanted to make note of it here too – a white 4-door Nissan Sentra, plate 035ZWO, at 35th/Henderson for more than 3 days, “contents are ransacked, bag of mail on the floor, body damage to passenger side, spare tire on front passenger side.”
(back to original roundup) STOLEN BICYCLE: Colton reports this was stolen near California/Hinds:
And a PS: “Only thing that’s different on the bike is that it now has a black seat post.”
STOLEN FLAG: On the eve of the big game, no less! Steve reports, “Sometime last night someone came up to our brightly lit driveway and stole my Seahawks flag that has been flying all season. The pole was in the neighbor’s yard…but no flag.”
CAR PROWLS: Emily reports, “Last night on the 1600 block of SW Massachusetts/Bonair/Sunset Avenue, two unlocked cars were gone through. Gloves and a flashlight were stolen, and an ignition was broken.” … Not far away, Melani reports, a trailer hitched to a truck was broken into … on the corner of Massachusetts and 44th.” Taken: Work tools, some heavy-duty, including a chop saw. … Earlier this week near 18th/Elmgrove, Alison reports, car prowlers took “two big boxes of diapers, about 250.”
(added) ANOTHER CAR PROWL: Just after we published this roundup, we got this from Russell, so we’re adding:
I just reported a theft from my truck parked on 41st Avenue SW near SW Monroe Street. The theft occurred between 10 pm last night (Jan. 30) and 8am this morning (Jan. 31). Most of my tools were left in place, however, a very expensive metering device was taken. It was in a black Pelican hard case. The meter is a GEM 2000 Gas Analyzer manufactured by Landtec North America. Serial number: 11456. Also taken was an aluminum clipboard with field notes in it, which I retrieved from a guy on 26th Avenue SW who called me to say it was in his front yard (my business card was inside), between the West Seattle Golf Course and Delridge Playfield. I filed the report with Officer N. Meyst, Incident #15-35175.
ADVICE FOR PREVENTING/DETERRING CAR PROWLS: From SPD’s Southwest/South Precincts Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon (who also discussed some of this at last week’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network meeting):
POLICE CHIEF HERE TUESDAY: Another reminder – 6:30 pm Tuesday at the SW Precinct (Webster/Delridge), you’re invited to Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole‘s first local “community conversation.”
This time next Saturday morning (February 7th), you could be out for a walk exploring some of the best views in West Seattle (or a different part of the city), during one of 14 tours that’ll be part of Seattle Stairway Walks Day, presented by Feet First. Three West Seattle routes are on the list this year:
*Longfellow/Pigeon Point tour
*Fauntleroy/Morgan tour
*Alki From Above tour
All 14 of the routes around the city are taken from West Seattleites Cathy & Jake Jaramillo‘s book, “Seattle Stairway Walks: An Up-and-Down Guide to City Neighborhoods.” The walks will all run 10 am-noon next Saturday; space is limited to 35 per walk – online signups are happening right now, so you can save your spot(s). Admission is by donation but “no one will be turned away,” says FF.
Thanks to Long Bach Nguyen for two more awesome photos of the beauty that rolled in along with Friday’s fog (above and a few paragraphs below). Now on to what’s up for today/tonight:
BENEFIT HAIRCUTS: Final Saturday for Delridge Community Center-benefit haircuts – look for the Airstream on the southeast side of DCC, with Rudy’s Barbershop stylists, 8:30 am-3:30 pm. (4501 Delridge Way SW)
GIVE A LIFE-SAVING GIFT: If you can donate blood, Westwood Village is hosting the Bloodmobile today, 9:30-noon and 1-3:30 pm, walk-up donors welcome, details here. (2600 SW Barton)
SUPER STRING SATURDAY! The Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra-presented event, 10 am-1 pm, includes a mini-concert by the SYSO and more, plus West Seattle Community Orchestras say they’ll be on hand with their “instrument petting zoo” 9:30 am-11:30 am. It’s all happening at Chief Sealth International High School. (2600 SW Thistle)
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS FOR CSO PROJECTS: 10:30 am-noon at SE corner of Delridge/Orchard, 1-2:30 pm on the west side of Barton Place/Henderson, neighbors are invited to come learn about the Seattle Public Utilities combined-sewer-overflow projects that are scheduled to get going soon – more (including maps) in our preview.
SCHOOL OF ROCK-WEST SEATTLE – GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION! 1-6 pm today, check out the brand-new School of Rock-West Seattle (WSB sponsor). Live music, door prizes, food truck selling gourmet grilled-cheese sandwiches, registration deals – here’s the schedule. (4701 41st SW)
Then, as the evening continues…
FAUNTLEROY CHILI COOKOFF: 6 pm, chili and cornbread at Fauntleroy UCC Church – $7 gets you food and votes, to help decide whose chili wins! Meat and vegetarian options. (9140 California SW)
TOE TAG @ EASY STREET: 7 pm, longtime Northwest punk-rockers (including a well-known food dude) celebrate a new record release (“Hide the Knives”) with a live show in-store at Easy Street Records, free.
WESLEY WOO @ C & P: 7-9 pm, award-winning musician live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) with roots in Motown, blues, alt-rock, free. (5612 California SW)
MORE MUSIC, PLUS THEATER, AND … see for yourself on the calendar.
At West Seattle High School on Friday night, the Wildcats played host to the Bulldogs. First, the girls-varsity team with yet another win:
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
That’s junior Lexi Ioane, who led with 18 points and 10 rebounds in WSHS’s 55-39 win over Garfield. Senior Emily Fiso was next with 15 points:
Junior Gabby Sarver, who led in assists with 6, was third in scoring, at 8 points:
In the nightcap, the boys-varsity team lost to Garfield, 82-58. Sophomore Nate Pryor topped the Wildcats’ scoring with 20:
Senior Andre Moore was next with 18:
The regular season wraps up with home games next Friday against Franklin – girls varsity at 6:30, boys at 8.
P.S. A “Blue Friday” sighting among the band:
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