West Seattle, Washington
25 Saturday
(Photo courtesy SSC)
This year’s biggest West Seattle graduation happened at Benaroya Hall downtown, where more than 800 graduates received degrees and certificates last night from Puget Ridge-headquartered South Seattle College (WSB sponsor). The announcement from SSC quotes president Gary Oertli as saying, “From academics to professional-technical, our student-oriented staff strives to help our students reach their professional dreams. And to our graduates, I’m truly proud and honored to share this special occasion with you. Your hard work, drive and commitment have helped you earn this special day.” Derrick Coleman from the Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks delivered the commencement address: “There’s only one voice that matters. Listen to what is inside you. You call your own plays. Use your own God-given talent to overcome any obstacles. How hard you work will determine how far you go.” SSC says the graduates ranged in age from 17 to 68, with achievements including “bachelor of applied science degrees, associate transfer degrees (which open up the opportunity to transfer to four-year colleges and universities to pursue bachelor’s degrees), high-school diplomas, and associate degrees and certificates that prepare graduates to enter the workforce with desirable skillsets.”
Friends and family will gather this Saturday to remember 94-year-old ‘Eilene’ Powelson, and are sharing this remembrance:
Evelyn Eilene Powelson, known to family and friends as “Eilene,” passed away on June 16, 2014 at Providence Mount Saint Vincent Nursing Center.
Eilene was born on December 1, 1919 in Bellingham to David and Anna Larson. Early in her life, along with her parents and two younger sisters, they moved from Bellingham to Everett and eventually settled in Seattle before the breakout of WWII.
She met her husband Corden Powelson at the Lutheran Service Center in downtown Seattle 1944. They married on May 3, 1946 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church (Seattle) with Dr. Stub officiating. Corden preceded her in death on September 19, 2000 after 54 years of marriage. Eilene was a member of Peace Lutheran Church for over 20 years.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Heading for the heart of the commute, no news is again good news today. One major note: It’s the last day of classes for Seattle Public Schools – ending the school year with one-hour-early dismissal.
NORTHBOUND 99 WEEKEND CLOSURE: 10 pm Friday night (June 20th) until 5 am Monday morning, Northbound 99 will be closed between the West Seattle Bridge and north end of downtown as WSDOT continues re-aligning the roadway west of the stadiums, explained here. During this closure, northbound 99 – and other roads – will be used on Saturday for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-Marathon (full list here).
That was indeed Guardian One over West Seattle (mostly The Junction) for a while this past half-hour. Per scanner-monitored discussion, they happened to be in the area when they heard a Seattle Police search and jumped in to help out. The call was originally about a woman possibly at risk of self-harm. They didn’t spot anyone and flew on eastward out of the area.
(SPU photo inside West Seattle Reservoir in May 2010, not long before it was filled)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Only four years after it went into service, the underground West Seattle Reservoir in Highland Park needs a $7.6 million earthquake-resistance retrofit.
Work will start this summer, while the city and its consultants determine the scope of retrofitting that is also expected for our area’s other underground water facility, Myrtle Reservoir in Gatewood, as well as for two others in the city, Beacon and Maple Leaf.
We talked today with Seattle Public Utilities and its consultants about the problem, the solution, and the work ahead.
This was foreshadowed a year and a half ago; we made note of it here in November 2012, following up after The Seattle Times (WSB partner) broke the news that the reservoirs’ designer, MWH, had told the city about what SPU calls “possible seismic deficiencies in their work.” SPU subsequently announced that testing would be done to find out about those potential deficiencies and what would be needed to remedy them.
They didn’t expect the testing would take as long as it did. West Seattle Reservoir is the first one for which a seismic review has been finished and a retrofit plan laid out.
Sundog over West Seattle? Thanks to David Hutchinson (above) and Don Brubeck (below), frequent and much-appreciated WSB community contributors, for sharing the photos of what we think was a sunset sundog – one of the phenomena discussed in Alice Enevoldsen‘s “Skies Over West Seattle” a year ago.
Unusual cloud formations, too – any help identifying them would be welcome!
That’s a rendering of what proprietor Phil Gustavson says the sign will look like when he opens the West Seattle School of Rock on the outer east side of Jefferson Square in The Junction. Gustavson says he’s signed the lease for the space next door to Dream Dinners (WSB sponsor) at 4701 41st SW, Suite 120. School of Rock is an international chain of music schools that teach guitar, bass, vocals, keyboards, and drums, with lessons leading to performances. In this metro area, it has branches in Greenwood and Bellevue. Gustavson isn’t estimating an opening date yet, saying it depends mostly on how long it takes to get permits.
(TOPLINE: ‘Low bridge’ reopened just after 7:30 pm; ‘malfunction’ had closed it since just after 5 pm)
5:29 PM: Thanks to commenters on our daily traffic-watch story for first word on this around 5:15 pm – SDOT confirms that the “low bridge” is currently malfunctioning and closed to vehicle/pedestrian traffic. We’ve added a “live” picture from SDOT’s traffic cams – you can see the bicycle riders/pedestrians waiting, and it looks like there’s a relatively slight gap in the bridge.
ADDED 5:50 PM: Still out of service, no update from SDOT. Jason shared the photo we’ve added above, showing bicycle riders who were waiting before it was apparent this situation wasn’t ending quickly.
6:35 PM: We talked with an SDOT rep who said a mechanic has headed to the bridge but they don’t have an ETA yet – they’re promising updates.
(Some of the bikes on the 5:45 Water Taxi; photo by Brian O’Mara)
Meantime, your editor here just took the Water Taxi home from downtown; at least a few bicycle riders had diverted upon hearing about the bridge, but there was still room on the run – 6:45 pm is the last scheduled run from downtown to West Seattle.
7:37 PM: SDOT has just reopened the bridge after the 2 1/2-hour closure. While running electrical tests this past hour or so, they allowed bicycle riders and pedestrians through a few times, we’re told.
Quick update from the city Municipal Tower downtown: The city Landmarks Preservation Board has just voted to approve the nomination of Charlestown Court, the brick fourplex at 3811 California SW, as a potential city landmark. A consultant hired by its owners – who want to demolish it and replace it with eight townhouses – said they don’t think it merits landmark status, a decision reached by the board six years ago when another demolition/redevelopment proposal was pending. (Since more than five years have passed, city reps explained, a new review was warranted.) Today’s vote sets the stage for a final vote on August 6th.
Thanks to our Arbor Heights Elementary parent correspondent for sharing that photo from today’s 5th-grade graduation ceremony. The final graduate of the last 5th-grade class at “Original Arbor Heights,” as our tipster dubs it, was Max Zuber. The building is scheduled for demolition in late summer or fall, as per the construction schedule laid out at a community meeting two weeks ago. Tomorrow is the last day of classes there, as is the case all around the Seattle Public Schools district.
We’re continuing the countdown to Saturday’s Morgan Junction Community Festival, in and around Morgan Junction Park. We’ve already published info about:
*Bark of Morgan dog parade/contests
*Music/live entertainment (including Bubbleman)
*Food (including Bite of Morgan samples and on-site food trucks)
Today – we start a two-day look at the three-dozen-plus organizations and businesses (including us!) you’ll see tabling/boothing at the Morgan festival. First, the nonprofits/schools you’ll see there – a great chance to find out more about what they do beyond the events and meetings we feature here (we’ve linked their websites to their names below, if you want to check them out ahead of time)
*34th District Democrats
*Emergency Preparedness: Community Hubs
*Feet First
*Friends of Morgan Junction Parks
*Furry Faces Foundation
*Morgan Community Association (festival organizers/presenters!)
*Seal Sitters
*South Seattle College
*Southwest Seattle Historical Society
*The Kenney
*Timebanks
*West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network
*West Seattle Food Bank
*West Seattle Garden Tour
Tomorrow – the rest of the “vendors” list, mostly local businesses. So go for the community information, go for the food, go for the fun, just get to California/Fauntleroy (the festival venues are in the parking lot of Zeeks Pizza/Feedback Lounge right at the corner, Morgan Junction Park to the north on California, and Washington Federal on the east side of California, plus the benefit barbecue at West Seattle Thriftway) – 10:30 am-7 pm (if you want to check out vendors, don’t wait till the last minute, as some start clearing out after 5).
In our tradition of disclosure: WSB sponsors mentioned in this story are South Seattle College, The Kenney, West Seattle Thriftway, Feedback Lounge, Zeeks Pizza.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Wilske has a plan for tomorrow – the last day of Seattle Public Schools classes – and he told the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council about it last night during the WSCPC meeting at Lincoln Park.
That and other toplines ahead:
(Photo by Lynn Hall; the cruise ship in today is Oceania Regatta)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LANDMARK HEARING FOR CHARLESTOWN COURT: As reported here two weeks ago, the Landmarks Preservation Board meeting at 3:30 pm today includes consideration of a landmark nomination for Charlestown Court, the West Seattle brick fourplex that was rejected for landmark status six years ago.
It was to be partly preserved in a development proposal that since stalled; now, it’s proposed for demolition, and this review is a precursor. Today’s meeting is on the 40th floor of the city Municipal Tower, open to all, including a public-comment period. (700 5th Avenue)
BENEFIT DINNER TO GO: 5-6 pm pickup tonight, dinner to go benefiting the Fauntleroy Children’s Center Relay for Life team, as noted here on Tuesday – e-mail (info in that link) ASAP to see if they still are accepting orders! (9131 California SW)
FAMILY FRIENDLY TENNIS: 6 pm tonight at the Solstice Park courts, it’s the first session of USTA Family Friendly Tennis (WSB sponsor), a new program offering families the chance to learn/practice/play together regardless of divergent skill levels – no minimum number of sessions required, check it out once or multiple times! – read about it here. (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW)
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm tonight at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, with Seattle Public Utilities projects at the heart of the agenda, including the Natural Drainage System raingardens plan for 17th SW, as reported here last week. All welcome. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
RUNNING: New coaching collaboration launches with an open-house Q/A event tonight at West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor), 7 pm. (6040-B California SW)
COMEDY: Another showcase tonight at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm, details and performer lineup are in our calendar listing. (6451 California SW)
LOTS MORE … on our calendar!
Thanks to proud mom Regina Arceo-Schulz for sharing big news about her sons’ latest rowing achievement:
The Schulz brothers, Spencer (18) and J.T. (16), both from West Seattle, won the 2014 US Youth National Men’s Lightweight Doubles in Lake Natoma, California last Sunday, June 15.
Congratulations! You can see the full results here.
(Cart awaiting missing book; photos courtesy Cheryl Sullivan)
Tomorrow is the last day of classes for Seattle Public Schools – and among the loose ends to be tied up before that last bell sounds, administrators are trying to get students to bring back school-owned materials. At Chief Sealth International High School, assistant principal Cheryl Sullivan says, “We currently have more than $47,000 in lost/ outstanding books and fines that we are desperately trying to recoup. That includes almost 400 math books alone.” And yes, there’s a price for not returning something – she explains:
Current and former students of Chief Sealth International High School are being requested to bring and return all library and/or textbooks to the school this week. Our current 5th period classes are having a bit of a friendly competition to see who can clear their accounts fastest. As a reminder to families, students will be unable to participate in athletics, overnight field trips, dances, and other extra-curricular activities in the 14-15 school year if they have overdue/lost books and/or fines on their student account. Questions regarding individual student accounts may be directed to Cheryl Sullivan, Assistant Principal, at 206-252-8708 or by e-mail to chsullivan@seattleschools.org.
Optimally, families will find these items and get them back by the end of school tomorrow. If you turn something up over the course of the summer, Sullivan says she’s planning to spend a day or two at Westwood in mid-August to collect items. Here are some of the notices up about who owes what:
But even if your student goes to another school, taking one more look around for anything to return will doubtlessly be appreciated; we suspect Sullivan’s sentiment applies elsewhere: “As everyone knows, we don’t have much by way of materials budgets any longer; any books located and returned would be much appreciated.”
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
So far, no news is good news – no trouble reported in or outbound from West Seattle.
REMINDER – NORTHBOUND 99 WEEKEND CLOSURE: Now that the weekend is back in view, time to rev up the reminding again. From 10 pm Friday night (June 20th) until early Monday morning, Northbound 99 will be closed between the West Seattle Bridge and north end of downtown as WSDOT continues re-aligning the roadway west of the stadiums, as explained here. This will coincide on Saturday 6/21 with northbound 99 – and other roads – being used for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-Marathon (which has many other closures – see the full list here).
7:58 PM NOTE: The low-bridge problem from earlier (covered in a separate story) is fixed, and the bridge is back to regular operations, after a 2 1/2-hour shutdown.
One more round of graduation congratulations tonight: A commencement ceremony at The Hall at Fauntleroy celebrated the 14-member Class of 2014 from Middle College High School‘s High Point Center campus, a Seattle Public Schools program also known as the School for Social Justice and Community Engagement.
Congratulations to the graduates, in alphabetical order:
Abdi Ahmed
Chris Brown
Chanelle Conway
Gabriel Enriquez
Melody Gill
Victoria Hedglin
Joab Henderson
Kelly O’Shea
Chris Otey
Anisa Saadi
Christina Sanders
Mya Santucci
Dan Tekle
Casey Ware
Congratulations also to their administration, faculty, and staff, led by MCHS principal Cindy Nash, at right below with West Seattle’s school-board rep Marty McLaren:
MCHS’s location at High Point Center facilitates environmental education and volunteering, including participation in Keep High Point Green, featured here earlier this year.
Short meeting tonight for the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, and here’s a quick note for our first report: 
The City Attorney’s Office liaison for the Southwest Precinct (and South) is now Matthew York, who spent the past two years in the East Precinct. He succeeds Melissa Chin, who’s now working in Bellevue (but also attended tonight’s meeting). The precinct liaison role is explained here – the liaisons often work on community problems that go beyond clear-cut cases of crime, such as “nuisance houses.”. York told the WSCPC that most of his 12-year career has been spent as a prosecutor, “from traffic tickets to murder trials.” He joined the City Attorney’s Office in 2010 and supervised DUI prosecutions for two years until becoming the East Precinct liaison two years ago. Among the situations he’s working on now in West Seattle is the former “Nickelsville” site east of Highland Park, where he said squatters have taken up residence, and he expects fast action to clear the site. More from tonight’s WSCPC meeting later. (WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
(Photos courtesy Suzanne Krom)
E-mail asked the question. So did a WSB Forums post. Where did the goats go?
“The goats” referred to JJ, Deli, and Bama, who live along Jacobsen Road, the winding bluffside road that runs eastward from Beach Drive, just south of Me-Kwa-Mooks. They endeared themselves to passersby, particularly starting a few months ago, when their owner, George Capestany, put in a little “feeding station” like the kind often seen at petting zoos.
Nearby resident Suzanne Krom explained, “For 25 cents, we could get a handful of goat goodies they gently lapped up. If the goats weren’t waiting for us up by their feeding station, there was a bell we could ring and they would come running to greet us and eager for treats.”
About a week ago, Suzanne noticed the machine and bell were gone, “leaving only an empty wood frame as a painful memorial.”
A week and a half until West Seattle Relay for Life – and teams continue fundraising, including this one:
Help us support a great cause!
Fauntleroy Children’s Center – West Seattle Relay for Life!
‘Dinner to Go’ Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser – all funds go to The American Cancer Society – Relay for Life.
Taking orders for dinner (Wednesday, 6/18) fauntleroychildrenscenter@yahoo.com
Dinners can be picked up between 5-6 pm
The dinner includes; Spaghetti (with meat sauce or marinara), Caesar Salad, Corn, & Garlic Bread. $10 Adult & $5 Child
FCC is in the old schoolhouse at 9131 California SW. R4LWS, meantime, is June 27-28 at West Seattle Stadium.
We start with a followup that arrived via the comment section of a Crime Watch story from last weekend – a woman attacked and robbed while walking along Jacobsen Road (south of Me-Kwa-Mooks Park). The details we published last weekend came from her friend. The victim had a detailed description of the attackers’ car; WSB readers offered tips; and then today, a comment including this:
… I’m the one who was attacked by the girls. I want to say a big THANK YOU to whoever called in about the car. I got a call from the detective on the case last week, and he found the driver thanks to that tip. She’s only 17. She’s denying everything, unfortunately, but at least she’s seeing that there will be consequences to her actions. She never did the necessary paperwork when she bought the car, and therefore the police repossessed it. … I am so happy that the police have taken action on this and aren’t letting it go! I obviously won’t get my phone back, but am comforted in knowing that these girls won’t think they can just get away with things like this.
So, again, thank you so much to whoever called in (Jeanine?). Great work!! And I also want to say thank you to Steve and Aria who were both concerned citizens who stopped to help me. Thank God for good people!
Meantime – maybe another good person out there can find the World Cup flag stolen from Liesbet:
My beloved World Cup soccer Holland banner/flag was stolen off my front door railing sometime between 12:30 AM and 9:00 AM (today), in the 3600 block of Beach DR SW. It’s especially alarming as the banner was secured with much rope & knots & tape. Someone had to physically spend some time trying to get it off…right at my front door! It has great sentimental value. Here’s what it looks like:
I will report to police as well. Thank you for any help in finding it…maybe flying on someone else’s balcony??? :-(
11:38 PM UPDATE: Liesbet sent a note to say a neighbor found it heaped on their property. Returned or abandoned by culprits? Whatever the case, she has it back.
(back to original) One more reminder – the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets tonight, 7 pm, NOT in the usual spot; join them at Lincoln Park Shelter 1 (upper area, near the zipline, north of the south parking lot).
(Click image to see full-size citywide map of zones identified by the city)
Earlier this year, almost every community council in West Seattle (among others citywide) got a visit from Aly Pennucci, a Department of Planning and Development staffer working on potential zoning changes for “Pedestrian Retail Areas“ – which don’t necessarily align with what you might think of as neighborhood business districts. She brought along “preliminary recommendations” for each of the areas the city had pre-defined. At the same time, DPD put up an online survey that anyone could answer, and has just published the 902 replies it received, co-mingled instead of broken out by respondents’ neighborhoods, but if you scroll ahead to the second half, you’ll find the often-detailed replies to open questions such as “should other uses be allowed in pedestrian retail zones?”
This is all supposed to result in zoning changes to be proposed to the City Council by late summer. Something to add? aly.pennucci@seattle.gov
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR … under way right now, until 12:30 pm, at the Senior Center of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) – details in the calendar listing. (California/Oregon)
TUESDAY TUNEUP AT SALTY’S: Live music and fundraising, this time for ACT’s Central Heating Lab, at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), 6:30 pm. (1936 Harbor SW)
BIKE CORRAL FOR WC? Ride through/to/in White Center? 6 pm tonight, be part of a gathering at Luso Food and Wine to talk about a bicycle corral for downtown White Center. (9614 16th SW)
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL, IN THE PARK: Lincoln Park Shelter 1 is the special location for tonight’s meeting, last one until fall. Bring your neighborhood crime concerns/questions; SPD Southwest Precinct reps will be there as always, with the SPD Bike Patrol highlighted. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
CONGRATULATIONS, MCHS GRADS! This year’s Middle College (High Point) High School commencement ceremony is at 7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy. (9131 California SW)
BELLY DANCING, BINGO, MUSIC … Our nightlife listings on the calendar for tonight include the Alauda belly-dance showcase at Skylark (7:30 pm), Surprise Bingo with Amora Dior at Outwest (7:30 pm), Margaret Wilder Band in Blues To Do at the Feedback (WSB sponsor; 8 pm), Starlight Singer/Songwriter Showcase at Shadowland (9 pm) …
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