West Seattle, Washington
19 Tuesday
(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) …
Go play! Family Friendly Tennis has hit the court in West Seattle, thanks to the United States Tennis Association, which has joined the WSB sponsor team to get the word out.
Solstice Park, across from north end Lincoln Park, is one of three locations in Seattle where Family Friendly Tennis is getting under way.
Family Friendly Tennis is a program designed for the entire family to enjoy the sport of tennis together. The program takes place in a high-energy, music-filled environment that provides families with a fun setting in which to learn foundational tennis skills from USTA-trained instructors. When families arrive at the designated location, a greeter will send each parent and child to the tennis court that matches his or her age and skill level and guarantees the most fun. At the end of the session, families play a friendly match on the same court together to show off their improved skills. No tennis experience is necessary; children (ages 10 and under) will be fitted with appropriately sized racquets.
“The USTA/PNW is excited to add Seattle to our roster of communities offering fun and affordable tennis programs this summer,” says Matthew Warren, USTA/PNW executive director. “We’re happy to expand our partnerships with local parks and recreation departments to provide healthy activities and make tennis more accessible to all ages.”
It’s for adults and kids 6+ of any skill level, beginners to experienced players, and you can come for one session or for all of them – there’s no minimum obligation – Wednesday nights 6-7:30 pm through August 13th, Saturday mornings 9-10:30 am through August 16th. Pricing and other info is on this one-sheet; registration info can be found here. And when it’s time to go play, Solstice Park is at Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Webster (map).
We thank USTA Family Friendly Tennis for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; see our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
Forecast looks good for Saturday, when you’ll find the ninth annual Morgan Junction Community Festival at and around California/Fauntleroy/Morgan, 10 am-7 pm. We’ve already highlighted the Bark of Morgan dog parade/contests, starting at 2 pm, and the food, including local restaurants’ Bite of Morgan samples and visiting food trucks. Today, the entertainment schedule for the heart of the festival at Morgan Junction Park:
The festival is presented by the all-volunteer Morgan Community Association, and we’re proud to be among the co-sponsors (all shown here) again this year.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:20 AM: We start with a problem that we’re told has the 1st Avenue South offramp from the bridge closed currently – Seattle Fire is investigating a reported natural-gas leak. Spokane Street is closed on the surface in the area, too:
Natural gas line leak 55 S Spokane St. Building evacuated. S Spokane St closed between 1st Av to E 'Marginal Wy.
— Seattle Fire Dept (@SeattleFire) June 17, 2014
One of WSDOT’s cameras shows the offramp blocked on the westbound side of the bridge:
Our IRT is helping block the ramp from WB West Seattle Bridge to 1st Ave. due to possible gas leak. pic.twitter.com/IbHtJvOCqu
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) June 17, 2014
6:42 AM: We have now confirmed the 1st Avenue South offramps are closed from BOTH sides of the bridge – eastbound AND westbound.
6:51 AM: WSDOT reports the westbound offramp has reopened. Eastbound ramp to 1st S. still closed.
7:29 AM: SFD says the eastbound ramp is reopening.
Meantime:
TRANSPORTATION NEWS: ICYMI, the tunnel-machine repair plan, animation and all, is now public. And there’s another Sound Transit survey to take!
P.S. Looking for the travel times you see on the city’s lighted signboards? They’re also on the right side of the SDOT Travelers’ Information Map, always findable from the link atop the WSB Traffic page.
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5:12 PM: There’s a crash/police situation at the north end of the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge, right before East Marginal, and a big backup reported on 509 as a result. They’re calling for tows.
(Click image for larger view)
What you see above is a major step in volunteers’ quest to get a better playground for Pathfinder K-8 and its Pigeon Point neighbors (along with anyone else in West Seattle who’ll want to come play there): The design by Johnson Southerland debuted at a meeting Monday night. It’s the result of a community-participatory process, and dozens of people were there to get a look:
The meeting also was an ice-cream social, popular with the youngest participants as well as the parent volunteers.
Next step for the playground committee and its helpers – fundraising to get the playground built!
It could cost up to $100,000; grant money (beyond what was obtained to make the design happen) is being sought to cover at least part of that, with more fundraising details to come. It’s hoped that ground can be broken next year. Watch pathfinderplayground14.wordpress.com for more on the design and the project!
Thanks to Craig Young for the sunset view looking across Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza! It was the fifth-to-last sunset of Spring 2014, with summer due to arrive at 3:51 am our time Saturday (June 21st).
P.S. Yes, Alice Enevoldsen WILL as usual preside over a Solstice Park viewing event for the first post-solstice sunset – she advises arriving by 8:45 pm Saturday.
From David Hutchinson on behalf of Seal Sitters, a photo and update following this past Saturday’s community cleanup at Alki:
Saturday was a great success. This year’s event was co-sponsored by PAWS Wildlife Center and the Alki Community Council. Over 70 people turned out, and after a brief talk about the dangers of marine debris, they fanned out along the beach and street. Cleaning supplies were provided by Seattle Parks & Recreation. We want to thank everyone who participated in this worthwhile community effort.
For the complete story and to see what looks like trash, but is indeed part of the marine ecosystem, read our blog post here.
7:49 PM: Since this might not be a time of day when you usually check out regional news outlets, we’re mentioning this too: I-5 southbound is closed at the Ship Canal Bridge because of a law-enforcement investigation. Vehicles that were on the bridge at the time are being turned around and cleared off, and radio discussion indicates it’ll be closed for quite a while. So if you are headed this way from north of downtown, make your way to 99, or else way over to 405 and 90. The investigation involves an incident reported to have started as a vehicle fire on that bridge and turned into a state trooper shooting a man – details are still emerging.
8:01 PM: WSDOT has opened the southbound I-5 express lanes to help with the traffic backlog.
10:07 PM: State Patrol tweeted a few minutes ago that the closure isn’t ending any time soon:
The incident on the Ship Canal covers all lanes and is very extensive. Expect the road to remain closed for several more hours.
— Trooper Chris Webb (@wspd2pio) June 17, 2014
11:48 PM: That turned out not to be the case. Just reopened:
South bound I-5 at the Ship Canal bridge has reopened for normal traffic following the earlier investigation.
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) June 17, 2014
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports. First one’s from Johnali:
Our Bob Revolution jogging stroller (black), was stolen from our secured building between 6:30 pm last night and 7:30am this morning. We live on Delridge and Trenton. Anything would be helpful as we are still hopeful we will find it.
Let police know if you do. Second, Lynn‘s hoping to find the hit-run driver who damaged her car and another one just south of The Junction:
The 2 cars that were hit were parked 1/2 block north of Rite Aid, near a telephone and across the street from a large apartment building construction site (west side of California Avenue, SW). My car is a 2013 gray 4 door Nissan Altima. I do not know the make of the other car that was hit, but its owner told me that her left-side mirror was bent backwards and was missing most of the mirror glass. I didn’t find any paint from the car that hit mine. However, I did find a side mirror on the ground near my car that may have been from the car that hit mine. It appears from the damage my car sustained that the offending car came from the north, which would mean that their car would be missing their right side mirror. I’ve kept the side mirror, just in case.
Third, Kezia wondered if anybody else woke up Sunday morning in the Westwood area to find out their car had been vandalized – a crude drawing in black paint on a white car, in her case.
REMINDER: Bring community concerns to the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council‘s meeting at Lincoln Park Shelter 1 tomorrow (Tuesday) night, 7 pm, map here.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
For the second time this year, an “unlawful detainer” action is pending against the ownership of West Seattle Athletic Club in North Delridge. That’s the formal term for a legal action that could result in eviction. As reported here in February, the first case was called off on the eve of a court hearing, and the lawyer for the club’s landlord, H-P Properties, told WSB at the time, that was because club ownership “came up with a payment sufficient to reinstate the lease.”
Documents available online showed that case was formally closed in early April. But court records show that a new “unlawful detainer” action was filed one month later, on May 2nd.
Just last week at the West Seattle Transportation Coalition‘s monthly meeting (WSB coverage here), top WSDOT executives answered a few questions about the stalled tunnel machine and its pending repairs. Today, the contractor, Seattle Tunnel Partners, is out with its official repair plan, and animation (above) showing what’ll happen during its phases. According to the timeline toward the end of the plan, they’re still expecting to resume tunneling in late March of next year.
Big stack of development notes/updates, all involving teardowns large and small:
First, the city has officially given a key land-use approval to The Whittaker, the 7-story, 389-apartment, 594-parking-space, Whole Foods-including project at 4755 Fauntleroy SW. It’s received a Determination of Non-Significance, meaning a full environmental review will not be required. Here’s the notice; here’s the decision. This is appealable until June 26th (this explains how). A project spokesperson tells WSB that they hope to start work at the site (which still holds five buildings, all to be demolished) this summer.
Next: The second Southwest Design Review Board meeting for 2626 Alki SW is on the schedule for July 17th (6:30 pm, Senior Center of West Seattle). This is a three-story commercial/residential building planned for the corner of Alki and 59th, replacing three buildings that currently include a rental company, a retail store, a café, and a dispensary. The date is technically still temporary, so it has not yet appeared on the Land Use Information Bulletin. Here’s our coverage of its first Early Design Guidance meeting in February, when the board told it to give EDG another try.
Nor is a new lot-boundary-adjustment application we noticed in city files. The line adjustments proposed for 8437 41st SW in Upper Fauntleroy would make way for what are shown on a filed “site plan” as two houses, replacing the existing brick house on an 11,000-plus-square-foot site that was sold to a developer last month.
A one-into-two subdivision is being sought at 3036 Alki SW, turning one into two (2,663 and 4,049 square feet), with four townhouses and one single-family home proposed to replace what’s on the site now.
And one was recently approved at 1310 California SW, adjacent to Hamilton Viewpoint Park, splitting an 11,000-square-foot lot into two almost-equal-size parcels also bordering Donald and Palm. This review carried some controversy, according to the full decision document, saying that a surveyor determined the site to be about 50 percent larger than it was believed to be, which paved the way for the split. Two new houses are proposed, replacing a 79-year-old house; the appeal period on the lot split is open for one more week.
OTHER DEMOLITION/NEW-CONSTRUCTION PLANS: In Admiral, a demolition permit has been granted for 2600 45th SW, a 108-year-old duplex (County Assessor’s photo above) to be replaced by a two-unit townhouse (following a recent lot-boundary adjustment). … In Gatewood, one has been sought for 7931 California SW, a 64-year-old house slated to be replaced by a new single-family house. … And in Westwood/Roxhill, there’s one pending for 9411 35th SW, where an 89-year-old house is proposed for replacement by a three-unit townhouse … On Pigeon Point, 3816 22nd SW is proposed for demolition and replacement by a single-family house and a two-unit townhouse; we note that a separate application for 3806 22nd SW (no teardown, though) proposes four single-family houses nearby.
Wondering if anything’s planned near your home/townhouse/apartment/business/etc.? Browse the map on the DPD home page – and if you see something, follow the link to find out more. Caveat – we’ve noticed this map shows some idle/canceled years-old proposals as well as new and recent plans, though.
Thanks to Chris at West Side Music Academy on the north end of The Junction for sharing a photo of the new art on their wall at 42nd and Dakota:
I thought people might get a kick out of this mural that local artist Andrew Miller painted for us last week. Note the “WS Junction Loves You” on the right side… Andrew does this in all his WS murals.
If anyone is still looking for summer activities for their kids, we still have room in some of our music camps and rock band classes.
WSMA is at 42nd/Dakota.
Thanks to Minette Layne for sharing the photo of an East Pacific red octopus – Octopus rubescens – seen in the intertidal zone, near Lincoln Park, over the weekend, only about 3″ long. Low tide tops our quick list of what’s up today/tonight:
TIDE’S STILL LOW: -2.4 feet at 1:59 pm, per the chart.
FIRST WORLD CUP MATCH FOR U.S. TEAM: 3 pm our time, it’s the U.S. vs. Ghana. Local venues reported to be showing all games include The Bridge, West Seattle Brewing, OutWest Bar, Celtic Swell, Skylark. Who else? Comment, or e-mail us!
PATHFINDER PLAYGROUND DESIGN: As previewed here over the weekend, tonight’s the night you can be among the first to see the design for a new playground at Pathfinder K-8 on Pigeon Point. Ice-cream social, too! 5:30 pm. (1901 SW Genesee)
TRAVELING? The annual “sidewalk sale” continues at the West Seattle AAA HQ (WSB sponsor) in Jefferson Square: Travel books, luggage (up to 50% discount), AAA car accessories.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to the second half of June! A few notes as the day begins:
FERRIES ON SUMMER SCHEDULE: The Washington State Ferries summer schedule started Sunday; doublecheck your ferry schedule here.
ADMIRAL WAY BRIDGE WORK SCHEDULED TO START: For most of the next two weeks, repair work on the bridge over Fairmount Ravine will close a lane on Admiral Way above, as warned here.
7:12 PM NOTE: For anyone stuck in a backup north of downtown and wondering what’s up – all lanes of southbound I-5 are closed at the Ship Canal Bridge because of an investigation that is reported to be related to a shooting involving a State Patrol trooper. No other details but citywide media is getting onto this – just wanted to make note of it here.
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