West Seattle, Washington
21 Tuesday
(Photo courtesy Dave Nichols)
Four months later, you aren’t hearing much (if anything) about it, but temporary shelter and permanent homes are still needed for typhoon victims in the Philippines, according to an update this past week from the United Nations. Those helping with the former include West Seattleite Dave Nichols, at left in the photo above. He works with a disaster-relief nonprofit called ShelterBox, as noted here in this November report. Since then, Dave has gone to the Philippines to help, and after he returned home, he resumed making presentations everywhere he can get someone to listen. He tells this story, to make sure you and others are still aware that help is needed:
I am an American who volunteers for a British disaster relief agency called ShelterBox. Our goal is to deploy aid in the form of a box containing a fairly large tent, blankets and ground cover, cooking utensils, Mosquito nets and a family water purification. We do this fairly quickly thanks to the generosity of our donors. Our two person teams of volunteers are typically on the ground doing assessments 48-72 hours following a disaster.
I returned from the Philippines, where a devastating typhoon wiped whole villages off the islands. It also killed north of 6,000 people. When did this happen? November 8th. There are 7010 islands in the Philippines many quite large, and the typhoon went right through the middle of these islands. My deployment started on January 10th, and I first went with a teammate to an island named Bohol, which was struck by a 7.4 earthquake in October flattening whole towns.
Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch today, starting with this just in from SPD Blotter – heard snippets on the scanner overnight but now the police have a full report:
On March 2nd at approximately 12:57 a.m. officers responded to the report of an armed robbery of a citizen near California Avenue SW and SW Dakota Street. Preliminary investigation indicates that a man and a woman were walking on California Avenue SW when two black male suspects in their 20′s approached them. One of the suspects brandished a handgun and robbed the victims of their cell phone, money, purse, wallet and ipad.
The suspects then fled the scene running northbound in the alley on the west side of California Avenue SW. A witness saw a black male get into the front passenger seat of a white Lexus sedan. The Lexus was last seen driving eastbound from SW Bradford Street and California Avenue SW. The suspect vehicle is further described as a white Lexus 4-door sedan with gold trim and Washington plates. There are no further suspect descriptions available at this time. The suspects and suspect vehicle remain at large.
Anyone with information about this incident or who may know the identities or whereabouts of the suspects or suspect vehicle is asked to call 911 or Seattle Police and refer to this incident. Anonymous tips are welcome.
Speaking of cars – for the second time in two weeks, someone has taken Trevor‘s car:
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Two more charges have been filed against 32-year-old Nicholas Broughton (right), the repeat offender arrested one month ago after stealing an SUV in Tacoma, getting detected by LoJack here in West Seattle – drawing the Guardian One helicopter (whose crew published video of the incident) – crashing the SUV through a fence, and breaking into a relative’s home.
By the time the new charges were filed, Broughton had been out of jail a week and a half, and while prosecutors asked the court to reinstate a higher bail, a judge told them no.
We discovered all this while making a routine check of the case’s status, via online court files; here’s what we found:
Thanks to John Hinkey for the photo of beautiful mountains, sea, and boat taken in last Friday’s sunshine. How will today unfold? Here’s some of what’s on the calendar!
REMINDER – NO VIADUCT CLOSURE TODAY AFTER ALL … as reported here last night, the inspection is done and so there’s NO second all-day closure between the West Seattle Bridge and Battery Street Tunnel. But 99 is still closed from the BST north to Woodland Park Zoo through late morning for the Hot Chocolate 15/5K.
WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY SOCCER: 7:30 am at Delridge Playfield, join the weekly pickup games – explained on the WSSS Facebook page. (Delridge/Alaska)
TWEED RIDE TO BIKE EXPO: 10 am, join West Seattle Bike Connections on a ride to the Seattle Bike Expo. (Don’t miss the artistic-cycling champs while you’re there!) Details on the WSBC site. (Meet under the WS Bridge)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, with vendors including the recently debuted, West Seattle-based Sod House Bakery. (44th/Alaska)
GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SALES CONTINUE: Another local troop shares their cookie-selling photo today (send us yours!), the third day of this year’s cookie sale:
We are Daisy Girl Scout Troop #45172 out of Gatewood Elementary. We will be selling cookies at Westwood QFC 12-2 and WS Thriftway 4-6 Sunday. This is our first year selling cookies. We are taking donated cookies to some of the local nursing homes and also collecting cookie donations for Operation Cookie Drop to send to the troops. Come by, say hi, and buy some cookies to help support the Girl Scouts.
The online lookup to find all of West Seattle’s cookie-selling troops, and their times/locations, is here.
OSCARS VIEWING PARTY: The silver-screen awards are on the big screen at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 4 pm red carpet, 5 pm awards. (6451 California SW)
SEATTLE PRIDE ‘LAST CHANCE’ TRYOUTS: 15-17-year-old girls and boys have one last chance this evening to try out for the Seattle Pride basketball league. See our previous story for times and other info. Tryouts are at Seattle Lutheran High School. (40th/Genesee)
‘ROOTS MUSIC VARIETY SHOW’: That’s how tonight’s lineup at Kenyon Hall, “From West Seattle to the Bering Sea,” is described. 7:30 pm. (7904 35th SW)
SEE MORE for today, tonight, next week, and beyond, browsable here.
(Photo courtesy Sod House Bakery)
Thinking about going to the West Seattle Farmers’ Market tomorrow? If you do, look for a new vendor that is doubly local – not only is Sod House Bakery selling its wares in West Seattle, it’s also owned by West Seattleites. We asked them for a little info, after learning about their debut last week:
Sod House Bakery is Evan Radick and Nina Faccone’s small bakery project based out of West Seattle. Last fall we realized our dream of many years by starting our own bakery and are building it from the ground up. We just became a vendor at the West Seattle Farmers Market, and hope to be selling all around Seattle this summer season. We make fun, delicious pastries like pop tarts, cookies, hand pies, and mini cakes.
As always, the market is open 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska.
Big fun for even the littlest ones at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center “Thrive 8” celebration – especially the ones who got all wrapped up in balloon creations:
Over in the theater, DJ Manos was onstage, with more performers to come:
Youngstown is celebrating its 8th anniversary in the historic Cooper School at 4408 Delridge Way SW. Refreshments too. Admission $10 adults/$5 kids, benefiting Youngstown’s cultural/arts/youth programs – which you can find out more about at youngstownarts.org.
Inspection work on Highway 99 between the West Seattle Bridge and the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel is done for the weekend, so that stretch will NOT close again on Sunday. We just confirmed that with WSDOT spokesperson Laura Newborn. However, until about noon Sunday, 99 will remain closed north of the tunnel – until 6 am, to Valley Street for construction work, and then for the rest of the morning, to the Woodland Park Zoo area for the Hot Chocolate 15/5K.
(WSB photo from December 2013)
4:12 PM: Seattle Police have just announced an arrest in the murder of 46-year-old Nga Nguyen, found dead at her home in the 5900 block of High Point Drive in December, the cause of death later described by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office as strangulation and blunt-force head injury. The announcement this afternoon on SPD Blotter says a 20-year-old man was arrested today:
On March 1st, 2014 at approximately 11:00 a.m. Seattle Police Homicide detectives, following up on information developed during the course of their investigation, arrested the 20-year-old male suspect at his residence in the 10700 block of 18th Avenue SW in White Center.
Homicide detectives interviewed the suspect and subsequently booked him into the King County Jail for Investigation of Murder.
There are no additional suspects being sought in this case, which remains an active and on-going investigation.
Police had hinted an arrest was near – as reported here January 21st, Capt. Pierre Davis told the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council that detectives were “working on something – hopefully they can bring something to a close very quickly.” The police announcement has no information about a motive nor whether the man had any prior relationship with or knowledge of Ms. Nguyen; we’re researching further and will add anything more we find out.
5:41 PM UPDATE: So far we have found two court cases listed for the suspect – in one, he is listed as the respondent in a protection-order filing dated four days after Ms. Nguyen is killed. The online court-records system withholds details and documents in these types of cases so we don’t know who sought the order. Also, a summons was issued for him to appear in court later this month in connection with a year-old case listed as trafficking in stolen property; the document contains no further details, but we are continuing to research. The suspect will almost certainly have a bail hearing in the murder case on Monday, and we will find out more then, if not sooner.
Thanks to Carey for the photo of Troop 45120 launching Girl Scout Cookie sales at Admiral Safeway. This is the first morning-to-night day of the 17-day sale; we mentioned the online cookie-locator lookup in our West Seattle Friday preview yesterday. Using that, with a 5-mile radius around the 98116 zip code, we believe this is the complete West Seattle list from now through the end of cookie sales two weeks from tomorrow, troop by troop, generally in 2-hour increments. (Troop 45120 will be back at it tomorrow, 10 am-noon, at PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle [WSB sponsor]; if you check the linked list, you can find cookies somewhere all the way up until 8 pm.)
Corrina Hein, Stefan Musu and Lukas Matla – world-champion artistic cyclists from Germany – are performing at the Seattle Bike Expo this weekend, and warmed up by performing at local schools, including West Seattle’s Roxhill Elementary on Friday afternoon, where we of course had to capture them on video:
If you’re going to the Bike Expo, their remaining performances are today at 1:20 pm, 3 pm, and 5 pm, and tomorrow at 11:15 am, 1:15 pm, and 3 pm. The expo is at Smith Cove Cruise Terminal in Magnolia.
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
10:58 AM: Big fire callout to 4611 35th SW, which is the Emeritus Senior Living facility. Arriving units did not find any obvious sign of fire – sounds like they might have found a bit of smoke in a sixth-floor laundry room – possibly an electrical problem. We’re en route to check.
11:05 AM UPDATE: Most of the fire units have been dismissed (we’re heading north on 35th and have already passed Engines 11 and 37 heading back to their stations). We’re now arriving in the area just north of Alaska on 35th and two units are still visible outside the building. No traffic effects.
12:07 PM: Tim Clemans was at the open house at Station 32 nearby when they got the call for this – here’s what Tim recorded via Google Glass:
Since it initially went out as a “fire in building” call, that meant a huge response just in case – not just from the nearest station (this one) but from others in West Seattle as well as specialized equipment from across the bridge. Meantime, SFD wrapped up after clearing the smoke generated by the laundry-room problem
9:33 AM: Thanks to commenter Young for mentioning having received a postcard about this – otherwise, it was unannounced, so we didn’t know until now: There are design open houses today for the upcoming projects at Fire Station 32 (rebuild) at 38th/Alaska in The Junction and Fire Station 29 (upgrade) at 2139 Ferry SW in North Admiral. The Station 32 open house is 10 am-noon, Station 29 is 1-3 pm. Assuming these are the same format as open houses at other stations, you’ll be able to stop by, take a look at design renderings, and ask questions.
11:24 AM: Added above, one of the renderings from the Fire Station 32 open house. We stopped by for photos and info and will have a followup later. The same team will be presiding at the Station 29 open house at 1, so if you have questions about 32 but didn’t get there in time, you can ask them there.
(Photographed this week in North Admiral by Michael Oxman)
The snow chance has vanished from the forecast again, so you aren’t likely to have to worry about weather woes this weekend – get out and enjoy what your community and neighbors are offering, all this and more:
HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE REMINDER: This is the complicated one we’ve been discussing for a while – details here.
‘CLIMATE AMBASSADOR’ TRAINING FOR KIDS: 9 am-5:30 pm, Plant For The Planet is helping 18 children learn “how to become climate justice ambassadors” – and, says Michael Foster, they’ll be learning from their peers. Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
(added) FIRE STATION PROJECT DESIGN OPEN HOUSES: Sorry to have not known about this until commenter Young mentioned memories of a postal-mail card – turns out that Station 32, which will be a total rebuild, has a design open house 10 am-noon, and Station 29, up for upgrades, has a design open house 1-3 pm. In both cases, you should be able to stop by, see renderings, ask questions. (More here.)
WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY SUMMIT: 10 am-2 pm, workshops, a resource fair, and a chance to meet WC neighbors. More details on our partner site White Center Now.
FAMILY NATURE WALK: Join naturalist Stewart Wechsler on a walk exploring nature at Camp Long, 10:30 am; more info here. (5200 35th SW)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM VOLUNTEERING INFO SESSION: Volunteer power runs the home of local history, and you can be part of it starting now. 11 am-1 pm, it’s the next volunteering-info session at the museum. (61st/Stevens)
wHAT THE CROWS TALK ABOUT: Noon-4 pm, see artist/author/photographer Judy Lane‘s pop-up art show at the Duwamish Longhouse, including a talk 1-2 pm – free! (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
HELP WEST SEATTLE ARTIST DESIGN SEATTLE CENTER PLAYGROUND: Help West Seattle artist Judith Caldwell and the rest of the team designing a new playground for all of Seattle’s kids, 1-4 pm at Seattle Center – details in our recent story. (305 Harrison)
CHORAL FESTIVAL FUNDRAISER: The annual Puget Sound Unitarian Universalist Choirs Festival fills the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation headquarters with choral music starting at 3 pm; free, with donations accepted for Lifelong AIDS Alliance. (7141 California SW)
AUTHOR EVENT IN THE JUNCTION: Jay Palmer reads from and signs his trilogy “The Vikings!” at Merryweather Books in The Junction, 5-8 pm – details here. (4537 California SW)
YOUNGSTOWN ‘THRIVE’ PARTY: Celebrate the 8th anniversary of the transformation of the historic Cooper School into the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Party details are in our preview story from last month. All ages 6-9 pm, then a 21+ dance party until 1 am. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE MEANINGFUL MOVIES: Tonight, the next West Seattle Meaningful Movies screening features “Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity,” 7 pm. Free, though donations are gratefully accepted. Discussion as well as film viewing. Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
RADIO SHARK: The band’s style is described as “aggressive rock” – see for yourself (no cover!) at WSB sponsor Feedback Lounge, 9:30 pm. (6451 California SW)
‘ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW’: The monthly midnight movie rolls on, at the historic Admiral Theater. (2343 California SW)
THAT’S NOT ALL! Much more happening today, tonight, tomorrow, beyond – give our frequently updated calendar a quick browse to see.
(More cams, and other info, on the WSB Traffic Cameras page)
The orange sign in that “live” view of the eastbound West Seattle Bridge is a reminder that until 6 pm, Highway 99 is closed both ways from here to Valley Street. At 6 pm, the stretch between the bridge and the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel reopens, but the closure zone north of that continues; at 6 am tomorrow, the bridge-to-Battery-St. section closes again until 6 pm Sunday, and in the middle of that, the Sunday morning closure extends to Woodland Park Zoo because of the Hot Chocolate 5K. Got all that? It’s all explained here. Metro reroutes can be found here. During all this, the viaduct gets its twice-yearly inspection, and the results will be out later in the week.
A big boost for the band at West Seattle High School, which entertained during Friday night’s Big Band Dinner Dance fundraiser – thanks to Anne Weglin for the top photo. Guest-starring to support the student musicians was the West Seattle Big Band, whose Jim Edwards shared the next view of the party:
Supporting student musicians is the WSBB’s mission, so you’ll see them at events like this several times a year. The WSHS event on Friday was planned as a fundraiser for competition and travel in the months ahead.
Joan Mraz “was the ultimate volunteer,” recalls Clay Eals, executive director of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, which he says she co-founded as “the catalyst who crucially transformed founder Elliott Couden’s dream into a reality when we got our start 30 years ago, based at South Seattle Community College (13 years before we opened the Log House Museum).” Ms. Mraz died this week at 78, and a memorial gathering is planned March 9th. Here’s a remembrance shared by her family:
Joan Bailey Mraz, beloved mother, grandmother, sister and lifelong West Seattle resident, passed away peacefully on Feb. 24, 2014, at Providence Mount St. Vincent. She was the firstborn twin of Ruth and Glen Bailey on July 29, 1935.
She was senior-class president and graduated in the class of 1953 from West Seattle High School. Joan won an art scholarship to Seattle University, from which she graduated with a bachelor of arts. She went on to teach art and art history at South Seattle Community College and was co-founder and former president of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society.
Joan was a fighter. She received a kidney transplant in 1989, which lasted the rest of her life.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband Elemer Mraz in 1996 and son Steven Roger Mraz in 2008. She is survived by her twin sister Diane Tice of Seattle, daughter Kristina (Graham) van Etten of Sydney, Australia, son Oscar (Nicole Devine) Mraz of Seattle and Mark (Bridget) Mraz of Edmonds. Joan was a proud grandmother to Lauren, Jordan and Nathan van Etten of Sydney, Australia, Marguerite Devine-Mraz of Seattle and Lukas and Kellen Mraz of Edmonds. She will always be remembered for her smile, caring attitude, love and deep affection for others.
The family asks that remembrances may be made to Northwest Kidney Centers (PO Box 3035, Seattle, WA 98114) or Southwest Seattle Historical Society (Log House Museum, 3003 61st Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116).
A celebration of Joan’s life will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 9, 2014, at St Paul’s of Shorewood Lutheran Church, 11620 21st Ave S.W., Seattle, WA, 98146. Please sign Joan’s online guestbook at www.becksfuneralhome.com.
The SWSHS website will have an extended obituary of Ms. Mraz sometime this weekend, and we’ll link to it here when it’s available. Meantime, anyone wishing to honor her through volunteer work with the SWSHS has an opportunity to do so almost immediately – the next volunteer-orientation session is 11 am-1 pm tomorrow (Saturday) at the LHM (61st/Stevens).
ADDED SUNDAY NIGHT: The aforementioned SWSHS appreciation of Ms. Mraz is now published – see it here.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The first full week of testimony in the murder trial of Lovett “Cid” Chambers is over.
Before court adjourned Thursday afternoon, jurors spent a second day hearing from just one witness – Jonathan “Jamie” Vause, who was with Travis Hood the night of January 21, 2012, when Hood was shot and killed by Morgan Junction Park.
Vause’s second and final day on the stand was something of a followup to Wednesday, and even more contentiously so, as it began in the middle of his cross-examination by defense lawyer Ben Goldsmith, focused on inconsistencies in his story dating back to his first statement to police, given in the back of a squad car at Providence Mount St. Vincent, where he had driven Hood after the shooting, thinking it was a hospital.
9:27 PM UPDATE: Frank has been found safe, reports his family – see this comment.
Original story after jump:Read More
6:18 PM: Police and fire are at a crash on Harbor Avenue near the 7-11. A report from the scene says three vehicles are involved and “debris everywhere” – avoid the area TFN.
6:25 PM UPDATE: Our tipster says traffic is getting through, one lane down the middle.
7:03 PM UPDATE: At the scene, police confirmed no injuries. Traffic indeed is getting by, with the damaged cars on the side.
(Photo courtesy Michael Riedel)
5:47 PM: Seattle Fire is on a “fire in single/family residence” call in the 9000 block of 16th SW. More to come.
6:18 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Mike for updates in comments while we were en route. 16th is blocked by the Salvation Army building. No reports of injuries; we are told it was a very small fire in a boarded-up structure on the alley. Some of the SFD units are now leaving.
6:39 PM UPDATE: Mike reports 16th SW reopened (shortly after we left).
(8/14 note: To check whether a business is still a current WSB sponsor, please go here)
Going out for dinner? drinks? brunch? this weekend and/or beyond? New WSB sponsor Duos Lounge in Luna Park would love to see you. Here’s what Duos would like you to know:
Duos Lounge works with a variety of small and large farms throughout the Pacific Northwest that provide specialty meats, seafood, and produce, making Duos the perfect place to enjoy local products.
On our menu you will find 100% grass-fed and pasture-raised beef, handcrafted pork, and sustainably raised free roaming poultry; all of which contain no steroids, hormones, coloring, or antibiotics. We celebrate these authentic and natural products by pairing them with our handmade breads and pastas, from-scratch sauces, and great Northwest produce.
The most common reports from Duos clientele usually revolve around people showing gratitude for our atmosphere, craft drinks, local music, and our use of local, sustainable foods. We often hear from our clients how great it is that they can dine at Duos and enjoy its offerings without having to drive over the bridge.
A large reason for our guests’ visits to Duos is that we offer daily events like our “Wino Wednesday,” where you can enjoy 1/2 price bottles of wine; “Throwback Thursdays,” where you get discounted classic cocktails; Fridays, when we have our “Dress to the Nines,” where our staff and guests dress in their Sunday best; and Saturdays, with ’80s music and dancing after our dinner service.
Duos simply offers a great neighborhood spot to unwind, relax, and dine. We do not pressure our service staff to quickly turn tables or to up-sell items to increase ticket sales, and we think that really shows when you dine here. It really makes Duos unique in the sense that we really do care about the food we serve and how our guests feel when coming here. We want this to be that small-town place in a big city.
Duos is involved in the community, too, and after just 10 months in West Seattle has already had the opportunity to support many great local schools, firefighters, and other great small businesses in the area. We look forward to building more great relationships with local organizations as we grow.
Duos is at 2940 SW Avalon Way, open 4-10:30 pm Fridays and Saturdays, 10 am-2 pm for weekend brunch (Saturdays and Sundays), 4-9 pm Tuesdays-Wednesdays-Thursdays. You can make a reservation, see menus, and check the music schedule via duoslounge.com.
We thank Duos for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
(King County Assessor’s Office photo of 4041-4045 California SW)
One week ago, we reported that the city was moving forward on buying a 5,750-square-foot site north of Dakota Place Park so the park, dominated by its remodeled, landmarked ex-substation building, can be expanded. One key piece of information was missing at the time, however: How much the city will pay. That information is available today, along with other details of the city’s plan for the site, now that the legislation is officially in the council’s online files. From its “fiscal note” document:
… The City presented several offers to the previous owner; however, there was never any agreement on price. A developer acquired the property, subdivided it into two parcels, each now owned by a different limited liability company controlled by the same managing member. Both limited liability companies are willing to sell to the City. The two parcels will be acquired under separate purchase and sale agreements and conveyed under separate deeds. It is anticipated that after the acquisitions close, the City will manage the site until park design/construction funding becomes available by demolishing the three residential cottages and two small outbuildings on one parcel and managing the lease in the commercial building on the other parcel until it is time to develop the park, depending on the terms of the lease and the condition of the building. …
The current budget for this project is $795,087. The costs of negotiations with previous owner were $20,087. The current purchase price is $477,000 for one parcel and $238,000 for the other for a total purchase price of $715,000. The additional budget of $60,000 is for appraisals,administrative time, title insurance and closing costs, environmental testing, survey, and demolition of the residential structures and outbuildings. The acquisitions are scheduled to close at the end of March 2014 with demolition of the structures happening at the end of 2014. …
We checked on the site’s history; its longtime owner sold it for $550,000 last October, according to county records. The subdivision mentioned in the city “fiscal note” above was not actually a step taken by a developer, but a confirmation they sought from the city that the site could be considered two separate lots, since there is currently a commercial building fronting California and three homes behind it. The city issued a confirmation letter last December.
If you’re a fan of Matador in The Junction, mark your calendar: They just announced plans to close for remodeling starting Sunday, March 9th, until a scheduled reopening at 4 pm Friday, March 14th. The announcement says, “The interior will be redone with reclaimed barn wood accents and new metalwork will be added to the decor. There will be more seating added, including several new booths and an expansion of the fire-pit area, and a completely new floor. Owner Zak Melang will be hand-crafting all new tables, and a new bar top.” Matador will mark its 9th anniversary in West Seattle this summer.
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