West Seattle, Washington
21 Thursday
Cove 1 Sick Sea Star Survey & Collection from Laura James on Vimeo.
Months after first word of starfish (sea stars) dying off in many areas – particularly here in Northwest waters – scientists still haven’t figured out why. British Columbia, one of the first places where it was noticed, remains perplexed. Californians have noticed. Here in West Seattle, eco-advocate “Diver Laura” James has been taking periodic surveys in “Cove 1” at Seacrest to survey the situation. As the video shows, still pretty bleak. But this dive was more than a survey, Laura explains:
Saturday night was a bit of a departure from our regular survey dives. A researcher up at the Port Townsend marine labs has 30 healthy stars and was ready to do an experiment to help understand the transmission of the disease, but was having a bit of a hard time getting some sick subjects. Pycnopodia (the sunflower star) like the ones that we helped collect up at Mukilteo all die too fast once they are infected. So it was up to us to find some either _very_ freshly sick pycnopodia (who could make it to the labs) or more likely some of the purple stars (pisaster) that we’ve been videoing at cove 1. Luckily I’ve learned to recognize the early stages of the illness in the Purple stars and also the Orange colored mottled stars. Each has its own subtlety and can only be seen when you have spent some time studying the healthy counterparts side by side with video of the sick.
My concern on this dive started early:
One less stolen car to watch for: Last Tuesday, Bill reported his red ’97 Civic hatchback stolen; this weekend, he reports, he found it while “driving around.” It was stolen in the Admiral area and turned up not too far south (46th/Hanford).
From Kate:
My daughter was taking out the trash, when she was approached by a male stranger driving a newer white compact car. He offered her a ride. As she came in to tell me, he slowly drove south on Beach Drive and stopped a few buildings away. Then he turned around and drove back north on Alki.
She says it happened at about 7:35 pm, and she called 911. We did hear police dispatched to look around the area (described as near where Alki/Beach Drive meet). That’s all the description information we have; last report of someone being approached was January 9th in the Roxhill area, and that car was described as silver/gray.
Saturday morning, we shared news that the West Seattle Y (WSB sponsor) Dolphins swim team would be competing in the statewide YMCA championships later that day in Federal Way. Now, the team sends word of the results!
Congratulations to the following swimmers of the West Seattle Y Dolphins on their advancement to the state finals held last evening at the King County Aquatics Center.
In the above photo starting with the upper row; Coach Kyle, Ty Lindblom, Ameena Bouzerktoune, Maya DeGasperi, Emma Murray
Bottom row: Jeffery Kasahara, Michael Stewart, Darlavanh Long, Karen Woodworth, Theresa Tran
Those that advanced but not in the photo: Rose Morgan and Tyler Barker
The girls’ team placed 3rd overall and the boys placed 7th overall. Those that had qualification times swam in the Prelims session 1; the top 8 in each event advanced to the Finals. They scored 12 and under finals in session 2, and awards were held for the top 3 in each event. Then the finals were held in session 3 last evening. This was a team effort by the 12-and-under and the 13-to-18-year-olds for the team’s overall ranking. Go, Dolphins!!
5:32 PM: Another crash reported on 35th SW. Radio communications describe this as involving a car and motorcycle. 35th is blocked at Othello. More to come.
5:45 PM: 35th is closed at Myrtle on the north side of crash scene and (updated) at Webster on the south side. The car’s driver was also hurt. It is in the northbound lanes while the motorcycle is down on the northwest corner (in the background of top photo).
5:59 PM: Police at the scene tell us the motorcycle rider is the only person who had to be taken to the hospital; the rider’s injuries apparently are not life-threatening, as the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad is NOT being called out. They have called for tow trucks and expect the road to reopen once the car and motorcycle are cleared. Preliminary investigation, they said, showed the motorcyclist was rear-ended while trying to turn, and thrown into the path of a second car (the one in the foreground of our photo).
6:29 PM: Police are reopening 35th.
Here’s another way to look at the fog that has blanketed us so – relentlessly? enthusiastically? snugly? choose your adverb – recently: Up close. Trileigh Tucker, nature photographer/writer who often shares her work on WSB, headed into Lincoln Park for these photos of what she calls “dew jewels.” These first two photos are from a witch-hazelbush:
Two more views ahead:
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Photographed by a neighbor, the top photo shows 6536 24th SW (map), where the city is considering an application to split two lots into eight just east of Longfellow Creek.
We first wrote about it in December, and then again when the city formally published notice of that application on January 16th. That notice launched a comment period that now has been extended two weeks by request of neighbors, until February 12th.
Though this application only covers the proposed lot-splitting, city files (as mentioned in our previous reports) include plans for eight homes on those proposed eight lots. The creek runs through the front yard of homes across the street, neighbor Cyndie Rokicki points out, sharing this version of the same view as the top photo, when the water runs high in heavy rain:
She says, “The creek has gone over the banks and flooded the road 6 out of the 8 years that I have lived here. While at flood state, we are unable to get in or out of our property. My concern is, what the impact of cutting a road to establish access to the subdivision (which has an extreme slope which runs directly into the creek) will have on the already bad flooding situation, not to mention the effect of 8 more homeowners’ ability to reach their property during the flooding.”
(UPDATED Sunday night with new information from SFD)
Seattle Fire crews are arriving at the scene of a house-fire call in the 9400 block of 30th SW (map). Via scanner, they say everyone’s safely out of the house. More to come.
7:55 AM UPDATE: The house is just north of Roxhill Elementary. The fire’s in the attic, according to radio communications, and crews believe they “have the bulk of it under control.”
8:02 AM UPDATE: Our crew has arrived and sent the photo we added above. Most of the activity is in the area of the house’s garage, they say.
Meantime, in radio communications, crews on scene have declared the fire “tapped.” No injuries reported. The Red Cross is being called to help the residents (described so far as three adults).
8:30 AM UPDATE: Firefighters are in mop-up mode.
(Firefighters who went into the attic wound up covered in insulation material that had to be hosed off)
No word yet on how this started – they’ve been awaiting the SFD investigator. We’ve just spoken at the scene with SFD spokesperson Lt. Sue Stangl, who says the residents are three members of a family and that neighbors were first to see the smoke and call it in.
9:31 AM: Added – more photos, and video of Lt. Stangl’s interview with us and the only other media crew at the scene (they were from KIRO TV). We will update the story again whenever information about the fire’s cause is available.
6:46 PM UPDATE: Fire investigators have ruled this accidental and confirmed that it started in the garage, spread to the house. Damage is estimated at $300,000 – $200,000 to the house, $100,000 to what was inside.
(Image by Patrick McCaffrey)
One week until the Seahawks play in the Super Bowl! Photographer Patrick McCaffrey added the logo to his swooping-raptor photo from last November, to help keep fan spirits flying high. How to keep busy in the meantime? Today’s highlights list, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
OLG OPEN HOUSE AND SCIENCE FAIR: 9 am-1 pm, Our Lady of Guadalupe School welcomes visitors to its open house and middle-school science fair. Details here. (34th/Myrtle)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, with fresh produce, cheese, cider, meat, fish, baked goods, and more. (44th/Alaska)
HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: The whole family’s welcome to visit Holy Rosary School (a new WSB sponsor) during today’s open house, 10:30 am-1 pm. (42nd/Genesee)
WEST SEATTLE ULTIMATE FAMILY FRISBEE: Game’s on! 11 am at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point. Find out more about WSUFF by checking out its Facebook page. (31st/Myrtle)
HULA HOOP JAM: As previewed here earlier this month, hula-hoopers of all ages are invited to join the Spinjam at 2 pm today in the 8 Limbs studio in The Junction. (4546 California SW – entry directions on the Facebook event page)
PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 2-4 pm, you are welcome to stop by A Child Becomes, which describes itself as “a non-denominational pre-school in the Admiral area located in the basement of the Admiral Congregational Church serving students ages 2 1/2 – 5.” (4320 SW Hill)
WEST SEATTLE GREEN SPACE COALITION: 3 pm at Admiral (West Seattle) Branch Library, the WSGSC will discuss updates and next steps in its focus on the future of the former substations that Seattle City Light is working to dispose of. Details in our calendar listing. (2306 42nd SW)
MUSIC & COFFEE: Beth O’Connor and Anne Hindman perform live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. Musical insights in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)
ARTSWEST MATINEE: First Sunday matinee for “The Little Dog Laughed,” current production at ArtsWest in The Junction, 3 pm. (4711 California SW)
WATCH THE GRAMMYS AT THE FEEDBACK: Only venue we’ve heard from that’s planning to have tonight’s Grammy Awards on the big screen, sound up – Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor). Will Macklemore & Ryan Lewis win? Watch with friends old and new, 5 pm. (6451 California SW)
Added 8:41 am – not in West Seattle but in case you’re going:
WEST SEATTLE COMPANIES @ PHINNEY HOME DESIGN/REMODEL FAIR: The famous annual event on Phinney Ridge includes at least three West Seattle participants. Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) sends word they’ll be there, as will WEDesign (also a WSB sponsor) and West Seattle Windows and Doors. Lots of info here; full participant list here. 10 am-4 pm at Phinney Neighborhood Center. (6532 Phinney Avenue N.)
9 PM: In the kitchen before tonight’s “Gifts from the Earth” gala at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor), that’s SSCC alum Bruce Cougan from Harry’s Chicken Joint (also a WSB sponsor) at right, with cook Joe. (They were, of course, frying chicken.) Bruce is one of six SSCC alums on the roster of 15 chefs cooking for the fundraising celebration of SSCC’s award-winning culinary, wine, and hospitality programs.
Once again this year, tickets for “Gifts from the Earth” were sold out well in advance of the event. In addition to the food and wine, and a silent auction, a live auction was planned, including a new “Fund a Dream” feature during which guests were scheduled to hear from student Candis Outson, second from right in our next photo:
She was planning to explain how her scholarship at SSCC helped put her on the path to make dreams come true – as encouragement to guests to pledge to the fund that will help make more scholarships available. She also is one of the SSCC students on the cooking team tonight, and is shown in our photo with Brandon LaVielle (left) and Evan Garrard (right) from Emerald Cove Catering, and Shannon Higgins (second from left). The gala is still under way as we publish this; we’ll update later when we hear how much was raised.
10:32 PM UPDATE: SSCC has just announced that Gifts from the Earth raised a record $210,000. More than a quarter of that, $58,000, came from the “Fund a Dream” pledges, the school says.
Only one month into winter, but it’s not too soon to think about summer – especially if you’re planning to enroll your child(ren) in local summer camps. Seattle Parks has announced it’s almost signup time for its camps:
Online and in-person registration for summer camps begins Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 12 noon. Pay for the camp at time of registration, or pay a $15 deposit to hold a spot with the balance owing two weeks before the camp begins. Participation is contingent upon submittal of the appropriate waiver forms TWO WEEKS PRIOR to the start of camp. Online registration ends two weeks prior to the first day of each camp, but in-person registration will be available until all spots are filled.
The brochure with details on Seattle Parks’ camps is here.
This one somehow fell out of our calendar queue, so it wasn’t in today’s preview – but if you’re looking for something fun to do tonight, it’s still a few hours away: The award-winning Garfield High School jazz program has a fun(draiser) tonight at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in North Delridge – music, dancing, and more. It’s not just local because it’s happening here – the Garfield ensembles include students from West Seattle, too. More details here; the event (21 and over) starts at 7 pm.
It’s been five years since the Duwamish Tribe celebrated the opening of its longhouse at 4705 W. Marginal Way SW – and you still have three hours to join the anniversary celebration. An open house continues until 5 pm; we stopped by for the noontime reception:
Those on hand included Cecile Hansen, who has served as the tribe’s elected chair since 1975:
The story of the longhouse – the first one for the Duwamish people since their last one was burned down before the end of the 19th century – is told in this HistoryLink.org report. The story of the tribe can be explored both via its website and at the Longhouse/Cultural Center, which has regular hours as well as being open for special events like the one today.
It’s on! Until 1 pm, the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra-presented Super String Saturday celebration of music and mentoring (with WSB as a media sponsor) is happening at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle). It began with the SYSO’s mini-concert (and they were wonderful – hear a snippet in our Instagram video cliplet), directed by SYSO music director Stephen Rogers Radcliffe, following welcoming remarks by Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark, King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, and Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen.
Right now, those SYSO musicians are performing onstage side-by-side with elementary students, and then those students (and participating middle schoolers) head off into instrument-technique clinics in individual classrooms. But that’s prime time to visit even if you don’t have a student in those programs; here’s the schedule for the rest of the event:
11:50 am-12:20 pm: Information session for parents in the CSIHS auditorium – “learn how to best support your young musician”
12:25-12:45 pm: Chamber Ensemble demonstration in the auditorium
12:50-1 pm: Middle-school students onstage with SYSO musicians
The event is free; bring a few $ for refreshments on sale in the Sealth commons – which you’ll walk through on your way from the front door to the auditorium – benefiting student music programs. The SYSO is involved in local schools year-round through the Southwest Strings Project, involving Arbor Heights, Concord International, Highland Park, Roxhill, Sanislo, and West Seattle elementaries as well as Denny.
4:54 PM: More photos, as promised! First one is by our photographer, and the following three are courtesy of the SYSO.
After today’s event, Denny principal Clark told the SYSO:
On behalf of the entire Denny International Middle School community, I would like to extend a huge thank you to the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras for their amazing partnership! Our orchestra program has grown dramatically in recent years–the small group lessons and professional coaches provided through the Southwest Strings Project continue to be outstanding. Thank you to all of the families who joined us for Super String Saturday today and to the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras for making it happen!
Busy Saturday, off to a foggy start, and we’re again including a traffic reminder:
Same as last Saturday, WSDOT is closing multiple lanes (the number might fluctuate) on northbound I-5, not too far past the entrance from the West Seattle Bridge – note the red X’s in the “live” image above. Until the work is done – 10 am Sunday – 99 is recommended as your northbound alternative! Or – don’t leave the peninsula at all, since all this and more is happening:
WOODPECKER WALK IN LINCOLN PARK: 9 am, meet in the north parking lot, details here. Free!
SUPER STRING SATURDAY: Be there! 10 am-1 pm at Chief Sealth International High School, the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra-presented celebration of music and mentorship – and more – see our preview here. Free; the whole family’s welcome. (2600 SW Thistle)
BREAD BAKING: 10 am class at Delridge Community Center. (Too-short notice? Browse our calendar in advance for highlights – or the community centers’ brochure listing what’s going on this quarter.)
DUWAMISH LONGHOUSE’S FIFTH ANNIVERSARY: Big day as the Duwamish Tribe celebrates the fifth anniversary of its West Seattle longhouse. Open house 10 am-5 pm, reception noon-1 pm, storyteller Roger Fernandes‘s concert 2-3 pm, full details in our calendar listing. (4705 W. Marginal Way)
PUGET RIDGE WINTER CLEANUP: Neighbors are invited to join forces and get some cleanup work done on Puget Ridge, 10 am-noon today. Location/map in our calendar listing.
GAY FOR GOOD FOOD DRIVE @ 2 STORES: The food drive planned by Gay for Good to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank has expanded to two stores – PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) at California/Stevens, and QFC in The Junction (42nd/Alaska). 10 am-2 pm, donate nonperishable food.
PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING FOR ROADSIDE RAINGARDENS: 10-11:30 am at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, it’s your second of two chances to talk with King County Wastewater Treatment reps about the roadside raingardens (aka bioswales) about to be built in sections of Sunrise Heights and Westwood to reduce combined-sewer overflows. Details in our preview. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
STORY TIME BENEFITING WESTSIDE BABY: 10 am at Umpqua Bank in The Admiral District, Sue Winter is reading and selling Usborne Books to benefit WestSide Baby, along with collecting diaper donations. Details here. (2620 California SW)
2 PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSES: Cometa Playschool invites you to its West Seattle open house 11 am-1 pm – details in our calendar listing. (3212 California SW)
Also, the Bright Beginnings preschool program at Hiawatha Community Center welcomes you to its open house today, 1-3 pm:
We strive to offer a program that helps children learn and grow, by focusing on the child’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills. We provide a safe, happy healthy, learning environment for preschool children. Bright Beginnings Preschool is very hands on; activities include: Art, Blocks, Dramatic Play, Library, Cooking, Science, Music and Movement and Outdoor/Gym Play.
(2700 California SW)
VIETNAMESE STORYTIME: Every Saturday morning at 11:30 am at Delridge Branch Library – details in our calendar listing. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE MONTESSORI OPEN HOUSE: 1-3 pm. visit West Seattle Montessori (WSB sponsor) to find out about its preschool-middle school programs. (11215 15th SW)
WHAT WOULD YOU WANT SEATTLE PARKS TO ASK VOTERS FOR? 1 pm at High Point Community Center, your chance to speak up as Seattle Parks gets ready for a potential ballot measure to help with future financing. Details in our preview. (6920 34th SW)
SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING – IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD: As previewed here Friday, the West Seattle Democratic Women will spend this year getting the word out that human trafficking isn’t something happening somewhere else to somebody else – you might even have seen it and not recognized it, so awareness is vital. Today is their kickoff event, 1-3:30 pm at Southwest Branch Library, all welcome to drop in for eye-opening information. (35th/Henderson)
GIFTS FROM THE EARTH: The annual South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) gala is sold out, but just in case you wonder what’s up on campus tonight – or in case you have tickets and needed a reminder! – silent auction, celebrity chefs, inspiring stories, more, 5 pm @ Brockey Center. (6000 16th SW)
CHILI COOK-OFF: Love chili? Go see what Fauntleroy competitors have cooked up – and vote for your favorites – for only $6; details in our calendar listing. Fauntleroy Church, 6 pm. (9140 California SW)
DOORS TRIBUTE: Alive She Cried @ Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9 pm. (6451 California SW)
And as always … MORE EVENTS on the calendar than we could mention here, so go there!
We’ve received two updates to share on competitive swimmers in our area:
DOLPHINS IN STATEWIDE Y COMPETITION TODAY: Good luck to the Dolphins from the West Seattle Y (WSB sponsor) in state Y competition today – see the 42 team members listed here. The meet is at King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way, starting at 9 am for 12-and-over swimmers who have made qualifying state times; at noon, swimmers working toward qualifying times for Regionals (in Boise next month) swim; and at 3 pm, we’re told, it’s the final session “for the top eight swimmers in all eligible events of the morning prelim sessions, after which there will be an awards ceremony for the winners of the finals events.” Public welcome, no admission charge. The KCAC is at 650 SW Campus Drive (map).
SEALTH MEET RESULTS & STATE QUALIFIER: For Chief Sealth International High School‘s swim team, Trisha Montemayor sends results of Friday’s meet against Franklin – the Seahawk girls won, the boys lost (team scores here, individual results here), but along the way, Trisha says, Carlos Montemayor qualified for state in the 100 breaststroke; he already had qualified for the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. She also notes that Sealth will host West Seattle High School next Friday (3:30 pm January 31) in its final Southwest Pool home meet of the year – Senior Night for five graduating swimmers.
From Friday night’s high-school basketball slate, in the regular season’s waning weeks:
(Sealth head coach Katie Jo Maris; WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
RAINIER BEACH AT CHIEF SEALTH: Lopsided games for both varsity teams – the Seahawk girls beat the Vikings 66-24, led by #4 Labrea Denson with 15 points:
Full scoring list here.
(Sealth #22 Sydney Thomas, #33 Brandy Hoskins)
In the boys-varsity game, final score was Rainier Beach 103, Chief Sealth 52. #1 Khaleef Griffin (photo below, with #24 Jamari Smith) led the Seahawks’ scoring with 21 points:
The Viking boys ran up the score in no small part thanks to a large number of three-pointers. Scoring list is here.
WEST SEATTLE AT INGRAHAM: Victories here for both WSHS varsity teams – a 63-22 win for the girls, with Sarah Cooper and Gabby Sarver the leading scorers with 16 points each, and DeAndre Love leading the boys with 27 points in the Wildcats’ 81-37 win.
NEXT UP: WSHS hosts Sealth – boys Tuesday, girls Wednesday, tipoff times here.
Four school-music notes to share:
SUPER STRING SATURDAY IS HOURS AWAY: 10 am-1 pm Saturday at Chief Sealth International High School, it’s Super String Saturday with the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra – start by enjoying their performance, then marvel at musical mentoring with local student musicians getting special coaching and joining the SYSO musicians onstage, and along the way, get a chance to expose younger children to string instruments, while meeting music educators and performers. More info in our preview. It’s all free – just show up! (2600 SW Thistle)
DENNY & SEALTH MUSICIANS SHINE: Just last night, the Sealth auditorium filled with the sound of student musicians’ hard work:
The photo was shared by Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark, who along with Sealth principal Aida Fraser-Hammer wrote:
We are so proud of our scholars at Denny and Sealth and the fantastic music they have performed over four concerts in the last month. Our combined holiday concert, our jazz bands, our four orchestras and our four bands have all been outstanding! (Thursday night), 251 scholars performed in our final concert, our Winter Symphonic Band Concert. Congratulations to all of our musicians! Mr. Pimpleton and Mr. White have done an amazing job! Thank you to all who support the thriving music programs at Denny and Sealth — Go, Dolphins and Seahawks!
SOUL JAMBALAYA: An event supporting the programs at Sealth and Denny has just been announced:
“Soul Jambalaya” is a fabulous concert celebrating Black History Month and the rich heritage of gospel, blues, jazz, and funk music. Student and professional musicians will gather together at Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium on Saturday, February 8, 2014 @ 7:00 pm to perform arrangements from all of these musical genres. Featured artists include the Total Experience Gospel Choir, Westside Blues, Figgins and Halbert Jazz and our very own Denny International Middle School Jazz.
Admission is free – donations will be accepted to benefit the schools’ music scholarship programs.
Also just announced:
WEST SEATTLE BIG BAND TO BOOST MADISON BENEFIT: A night of dancing and music for all:
Swing into Spring to the sounds of the amazing WEST SEATTLE BIG BAND! Free swing-dance lessons start at 6 pm. Peruse the food stands, bake sale, and raffle options while the Madison Middle School music students wow you with their musical talent. Then kick up your heels with the West Seattle Big Band!! Great fun for the whole family!
Friday, February 7th, 2014, from 6:00-9:00 pm in Madison Middle School Commons. Admission $10 per person at the door; students and children under 18 free! All proceeds benefit Madison Music Boosters.
Madison is at 45th/Spokane.
In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight, a burglary attempt that did a lot of damage, plus a stolen car, and an update on an arrest reported here last night.
BIG DAMAGE BY WOULD-BE BURGLARS: From a Highland Park resident who wants to be anonymous:
I left to go grocery shopping at around 11:05-11:00am (Thursday) and got a call from my alarm company at 11:27 am that my house alarm was going off. In the short time that I was gone, the thieves had removed the window screens from ALL of my back windows to try to open them. When that failed, they broke the back window of my garage and used my lawn furniture to crawl into the garage. Once in my garage, they used my tools to break off and destroy the door knob and lock assembly of the door leading into the house and attempted to smash through the deadbolt which thankfully held long enough for the alarm system to trigger and the resulting siren scared them away. Although nothing (so far that I can tell) was taken. I am left with large costly repairs to 2 doors / 2 locks / 1 window. The neighbors (across the street from me) reported seeing two Hispanic men in their late teens/early 20’s casing their own house around this same time. They must have seen me leave the house in order to have done so much damage is so short of a time. Please remind your readers that these thieves and others are skilled and work quickly and have been prolific in our part of Seattle. Please be very aware of your surrounding area and suspicious people and cars that look out of place. It is worthwhile to do a security review of your house to make it as difficult for the thieves to break in. I will be strengthening my home security after this incident even more.
STOLEN ACCORD: Reported in a comment on another story:
Had my Honda four-door stolen from the back alley off 44th and Spokane. Heard something about 2 AM last night, did not get up, had a bad cold, so I went back to sleep. Whole backseat full of plumbing tools in buckets and power tools to do side job. All my essays and observation journals for school due next week. Kinda devastating. … ’93 gray gold four-door Honda Accord LX, small dimpled dent left front fender, small dimpled dent left rear trunk. See it, please call Seattle Police; report has been filed.
RYAN COX UPDATE: Last night, we reported that repeat offender Ryan Cox was arrested on a warrant, two days after he was the subject of a discussion at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council. Online records show the warrant had been issued days before the meeting, second one related to his probation following a guilty plea for an assault case in December. Tonight, Cox is out of jail after a hearing this morning; he was released on personal recognizance, according to the Municipal Court docket. We won’t be able to find out more about the status of his case until Monday, when the deputy city attorney handling the case is back in the office.
WEST SEATTLE BLOCKWATCH CAPTAINS’ NETWORK: Their first meeting of 2014 is next Tuesday (January 28th), 6:30 pm, Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster). You don’t have to be a Block Watch Captain – or even in a Block Watch – to attend.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Routine checks of court files have turned up two new legal actions involving the West Seattle Athletic Club (which took over the former Allstar Fitness location in North Delridge last year) – one in which it’s the defendant, another in which it’s the plaintiff.
First: The club’s landlord H-P Properties has filed an “unlawful detainer” complaint, and what court documents describe as an “eviction hearing” is set for February 11th.
As explained here, this means basically refusal of an order to vacate. According to the court documents, the landlord is owed $386,000 in “back rent and other charges,” including this month; the documents include the lease, which says that after two rent-less months last spring, owner Sam Adams is supposed to be paying $100,000 rent per month right now. The complaint, filed a week and a half ago, includes a copy of a three-day “pay or vacate” notice that was originally dated December 20th.
The complaint is not only against Adams, his company Hollystone Holdings, and the West Seattle Athletic Club, but also names a company called Barratt Leasing. That company, in turn, is being sued by Adams, according to a separate action filed this month, which names Adams as a plaintiff as well as six athletic clubs, including the one in West Seattle. They are suing Barratt Leasing and Allstate Financial Group for breach of contract, accounting, and rescission.
The court documents say Allstate Financial “offers billing services to owners of athletic clubs” and that it was under contract with these clubs, but alleges that Allstate:
“… has failed to make timely and accurate periodic payments to Plaintiffs. On numerous occasions the periodic payments from Allstate Financial to Plaintiffs were late, less than called for under the terms of the agreements between the parties, not wire transferred, made on out-of-state checks that would not clear for several days, or drawn on accounts with insufficient funds. Many Allstate Financial checks to Plaintiffs would be cancelled by Allstate Financial after being deposited by Plaintiffs, which in turn would cause Plaintiffs’ checks to landlords, vendors, and employees to bounce. As a direct and proximate cause of Allstate Financial’s failure to make timely and accurate periodic payments, Plaintiffs were unable to pay required lease, payroll, insurance and utility expenses.
Other allegations made by Adams and his clubs are that Allstate “convinced (them) to enter into subleases for the inclusion of wellness clinics in four clubs” but has not been paying rent for those spaces and currently owes more than $120,000.
As for Barratt, which “is affiliated with and operates in connection with” Allstate, here’s another excerpt from the documents in the lawsuit filed by Adams’ company:
(8/14 note: To check whether a business is still a current WSB sponsor, please go here)
Interested in music lessons – ukulele, guitar, bass? Music teacher Masa Kobayashi and his Alki Ukulele studio have just joined the WSB sponsor team. 
Here’s what he would like you to know:
He has 20 years’ experience playing and 10 years of experience teaching. Masa says, “My students are getting constant improvement with me – most of them actually have become active gigging musicians.” He’s proud that his students have been inspired by the fact he too is an active musician with gigs – something they thought wasn’t possible for them to become, before they started taking lessons.
As explained on his website at AlkiUkulele.com, Masa has experience with many musical styles from punk, rock, metal, funk and jazz, to Balkan and African music. For guitar and ukulele, he teaches rhythm and soloing, finger-picking, two-handed tapping, chord soloing, and more. For bass, lessons include various finger-picking styles, soloing and old school/Victor Wooten-style slapping, two-handed tapping, and chord soloing.
The Alki Ukulele studio really is near the beach, and the best way to contact Masa to inquire about lessons is by e-mail – alkiukulele@gmail.com.
We thank Alki Ukulele 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.
(Photo tweeted by Richard Sherman – new fan-gear shirt he’s selling)
If you think you’ve heard every viewpoint imaginable about the famous Richard Sherman TV moment right after the Seahawks‘ NFC championship win last Sunday – here’s one more: Schmitz Park Elementary fifth-grade teacher Chris McCall e-mailed us and a couple of citywide news organizations, explaining, “I asked my students to sound off on their blogs about Sherman’s tirade. Their comments are unedited, but interesting. So, I thought I might try to get a few published by sending them to you.” We’ve already had more than a few (presumed) grownups speak out about this, so why not hear from younger fans? Read on for the (unedited, as sent) fifth-graders’ thoughts:
Seattle’s new mayor has promised a “neighborhood summit” within his first 100 days in office. No date is set yet, not even a format, but the person who’s organizing it came to the Highland Park Action Committee‘s January meeting to talk about possibilities. That leads off our report from the meeting Wednesday night:
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