West Seattle, Washington
01 Tuesday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
After seven years, Skylark Café and Club in North Delridge is changing hands.
Tomorrow (Saturday, August 31st) is the final night that wife-and-husband proprietors Jessie SK and Charlie Russo (above) will be there as owners; they expected to sign the final paperwork today.
Over the course of those six years – they took over Skylark’s space at 3803 Delridge Way SW in June 2006 – they took what had been a café with some live music and transformed it into a music-and-entertainment venue that also served food.
5:54 PM: If Seattle Public Schools don’t open on time because the district and its teachers’ union haven’t reached a contract agreement, the city will offer a drop-in program at most of its community centers, for children who qualify for free and reduced-price lunches. Go here to read the full text of that announcement made this afternoon; the program would start on Thursday of next week and run at least through Friday, September 13th, unless school started before that date. The announcement says all of this area’s centers would offer the program – Alki, Delridge, Hiawatha, High Point, and South Park, along with 15 others around the city. Interested families who qualify would need to register starting this weekend – the announcement explains how.
P.S. No new updates in the teacher-contract situation so far; negotiations continued again today, according to the union’s Facebook page.
10:30 PM UPDATE: The union says there’s no agreement yet and that they’ll go into mediation tomorrow.
3:46 PM: This happened just over the city/county line, so we’re reporting it here as well as on partner site White Center Now: King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West says the White Center KeyBank branch in the 9600 block of 17th SW has just been robbed. She also sent a photo – if you see him, call 911.
4 PM UPDATE: KCSO has sent more information, including this description info to add to the photo above: The robber is described as white, in his 40s, wearing a blue shirt and jeans. KCSO says bank employees reported that he came into the bank just before 3 pm, gave them a note, implied he had a weapon (though they didn’t see it), and fled with an undisclosed amount of money, last seen eastbound on 98th SW.
(WSB photo, July 25: Original house at right, under-construction house at left)
The city Department of Planning and Development has just announced that it is approving the revised boundaries for splitting what was once one home’s lot at 55th/Manning (map) into three. “Lot boundary adjustments” are not uncommon, but this one has been under a microscope since early this year, because of a challenge by residents who call their neighborhood Benchview. They appealed the city’s original approval of the lot split and went all the way to King County Superior Court, where they won a partial victory last month. They believed Judge Mariane Spearman‘s decision meant the site’s new owners could only build one new house on the lot. Shortly after the decision, the owners/developers filed documents for revised boundaries, and today, the DPD sent this letter saying those will be approved – read it here (or as a PDF here if you can’t see Scribd embeds):
Benchview residents had contended the city could choose to “protect the neighborhood” rather than consider the revised boundaries; DPD director Diane Sugimura contended, in both a letter earlier this week and the letter today, that her department was required to review them for consideration. We will be checking with the Benchview neighbors to see if they plan to challenge this new decision.
ADDED 5:17 PM: Benchview spokesperson Dave Allen cc’d us on his reply to the city – an excerpt follows:
Benefit-car-wash season is almost over – but not before at least a few more events. If you want to get your vehicle washed while helping out local youth, you can do it tomorrow at West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor), where the West Seattle High School girls’ soccer team will be washing cars. 10 am-3 pm Saturday (August 31st), 7501 35th SW, according to Karin Beck, who shared the photo and announcement, with this invitation: “Please come by and show the girls your support! Special thanks to West Seattle Autoworks and West Seattle Booster Club!”
(Tango Card CEO Dave Leeds; WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
More jobs created in West Seattle = less traffic outbound in the mornings. And one growing company has done its part: Tango Card has created 27 jobs in the past three years, points out its founder and CEO, Dave Leeds, who’s lived in West Seattle almost a decade and chose to locate his business here.
It’s not your average small business – it helps companies around the globe integrate gift cards into their rewards for customers and employees, and investors have shown strong support, as noted in this GeekWire story from last spring, when Tango Card closed another funding round.
Leeds says he loves the building in which Tango Card is currently based, on the east edge of The Junction along 40th SW north of SW Edmunds. But he has to find someplace new, since the building will come down when the 4745 40th SW development goes up.
Leeds is of course watching the listings and talking to brokers. But he asked us if we could help get the word out about his search, in case the perfect spot is out there and not officially on the market.
What’s he looking for?
He wants to keep Tango Card HQ close to The Junction – within a few blocks of its business district. He and his two dozen employees love being close to great places for lunch, he says, and it’s a convenient location for many other reasons.
If you have a suggestion of someplace that’s available now or soon – they don’t have a deadline, but he expects that at the latest, they’ll need to be out early next year, so Tango Card could move this fall. They need about 3,000 square feet, according to Leeds, who says he wishes they could stay in their current digs, where they moved about a year ago. Got someplace to suggest or offer? He’s at david@tangocard.com.
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
10:33 AM: Firefighters are reporting flames as they arrive at the scene of a house fire in the 3400 block of 44th SW (map). We’ll be there shortly.
10:44 AM UPDATE: No word of injuries so far. Firefighters have put out the call for investigative unit Marshal 5, which is standard operating procedure.
10:51 AM UPDATE: Firefighters tell our crew at the scene that this was a “small kitchen fire” and it’s now out. Nobody was home when it started. A neighbor saw the smoke and called 911.
12:48 PM UPDATE: One of the neighbors shares more in the comment section. Another one sent this photo of a dog that got out safely:
We’ll update here when there’s official information on the fire’s cause.
1:25 PM UPDATE: SFD says “overheated electrical wiring” caused the fire, and they’re “classifying (it) as an accidental fire.” Damage is estimated at $20,000; along with the dog shown above, another dog and a cat were rescued by firefighters, according to the SFD update on Fire Line.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
This edition of the WSBeat contains summaries written from reports on cases handled in the past several weeks by Southwest Precinct officers – generally cases that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?”
*Apparently unhappy at seeing a flatbed repo truck pull up in front of her house in the 3500 block of SW 98th, a woman ran outside, jumped into the car, started it up, gunned it, and drove straight into the repo-company employee. The victim landed on the hood of the car, which went another twenty feet before the driver braked abruptly, dumped the “passenger” to the cement, and drove off. Although she suffered abrasions, the victim declined medical attention.
*An alert officer at Westwood Village recognized a woman who matched someone wanted on a $100,000 felony hit and run warrant. He called for backup and monitored her activities (which included trying to claim freshly stolen items as “returns without receipts” at one store). A records check showed that the woman (under an alias) also had more than $3,000 in theft warrants and a $20,000 warrant (under a second alias) for trespassing. While police were processing her at the scene, another store reported a woman of her description had stolen items that afternoon. The 34-year-old suspect was booked into King County Jail on the warrants and for investigation of the other incidents.
Five other summaries ahead – including a call that came down to a single word:
(Woodpecker photographed at Lincoln Park last week by John Kamin – thanks for sharing!)
A quieter Friday as we head into Labor Day weekend – but you still have options for today/tonight (and we have a few reminders, too):
TENNIS-COURT CLOSURE: As the Solstice Park tennis courts’ renovation closure wraps up, the Hiawatha Community Center/Park courts’ renovation closure is scheduled to start today, as noted on the city’s Parkways site. (Fauntleroy/Lincoln Park Way SW)
DUWAMISH LONGHOUSE NATIVE MARKET/JUMBLE DAYS: Go shop at the Duwamish Tribe‘s longhouse, during the first of two days for this arts/crafts/rummage (and more) sale. 10 am-4 pm today and again on Saturday. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
SIGNAL-BOX MURAL CELEBRATION: As previewed here last night, you’re invited to Youngstown Cultural Arts Center at 2 this afternoon to help the artists celebrate the project that has painted sea-life-themed mini-murals on 12 traffic-signal boxes along Delridge between Andover and Henderson. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
‘FOOD FOR ART’ PARTY: A month-long benefit at The Bridge, on behalf of nearby Transitional Resources, culminates with a party starting at 3:30 pm today, and raffle tickets on sale until the drawing at 8 tonight. Details in this earlier story. (4439 35th SW)
‘BOBCAT BOB’: Ever-popular “Bobcat Bob” Rice performs tonight at C & P Coffee Company, 6-8 pm. (5612 California SW)
LIVE MUSIC AT MIND UNWIND: The Portrait Project plays live jazz music at Mind Unwind in The Admiral District, 8-10 pm tonight, no cover. (2206 California SW)
And a business note …
THE WASH DOG: Out of the WSB inbox this morning: “The Wash Dog [WSB sponsor] will be closed today (Friday, 8/30) for Employee Enrichment Day, to celebrate our outstanding, hard-working employees. We will re-open at 9 am tomorrow – Saturday, 8/31.” (6400 California SW)
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
The long holiday weekend is almost here – but first, one more workday of traffic to track. Looks like the rain has ended for now, so that won’t be a factor.
Another reminder of this weekend’s road work: The ramp from northbound I-5 to the WS Bridge and to lower Spokane St./6th will close 7 pm tonight-3 pm Monday for expansion-joint work. Get project details, detour info, future closures, and more by going here.
P.S. For the Labor Day holiday on Monday, Metro Transit and the West Seattle Water Taxi will be on Sunday schedules.
Jenn says she and her dog were out before 5 am today when this happened:
I just got back from walking my dog, and coming across a coyote standing at Alaska and 46th SW, 2 blocks from the Junction. It was in the yard of the home on the SW corner of the intersection.
It crossed Alaska as we approached, and as I realized what it was, we turned around immediately and went back the way we had come. The coyote then reappeared and began following us right back down 46th. It was very brave. My dog, of course, then stops to poop….and the coyote is still coming. It was getting WAY too close for comfort. We crossed to the other side of 46th, and it didn’t follow us, but continued walking our direction. We scurried into our house quickly!
Again tonight, members of the Westside Interfaith Network kept a roadside vigil just outside the encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville,” which by all indications is now gearing up for a moving day Sunday, city officials’ declared deadline for closing the site, rather than for a standoff.
As reported here last night, the encampment says it has secured three sites, and plans to announce the second and third locations tomorrow; the first one announced is at 20th and Jackson in the Central District.
The newest update on the encampment’s official Facebook page “Nickelsville Works“ includes the flyer below with a schedule for moving, and for cleaning up the current site, once it’s vacated:
Closing and clearing the site would be a step toward enabling its sale to Food Lifeline, which wants to build a new headquarters for its work fighting hunger in the region. But it’s not the only site FL is examining, according to development director Amy Lee Derenthal: “We have a couple other sites we’re looking at and doing our due diligence to make sure we make the best decision as to where we’ll build our Hunger Solution Center. The West Marginal Way site has been our preferred site and once we finish our due diligence process, we’ll let the community at large know of our plans. … Food Lifeline has been working with Low Income Housing representatives, the Church Council and the residents of Nickelsville for the last 15 months to help them find a more suitable location. The current site does not have very good transit options and it floods in the winter months. We help provide food to the Nickelsville community through one of our agencies, Operation Sack Lunch, and will continue to do so when they do eventually move.” It’s been almost 11 months since FL’s interest in the West Seattle site surfaced.
After an early evening full of lightning, thunder, and pouring rain, the weather cleared just in time for Pathfinder K-8 students, families, and staff to conclude their pre-school year barbecue with a special ceremony: The dedication of a newly created mosaic sign at the school’s entry off SW Genesee. Students all collaborated with artist-in-residence Julie Maher, in the next photo, helping cut the ribbon with Pathfinder PTSA co-president Martin McGurl:
“The kids were my inspiration,” Maher said. “She took our idea for a design and really ran with it .. This could be in a museum,” mused principal David Dockendorf (at left in the photo above with McGurl and Maher), just before the ceremony concluded with a chance for everyone to come see the mosaic up close.
The principal also gave shoutouts to Pathfinder’s art teachers Marci Golden and Suzanne Wakefield. There’s so much detail in the mosaic, no photo could do it justice – you’ll have to go to Pigeon Point and take a look!
7:28 PM: Thanks to everyone who tipped us about Guardian One circling over Myers Way just south of Roxbury (map). It’s a King County Sheriff’s Office search, according to a Seattle Police officer who told us she could only say they’re “looking for somebody” and SPD is assisting. We’re trying to reach KCSO to find out more.
7:42 PM UPDATE: Just talked to KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West, who says the search started with a report of a domestic-violence situation at a supermarket on 1st Avenue South in Burien; a plainclothes detective happened to be there, saw the male suspect on the run, called for backup, got in his car and followed the suspect, whose vehicle was determined to have stolen plates. The suspect abandoned the car and fled in White Center, and was believed to have made it to the Joint Training Facility vicinity, which is where the helicopter was searching. No word of an arrest yet, Sgt. West said, and she also didn’t know about the domestic-violence victim’s condition/status.
8:34 PM UPDATE: Sgt. West says the suspect’s not in custody yet but they did determine that not only were the plates on the car stolen, the car itself was stolen too.
The octopus at Delridge/Holden is just one of many mini-murals you might have noticed in recent weeks on 12 signal boxes in the area (between Andover and Henderson) – and they’re all thanks to the youth artists of WRAP, the Work Readiness Art Program, which wraps up tomorrow at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. According to this update from the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association website, the murals are all sea life-inspired. Tomorrow (Friday) afternoon, you can thank some of the artists – and lead artist Andrew Morrison, who’s been working with them – during a “culminating event” at 2 pm in the theater at Youngstown (4408 Delridge Way SW), featuring refreshments, a slideshow of the murals, and a visit to one nearby.
5:02 PM: With lightning, thunder, and heavy rain having just moved into the area, and traffic trouble that started hours ago, we’re launching a new story here to track PM commute, and weather, advisories. Stay tuned.
5:10 PM UPDATE: We’re now in Fauntleroy checking out a report of a crash near the south Lincoln Park parking lot, potentially affecting ferry-dock-bound traffic. Here for now is the SDOT camera in that vicinity:
… update, just passed it; those are the crashed cars at the bottom of the camera view. No sign of fire or medics but it’s slow going northbound too.
5:31 PM UPDATE: Per TV weather radar, the cell with thunder, lightning, and downpour is now north of us and continuing to head north. Here in south West Seattle, we’re down to light rain and even an attempted sunbreak.
6:53 PM UPDATE: As commenters have pointed out, there’s trouble on 99 now, too. A southbound crash right by the bridge, according to an e-mail update from WSDOT.
4:10 PM: One demonstrator carries an umbrella along with his picket sign in the Seattle Education Association – mostly Seattle Public Schools teachers, but some other staffers are included – picketing that’s under way right now at 35th and Fauntleroy. Picketers at all four corners totaled more than two dozen when we stopped by a short time ago. They’re scheduled to be there until 6 pm, as a show of support for their union’s ongoing negotiations with the district; their contract expires on Saturday, and they voted earlier this week to reject the latest offer. Their next vote is scheduled for Tuesday, the night before the scheduled start of classes, and the district has already warned families to have a backup plan in case school is delayed – although there has NOT been a strike vote so far. This, by the way, is one of four spots around the city where teachers are demonstrating this afternoon.
6:31 PM: Via Facebook, teacher Misty asked to share this message: “I would like to take a moment to thank all of the people who nodded, smiled, waved, and honked their horns today as they were driving by. We felt very honored by their show of support. It was appreciated.”
Our video of West Seattle band Daughters of the Dead Sea is from a show at Easy Street Records in The Junction last October. They’ll be back at ESR this Saturday night – but it’ll be the last time, as the band is breaking up. And we’ve learned it’s not only a farewell show; singer/guitarist Jen Stinespring is battling cystic fibrosis, with which she was diagnosed in infancy, and is moving back East to be with her family, so this show is a benefit to help with her medical bills. $10 donation at the door; local fave Hobosexual is on the bill too, and ESR tells us Whiskey Radio has just been added. Show starts at 8 pm Saturday (August 31st) at Easy Street (California/Alaska).
Heads-up if you are heading south of West Seattle – there’s a big crash on southbound I-5 right at the end of the bridge. Seattle Fire says via Twitter that it involves a bus, with at least five people hurt, one in critical condition.
12:43 PM UPDATE: According to the State Patrol, a semi-truck headed east from West Seattle collided with a charter bus. SFD update on patients: 1 critical patient & 4 serious patients heading to Harborview, 1 serious patient to Swedish, 1 serious patient to Virginia Mason. 2 lanes are blocked at the crash site (see the latest traffic-camera view above).
1:03 PM UPDATE: If you are anywhere from the WS Bridge northward, you will definitely want to avoid southbound I-5 TFN:
Drivers advised to use alt. routes. 11 mile backup on SB I-5 due to collision at W. Seattle Bridge
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) August 29, 2013
2:37 PM UPDATE: The backup is STILL about 11 miles, according to WSDOT. So if you usually take I-5 southbound home to get to West Seattle – start thinking about an alternate route. We’ll update when the commute gets closer.
(Thanks to Lise Thivierge for sharing the photo from Seacrest!)
Busy day/night – especially for back-to-school events. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and the WSB inbox:
LAFAYETTE PLAYGROUND WORK PARTY: Just got word of this “rain or shine” event, happening NOW until 2 pm today at Lafayette Elementary‘s playground: “Please join us for the annual trimming of the kiwi, kindergarten planter cleanup, sweeping of wood chips into the play area, planting some flowers, etc. We will have tools provided from the district but please bring comfortable gloves and any personal supplies that you’d like to use.” (California/Lander)
TEACHERS’ INFORMATIONAL PICKETING: As first reported here Tuesday night, Seattle Education Association members – who have yet to reach a contract with Seattle Public Schools – plan informational picketing around the city today, including 3-6 pm by the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge. (35th/Fauntleroy)
ROXHILL BACK-TO-SCHOOL BARBECUE: 4:30-6:30 pm at Roxhill Elementary: “This is an opportunity for our families to come to the school, have a hot dog dinner, meet their teacher and receive free school supplies.” (Roxbury/30th)
PATHFINDER K-8 BACK-TO-SCHOOL BARBECUE: 5-7:30 pm tonight at the school, including the dedication of the new mosaic sign. Indoors if necessary. Details in our preview.
GATEWOOD ELEMENTARY MEET-AND-GREET: In groups, spread out between 5:30 and 7:15 pm – details in our preview. (4320 SW Myrtle)
POLITICAL FUNDRAISER: 5:30-7:30 pm tonight at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), according to the announcement, “Seattle City Councilmembers Richard Conlin, Nick Licata, and Tom Rasmussen; Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, Ted Barker, Kim Becklund, Brian Earl, Ann Martin, Marcee Stone-Vekich, and Max Vekich are co-sponsoring a fundraising reception to benefit Fair Elections Seattle, which appears on the November ballot.” (6451 California SW)
BABYSITTER MEET AND GREET: Free adult-only drop-in event at West Seattle Office Junction, to meet babysitters working locally. 6-7:30 pm; RSVP by going here. Light refreshments; giveaways including a selection of Usborne books. (5230-B California SW) Update: This event has been postponed; new date TBA.
DUWAMISH RIVER KAYAK TOUR: Native American history along the Duwamish River is the focus of tonight’s community kayak tour with the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition and Alki Kayak Tours. Meet at 6 pm at Terminal 107 Park; details in our calendar listing. (4700 W. Marginal Way SW)
DENNY ORIENTATION: Another pre-back-to-school event, this time at Denny International Middle School: 6:30-8 pm, “for students and parents/guardians who are new to Denny International (all grade levels). This event will be a time to learn more about our school and meet staff.” Ice cream afterward! (2601 SW Kenyon)
FINAL HIAWATHA CONCERT OF THE YEAR: As previewed here on Tuesday, this year’s Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented Summer Concerts at Hiawatha finale is tonight, featuring Strong Suit, 6:30 pm – update, INDOORS at the Hiawatha Gym east lawn if the weather clears, in the Hiawatha gym if it doesn’t. (Between California and Walnut, 2700 block)
DESIGN REVIEW: 4433 42nd SW, the apartment project known as Junction Flats, goes before the Southwest Design Review Board at 6:30 pm tonight, upstairs at the Senior Center of West Seattle. As always, there will be a chance for public comment. Here’s our report from last week with a link to the newest project information, including the “packet” for tonight’s meeting.
OPEN MIKE AT DIVA: 7 pm Thursdays, it’s open-microphone night at Diva Espresso in The Triangle – which now serves beer, too. (4480 Fauntleroy Way SW)
WATER TAXI FOR SEAHAWKS GAME: Another reminder that the West Seattle Water Taxi will run on the extended game-night schedule tonight for the Seahawks game, with the final run from downtown to WS scheduled for 10:30 pm; see the schedule here.
And there’s even MORE – on the calendar!
Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore has just verified that the overnight “hazmat” call in the 7700 block of Delridge Way was basically a false alarm, as we tweeted at the time. His update:
An envelope with reported white powder turned out not to contain anything hazardous or dangerous according to the Seattle Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team.
At 12:35 a.m., a 911 call came into dispatchers at the Fire Alarm Center reporting an envelope with white powder at an apartment complex located in the 7700 block of Delridge Way SW. The caller stated they opened the letter and felt symptoms.
Firefighters isolated the two patients and also the letter. Tests were conducted on the letter and came back negative for any known hazardous or dangerous substances.
Seattle Police Department officers were also on scene investigating.
The patients were evaluated but did not require any treatment. The letter was turned over to authorities.
10:02 AM: Though the 911 log says Roxbury/Olson, the big emergency response happening right now is some blocks west of there, according to our crew, near 12th SW. At first, it was thought a pedestrian might have been hit, but it’s been determined that a 40-year-old man, as described in radio communications, apparently became disoriented/ill and “wandered into traffic,” possibly a blood-sugar problem. County and city crews are on scene and the man is being taken to the hospital now, so the scene should clear before too long.
10:30 AM: Just verified with SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore – the victim basically “lay down in traffic,” and the location was 11th/Roxbury.
Thanks to Josh Sutton for the photo from last night’s Rotary Club of West Seattle sorting party for Pencil Me In For Kids, which collects and distributes school supplies to students in need; in red at left, that’s longtime PMIFK champion Sue Lindblom giving instructions to Rotarians who joined in. This year, nine elementary schools in West Seattle are getting about $8,500 worth of supplies as a result of PMIFK.
SIDE NOTE: The WS Rotary’s monthly fun/fundraising First Friday public gathering is (date corrected) one week from tomorrow (Friday, September 6th), 5-7 pm, at The Bridge this time around. (4439 35th SW)
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