West Seattle, Washington
18 Monday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Three years ago, Highland Park Action Committee marked the end of a two-year fight against a proposal to build, in their neighborhood, a city jail that ultimately turned out to be – as they had pointed out all along – unnecessary.
In the fight’s first year, 2008, the proposed jail site on city- and state-owned property at West Marginal Way and Highland Park Way was briefly occupied by a homeless encampment calling itself Nickelsville, until then-Mayor Greg Nickels ordered it evicted.
In May 2011, Nickelsville returned, and Nickels’ successor, Mayor Mike McGinn, said it could stay.
For months, the encampment was not an issue for the Highland Park community. But now, after Nickelsville declared itself to be in dangerous straits, as reported here Sunday, they’re on the brink of marshaling for another intensive fight.
That was the upshot of last night’s HPAC meeting – from which we reported live via Twitter – and of a letter that HPAC has sent to city leadership. And there is another letter involved – this morning, we received one from Nickelsville’s “Central Committee,” with its side of an incident we reported in last Sunday’s story, as well as their declaration that things are improving.
More on the major new developments, ahead:
Just realized that we hadn’t said “thank you” here yet for everyone who alerted us when this site went down for a bit an hour or so ago. Even if you don’t usually check out our social-media channels, please keep them handy in case of the occasional outage – facebook.com/westseattleblog and twitter.com/westseattleblog are the main ones to bookmark – and make sure 206-293-6302 is in your phone for any kind of breaking news, in addition to a “hey, what’s wrong with your site?” question. Last but not least, please accept our apologies. We recently upgraded servers to make the site faster and more accessible, with great results (helps us do our job too), yet every so often an unpredictable trouble spot might erupt, so we appreciate your patience and support.
-Tracy Record and Patrick Sand, WSB owners/co-publishers
(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
1:33 PM: Shortly after announcing his budget proposal with a focus on school funding, Gov. Jay Inslee proceeded directly to a trailblazing school in West Seattle – K-5 STEM, at the Boren building on Delridge. He’s there now visiting with students (kindergarteners in our cameraphone photo) and staff, and we’ll have full coverage later.
ADDED 4:27 PM: No speeches – just the governor going room to room, talking to students, who were eager to capture the moment:
He took a turn launching a pulley-propelled rocket:
The governor is the son of a science teacher, he pointed out along the way, and grew up nearby – he talked about how his dad taught chemistry and biology at Chief Sealth and Garfield high schools.
A lesson in pollination, he observed, was comparable to what his dad had taught high-school kids, so STEM students are learning what wasn’t available till higher grades decades ago.
Enthusiasm abounded as the governor talked to students about their projects and asked if they were hoping to become scientists when they grow up:
He also spoke with STEM principal Dr. Shannon McKinney about her trailblazing new school, in its final months of its first year:
West Seattle’s school-board rep Marty McLaren – herself a former math teacher – joined the STEM tour too:
Just before heading to West Seattle, the governor had gone public with his budget blueprint, which you can see here. Note on page 11, one cornerstone directly relevant to his visit this afternoon:
Design statewide strategy to improve STEM education ($10.9M)*
P.S. More photos from the visit can be found on the K-5 STEM PTA’s website.
(October 2011 photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
In October 2011, the Washington Federal bank in Morgan Junction was held up by two masked robbers. Days later, as reported here, two men in their mid-60s were arrested in connection with that holdup and others in the region. Today, we get word from federal prosecutors that their trial is over and both were found guilty. Here’s the announcement:
Two men with a quarter century history of robbing banks, were found guilty late yesterday of a string of bank robberies in the Seattle area, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. The two men, 66-year-old JACK P. SEXTON and 65-year-old RONALD C. KETTELLS were convicted of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, three armed bank robberies, and using a firearm during a crime of violence. The jury deliberated for about a day before finding the men guilty following a seven-day trial. Both men face a mandatory minimum 57 years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik on June 21, 2013.
Thanks to Dave for forwarding the Car2Go newsletter that just arrived with confirmation of the West Seattle start date – next Monday. From the newsletter:
Effective Monday, April 1st, 2013, we will be expanding the car2go Home Area into West and South Seattle.
This newly expanded area will cover parts of South Seattle (including Beacon Hill, Hillman City, Mt Baker, Georgetown, SODO and Columbia City) and West Seattle (including the Junction, Alki, Seaview, North Admiral, Delridge, Seaview, High Point and Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal).
To keep up with the demand and the new expanded area, we will be adding an additional 100 car2go edition smart fortwo vehicles to our Seattle fleet. We will start to make these new vehicles available to customers beginning April 1st.
The new “home area” map (dark blue – that’s where cars can be parked, though they can be driven outside the area) announced by the car-sharing service is above.
(4755 Fauntleroy Way SW’s proposed northeast corner; rendering by Fuller Sears Architects)
Will the 4755 Fauntleroy Way megaproject finish the Design Review process tonight? It’s part of the highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
HOLY WEEK CHURCH SERVICES: As Easter approaches, some West Seattle churches have Maundy Thursday services today/tonight; our annual list includes information we have received/found about those as well as Good Friday/Easter events – find it here.
FIREFIGHTER TRAINING: In case you missed the alert here Wednesday afternoon, it’s under way right now at the Lowman Beach buildings that the county plans to demolish as part of its sewer-overflow-control project.
WEST SEATTLE LIONS CLUB: The special guest at today’s noon lunch meeting at the Senior Center of West Seattle (Oregon/California) will talk about the history of the Philippines.
ALKI ELEMENTARY CENTENNIAL – AND GROUP PHOTO! We’ve previewed this event a few times (including here), and now it’s time – Alki Elementary is celebrating its centennial, starting with a 5 pm group photo outside the school for past and present students and staff, and events indoors 6-8 pm. All welcome, of course, whether you have/had ties to the school or not.
COMPOST DEMONSTRATION: 6 pm with “Johnny Rotten” at the Community Orchard of West Seattle (north end of the South Seattle Community College [WSB sponsor] campus, 6000 16th SW) – details in the calendar listing.
VINTAGE DIY/NIGHT MARKET: 6-9 pm at Twilight in The Junction – details here.
THE WHALE TRAIL TALKS PORPOISES: The third in The Whale Trail‘s popular series of talks is at 6:30 pm at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California; WSB sponsor) – with researcher John Calambokidis talking about harbor porpoises in our regional waters. Here’s our original preview (also including other participants who’ll update you on our seas and shores); just note that ticket sales are over, so your $5 suggested donation will be accepted at the door.
4755 FAUNTLEROY WAY BACK TO DESIGN REVIEW: This is the 400-apartment, Whole Foods Market-including proposal for Fauntleroy/Alaska/40th SW, and tonight it’s going before the Southwest Design Review Board for what might be its final meeting in this stage of the process. The newest design proposal is outlined in this “packet” (note that it’s a big download, 92+ MB) – the rendering at the top of this story is what the architects envision for the northeast corner of the site at Fauntleroy/Alaska. Public comment is welcome, regarding the design, and you’re also welcome simply to observe – the meeting starts at 6:30 pm upstairs at the Senior Center of West Seattle (Oregon/California). Our previous coverage includes the project’s Design Commission review earlier this month, its second Early Design Guidance meeting last November, and its first EDG meeting last September.
(Tomatoes growing in classroom, 2012)
If you have 1-gallon plant pots to spare, you can help Arbor Heights Elementary teacher Marcia Ingerslev and her students. Most recently, we reported on Ms. Ingerslev’s initiation of the “100th Day of School Food Drive Challenge” which led to literally tons of food being donated to local food banks. Each year, she also helps her students grow tomato plants – some of which are given away so that local families can learn about growing their own healthy food. (Here’s our first report from last year.) An AH parent volunteer now tells us “Ms. I” and her students “are in desperate need of 1-gallon pots for this year’s tomato plants, which they grow from seeds. If you have any pots to spare, please drop them off in the lobby of the school in the box, or contact the school and Ms. I will try to arrange for a pick up. Her dream is to have 400 pots, so dropping pots off would be the preferred method!” The school is at 3701 SW 104th (map), 206-252-9250; Ms. Ingerslev’s e-mail is mmingerslev@seattleschools.org.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:34 AM: Just getting word via Twitter from KING 5’s Tracy Taylor of a “crash on northbound 99 near the West Seattle Bridge” – waiting to hear if that’s north of the bridge or south. That and other updates to come.
7:40 AM: Also via Twitter, Dan reports: “Appears to be a stalled truck at WS br onramp to NB 99, then a fender bender 500′ further N.”
(March 19th photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
Police are often heard to exhort neighbors to get involved – because they ultimately can have more effect on the crime situation in their neighborhood than can police. And so, neighbors from Highland Park’s 15th/Holden vicinity (map) came to the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting on Tuesday night to show their intensifying concern about a neighborhood trouble spot.
Ongoing problems started coming to something of a head on March 19th, when the big police response shown in our photo responded to what Lt. Pierre Davis told us at the time was a case of cell-phone theft – but at Tuesday night’s meeting, pressed for information by neighbors, precinct commander Capt. Joe Kessler admitted it was something more: “Ten police cars don’t show up for a stolen cell phone.” (Toplines in the police-report system later indicated the call also involved “threats.”)
(TK Snow, throwing a strike in the 2nd inning)
In the first of two games this week against Ingraham, West Seattle High School‘s varsity baseball team came away with a big win on Wednesday afternoon – a 10-0 shutout. The photos and report are from parent Greg Slader (thanks!) –
Three pitchers combined to shut out Ingraham. TK Snow, Kevin Cuddy, and Andy Snook held Ingraham hitless and combined for seven strikeouts. Spencer Elder went 2 for 3 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. Sam Hellinger had two hits and two RBI, as the defense was solid once again.
(Morgan making the play at second)
The two teams play again at 3:30 pm Friday at Hiawatha.
Quiet day in West Seattle Crime Watch – only one reader report today, and checking the police-response map, we note the incident markers are relatively sparse. Today’s lone reader report involves a suspected casing/prowling incident this morning in what we might describe as Upper Alki – read on:
Read More
(Photos courtesy Steph Brusig)
On the day the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments over whether to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act, hundreds of people rallied in downtown Seattle at noontime today to show support for marriage equality. West Seattleites participating included lead organizer Marley Blonsky, seen below during a TV interview, and wife Whitney Young, shown at her left.
West Seattleite Sarah Toce, editor-in-chief of The Seattle Lesbian, was among the speakers:
You can listen to audio of today’s Supreme Court session by going here.
If you’ve ever been a student or staffer at Alki Elementary – one more reminder that tomorrow (Thursday, March 28) is the big night – its centennial celebration, presented by the Alki PTA and the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. First big reminder is to be there no later than 5 pm so you can be part of the group photo outside the school’s main entrance; you’ll be able to sign up to get a copy of the photo via e-mail. And speaking of photos, bring any photos of yourself/the school from your days there; be ready to share stories if you wish (including in a video booth that will be set up!). Of course, you don’t have to have ties to Alki Elementary to attend – neighbors, community members, anyone and everyone interested is welcome too. After the 5 pm gathering for the photo, indoor activities are planned 6-8 pm. The SWSHS website has more info; if you want a reminder via Facebook, “join” the official event page here.
We’re welcoming new sponsor West Seattle Fight & Fitness, which has a special offer for you and is planning an open house this Saturday. Here’s what they would like you to know:
At West Seattle Fight and Fitness, we not only teach martial arts, we teach movement. We strive to connect the sense of effort and enjoyment, providing an environment that is physically demanding yet playful in nature. We operate out of a 4900-square-foot warehouse converted into a martial-arts and fitness facility, conveniently located on Delridge, with more than 1700 square feet of mat space. Needless to say, there is plenty of room to climb, jump, lift, roll, kick, punch, and most importantly, MOVE.
West Seattle Fight and Fitness offers classes in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ), also known as the “gentle art,” daily. It is a beautiful martial art that advocates self-defense and self-awareness. It uses leverage and efficiency of movement (minimal effort, maximum benefit) as the primary way of applying techniques, allowing every man, woman, and child the opportunity to excel. We also offer Tae Kwon Do (TKD), a relaxing martial art whose beauty is displayed through forms and powerful kicks. In our youth program, we immerse the children in 3 different skills: striking, takedowns, and the “ground” game. We believe that children need a variety of experiences that will lead to a solid development of fundamental motor skills and set the cornerstone for creating a future black belt. We create strong and hard-working kids who enjoy every second of our classes and also have the confidence to stand up for themselves and others.
All of our programs are great ways to stay in shape and push your body to new heights. We believe in community and teamwork, which is why we are proud members of the Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Association. Not sure if the martial arts are for you? Let us show you! We offer a 30-day free trial to give you the time you need to see the various benefits of what we do. Come see how West Seattle Fight & Fitness can change your life today!
Find West Seattle Fight and Fitness at 5050 Delridge Way, online at westseattleff.com, and on Facebook here. They’re having an open house this Saturday (March 30th), 11 am-3 pm.
We thank West Seattle Fight & Fitness 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.
Three West Seattle restaurant notes this afternoon:
CHOPSTIX SETS THE DATE: Though the “OPEN” sign was on this afternoon at the new Chinese restaurant Chopstix (in the former Ho-Win/Pan Africa Grill site at California/Juneau), it’s not open just yet, but owner Mark Lam just e-mailed us this news:
I am pleased to announce that Chopstix at 5905 California Ave SW will be taking orders on April 2nd at 11 am. First 20 dine-in customers will recieve a free appetizer of their choice. And first takeout or delivery order will be rewarded with one fried rice of their choice.
Our March 7th report on Chopstix is here.
BADA BISTRO ADDS HAPPY HOUR: One week after opening, the new Bada Bistro in the former Beachside Café/Alki Bakery space at 61st/Alki SW added happy hour as of today, 2-6 pm daily, per co-owner Sharon Bang. Lunch and brunch? Not yet, she says, but soon.
LA ROMANZA TO BE PART OF SEATTLE RESTAURANT WEEK: Proprietor Aimee Pellegrini of La Romanza Bistro Italiano (WSB sponsor) in The Junction sends word that La Romanza is participating in Seattle Restaurant Week, which actually will be happening over the course of two weeks, April 7-11 and 14-18. Speaking of courses, they’ll offer a three-course meal for $28 – see the menu here.
Before the county-purchased former residences across from Lowman Beach Park are demolished for a new sewage-storage tank, they’ll be a training site for Seattle firefighters – starting tomorrow. Here’s the announcement just in from the county:
Vacant properties scheduled for deconstruction in West Seattle will be used to provide Seattle Fire Department personnel with training opportunities on March 28 and 29.
King County acquired the properties in 2012 to site new facilities that will be built as part of the Murray Avenue Combined Sewer Overflow Control project.
Beginning Thursday, March 28, firefighters will conduct training drills in four buildings in the 7000 block of Beach Drive Southwest in Seattle between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Drills could include cutting into roofs and tearing down drywall inside the buildings. Doors and site fencing removed during these activities will be replaced at the conclusion of activities around 5 p.m. The site and training activities will be monitored by fire department leadership.
During the training exercises, neighbors can expect increased activity, the presence of emergency vehicles on Beach Drive Southwest, and a temporary reduction in parking near Lowman Beach Park. Traffic control measures and site security will be in place during training hours, and Seattle Fire Department personnel will clean up and secure the property after training is complete.
Additional information about the project is available at kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/Construction/Seattle/MurrayCSOStorage.aspx.
It’s come up multiple times in the past few days – from the WSB Forums to a question via text message just now – so we’re mentioning this in case you wondered too: There’s finally somewhat-official confirmation that the building going up behind the Delridge Arco station will be a Sherwin-Williams Paint store. When we published a quick item about the construction work two months ago, a few readers said that’s what they had heard, but the company’s PR people didn’t answer our query, and at the time, there was no evidence online. Now (in the form of a sign permit), there is.
For the first time since the Friday hearing at which a federal bankruptcy judge approved the sale of the former Allstar Fitness, we’ve heard from its new ownership. Sam Adams‘ company Oregon Athletic Clubs is renaming the club West Seattle Athletic Club, as we had reported after speaking with him March 10th, and we now know that company’s president is a former West Seattleite named Don Pak. He has just sent us this notice – which he says will be e-mailed to members as well as posted at the club – with information including the latest on what they are doing about prepaid memberships:
It is with great pleasure that we announce the following:
West Seattle Athletic Club has acquired Allstar Fitness and we are honored to serve the West Seattle community. West Seattle Athletic club (formerly All-Star Fitness) is the newest addition to the Oregon Athletic Club Family, the fastest growing chain of premier destination health clubs in the Pacific Northwest.
What does this all mean to you as a former All Star member?
There will not be any interruptions with your current monthly membership or changes to your monthly rates! This means you can carry on using this great facility as you have always done while also taking advantage of the new upgrades to equipment and services that we have planned.
What do we have planned for your club?
In the near future we will be replacing equipment, increasing services, and refreshing/updating the building. As a part of our new Group exercise (GX) programs, we will be adding classes from the world renowned Les Mills programs! We’re not just focusing on the adults either. At the new OAC, we want to continue and expand our youth programs to provide more options for the entire family! We will be adding amenities to the kids club such as well. The new OAC will be implementing the kidcheck software program to help ensure a safe and easy check in process. Take a look… http://www.kidcheck.com. Our goal is to provide an outstanding member experience to all of our members.
What about pre-paid memberships?
Great News, as promised, The West Seattle Athletic Club will be honoring all prepaid membership that expires on or before December 31st 2014.
If you have a membership that expires after December 31st 2014, please contact us at memberservicesWSAC@oaclubs.com. If we do not hear from you, a representative will be in contact with you to discuss your membership on an individual basis.
What happens next?
To use your new West Seattle Athletic Club membership just come into the club, update your billing and contact information, and enjoy your local neighborhood club. You will be issued a new membership card and hopefully meet some of the new staff members that will be here to help you reach your fitness goals.
We are thrilled to personally welcome you to the new West Seattle Athletic Club and are excited to provide you with a world-class experience. If you have any questions regarding the transition, please contact your club general manager Ramon Vasquez. He is at the club or can be reached at ramon@oaclubs.com. We would like to thank you for being a member.
Yours in Health,
The Oregon Athletic Club team!
This is the latest chapter in what began when the former owners’ company West Seattle Fitness filed Chapter 10 bankruptcy, quietly, last August. After tips from members, we first reported on the situation in November. The club was put up for sale in February, and the sale was approved by U.S. District Court Judge Karen Overstreet last Friday (see the signed court document here). WSB ongoing coverage dating back to November is archived here (reverse chronological order).
When community groups were originally briefed two years ago on upgrades for West Seattle’s Fire Station 36 – on the north end of Delridge, alongside the bridge – they were told the station’s operations would remain on the site while the work was done. (Here’s our February 2011 report from the briefing at the North Delridge Neighborhood Council.) With the work now months away, we’ve learned that plan has changed, and Station 36 will now be moving into temporary quarters near Harbor Avenue and SW Florida (map), on Port of Seattle property across from the Harbor Ave. 7-11, as described by city spokesperson Julie Moore, who explains that those 2011 briefings preceded design work on the upgrades:
Early in the design process, it became apparent that it was not optimal to have the firefighters and the contractor on site at the same time. We decided that locating the temporary station away from the current site during construction would have the least impact on Seattle Fire Department operations, which of course, is the priority. Having the firefighters off site during construction also reduces construction time. … We will build a temporary station that includes two trailers and a tent, similar to what we have done for other temporary stations around the city.
The $3.6 million Station 36 upgrade includes earthquake-safety features and additional building space. According to the city’s latest schedule update for Fire Levy projects including this one, it’s expected to go out to bid in about two weeks, and construction is likely to start in late summer, lasting a little more than a year.
West Seattle has three other fire-station projects in the works – upgrades for Highland Park’s Station 11 (scheduled to start construction in November) and Admiral’s Station 29 (no date yet since it’s in pre-design), and a 2015 rebuild for Station 32 in The Triangle (here’s our recent report on that).
If you or someone you know was part of the West Seattle High School Class of 1963, this short announcement just out of the WSB inbox is for you!
Please join us at West Seattle High School, Friday evening, June 7, at 5 pm to celebrate our 50th Reunion.
Also, register in advance for a fantastic buffet dinner at the Rainier Golf and Country Club, Saturday, June 8 at 6 pm.
For registration forms, contact jelmer63@comcast.net
(Early-morning Lincoln Park fungi, photographed Monday by Machel Spence)
From the (frequently updated!) WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
MARRIAGE EQUALITY RALLY DOWNTOWN: As noted here yesterday, West Seattleite Marley Blonsky is lead organizer for a rally at the federal courthouse at noon today, meant to show coast-to-coast support for same-sex marriage in light of the marriage-equality case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE: 7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club (12th/Holden). Agenda details in our calendar listing.
POEMS AND STORIES: The monthly readings/open-mike event at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) starts at 7 pm – details at poetrybridge.net.
3RD WEEK FOR ‘NEXT FALL’: Been to ArtsWest‘s latest production yet? Next chance is 7:30 tonight.
FULL MOON: Per this month’s edition of “Skies Over West Seattle.” Moonrise is 8:29 pm, per the WSB Weather page, where you can check moonrise/moonset, sunrise/sunset, tides, and of course forecasts, any time.
Saturday, May 11th is the ninth annual edition of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – one day, hundreds of sales around the peninsula, fun times meeting neighbors and new friends and engaging in the timeless practice of person-to-person recycling (for a modest price). In case you missed the earlier announcements, registration will open next Monday, April 1st – some people like to sign up early and commit themselves to that first big garage/yard sale of spring. Never too soon to start sorting your stuff for your sale if you’re planning one – then, watch our channels Monday for the announcement that we’re ready to start registration: the official WSCGSD website, the WSCGSD Facebook page, the WSB FB page, the WSB Twitter feed, and of course, here!
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:51 AM: Reminder of two downtown alerts first mentioned in yesterday’s roundup: A crowd at KeyArena 9 am-2:30 pm for “We Day,” morning, and a funeral procession for a Seattle firefighter from Fremont into downtown, 11:30-1 pm.
7:36 AM: No West Seattle Water Taxi effects that we know of, but if you’re among our Vashon-commuter readership, the VASHON WT run at 8:15 is canceled (along with the 7:40 am run from Seattle) – repairs needed.
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