West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
Exactly one month from today, Zippy’s Giant Burgers is scheduled to open in its new White Center location (9614 14th SW, February photo at right). WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz – who broke the story last month – talked with Zippy’s owner Blaine “Zippy” Cook this morning, and he says he’s optimistic they’ll make the target date – they’re continuing to work on the new space even as they move toward the scheduled April 16 closing date at their original Highland Park location. (If you’re just coming in on the story – they’re moving because the building’s future is uncertain, after its previous owner lost it to foreclosure). Deanie reports that Zippy’s plans to keep all the trademark nuances of its current location, with new fun features. Cook told her that the “bun wall” – an image suggesting a sesame-seed bun – will be painted this weekend at the new location, along with “soda-pop graphics” in the (much larger) bathrooms. The counters and tables will have the familiar charcoal-boomerang surfaces, and there will be booths too, all atop a newly polished concrete floor. In addition, an alcove will house pinball machines, and an old-time photo booth is planned. Meantime, on closing day, April 16th, Zippy’s plans to keep serving until the food literally runs out, and then will race into the finishing touches till the scheduled April 25th reopening.
No new cracks, no new settlement. That’s the bottom line to last weekend’s Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection, WSDOT says today. Here’s the long version:Read More
Taking laps on a flat track, at the Southwest Athletic Complex in the sunshine. Sound like a great thing to do in the midst of midday sunshine like this? Maybe – until you realize the Chief Sealth International High School Walk for Water involves carrying gallons of water, to get a bit of a feel for what people all over the world have to do to get water – carrying heavy containers for miles, from the water source to home. The walk is under way for a few more hours, as the World Water Week “ideas festival” concludes today. Faculty’s joining in, too:
On the side of the track, where athletes would usually gear up for a game, the students are helping each other put on their water-laden packs:
Across the street, inside the school, this day has a special schedule. Students have been rotating through activities including speakers in the auditorium and Little Theater (among them, reps from the King County Wastewater Treatment Division, Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, National Wildlife Federation, and Gates Foundation), s well as events in classrooms, including a Water Taste Test. This concludes the “local ideas festival” that Sealth senior Molly Freed and social-studies teacher Noah Zeichner spearheaded after they were chosen to participate in the Aspen Ideas Festival last year – on condition they organize and present a “local ideas festival” back home. The week began with an event open to everyone in the community, with high-profile speakers (here’s our video of the entire event, plus a full writeup).
(One of the “massing” graphics from the meeting presentation)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Harbor Properties‘ next West Seattle development Nova (36th/Snoqualmie) stirred little controversy as it sailed through “early design guidance” last night, at the Southwest Design Review Board‘s first meeting in seven months (if there’s no project to review, they don’t meet).
However, a revelation about recent city code changes loomed large: The fact that Nova and other developments in certain areas of the city could be built with no on-site parking at all (though Harbor is currently looking at providing .6 of a space per unit, about the same as its nearby Link and Mural [WSB sponsors] developments).
“When did (the rule) change?” asked Triangle property owner Jim Sweeney, saying that he believes few are aware of the changes.
Here’s the answer we found afterward:Read More
(HELICOPTER NOTE: The Channel 7 chopper some have asked about in the 11 am hour was shooting this scene.)
Close call for a Gatewood family this morning! Mark Brent tweeted a photo after that tree fell this morning on the back of his house; we went over a short time ago to get the photo you see above, and to find out more about what happened. Mark told us his wife was inside that part of the house when she heard a noise – and suddenly, the tree came crashing down. Neither she nor anyone else was hurt. They’re currently working to find somebody to come over and take care of the tree; he says there are a couple other nearby trees that are of concern too.
The King County Medical Examiner says the toxicology reports have come back in the case of Jeremy Peck, the West Seattle man who was the subject of a large volunteer search after he was last seen in the Admiral District early December 24th, until he was found dead when his body washed up on a Bainbridge Island beach on January 19th.
KCME program manager Greg Hewett told WSB Thursday afternoon that the toxicology reports showed nothing that would have solved the mystery, so the cause is classified as “undetermined” and will remain that way until and unless some information comes to their attention suggesting otherwise. That information would not come from further analysis of the remains, Hewett said, explaining that there is no more physical testing that can be done. After speaking with Hewett, we checked with Seattle Police; Detective Mark Jamieson in the media-response unit told WSB this morning that because of the inconclusive report, the case will remain classified as a “suspicious death” till further notice, which is how it has been classified since the body was found. “We don’t know what caused his death, ergo that makes it suspicious,” explains Det. Jamieson. If you have any information about Peck’s disappearance and death, contact police.
Happy Friday! Just a few highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar (and thanks to T. Doherty for the pieris photo below, taken in the Alki area):
OPENING NIGHT FOR ‘RUMORS’: Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) presents Neil Simon‘s “Rumors” this weekend and next at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, schedule and tickets here
WEST SEATTLE GARDEN CLUB: Meets today at Daystar, 2615 SW Barton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with today’s meeting including Karen Summers from Cascade Cactus and Succulent Society, speaking at 1 pm, discussing the use of succulents and cacti in outdoor landscapes in the Seattle area. Donation $5; more information, 206-932-2540.
SEALTH’S WORLD WATER WEEK WRAPUP: As the World Water Week “local ideas festival” concludes at Chief Sealth International High School, students participate in a “Walk for Water” throughout the day.
GEAR SWAP DROPOFF: Skis, boards, boots, poles welcome for Mountain to Sound Outfitters‘ Saturday-Sunday gear swap – VFW Hall on SW Alaska, dropoff 4-7 pm today (details here)
BENEFIT WINE TASTING: Bin 41 wine shop in The Junction is again donating its $5 tasting fee tonight to Japan earthquake/tsunami relief, 5:30-7 pm, Woodinville Winery/Patterson Cellars featured tonight.
TRAFFIC ALERTS TONIGHT: Not in West Seattle but close enough they might affect you: 1st Avenue South north is scheduled to again close overnight at Spokane Street, starting at 8 pm; then starting at 11, on the north end of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, SDOT is scheduled to close one northbound lane of SR 99 through the Battery Street Tunnel and the Western Avenue on-ramp for maintenance work, till 5 am Saturday.
Last weekend, an illegally dumped mattress/box spring set was the discovery that puzzled Fairmount Ravine cleanup volunteers the most. This morning, mattresses materialized on the other side of West Seattle, according to the photo and report shared by Pete:
Woke up to find a truckload of mattresses and box springs dumped & blocking the alley between 13th & 14th on the south side of SW Holden Street (aka West Seattle’s Worst Alley). Report filed with the city.
Here’s how to report illegal dumping.
Photos to share before the night’s out: The owl in a Lincoln Park tree is courtesy of Patrick McCaffrey – thanks! Patrick says he’s been “getting to know a growing group of photographers, young and old, at Lincoln Park who greatly enjoy (the park’s) birds.”
Next, thanks to Bob A, who captured the USS John C. Stennis this morning from his Admiral backyard, as the carrier passed West Point, headed northward, out of Puget Sound:
That’s NOT the same carrier that came home to Everett this morning; that was the USS Abraham Lincoln. The Stennis left Bremerton for pilot-qualifying; here’s a story from the Kitsap Sun.
And Luckie shared photos from tonight’s Lafayette Elementary Science Fair – here we have a “pneumatic kid elevator”:
“Brought to you by the folks behind Skeleton Theatre,” she adds. Click ahead for three more!Read More
7:10 PM: We’re on our way to a Harbor SW condo building in the 1200 block (map), where first, according to the scanner, a fireplace fire was reported – then “some extension” was discovered, so the fire response was upgraded. More to come.
7:15 PM UPDATE: WSB contributor Katie Meyer says scanner traffic indicates the fire is “tapped”; we’re just arriving at the scene and the response is still a big one, with a ladder to the roof.
7:25 PM UPDATE: Traffic in the area is one lane, alternating directions, according to our crew at the scene.
7:57 PM UPDATE: Now traffic is open both ways. The fire is definitely out, not huge, no injuries (just confirmed this with SFD on scene); we’re still there in hopes of finding out what exactly happened.
8:35 PM UPDATE: SFD says this unit had the last wood-burning fireplace in the building, and something in the chimney, maybe buildup, caught fire. The unit had to be ventilated through a hole in the roof, so until that’s fixed, the unit residents won’t be able to go back inside.
The Pledge of Allegiance had a special meaning at Providence Mount St. Vincent this afternoon. U.S. Army Captain Mike Farrell brought that flag to The Mount, before returning to Afghanistan, where that flag flew during his last mission, on his helicopter. His fiancee (holding the flag, at right) Colleen Cremin is a Mount staffer (as is Jessie Fletcher, holding the flag’s left side), but that’s not why he brought the flag there – Capt. Farrell has been corresponding with The Mount resident Gwen Schwenzer:
Gwen and other residents had sent Christmas cards and letters to designated military pen pals, and she wound up corresponding with Capt. Farrell, who’s with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division, and is scheduled to return to Bagram, Afghanistan, in two weeks.
Again today, we have a new auto-theft report, and a followup from a stolen car’s owner:
First: That’s Josh‘s pickup, and he is hoping you have seen it:
It was stolen from my house in Highland Park Monday night (3-21). Sometime between 7 pm and 8:30 pm someone stole the truck from in front of my house and I am hoping they drove a short distance and possibly ditched the truck in West Seattle. The canopy and lumber rack are custom made and very easy to spot, I am hoping someone in West Seattle might recognize the truck. … 1988 Toyota 2WD extended cab truck – black. The canopy and lumber rack are custom built of bright silver aluminum. The front driver side fender has a little body damage and back window of the canopy has a NPR sticker. The plate number is B08669S.
And one day after we published a stolen-car report from James, he says his Honda was found near 28th and Roxbury – a couple miles from 35th/Holly, where it was stolen – the roof rack and stereo are gone, he says, but “they left all the audio books, and the hats and the tire chains. They left the pound of organic apples and the 10 Clif bars i had. Which goes to show, these criminals left the nutritious food, and the educational books behind, just to sell a few items that may make them money. Which I can only speculate will not feed them, nor will it help them in their future.”
Just four months after a well-attended community celebration in honor of her 90th birthday, legendary Delridge community activist Vivian McLean has died. That’s according to Brita Long, new chair of the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council, who announced it to PP neighbors a short time ago and gave us permission to report it here. She says Ms. McLean’s family is asking for privacy right now, and will announce memorial details when arrangements are finalized. Ms. McLean’s legacies are many; we mentioned a few in our report on last November’s celebration, including her role as a co-founder of Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association. And Vivian McLean Place at 5423 Delridge Way SW, which includes housing as well as the Delridge Library, was named in her honor.
1:20 PM: We’re in The Junction, one of two locations where West Seattle Montessori/West Seattle Academy (WSB sponsor) students are collecting donations (and some are playing music too!) for Red Cross relief to Japan, till 2 pm. You’ll find them on all four corners of “Walk All Ways” at California/Alaska – also at Alki.
ADDED 1:46 PM: At Alki, they’re right at 61st/Alki, at the staircase by Statue of Liberty Plaza:
5:16 PM NOTE: We checked with teacher Matt Evans, who organized this, to ask about the end result. He says, “We’ll be counting the donations in the morning and I’ll let you know what we collected at each location as soon as it’s all totaled up early tomorrow. Thanks again, it was a great experience for our students and a huge success for our community and Japan.”
We’ve been covering the story of Lafayette Elementary raising money – and matching a city grant – to improve the playground, which serves West Seattle’s most populous grade school. Today, students are voting on which “big toy” they would like to see on the improved playground; tonight during Lafayette’s Science Fair (6:30 pm) parents will get to vote. (Thanks to Lafayette parent “Luckie” for the photo and vote update – the project also has a website, here!)
Thanks to the Arbor Heights Elementary School parent who shared a photo of a special visit by reps from the WNBA champion Seattle Storm – including Doppler! – and reports, “The students went wild over the visit, which included talking about good nutrition and being active.” We are told that parent volunteer Meri Patton arranged for the visit. The team gets back into action in May (here’s their schedule).
(WSB photo from 4/17/2010 – Brunette Mix [WSB sponsor] is participating again this year)
Yes, it’s not technically a tax-free day – but it’s definitely a DISCOUNT day. On this special date in The Junction, participating merchants pay your sales tax, so you get a discount of at least 9.5 percent. The West Seattle Junction Association has just announced this year’s version of what is becoming an annual tradition – on Saturday, April 16th, 10 am-6 pm, 37 merchants are signed up (see the list here). When you go to The Junction that day, look for the red balloons, which mean you’ll find “all-day tax-free shopping,” as the official announcement puts it, “as well as deep discounts on a wide range of goods and services.” Follow the list link to see some of those discounts!
(11:32 AM UPDATE: We have added the KCPAO’s news release, including information on charges against the youngest suspect, to the end of this story. In it, Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg makes the same points that Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes made in a story published on WSB yesterday – he says regulation is vital, and without it, the current unregulated proliferation “invites violence”)
ORIGINAL 10:01 AM STORY: The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed charges in the Saturday night armed robbery at West Seattle medical-marijuana dispensary G.A.M.E. Collective. We are expecting additional information from KCPAO this morning but so far, court documents obtained online indicate the adult suspect, 24-year-old Donshae Dwayne Sims of Northgate (state Department of Corrections photo at right), is charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, and first-degree unlawful firearm possession (he’s a convicted felon, from an earlier assault case). The older juvenile suspect, 16-year-old Malik Heckard of Des Moines, is charged as an adult – which is why we are publishing his name, though otherwise we generally will not use juvenile suspects’ names – with first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, and second-degree unlawful firearm possession. Information on the other juvenile suspect’s status is not available through the online court-records system, so we are waiting to hear from prosecutors.
Accompanying the charging documents is more information on how investigators say the heist unfolded (beyond what was contained in probable-cause documents made public on Monday and transcribed in our followup):
Tomorrow is the final day of West Seattle High School senior Kellen Gearon‘s project to collect donations for foster kids via Treehouse. We first reported on his project two weeks ago; he asked us to share this update with you:
Thank you to everyone who donated to my Drive for Foster Kids. I have received some great items. Friday March 25th is the deadline and there is still time for you to help me put a smile on the face of many foster kids in our community. Your generous donation of new or gently worn clothing can make that possible.
Thank you,
Kellen Gearon
As noted in the original story, dropoff spots for clothes, shoes, books, school supplies, toys, etc., are:
Menashe and Sons Jewelers: 4532 California Ave SW
West Seattle High School: 3000 California Ave SW
Or shop the Treehouse donation catalog at http://www.treehouseforkids.org/make-gift (put Kellen Gearon on the “Drive Host” line at check-out)
(Top photo by JayDee; below right photo by Lisa Stencel)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
FLASH MOB TO HELP JAPAN: West Seattle Academy (WSB sponsor) students plan “flash mob” activities in The Junction and on Alki this afternoon, starting around 1 pm, to raise money for Japan, early word here.
1ST DESIGN REVIEW MEETING FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT: The Southwest Design Review Board meets for new Harbor Properties proposal in The Triangle north of the motel (here’s our latest story with the info-packet link), 6:30 pm, Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon).
WEST SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: Their speaker for the lunch meeting at West Seattle Golf Course today is Seattle School Board president Steve Sundquist; registration at 11:15, meeting at 11:30, call (206) 935-3216 to see if reservations for lunch are still available.
PETITION DRIVE: Marijuana-legalization I-1149 supporters are offering petitions to anyone in West Seattle who wants to circulate them, available at West Seattle Library starting at 10 am.
COOKING CLASS: “Jewish Family Favorites” class with Becky Selengut at PCC West Seattle (WSB sponsor), 6:30 pm, class info here; check with the store to see if there’s still room.
‘DISTRACTED’: Performances continue with tonight’s 7:30 pm show at ArtsWest in The Junction – full details and ticket-buying link here.
The debate/discussion continued across three monthly meetings, and last night Highland Park Action Committee made its decision: They’re not changing the name. It had been suggested that the name wasn’t welcoming enough, and didn’t reflect the fact HPAC is a community council with many functions and interests. An online survey yielded 100 responses, and 79 of them, it was announced last night, were in favor of change. But of the 25-plus people who showed up for the final deciding vote at the meeting, a majority wanted to keep HPAC – so it stays – with pro-name arguments including its history and the regional fame the group attained for its successful fight against a potential new jail. At left is HPAC co-chair Billy Stauffer with a list of names that were voted on as possible alternatives: HP Community Group, HP Alliance of Communities, HP Neighborhood Association, HP Community Association, HP Alliance of Neighbors, HP Area Connection. Shortly after the vote, HPAC also decided to keep its pre-meeting potluck. So you’re welcome to come, and bring something, at 6:30 on the next fourth Wednesday – April 27 – before the 7 pm business meeting (always held at Highland Park Improvement Club – which is both the name of the historic 90-year-old building and a separate community organization whose membership somewhat overlaps HPAC, as noted in the name discussion too).
Three school notes from soon-to-be-co-located Sealth and Denny:
BACKPACK DRIVE: The Chief Sealth International HIgh School PTSA is seeking donations to help them buy 40 backpacks for students who need them. They’re matching donations and ask you to chip in by going here.
WORLD WATER WEEK, TWO DAYS TO GO: After Monday’s big event (WSB coverage here), the World Water Week “local ideas festival” has continued with activities for students and staff at Sealth. Social-studies teacher Noah Zeichner, whose Aspen Ideas Festival trip with student Molly Freed led to WWW’s creation, shares photos and updates:
Students sold WWW T-shirts and water bottles again during last night’s Futures Night at Sealth. Today, storyteller/water activist Peter Donaldson spoke to an all-school assembly:
Tomorrow, Sealth students learn about world water scarcity and how it relates to their lives; Friday is the Walk for Water.
DENNY STUDENTS AND ALVIN AILEY DANCE THEATER: When you hear “Alvin Ailey,” you likely think “modern dance” – but this unique program that Denny International Middle School students are enjoying this week has to do with a lot more than movement:
At Southwest Community Center, about 60 Denny students are participating in a workshop this week with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater reps, specifically exploring Ailey’s “Revelations” (in honor of its 50th anniversary). And it’s not just about movement, we’re told – in fact, the students were seated for a lesson when we were allowed in for photos. They are using “Revelations” as an “inspirational framework for an in-depth study of language arts, social studies and dance.” The Ailey troupe members are in town to perform this Friday-Sunday at the 5th Avenue Theater downtown.
We’re at the monthly Highland Park Action Committee meeting, where local residents have just received an update about the West Seattle Reservoir-covering park project. Virginia Hassinger from Seattle Parks says construction will not start this year. Hassinger notes that the park’s design-development detail isn’t even fully finalized yet. And when asked about the possible P-Patch/community garden on the park site, Hassinger explained that’s not currently funded – the neighborhood would have to get together and seek funding, for example, to make it happen.
But one of the reasons it’s taking a while has a silver lining – Hassinger says some city changes since the inception of the project mean the nearby neighborhood will get some long-requested sidewalk work: The south side of SW Cloverdale between 8th and 9th will get a 6-foot concrete sidewalk, says SDOT‘s Douglas Cox, explaining that the estimated cost of nearly $100,000 (for 275 feet of sidewalk) will be funded by some Bridging the Gap money (the park project itself is being paid for out of Parks and Green Spaces Levy money). Attendees are saying there are still a few other improvements desperately needed for traffic/pedestrian safety in the area, and they’re being urged to fight for that by contacting city leaders. More from the meeting, coming up later. One more P.S. HPAC’s Dan Mullins brought up some pothole problems in the area, and Cox reminded everyone they can call 206-684-ROAD, or report them online here.
| 24 COMMENTS