West Seattle Friday: Gardening, gear swap, ‘Rumors’ opens, traffic
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.
Late-night photo break: Owl; Stennis; Lafayette science fair
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
Update: No one hurt in Harbor Ave condo-unit fire
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.
U.S. Army captain visits The Mount for a special flag salute
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.
West Seattle Crime Watch: Truck stolen; car found
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.”
Update: West Seattle Montessori ‘flash mobs’ for Japan relief
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.”
West Seattle Junction announces ‘Tax-Free Day for All’ April 16th
(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!
Robbery, burglary, gun charges in West Seattle dispensary stickup
(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):
Read More
West Seattle Thursday: Design Review, benefit ‘flash mob’…
(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.
Also from Highland Park Action Committee: No name change
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).
WS school notes: Backpack drive; Water Week update; Denny dance
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.
@ Highland Park Action Committee: Park update; new sidewalks
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.
Update: Woman, toddler hit by car in Admiral District
(Photo substituted at 5:22 pm for previous cameraphone picture, same angle)
4:24 PM: According to the Seattle Fire Department via Twitter, a “toddler and adult female” were hit by a car at California/Lander. We are on our way to the scene; two medic units were called out. That’s the Hiawatha/Admiral Safeway/Lafayette/Admiral Junction corner. Police are controlling traffic in the area and north to Admiral Way as well – avoid the area.
4:31 PM UPDATE: Medics on scanner say the toddler is a 22-month-old boy, was hit by car going maybe 10-15 mph, was thrown into the air, but is conscious and crying, will be taken to Harborview Medical Center. We don’t know the woman’s age but she is also being taken to Harborview.
4:42 PM UPDATE: We have just spoken to police and fire. The injuries to the woman and toddler are NOT believed to be life-threatening. The driver did stop and has been talking with police. Traffic is now being allowed slowly through the area.
Regulating medical-marijuana dispensaries ‘public-safety issue,’ says city attorney
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The need for a state law to regulate medical-marijuana dispensaries is “a public safety issue, not a civil-liberties issue.”
That’s what Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes told WSB this afternoon, as we sought a followup conversation regarding three recent events: First, the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council discussed dispensaries last week, after a fleeting report that one might move into a Delridge Way storefront; then, a West Seattle dispensary was targeted by armed robbers last Saturday night; and third, a committee chaired by West Seattle State Rep. Eileen Cody is considering the bill, SB 5073, that would create the regulation Seattle and other city leaders are hoping for. (The online legislative record doesn’t reflect this so far, but Holmes said his understanding was that the committee voted narrowly in favor of the bill today, with amendments he was waiting to hear about.)
We contacted Holmes because a policy expert from his office, John Schochet, had spoken at last week’s district-council meeting, declaring that dispensaries are “technically not legal” and saying that if the state doesn’t take action, Seattle will have to do something.
What would that something be? we asked Holmes today. The only thing he could be clear on is that inaction wouldn’t be an option – though it’s what’s being (not) done right now.
“We need to do something. Right now these are felony operations,” Holmes said, and “allowing them to continue proliferating” – he estimates there are 30 in Seattle – is not in anyone’s best interest.
Yet moving to shut them all down isn’t in anyone’s best interest either, he contends, since that would take a massive amount of law-enforcement time and jail space.
Read More
West Seattle Crime Watch: Tell the city about your neighborhood
Just got word of a new city “public safety survey,” and we are going through it even as we type this. First thing we noticed – not all West Seattle neighborhoods are listed in the first question about where you live (Morgan Junction and Gatewood are missing), so choose whatever’s closest. Otherwise, if you are concerned at all about crime and safety – and even if you feel your neighborhood is the safest place anywhere – there are a lot of good meaty questions to answer, about both your perception of crime/safety where you live, and your perception of Seattle police. The survey is here: seattle.gov/publicsafetysurvey – for an explanation, click ahead:Read More
15th Annual Chief Sealth Baseball Spaghetti Dinner & Auction April 1st
We’re all invited to the 15th Annual Chief Sealth Baseball Spaghetti Dinner & Auction
Friday, April 1, 2011 at 5:30pm
Casual/Festive Attire
Chief Sealth International High School in the Galleria
2600 SW Thistle Street
Seattle, WA 98106
Please join 250+ of our supporters, parents/guardians, teachers, staff, alumni, and West Seattle community members in supporting the Chief Sealth Baseball program by attending the 15th Annual Chief Sealth Baseball Spaghetti Dinner & Auction. The evening includes a silent auction, dinner, dessert auction, and live auction.
This special event provides critical revenue to help fund the school and summer baseball programs.
You can help today! Visit the auction website.
– Purchase a ticket – just $10 per person!
– Make a cash donation – can’t attend, but want to help? Make a cash donation with your credit card
– Donate an auction item – it’s fast and easy to donate online
Auction website: https://csptsa.ejoinme.org/Sealthbaseballauction
For more information, contact Beth Britt, 2011 Baseball Auction Chair by email at bethbritt@comcast.net or by phone (206) 854-4589
“Forch On Your Porch” at Beveridge Place Pub March 24th
We received a note from Bobby Forch who is running for city council. He is doing a meet and greet Thursday evening.
My name is Bobby Forch and I am running for city council. I have recently started doing meet and greets across the City of Seattle and this week’s is in West Seattle. I plan to visit every neighborhood throughout the campaign to talk about issues with voters. It is this Thursday March 24th at 7pm at the Beveridge Place Pub 6413 California Ave SW Seattle, WA 98136.
It is just a drop-by type of event and people are welcome to come any time from 7 pm to about 8 pm.
Best,
Bobby Forch
| Comments Off on West Seattle Friday: Gardening, gear swap, ‘Rumors’ opens, traffic