West Seattle, Washington
18 Monday
Don’t let the chance to vote for president, governor, and big ballot measures – marriage equality, taxation, charter schools, marijuana among them – pass you by. TOMORROW is the deadline for registering online to vote – or going online to update your information; the mail-in deadline is already past. Here’s where to start; here’s the King County voter-registration-info page.
For those tracking the medical-marijuana business in West Seattle – another dispensary opened this weekend, weeks before a statewide vote might change the way marijuana is bought and sold: We’ve lost count of the dispensaries in West Seattle but got a tip about Greenlight Care Center, in the former Dollarwise building at 9211 Delridge Way SW. We photographed its signage on Friday and noticed an added “open” sign late today. It’s one of four within a few blocks of each other on Delridge and on 16th, both sides of the city/county line. And it opens as city leaders start a push for new rules regulating medical-marijuana businesses, even as state Initiative 502 goes before voters in four weeks. (Our news partners at The Seattle Times took a look at the medical-marijuana business citywide in this story published today.)
This time next Sunday – the sun will be setting, literally and figuratively, on the 10th annual Fauntleroy Fall Festival, after the heart of Fauntleroy spends four hours as the epicenter of fun in West Seattle. The festival sprawls across and through the Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) and Fauntleroy Church, their shared parking lot, and the grounds of/interior of Fauntleroy Schoolhouse across the street, 2-6 pm next Sunday (October 14th), 9100 block of California SW (map). The full schedule isn’t out yet but we know some popular features (2011 WSB coverage here) will be back – like the cake walk (you’re invited to make and donate one!) and performances (Dance! West Seattle tells us they’ll be on at 4). See you there!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“I cannot describe to you how much we want you to be our advocate.”
West Seattle’s elected representative on the Seattle School Board, Marty McLaren, heard that plea and a whole lot more during her two-hour community-conversation meeting on Saturday.
Before the meeting was over, she in turn asked community members to help her advocate for them – and that resulted in this whiteboard list of priorities suggested by the 20 or so who came to her meeting:
(Click image to see larger view)
The urgency of a priority list comes from the fact that within days, McLaren and other board members are expected to see the next draft of the Seattle Public Schools BEX IV levy. It doesn’t go to voters till February, but the board is supposed to finalize the levy proposal by early November.
While the group in attendance on Saturday was dominated by parents of students at K5 STEM at Boren – who are suddenly in turmoil over district administrators’ repeated refusal to say where they eventually will be housed, or even whether they are a “school” or instead a “program” to potentially be dispersed among campuses – the priorities were for the entire peninsula.
“This is so exciting,” McLaren enthused by meeting’s end.
(Video and photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
In that quick clip by WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams, you hear Marie LeBaron explain the West Seattle Cardboard Challenge – which became reality just about a week after she put out the call for venue ideas.
The Kenney (WSB sponsor) was the place, as Marie (above) announced, and local kids were the stars:
From left, that’s Patrick O’Leary, 8; Matt LeBaron, 9; and Ruben Smith, 7, checking out the puzzle game “Skittle Riddle.” See more, ahead!
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents of note 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?” :
*Officers visited a residence in the 1200 block of Alki Ave. SW late last Sunday after several citizens reported that a woman was being assaulted. The boyfriend was booked into King County Jail for investigation of domestic-violence assault. The intoxicated victim denied that anything had become physical, explaining that the pair had simply been squabbling over NFL games and “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.”
Four more summaries ahead:Read More
Fall is when the City Council goes through the city budget, taking a look at what the mayor has proposed, taking citizen comment, and coming up with final proposals. For an inside look at how the decisions are made and how best to let councilmembers know what you think, join the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce for lunch this Wednesday at The Kenney (WSB sponsor), 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW, 11:30 am, to hear from – and talk with – this year’s Budget Committee chair, Councilmember Tim Burgess. You don’t need to be a Chamber member to go; you do need to RSVP, here.
Thanks to Greg for sharing that Saturday night sunset photo of an unidentified artist on the beach at Lincoln Park. If you haven’t gone out to watch one of these spectacular late-summer sunsets in person, tonight might be the night. Things are fairly quiet on the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar but before the day is too much further long, here are a few notes:
VIADUCT TO REOPEN BY 4 PM: The Highway 99 closure continues but WSDOT says it’ll be open again by 4 – we’ll publish a separate update if it happens sooner. There are currently no other closures listed for this week.
EXTRA WATER TAXI RUNS FOR SOUNDERS GAME: If you’re going, you can go by water – see the aqua-shaded extra runs added to tonight’s schedule.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm as always at 44th/Alaska. New this weekend – raw-goat-milk cheeses from Mountain Lodge Farm.
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS: Along with services at Alki UCC and St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (as previewed here last week), St. John’s is offering its traditional public event in the West Seattle High School parking lot at noon.
CROP WALK TO FIGHT HUNGER: The annual fundraising walk along Alki leaves Alki UCC at 1:30 pm – details here.
LIVE MUSIC – IN THE AFTERNOON! Two events – Sunny McGhee and Steve Norris perform at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm, and at Skylark Café and Club, there’s a pancake-party fundraiser at 3 pm (and continuing into the night) for KSUB Radio.
SUNDAY RIBS RETURN! A popular Sunday-dinner item at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) is back on the menu as of tonight, 5 pm.
(Added 4:18 am – photo courtesy Gabe)
3:38 AM: If you’ve heard the sirens – big response to a house fire reported in the 5200 block of 45th SW (near Erskine, southwest of The Junction). First firefighters to respond have described the house over the radio as “well-involved” in flames, and also say everyone got out OK. More to come.
3:56 AM UPDATE: Firefighters have radioed that the fire is under control on the main floor of the house.
(Photos/video from here down: By WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
4:02 AM UPDATE: Our crew is there and says it’s still an intensive firefighting scene – the cameraphone photo above shows firefighters working with their air supply. The house itself is hard to see from the street because of trees/shrubs. Still no injuries reported.
4:19 AM UPDATE: Fire now reported “tapped,” which means, basically, out – firefighters had been working to ventilate (cut roof and/or siding holes) the house to make sure they’d gotten to all possible spots. Just added the photo at the top of the story – Gabe took that from a balcony overlooking the house, explaining, “We woke up to the neighbor across the street screaming ‘Help!’ and seeing his house on fire!”
4:52 AM UPDATE: SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore is at the scene and just briefed us (will add video of his briefing when our crew’s back, along with a few more photos). He says one man was inside the home when this started.
He told investigators that he had a fire going in the fireplace; spark/fire jumped from it, ignited something, and he tried to put it out but it spread too fast.
5:30 AM UPDATE: Added the aforementioned briefing video. Investigators are working to confirm the fireplace suspicion.
9:38 AM UPDATE: $150,000 damage, according to SFD, whose official online update is here.
If you’re going to have an EP-release party – what better place than a music store? And if you’re a West Seattle band – it had better be THE West Seattle music store. Add all that up, and that’s why Daughters of the Dead Sea rocked Easy Street Records in The Junction on Saturday night. Brad Yaeger and The Night Terrors opened; Hobosexual closed. Before the show, we caught up with DOTDS’s Mia in the Easy Street aisle:
Mia’s bandmates are Jen and Iris. Didn’t catch them tonight? They’re performing at the Funhouse downtown in about two weeks – here’s the Facebook event page.
Every Saturday afternoon, West Seattle’s Vietnamese Cultural Center invites you to visit. This weekend, Saturday brought something extra: A commemoration of the 712th anniversary of the passing of 13th-century Vietnamese hero Gen. Tran Hung Dao – who is honored with the statue outside the center.
Gen. Tran Hung Dao was considered to be a brilliant tactician and is revered for having turned back three invasions. He was in his early 70s when he died of natural causes in 1300. You can visit the statue, as well as other memorials – including one for fallen soldiers – at the center, 2236 SW Orchard, 12-3 pm on Saturdays.
(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
Though Stitch & Sew Studio – the new southern sibling of West Seattle Fabric Company – doesn’t formally open until an open house next weekend (more on that shortly), proprietor Monica Skov opened the doors today for its first group event, a general meeting of the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild, followed by their sew-in.
While the quilters brought their own machines, Monica says the studio’s own machines are arriving within days. We first told you two months ago about her plan for the former Emerald Spiral space – not a retail outlet to duplicate WSFC headquarters at 2210 California SW in The Admiral District, but instead a comfortable space for classes, sew-ins, and other events. (“Not fussy,” as Monica puts it.)
The back section of the studio space north of Morgan Junction has a cozy living-room feel. And it’s where you’ll find the entrance to a restroom that is, as Monica promised it would be, fabulous – plum walls, art, and a chandelier!
Also in the back, there’s a lighting fixture that looks custom, though Monica reveals it’s from IKEA:
Out front, the studio’s facade is topped by a color scheme you will recognize from the front of the WSFC store:
But – aside from looking at the faces of the quilters who were there today – you can’t see the most important features: The fact that Stitch & Sew Studio is intended as a “happy, positive” place for activities, events, and education. Not just for sewing/quilting experts, Monica stresses – they’ll have something for everyone, beginners through experts (the quilters there today included many of the latter, such as West Seattle-based Emily Cier – check out her books on the right sidebar of her site).
The open house next weekend is set for 11 am-4 pm Saturday, October 13th, and noon-3 pm Sunday, October 14th. Monica has set up a new Facebook page just for Stitch & Sew Studio (which is at 5910 California SW) – you can “like” it here (as well as checking out Monica’s own photos of the S&S Studio transformation).
4:37 PM: Police and fire are responding to a “heavy rescue” call at 8th and Roxbury (map) – reporting two vehicles and one motorcycle involved. One of the vehicles is described via scanner as “on its side.” The motorcyclist is described as “walking around” but we haven’t heard the condition of people in the two vehicles. On our way.
4:44 PM: Two private ambulances were called for people involved in the crash – but medic crews report via the scanner that the people are “refusing transport,” so the ambulances have been canceled. A tow truck is being called for the vehicle that’s on its side. Also hearing via scanner that 8th north of Roxbury is closed, so buses are being rerouted.
4:59 PM: Our crew at the scene says that while 8th is blocked by one of the vehicles – which are both pickup trucks – traffic is getting through both ways on Roxbury.
A year and a half after the homeless encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville” returned to its original site in southeasternmost West Seattle, there’s a new twist: The government-owned land is being eyed by Food Lifeline, which works to get food to people in need and the agencies that serve them. This was first reported last night by our news partners at The Seattle Times; we confirmed it today with Food Lifeline development director Amy Lee Derenthal.
She told WSB via e-mail that the site would be a perfect location for them to expand warehouse and other operations: “Centrally located near major thoroughfares, it will serve as an administrative headquarters, volunteer center and collection, repacking and distribution site for the 300-plus food banks, emergency shelters and meal programs that Food Lifeline serves.” Derenthal says they’ve been looking at the site off and on since 2008, and, “We’ve spent several years looking at land and buildings all over King County. Our board of directors, architects, land developers and staff all agree that the West Marginal Way site is ideally suited for Food Lifeline – from easy access for the dozens of trucks that will move in and out of the site every day to a footprint that allows us to build a comprehensive hunger relief center.”
You probably recall the site was once under consideration as the potential site of a new city jail, a proposal vigorously fought by the Highland Park Action Committee, whose research contended a new jail wasn’t needed – a conclusion eventually also reached by the city and county. Lately, coincidentally, HPAC has been working with the city to see about a new home for “Nickelsville.” So what would happen to the encampment residents if Food Lifeline took over the site and they still hadn’t moved? Derenthal says FL is “committed to working with the city to help craft a solution … It will be 12 to 18 months before we will be ready to build. We’re confident that this will give the Nickelsville residents, homeless advocates and city officials plenty of time to reach a solution.”
What next? Followups to come.
PHOTOS BY NICK ADAMS FOR WEST SEATTLE BLOG
At the Chief Sealth International High School homecoming game Friday night, there were entrances …
… and there were ENTRANCES:
The all-new Sammy the Seahawk debuted. Even posed for a photo with principal Chris Kinsey:
Sammy’s appearance was planned. Not so sure about this one:
Back to the entrances:
And even the choir:
The final score from Friday night’s Sealth vs. Nathan Hale game at Southwest Athletic Complex was Hale 43, Sealth 23, as we noted here in a quick roundup last night.
But since it was homecoming, the football was just part of the spectacle. More photos – including field action – ahead:
If you drive along the central stretch of Fauntleroy Way SW, between The Triangle and Morgan Junction, you probably have seen the big green “Free Range Mercantile” bus that’s been parked outside an old commercial building. We published a story about it three months ago, shortly after it turned up. Today – your chance to get a look inside:
That’s Mary Summers, FRM proprietor, who’s presiding over an open house till 5 this afternoon. Stop by, take a look inside to see the mobile store she’s put together and what kind of merchandise Mary (formerly of CAPERS) is stocking – 5908 Fauntleroy Way SW.
9:30 AM: The big, bright lights at West Seattle Stadium have been on all night, since last night’s Seattle Prep–Bainbridge football game, neighbors say, shining right onto nearby apartments, including the one inhabited by Gordon, who wrote, “We’ve been up most the night, plus I can’t imagine the energy this is wasting.” We don’t know if this was intentional, accidental, or the result of a malfunction, but the WSB’ers who reported it say they tried to call Seattle Parks – and no response yet. We don’t have after-hours numbers, but are trying several channels, after going by the stadium to check it out firsthand (our photo was taken a short time ago – 9:18 am). Our photographer did find a Parks employee at the stadium who said he didn’t know why they were on nor how to turn them off, but would make some calls.
9:09 PM: Almost twelve hours later, they’re still on – we took this photo a short time ago:
One commenter notes they’re usually on a timer, so wonders if it was a malfunction, rather than a mistake. And someone who refereed last night’s game says they were off when he left the stadium.
11:59 PM UPDATE: Went by again ten minutes ago – the lights are now off.
From the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar for today/tonight:
REMINDER – 99/VIADUCT CLOSURE: Just one traffic alert, but it’s a biggie – the Alaskan Way Viaduct/Highway 99 stretch between Battery Street Tunnel and the West Seattle Bridge is CLOSED BOTH WAYS and scheduled to remain so till 4 pm tomorrow (we’ll let you know if it reopens earlier).
HELP LINCOLN PARK! Work party to remove invasives – perfect time now before fall/winter weather finally arrives. Meet at Fauntleroy/Rose park entrance, 9 am.
PANCAKES TO BENEFIT NICKELSVILLE: 9 am-noon, a fundraiser at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation‘s church, 7141 California SW – details here.
HELP FAUNTLEROY PARK! Work party – meet at the SW 97th entrance to forested Fauntleroy Park, 10 am-2 pm. Details and map here.
WEST SEATTLE SOLAR TOUR: Find out more about solar energy by visiting the West Seattle spots on the regional Solar Tour, 10 am-4 pm. The sites are listed here.
GOT SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS QUESTIONS/CONCERNS/ETC.? Come to West Seattle school-board member Marty McLaren‘s community-conversation meeting, 10:15 am-12:15 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library.
WEST SEATTLE CARDBOARD CHALLENGE: Across the country, “cardboard challenge” events inspired by Caine’s Arcade are happening today, and in West Seattle, you can bring your cardboard creation – and/or your creative spirit – to The Kenney (WSB sponsor; 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW), 11 am-2 pm. Full details here – and here’s the story we published when the site was chosen.
FREE RANGE MERCANTILE OPEN … BUS: It’s an open house, at the big green bus that’s been parked a few months at 5908 Fauntleroy SW, and has also made its debut as a store on wheels (here’s our original report). Today, come visit 11 am-5 pm.
STAR WARS STORYTIME: Barnes and Noble at Westwood Village usually has Saturday storytime 11 am-noon, but today there’s a Star Wars theme, since it’s national (or perhaps intergalactic) Star Wars Reads Day.
WALK THE FAUNTLEROY WATERSHED: The first of three special free West Seattle walks with Feet First and local Walking Ambassadors is today, starting at 1 pm from the Original Bakery at 45th/Wildwood in Fauntleroy. Details (and RSVP link) here.
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER CEREMONY: During the regular noon-3 pm weekly open public-visiting time at the Vietnamese Cultural Center (2236 SW Orchard), the 712th Spirit Saint Tran Hung Dao Memorial Day commemoration is planned today, 2 pm.
GET KNOWLEDGE ABOUT COLLEGE! West Seattle author (and professor) Ellen Bremen (“Say This, Not That, To Your Professor”) will be at Westwood Village Barnes and Noble 2 pm today – details here.
ANOTHER ‘GLOBAL LENS’ SCREENING: Free film at Delridge Library as part of this ongoing series celebrating international film – “The Prize,” an Argentinian Film, 2 pm.
AFRICAN DINNER AND DANCE SHOW: Mission fundraiser at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW), 5-9 pm – details in the calendar listing.
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P COFFEE: Steve and Kristi Nebel, 6-8 pm, at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW.
DAUGHTERS OF THE DEAD SEA’S CD RELEASE: 8 pm at Easy Street Records in The Junction, this West Seattle rock/punk band performs and celebrates its CD release. Details here.
‘ROCKY HORROR’ AT THE ADMIRAL: The monthly midnight showing – with shadow cast, toast, and all – is tonight.
And there’s even more on our calendar!
(Photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
2:25 AM: Big response right now to the 9200 block of 30th SW (map). Scanner traffic has reported someone with a gunshot wound to the shoulder. There’s a report of the suspect being in a silver van and having possibly been involved in a disturbance in the area earlier; possible physical description – white man, twenties, yellow sweatshirt, light-colored pants.
2:39 AM: The victim is now reported to be a 30-year-old man with one gunshot wound to the chest and is being rushed to Harborview Medical Center. A police K9 team is helping with the search.
2:49 AM UPDATE: Our crew has talked with Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams at the scene. He says they’re considering this a “drive-by.”
3:36 AM UPDATE: Word’s come over police radio that a suspect is in custody. Witnesses had provided a potential ID that was broadcast earlier – this was not believed to be random – but jail-register information can lag a few hours, so we may not be able to confirm till later today if that’s the same person they have in custody.
9:08 AM UPDATE: New information from police, via SPD Blotter:
A man was shot following a fight disturbance this morning. Just shortly after 2:00 a.m., the victim was walking with some of his friends in the 9200 block of 30th Av SW on the sidewalk in front of a house. Some of the people from the house, including the suspect, came outside. The victim began fighting with the suspect out in the yard/sidewalk.
One of the people from the house had a handgun on his belt. The suspect took the gun and shot the victim in the chest. The suspect then gave the gun back and drove off in his (suspect’s) car.
The victim was taken to HMC, where the doctors were able to stabilize him. His condition is unknown at this time.
The officers learned the name of the suspect, and were able to find his address on Queen Anne. They went to his house, and arrested him without incident. The suspect was booked into King County Jail for Investigation of Assault. It is unknown what precipitated the fight disturbance between the victim and suspect or if they knew one another.
All three of our area’s high-school-football varsity teams played tonight. West Seattle High School had the lone win, visiting Ingraham in North Seattle and defeating the Rams 44-13, per our partners at The Seattle Times; it was homecoming night for Chief Sealth International High School, which had a big 4th-quarter comeback but not enough to avoid losing to visiting Nathan Hale, 43-23 (full report with photos coming up later); and on the road, Seattle Lutheran High School was blanked by La Conner, 45-0 (thanks to David DeSiga for the updates).
Thanks to Marty Westerman for the beautiful sunset view from Fauntleroy tonight. The National Weather Service says the sunshine will continue through the weekend and into the start of the week – but MAYBE by next weekend, some rain, says tonight’s “forecast discussion“: “By later [next] Friday into Saturday, there is a chance that Western Washington will see some light rain, ending our recent dry streak.”
99/ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT CLOSURE REMINDER: In case you’ve somehow missed it – one last reminder before tomorrow, Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct between the Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge will be closed in BOTH DIRECTIONS for most of the weekend. The closure for the twice-yearly inspection (and ongoing maintenance work) is scheduled to start at 6 am Saturday and end no later than 4 pm Sunday. Bus riders, note there is a reroute associated with this too:
From Saturday morning, October 6 at 6:00 AM, until Sunday afternoon, October 7 at 4:00 PM, Metro bus routes 120, 125, & the RapidRide C Line will be rerouted off the Alaskan Way Viaduct to accommodate work being performed by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
Viaduct bus routes will use alternate surface streets instead to and from the West Seattle Bridge. The only bus stops that will be missed are westbound on Columbia St at 2nd Av when leaving downtown to West Seattle, and eastbound on Seneca St between 2nd and 3rd avenues when arriving downtown. Heading to West Seattle, board buses southbound on 3rd Av between Seneca and Spring streets, or just south of Columbia St. There are not stops after Columbia St.
SPOKANE ST. VIADUCT RAMP CLOSURE SATURDAY MORNING: Also, a reminder that the 1st Avenue South OFFRAMP on the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct is scheduled to be closed 3 am-9 am Saturday.
WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI RUNS FOR SOUNDERS FANS: This Sunday, and again October 21st, the county will add West Seattle Water Taxi runs for Sunday night Sounders games. See the shaded times on the schedule. (And remember that the WT will change to its offseason schedule at the end of this month – starting Monday, October 29th.)
From Twelfth Night Productions, a West Seattle-based community-theater company:
Twelfth Night Productions announces open auditions for Miracle on 34th Street: a Live Radio Play. The radio play is based on the holiday movie favorite of the same name and will be presented as a live 1940’s radio broadcast. Miracle on 34th Street tells the timeless story of an old man who calls himself Kris Kringle, is hired as the Macy’s department store Santa. His claim to be the real Santa Claus becomes a court case and a young child’s belief could make all the difference.
Rehearsals begin October 23rd with shows running December 7 – 16 in West Seattle.
Audition Information
Please contact tnpauditions@gmail.com to request an audition time.Please prepare to read a 1-2 minute monologue. We will also have you read a variety of sides from the script.
Audition/Interview Dates:
October 13 1 – 4 PMCallbacks or second audition/interview?
October 14 1 – 4 PMAudition Requirements:
Please prepare to read a 1-2 minute monologue. We will also have you read a variety of sides from the script.Casting info:
We are casting 1 young girl (age 10 – 16,) 4 women, and 7 men to play multiple roles.
Project website: www.twelfthnightproductions.org
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