West Seattle, Washington
18 Wednesday
(Added – photo taken just after 6 am Saturday, showing how far the taped-off scene extended)
FIRST 2:42 AM REPORT: Police are setting up at various locations around South Delridge and also working with county to check on the White Center side. No other details yet. 2:52 AM UPDATE: Call now definitely described as a shooting. Also per scanner, police say a witness told them the suspect was a black male, 20s, in a black hoodie, driving a white Ford Crown Victoria with big rims, last seen heading northbound. 3:05 AM UPDATE: We had originally heard DOA via the scanner but no confirmation; however, via Twitter, KIRO is also reporting 1 dead. No word of an arrest yet. EARLY SUNDAY UPDATE: Our partners at the Seattle Times have an update that says the victim was a man in his 20s.
From Bil Hood at Seattle Lutheran High School:
The Seattle Lutheran Saints Track Team had a great showing in yesterday’s League Championship meet at West Seattle Stadium. Senior Lucas Driscoll won the Shot Put and the 100 meter dash. He broke his school
record in the shot with a put of 49′ 7″. Senior Elyssa Watford won the long jump.The following athletes have qualified for the Tri-District Championships next week at the Southwest Athletic Complex.
Girls District Qualifiers : Alina Yovetich 200 and 400
Hannah Jacobs – High Jump and Javelin
Elyssa Watford – Long Jump, Triple Jump, Shot Put
Jillian Smith – Long Jump and Pole Vault
Jillian Burkett – Discus
Mackenzie Bartell – Shot Put
Kelli Mosely – DiscusBoys District Qualifiers
Lucas Driscoll – 100, Shot, Javelin, Discus
Jake Nigon – 400, Shot, Pole Vault, Long Jump
Gordy Mueller – 800, Javelin
Jared Stefanoff – 3200,
Dylan Heckett – Discus
Thor Winters – Javelin
Colin O’Brien – 4×100 relay
Tru Petrilli – 4×100 relay
Trevor Forsell – 4×100 relay
Justin Smith – 4×100 relay
Many of the orca sightings we’ve shared here in recent months have started with a tip from Jeff Hogan. We often identify him as an “orca expert” for brevity’s sake – but here’s the long version: What he’s best known for is the environmental-education program Killer Whale Tales. Over the past decade, thousands of local students have seen Killer Whale Tales presentations, and the number grew this week with two more in West Seattle – Lafayette Elementary on Monday, and Sanislo Elementary on Tuesday, where we stopped in. We talked with Jeff before the presentation, and he explained what he was going to talk about – as well as the story behind one of his most popular audio/visual aids:
The program is explained further on the Killer Whale Tales website. When not in the classroom, Jeff is often in the field observing and photographing whales – not just orcas; before this week, we last encountered him one month ago today at Arroyo Beach, when he was first to tell us about the death of the gray whale that stranded there (see the video interview in our report from the scene that afternoon).
(2009 Rampathon photo courtesy Potter Construction)
Tomorrow’s the annual “Rampathon” by the Master Builders Care Foundation in King and Snohomish Counties, and West Seattle’s Potter Construction (WSB sponsor) will be part of it again this year. Staff volunteers “will set one Highland Park grandmother free when they build a wheelchair-accessible ramp to her front door,” according to the announcement. The project is getting financial assistance from the Rotary Club of West Seattle, which donated $3,500 to support construction of the ramp. Across the region, Rampathon has resulted in almost 300 ramps built since 1993, supported by donations to the MBC Foundation; Potter’s Highland Park project is one of 20 scheduled in the region tomorrow.
(Friday afternoon Lincoln Park photo by Chas Redmond)
Late afternoon-early evening, and with 70-plus temps in the sunshine, we know you’re probably most focused on enjoying the outdoors right now. But the West Seattle Weekend Lineup has indoor suggestions for later AND a big slate of activities for the rest of the weekend – take a minute to check out the list and see! The WSWL is sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music, bodacious brunches, plus lunch ‘n’ dinner:Read More
From the West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor), which also shared the photo:
Last night, the West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA recognized our Volunteers of the Year: The YMCA Dolphins Swim Team Parent Club (at the club’s monthly meeting at Merrill Gardens). These parents give so much of themselves to support their swimmers, the team, and the YMCA. They organize and staff swim meets, raise funds, chaperone events and trips, and much more. The program literally could not happen without these dedicated volunteers and their thousands of hours of service. The Volunteer of the Year award recognizes those who stood out from our already amazing field of volunteers at the YMCA in the past year, and this group is particularly deserving. Congratulations to our Swim Team Parent Club!
In the photo, from left, it’s Head Coach Rod Rombauer (staff), Club President Trisha Montemayor (volunteer), Associate Executive Samantha Bowes (staff), Meet Director Laurie Robbins (volunteer), Partners With Youth Campaign Division Leader for Aquatics Earl Long (volunteer).
Thanks to those who e-mailed about parking restrictions at and around Seacrest tomorrow afternoon-evening – the signs are up throughout the parking lot and along the north side of Harbor for about a block on either side of Seacrest. All of those areas are marked “no parking” for 3-10 pm tomorrow (Saturday). One tipster said it’s for a film crew, though we haven’t confirmed that. (2:55 pm update, SDOT confirms it) Good news, though, that time frame will NOT affect a big event at Seacrest tomorrow morning:
The fish have just arrived for the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club Hi-Yu Kids’ Fishing Derby. It’s free to the first 150 kids, who will be provided bamboo fishing poles to borrow, and goodie bags to keep:
That’s club recording secretary (and 22-year member) Roz Mascio, part of the crew putting together the goodie bags at the pier right now. Club members will also be keeping round-the-clock watch on the “fish pond” till the derby’s over – it’s scheduled for 8 am to 11 am tomorrow.
With three days till the 1st Avenue South ramp to the westbound West Seattle Bridge closes, SDOT invited the media to come see the other side of the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project this morning.
As we tweeted while on the tour, which took us and 4 regional-media crews up the new 4th Avenue offramp from the eastbound side, that ramp is now running at least five months ahead of schedule and is likely to open in September. The ramp is complete enough that we were able to walk all the way up; the next major stage is the “closure” to fuse it with the existing structure – and that will cause some eastbound headaches during an up-to-8-week period this summer, because it means that stretch of the eastbound path to I-5 and Columbian Way will be down to one lane. Here’s the section of the ramp that will be fused to the existing bridge – the view is westward toward West Seattle, against traffic:
And if you really want to see the ramp in all its glory, we pointed the camera forward while walking back down (sorry we can’t speed it up to something approximating a car’s pace):
In the meantime, concurrent with Monday’s closure of the 1st Ave. South ramp on the westbound side – slated to be replaced over the next 16 months with a new onramp which will actually be entered from 1st, a ways north of the bridge – we were told during today’s tour that a section of lower eastbound Spokane Street is about to REOPEN: By Monday morning, project managers say, the lower eastbound Spokane Street will reopen from East Marginal to 1st. (That means the questions about “why can’t we turn right from the 1st Avenue South ramp?” are about to be moot.)
Something else that’s happening next week – a stoplight will be installed on 4th Avenue South, where the new ramp ends – while it starts as one lane off the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct, it becomes two lanes midway down, and then splits into three at the end.
So to review:
*1st Avenue South onramp to the westbound West Seattle (high) Bridge closes permanently as of Monday (first thing in the morning).
*It will be demolished and replaced by a new onramp, but that will take an estimated 16 months to build. In the meantime, traffic will be detoured to the low bridge – here’s the detour map again:
*SDOT is expecting advance warning of bridge openings for marine traffic, and will put that on dynamic-messaging signage in the area, and will also send it out via Twitter (follow them at @seattledot – even if you are not a Twitter user, you can use that link to see their updates online).
*Other road projects, of course, continue too (while on our way to the tour, we had to get off on 1st to get to 4th – which will change as of Monday – and then got stuck first in construction slowdowns on 1st north of the bridge, then behind a train while taking an east-west street to cut over to 4th). They’re listed here.
If you plan to follow the low-bridge detour while coming home on Monday, we’d love to hear about your experience – tweet, FB, e-mail us, whatever, with the story of how it worked out.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Minutes before Seattle Parks‘ finance director told the Parks Board the midyear budget cut would be almost twice as big as she’d estimated, her former boss got up and shared his budget-crisis thoughts.
It’s not every day a high-ranking city official quits, and then returns to his ex-department shortly thereafter to offer advice as a private citizen.
But that’s exactly what ex-Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher did last night, criticizing “elected officials” who “haven’t stepped forward to solve the problems we have today.”
So, he suggested, the Parks Board needs to step up and make sure its “advisory” role goes beyond his old job.
(WSB photo from 2008 Movies on the Wall series)
The slate for this year’s West Seattle Summer Outdoor Movies on the Wall in The Junction – (Saturday nights 7/17-8/21 in the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) courtyard) is ALMOST set, but organizers need one last movie idea. So far, the movies on the schedule are “Mamma Mia,” “Star Trek,” “War Games,” “Wayne’s World” and “Up” – the dates aren’t 100 percent final yet so we’re just mentioning the titles. One more movie is needed and the thought is “family-friendly,” G or PG. (Can’t be a Disney movie, for date-related licensing reasons, so “Up” is the only one from the House of Mouse that you’ll see this year.) Suggestions are being taken today only – please post one in the comment section if you’ve got an idea, and the Movies on the Wall team thanks you for the earlier nominations!
A few highlights before we get to the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, all from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: This morning on Alki, you’re likely to see a bigger Stroller Strides exercise group than usual, as they’re celebrating a combination anniversary/season opening with a free class (here’s the post in the WSB Forums’ Freebies/Deals/Sales/etc. section) … Also this morning, Nature Consortium has a midday work party at College Place Ravine in honor of “King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s half-birthday,” 10 am-1 pm, volunteers welcome, here’s a map … As noted here yesterday, the lowest daytime tides of the year so far are happening through Sunday – today’s low tide is -2.1 just before noon … Tonight (and tomorrow night) at 7, $5 gets you into “You Can’t Take It With You,” presented by the Chief Sealth International High School Drama Department – here’s the poster … Other entertainment tonight includes Bells of the Sound with “A Night at the Movies” and Rainbow Bingo at the Senior Center of West Seattle … More on the calendar!
Lists courtesy of Square One Books
Looking for something to read, and/or wondering what’s hot? Every week, courtesy of Gretchen Montgomery @ Square One Books (WSB sponsor), we bring you her independent West Seattle bookstore’s 5 best-sellers in each of 4 key categories:
Hardcover:
1. Dead in the Family: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel by Charlaine Harris
2. Operation Mincemeat by Ben Macintyre
3. Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes
4. Women, Food and God by Geneen Roth
5. Girl in Translation by Jean KwokPaperback:
1. All Other Nights by Dara Horn
2. Tinkers (Pulitzer Prize Winner) by Paul Harding
3. Tide Guide 2010 by Evergreen Pacific
4. Coop: A Family, a Farm, and the Pursuit of One Good Egg by Michael Perry
5. Tideflats to Tomorrow: The History of Seattle’s SoDo by Dan RaleyChildren/Young Adult:
1. The Stink Books by Megan McDonald
2. The 13th Reality Vol. 1 by James Dashner
3. Bear in the Attic by Susan Meyers
4. The Moomintrolls Series by Tove Jansson
5. The Red Pyramid by Rick RiordanTeen:
1. Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis
2. Mistwood by Leah Cypess
3. The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
4. Max by James Patterson
5. The Cirque du Freak Series by Darren Shan
By the way, Square One just announced a reading/autograph event with two Seattle teen authors — Phoebe Kitanidis, author of “Whisper,” and Kimberly Derting, author of “The Body Finder” – at 6:30 pm June 24th at the Southwest Branch Library. Square One will sell books at the event; admission is free.
Tonight, the Highland Park Action Committee toasted the end of their intense two-year fight against a potential jail in West Seattle – that’s current HPAC chair Dan Mullins at left, with former chair Blair Johnson and photographer/webmaster/sign designer Dina Johnson, celebrating at Triangle Tavern. We had asked Mullins earlier for his thoughts on this morning’s announcement by King County Executive Dow Constantine (here’s our as-it-happened report – and here’s our previously unpublished clip of the start of the announcement):
Mullins’ reaction afterward: “As difficult as it has been fighting the prospect of a huge jail being built it our neighborhood, some good has come out of it. Our little neighborhood has become much more organized, people have a stronger sense of community and a better understanding of how our government works. And City Hall now knows who we are and where we are and that we are vocal.” (His e-mail to the Highland Park list was a little more exuberant, with the subject line NO NEW JAIL/GOOD JOB, EVERYBODY!)
So now what? There was some concern in the comment section following this morning’s story, regarding the language of the official announcements – suspended, proposed, etc. Toward the start of this short clip from this morning’s announcement, the mayor was a little more definite in the term he chose:
We spoke later with Katherine Schubert-Knapp and Catherine Cornwall, both of whom worked on the city of Seattle’s part of the jail project. The official announcement warned that if future projections suggest more capacity will be needed, jail planning could have to restart as soon as 2013. Could any of the work done this time around be reused, we asked? Answer: Basically, no. But they both stressed that the proposed regional cooperation brings the process to a whole new stage – if the need can truly be handled between a combination of county beds, plus beds from other facilities such as the south end jail that’s opening next year, and alternative sentencing. Regarding the “proposed” languaging, Schubert-Knapp notes that since so many governmental entities have been involved in this, the respective councils have to sign off on the plan – King County Council, Seattle City Council, etc. – but that’s not expected to be any kind of speed bump. Seattle Councilmember Nick Licata, who headed the council’s Public Safety Committee during much of the site-search process, also seemed vehement that it’s over:
A variety of documents are now linked to the North/East Cities Municipal Jail website, which also carries a stern notice that it will not be updated from this point forward. We asked Cornwall and Schubert-Knapp if any particular study or report had triggered today’s announcement; they say the county’s decision to offer a longer contract extension, coupled with a second year of data showing lower jail population, comprised the game-changer. And of course, the city and county both have new elected leadership, in McGinn and Constantine, this year; Constantine had declared in June that if he were elected, the jail project “will not happen”; McGinn also had voiced, during his campaign, opposition to the idea of a new jail.
But long before the campaigning, the Highland Park Action Committee was in action, with research as well as passion. If you missed our stories from the period in 2008 when Seattle was considering its own new jail, with two of the four proposed sites in West Seattle, this report (with video) from a June 2008 meeting tells virtually the whole story of how things were going in the heart of the fight. Even then, as we wrote, projections were showing jail populations dropping. And now, watching those populations is paramount, warns the summary document released today:
While this proposed approach creates additional time to plan for our region’s future jail needs, it is not a long-term solution for our region’s jail capacity needs. The county and cities will need to regularly track the region’s jail population trends and use of jail capacity and be prepared to resume planning for new capacity by 2013 or even sooner if trends indicate the need for additional capacity before 2020.
The Junction’s newest store, knows perfume (originally previewed here in February), opened its doors tonight for the first time – just in time for the May edition of the West Seattle Art Walk. That’s proprietor Christen Cottam, beaming in her brand-new space at 4536 California SW. Also seen along the Art Walk path tonight:
That scene was from about a block away at Brunette Mix (WSB sponsor; 4306 SW Oregon): Jessica Dolens had a multimedia presentation in the corner – film on the back wall, art on the screen in the salon. Elsewhere in The Junction:
From left, at Twilight Artist Collective (4306 SW Alaska), that’s Eva Funderburgh, Justin Hillgrove, and Mike Capp – Eva created the art they’re standing next to.
Next West Seattle Art Walk is the second Thursday, as always – June 10th, 6-9 pm – watch wsartwalk.com for updates, as well as the WS Art Walk page on Facebook.
The three newest West Seattle Crime Watch reports include two car break-ins along Harbor Avenue, and a home break-in – read on for full details:Read More
It might not be as glaring as a load of trash or old furniture, but it’s illegal dumping just the same, and Dave wonders if it might have been your yard debris that wound up in his alley, maybe without your knowledge:
On Tuesday morning, May 11, I discovered a pile of tree / bush trimmings blocking our alley. The guilty party had the debris tied with a long rope and tied the other end to a utility pole. Driving off quickly pulled the mess off the truck and onto the ground. I had to quickly move everything to the side as garbage and etc. trucks were due Wednesday. This was way more than a pickup truck load. The pile was almost six feet high.
If anyone paid to have bushes trimmed on Tuesday, see the pictures …
This occurred in the alley between 32nd and 34th Avenues SW with Cloverdale on the North and Trenton on the South (there is no 33rd Ave).
There’ll be no living with us now. We are the sweets capital of the region. In an article for next Sunday’s New York Times (it’s dated May 16 but online today), a Seattle-based writer talks about five places she loves to stop for sweets, and two of them are in our area – West Seattle’s Bakery Nouveau, White Center’s Full Tilt Ice Cream. Read the story here; the FT photos start here. (Thanks to Alex for the tip!)
That photo is courtesy of the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club, which wanted to get out one more reminder that it’s kicking off West Seattle Hi-Yu season with the annual, free Kids’ Fishing Derby this Saturday at Seacrest. 8 am-11 am, the first 150 kids ages 12 and under get a chance to catch one of the fish with which a portable pond will be stocked, right on the Seacrest dock. No registration required – just show up. Here’s the official flyer.
Low tide wasn’t the only big activity at Alki today – David Hutchinson sends a photo and update on Statue of Liberty Plaza work:
Seattle Parks & Recreation employees were at the Alki Statue of Liberty early today applying an oil finish to the benches in the plaza. We also have been informed by Tiffany Hedrick, of the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, that the cleaning and waxing of the statue will be taking place shortly. These two maintenance items are part of the commitment Parks made in an agreement with the Seattle Statue of Liberty Plaza Project and fiscal sponsor Urban Sparks. This work, which is done twice a year, is paid for by the Parks held maintenance fund which was created with the proceeds from the earlier sale of bricks and bronze plaques. Money from that fund will also pay for the new plants that will be placed in the landscaped areas surrounding the statue later this year.
The Alki Community Council wants to thank Seattle Parks & Recreation for the excellent work they are doing. We particularly appreciate the contribution of Parks employees Ed Jackson and Carol Baker in coordinating these tasks. The ACC is continuing to accept orders for approximately 100 more engraved bricks and 5 bronze plaques. Information and order forms can be found at the plaza or downloaded from www.sealady.org . Money raised by this sale will be turned over to Parks and will supplement the existing maintenance fund.
David Hutchinson
ACC Brick Sales
Note that this is one park not contributing to the department’s maintenance-funding crisis (we expect to hear the latest citywide budget info at the Parks Board meeting tonight). Meantime, the ACC’s next meeting is a week from tonight – 7 pm May 20, Alki UCC Church. Scheduled guests include Brenda Peterson of Seal Sitters and Dolly Vinal of the West Seattle Wildlife Habitat Project.
“We give where we live” is the motto for RED (Renew, Energize, Donate) Day, a nationwide day of service today for Keller Williams Realty. The West Seattle crew is giving their time and talents to a project just blocks north of their Junction offices: They’re working on the West Seattle Baptist Church basement that’s been taken over by the Junction-based Skate Church. Pastors Rob and Serena Wastman from Skate Church say it’ll be a great place for activities including movie nights and afterschool programs – and they also say they’ll make it available to community groups looking for a meeting space.
From left, Rob and Serena, with Keller Williams event organizer Eric Slawson, and Skate Church’s Jovan Wiggins. The church plans a grand opening celebration for their share of the WSBC space in September.
Great tidewalking conditions along Alki at midday today – and the tide will get lower still for the next four days, from a -1.4 today going down to -2.6 on Sunday (per this tide chart).
Wednesday afternoon, SDOT used its Twitter account to say the Spokane Street Swing (“low”) Bridge was “closing” – as in, closing to vehicle traffic so marine traffic could get through. We asked if that was a preview of things to come after the 1st Avenue South ramp to the westbound West Seattle (“high”) Bridge closes as of next Monday (part of the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project) – and indeed, per an announcement this morning, it is. Though the U.S. Coast Guard said no to officially restricting bridge openings during rush hour, this is part of the “voluntary notification” process worked out – read on to see how you can be sure to get these advance warnings:Read More
FIRST REPORT, 9:13 AM: As mentioned last night, a “significant development in the regional jail-planning process” is promised this morning. It’s been two years since Seattle announced it needed new jail space, and started looking at sites that currently include one in West Seattle (West Marginal/Highland Park Way) as part of what’s become a regional effort. We’re at King County’s Chinook Building downtown, expecting to see a group any moment that we’re told will include County Executive Dow Constantine and Mayor Mike McGinn. As soon as the “development” is announced, we’ll add it here.
9:20 AM ANNOUNCEMENT: The headline on the news release reads, “Proposal to extend jail contract clears way for cities to consider shelving plans.” Jail contract may be extended thru 2020, Constantine announces. Mayor Mike McGinn says that means an end to the jail-siting process. “This is good news, Seattle,” the mayor said, after Executive Constantine announced the proposal to extend the agreement. “Today as a region we will work together to do this.” Shoreline’s mayor has also spoken; that city was under consideration as a jail site. Details of the proposal, from a news release handed out here: King County is offering the cities 150 jail beds through 2020. In addition, they are proposing creation of “a regional jail planning and management group.” Negotiation of this proposed agreement will start next year. Councilmember Nick Licata says “We have pulled the plug on the jail-siting process – and I can almost hear the cheers.” (As we read further into the news release, however, it warns that if there is an indication for new capacity after 2020, the jail-planning process may have to resume as soon as 2013.)
9:34 AM: They’re taking questions now. We asked Constantine, what do you tell the people of Highland Park (and elsewhere) who went through two years of anguish – not to mention the time and money spent by the governments – was it all for naught? We have his entire answer on video and will add it later, but bottom line, he said, he wished it hadn’t played out that way, but it did, and it’s time to move on. (added 9:57 am, here’s his entire answer on video)
Regarding the possibility of needing new space in the future, he notably mentioned the possibility of adding on to the regional county jail complex in Kent. He also said that part of this regional jail process would involve figuring out who has space where so that it could be used more efficiently – including the new jail that is being built by the south end SCORE group. Constantine also said that a future process would be conducted more “rationally” – saying this one seemed to have been “sudden” (regarding the 2008 disclosure that more space was needed and planning for a new site would commence immediately).
10:35 AM UPDATE: We talked with two key behind-the-scenes people after the room cleared, and will include their perspective in a followup story – what’s next, and what’s to keep this all from revving up again in a few years? Meantime, the county has published the full news release about today’s announcement on its website – you can read it here.
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