West Seattle, Washington
18 Monday
Here’s what we know about the major Seattle Fire medical response this morning to one of the fields at Riverview Playfield in Highland Park this morning: We went over to investigate after seeing two units rush by while we were blocks away at HP Improvement Club. Medics/firefighters ran onto the field with their equipment, and while we stayed far back, it was clear that CPR was being done. Neighbors told us a man had collapsed during a game. Games on that part of the field were called, and families left. Resuscitation efforts continued for some time; we had to move on, but have since learned from another witness that the Medical Examiner is there now, which indicates the man didn’t make it. We have asked West Seattle Soccer Club for any official information available, including the status of today’s games.
1:39 PM UPDATE: Commenter Doug says games at Riverview North are canceled for the rest of the day; we also received a text from a parent/nearby resident that her child’s 2 pm game was off. The man who died is reported to have been a coach.
3:34 PM UPDATE: We’ve received WSSC’s official statement:
We are deeply saddened by the tragedy that occurred during one of our Boys U8 soccer games this morning at Riverview Playfield. We treasure all of our volunteer coaches for their time and dedication to making sure our kids have a great season. Our thoughts and prayers are with the coach’s family and his team. The family will share more information with the West Seattle soccer community in the next few days.
West Seattle Soccer Club
6:52 PM: The coach’s wife called us. She just wanted to ask for your prayers.
MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: The King County Medical Examiner has publicly identified the volunteer soccer coach who died as 38-year-old Ed Kingston. We know his many, many friends and relatives around the area already know – including many of those who have posted comments – but it’s worth a note that in addition to being a husband and father of two, he also had a remarkable professional life. A colleague wrote about him over the weekend on this collaborative website; the link was posted on the Facebook page of the West Seattle Soccer Club, for which he was a volunteer coach, working with his 7-year-old’s team on Saturday when it happened. Dr. Kingston was a sports psychologist, and also wrote from time to time on the same website where the tribute appeared – you can see his work archived here. We have not yet received word of memorial plans.
Grad Night is months away but it takes a lot of fundraising to keep the special event affordable, so West Seattle High School seniors and parents are washing cars right now, for donations, at West Seattle Produce‘s lot (Fauntleroy/Alaska).
They’re there till 3. (P.S. If you missed our report on the fall’s first general WSHS PTSA meeting, including other Grad Night fundraising efforts – read it here.)
(SUNDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Added comment from HPIC re: how Saturday went)
12:22 PM SATURDAY: Shortly after 11 am, the first customers were already waiting outside the I Want Curry Now and Lumpia World food trucks in the Highland Park Improvement Club lot at 12th/Holden, launching what HPIC hopes will be a growing weekly tradition – maybe with more trucks joining on upcoming Saturdays. There’s seating!
These two are scheduled to be there today till 3 pm.
ADDED SUNDAY NIGHT: We asked HPIC for comment on how Round 1 went. Julie Schickling reported “a steady stream of customers. We ran into lots of people from the neighborhood, plus met people who were there because they follow one truck or another, or because they happened to be driving by. We were there at 3 when they were packing up, and both said that it was really good for a first day. Derrick from Lumpia World said he thinks it will grow into a pod with more trucks.” She’s still confirming the official plan for next Saturday. Julie also reports the Harvest Dinner on Saturday night “was a great success. … The turnout was what we had hoped for, lots of new faces, young families, new members, people who’ve discovered the club through our classes. People brought good food to share and also dinner plates to leave behind for HPIC’s community kitchen.”
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*Cleaning up the home of her recently deceased father, a woman came across a human skull encased in glass. She told officers what she could remember about the story her father had told her: That he had found it in the wild in Alaska back in the 1980s. Though Halloween is on the way, she decided to not keep it. She turned it over to officers, who passed it on to the Medical Examiner.
*A car prowl suspect, arrested in the 9200 block of 16th SW Sunday afternoon, denied responsibility and frantically claimed that he had to get back to his residence by 6 p.m. to, “tend to the goats.”
*A white male who appeared to be 65 years or older, with whitish/gray bushy hair, wearing a white baseball hat and a blue jacket has been acting suspiciously around a home in the 9400 block of 26th Ave. SW. He was seen in the yard, taking notes twice last week, claiming to be a gutter or a roof service person. The residents had not solicited any services from anyone. Officers suspect he might be casing residences.
A dozen-plus more summaries ahead:Read More
(Lampposts are striped with orange in The Junction for Halloween month! Trick-or-treat 1-3 pm October 29)
Happy Saturday! From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
NEW FOOD TRUCK SPOT: Debut of food trucks at Highland Park Improvement Club (12th/Holden), 11 am-3 pm. Lumpia World and I Want Curry Now confirmed, per HPIC.
SCHOOL BOARD REP’S COMMUNITY CHAT: School Board president Steve Sundquist‘s community chat meeting, High Point Library, 11 am-12:30 pm.
GET YOUR CAR CLEAN, FOR A GOOD CAUSE: West Seattle High School Grad Night Car Wash. Proceeds benefit the 2012 Grad Night party. Westside seniors and parents will be washing cars from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at West Seattle Produce, at the corner of Fauntleroy Way and SW Alaska. Organizers will be asking for donations to help offset the cost of an all-night, alcohol-free, chaperoned party aimed at keeping graduates safe the night of their graduation. Fundraisers throughout the year help keep ticket costs reasonable and provide scholarships for graduates who could not attend otherwise. For details on upcoming fundraisers, keep an eye on this Facebook page.
PLANT WHILE YOU CAN: The South Seattle Community College Garden Center will be open today 11 am-3 pm, north side of campus, with major discounts, including half off edibles like raspberries, blueberries and figs. North side of campus (6000 16th SW).
FOSTER CATS WHO NEED FOREVER HOMES: At Alki Community Center, the Seattle Animal Shelter will bring foster cats who need their forever homes – noon-3 pm. Special deal – no adoption fees, only license fees, for adult cats, according to organizers.
OKTOBERFEST: It’s Oktoberfest day/night at Elliott Bay Brewing in West Seattle (4720 California SW). Enjoy their traditional Oktoberfest menu all day, Oktoberfest beer and a live Oktoberfest band from 6 pm-10 pm (no cover).
HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Homecoming game for Seattle Lutheran HS, playing LaConner at West Seattle Stadium, 1:30 pm.
CELEBRATE THE HARVEST: HPIC (Highland Park Improvement Club) is hosting a Harvest Dinner at 6 pm. Come help initiate another new tradition at HPIC and celebrate a harvest meal with friends and neighbors. Bring a home-made dish to share that celebrates our local harvest, plus a dinner plate to leave behind for HPIC’s community kitchen.
Why dress as a vampire or Star Wars character when you can bring history to life? Costumes are welcomed and encouraged at the big annual Southwest Seattle Historical Society fundraiser – here’s an updated announcement:
Please join us for the SW Seattle Historical Society Annual Gala taking place at the Salty’s on Alki Event Room, featuring a special Salty’s Brunch, Silent Auction, Raffle, Dessert Dash, and whimsical entertainment.
Each table will represent one decade of the 16 that have passed since The Denny, Low, Boren, and Terry Party arrived at Alki Beach, “The Birthplace of Seattle.” Costumes are encouraged and will be enjoyed by all.
Date: Saturday October 22nd, 2011
Time: 11:30 am to 2:30p m
Place: Salty’s on Alki
Tickets $65-adults. $25-12 and under. Children under 4, freePlease RSVP to (206) 938-5293
Many of the coyote reports we’ve received (all of which are archived here) describe them as being in the street – or a greenspace. Here, however, we have two who are closer to home, so to speak, or should we say homes. Read on:Read More
As the county starts to design the project meant to reduce combined-sewer overflows from Lowman Beach’s Murray Pump Station, there are two updates: First, a community meeting has just been announced for October 20th, 6:30 pm at Fauntleroy Church. The “facility design process and project schedule” will be presented. Second, the county is now recruiting 12 people to be on a Design Advisory Group for the rest of this year, and most if not all of 2012. The Murray CSO-control project involves building a huge underground storage tank on what is currently residential property across the street from Lowman Beach Park. Interested in being on the advisory group? More details of what’s involved, who they’re looking for, and who to contact, are on this flyer.
Tonight’s football games are in the books: At Southeast Athletic Complex, West Seattle High School beat Rainier Beach, 28-8; at Southwest Athletic Complex, in their last regular-season home game this season, Chief Sealth HS lost to Franklin, 40-0.
ADDED 11:30 PM: More on the WSHS win, ahead:Read More
Just caught the word on this one in the Easy Street Records e-newsletter, though hardcore fans may have seen it on their website earlier: Five years after headlining West Seattle Summer Fest in The Junction, John Doe returns to West Seattle’s Easy Street for an in-store performance later this month. 4:30 pm October 23rd, free, all welcome.
Last reminder … a restaurant-less section of eastern West Seattle will get some street-food love tomorrow: The Highland Park Improvement Club, shown in our photo (along with its sizable parking lot), will start playing host to food trucks on Saturdays, beginning tomorrow. It’s at 12th/Holden, just a few blocks east of where Zippy’s used to be. Lumpia World and Curry Now are scheduled for tomorrow, starting at 11 am and going till at least 3 pm, and HPIC is hoping to attract more as the Saturdays go by (Marination Mobile also continues its longtime weekly Saturday visit to 35th/Graham). Later on, you’re also invited to the Harvest Dinner at 6 pm tomorrow at HPIC – a potluck event (more details here).
From SDOT:
A march is currently scheduled for 4:30 p.m. today. The march will start at the Seattle Central Community College on Broadway and will proceed westward on Pine Street to Fourth Avenue, escorted by Seattle Police Officers, ending with a rally at Westlake Park. Up to 500 participants are expected. Drivers should anticipate traffic congestion along the route and in the area around Westlake Park. Drivers are advised to take alternate routes if possible.
(Among those in our photo from the 6th Ave. S. bus yard: King Co. Marine Div. Dir. Scott Davis, far left; Seattle Times [WSB partner] transportation reporter Mike Lindblom, a West Seattleite, at center)
Just back from a briefing this afternoon by King County Metro and Water Taxi officials, with yet more information to share about the looming Alaskan Way Viaduct closure (7:30 pm Friday, October 21, to 5 am Monday, October 31st). Some of the newest toplines include an infoblitz headed your way:
*70,000 mailers are going out, including free bus tickets
*Posters will be going up, distributed in West Seattle and elsewhere
*Metro has a special web section at kingcounty.gov/getyouthere
*Metro runs that take the Viaduct now will take 4th or 3rd Avenue that week. Coming off the West Seattle Bridge, buses will take the 1st Avenue South exit, and will travel up eastbound lower Spokane Street to turn left onto 4th – cars will not be able to turn left there, only buses, and a uniformed officer will be there to facilitate this.
*The West Seattle Water Taxi has a brochure about the extra runs it’s adding that week (the special schedule is linked from this infopage).
*Water Taxi managers will be at the dock that first commute morning (Monday 10/24) and as many other mornings as needed to help out
A few other notes, some of which we have reported here before:
*Extra Water Taxi parking along Harbor – overnight parking will be prohibited those days, in hopes of opening more spaces for commuters – and at half of Don Armeni Boat Ramp (no special WT shuttle stop there, though), for about 200 total potential all-day spaces.
*The Water Taxi shuttles will include larger – though nonbranded – vehicles that week. Note that the larger shuttles can carry up to two bicycles each; current shuttles have no bike rack. The Water Taxi vessel has an 18-bicycle capacity.
*If you plan to try different commute methods on for size, considering entering the West Seattle Commute Choice Challenge.
ADDED 4:21 PM: The official news release related to this afternoon’s briefing is here.
A WSB’er sounded the alarm last weekend, and many others followed. Now, the state Attorney General is out with an official alert about those fake e-mail, text, and phone messages that aren’t really from Wells Fargo (or any other bank):
State Attorney General Rob McKenna today warned consumers about a text-message trap to capture financial information and drain credit card and bank accounts. Such text message scams are called “smishing.”
“If you don’t wish to be smished, ignore text messages that look like they’re coming from your bank or credit card,” McKenna said. “Flip over your credit or ATM card and call the number on the back. If there’s a problem with your account, that’s the best way to find out.”
Consumers began contacting the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division early this week complaining about calls to their cell phones from those posing as Wells Fargo employees. An automated voice suggested that the customer’s account has been breached and directed them to “press one” for assistance. They were then connected to a person who asks for sensitive account information.
Many of the calls came to those who don’t even have Wells Fargo accounts. As the week progressed, the scam morphed to text messages from those posing as representing Bank of America, Chase, Citibank and Capital One.
“Phishing” scams trick consumers into turning over account numbers, PINs, credit card security codes, usernames, passwords and other sensitive information. “Smishing” is a similar scam launched over SMS (Short Message Service) messages – better known as text messages.
Scammers have long phished by phone and email. The text scam is a somewhat new variation. The Attorney General’s Office recommends that consumers never respond to any message requesting account or personal information. Instead, contact the institution using a phone number from a statement or from your bank or credit card company’s official Web site.
Phishing and smishing are criminal acts that the state Attorney General’s Office lacks authority to investigate. Consumers contacted by such scammers should file a complaint with the FTC: . Federal law enforcement monitors complaints filed through the FTC.
Consumers concerned they may have revealed sensitive information in a phishing or smishing scam should contact their bank or credit card company, if applicable, and monitor their bank statements, credit card bills and credit reports to watch for suspicious activity.
(WSB photo of ‘The Hole,’ May 2011)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
We’re at the King County Administration Building downtown, where the stalled development site formerly known as Fauntleroy Place, better known in West Seattle as “The Hole,” has just been auctioned off, three years after development stalled and collapsed into a court fight.
After the case was settled back in June, the resulting foreclosure sale was scheduled for today, and happened without much fanfare, shortly after 10 this morning, as part of the regularly scheduled foreclosure auctions.
Pending completion of paperwork, payment, etc., 3922 SW Alaska LLC is the winning (and only) bidder, announced by King County Sheriff’s Office fill-in auctioneer Dave Easterly, at $32.3 million. See and hear for yourself:
3922 SW Alaska LLC has been the on-the-record noteholder; it’s an entity linked to Madison Development. Its bid was submitted in writing.
Now what? We had checked with a spokesperson for 3922 earlier this week, and the response we got back yesterday was: “We are confident and hopeful that the next steps determining the future of this site will take place soon, but it would be premature to discuss any details at this time.” We are of course checking again; it should be noted that Madison has a page on its website for Fauntleroy Place, listed as 64,000 square feet of retail, 180,000 square feet of apartments. They also have a project under way in West Seattle right now – Element 42, the apartments on the southeast side of the Admiral Safeway site.
Under previous developers, the project was scheduled to have a Whole Foods Market as well as a Hancock Fabrics store (the latter, to replace one torn down on the site), but Whole Foods formally pulled out of the project in July 2010, since terms of its lease – to have a store ready to go by a certain date – were not fulfilled.
More to come! (Footnote: No official comment from Madison by day’s end. Hopefully next week.)
(Photo courtesy Meri Patton)
It takes a village … of volunteers … to feed hundreds of hungry people, and here’s part of the team from last night’s PTA-hosted spaghetti dinner/fundraiser (and open house) at Arbor Heights Elementary. The hosts say they couldn’t have done it without donations from Avalon, Angelina’s, B&E Meats and Seafood, Franz Bakery, The Old Spaghetti Factory (Southcenter), Costco, and Target (Westwood Village).
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
SKIN-CARE PREMIERE: Noon to 4 pm at Westside Dermatology (WSB sponsor), 4740 44th Ave SW, Suite 200. This event is open to the public! Westside Dermatology is launching two new topical antioxidants by SkinCeuticals. We will be demonstrating the importance of antioxidants in a daily skin care regimen and explaining why not all antioxidants are the same. There will be product samples, prizes, refreshments, and snacks. More information about the event can be found here: westside-derm.com/events.htm
FAMILY FUN: Everyone’s invited to Family Fun Night tonight @ Seattle Civic Dance, 6-9 pm. Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, bottom floor. 9131 California SW. Free but bring $ for pizza, pop, cookies, silent auction, raffles, cake walks, face painting to support the concert dances’ ongoing community performances. Live DJ Paul Thomson of STAR 101.5!
HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Tonight, two games at 7 pm – Chief Sealth hosts Franklin (Southwest Athletic Complex); West Seattle vs. Rainier Beach (Southeast Athletic Complex).
LIVE MUSIC: Tonight’s slate includes The Bend at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9 pm.
When Seattle Public Schools announced the date for Thursday night’s West Seattle meeting on their “interim capacity-management plan” – the next round of proposals for solving school overcrowding (see them here) – local families pointed out that conflicted with several local schools’ open houses, curriculum nights, and other special events. Too late to reschedule, apparently – though district official Tom Redman said these meetings were set up in August (the dates weren’t publicly announced till a few weeks ago) – but in case you wanted to be there and couldn’t, we recorded it all on video, and that’s what you will see above.
As for the highlights of what happened: Opening the meeting at Madison Middle School, assistant superintendent for operations Pegi McEvoy described the presentation as a “draft” plan likely to undergo changes in an “iterative” process. Other staff members said that West Seattle has the most growth anticipated in elementary-student population over the next 4 years, which their plan is meant to address … a plan that comes just two years after a school (Genesee Hill) was closed.
The district’s suggestion of adding room for more than 1,000 kids by reopening Boren (5950 Delridge) next year and possibly Hughes (7740 34th SW) later – reported here on Thursday morning – was unpopular with meeting attendees from north West Seattle.
West Seattle photographer Machel Spence, of mushroom-imagery fame, has a new book out, and will be showing her work at shows around the region the next two weekends: Snohomish County Mycological Society’s Fall Mushroom Show this Sunday, 10 am-5 pm at Floral Hall, Forest Park, in Everett, and the Puget Sound Mycology Society‘s Wild Mushroom Show, noon-7 pm Saturday, Oct. 15, and 10 am-5 pm Sunday, Oct. 16, Mountaineers Club at 7700 Sand Point Way NE in Seattle. She describes her book as follows:
80 pages of incredibly beautiful mushroom photographs taken by me in my local forests, I am giving 10% from every book sold to Fungi Magazine so the word about mushrooms can continue to get out in the world. I am a contributing writer and photographer for this non-profit magazine. There are 100 photographs of fungi from in and around West Seattle and Mt. Rainier. It’s a pocket book of pure loveliness for your eyes…
It’s available online here.
Yes, here in early October, it’s already time to think “holiday season” – at least, if you’re planning a major event. So the organizers of the popular annual holiday bazaar at Highland Park Elementary asked us to get the word out that they are ready to sign up vendors. Their event is set for 10 am-3 pm on December 10th, with a bake sale and big raffle (including donations from local businesses and bazaar vendors). If you’re interested in being part of it, e-mail highlandparkbazaar@hotmail.com (please do NOT contact the school directly).
Want to learn how to not just speak to those in power, but to get heard? A free civic-skills-training class is coming up next week in West Seattle. Here’s the official announcement:
For all those wanting make their voice heard in government and impact laws passed in Washington State Legislature and the Seattle City Council, Seattle Free School, in partnership with Knowledge As Power, will provide a free hour-long civic skills training across Seattle. The High Point class is on Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 4:30pm at the High Point Branch Library. The address is 3411 SW Raymond St. Seattle, WA 98126. The training will be given by Sarah Schacht, the executive director of Knowledge As Power, a nonpartisan nonprofit focused on helping citizens engage more effectively in the lawmaking process. Register here if you’re interested in attending. The class is free and open to the public.
With the ever-increasing amount of communication legislators have to sort through, it can be difficult to get your voice heard. Knowledge As Power provides effective techniques and free technology for civic involvement so that the citizens of Seattle can become more informed, engaged, and effective at any level of government. After an overview of how the legislative process works, the nonpartisan training is focused on providing techniques to effectively communicate and influence the decisions of lawmakers. Reel Grrls, a Seattle nonprofit shares their experience: “Sarah helped our youth learn concrete ways to get their voices heard in government. Her training was practical, engaging and energizing — our youth left the workshop feeling like they can make a difference.” Register here if you’re interested.
Some techniques covered in the class include crafting effective advocacy emails, engaging in follow-up communications, and using simple technology tools to track legislation and make messages personalized and effective.
Knowledge As Power is a 501c3 nonpartisan organization established in Seattle with the goal of helping citizens become politically engaged, empowering them to influence the lawmaking process.
Register for the civic skills class online, through Seattle Free School.
(Photos by Stuart Isett for Vigor; click to see larger image)
Unless you’re a crew member, you won’t get to see a view like that on board a state ferry. Well, unless you happen to be out on sea trials this week with the new state ferry Kennewick, built at Vigor (formerly Todd) Shipyards on Harbor Island. Kennewick was moved to Everett a few months ago for the final phase of work before it is delivered to Washington State Ferries, and that’s where it is ported for these trials, though as you can see in the background of this photo, it’s also sailing in waters near here:
(Click to see larger image)
According to Vigor’s communications director Steve Hirsh, “Our engineers said today’s first run was ‘very successful.’ We’re still looking at delivering Kennewick to Washington State Ferries by the end of October – ahead of schedule and under budget.” Kennewick is the third 64-car Kwa-di Tabil-class ferry; the first two are on the Port Townsend-Whidbey Island run, but Kennewick will be assigned to Point Defiance (Tacoma)-Tahlequah (South Vashon). replace one of them, the Chetzemoka, which will move to Point Defiance-Tahlequah. (Thanks to LB for pointing out this article about WSF’s change in the plan that is still outlined on its own website.)
AVALON WAY BUS LANE: SDOT has just announced the schedule for its work to put in the northbound bus lane, southbound bike lane, and other changes in the Luna Park business district, ultimately to benefit the RapidRide bus service that starts in about a year, but also meant to be in place before The Big Viaduct Closure. The work is planned for next week, starting Monday; full details here.
TRANSIT MASTER PLAN OPEN HOUSE: Something to say about our city’s transit future? SDOT just announced open houses around the city to talk about the draft Transit Master Plan; on October 26, there’ll be one 6-8 pm at the West Seattle Eagles‘ hall, 4426 California SW.
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