West Seattle, Washington
05 Sunday
That’s the just-released updated poster design for this year’s West Seattle Junction Car Show, shared by show organizer Michael Hoffman of Liberty Bell Print and Design (new name!). The car show (with co-sponsors including WSB, and a special appearance by members of the “Deadliest Catch” cast) is coming up 8 am-4 pm Sunday, September 18th, just one month from tomorrow, but if you want to enter a car and get the early-registration deal – $15 instead of $25 – September 1st is the signup deadline. You’ll find the form on the left side of this page.
A few residents near the Fauntleroy ferry dock have e-mailed/called, wondering about late night/early morning construction work that’s under way this week. We doublechecked; it’s part of the electrical upgrades mentioned here a week and a half ago, for the nearby Barton pump station (prelude to this), for construction of a RapidRide bus stop, and for an electric-vehicle-charging station. The official Seattle City Light notice (see it here) did warn that the work hours would shift to 7 pm-4 am this week when the project moved to the immediate vicinity of the ferry terminal, to avoid conflicts with traffic during the busiest hours for ferry use. The project is scheduled to last at least two more weeks.
(Stand-up paddleboarders last night off Seacrest, ©2011 Eric Shalit – tubulocity.com)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
TRAFFIC ALERT: Tonight is the second of three nights with the Spokane Street Viaduct (West Seattle Bridge between I-5 and 99) scheduled to be closed WESTBOUND overnight. Full details here.
FOR TIRED PARENTS:: The author of “The Sleep Book for Tired Parents” will talk about ways to prevent sleep problems for babies, ways to approach sleep problems for toddlers, answer questions about your little one’s sleep. Offered by Parent-Infant/Movers Class through South Seattle Community College in West Seattle. Free; bring your little one, of course! Noon, SSCC Room RAH 201. Rsvp: behunt51@comcast.net
MUSIC AT THE LIBRARY: Family activity: High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond) presents The Brian Waite Band: The Land That Rock Forgot, 2 pm.
BUY IT WHERE IT’S GROWN: Weekly High Point Market Garden Farm Stand, open 4-7 pm, 32nd SW and SW Juneau, selling seasonal fresh organically grown produce right in the garden where the produce is grown.
SEE THE DUWAMISH: The 2011 Summer Community Kayak Tour series by Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition continues tonight, 5:30-8:30 pm: RSVP to Alki Kayak Tours (206) 953-0237. Full details here; tonight’s tour leaves from Duwamish Waterway Park (7900 10th Ave. S. in South Park).
HISTORY TOUR: Historian Peder Nelson, host of the “MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry) Minute” series, will lead “The Life and Times of Frances Farmer,” a tour through West Seattle’s Admiral neighborhood, childhood home of the tragic star. 6 – 8 pm. Details on the MOHAI website.
Art, history, and generosity will come together Friday night at Alki Arts, on behalf of West Seattle Helpline, during a unique fundraiser, the “Gallery of West Seattle History.” Helpline’s executive director Tara Byrne explains that you’ll be able to enjoy live music, drinks, and food while learning more about West Seattle’s history, courtesy of displays provided by the nearby Log House Museum. Singer/guitarist Sue Quigley, who’s played gigs from Hollywood to SXSW to KeyArena at Storm halftime, will perform. And if you haven’t been to Alki Arts lately – this is also a great chance to see the amazing art they’re displaying and offering for sale. Tara says the money raised will go to help local students through Pencil Me In For Kids, and that donors to make it a great party include Pegasus, Celtic Swell, Elliott Bay Brewery, Bamboo Grill, and Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes – as well as Alki Arts donating the space. You can get your $30 ticket right now online, at westseattlehelpline.org.
Also Friday night – who says you can’t make it to both? – it’s the 34th District Democrats‘ annual Garden Party and Auction at West Seattle Nursery. On the website for this area’s largest political organization, you’ll find a list of what’s been donated for the auction so far – a very long list including myriad chances to hang out with local political leaders, plus gift certificates for local faves, and adventurous outings including a visit to an alpaca farm. The auctioneer is West Seattle expat New York Vinnie, visiting his old stomping grounds for the occasion. The night’s theme is Mediterranean, including music from Croatia; the party’s 6-9 pm Friday, $34/ticket or $60/couple.
(UPDATED 11:56 PM with more reaction)
King County Elections has just released its first, and only, round of results for the night (we’ll add reaction/analysis notes and links later tonight):
Seattle Referendum 1 (tunnel-related): 60% yes, 40% no
REACTION: Mayor McGinn just broke his silence via Twitter: “I worked to give the public a direct vote on the tunnel. The public said move ahead with the tunnel, and that’s what we’re going to do.” Also-anti-tunnel Councilmember Mike O’Brien told our partners at the Seattle Times, “…I will accept the tunnel.” But the Times quotes tunnel opponent Elizabeth Campbell as calling the vote “far from a decisive victory.”
Seattle City Council Position 1: Jean Godden* 45%, Bobby Forch 24%, Maurice Classen 16%, Michael Taylor-Judd 13%
City Council Position 9: Sally Clark* 71%, Dian Ferguson 22%, Fathi Karshie 5%
REACTION: Via Facebook, Clark said, “71% is a great vote of confidence.”
King County Council District 8: Joe McDermott* 67%, Diana Toledo 27%, Goodspaceguy 5%
REACTION: Via Facebook – McDermott: “I am gratified by our strong showing in the Primary and look forward to a vigorous campaign through the General Election.” Toledo: “Now the hard work begins; on to the General Election!!!”
Seattle School Board District 6 (West Seattle area): Steve Sundquist* 43%, Marty McLaren 30%, Joy Anderson 21%, Nick Esparza 5%
King County Veterans/Human Services Levy: 66% yes, 34% no
REACTION: In an e-mailed statement, King County Executive Dow Constantine said, “”The citizens of King County have demonstrated their respect for our veterans and compassion for our neighbors most in need by voting to renew the Veterans and Human Services Levy.”
Full King County results here; next count, tomorrow afternoon.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: After several WSB’ers e-mailed – thank you! – to point out the daily lines outside West Seattle Coins in The Junction, we asked Keri to check out the story.)
Story and photo by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
There’s gold in them thar garages! And in drawers and old boxes, and … With gold prices at their highest point in years, people are cashing in at West Seattle Coins, leading to frequent lines outside their California/Oregon storefront.
The shop doesn’t open until 10 am, but the first customer in line was there at 8:30 this morning, and had brought a book to read while he waited. As of 9:30, four more people were in line and explained they came early in order to avoid the wait once inside the shop.
After voting this afternoon to put a $60/year car-tab fee on the November ballot, Seattle city councilmembers – as the Transportation Benefit District (STBD) board – came to West Seattle to explain it. They had originally scheduled the Delridge/Holden news conference for 12:30 pm – but the discussion back at City Hall wasn’t even over by then, so it was well past 1 when they were finally able to cross the bridge and meet the media. (Accompanying them were some community advocates, including Gatewood resident Chas Redmond, second from right in our photo, representing Feet First.)
Here’s what it’s all about: The vote in November will be the next step in a process that began months ago. Remember back in April, when we shared a question for you from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce – about our area’s top transportation priorities? The results of that informal survey went to the Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee, which later had a series of meetings around the city, including this one we covered in May at the Southwest Library. (They also had an online survey.)
Then CTAC brought recommendations to the council/STBD, which in turn is now going out to voters with a request for money, and an outline of what would be done with it. The district could have asked voters to approve up to $80, as authorized by the State Legislature for a total fee of up to $100 ($20 already has been put into place). (Keep in mind – and we know this is confusing – this is a CITY-charged $20, and the ballot measure would be a CITY-charged $60, separate from the unrelated new COUNTY-charged $20 that was making news yesterday.)
So in November, it’s up to you to decide whether to approve the $60 added tab fee for transportation projects; it would raise about $20 million a year, and here’s how it would be spent, with the largest single category of spending, $4 million, going to fix roads. Here’s complete video of the City Council’s news conference on Delridge, led by West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the council’s Transportation Committee:
(We recorded video too and will check to see if the sound quality is any better.)
(Photo by WSB/White Center Now contributor Deanie Schwarz)
Another update on this morning’s deadly shooting at 15th/Roxbury in White Center: The 23-year-old victim is from High Point, according to a woman who told WSB/WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz that she’s her cousin. She says the victim’s name is “Sweetheart“; no formal identification is expected any sooner than mid-afternoon. More details on White Center Now. Still no word of arrests; the latest on the investigation is in our morning report.
Thanks to Sarah for the tip on this – she heard that Hiawatha’s wading-pool season would be extended since our not-so-summery weather has meant so few “open” days, so we inquired with Parks, and they’ve just sent an official announcement of wading pools citywide – including THREE in West Seattle, E.C. Hughes and Delridge as well as Hiawatha – where the closing date has been pushed back – click ahead for details:Read More
Update on OutWest Bar, which opened for business at 5401 California SW, albeit in “soft open” mode, last Thursday (as reported here): WSB contributor Keri DeTore says the awning’s finally been redone with the LGBT-friendly bar’s name (we saw it being painted just yesterday) and co-owners Bob Lunke and Chad Gabelein have announced their grand opening for this weekend — Friday and Saturday nights. Their official operating hours are settled, too – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 4 pm to midnight, Friday and Saturday 4 pm to 2 am, Sundays 4 pm to midnight.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch updates: First, more details from police on last night’s holdup at the Admiral Baskin-Robbins; second, a theft that may have been an honest mistake, but whatever the case, the item’s owner wants it back. Read on for both:Read More
SDOT crews are working at Fauntleroy/California in Morgan Junction again today – but what they’re installing atop traffic signals is different from what they were working on in The (Alaska) Junction last week. In this case, they’re putting up cameras. We asked SDOT if these might be additions to the city’s webcam lineup, but spokesperson Marybeth Turner says no:
Video detection cameras are being installed for north and southbound traffic at California Avenue SW and Fauntleroy. The system detects motor vehicles as well as bicycles and takes the place of loop detectors imbedded in the pavement. The cameras process the image internally and pass detection information to the equipment (the signal controller) that controls the operation of the traffic signals at that intersection. No images are retained or distributed to other locations.
(Pink-salmon-fishing mania continues at Lincoln Park. Photo by Monica M. Wehri)
Just a few things to mention in this edition of the morning preview, from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
ELECTION DAY: Tonight is the voting deadline; dropboxes (nearest one is downtown) close at 8 pm, and you need to make sure your ballot carries TODAY’S postmark if you’re sending it out by mail. While it’s the primary election, so most of the ballot involves races where the field will be narrowed to the “top two” candidates for November, there are also two ballot measures to be decided: Seattle Referendum 1, related to the Highway 99 tunnel (still confused? here’s our video of the only West Seattle forum devoted entirely to the issue), and the King County Veterans and Human Services Levy (both require a simple majority). The county has gathered election-related information here.
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT BOARD VOTE: Last night’s vote for a $20 car-tab fee to cover a Metro budget gap was a county action. Today, the City Council, sitting as the Seattle Transportation Benefit District Board, is expected to vote to send their own proposed car-tab fee to the November ballot, to cover a variety of other transportation projects. They meet at 11 am; more information here, and it’ll be live on the Seattle Channel (cable 21 or online).
TRAFFIC ALERTS FOR TONIGHT: Reminder – the Mariners and Sounders both have 7 pm home games, and the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct has an overnight closure (starting at 11:30 pm – that means the West Seattle Bridge exits on I-5 and from Beacon Hill will be closed). Details in our original preview.
STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDING RACE & MOVIE: “Explore: Catalina,” a stand-up paddleboarding “adventure film,” has its Seattle premiere tonight at Seacrest, outdoors at the Alki Crab and Fish lounge at 8 pm, after an evening starting with Alki Kayak Toursand Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) presenting SUP demos at 6 pm (first 40 people free) and the weekly SUP race at 7. Here’s the official flyer with full details.
3:38 AM: A 22-year-old woman is dead and a block of 15th SW is closed off just south of Roxbury (map) after a shooting in White Center early this morning. So far, no arrests, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating the case. We have ongoing coverage on partner site White Center Now.
8:38 AM: Still no arrest(s) reported; we expect a more formal update from KCSO later this morning. 15th SW has reopened, though.
11:39 AM UPDATE: Official news release in from Deputy DeFries, who briefed us and TV crews at the scene early today – note that it changes the victim’s age:
A 23-year-old female is dead and detectives are working leads in a shooting incident that occurred overnight in the White Center area of King County.
This morning, at about 12:20 AM, deputies were called to the area of SW Roxbury St. and 15th Ave. SW by a passing witness for a fight disturbance. When deputies arrived they met with a small group of females, including the now-deceased victim of the shooting. Deputies were told that the disturbance was minor and that the other group, which consisted of 3 black males, had left the area. The group of women declined to speak further about the incident.
Deputies stayed in the general area and began to walk on foot to increase their visibility and to try to prevent further violence from erupting. Just before 1:00 AM these deputies heard several gun shots coming from the area of the original disturbance. When the returned they found the victim lying in the middle of 15th Ave. SW with at least one gunshot wound. Witnesses said that at least 2 of the original 3 black males had returned and one then fired on the victim. The suspects then fled the scene on foot.
At this point, no suspects are in custody and no weapon has been recovered. Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit are investigating. We have not been able to rule out if this was gang-related or not. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Gang Unit will be assisting, as needed.
2:08 PM: We’ve just published a new update, with what a relative has told us about the victim.
10:27 PM: Police are at the Baskin-Robbins ice-cream shop on Admiral Way, where an armed robbery was reported. Nobody hurt. No description(s) so far. We have a crew there; more as we get it.
11:30 PM: Officers have been talking with employees and checking for prints; they told us they’re still “sorting out” what happened. WSB contributor Katie Meyer says the original scanner call mentioned three suspects.
TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE: We have just spoken with SPD and will put details in a separate update – bottom line, no one arrested so far.
Golden pre-sunset light filled the LIncoln Park shelter where Sustainable West Seattle members and friends gathered for the group’s summer picnic tonight. They ate and talked and relaxed – and stopped for a few minutes to honor a hero:
With SWS’s Patrick Dunn (left), that’s South Seattle Community College‘s Michael Ryan (right), the college’s Dean of Culinary, Pastry, Wine, and Landscape/Horticulture, among other things. “All the good stuff,” he smiled. “My worst day at work is better than most people’s best day!” As SWS announced last week, Ryan was chosen the group’s 2011 “Sustainability Hero,” for championing so many sustainability-related projects, including the West Seattle Tool Library and Community Orchard of West Seattle. (Added: Video of his acceptance, and Dunn’s introduction:)
After speeches and applause, it was back to celebrating a perfect summer night, and even enjoying Puget Sound:
That’s Greg Whittaker from Alki Kayak Tours and Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor), who brought paddlecraft for picnickers to try out. (Tomorrow night, by the way, is the big event his businesses are co-sponsoring with Alki Crab and Fish at Seacrest – a standup-paddleboarding movie’s local premiere following the Tuesday night SUP races; details here.) Meantime, watch Sustainable West Seattle’s website for details soon on their September program; the third Monday of the month is their usual night for community forums/gatherings.
By a vote of 7 to 2, King County Councilmembers have just approved the $20-a-year-for-two-years car-tab fee that is supposed to save Metro from drastic bus-service cuts. “We have made a giant step toward saving our Metro,” declared council chair Larry Gossett, right after the vote.
If you’ve been offline for a few hours, you might say, “well, isn’t that what was expected to happen, after the big deal announced last week?” Yes – until some multi-hour, last-minute drama: Preceding the vote, the council convened in early afternoon as scheduled – and then went into more than four hours of closed-door caucusing, according to multiple updates from citywide news organizations (including Slog and PubliCola) that also reported rumors the two Republican (officially nonpartisan) councilmembers who supported the fee last week, Jane Hague and Kathy Lambert, might change their minds. But before tonight’s vote, both spoke publicly to reiterate their support for it. Six “yes” votes were required to finalize the fee. All five Democratic (officially nonpartisan) councilmembers, including West Seattle’s Joe McDermott, voted for it too; McDermott acknowledged it’s a “regressive” tax, but pointed out it’s the only option the State Legislature gave them for raising money to cover the budget gap.
P.S. Another, separate car-tab-fee vote is ahead tomorrow – this one **for the city only**. Seattle City Councilmembers, sitting as the Transportation Benefit District Board, will vote on whether to send to voters in November a car-tab fee to fund transportation projects. They’re expected to vote at 11 tomorrow morning, and then they’re planning a news conference on Delridge to talk about it. The fee could be up to $80/year.
ADDED 9:04 PM – MORE ON TONIGHT’S COUNTY COUNCIL VOTE: The council’s official news release, after the jump:Read More
After receiving notes about what appeared to be motorcades – law-enforcement motorcycle escorts and all – traveling on the West Seattle Bridge, we checked with the Southwest Precinct. As suspected, it’s multi-agency training, as has happened here in years past.
Unless the district announces a community meeting before then, looks like one of the first public opportunities to see Chief Sealth International High School‘s new principal Chris Kinsey in action will be at next week’s South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition meeting. That’s according to an announcement from the group, which meets at 6 pm Thursday, August 25th, at the former St. James Church-turned-community center (9421 18th SW). Here’s our recent interview with Kinsey, who comes to Sealth from an assistant-principal role at Cleveland High School; he succeeds John Boyd, who is moving to an executive position with Highline Public Schools, focused on that district’s northern area, which includes White Center.
As noted here eight days ago, the southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed this weekend, scheduled for 11 pm Friday-5 am Monday. ONLY the southbound side. The official announcement, with a reminder about the looming nine-day October closure, is out this afternoon – read on:Read More
That video from Wellspring Family Services features West Seattle-residing rocker Chris Ballew, who in his Caspar Babypants kindie-rock mode is once again offering a once-in-a-lifetime prize as part of a fundraising contest that has two weeks to go. It’s the annual “Kids Helping Kids” coin-collecting drive. Wellspring helps homeless kids and families around King County; everybody who turns in donations via “Kids Helping Kids” gets entered in the drawing for Caspar B to write a custom song about them. (In the video, you’ll hear part of “Happy Heart,” inspired by 7-year-old Rena Mateja, who collected more than $500 for Wellspring.) Deadline is September 1st; donations can be turned in to Wellspring directly or via CoinStar machines. Information on how to sign up and how to donate is in the links on the right sidebar of this page.
Two updates for the court files (speaking of which, if you are following the Steve Bushaw murder trial, it’s in recess till Wednesday):
(June 28th photo courtesy Kathryn)
GATEWOOD ARSON: September 7th is now set as the trial date for 40-year-old John C. Siegel, arrested at the scene of the June 28th arson at a home he co-owned near Orchard Street Ravine and charged days later with setting it as an act of domestic violence, as well as with violating a court order. Court documents indicate that Siegel, who is a lawyer, is now representing himself in the case (though he has requested “standby backup counsel”). He’s due in court this Friday morning for a hearing to determine if everyone involved is indeed ready to go to trial. Siegel also has filed a handwritten motion seeking a separate jury proceeding on the “aggravating factor” that is alleged in the crime – that he committed it shortly after being released from jail (as reported here previously, he got out May 20th after a plea bargain on charges involving domestic violence and threatening a judge). Siegel contends that having the “rapid recidivism” aspect brought up in the main case would be prejudicial to that jury; prosecutors have responded that they believe the issue should be “reserved for the trial court” to decide. Siegel remains in jail, in lieu of $1 million bail.
Another case we’ve been following is now closed – plea made, time served:
(June 17th photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
JUNCTION THREAT: 20-year-old Chriss Arce, arrested on June 17th for an incident that started in West Seattle Computers in The Junction and ended with him allegedly pulling a gun on the store’s owner, was sentenced last Friday, after a plea bargain in July. Arce was originally charged with assault; according to court records, he pleaded guilty July 20th to a reduced charge of harassment. The sentence ordered by Judge Patrick Oishi on Friday: 34 days in jail, which is equal to the time he served between his June arrest and being released on July 22nd.
A truckload of excitement arrived at Lafayette Elementary over the weekend. Luckie shared the photo (thank you!) and explained that on Sunday, “a small group of Lafayette volunteers unloaded all the disassembled parts of the new playground structure, moving it from the delivery truck to the onsite storage container. It was exciting to finally have our hands on the ladders, spinners, slides, and everything else that will come together to make this fabulous play area! There’s a community work party on August 27 for anyone who wishes to have a hand in building it.” (Here’s our coverage of the last one on June 25th; the work is the latest in a multi-phase, multi-year project to renovate the playground of West Seattle’s most populous elementary school.) The school building itself has had some work done over the summer:
The new metal cafeteria doors are on the south (SW Lander) side of Lafayette – Luckie shared that photo too. They’re part of a $705,000 levy-funded project, replacing windows and doors at the school with newer, stronger, energy-conserving versions. P.S. The first day of school for Seattle Public Schools is September 7 (three weeks from Wednesday).
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