West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
The new community edible garden behind C & P Coffee – built today by CoolMom– and Sustainable West Seattle-organized volunteers as part of the worldwide 350 Day of Action – was taking shape in a big way when we stopped by around noon – four raised beds behind the coffeehouse. And lots of help, including the very young:
If you see this before 3 pm or so, there’s still time for you to get to Seattle Center and be in the big “350” photo by the International Fountain. A SWS contingent planned to bicycle there; here’s the bicycle that SWS president Bill Reiswig was going to ride:
If you don’t know what the “350” is about – it’s explained here. ADDED 7:02 PM: We got to Seattle Center just as those gathered for the photo finished counting down to 3:50 pm — here’s the group finishing the countdown and cheering/waving:
Here’s how it looked from above (the people we video’d were at the bottom of the photo, just before the big blue banner on the ground). ADDED EARLY SUNDAY: We’ve received one of the aerial photos, and permission to use it, from Terri Glaberson of CoolMom (who was among the speakers at, and organizers of, Saturday’s big event):
Organizers say about 500 people participated.
First, we have received two more reports of the serial vandalism in the Morgan Junction/Lincoln Park area that’s widely known as “the homophobic graffiti” – invariably the same profane three-word slur. CJ writes today that it “reappeared on a garage door overnight – 6000 block of Cal Ave. Same ugly phrase as last time. Police were there taking a report with the homeowner.” And Jen e-mailed yesterday about another sighting; as we reported a week and a half ago, police have been looking to talk with the man who was arrested last spring (charges were dropped because he was found not competent to stand trial) – we’ll continue following up. Ahead – two theft cases – one from a parent warning about what could happen to a teen, another from a couple who hopes you’ll be on the lookout for their stolen car:Read More
From our partners at the Seattle Times, an update on what was decided this morning regarding the next steps in the high-school football postseason, since West Seattle High School‘s win last night (WSB coverage here) has WSHS in a three-way tie for the division lead with Rainier Beach and Nathan Hale: The tiebreaker games (which are short matches) are at Memorial Stadium downtown Monday night, with Westside playing RB at 6 pm. The winner advances to a 7 pm game against NH, and whomever wins that one goes into the league championship game. We’ll be there Monday to cover it all (including live tweets at @wsblive).
The 18th annual Southwest Community Art Showcase starts Monday at the Southwest Branch Library – but it’s not too late to be part of it – just call 206-684-7455 or stop by the branch (35th/Henderson; map), but do it before the library closes today (6 pm). The reminder comes from Julie Enevoldsen of Friends of the Southwest Branch Library; she adds, “Artists of any age and artwork of any medium are welcome.” The show will run through Nov. 15, with a meet-the-artists reception at 2 pm Nov. 7.
VIADUCT CLOSURE: Right about now, the Alaskan Way Viaduct is scheduled to close for the first of two days of inspections, as routinely happens twice a year. Today’s closure is scheduled to end at 5:30 pm to accommodate Sounders traffic; tomorrow’s shutdown is slated for 6 am-6 pm. (A few hours into the closure, the mayor and governor are scheduled to gather alongside The Viaduct for the ceremonial signing of the tunnel deal validated by the City Council this week.)
350 DAY: It’s the International Day for Climate Action. Big event in West Seattle: CoolMom and Sustainable West Seattle are is creating an edible garden on a plot donated by C & P Coffee (who answered this). You can join in – starting at 10 am. Then at 12:30, SWS leads a bike ride from Seacrest to Seattle Center, where events will culminate in the formation of the numbers 3, 5, 0 at 3:50 pm. Read more on the SWS website.
LESBIAN & GAY FILM FESTIVAL IN WEST SEATTLE: For the second year, the festival has screenings in West Seattle, at Admiral Theater starting at noon today and tomorrow – five films today and two tomorrow.
HELP SAMOAN DISASTER VICTIMS: 9 am to 1 pm, you can take donations to an event at Evergreen High School in White Center (map). See what’s needed, and find out more about the event, by going here.
WEST SEATTLE EAGLES’ OKTOBERFEST NOTE: They sent word yesterday they had trouble getting the right permits, so they’ve canceled the beer/sausage event, but are still doing breakfast and flag football.
Lots more! See the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
That’s the West Seattle High School varsity football team accepting the Huling Bowl trophy – again – on Homecoming Night, after a 26-8 victory over Chief Sealth High School at West Seattle Stadium. The win put West Seattle in a three-way tie with Rainier Beach and Nathan Hale for first place in the Metro League’s Sound Division. Since that was the last regular-season game, this morning there’ll be a coin flip to determine how everything will shake out in the playoff picture. At this point West Seattle could play as early as Monday night or as late as next Friday. The Wildcats managed to pull off the win despite losing quarterback Ellison Tran early in the second half. Running back Isaiah Jenkins stepped into the QB role and kept the team moving down the field. Tran came back in the fourth quarter and was part of a flea-flicker that led to a West Seattle touchdown. While Tran sat out most of the half, Jenkins and teammate Markeem Adams split the play-calling. Coach Davis Lura talked about it afterward:
Chief Sealth scored with only five seconds left in the game. The Seahawks’ Tracy Manley caught a pass and quarterback Daniel Davis was successful on the two-point conversion. Meantime, the crosstown rivalry made way for good-spirited cheerleader and band action on the field at halftime:
Before the game, a barbecue and rally – with Tom and Steve Huling at the grill, dishing up free hot dogs:
This is the 92nd WSHS homecoming; the school’s Homecoming Dance is tomorrow night at Club One 3 One downtown.
Hundreds of students, staffers and parent/community volunteers teamed up in Friday’s soggy, blustery weather for another successful Lafayette Elementary Walk-a-Thon. This is a big year for the school in Admiral, as it’s added two classes and is now the most populous elementary in West Seattle, with more than 500 students. The PTA organizes the Walk-a-Thon to raise tens of thousands of dollars each year to fill school needs that the regular budget just doesn’t cover. Classes take turns throughout the day making the rounds on the playground, with peppy music:
Volunteers rounded up more than 100 business sponsors this year, including WSB. (Disclosure, we have a Lafayette alum in the house, but we’re always pleased to receive sponsorship solicitations from any local school fundraiser or other community event.)
This morning, we resume our city-candidate closeups; we took a look at them all before the primary election, and with the general election nearing, we’re checking back in with the finalists in five city races – mayor and council. We’ve already looked at mayor (Mike McGinn here, Joe Mallahan here) and City Council Position 6 (Nick Licata here, Jessie Israel here); this morning, it’s City Council Position 8..
By Jack Mayne
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Mike O’Brien says he wants a Seattle City Council seat for reasons including opposition to the deep-bore tunnel plan for replacing part of The Viaduct and consideration of tolling major thoroughfares in the city to discourage car usage and raise money for projects like creating a transportation-and-people corridor along the city’s waterfront.
O’Brien is a former chair of the Cascade Chapter of the Sierra Club and spent a decade as chief financial officer at the Stokes Lawrence law firm. He shares opposition of the deep-bore tunnel plan with fellow ex-Sierra Club chair Mike McGinn, who’s running for mayor. O’Brien faces Robert Rosencrantz in the Position 8 race.
He has said tolls could be used “everywhere” but moderates that a bit under questioning.
This morning, we resume our city-candidate closeups; we took a look at them all before the primary election, and with the general election nearing, we’re checking back in with the finalists in five city races – mayor and council. We’ve already looked at mayor (Joe Mallahan here, Mike McGinn here) and City Council Position 6 (Jessie Israel here, Nick Licata here); this morning, it’s City Council Position 8..
By Jack Mayne
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Robert Rosencrantz has run for City Council twice before and lost. He says it is either the third time is the charm of it is three strikes and you’re out.
He is a commercial property manager and is running for Position 8 against Mike O’Brien.
Rosencrantz believes local issues should be controlled by the neighborhoods. Rewriting the now 10-year old neighborhood plans should not be done in City Hall, but in West Seattle and other urban centers. He said that while he served as president of the Montlake Community Council, he felt estranged from City Hall.
Great photo from David Clarke, taken from Beach Drive this afternoon. So far, the forecast suggests tomorrow will be rain-free – lots to do if you don’t already have your plans locked in – check the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
We were away for the keyboard covering the West Seattle HS-Chief Sealth HS game (final: WSHS 26, Chief Sealth 8, details and video to come) and are just getting the reports about a helicopter over eastern West Seattle for a while. Seattle PD isn’t reporting anything significant on its media alerts, so we’re checking. It’s been quiet for a while till this crazy week but a reminder we haven’t issued for a while, if you see something notable and you don’t see news of it pop up here quickly, PLEASE call us – 206-293-6302 – that will reach us wherever we are and we can get on the case if we’re not already. All our other contact methods are here but the phone’s always the fastest and we answer 24/7. 2:52 AM NOTE: Haven’t dredged up anything yet. Been listening to the scanner the last few hours and nothing noteworthy lingering in West Seattle. In the WSB Forums, member “newcarissa” reported asking a police officer who said there’d been “a liquor-store robbery down the road” – if so, that would be White Center, and we’ll check with the Sheriff’s Office over the weekend too.
King County Public Health has announced that those special H1N1-flu-shot clinics – including one in White Center – have already run out of vaccine. Here’s the announcement:Read More
SDOT has just sent out a handy list of all the downtown road work happening this weekend – if you’re heading that way despite the fact the Alaskan Way Viaduct is scheduled for 6 am-5:30 pm closure Saturday and 6 am-6 pm closure Sunday, check this out:Read More
Just before the last few breaking stories happened, we had just walked out of King County Superior Court Judge Greg Canova’s courtroom downtown, after the sentencing hearing for 19-year-old West Seattle repeat offender Skyelar Hailey wrapped up. This was the sentencing for the incidents in mid-August in which Hailey and a teenage girl were arrested for stealing a teacher’s purse at West Seattle High School, then burglarizing the home of a nearby acquaintance (detailed here); earlier this month, Hailey pleaded guilty to residential burglary and theft. The prosecutor handling the case was Maurice Classen, who deals with “repeat burglar” cases, on which the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has placed a special emphasis. After hearing Classen declare, “This is an individual who has had a significant effect on a community” (while mentioning our presence in the courtroom as further evidence of that), then hearing Hailey say his criminal record is all because of a drug problem he didn’t admit till now, Judge Canova gave him the sentence the state had requested: 13 months on one count, 12 months on the other, to be served concurrently. The judge said Hailey’s lengthy record, mostly juvenile offenses since he is just 19, showed no previous evidence of a drug problem, so he dismissed the defense attorney’s request for a sentence focusing instead on drug treatment. Hailey offered no words of remorse:
I know I have a significant juvenile history, I’ve committed several crimes. I’ve never been looking at this much time – it kind of opened my eyes a bit – that I had a drug problem and was ignoring it. I don’t have the support of my parents, I don’t have a job – I’ve been on my own more or less since I was 15 – seems everything I ever got in trouble for was related to drugs – I’m hoping I can get through this and change.
The judge then asked sharply – referring to this April hearing, the last time we were in court to see Hailey being sentenced – “You didn’t think THAT was an appropriate time to raise the issue of your drug problem?” Hailey replied, “I never looked at myself as having a drug problem.” The judge noted that the report from this incident showed him as having been found with a small amount of white powder and pills, but nothing else indicating a problem or addiction. Judge Canova (a West Seattleite, by the way) pronounced sentence without further remark, aside from “Good luck, Mr. Hailey” as a deputy re-cuffed him and took him away – same thing he had said to two defendants whose unrelated sentencings we’d watched in the preceding hour while awaiting this one.
Afterward, we talked with prosecutor Classen to ask how much time Hailey will really spend in prison: Answer – about half a year. First, he has been in jail for two months since his mid-August arrest; then, Classen says, for a crime like this, one-third is taken off the sentence (which is less than some others, but more than violent crimes). So unless something changes, he will be out again by May. Classen acknowledges that doesn’t seem like enough for the “significant impact,” but Hailey did not have enough of an adult record for more.
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli, added 3:19 pm, showing where Fauntleroy is blocked by police)
Take alternate routes. Police tell us this is because of a series of crashes. No word yet how long the bridge approach will be closed there. 3:34 PM UPDATE: Via Twitter, SDOT says the bridge entrance has been reopened. And the department’s communications director Rick Sheridan explains why we also noted some heavy equipment heading onto the bridge before it reopened:
A Jersey barrier was knocked out of alignment in the eastbound lanes of the West Seattle Freeway just east of 35th Ave SW. SDOT crews responded to the scene and restored it to its normal position. Traffic was detoured from the roadway while the work was underway. The road just reopened to traffic a short time ago.
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli)
WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli is on the scene and we’re working to get more information. They’re keeping media way back – this apparently happened deep inside the park – but a public information officer is said to be on the way. 2:42 PM UPDATE: We are now told this – like the incident last night at Westwood Village is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It’s important to note in these cases – suicide claims more lives than homicide each year – but is little-discussed publicly. If you or anyone you know has considered it, you can get help around the clock through the Crisis Clinic, 206.461.3222.
Nine months after we first reported a proposal to give the West Seattle Bridge a new name in honor of former City Councilmember Jeanette Williams, the naming was officially commemorated beneath the bridge this afternoon. Shown in the photo above with Councilmember Tom Rasmussen – who worked with Ms. Williams for years – was her son Rusty Williams (who ran for City Council himself earlier this year). At today’s ceremony, Rusty explained how proud she would be:
Ms. Williams died a year ago. She had fought long and hard to get federal funding to build the “high bridge” – that covered $60 million of its $150 million price tag.
We have information now on an incident reported in the WSB Forums last night, after people in The Junction around 9:30 pm saw a woman screaming, followed by a police search. Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen confirms it was a “strong-arm robbery” near the QFC – 2 people, described only as “black males,” grabbed a woman’s purse and tried to take her cell phone, which the lieutenant says “she was using at the time.” No arrests so far. They’re looking into whether this might be related to other incidents, but they don’t have enough analysis to confirm a pattern so far.
Halloween-themed events for this weekend (and the week ahead) are also part of the WSB Halloween page – but in the meantime, all kinds of other fall fun is happening this weekend too – from tonight’s West Seattle High School Homecoming/Huling Bowl game (previewed here) to drumming the salmon home at Fauntleroy Creek (previewed here), 1st weekend for “Measure for Pleasure” at ArtsWest, West Seattle playwright Keri Healey at Hugo House tonight, West Seattleites participating in the 350 Day of Climate Action on Saturday, West Seattle Eagles‘ Oktoberfest breakfast and flag football, and more – plus DON’T FORGET THE VIADUCT CLOSURE! More than 50 events/activities in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club:Read More
That’s “Hipp T” from the staff at Providence Mount St. Vincent and Clara from Pegasus Pizza, delivering 10 donated pies from Pegasus to The Mount about an hour ago for their lunchtime conversation group to enjoy. This is the 16th year the group’s been meeting! Arlene Carter from The Mount explains, “The group consists of residents who cannot otherwise get out for lunch, and they appreciate so much the volunteers and vendors who provide them with a different meal every Friday for lunch!”
All three of West Seattle’s high schools play football tonight. Marquee game: The 92nd Homecoming for West Seattle High School, which is also the 10th crosstown “Huling Bowl“: Westside vs. Chief Sealth, 7 pm at West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th SW). Both principals agreed to go on camera for video messages about the big game – first Bruce Bivins from WSHS (the hat he wore was for Royalty Day), then John Boyd from CSHS:
As you heard the principals mention, a barbecue (free hot dogs!) and rally are planned before the big game, 5:30 pm, and there’s an afterparty at Rocksport in The Junction. Meantime, Seattle Lutheran High School plays football tonight too, 7 pm vs. Tacoma Baptist at Curtis HS in University Place (map).
This morning we’re welcoming one of our newest sponsors, Endolyne Joe’s. While it’s the southernmost restaurant in West Seattle, it’s just minutes away from wherever you live. Joe’s is owned by Chow Foods, known for other popular Seattle restaurants like the 5 Spot. Endolyne Joe’s has the same manager, Dicki Crumm, who’s been there since it opened in 2003, as well as many of the opening waitstaff (photo at left: Dicki with Cindy Luby).
Theme menus are continuing, and there’s a spotlight on specials, including the Not-So-Early-Bird Breakfast. How about a goat cheese and fresh herb scramble? Or Caramel Apple French Toast with half a rasher of bacon? Or maybe the Trailer Park Benedict, a buttermilk biscuit topped with thick-sliced ham, poached eggs and cheddar cheese sauce? Any Not-So-Early-Bird Breakfast Special is $5 (including the Breakfast Burrito!), Monday-Friday only from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
For dinner, you’ll find a rotating dinner menu that changes every 3 months to highlight a different region of the “Americas.” This allows neighbors and West Seattle residents to try a new menu each calendar quarter, while Joe’s also offers all of the favorite standards off of their base menu.
Endolyne Joe’s isn’t just about food. Joe’s is very active in fundraising for local West Seattle concerns. Fundraisers in the past several months have included such causes as musical instrument and art supplies for a New Orleans elementary school leveled by Hurricane Katrina, the Fauntleroy Community Association and West Seattle elementary and middle schools. Joe’s, along with the other Chow Foods restaurants, is in the midst of a monthlong campaign in October to raise funds for Arts Corps, a locally operated non-profit that provides art, music and dance programs for Seattle area schools and community centers. Visit www.chowfoods.com for more information on this effort. There is a big, big prize for some fortunate entrant!
The historic Endolyne district — where else in Seattle will you see a neon sign that says EAT AT JOE’S? — is a few blocks east of the Fauntleroy ferry dock. Find Endolyne Joe’s at 9261 45th SW (map). (206) 937-JOES. We thank Endolyne Joe’s for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; the sponsor team, with info on joining, is all here.
The forthcoming West Seattle Weekend Lineup will have more of what’s up tonight and beyond, but one event is just a few hours away – at 12:30 pm, the ceremony to give the West Seattle Bridge the new name Jeanette Williams Memorial Bridge, as a tribute to the late former City Councilmember who fought for the funding to make The Bridge reality a quarter-century ago. Her family will join Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and others at 3682 West Marginal Way (map) for the event, and you’re welcome too (here’s the invite).
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