West Seattle, Washington
21 Tuesday
Often, we only find out about passing ships – particularly US Navy sightings to/from Bremerton – after the fact. For those who keep an eye on the water, here’s advance word of something heading this way: Via Puget Sound Maritime, we learn that the decommissioned frigate USS Jarrett will be towed to Bremerton within the next week or so. According to its Wikipedia page, the Jarrett made history as the first US Navy warship commanded by a woman (Captain Kathleen McGrath).
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE CENTER’S LAST DAY: Last day for West Seattle Junction Neighborhood Service Center, 4205 SW Alaska, 9 am-5 pm, closing because of midyear city-budget cuts.
LAST DAY OF OPEN REGISTRATION FOR WEST SEATTLE SOCCER CLUB: After today, no guarantee of team placement, per WSSC – more details on their website, where camp info is available too.
SAFETY DAY AT LAFARGE: 10 am-2 pm, Lafarge‘s annual Safety Day includes tours (wear long pants and closed-toe shoes) and demonstrations, plus snacks and treats for the kids. 5400 W. Marginal Way SW.
SHOP LATE THURSDAY, SECOND EDITION: It’s the second week for Shop Late Thursdays in The Junction, till 9 pm – participating merchants are listed here, including WSB sponsors JF Henry Kitchen and Tableware (closes @ 8) and Click! Design That Fits.
ART ON DISPLAY: 35th Avenue Chiropractic invites you to an event showcasing the artwork of Stephanie Savidge, 6 pm, 9455 35th SW, Suite E.
‘RACE TO NOWHERE’: The much-discussed documentary about education in America will be screened tonight at Peace Lutheran Church (8316 39th SW), 7 pm. Tickets: $10 in advance or $15 at the door, available online here.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM West Seattle history is there for the viewing at the Log House Museum (61st/Stevens), noon-4 pm today (and all Thursdays-Sundays).
WINE IN THE WOODS: Nature Consortium fundraiser – wine, hors d’oeuvres, and music in the West Duwamish Greenbelt, 7 pm. Here’s our preview from earlier this week. RSVP ASAP, to theresa@naturec.org or 206.923.0853.
BURLESQUE: Westside Burlesque Review at Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge Way SW). 21 and over. Doors at 9 pm, cost is $7.
Congratulations to the West Seattle Little League 10-11 All-Stars team for winning the District 7 All-Star Tournament, which sends them on to state-level play. WSLL president Mark Terao (who shared the photo) says that tournament will be in Cheney, July 16-24. The WSLL 10-11 All-Stars won the district title after beating PacWest 6-2; that followed their 12-1 win over Rainier and a tournament-opening 9-1 win over PacWest. Mark O’Neil manages the team and Terao coaches; players are Ethan Chen, Kevin Chen, Dylan Diggdon, Chris Drake, Austin Grambihler, Grayson O’Neil, Kai Osaka, Alex Pastrana, Gage Rowlands, Max Rubin-Stencel, Jacob Terao, Grant VanDerHijde. Between now and the team’s state-tournament games, WSLL has an 11-12 All-Star Tournament starting this Saturday at Alki’s Bar-S Playfield, and a Juniors/Seniors All-Star Tournament starting that same day at Rainier Playfield.
From Seattle Parks – news of the big party, plus what else you’ll find at West Seattle’s only city-run outdoor pool this summer:
Colman Pool celebrates 70th birthday on July 4; swim lessons are available for kids up to age 16
70th Anniversary
Colman Pool, West Seattle’s outdoor pool and Seattle’s only heated saltwater pool, celebrates its 70th birthday this year, and Seattle Parks and Recreation is holding a celebration from 1:45 to 4:45 p.m. on Monday, July 4.The celebration at the pool, 8603 Fauntleroy Way SW in Lincoln Park, includes a swim at 1:45 p.m. and a program at 4 p.m., and food, music, pool games, prizes and special entertainment.
Swim Lessons
Summer swim lessons are available at Colman Pool, with openings still available in most classes, including Kinders (for 4 and 5 year olds) and Beginning and Advanced Youth (6-16 years old). Classes are half an hour long and run every day, Monday through Friday, for two weeks at a time. Please call the pool for more information or to register at 206-684-7494.Colman Pool enjoys a stunning setting on the beach and features the Giant Tube Slide and one-meter and three-meter diving boards. The pool is Olympic size (50 meters long with eight lanes) and the water is kept at 85 degrees F. For more information, please see http://www.seattle.gov/parks/aquatics/colman.htm.
Two reader reports tonight – one a stolen truck to keep an eye out for, the other, another encounter that left someone “creeped out” – read on for both:Read More
(Walker Rock Garden photo courtesy Lita Gill)
Five months ago, the home whose site includes the Walker Rock Garden – a quirky labor of love – was put up for sale. Rather quickly, its listing showed a pending deal … but so far, there is no indication that has closed (the notation remains “pending feasibility“), and for those who have wanted advance notice of chances to see the rock garden, in case its days are numbered, here it is: From time to time we have checked its website, and just happened to find it has two tour dates listed: July 1st (this Friday), 10 am-noon, and July 16th, 9:30-10:30 am. The website also promises “more times to be announced.” (Our previous inquiries asking its owners and realtor for a status update have gone unanswered so far, but we keep trying.) The Walker Rock Garden is at 5407 37th SW; read its backstory here.
(New photo substituted July 7th)
Eleven months after its groundbreaking last August (WSB coverage here), Avalon Place will officially open on July 13th. The announcement came today from Transitional Resources, the nonprofit organization offering housing and other services to mentally ill people, headquartered on the west side of Avalon Way, south of the Luna Park business district; Avalon Place at 2988 Avalon Way will be its southernmost building. Transitional Resources says this is its first venture into the “Housing First” philosophy; it will offer 16 apartments to homeless people with mental illness “and co-occurring disorders” without requiring them to be stabilized first. (This is the same approach followed by Downtown Emergency Service Center, in the news in West Seattle right now for its plan to build a 75-apartment building in the 5400 block of Delridge Way). Read on for the Transitional Resources announcement:Read More
One week from Friday, West Seattle Summer Fest begins its three-day run – the peninsula’s biggest party of the year. WSB is a co-sponsor again this year, and as we count down to the festival, we’ll bring you daily infobits, like these:
FESTIVAL MAP ONLINE: There’s more being added to the Summer Fest website just about every day. We’ve already told you about the music schedule and the vendor/exhibitor list; today, there’s a map. (The vendor/exhibitor page also includes this zoomable PDF on which you will be able to cross-reference, by number, whose booth is where – handy for plotting your course ahead of time if there are particular vendors/groups you don’t want to miss.)
DO YOU TWEET? HERE’S THE HASHTAG: If you use Twitter, the Summer Fest-presenting West Seattle Junction Association hopes you’ll share Summer Fest tweets via the hashtag #wssummerfest – which you’ll see prominently displayed around the festival; it’s now on the website, too. (Hashtags provide a way to collect messages around a single topic.)
PARENTS’ REST STOP: Donna Ryan from City Mouse Studio and Store is providing a “parents’ rest stop” again this year in her storefront at 4218 SW Alaska, right in the heart of Summer Fest territory. Donna says, “We welcome families with babies and young children to drop in to the studio space to feed, change or get a little break from the heat (wishful thinking here).”
If you’re a participating organization/business/performer/etc., we welcome your Summer Fest preview info too, to include in our countdown – here’s how to share the news.
As of halfway through the city open house for the West Seattle Triangle draft proposals – which would rezone much of the area, including sites to the west, and put “streetscape” concepts on the record – about 40 people had stopped by. The lead planners on the project, Susan McLain and Robert Scully, are here, as are other city reps including Brian Hawksford from Councilmember Tom Rasmussen‘s office. It’s informal, with refreshments, and easels put up on two sides of the room for you to review, and to comment on if you choose – which some are doing with Post-It notes:
The open house continues until 8 pm. Your comments here count – as do comments sent by e-mail, postal mail, and phone; this Friday is the first deadline for comments on the proposals, and then, we’re told, there will be a second round. In the months ahead, the proposed Triangle plans will go to the City Council for review and votes, so if there’s something for which you want to express support or opposition, now’s the time. You can look at the plan online; major points include zoning changes that would allow higher buildings (85 feet) along the western side of the “planning area” and that would rezone what’s now “commercial” in much of the Triangle itself to “neighborhood commercial,” which means a future – if current businesses closed – that would look very different as it does now.
Once again this morning, notes and tweets reported that police were back out on the West Seattle Bridge. Here are the results, as reported on SPD Blotter – including a 74 mph citation and 46 more bus-lane-violation tickets.
In case you weren’t there, leaders of the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network are sharing tips on how to have a successful “Night Out” block party this August 2nd, as discussed at their meeting last night. One of those tips – you can apply for a city grant to help cover some of your expenses – but tomorrow’s the deadline! Find all the info in this update on the WSBWCN site. (And be sure to register your “Night Out” party ASAP, too – do that here.)
We’re on our way out of downtown, after a very brief King County Jail courtroom hearing in the case of 40-year-old John C. Siegel, arrested (as reported here last night) for investigation of arson in connection with the fire yesterday at the Gatewood home for which county records list him as co-owner. Siegel did not appear; lawyers told the judge he was “too sick” to come to court today, so the bail hearing is delayed until tomorrow, but they did need to ask the judge if she found “probable cause” to hold him till then. She reviewed documents containing the police report in the case, and said she did. According to those documents, he was found at the burning home, and told investigators he was asleep and woke up to find the house on fire. (His “last known address” is listed on the police report as Mercer Island.) The report says investigators determined the fire was “intentionally set with a hand-held flame to available combustibles,” started in the northwest corner of the house (shown above in our post-fire photo from last night). More details from the report after the jump:Read More
As popular as the Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series (presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, with co-sponsors including WSB) has been, many have wished for dinner options, so you don’t have to haul in your picnic for the outdoor series. Today, there’s word there will be something new this year – the Beloved Mexico food truck, which has been a fixture at the West Seattle Produce lot along Fauntleroy Way, will be there, according to ANA president Katy Walum. Definitely for the five shows that will be at Hiawatha, and they’ll also try to be at the one show set for Alki (August 11), she says. Also booked again this year: The Full Tilt Ice Cream bicycle-pulled cart with ice-cream bars, for all shows. Missed the announcement of the Admiral concert lineup? Check it out here; six Thursday nights, starting July 28th, free, all ages welcome, BYO chairs/blankets!
West Seattleite Anne Levinson is at the White House today, and shared that photo with WSB – she’s second from left, and you probably recognize many of the others. She is there for President Obama honors the Seattle Storm for its WNBA championship; Levinson is a former co-owner of the Storm, as well as a former judge and deputy Seattle mayor (among other roles and ventures) – as you can see in the photo, those also at the White House today include the current mayor. (We’re watching the White House website for photos/video of the Storm celebration and will add when available.)
ADDED 2:56 PM: Here’s the White House video:
(Photos by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB)
A celebration of tradition and history last night at Fauntleroy Church, as West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival royalty present and past gathered for the White Rose Reception. The highlights included a candle-lighting ceremony; above, Danette Carufel from the 1984 court, with 2010 Senior Court Queen Georgia Mitchell. More of WSB contributor Ellen Cedergreen‘s photos ahead:Read More
No SDOT alert yet, but with the memory of the KeyArena-event-traffic-nightmare day still fresh, we thought you might want early warning (and if you’re off, you might even want to go watch): Next Tuesday, what’s described as the biggest parade in Seattle’s history is set for downtown, 10,000 people parading as part of the Lions Clubs International convention. It starts from Seattle Center at 10 am, proceeding along 5th Avenue, and includes other road closures. It’s complicated, so go here for the full breakdown; the source page is here, including this map of the parade route.
ADDED 4:41 PM: SDOT is now out with its official advisory – read it after the jump:Read More
3 highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
CHANGES FOR WEST SEATTLE TRIANGLE AND BEYOND? Take a closer look at proposed changes in zoning, recommendations for the “streetscape,” and other aspects of how the West Seattle Triangle area – and some of the sites immediately west – might look in the future, before they go to the City Council in the months ahead. Open house tonight starting at 6, Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon – details here including the specifics of the proposals.
RESOURCE FAIR: Also at the Senior Center of West Seattle : The resource fair offers an array of information on options for “where to live or get assistance as you or loved ones age,” 10 am to 12:30 pm.
REMODELING/CUSTOM HOME WORKSHOP: Learn from experienced professionals about how to get started, what to expect, and the steps you can take to make your project successful. This 1½-hour event is free at Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) HQ, 5458 California SW, 6 pm. RSVP to 206.932.3009.
Two and a half months after we first reported a medical-marijuana business was taking over the 35th/Roxbury ex-Payday Loans space, Northwest Patient Resource Center is open. WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz, who broke the original story, confirmed tonight that NPRC opened on Monday. It’s one of at least three medical-marijuana businesses in West Seattle (we get periodic reports there are a few other that keep a low-profile, but have yet to confirm any of those reports). Deanie talked with NPRC co-owner John Davis at the newly opened business; he says they are open 9-8 Mondays-Saturdays and 1-6 pm Sundays, and she reports that the proprietors “are quite thrilled they have been approved for credit cards.” As for the legal status of medical-marijuana businesses, they remains in that so-called “gray area” – examined by Deanie in this report earlier this month – with new state legislation looming next month that some say will make them clearly illegal – though a court challenge seeks to prevent that.
(Photo courtesy Kathryn)
While searching for information on the home set afire this morning in Gatewood (first report here; second report here), we stumbled into the trail of a story we can now report, as jail records indicate an arrest has been made: Booked into King County Jail about an hour ago for investigation of arson is 40-year-old John Christian Siegel, listed on county records as co-owning the home in the 7900 block of 39th SW. Harborview Medical Center confirmed to WSB this morning that he was the man taken there with non-life-threatening injuries from the fire. (WSB does not routinely identify suspects who are not yet charged, but we evaluate each story on a case-by-case basis.)
Siegel is a lawyer. In April, he made citywide news for a case that put him in jail for two months. He was charged with felony domestic-violence stalking and domestic-violence witness tampering against his wife, who is also listed as an owner of the Gatewood home, and with harassment of a judge who was involved in the case. He made a plea bargain, with the felony charges reduced to misdemeanors, according to this Seattle Weekly report following his release from jail on May 20th. Court documents filed after his arrest earlier this year show a Mercer Island address for Siegel, and said his wife had been living in the Gatewood home, though we don’t know if that was still the case. Siegel is likely to have a bail hearing tomorrow; we will be checking with prosecutors in the morning.
9:54 AM UPDATE: There is indeed a bail hearing set for this afternoon.
During open-mike time at Skylark Café and Club tomorrow (Wednesday) night, around 9 pm, Jason Brunet plans to rap. And, he says, an ABC News TV crew will be there to record him, so perhaps you’d like to be there for the crowd cutaways. Jason has gained media attention lately for an unusual reason: His mom is a “hoarder,” and his family was featured on the reality-TV show “Hoarders.” He also was recently on NBC‘s “Today” (here’s the video clip). Now, he says, ABC’s “20/20” is doing a segment about the children of hoarders, and wants to include video of him performing, so he’s hoping to have a TV-worthy audience at Skylark tomorrow (3803 Delridge Way SW). You can check out his music, by the way, at threeninjas.net.
(WSB photo from 2010 Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade)
Just six days till the 4th of July, and as always, it starts off with West Seattle’s only holiday parade – the Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade. This is a parade to be part of, not to watch (though a few do) – check out our video from last year, including two clips that together show the entirety of the hundreds-and-hundreds-strong stream of people. Organizer Sherri Chun sent this update tonight:
Joe McDermott has been confirmed as our special guest this year. Joe is West Seattle’s King County Councilman, and is a 3rd-generation West Seattle resident. We welcome Councilman McDermott to the Admiral 4th of July Kids Parade. We also welcome a new sponsor, Verity Credit Union. Verity has offered local residents financial management resources since 1933. You are eligible to join Verity if youlive, work, worship or attend school in Washington State, or have a Verity member in your immediate family. Thank you, Verity, for your generous support of the kids parade! The weather forecast is for sunshine – we’ll see you all at the parade!
The starting point is 44th and Sunset, 10 am Monday; the ending point is Hamilton Viewpoint Park, where you will find fun games as well as the Admiral Neighborhood Association selling concessions (as well as its trademark T-shirts and window decals). What else is up on the 4th in West Seattle, you ask? Our special page is up – but please let us know if you see something missing (including special sales or hours at local businesses) – here’s how to share info.
(Photo courtesy Kathryn)
Just in from the Seattle Fire Department – this morning’s fire in the 7100 block of 39th SW has been ruled arson. (Here’s our as-it-happened coverage from earlier.) We were just at the scene, where two SFD crews are keeping watch, and yellow tape remains across the south side of the property (the photo above shows the west side of the property):
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
SFD says damage to the structure totaled $75,000, damage to the contents totaled $30,000. Harborview Medical Center had confirmed to us earlier that the man brought there from the fire scene was in satisfactory condition; he is one of the people listed on county records as co-owners of the home. We talked to Detective Jeff Kappel in the Seattle Police media-response unit; he says no one is under arrest so far, since SFD had just made the arson determination, which means SPD’s investigation is just now getting under way. Meantime, tonight’s SFD news release says a firefighter also suffered “minor burns to his ear.” As reported earlier, crews found the fire burning in three separate rooms inside the home.
(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
The fire was reported by neighbors who called 911 around 10:30 this morning; fire crews got it under control within 15 minutes of arrival.
A rocky spot for the future skatespot in Roxhill Park: It had full funding from the Parks and Green Spaces Levy and a green light from the city – and then came a donation. Usually a cause for celebration, but in this case, the city Skate Park Advisory Committee wants the Parks Department to turn it down. They say the donation announced early last month is locking the city into a contract for the skateboarding facility to be built by a company that ranked low when the Request for Qualifications went out. Read on:Read More
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