West Seattle, Washington
21 Thursday
(TUESDAY EVENING NOTE: This fire has now been ruled arson, and we have started a new story here.)
(Photo courtesy Kathryn, added at 1:02 pm)
10:37 AM: On our way to check out the house-fire call in Gatewood, 7100 block of 39th SW.
(WSB photo by Tracy Record)
11:03 AM: One man taken to hospital.
(Photo courtesy Ben, taken shortly after firefighters arrived)
11:08 AM: Back from the scene – we still have two people there. We talked to neighbors who called 911 and said that at one point, a corner of the house was fully engulfed in flames. They didn’t see anyone else brought out of the house – just the man who was taken to the hospital. (We saw him on the stretcher before he was taken away – he appeared to be alert.) This is in a very steep area near Orchard Street Ravine. And yes, this is why choppers are here – TV news. Police are there to help investigate as well as to keep traffic away from the area.
(Video by Christopher Boffoli)
11:13 AM: Fire Department spokesperson Kyle Moore has just briefed media at the scene (video added 12:51 pm). Crews arriving at the fire about half an hour ago found the fire burning in three different areas of the house. The man who was taken to the hospital was found out front, Moore says, suffering from burns.
(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
12:13 PM: The address for the fire has been revised from the one that was originally on the 911 log. Research indicates that it may indeed have been vacant, as a commenter noted. Police are not confirming an arson investigation at this point. They have taped off the scene; SFD calls the fire “suspicious” since it was burning in three different spots – two bedrooms and the kitchen – when they arrived.
(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
12:58 PM: We have confirmed the identity of the man who was taken to the hospital; he is listed in county records as a co-owner of the house. He is listed in satisfactory condition. We have also just gone back to the fire scene to check on the investigation; police and firefighters are still there – still no official cause, but we’re likely to find out within a few hours.
From proud coach Marc McCann, the photo and this report:
Congratulations to the West Seattle Peewee Baseball 9U All-Stars for their excellent performance on the diamond over the weekend of June 24 to 26. On their way to the Jr. Mustang Championship, the West Seattle “Snakes,” as they call themselves after their reptilian garter-snake friends at the field, won seven straight games, allowing less than five runs per game and scoring on average 19.7 runs per game. The team also executed many flawless innings in the field during their three days at the tournament. The “Snakes” will continue to play fierce on their quest toward the PONY Regional Championship to be held in Enumclaw, WA, in mid-July. The team is grateful for the support of their fans, and especially the family members who assisted in preparing and maintaining the fields, running the Snack Shack and cheering them on throughout the tournament.
(Photographed from Jack Block Park: Alaska-bound barge, outbound last Friday)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
OPENING DAY FOR A TERRIBLE BEAUTY: At Edmunds/California, the doors swing open to the public starting with lunch today, as this Irish restaurant/pub expands from its Renton roots to add a West Seattle location. Here’s our story from last night’s preview party.
NOTES FROM THE JOB SEARCH: Job search help and networking opportunity at C&P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor; 5612 California SW), 11 am. Whether your search for new employment is long-running, or brand new, this group – which has been meeting for two years – welcomes you to drop by and check it out.
ROTARY EXCHANGE PROGRAM: As mentioned here the other day, Rotary is recruiting non-Rotarians for the next round of its Group Study Exchange – a chance for professionals 25-40 to spend a month in Nepal, without the travel costs. Find out more when GSE participants from a different group speak to the Rotary Club of West Seattle weekly luncheon meeting today, noon at Salty’s on Alki.
SOMALI STORY TIME: Stories, rhymes, and fun, 1:30-2 pm at the High Point public library (3411 SW Raymond Street). Branch (35th/Raymond).
50+ SINGLES: Meet and mingle at Tully’s Coffee (2676 Alki Ave SW), 5 pm. Meet, then walk and talk along the Alki Beach pathway.
OPEN HOUSE: Sweet Pea Cottage Preschool of the Arts (7141 California SW inside the Unitarian Church) is hosting an open house at 5 pm. Snacks for all and art projects for the kids.
READY FOR YOUR NIGHT OUT PARTY? The night-of-a-thousand-block-parties Night Out isn’t till August 2nd, but registration is under way now, and tonight’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting is Night Out 101, with the help of Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon. 6:30 pm at the precinct; you don’t have to be a captain or even in a Block Watch to attend.
A DRINK FOR THE KIDS: The citywide multi-location, multi-night fundraiser for youth arts venue The Vera Project is in West Seattle tonight – after 6 pm, certain beverages at West 5 benefit TVP (more details here).
SPOKE AND FOOD: Bike to dinner tonight at Chaco Canyon Organic Café (38th/Alaska) or Proletariat Pizza (downtown White Center) – both of which have ample bike parking! – where, as part of this citywide benefit, part of the proceeds benefit the Seattle Tilth Children’s Garden program.
WHITE ROSE RECEPTION: West Seattle Hi-Yu 2011 White Rose Reception at Fauntleroy UCC Church (9140 California Ave SW), 7 pm. This event is for women only and is a celebration of past and present Hi-Yu royalty and candidates. All are invited. Come and share Hi-Yu memories or learn about our community festival. Past royalty are encouraged to wear or bring their tiaras, and memory scrapbooks. Check for ticket availability: 206-935-6517, or wshiyu@yahoo.com.
NAVIGATING THE WATERS OF PARENTHOOD – AT THE BEACH: Parenting workshop with Bill Dean, 7 pm, Alki Arts, 2820 Alki Ave SW.
BOOK RELEASE PARTY:West Seattle author Caryl Sherpa reads from her debut memoir, “I TASTE FIRE, EARTH, RAIN: Elements of a Life with a Sherpa.” The book will be available for the first time at the party at The Kenney‘s Community Room (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW), doors open at 7 pm, the program begins at 7:30 pm, and a book signing and afterparty will follow.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Facing a self-described “passionate” crowd in North Delridge tonight, Downtown Emergency Service Center executive director Bill Hobson did not deny Delridge Neighborhoods District Council chair Mat McBride‘s assessment of the meeting’s intent:
“In one of your early comments, you said you came here to have a discussion, but it’s less of a discussion and more of an explanation,” observed McBride – an explanation from Hobson that if funding comes through, DESC intends to build a 75-apartment complex for mentally ill homeless people in North Delridge, whether area residents like it or not.
McBride’s assessment, stark as it was, came as the standing-room-only meeting, more than 50 packed into the Delridge Library‘s small public-gathering room, started to calm from a crescendo of shouting and accusations – more between participants of opposing views, than directed at the DESC leader, though Hobson too had to raise his voice at more than one point to get a word in edgewise.
He had begun with an explanation of his agency, and then of the project, while also saying, “This doesn’t have to be the last public meeting” about it. From sheltering, DESC moved into the housing business starting in 1995. He briefly touched on what is described on the DESC website as a “Housing First” philosophy – rather than expecting their clients to get their lives in order before becoming eligible for housing, they are put into housing first – then offered services to deal with their challenges, which might include mental illness and/or substance abuse.
The agency operates eight projects (unofficially Google-mapped above by McBride) and hopes to break ground soon on a ninth at 105th and Aurora in North Seattle; Delridge would be its tenth. DESC already had initiated the purchase of lots in the 5400 block of Delridge before going public with news of its plans, mainly by contacting representatives of community groups including the North Delridge Neighborhood Council; we covered the June 13th meeting of NDNC, and that’s where we heard about it for the first time, including information from chair Karrie Kohlhaas in our meeting report, then contacting DESC the next day for an in-depth followup. Here’s more of what Hobson said tonight about the project:
In our interview with him two weeks ago, Hobson had told WSB that DESC thought it might be able to help Delridge in its process of “stabilizing.” Tonight’s first question asked, how could this possibly help?
(Photos by Katie Meyer for WSB)
The last of four new businesses to open in the past two months in the southeast corner of the heart of The Junction is ALMOST open. Tonight was the invitation-only preview party for the much-anticipated West Seattle expansion of Renton-headquartered Irish restaurant/pub A Terrible Beauty. (As reported here a week ago, tomorrow is the official opening.) We have photos from WSB contributor Katie Meyer – starting above with the bar, topped by clocks showing the time in Seattle, Belfast, and New York. More photos after the jump:Read More
ALKI COMMUNITY CENTER: New summer hours started today, in the center’s first summer as a “limited-operations” community center. Details are in this update from Seattle Parks, as well as a link to the summer-program brochure (which features listings from all area community centers).
FREE SUMMER SCIENCE CLUB: 4th through 7th graders are welcome to join in a free summer science club at Neighborhood House‘s center in High Point, 6400 Sylvan Way SW. The announcement notes that students will get “a chance to be creative and make friends while conducting their own experiments.” Three 2-week, 2-day-a-week sessions are planned, with students invited to join in one, two, or all three – July 12/14/19/21, 3-5 pm; July 26/28/Aug. 2/4, 3-5 pm; and Aug.9/11/16/18, 10 am-noon. Creations will be shown off at an August 23rd science fair. They’re also looking for high-school or college-age mentors for the program; to volunteer as a mentor, to register a student for the program, or just to ask a question, call Shuby Narayanaswamy at 206-588-4900 ext. 613.
Till 7 pm, you can drop by the open house for The Grove/West Seattle Inn (36th/Alaska) and see the results – so far – of their makeover, firsthand. We’ve been chronicling it since it was announced in January by the new owners of what was Seattle West Inn and Suites, and before that, TraveLodge. They’re expecting their first guests this week, and showing off rooms for the first time, though they’re not all done yet.
The Grove will have 46 rooms, and ownership spokesperson Lynn Sweeney had told us during this sneak-peek tour last week that about half would be done for their reopening this week. Also on hand for tonight’s open house, manager Joey Disque:
The redo is all the way down to the rooms’ shell – new carpeting, window coverings, beds and other furniture, bathroom fixtures, kitchen fixtures (in the half dozen or so with kitchenettes), art, paint, even metal railings replacing what was plastic. More info’s on their website at grovewestseattle.com.
Three children between 8 and 15 reported being ‘flashed’ Sunday afternoon outside the home of relatives in the south Admiral area. Here’s what one of those relatives e-mailed us to report:
Yesterday, June 26th, at approximately 3:30 PM, a man exposed himself to three young children on the corner of 44th and Hanford [map]. Police were alerted and on the scene immediately. He is about 6 ft, very pale with a distinct mustache resembling two triangles and a goatee. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with white graphics and light blue jeans.
The relative says the children were very upset, and police stayed in the area quite a while. She provided the police-report number; reports are not available for days online, so we checked with Det. Mark Jamieson in the SPD media-response unit, who provided a few additional details from the report: The victims said the man walked by, exposed himself, then walked away eastbound on Hanford, at which time the victims ran into the house and called police. Officers rushed over, including one who was just a few blocks away, but could not find the man – there was a notation that he might have gotten on a Metro bus nearby. In addition to the description above, his age was estimated as between 30 and 49.
This is about a mile south of the luring attempt reported two weeks ago, in which an 11-year-old said a man tried to entice him into a car. The description in that incident has a few things in common with this one, albeit fairly common traits, but we are asking Southwest Precinct police if they have any reason to suspect a link.
For those who like marking their calendars way in advance, today’s postal mail brought word of a new 5K added to the Alki schedule this year: October 16th is the date for the first-ever Beat the Burn 5K run/walk and “kids’ dash.” It’s co-presented by Port of Seattle Fire Department Local 1257 Firefighters and the Northwest Burn Foundation, which the event’s proceeds will benefit. More info to come later this summer.
Yes, thieves will take ANYTHING. Last Wednesday, Megan writes, her car was gone through in the Belvidere area, and: “The only things missing seem to be about 20 CDs in a green zippered case. So….if you’re suddenly gifted with some Johnny Mathis, Mel Torme, CSN, and other oddities, they’re likely mine.” Then today, from a different part of West Seattle, the tale of a trash bag taken from an open car, with three things inside; James hopes you will look for one of them, a beloved old toy that the thieves may well have tossed aside:Read More
An announcement today from West Seattle-based Twelfth Night Productions:
Twelfth Night Productions (TNP) is pleased to open Oliver! by Lionel Bart in August at West Seattle High School. A beloved musical, Oliver! tells Charles Dickens’ story of the little orphan boy who would not be overlooked. The colorful characters he meets on his journey teach him about life and love as he struggles to make it on the streets. A few of the memorable songs include “Food Glorious Food,” “Consider Yourself,” “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket, or Two,” and “As Long As He Needs Me.” This year’s cast and crew of more than 80 people includes children and adults from all over the Seattle area.
In keeping with TNP’s tradition of giving, this year’s beneficiary is Treehouse, and a portion of the proceeds from Oliver! will be donated to this remarkable organization. Treehouse has been around since 1988 and helps fill the gaps for kids in foster care by providing services overlooked by other agencies. Among other services, they provide money for extra-curricular activities and summer camps, professional educational support services, and clothing and supplies to help kids fit in at school. In addition to donating proceeds from Oliver!, TNP will also help facilitate a back-to-school drive for Treehouse, collecting school supplies, backpacks and new or gently used clothing items for kids in foster care.
Oliver! runs in a special limited engagement at West Seattle High School, August 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 7:30 PM and August 7, 14, and 21 at 3:00 PM. Tickets are available online at Brown Paper Tickets and at West Seattle High School, 3000 California Ave SW Seattle WA, on performance days. Prices are $18 for adults and $15 for students & seniors.
Talking this morning with West Seattle Coffee House proprietor Janel Loos, we observed that her about-to-open coffee stand is mocha-colored. “That’s what I was going for!” she laughed. We first told you back in January about plans for the drive-through coffee stand on the site of Hans VW Repair at 35th and Graham (map) in High Point. Now, it’s set to open this Friday. Read on for more from our conversation with Janel:Read More
That’s our video of the All-City Band at the end of last year’s West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade, and you’ll see them again in this year’s parade, coming up Saturday, July 23rd. Two weeks after that, the famed band – led by West Seattle’s own Marcus Pimpleton – will celebrate its 60th anniversary. For the occasion, they’re planning a banquet/auction on August 5 – also here in West Seattle, with tickets are on sale now – and they’re looking for past participants to join an alumni band. From the Friends of All-City Band, this news release:
School’s out for summer, and the Seattle All-City Band begins rehearsals this week in preparation of a summer full of performances in Seafair parades and community celebrations throughout the region. This summer, however, is quite special to the band’s over 120 students, volunteer staff members, and supportive parent base; this marks the 60th edition of the All-City Band program.
Two reports of egging overnight – this one’s from Michelle:
I’m not sure if anyone else was an egging victim last night, but just wanted to put it out there in case it happened to anyone else. Last night I was in my vehicle and eggs were thrown at me from a passing vehicle in front of 5900 California Ave SW. They were driving a dark blue VW. I think it was a Jetta. I didn’t see the people in the car, but as they threw the eggs they yelled something, and it sounded like a male. I managed to get the egg off before it caused any damage, but it was a little saddening to me because I just moved to West Seattle from Philadelphia. I thought it was supposed to be a nicer and safer place here in Seattle.
And on the northwest edge of The Junction, from K:
Woke up to find that someone threw some eggs overnight; one landed on my walkway, and one was a direct smeary hit on my north-facing big living room window.
As has been discussed before in comments on previous such stories – though it’s been a while – this can cause property damage, and in the first case, throwing anything at a passing car can be a major safety risk. So it’s worth reporting to police; you can even do that online, by going here.
(Photo courtesy Brad Lovejoy – he believes it’s a bumblebee atop a sea holly bloom – click photo for larger view)
One week till the 4th of July! The holiday has its own WSB page now. That aside, from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar for today/tonight:
LA LECHE LEAGUE OF WEST SEATTLE: LLL’s monthly meeting at 10:30 am, Westside Unitarian Universalist Church (7141 California SW). All breastfeeding mothers, and mothers-to-be interested in breastfeeding, are welcome, as are babies. We also welcome mom’s partner or support person to join her at the meeting. Park in the parking lot and follow the signs upstairs. Lost? Call 206 353 9334.
PIZZERIA 22 OPENING NIGHT: The wood-fired pizzeria officially opens for business at 4 pm, SW College east of California. Here’s our report from last Friday’s preview party. (P.S. Pizzeria 22 is all ages.)
MOTEL OPEN HOUSE: We’ve been reporting on the renovation plan since it was first announced last December. Now you can see the made-over 36th/Alaska motel, The Grove/West Seattle Inn, for yourself, during an open house 4-7 pm today. Treats by Husky Deli and Pagliacci Pizza. Here’s our sneak-peek story from last week.
DELRIDGE PROJECT MEETING: Information meeting about the DESC proposal for permanently housing 75 homeless people in a new Delridge apartment complex, 6 pm, Delridge Library. Here’s a preview from last night including a link to our original in-depth story 2 weeks ago.
FAMILY STORY TIME: At High Point Library (35th/Raymond) – songs, rhymes, games, stories with the children’s librarian.
KARAOKE: Sing it with Kelli at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), 9 pm.
What a way to spend a summer Thursday night … wine, food, forest, and song. The Nature Consortium has some tickets left for this Thursday’s “Wine in the Woods” fundraiser in West Seattle’s own West Duwamish Greenbelt, 7-9 pm, wine from 12th and Olive Wine Company, appetizers from Long Provincial Restaurant, live music from the Boys of Greenwood Glen. Proceeds benefit NC’s programs including forest restoration and the annual Arts in Nature Festival (coming up August 20-21). You can buy your ticket online (minimum $45 donation; must be at least 21) – just go here.
Tomorrow (Monday) night, Downtown Emergency Service Center reps come to Delridge to answer questions about DESC’s proposal for a 75-apartment project housing homeless people dealing with mental illness/substance abuse challenges. (The site, at right, is in the 5400 block of Delridge – note the real-estate shingles; DESC says it’s “under contract.”) The day after North Delridge Neighborhood Council chair Karrie Kohlhaas brought up the proposal at the last NDNC meeting, we spoke with DESC’s executive director for a detailed followup (read it here if you missed it).
DESC has long since expanded outside the “downtown” in its name and runs projects around the city with about 1,000 “supportive-housing” units – 1811 Eastlake, Canaday House, Evans House, Kerner-Scott House, Lyon Building, Rainier House, The Morrison, and The Union Hotel, with Aurora Supportive Housing in its pipeline ahead of the proposed Delridge project. Tomorrow night’s meeting is at Delridge Library (less than a block southwest of the project site) at Delridge/Brandon, 6-7:30 pm (here’s the DESC-circulated letter/flyer).
The Rotary Club of West Seattle is helping get the word out about a month-long Group Study Exchange for “young businesspeople.” They’re taking applications for a team that will spend a month in Nepal next winter. Though Rotary pays all costs, only non-Rotarians, ages 25-40, are eligible; other qualifications and more information can be found here. If you are interested in hearing more about how the Group Study Exchange program works, West Seattle Rotary’s Steve Fuller tells WSB that this coming Tuesday’s West Seattle Rotary lunch meeting (noon, Salty’s on Alki) will include a presentation by this year’s Group Study Exchange team, which went to India.
(WSB photo of Jim Ercolini with then-Mayor Greg Nickels at Ercolini Park dedication, 7/12/08)
A Funeral Mass is planned at 11 am Wednesday at Holy Rosary for Jim Ercolini, who died last week at age 76, three years after his family-homestead site west of The Junction became home to Ercolini Park. As shown in our photo above, Mr. Ercolini participated in the park dedication in July 2008. When the Parks Department agreed in late 2007 to the community request to name the park after the Ercolini family, he had said that he was the last descendant with that surname – so the park now carries it on. The city bought the park site with money from the 2000 Pro Parks Levy, and community volunteers took it from there to muster the money, material, and labors to turn it into a park. The full obituary for Mr. Ercolini, a longtime Boeing engineer and native West Seattleite, was published in today’s Seattle Times. (Thanks to Wendy for the tip.)
While West Seattle Outdoor Movies in The Junction (co-sponsored by WSB) is still four weeks away, another outdoor-movie series has just been announced, and it’s tied to the launch of a new community group. Unique Families of Seattle is hosting a “Movies on the Lawn” series at a home near Fauntleroy Park. Movies are scheduled every other Saturday night, starting next Saturday (July 2nd). Joanna Hall says Unique Families of Seattle is “a brand new non-profit organization that aims to validate each person’s choice to create the family that suits them best even if it means stretching out beyond social and cultural norms. We are currently gaining traction through community events but plan to expand into a much broader organization that covers many factors of urban family living.” The movie schedule is listed on this page of the UFoS site – each link on that page takes you to an Evite you can use to RSVP for that movie if you’re interested in going.
The August 16th primary is seven weeks from Tuesday, but your vote-by-mail ballot will arrive a lot sooner, and candidates are making the rounds to make their pitches. Thursday night, the West Seattle Democratic Women hosted candidates for the two Seattle City Council positions that are on the primary ballot – Position 1 and Position 9. Our video above shows the forum, unedited, while the candidates were speaking and answering questions – the first hour is on the first clip, with the ensuing 12 minutes on the second. (You can watch either in a larger window by clicking the YouTube logo to go to the YT page; please note that YT chooses the freeze frames you see on the video “play” boxes above, we did not.)
WSDW vice chair Lynne Ingalls moderated the forum. All four Position 1 candidates participated – Maurice Classen, Bobby Forch, incumbent Councilmember Jean Godden, and West Seattleite Michael Taylor-Judd; from Position 9, two of the three candidates participated, incumbent Councilmember Sally Clark and Dian Ferguson. WSDW decided on endorsements before the meeting at the West Seattle Golf Course ended; they backed the incumbents, Clark and Godden (note the WSDW’s endorsement rules/qualifications on the left side of their website’s home page). None of the other three council positions up for election this year has more than two contenders, so those candidates all go straight to the November general-election ballot.
A postscript from Saturday’s Morgan Junction Community Festival. While we were tabling there, we found out about a dog a few booths away, visiting with Animal Aid and Rescue Foundation (AARF):
That’s Roxie. She needs a new home. We didn’t get a chance to feature her in our stories during the festival but we have a chance right now, so here goes.
Connie tells us she found Roxie “scavenging for food by the side of the road last December. She had severe skin problems from being fed the worst human food – cereal, bread, and cold cuts as her main diet.” Connie’s vet said Roxie needed about six months to recover from that and “she is almost there.” But now Connie has a problem – her landlord won’t let her keep Roxie. “This will be extremely difficult, since I just spent 6 months bathing her, feeding her healthy clean food and loving her to pieces. So, we are looking for someone who can take her on and love her and take care of her. She loves long walks in Lincoln Park, greeting all people and all dogs. She is super sweet, very happy, very gentle, loves kids, and is completely house trained. She is a very young 9-year-old who is experiencing a lot of things for the first time. She is really, really smart! She loves to learn, thrives on praise and she will make you proud if you take her to any training class! She is very loving, affectionate, sensitive and rather lady like. She will make someone feel very loved and protected!” You can reach Connie at 206-718-0399 to ask about Roxie.
(August 2010 Alki Beach 5K photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
It’s a gorgeous course for a great cause – August 28th is this year’s date for the Alki Beach 5K walk/run benefiting Northwest Hope and Healing, which helps newly diagnosed breast-cancer patients. You can save the online registration fees if you stop by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) to sign up – and in fact, while you’re out and about, they’re having a registration party right now, till 4 pm.
ADDED 2:16 PM: At the store this afternoon, we found Shari Sewell (left) and Camille Boushay (right) from NW Hope and Healing, with WS Runner’s Lori McConnell. Treats for those who stop by to register! The table is right inside the store door, upstairs on the west side of the building.
| 22 COMMENTS