West Seattle, Washington
08 Wednesday
Just a few years ago, the Highland Park Action Committee led the fight against what originally were two possible sites in West Seattle for a new city jail – which was said to be necessary because the county would soon be unable to house city inmates. The plan eventually was dropped, but there remained the lingering possibility a city facility might be needed. A deal announced this morning appears to shelve that potential need for at least twenty years – news release after the jump:Read More
If you are directly affected, you should have received a notice by now, so this information may be most helpful for those who drive through the area and see the work: Seattle Public Utilities will shut off water overnight tonight along a two-block stretch of California SW north of Morgan Junction, between Graham and Juneau (map). According to Ingrid Goodwin with SPU, crews will make “an infrastructure upgrade – install a new section of water main pipe along California Avenue SW to allow for new water services.” The shutdown is scheduled from 11 pm tonight to 5 am tomorrow, and Goodwin adds, “SPU crews have adjusted their work shifts in order to perform this work without using overtime.” (Thanks to Kelley for the original tip on this.)
That photo is courtesy of Josh Sutton from the West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor), who says two local principals were in the spotlight downtown this morning at the Alliance for Education breakfast event in the Westin Hotel ballroom. In the photo onstage at left, that’s Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark officially accepting the Thomas B. Foster Award, announced in a surprise presentation at his school last month (WSB coverage here). This morning, Josh says, “Jeff wore his Denny Blue Suit and thanked the dedicated teachers & students of Denny for their dedication to education.” (Can’t miss the bright-blue suit!) He added that acting Superintendent Susan Enfield had a “big shoutout” for West Seattle Elementary‘s principal Vicki Sacco and her students for the big gains they’ve made year-to-year (as reported here in February).
(Alki Beach, 1920, from the Seattle Municipal Archives via Flickr, click pic to see larger version)
ART WALK NIGHT!: More than 30 venues are on the map for the monthly West Seattle Art Walk – follow that link for details on who’s showing art where, and the full venue list – 6-9 pm. Watch WSB for a preview later this morning with some of the individual venues’ highlights.
‘HOOD HUNT: The ‘Hood Hunts are a series of grass-roots non-competitive scavenger hunts around the city, and ‘Hood Hunt #10 (Facebook event page) is tonight in West Seattle. The Log House Museum (61st/Stevens) is the starting point; meet there to start any time between 6 and 7 pm. There are 20 checkpoints in half a square mile.
COMMUNITY CENTER OPEN HOUSE: High Point Community Center (3920 34th Ave SW) is holding a preschool and school-age programs open house, 6:30-7:30 pm. See full details here
TRIANGLE PLANNING, PHASE 2: West Seattle Triangle Advisory Group starts looking at Phase 2 of Triangle planning, Senior Center of West Seattle, 6 pm (here’s a preview)
EQUITY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY: That’s the topic of a community forum at 7 pm at the Freedom Church in West Seattle (9601 35thAvenue SW). Sponsored by Countywide Community Forums of King County.
(THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE, 7:16 AM: Seattle Police says the motorcyclist did not survive)
9:49 PM: Traffic is blocked right now in at least one direction on 35th SW in the Findlay/Juneau area (map) for a medic response at a crash scene. Initial scanner reports said a car and motorcycle were involved. More shortly.
9:56 PM: 35th SW is currently blocked both ways at the scene, and SW Juneau is being blocked as well. And the scanner indicates the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad is responding, which means both that someone is apparently seriously hurt and that the road will be at least partly closed for some time.
10 PM: We are at the scene. A wrecked motorcycle and vehicle are in view. The scanner indicates one person is receiving CPR while being rushed to Harborview Medical Center. Some traffic is getting through southbound, but northbound 35th and westbound Juneau are being taped off. Avoid the area TFN.
10:08 PM: Authorities at the scene confirm the person taken to the hospital is the motorcycle rider. The driver of the car (photo just added, above) was not hurt seriously, if at all. Given the hour, we may not have significant updates on the crash’s cause/victim’s status before morning, but we’ll be checking, and we’ll also check back on the road-closure status.
11:56 PM: Adding that clip from the scene, before the investigation team arrived – a little bit of perspective to where the motorcycle and car ended up. We drove through the area about 15 minutes ago; the northbound lanes remain blocked while investigators work, as does westbound Juneau east of 35th, and 35th traffic is being allowed through the southbound lanes, with northbound and southbound alternating.
1:34 AM: Police just announced (relayed via scanner) that 35th SW is fully open again at the scene.
7:16 AM: Seattle Police have just confirmed what a WSB commenter has posted – the motorcyclist died. Det. Mark Jamieson says he does not know the man’s age, nor that of the woman driving the car with which the motorcycle collided. He says the motorcycle was traveling northbound and the car traveling southbound, turning left (eastbound) onto Juneau, when the two collided.
7:33 AM: Det. Jamieson has published the police summary to SPD Blotter; it adds that witnesses told police the motorcyclist was traveling “at a high rate of speed.” Meantime, we are checking WSB archives for the last deadly crash in West Seattle; so far, we aren’t finding one more recent than this March 2010 incident at 37th/Admiral.
Big news from The Admiral tonight – not only is SIFF returning, it’ll have showings throughout the festival’s three-week run May 19-June 12, not just a one-week stop. Plus, Admiral manager Dinah Brein has announced an Elizabeth Taylor tribute later this month. Read on for the official announcement of both:Read More
Dozens of comments and questions ensued when we broke the news Monday that a medical-marijuana business is moving into the former Payday Loans space on the northeast corner of 35th/Roxbury. John Davis, owner of the forthcoming Northwest Patient Resource Center, told WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz that day that it will be a “facility,” not a “dispensary.” WSB’ers asked, what’s the difference? So that’s part of our followup:Read More
(From left, Jim Klossner, Keith Schiller, Matthew Flaph)
WSB contributor Bill Hutchison just discovered that another new tenant has opened an office in the former On Safari storefront in Westwood, at 9007 35th Ave SW. We reported earlier this month that a collectibles/gifts shop was moving into a third of the space, leaving two other vacancies, and now we know one has been taken by Green Home Renovations, a partner-owned business that began three years ago down in Portland. “Now we’ve set our sights on Seattle,” says president Keith Schiller, with whom Bill spoke along with partners Ryan Brooks and Matthew Flaph. They’re offering window replacement, siding, “living roofs,” and kitchen and bedroom remodeling, as what they call “green solutions” to boost homes’ energy-efficiency (among other factors).
Two days after the City Council finalized $1 million for synthetic turf at High Point’s Walt Hundley Playfield, the date’s been announced for a community meeting: April 27, 6:30 pm, Southwest Library (35th/Henderson). The project now has its own webpage, too.
Latest twist in the tunnel tussle, just in from City Attorney Pete Holmes‘ office: As with the referendum petition drive seeking a vote on the City Council’s approval of tunnel-related items, Holmes is also going to court over anti-tunnel Initiative 101, which he believes is “probably beyond the scope of our local initiative power.” News release after the jump:Read More
Just a few hours after Washington State Ferries sent a news release announcing that its new Todd (Vigor) Shipyards-built Salish is out on sea trials, before joining its sibling Chetzemoka on the Port Townsend run, it’s been spotted off Fauntleroy. Dan Jessup shared photos and this report:
The new ferry Salish just sped by the Fauntleroy area quite close to shore. The picture (with the crow) shows how fast the Salish was moving as it passed close in front of the ferry Sealth, which was approaching the Fauntleroy ferry dock. The second picture of the Salish was a few minutes later as it had passed Brace Point into the Endolyne area. This occurred about 13:05 today.
The third ferry in the Salish and Chetzemoka’s Kwa-di Tabil class, Kennewick, is under construction at Todd/Vigor right now.
That’s an advance look (click the image for a larger version) at the interpretive sign that will be dedicated at T-107 Park on the Duwamish River in West Seattle this Saturday afternoon, as the multisite Duwamish Alive! work party wraps up. As previewed here earlier this month, there’s a lot going on at that site on Saturday, but it’s still in need of more volunteers, according to Cari Simson from the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition. We asked her where help is still needed, and she said about 20 more people could still be used at the adjoining Herring’s House and T-107 park sites, as well as several volunteers each at Longfellow Creek (Brandon Street Natural Area) and Roxhill Bog. If you would like to RSVP for T-107, e-mail contact@duwamishcleanup.org; for the other two, adam.jackson@kingcd.org. If you can’t join in the work parties but would like to go to T-107 for the dedication ceremony (which also will mark the opening of a new hand-carry boat launch), it’s at 1 pm Saturday (with dignitaries scheduled to be on hand including Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen, King County Executive Dow Constantine, and City Council President Richard Conlin).
Spring may not have made up its mind about weather consistency just yet, but – flashing forward one month and one day – May 14th is looking brighter all the time. Nine days into the registration period, the 90th sale has just signed up for the seventh annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (coordinated and presented by WSB)!
When we announced last week that registration had opened, we forgot to tell you when it closes – end of the evening, April 27th. That’s two more weeks, but why procrastinate? 
If you want to be part of the city’s biggest garage-saling day of the year (200+ sales big and small last year), just go here and sign up now. While it’s fun to shop and/or sell, what we have also heard from participants over the years is that it’s great to meet more West Seattle neighbors in person, as you either host a sale or visit the ones nearest you. (If you don’t have enough space for a sale, but you have stuff to sell, group spots offering space so far include: Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor – 2010 photo above), lora@hotwirecoffee.com – C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), candpco@comcast.net – VFW Hall in The Triangle, call (206) 935-4352 – and if you are looking to sell bikes/gear, check with Cycle U in The Triangle; you can also stop in at any of those venues to ask about space.)
On May 14th, sale hours are 9 am-3 pm, all over the peninsula – we’ll have the maps (online and downloadable/printable) available one week in advance so you can plot your path! And again, to sign up YOUR sale – individual or business/group/school/organization/block – just go here (it’s all online). If you’re on Facebook, keep an eye on the WSCGSD page here; and be sure you have “liked” the semi-new WSB page (we moved a few weeks ago), at facebook.com/westseattleblog.
Story and photos by Stephanie Chacharon
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Wine enthusiasts and FareStart supporters filled Salty’s on Alki last night for the 10th annual “Sexy Syrah” benefit. The lineup of more than 40 Northwest wineries included West Seattle-operated McCrea Cellars, represented by Bob Neel, operations manager and chief engineer (top photo).
The sold-out event, produced by sommeliers David LeClaire of Seattle Uncorked and Tim O’Brien of Salty’s, is a popular benefit for FareStart, a local organization devoted to training and placing homeless and disadvantaged people in the culinary field (among them, the late Swinery co-owner Joseph Brewer):Read More
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“It’s been quite a meeting,” observed Admiral Neighborhood Association president Katy Walum as her group’s monthly session concluded last night.
That, it had – with a promise and a presentation from a labor union that recently drew ire for its noisy protest, a briefing from a city councilmember, and pride over a regional magazine feature, among other highlights. Toplines ahead:
(Photo of the Olympic Mountains’ “The Brothers” by Long Bach Nguyen; click photo for larger version)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
ABUZZ ABOUT BEES: Curious about beekeeping? Come to the April CoolMom meeting, 7 pm at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor).
JOIN THE WEST SEATTLE GARDEN TOUR COMMITTEE: 6:30 pm, West Seattle Garden Tour Committee meeting and potluck – you don’t have to be an expert gardener to volunteer to help with the tour! E-mail for location: info@westseattlegardentour.com.
JOB-SEARCH WORKSHOP: Free workshop “The New Job Search in the New Economy” at South Seattle Community College WorkSource, 4:30 pm – see full story here.
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS LOOK AT LABOR: In light of the Wisconsin fight and other developments local and national, the 34th District Democrats’ meeting tonight is centered on a look at the history of labor organizing and “defense of the middle class.” 7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy.
Q/A WITH YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: Informal discussion with Steve Sundquist, president of the Seattle School Board, Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW), 11 am -12:30 pm.
Disaster Preparedness Month continues, as does our almost-nightly focus on earthquake readiness. You’ve likely heard what to do before an earthquake, to enhance your readiness … and what to do during one (stop, drop, hold) … but how about what to do afterward? The natural reaction is to be stunned. If you have a list of things that are vital to check on and attend to, though, your survivability likelihood will rise in a big way. Here’s that list – from a California source, but thorough (they’ve been through it more often than we have). Meantime – know your nearest hub (and make sure your family/neighbors know it too)!
Historic Highland Park Improvement Club already is home to dancing, yoga, cooking classes, wine tasting, movie nights, community meetings, parties, 
and now … a weekly community acupuncture clinic. Walk in between 11 am and 3 pm Tuesdays, and you will see those six chairs, enabling practitioner Christopher Huson, L.Ac. (right), to treat up to six people an hour. Last week was a test run; today was the first official day, so we stopped in for photos. Fees: “$15 to $35 sliding scale, you decide, no proof of income necessary.” Not much red tape, either – upon arrival, you fill out a short form, then pay, and book your next appointment if you’d like one, so that you don’t get jarred out of your relaxed mood once you’re done (Huson says most patients fall asleep during the treatment, so let him know how long you have to stay, so he can wake you up to go).
P.S. To see what else is up at HPIC (12th/Holden), check out their latest newsletter (and note the classic movie they’re showing this Friday!)
(Monday afternoon photo by Katie Meyer for WSB)
Since Monday afternoon’s crash at California Nails in The Junction (WSB coverage here), we have been working to get additional information from police, beyond what few details were available at the scene. In particular, we’ve been asking whether the driver was cited, and what police have learned about why the car crashed into the shop.
Tonight, we finally have some additional information; the full report isn’t in the system, according to Det. Jeff Kappel of the media unit, but Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams talked to one of the officers who handled the incident. He says that the driver, in his mid-80s, “was parked out in front of the shop. When he attempted to drive off, something happened – he claimed that he blacked out – that resulted in his car accelerating and crashing into the shop. The driver did not have obvious injuries, but he was checked out by Seattle Fire and then transported to the hospital for further evaluation. One patron of the shop sustained some cuts to her feet when she walked across the broken glass while fleeing the chaos. A responding officer completed an accident report that has been forwarded to collision investigators for any additional follow-up and consideration of charges or citations.” Be aware, that can take months – we have followed up on other notable collision cases in which decisions didn’t come for half a year or longer; Det. Kappel points out that the window for such decisions is up to a year.
ADDED 9:44 PM: We had noticed a note on California Nails’ window earlier but hadn’t been able to go back to read it till after writing this update; it says, “Sorry for any inconvenience. We will be up and running as soon as possible.”
(9/3/2010 photo of the 61st/Admiral shooting scene by Christopher Boffoli, for WSB)
Just discovered this in a routine followup check of crime cases we’ve been watching: Thomas Qualls, the 59-year-old Alki man shot by police back in September after pointing an assault rifle at officers, has struck a plea bargain. Last Friday, according to court documents, he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of attempted assault with use of a firearm (he originally faced three counts of second-degree assault with firearm enhancement). His statement in court documents:
… I took a substantial step toward intentionally placing (three Seattle Police officers) in immediate and reasonable fear of an assault with a deadly weapon when I came out of my home with a rifle and the rifle was lowered in the direction of (the three officers).
According to the original police narrative about the incident (transcribed in this WSB report), officers went to the home after a 911 call from a family member worried he had made suicidal statements. That narrative also said Qualls fired his rifle, though that is not reflected in his plea statement. He was shot in the abdomen and spent less than a week in the hospital.
Prosecutors will recommend a 2-year sentence (note that Qualls already has been in jail for seven months), which is the high end of the range – 6 months for attempted second-degree assault, plus 18 months for the firearm enhancement. He had no known criminal history. Shortly after the incident, police released this photo of the rifle they say Qualls pointed at the officers:
Their investigation reported that was one of three guns they found at the scene. Qualls’ sentencing is set for April 22nd.
For the first time in a while, Seattle Police have published a “speeder of the day” update on SPD Blotter. 82 mph on The Bridge this time – but that’s not the only thing they were cited for …
After the weekend sign installation (we photographed the Western Neon crew on Saturday) for what is likely to be the next new restaurant to open in West Seattle, we checked in with the co-owner of Bang Bar Restaurant and Lounge (4750 California SW), Kay Fuengarom. She told WSB contributor Bill Hutchison they’ve had a change in plan for the restaurant’s focus. One hint: The word you don’t see on the sign. Details ahead:Read More
First Katie Krause shared a view of a nesting hummingbird at The Kenney … then, this week, a peek at the new occupants of the nest .. and now, Trileigh Tucker gives us a window into the nestbuilding:
Ever wonder where those little mothers get their soft bedding for those marble-sized babies? The attached photo shows an Anna’s with nesting material in her beak, after she pulled it from the nearby fireweed in Lincoln Park.
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