(January 2010 WSB reader photo) By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
After two slides in less than a year – most recently, last month – with a road surface crumbling, a fire hydrant buried, and nearby residents afraid for their safety, why isn’t the Beach Drive SW (map) slide situation resolved yet?
That’s the question the City Council Transportation Committee put this morning to the directors of the two city agencies that are involved – the Department of Transportation and the Department of Planning and Development. Its chair Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who lives in the Beach Drive/Alki area, expressed frustration, as did a slide-neighboring (across Beach Drive) resident, Mike Winter, speaking in the public-comment time period before the meeting:
He noted that two upslope homes have been recently “yellow-tagged,” which DPD director Diane Sugimura later explained means flagged for safety concerns – in this case, residents were warned not to use their decks, because the footings aren’t stable. Winter also told the committee about the mud-swamped fire hydrant, which SDOT director Peter Hahn said that Seattle Public Utilities is “taking care of.”
From WSB’s Katie Meyer at the King County Courthouse: Superior Court Judge Joan DuBuque has just agreed to push back the trial of the remaining defendants in the Steve Bushaw murder case to June 1st. The delay was requested given what defense lawyers characterized as dramatic changes in the case once the two people who actually shot Bushaw in The Junction in February 2009, Danny O’Neal and John Sylve, struck plea bargains (as reported here earlier this month) – plus, senior deputy prosecutor James Konat also is leading the case against South Park murder/rape defendant Isaiah Kalebu, which has caused some conflicts. More details from this morning’s court session will be added here later.
We’ve received multiple inquiries this morning about suspected shots heard early today somewhere in the Alki/Charlestown Hill area. One was from Ed, who e-mailed, “We heard about 9 distinct gunshots Monday night at about 1:30 am from the 59th & Charlestown area. Not close but easy to hear.” Before anyone else e-mails to ask, we wanted to let you know we do have an inquiry out with police – but we can also tell you nobody WAS shot; the records of that are always clear, via the 911 log, and things on that front were very quiet overnight in West Seattle. So we’re asking police if they found any evidence of shots (casings, property damage, etc.), or fireworks, which “shots?” reports sometimes turn out to be; there’s nothing so far on the maps that highlight some incidents once reports are filed. Will add whatever we hear back.
(Photo by David Hutchinson, taken along Harbor Avenue)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: Road-closure reminders – westbound Spokane Street Viaduct, East Marginal/S. Spokane, and a stretch of 1st Avenue South near the stadiums are all closed tonight (the first two 10 pm-5 am, the 1st stretch, a little earlier) … Learn how to keep your family safer during a special presentation, open to all, tonight at Denny International Middle School, 6 pm (details here) … West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network hears Block Watch history (and more) from retiring Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow, 6:30 tonight at Southwest Precinct, all welcome even if you’re not a BW captain (Delridge/Webster) … Movie afternoon at Merrill Gardens-West Seattle (4611 35th SW; WSB sponsor), with “Singin’ in the Rain” at 1 pm (free, call 206-932-5480 to reserve your seat) … Practice night for West Seattle Community Orchestras, which welcome new members – details here … Nancy Whitlock of the Nature Consortium is the guest speaker at Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s weekly lunch meeting, noon at Salty’s, details here … “Writers and Tellers” are invited to Dubsea Coffee in Greenbridge (9910 8th SW) tonight, youth @ 5 and adults @ 6, to share your written work, all genres; then at 8 pm, it’s a 21+ writers’ open mike at Triangle Pub (9454 Delridge Way SW), both events ending with a “Big Fat Liars’ Club” storytelling competition … Or if you just want to listen, it’s Family Story Time at the Delridge Library branch with Amy, 7 pm.
(2009 WSGS photo shared by Jersey Jill
Whether you’re a champ or a contender – a player or a prospective board member – West Seattle Girls Softball has someplace for you. 2011 signups are under way:
Spring is just around the corner; that means West Seattle Girls Softball registration has begun. (Through) February 28th, you can sign your daughter up for this year’s season. More details can be found at www.westseattlegirlssoftball.com. The cost of registration includes a uniform for your daughter to keep and a trophy at the end of the season.
We are currently looking for new volunteers to be on the Board. Please contact our President, Shawn Herrera, for more information. We would love to have you as a volunteer. If you can make it to our next board meeting, please join us. It is February 9th, 7 pm, at the West Seattle Eagles Club on California Ave SW, next to the Post Office. Please enter through the back door.
For scholarship details please contact Shawn Herrera.
Greg is only the third owner of his classic car, and he’s had it for more than 30 years. He decided to photograph it in front of the old and new Fire Station 37 buildings in West Seattle, and we thought the results made for nice night-ending scenery.
One of many West Seattle cases we’re tracking through the courts is that of Thomas Qualls, the 59-year-old Alki man shot September 3rd in what police say was an exchange of fire with officers at his home. He has been in jail, with bail set at $1 million, since getting out of the hospital less than a week after the incident. While downtown today, we were in King County Superior Court for Qualls’ latest appearance, even shorter than the last; it was slated to be a hearing on whether to set a trial date (or some other option, like a plea bargain) but his lawyer won a requested four-week delay, saying they are still in the middle of obtaining and studying some complex evidence. So he’s due back in court February 22nd. He’s charged with three counts of 2nd-degree assault, with firearms enhancement.
A quick note came in this afternoon from someone sad to see a lot of folks cleaning up broken glass along 32nd SW. A different note a bit earlier, from David, told the tale:
Sometime Saturday night – Sunday morning, someone blew out at least four car windows with a pellet gun on 32nd Ave SW between Thistle and Barton St. [map] Vehicles weren’t rifled through, so it appears to be target practice from some malevolent passerby. I seem to remember a WSB article on similar crime in 2010 and hope spreading the word might heighten westsiders’ awareness of their street scene to ward off similar activity.
Before things got busy today, we were pursuing a few followups. Here’s news from one: Delridge Playfield project manager Ted Holden tells WSB, “I am really hoping that by next week the fences will be down, the goals up and the kids enjoying the field.” He says that if crews get some dry weather this week, they can finish the turf installation, then: “After that, the General Contractor needs about 2 days to finish the concrete work at the site entrance and we can call it a wrap.” It’s been more than six months since playfield work started; Holden notes it’s taken longer than expected because the July start “cost us those all-important dry days.” As noted on the project webpage, the field’s new design includes “two striped soccer fields, one softball field, one baseball field, one woman’s lacrosse field overlaying the north soccer field, one men’s lacrosse field overlaying the south soccer field, two striped Ultimate fields overlaying the south soccer field, and one smaller Ultimate field demarcated with ‘cone dots’ overlaying the north soccer field.”
Firefighters were called to West Seattle High School today twice within the span of just a few hours. We went to the school to see what was happening, after getting tips from concerned neighbors/passersby – though the calls at 11:37 am and 2:17 pm were only on the 911 log as “automatic fire alarms.” At the school, principal Ruth Medsker confirmed to WSB that, as scanner traffic had indicated, both were trash-can fires – one led to a brief evacuation because of “plastic fumes.” Both the principal and Seattle Fire Department confirm there was no damage and no injuries, but SFD Lt. Sue Stangl says the fires are under investigation with “Seattle FIre, Seattle Police and school security working together.”
“It’s time to get serious about your family’s personal safety.” So begins the Denny International Middle School PTSA‘s open invitation to a special event tomorrow (Tuesday) night, 6-7:30 pm at Denny, and they tell us that students are welcome as well as parents, from anywhere in our area, not just Denny families. The event promises “important safety tips to help keep you and your child safe both in the real world and the cyber-world,” with guests including the school-safety officer assigned to Denny. There’ll also be Giannoni’s Pizza on sale for $1/slice. Denny is at 8402 30th SW (map).
For the first time in more than a year, the city Landmark Preservation Board‘s Architectural Review Committee is about to be briefed on the proposed future of the fire-damaged Alki Homestead (historically known as the Fir Lodge). A review is set for this Friday morning at the city Municipal Tower downtown; that’s the first step toward the approvals required to alter the structure, since it’s a city landmark; the Homestead was last brought before them in November 2009. Shortly after the recent 2-year anniversary of the accidental fire that shut down the Alki Homestead restaurant, the language regarding the project changed on the project’s city webpage; instead of mentioning “reconstruction,” it now reads “Restoration of the Historic Fir Lodge/Alki Homestead Restaurant, removal of the non-historic accessory structures, and new construction of an attached facility at NW portion of the site.” Before finding out about this review, we had in fact just checked on this project at city Department of Planning and Development headquarters downtown, and they told us the plans haven’t been submitted to DPD yet, so this Friday may be the first official look. (Added: Since we’re still downtown, we’re going over to the Landmarks Board office to take a look at what they have on file.)
ADDED 5:35 PM: The restoration project’s description, according to what we subsequently found on file at the Landmarks Board office downtown – read on:Read More
Still making your mind up about the Highway 99 tunnel? The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce invites you to an informal lunch panel discussion this Wednesday, 11:45 am at The Kenney, and today is the deadline to RSVP. Read on for the Chamber’s official announcement:Read More
(2007 photo by Christopher Boffoli)
A West Seattle Junction icon is turning 8 in a few weeks, and inviting you to the party. Just got an official announcement on behalf of West 5 – read on after the jump for the party date, and a look back at how West 5 made history:Read More
We’re back at the King County Courthouse, where today’s open-court proceedings lasted less than an hour as the third week of pre-jury-selection proceedings in the Steve Bushaw murder-case trial began. (Quick backstory: Bushaw, a 26-year-old West Seattleite, died after being shot outside a Junction restaurant/bar on Super Bowl Sunday night in 2009; 4 people were arrested and charged months later, with the allegation it was a revenge plot instigated by the suspicion Bushaw was involved with robbing someone linked to marijuana dealing with which he was involved.) Today’s toplines:
*The lawyer for one of the two defendants who has pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of 2nd-degree murder, Danny O’Neal, announced his client probably will not seek to withdraw that plea. It was raised as a possibility after the other admitted triggerman, John Sylve, made a similar plea agreement, but gave a statement that apparently dramatically contradicted what O’Neal had said. O’Neal will be interviewed shortly by the other defendants’ lawyers.
*A potential witness who apparently was implicated in Sylve’s statement was subpoenaed to be in court today. He was not asked to come into the hearing, but a lawyer has been appointed for him since it is believed he might have to invoke the 5th Amendment (against self-incrimination) if called as a witness. His new lawyer will spend much of today talking with him. (We are not naming him at this point, since he is neither a charged suspect nor an official witness-to-be.)
*A lawyer for one of the two remaining defendants still set for trial, Bryce Huber, asked Superior Court Judge Joan DuBuque about her intention regarding his motion to further delay the trial. She didn’t give a final opinion but said she was not inclined to grant it and that as of this point, everyone should proceed as if the jury pool will be brought in this Thursday as scheduled. Court will resume at 9 tomorrow morning.
The contractor working for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to widen the Spokane Street Viaduct will close East Marginal Way at South Spokane Street for three nights next week. Crews will demolish the overhang along the upper roadway to prepare for Harbor Island off-ramp construction. The closures begin each night at 10 p.m. from January 24 through January 26 and end by 5 a.m. the following morning.
During this work, southbound East Marginal Way traffic will be allowed to head west at South Spokane Street to West Seattle, as well as make a U-turn under the viaduct to continue southbound on East Marginal Way. Northbound East Marginal Way traffic will be required to head east on South Spokane Street, detouring north on First Avenue South to South Hanford Street. A uniformed police officer will be positioned at First Avenue South to allow left turns.
(Updated 10:48 pm with addition of this video by Cliff DesPeaux for WSB)
They gathered to light candles to remember a friend, a loved one, gone too soon – 24-year-old Jeremy Peck. Said one mourner, as shown in our video: “Who’s not gonna remember that smile?”
(Photos by Deanie Schwarz)
Just hours short of exactly one month since his disappearance, and just steps away from where he was last seen, they gathered at California/College for mourning and memories.
ADDED 8:48 PM: Full report from WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz:
Kelly Irvine and Joan Doty‘s sons, Josh and Ben, were two of the Alki Panthers 2004 City Championship basketball team members who were well-represented to honor their former teammate Jeremy. Kelly says all of the boys on that team were at the memorial.
Jeremy and the team played together for eight + years, according to Joan: “They worked their way up to it, together with a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get there. It is a very tight-knit group of boys.”
Pictures of their championship team, along with many other cherished photos of Jeremy and his childhood and young adult buddies, adorned a tryptych to celebrate and recall cherished memories for those grieving the loss of their lifelong friend.
John Peck, Jeremy’s uncle/adopted father, found the words to express his gratitude to those who were in attendance, but was too overcome to speak at length.
This solicitation could be legit. Just in case it’s not, “Concerned Neighbor” wanted to share the story of the solicitor who turned up on their doorstep – read on:Read More
2:46 PM: Thanks to the WSB’ers who tipped us to this via text message and WSB Forums post: The Admiral Theateris closed was closed earlier today because it’s been burglarized. Police were still there when WSB’s Katie Meyer went over a short time ago to investigate the reports. According to what she learned from Admiral staffer Sean and police, the break-in happened around 5 am – it set off an alarm but that didn’t get help fast enough to prevent the burglars from making off with what we are told was a significant amount of cash. The staffer says they don’t usually have that on hand but they had a problem with the drawer at the bank where they usually use to make night deposits, so they brought it back to the theater. So they’re closed for today – you’ll see “no movies today” on the marquee if you drive by (photo added 3:15 pm).
3:28 PM UPDATE: We’re told now that they plan to reopen later this afternoon, for the showings just before 4 pm, but are asking for exact change.
4:58 PM UPDATE: We checked with the Southwest Precinct for any additional information; Lt. Ron Smith says the preliminary report says it was a “forced entry” burglary, and that “electronics” were taken as well as cash.
Story and photos by Ellen Cedergreen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Long before a Seal Sitters volunteer turns up on the beach, guarding a pup, there’s training involved, and rules to learn.
Saturday at Alki Beach, Seal Sitters’ volunteer coordinators Robin Lindsey (for West Seattle) and Rachel Mayer (for most points north) led a hands-on training session for volunteers. The discussions began at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza, with the dozen-plus volunteers eventually making way to two other points along the beach.
Volunteers from all over the city attended, since Alki’s unique terrain proved to be perfect for setting up a variety of perimeter demonstrations.
JEREMY PECK MEMORIAL: What was first planned as a candlelight vigil to raise awareness of the search for him, is now a memorial, with all welcome. 4:30 pm, here’s 4215 SW College; our most recent report, which includes a link you can follow to donate to help his family handle expenses.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, 44th/Alaska as usual; here’s an updated list of what you can expect to find today.
RUMMAGE SALE: Second day of Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation‘s weekend-long rummage sale, 9 am-2 pm, 7141 California SW, enter through the parking lot on the north side.
Out in Cle Elum, the Saturday sun shone over snow as the Chief Seattle Council of the Boy Scouts of America held itsKlondike Derby – and West Seattle’s Pack 793 won, reports JS, sharing these photos, too. JS says it’s “an outdoor survival event” with 6 stations – including a dog-sled-style run and 2-man log-sawing:
Under the team name Exploding Ice, they won all their events, which also included starting a fire and timed pancake-cooking, plus first aid, map and compass reading. Afterward, a chance to show off the awards:
And then, captured on video, the Exploding Ice cheer:
One of many West Seattle cases we’re tracking through the courts is that of Thomas Qualls, the 59-year-old Alki man 
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