West Seattle, Washington
24 Thursday
(2011 Alonzo family photo: Erich, Anna, and dad Bernie)
By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog
Bernie Alonzo has had the tempting smell of fresh-baked bread in his lungs since he was a kid helping in his father’s bakery. When he and his wife, Lorraine, visited friends in West Seattle, they checked out the little bakery for sale in Fauntleroy. Buying it came naturally, and he’s been baking there since 1975.
Now nearly five decades later, he’ll be hanging up his apron on February 26. While tempting pastries, breads, and cookies fresh from the oven have kept people coming back for more, old-fashioned hospitality made The Original Bakery as much community center as business.
In a profile published in 2000 in the Fauntleroy Community Association‘s newsletter, Bernie explained that he was the fourth owner since the bakery opened in 1936 in the Adams Building at 45th Ave. SW and SW Wildwood Place. The founding owner’s name is lost to history, but Bill Latta owned it from the 1940s to the 1960s, then sold it to Florian Dunbar, who sold it to Bernie.
He kept “The Original Bakery” as the name, even though it’s legally “Bakery The Original.” In the early days, small neighborhood bakeries were common, so the deed made clear that this was the original bakery in Fauntleroy’s Endolyne business area.
Bernie established a routine of weighing out ingredients the afternoon before so he could start baking at 4:00 the next morning. He opened the door to customers at 7:30, Mondays through Saturdays. Young people needing work experience (including his three children) were often the ones behind the vintage display cases. After three decades of baking alone, daughter Anna Alonzo‘s arrival in 2009 after completing culinary school lightened his load.
As tastes changed over the years, Bernie responded by shifting to healthier recipes. In 2000, he recalled one of the biggest changes.
“I never thought espresso would be such an integral part of our business,” he said. “When we bought the first espresso machine in the 1980s, many people didn’t know what espresso was!”
Bernie looked forward to special orders, somewhat because they varied his routine but mostly because they enabled him to share in birthdays, weddings, or whatever his customers were celebrating. Over the decades he donated countless cakes and cookies in support of whatever good cause sought him out. He also enjoyed giving local artists free wall space in the bakery’s seating area.
Whether making sure customers knew they could sit awhile over their favorite pastries or always baking what people most enjoyed, a big part of what The Original Bakery long offered was constancy in the midst of change.
“You try to survive in business,” Bernie said in 2000, “but having people appreciate you as an important part of the community is a real plus. It’s been a nice reward for me.”
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alonzo kids helped their dad brainstorm how to safely continue to serve customers. His solution was to add a walk-up window and reduce hours. After operating that way for two-plus years, Bernie decided the time had come for him to start sleeping in. With Anna’s top priority being to raise her daughter, she was not in a position to take on the business.
“Since we announced our closing, we have been very busy every day, which is great,” she said. “We have also had an outpouring of good wishes and appreciation from the neighborhood.
“Folks have been bringing cards and saying goodbye and we’ve had former customers come from afar to say best wishes and thank you. It’s been very heartwarming.”
Stop by if you can (9253 45th Ave. SW) before The Original Bakery closes on Sunday, February 26, at 3:00 pm.
A police-report summary made available this afternoon says reports of gunfire early this morning in Arbor Heights were confirmed. 911 callers reported suspected gunfire around 3:30 am. SPD says the reports were of “hearing numerous shots being fired (between 5-8) with one describing it as ‘automatic’ gunfire.” They found “evidence of a shooting” (which usually means casings) in the 3300 block of SW 106th, in the middle of the road. No injuries or property damage reported.
This is the last year of the current King County-wide Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy, approved by voters in 2017 as the renewal and renaming of the Veterans and Human Services Levy, which was originally passed in 2005. Today, County Executive Dow Constantine announced he plans to ask voters to renew the levy on the August 1st primary ballot. From the one-sheet that accompanied the announcement:
If renewed, the levy will:
• Fund permanent supportive housing, specifically for veterans
• Keep reducing veteran homelessness
• Expand investments in the human services workforce
• Double current funding for senior centers
• Maintain access to counseling and mental health supports for veterans and seniors
• Dedicate King County staff to strengthen resident and resource connections
• Deepen community-centered programming for survivors of gender-based violence
Here’s what today’s announcement says the money’s done since the most-recent vote:
Veterans
-Served more than 27,000 veterans, servicemembers, and their families with fewer eligibility barriers than many federal programs
-Contributed to a 40 percent reduction in veteran homelessness
-Provided more than 260 veterans, servicemembers, and family members with over 15,000 mental health counseling sessions
-Built 234 units of affordable housing for veterans and their familiesSeniors
-Funded 39 senior centers across the county
-Served more than 100,000 seniors through expanded senior programmingBuild Resiliency
-Launched DVHopeline, a countywide, 24-hour multi-lingual and multimodal domestic violence hotline, that received 16,000 calls or texts and referred nearly 7,000 of those callers to additional support
-Funded mobile advocacy services for more than 1,200 survivors of gender-based violence
Helped build more than 1,000 units of affordable housing and 198 new shelter beds
-Funded 55 agencies with 675 bonuses to support workforce retention
The new proposal would raise $581 million over six years and, Constantine’s office says, would cost the owner of a “median-priced home” $83 a year, at 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, which is the same rate as the current version. The King County Council will have to vote by May to get the renewal on the August ballot.
While in The Junction today, we noticed the sign going up at the future Dué Cucina restaurant (4437 California SW). It’s been six months since we first reported the Italian mini-chain was expanding to the former Ma’ono space. We don’t have a projected opening date yet, but it’s close enough that Dué Cucina has posted a listing in the West Seattle Jobs Offered section of the WSB Community Forums. If you’re curious how they’re changing the interior, they posted a sneak peek video here earlier this month.
Twelve years ago, almost 30 West Seattle businesses – and many of their customers – joined in a one-day fundraiser to help Japan recover from the earthquake/tsunami disaster. Now another catastrophic earthquake has taken thousands of lives, this time in Turkey and Syria, and local businesses are again joining forces for a community-led fundraiser. The West Seattle Junction Association and Chamber of Commerce asked us to publish this invitation for businesses to be part of it:
West Seattle supports Syria and Turkey earthquake relief efforts:
Want to join? If you are a business owner in West Seattle, email Chris Mackay at chris@wsjunction.org by end-of-day Monday (February 20th) and let her know you would like to join.
We will be asking West Seattleites to support all participating businesses by patronizing them between Friday, February 24, and Sunday, February 26. The businesses will donate a portion of their sales to AHBAP, a Turkish-run non-profit providing shelter to victims, or to the White Helmets, based in Syria doing rescue and recovery work. Both organizations are locally based and well-respected by the locals.
One Junction business owner who is from Turkey and has family there, YogaSix studio owner Sechil Thornton, says, “So many families have experienced unspeakable heartache with the loss of loved ones and an uncertain future. There are millions of homeless people, many sleeping in tents, schools, parks or their car. Those who were fortunate to be able to flee the cities are now being temporarily housed in hotels. With no timeline, or place to start in trying to rebuild their lives. I believe we must stand with all human beings in their times of need and ensure they receive our support. Which is why we are so grateful and proud to be a part of the West Seattle community showing its support stepping up to aid in relief efforts.”
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Encampment and police updates comprised most of last night’s Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council meeting, plus community Q&A.
The group, chaired by Melody Sarkies, meets monthly as an open opportunity to talk with and hear from police and featured guests. Last night, Tom Van Bronkhorst, a city official who has long been involved with homelessness response, was the guest.
As we reported late last night, he announced toward the end of the meeting that the Harbor Avenue RV encampment is set for another sweep in late February. But he was there mostly to discuss the far-bigger encampment at 2nd/Michigan, near the 1st Avenue South Bridge, following up on the revelation at the last SWPCPC meeting that a sweep had been planned and then called off. Officially, he’s on the Seattle Parks payroll, but he participates in the Unified Care Team meetings at which priorities and planned cleanups are discussed.
(Viburnum at Jack Block Park, photo by Ann Anderson, who says it’s a “natural food source for wintering Anna’s Hummingbirds and certain pollinators”)
Here’s what’s happening for the rest of your Friday!
BEVERAGE FUNDRAISER: All day at Hotwire Coffee (4410 California SW), mention the Genesee Hill Elementary PTA and part of your beverage purchase will be donated. Open until 5 pm.
MOUNTAIN TO SOUND OUTFITTERS SALE: The Presidents Day Weekend Sale is on at Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) – get gear and apparel for snow sports, with lots of time left in this year’s season – some items up to 40 percent off! Open until 7 pm. (3602 SW Alaska)
DAY OF REMEMBRANCE: Seattle Colleges‘ annual event is on Capitol Hill this year but you can attend online – our calendar listing explains how.
SCRABBLE CLUB: Come play 12:30-1:30 pm at Margie’s Café in the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Tasting room on the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus is open 1-6 pm Fridays (and Saturdays).
GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT: First of two free Seattle Parks drop-in events – Westcrest Park (9000 8th SW), 3-4:30 pm. Our calendar listing explains where to meet up,
FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: Toddler Gym weekday afternoons at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW), ages 2-6, 3:30-5 pm.
AFTER-SCHOOL MAGIC LEAGUE: Weekly 4-6 pm event for 12+, $5 per player – learn about and play “Magic: the Gathering” at Meeples Games (3727 California SW)
CAKE POP-UP: Lovely and Dapper Desserts is at The Nook (2206 California SW) tonight, 5-10 pm.
SINGER-SONGWRITER OPEN MIC: Second month of the new monthly open mic at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW). Signups start at 6, music at 6:30, free, all ages.
WEST SEATTLE TIMEBANK: Online meeting with a guest speaker talking about “mystery shopping,” 6:30 pm. Our calendar listing explains how to RSVP for attendance link.
BASKETBALL: Both West Seattle High School teams have must-win district-tournament games tonight at Bellevue College (3000 Landerholm Circle SE) – the boys vs. Liberty at 6:30 pm, the girls vs. Holy Names at 8 pm.
LIVE AT C & P: Dublin Abbey at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) with folk-rock, 7-9 pm. No cover!
‘AN ENDLESS SHIFT’: Third week at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) continues its final week tonight, 7:30 pm. Get your ticket(s) here.
AT THE SKYLARK: 8 pm live music, with The Mrs. Bill Larsons, Student Nurse, Charlie Churchill and the Heathens. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Something to add to our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The West Seattle Junction Association wants to make sure you know that city grant money is available for “arts and culture recovery,” with less than two weeks remaining for applications:
The West Seattle Junction Association is pleased to announce a one-time Request-For-Proposal for arts and culture recovery funding for the West Seattle Junction. These funds have been available through the City of Seattle Office of Arts and Culture and are being distributed through Lead Organizations throughout Seattle.
The funding available through this RFP is for activations or events specifically in the West Seattle Junction that assist in arts and culture recovery efforts with a specific priority to those areas and groups most impacted by COVID pandemic and in alignment with the City of Seattle’s vision of equity, inclusion, collaboration, public safety and resiliency for One Seattle.
The total amount of funding available through this Lead Organization for this designated area is $56,950.
We welcome proposals for projects of all sizes, but requests cannot exceed $20,000, and some awardees may only receive part of their requested amount.
Activations and events can occur any time after an award is made with final reports due no later than September 15, 2023. These contracts are made on a reimbursement basis with deliverables that will be outlined in the contracts. While you may apply to other Lead Organizations for projects in other designated areas, you can receive funding for only one award.
The RFP package includes Guidelines, Application & Budget Template, and is due no later than 5:00pm, February 27, 2023. You will be notified of results after our community review panels completes their rating and funding recommendations and shall be no later than March 15, 2023.
You can apply online here and access documents and contact info at wsjunction.org/arts-culture-neighborhood-recovery-program
The application form also explains more about the intention of these grants and what type of “event or activation” might qualify, as well as qualifications for applying.
9:25 AM: Crash reported at 35th/Morgan. Camera shows it’s blocking the southbound lanes of 35th north of Morgan:
10:20 AM: A tow truck has arrived. The outside southbound lane is open, so traffic is getting by both ways, but SB is slower going. No major injuries, as no medic unit was dispatched, but we’re checking with SFD.
==========
Earlier:
6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, February 17th.
WEATHER
Morning rain expected, then mostly cloudy, high in the mid-to-upper 40s.
WEEKEND NOTES
-From WSDOT:
Saturday, February 18th, 6 am-6 pm
SR 509 northbound on-ramp from Myers Way S. CLOSED
Repairing extensive guardrail damage
Detour to SB SR 509 to Glendale/5th exit and enter NB SR 509 there
–Holiday reminder: Monday is Presidents Day. with some transportation changes, including no Water Taxi service that day. Also, no school Monday (first day of midwinter break for Seattle Public Schools).
TRANSIT TODAY
–Metro is on its regular schedule, but still canceling some trips, operating without some buses, so check notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts.
-Regular schedule for the West Seattle Water Taxi.
–Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on a two-boat schedule; check here for alerts/updates and use Vessel Watch to see where boats are at.
SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Oregon), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Henderson.
High Bridge – the camera at the top:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge – looking east to west:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – the south route across the river:
Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page … Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if needed) – 206-293-6302.
(WSB file photo)
Though the stolen-car-magnet encampment by the 1st Avenue South Bridge was the central topic of tonight’s Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council meeting, another encampment is the subject of our first headline from the meeting: City rep Tom Van Bronkhorst told the group that the Harbor Avenue RV encampment is scheduled to be swept again “at the end of this month.” RVs that don’t voluntarily move will be towed, he said. That’s unless there’s evidence someone is living there, added Operations Lt. Dorothy Kim, although she said outreach workers believe that several of the Harbor RVs are NOT being used as homes and may even have the same owner. Leading up to the sweep, Van Bronkhorst said, SDOT is going to the area for “debris removal” weekly. Lt. Kim noted that people with houses and businesses in the area need to be aware that when the sweep happens, the area will be posted as “no parking” for a few weeks. So how will they keep the RVs from returning again this time? Lt. Kim said police, including Parking Enforcement Officers, plan to be “diligent” about enforcement. What about more-permanent action like an RPZ, as has been suggested? That’s all still being discussed.
As for the 1st Avenue South encampment and other topics addressed tonight – we’ll have a separate full report on that, including video of the meeting, Friday morning.
King County Elections didn’t update results today because of a power problem, according to its website. So the newest numbers remain the ones posted Wednesday. But here’s one we haven’t looked at yet – the “other” election in which voting ended Tuesday night – the “online ballot access” voting for King Conservation District Supervisor. West Seattle resident Csenka Favorini-Csorba is leading with 5,420 votes, 52.68%; Chris Porter – also a West Seattleite – is in second with 3,378 votes, 32.83%, and April Brown is in third with 1,452 votes, 14.11%. The total number of votes received and tallied so far – 10,290 – equals only three-quarters of a percent of all voters (1,314,228).
(WSB photo, Wednesday, Cove Park entrance)
Just in – the King County Wastewater Treatment Division says Fauntleroy beaches have reopened “after water quality testing over consecutive days showed safe results.” As reported here Wednesday morning, the beaches were closed because of two overflows blamed on power anomalies at the county-operated Barton Pump Station during Monday night’s thunderstorm. KCWTD says the 101,100 gallons of wastewater that overflowed was “safely routed into a pipe that empties into Puget Sound about 600 feet offshore.” It’s working to figure out how to keep this kind of problem from happening again, noting “While the pump station is equipped with an automatic backup generator, the facility did not experience a complete power outage that would have activated the backup system. Wastewater engineers are researching ways to mitigate the effects of poor power quality, including power sags, bumps or surges on pumps, which are designed to shut down when encountering inconsistent power.”
(WSB photo, Tuesday morning)
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged the man accused of setting the two-alarm fire Sunday that damaged at least six apartments including his own in South Delridge. 35-year-old Ermiyas N. Woldearegay is charged with one count of first-degree arson. The charging documents confirm for the first time that he indeed was questioned one day earlier about a smaller fire outside his own unit. From the charging documents:
On 02.11.2023, Seattle Fire personnel responded to 1725 SW Barton St. regarding a fire on a porch of unit 104. When SFD arrived, Woldearegay was standing on the porch, “poking” at the fire with a stick. SFD put the fire out and summoned Seattle Police Department personnel, as well as Seattle Fire Investigators, to the scene. Following the interview with Woldearegay, and after unsuccessfully attempting to locate any witnesses or video of the incident, the fire cause was preliminarily determined to be “undetermined” by Seattle Fire Investigators. A Seattle Police report was written for this case (2023-040055).
On 02.12.223, at approximately 7:42 AM, Seattle Fire requested Seattle Police respond and provide traffic control at a large apartment fire at 1725 SW Barton St. Once officers arrived on scene, it was determined that Woldearegay was in a Seattle Fire Medic unit, suffering from burns related to the fire. As he was being treated, witnesses … contacted officers and stated that they had seen Woldearegay light his porch, unit 104, and their porch, unit 103, on fire. They described Woldearegay as holding a torch, manufactured from what appeared to be a wooden stick with cloth wrapped around the top. The top of the torch was on fire, and, according to (witness), appeared to be covered with some sort of accelerant, allowing the torch to burn. Woldearegay put this open flame torch to the porch of unit 103, the porch of unit 104, and the wall in-between. As this was done, the building quickly became engulfed in flames, necessitating the evacuation of the entire building. The fire grew in size and quickly spread through a large portion of the building, completely destroying a number of units.
The charging documents also say Woldearegay suffered “severe burns to his head, torso, arms, and legs.” No one else was reported injured, though as reported the day of the fire, a cat was found dead (the charging documents do not say anything about the parakeet also mentioned that day). The court papers say 11 of the building’s 14 units were occupied at the time. In discussion following our Sunday report, a commenter claimed the building is managed by supportive-housing provider DESC; we followed up and DESC spokesperson Claire Tuohy-Morgan said the organization does not manage the building but does have some tenants there. She would not comment on how many, nor whether Woldearegay is among them, citing “privacy concerns.” Woldearegay, meantime, has apparently been transferred from the hospital to jail, as he is on the King County Jail register as of just before 9 pm last night, with bail set at $250,000, which is what prosecutors say they requested. He has no felony criminal record.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
POLICE AT LINCOLN PARK: We took that photo late this morning in the park’s north parking lot, having gone there to check out a reader report of police looking for a man reported to be armed with a knife. They told us only that they hadn’t found anyone and were leaving. The call was classified “disturbance, miscellaneous.” Another reader has since told us the call was a report of “a male in Lincoln Park who pulled a knife on several adult males and threatened others.” SPD’s communications team confirms, “It appears he was threatening people in the park while waving the knife around he held in his hand. There was no assault involving the knife.”
STOLEN CAR: Linda‘s Civic was stolen in a Junction parking lot:
My green 1999 Honda Civic was stolen on Wednesday 2/15/23 at the Diamond Parking lot on 42nd SW and Oregon SW near the West Seattle Senior Center. License plate 404 XKZ. Police incident #23-044393.
TRUCK STOLEN, THEN FOUND: From Jonathan:
I live in the Westernair Apartments, 4201 SW Graham, and had my Ford F-350 stolen either last night or sometime this morning. I was able to recover it due to a Apple Air Tag I hid in the truck though the thieves did tear my truck apart probably looking for it. I recovered it on the 22100 block of 98th Pl S in Kent. I called Kent PD and requested they do a drive-by to see if my truck was there and although it took a long time to get ahold of non-emergency Seattle PD, I was able to get the car marked as stolen. Kent Police sat on the vehicle for 1 hour while I zoomed down to get it back. I had an alarm they were able to defeat and disable and had a back window broken out. This is the 6th time my car’s been broken into since Covid started in 2020 when I purchased the truck and the 1st time they successfully stole it. Happy to have it back and maybe my success with having an Air Tag hidden will be something others can copy and gain a small amount of oversight over their vehicles.
Above are two SDOT maps from the pothole program – at left, pending potholes as of last week; at right, recently patched potholes as of last week. Today the department is out with its latest stats: 23,000 potholes filled last year, 50 percent more than the year before, and the most in any of the past five years. The roads suffered extra damage in the December ice storm, so SDOT says it’s beefed up its response team, and is on an even busier pace so far this year – 5,500 potholes filled since January 1st. They warn that the usual within-three-days response-time goal has been tougher to meet while they catch up on storm damage. The update notes:
When SDOT crews respond to a request to fill a pothole, they also repair any other nearby potholes they discover. This year, crews have also been patrolling snow plow routes to proactively look for new potholes. These routes are essential to Seattle’s transportation system and are more likely to develop potholes because they carry more heavy vehicles during winter storms.
New potholes continue to appear every day, so SDOT is asking for the traveling public’s patience as crews continue to repair new road damage. SDOT cannot fix potholes that it doesn’t know about, so the public can help by reporting any potholes using the Find It, Fix It app, this online form, emailing 684-ROAD@seattle.gov, or calling 206-684-ROAD.
Today’s update also addresses the question of why some potholes need repeated refilling.
Three West Seattle biznotes:
MOUNTAIN TO SOUND OUTFITTERS SALE: The shop at 3602 SW Alaska (WSB sponsor) is kicking off the holiday weekend early with a sale starting tomorrow (Friday, February 17th):
Hi there, Neighbors!
Mountain to Sound Outfitters is having our annual Presidents Day Clearance beginning Friday the 17th and you all are invited to come check out the hottest deals in the area on skis, snowboards, boots and clothing! Up to 40% off on select hard and soft goods.
We are also doing buy one get one half off full tune specials so come see us in the tune shop! Now is the perfect time to get stocked up and tuned up for the last half of our season.
M2SO is open 10 am-7 pm weekdays, 10 am-5 pm weekends.
EL CAMION UPDATE: The Fauntleroy food truck has been away from its spot in the Endolyne business district for site work and maintenance. When last we checked in, they were hoping to return last week, but they’re not back yet. So we checked in again. Via email, Scott tells us the truck maintenance has taken longer than expected: “There was an issue getting some parts and it has taken a while, but I am being told that it is going to be ready this evening and that we could be back in operation on Saturday.”
COFFEE FUNDRAISER: Many of your favorite local independent small businesses continue helping local nonprofits and school groups with dining/drinking fundraisers. Next one on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar is at Hotwire Coffee (4410 California SW) tomorrow (Friday, February 17th) – get coffee (or another beverage) there on Friday and tell them you’re there for the Genesee Hill Elementary PTA fundraiser, so they’ll get a share of the proceeds. Hotwire is open 6:30 am-5 pm.
(Photo by Rosalie Miller – underside of Fauntleroy Park leaf with map fungus; click here to see topside)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s what’s ahead for the rest of today/tonight:
BLACK HISTORY MONTH PRESENTATION: 1 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), Carol-Ann Sharp Thornton tells her story as “A Child of Color Reflecting on West Seattle History.” Our calendar listing explains how to RSVP.
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome, weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayers@gmail.com to see where you’ll find them playing today.
THURSDAY FOOD-TRUCK POP-UP: 4-8 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), the Zaytoona Mediterranean-food truck will be visiting.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Also at HP Corner Store, meet up at 6:30 pm Thursdays for a ~3-mile run.
MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE @ PATHFINDER K-8: Prospective middle-school families are invited to visit Pathfinder K-8 at 5:45 pm today. (1901 SW Genesee)
SW PRECINCT CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Hear from and talk with police, plus special guest Tom Van Bronkhorst from the city Unified Care Team to talk about the 1st Avenue South encampment, 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster), in-person or online (see our calendar listing for video/phone attendance info).
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm in-person at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) and online (info here), with guests invited from SPD and Parks.
‘AN ENDLESS SHIFT’: The one-woman play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) is in its its final week, 7:30 pm. Get your ticket(s) here.
If you have something to add to our calendar, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends will gather next month to celebrate the life of Terry C. O’Neill, and are sharing this remembrance with his community:
Terry C. O’Neill
June 5, 1936 – January 26, 2023On January 26th, 2023, Terry passed from the arms of his beloved wife Wendy for over 64 years into the eternal arms of Jesus. He was surrounded by his loving family in his final days of life here on earth. He valiantly fought a long battle of recurring pneumonia, which rewarded him extended months, if not years, with us all.
Terry was the firstborn of Thomas and Hope O’Neill (Foster) and then his brother Michael came along in 1939. He attended Lafayette Elementary, James Madison Junior High, and graduated from West Seattle High School in 1954. He attended Whitman College for one year and then the University of Washington night school while working full time in the family business in West Seattle, O’Neill Plumbing Company, started by his grandfather James O’Neill in 1917.
Growing up, Terry spent the summers with his family on the North Shore of Hood Canal. He became an excellent water-skier and enjoyed boating and sailing with his family and friends. It was on the beaches of Hood Canal at a young age that Terry met Wendy – eventually becoming the love of his life. Terry was very involved in the Sea Scouts and spent many days and weeks aboard the Yankee Clipper throughout Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. He loved being on the water with the wind in his face and the waves at his feet. He was also a very accomplished snow skier. He took road trips with friends to Sun Valley, ID (sleeping in a van), and even hiked up part of Mt. Rainier from Paradise and skied down. He loved the outdoors spending time with friends and family.
Terry was a loving husband to Wendy (Arnold) since their marriage in August 1958. Together they traveled for special celebratory occasions to Hawaii, Fiji, and Europe. He was a wonderful father to Tomi Jean O’Neill, Todd & Lizzie O’Neill, and Tim & Stephanie O’Neill. Terry and Wendy valued making memories with their family and planned wonderful vacations. They went camping throughout Washington, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia; they sailed through the San Juan Islands; went skiing on winter weekends to all the mountains in WA; they spent spring breaks in Palm Desert and Maui, and summers of course on the shores of Hood Canal. In 2007 Wendy and Terry fulfilled a longtime dream of purchasing a winter home in Scottsdale, AZ. They enjoyed their home with family and friends for many years.
Terry was a special “Papa” to all of his grandchildren (6) and great-grandchildren (almost 8). He leaves a legacy with each of them – Brandon & Stacy LaVielle with Layla (7) and Scarlett (5) in Seattle, Marie (O’Neill) & Caleb Bagdanov with Simon (3) and Moses (1) in Santa Barbara, CA, Alex LaVielle in Seattle, Katie (O’Neill) & Andrew Thompson with Everett (5), Oliver (3), and Ford (2 months) in Gig Harbor, WA, Samantha (LaVielle) & Mike Kerr who are due with their firstborn in May in Seattle, and Annie (O’Neill) & Casey Borden in Portland, OR.
Terry and Wendy took over the reins of O’Neill Plumbing Co. in 1961 from his parents and grew the business tremendously over the next five decades. He handed the operation to his youngest son Tim, who purchased the business with his wife Stephanie in 2013. Early on in the business he was plumbing and working out of his truck while Wendy answered the phones day and night operating a 24/7 emergency service business. They soon added another plumber, which meant another truck and equipment, and then another. In 1976 they expanded by purchasing a building on California Avenue in West Seattle where the 105-year-old family-owned business still operates from today. They added an underground division while continuing to grow the repair and emergency side of the business for both residential and commercial customers. Terry and Wendy supported many community programs through the company including the Lions Club, Pee Wee Baseball, and the YMCA. They always believed in generously giving back to the community.
Terry loved a good conversation. He was always asking good questions of others and sincerely interested in everyone he met. He poured into people whether that was his family, his team at O’Neill Plumbing Co. or his friends. Terry was a loyal friend over the years staying in touch with some of his first childhood friends throughout his entire life. Whenever anyone had a conversation with Terry either briefly or at length, they usually heard a cute joke and walked away laughing and smiling. Terry loved to laugh and keep things on the lighter side.
Terry has faith in Jesus Christ as his Rock and Redeemer. He lived out the principles of his faith by serving others and doing what was right, true, and good. He understood and extended grace to others on many occasions. He and Wendy attended Fauntleroy Congregational Church in the ’60s and then in the mid-’70s joined Hope Lutheran Church in West Seattle.
Terry will be deeply missed by his wife, his family, and so many friends and colleagues. As he shared just a couple weeks before his passing, “I’ve had a good life and I have a wonderful family.” We love you Papa, and we will be with you again someday.
A celebration of life honoring Terry will be held at Canterwood Golf & Country Club in Gig Harbor at 2 pm on Sunday, March 19th. Please visit www.rill.com to view pictures of Terry and leave a personal story or remembrance. If you would like to make a gift in his memory, please do so to the charity of your choice.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, February 16th.
WEATHER
Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain, high in the upper 40s.
TRANSIT STATUS
–Metro is on its regular schedule, but still canceling some trips, operating without some buses, so check notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts.
-Regular schedule for the West Seattle Water Taxi.
–Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on a two-boat schedule; check here for alerts/updates and use Vessel Watch to see where boats are at.
–Holiday reminder: Monday is Presidents’ Day. with some transportation changes, including no Water Taxi service that day.
SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Oregon), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Henderson.
High Bridge – the camera at the top:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge – looking east to west:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – the south route across the river:
Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page … Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if needed) – 206-293-6302.
As reported here last week, masks were recommended through this week at West Seattle High School because of “multiple” COVID cases. The original announcement to families didn’t say how many, however. But if you check the district dashboard, the stat is stark – between February 7th and 14th, for example, 82 cases were reported at WSHS – the only school in the entire district to even have a double-digit total; next-highest total in the district was 7 cases at three schools outside West Seattle, while the next-highest total in the greater West Seattle area was Madison Middle School with 5 cases. The WSHS masking recommendation runs through Friday, which is the last school day before the district’s weeklong mid-winter break.
More West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
ANOTHER AUTO SHOP BURGLARIZED: This time, Swedish Automotive (35th/Kenyon; WSB sponsor) was hit. Swedish’s Todd Ainsworth sent the photo and report:
We came in this morning to find a very large rock had been thrown through one of our windows – on the north side of the building, along Kenyon St. It appears they may have grabbed a couple of easy-to-reach flashlights from one of our tech’s toolboxes and the rock itself appears to have damaged a car that was inside the shop.
Hopefully, someone out there may have seen something? We’d love to hear from them if they did!
Contact the shop with tips. We don’t have the SPD incident # yet but will add when we do.
KEEPSAKES TAKEN IN GARAGE THEFT: We’re getting an increasing number of reader reports about apartment/condo garage break-ins. This one is from Rachel:
I live in the WS Junction area on California Ave and we’ve had our condo-complex garage broken into multiple nights in a row over the last weekend (2/10-2/13).
The intruders stole my high-school letterman’s jacket (as well as my childhood stuffed animals, music boxes from my grandmother, and my mom’s flag-corps uniform). The jacket is from Kentridge High School (2006-2010) and will have the last name “SOLEY” on the back.
If you find any items that might be Rachel’s, let us know and we’ll connect you.
SAME GARAGE, 3RD VISIT: Rachel’s garage is the same one where Corey reported repeat burglars/thieves two days ago. Now Corey sends word they returned for a third time – here are new photos:
Corey says, “Perhaps someone will recognize the couple and can report them to the SPD. Case # 23-40539.”
P.S. Another reminder – tomorrow (Thursday) night at 7 pm, the Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council community meeting happens at the precinct (2300 SW Webster), with a guest from the city Unified Care Team to talk about the encampment by the 1st Ave. S. Bridge.
When the state 3A high-school diving championships are held tomorrow night in Federal Way, a local student will be there – for the second time! Here’s the announcement we received:
West Seattle High School junior Giovanni Slye will be competing at the state diving championship tomorrow (Thursday) at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. His performance at the Districts meet last weekend guaranteed him a spot at the statewide competition. Diving Coach Stephanie Hunt is proud to take him all the way to state two years in a row.
Event info is here. You can see on page 5 here who he’s competing against.
The second set of results is in from the special election on Seattle Initiative 135 to create an entity to develop “social housing.” Last night, “yes” was almost six percentage points ahead of “no”; today, that’s widened:
SEATTLE INITIATIVE 135
Yes – 53.96% – 64,345
No – 46.04% – 54,900
The ballots counted so far represent almost 25 percent of Seattle voters; 33 percent of the ballots sent have been received as of this afternoon.
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