West Seattle, Washington
02 Friday
At the King County Courthouse this morning, Gatewood resident Duane Starkenburg was arraigned on the newest charge against him – child rape, from an incident that allegedly happened about a decade ago, but wasn’t brought to police attention till last month. King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Dan Donohoe says Starkenburg pleaded not guilty; his bail will remain set at half a million dollars. His next court appearance in this case is scheduled for October 25th, while he is still awaiting trial on the three charges against him in the jogger-attacks case for which he was arrested last January.
Thanks to our friends at KING 5 for the tip on this one: The United States Postal Service says this doesn’t happen very often, but it happened at the corner of Admiral and Belvidere night before last – someone made off with the big blue USPS mailbox, leaving little behind but these stubs jutting out of the sidewalk:
This, despite special measures taken more than a decade ago to make the boxes and their installations more theft-resistant, according to USPS spokesperson Ernie Swanson, who confirmed the Postal Inspection Service is investigating this as a theft. Swanson tells WSB the mailbox will be replaced. If you think you might have had mail in the box when it was taken, call 877-876-2455.
(It’s not all clouds and rain … WSB photo from Pigeon Point at 9 am, looking north)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
TRIANGLE ZONING CHANGE? City Council Committee on the Built Environment public hearing on Triangle zoning-change proposal, 6 pm, Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon); details here.
A CONVERSATION WITH DESC: It’s the first DESC-homeless-housing project community forum, 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, delridgeforum.blogspot.com has the latest details. Child care and Spanish/Vietnamese interpretation available.
ADMIRAL MEETING: The impending Alaskan Way Viaduct nine-day, ten-night shutdown is on the agenda for the Admiral Neighborhood Association, 7 pm, Admiral Congregational Church (California/Hill).
FAUNTLEROY MEETING: The Fauntleroy Community Association meets tonight at 7 at the schoolhouse (9131 California SW), looking ahead to this Sunday’s Fauntleroy Fall Festival, among other topics.
EXHIBIT OPENS: Opening day at ArtsWest Gallery for “The Edge of Night,” featuring three Seattle-based artists, C. ALBERT, JEAN BRADBURY, MONIKA DALKIN, and Portland artist DAVID CARMACK LEWIS. Two painters, a mixed media and a collage artist, each offer a unique, narrative style which can at times be slightly unsettling, like the place between wakefulness and dreams, like the edge of night. (Reception this Thursday at the start of West Seattle Art Walk.)
ARTIST RECEPTION: Reception at South Seattle Community College: for ongoing exhibit “Absence / Silence and Topographic Politics: A Mixed Media Installation” by Alan Abdulkader. Reception/gallery talk 2-4 pm today (exhibit runs through October 24th).
ORCHESTRA PRACTICE: West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ new season continues, with rehearsals starting at 5:30 pm, Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle).
EXPLORER WEST OPEN HOUSE: Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) Open House for prospective families/students, 6:30-8:00 pm. The formal program starts at 6:30 pm in the school’s gymnasium (10015 28th SW) followed by an opportunity to tour the campus and meet students/staff. For more information about Explorer West and the admissions process, explorerwest.org.
Two notes for pumpkin fans:
PUMPKIN SALE: Saturday, 10 am till 2 pm (or till the pumpkins are all gone, if sooner), the Lincoln Park P-Patch is selling the pumpkins just harvested there last weekend, with proceeds benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank. Details in this WSB Forums announcement.
PUMPKIN CARVING DEMONSTRATION: Need some jack-o-lantern skills? Just in:
The Genesee Schmitz Neighborhood Council is hosting professional pumpkin carver Pam Leno from 1 to 4 pm at Ercolini Park (48th & Alaska) this Sunday (rain or shine!).
There will be demonstrations for decorating your pumpkin this year! We ask everyone to bring your own pumpkin and tools to decorate with. Markers will be provided for the smaller children. The GSNC will be providing free cider and hot coffee.
From Monday night’s North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting at Delridge Library:
(NDNC hearing from SDOT consultant Josh Stepherson; photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
Major discussion points included a look ahead to tonight’s first Delridge Community Forum, about the DESC homeless-housing proposal, was a major item, as were the potential North Delridge traffic effects of the Fauntleroy Expressway Seismic Retrofit Project bridge/road work.
THE FORUM: DCF is a spinoff from NDNC, putting together a series of mediated community forums with the help of a city grant. Patrick Baer briefed the meeting on plans for tonight’s discussion (6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center), the first real chance for a big-group discussion about the 75-apartment projects that first came to light last June, including a meeting from which people had to be turned away. He has drawn a big-name guest list.
*Child care has been secured for the meeting. The room at Youngstown (4408 Delridge Way SW) has room for 300 (and there’s a room next door as backup for overflow); volunteers delivered 1,300 flyers around the area, in Spanish/English/Vietnamese, to get the word out. The format will be “world café,” including small-group discussions that report back to the full gathering. After conversations, there will be an opportunity for anyone interested in further action to convene and talk about it, but that will not be led by those who are leading the meeting. (More info at delridgeforum.blogspot.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/delridgeforum.) The next forum is already being planned; anyone interested in helping is invited to a get-together at 6:15 pm October 24 at Delridge Library.
Ahead, the city consultant who’s been briefing community groups on the bridge-retrofit project, and other traffic/transportation issues, plus prospective Delridge Community Center cuts, and an announcement with NDNC elections ahead:Read More
Out of the WSB inbox tonight, from Beehive:
My car was stolen from my alley access driveway with bedroom windows overlooking it. I also had a club on it at Fauntleroy and Edmunds. 1995 teal Honda Civic with low profile. I’m pissed off! Please warn others to take additional measures.
The photos from tonight’s Sustainable West Seattle-presented “Don’t Feed the Tox-Ick Monster” event at Pathfinder K-8 School are courtesy of Laura James – yes, undersea Laura! – who reports that the community rose to the challenge: Get at least 40 adults into the room, and the night’s prize (each of these presentations feature prizes) goes to a runoff-reducing cistern for Pathfinder’s Earth Project. Laura says the final count appeared to be more than 70! Maybe it was the free, donated Proletariat Pizza …
If you haven’t yet learned the secrets of fighting the Tox-ick Monster, you have two more chances – November 12th, in Spanish, at St. James Annex in South Delridge, and November 19th at Alki UCC – times, addresses, and more information here.
FRIDAY ALL-DAY BASKETBALL: Watts Basketball is offering an all-day basketball clinic for 2nd through 6th graders this Friday, which is a day off for Seattle Public Schools students (and others who follow that calendar) – details/registration here.
YOUTH BASKETBALL AT SALVATION ARMY COMMUNITY CENTER:
That’s one of last year’s “HYPE” teams from the center in South Delridge at 9020 16th Avenue SW – and tryouts for teams 2nd through 8th grade are happening this week, according to Rino Canoy, who sent word of the schedule: 2nd/3rd graders, Wednesday 6 pm and Friday 7:30 pm; boys’ 4th-5th-6th graders, Tuesday and Thursday, 6 pm; boys’ 7th-8th graders, Tuesday and Thursday, 7:30 pm. This is for winter season; spring season tryouts will be in March. Questions? Call Sean, 206-767-3150, extension 108.
(From left, Steve Huling, County Councilmember Joe McDermott, City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen)
6:25 PM: We’re at West Seattle High School‘s commons – most easily accessible from the parking lot off California SW – where the presentation has begun at the informational meeting about the upcoming Alaskan Way Viaduct closure. City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen started off with a few words of acknowledgment; he chairs the council’s Transportation Committee. County Councilmember Joe McDermott is speaking now. He told the crowd “Think of yourself as early adopters – you’re here to get the information early … share the information with everybody you can find, because we all need to get the word out as early as possible.” He suggested the nickname “Via-doom,” but said that, like the much-feared Carmageddon in Southern California, it might not turn out to be that way – depending on action taken by commuters.
6:30 PM: Alaskan Way Viaduct project deputy director Matt Preedy is speaking now. He said one myth he wanted to debunk is – no, the entire Viaduct is *not* coming down now, just a section of the south end. And, aside from this closure, as he’s pointing out, Highway 99 will remain open as south-end replacement work (and, starting next year, central-waterfront tunnel work) continues. He’s also reviewing how the detour in the stadium zone will run, once the closure is over, including an explanation that what’s been under construction to the west of the south end of the Viaduct for the past year is the new southbound side – not just “a ramp.” Key point:
WHAT’S OPEN, WHAT’S CLOSED DURING THE NINE DAYS, TEN NIGHTS OCT. 21-31
*CLOSED: Southbound from Battery Street Tunnel to West Seattle Bridge, in its entirety, closed for the duration, as is the northbound side from WS Bridge to Royal Brougham
*OPEN: Northbound between the South Royal Brougham Way onramp and Battery Street Tunnel, 5 am-7 pm on the weekdays (and for special events)
Another slide with key points:
HOW TO GET AROUND DURING THE CLOSURE
*Carpool, vanpool, vanshare
*Take the bus, water taxi, light rail, train, bike
*Work from home
*Adjust your work schedule
*Use alternate routes where possible
*Plan for delays and added travel time
*Listen to radio traffic reports and use electronic message boards to get up to the minute information
*Delay or reschedule discretionary trips
Even if you can only try an alternative ONE day during the closure, Preedy says, that will help. Also – he is stressing that while they’ll take some questions here in the group session, the county, city, and state reps are here for lots of 1-on-1 conversation, so even if you’re not here yet, don’t hesitate to come on down and find somebody to ask.
6:52 PM: Q/A is under way now. We’ll have a separate story with those points and more later.
6:59 PM: Councilmember McDermott mentioned the “We’ll Get You There” website for informational links – if you’re looking for that, it will come up if you Google that phrase, or here’s the direct link to bookmark.
7:06 PM: One other new link that might interest you – WSDOT has just put up “Recommended Routes” and has broken them down by region – find them all linked from here, or to be specific: Here’s the West Seattle info page. WSDOT plans another media briefing downtown tomorrow morning at which they’ll be talking about the alternate routes, among other things.
10:23 PM NOTE: And if you missed this meeting but would like to hear from, and pose a question to, the same WSDOT exec who presented most of the briefing – Matt Preedy is scheduled to be at Tuesday night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting too, 7 pm, lower-level meeting room at Admiral UCC Church (California/Hill).
ADDED TUESDAY MORNING: That’s our video of the 35 minutes during which Rasmussen, McDermott, and Preedy spoke, and fielded questions.
One of the half-dozen-plus ongoing criminal cases on which we check periodically is that of Angelo Felice, charged with the stabbing murder last February of the Fauntleroy man best known by his vaudeville name, Hokum W. Jeebs. Felice was back in court today; a trial date was tentatively set for January 17th, provided everything is in order at the “omnibus” check-in hearing that will precede it, on December 30th. We last reported on this case in March; what’s happened since then is the fairly standard pattern of check-in hearings, postponements, and also in this case some motions and documents that are “sealed,” regarding expert witnesses for the defense. Felice has been in jail, held in lieu of $1 million bail, since last February 16th, the day after the killing, when he was picked up while walking in Highland Park, hours after being seen climbing out of a ravine near Jeebs’s home.
Same place where recyclables were dropped off yesterday, you’ll find part of the fun this Sunday, at the annual Fauntleroy Fall Festival. It actually spans the entire Fauntleroy hub – Fauntleroy Church/YMCA and, across the street, the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse Community Center (be sure to wander to the west side, “behind” the schoolhouse, too). 2-5:30 pm on Sunday (October 16) with live music, dance, pony rides, pumpkin-painting, more than two dozen OTHER things to do! We’ve just received the full list of activities and performances, and when/where on the festival grounds you’ll find them – see it here.
Maybe “fall cleaning” is more popular than “spring cleaning”! An update just in from Judy Pickens:
West Seattle is surely riding higher in the water today after yesterday’s free Recycle Roundup sponsored by 1 Green Planet and Fauntleroy Church. Residents off loaded a record 14 tons of stuff, from water heaters and console TVs to computer monitors and floor lamps. All is even now being responsibly recycled locally for return to the resource stream. Watch for the church’s green committee to host another roundup in the spring.
If you can’t wait till spring, check out the South Transfer Station – and related links if you have items they don’t take. (WSB photo taken during Sunday’s event)
It’s the first official day of business for the new Corner Store and Deli in The Triangle at 36th/Fauntleroy next to Jones Barbeque, in the space that was long known as Tervo’s. The store is remodeled inside and out, most notably, adding a Boar’s Head deli setup for fresh sandwiches:
That’s Daniel Gebrechristos, Corner Store co-owner with brother Negash (who we interviewed in August, when we got first word of the ownership change/reopening plan). Daniel designed the renovations too, and says that as the business gets established, they’ll probably make some changes to its entryway, too. For now, if you go in today, you’ll notice some empty space – they’re still ramping up the stock, and they’ll be putting in chairs/tables by the new Fauntleroy-fronting windows. Daniel invites the neighborhood to come in, say hi, and try food samples this Saturday and Sunday, 10 am-4 pm both days. (Their regular hours, he says, are 6:30 am-10 pm daily.)
(WSDOT photo, via Flickr)
VIADUCT CLOSURE, AND POST-CLOSURE, MEETING TONIGHT: When the upcoming Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition/construction closure is over on or by October 31st, drivers will be using this bypass – and the section of The Viaduct that’s over it now will be gone. But before you get there – it’s the nine-day, 10-night closure, and TONIGHT is your chance for Q/A, one-on-one and/or in a large group, with the people who have answers. West Seattle High School commons, 6-8 pm (with three West Seattleites speaking at 6:30 – City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, County Councilmember Joe McDermott, and Viaduct deputy project director Matt Preedy). 3000 California SW.
ROAD WORK SCHEDULED FOR TODAY: Unless it’s called off because of the rain (we’re checking), today is the scheduled start of work to put in a downhill transit lane and uphill bike lane along part of SW Avalon Way through the Luna Park business district.
COLUMBUS DAY: No postal mail and no banks. It’s not a local government holiday, though, so those offices are open, as are schools.
VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Today’s a key deadline on the road to next month’s election – the deadline to register, or update your information, online or by mail. Full details here.
‘TIS THE SOUP SEASON: West Seattle Cooking Club meets at 2 pm at Beveridge Place Pub. This week’s theme: Soup. (Bring yours, enjoy others’.)
NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: They’re meeting tonight at 6:30 pm, Delridge Library (Brandon/Delridge). Agenda includes a briefing on how Fauntleroy Expressway project detours next month will affect Delridge, and discussion of other traffic projects, plus a look ahead to tomorrow night’s Delridge Community Forum meeting about the DESC homeless-housing project.
CITY CHICKENS: Interested in learning about raising chickens in your backyard? Attend tonight’s free class, “Keeping Chickens in the City,” 6:30 pm at the Southwest Library branch. Organizers say, “The basics of chicken keeping will be covered: starting with chicks or hens, requirements for housing, food and care, all about eggs, and more.” Details here.
OCTOBER 10: Roxhill Elementary PTA meets, 6:30 pm in the school library.
FIGHT THE TOX-ICK MONSTER: Tonight at 7 pm at Pathfinder K-8 on Pigeon Point (1901 SW Genesee), Sustainable West Seattle presents its “Don’t Feed the Tox-Ick Monster” roadshow – and you’re doing a good deed just by showing up; an environmental project at Pathfinder gets $1,000 if the turnout hits 40 adults. Free pizza, too!
ALSO AT PATHFINDER TONIGHT: Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council meets, 7 pm.
Know someone with a great West Seattle story to tell – or maybe you have one yourself? “Telling Our Westside Stories” is about to get going, and the Southwest Seattle Historical Society needs your help to find the “storytellers”! Here’s the official announcement:
What was it like growing up next to the Duwamish River? How often did you go to Alki Beach? Did you catch fish in the creeks? Did you ride your bikes up the West Seattle hills? Did you think the ravines were scary?
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is launching an ambitious three-year project of Telling Our Westside Stories. The project will engage youth of the various neighborhoods of southwest Seattle in talking to elders to find out how they have experienced life in southwest Seattle over a period of many years and elders talking to young people and finding out how they experience the same neighborhoods in a different time. Youth will ask questions about living on the Duwamish Peninsula, about work, and about home.
The resulting exhibits will feature interactive maps with audio clips from the interviews and exhibits that travel to area libraries, schools, community centers, and retirement centers.
(Photo courtesy Robin Lindsey)
For the first time in a long time, Seal Sitters first responder/photographer/writer Robin Lindsey had a short break the other day – no pups reported on shore. Otherwise, she told WSB on Saturday, “we have just been having a crazy season thus far with multiple pups in West Seattle on many days. … Since the first week of August, Seal Sitters has already surpassed the number of pups we watched over last year from early August til the end of the year. We have protected 35 pups thus far – and October often proves to be our busiest month. This does not include the number of responses in Seattle and beaches north. It appears we will have a record-breaking year.” In Robin’s photo, that’s Blanco, who spent several days resting on West Seattle beaches. And since the weeks ahead may bring more pups to do exactly that, she has a reminder and a request:
This is the time of year when many pups are fighting to survive. We have some chubby pups with good blubber layer, but others have become quite thin and consequently are more prone to parasites and viruses. This is why it is so critical to let them have the space on shore to rest. Seal Sitters appreciates everyone’s help and support, but most importantly, the pups desperately need the space – and it truly could save a life.
One of the lives Seal Sitters has saved this season is that of a pup they nicknamed Sandy, whom Robin says “is thriving at PAWS Wildlife Center” and is expected to be released back into the wild later this month. Read about her on the Seal Sitters’ Blubberblog, where you can catch up with sighting reports and other news (just checked, and we’re thinking this is 2011 pup #36). And if you see a seal or other marine mammal on shore – call Seal Sitters (206-905-7325).
We were just about to publish one more thing … a reminder about Monday night’s Viaduct closure-and-post-closure meeting here in West Seattle … when suddenly this arrived, from diver/photographer Laura James, with only the video link and the description: “A bit of fun at Alki Beach today.” Seems like the perfect way to end a Sunday night, barring breaking news. Thanks, Laura!
P.S. Just realized that some of the species seen in the video are listed in the text below the clip on its Vimeo home page – here.
They’re skills you might see firefighters using at the scene of vehicle crashes classified as “heavy rescues” – cutting through wreckage to get people out, for example – but on Friday, those skills were deployed in a different scenario. At the city’s Joint Training Facility, in the southeasternmost corner of West Seattle (map), crews faced the challenge of wrecked cars and collapsed concrete, as might be faced after bombings. The JTF has a very realistic setup to mimic that kind of rubble:
Ahead, more scenes from Friday’s training – and a detailed explanation of the scenario:Read More
A strange afternoon in the sky over West Seattle. First we were checking out reports of low-flying – or, at least, loud – aircraft; never did solve that mystery. Then (likely not related, but who knows?) came several reports of an unusual flock of large birds, reported in the 4 and 5 pm hours. Two reports came with photos – above, John sent a very-high-resolution picture (see the original by clicking the much-cropped version we show above); and this one, from Bill, who grabbed his camera fast and is pretty sure they’re vultures:
We asked Bill why he believes they’re vultures; his reply:
I’ve seen them as far north as Lopez Island. Don’t know what they’re doing around here this time of year. I used to see them regularly when I lived in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. That’s all I can think that they could have been. Any birds of prey don’t congregate like this as far as I know. I wish I could have been able to have taken more definitive pictures, but they were just too far away. A friend of mine living down on Beach Drive sent me an email; he saw them as well and also referred to them as vultures.
Eight notes from food and drink establishments around West Seattle & a bit beyond:
‘NEW’ BISTRO: Aimee Pellegrini shared that photo along with the news this week of some evolution in her Junction business, “to better reflect what we offer”: The Tuscan Tea Room is now the Tuscan Tea Room Bistro. Aimee says she has new dinner, lunch, and brunch menus, and is also planning a special wine dinner co-hosted by bin 41 on October 19th (details here). Tea service continues, too. Only one thing Aimee’s not doing any more: Floral design: “I’ve retired Romanza Floral. While I’ve enjoyed my 9 year floral career, this was my last season. I’m focusing fully on the TTR and culinary pursuits-my first love.” (4521 California SW)
NOT JUST COFFEE AND PASTRIES ANY MORE: Two blocks north, Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) is now offering a new breakfast option – an oatmeal bar – and lunch (etc.) – sandwiches (two types for starters, and one is veggie)! Read all about it in the latest Hotwire newsletter. (4410 California SW)
NEW OPTION FOR GLUTEN-FREE PIZZA: It was among the laments in comments on our report about the Junction Garlic Jim’s closure – where to get gluten-free pizza? An A-board sign outside Olympia Pizza at 5605 Delridge now declares they’re offering gluten-free pizza and pasta (their website mentions gluten-free dough too).
NEW WHITE CENTER COFFEE SHOP:
That’s Delia, of Caffé Delia. The new coffee shop soft-opened this morning; it shares space with Proletariat Pizza, and serves Spella coffee (from Portland). More info, including hours, online.
ALSO IN THE W-C: Found this one out from the WSB Forums: Ever-popular Zippy’s Giant Burgers has added sweet-potato fries. (9614 14th SW)
FRIED CHICKEN DINNER: Speaking of fried … tried the Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor) Sunday night fried-chicken supper yet? Starts at 5 pm Sundays. Details/price on their website (right sidebar). (9261 45th SW)
ADDED BRUNCH: If you haven’t been to Blackboard Bistro lately – note that Blackboard no longer serves lunch, but has added weekend brunch. (3247 California SW)
HEARD ABOUT MASHIKO’S NEW ‘SIBLING’? Mashiko proprietor Hajime Sato has opened Katsu Burger in Georgetown. It serves burgers “katsu” style – with the crunchy coating you typically find on Japanese pork or chicken katsu. Read about it here, including a link to its menu. (4th Avenue S./East Marginal Way)
Live music in Lincoln Park this morning for … a 5k/10k run/walk! It’s the first of personal trainer Annette Herrick‘s latest three-run/walk Fitness for Vitality (WSB sponsor) series, and this time, inviting people to “Run with Drums,” she has live music planned for each one. They start with a kids’ dash – among this morning’s participants, above from left, Emma, Jack, Morgan, Megan, and Ryden. Below, first adult across the finish line – Rich Camacho:
Yes, these are chip-timed runs! Today’s drumming, by the way, was courtesy of Arturo Rodriguez and his Latin Ensemble (we’ll add video later); next two runs are October 23 (accompanied by the Hamana Don Band) and November 20 (accompanied by Vamola), both also in Lincoln Park. You can register (and/or find out more) here.
Several inquiries have come in about the police/fire response in the Luna Park business district. All we know so far is that an elderly man is reported to have suddenly collapsed, and medic crews have been doing CPR. No crime or crash – police told us they are there just to help make sure firefighters have the space they need to work. As you can see in our photo, southbound (uphill) Avalon is blocked at the scene. If we find out anything more later, we’ll add it.
That classic TV console was one of the items dropped off in the early going for today’s Recycle Roundup at Fauntleroy Church. We asked people on WSB’s Facebook page for caption ideas; among the suggestions so far, Stephanie suggested, “1970 called and wants its TV back.” Here again is the list of what they’ll take (for free, unlike some other e-and-other-things recyclers that request a fee).
9140 California SW, dropoffs till 3 pm.
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