West Seattle, Washington
30 Monday
Thanks for the tip about what looked like a major police response at a home on SW Portland west of California SW. We went over to check and found out that the reason we hadn’t heard anything was that it’s not a Seattle Police response – these are Tacoma Police officers, including a K-9 team. They would tell us only that they’re at the house serving a warrant.
In West Seattle Crime Watch, a new vehicle-theft report today, plus confirmation that a truck stolen earlier this week has been found.
STOLEN: The 2003 red and silver Subaru Baja shown above, from Seaview, near 45th/Raymond, around 3 am today. Plate BV402O3F. Dent on the front of the hood. Call 911 if you see it.
FOUND: Back on Tuesday, we published Kevin‘s report that his red Ford F-150 truck had been stolen northeast of The Junction. Commenter Marcus subsequently reported finding it, and Kevin sent us an update that it was found in the 9000 block of 30th SW, “ransacked but OK … “They left a jumpstart, nail clipper, and a tow adapter in the truck. Stole a GPS and some change.”
(Friday morning photo sent by driver Al)
On Day 7 of the school-bus drivers’ strike, there’s word it may be over. Just in via e-mail, what’s described as a “a joint statement” from the drivers’ employer and union:
After meeting with a federal mediator, Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks and First Student Senior Director Kim Mingo released the following statement regarding transportation for Seattle Public Schools:
“We are pleased to announce that First Student and Teamsters Local 174 leadership have come to terms on a fully-recommended tentative agreement.
We are confident that this contract will be ratified by union membership. The vote will take place tomorrow, Saturday, February 10 at 10:00 AM. Upon ratification, yellow bus service will resume on Monday.
The agreement provides an expanded benefits package and comprehensive health care coverage for our Seattle Public Schools yellow bus drivers and families. We feel strongly that this deal meets the goals set by all parties in these negotiations.
First Student labor negotiators and Local 174 leaders have maintained open lines of communication throughout this process. Though this tentative agreement took longer than we had hoped, what brings us all together is our shared commitment to provide safe and reliable transportation for Seattle Public Schools students and families.”
No further details – we’ll add anything more we find out. The same statement is published on Local 174’s website.
2:23 PM: The project that was supposed to close the Fauntleroy/Wildwood intersection for two weeks is done in less than one. The intersection is open again, and crews are removing the no-parking signs on the SW Trenton detour route. No official alert updates yet; we’ll update when that happens. The work involved replacing concrete road panels, plus a curb ramp.
4:48 PM: Metro has since sent a rider alert via text and tweet that it has resumed its regular route in the area.
(WSB photos)
First, the ribboncutting … then, the pizza-making!
As first reported here last week and previewed this morning in our daily highlights list, it’s Opening Day for MOD Pizza at The Whittaker (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW; WSB sponsor). The Seattle-born chain offers you the opportunity to pick your toppings, and charges you the same, however many or few you choose. It also is donating opening-day pizza proceeds to FareStart, a job-training program that MOD says has a 90 percent hire rate within 90 days of graduation. Below are Megan Hampson and Molly Hancock from FareStart, with West Seattle Chamber of Commerce board chair Pete Spalding:
MOD West Seattle will be open 10:30 am-11 pm Fridays and Saturdays, 10:30 am-10 pm Sundays-Thursdays. And they chose an apropos date to open – it’s National Pizza Day.
(Sound Transit’s West Seattle-to-Ballard ‘representative’ map – draft ‘alignment’)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Your first official, Sound Transit-convened way to have a say on West Seattle light rail is now four days away.
But first – another of the two groups that are also meant to represent you in the process has just had its first meeting, last night at Union Station downtown.
What’s formally known as the Stakeholder Advisory Group for the West Seattle-Ballard Link Extensions spent two and a half hours together for introductions, presentations, declarations, and questions.
The full list (as approved/appointed by the Elected Leadership Group), made public the previous day, includes these six who live and/or work in West Seattle:
–Deb Barker (who is a board member with West Seattle Transportation Coalition as well as president of the Morgan Community Association)
–Willard Brown (executive with the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association)
–Hamilton Gardiner (West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, not in attendance)
–Brian King (introduced himself as a Delridge resident and daily bicyclist)
–Greg Nickels (Admiral resident best known as Seattle’s 51st mayor)
–Walter Reese (executive at the Nucor steel mill in West Seattle)
“This is a moment that’s been years if not decades in the making,” opened Sound Transit’s Don Billen. Next to him were Elected Leadership Group co-chairs County Council President Joe McDermott (a West Seattleite) and City Councilmember Mike O’Brien.
(Spotted towhee, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Headed for the weekend – and here’s what’s ahead for the rest of your Friday:
MOD PIZZA GRAND OPENING: Noon today, it’s West Seattle’s next restaurant opening, MOD Pizza at The Whittaker (WSB sponsor), right after a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11;50 am. The first 52 guests will be offered a free pizza or salad. After that, 100 percent of all pizza sales for opening day will be donated to FareStart. (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW)
READING PARTNERS OPEN HOUSE: 2:30-3:30 pm at Highland Park Elementary, come find out what it’s like to volunteer to read with local kids! Treats for everyone who stops by. (1012 SW Trenton)
WINE AND CHOCOLATE: With Valentine’s Day coming up, Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) is again pairing three of its award-winning wines with three chocolate truffles from Pioneer Square-based Intrigue Chocolate – this time with truffle bars, mini-truffle sets, and assorted chocolate bars. You can get in on this at the Viscon Cellars tasting room tonight and tomorrow. The tasting room is open 5-9 pm Fridays and 2-7 pm Saturdays. (5910 California SW)
FIVE BUCK BAND: ’60s, ’70s music with a sprinkling of contemporary, at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
ART LOUNGE: 7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club – tonight, paint with live models! 21+. (1116 SW Holden)
SILENT MARCH FOR PEACE: As previewed last night, neighbors in South Park plan a silent march tonight at 7:30 from the SP Library to the scene where a 16-year-old was shot earlier this week. (8604 8th Ave. S.)
THE ESOTERICS: 8 pm at Holy Rosary, The Esoterics present “dēlectō” – their first concert of 2018. Details and ticket info in our calendar listing. (42nd SW/SW Genesee)
AT THE SKYLARK: Live music at The Skylark in North Delridge, featuring The Fabulous Downey Brothers, Smomid, Limanjaya, and Donald Crunk. 8 pm. $8 cover. 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
PREVIEW YOUR WEEKEND … via our complete calendar.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:16 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported in/from West Seattle.
Three notes:
SCHOOL-BUS STRIKE: Day 7.
FAUNTLEROY/WILDWOOD CLOSURE: The pavement/curb ramp project closure continues south of the Fauntleroy ferry terminal, as do the C Line/Route 116 reroutes.
SIGN INSTALLATION ON SB 99 THIS WEEKEND: Look for lane closures as the missing signs just before the bridge/Harbor Island exits are replaced.
9:09 AM: Yet another no-incidents-reported heart of the morning commute … but any time 24/7 that you see something your neighbors should know about, please – when you can do so safely/legally – text or call our hotline, 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Again this year, we were at Chief Sealth International High School for ninth-graders’ Page-to-Stage poetry performances – group performances of 19 poems, in the four clips below:
As explained in the program for Thursday night’s performances:
The project is a collaboration with classroom teachers Heather Griffin, Gentle McGaughey, Luke Azinger, and Andy Tuller. This semester half of the 9th-grade classes wrote original poetry focusing on a variety of poetic devices. After the writing process, the poems were given to the remainig 9th graders in Ms. Griffin’s, Mr. Azinger’s, and Mr. Tuller’s classes. There, Book-It teaching artists worked with (the) students to analyze and adapt the student poems into scripts for the stage. The adaptations followed the Book-It style of creating dynamic tableaux, and adapting the poems using skills such as vocal expression, repetition, and choral lines. The result is what you will see here … these groups collaborated to create live plays out of the poems – taking them from page to stage.
This is the program’s 18th year at CSIHS; this year’s Book-It teaching artists were Jillian Johnson and Kelly Kitchens.
(Thursday morning photo sent by striking driver Al – he reports this family came to the picket line to show support)
12:38 AM: While school-bus company First Student and drivers union Teamsters Local 174 were reported to be meeting Thursday, there’s no word of a resolution to the drivers’ strike yet, so today – Friday (February 9th) – will be Day 7. No one who’s on the front lines of the strike, including Seattle Public Schools – which contracts with First Student for yellow-bus service – issued an official statement on Thursday. Of note, after today, there are five more school days before the district’s weeklong mid-winter break starts on February 19th.
12:37 PM: The union posted an update this morning saying the two sides talked late into the night Thursday and were expected back at the table today.
Another disappointing night for the West Seattle High School basketball teams, losing the third-place games in the Metro League tournament. But both already had locked up spots in the district tournament just by making it to the Metro championships, so each has at least one more game left in the postseason. Tonight the boys lost a close one to Cleveland, 47-44, playing at Chief Sealth IHS. And the girls fell to Garfield, 56-47, playing a Nathan Hale HS. The district brackets aren’t filled out yet, but so far it appears both teams will play on Saturday night, details TBA.
No new official information tonight on last night’s shooting in South Park that left a 16-year-old boy in critical condition. No arrest reported in that case or the double shooting a week earlier. But we do know that neighbors in South Park are hoping that West Seattleites and others from around the city will join them in this quiet plea. The invitation, in English and Spanish:
In wake of the recent shootings in our neighborhood, please join your neighbors in a silent march for peace. We will meet at 7:30 pm Friday at the library [8604 8th Ave. S.] and proceed to the Chevron gas station on 14th. Bring flashlights or candles. Let’s bring the city’s attention to our neighborhood. We need additional resources. We need community engagement. We need Peace. ☮️
A raíz de los recientes tiroteos en nuestro vecindario, únase a sus vecinos en una marcha silenciosa por la paz. Nos reuniremos a las 7:30 en la biblioteca y nos dirigiremos a la estación de servicio de Chevron en la 14 avenida. Trae linternas o velas. Es importante llamar la atención de la ciudad a nuestro vecindario. Necesitamos recursos adicionales. Necesitamos trabajar como comunidad. Necesitamos LA PAZ!
6:28 PM: Thanks to Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) for the photo – they’re hosting Portland artist George Perrou tonight, for the February 2018 edition of the West Seattle Art Walk. As we mentioned in today’s daily preview – where you’ll also find the venue map/list of every venue participating tonight – George’s work is also on this quarter’s official Art Walk poster. Stop by and say hi sometime in the next few hours!
7:20 PM: Another highlight tonight – student work at ArtsWest. It includes students from Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School; we found two WSHS students when we stopped by:
Above, Quinn Fitzgerald; below, Arwen Blazier.
The students’ work, comprising an exhibit titled Visual Narratives, will be up at ArtsWest through this weekend.
Two weeks ago, we published a report on SDOT‘s promise to replace the signs that have been missing for quite some time on southbound Highway 99 just before the side-by-side exits for the westbound West Seattle Bridge and Harbor Island. SDOT now has set the dates for installation. Here’s the announcement:
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) advises travelers that SDOT crews will reduce the number of southbound SR 99 travel lanes on Saturday February 10, and Sunday, February 11 to replace overhead signs directing travelers on southbound SR 99 to West Seattle and Harbor Island.
This work will reduce the number of southbound travel lanes to create work zones for crews just north of the West Seattle and Harbor Island exits starting Saturday morning and continuing through Sunday afternoon. Please use extra caution during this time as lane closures will alternate depending on the location of signs being replaced. SDOT would like to thank the public for its patience while this work is being completed.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Some promising news emerged on multiple fronts at this month’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Coalition meeting.
CRIME DROP: WWRHAH was briefed by Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith. The area covered by this community group, he said, has had 56 incidents in tracked categories compared to 119 a year earlier. That includes one fewer robbery, one more aggravated assault, 7 crimes against persons compared to 5 – but property crime is down dramatically – one more burglary, one more commercial burglary (3 compared to 2), but larceny (much of it shoplifting) is down dramatically, about a fourth of what it was. Also: 15 car prowls compared to 17, 8 car thefts compared to 13. 49 property crimes in all – less than half it was at this point last year. Police continue working harder to get repeat offenders kept in jail – including for example making sure the “(law enforcement) objects to release” box is checked on reports.
The subject of the arrest of officer-assault suspect Jorge Cruz-Benitez two nights earlier came up; he was allegedly first spotted doing graffiti vandalism in the area (Delridge/Henderson). Lt. Smith echoed what we noted in a previous discussion, that not all tagging is gang-related. (This meeting was on Tuesday night; one night later, on Wednesday night, Cruz-Benitez was released from jail, according to the KC Jail Register.)
(Southwestern side of Roxhill Bog – WSB photo from 2014)
ROXHILL PARK AND BOG: WWRHAH has been pushing forever to get the bog water-flow fixed –
here’s an extensive report we published in 2014 – and is making progress. Your involvement can accelerate things. First:
(WSB photos)
Though basketball is in the high-school-sports spotlight right now, seven West Seattle High School athletes are celebrating scholarships for other sports, and we were there for their ceremonial signings on Wednesday afternoon, as were proud family members.
The student-athletes are:
Alex Pastrana – Linfield University, football; majoring in exercise science
Ben Dagg – Carroll College, soccer; majoring in physics
Reed Lower – Santa Clara University, rower; majoring in business
Cass Elliott – University of Washington, track and field; majoring in business
Lucy Mead – Bradley University, softball; majoring in business
Hailey Hirano – University of New York, soccer; majoring in business
Joseph Kirk-Woodbury – Olympic Junior College (Bremerton), track and field; majoring in nursing
Water feature FTW @westseattleblog West Seattle Nursery best in show! #nwfgs2018 pic.twitter.com/woCxYcTkeK
— Pacific Horticulture (@PacHort) February 8, 2018
That video tweet is just one of the tips we got about this big news – congratulations to West Seattle Nursery for winning multiple awards at the biggest gardening event of the year. From Marie McKinsey:
The Northwest Flower and Garden Festival is running now through Sunday at the Washington State Convention Center. We are happy to say that our display garden – Wabi Sabi: Embracing Flawed Beauty – was awarded the Founder’s Cup (best of show) award. We also won a Gold Medal, awards for Best Use of Horticulture, Best Use of Color and the Garden Design Magazine award. We are honored, happy and a bit overwhelmed!
You can read more about the display garden – including its plant list – on the WS Nursery website. For info about the Flower and Garden Festival downtown, go here.
(From February 2017 presentation about this project and others – obviously the timeline has slid)
11:47 AM: One year ago, we reported on Seattle Parks‘ plans to renovate Don Armeni Boat Ramp with two new floating ramps. The expected start date was listed at the time as last fall, but it hasn’t happened yet. Parks was pursuing a grant to cover part of the $1.5 million cost, and now there’s word the city is getting it – a mayoral announcement on Wednesday mentioned the $374,950 state grant for the project. We’re checking with Parks to get the new timeline.
ADDED 1:57 PM: Christina Hirsch with Parks tells WSB, “Due to the uncertainty with funding over the last year, design and permitting was put on hold. We will be restarting our efforts in March 2018 once agreements are in place and will get a status update out in the second quarter of 2018.”
We start the highlights for today/tonight with the West Seattle Art Walk, since it’s the second Thursday:
Remember, it’s not just places to see art and meet artists, you’ll also find food/beverage venues with specials! Here’s the long list of tonight’s highlights, including:
STUDENT ARTISTS: ArtsWest has a 6 pm reception for Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School student artists who are showing work this month.
CLICK’S BACK: Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) skipped last month’s Art Walk during its post-holiday refresh, but they’re open again and ready to welcome you tonight, with artist George Perrou, whose work is featured on this quarter’s Art Walk poster:
Also on our list of highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LAFAYETTE TOUR: Incoming kindergartener at Lafayette Elementary, or thinking about it? 2:30-3:30 pm tour today. (2645 California SW)
LIGHT RAIL @ PLANNING COMMISSION: The Seattle Planning Commission is scheduled for a briefing and discussion on the West Seattle to Ballard light-rail “representative alignment” during its 3-5:30 pm meeting at City Hall. (600 4th Ave.)
KNIFE SKILLS: Chef/author Kim O’Donnel has a new class series at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) in The Triangle, 4:30 pm – info and registration details here. (3622 SW Snoqualmie)
LIGHT RAIL STAKEHOLDERS: First meeting of the newly finalized Stakeholders Advisory Group for the West Seattle to Ballard light-rail extensions – public’s welcome, 5-8 pm at the board room at Union Station. Here’s the agenda; the roster, just announced yesterday, is here. (401 S. Jackson)
WINE AND CHOCOLATE WITH THE CHAMBER: Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) hosts this tasty event that includes wine, chocolate, more – details here – check to see if tickets are still available! 5:30-8:30 pm. (5910 California SW)
WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: New time and venue for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society author series – tonight, 6 pm, High Point Library, featuring Elise Hooper, author of “The Other Alcott.” (35th SW/SW Raymond)
AERONAUTICAL TECHNOLOGY OPEN HOUSE: 6-7 pm at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) – meet with faculty and find out about the programs in this SSC department! (6000 16th SW)
PAGE-TO-STAGE POETRY PERFORMANCE: As previewed here, you’re invited to the Chief Sealth IHS Auditorium at 7 pm to watch 9th graders’ performances of student poetry – we covered it last year and this is not just a “stand at the microphone and read” event – go appreciate their art! (2600 SW Thistle)
OPEN MIC: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), come make music! (5612 California SW)
PUNK ROCK AEROBICS: 7 pm class at Highland Park Improvement Club. (1116 SW Holden)
BASKETBALL: Both West Seattle High School teams have Metro League third-place games tonight at 7:30 – the boys are playing Cleveland at Chief Sealth IHS (2600 SW Thistle); the girls are playing Garfield at Nathan Hale HS (10750 30th NE).
MORE FOR TODAY, TONIGHT, BEYOND … on our complete-calendar page.
Just announced:
The Rotary Club of West Seattle is pleased to announce the selection of two West Seattle students to receive scholarships to attend Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (“RYLA”) from March 15-18,2018 at Pacific Lutheran University.
The scholarship recipients are:
Konrad Gerhardt, son of Roxanne and Jon Gerhardt of West Seattle, is a sophomore at O’Dea High School, where he is the House Captain of Limerick Sophomore House and a member of the O’Dea Lacrosse team. Konrad is also an Adventure Scout and completed the high adventure trek at Philmont Scout Ranch last summer.
Zach Carver, son of Lars and Allison Carver of West Seattle, is a sophomore at Seattle Lutheran High School, where he is Sophomore Class Vice President and was honored as the 2nd Team All-League selection in football as a running back. Zach loves creative writing and making music.
RYLA is an intensive leadership training program for sophomore and junior students selected by their Rotary Clubs from Rotary Districts 5020 and 5030, encompassing the metropolitan Seattle area, Pierce County, Vancouver Island, and the Olympic Peninsula. We congratulate our scholarship recipients.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:06 AM: So far this morning, no incidents reported in/from West Seattle.
Two notes:
FAUNTLEROY/WILDWOOD CLOSURE: The pavement/curb ramp project continues to close this intersection south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock, and the C Line/Route 116 reroutes continue.
SCHOOL-BUS STRIKE: Day 6, and the union says the two sides will meet.
A police search near Lowman Beach right now, with K-9 called out, following a reported burglary attempt. Someone called 911 to report a man using a ladder to try to break into a house in the 7000 block of Beach Drive SW, just south of Lowman Beach Park. The description just broadcast on police radio is a man in his 20s, Hispanic, black hair that’s long on top and short on the sides, a black sweatshirt and Carhartt-type pants. If you have any information, call 911.
Wednesday night was the first time all season that the West Seattle High School girls had lost to a Metro League opponent – and it was in their first game of the Metro tournament. It took overtime to bring them down, with Cleveland winning 63-60. #32 Meghan Fiso was top scorer with 21 points:
#4 Kelsey Lenzie had 19:
And #20 Grace Sarver brought in 11:
The Wildcats were up by five at halftime, 32-27, but in the second half, they had trouble hanging onto the ball, and their shooting grew chilly. They were still up after the third quarter, 46-40, but then Cleveland tied it at 54 and forced the OT, which went the Eagles’ way.
Tonight (Thursday) at Nathan Hale HS at 7:30 pm, the girls play Garfield for Metro third place. They already are guaranteed a district-tournament berth, either Saturday or Tuesday, depending on what happens tonight.
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