West Seattle, Washington
09 Wednesday
(WSB photo, first call at modernized north T-5 berth, January 7, 2022)
After a year in which key accomplishments included opening the first modernized Terminal 5 cargo berth in West Seattle, the Port of Seattle is looking ahead to 2023. You’re invited to watch a livestreamed “State of the Port” presentation tomorrow morning (Thursday, January 19th), 8:30 am. The presentation, happening at the Museum of Flight, will be streamed at portofseattle.live (no registration required to watch).
Metro continues canceling some trips and temporarily suspending some routes. Last week, we reported the number of buses that needed to have a steering defect fixed was higher than first disclosed – more than 200, about 10 percent of the fleet; Metro said on Thursday that 61 were still awaiting repairs. But what about the other half of the equation – the driver shortage?
Metro spokesperson Jeff Switzer explained, “Metro has an ongoing recruitment campaign for part-time operators, which is the primary way we increase our transit operator ranks. From there, we promote to full-time, which allows operators to deliver more service each day.” Currently, they have 2,513 operators (drivers) – 1,971 full-time, 542 part-time. How many do they need? According to Switzer, “Metro estimates it needs 99 full-time equivalent transit operators, which can be a varying combination of part-time and full-time operators. This could be in the neighborhood of 102 part-time operators and 38 full-time operators.” Last year, Metro “trained and hired 167 part-time transit operators and promoted 152 full-time transit operators.” They have training classes for both categories, with four part-time classes and three full-time classes scheduled this month and next.” Need a job? Switzer has a pitch for you: “We encourage people to consider joining our world-class organization, either as a transit operator, vehicle maintenance staff or other open Metro positions posted on King County’s jobs page.” Here’s the link for transit openings; part-time driver is listed at a range of $26.57 – $37.96 hourly.
Tuesday afternoon, we reported on the theft – and recovery – of two U.S. Postal Service carriers’ trucks in West Seattle. The initial response was from Seattle Police, but as commenters noted, this is a federal crime. So we followed up with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service today. Regional spokesperson John Wiegand said he couldn’t comment extensively because: “There is follow up on this investigation going on right now, with some active leads … We have a possible suspect vehicle identified and are following up on that right now.” As for who investigates from here, “We are the primary agency investigating these, SPD responded as it happened in their jurisdiction and are usually always in the loop on things happening in the city limits. That allows us to amplify our reach and investigation with resources.” They don’t have specifics to share regarding exactly whose mail was stolen, but if you learn that yours is missing – such as, via use of a stolen credit card – they want to hear from you, and Wiegand says the best way is by phone: 877-876-2455. He added: “We are working with the postal service to help prevent these from happening more. And we encourage members of the community to be on the lookout, if they see unknown individuals removing mail from a mail truck and placing it in another vehicle to please call police asap and preserve any video of they have it. Yesterday we were able to recover multiple videos from the community that will be very helpful.”
(WSB photo)
We’ve received several questions about the crews working outside the former Quality Cleaners building on the southwest corner of California/Admiral. City files show a permit was granted to a private engineering firm for soil boring in the public right-of-way. This morning we talked to the crew on site and they confirm that’s what they’re doing; right now the work has multiple eastbound lanes blocked off, and the crew tells us they’re planning to be there through Friday. Quality Cleaners closed two and a half years ago, and the building was subsequently put up for sale. The signs are down and there’s no longer a publicly visible listing for the building, but there’s no sale on record so far – we have inquiries out.
ADDED 11:23 AM: Amanda Hahnemann of Lee & Associates, the listing firm, tells WSB, “The property has not traded. We have taken it off the market through the holidays and until we have results of the further environmental work that is being done.”
(Cormorant drying its wings – photo by Stewart L.)
Reminders of what’s up for the rest of today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
NETWORKING: Women entrepreneurs/business owners are invited to Structured & Co.‘s online networking event at noon – tickets/info here.
PET-FOOD DRIVE DATE CHANGE: The West Seattle High School NHS student-organized pet-food drive is now collecting only next Wednesday afternoon, 3-5 pm January 25th, not today.
TRIVIA x 6: At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) now offers trivia … at 7 pm, you can play trivia at the West Seattle Brewing Mothership (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW); Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm; there’s 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska); trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW); at 8:30 pm, trivia at Talarico’s (4718 California SW) with Phil T.
LIVE AT OTTER ON THE ROCKS: It’s Jazz Night, starting at 6:30 pm. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
LIVE AT EPHESUS: Kimball & The Fugitive Trio now plays Ephesus Greek Restaurant (5245 California SW), 6:30 pm Wednesdays.
LIVE AT LOCOL: Locöl (7902 35th SW) spotlights live music 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesdays, no cover, 21+, rotating artists.
MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Live, work, play, study, shop in Morgan Junction? Check out this 7 pm quarterly meeting online, all welcome. The agenda and participation information are in our calendar listing.
MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Have an event – one-time or recurring – to add to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar? Tell us about it! Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Thanks to Kyle for sending word of a new place for little ones to play indoors- an indoor “todler gym,” open to preschool/kindergarten ages too, weekday afternoons at the Salvation Army center in South Delridge, starting next week:
This service will be free to the community and will provide a space for little ones to run around outside of the rain with some toys, mats, and slides.
*Toddler Gym Playtime for ages 2-6 years old. Parent supervision is required.
*Monday thru Friday from 3:30 pm-5 pm starting January 23
*Salvation Army Seattle Community Center, 9050 16th Avenue SW
6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, January 18th.
WEATHER
Rainy and breezy, high in the 40s.
TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS
–Metro is on a regular schedule today but still down buses for repairs – keep watching notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations and route suspensions.
-The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.
-WSF’s Triangle Route remains on a two-boat schedule- check here for alerts/updates.
SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also up at Delridge/Oregon, 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 – open again:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – the south route:
Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All working traffic cams citywide can be seen here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page … Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
If you see a problem on the roads/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
Police investigating reports of gunfire near Roxhill Park this past half-hour have found shell casings on the south side of 28th/Roxbury – at least three reported to dispatch so far. No injuries. They have found at least one witness who reported seeing someone shooting from a “gold sedan” and then heading eastbound on Roxbury. The area where they found casings is King County Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction, so deputies have been summoned.
We have followups on two West Seattle cases first reported by police via SPD Blotter last week:
BAIL SET FOR HATE-CRIME SUSPECTS: New information on these two arrests reported over the weekend comes from documents we obtained from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office after bail/probable-cause hearings. The SPDB post said that what started as a fight between neighbors ended with the arrests of two people for investigation of burglary, assault, and hate crimes. Here’s what the newly obtained documents – containing the police report’s full narrative – say happened:
The victim called police to the building in the 8400 block of Delridge Way SW where both he and the suspects, who are husband and wife, live. While on the way, police learned the victim had obtained an anti-harassment order against the female suspect but it had yet to be served. Arriving officers say both suspects had facial injuries. The female suspect claimed it all started when the victim yelled obscenities at her. She yelled back, “Is that all you’re going to say to me. Is that all you got?” Then, she said, he punched her in the face, grabbed her by the neck, and then swung at her husband when he came downstairs. The male suspect told officers he intervened to try to defend his wife. The victim, meantime, told officers it all started earlier when he saw the couple drive into the building’s parking lot, and he overheard her tell him something like “Oh look, he’s mean-mugging me,” as they proceeded to their apartment – which is over his – and continued making comments such as “I’m gonna get you, just watch, I’m gonna get you.” Then, the victim says, he heard a crash near his vehicle and found “a pile of dirt” had been poured on it, right below the suspects’ apartment window.
He called 911 and headed back into his apartment – but he encountered the female suspect, who, he said, told him, “I told you I was gonna get you. I’m gonna kill you, you stupid (n-word).” The victim says he tried ignoring her and continuing toward his apartment but that she allegedly threw an ashtray at him and then pushed her way into his apartment as he tried to close the door. He said she tried to punch him in the face; he tried to push her out. Then the male suspect came down and also entered the apartment. As he tried to intervene, everyone went down to the floor. Physical fighting and struggling continued. The victim says the male suspect punched him while yelling, “I’m going to kill you, you (n-word).” Then the male suspect walked out of the victim’s apartment while allegedly still yelling threats and racial slurs. At some point the female suspect left too, and the victim crawled toward his door to close and lock it..
Even then, the victim said, he was still in fear because of a previous incident in which, he said, the male suspect had pulled a knife on him; the report says he “believed (the two) would actually carry out their threat to kill him and believed it was at least partially motivated by his race.” Police interviewed neighbors who noted that, the report says, “it is common for (the two suspects) to make racially biased remarks.” Officers arrested the two and booked them into jail. Neither has been charged yet – prosecutors were awaiting referral of the cases – but both have had bail hearings; his bail is set at $50,000 – half of what prosecutors requested – and hers at $15,000. The KCPAO says this is the first time it’s dealt with these two people.
SUSPECT CHARGED AFTER FAILURE TO FLEE: Last week we reported another case spotlighted on SPD Blotter, that of a woman arrested in southeast West Seattle after police found her in a stolen car that they say she tried to drive away from them, repeatedly hitting SPD vehicles that had her boxed in. The suspect, 33-year-old Jaqueline N. Bruce of Snohomish, is now charged with one count of attempting to elude police and eight counts of identity theft. After she eventually surrendered, police say, they found – in her possession and in the car – checks, cards, a passport, and a driver license, all belonging to different people, plus almost 300 pieces of stolen mail addressed to “dozens” of people and an FBI special agent’s ballistic vest. (The latter was determined to have been stolen from the agent’s vehicle at his home in east King County.) Bruce has past convictions for trespassing and theft; she remains in the King County Jail in lieu of $22,000 bail.
Last Friday we reported that the Terminal 5 Quiet Zone project was open for bidding. Originally it was to be completed before the first of the two “modernized” berths at the dock had its first cargo call, but that’s been a year now, and the Quiet Zone remains yet to come. When we published Friday’s short update, one question remained: If the bidding stays on its current schedule, when will the project be built and completed? Though SDOT is responsible for the project, which will modify railroad crossings in a way that should reduce the need for train horns, they deferred the question to the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the Seattle/Tacoma cargo-shipping authority. NWSA spokesperson Melanie Stambaugh tells WSB the chosen contractor is likely to get the “notice to proceed” by this summer, and construction should be complete “in 2024.”
P.S. More project details are in this report from last July.
(WSB photo, January 5th)
Three weeks after the weather-enhanced “king tides” that swamped parts of South Park, winter’s final round of extra-high tides is days away. The city says it’s preparing “by placing protective barriers like sandbags and other barriers in low-lying areas of the community and along the Duwamish River (and) offering sandbags to homeowners and businesses to help protect homes and property.” The ties will peak Tuesday and Wednesday morning of next week (January 24-25) but won’t be higher than the December 27th tides unless again complicated by factors including a low-pressure system and heavy rainfall. Nonetheless, Seattle Public Utilities says it’s “sandbagging key locations along the river and in South Park” including a park at 760 S. Portland and an alley off S. Kenyon.
(SPU photo)
SPU’s update today says it’s “also developing community notification systems for potentially impactful high tides.” At a City Council committee briefing last week, city staffers said 49 homes and businesses had suffered “substantial damage” in last month’s flooding. As for non-governmental response, the Duwamish River Community Coalition was first in the zone, and its page – including links to other community groups directly assisting flood victims – is here.
One week after a private-property sewer overflow closed South Alki beaches, they’ve reopened. We just got that confirmation from Seattle Public Utilities spokesperson Sabrina Register, who says the signage was removed today, after Public Health – Seattle & King County got test results indicating the beach and water are safe. According to SPU, the leak was at Harbor West Condominiums, the over-water complex that has had sewage-leak problems before, including one last summer.
3:22 PM: Two more USPS carriers’ mail trucks were stolen in West Seattle this afternoon; one has since been recovered, minus its contents. Both thefts were reported in the greater Alki area; the one that was found was missing its mail and packages, officers told dispatch. A home security camera from one scene is reported to have recorded a vehicle linked to the thieves, a purple early-’90s two-door Ford Ranger with a black canopy. No other details at the moment; the thefts were reported in the 5600 block of 57th SW (incident # 23-016226) and the 3300 block of Beach Drive (incident # 23-016223).
4:54 PM: According to police radio, the other one’s been found.
Ten months ago, that banner on the window at 4735 42nd SW gave West Seattle poké fans hope that Just Poké was finally close to opening here. Then the banner disappeared during the recent round of snow/ice, and we’ve been getting questions about it ever since. The permit file indicates recent activity, though, and that’s confirmed today by Just Poké proprietor Norman Wu, who tells WSB, “The space is currently under construction, slated to be done at the end of February. It took us almost 10 months to just get our permit to build, which is why the project has been so delayed.” (The space was home to art gallery/framing shop Wallflower until summer 2019.) The regional chain originally indicated West Seattle plans five years ago.
The West Seattle Junction space at 4537 California SW where Virago recently closed won’t be vacant for long. A shop called Swan Dive will open there on February 1st. Proprietor Ali Brownrigg tells WSB that Swan Dive will have “vintage and previously loved clothing” as well as new shoes and clothing from Clementines in the early going – and more. Here’s how Ali, a longtime West Seattle resident, explains the plan, and the partnership:
I started Swan Dive with Linda Walsh (Clementines, Carmilia’s) in 2017 in the basement of Clementines in Pioneer Square. Swan Dive sells vintage and previously loved clothing, accessories, and home goods with a focus on affordable designer items and unique and one-of-a-kind pieces for the modern home and wardrobe. Swan Dive will be the West Seattle home of Clementines at least until the spring. Clementines focuses on new shoes and clothing from brands such as Intentionally Blank, MOMA, Atelier Delphine and Prairie Underground.
Once we get up and running, we hope to have a space to host pop-ups and trunk shows for Carmilia’s, Clementines, and Swan Dive, as well as a crafting nook for people to come hang out and knit, make pom-poms and punch needle art. Most people who know me know that I am compulsively crafty and have a desire to share my love of crafting with the masses.
(Side note – Clementines’ original home was in The Junction, part of where Pagliacci is now.) You can find Swan Dive online here and here. Hours in the new Junction space will be noon-5 pm weekdays, 11 am-5 pm Saturdays, 11 am-2 pm Sundays. Ali adds, “We’re always happy to be open by appointment if someone wants to shop outside of those hours. Email is the best way to reach me: swandivevintage@gmail.com”
11:28 AM: Even before the three-week closure of the West Seattle low bridge (formally, Spokane Street Swing Bridge) ended last Friday afternoon, the City Council’s Transportation and Public Utilities Committee had scheduled a briefing on the situation. That just happened during the committee’s meeting this morning.
SDOT‘s Meghan Shepard led the briefing, starting with a brief explanation of how the low bridge works, and a recap of what went wrong, resulting in its three-week closure to street/path traffic.
In addition to the leaking and electrical problems, SDOT found and fixed valve problems too:
(Here’s the full slide deck.) If they kept operating it with the leaky turn cylinder, they ran the risk of a “catastrophic failure” of other parts, Shepard said. It was reiterated that all four of the turn cylinders were scheduled for refurbishment this year anyway – this just moved up the schedule. They’ll all be removed and replaced sequentially. However, SDOT’s bridges/roadway structures leader Matt Donahue said – in response to a question from West Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold – they’re not sure yet how long that’ll take, because they need “more time to determine everything that went wrong” with that cylinder, and to integrate technology upgrades. So with no timeline yet for all the cylinder repairs/overhauls, there’s no timeline for how long the bridge will be in the one-less-turning-cylinder, slower opening/closing mode. Herbold also asked how the resulting longer wait times are being communicated to bridge users; that too is a work in progress, Donahue said.
The briefing also included recaps of how SDOT quickly implemented a temporary protected bike lane – the 1st Avenue S. section has since been dismantled but the West Marginal Way one will stay indefinitely since a permanent PBL is already planned there; Shepard said the PBL was important because an average of 450 people bicycle across the low bridge daily. She also noted the week during which free bus/Water Taxi rides were made available, but said they don’t yet have metrics for how many people took advantage of the offer.
ADDED 12:45 PM: Here’s Seattle Channel video of this morning’s meeting – the low-bridge briefing starts 45 minutes in:
ADDED 8:41 PM: SDOT replied to our followup question seeking more information about the potential timeline. From spokesperson Ethan Bergerson:
We will overhaul four cylinders (two on each side of the bridge) before the bridge is once again opening and closing at the normal speed. At this point, we are considering replacing each cylinder one at a time in order to reduce the risks of more complications to bridge operations. This will be sequential as you described, but we haven’t determined the exact order.
We don’t have a time estimate yet, and it may take us several months to overhaul the entire set. We will continue to provide updates as the timeline becomes more clear. There are a few reasons for this uncertainty:
Our contractors and vendors are developing the scope and schedule for repairing the first cylinder. This will inform the overall schedule for all four cylinders, which will have to be aligned with the other improvements planned for the low bridge this year.
We won’t know the full extent of repairs needed for each of the other cylinders until after they have each been removed and dismantled so that we can see inside.
The time to obtain the necessary parts is still unknown. Many of these parts are unique and must be specially ordered or manufactured for this project, and potential supply chain issues are difficult to predict.
We will need to work with the US Coast Guard to schedule future cylinder removal and replacement activities in advance.
(Sunday morning’s rainbow off Alki Point – photo by Shaun Withers)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s what’s happening today/tonight:
LOW-BRIDGE BRIEFING: What happened and what’s next? This briefing is part of the agenda for the City Council’s Transportation and Public Utilities Committee meeting at 9:30 am – watch via Seattle Channel (preview the presentation slide deck here).
POSTCARDS TO VOTERS: Long-distance political-advocacy group meets at 10:30 am at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
CITY COUNCIL: 2 pm this afternoon brings the full council’s weekly meeting, online or at City Hall (600 4th Ave.). See the agenda here; the meeting is also viewable via Seattle Channel.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Longstanding weekly sign-waving demonstration at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t have your own.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, you can play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
DENNY/SEALTH PTSAs MEET: Joint PTSA meeting for the PTSAs of Chief Sealth International HS and Denny International MS, with health/safety the focus, in the Sealth library (2600 SW Thistle).
TRIVIA X 3: Three places where you can play Tuesday nights – 7 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska).
BELLE OF THE BALLS BINGO: Play bingo with Cookie Couture at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm. Free, all ages!
You can always see more, and look way into the future, via our event calendar – if you have something for us to list, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, January 17th.
WEATHER
Mostly cloudy, chance of showers, high in the upper 40s.
TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS
–Metro is on a regular schedule today but still down buses for repairs – keep watching notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations and route suspensions.
-The West Seattle Water Taxi is back on its regular schedule.
-WSF’s Triangle Route remains on its two-boat schedule- check here for alerts/updates.
SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also up at Delridge/Oregon, 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 – now that it’s open again:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – the south route:
Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All working traffic cams citywide can be seen here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page … Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
If you see a problem on the roads/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
Before this year is out, the Sound Transit Board of Directors is expected to take a final vote on exactly where West Seattle’s light-rail extension will run, and stop. That decision will set in motion a wave of changes for multiple neighborhoods. Some people will have to move their homes and businesses. Some are looking forward to access to more transit. Local writer Marie McKinsey is launching a site to collect community opinions and information, after seeing how some light-rail-related posts on her personal website – such as this one – draw a lot of interest. She explains further:
The response to blog posts like this one has shown me that there are deep concerns in the neighborhood about this project. I’m not sure it would pass if presented to voters today.
I was talking to some friends about this recently. They are frustrated with this project and believe others are, too. They just don’t have a way to connect with them.
It occurred to me that it might help if there was a single website that could show the Big Picture of public sentiment. One that gives people a place to share their DEIS comments, their experiences with Sound Transit, and stories about how this project will affect them. Maybe that will lead to connections between people across the various micro-neighborhoods affected.
So I created a blog that people can contribute to. I will add separate pages if needed to accommodate community organizations, like Pigeon Point, Delridge, etc. It’s a Blogger site, so there are no expenses for any of us. Here’s the URL: westseattleneighbors.blogspot.com
I’d like for people to know they can send me information and I will post it. I have no idea where this will go. I’m just going to put it out there and see who shows up.
Her email address is on the site. Right now, Sound Transit is working on the final Environmental Impact Statement for the extension, which has to respond to concerns raised after the Draft EIS went public before last July’s “semi-final” routing/station location vote. ST’s current estimate for Final EIS release is “late” this year; 2032 is the estimated date for the West Seattle light-rail extension to start running.
Thanks to Lynn Hall for the photo. That’s the U.S. Navy littoral combat ship USS Omaha (LCS 12), seen in Elliott Bay this afternoon. It’s been undergoing maintenance work at Vigor‘s Harbor Island shipyard, which announced a $110 million contract in 2021 to work on the Omaha and another littoral combat ship, USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10).
Earlier, we mentioned the Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting coming up Wednesday; also ahead this week, the Alki Community Council‘s monthly meeting Thursday (January 19th). This is a hybrid meeting, both online (info here) and in-person (Alki UCC, 6115 SW Hinds) at 7 pm. The agenda isn’t finalized but they’re hoping to have a Southwest Precinct representative – both Alki Avenue reckless driving and Harbor Avenue encampments are recurring topics.
1:48 PM: This time, burglars hit By and By, the skateboarding/apparel shop that opened a little over a year ago on the ground floor of the Senior Center of West Seattle. Proprietor Tony emailed us to report:
Around 3 am, 3 intruders were able to smash their way into the store and steal our cash register along with clothing and skateboards.
We have since gotten our door fixed and in progress of securing the store even more.
Police have the footage from our cameras of the theft in action.
We believe we will be able to open up for regular business hours tomorrow.
We’ve asked if he can share any image(s) from the security video. This is on the same block where Menashe & Sons Jewelers was damaged by a crash-and-grab burglary attempt on Christmas Eve morning. Also in The Junction, the door at Cherry Consignment – about two blocks north – was damaged in a break-in attempt overnight Saturday/Sunday. (Added: And as we’re reminded in comments, Junction True Value was burglarized New Year’s Eve.)
6 PM: Tony has since sent these security-camera images:
We asked if there were any particular items people might look for, whether dumped or put up for sale somewhere: “They stole a lot of our store-branded clothing as well as jackets and women’s clothing. Nothing that could really be that specific or different. There was a skateboard with a Le Petite Prince graphic on it.”
Congratulations to Chief Sealth International High School junior Joy Ohta, among the first to serve in the State Senate‘s Page Program as it relaunches with stage legislators’ return to in-person sessions. Here’s the announcement we received:
Joy Ohta, 16, spent the week of January 9-13 serving as a page for the Washington State Senate. Sen. Joe Nguyen (D-West Seattle) sponsored her week in the Legislature.
The page program offers students a hands-on opportunity to learn about state government through classes, guest speakers, and direct contact with legislators. Ohta was motivated to serve as a page in order to learn more about state government and explore her options for college.
“I thought the page program would be a good opportunity to kind of find out how the government works,” said Ohta. “I don’t know a lot about the government, and I am looking for careers and what kind of career I’m going to be interested in.”
Ohta learned a lot from the program, through both page school and experience talking with legislators. However, her favorite part of the program was the relationships she built with her fellow pages.
“My favorite part has been meeting the other pages, because we all come from such different cities or towns,” Ohta said. “I think that interaction between all of us has been really nice and aiding how I feel comfortable here at the Capitol.”
Sen. Nguyen said that Ohta was “a pleasure to be around” and is glad that the page program has returned.
Ohta is a junior at Chief Sealth International High School, where she plays an active role in her school’s community. She plays for the volleyball and tennis teams, plays piano for jazz band, and serves as an ASB representative.
Interested students can apply to the Senate Page Program; eligibility was previously limited to ages 14 through 16 but with the program ramping back up from pandemic hiatus, it’s expanded to 17- and 18-year-olds this year too. Find out more here; you can also email questions to SenatePageProgram@leg.wa.gov.
| Comments Off on THURSDAY MORNING: ‘State of the Port’