West Seattle, Washington
15 Wednesday
ORIGINAL REPORT: If you were heading downtown this evening you might want to be sure to take the high bridge. We’re just now hearing reports that the low bridge is stuck in the open position. SPD is barricading and cars have been turned away. We’re going to check it out and will post updates as we learn more.
7:26 PM UPDATE: The low bridge is back in service now.
Followup to our earlier report of arrests in connection with last week’s “home invasion” robbery on 4th SW in Highland Park: King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Dan Donohoe says the 37-year-old Federal Way man who was arrested appeared in court today for a bail hearing — resulting in his bail being set at $1 million — while the 45-year-old Burien man who also was arrested in the case will be in court tomorrow. His record includes convictions for drugs, theft, and possession of stolen property, according to court documents; the younger man’s record includes those same types of convictions as well as robbery cases – and he’s described as a “potential third-strike candidate.” The court documents also include the “probable cause” information detailing what is alleged to have happened in the robbery, and what led police to the suspects – read on for those details:Read More
(Story and Photos by Christopher Boffoli)
If you’ve driven past 35th Ave & SW Myrtle lately, you may have noticed a burst of activity at the new Myrtle Reservoir Park. Virginia Hassinger, Project Planner at Seattle Parks & Recreation, says that the project is nearing completion and should be finished by late September or early October.
However, you still may see some construction equipment at the park as crews continue to finish pouring concrete, installing benches and handrails as well as grading, before landscaping and planting can begin. They still also need to complete the irrigation system.
Despite challenges presented by the topography of the site, Hassinger says they were successful in keeping pathway grades at or below 5%, which is in line with their goal of making the park wheelchair accessible.
Playground equipment is now in place and just yesterday workers were installing a fabric underlay which Ohno Construction site supervisor Lee Falk says will soon be covered with a wood-based, environmentally friendly mulch.
Situated near the top of the park, at the edge of the reservoir cap, is a new sundial area which offers arresting views of downtown Seattle and the Cascades beyond. When complete, the sundial will feature concrete markers that will be arranged in line with various hills around Seattle, visible from that point. The names of the hills and their respective elevations are inlaid into the top of each marker.
The Myrtle Reservoir Park project is one of dozens of park projects funded by the City of Seattle’s Pro Parks Levy. Construction began in June.
There will be a lot to celebrate at tomorrow’s FiaFia! event at the Jerry Brockey Student Center at South Seattle Community College, co-presented by West Seattle’s Southwest Youth and Family Services.
Here’s the info, from our Events page:
SEPTEMBER 3: You are invited to FiaFia! co-presented by Southwest Youth and Family Services
Friday Sept 3rd 5-7pm @ SSCC JMB APlease join our youth in celebrating their accomplishments this year!
· Pacific Islander Senior Banquet: SPY Connections youth organized a senior banquet to honor their high school brothers and sisters who successfully completed high school and are moving on to college or vocation.
· Washington Strongest School Competition: SPY Connections youth took second place this year in the 1st annual competition that focuses on fitness and strength.
· Pacific Dance: SPY Connections youth has performed cultural dance at 20 different venues this year.
· PI Social Studies Class: SPY Connections youth has successfully completed a social studies class for high school credit.
· YUIR Community Forum: SPY Connections youth helped organize a successful forum to address the recent injustices with the police and the youth community.
Information about this event and dozens of other local events is always available on our Events page.
We made a quick stop over at Alki Elementary School last night where volunteers were enthusiastically pulling weeds and cleaning up the small courtyard at the center of the school. While they were working, they joked that “weed identification and classification” would not be on the curriculum for the kids this year.
The school is holding an Ice Cream Social for new families on Tuesday, September 7th from 2-3 PM. Classes begin the following day at 9:30 AM.
(UPDATE: First Day Reception & Assembly will be at 9:10 AM on September 8th)
Thanks to Kimberly for passing this along:
Just wanted to let you know that 1iOpen Productions
(http://www.1iopenproductions.com/) is shooting for their next film at 4 pm today at the West Seattle Produce Co. (on Fauntleroy at the old Huling Bros. lot next to the gas station). Shooting between 4pm – 4:30pm filming the produce purchase scene for their web series with Executive Chef Clifton
Lyles of Alaska Airlines. Chef Cliff will be purchasing produce of which he will bring and prepare a “5 Star” meal on Friday, September 3 at 10,000ft at Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier. This is the first of many episodes to be produced
by 1iOpen Productions.Hope you can let locals know so they can be a part of the action!
We reported last week that week that police had released photos (taken at a “nearby” ATM) of a suspect believed to be involved with a “home-invasion” robbery in Highland Park.
Today, Seattle Police report that two suspects were arrested and booked last night, as part of the ongoing investigation:
Arrests made in Highland Park robbery investigation
Robbery Detectives developed information during the course of the investigation that led them to the identity of one of the suspects involved in last week’s home invasion robbery in Highland Park. On September 1, detectives with the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force located and arrested a 37 year old suspect at 260th and Pacific Highway South in Des Moines. Robbery Detectives were following up on additional leads at a motel in Federal Way when another suspect wanted in this crime was spotted. He fled when he saw detectives and multiple units responded to the area in an attempt to locate him. The suspect was able to elude capture. At approximately 6:20 PM that 45 year old suspect was located and arrested by Federal Way Police and turned over to the Robbery Detectives. Both suspects were interviewed by detectives and later booked into the King County Jail on Investigation of Robbery. This remains an on going investigation as there may be additional suspects involved.
We’re checking now on a couple of overnight incidents. First, reports of a car fire around 3 AM on the 3400 block of California Ave SW. Tipsters tell us that there was so much smoke that a few people who live close to the location of the fire had to temporarily evacuate their houses. No word yet from the fire department but we’ll post an update here later if we get any details.
And just before 5 AM, police responded to an assault with deadly weapons call at a house on the 1700 block of SW Brandon. Det. Mark Jamieson of the SPD media unit tells us this morning that one person died there as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
As we’ve said before, suicide is an epidemic that needs to be addressed, not ignored as is the policy of some media, so we report about it here as well as homicide cases (which are outnumbered in King County by suicides). For those who have thought about it — the local Crisis Clinic is there to help: 206/461-3222. There’s a national hotline at 800/SUICIDE.
UPDATE 11:11 AM: We have confirmation now from Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen who says investigators have determined that this fire was intentionally set. Damage to the 1994 Ford Explorer SUV was estimated to be around $3,000.
We also received information this morning that the owners of the SUV, who apparently reside at the address where it was parked, were stopped by police while driving by the scene in another vehicle. We checked with Lt. Norm James at the Southwest Precinct this morning who could confirm only that the Arson Bomb Squad was called to the fire scene to investigate and that it is still an open case. He also said that a “suspicious vehicle” was stopped in the vicinity of the fire and three adults (two males and one female) were arrested for narcotics and subsequently booked into King County Jail.
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: The new Alki Arts studio is offering encaustic-painting classes starting tonight at 7 – call to get the latest on space! … In The Junction, Bin 41 (WSB sponsor) has a huge event tonight for Cabernet fans, 6-8 pm – full details here … And as previewed here Wednesday, it’s the grand finale for the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series (co-sponsored by WSB) – come to Hiawatha’s east lawn to enjoy the fabulous West Seattle Big Band, 6:30 pm, free!
(Photos by Cliff DesPeaux)
One week from tonight, Chief Sealth International High School students and staff – and their respective families! – will be resting up after the first day of classes inside the newly renovated school. Tonight, CSIHS principal John Boyd showed off his school’s shiny new digs to those who signed up for a “sneak peek” behind-the-scenes tour, benefiting the Friends of Sealth scholarship fund:
Photojournalist Cliff DesPeaux covered the tour for WSB, to capture the sights and sounds as the tour wound its way through areas including the spiffed-up gym:
He’s working on video right now that we’ll add when it’s ready, with an expanded look at what tourgoers saw.
You can read more about the two-year renovation project on the Seattle Public Schools website here – and our coverage archive, newest to oldest, is here. (The new Denny International Middle School, sharing the Sealth campus, remains under construction, with that move planned next year.)
Here is Cliff’s video:
Seattle Public Schools confirmed late today that the district has reached a tentative agreement on a three-year contract with its teachers union, the Seattle Education Association, whose members are scheduled to vote at 4:30 pm tomorrow. Here’s the latest from our partners at the Seattle Times.
All good things must come to an end, and so it is with the Admiral Neighborhood Association’s successful Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series, which wraps up its 2010 season with local favorites the West Seattle Big Band tomorrow night. WSBB played at Hiawatha earlier this summer prior to the “official” start of the concert series (video clip below), and tomorrow is your chance to enjoy them again.
As usual, start time is 6:30 pm and admission is free – bring a blanket, some food & drink, and the whole family.
SEPTEMBER 2 UPDATE: Thanks to ANA president Katy Walum for letting us know that “Admiral apparel” will be on sale at a discount tonight: $10 kids’ shirts, $15 adults’ shirts, and $40 track jackets. The PCC truck with food samples for the kids will also be there, and likely the “Icecycle” folks with Full Tilt ice cream and treats in tow.
We reported on Monday that legendary local burger chain Dick’s had announced it would be building its first new store in decades, and had launched an online poll to let customers decide where. (The poll is still active here; there had been some problems with it because of the crush of traffic it received – more than 32,000 votes – but it’s fine now.)
We received more than 150 comments about that story, and another 35+ comments on Facebook, along with heavy activity on Twitter. WSB readers certainly have their opinions about the famous eatery!
In the poll, West Seattle is lumped into the “South” group with other locales, and is currently running 2nd in the polling:
Where would you locate the new Dick’s Drive-In?
RESULTS:
North (Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, Edmonds, South Everett) – 42% (13781 votes)
South (West Seattle, South Seattle, Renton, Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila) – 30% (9836 votes)
East (Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Bothell, Mercer Island, Issaquah, Sammamish) – 26% (8618 votes)Total Votes: 32,235
SEPTEMBER 2 UPDATE: Many thanks to those who commented and e-mailed to let us know about the news reports (including this one, from partner KING 5) that the Dick’s vote had been “hacked.” Voting is still open, and Dick’s says they’re “scrubbing the numbers” now.
We brought you the first round of King County’s primary election results back on August 17, and today comes official word that the county’s results have been finalized. (We confirmed this with County communications specialist Katie Gilliam.)
The top two finishers in each race advance to the November 2 general election, which means Joe Fitzgibbon and Mike Heavey for 34th District House Rep #2, and Joe McDermott and Diana Toledo for King County Council District 8.
For the local race results, the only official change from primary night’s results is that Joe Fitzgibbon has inched ahead of Mike Heavey, by an oh-so-slim margin (we reported on August 20 that this shift was starting to happen).
Local results:
34TH DISTRICT STATE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 2
(Rep. Sharon Nelson isn’t running for re-election – she’s unopposed for State Senate in LD #34)
Fitzgibbon first 34%, Heavey second 32%, McElroy third 18%, Stone fourth 14%
(Note: Early returns on primary night had showed Heavey at 34% and Fitzgibbon at 33%)
KING COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT 8 (nonpartisan)
(Councilmember Jan Drago isn’t running for the seat to which she was appointed early this year)
McDermott first 60%, Toledo second 19%, McEvoy third 13%, Fahey fourth 7%
In another LD #34 race of note, Eileen Cody captured 81% of the vote against 18% for Ray Carter.
Story and photo by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Eric Thomas’ Red Cup Espresso (which he co-owns with his wife Tricia DiBernardo) has come to be known by many as the “hybrid” coffee shop, because of its rooftop array of photovoltaic panels.
But he isn’t just a solar customer — he 
also owns Solar Epiphany which provides education on solar energy, and installs professional-grade solar energy systems.
Thanks to a WSB’er tip about the newly painted shop window (photo at left), we discovered that Thomas is expanding his solar enterprise into the former site of Puget Sound Key & Lock at 6016 California SW. The space will be an educational showroom where potential customers will not only see solar panels and learn how they work, but they’ll also be able to learn about government incentives that make going solar more affordable.
Thomas has been installing solar electrical and water-heating systems for three years, for both residential and commercial customers. He says, “The biggest obstacle to installing solar is that people don’t know how it works or how much it will cost.”
Thomas hopes to have his new storefront open the weekend after Labor Day. They plan to be open by appointment during the week and open to the public on weekends.
This morning, we’re welcoming the Wax Bar, which recently expanded to West Seattle, as our newest WSB sponsor. Here’s what they’d like you to know about their business and services: The Wax Bar is located at the corner of 37th and Fauntleroy, between West Seattle Brake Service and the shoe-repair shop. The Wax Bar is a skin-care lounge that offers full-service spa treatments and head-to-toe waxing. Any waxing service or facial will have you feeling smooth and refreshed when you leave —but we want you to feel that way every day! At the Wax Bar we offer three different skin-care lines to cater to all skin types: Aveda, Dermalogica, and Somme. Veteran wax specialists Lynaia (West Seattle local), Bevan, and Sarah are here to make the experience a bit more enjoyable. With the Wax Bar lounge now open, come sip one of our raspberry beers or a specialty beer before your service. “Relax and get waxed,” owner Karen Jahn often says. In keeping with the bar theme, come visit during our “happy hour” specials from 1 pm-3 pm Tuesday through Friday. Find us online at thewaxbarseattle.com, in person at 4462 37th Ave. SW, or by phone at 206-935-4990.
We thank the Wax Bar for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.
Welcome to September! Here are some of the highlights for today and tonight from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: The local community-council/organization leaders who comprise the Southwest District Council meet tonight at 7 in the South Seattle Community College board room, with an agenda including a presentation about the West Seattle Junction Neighborhood Plan … Tonight’s the night for a sneak-preview tour of Chief Sealth International High School renovations, one week before classes start, as a fundraiser for the Friends of Sealth scholarship fund – details here, starts 6 pm … The final certification of King County primary election results is scheduled today, and then it’s on to November … As previewed last night, lane closures are planned on the Admiral Way Bridge today … Tonight in The Junction, WSB sponsor Bin 41 plans the first of two consecutive nights of tastings – this time it’s Spanish wines, 5:30-7 pm (more details here) … See the calendar for more!
Two items from Aviva at Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle: First, she says, “It really has been an off year for the fruit trees here in West Seattle. We have only harvested about 300 pounds of fruit and it seems that none of the Italian Plums have fruit. We could use … Asian pears, pears, and apples.” Contact info’s at gleanit.org if you have tree fruit to donate – you donate, they pick! Second – the new Community Orchard at South Seattle Community College, funded by a city grant, is getting off the ground with the Design Group’s first meeting ahead, and Aviva says, “We’d love to get (more of the) community involved in this cool new project.” Read on to see how you can be part of it!Read More
(Photos, Story and Video by Christopher Boffoli)
Tonight’s Alki Community Picnic had to move off the playfield and into the Alki Community Center due to the weather. But the gray skies, drizzle and blustery winds certainly didn’t diminish the energy of the crowd of children who danced to the music provided by The Board of Education.
Here’s guitarist Jon Goff inspiring a new generation of musicians by handing out guitar
picks at the end of the show.
And here’s a short video clip with some musical highlights:
Covering tonight’s Feet First–organized Walk and Talk Tour of the West Seattle Triangle with Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, photojournalist Edgar Riebe of Captive Eye Media reports participants braved the weather to visit spots from West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park (above) to an inside look at the under-construction Link, below:
We’ll add Edgar’s video report on the tour later tonight. Meantime, the city-led Triangle Advisory Group meetings continue later this fall, according to information received by group members; the next meeting’s been set for October 27th, with a public open house planned on November 10th.
11:58 PM UPDATE: Here’s Edgar’s video report:
Traffic in both directions on Admiral Way will be impacted tomorrow, according to this SDOT notice:
Lane Closures on Admiral Way Bridge Wednesday
Wednesday, September 1, the Seattle Department of Transportation will close lanes on the Admiral Way Bridge between Walnut Avenue SW and 39th Avenue SW while they inspect and make drain repairs on the structure. The work will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The right lane eastbound will be closed first, then the westbound right lane will be closed. There will be no impact to the bridge sidewalks.
(Video from West Seattle See Dogs and other guide puppies meeting SPD horses in Highland Park in June)
Tonight at the Mariners-Angels game, guide dogs will be in the spotlight – local Guide Dogs for the Blind volunteers, puppy-raisers including West Seattle See Dogs, and others, sold more than 738 tickets for the game and get the honor of throwing out the first pitch! West Seattle See Dogs’ Ruth Oldham tells WSB, “There will be over 40 guide dog puppies and guide dogs in the stands and on the Main Concourse Meeting and Greeting fans as they arrive. (Section 128 behind Home Plate) at the Main Entrance.” Then around 6:40 pm, Ruth says, “The First Pitch (will be) thrown out by Bob Sonnenburg and his guide Nino (since this whole thing was Bob’s idea!). Other pre-selected GDB volunteers and pups will join Bob on the field.” They’ll also have informational tables for Guide Dogs for the Blind at a couple of places around the stadium, and if you’re at the game, you’ll hear announcements too. Ruth enthuses, “What an incredible opportunity. There has never an event this large with the potential for increasing public awareness about Guide Dogs, and increasing public awareness about blindness in general.”
(Photo by Jason Grotelueschen)
Two months and one day after the shutdown of the old South Park Bridge (WSB video coverage here), the first major part of the demolition work has begun – King County Department of Transportation confirms that one of its “leaves” (the actual drawbridge sections) will “be detached and lowered onto a barge sometime this afternoon.” The KCDOT announcement continues:
Prior to removal, nine steel cuts will be required to separate the leaf from the remainder of the bridge. Once the cuts have been made, the leaf will slowly be lowered onto the barge. This work is extremely complicated and may take a few hours to complete.
This process will be repeated when the second leaf is removed over the next few days. Both leaves will then be barged to another site for salvage and recycling.
During this first demolition phase, crews have also been demolishing vacant structures on county-owned property adjacent to the bridge to accommodate future construction staging. The work will set the stage for future construction of a new South Park Bridge when a funding package is in place.
UPDATE 4:40 PM: As of this afternoon there is still not a whole lot of movement as work progresses slowly. Jason Grotelueschen staked out the bridge this afternoon, reporting only an occasional drizzle and a few showers of sparks, as workers continued to make cuts in the steel. Here’s one more photo from Jason, with a closer view of workers on aerial lifts:
6:30 AM (Wed) UPDATE: According to eyewitness reports and the YourSouthPark newsgroup, the “South Park side of the bridge” was finally dismantled and lowered safely onto a barge below, at around 7 pm last night (see photos from SeattlePI.com). The other side of the bridge should be removed by later this week.
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