West Seattle, Washington
18 Monday
From SDOT this afternoon, word of a downtown project that will close the Columbia Street onramp to the Alaskan Way Viaduct from Friday night until (probably) Sunday morning – read on:Read More
Mark Hewitt, former owner of Tillicum Village, called with news that the native artwork that decorated the front of the former TV headquarters on Avalon Way (see left side of the Google Street View image above) is now gone; he noticed this around 7:30 last night. This photo taken a short time ago shows plywood where it was removed:
Hewitt says it’s a 6 foot tall by 1.5 foot wide piece of art that was designed on Vancouver Island, and he is offering a $100 reward for its return w/no questions asked. You can call him at 935-1413. ADDED 10:26 PM: We’ve received a better photo of the panel:
That’s Baron the German Shepherd, a 4-year-old male, one of the pets at West Seattle Thriftway right now, till 3 pm, with the Humane Society’s Maxmobile, looking for their “forever homes.” Michele at Thriftway adds that besides additional dogs, “Also in the truck are adoptable cats. One kitten, a few adolescents and some adults.”
A former West Seattle car lot is now home to a bicycle business. 3 weeks ago, we briefly mentioned the impending move of Cycle U to an ex-Huling site; now, they’re two days away from opening, so here’s a closer look.
Story and photos by Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
After standing vacant for two years, the former home of the Huling (then briefly Gee) Chrysler dealership is getting a new tenant. And this time, it’s all about the bikes. Cycle University will hold its first class this Saturday in the space at 4550 Fauntleroy (map). And according to founder Craig Undem, cycling coach Ed Ewing, and manager Brad Loetel, a former car dealership is the perfect place for bicycle training classes, sales, and repair.
Cycle U’s signature blue and orange now adorn the walls, but the building’s giant windows, offices, and a partial wall down the middle of the main floor all are all intact. In a humorous nod to the former occupants, a sign reading “We Want You Very Satisfied!” has been left above one of the offices – after all, Undem says, Cycle U wants to satisfy their customers, too.
“We’re bicycle coaches first,” says Undem, a professional coach who has raced in the World Championships of Cyclocross, won a World Cup medal in Mountain Bike Racing, and placed second in the US in Elite Criterium Championships. “I think that the advice that people get will set us apart.”
The first phase of West Seattle’s Cycle U will be their trademarked InCycle classes.
From City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen‘s office: A date is set for the ceremony to officially add a name to the West Seattle Bridge – not replacing that utilitarian name — in honor of former Councilmember Jeanette Williams, who helped secure the federal funding that made The Bridge possible. It’s been almost three months since the council passed the resolution. The ceremony is planned for 12:30 pm October 23rd, at a still-to-be-finalized location under The Bridge – that’ll be almost a year to the day since Ms. Williams’ death last October.
Headlines from Wednesday night’s meeting of the Southwest District Council: Two briefings regarding changes in the ways citizen-proposed projects get money from certain city funds. One set of changes, for the Neighborhood Street Fund, didn’t draw much controversy as SDOT’s Krista Bunch explained things, but the other, for the Neighborhood Matching Fund, did. Read on:Read More
HIGH SCHOOL EVENTS: In addition to West Seattle High School Curriculum Night, starting at 6:30 pm (as previewed here last Sunday), tonight is also Open House night at Chief Sealth High School, starting with free dinner at 5:30 pm (the evening’s agenda is on the CSHS website). Then remember – no school tomorrow districtwide.
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: In addition to some of the venues we mentioned in this preview (the punk-pumpkin-carving at Feedback Lounge [WSB sponsor] is a don’t-miss), tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk (6-9 pm) also includes: At C & P Coffee, the 2nd Thursday wine club “will be raising a glass to wine club member Elizabeth Bachman as she shares her photographs with her first West Seattle show: ‘Out for a Walk’,” according to C & P proprietor Cameron. At Cherry Consignment in The Junction, West Seattle jewelry designer Dave Sheely is the featured artist. And we have a few more details on the bazaar we mentioned at The Kenney — it includes an Oktoberfest theme, with beer ‘n’ brats. By the way, if you missed young artist Romy Ehrsan‘s work at Shoofly Pie last month — you can catch it tonight. Many more highlights on the WSAW site, and here’s the newest walking map (it changes quarterly) of all 60+ venues, from Alki Bathhouse in the north to Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor) in the south, and all over the peninsula inbetween.
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli, first published here in August)
Thanks to Don for the tip that Mashiko‘s Hajime Sato (profiled here in August, just as he was gaining widespread fame for focusing on sustainable sushi/sashimi) is scheduled to be on Food Network tonight, 9 pm. Read all about it on this Mashiko webpage. And a reminder – he’s one of the chefs participating in this Sunday’s Eat Local Now! benefit dinner/auction/entertainment event (see the lineup here) – 5 pm 10/11 at Alki Masonic Hall in The Junction – tickets available here.
Almost two weeks after West Seattleite Marty Riemer and his broadcasting partner Jodi Brothers got the boot from The Mountain, he is still interacting with fans via his Facebook page – where he’s also announced that they will host a “Marty Riemer Show Severance Blowout” party on the downtown waterfront, 6:30 pm October 22 at Elliott’s (as Marty noted, right next to the Water Taxi dock). Not a fundraiser or donation drive, he elaborated in a FB update – no admission – just be there. The two have not announced another gig yet but did post a goofy little video about “Day 10” of unemployment; see it on FB here. (Photo courtesy Marty Riemer)
Thanks to Morgan Community Association‘s Cindi Barker for that photo, and some info, from last night’s meeting about protecting south West Seattle waters from sewer overflows during major storms. May sound desperately unglamorous, but before you find your favorite beach getting dug up by the chosen project – and/or polluted by an overflow – you might want to have some input into the decisions that have to be made, in a process including last night’s meeting and another one tonight: King County Wastewater Treatment has four options from which to choose for handling what are known as Combined Sewer Overflows. Last night, the open-house-format meeting focused on the Murray basin – waters north and south of Lowman Beach that are affected if the Murray pump area has an overflow; tonight (6:30-8:30 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy, just drop by during that window), it’ll focus on the Barton basin – affected if there’s an overflow from the Barton pump area (alongside the Fauntleroy ferry dock). Here are the four options for handling the overflows:\
*Increase pumping capacity so EVERYTHING can go to a treatment station (explained here)
*Storage – Build a huge tank to hold onto the overflow till it can be sent through the system post-storm (explained here)
*On-site treatment: Build treatment facilities near the pump station to be put into use when the regular system can’t handle the flow (explained here)
*Reduce flows into the system by working with property owners on measures such as disconnecting roof drains, creating rain gardens and bioswales (explained here)
The county says the average overflow at each of those sites is a million gallons; Murray averages five a year, Barton averages four. The county is taking feedback now and plans to come out with site-specific recommendations early next year. As you can see from the list, the alternatives are dramatically different – drop by tonight’s meeting and find out more about the pros and cons. (Both of these sites, by the way, remain in queue for future pump-station upgrades, beyond the decisions on how to handle the CSOs.)
From left, leaders of the North Delridge Neighborhood Council elected tonight – co-secretary Holli Margell, co-chair Russell Ehrman, (continuing) co-chair Jay Mirro, co-secretary David Ellinger. At tonight’s meeting, they heard from Randy Engstrom of Youngstown Arts Center, wearing a hat as interim director of the Food and Fitness Initiative; he talked about the outreach to stores such as the Super 24 – the newly painted mural is part of that (here’s our August photo):
Point of the outreach is to bring healthier food to Delridge even without a conventional grocery store in the area, and they’re working with Super 24 to get it going. Another big topic: The latest on how to get city money for street projects, as explained by Delridge’s Neighborhood Service Coordinator Ron Angeles. Eight projects are proposed in the NDNC’s area, and the group needs to prioritize the list and get it to the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council by November; that council will have an SDOT rep at its next meeting (10/21) to discuss street-project funding. Then NDNC leaders/members will take a walking tour of the proposed project sites on 10/24, 1 pm, followed by discussion at Olympia Pizza. One more note from tonight – co-chair Mirro talked about the Duwamish Alive! fall cleanup event coming up 10/17, one week from this Saturday; he is steward of the Brandon Street Natural Area, which is one of the work areas (nine in all, with two others in West Seattle – Roxhill Bog and Herring’s House Park – plus Alki Kayak Tours leading a waterborne crew on the Duwamish) – go here for more info, including how to volunteer.
The North Delridge Neighborhood Council meets 6:30 pm, first Wednesday of the month, usually at Delridge Library.
Received a few notes/calls about a notable police presence surrounding a Metro bus at 35th/Alaska in the past hour and a half or so. Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith says the call involved a “disturbance” on the bus – primary responding agency was Metro Transit police, with SPD as backup. No other details; no aid/fire crews were summoned, which would generally mean no injuries involved. THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE: Metro police are part of the King County Sheriff’s Office, so we checked on this with Sgt. John Urquhart – he confirms there were no injuries and says no one was arrested, either – the person causing the disturbance apparently needed mental-health attention.
The WSB Forums are the best place for lost/found items (aside from pets) in most cases but here we have another exception – since the finder thinks this might be related to a recent crime – Monte e-mailed tonight:
A couple of weeks ago I found a jewelry box in my garbage can and would like to return it to its rightful owner. I’ve been reading here on WS Blog about all the burglary/break-ins here in Gatewood (California and Othello area). Nothing too valuable here, mostly costume jewelry and a young girl’s keepsake stuff. Identify it and I’ll get it back to you right away.
You can reach him at 206-265-2812.
Two weeks after the Alki Beach 5K, you’ve got another chance this Sunday to raise $ for Northwest Hope and Healing while you’re “on the move” – it’s the third annual NiaDivas‘ benefit class. Read about the Nia Technique here; the class is 10-11 am Sunday, Youngstown Arts Center, $15 suggested donation, register online here.
Three of the four suspects arrested in connection with the knifepoint holdup of the owner of Yummy Teriyaki are now charged with first-degree robbery – while the fourth, whose release from jail (after posting bond on $25,000 bail) we reported yesterday, is not charged so far, but remains under investigation. Since the three are charged as adults, we are identifying them: 17-year-old Bashir Mohamed, 16-year-old Burhan Mohamed, both Tukwila residents, and 16-year-old Abdisalam Yusef, a West Seattle resident. Prosecutors have requested their bail be set at $50,000 each. Court documents say Bashir Mohamed has cases pending for domestic-violence assault, malicious mischief and criminal trespass, while the other two have “no known criminal history.” However, the documents add, “… they are charged with a violent crime which appears to have been premeditated, as the victim was ambushed as he was closing his shop and in possession of the day’s cash. The victim’s credit card was used between the time it was stolen and the time the defendants were apprehended.” Notably to other stories we’ve covered, the documents also mention “an attempted purse snatch around the same time, same location, and with suspects whose description matches these defendants.” It’s not clear which incident that refers to – we will check tomorrow; besides the Gatewood purse-snatch attempt reported in this story today (which happened shortly before the Junction holdup, but more than a mile away), we also published word last week of a purse-snatch attempt closer to The Junction. As for the three charged suspects’ status, King County Prosecuting Attorney Office spokesperson Dan Donohoe says the three are scheduled to appear in court October 20th to answer the charges.
First one is a purse-snatching attempt; second one, a burglary – for both stories, read on:Read More
Just got word of this: The Housing Consortium is hosting a brown-bag-lunch candidates’ forum at Youngstown Arts Center at noon tomorrow, and the public’s invited. Karen Williams describes it as:
…a fun, unique format, we are calling it “speed dating” with the candidates. It will be an interactive forum where candidates rotate alongside their opponent to small groups providing opportunities for candidates to address affordable housing issues in greater detail and in a dialogue setting. Candidates will be asked initial questions and those in attendance will have the opportunity to follow up with additional questions or comments. All candidates for Seattle City Council, Mayor and King County Exec will be there.
Here’s the official invite/flyer. Meantime, one week from tomorrow night, you’re also invited to the big West Seattle Candidates’ Forum, co-presented by the Southwest and Delridge Neighborhoods District Councils, also at Youngstown, 7 pm October 15.
Not West Seattle-specific but interesting: The Department of Licensing announced today that it’s going to seven-digit plates, from the longtime six digits. Read on for announcement details:Read More
Wood chips await helping hands to move them into place for a new feature at Westcrest Park Off-Leash Area in Highland Park, West Seattle’s only official off-leash area: Westcrest steward Steve McElhenney tells WSB that this will be “a new “special needs” area of the park. I pitched my idea to Seattle Parks a few weeks ago to clear out an area right inside the offleash area north parking lot to create access for the elderly and disabled folks with dogs that had a hard time getting to the upper area.” Steve says that, thanks to Dennis Dylan and crew at the tree-service company JTS, they have lots of chips waiting to be spread – volunteers are welcome to join in and help 6-8 pm tomorrow night and 10 am-noon Saturday.
Big week for road/traffic updates and alerts so far. Here’s another one: SDOT has to close the southbound Battery Street Tunnel Saturday night (10/10) through Sunday morning (10/11), 10 pm till 6 am, to work on its fire-suppression system. There will be a detour.
Today we’re welcoming one of our newest WSB sponsors, Canape Specialty Chef Services, a private chef business 
owned and operated by Executive Chef Jay DeLong. Canape Specialty Chef Services‘ philosophy is “Let The Chef Come to You.” Chef Jay offers multi-course dinners, small parties & cooking classes to private citizens in their homes. He is also leading two cooking classes coming up at J.F. Henry Kitchen and Tableware in The Junction: On October 22nd, you will learn how to make “Soups from Scratch”; on November 19th, it’s all about “Holiday Morsels.” Canape’s focus is on using fresh local ingredients to create custom menus specifically for the clients, as well as focusing on service. When Chef Jay cooks for you, he brings all the necessary tools, service items & ingredients, preparing and serving the meal, and cleaning up completely afterward, so it’s a very relaxing experience for you. Canape Specialty Chef Services‘ most popular offerings are dinner parties and birthday/anniversary celebrations; often people aren’t sure what to expect when hiring a private chef, and are blown away by the results (read some testimonials here). To contact Canape Specialty Chef Services, visit the website – www.canapechefservices.com – or call 206-380-9937; you’ll also find Canape on Facebook and on Twitter. We thank Canape Specialty Chef Services for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; the sponsor team, plus info on joining, is all here.
(September photo from Pete R)
Heard this morning from Brenda Peterson of West Seattle-based Seal Sitters: “We’ve had pups almost every day and lost 3 of them, sadly. But we’ve also helped launch a whole new generation of seal pups.” As the Seal Sitters’ site points out, seal pups only have a 50% chance of survival. Go here for their latest updates (with photos!) on the successes as well as the losses. And if you see a pup on a beach, with no Seal Sitter in sight, call 206-905-SEAL.
WEEKEND BRIDGE WORK: From SDOT’s Marybeth Turner this morning: “SDOT crews plan to work on the West Seattle Bridge at the Harbor Avenue exit on Saturday, October 10 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. replacing a crash cushion. They will be working on the shoulder and will merge traffic around the work site.”
ADMIRAL/CALIFORNIA SIGNAL: Lots of talk in recent weeks (including this WSB Forums discussion) about what seems to be a timing problem at this intersection, leading to backups. According to Turner, “We are currently in the process of changing the timing on the California Ave SW corridor as well as the SW Admiral Way corridor.” She’s pursuing more specifics, but at least you know it’s on their radar, so to speak.
BUS STOP IN FRONT OF THE NEW QFC: A week and a half ago, Metro told us this long-gone bus stop (westbound SW Alaska) was expected to be back within 2 weeks, but the city would be doing the work to replace it. Having not seen a crew yet, we checked with Turner, who explains, “SDOT is awaiting delivery of a sign for the bus stop.” No ETA yet.
16TH SW PAVING: SDOT sent an announcement late yesterday reiterating the road-rebuilding work north of South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) is all but done (as noted here 2 weeks ago):
The reconstruction of 16th Avenue SW between SW Findlay and SW Brandon streets is now substantially complete, with a dramatic improvement in what was a very dilapidated roadway. Crews working for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) rebuilt and slightly widened the road; made drainage improvements including a new storm drain and street drain inlets; repaved the walkway on the west side of the street; and rebuilt the concrete driveways. They plan to finish striping along the roadway by mid month.
To see before/after photos side-by-side, check out this SDOT website.
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