West Seattle, Washington
17 Sunday
Two more reports to share – first, the break-in; a quick report from Shelley in Gatewood, just a few blocks from the one in the “broad daylight” report from earlier – she says a neighbor on Thistle near 37th SW (map) was broken into today – no other details yet. Meantime, David reports this from further southeast:
3:15 am last Friday two fellahs tried to steal a neighbor’s car. They got about fifty feet before being confronted by some interested neighbors. One perp fled and the other, who advanced menacingly on the neighbors but was talked out of anything rash, was arrested by SPD who arrived en masse a few minutes later. Owner and somewhat mangled car were reunited a short time later – all things considered, a happy ending. Since one of the neighbors fears retribution, as she was also a victim of the “multiple burglaries solved” robber, the exact address should not be referred to but it happened west of Westwood Village. Since happy endings are rare in crimes, I thought to report this.
Great point – as we were discussing with Southwest Precinct leadership last week while working on the “multiple burglaries” story to which David alludes, it IS important to get out the word about arrests as well as about the crimes themselves.
The election results won’t be final until a week from Wednesday, so daily counts are still coming out, and today’s total has Mike McGinn still on top of the Seattle mayoral race, almost a thousand votes ahead of Joe Mallahan, with incumbent Mayor Nickels (who conceded last Friday) two thousand votes behind Mallahan, in third. Here are those results; politics-watchers also had been noticing something we pointed out last week, the narrowing gap between the top two in the King County Executive race – Susan Hutchison now has 33% and Dow Constantine has 27% (full results here). As of the final Election Night count, it was 37% Hutchison, 22% Constantine. The county Elections Department estimates about 6,000 ballots remain to be counted.
McQuaid Real Estate reported via Twitter today that it’s closed a $4.5 million deal on a 36-unit multifamily building in West Seattle. According to the company’s publicly viewable Facebook info, it’s the Admiralty House at 1520 California SW (Google Street View above), which McQuaid had listed for $4.9 million (here’s the flyer). Its current online listings include La Playa Vista on Alki for $1.8 million.
Some people like to plan ahead. Way ahead. The WSB Events calendar, in fact, has a few 2010 entries already. And with Christmas Eve “just” four months from today … we happen to have received the Christmas Ship schedule from Argosy Cruises, and thought we’d share the West Seattle dates – four stops during the second weekend in December. (Our video above is from the only visit we made it to last year – December 14, 2008 at Seacrest – hours before The Snow moved in.)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, (2009), FIRST SAILING
CHOIR: Northwest Girlchoir – Vivace
Depart: Pier 55 4:00pm, Return: 6:00pm
4:20-4:40 Pier 66
5:15-5:35 Seacrest Marina*SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, SECOND SAILING
CHOIR: Canterbury Belles
Depart: Pier 55 8:00pm, Return: 10:20pm
8:50-9:10 Lowman Beach*
9:40-10:00 Alki Beach*SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13
CHOIR: Soundwave
Depart: Pier 55 5:00pm, Return: 7:50pm
6:00-6:20 Winslow Waterfront Beach
7:10-7:30 Don Armeni*
The asterisk means a beach bonfire is planned. And as usual, they sell tickets for passengers to be on the boats, if you’d rather enjoy it that way instead of from shore – more info here, including the full regional schedule.
From Michael in Gatewood:
Would like to spread the word on this one. On the 3900 block of Southern [map] our neighbor’s home was burglarized. Burglar used an ax to go through a secured back door in the middle of the day, Friday, August 21. Seattle Police were dispatched and came to house. No one hurt. No one saw or heard a thing, unfortunately. What concerns us is the violent nature of this break-in.
First, a reminder that West Seattle’s only city-run indoor pool, Southwest Pool, is now closed for three weeks of drain-safety work, scheduled to reopen September 14th. Second, this is the final week of 7-day operations at Colman Pool (photo at right) this summer; after this Sunday, it’s closed except for one last late-season weekend, Saturday-Monday 9/5-9-7. Here’s the schedule.
From Carol Johnston at the Senior Center of West Seattle:
FREE lunch for Falls Prevention Event
(co-sponsored by Park West Care Center)
on Tuesday, September 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
* 11am-1 pm Doc Talks on meds, podiatrist, etc.
* Park West Physical and Occupational Therapists
* Balance & Foot Care AssessmentsEasy Pilates – call for dates and costs.
Three series each $30 (a Special FALL offer) on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
on Sept 2, 9, and 30. Digital Photography-Creative Vision with instructor Joanne
Murray. Learn to get better pictures in different types of light, how to change he
ISO and WB settings, how to access the menus . Bring camera, manual, etc. Space
limited. Details – 206-932-6064 Register – 206-932-4044.Wednesday, September 9 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. “Rooftop Roundup” at Merrill Gardens
West Seattle – 4611 – 35th S.W. 4:30 p.m. Arrive at the Rooftop and Get your photo
taken with the Seattle skyline backdrop Mix and mingle with assorted beverages
5:00-6:00 p.m. Honky tonk Music by Joe and Lou (guitar/fiddle) for listening and
dancing while enjoying appetizers by Chef Lisa Yates.
6:00 pm Free Shuttle service for those who park at West Seattle Golf Course parking
lot.
Donation $6 members/$8 non-members. Paid reservations – 206-932-4044. Proceeds
benefit the Air Conditioning Fund for the Senior Center West SeattleWednesdays, and September 2 and October 7 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Lauren Petrie
plays for a Dance time. Lauren Petrie, popular keyboard player and vocalist from
the closed Corner Inn, plays for dancing and listening. Suggested donation $5. The
following are sponsors of various evenings are Terry Ward and Mary Back and the West
Seattle Line Dancers.Rainbow Bingo with a “Fall Sports” theme on Friday, September 25 and a “Halloween”
theme on Friday, October 23 starting at 7:00 p.m. for donation of $15 in advance and
$20 at door. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. with food, beverages,entertainment and viewing
of decorated baskets that are prizes. Celebrity caller Sylvia O’Stayformore will be
assisted by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and there will be an Auction, Split
the Pot, and much more. Reservations only with prepayment of cash or credit card.
Sponsors are: Merrill Gardens, Dignity Memorial. Park West Care Center, Helene
Robertson of CFP Social Responsible Investments, Dawn Leverett of WindermereMondays, September 28 and October 26 starting at 5:30 p.m Strawberry Waffles and
Sausage Dinner for only $6 and Big Band music Reservations requested.FREE “Harvest Festival” on Tuesday, October 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Crafts,
flu shots for $30, Bake Sale, and other vendors. Contact Carol at 206-932-4044 ext.
3 for vendor tables.Call D’Vorah Kost, Social Workers at 206-268-6704 for following services: Vision
Loss, Diabetes, Caregivers, Hearing support Group, Breathe Well, Matter of Balance,
Living Well with Chronic Condition, Easy Yoga, Transitions and counseling.Alki Duplicate Bridge Club meet on Mondays from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For info
call Nick 425-387-2610 aor Mark 206-328-3408.Call 206-932-4044 for dates for day and Casino trips to Tulalip Rochester,
Clearwater, Emerald Queen, etcExtended Trips are planned for: 4 star overnight at Suncadia Resort Sept. 9-10;
Tropical Costa Rico Nov. 11-19; Branson at Christmas Dec. 10-14 and Heart of Texas
May 9-17, 2010.
Hikes to Chehalis Western Trail on Monday September 14 from 9:00 am to 2:30 p.m.;
and Rattlesnake Ridge on Monday, October 5 from 9:00 a..m. to 2:30 p.m. Register
with Mari at 206-684-4664
Pinochle with no partner needed played on Mondays, 9:30 am to 12:00 noon; and
Thursdays from12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Donations.Bridge with no partners needed on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Donations
Mondays, 1:00 to 3:00 pm Poker for fun has been started with variety of games and
easy rules. Call for details
Tuesdays, September 9 and October 13 starting at 10:00 a.m. Appointments needed for
Senior Rights Assistance with Medicare questions.
Fridays, September 25 and October 23 from 9:00 am to 12 noon Dental Access Program
for Seniors 60 and over. Free Education presentations, evaluation of teeth and gums
and dental hygiene , personal oral hygiene and cancer screenings. Complete a packet
to receive affordable routine * therapeutic dental cleanings by licensed dental
hygienists and fluoride applications. Call for an appointment.
Mondays at 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. The Ukes play ukulele music to singalong songs joined
by various instruments. Ukulele players, singers and musicians are invited to this
Open music session. Dancers are invited too. SUPA (Seattle Ukulele Players Assoc.)
will meet from 1:30 to 4:30 pm. on SUNDAY, September 13 at Northwest Senior Center
and SUNDAY, October 4 at Senior Center West Seattle Hatten Hall.
Computer classes on Basics and other computer classes are offered at nominal fee.
Call for dates, times and costs. Every Monday from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. is a Free Open
Lab with computer helpers.Mondays starting at 9:00 a.m. Foot Care for $22. Appointments needed.
Monday, Wednesday, Fridays at 8:00 and 9:00 a.m., Enhance Fitness Exercise classes
of aerobics, balance, stretching, and using wrist and ankle wrights are offered to
those with a filled out form from their doctor.
Mondays, at 9:30 a.m. and Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. ongoing, Pinochle, no partner
needed, cost $1 member / $2 non-member. Poker for fun is also played at 1:00 p.m.
Tuesdays at 11:45 a.m. – Blood Pressure Readings by Dr. Catherine Orsi, ND, LMP
Tuesdays 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. Food Outlet for residents in zip areas of 98116, 98126
and 98136
Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. Hardanger (Scandinavian embroidery)
Tuesdays (second and fourth) at 7:00 p.m. Quilting group meets and has 3 day
Quilting Retreats four times a year.
Eight hour workshops over two days for Defensive Diving with Trained volunteers from
AARP. Cost: $14, payable to AARP. Register for available classes.
A CPR & First Aid Trainings-An Ounce of Prevention. Cost is $50/$55. Register
Scott 206-734-7484
Call for Free 20 minute Legal Consultation. Several dates available.
Tuesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. ongoing Tai Chi; cost $10 walk in or monthly fee.
Call for dates and costs for Chair Massage
Wednesday mornings Meals on Wheels are delivered to homebound seniors. To order food
or to volunteer call 206-448-5767 .Thursdays, ongoing 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Line Dancing classes with Alice Crawford for
$3 or $2 members.Fridays, ongoing, 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Bingo played by 18 years and older for
$$’s; only $6 plus additional games.
Fridays at 1:00 p.m. – Free Movies . Call for titles.
Call for days and times Wii games are available to play. Center has Sports games
i.e. bowling, baseball, boxing, tennis and golf.Senior Center West Seattle promotes Generation BIG with Big Brothers and Big Sisters
of Puget Sound. Seeking peope who can spend time having fun with a child at
Highland Park Elementary School. Call 206-763-9060
Received from People for Puget Sound:
Hundreds of volunteers are needed to work at nine
restoration sites along Seattle¹s Duwamish River at the semi-annual Duwamish
Alive! work day set for Saturday October 17.³This is the last big volunteer outdoor event of the year and a great chance
for families to get out and pitch in to make our community and our hometown
river a better, healthier place,² said Dhira Brown, People For Puget Sound
Restoration Ecologist and event coordinator.Over a thousand volunteers worked at 12 sites at the Duwamish Alive! Earth
Day in April weeding, mulching, planting and cleaning up. Volunteers are
provided tools, gloves, instructions, and refreshment. Work on October 17
begins at 10 AM and ends at 2 PM.October work sites include: Herrings House Park, West Seattle Greenbelt,
Brandon Street Restoration Area, Gateway Park North, Roxhill Park, Hamm
Creek Estuary, Duwamish Riverbend Hill, and Codiga Farm. A cleanup work crew
using kayaks will also be organized.For complete program information and instructions on how to sign up for work
crews, go to www.duwamishalive.org.The Duwamish Alive! Coalition includes the following organizations:
Alki Kayak Tours | Cascade Land Conservancy | CleanScapes | City of Seattle
| City of Tukwila | Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition | EarthCorps | Edwards
Mother Earth Foundation | Elliott Bay Restoration Panel | Environmental
Coalition of South Seattle | EOS Alliance | U. S. Environmental Protection
Agency | Friends of Duwamish Riverbend Hill | Green/Duwamish and Central
Puget Sound Watershed Forum of Local Governments | Green Seattle
Partnership | Georgetown Community Council | IM-A-PAL Foundation | King
County | King Conservation District | Longfellow Creek Watershed Council |
Nature Consortium | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | People
For Puget Sound | Port of Seattle | REI | Restore America¹s Estuaries |
Seattle Parks and Recreation | Veterans Conservation Corps | Washington
State Department of Ecology.
Those are portions of three photos sent by Mark – we’re not showing or publishing the entire three-letter tag on the fence, or the spray-paint vandalism on the van (a face on the hood and a splotch over the gas cap), but he’s wondering if anyone else had anything similar happen to them:
I live at the corner of 39th/Stevens [map], in the Admiral district. (Saturday) night someone tagged my fence and my neighbors’ van. Seattle police were called and the officer mentioned another incident with the “T(-)X” tag being used. Needless to say I am quite pissed and if anyone else has seen the same tag please notify Seattle PD.
Mark says it’s all been “removed” now, and while his neighborhood has not had a tagging problem before, a recent break-in has neighbors “on edge” and now they’re stepping up their vigilance even further.
Beach volleyball is an Alki fixture – now, beach soccer has hit the sand. West Seattle photojournalist Matt Durham from mattdurhamphotography.com covered today’s first-ever Sounders FC Beach Blast Tournament for WSB. The event was for amateur, adult players; 30+ teams signed up. Top photo: “Baranoff FC” (in red) threads the needle through two “West Side” (in white) players as sand flies. Next: Rory Sheehan from Buckley, sporting a “soccer mullet” and soccer-ball tattoo. Rory told Matt he’s been an avid soccer fan since childhood and has had the tattoo for 12 years:
The action was fast-paced and high-scoring, with short fields and small goals – here, in green, Seattle team “Synergy,” and in peach, the “What The’s,” also from Seattle:
Members of the same two teams are in this photo, showing the high level of sportsmanship that accompanied the high level of competitive action:
One more photo – captioned by Matt: “West Side launches a tremendous distance, off the sand, to head the ball toward Baranoff’s goal.”
Haven’t found a list of results online yet – send ’em if you have ’em, or else we’ll check with the tournament sponsors tomorrow.
The idea for this event hatched on the North Delridge Neighborhood Council e-mail list this past week – and they’re ready to trumpet the news:
ICE CREAM SOCIAL
Thursday, August 27th, 6:30-8:30 p.m.Cottage Grove Park
( 5206-26th Ave. SW , 2 blocks west of Delridge Way , between Brandon and Puget) [map]Come have fun, meet your neighbors, play your favorite lawn games, and enjoy a sweet treat.
Bring your own bowl and a favorite game (Frisbee, horseshoes, bocce, croquet, badminton, etc.).
All are welcome–we look forward to seeing you there!
The North Delridge Community Council meets the 1st Wednesday of every month, 6:30-7:45 pm, at the Delridge Library to engage in local issues, build community, and much more.
Contact us at northdelridge@gmail.com
(WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli)
The Admiral District’s next new restaurant is days away from opening: 4 months after first word that Brickyard BBQ was moving into space just south of Admiral Pub (map), WSB Forum members have been wondering when they’ll open. So Christopher Boffoli stopped by this afternoon on behalf of WSB to check, and reports that this Wednesday (August 26) is expected to be its official opening day. He reports that the activity spotted there in recent days has been “soft opening” activity for friends and family, as is traditional in the restaurant business. For our last report in late July, the owners told us they’d be serving Texas-style barbecue, likely 11 am-10 pm.
Four months ago, North Delridge Neighborhood Council co-chair Mike Dady led a tour of “problem properties” in the area – including rundown homes that sit vacant (like the one above at 3804 23rd SW, where another complaint is under investigation now), often frequented by squatters, posing safety and sanitation risks to neighboring residents and businesses. (Here’s our detailed report.) Two City Councilmembers — Sally Clark and Tim Burgess — plus one council candidate (David Bloom) and two city department heads were along for the tour; action was promised on several fronts, including a potential city rule change to allow properties to be demolished even if a plan for their replacement has not been approved. Dady followed up with the city this past week and learned that rule change is making it through the system; here’s the “determination of non-significance” published last month as part of the process – according to Department of Planning and Development director Diane Sugimura, one of the city officials who joined April’s tour, no one appealed that notice, so the ordinance went to the mayor’s office last week – you can read its full text here. Mayoral and council approval are required; we’ll follow its progress through the system.
(Photos by WSB contributing journalist Kathy Mulady)
If you haven’t been to West Seattle Farmers’ Market yet today … as always, it continues till 2 pm, with a profusion of late-summer flowers, including sunflowers and gladiolus.
The next special event at the market, by the way, is Tomato-Tasting Day, two weeks from today, with the Zucchini 500 races a week after that.
We have received half a dozen notes now about this – some wondering what’s happening, and one with a little information, so we are sharing that info to let people know it is being checked out: An audible alarm has been going off for more than 12 hours at an Admiral-area home. (We will not get more specific about the address – if you are in the area, you know; any comments that get more specific will be deleted, since this is obviously a currently unoccupied house.) According to one nearby resident, whose note had the subject line “The never-ending burglar alarm,” police have checked it out repeatedly, but the alarm does not seem to be tied to any particular company, so it can’t be disabled, and no one’s been able to reach the residents by phone so far. Another nearby resident, Kristen, described the situation: “It’s been going ALL night…kinda putting a buzz kill on our Sunday morning.” 11:26 AM UPDATE: Just got word it’s finally stopped.
Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
West Seattleites had the chance to learn the story behind a popular park on Saturday morning, as the Southwest Seattle Historical Society presented a Live History Talk and Walk at Me-Kwa-Mooks Park, featuring Alan Schmitz — grandson of Ferdinand and Emma Schmitz — describing the area as he came to know it as a child.
He was joined by SWSHS president Judy Bentley (photo below) and by Joan Hockaday of the Olmsted Society, author of Greenscapes—Olmsted’s Pacific Northwest (photo above with Schmitz), about the famed designer of parks in Seattle and elsewhere.
Sharing stories and memories, Mr. Schmitz painted a picture of Me-Kwa-Mooks very different from what we see today.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Not only will fruit and vegetables abound at today’s market (10 am-2 pm, 44th/Alaska, map) — here’s the Ripe ‘n’ Ready lineup — but fresh fish is in the spotlight too — Loki says via Twitter that it’s selling its last fresh Alaskan salmon of the season.
DELRIDGE PRODUCE CO-OP MOBILE MARKET: Third day of its second 4-day week, which means you’ll find them today next to Cottage Grove Park (map/address), 11 am-3 pm. The photo at left is from Saturday’s session, with rainbow carrots among the offerings again. If you’ve missed our earlier reports, this is a four-week experiment to see if Delridge can support an enterprise that would offer fresh, healthy food, explained here, and while it’s in the experimental stage, the produce is free (just fill out a quick survey!).
BENEFIT FOR NURSES’ TRIP TO SENEGAL: Tonight’s your chance to support nurses Syd and Susie‘s trip to provide health care in Africa (previewed here) by donating supplies and/or money – and the place to do it is The Bohemian, starting at 5:30 pm.
More in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
Fire-dancing at dusk was featured again this year at the Nature Consortium‘s Arts-in-Nature Festival, which opens its second and final day at Camp Long at 11 this morning – last night, however, a different act ignited the fire … The Cabiri. These photographs are by Greg Wright, who also caught the aerial troupe in a less-incendiary moment:
Though The Cabiri isn’t on today’s Arts-in-Nature schedule, so much more is — see the schedule by looking here — including the Camp Long cabins in their temporary new roles as art zones:
Arts-in-Nature Festival runs 11 am-6 pm today at Camp Long (map/address); admission is by donation, $5. (Here’s our earlier report with WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli‘s video and photos; added Sunday morning – Christopher has put together another video with scenes from the end of Night 1:)
First – from Saturday night’s Outdoor Movies on the Wall finale – iPhone snaps shared by Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) proprietor (and Movies on the Wall ringleader) Lora Lewis, who estimates 250 people parked themselves in the courtyard for “Cars,” including the ones shown above as they waited for the free barbecue offered before the movie by West Seattle Christian Church. Also on hand, reps from the West Seattle Food Bank and White Center Food Bank – WC Food Bank’s Rick Jump and WS Food Bank’s Heather Hsu:
The food banks were the beneficiaries of Saturday night’s raffle proceeds. (As a Movies on the Wall co-sponsor, we’d also like to thank everybody who made this a spectacular season – dating all the way back to the springtime call for movie suggestions.) Meantime — earlier Saturday in The Junction, the “Big Bonanza“ end-of-summer sale took centerstage. We brought you an in-progress report Saturday morning; here are more photos and vignettes from WSB contributing journalist Kathy Mulady — first, canine companion Cooper eager to move along as Carolyn Magoon checked out the table outside Capers:
Kathy also reports that “the West Seattle Junction Association booth at California/Alaska, hay bales and all, was the scene of spontaneous squirt gun battles between volunteer Meghan Sykas and nearly anyone who could do with some cooling off. Little Anna Morris, 3, was more than willing to accept the challenge, dousing not only Sykas, but some who were standing too close.”
The Junction’s booth also offered sheriff badges and bandannas, like the ones that 2-year-old Riley Yip is sporting here:
Next big event in The Junction: The second annual West Seattle Junction Car Show (co-sponsored by WSB), closing the streets to celebrate cool wheels on September 20th (we hear pre-registration’s going well; if you want to get in on it, here’s where to start).
They’re by no means rare, but when coyote sightings are brought to our attention, we pass them along as a reminder that you’ll want to make sure your pets are inside, etc. Just got a call from Pam, who lives along lower Lincoln Park Way, north of Lincoln Park, east of Lowman Beach (vicinity map), and says a coyote’s been hanging around behind her house for going on an hour now, so she wanted to make sure others got the word. (Past coyote reports, some with photos, are archived here.)
We’ve received a flurry of notes/texts asking about those fireworks a bit earlier tonight; here’s what they were all about – a wedding, per Magnolia Voice.
WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli covered today’s Great Cross-Sound Race from Alki to Blakely Rock and back — an annual tradition for Sound Rowers — with video and photos. Here’s his shot of the nautical chart of the course:
And a still shot of the winners, in #4, Rainer Storb and Todd Silver, who finished in 52:24:
In second, 16 seconds behind (according to the published results), the rower who’s finished first as a solo the past two years, Evan Jacobs; third place, 29 seconds behind 1st place, Tyler Peterson; fourth, at 54:36, race directors Jeff and Theresa Knakal. The competitors spanned a wide age range; here’s Jack Fleming emerging from Elliott Bay:
Also, a diverse range of watercraft:
In addition to Christopher’s video, photos and reporting above — Greg Wright e-mailed photos to share – here’s the always-impressive crowd shot, looking out from shore:
For Sound Rowers’ full-season race schedule, go here. (Added early Sunday – link to full results from Saturday’s race.)
The WSB Forums have been abuzz about this – and we finally have a link to share from one of the photographers who caught it on camera: An (apparently) old Ivar’s sign fished out of Elliott Bay off West Seattle shores last night. See it here at seattletimes.com. Whether it’s history … is for now a mystery.
| 3 COMMENTS