Superintendent’s decision: Seattle Parks WILL ban all tobacco use

We’ve just confirmed with Seattle Parks that Superintendent Tim Gallagher has decided NOT to go with the Parks Board‘s recommendation regarding tobacco use in parks – and will instead put a full tobacco-use ban into place. It’s part of Gallagher’s final decision on the “Code of Conduct” that the board reviewed over the past month. He issued a memo today including this:

The Board (by a vote of 3-2) recommended limiting the ban on tobacco products (Section 3.2.10) to select areas within parks. The inclusion of a ban on tobacco products is in response to the recommendation from Public Health: Seattle King County (Attachment 1) and Seattle City Council members. It is also a stated goal in the Departments 2008 Strategic Action Plan (2.A.3) which was developed through extensive community input. The majority of the comments received by the Board on the Code of Conduct supported the prohibition as well. The negative health effects of tobacco are well documented. As an agency that has as a fundamental mission to support the health and wellbeing of Seattle residents, it is appropriate and beneficial to prohibit the use of tobacco products at parks and park facilities. I have decided to retain the language proposed by staff prohibiting smoking, chewing or other tobacco use anywhere on Parks and Recreation property.

Here’s the full, final Code of Conduct. Side note: Parks Board chair Jackie Ramels is scheduled to talk about this and other parks issues at tomorrow night’s meeting of the Alki Community Council (of which she’s a former president), 7 pm Thursday, Alki UCC.

Upcoming 23rd SW closure: SDOT info on no-parking zones

People who live in, and travel through, North Delridge/Pigeon Point/Puget Ridge are still working to sort out how they’ll get around when a section of 23rd SW, just southeast of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, closes for up to six weeks starting next Monday, so a sewer line can be extended to new homes that are being built in the area. Yesterday, we published the Route 125 bus re-routing information from Metro; today, SDOT confirms the parking restrictions that will be put into place, with signs going up as soon as tomorrow. There’s a pedestrian advisory too. Read on for details:Read More

Feds fail to fund South Park Bridge replacement proposal

King County Executive Dow Constantine says he’ll keep pushing for federal help to replace the South Park Bridge – which the county has said will have to close, , potentially as soon as this summer, if money can’t be found to keep it open. This, as word comes that the county did NOT get the “TIGER” grant (explained here) it was seeking (here’s a national overview on what DID get funded – locally, it included the city’s “Mercer Mess” $30 million request). We’re pursuing other details on this, but for starters, read on for Constantine’s statement (followed by, added 3:19 pm, Councilmember Jan Drago‘s statement):Read More

@ West Seattle Crime Prevention Council: Latest local stats

From last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, the latest local crime stats, as presented by Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James. For context (we clarified this last night) – these stats are from the month preceding the meeting, so “January” means mid-December to mid-January, “February” means mid-January to mid-February, and they are for the entire SW Precinct territory, which includes South Park as well as West Seattle. Lt. James noted that the stats are fresh for these meetings because the WSCPC meetings happen to come hours after a regular citywide meeting at which precinct-by-precinct stats are presented. Category by category:

UP – ARMED ROBBERIES:
7 in February, up from 2 in January
*Key point: Police are investigating a “pattern of armed robberies” attributed to the same three suspects. Five were in West Seattle, one outside city jurisdiction, “south county.” Four were mini-market robberies (including the Feb. 4 7-11 heist that yielded the photo above), late night or early morning, one involved someone “walking down the street.” All involved three suspects, one with a handgun. No arrests yet. The Feb. 8 Jack-in-the-Box holdup was NOT part of the pattern (no arrests yet in that either).

*What’s being done: “We’re doing surveillance on all the mini-marts,” Lt. James said. He also noted that the pattern robbers have been inactive “for almost two weeks now.”

As for other major crime categories – read on for the rest of the stats:Read More

Tonight: Delridge Council; Sealth playoff game; free class; more

DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: Reps from community councils and organizations in eastern West Seattle gather monthly to talk about what’s new and what’s ahead, and you’re invited to join them. When they meet tonight at 7 in the theater at Youngstown Arts Center, the agenda also includes an update on Camp Long‘s renovation project and local proposals for the Neighborhood Projects Fund.

CHIEF SEALTH PLAYOFF GAME: The boys’ varsity basketball team plays Seattle Prep in the league semifinals, 7 pm at Prep (2400 11th Ave. E).

FREE WOMEN’S-SELF-DEFENSE CLASS: Sima Martial Arts (WSB sponsor) is presenting this free class at 7:15 tonight at the Sima studio in The Junction, 4711 42nd SW (across from the north end of Jefferson Square). Call 935-4531 to sign up.

FINAL WEEK FOR “LOVE SONG”: Tonight marks the start of the final five-performance week for ArtsWest‘s current production. 7:30 pm, tickets available online.

What else is up? Here’s the frequently updated WSB Events calendar.

New online group for West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network

In the WSB Forums, there’s been talk of forming a network for Block Watch captains in West Seattle – since there’s no official way for them to communicate right now, they’re launching an informal organization. Several met to talk in person Monday afternoon – then at Tuesday night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, the next step was announced: A Facebook group is now set up to organize the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network. If you head up a Block Watch in West Seattle, go here to join. They’re not trying to set up a new place to report crime, but rather, to bring West Seattle neighborhoods together to prevent it. (Don’t have a Block Watch? Form one with the help of SPD Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlowgo here.) More from last night’s meeting, including the latest local crime trends, later this morning.

Traffic alert: 2-car-rollover crash shuts southbound Viaduct/99

(we’ve added additional info to this story later Wednesday)

ORIGINAL 10:50 PM REPORT: For anyone heading toward West Seattle soon from downtown or points north of there – the Alaskan Way Viaduct is shut down southbound because of a complicated crash that’s being sorted out – reportedly involving two cars, one of which is reported to be upside down on southbound 99 around Holgate, another of which is upside down on railroad tracks. At least three “patients” reported, between the two cars, per scanner traffic.

(Photo by CLIFF DESPEAUX/Seattle Times, used with permission of the Times, added Wednesday afternoon)
11:05 PM UPDATE: Just heard the full rundown via the scanner. 4 people involved in the 2 vehicles, both of which are described as totaled, both having “barrel-rolled” multiple times. The driver of the car that “left the Viaduct” was a 30-year-old man, driver of the car that rolled on 99, a 34-year-old man, and two men in their mid-20s were in the back seat of the car that stayed on 99. The worst of the injuries is described as the driver of the second vehicle possibly having a broken arm. They all got themselves out of the wrecked vehicles and are all going to the hospital.

11:34 PM: Here’s a Twitpic looking at one of the cars, from a distance, parallel with Starbucks HQ, from Seattle Times (WSB citywide-news partner) photographer Cliff DesPeaux. And from seattlepi.com‘s Casey McNerthney, here’s the other car.

11:59 PM: Per the scanner, police expect to keep southbound 99 closed for “several hours” – traffic has to get off at the 1st So. offramp by the stadiums.

12:30 AM: Cliff’s “official” Times photos are now published here. (minutes later) SPDBlotter has just published a summary of the situation.

7:29 AM: 99 southbound reopened a few hours, and SPD has published an update saying the Civic apparently was racing another car – NOT the one it hit. Here’s the update.

2 PM WEDNESDAY: SPD says the 30-year-old driver of the Civic has been booked into King County Jail for investigation of vehicular assault, now that he’s out of the hospital.

West Seattle scenes: Almost spring

With what winter we had (didn’t have) indisputably fading, springlike beauty keeps cropping up. The field of primroses was photographed by WSB’er “westseattledood” at Westwood Village QFC. Along for the walk – the faithful companion, checking out the daffodils:

Also out and about this afternoon (as usual) – Chas Redmond, who caught the beauty of Alki even as the afternoon clouds started crowding out the sun:

East of there, Chas says he asked workers what’s up with the 53rd Avenue Pump Station work – which’ll be discussed at Thursday night’s Alki Community Council meeting – and they told him the pedestrian path should be open within a week or so; then there’s still work to do on the outside traffic lane. ADDED 12:33 AM: Two more MUST-SEE photos – West Seattleite Alice Enevoldsen shares husband Jason Gift Enevoldsen‘s photos of the Tuesday night crescent moon on her website, here.

Door-to-door alert: “It’s just a penny”

Out of the WSB inbox, from BJ:

I had a suspicious solicitor come to my door this afternoon around 3 pm in the 5200 block of 25th Ave SW. He was holding pamphlets and I believe he mentioned something about Seattle Public Schools. He looked very unprofessional and raggedy dressed. When I cut him off in the middle of his pitch to tell him I had no money, he replied “it’s just a penny” and looked upset. I said sorry but I had nothing for him and he took the pamphlet back that he had handed to me and walked away. As he was leaving I saw him closely look into a parked car on the street as he went up to another neighbor’s house. He continued down the street skipping some houses but hitting others in no clear order that I could put together. It left me with enough of a negative impression that I called 911 and reported him.

Fat Tuesday in West Seattle: Metropolitan Market’s paczki-palooza

February 16, 2010 8:41 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle video

This is about as wild as it gets on Fat Tuesday in West Seattle – at least, before the sun goes down. For the second year in a row, Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) stores from around the area sent reps to the Admiral store for a celebration of paczki – filled-donut-type pastries that are Fat Tuesday traditions. That celebration included a 3-minute paczki-eating contest – our clip above shows the first half (or so) of the contest, and below, the announcement of the winner!

Same as last year, the winner was the rep from Queen Anne Metropolitan Market. Spectators were “winners” in their own way, treated to free paczki and coffee. And you can still buy paczki in the Metro Market bakery, four options for fillings – chocolate, vanilla, lemon or raspberry.

“Creating a Great Central Waterfront” meeting set for West Seattle

February 16, 2010 5:07 pm
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 |   Development | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The latest issue to get a round of public meetings organized by the city: “Creating a Great Central Waterfront.” One of the four meetings will be in West Seattle. Read on for the news release that just came in:Read More

23rd SW construction closure update: How the 125 will be rerouted

Quick followup to last week’s reports/discussion about the closure of a section of 23rd SW southeast of Youngstown Arts Center, starting next Monday, related to nearby homebuilding. Many people wondered about the rerouting plan for Metro’s Route 125. Today we’ve received it from King County’s Rochelle Ogershok – it’s way too complicated to cut and paste here, so take a look at the PDF. She adds, “We will also be sending out an alert to Route 125 subscribers when the details are posted online” (sign up here for alerts) – and suggests anyone affected check the Metro website a day or two ahead of time, in case of last-minute revisions.

2 Crime Watch cases: West Seattle Cellars break-in; bike stolen

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports. First – a tough start to the year for West Seattle Cellars, and this didn’t make it any better: They’re cleaning up this afternoon after an overnight break-in, less than a month after store co-proprietor Bear Silverstein was laid to rest. After receiving tips via phone and e-mail (thanks), we just went to the shop (map) to find out about the reported burglary. Tom DiStefano tells us somebody broke through the glass door overnight, cut themselves in the process – police are getting DNA samples from the blood – and upended the cash register, but it was empty. In the end, he says, all the burglar(s) made off with was, he says, “a couple bottles of French wine.” Tom stresses that they’re OPEN for business, all’s well, you’ll just have to go in the side door while they’re cleaning up. Now, the second case: You’re asked to be on the lookout for this stolen bicycle:

Via Facebook, Gini tells us:

We live in the 11400 block of Marine View Dr SW [map] … The 50’s vintage bike was red, white and blue and had a metal basket with a white primrose planted in a clay pot. (which they smashed on the driveway) The bike had sat there at our gate for 3 years and brought joy to me everyday. Walkers would stop and take pictures and folks were always telling us how much they liked it…

She says it was stolen sometime this morning. Meantime, we’ll mention it again: If you have concerns/questions about local crime and safety issues, TONIGHT is the monthly meeting of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, a citizen-volunteer-led group but always attended by local police who answer questions as well as updating the latest cases and trends, 7 pm, meeting room at the Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster; there’s parking on the SW side of the building, enter off Webster).

More West Seattle biznotes: Swinery update, Bakery Nouveau tunes

SWINERY UPDATE: When we reported their “remodeling shutdown” plan last week, they were planning to be open through this Friday before closing for a few weeks. Instead, their pre-closing sale was so successful, proprietor Gabriel Claycamp reported via Facebook, they’re closed now (except possibly for a TBA “bacon sale”). Meantime, another hot West Seattle food business added something special at lunchtime today for Fat Tuesday:

BAKERY NOUVEAU TUNES: Thanks to Michael at Liberty Bell Printing across the street for the tip: Outside Bakery Nouveau, patrons and passersby were serenaded by members of Swamp Soul (seen here last August during the inaugural Admiral Neighborhood Association Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series). (1:40 pm) Thanks also to Meryl at Sleepers in Seattle and Edgar from Captive Eye Media for sending pix – we just substituted Meryl’s photo for our original on-the-run BlackBerry snap. BN’s Fat Tuesday fare includes paczkis, the filled donuts that also were celebrated in a competition at Metropolitan Market/Admiral (WSB sponsor) today (video of that coming up – but [added] here’s a photo shared by Pam, two of the kids she took to watch the festivities):

New West Seattle Junction business on the way: Knows Perfume

Story and photos by Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

A guy walks into an empty storefront and gets asked about perfume.

It sounds like a joke, but it’s actually what happens when Mike Ross stops to ask what new business is going in at 4536 California SW (map) in The Junction.

“How do you feel about perfume?” he’s asked.

“I don’t,” is his reply.

Christen Cottam is out to change that.

This April, she’ll be opening a perfumery, Knows Perfume, in that space (formerly home to Westside Alterations).

Read More

Update: Candles blamed for 25th SW house fire; 5 escape

(scroll down for newest info – adding fire cause at 2:47 pm)

(top photo courtesy Aimee, added 8:07 am; photo below, our original cameraphone pic from 7:01 am)

ORIGINAL 6:49 AM REPORT: Checking on house fire call in 5600 block of 25th SW (map). In e-mail, Aimee says the house was at one point “fully engulfed in flames.” According to the scanner, “one occupant of the house has received some injuries” and is getting help from the Medic 32 crew at the scene. 7:01 AM: Fire reported “knocked down … with hot spots and heavy debris.” Our crew has just arrived – added cameraphone photo above. From the front, house appears pretty much gutted. 7:17 AM: On scene, SFD tells us that five people got out safely (we’d heard on the scanner that was “one male, four females”). The fire is not believed to be “suspicious” but the cause is still under investigation. Still checking on the status of the person who’s being treated in Medic 32 at scene. (update) We’re told that the “one male” they were trying to check for smoke inhalation, refused treatment. 7:55 AM: In the media briefing at the scene, deputy chief Jessie Youngs said two of the people were in the basement and a neighbor was slightly hurt getting them out. Here’s our video of his 2-minute briefing:

And here’s a clip of firefighters inside the house once the fire was out (except for hot spots):

10:03 AM: Just checked with SFD; investigators are still working to figure out how this fire started. 2:48 PM UPDATE: Seattle Fire has just announced the fire’s cause – accidental, started by “unattended candles.” Damage estimate: $200,000. More info on SFD’s Fire Line site – including candle-safety information.

Today/tonight: Music camp, furloughs, Fat Tuesday x 3, more…

MID-WINTER BREAK MUSIC CAMP STARTS TODAY – and there’s still room at this camp for 4th-8th grade musicians, held at Denny International Middle School, according to this comment from leader Marcus Pimpleton on our original announcement. Be there, 9 am. Details here.

CITY FURLOUGHS – The city’s spreading its money-saving furlough days around – today, Neighborhood Service Centers (including The Junction and Delridge) are closed, and some SDOT workers are on furlough.

STATE OF THE CITY – Not a furlough day for Mayor Mike McGinn; he’s giving his first State of the City speech at 2 pm. If you can’t be at City Hall to see it in person, watch live on Seattle Channel, online or on cable 21.

FAT TUESDAY #1 – PACZKIS GONE WILD: It’s Fat Tuesday, and the second annual edition of a wacky tradition at Metropolitan Market/Admiral (WSB sponsor) – an intracompany competition involving the filled Polish donuts called paczkis (pronounced POONCH-keys). You’re welcome to watch (and we’re told paczkis and coffee will be handed out to spectators), 11 am. (Here’s our story from last year.)

FAT TUESDAY #2 – MATADOR HAITI FUNDRAISER: Matador‘s donating all its profits today/tonight, all locations including West Seattle, to Haiti quake relief.

FAT TUESDAY #3 – BRIDGE PARK PARTY: For Mardi Gras at Bridge Park in High Point, Southern dinner & dancing, 5:30 pm, call to RSVP: 206-938-6394.

WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL AND SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE TONIGHT: As previewed here.

And more! on the WSB Events calendar!

Video: Touring the Duwamish River – “Yes, it’s a river”

February 16, 2010 2:35 am
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 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle video

Monday in Olympia, supporters of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition were among those joining environmental and education advocates who rallied to raise concerns about the state budget (as explained here, with rally photos here). While DRCC is an advocacy group that also makes the rounds of neighborhood groups and festivals), much of their awareness-raising happens on the river itself. “Yes, it is a river,” as group leaders reminded during a recent tour. They pointed out the good, the bad, and the ugly – perhaps the best example of the former, the wildlife in our video above that’s found a way to co-exist with the industrial development: Two eagles (our video shows one) perched on the heavy equipment atop a barge. The river tour co-sponsored by ARCADE was meant to highlight the “built environment” as well as nature – ahead, more of the sights in both categories:Read More

Tuesday night: Walkable neighborhoods; safer neighborhoods

February 15, 2010 9:18 pm
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 |   Crime | Sustainable West Seattle | West Seattle news

SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE: The monthly meeting moves to neighboring South Park tomorrow for a presentation on “Walkable, Livable Communities,” featuring the Northwest Ecobuilding Guild suggesting “allowing more housing in single-family neighborhoods – done the right way” can create those kinds of communities. Full details are on the SWS website; it starts at 7 pm tomorrow at the South Park Community Center, 8319 8th Ave. South (map).

WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: In addition to a crime-trends update from, and Q/A with, Southwest Precinct police, there’s a guest speaker this month from the Department of Planning and Development: Karen White focuses on “code compliance” and will talk about so-called “working with neighborhoods to rid the area of nuisance properties, especially abandoned houses and business buildings.” WSCPC’s website invites questions in advance, in case there are specific situations you want to see addressed – westseattlecpc@gmail.com – check out the website’s new look (blog format so it’s easier to have fresher info). Tomorrow’s meeting is 7 pm, Southwest Precinct meeting room (west side of the building at Delridge/Webster).

Help trees, & people who plant them: Nature Consortium brunch

February 15, 2010 5:02 pm
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 |   Environment | Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

Earlier today, we mentioned the West Seattle Helpline‘s “Taste of West Seattle” coming up May 13th, and their call for more local restaurants to be part of it. (Here’s that story.) Right now, news of another tasty West Seattle event for a good cause — the Nature Consortium‘s second annual benefit brunch, noon Sunday, March 14, at The Hall at Fauntleroy. WSB is proud to be among the event sponsors. The Nature Consortium’s main mission is to work in the West Duwamish Greenbelt, along the eastern edge of West Seattle, restoring it to healthy forest-hood. They’re based at Youngstown Arts Center here in WSB. You can go to the NC’s site to find out more about the benefit brunch and how to RSVP.

Update: Crash at west end of westbound West Seattle Bridge

ORIGINAL 3:02 PM REPORT: On our way to check out another crash. Jill sent first word of this – “a major accident westbound in the bridge just above Admiral/Avalon exit. All lanes blocked by rescue vehicles…” 911 log confirms a “heavy rescue” response to that scene. Via Facebook, Mark describes what he saw: “Two cars, one car upside down, people inside.” 3:12 PM: We’re still working to get a viewpoint of the scene but we can tell you that cars are getting off The Bridge at the Admiral/Avalon exit, so it’s west of there. 3:34 PM: Thanks to commenters for updates, including this from CJZ: “We were driving about 100+ yards behind when the one vehicle suddenly spun and rolled violently. There just happened to be an American Med. Response rig to my right as we were driving across the WS Freeway and they were able to respond within seconds.” 4:13 PM: The traffic cam for the end of The Bridge at Fauntleroy shows traffic, which indicates the scene’s clear.

Update: Tom Stewart confirmed dead in Arizona helicopter crash

A commenter in our earlier story has forwarded a letter from Services Group of America confirming the helicopter-crash death of chair/owner Tom Stewart, whose company was headquartered in North Delridge until 2006. The Seattle Times (WSB partner) is now also quoting the company as confirming Mr. Stewart’s death, as well as 4 others who were on board the SGA-owned chopper that went down in Cave Creek, Arizona. Here’s the letter; if you can’t open the PDF, we’ve cut/pasted the text after the jump (added 3:23 pm, here’s the official company news release):Read More

Another West Seattle cover dog for CityDog Magazine: Murphy

For the second year in a row, West Seattle’s pooch population has produced the Cover Dog Model Search winner for CityDog Magazine (headquartered in West Seattle). CDM’s Brandie Ahlgren sent this sneak peek at the cover with wheaten terrier Murphy, who went to the finals (as noted here in September) after winning the photo shoot held at West Seattle Thriftway. Brandie says the winter issue with Murphy on the cover (photographed by J. Nichole Smith of dane + dane studios will be on sale this Friday, and adds, “This issue also includes ALL of the dogs from the cover dog model search — close to 500 in all! CityDog is sold in West Seattle at Barnes & Noble, Pet Elements and Mud Bay.” (Here’s 2009 cover dog Cohen.)