West Seattle, Washington
19 Friday
1:10 PM: We are in SODO at Seattle Police Officers Guild HQ – with a room full of law enforcement officers from all over the area, and at the table in front of the room, former Southwest Precinct SPD Officer Jason McKissack (blue T-shirt), whose loss of medical benefits – since he cannot work following a vicious attack a year and a half ago – is triggering a campaign for legislation. Who else is here, is amazing. Officer Britt Sweeney, who survived the attack that killed SPD Officer Tim Brenton; Officer Brenton’s widow is here as well. “Call your legislators today,” Renee Maher, a law-enforcement advocate and police widow, is saying, re: HB 1679. 1:23 PM: Officer McKissack has just spoken. He says the city’s letter arrived just last Thursday, informing him of “medical separation,” and the hardest part was seeing his wife break down and cry. He also said it’s been tough to be off the job as he watched the recent officer murders – he feels like a “caged tiger,” wanting to do something: (video added 2:48 pm)
He also said the timing is unfortunate – he has found new medical treatment that may help him get better. Regarding the bill, advocates here say there are only six public-safety personnel statewide in the past 30-plus years who qualified as “catastrophically injured” and would be affected by this bill – Officer McKissack has not yet received that determination. (added 2 pm – his description of what he’s been coping with while trying to recover)
The Seattle Police Officers’ Guild also reiterates that they are accepting donations for his expenses through their fund. (The address is on this page on the SPOG site, with more information about the bill.) They also are “taking up other ideas on fundraising,” they say, and will have more on that in the weeks ahead. 5:30 PM UPDATE: Reminder, regarding fundraising: Two local karaoke hosts have stepped up for starters. Joe at Yen Wor announced on Facebook that he’s raising money for Officer McKissack’s fund Wednesday night at 9:30, and Willie Murderface announced in comments here last night that he is collecting for the fund this Saturday night at Goldie’s in Georgetown (WMF is a West Seattleite).
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Tomorrow night, the Seattle School Board continues working on the next step in the new Student Assignment Plan – how to start the transition this fall, from a focus on “tell us what school you’d like to attend” to “your default assignment is a ‘neighborhood school’.” Some of the thorniest issues – like “sibling grandfathering” – are part of the transition, and the fine points highlighted West Seattle school board rep Steve Sundquist‘s open-door community chat this weekend. Read on for the discussion, plus the reason why he says he won’t be able to propose that some elementaries be “dual feeders” as he had hoped:Read More
Last month, we brought you early word of the West Seattle Preschool Fair that’s in the works for next month. More details are firmed up now: 12 programs are registered to participate in the event, and they have room for a few more (e-mail jenelle.forde@soundchildcare.org). The location is now set: 5:30-8:30 pm February 22, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW); in addition to the chance to talk with representatives of participating preschool programs, they’re also offering the Families Read Workshop during the Preschool Fair (6-7:30 pm that night) to help parents gain skills in promoting child literacy – space is limited (child care will be provided) and advance registration is required – same e-mail address as above, or call (206) 518-0261.
The West Seattle Cellars website now includes a tribute to shop co-owner Bear Silverstein, who died last week. We’re still getting notes from people who are just finding out; we had a short report on Thursday and have since talked with WSC’s Tom DiStefano. The memorial display was up when we stopped by the shop to ask him about his favorite memory of Bear:
Bear died of complications from multiple strokes. The Caring Bridge website that pays tribute to him says details of a memorial are still being worked out; WSC, meantime, invites people to “raise a glass and make a toast” in his memory.
(Sunrise photo by Carter, substituted 8:52 am for previous WSB pic)
FREE SELF-DEFENSE CLASS: The Senior Center of West Seattle is the site today of the latest in a citywide series of self-defense classes, taught by martial artists and supported by the Looking Out Foundation, Indigo Girls, and Compass Center, for the Fight the Fear Campaign, honoring the memory of Teresa Butz, killed in South Park last summer. The class is from 1-2 pm; preregistration is requested (206-932-4044) but drop-ins are OK.
SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE: The Senior Center is also where SWS meets tonight, electing Coordinating Council members and hearing from new City Councilmember Mike O’Brien – more here; meeting’s at 7.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Also at 7, WSCPC meets at the Southwest Precinct, with an agenda including SPD’s Traffic Unit talking about issues including red-light cameras; this is also your chance to hear directly from SW Precinct police leadership about the latest West Seattle crime trends.
SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES: The open houses/tours season gets into full swing, starting with tonight’s open house at 6:30 pm at Lafayette Elementary (previewed here, with a schedule of events). Tonight’s also open-house night at The Center School (as noted in this WSB Forums post). The citywide list of Seattle Public Schools tours/open houses is here; independent schools’ tours are listed on the WSB Events page as announced.
ALAUDA BELLY-DANCING SHOWCASE: The popular monthly event is tonight at 7:30 at Skylark Cafe and Club (WSB sponsor), after the Spin Your Wax open-turntable session at 6 pm.
WESTSIDE SYMPHONETTE REHEARSALS: It’s the second week of the new season for this community orchestra, but you can still join – here’s our preview from last week – same times/location apply tonight.
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE CENTER FURLOUGH CLOSURES: The Southwest and Delridge Neighborhood Service Centers are closed today for a scheduled furlough day for all NSCs (this is NOT a city-government-wide furlough day – individual departments have their own schedules).
WEST SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE REGISTRATION: The 2nd registration night is tonight, 6:30 pm, West Seattle High School. Full details and the registration form can be found here.
More West Seattle events today/tonight/beyond, here.
Dates are now set for the next meetings of the Alaskan Way Viaduct/Seawall Replacement Project‘s South Portal and North Portal working groups. Those meetings will be the first since Mayor Mike McGinn announced last Thursday (WSB coverage here) that he will ask the City Council to approve a May special election to ask voters to pay $241 million in property taxes for faster-than-scheduled seawall repairs. (About $12 per $100,000 of property value, for each of 30 years; 60% voter approval required.) In the days since that announcement, we’ve collected reaction from 4 of the West Seattleites on the Viaduct/Seawall “working groups,” as well as from West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who now chairs the Council’s Transportation Committee. Read on for what they have to say.Read More
Jennifer Giuffre shared that photo taken today on a West Seattle beach, where a baby harbor seal rested in the sun. After the photo came in, we asked a followup about whether Seal Sitters were notified; we’re awaiting the answer, but in the meantime, we see they have an update on their website tonight about an ailing pup that spent some time today on shore. Whether it’s the same pup or not, it’s another occasion to make note of how to contact Seal Sitters if you spot a pup – all the info’s here (and you can pop their hotline into your phone – 206-905-SEAL). TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE: Robin Lindsey from Seal Sitters tells WSB this is definitely the same ailing pup they were watching yesterday. She adds:
We are on the lookout today, but two early sweeps have yet to turn up anything. Off on another one here in a minute and are awaiting word from NOAA as to whether the pup would be taken to PAWS for treatment if he shows up. He’s a small pup, but body weight was pretty good. The fact that he is hauling in and out is a good sign.
Fast-forwarding – two meetings of note in West Seattle tomorrow night: The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council is back in action after skipping December (as do many local community groups), and a hot topic’s on the agenda: A rep from the Seattle Police Traffic Unit is expected at the meeting to talk about issues including red-light cameras (West Seattle has two – 35th/Avalon and 35th/Thistle). That meeting’s at 7 pm, Southwest Precinct (map). Meantime, Sustainable West Seattle also meets at 7 tomorrow night (Senior Center of West Seattle at California/Oregon; map), with Coordinating Council elections plus an appearance by new City Councilmember Mike O’Brien – a full preview of the meeting is on the Sustainable WS website.
Seems like it’s all about Lincoln Park today – this is the third item in which it’s factored, but undeniably the most pleasant – Gatewood resident Pam from Nerd’s Eye View shares that video from a walk along the LP waterfront. She observed that this is one of those afternoons in which West Seattle is definitely “paradise.” Meantime, Rob and Patricia Shiras shared this photo of an eagle seen near their Seaview home: “We see the eagle almost every day and sometimes just circles above us. The eagle gets chased away by the crows and seagulls.”
Monica e-mailed us to say she’s organizing a Dine Around Seattle fundraiser for Haiti citywide next Sunday – in West Seattle, she says, La Rustica is the first one who’s joined, but she’s looking for more participants. Interested restaurants can contact her at tastyfeast@gmail.com – more info online at tastyfeast.com. (Monica also says anyone who’s closed Sundays can choose to donate a portion of proceeds from another night of their choice.)
Unrelated to the downed tree along the Lincoln Park waterfront path, two people e-mailed us about LP parking being off-limits today; our photo above shows the gated-and-empty central parking lot along Fauntleroy north of Rose. This posted note on the park’s kiosks seems to explain:
The fine print: Last Friday and tomorrow are the first of this year’s unpaid-furlough days for Seattle Parks staff, and of course those are bookending today’s holiday. This post from Parkways explains how the department’s splitting up those days – but it doesn’t include specific impacts such as gated parking lots; the notice does say that some gates may not be open as a result of furloughs, but “the park is open.” Today, that meant a lot of street parking usage, though after 3 pm the west side of Fauntleroy is off-limits because of ferry traffic.
ORIGINAL 3:26 PM REPORT: Have received several notes/texts about this – there’s a dog running on the westbound West Seattle Bridge, reportedly near Admiral and in the left lane/on the shoulder. First note we received says help’s been called. 5:22 PM UPDATE: Dog and owner will be reunited, thanks in the end to the folks who e-mailed and texted about the situation. We also posted to Facebook and Twitter; long story short, via FB, a friend of the dog’s owner says the owner has called police, the dog’s OK, reunion’s impending. 5:37 PM UPDATE: Owner Christel confirms, in comments:
I HAVE MY DOG BACK!!!! Thank you all SOOOO much!!! All the help was amazing! This is the first time he has ever run away and I had no idea what to do! The West Seattle Blog, FB and tweeting saved my dog!!! Thank you to all! P.S. His name is Arrow. Love to all!!
And throw in texting and e-mail too (shoutout to Carrie Ann and Debbie). Glad Arrow is safe.
Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog/White Center Now
A joint event between the Southwest Boys and Girls Club, the Red Cross and HOPE worldwide at Greenbridge (map) combined messages of civil rights and disaster preparedness to honor and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.
The event was kicked off by the Seahawks’ Blue Thunder drummers and an opening speech by North Highline Fire District Fire Chief Scott LaVielle. Chief LaVielle spoke about fire safety— which is being highlighted by the Red Cross — and quoted from speeches by John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy to highlight the importance of caring for our communities.
Red Cross Coordinator Beth Jusino notes that MLK Day is viewed by her organization as “A day on, not a day off” in service to the community. After the event, volunteers dispersed into the Greenbridge neighborhood to place door-hangers regarding fire safety and earthquake preparedness at the surrounding homes. The information is printed in both English and Spanish. (In case you’re not in the area flyered – here’s the Red Cross’s infopage on fire safety.)
Jusino adds that in light of the Haitian earthquake, people have opened their hearts to the world community; today, people are focusing on opening their hearts to their local community – and the volunteers who are spreading the word about helping each other, locally and globally.
Thanks to Scott Durham from our fellow online-only community-collaborative news service Central District News for sharing that photo from the MLK Day Rally and March that’s under way in his neighborhood (that’s Garfield High School in the photo) – he spotted the contingent from West Seattle Neighbors for Peace and Justice. Go here to follow CDN coverage of the event.
(May 2009 photo by John Loftus)
Last year, more than 1,000 people turned out to run, walk and raise money for West Seattle schools in the first-ever West Seattle 5K on Alki. Registration has just opened for this year’s second annual West Seattle 5K – May 23, organized again this year by, and benefiting, the West Seattle High School PTSA – and WSB has joined the team as a co-sponsor. There’s a 25% discount for early registration – you can start from this page.
Blustery night in West Seattle – no power outages reported here but Kimberley spotted this downed tree across the main Lincoln Park waterfront path early today. For more perspective on the location, here’s a wider shot – showing the picnic shelters on either side of the tree.
Per the latest forecast, the wind advisory’s still in effect a while longer this morning – though it’s certainly a lot calmer out there right now than it was around, oh, say, 3 am, when official hourly observations recorded 45 mph gusts at Alki Point. 12:33 PM UPDATE: Krista sends an even-more-recent photo of the tree:
City offices are closed today but we will check tomorrow on whether they’re coping with any other damage after this morning’s wind.
January 15 – last Friday – was the 81st anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. This Wednesday marks the 24th anniversary of the first time King Day was celebrated as a national holiday (Jan. 20, 1986). Dr. King’s only visit to Seattle happened in November 1961 (here’s the HistoryLink.org story about it). Today (presidential proclamation here), here’s some of what you need to know about the holiday:
WHAT’S DIFFERENT:
Schools are closed
Most government offices are closed
Banks are closed
City-run community centers are closed (Southwest Pool too)
West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor) facilities are closed
City and county libraries are closed
Metro Transit is on “reduced weekday” service
No regular-mail delivery
Parking’s free on city streets with pay stations/meters
WHAT’S NOT DIFFERENT:
Trash/recycling/etc. on regular schedule
Sound Transit service on regular schedule (except for Sounder between Everett and Mukilteo because of a mudslide)
State liquor stores are open
HOW TO HELP:
Two MLK Day of Service opportunities for volunteering in West Seattle/White Center:
*Nature Consortium welcomes volunteers for its Pigeon Point Park work party, 9:30 am-3 pm (map; more info here)
*WestSide Baby needs volunteers to help sort, 2-5 pm (full details here)
(Photo courtesy WestSide Baby)
Just in from WestSide Baby‘s Nancy Woodland – another MLK Day of Service opportunity:
WestSide Baby would love extra hands on MLK Day! We’ve received so many donations of clothes since the holidays, we could really use extra teen or adult hands to sort through all the donations. We inspect each article of clothing for cleanliness and condition before we shelve it by size so it’s ready for another volunteer to place it in an order for local children in need.
We will be open extra hours on Monday from 2-5pm for up to 15 volunteers! It’s a great opportunity for high schoolers looking for service hours on their day off. Please let us know you are coming by emailing sarah@westsidebaby.org.
We will also have our regular third Thursday Sorting Frenzy this Thursday evening from 7-9 pm!
WestSide Baby HQ is at 10032 15th SW (map).
Developments since we wrote Friday night about a tv story on Officer Jason McKissack facing the loss of medical benefits because injuries from the attack on him in West Seattle a year and a half ago have left him unable to return to work:
*We’ve heard twice from Renee Maher, executive director of the law-enforcement advocacy group COMPAS and also the widow of Federal Way Police Officer Patrick Maher, killed in the line of duty seven years ago. She had more to say about the legislation mentioned in the story (which stalled last year but has been reintroduced this session):
COMPAS has made HB 1679 our priority for this legislative session. While we fully support and agree with the legislation that helps families of fallen officers, we believe that helping officers like Jason McKissack is just as important. I was part of the effort that got legislation passed in 2006 that provided medical insurance for families of officers killed in the line of duty. Imagine my shock and disgust to learn that financially, an officer’s family is better off if the officer dies in the line of duty (versus being disabled).
HB 1679 will provide medical insurance to Jason and his family. It is very do-able to get this legislation passed this session. We just need to spread the word and have people call their legislators to support this bill.
As discussed in comments following last night’s story, the bill is currently in the Ways and Means Committee of the state House. West Seattle Rep. Eileen Cody is a member of that committee. We e-mailed Rep. Cody to ask about its status and what people could do to voice support. Her reply today:
To move forward we will need to vote it out of the Ways and Means Committee again. I will check with Rep Simpson to see if he is planning on pushing the issue again this year. Interested constituents should contact Ways and Means Committee members to encourage action. We would not have to have another hearing on the bill this year since we had one last year. The chair just has to decide to bring it up for a vote.
The Legislature’s website says the committee is chaired by North Sound Rep. Kelli Linville; she and other members are listed here, and you can follow the links for their contact info. To e-mail Rep. Cody, start here.
*Meantime, our second message from Renee Maher included word that the Seattle Police Officers’ Guild is now able to accept contributions for Officer McKissack’s medical fund:
SPOG
2949 4th Ave South
Seattle, WA 98134
Subject line: Jason McKissack
There is also a link on the Seattle Police Guild website tonight with more info on the situation. Meantime, Q13 interviewed the McKissacks for a story aired tonight:
WEST SEATTLE FUNDRAISERS TO HELP HAITI: As reported last night, the Keller Williams car-wash fundraiser brought in an estimated $1,500+ in just five hours, according to organizer Michaelle Crovisier. Today’s soup lunch after the West Seattle Unitarian Universalists‘ service raised $800, per a note we just got from Kari Kopnick. And Full Tilt Ice Cream‘s daylong “all profits, all three locations” drive is a hit – more than 2 hours before the scheduled closing time, the White Center location sold out of ice cream, according to this tweet, as the next one commented, “Thanks, everyone that stopped by today. This will be a nice check that we get to send out.” (We subsequently checked directly with FT; they expect that check to be at least $400.) Beveridge Place Pub reports via Facebook that its event tonight raised more than $3,300.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS POLAR PLUNGE: Just one week away. WSB is proud to be co-sponsoring this sure-to-be-invigorating fundraiser at Alki; there’s still time to register – choose the January 24th Alki event on this page – or register the day of the event, starting at 9 am (the Plunge is at 11 am).
WEST SEATTLE RELAY FOR LIFE KICKOFF PARTY AHEAD: The kickoff party for the annual overnight cancer-fighting fundraiser at West Seattle Stadium is a week and a half away. Volunteer Lauren Blair sent the official announcement of the 6 pm January 27th event – and word of a half-price deal to register a West Seattle Relay for Life team between now and party night – read on:Read More
West Seattle shore spots like the one along Beach Drive where we took that photo yesterday afternoon may get a bit dramatic tomorrow morning; Lula points out an “inland coastal flooding” advisory from the National Weather Service, as windy weather is scheduled to hit around the same time as high tide (just over 12 feet at 7:15 am, per this chart). The forecast says the advisory’s in effect 5-11 am, with south winds gusting as high as 35 mph.
The dogs are on the grill and the silent auction/raffle items are on the tables at Beveridge Place Pub, where Dogs for Docs is raising money right now for Doctors Without Borders‘ work helping Haiti earthquake victims. The benefit’s under way till 7 tonight, 6413 California SW (map). WSB’er “k” (who shared the photos) is there and says the silent auction’s going great; she also points out that since the grill’s set up outside, kids can have food too, since they can participate without going into the pub. All food is offered by donation only. Two more hours! (Also still under way – Full Tilt Ice Cream in White Center, Columbia City and U-District, donating all of today’s profits; all three locations are open till 10 pm.) 8:15 PM NOTE: Via Twitter, Full Tilt says it’s sold out of ice cream in White Center.
Story and photos by Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Kyle and Kristi Duce love living in West Seattle.
Kyle manages Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) on weekends and spent a year tending bar at Shadowland, where he got to know and love the regulars. Kristi is a graphic designer for Prentice Design on Alki Beach. The couple enjoys sharing beers and barbecue on summer nights with their neighbors in the High Point community where they live. But that’s also where they realized that something was missing.
“We’d start talking about how nice it would be if we had a place we could walk to to get a beer or a glass of wine,” remembers Kyle. “There’s 1,600 homes in High Point — it’s huge — and the whole area is such a dense residential area. The demographics are phenomenal and there’s nothing like that there.”
So Kyle, who currently manages the Oakley store in Bellevue Square, Kristi, and their friend Shane Whittall, a bartender, decided that not only should there be a place like that, they were the ones who should open it. Seven months later, the lease has been signed on 7902 35th Ave SW (map), a narrow storefront between Sharon’s Westwood Florist and Kenyon Hall.
The liquor license has been applied for, the dumpsters arrive this week, and construction is about to begin on Locöl, “West Seattle’s premier wine & beer bar.”
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