West Seattle, Washington
08 Saturday
Two car break-in reports to share, one at a local park, one with puzzling loot choices – and a followup on a recent car prowl, with a victim getting some of her stolen items replaced – read on for all three:Read More
The Admiral Neighborhood Association put out the call for volunteer help at its quarterly Adopt-A-Street cleanup today – and more than 20 answered the call, according to this report from ANA president Katy Walum:
23 people showed up for this morning’s cleanup (!), along with some early sunshine to further lift spirits. With so many present to lend a hand, cleanup went smoothly and fairly quickly. There were LOTS of cigarette butts cleaned up – many volunteers commented that it would be nice to see more Admiral businesses place receptacles for the butts (and trash) outside their doors, and of course maintain these regularly.
A very special thanks to all of the volunteers who came out today, and to Metropolitan Market which provided coffee, pastries, and even complete sack lunches for us! It was inspiring to see so many people take time out of their weekend to give back to their community. And now all of Admiral can enjoy cleaner sidewalks and surroundings because of these generous folks.
Also, per John Lang, who visited our event today: If you missed today’s event but are looking for a similar opportunity to help out the Admiral community, don’t forget about next Saturday’s cleanup of Fairmount Ravine, from 8:30-10:30 am, put on by area neighbors. Volunteers for this cleanup need to bring their own gloves, wear sturdy shoes or boots (for getting up into the hillsides), and bring pruning-type saws or clippers for tackling the ivy.
More on the Fairmount cleanup plan here. Meantime, you can keep up to date with ANA announcements like the quarterly Adopt-A-Street cleanups (next one is 6/5) through the group’s Yahoo! mailing list and Facebook group. Congratulations to these volunteers and everybody else who was out today at the myriad work parties listed by the Green Seattle Partnership (and in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup) – reports on those events are welcome too, as we always love to share good news too.
We reported yesterday on the latest arrest of Ryan Cox, who had previously been arrested twice in the past 10 months for serial graffiti vandalism, charged with multiple counts of property destruction, then eventually freed when charges were dropped because he was found not mentally competent to stand trial. This time, the charge was “1st degree property destruction, value greater than $50”; it involved tire-slashing, according to the victim, who e-mailed a Crime Watch report about it. According to the King County Jail Register, Cox is out of jail as of less than an hour ago; The Seattle Municipal Court website says he had a hearing today at which he waived trial, then pleaded guilty to the charge, was given a “suspended sentence,” and “referred to the time pay office” for what the court site says was a $5,000+ fine. That’s all the information we have; we won’t be able to find out more from the City Attorney’s Office until Monday. (Previous stories, some of which included photos previously released by police, are archived here.)
ORIGINAL 1:55 PM REPORT: We have been following the progress in the Legislature of EHB 1679, the bill that is meant to fix the situation that has left catastrophically injured public-safety personnel and their families without health coverage if they cannot return to work. First, it was heard in the state House Ways and Means Committee (WSB coverage here), and passed the House unanimously; then last Monday, it was heard in the Senate Ways and Means Committee (WSB coverage here). 
But that committee has to bring it up for a vote to get it to the floor – and Renee Maher, law-enforcement advocate/lobbyist and an officer’s widow, e-mailed us today to say EHB 1679 is in danger of NOT coming up for a vote in Senate Ways and Means. The Senate is also where a version of this bill died last year – before the well-publicized case of Jason McKissack, who was on duty as a West Seattle-based Seattle Police officer, trying to break up a fight a year and a half ago, when he was kicked in the face repeatedly and suffered brain damage. He is unable to return to work and received a letter from the city last month saying his employment was ended; he and his wife testified in the House hearing, but he was not well enough to attend last Monday’s Senate hearing. From Renee Maher:
Somehow EHB 1679 – the Jason McKissack Act – has slipped through the cracks in the Senate Ways and Means committee. We need to get the word out to people to ask them to contact Senate Ways and Means Chair Margarita Prentice, 360-786-7616, and ask her to vote EHB 1679 out of the committee. The deadline is Monday!
The full list of Ways and Means members – with each name linking to the senator’s site and contact info – is here. Among them, West Seattle’s 34th District State Senator Joe McDermott, who had said he’d do everything he could to move this bill this year; we have messages out to him – the committee is in session again today, though this bill is not on its published agenda.
ADDED 4:14 PM: The Seattle Police Officers’ Guild has sent a news release with an open plea to the public to help rescue this bill.
The Seattle Police Officers Guild and the Council of Metropolitan Police and Sheriffs need the public’s assistance. Engrossed House Bill 1679, also known as the “Jason McKissack Act”, which would provide health insurance to Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters who are catastrophically injured in the line of duty faces the possibility of not passing. This bill passed the House of Representatives unanimously on February 3, 2010. On February 22, 2006, testimony regarding the bill was heard in front of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Officer McKissack’s wife Kim testified along with the President of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, the President of COMPAS and the Executive Director of COMPAS, stating the importance of this bill, and how the state needs to take care of their law enforcement officers and firefighters, should they ever become catastrophically injured in the line of duty.
If this bill is not voted out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee by THIS Monday, March 1, 2010, the bill will die. Currently the bill IS NOT SET to be voted on, on Monday.
The news release continues after the jump:Read More
West Seattle Little League has tryouts and draft for majors and minors tomorrow at Bar-S Playfield (map) – here’s the schedule as shared by Cami MacNamara:
Majors Players Check-In:
8:45am at Bar-S Playfield Sign in and receive number from registrar and start warm-up
Players try-out evaluation 9:30am – 11:15am
Draft: 11:30am – 12:30pmMinors Players Check-In:
12:15pm at Bar-S Playfield Sign in and receive number from registrar and start warm-up
Players try-out evaluation 1:00pm – 3:15pm
Draft: 3:30am – 5:00pmTry-outs may be cancelled due to weather conditions. If it is raining please check our website for updated information on whether the try- outs are cancelled and rescheduled to our back up date. If the information is not posted please come down to the fields and a decision will be made at the earliest time possible. Please do not assume they are cancelled.
Updates at westseattlelittleleague.com.
… don’t panic. Even a ripple can be a “tsunami” if it’s considered to have been generated by an event, such as Chile’s 8.8 magnitude earthquake. If any such ripple does show up on our shores, it’s predicted around 4:41 pm this afternoon, according to the latest table from NOAA. It’s moving north and so far no major trouble’s been reported in its path further south. Nonetheless, wariness by the water is probably not a bad thing.
Watching/reading/listening to news of the Chile quake and the Hawaii tsunami alert – we are NOT under a warning here – you might be inspired to doublecheck to be sure you’re ready for what everyone hopes will never happen. So we’re reminding you about the ONE West Seattle-specific link that not only is laden with the traditional preparedness information, but also shows you where you’d be able to go to get information and help, if you couldn’t find out what was going on any other way: the Emergency Communication Hubs mapped at West Seattle – Be Prepared. Because of a two-year volunteer effort, our area is way ahead of most other Seattle neighborhoods in terms of this kind of preparation, and the volunteer effort includes this great site. The Hubs are part of it – nine sites around the peninsula where volunteers will set up gathering places/information clearinghouses – click on your nearest one on the Google Map above, then find out the full details at this page on the official site. Bookmark the site on your home and work computers – plus your smartphone if you have one – and also remember that you can find the link in the WSB sidebar (look for the mini-graphic of the Hubs map). You also can pick up postcards with the hub map at the Junction and Delridge Neighborhood Service Centers (more on that here).
(Photo by Randall G. Hauk)
We showed you the 30,000-box pickup … the decking-out of Walking on Logs … and now, Girl Scout Cookies are finally on sale. The photo’s from Admiral Safeway last night, where Troop #41504 junior Scouts were on duty; if you want to know for sure where and when to find cookie-selling scouts, any time between now and March 14, here’s the online Cookie Locator (put in your zip code and choose “within 5 miles” and you’ll get the whole West Seattle list). Also today: Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Adopt-A-Street cleanup will gather volunteers outside Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) starting at 9 am (more here), and it’s a very busy day for work parties in parks and greenbelts (Green Seattle Partnership keeps the list). Then tonight, along with live music at Skylark Cafe and Club (WSB sponsor) and other regular nightspots, you have a few special concerts to choose from including Westside Blues and the latest Music Northwest presentation. Those are just the highlights; the full list is in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
From the Duwamish Tribe:
The Duwamish Tribe is inviting Seattle to a Frybread for Justice fundraiser to benefit the Duwamish Legal Fund to support its court case for tribal federal recognition–to date about $60,000 of $128,000 needed for expert witness fees has been raised.
Cecile Hansen, the Tribal Chairwoman and direct descendant of Chief Seattle, has been asking the people of Seattle for help. “If everybody in Seattle gave us one dollar, we would be able to raise the money for our legal defense fund to appeal the 2001 negative determination. We are not asking Seattle to give us back our land, just a little help to find justice.”
Event: Frybread for Justice
Suggested donations: $6 for Indian Taco & Drink and $2 for Frybread
Free admission to Longhouse exhibits & continuous showings of “Princess Angeline” film in exhibit area. This film chronicles the life of the daughter of Chief Seattle and is told through the members of the Duwamish tribe with the struggle of federal status as a theme. This is a very emotional and powerful film. Princess Angeline lived her whole life in her homeland which became the city of Seattle refusing to leave the land of her people.Date: Saturday, March 6th 11 AM to 5PM
Place: Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center
4705 W Marginal Way SW
Seattle, WA 98106This is a life or death moment for the legal status of the Duwamish Tribe!!!
Donations can be sent to Duwamish Tribal Services at 4705 West Marginal Way SW Seattle, WA 98106.
Just got word tonight from Seattle Parks and Recreation that West Seattle’s Don Armeni Boat Ramp is going to close for several days for lot repaving, possibly as soon as next week. Parks’ Jason Frisk sent the above photo to show how badly the current asphalt has deteriorated; while Don Armeni is the city’s most-used boat ramp, Frisk says it hasn’t been paved in a quarter-century – since 1984. Parks will be working with Statewide Parking Lot Services to “apply an overlay over the entire asphalt area.” They expect the ramp will be off-limits for 3 to 5 business days, but they have to wait for good weather; optimally, Frisk says, they might be able to close on Wednesday and reopen on Friday. But right now, they just want to get the word out that the lot will close for this work on short notice – signs will be up at Don Armeni on Monday. According to Parks, alternate city-run salt-water boat-ramp access during the closure is at Eddie Vine Boat Ramp, 8001 Seaview Avenue NW (Golden Gardens; here’s a map).
From Catherine:
BIKE THEFT! REWARD!
My bike was stolen from my front porch last night in the area of 46th Ave SW and SW Maple Way [map]. Between 9 pm 2/25 and 8 am 2/26. I’d love to recover it (but don’t really expect to) but I am posting this on the blog as much to warn my neighbors as anything else.
That said, I’ve attached a picture and here is a description:
15″ Specialized Sworks mountain bike, gunmetal gray
Mavic 217 rims, sunset anodized color, silver Shimano Deore XT Parallax hubs
Specialized Strongarm cranks with RaceFace rings
Time ATAC mountain pedals-red
XTR front derailleur
SRAM 9.0SL wood grain rear derailleur
Specialized Fatboy Slick narrow tiresPlease be on the lookout–thanks! If you have any information on the whereabouts, please contact bike8betty@gmail.com
At Bellevue College in the Sea-King 3A district tournament, the Chief Sealth High School boys’ varsity basketball team played a tight first half, but their inability to hold onto the ball in the second half let the Sammamish Totems overtake them for a 46-39 win tonight – our clip is representative of how things went:
Throughout the first half, the game was tight, and the score was tied 22-all at halftime. But the second half saw the Seahawks score only nine points until late in the fourth quarter. Sammamish took advantage of Sealth’s spotty passing and rebounding to go on a 9-point run. High scorer for Sealth was Tomas Ogbaslassie with 14 points. Sealth gets one more chance, with a Tuesday game against whomever loses the game that followed theirs – Bellevue vs. Seattle Prep (it’s still in the 1st half; periodic updates at @seatimespreps).
Two years in the making, the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse purchase is complete, confirms the Fauntleroy Children’s Center, whom we’d contacted after getting this city news release at day’s end. As we’ve reported previously, it became a two-part purchase – first the schoolhouse and part of the site, then more of the site (as OK’d by Seattle Public Schools last month). Lauri from FCC tells WSB, “We will be toasting at our annual auction next weekend” – that’s the FCC annual auction on March 6 – and adds there’ll be a celebration scheduled at a later date. As the city news release notes, the money used for the purchase includes almost $2 million from the state and $1 million from the city; now the Fauntleroy Community Services Agency will have to raise millions more to fix up the building, which the school district had declared “surplus,” leading to it being put up for sale.
Anne from Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) first saw them walking along California SW in Gatewood and called to let us know: Teens from Shorewood Foursquare Church are in the midst of a big walk right now, as part of World Vision‘s 30-Hour Famine awareness-raising event. We caught up with them at the top of the hill, and they explained they’re walking to a store to buy water – “because in Africa, people often have to walk 6 miles to get water.” We had published an item about the 30-Hour Famine on our partner site White Center Now earlier today – Shorewood is inviting you to bring clothing and food donations to the church tomorrow morning – but it didn’t mention the teens’ big hike, so thanks again to Anne for the tip. At least two dozen are walking, carrying signs, so if you see them in southern West Seattle over the next few hours, you’ll know what it’s about.
Not only the last weekend of the month, but the final days of the month … and there’s a rumor we’ll see some sunshine before the weekend’s over. Highlights include rolling up your sleeves for Admiral’s Adopt-A-Street and numerous park/greenbelt work parties on Saturday morning, lots of live music (rock, blues, jazz, more), and did we mention Girl Scout Cookies? From tonight through Sunday, more than 40 events/activities on our list, sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food:Read More
Next step for the Delridge Skatepark project, scheduled to start construction this summer now that funding’s been finalized – the Seattle Design Commission will take a look at the plan next Thursday, according to the agenda just published. SDC meetings are in the Boards and Commissions Room at City Hall downtown and are open to the public; Delridge Skatepark is on the agenda at 1 pm Thursday.
According to Seattle Police via Twitter, there’s a multiple-car crash in the northbound Battery Street Tunnel, so the tunnel’s closed and drivers are being diverted off at Western Avenue, right before the tunnel. Also via Twitter, SDOT says a tow truck’s on site, so perhaps it won’t be closed too long. “No known injuries,” according to SPD. (Thanks to Nichole Taylor for the photo.) 3:20 PM UPDATE: SDOT has tweeted that the situation is cleared up – but one commenter with a view says the BACKUP isn’t clear yet.
That’s one of the new “no parking” signs just put up along eastbound Admiral Way, in front of the businesses on both sides of the Admiral/California intersection. The city was “considering” parking removal as of last fall, back when we had repeated reports/discussions here about traffic troubles at the intersection. Then today, via Twitter, Revolution Coffee and Art reported, “The parking on Admiral in front of Revolution is officially gone now – please don’t park there.” The signs went up today, Revolution confirms.
From South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor):
Cooking Up a Tasty Future
On Saturday, March 6, South will host the 10th annual Boyd Coffee ProStart Invitational, in which teams of students from 22 Washington high schools compete in culinary and restaurant management skill contests. Over 200 students will participate in the all-day event that takes place in the Brockey Center (7 am – approx. 2 pm). Competitions include knife skills, preparation techniques, and presentation skills. The management teams will create an entire restaurant concept and design from start to finish.
The public is invited to come see tomorrow’s culinary stars in action. There is no admission charge.
The competition will be followed by Toasting the Finest – the 2010 The Washington Restaurant Industry Awards Banquet, featuring guest speaker (and competition judge) Robin Leventhal, a former Top Chef competitor. Tickets for the event are $30.
For more information, visit
http://www.wrahome.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=306
From Shari Sewell with the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle:
Please join the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle on Wednesday March 3rd at 11:00am at the Southwest Precinct, located at 2300 SW Webster St, for carrot cake, as the Kiwanis Club presents the Everyday Hero Award to Captain Joe Kessler on behalf of all the officers who serve the West Seattle Community.
The Kiwanis Everyday Hero Award honors folks who may go unnoticed or unappreciated for their work or commitment to the community. Kiwanis Club president West Niver says “We’ve seen a marked improvement in safety for the Delridge community since this precinct was established and appreciate all that they do for us”.
The West Seattle Kiwanis club is one of the first service clubs established in West Seattle, and was started in 1929. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time. The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle offers you the opportunity to share your experience, knowledge, and time in service to the community. This service is great fun and builds fellowship with other members. Excellent, diverse programs can be enjoyed at our weekly meetings. Membership is open to all men and women who possess a genuine interest in serving the community.
The club meets at 7am every 1st and 3rd Wednesday, and Noon every 2nd Wednesday, at Be’s Restaurant in the Junction, at 4509 California Ave SW. Park in rear lot and enter the rear door.
For more information, contact Warren Lawless at 206-938-8032 or ewl@westseattle.com
First, we’ll start by saying that WSB’s usual policy is not to identify suspects until/unless they are charged, but every story is evaluated on a case-by-case basis – as it was when we worked in “big media” – so sometimes we may digress from that policy. This is one such case: Ryan J. Cox is in jail again, as of about an hour and a half ago. He is the man arrested twice in the past 10 months in connection with serial graffiti vandalism around West Seattle that usually involved a three-word profane, anti-gay slur. Both times, the charges were dismissed because he was found incompetent to stand trial, and he was sent to Western State Hospital for evaluation for possible civil commitment. (We went to Mental Health Court for the most recent hearing on January 20th – here’s our report.) Exactly what happened at Western State in both cases is not a matter of public record because of privacy laws; we had heard recently that Cox indeed might have gotten out fairly quickly after that January hearing, but could not confirm it. Then we received this reader Crime Watch report via e-mail this morning:
I want to remain anonymous, but my tire was slashed this morning by a mentally unstable male this morning on the 4200 block/Raymond St. at 6:40 this morning. The police collected the knife and the male after I did an ID of him. According to police he has a “record” here in West Seattle for malicious acts and graffiti. I had a brief encounter with him in my alley yesterday morning, and this morning at the same time he slashed my tire (he saw me get in my truck yesterday)…I am very concerned for the safety of myself and others. Am glad I wasn’t “on time” this morning. It is only considered and misdemeanor, and is circumstantial as I hear my tire go and looked out to see him walking away, but did not “see” him slash my tire, although it is completely flat, there is a slash and the knife was 10′ away in tall grass.
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Everything he wears is baggy, white jacket with blue stripes on sleeves, haven’t seen him with his hood down, gray baseball cap, blue jeans, tennis shoes, a backpack, dark blue, and what looks to be a medium-sized shoulder bag black. Blue umbrella..I would keep my eye on him. For everyone’s safety. he looks to be in his late 30’s and of Hispanic ethnicity. (medium colored skin, graying hair, short) about 5’9″.I just wanted to let you know as I feel I should let someone know as I appreciate West Seattle, have lived here for a long time and feel our safety can only be helped in numbers and watching out for each other. I consider this person dangerous given the circumstances that I see him for the first time yesterday morning and the very next morning at the same time my tire is violently flattened…
Though the description didn’t sound exactly like Cox, the rest of the circumstances sounded similar enough that we started checking around – and have now verified, he was indeed arrested; the King County Jail Register shows him booked on a property-damage charge as of 9:11 this morning. What happens now? We will be checking with the City Attorney’s Office, with whom we spoke extensively in connection with the previous cases, and will add to this story as we find out more. (Side note: The challenges authorities face under current law in cases like this were well-detailed in this report last weekend from our citywide-news partners at the Seattle Times.)
Imagine driving through one of West Seattle’s gateway areas and thinking “Looks great, and I was part of it.” If you can spare a little time tomorrow morning, you get the right to feel that way about the Admiral District, by joining in the next Adopt-A-Street cleanup with the Admiral Neighborhood Association. No equipment or special clothing needed – just show up outside Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) at 9 am tomorrow (Saturday) – you’ll get city-supplied grabbers, bags, gloves and vests. ANA president Katy Walum says, “We will be covering the Admiral Junction business area on California Avenue SW, south to about Hanford and north to about Walker; and SW Admiral Way, east to about the Admiral viewpoint and west to about 47th SW.” Not a small-child-friendly event, she adds, given the traffic along those streets, “but older kids and teenagers are welcome.” You can also mark your calendar for the next 3 quarterly Adopt-A-Streets: June 5, August 28, December 4.
After a first-round bye, the Chief Sealth High School boys’ varsity basketball team (14-8) begins district-tournament play today. 4:45 pm at Bellevue College, they face Sammamish (15-9). Here’s a map if you can go cheer them on in person (this campus map shows the gym location); we’ll be there to cover the game, including in-progress updates at our live-events Twitter account, @wsblive. 6:16 PM UPDATE: Game’s over – Sammamish defeated Sealth, 46-39. But Sealth has one more chance. Full story, with video, coming up.
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