West Seattle, Washington
04 Friday
Two items to share: First relates to the bike you 
see in the photo at left. Andrea sent the photo along with a Crime Watch report: “My son had his bike stolen off our (well lit) porch in the early hours of the morning (Saturday). It was a very nice bike that was given to him as a present when he was adopted. It’s black and silver and has the words MAGNA and BUSTED on the frame in large letters. If you see this bike or have any information on it please contact us at (206) 932-9100.” She added in a follow-up exchange, “It really concerns me, because the person would have had to walk right up on our porch under the glare of the porch light to take it.” They’re at 37th and Edmunds (map) by the way – just a few blocks from where a theft reported earlier this weekend was later resolved. Although it’s not so much a happy ending, we do have the unusual opportunity to share multiple angles on how the case of the stolen Hyundai played out – read on:Read More
While we’ve been focusing on the election for Seattle Mayor and four councilmembers (among other offices) in a little more than a week, the current Seattle City Council has big decisions to make regarding the current mayor’s proposed budget. Tomorrow night is your last chance to speak out at a public hearing – this one’s at 5:30 pm in City Council chambers downtown (map). One of the advocacy groups working to muster supporters at the hearing is Friends of the Seattle Public Library; even if you can’t be there, if you are concerned about cuts in library hours (and more closure dates like this summer’s furlough), they invite you to sign their petition on Facebook – it has 1,500+ virtual signatures and they’re hoping to have 2,000 by tomorrow night’s hearing. The Budget Committee‘s chair, Councilmember Jean Godden, is also offering a chance for you to call in with budget comments before the hearing: 206-684-0481, 4:30-5 pm tomorrow.
Tonight we continue our city-candidate closeups; we took a look at them all before the primary election, and with the general election nearing, we’re checking back in with the finalists in five city races – mayor and council. We’ve already looked at mayor (Mike McGinn here, Joe Mallahan here), City Council Position 6 (Nick Licata here, Jessie Israel here) and City Council Position 8 (Mike O’Brien here and Robert Rosencrantz here); tonight, it’s Council Position 2, and we’ll conclude tomorrow night with Position 4.
By Jack Mayne
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Richard Conlin is coming to the end of his third term as a member of the Seattle City Council and is currently council president. He says he has done a lot in the past 12 years, but has the steam to do more in the next four.
Discussing the committees he has led, Conlin says, “I have been chair of neighborhoods, of transportation, and of the environment and utilities committees. With each one of those, I have taken major initiatives and moved those forward. In neighborhoods, it was neighborhood plans and tripling the neighborhood matching funds. In transportation, I got the Bridging the Gap started, got Sound Transit approved through the city process and got bicycle and pedestrian plans underway. In environment, I reshaped our solid waste standards, did forestry work and the local food initiative and just finished the drainage code.”
“Each time I have taken an area of the city, I have done something really creative and innovative,” he says, “and that is what I want to do in my next term. There are lots of things I am looking at as possibilities, and I have the energy to work on it.” He’s challenged on the ballot by West Seattle resident David Ginsberg.
Tonight we continue our city-candidate closeups; we took a look at them all before the primary election, and with the general election nearing, we’re checking back in with the finalists in five city races – mayor and council. We’ve already looked at mayor (Mike McGinn here, Joe Mallahan here), City Council Position 6 (Nick Licata here, Jessie Israel here) and City Council Position 8 (Mike O’Brien here and Robert Rosencrantz here); tonight, it’s Council Position 2, and we’ll conclude tomorrow night with Position 4.
By Jack Mayne
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
City Council Position 2 candidate David Ginsberg — the only West Seattle-residing council candidate on the November ballot — isn’t that happy about the decision to build a deep-bore tunnel, but he says he will support the project unless there are some unforeseen increases in its cost.
“I think the decision that has been made amounts to a large misallocation of public resources on a small piece of highway that will essentially bypass downtown, and the solution won’t work for a portion of our freight and many of our commuters,” Ginsberg says. “But the decision has been made and it’s taken eight long years to get to this point. Barring big changes in projected costs or mobility, I’m not inclined to revisit this decision, although if there are big changes in projected costs to the city I’ll lead the fight for a better solution. The opportunity to reconnect downtown to its waterfront is the single greatest benefit of both this solution and the surface/transit option, and we must not let this opportunity pass us by as we did with the Seattle Commons.”
The closure was scheduled till 6 pm but (as often happens) the inspection work ended early and The Viaduct is open again to traffic. WSDOT says they’ll make the inspection results public by Friday.
(Lincoln Park photo courtesy of Shannon)
Our tree-laden parks are great, but neighborhoods need trees too, which is why 4 short-on-trees West Seattle neighborhoods are among 6 citywide that are eligible for free trees from EarthCorps and the city. While we’ve reported the giveaway before, EarthCorps’ Lina Rose (a West Seattleite herself) wanted to send out one more reminder, with the deadline looming:
Local environmental restoration non-profit EarthCorps has teamed up with the City of Seattle to provide free trees to residents of the Beacon Hill, Georgetown and West Seattle Junction/Genesee Hill and Westwood/Roxhill neighborhoods. These communities have some of the lowest canopy cover on residential property in the city (19%, 17%, 19% and 17% respectively) and some of the highest planting potential.
Through the program, residents of the targeted neighborhoods can apply for free trees for their property and street planting strips. Trees will be available for residents to pick up in early December. A workshop on proper tree planting and care will be provided for tree recipients. Tree watering bags will be provided next spring to ensure the young trees thrive. Houses outside of the target areas listed above are not eligible for the program this year.
Seattle currently has 23% tree cover. In the 1970’s, Seattle had 40% tree cover. Seattle has set a goal to retain some of that tree cover – and the many benefits that go along with trees – by reaching 30% tree cover by 2037. But we can’t reach that goal without the help and support of Seattle’s residents! Over 85% of the land in the city is privately owned. This means that we cannot meet the goal by only planting in parks and along streets – we need residents to plant trees around their homes and businesses as well.
For more information on the program – if you’re in one of the target neighborhoods – contact: Lina Rose, EarthCorps Project Manager, lina@earthcorps.org , 206.793.2454. For more general information and to download an application, go here.
Deadline is November 16th.
West Seattle filmmaker Jamie Burton Chamberlin sends word that “ZZ Top: Double Down Live” is now out on DVD – “the first historic concert performance ever to be approved for release by the band,” he says. It packs “28 years of hard rock, blues and boogie” into almost 2 hours. Disc 1 features footage from a 1980 performance in Germany; Disc 2 comes from Chamberlin’s travels with the band in 2008, documenting more than 70 shows in the U.S. and Europe, with performances, interview clips and backstage footage. In connection with the international release, Chamberlin says “Double Down Live” will have its Seattle premiere at the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) on November 12th, in conjunction with the next West Seattle Art Walk. Earlier this year, we covered the screening of Chamberlin’s “Gearhead” at West 5 – the venue’s first-ever movie showing!
“Community-collaborative news” at WSB means this can be a place for you to tell your story. Twice this year, we have heard from a local chiropractor who first followed up our coverage of his March kayaking mishap with his own account, and then shared the story of his purchase and renovation of an older Morgan Junction home. After the latter, he promised followups, and today we have one:
Story and photos by Dr. Scott Redfern
On August 30th I published a story of my purchase of “a home with history” (see it here). I enjoyed the many responses, so the story continues.
Shortly after the last piece, I had a banner day. The handyman I hired hooked up the gas dryer I found on craigslist. I was very excited because, you see I have never owned my own washer and dryer. I am a virgin homeowner. He also fired up the water heater and it works.
To top it off, the furnace I was told was broken had its flywheel reattached and heat doth pour out. I was so happy I think I jumped up and down. Triple the pleasure of owning the house. Truly a landmark day.
PUMPKIN DECORATING AT WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: It’s the Sunday before Halloween, and kids of all ages (even the “kid at heart” ages) are welcome to try their hand today. Meantime, here’s the Ripe ‘n’ Ready list for today’s market, open 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska.
FAUNTLEROY CREEK DRUMMING: 5 pm, bring a drum if you have one (but don’t worry if you don’t – your presence is what matters) to the Fauntleroy Creek overlook across the street (and up the embankment) from the ferry dock (map). This is an annual tradition to help “call the salmon home” to the restored creek.
PLUS … other events this afternoon include the second of 2 days of Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival screenings at Admiral Theater, an open house at the brand-new Lien Animal Clinic building, and more – see the West Seattle Weekend Lineup!
The Alaskan Way Viaduct will close again today – scheduled for 6 am-6 pm – for the continuation of its semiannual inspection. During Saturday’s closure, at the ceremonial signing of the tunnel agreement, Gov. Gregoire revealed plans for a new system to quickly and automatically close The Viaduct if a quake hits – with, among other things, gates on approach ramps; according to this story at seattletimes.com (WSB partner), the federally funded system will be installed next year.
This happened just before 5 pm Friday but the report just appeared on SPDBlotter late tonight: A man, his adult daughter, and her nine-year-old son were parking their van at their home in the 8400 block of 20th SW (map) when 2 men jumped out from behind a nearby dumpster and tried to carjack them. The man fought back; one of the would-be carjackers pulled out what police describe as “a large knife with a 10-inch blade” and tried to stab him – but the other would-be carjacker “convinced suspect #1 to flee the scene” and the two ran off. Police found them a few blocks away, in the 8600 block of Delridge, and caught them after “a brief pursuit.” The two were arrested and booked into King County Jail, facing possible charges of robbery, attempted kidnapping and investigation of assault. SPD says one suspect is 21, the other 19; read the SPDBlotter account of the incident here. 3:51 AM UPDATE: A little more information – the two suspects are still in jail, with bail set at $75,000 for the 21-year-old and $50,000 for the 19-year-old, each of whom spent time behind bars twice earlier this year, according to the jail register.
Thanks to Shannon for sharing that photo from a walk today in Lincoln Park. It goes well with a couple of Lincoln Park-related notes we wanted to pass along tonight: First, if you haven’t seen the announcement in the WSB Forums – one week from today, a big bicycle race will affect park access/usage in a big way. It’s a cyclocross event, explained by promoter Zac this way: “Cyclocross is a bicycle race, mostly on grass, some dirt, a little pavement, and there are some places the riders must dismount, pick up the bike and run (all in one fluid motion). Anyone can race, and there’s a category for just about everyone. All you need is bike that you can ride on grass and dirt, and a helmet.” More info at mfgcyclocross.com; also, Zac shared a flyer and accompanying park map you can see here, for details on which trails will be affected next Saturday, and exactly when. Another Lincoln Park note – two weeks from today, on Saturday 11/7, it’s Green Seattle Day in parks and greenspaces all over the city, and many groups of volunteers will be working to make our city a little greener – like Friends of Lincoln Park, whose monthly work party will happen that day, per this announcement we received:
Celebrate Green Seattle Day at Lincoln Park! There are so many good reasons to “green up” Seattle. Restoring native plants improves water and air quality, provides habitat for native creatures, increases property values and soothes your soul. Join the Friends of Lincoln Park on Saturday, Nov 7th from 9 am to noon to plant natives in an area in which we recently removed invasive plants. Dress for weather with sturdy shoes. Bring your favorite tools, or we’ll provide tools. Meet in the north parking lot at the kiosk across from Rose St. Contact: Sharon Baker (206) 464-1068 or sbaker@u.washington.edu
More on Green Seattle Day here.
Thanks to Rev. Peg Morgan from the Westside Unitarian Universalists for sharing photos from this afternoon’s Habitat for Humanity dedication at 32nd and Morgan in High Point. Top photo shows Rev. Morgan leading a House Blessing; bottom photo, WSUU members including, from left, Gary Gertig, Viv Monahan, Arlene Borella, President Paula vanHaagen, John Monahan, Fifie Marie, Lynn Williams; Rev. Morgan explains they are shown “receiving a thank you from Habitat for Humanity for a year’s worth of construction volunteers and funds.”
Speaking of WSUU, they invite visitors to enjoy special music during tomorrow’s service – nationally known singer and songwriter Ellis will perform, and will sign CDs following the service. WSUU meets at 10:30 at the Masonic Hall, 4736 40th Ave SW (map).
The new community edible garden behind C & P Coffee – built today by CoolMom– and Sustainable West Seattle-organized volunteers as part of the worldwide 350 Day of Action – was taking shape in a big way when we stopped by around noon – four raised beds behind the coffeehouse. And lots of help, including the very young:
If you see this before 3 pm or so, there’s still time for you to get to Seattle Center and be in the big “350” photo by the International Fountain. A SWS contingent planned to bicycle there; here’s the bicycle that SWS president Bill Reiswig was going to ride:
If you don’t know what the “350” is about – it’s explained here. ADDED 7:02 PM: We got to Seattle Center just as those gathered for the photo finished counting down to 3:50 pm — here’s the group finishing the countdown and cheering/waving:
Here’s how it looked from above (the people we video’d were at the bottom of the photo, just before the big blue banner on the ground). ADDED EARLY SUNDAY: We’ve received one of the aerial photos, and permission to use it, from Terri Glaberson of CoolMom (who was among the speakers at, and organizers of, Saturday’s big event):
Organizers say about 500 people participated.
First, we have received two more reports of the serial vandalism in the Morgan Junction/Lincoln Park area that’s widely known as “the homophobic graffiti” – invariably the same profane three-word slur. CJ writes today that it “reappeared on a garage door overnight – 6000 block of Cal Ave. Same ugly phrase as last time. Police were there taking a report with the homeowner.” And Jen e-mailed yesterday about another sighting; as we reported a week and a half ago, police have been looking to talk with the man who was arrested last spring (charges were dropped because he was found not competent to stand trial) – we’ll continue following up. Ahead – two theft cases – one from a parent warning about what could happen to a teen, another from a couple who hopes you’ll be on the lookout for their stolen car:Read More
From our partners at the Seattle Times, an update on what was decided this morning regarding the next steps in the high-school football postseason, since West Seattle High School‘s win last night (WSB coverage here) has WSHS in a three-way tie for the division lead with Rainier Beach and Nathan Hale: The tiebreaker games (which are short matches) are at Memorial Stadium downtown Monday night, with Westside playing RB at 6 pm. The winner advances to a 7 pm game against NH, and whomever wins that one goes into the league championship game. We’ll be there Monday to cover it all (including live tweets at @wsblive).
The 18th annual Southwest Community Art Showcase starts Monday at the Southwest Branch Library – but it’s not too late to be part of it – just call 206-684-7455 or stop by the branch (35th/Henderson; map), but do it before the library closes today (6 pm). The reminder comes from Julie Enevoldsen of Friends of the Southwest Branch Library; she adds, “Artists of any age and artwork of any medium are welcome.” The show will run through Nov. 15, with a meet-the-artists reception at 2 pm Nov. 7.
VIADUCT CLOSURE: Right about now, the Alaskan Way Viaduct is scheduled to close for the first of two days of inspections, as routinely happens twice a year. Today’s closure is scheduled to end at 5:30 pm to accommodate Sounders traffic; tomorrow’s shutdown is slated for 6 am-6 pm. (A few hours into the closure, the mayor and governor are scheduled to gather alongside The Viaduct for the ceremonial signing of the tunnel deal validated by the City Council this week.)
350 DAY: It’s the International Day for Climate Action. Big event in West Seattle: CoolMom and Sustainable West Seattle are is creating an edible garden on a plot donated by C & P Coffee (who answered this). You can join in – starting at 10 am. Then at 12:30, SWS leads a bike ride from Seacrest to Seattle Center, where events will culminate in the formation of the numbers 3, 5, 0 at 3:50 pm. Read more on the SWS website.
LESBIAN & GAY FILM FESTIVAL IN WEST SEATTLE: For the second year, the festival has screenings in West Seattle, at Admiral Theater starting at noon today and tomorrow – five films today and two tomorrow.
HELP SAMOAN DISASTER VICTIMS: 9 am to 1 pm, you can take donations to an event at Evergreen High School in White Center (map). See what’s needed, and find out more about the event, by going here.
WEST SEATTLE EAGLES’ OKTOBERFEST NOTE: They sent word yesterday they had trouble getting the right permits, so they’ve canceled the beer/sausage event, but are still doing breakfast and flag football.
Lots more! See the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
That’s the West Seattle High School varsity football team accepting the Huling Bowl trophy – again – on Homecoming Night, after a 26-8 victory over Chief Sealth High School at West Seattle Stadium. The win put West Seattle in a three-way tie with Rainier Beach and Nathan Hale for first place in the Metro League’s Sound Division. Since that was the last regular-season game, this morning there’ll be a coin flip to determine how everything will shake out in the playoff picture. At this point West Seattle could play as early as Monday night or as late as next Friday. The Wildcats managed to pull off the win despite losing quarterback Ellison Tran early in the second half. Running back Isaiah Jenkins stepped into the QB role and kept the team moving down the field. Tran came back in the fourth quarter and was part of a flea-flicker that led to a West Seattle touchdown. While Tran sat out most of the half, Jenkins and teammate Markeem Adams split the play-calling. Coach Davis Lura talked about it afterward:
Chief Sealth scored with only five seconds left in the game. The Seahawks’ Tracy Manley caught a pass and quarterback Daniel Davis was successful on the two-point conversion. Meantime, the crosstown rivalry made way for good-spirited cheerleader and band action on the field at halftime:
Before the game, a barbecue and rally – with Tom and Steve Huling at the grill, dishing up free hot dogs:
This is the 92nd WSHS homecoming; the school’s Homecoming Dance is tomorrow night at Club One 3 One downtown.
Hundreds of students, staffers and parent/community volunteers teamed up in Friday’s soggy, blustery weather for another successful Lafayette Elementary Walk-a-Thon. This is a big year for the school in Admiral, as it’s added two classes and is now the most populous elementary in West Seattle, with more than 500 students. The PTA organizes the Walk-a-Thon to raise tens of thousands of dollars each year to fill school needs that the regular budget just doesn’t cover. Classes take turns throughout the day making the rounds on the playground, with peppy music:
Volunteers rounded up more than 100 business sponsors this year, including WSB. (Disclosure, we have a Lafayette alum in the house, but we’re always pleased to receive sponsorship solicitations from any local school fundraiser or other community event.)
This morning, we resume our city-candidate closeups; we took a look at them all before the primary election, and with the general election nearing, we’re checking back in with the finalists in five city races – mayor and council. We’ve already looked at mayor (Mike McGinn here, Joe Mallahan here) and City Council Position 6 (Nick Licata here, Jessie Israel here); this morning, it’s City Council Position 8..
By Jack Mayne
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Mike O’Brien says he wants a Seattle City Council seat for reasons including opposition to the deep-bore tunnel plan for replacing part of The Viaduct and consideration of tolling major thoroughfares in the city to discourage car usage and raise money for projects like creating a transportation-and-people corridor along the city’s waterfront.
O’Brien is a former chair of the Cascade Chapter of the Sierra Club and spent a decade as chief financial officer at the Stokes Lawrence law firm. He shares opposition of the deep-bore tunnel plan with fellow ex-Sierra Club chair Mike McGinn, who’s running for mayor. O’Brien faces Robert Rosencrantz in the Position 8 race.
He has said tolls could be used “everywhere” but moderates that a bit under questioning.
This morning, we resume our city-candidate closeups; we took a look at them all before the primary election, and with the general election nearing, we’re checking back in with the finalists in five city races – mayor and council. We’ve already looked at mayor (Joe Mallahan here, Mike McGinn here) and City Council Position 6 (Jessie Israel here, Nick Licata here); this morning, it’s City Council Position 8..
By Jack Mayne
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Robert Rosencrantz has run for City Council twice before and lost. He says it is either the third time is the charm of it is three strikes and you’re out.
He is a commercial property manager and is running for Position 8 against Mike O’Brien.
Rosencrantz believes local issues should be controlled by the neighborhoods. Rewriting the now 10-year old neighborhood plans should not be done in City Hall, but in West Seattle and other urban centers. He said that while he served as president of the Montlake Community Council, he felt estranged from City Hall.
Great photo from David Clarke, taken from Beach Drive this afternoon. So far, the forecast suggests tomorrow will be rain-free – lots to do if you don’t already have your plans locked in – check the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
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