West Seattle, Washington
26 Friday
First, an update on the recurring homophobic graffiti in the Morgan Junction/Lincoln Park area (same 3-word phrase that is too vile to post here). We reported its reappearance last month; then in the past few days, we’ve received three more reports, including the tennis courts near Lincoln Park and a business sign in south Morgan Junction. 
To recap – there was an arrest after the first wave of this vandalism last May, and a suspect was charged in Seattle Municipal Court, but the charges were dismissed because he was found mentally incompetent; an evaluation was recommended. What happened after that is not a matter of public record, for medical privacy reasons. Lt. Steve Paulsen of the Southwest Precinct tells us today that SWP officers are on alert to watch for the same suspect, to question him; their best bet (whether the vandal is indeed him or someone else) will be if someone catches and reports this vandalism as it happens.
Meantime, in a separate case, we also received a report of extensive tagging on benches, rocks and other facilities at Constellation Park south of Alki Point; no arrests reported. Investigators reiterate that if you see graffiti, please make sure that it IS reported: Graffiti at city facilities (such as parks) can be reported through this form. If you want to paint it out immediately, take a photo first – they are keeping a database in hopes of matching more crimes to suspects when arrests are made. Graffiti also is often discussed at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council‘s meetings; next one is next Tuesday, 7 pm, at the SW Precinct meeting room (Webster/Delridge).
Just got word from SDOT that the location’s now set for the ceremony to give the West Seattle Bridge the name “Jeanette Williams Memorial Bridge” at 12:30 pm Friday, October 23: It’ll be at 3682 West Marginal Way (west side of the waterfront under the bridge). SDOT says Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and the family of Jeanette Williams — the former councilmember who died a year ago — will be there, and you are invited to be there too.
Update on one effect of last night’s up-to-3-hours West Seattle power outage (WSB as-it-happened coverage here) – a spill at the Lowman Beach pump station, where WSB contributing journalist Christopher Boffoli took that photo last night (the light in the background was from a county truck at the pump station). This news release is just in from King County:
A power failure in West Seattle last night knocked out electricity at King County’s Murray Avenue Pump Station, causing a small sewage overflow near Lowman Beach Park.
County employees responded quickly Wednesday night and installed a portable generator to provide back up power during the outage. Crews stopped the overflow within 30 minutes.
It’s estimated that about 65,000 gallons of wastewater was discharged through the pump station’s emergency outfall into Puget Sound.
County staff took water quality samples and notified health and regulatory agencies about the overflow.
Utility power was back online within two hours and the facility is again operating normally.
We have followup questions out to Seattle City Light regarding the cause of the “underground cable failure” blamed for last night’s outage, which affected almost 2,800 homes and businesses at its peak.
West Seattle Helpline director Anna Fern sends news their Clothesline clothing bank is expanding its services:
The West Seattle Helpline is taking the Clothesline to Seniors. We have partnered with the West Seattle Food Bank to bring some clothing items to their waiting room on Tuesdays just before their distribution. Last Tuesday and yesterday, we gave away sweaters. (Photo above shows Liz, a Helpline volunteer, with the sweaters before we took them down to the Food Bank. Photo below shows a picture of the rack in the Food Bank waiting room after sweaters were selected by Seniors yesterday.)
Then next Tuesday we are going to give away coats. We need extra winter coats in order to have enough for next Tuesday the 20th and the following Tuesday the 27th . … We could use help gathering extra coats. They can drop off coats at the Helpline (6516 35th Ave. SW) during office hours Monday – Friday 7:00 to 8:30 AM or Monday – Thursday 4:30 to 6:30. For other arrangements, call 206.932.4357.
P.S.: As noted earlier today, West Seattle Helpline is the beneficiary of one of the upcoming WS Halloween events – Nightmare on Morgan Street at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) Oct. 29 (here’s the poster).
Photo and info from David Hutchinson:
Noticed this sailboat aground just south of the Don Armeni boat ramp yesterday afternoon. I think it broke loose from where it was moored during the recent stormy weather. It was still there this morning. The owner was on site trying to free it from the rocks so it could be refloated at high tide (3:32 PM). I believe he was originally contacted by the Coast Guard and he could probably use some assistance if anyone has any expertise in this type of situation.
4:51 PM UPDATE: David sends word (with new photos) that the boat is off the rocks. Posting a separate followup shortly.
We’ve been adding Halloween events to the WSB Events calendar as fast as they come in – and here’s another: The Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) now has two bashes Halloween week – 6 pm Thursday 10/29 it’s the “Nightmare on Morgan Street” masquerade ball (poster) to benefit West Seattle Helpline; 8 pm Friday 10/30, it’s the “Zombie Dance Party” (poster) benefiting teams from the Rat City Rollergirls and Jet City Rollergirls. (Halloween-style fun starts heating up this weekend – if you have an event, make sure it’s on our calendar – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!)
ADDED 12:33 PM: Another announcement has come in: 2:30-4:30 pm Halloween afternoon at Hiawatha Community Center, West Seattle Dawg, Muttley Crew Cuts and The Wash Dog are presenting a pet-friendly event, Halloween Howl, including a dog costume contest and pet psychics. Rex at WS Dawg says they’re selling tickets now – it’s a benefit for West Seattle Food Bank.
As noted here, the followup to the big July Neighborhood Plan Status Check meeting is coming up November 5th. Today, Sharonn Meeks, who’s on the citywide Neighborhood Plan Advisory Council, sends word that the city’s official summaries are now online. You’ll find them in this document, interspersed with the rest of the city – alphabetical order – listed as Admiral, Delridge, Morgan Junction, West Seattle Junction, Westwood/Highland Park.
10-year-old Vanessa Radke of West Seattle gets to “skip school on Monday,” as her mom Sara Satterlee put it, for what you’d probably agree is a good reason — she’s flying to New York to be on NBC’s nationally broadcast TODAY show. Sara says her daughter – an Alki Elementary School student and former West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival Junior Princess – has made it to the final 16 in the show’s “Kid Reporter” contest, and will be interviewed live on the show Monday. Contestants were asked to put together a video report and mail it in; we asked Sara about Vanessa’s entry:
Her submission was videotaped with her father a few weeks down at Alki Beach. She did a quick one minute bit on how to conserve water. The video starts out with her intro about water with the back drop being Puget Sound on the sandy shores of Alki Beach. She then cuts to her in her grandma’s kitchen telling her viewers that there are just three simple steps everyone could follow that could help everyone. Scene fades to her brushing her teeth, and her explaining the importance of tuning off the water while brushing It then fades into a dishwashing session and Vanessa tells her audience that they need to fill the sink, turn off the water, wash the dishes, and then rinse. For the final few scenes it is apparent from her wet hair and that she is wrapped up tight in a robe that she is fresh out of the shower. As she walks across the living room she describes to her viewer that by cutting your shower back by only one minute, saves water. As she wraps up her video she recaps how three simple steps can help so much.
Sara says a producer interviewed Vanessa by phone yesterday and then extended the invite to them to fly to NY for the show – they’re flying out Sunday, then returning right afterward on Monday. You’ll get the chance to vote for her to make it to the next round: Checking TODAY online, looks like this is the second week they’ll be featuring a group of four semifinalists on Monday, opening the voting by text message, then announcing the winner from that group on Wednesday; then in early November there’ll be another round of voting after the group of finalists is set. Besides getting to report for TODAY, the winner gets a Caribbean cruise. (Here’s the first group of semifinalists from last week; an Oklahoma girl got the most votes in that group.) TODAY airs on KING 5 here in Seattle, 7-11 am weekdays (we’ll be checking to see what time Monday you’re likely to see Vanessa).
Two items from the Rotary Club of West Seattle – first, honors for the smiling trio you see above. Irene Stewart explains, “Every month the Rotary Club of West Seattle honors outstanding seniors from West Seattle high schools. The October students of the month are (from left) Kelsey Shaw, Seattle Lutheran High School; Kaosio Saeteurn, West Seattle High School; and Dallas Rupnick, Chief Sealth High School.”
Also from the West Seattle Rotary, an invitation to NON-Rotarians:
Here’s an incredible opportunity for a young professional! Local Rotary clubs are looking for young business people from King County who would like to travel to Bolivia next spring. And the best part – Rotary picks up the tab!
Rotary group study exchanges develop professional and leadership skills and prepare participants to address global needs within their own communities. The month-long program provides an opportunity to travel to Bolivia, engage in professional discussions, and tour facilities that they would never see as a tourist.
All costs are covered by Rotary. Applicants must be age 25 to 40 and employed. Only non-Rotarians need apply — even Rotary family members are not eligible to participate. Applications are due on or before October 19, 2009. For more information, go to www.gse.rotary5030.org or contact the Rotary District 5030 GSE Committee Chair, Bob Kaercher, at 425-277-3114 or GSEChair@USRotary.org.
That deadline may be a bit flexible, according to WS Rotary’s Steve Fuller, but the sooner the better.
WEST SEATTLE CANDIDATES’ FORUM: It’s been in the works for weeks, and tonight’s the night – come hear the candidates for Mayor and City Council take on West Seattle-specific questions. The forum co-sponsored by the Southwest and Delridge Neighborhoods District Councils starts at 7 pm at Youngstown Arts Center (4408 Delridge); reminder that you can come early and meet the artists chosen for the Delridge Playfield art project.
SCHOOL BOUNDARIES Q/A MEETING: The Monday night session with School Board rep Steve Sundquist at Schmitz Park Elementary was informal – now, it’s the big official meeting for those with questions and/or opinions on the newly announced attendance-boundary proposals as the district transitions to a system more based on neighborhood schools. 6:30 pm, West Seattle High School. (If you absolutely can’t make it, there’s one Friday night at Denny; here’s the full list.)
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm, Alki Community Center, with agenda including an airline program that could change flight paths, and an update on the Alki Homestead (big topic at last month’s meeting).
GIRL SCOUTS INFORMATIONAL MEETING: Tonight there’s one at Roxhill Elementary, 6 pm. Organizers note that girls will not be assigned to troops at this meeting, but they explain the organization and even how to form your own troop, as well as how to become a volunteer!
UPRIDGE TOWNHOMES’ GRAND OPENING: As noted here when we welcomed upRidge as a sponsor yesterday, the new development alongside Longfellow Creek (5957 Delridge) has its grand opening today, 4-7:30 pm, and you’re invited to come take tours and enjoy free pizza from Delridge’s own Olympia.
With comments after every story, plus the Forums section, there are many channels for your opinion here on WSB. But sometimes, as happened last year with the Alaskan Way Viaduct, you have something longer to say, in the style of the print-media “op-ed piece.” After we recently wrote that WSB is open to “op-ed” pitches from West Seattleites, we received this, about the touchy, urgent, difficult topic of homelessness, from Highland Park’s Dorsol Plants:
Opinion: By Dorsol Plants
Within the last couple of weeks, the issue of homelessness has been one of the things at the forefront of the political activities going on in the city. This is fitting, since last week seems to have been the first signs of a cold winter. Even before the economic crisis, there were over 2,000 men, women and children counted sleeping outside on a cold January night, and with the effect of the recession still being so profoundly felt, we can expect this January’s One Night Count numbers to be even higher.
With Seattle’s shelter system already turning away people at night, what are we going to do? Is ending homelessness viable and is it something the city can do in 10 years as promised?
So far we have heard two sides to this argument, each trying to explain why the problem of homelessness is getting worse and not better. The stance that many homeless advocates have taken has been that the City isn’t doing enough in the way of funding for shelters and permanent housing. They say that if we are truly going to make a go at ending homelessness then we need to place more money into affordable housing and the burdened shelter system. The city’s stance however is that they are already doing as much as they can afford, and it’s time the County and other cities began to step up and handle their share of the problem.
There is truth on both sides of the argument. The city should provide more funding for human services, and if they were to look through the budget they could find ways to more efficiently provide more shelter with the money already in place. Yet the city is also raising a valid point. It is well past time for us to begin to discuss a National Plan to End Homelessness.
When you get right down to it, homelessness is about a lack of housing. Yes, there are a number of issues surrounding why someone is without a home. Those issues may include mental illness, job loss, or unexpected medical expenses. But all those issues are more easily worked while not fighting for your survival every night on the streets. There is no inherent reason why people who are experiencing these problems should not have housing.
The real problem is that there is no congruent plan. When it comes to affordable housing, funding from city, county, state, and federal levels all tie in at different points and various ways. To actually end homelessness, we can’t just try to throw together enough money to build enough houses or subsidize enough existing apartments. Rather, we need a plan — including timetables from the top down — that outlines the strategy for dealing with homeless at all levels.
This has to start at the Federal level so that from the State down to the Cities, funding and resources can be focused around need areas lacking in the federal plan. By clearly outlining and defining each role from the top down, one specific plan enables those plans under it to fill in the cracks left behind. This starts with creating a national chain of communication that breaks down the walls between Federal, State, City, Nonprofits, Faith-Based, and other homeless agencies.
This very idea came to several cities, and each drew up their own 10-year plans like the one we have here in Seattle. But it is unreasonable to expect cities to be able to work out this problem on their own, and that can very evidently be seen through the city’s demands for more help. Much as we wouldn’t expect the city of Seattle to be solely responsible for stopping global warming, we can’t expect that any real end to homelessness could come without looking at homelessness as a regional and national issue.
The change has to start somewhere; Seattle is in a good place to initiate it. For starters, Mayor Nickels has placed Seattle prominently onto the national stage on the issue of the environment and the next Mayor can use that to generate a conversation on the need to end homelessness. We must also correct the mistakes in our 10-year plan, plug the budgeting gaps and make a commitment not to remove any more funding until the crisis has passed.
Finally, we should set an example by allowing the sheer humanity of the issue affect the decision making process. We can do this by admitting there aren’t enough beds for everyone and allowing for the basic survival needs of all human beings. In part, this means providing Nickelsville a permanent site that will allow Nickelodeons to remain as a community until the cities of the region and the county have a chance to create enough shelter and housing to allow everyone to come inside.
We can end homelessness, but the only way we are going to be able to do that is by honestly reflecting on where we are as a city, by acknowledging that we won’t be able to do this alone, and by calling for a national movement to address this national issue.
Dorsol Plants is Homeless Veteran Employment Case Manager with the Compass Center (and a U.S. Army veteran himself). He also is former chair of the Highland Park Action Committee, and ran for Seattle City Council in this year’s primary. He is also Field Organizer for the Northwest Progressive Institute as well.
Got an opinion you’d like to share in a longer format like this? Send a note to bounce the idea off us: editor@westseattleblog.com
The power did NOT go out in two areas of West Seattle where major events were happening tonight – that photo’s from Kendall (of WA Beer Blog and Beer Church fame) during the Chef Sean Goff Memorial Fund benefit dinner/movie at The Sanctuary at Admiral. He reports “amazing food” and a good turnout. (We’re expecting another report on this later tonight. Meantime, remember there’s another benefit coming up November 7, sponsored by the Westenders Scooter Club, details here.) Also tonight: Watch the 34th District Democrats‘ website for updates on tonight’s meeting – your editor here had one foot out the door to go cover it as usual when the power outage forced a change in plans. (Midnight update – just got word from the 34th DDs, their update is up.)
Last but by no means least (we have a few more stories to publish before the night’s over, as usual), WSB contributing journalist Christopher Boffoli checked out a small breaking-news story post-power outage – Sylvan Way through High Point was partly blocked for about 20 minutes because of a fire call:
Turned out, Christopher reports, to have been touched off by “food on the stove” – no major damage, no injuries reported. A 128 bus was delayed.
(scroll down for latest updates)
(video added 8:31 pm – Fauntleroy/California intersection just before power returned)
FIRST REPORT at 6:46 PM: Power just went out here at WSB HQ in Upper Fauntleroy. Checking to find out the extent of the outage. So far: SW Austin on the north. On the south, we drove 35th and it came back on by the time we got to SW Henderson. Just called City Light, this isn’t on their outage hotline yet – calling the media number next. Via Twitter, we have a couple reports that Alki had a flicker but no outage. Meantime, one person in comments reports having trouble reporting this via the city outage number – we had the same problem.
7:05 PM UPDATE: Still no record of this on City Light’s line. This definitely seems to be a “south West Seattle” situation. Right now, we’re checking the Lincoln Park area – the 76 station and the tennis courts are out but the ferry dock has the power – south of the tennis courts, there’s power. Looks like the lights are on at The Kenney. In comments, Josh says he reached someone at SCL who says this is affecting 3,000 homes/businesses.
7:11 PM UPDATE: From the Seattle City Light media line – 2,756 “customers” (homes/businesses) without power, boundaries described as Findlay, Henderson, 34th, Puget Sound, no cause known yet, “estimated time of restoration” unknown. Co-publisher Patrick is on the road checking key spots in the area – he says the California/Fauntleroy light is out and businesses around that intersection appear to be out as well, at least on the Zeeks Pizza/Starbucks-Subway/Thriftway corners – he’s going into Thriftway shortly to check on the situation there. (update) They’re open for business, with the help of generators – here’s a photo:
Going east on Morgan from the Thriftway, Patrick reports that the outage is spotty – a few spots out, a few spots on. City Light’s online note is here (no info beyond what we have already reported). Again, The Junction and other points north, NOT affected by all accounts – and to the south, one commenter says Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor) and that section of Fauntleroy has power – so if you’re looking to go out to dinner, head in those directions. We’re heading out to check on Westwood Village. From Facebook, Lindsey offers words of warning and advice:
There’s power on raymond and fauntleroy. Stay away from 35th and morgan traffic light !! People’s tempers are getting ugly. People keep driving and not stopping on 35th ouch almost saw a accident
7:43 PM UPDATE: Westwood Village has its power on, no problem. Again, as Lindsey’s note above indicates, driving is a big problem right now, with major lights out of power including California/Fauntleroy, 35th/Morgan, 35th/Thistle. (added 9:22 pm, Christopher Boffoli‘s photo of Calif/Fauntleroy during the outage)
Still no updates so far on how long this will last or what caused it. It’s dark along Fauntleroy from Myrtle to California. Continuing reports of where the power is ON – Delridge and Highland Park report in as OK – so this does not seem to extend much past 35th.
7:53 PM UPDATE: Power just came back on to California/Fauntleroy intersection and surrounding businesses, per co-publisher Patrick. Not back on up here (California/Thistle, mile south) yet. (minutes later) He’s checking south now – the outage starts again at SW Austin and continues to about SW Trenton, again with irregular boundaries in some spots. (Sue via Facebook says she’s at 41st and Holly, where one side of the street is out, the other on!)
8:01 PM UPDATE: WSB contributing journalist Christopher Boffoli has joined the outage-coverage team – he says Zeeks in Morgan Junction will reopen but since they had sent half their staff home, they will NOT be delivering for the rest of the night. He also just verified, Abbondanza in Morgan Junction has reopened. McDonald’s is open but Subway will remain closed for the night. (Added 9:09 pm, Christopher’s photo of Feedback Lounge [WSB sponsor], serving by candlelight before the power returned:)
8:08 PM UPDATE: Our power just returned at California/Thistle. It’s still out at the north Lincoln Park 76 station and nearby tennis courts, plus heading down the hill to Lowman Beach from there.
8:21 PM UPDATE: At Lowman Beach, Christopher reports a crew from King County has brought portable power to make sure the pump station there keeps running. (He took this photo, added at 9 pm:)
Just checked City Light’s media line again, still no new updates on the cause (or when the outage will be fully restored).
8:30 PM UPDATE: In comments, Morgan Community Association president Deb Barker says she has word from her mom at The Kenney that it’s operating on reduced power. Also, a comment from Gatewood says that while the power’s back, Comcast service isn’t fully restored for them (ours up the hill to the south is, fwiw). Meantime, we’re adding a video clip atop this story, from when the power went back on while we were rolling video on the then-dark intersection at California/Fauntleroy (note the flashing traffic lights at the end of the clip).
8:39 PM UPDATE: City Light says “underground cable failure” caused the outage and all should be restored by 9.
9:04 PM UPDATE: Still have scattered reports of powerlessness – DrD in comments says 6900 block of California; Andrea via Facebook says upper Lowman Beach.
9:24 PM UPDATE: Still out at the north Lincoln Park pocket too, as Kari notes in comments; co-publisher Patrick is back out roaming and spotted a City Light crew working on a pole across from the 76 station there.
9:35 PM UPDATE: Now that area is back, and upper Lowman Beach appears to be too, so unofficially it looks like the outage is ALL over – let us know if you are an exception. Meantime, Christopher put together a short clip including Morgan Junction during the outage, Lowman Beach pump truck, and Morgan Junction post-power-back:
(Sunday photo taken from Southworth by Terry Wittman)
So far, we haven’t seen any speculation on the IDs of the orcas who traveled between West Seattle and West Sound shores last Sunday (WSB coverage, with video, here) … so we don’t know if these whales were among them .. but the Orca Network reports today that photos taken the day before, near Port Townsend, reveals 2 orcas accompanying a brand-new baby. See the photos by going here. So far, the baby’s known as L-113, and brings the “southern resident” orca population to 86. Meantime, more news from Orca Network – they shared this photo taken near their south Whidbey Island HQ on Saturday, with info for all orca-watchers:
They forwarded news of a new study that relies on quick reports of sightings – read on:Read More
This afternoon we welcome our newest sponsor, upRidge at Longfellow Creek, which invites you to a grand-opening celebration tomorrow. Here’s what they’d like you to know about this new development: What was once a blighted lot with abandoned houses is now West Seattle’s newest townhome community; upRidge at Longfellow Creek; 15 stylish townhomes surrounded by tranquil views of urban green space, 
brought to you by developer Mike Giomi of Terra Firma II. Located in West Seattle, about one mile north of Home Depot and across the street from the temporary site of Chief Sealth High School, upRidge sits above Longfellow Creek (photo above shows its “beaver pond” section nearby), with a system of bike trails and walkways that stretch for miles in either direction. Enveloped by its natural surroundings, upRidge feels peaceful and quiet, yet is just minutes to downtown Seattle. We all know the saying – it’s what’s on the inside that counts. That’s why upRidge is designed with quality features and amenities designed to enhance your lifestyle. Enjoy the best of urban living in one of these awesome new homes. Two-plus and three-bedroom homes, with variable floor plans, are priced from $250,000 to $310,000. A grand opening will be held for the public on Thursday, October 15th from 4:00 to 7:30 p.m. Please stop by and take a tour of upRidge and enjoy food from Olympia Pizza & Pasta. Visit upRidge.com or call Cara Mohammadian at (206) 650-9554 for more information. We thank upRidge for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; the sponsor team, with info on joining, is all here.
Last year’s winner came from West Seattle – will it happen two years in a row? Just got the link from CityDog Magazine 
via Twitter – voting has begun, among the five finalists (including Murphy, the West Seattle winner, reported here Sept. 21) chosen in the past few months of photo shoots. Cast your vote here. By the way, in addition to Murphy, we have one other pitch for West Seattle votes – WSB’er Jo from Alki says another of the candidates, Scout the three-legged border collie (right), is her “grand-dog” – living with her son and daughter-in-law – and deserves a look. May the best dog win! (Here’s the voting link again.)
If the forecast is right, what we’re seeing outside right now – the wind kicking up some gusts, mixed with steady rain, nothing dramatic as you can see in our clip but still a taste of serious fall bluster – is about as bad as it’s going to get. Just in case you were wondering. (At least we’re not getting THIS.)
SANCTUARY AT ADMIRAL BENEFIT FOR CAFE REVO CHEF’S FAMILY: Appetizers, wine, Italian dinner, and the movie “Big Night,” 6 pm tonight to benefit the Sean Goff Memorial Fund. Tickets in advance at Cafe Revo, 2940 SW Avalon Way. Here’s our preview from yesterday.
TRAFFIC JUSTICE SUMMIT: Cascade Bicycle Club and others concerned about small (or nonexistent) penalties for those who hit and kill bicyclists and pedestrians have organized this meeting, Bertha Landes Knight Room at City Hall downtown , 5:30 pm. Details here.
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET HEARING: Concerned about libraries – or any other city service? Show up and be heard. Northwest African American Museum (map), 5:30 pm. Details here.
Just in from the city – the rule banning guns at “facilities where children and youth are likely to be present” is starting to take effect. The city says the rule won’t be in effect at any specific facility until it is posted there; one of the first two places where the notices will go up is South Park Community Center, and all other affected facilities will be posted by Dec. 1, according to the announcement, which you can read in its entirety ahead:Read More
That’s the latest aerial photo (taken last month but posted today) of the Denny International Middle School/Chief Sealth High School shared-campus construction site in Westwood (an all-new Denny is being built, while Sealth is getting various upgrades/renovations). It’s new on the district website along with updates on the project – what’s done, what’s in progress – you can read those here. P.S. If you are among the parents working to learn more about Denny and Sealth because of the attendance-boundary revisions, a few notes: The official district informational meetings in West Seattle are tomorrow night at WS High School (3000 California SW) and Friday night at Denny (30th/Thistle), both at 6:30; also, Sealth is having an informational night for its International Baccalaureate program, which we just added to the Events calendar last night – it’s coming up at 7 pm November 3rd at Sealth’s interim location at Boren (5950 Delridge).
The Southwest Precinct confirms West Seattle has had three incidents that are similar to a wave of dental-office break-ins in North Seattle; our fellow independent community-collaborative online-news site PhinneyWood reported the burglaries today (see their story here), saying the burglar(s) were after drugs and gold. Sgt. Jeff Durden says that shortly after they got word of what was happening in the north end, “West Seattle had a dental office broken into, and then another, and then an attempt.” This all happened in the span of about a week, and then stopped as suddenly as it started, according to Sgt. Durden. In the meantime, the precinct says, they worked fast to warn dental offices about what was going on. No arrests so far but it’s a high priority for detectives around the city. 1:01 PM UPDATE: New information – three people stopped by officers in West Seattle early this morning are now considered “persons of interest” in the dental burglaries. Sgt. Durden called back to say the arrests were made after officers saw the three acting suspiciously outside a dental office in the 5400 block of California around 1:40 am. Two of them were taken into custody in connection with unrelated warrants; the third was interviewed and released, while the investigation continues.
Reps from Safeway and Fuller Sears Architects came to last night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting to give the group a sneak peek at the newest proposal for the Admiral Safeway redevelopment project. What you see above is the redesigned entrance area along California. They also revealed that you’ve already had an effect on the project – because of comments on a story here – read on for more on that and what else they had to say, and show:Read More
Jennifer Cobb from the High Point Neighborhood Association shared this urgent call for help:
The Youth Tutoring Program provides tutoring for at-risk youth living in the High Point public housing community.
Volunteers are needed to help students achieve academic success!
TUTORS ARE STILL NEEDED for the 2009-2010 school year!
· Tutors volunteer an average of 2 hours a week.
· The school-year program runs from September-June and serves students in grades 1-12.
· New tutor orientations are held twice a month!Tutoring sessions schedule:
Monday & Wednesday 4:20-5:20pm
Monday – Thursday 5:30-7:40pmNeed SERVICE LEARNING HOURS for High School graduation?
High School students with grade averages above 3.0 encouraged to apply!!
VOLUNTEER at High Point TODAY!For more information contact Rebecca at (206) 328-5659 or volunteerytp@ccsww.org
Apply to become a volunteer online at www.ccsww.org/ytp
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