West Seattle, Washington
23 Tuesday
Quick Southwest Precinct update: Diva Espresso (on Fauntleroy west of Avalon) was robbed this morning; police say they know who they are looking for and hope to make an arrest soon.
As promised last night, we have the renderings now of the three design options shown at last night’s city Parks Department public meeting about the Morgan Junction park-to-be. The one above, dubbed “Pianoforte” (because of a piano-type shape), was the most popular with meeting-goers. Here are the other two (and a few more meeting details):Read More
We first told you last month about Seattle City Light‘s plan to do extensive tree-trimming around West Seattle power lines this year, including the utility’s promise it would set a public meeting. The date for that meeting, and details on what neighborhoods SCL will focus on, just arrived in the form of this news release:Read More
That rendering by CB Anderson Architects is the first look at what the proposed “boutique hotel” south of Salty’s on Alki might look like, along with potential improvements for the main restaurant, such as a new glassed-in deck. Thanks to Derek for first spotting it in the Daily Journal of Commerce (whose articles are only available online to subscribers) and thanks to Eileen Mintz from Salty’s for subsequently tracking down a copy for us to share with you. As Richard Anderson of CB Anderson told the DJC, the project is still in “dream” stage, and this is a very preliminary look at what it could resemble — no formal applications have been filed with the city. One more Salty’s note: The “Under the Alki Moon” wine dinner last night introduced the new cookbook “Good Ciao!”, on which Salty’s co-owner Kathryn Hilger Kingen collaborated with Italian chef Roberto Russo and Salty’s chefs. Read more about it here.
Eight days after Red Cup Espresso owner Angelia Paulsen‘s tragically early death in a car crash, her husband Sean O’Dea e-mailed WSB early this morning to ask us to share this with you:
I cannot possibly find the words to describe or thank everyone for the level of support that has been offered to us at this time. I have had hundreds of people come to me with offers of help with anything I could possibly need. This has come from merchants, customers, neighbors and friends. It feels like the entire community has stepped up at at a time of overwhelming grief, and overwhelmed us with care and love. We are doing our best to keep the shop open, and will be open every day from 6 am to around 2 pm. As soon as I can, I plan to have it back to regular hours. I know how much Julian and I loved Angelia, and am extremely touched and honored by the love and respect shown to her memory. Thank you all.
Sean had previously posted in the comments section — up to 111 as of early this morning — following our original report on the accident.
That’s what project co-chair Libby Carr told WSB by phone tonight, at the group’s deadline for wrapping up active fundraising. Co-chair Paul Carr followed up with this e-mail:
We dropped off a letter to the Mayor’s Office late today informing them that we have more than met the goal. Counting the money from the City ($50,000) and what NPA says they can throw in the pot ($10,550), we have almost $175,000. We’ve raised about $115,000 in the last four months. The benches and landscape plaques are all sold or spoken for, and we are going to continue the brick sale (including the “specials”) until the brick company calls for the brick order; we estimate that will be two weeks to a month. We’re doing that partly because people asked for it, and partly because all construction estimates are just that-estimates. Someone has already suggested adding some bench backs-those are not currently in the design. There may be other changes by the City. It would be terrific to have a cushion.
We will have a more formal report to put up on the Sealady website in a
couple of days …
You can find that site here. And to catch up on how this has all developed since last summer, check the WSB Alki Statue of Liberty coverage archive here.
From tonight’s meeting at The Kenney to get the status of the park to be built at the site above, former monorail property north of the new Beveridge Place Pub: More than 40 people; more than two hours; three proposed design options, discussed in small breakaway groups. No name yet; the Parks Department says it’s holding off till the design is firmed up. The proposed designs were presented under the names “pianoforte,” “terrazze,” and “affodante.” Major differences include how much grass, what kind of seating, etc. Parks is supposed to send us digital files tomorrow so we can show them to you here. Next step – feedback from tonight’s meeting, e-mail, etc., will be taken under advisement as a final proposed design is developed next month, and then it will be presented at another public meeting, expected in March; construction would start this fall.
We reported earlier that the Dillard/Coxwell trial has begun. Per the P-I, the Ephraim Schwartz (47th/Admiral crash that killed Tatsuo Nakata in 11/06) trial also is under way.
One of the headlines from tonight’s West Seattle Community Safety Partnership meeting — the Southwest Precinct is working on security for a high-profile funeral that will be held in West Seattle next week. Lt. Steve Paulsen told the WSCSP tonight that the funeral for Deche Morrison, the 14-year-old found shot dead in South Seattle last Friday, is set for Tuesday at Freedom Church (35th SW & Roxbury), and Lt. Paulsen says you can expect to see a sizable police presence in the area. There are security concerns because police have not arrested anyone yet in this killing, nor in the killing of another teenage boy; the gang unit reportedly is looking into both. (More of the WSCSP meeting toplines tomorrow.) ADDED 12:30 PM WEDNESDAY: For those who had asked what time this will be happening next Tuesday — 11 am.
From the files at the Southwest Precinct (and no, it’s not that there’s been a lot of crime lately, this is just our first run through the reports since last Thursday): 
We start with someone who went to great lengths AND great heights to commit a crime. Sometime between Thursday night and Monday morning, at the megaproject construction site on 42nd north of Alaska, someone stole two mobile radio/phones worth $750 from a crane cab — meaning, according to the police report, that they had to climb a chain link fence, go down a 30-foot wooden ladder into the big construction hole, then up a 20-foot mud hill to reach the crane, and after that, up 150 feet to the cab (and of course back down again). Next, followups on a few incidents that readers reported here in the past few days, including a drive-by shooting and the alleged Starbucks groper:Read More
According to the daily calendar for King County Superior Court, the much-delayed trial is finally under way for Adrian Dillard and Ted Coxwell – the two former Huling Bros. salesmen accused of the most serious charges in the scandal that came to light almost exactly one year ago. A week and a half ago, their ex-co-worker Paul Rimbey was sentenced to nine months in jail for his role in what happened.
The clouds have moved in over the top of the Olympics now, so we’re glad to have snagged this video view just for fun while out and about this morning.
This afternoon, we’re extending the traditional WSB welcome to three new sponsors who joined us today:
First, the West Seattle Family YMCA, which has been building strong communities through both the West Seattle (east of The Junction) and Fauntleroy locations since the 1920s. Josh Sutton from the Y picks it up from here: “Whether it’s families coming for child care, teens in leadership programs, or adults looking for a healthier lifestyle, the Y continues to be a place where people come together. That¹s why we love the West Seattle Blog. Over the past two years many Y staff, volunteers and members have become avid readers (and some posters). The WSB is the online gathering place, for news, opinions, community in West Seattle. We¹re happy to join WSB as a business sponsor. For those interested in Health & Wellness in the Y, January is a busy time. Lots of people resolve to take better care of themselves as they start the new year. With two Health & Wellness locations in West Seattle, we¹re open all year long to help you work towards your healthy balanced lifestyle.” The West Seattle Y is online here, with location and rate info here.
Another brand-new WSB sponsor is SoundYoga, at 5639 California, celebrating 10 years in West Seattle. Pictured at right is owner/director Chris Dormeier, who wants you to know: “SoundYoga offers small group classes (11 max), to support personal growth and fitness, in a beautiful studio with heated bamboo floors. All our teachers are Certified Yoga Teachers. Our classes range from beginning to the more challenging sessions using the breath to maximize the benefits of each posture. People who come to SoundYoga are of all ages, walks of life, and levels of fitness. In addition to regularly scheduled sessions, SoundYoga can provide classes for corporate settings, personal celebrations, and weekend workshops on special topics of your choice. I also provide individual sessions in yoga therapy and establishing an individual practice. We offer Certified Teacher Training for those wishing to become teachers or to deepen your personal practice. SoundYoga also has produced a video that incorporates yoga and light weights — Strong Bones Yoga® (available at Amazon.com). Chris says SoundYoga has several special events coming up — Intro to Ayurveda at 1 pm Jan. 27, Free Sunday Yoga at 4 pm Feb. 3, Intro to Yoga at 11 am Feb. 10, and the return of Prenatal Yoga on Thursdays at 5 pm.
And our third new sponsor is Jan’s Beauty Supply at 4517 California SW in The Junction. Jan’s is owned and operated by licensed professionals and is open to the public, serving the greater Seattle area for more than 24 years. Here’s what else the folks at Jan’s want you to know: “With more than 28 lines of professional hair-care products such as Pureology, Alterna, MOP, and Redken, choosing the right product is easy. Trusted brand-name appliances such as CHI, GHD, and Babyliss are always available. For the finishing touch, choose from a stunning array of designer jewelry. The much-sought-after ‘Liquid Silver’ jewelry is a must-have item. Indulge yourself with a French hair accessory or handmade soap or body butter. The comfortable atmosphere and reliable service make Jan’s a great place to shop. Immediate shipping is always available.” You can call Jan’s at 937-9224 or check out the shop’s new website here, with contact info here.
Thanks to the West Seattle Family YMCA, SoundYoga, and Jan’s Beauty Supply for supporting WSB, along with our other sponsors, all of whom are showcased right now in the right sidebar. If you’re interested in joining them, check out our Advertise page.
Thanks to Dawson for pointing out changes to this area along the southbound lanes of south Beach Drive — the sinking sidewalk is now marked as “closed,” and yellow barriers are up enabling walkers/runners to use part of what would have been the parking lane. We’ve walked that stretch before, always trepidationally, considering there’s a steep slope on the other side of the hedge bordering the now-closed sidewalk.
If there’s not a student in your family right now, you might not realize how much schools run on volunteer power and donations. Right now we have requests regarding two West Seattle elementaries. First one, posted in the WSB Forums, is about Roxhill Elementary; read it here. Second one came as an official news release about West Seattle Elementary (formerly High Point), focusing on “Day of Service” volunteer projects happening on MLK Day next Monday — and beyond:Read More
2 of the 11 West Seattle events for today/tonight that you’ll find (along with dozens of other events for the rest of the month and way beyond) on the WSB Events page:
MORGAN JUNCTION PARK: 7 pm tonight at The Kenney. It’s the first public meeting in almost a year on the park-to-be that’s going in next to the new Beveridge Place Pub (former Video Vault). According to the official city news release, this will be a chance for you “to review preliminary site plans and to provide feedback to the design team.” Notes from the last public meeting in March ’07 are on the Morgan Community Association website.
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP: 7 pm, Southwest Precinct. If you have crime/safety concerns in your neighborhood, or don’t have them yet and want to keep it that way, the WSCSP meeting is a great one to attend. Not only do Seattle Police reps (including members of the SW Precinct’s Community Police Team) attend and present updates on what they’re seeing and hearing, community organizers such as the group’s Seattle Neighborhood Group staff liaison Lois Grammon-Simpson present information on topics such as what to do about “nuisance properties” and what’s being done about some already reported. (As you’ll see in the notes from the last meeting in November.)
Major ice on the car, so if you don’t have a garage to park in, you’re likely to need some scraping time. Looks like all the school delays are to the east and north. Same with the Metro changes. Forecast: Clear, cold day. Check traffic cams here.
While out for a walk a little while ago, we were passed by a car with slushy snow all over its hood. That gave us the hint it’s snowing somewhere not too far away; My Ballard, Central District News, and Seattlest verified that. Looking at the latest National Weather Service “forecast discussion,” doesn’t sound like it’ll get this far south. However, road ice could be a problem in the morning, the city warns. And Metro just sent this advisory about possible bus-service effects. Here’s the school-status link to check if you’re up mega-early.
This just in from Delfino Munoz, the Chief Sealth High School teacher who has been publicly voicing concerns about the current Denny Middle School-Sealth HS shared-campus plan:
The Seattle Education Association Representative Assembly just passed a resolution calling “…on the Seattle School Board and District Administration to direct BEX III/Facilities to provide an option for rebuilding Denny at the current Denny site…”
More details when we get them. ADDED 10:01 PM: Here’s the text of the final SEA resolution, from a doc forwarded by Munoz:Read More
Editor Cami MacNamara just sent the link. Its articles include a contribution from us again, a shorter version of our interview with the entrepreneur who’s opening the Alki Urban Market (the WSB version is here). The Beacon is published by the Alki Community Council, which is having its next meeting this Thursday, 7 pm at the Alki Community Center, with a guest appearance by new city council president Richard Conlin.
Our area’s newest state legislator has begun her first legislative session this afternoon in Olympia. 34th District State Rep. Sharon Nelson was chosen last November to succeed Joe McDermott, who moved up to State Senate after Erik Poulsen‘s resignation. Rep. Nelson talked with WSB this morning about what she’ll be working on and how she’s hoping to hear from you:Read More
Now that it’s mid-January, we can truly see the summer light at the end of the tunnel – and in fact, there are three ways you can get involved with this year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival right now:Read More
The WSB inbox gets rumor e-mails every day. We always check them out, and if they’re true, we report it here; if they’re not, we usually don’t say anything, except in an e-mail back to the original sender. Today, there’s one that we do want to mention here, even though the subject says it’s NOT TRUE: Got e-mail last night from someone saying they’d heard from a reliable source that West Seattle Bowl would be closing. Wouldn’t be hard to imagine that could make sense — other bowling alleys in the city are closing (Sunset Bowl and Leilani Lanes), and in the case of WS Bowl, the Fauntleroy Place project going in next door is going to make life on that block a little messy for a while. However, we just dropped in to ask WS Bowl in person, and manager Andy Carl says, “We’re NOT GOING ANYWHERE — our lease is good till 2017.” In fact, he told WSB, he’s doing interviews with some citywide media later this week about the future of bowling alleys in the wake of those other high-profile closures.
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