West Seattle, Washington
15 Friday
TONIGHT: Wherever you live in West Seattle, you can get the lowdown on the latest trouble spots – and a chance to voice your concerns directly to your local police – by showing up for tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting. 7 pm – but not the usual location; it’s at Denny Middle School (30th and Thistle; here’s a map) this time.
THURSDAY: People living in the southeasternmost neighborhoods of West Seattle are also welcome at the South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition meeting, which also focuses on neighborhood trouble spots and crime concerns, with King County Sheriff’s Deputies usually in attendance as well as Seattle Police, to address both jurisdictions. 6 pm Thursday, St. James Place (9421 18th SW; here’s a map).
OCTOBER 28TH: After crime concerns came up while neighbors of California Place, the mini-park at California/Hill (map), were discussing proposed park changes, it was discovered there’s no Block Watch in the general area of California Avenue between SW Walker and SW Holgate (map), and adjoining streets. So a meeting to organize one, with Southwest Precinct crime-prevention help, is set for 6:30 pm 10/28 at West Seattle (Admiral) Library. If you are interested but unable to attend, e-mail info@californiaparkplace.org to get in touch with organizers.
Burke e-mailed that photo (thank you!) and elaborated:
I stopped in at Staples in Westwood Saturday afternoon and was greeted by this sign at the entrance. No cash? Inside there were a number of similar signs and it is true: no cashbacks, no cash accepted, no change. The clerk only commented that “there was a problem!” I sometimes jokingly ask if cash is accepted, after standing in a line of folks using credit/debit cards to buy groceries. Maybe it’s not a joke anymore?
Loved that bumper sticker the first time we saw it, on a car along a Fauntlee Hills street. Might have been the same car on which we photographed it Saturday morning, after the Democratic Get Out the Vote rally at The Hall at Fauntleroy. Anyway, it certainly applied to this afternoon’s third meeting — a meeting that almost wasn’t — of the Design Team that’s helping shape what will happen to the Denny Middle School site, once the current school is demolished after the new Denny is built at the Chief Sealth High School campus – read on:Read More
Several people have called our attention to this new article from Smart Money magazine, so we’re sharing it — West Seattle real estate gets a sunny shoutout.
As mentioned last week, WSB is covering the trial of the Alki 18-year-old charged with second-degree murder in the only 2007 West Seattle killing to go to trial, the deadly shooting in a car at 59th/Admiral on 10/13/07. WSB courtroom correspondent Rachel Gabrielle reports that a full jury was finally seated by the end of the day today in King County Superior Court, 8 women and 6 men (counting the two alternates). Opening statements are expected tomorrow in Judge Richard Eadie‘s courtroom, and we will have daily reports throughout the trial, estimated to last up to 3 weeks.
This Friday and Saturday, the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (WSB sponsor) includes screenings in West Seattle, for the very first time. Friday night begins with “Tough Girls: Shorts“ at 6 pm, followed by “The Sensei” at 7:30 pm and “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2” at 10 pm; on Saturday, the first showing is the documentary “Equality U” at noon, followed by “The New World” at 2:30 pm, the documentary “The Kinsey Sicks: Almost Infamous” at 4:30, “Dogtags” at 7 pm, “Camp Blood: Shorts” at 9 pm, then a special “Rocky Horror Picture Show” presentation at 11:30. OK, so now – the giveaway. Tonight, tomorrow, and Wednesday, courtesy of SLGFF, each night we’re giving away two pairs of tickets – one pair per winner per night – to the movie of your choice (with the exception of “The Sensei” and “Rocky Horror,” which are expected to be hot tickets). We’re making this mondo easy – first two people to e-mail us are the winners. Use this e-mailbox: westseattleblog@yahoo.com – include the name under which you want the tickets to be held at “will call” at the Admiral on the date/time of the showing you choose, as well as which movie you want the tickets for. We’ll add an update to the post as soon as we can once tonight’s tickets have been won – then, two more pairs tomorrow. Good luck! 9:31 PM UPDATE: Tickets given away for tonight – be here again tomorrow night, when we’ll have two more to give away!
As promised, we asked SDOT to explain why the “Alaskan Way Viaduct Closed When Flashing” warning lights didn’t go on till mid-afternoon Saturday, long after the long-planned shutdown began early Saturday morning. The answer, e-mailed by SDOT spokesperson Marybeth Turner — the lights didn’t malfunction, they just weren’t turned on:
In response to your inquiry, the “Viaduct Closed When Flashing” signs were mistakenly turned on late on Saturday. Although the road barricades and street closure signs were in place on time, the flashing lights warning drivers of the need to use other routes were not activated. We now have a procedure in place to ensure it won’t happen again.
Quick followups on three incidents we’ve posted about here in the past few days: Friday night High Point stabbing – no arrest yet (no condition update on the victim, either, but as reported that night, her wounds were not life-threatening); last night’s Money Tree break-in — the suspect’s indeed in custody, and Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen confirms it was indeed a break-in through the roof (Nichole reports in comments that an alert neighbor spotted the burglar and called 911); last night’s report of an assault victim at 29th/Thistle, turned out not to have been an assault after all – police had to sort through the story told by a woman who was dropped off there by some people she had reportedly met on Beacon Hill, but ultimately it was determined there was not a crime to report. Reminder, if you’re concerned about crime and safety in West Seattle, the Denny Middle School library is the place to be tomorrow night, 7 pm, for the monthly West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting (here’s our report from last month).
That white van parked outside Gatewood Elementary School this morning did triple duty — helping bust speeders along Fauntleroy a few hours earlier, helping city leaders put drivers on notice, and underscoring a political point about a statewide ballot initiative you’ll be deciding between now and November 4th. Full details (including how the van works, plus video from this morning’s event, at which Gatewood Elementary’s principal spoke too), just ahead:Read More
Just back from the big Gatewood Elementary event about the speed-camera van (photo above; much more on the van show-and-tell shortly, including the ballot-initiative underscore to the whole thing) – while speaking at the news conference, the mayor announced that the Seneca offramp from the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct is currently closed because a “20-foot chunk of concrete fell.” TV report says it was a guardrail section, knocked down by a truck. (Speaking of The Viaduct, SDOT is still checking for us on why the closure-warning lights didn’t work for hours on Saturday morning.) 1:17 PM UPDATE: SDOT’s Rick Sheridan clarifies, the Seneca ramp “is soon to be closed. SDOT will need to close it for 6-8 hours to safely conduct the repair work.” We’ll let you know when we get the exact time frame. 4:25 PM UPDATE: The ramp’s open again, says SDOT.
When King County Elections HQ closes today at 6 pm, that’s it, 
absolute end of your chance to register to vote, if you’re not already registered in this state. You have to go there to do it in person; Elections HQ is in Renton – here’s a map. If you are registered and you’ve received a vote-by-mail ballot, two notes: 1. Info on key state/local races and candidates is all in one place on our Election page; 2. If you feel a little hinky about putting your ballot in the mail, you can drop it off in person any time, around the clock, between now and 8 pm Nov. 4, at the Delridge Neighborhood Service Center, 5405 Delridge; here’s a map.
Whatever you do on Thursday, November 13th, might just wind up making history. Southwest Seattle Historical Society/Log House Museum director Andrea Mercado has word of a plan that not only will commemorate the anniversary of the Denny Party‘s landing (this year, it’ll be the 157th anniversary), but also will fill the time capsule that is to be buried next year at the new Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. According to Andrea, SWSHS plans to collect photos and other items 
from all over Seattle — NOT just WS — to create a collection of items showing life in Seattle as it’s lived on November 13, 2008. That could include almost anything – minutes from a meeting that’s held that day, a photo of parents walking to school with their kids, a list from someone’s grocery-shopping trip that day, something a class of schoolchildren works on that day … This plan is the result of brainstorming that included a meeting this past weekend to plan the time-capsule effort. Lots of details remain to be worked out, including exactly how/when the items will be accepted, once November 13, 2008, is in the books. But right now, Andrea adds, they need help in a couple of ways: One, spread the word. We’ve asked some of our fellow neighborhood-news site operators around Seattle to help get the word out; anyone you think might be interested in participating, let them know (you can use the “Share This” link below this post to share this item a variety of ways, including e-mail). Two, Andrea’s looking for more people to be part of a committee to set the guidelines for submissions, and more people to work on outreach to get word of this to schools and others around the city — just e-mail amercado@loghousemuseum.org to volunteer. You’ll hear more about this as November 13, 2008, gets closer – we’ll bring you followups – but for starters, think about what might help tell the story of that day to people looking back on it a half-century later, and get ready to be part of the time-capsule creation.
(Above-right photo courtesy David Hutchinson)
Two quick previews: The Design Team (with school and community reps) helping shape the future of the Denny Middle School site (once the new Denny is built on the Chief Sealth HS campus nearby) meets at 3 pm today, Denny library (map). All welcome; here’s our report on the last meeting. Then tonight at 7, Sustainable West Seattle meets at the Camp Long Lodge – with the agenda including a look at both sides of Sound Transit Proposition 1. ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: We are also reminded that the Departure Advisory Committee for the Denny/Sealth project, which is reviewing the district’s request for less parking and more building height than zoning would allow, meets at the Denny library at 7 tonight.
Looks like we resumed the end-of-weekend gas-price survey runs just in time – driving around West Seattle 
a few hours ago, we discovered some stations had dropped prices for regular gas by 30 cents (or more) in the past week. At left, you see the lowest price we found (at the station that made news this past week for a different reason); at right, the highest. The full list, with April and June prices for comparison, ahead:Read More
Two incidents under way right now: Thanks to Brad and Brian for the tip about police at the Money Tree at 41st/Alaska; scanner traffic points to a search for an intruder. Police also are in the 29th/Thistle vicinity, with scanner traffic reporting a medic crew responding to assist with a report of an assault victim. 1 AM UPDATE: Fire truck L(adder)-11 is at the 41st/Alaska scene to help. 1:21 AM ADDITION: Still monitoring the scanner … now, somewhere on 45th SW, police have been called after three people broke a car window and took off running. Missed the block #. 1:36 AM UPDATE: Sounds like the 41st/Alaska intruder may be in custody; police were reported to be talking to him, and then searching to be sure no one else was in the building. 1:53 AM UPDATE: Now officers are checking out a report of shots heard in 19th/Thistle vicinity. RELEVANT SIDE NOTE: This month’s meeting of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council is at 7 pm Tuesday night — different location — Denny Middle School (30th/Thistle; map).
From Jerry at JetCityOrange, who is hanging ten on the digital edge: Barcodes for Obama. (That link includes a video demonstration.) P.S. Whoever you’re for, Monday’s the drop-dead voter-registration deadline. 
ADDED EARLY MONDAY MORNING: Another unique campaign-related video from a West Seattleite came in a few hours after we started this post with the barcodes — this time, Westcrest Park Off-Leash Area volunteer steward Stevo sent the link for “Bassets for Obama.” A must-see, even if you are voting for somebody else. At right, you see the stars of his video – Buddy and Barkley — who have their own trailer to travel with Stevo via motorcycle!
Who says pumpkins have to be orange? Those creations were made by kids attending the Fauntleroy Community Association-presented Fauntleroy Fall Festival this afternoon – which enjoyed a terrific turnout by all accounts, with lots of other activities spread across three venues, Fauntleroy Church and YMCA (both WSB sponsors) and the schoolhouse; volunteers helped get people safely back and forth across the street:
Behind the schoolhouse – pony rides:
More scenes from the Fauntleroy Fall Festival, including a video clip from the Seattle Civic Concert Dancers‘ mini-performance of their fall ballet “Magical Doll Maker,” just ahead:Read More
(spring 2008 site photo, before new BPP was complete)
Two major updates on the Morgan Junction park site immediately north of the new Beveridge Place Pub location — the latest timeline, and an art project proposed for the sidewalk at the site. The updates came from Parks Department and Transportation Department reps who appeared at last week’s Morgan Community Association meeting – read on for the details:Read More
Just got word from WSDOT that the Alaskan Way Viaduct has reopened – 5 hours earlier than it was expected to reopen after its weekend inspection (results due in a few days).
(April 2008 coyote sighting across the street from WSB HQ in Upper Fauntleroy)
For months, we have catalogued “reader reports” of coyote sightings (archives here) only because they were so numerous – and so many people were unsure whether to be frightened, fascinated, both, or something inbetween. The questions are always many, the answers aren’t always easy to find in one place. And of course, coyotes aren’t the only wild animals who share our neighborhoods:
(August 2008 photo shared by Jenny, taken near Lincoln Park)
Raccoons also tend to inspire endless discussions – are they a nuisance, a blessing, what do you do if they’re fouling your yard, what do you do if they’re in your attic … Anyway, to the point: We wanted to remind you today that this Tuesday night, you have a great chance to get your questions answered, myths debunked, etc., when experts from various government agencies and nonprofit advocacy groups host a Living With Wildlife presentation in the Camp Long Lodge. Over the past year, they’ve been held from time to time in various spots around the city — we covered one in Magnolia in February (see our report here) because it happened at a time when wildlife questions were running rampant here – but this is the first one this year in West Seattle. Absolutely free, definitely worth your time. 7 pm, Camp Long Lodge (turn at the sign on 35th – here’s a map; the wonderful old lodge is the first building you see, and there’s lots of parking off to the right).
That Gatewood garden was one of the stops on this summer’s West Seattle Garden Tour. Think your garden will be a great stop for the tour next year? Not too late to let the WSGT Selection Committee know – Nancy Evans says the committee is still reviewing 2009 possibilities and would like to hear from interested gardeners ASAP: E-mail nancyellenevans@comcast.net with information on how they can contact you. (If you missed this year’s tour, WSGT pictures and descriptions are here.)
Out of the WSB inbox, from Melissa:
We just wanted to alert our neighbors that we had our house broken into on Thursday 10/16 during the day. We live around Thistle and 17th Ave SW in Highland Park (map). They came in through the cat door and stole small items. The next day, there was also some odd behavior when a white mini-van with 2 guys in it lurked in front of our house. They stared at the house for awhile and then came up to the front door and knocked. I did not answer the door but made a police report of suspicious behavior. I just want everyone to be aware, alert and to look out for each other!
We asked Melissa a followup question about the cat-door method of entry – she said the burglar(s) reached through it to unlock the main door, either by hand, or with a tool. SUNDAY AFTERNOON ADDENDUM: A few hours after we published this, Gretchen e-mailed the following:
I just read about the cat door burglary. The author mentioned a white minivan with two guys driving slowly in the neighborhood. I was putting my daughter in the car the other day and a white minivan with two guys stopped to ask me if there were any rentals in the area. He said, “I’m looking to rent in the area.” I was distracted and said, sure, look for the signs. He asked me to clarify which blocks. I told him to drive around. They went on but I got a weird feeling. I was thinking they were into real estate since we have had real estate investors roam door to door in the past. These guys were young though, maybe late 20’s. Anyway, after reading the other note, I thought it was worth mentioning. I live on 30th between Webster and
Othello (map).
FARMERS’ MARKET: Goat chops and “fried chicken” wild mushrooms – just two of the items on the long list of what’s fresh at West Seattle Farmers’ Market today (10 am-2 pm, 44th/Alaska) – see the list here.
FAUNTLEROY FALL FESTIVAL: One of the biggest events of the year, in the neighborhood that’s got a lot more going on than a ferry dock and megapark. As the FFF page on fauntleroy.net puts it, “free activities, cheap eats, and beautiful fall weather – guaranteed!” Pony rides and a dance performance are among the activities. It’s all happening in three close-together venues – Fauntleroy Church and YMCA (WSB sponsors) and the schoolhouse across the street. 2-6 pm; here’s a map.
That’s not all that’s going on today – more West Seattle events (including the AfterGlow shopping extravaganza and West Side Presbyterian‘s open house), in the Weekend Lineup.
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