West Seattle, Washington
17 Tuesday
We usually just put the lost/found notes on the Pets page, but the one that just came in about the discovery of two tortoises begs for a wider audience. Check it out here.
6 am June 30th. Here’s the update that just came in from Charlestown Cafe co-owner Larry Mellum, 4 1/2 months after the fire that forced the beloved restaurant to close for a while:
The Fire Dept. has approved our new Hood System so we are “good to go!!” This week we will finish getting the restaurant put back together and cleaned-up. Believe me it has been a long and frustrating process but the end is near. So, we will make it official. We will be re-opening Monday, June 30th at our usual time 6:00 a.m. … The support we have received from this community has been incredible. We at ‘Charlestown want to thank you all very, very much!! We will see you on the 30th.
If you missed the original news of the February fire, you can catch up with our Charlestown Cafe news archive (newest to oldest), which includes the most recent update from Larry a week and a half ago, when he told us he’d just had a meeting with his staff to see how many he’d have to replace (since the restaurant had been closed so long) – and he reported “Everyone showed up!”
(first photo by WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli; second photo by co-publisher Patrick Sand)
No one hurt and mostly smoke damage, according to the team member who’s just arrived on scene (“ton of firetrucks” according to one of the e-mail tips we received, as you can also see from the 911 log; thanks to everyone who e-mailed and texted!). Here’s a map; details to come. 1:52 PM UPDATE: Here’s what the incident commander told us at the scene: Mostly smoke damage; nobody hurt; cause unknown; investigators arriving now. There was some concern among neighbors that a dog might have been injured in the fire; incident commander says the residents’ two dogs might have breathed in a little smoke but are OK. ADDED 2:40 PM: Another photo from Christopher:
OK, don’t let the kids click ahead on this one. Well – the pix are really just PG, but a nine-letter word starting with “s” comes up. Burning Hearts Burlesque brings its “Bedroom Club” show to Admiral Theater on Saturday night, and its executive producer talked with us at her West Seattle home so we could ask the obvious question:Read More
First – Dump the Pump Day must be a roaring success; we couldn’t get a parking place within blocks of the Water Taxi dock, compared to two days ago, when we got here at 10 minutes before departure time and got a space within a few blocks. (Yes, we know, should have just left earlier and taken the bus all the way from home.) So we’re trying again for the 1 pm run. Meantime, a lovely view here at Don Armeni (cameraphone photo above), where our inbox just yielded the city’s official weekend traffic alert, including the 7:45-11 am time frame for the Saturday morning Viaduct closure we first told you about earlier this week – read on for the full citywide list:Read More
Thanks to Parks Department project manager Patrick Donohue for that drawing of the just-finalized city-approved site map for the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza, as they prepare to put out bids for construction. (We recently reported the newest developments in both the plaza-construction plan and the Plaza Project committee’s vision for the September celebration – read that report here.) Click the image to see the full-size version; as you’ll see in the legend on that version, the darker area will be brick, the dotted area will be concrete – the top of the drawing is the existing asphalt promenade (north). Just thought those who have been following the project closely would be interested to see this; note that no new color “pictures” are available from the city, according to Donohue — we’ve featured some of them over the months in our Alki Statue of Liberty coverage archive, and the Plaza Project’s site also has some of the original design art).
Thanks to Sue for the tip – after a round of testing this morning, following a few days in yellow-flashing mode, the new Fauntleroy/Dawson pedestrian signal is now in operation – just five weeks after the city told neighbors the construction schedule was being moved up in a big way (original WSB coverage here).
According to a survey just released by Jewish Living Magazine (read about it here), West Seattle is one of America’s top 10 Jewish neighborhoods. No surprise to WSB’s newest sponsor, Kol HaNeshamah, West Seattle’s progressive synagogue, 
which is advertising here to let you know it is celebrating its 5th anniversary during the Shabbat service tomorrow night at 7 pm (at Alki UCC, where Kol HaNeshamah has shared space with the church for all of those five years). The congregation’s rabbi, Michael Adam Latz, says, “I am profoundly humbled and honored to serve as the Rabbi of Kol HaNeshamah, where every day, people from all walks of life gather to worship, study, and work to repair our broken world.” Here’s what the synagogue wants you to know: “Kol HaNeshamah is a congregation of 145 member families. They include the young, old, singles, families, single parents, interfaith, lesbian, gay, and transgendered people. We pride ourselves on our inclusivity of all groups. Since Kol HaNeshamah joined the Seattle community, we have been highly active in areas of social justice. Our activities include building a home with Habitat for Humanity which provided a home for a Muslim family, the highest earning religious group for the AIDS Walk with Lifelong AIDS Alliance, and our newest endeavor to work with other faith groups in the newly formed Sound Alliance. Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) called Kol HaNeshamah one of its fastest-growing member congregations. This growth is influenced in part by the overall rate of increasing synagogue affiliation among American Jewish households, which grew by 15% between 1990 and 2001 even as the “core” Jewish population declined and the number of intermarried families grew. Rising affiliation rates are largely benefitting the Reform movement.” Member Kate Gordon says, “I can’t imagine raising my son in a more open, welcoming and accepting place. After moving to Seattle 3 years ago, not knowing anyone, this was the first place that felt closest to home.” Again, the 5th anniversary service is 7 pm tomorrow; here’s a map to Alki UCC. WSB thanks Kol HaNeshamah and all our sponsors, listed here along with information on how to join them.
Every day on the calendar has a promotional tie-in … National Chocolate-Covered Pickle Day, Worldwide Sing While Standing On Your Head Day, and on and on … but today’s is worth a note: “Dump the Pump Day” is meant to encourage you to try transit. This year, gas prices could certainly be an impetus – on Dump the Pump Day “Eve” last year (6/20/07), this WSB report showed the 35th/Avalon 7-11 at $2.99 for regular; as of our latest West Seattle-wide weekly survey Sunday night, that grade at that station was $4.33, up $1.34 in a year. We were already planning to use transit today (Water Taxi-ing downtown to cover the city Design Commission presentation on Myrtle Reservoir Park); if you need more convincing, Metro offers suggestions here. And the American Public Transportation Agency offers you the online game Whack-A-Pump.
We’re at the Southwest Precinct, where — after the Delridge District Council meeting wrapped up (details on that later) — we got to see the early draft of the report on last night’s High Point incident that left a police officer badly hurt. Here are the basics:Read More
They’re less than 48 hours from their grand opening, but Justin Cline and Ann Magyar made time to talk with WSB this afternoon as they continued getting their much-buzzed-about White Center shop Full Tilt Ice Cream (original WSB report here) in ship shape — appropriate, since Justin’s a boat-builder. They just got the news hours earlier that inspectors cleared them to open Friday; pinball machines were scheduled to arrive any moment. The machines didn’t show up while we were there but we do have the scoop on some of what they’re expecting, plus the flavors they’re planning to open with. We even got to see the first boxes of paletas (mango chili and blackberry cinnamon) in the freezer (photo above)! More ahead:Read More
We mentioned this earlier in the middle of a multi-topic post – and clearly we erred in not making it banner news: Blayne the barista, who’s worked at Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) for 2 1/2 years, made it to the popular cable-TV reality show “Project Runway” and is taping now for the season that starts next month. Now, courtesy of Hotwire boss Lora Lewis, we have pix of Blayne and his art:Read More
Just in from the state – another round of public hearings about the Alaskan Way Viaduct – this time, regarding the environmental assessment of the plan to replace its south end. One of the hearings is set for Madison Middle School in West Seattle, 5-8 pm July 15th. The environmental assessment will be posted here June 27; here’s the full calender of citywide hearings (plus Stakeholder Advisory Committee meetings). Meantime, another reminder — as we reported on Monday, The Viaduct will be closed Saturday morning for the Race for the Cure.
While checking with Lt. Steve Paulsen at Southwest Precinct about the Alki trouble last night, we learned that a police officer was assaulted last night at High Point — Lt. Paulsen explained, “A large group of juveniles 16-18 years of age jumped an officer and kicked him severely, repeatedly, in the head. We arrested the suspects.” Regarding the officer’s condition: “He’s going to be OK.”
Just because as is usual for these types of stories, the question of whether it was indeed a pit bull stirred up so much discussion yesterday: When we talked to Ann Graves of Seattle Animal Shelter a short time ago for a followup on the Lafayette dog-bite incident from yesterday (original WSB report here), she confirmed, yes, the dog is a pit bull. Might have a tiny bit of other blood, but mostly pit bull and that’s how they’re classifying it. Meantime, they still haven’t found its owner; “we’re hoping someone will come forward,” Graves says. For now, the dog is in 10-day quarantine at the Seattle Animal Shelter to make sure it doesn’t have rabies or anything else that would mean further treatment for the little girl, and “an active investigation” continues.
Too late to be one of the pitchers, but should be interesting to watch.
The live 911 log says six Seattle Fire units have responded to an “assault with weapons, 7 per rule” (the latter part usually means serious injuries) call in the 8800 block of 20th SW (at Trenton; here’s a map). That’s all we know right now – on the way to find out more. 1:47 PM UPDATE: Here’s what detectives told us on the scene — an intoxicated person wandered into someone’s yard and the homeowner reportedly claimed they’d heard gunshots. But in reality, police learned at the scene — no gun, no gunshots, the intoxicated person is hurt from having fallen down and will be cared for.
Now that summer vacation is in full swing — families may still be looking for ways to keep the kids busy. Two compilations of area activities — at local community centers, libraries, and other facilities in the West Seattle, White Center, and South Park areas — have just been distributed, and they are in such an easy-to-read format, we wanted to share them with you here. Here’s the list for under-12’s; here’s the list for teens. And if you have a musically inclined teen in the family – we have a separate invitation, from the All-City Band:
You’ve probably seen the group (in those distinctive green polo shirts) marching in Seattle summertime parades, including the West Seattle Grand Parade that American Legion Post 160 will be presenting exactly one month from tomorrow. The All-City Band – directed by Denny Middle School‘s renowned music director Marcus Pimpleton — has its first rehearsal tonight – just show up, no audition required. Here are the full details — including a side note about how to book the All-City Band for events, if you need a pep/marching band:Read More
Want to hear from/meet the city councilmember whose committee has a stack of development/neighborhood issues on its plate — issues that could affect the livability of our neighborhoods for decades to come? Councilmember Sally Clark speaks at the Delridge District Council‘s monthly meeting tonight, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct community room, all welcome, agenda here. (WSB coverage of her recent townhouse-design forum is here; we also covered her recent Junction walking tour.)
First, 2 garden notes, starting with Marguerite‘s search for partners:
I am a gardener and I live in the North Admiral area (44th/Hill). I have a very wide and long parking strip I was thinking of turning into an organic veggie garden. The space is too large for me, so I am looking to see if there is interest in a pea patch sort of thing. I am thinking of 5 – 6 people that would like to have a area to grow veggies and help get the area ready for planting. I will help with the know how , each person would need to tend their own plot and contribute to water bills.
Click here to e-mail Marguerite. Still in the garden mode: an ongoing plant sale:
More than 10 varieties of organically raised tomato plants, and other plants for your garden, are on sale at Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) as an ongoing fundraiser for Furry Faces Foundation, whose ringleader Teri Ensley says, “As always, proceeds of our fundraisers fund spays/neuters and the animals whose humans are on fixed incomes.” Plants are being regularly replenished, so if there’s something you’re looking for, check with Teri, furryfaces@hotmail.com.
MOVIE & TV NOTES: While we were at Hotwire photographing the plants, we got two more bits of news to share – Hotwire proprietor Lora Lewis says the last Movies on the Wall offering has changed to “Galaxy Quest” (it was “My Dog Skip”); that’s on August 23 and we’ve made the change on our Cinema page. Lora also told us her barista Blayne has made it onto “Project Runway” and is out of town doing the show right now!
FINAL NOTE – BERRY TIME: The Rotary Club of West Seattle is taking orders now for its annual berry sale; Amy Lee Derenthal sends along this info:
By purchasing berries from the Rotary Club of West Seattle you are supporting our fundraising efforts for the programs we provide as a Service Club in our community:
– Shopping Spree where we take underprivileged children shopping at Sears on the first Saturday of December for the past 35 years.
– Community Support where money is donated to a local projects including the Senior Center & Neighborhood House “Heart of High Point†Campaign.
– Pencil Me In For Kids purchasing school supplies for grade school children.
Order your strawberries, raspberries and/or blueberries today! Berries are FRESH from beautiful Mount Vernon , WA — cleaned, hulled, & packed only in their own juices — no sugar added. Ready for pies, canning, jam or freezing for year-round enjoyment! Go to our website to download the order form: www.westseattlerotary.org
It’s the last time we’ll be able to tell you about the West Seattle Community Safety Partnership … because its monthly meeting tonight at the Southwest Precinct ended with a new name. That and other info from the meeting, ahead:Read More
That photo shows a little sliver of West Duwamish Greenbelt (from our Nature Consortium-led hike last month) … one of only two West Seattle areas that were spoken up for during tonight’s public hearing before the City Council-appointed Parks and Green Spaces Levy Citizens’ Advisory Committee. There are other West Seattle projects on the list so far; we published this West Seattle-specific breakout over the weekend (apparently the list hit the Web relatively unheralded on Friday – several of tonight’s speakers from other areas of the city complained they hadn’t heard it was posted and so came to the hearing without having had the chance to read it; they urged the committee to have one more public hearing). Here are a few notes about the West Seattle mentions, plus toplines on what the rest of the city’s interested in, and what’s scheduled to happen next:Read More
Alki’s David Hutchinson just sent these photos along with this report:
I don’t know the cause but just before 7 pm a very large group of teens (50+) came running down 59th SW and headed west down Alki Ave towards Spud. They climbed over fences and trampled the flowers in front of Spud. Several climbed onto the roof of a white car parked in front of Spuds and then stomped up and down on the hood (see attached photos of the damage).
Here’s David’s other photo:
Not sure if we will be able to get followup from the Southwest Precinct before tomorrow (we will see if the rest of the team can find out anything from the police reps at the Community Safety Partnership meeting that’s under way now) — ironically, the briefing we attended at City Hall this afternoon largely focused on the fact that Alki is the traditional “area of emphasis” for police now that it’s summer, and they are responding to many more incidents detected “on-view” (in person) than are reported via 911 — which as Councilmember Tim Burgess noted, is the way community policing is supposed to be done. (More details on that briefing later; first we’re writing up the parks-levy hearing, which just concluded after two hours — twice as long as it was scheduled for.)
ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: May or may not be related but definitely a case of Alki vandalism if not possibly also “car prowl” — Chris took this photo of a car parked by Whale Tail this morning with its windows smashed out:
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