West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
(Photos by Donna Ryan of City Mouse Studio)
How about some heartwarming news on a chilly, damp night? WestSide Baby‘s executive director Nancy Woodland says their Friday night cocktail benefit was a high-flying success:
Last night WestSide Baby raised $75,000 when 300 guests gathered for our “Shake, Rattle, and Fly” 3rd annual cocktail benefit at Emerald City Trapeze Arts in SODO.
(Nancy with emcee Ian Lindsay)
The evening included a trapeze show that started with a surprise amateur trapeze trick by WestSide Baby Board member Phyllis Nomura, before the professional artists took over with amazing aerial feats. West Seattle’s Feedback Lounge held a cocktail battle with West 5 with a St. Basil versus Mai Tai showdown. Local band Not Dead Yet added awesome music for a crowd ready to celebrate after the auction and raise-the-paddle giving generated funds to support WestSide Baby’s effort to expand delivery of essential children’s items throughout greater Seattle. We are so grateful for the generosity of those who attended to support local children in need.
5:58 PM: We’re launching an evening update for weather/traffic related problems – starting with another crash on the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct – so once again, avoid northbound 99!
6:05 PM: Added “live” image from traffic cam on northbound 99 – showing gridlock right now. Meantime, from our earlier coverage – the tree across 35th SW at 108th is cleared. Going to check shortly on other blockages reported earlier. Keeping an eye on City Light outage map – so far in West Seattle, only two reported, each listed as one customer (let us know if you know of any NOT on the map). 206-293-6302 text/voice for any weather problems or other breaking news.
6:09 PM: Via scanner, hearing of a tree vs. pole/lines problem on California Way near Hamilton Viewpoint Park.
7:16 PM: Just back from going out to check on a few things. The tree is cleared from California Way, so no problem going up or down the hill between Hamilton Viewpoint and Seacrest. Adding a photo of the big pothole reported earlier on Delridge near Oregon – northbound lane, parallel with Southwest Youth and Family Services. It’s right in the middle of the vehicle lane, not that well lit, with a trash can “marking” it along with a couple cones – you’ll have to use the center lane to get around:
And from the “live” image above, it looks like the 99 problem is clear. Storm’s calmed a bit, for now.
11:52 PM NOTE: The alert for tomorrow hasn’t changed, in case you were wondering – along with the general forecast for rain (increasing again Sunday in the daytime), a “high wind watch” in effect 3 pm Sunday-3 am Monday.
Despite the downpour, a scheduled garden/grounds-beautifying work party went ahead as scheduled at West Seattle High School today – with volunteers from Seattle Pacific University helping at the work party organized by Janet Jones for the third year. Janet’s husband Bryan Jones, who shared the photo, noted “it’s the first year they should have brought snorkel and fins… (but) there are smiling faces amongst the dirt and rain; it’s a hardy and happy group of students that come every year! And Janet is also grateful for the on-site assistance and active help from Seattle Public Schools gardener(s).”
(P.S. This is one of four locations in West Seattle – in addition to many others around the city – where SPU freshmen and transfers were scheduled to help out as part of the school’s annual CityQuest event.)
(Lincoln Park Way and Beach Drive, photographed by Greg Daly)
11:43 AM: The storm’s intensifying, and the National Weather Service now has wind alerts in effect (read them here). Here’s what the NWS says could happen, with a Wind Advisory for the area through 7 pm tonight, and a High Wind Watch for late Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening:
*TODAY: SOUTH WINDS OF 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS AROUND 45 MPH.
*LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT: SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH A STRONGER SYSTEM.
If you haven’t already charged up your phone, flashlight, etc., now’s a great time, just in case.
1:07 PM UPDATE: More practical advice – check the drains around your home if applicable; we just spent an hour bailing and then digging out the one that is supposed to keep our basement from flooding (which was starting to happen). Above, we’ve added a photo courtesy of Greg Daly, of an overwhelmed drainage-system lid by Lowman Beach – if you see or experience storm-related problems (or otherwise interesting scenes), please send to editor@westseattleblog.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
3:33 PM UPDATE: Nathan tweeted this photo of a tree down in Arbor Heights (thank you!):
He reports that it’s across 35th at 108th.
4:39 PM UPDATE: The wind is really picking up now – with the downpour accompanying it – stay safe!
4:51 PM UPDATE: Also via Twitter, we get a photo of another tree blocking a road, this time 48th at Eddy, just uphill/north of Lowman Beach heading toward Seaview:
(PHOTO ADDED 3:42 PM: Some hardy souls braved the rain for Coffee With The Sallys)
Happy Saturday! Here’s our later-than-usual list of highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
HELP FIGHT HUNGER: Until 3 pm, donate food/money to the West Seattle Food Bank at West Seattle Thriftway (California/Fauntleroy); 10 am-2 pm, same thing for the White Center Food Bank at Roxbury Safeway or the Albertsons on 128th. It’s part of a one-day regional event, as our preview explains.
CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE: Arbor Heights Community Church invites you to come shop, until 3 pm. (42nd/102nd)
WALK FOR OPTIMISM: Advocacy for Parkinson’s Disease is the cause benefited by this first-ever local walk, set for 11 am in Lincoln Park – details in our listing.
REGISTER FOR THE MONSTER DASH: At West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), you can sign up for next month’s West Seattle Monster Dash by paying only the discounted early-bird fee, without online service charges, during the noon-4 pm registration party. (California/Charlestown)
COFFEE WITH THE SALLYS: The ongoing coffee-chat tour by City Council President Sally Clark and City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw comes to High Point Branch Library today – drop by any time 2:30 to 4 pm to chat with them. (35th/Raymond)
OKTOBERFEST AT PROST! WEST SEATTLE: The pub sends word that they’re celebrating Oktoberfest “all day (today) … We have 6 different Oktoberfest biers on draft including Licher, Ayinger, Paulaner, Weihenstephan, Hofbrau and Georgetown Tomtoberfest! Ace Pumpkin Cider will be flowing along with several traditional German Liqueurs to go along with your Liters of bier. Enjoy a Fest-size Wurst Sampler and Fest-size Bratwurst Sandwich for this celebration only! Lots of fun Oktoberfest swag to give out and Lederhosen and Dirndls always encouraged! Main festivities start around 4:00PM into the evening. Join us!” (3407 California SW)
MANHATTAN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL: The Admiral Theater is the only place to see it in Seattle again this year! Starts at 4 pm – details in our calendar listing.
WEST SEATTLE GREEN SPACE COALITION: As first reported here last Sunday, this group is forming to advocate for more open space in West Seattle – starting with the current Seattle City Light process of deciding what to do with several former substation sights in local neighborhoods; they would like to see it delayed until neighborhoods can explore mustering resources to get the sites preserved rather than sold off for housing or some other development. You’re invited to their launch meeting at 4:30 pm, High Point Branch Library. (35th/Raymond)
RAT CITY BRASS: Our area’s premier Tijuana Brass tribute band will be at Kenyon Hall tonight, 7:30 pm – details on the calendar. (7904 35th SW)
(added) THE SLAGS: Playing Poggie Tavern tonight – free! (4717 California SW)
Please see the calendar for other events – and if you know of one that’s been postponed/canceled by the weather, please let us know so we can share that info – thanks!
9:04 AM: Avoid Highway 99 TFN – WSDOT says it is blocked both ways at the Battery Street Tunnel by a jackknifed semi-truck. More info as we get it.
9:21 AM: Good news – tipster Jonathan says the 99 problem has been cleared – and the camera view appears to verify that. (As does WSDOT via Twitter.)
11:50 AM: Now there’s a crash on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge, before the Delridge on-ramp. Here’s the city camera for the Fauntleroy approach so you can check if the backup’s cleared:
1:39 PM: Commenters report trouble on 99 again. And there are some problems on I-5 too. If you really HAVE TO head out – here’s the custom list of traffic-related Twitter users (including WSDOT, which does tweet on weekends) that we watch. See traffic cameras here.
5:56 PM UPDATE: We’re about to launch a new traffic update for the evening. There’s a crash on the northbound Viaduct – no details, just that it’s on the SFD 911 log as “motor vehicle accident/freeway,” northbound 99 near Seneca. Meantime, the tree blocking 35th by 108th is now cleared.
6:25 PM UPDATE: Evening updates on traffic and weather are here.
One year ago, Metro‘s fall 2012 service changes brought the West Seattle launch of RapidRide and a long list of changes for other routes. Today, Metro’s fall 2013 service changes take effect, with a much shorter list of West Seattle effects – to be specific, three routes are affected this time around: 21 (adding a trip), 22 (route changes), 120 (added trips). The details are in our original report from earlier this month.
(Photo by Buzz Shaw)
A season of sadness for the Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network, whose first responder Robin Lindsey reports an overview of pups losing their struggle for survival too many times this season:
I am sad to report that we seem to be having a second season in a row with emaciated pups and lots of mortality. In (recent) weeks, 9 seal pups have died on our West Seattle shores. Many of these pups are those that we have looked after on the beach, most for many days in a row. We thought your readers would want an update about pups they may have seen on the beach. I cannot stress enough that newly weaned seal pups are in a daily struggle between life and death – and we thank the West Seattle community for their continued support in our efforts to protect them. Rehabilitation options are extremely limited and there have been new funding cuts which will virtually eliminate the opportunity for necropsies to determine cause of mortality and further research.
I have included a photo showing the recovery of the body of one of the pups from the Alki platform. This terribly thin pup, nicknamed Angel, was only on shore very briefly one day and then died on the offshore platform. We had to wait several days for a window of opportunity when there were no other seals on the raft to remove the body. While it is not Seal Sitters’ responsibility to remove an animal in this situation, we did not want a decomposing pup to deter other seals to use this safe refuge. Nor did we want the public upset by such a disturbing sight. Thanks to Seattle Aquarium volunteer Jarett Kaplan, a waterfront resident, who alerted us that the opportunity had arisen and who rowed me out to examine, mark with biodegradable paint, and sink the body to nourish other marine life. Seal Sitters’ Buzz Shaw, retired zoologist from the Seattle Aquarium, also participated in the retrieval.
If anyone has a kayak they are not using and would like to donate one to our group, it would be very helpful in situations where we have to make a water response to an entangled animal or retrieval in a situation such as this.
On a brighter note, emaciated seal pup Snapper (rescued from Cormorant Cove in early August) has thrived at PAWS Wildlife Center in Lynnwood. Snapper will be released back to the wild in mid-October. Unfortunately, because Snapper was only a couple of weeks old when taken to PAWS, he did not have the benefit of being taught how to forage by his mom. His chances for survival back in the wild are not as great as a rehabbed pup who had been fully weaned, but we hope this feisty pup beats the odds!
The Seal Sitters’ blubberblog site has more details on the deaths Robin mentions; any time you see a marine mammal on the beach, alive or not, call SS at 206-905-SEAL.
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