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@ Delridge District Council: Looking ahead to ‘State of Delridge,’ and more
January 20, 2017 9:09 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Delridge District Council | West Seattle news

Both of West Seattle’s neighborhood-district councils have now had their first meetings since the city’s official severing of ties and financial support.

The Delridge Neighborhoods District Council met Wednesday night for the first time this year, continuing its third-Wednesday meetings but changing the location for the first quarter – it’s meeting at Highland Park Improvement Club through March rather than at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.

One of the biggest topics of the meeting was another meeting – 7 pm next Wednesday (January 25th), also at HPIC, several local community councils are co-sponsoring the “State of Delridge” (as in, eastern West Seattle) with City Councilmember Lisa Herbold. Read More

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YOU CAN HELP: Food drive at Elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, with 2 special events Saturday
January 20, 2017 9:04 am
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP: Food drive at Elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, with 2 special events Saturday
 |   Delridge | How to help | West Seattle news

In North Delridge, Elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu of Seattle (WSB sponsor) is in the midst of its annual food drive, and hoping you can help. While the drive continues through January, two special events are planned tomorrow (Saturday, January 21st). Here are the updates from BJJ’s Sonia Sillan:

FOOD DRIVE FOR THE WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK

We are doing our annual food drive for the West Seattle Food Bank from now until the end of January. As an added bonus, for every ten nonperishables or ten dollars, you will receive one raffle ticket (for example, $30 or 30 nonperishables = 3 tickets). You can enter for a chance to pie your favorite coach in the face. The drawing will be at the end of the month.

MIRIAM CARDOSO SEMINAR

In support of the food drive, we are putting on a community Brazilian Jiu-jitsu seminar by our founder and 5x-world champion, Miriam Cardoso. Entry for the seminar is a minimum of 25 nonperishable items or $25 for the WSFB. The seminar will take place January 21 from 2-4 pm. All levels, ages 10+, are welcome to attend. Please RSVP on the Facebook event by clicking “Going.”

PARENTS NIGHT OUT

Also in support of the food drive, we are sponsoring a Parents Night Out at the gym – Nerf Wars style. Children ages 5-13 are welcome to attend for fun, movies, and games. You provide the Nerf gun, we will provide the ammo! Entry fee is $30, payable through cash for the WSFB or through donations of nonperishable items. Each nonperishable item is worth $1 toward the fee (for example, 30 nonperishables = free entry). Please RSVP on the Facebook event by clicking “Going.”

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch
January 20, 2017 7:28 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

7:28 AM: Transit alert just in from Metro – “Route 57 to downtown Seattle due to leave the Alaskan Junction at 7:38 AM will not operate this morning.”

7:36 AM: Here are the alerts for potential traffic effects later, related to Inauguration Day:

-School walkouts: So far, Madison MS remains the only one we’ve heard directly about, ~1:30 pm, but Seattle Public Schools says multiple middle/high schools may have walkouts this afternoon.

-Marches/rallies elsewhere in the city today/tonight: Here’s the SDOT alert.

7:42 AM: Then looking ahead to tomorrow, the city’s biggest scheduled event is the Womxn’s March on Seattle from Judkins Park to Seattle Center. Here’s the SDOT alert on that; here’s what Metro told us earlier this week when we asked, on behalf of multiple readers, about extra service.

8:27 AM: No commute problems reported so far.

8:50 AM: Now there’s a problem. Multiple reports of a truck losing its load – asphalt and/or concrete – on NB 99 just after the West Seattle Bridge exit, blocking a lane.

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UPDATE: Slide, water break, road closure near Fauntleroy Park
January 20, 2017 12:10 am
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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12:10 AM: A water break in north Arbor Heights has led to a slide that’s taken out part of a dead-end section of California SW north of SW Roxbury and forcing residents of one house to evacuate.

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(Broken pipe, exposed where part of road washed out)

A sizable Seattle Fire response is here and Seattle Public Utilities crews have arrived too. No report of injuries.

12:18 AM: Police are on scene too and as you can see, California SW is taped off – we are being kept back for safety. “West of Fauntleroy Park” is probably a better description of this area – here’s a map.

7:57 AM: We’re following up on multiple fronts now that it’s light – look for an update later.

ADDED 12:30 PM: We’re still awaiting information from SPU, and checking with other agencies too, including SDOT, since a road is involved. Meantime, some midday photos showing the scope:

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We’ll update with anything more we find out.

4:30 PM: SPU says it doesn’t know what caused the 2-inch water-line break. We just went back again to the slide zone and they have lots of heavy equipment at work. We’ve been talking to SDOT about the road and SDCI about the stability of the home(s) in the area – that’ll be in tonight’s story. As pointed out in comments, the slide is in an embankment on what would be the SW Cambridge street end, between 44th SW and California SW.

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VIDEO: ArtsWest ‘Ghostlight Project’ gathering tonight, one of hundreds coast to coast
January 19, 2017 9:06 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

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About 30 people gathered in the ArtsWest Playhouse lobby tonight as part of the nationwide “Ghostlight Project” – reaffirming “a commitment to values of inclusion, participation, and compassion for everyone – regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, (dis)ability, gender identity, or sexual orientation.” The original plan was to gather out front, but they moved inside for several reasons. Another change: AW artistic director Mathew Wright explained the concept:

He said that instead of keeping the “ghostlight” on for a limited time, as first planned, the playhouse will leave theirs on for the next four years. Each participant held their own small light for the brief gathering.

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And they sang “Imagine”:

This was one of hundreds of similar gatherings around the nation tonight. At ArtsWest, once it was over, most continued on into the theater, where ArtsWest’s new production “Mothers and Sons” debuted tonight.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Found skis; robberies & burglaries
January 19, 2017 7:25 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(UPDATED with addition of surveillance video to Avalon 7-11 robbery report)

We start West Seattle Crime Watch with two reader reports:

IF THESE ARE YOURS … From Jeff:

I found two pairs of skis in the bushes near the top of the stairway that ends at SW Brandon and 37th Ave SW.

This stairway climbs east from the Fairmount Park playground. Since the skis seemed to be in good condition, I assumed that they were stolen and discarded. I reported the items to SPD and they have an entry on their Twitter feed that appears to indicate that they have recovered the skis as indicated below. I could not find a name on the skis and I am not sure how SPD would reconnect the items with their owners if the theft was not reported so I am attaching a picture of the skis in case someone recognizes their property. They should be able to recover them from SPD.

Now, from the SPD files, the newest reports available online with narrative information – we found five of note, two robberies and three burglaries. First, a report on an incident mentioned here briefly on Monday, at which time all we knew was that the Avalon 7-11 had been held up early that morning:

AVALON 7-11 HOLDUP: Just before 3 am Monday, police were sent to the 35th/Avalon 7-11. The clerk told officers he was mopping when two people came in, described as”two males with brown skin … both wearing all-black clothing.

One of the males was approximately 5’6″ with a slim build. The other suspect was approximately 6’3″ with a heavy set build … both males had their faced covered with red bandanas, and were wearing gloves.” The report says “the larger suspect pointed a black handgun at him and told him to “save your life” and “give me the balance” … (the clerk) obeyed the suspect’s demands and opened the registers. One of the suspects then leaped over the front counter, while the other suspect ran around the counter to the opening on the rear. The suspects emptied all of the cash from the registers … and placed the money into a paper bag that was sitting nearby. While the suspects were behind the counter, (the clerk) believes that they may have taken several cartons of cigarettes from the display case (and) other unknown items from a nearby aisle as well.” The report says one robber also demanded the “safe money” but the clerk didn’t have the code. The robbers then left. (UPDATED: SPD has released the surveillance video – added above. If you have any information about the robbers, call the SPD Robbery Unit at 206-684-5535.)

AT ANOTHER 7-11: Less than two hours later, the clerk at the South Delridge 7-11 “noticed two masked suspects walking up to the business” and locked the front doors. They tried to open it by pushing on it; then one suspect “pulled out a firearm and pointed it at (the clerk),” who ran to the back of the store to call 911 and hide. The suspects, meantime, left. No descriptive information in this report except “green handkerchief” around the suspects’ faces. Here too, police were expecting to get video surveillance footage.

Meantime, details on three burglaries are now available:

2900 BLOCK FAIRMOUNT AVENUE SW: Reported Monday morning, a garage break-in last weekend, with a rock used to break a window. Three tools were stolen but others were left behind.

9000 BLOCK 20TH SW: A construction-site burglary was discovered here on Monday morning. A worker arrived and discovered a garage gate open, a fence cut, and tools stolen.

8200 BLOCK NORTHROP: Someone returning home here on Monday evening discovered front-door damage – broken wood around the deadbolt. Nothing appeared to have been stolen.

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WOMXN’S MARCH: VAIN West Seattle giving away origami ‘corsages’
January 19, 2017 4:47 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Going to the Womxn’s March on Seattle this Saturday? Victoria at VAIN (WSB sponsor) in The Junction just e-mailed to say you’re welcome to stop in (4513 California SW) tonight or tomorrow for a free hand-folded origami-flower corsage:

corsage

VAIN is open until 8 tonight, and 10 am-8 pm on Friday.

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INAUGURATION WEEK: ‘Letter of Solidarity’ from West Seattle Helpline
January 19, 2017 3:58 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

West Seattle Helpline executive director Chris Langeler just sent this this message from his agency to the community and asked if we would share it:

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

In light of some disturbing, recent trends, we feel compelled to speak out.

In the last few months, we have seen a rise in hate crimes against members of immigrant, LGBTQ, and Muslim communities. Harassment of women and people of color has been reported at higher rates locally and nationwide. We’ve seen increased hateful, divisive dialogue in the media, online, in our schools, and at public gatherings. From the neighbors we serve, to our volunteers and supporters, to our own friends and families, fear for safety of self and others has become far too common.

Additionally, we are seeing signs at the federal level that social safety net programs and protections may be scaled back or terminated; loss of health insurance, accelerated deportations of immigrant families, and cuts to social benefits critical to the safety and well-being of local families may be on the horizon. These actions threaten to hurt members of our community, including those that we support as they recover from crisis or hardship.

We, at the West Seattle Helpline, are dedicated to serving all of our neighbors and to help foster a caring and cohesive community. This letter affirms our commitment to do the following in solidarity with our underserved neighbors:

Continue to offer services to every member of our community regardless of race, age, sex, gender identity, immigration status, religion, and sexual orientation.

Continue participation in the Safe Place Program (providing safe haven from and reporting anti-LGBTQ hate crimes) and extend our promise to be a safe space for anyone experiencing hate-based harassment or threatening behavior.

Work with local community leaders in underserved communities to continue to improve the cultural and language accessibility of our services.

Refuse to voluntarily provide federal immigration officials data that could put our clients at risk of deportation (in alignment with Seattle’s status as a Sanctuary City).

Continue to advocate at the local and state level for policies and resources to support low-income, marginalized community members and protect them from harm.

We want West Seattle to continue to be an inclusive, caring, and safe place for all our neighbors. We look forward to working with local leaders, partner organizations, elected officials, and all who share our vision of an inclusive, safe, and welcoming community.

Sincerely,

Your Friends at the West Seattle Helpline

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West Seattle Junction drive-up mailbox will be replaced, USPS says
January 19, 2017 3:04 pm
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

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Apparently the drive-up/ride-up box outside the West Seattle Junction Post Office has been out of service for a few weeks; we didn’t hear about it until a flurry of inquiries that started just before the three-day MLK Day weekend. We subsequently inquired with USPS back on Tuesday and got this response today from regional spokesperson Ernie Swanson:

The drive-up mail collection box at the West Seattle Post Office has been run into by vehicles and tampered with by vandals over the years. USPS maintenance personnel have been able to repair it to keep it in service, but it became no longer serviceable. Thus, a new box has been ordered and will be placed in service as soon as it arrives. We do not have a date for delivery of the new box. We do apologize for the inconvenience this is causing our customers.

The Westwood Village drive-up/ride-up box (which had its own downtime in 2015) is in service, last we checked. And at the Junction branch, the lobby mail slot is available for walk-ins.

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Washington State Ferries ridership on the rise
January 19, 2017 2:17 pm
|    Comments Off on Washington State Ferries ridership on the rise
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Washington State Ferries is out with its ridership numbers for last year, and says it hit the “highest level in a decade.” Here’s the breakdown, route by route:

(If you can’t see the document via Scribd, here’s the PDF, on the WSF site.) The busiest route is Seattle-Bainbridge, with 4.5 million people last year, while Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth came in fifth, with 3 million people and 1.7 million vehicles. The South Vashon to Tacoma route (officially Tahlequah-Point Defiance) had the biggest growth rate, WSF says.

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The West Seattleite leaving the Cabinet: Interior Secretary Sally Jewell’s farewell
January 19, 2017 12:40 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Sally Jewell, the West Seattleite who has been serving as President Obama‘s Secretary of the Interior, has published her “exit memo.” It’s pointed out in a Seattle Times interview with the outgoing secretary, who told Times reporter Lynda Mapes that she is not “retiring” but plans to take a break before figuring out what’s next. While the former REI CEO’s “exit memo” touts the department “restor(ing) our nation-to-nation relationships with tribes,” it does not mention those – including the Duwamish Tribe – that did not get treaty rights restored. It’s been almost a year and a half since Duwamish chair Cecile Hansen went to Jewell’s neighborhood to make her case, after another denial. Meantime, Jewell’s memo touts a variety of resource and land accomplishments, and notes challenges for the future that don’t often get headlines, such as:

With approximately one-third of the Department’s more than 70,000 employees eligible to retire within five years, workforce development must continue to be a priority. We need to ensure a new generation of wildlife biologists, park rangers, tribal experts, scientists, and other professionals are ready to care for our nation’s public lands and waters.

Jewell has been Interior Secretary for almost four years. President-elect Trump‘s nominee to succeed her is Montana Congressmember Ryan Zinke.

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@ Morgan Community Association: From development to environment, and more
January 19, 2017 10:30 am
|    Comments Off on @ Morgan Community Association: From development to environment, and more
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Another info-packed quarterly meeting of the Morgan Community Association last night. MoCA vice president Phil Tavel presided over the meeting at The Kenney. Here are the toplines:

Read More

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UPDATED – West Seattle Thursday: Alki Community Council, JuNO talks HALA, ‘Ghostlight’ gathering @ ArtsWest, more…
January 19, 2017 9:00 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

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(Juvenile Cooper’s Hawk, photographed at Lincoln Park by Mark Ahlness, shared via WSB’s Flickr group)

Lots going on this Thursday, from community-involvement opportunities to entertainment, and more. Here are highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

INAUGURATION MEDITATION: The labyrinth at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) is open again today for contemplative walking – 9 am to 2 pm and 6 pm to 8 pm. Details in our calendar listing. (3940 41st SW)

COLLEGE FINANCIAL HELP: Need help applying for college financial aid? College Goal Washington has another drop-in help session 2-7 pm today at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), in the library – details in our calendar listing. Open to all, whether SSC is your target school or not. (6000 16th SW)

CANCELED – SEE COMMENTS: LAFAYETTE ELEMENTARY KINDERGARTEN TOURS: Future kindergartener in your family? Lafayette is offering tours 3-5 pm today. (California SW/SW Lander)

ADDED! WEST SEATTLE TIMEBANK: 6 pm new-member orientation, 6:30 pm potluck and meeting, at the Senior Center/Sisson Building:

West Seattle Timebank Gathering – bring a dish -it’s a potluck.

Guest speaker: Grace Stiller, Burien Arts Association

New member orientation: 6:00 pm-6:30 pm
Potluck: 6:30 pm- 7:00 pm
Speaker: 7:00 pm-7:20 pm
Members & guest sharing: 7:30 pm-8:00 pm

(4217 SW Oregon)

HALA REZONING MEETING PREP @ JuNO LAND USE COMMITTEE: Tonight brings the second of two Junction Neighborhood Organization meetings this week to get ready for the city’s upcoming West Seattle Junction Urban Village Community Design Workshop meeting about the HALA Mandatory Housing Affordability rezoning proposals. 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building. (4217 SW Oregon)

THE GHOSTLIGHT PROJECT: All are invited to this brief gathering outside ArtsWest Playhouse, 6:45-7 pm tonight, as previewed here – “to reaffirm a commitment to values of inclusion, participation, and compassion for everyone.” (4711 California SW)

ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm at Alki UCC, with this announced agenda:

1. Review of 2016 HALA and Urban Village activities

2. Pedestrian Retail Areas

3. Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan

4. City Neighborhood Council (CNC) possible Parks & Street Funding Opportunities 2017

(6115 SW Hinds)

CANCELED: ACOUSTIC OPEN MICROPHONE: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – monthly event. (5612 California SW)

OPENING NIGHT: First performance of “Mothers and Sons” at ArtsWest, directed by Makaela Pollock, 7:30 pm. Ticket and other info in our calendar listing. (4711 California SW)

LOTS MORE, INCLUDING NIGHTLIFE! See our complete calendar.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch, with early NB 99 trouble
January 19, 2017 6:59 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:59 AM: We start with trouble on NB 99 – the Battery Street Tunnel is closed because of a crash – big backups.

7:07 AM: No injuries in 99 crash, apparently, as it was not on the 911 fire/medic log. And now SDOT says the tunnel is open again. Will take a while to clear the backup, of course.

7:21 AM: Since that’s settled, let’s look ahead to the next couple days. Here’s the citywide alert from SDOT about marches/rallies. (While it mentions only a Capitol Hill student rally, as published here, at least one local school walkout is planned, and Seattle Public Schools has said there might be other middle/high school walkouts Friday afternoon.) And for those participating in the Womxn’s March on Saturday, Metro plans to add buses, as we reported yesterday.

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@ West Seattle Crime Prevention Council: Patroling for prowlers; stabbing-case concerns
January 18, 2017 10:23 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council | West Seattle news

Toplines from last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting: The Southwest Precinct has new bicycle officers who, among other things, are tasked with patroling for car prowlers. That’s still the biggest crime problem in our area, so the precinct is hopeful this is a new way of making a dent in it.

As always, the heart of the meeting was the opportunity for attendees to discuss neighborhood crime/safety concerns. Most of the three dozen or so attendees were there because of concerns related to last Thursday’s stabbing (WSB coverage here) at a house in the 6700 block of 18th SW on Puget Ridge.

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(WSB photo, last Thursday)

The suspect is still at large, confirmed precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis, and the investigation continues. Some attendees who identified themselves as parents and PTA members at nearby Sanislo Elementary wanted to know why the school hadn’t been in lockdown while police were searching that afternoon. Capt. Davis said he and Operations Lt. Ron Smith would see what they could find out about how that decision was made.

Others pointed out that this wasn’t the first trouble at the house in question, reminding police that it had been brought up at a Crime Prevention Council meeting about a year and a half ago. Taking action against “nuisance houses” is not a fast process, Lt. Smith noted, saying the precinct is aware this is a trouble spot. Community Police Team Officer Jon Flores will be out to talk to neighbors, he promised, to figure out what steps can be taken next.

The scheduled guest for the meeting, scheduled to talk about “active shooter” situations, was a no-show. So that made extra time for the community-concerns discussion. Next WSCPC meeting is set for February 21st, 7 pm, at the precinct (2300 SW Webster).

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THINK SUMMER: Help make Delridge Day 2017 a reality
January 18, 2017 9:17 pm
|    Comments Off on THINK SUMMER: Help make Delridge Day 2017 a reality
 |   Delridge | How to help | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

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(Dance Brazil performers – WSB photo from 2016 Delridge Day)

Do something different this year … delight your West Seattle neighbors by helping make a festival happen! The community members who have been making Delridge Day happen each summer are looking for a new planning coordinator:

2017 could be the twelfth Delridge Day celebration, but it needs you! Yes, YOU!

Do you have a passion for the neighborhoods along the Delridge corridor? Have you enjoyed the Delridge Day celebrations in the past? Can you step up to take on the leadership needed to help this growing festival continue?

It is expected that a new leader will bring their own vision of what Delridge Day can be … but there is help, too. For example, the music coordinator has committed to continuing this year. Past organizers have built a network of contacts and action item lists for organizing Delridge Day, so a blueprint is in place.

A new leader should have commitment; great organizational skills; time to contact and follow up with participants to organize music, food, booths, and equipment; and the ability to build a team of volunteers to assist with the event. You will work with Parks and the city for permitting. Planning begins in January for the August event.

We’ve been fortunate over the years to have dedicated people step up to make this fun and growing event happen. Community doesn’t happen by accident … it takes people willing to build. We are only as strong as our relationships to each other.

First step – contact Nancy, even if you just have a question. She’s at n_folsom@msn.com.

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WHOSE ART? Young West Seattleite has a question for you
January 18, 2017 8:14 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

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That photo of A-board artwork was sent by Natalie W., 12 years old, with this question:

I have been seeing these paintings around West Seattle and I have been wondering what they are for. What’s the scoop? It would be awesome if you could put this on the West Seattle Blog with the question, why are these around West Seattle. Thank you!

We have to admit, we’ve wondered too. We’ve seen them along Fauntleroy now and then. If you know the backstory – please comment (or e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com) – thanks!

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STORM AFTERMATH: Overflow south of Alki Point
January 18, 2017 5:08 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

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(Added: Texted photo – thank you!)

5:08 PM: If you’re out for a walk tonight and notice signs south of Alki Point – the King County Wastewater Treatment Division now says its overflow during the storm was from the Alki Point treatment facility across from Constellation Park, not a pump station. No word yet how much of an overflow, but KCWTD says “the wastewater is disinfected between 63rd and Alki, so we aren’t expecting anything from the water quality samples.” They posted signage just to be on the safe side. Meantime, Seattle Public Utilities says one of its new gauges, at High Point, measured the most rain during the 24-hour peak of the storm – 2.57 inches.

ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: The county finally has a total – “250,000 gallons of disinfected flow” in this spill.

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INAUGURATION WEEK: Metro plans extra buses for Womxn’s March on Saturday
January 18, 2017 3:49 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

We’ve received numerous inquiries about transit plans for Saturday, when tens of thousands of people are expected to participate in the Womxn’s March on Seattle. First: No, the Water Taxi will NOT be running – it doesn’t run on Saturdays this time of year and does not add extra service for special events. But Metro will be running extra buses – here’s the announcement they’re making this afternoon:

Plan ahead and leave early if you’re riding King County Metro Transit Saturday to join the Womxn’s March on Seattle. Tens of thousands of participants are expected to attend the event, which will start at 10 a.m. with a rally at Judkins Park. Transit riders should prepare for significant delays.

Metro will operate on a normal Saturday schedule and will have additional buses assigned to provide extra service on key routes. However, those buses will not have regular schedules, will not appear in the Metro’s online Trip Planner or One Bus Away, and will be dispatched based on demand. Riders should prepare for overcrowding and buses that are too full to accommodate more passengers. Sound Transit plans to operate all three-car Link light rail trains and extra trains to help with expected crowds.

Transit riders should use regularly published timetables, plan ahead, allow plenty of time and prepare for traffic delays. Metro will have extra supervisors to monitor crowds in downtown, the International District, and Pioneer Square, and will adjust to accommodate transit needs when possible.

The march is expected to leave Judkins Park at 11 a.m. and proceed through downtown to Seattle Center. Those planning to ride transit to the march can use Metro’s online Trip Planner to find service to the vicinity of Judkins Park. Service that travels to or near the area includes routes 4, 7, 14, 48, and Sound Transit Express routes 550 and 554. When planning your trip, check Metro’s Service Advisories page to find out about any known revisions to your routes.

Transit users also can follow these tips:

· Plan to arrive early to avoid traffic congestion and full buses.
· Prepare for overcrowding on buses.
· If possible, ride transit to locations near Judkins Park and walk into the park. Judkins Park is about 1.3 miles east of the International District along South Jackson Street.
· Prepare for significant delays – as tens of thousands march through downtown, buses may be stopped up to an hour at some locations.
· Have your transit fare or an ORCA card ready
· Sign up for Transit Alerts on Metro’s website.

Metro spokesperson Scott Gutierrez adds these specifics for our area:

For West Seattle residents planning to take transit – depending where their trip starts — they can take the C Line, 21, 120 or 125 to Third Avenue and catch routes 4 or 14 SB on 3rd Avenue. Route 7 also is a possibility but it will get them a few blocks farther from the park.

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Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton’s killer dies in prison
January 18, 2017 1:41 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

The man convicted of murdering Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton (right) in 2009 has died in prison, according to multiple regional-media outlets including The Seattle Times. Officer Brenton’s murder hit hard in West Seattle because of his roots here, including graduating from West Seattle High School in 1988. According to The Times, the Department of Corrections says Christopher Monfort, convicted in 2015 of killing Officer Brenton and wounding his partner Officer Britt (Sweeney) Kelly, was found dead in his cell this morning at the State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. He had been serving a life sentence. Monfort was found guilty of another crime that had a West Seattle connection, firebombing the city’s Charles Street yard, destroying vehicles including what was at the time our area’s Mobile Precinct, not replaced until a little over a year ago. According to today’s reports, Monfort’s death did not appear to be suicide. He had been a paraplegic since being shot during his arrest in Tukwila the day of Officer Brenton’s memorial.

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West Seattle Wednesday: Delridge District Council; Morgan Community Association; WordsWest; more
January 18, 2017 1:01 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

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(Common Goldeneye, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Quick look at four calendar highlights for the rest of your West Seattle Wednesday:

LABYRINTH WALK: This is the first of four days that Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) is opening its labyrinth for contemplation during Inauguration Week – details are in our calendar listing. It’s open until 2 pm and then again 6-8 pm. (3940 41st SW)

MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 3:13 PM UPDATE – The meeting starts at 7 at The Kenney, the REGULAR time. The website info we linked to earlier was inaccurate. Here’s the updated agenda:

7:00 Welcome and Introductions

7:02 Board Elections

Slate of Officers
President – Deb Barker
Vice President – Phillip Tavel
Treasurer – Eldon Olson
Secretary – Natalie Williams
Community Information – Cindi Barker
SW District Council Representative – Tamsen Spengler

7:05 Morgan Minute Updates

· Morgan Junction Mural status
· Morgan Park Expansion Planning Committee Upcoming Meeting on Feb. 20
· High Point Library Upgrades-Community Celebration for reopen: Sun. Jan 29 1- 3
· Lowman Beach Park status

7:10 Old Business

· SW District Council News
· Murray CSO Update
· SW Precinct Advisory Group
· Morgan Junction Festival – June 17, 2017

8:00 Special Presentation Councilmember Herbold’s Office – Update on Homeless Issue

8:30 New Business

· 2035 Comp Plan/MJ Urban Village Housing Targets
· MHA and HALA Next Steps
· New Morgan Development and how to comment

9:00 Adjournment

(7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)

DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: As with the Southwest District Council, eastern West Seattle’s neighborhood district council is continuing despite the cutoff of city support. You’re invited to be part of it at 7 pm tonight, NEW LOCATION for next three months – Highland Park Improvement Club. (12th SW/SW Holden)

WORDSWEST LITERARY SERIES: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), this month’s edition of WordsWest:

Langston Hughes famously asked America, “What happens to a dream deferred?” Tonight, on the Wednesday between Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Inauguration Day, journalist/memoirist Claudia Rowe and writer/poet/performance artist Anastacia Tolbert join WordsWest to examine the causes and consequences of “Dreams Deferred.”

You may know Claudia from her investigative journalism about education in The Seattle Times, including a recent piece on the Garfield High School principal. Her book The Spider and the Fly, which will be released at the end of this month, examines her complex relationship with a serial killer who killed 8 young women in upstate New York. You may know Anastacia, a super-shero of color, through her poetry, prose, performances of her one-woman show, or her documentary, “Got Breast?”

(5612 California SW)

LOTS MORE … on our complete calendar page.

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Another foot ferry on Elliott Bay today: Kitsap Transit’s Rich Passage 1
January 18, 2017 11:48 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(ADDED: King County video, published day after event)

If you’re noticing a foot ferry in Elliott Bay that didn’t appear to be one of the King County Water Taxi fleet – that’s the Kitsap Transit fast ferry Rich Passage 1. It’s out on the bay right now after an official showcase on the downtown Seattle waterfront this morning, with King County Executive Dow Constantine and County Council Chair Joe McDermott speaking, because the King County Department of Transportation’s Marine Division will be operating the 78-foot Rich Passage 1 for KT. Kitsap voters approved a sales-tax increase to fund the new service; it’s scheduled to start running between Bremerton and Seattle this year, Kingston and Seattle next year, and Southworth and Seattle in 2020. The Rich Passage 1 is to be the first of six boats comprising the Kitsap Transit fleet. It was built by All American Marine in Bellingham, which also built the Doc Maynard and Sally Fox for the KC Water Taxi service.

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West Seattle weather: Longfellow Creek running high
January 18, 2017 11:14 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

11:14 AM: During the brief break in the rain – just ending, with more falling now – we went out for a look at the high water of Longfellow Creek. At the SW Yancy street end, just before Longfellow Creek goes back underground (by West Seattle Health Club), it’s been bubbling up through the utility covers, as you can see in our video above. We checked out the creek after Josh shared these photos via Twitter:

Thanks to those who also reported road puddling – mostly in recurring trouble spots, like Delridge at Myrtle (Amber posted a photo in a comment on the morning traffic watch). Forecast says the next round of rain could bring another inch. And after a dry start to January – we’re catching up – only half an inch behind the average as of midnight.

ADDED 12:15 PM: King County Wastewater Treatment says its Alki pump station had an overflow during the heavy rain. We’ll publish a separate story when we get details – but if you see warning signs at the beach sooner, that’s what’s up.

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